Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-12-04
SLAVE HUNTS IN THE SAHARA.


From the bondman, trembling under
a scourge in the American plantations,
we sometimes turn to Africa, the mother
Of bondage, who forges chains for her
own children. OF the iron dug from
her own mountains these fetters are made
and the tribes of the sons of Tubal Cain
beat AMI shape them on her own soil
II the so.ituIe of those central deserts
nan keeps the gate open to his enemy.
The sword never found a passage thither
Nothing but gold ever penetrated the
S,hara. It's dwellers were never con-
o1ered by an Alexander or a Caesar,
but any trucking kidnapper can corrupt
them. 1t is bitter witness to the broken
f,ith of nun with man, to see creatures
h,rn under the pledge Of common COM
nae, aal natural law betraying and de-
cgling one another but the most mi
,sable sight in the whole dark range Of
huln debasement is that of the begin
Ineof the slaves sorrows. He is pitt
S. when he has grown in servitude,
but sin more piiiabIe when the anklets
s,Imnacles are new and bright upon
l5fm5s, when liberty still fingers in his
,iggs5ts, like the sweetest taste of child
h5ol, and he is torn from home, casting
Ioagiug, wretched, hopeless look be-
bind.
Remote in the wilderness Of Central
Africa, Slavery brings forth its offspring.
There, among beautiful hills and bases,
watered by delicious springs, with date
groves shading hamlets which seem all
pleasantness and peace, mothers nurse
the young brool which is to pine, and
toll, and perish, in the sugar or tobacco
grounds of Cuba or the Western Con-
Iinent.
\ great belt Of populous country
stretches across the desert, which spreads
over the central region of Africa, and
was by the ancients compared, with It's
tawny surface and spots of hill and YER
dure to q leopards skin. -Four great
kingdoms are situated upon this populou:
belt-Wadai, Bournou, Soudan, and
Timhuctoo, whence four caravan track:
lead down across sandy and stony waste:
TO the Barhary coast. Lesser kingdom:
lie round about, each in an oasis Of it
own and from all these come annually
othe sea, trains Of captured, slaves, Il
be sold in the cities and ports, while 9th
ers 70 westward to supply the trader
who ply to the shores Of Cuba. Ivory
ostrich feathers, SIENNA, wax and indig
are also brought down but this legiti
mate traffic is comparatively small, c
recent growth and never likely to becom
important without diminishing or extin
gushing the commerce in human being;
Melancholy everywhere, the slave Sys
ten is most melancholy in Central Afr
ca. For, in those distant countries, dt
fenled on all sides by deserts, and onl
made accessible by the cupidity Of ma
We perceive the slave In his origin
home, enjoying that happiness whic
Aarmonizes with his nature, and is inte
rupted by the violence or stealth of Il
kidnapper.
We may choose city of the once
nous and mysterious kingdom Of Bou
nou-the city Finder, buried deep in II
centre Of Africa it is picturesquely
tuated amid undalations Of green hil
with sprinkles Of gigantic knobs. Me
dows lie around lit without fences, n
corn stalls and granaries stand in {
open country without bolt or guard, illl
trating feeling Of honor among the
mighty hunters of their fellow men.
About 10000 people dwell here in ha
tations which are scattered over Vi
space Of ground. A conical hill, Oh
block of granite, marks each separ;
quarter. Circular walls of mating, {
closing a number of huts, or mud-hous
denote the residence of a ehiefta
While irregular clusters show where
inferior qualities of the population ;
eongregated.
AT sunset, one or two hundred vultu
ny ina circle over the city, and cles'
from refuse collected during the day
1nere are two weekly markets, VIII
cattle, camel, sheep, flesh, fish, wht
money hotkabobs and sweet potatoes
exposed for sale, besides merchand
and slaves. Fruit and vegetables, of
most cooling kinds, are brought Fl
gardens which pleasantly encircle Zinc
spa thus strange nation passes stra
Sat unromantic life.
The great trade of the kingdom is