The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-07-09
CAROLINA SPARTAN.
Social and Moral Condition of Africa.

Thomas Fowel Buxton, the famous Exc
eter Hall abolilionist, as Chairman of the
Provisional Committee Of the Society fol
the Extinction of the Slave.trade, has re-
Gently issued book, depicting in frightful
colors the social and moral condition of AT
RIGA. From his previous efforts 10 put an
end to slavery and the trade, it must be
supposed that he would be the furthest pos.
sible from the admission Of any fact which
might tend 10 show that such trade could
be aleviated by any consideration upon
earth.
II will be seen that he begins with Da,
honey, just above the Blight Of Benin. upon
the western shores of Africa, aud travelling
down along that coast, passed over the
country from which the great majority OF
slaves have been taken, and cf whose CON.
dition, for the purposes of this investigation.
ii most important that we should be ad.
vised:
At Dahomey, Mr.. Giraud says he was
at the Kings fete in 1896, when about 500
or 600 of his subjects were sacrificed for
his recreation. Some were decapitated.
and others precipitated from lofty fortress,
and transfixed on bayonets prepared 10 re-
ceiye them; all this merely for amusement.
The Ashantees, at the same time that
they were vigorous slave-iraders, were no
torious, for their labor would be a source of
greater wealth than the price received for
their persons. But the most satisfactory
proof HAT such murders are not inevitable
IS the fact, that they did not ensue in the
English settlements AT the period of the
aoohtion. The natives around Sierra lie.
one made up their quarres, and suspended
Their wars without outrage or bloodshed.
There may he danger Of riveting the
chains OF domestic slavery, but there seems
to be no fear that, with reasonable precau
/. tions, any dreadful massacre should occur.
In The present state of things, human life
and human suffering are very lightly re.
garded; and SO great are the crueities and
nominations now perpltrated, that even in.
Judicious interference could hardly render
the condition of Africa worse than it now
Is: any change must be an improvement.
Laird tells us that the inhabitants Of the
delta of the Niger were so demoralzed and
degraded, that he could not have conceived
such people 10 exist, within a few miles
ofports which British ships had frequented
for century. At Calebar, skulls were
seen "kicked about in every direction"
Captain Fawcker, who was detained in
Benin, IN great distress, in 1925, says, .,near
the palace Of the King of Benin ave several
fetish palaces, the repositories of the usual
human sacrifices and bloody rites. Messrs.
Bowditcb, Tedlie, and Hutchinson, were
employed on mission TO Coomassie, the
capita! of Ashantee, in 1917; on their very
first entrance into the city, while waitjng
IN the street for leave TO attend the. King.
Mr. Bowditch says, "Our attention was
forced 10 most inhuman spectacle, which
they paraded before us for some minutes:
it was man whom they were 4ormenting
previous TO sacrifice. His hands wero pin
Toned behind him, knife was passed
through his cheeks, to which his lips were
noosed like the figure of an 8; the one
ear was cut off and carried before him: the
other hung TO his bead by small bit of
SKID; there were several gashes in his back,
and knife was thrust under each shoulder
blade; he was led with cord passed
through his nose, by men dis6gured with
immense caps Of shaggy black skins, and
drums beat before him"
Many slaves are killed at their various
customs" Qhe rites praciiseJ on tho death
OF individuals Of any considerations "tbe
decease of person is announced bv dis.
charge OF musketry proportioned to his
rank, or the wealth of his family. In an
instant you see crowd of slaves burst from
the house and run towards the bush, fat.
tering themselves that the hindmost. or
those surprised in the house, will furnish
the human victims for sacrifice if they can
out secrete themselves till the custom is
over" One or two slaves are then sacri.
need at the door Of the house. A scene of
TINS kind took place at the death OF the mo.
iher OF one of the principal chiefs, August
"a, ioifi otwhich Mr.. Bowditch was an eve.
witness, though 1t was considered by no
means great custom. ave walkedp be
says, 10 Assafoo at twelve O'Clock: the yul-
lures were hovering round two beadless
trunks scarcely cold" Then came t,oons Of
women, tutoring dismal lamentations ..Tba
crowd was overbearing; HONS. drums and
muskets, yells and screeches. invaded onr
hearing with as many horrors as were
crowded on our sight Now and then a
victtP, was hurried by, generally at full
speed; the uncouth dress, and the exultinp
couhtenplces Of those who surrounded
them. liksning them to so many iends." He
dssstlhes many other barbaric ceremonies:
finally, the drums announced tho sacrifice
OF tho victims, "The execulioners wrangIed
and struggled for the office and the indiffer-
enee with which the poor creatures looked