Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-14
MTSCELL A N Y .
From the Charleston Ae,cary.
Horrors of the Slave Trade--Interesting Nal

From the Charleston Mercury.
Horrors of the Slave misunderstanding Mar
rative.
Mr.. EDITOR Your very interesting account
of these people almost renders further descnp
ton unnecessary. But as some OF the recent
contributions to your paper presented picture
altogether bright, would be glad to show botf
sides.
Of those in health, or comparatively SO,
found about 250-of whom some 90 were
females. There were about so others Il dc
not pretend to exactness in fguresD IN the
sick wards, in various stages of disease. You
have already shown that the negroes are from
almost under the Equator-latitude $50 South
1920 East. In the few books to which have
had access since / saw them, | have not found
them described. Bowen's explorations were in
Central Advantageous in the Southern
part. Barth's volumes, as far as he has gone,
are descriptive of North and Central Africa-so
that I am somewhat at loss for references
The negroes are of various ages, from 80 to few
months or even weeks-some, should Judge
having been born on the passage. It's wonder
ful how either mother or infant survived such
an event.
It has already been stated that they belong
to various tribes. This is soon apparent from
the difference of shades, from their being con.
gregated in separate groups, and the evident IN
sbility to converse generally with each other
observed nothing like general concert OF
thought or action botweeen them, except in the
chanting and clapping of hands. In these all,
under the leadership Of one man, the largest g.
mong them, united.
II has also been noticed that these Africans are
far below the size common to the same age o.
negroes among US. This is understood to refer
70 height; for, emaciated as most OF them are,
no one not better skilled in human anatomy than
| am, could conjecture what their weight, In
health, would be. Among the whole number,
it struck me that the man above referred to may
have been five feet eight inches bigh-a few
more NAV reach five feet six but besides these,
there did not seem to be any of the men who
were over five feet, two or three inches. Some
few, a half dozen perhaps, of the men, and Q
few more women, seemed in good health ana
condition. 1t is supposed that these exceptions
of the former were OF such as were not slowed
away in the hold, but were employed IN Work-
ing about the SLAYER. The women, for some un-
exclaimed reason, were undoubtedly IN better
condition than the men. You have already sta
ted that the latter were wholly nude, and the
former nearly so. One of the most singular OF
exhibitions saw was that of woman whose
hands were adorned by pair of cotton gloves
almost her only covering. There was scarcely
any comeliness among them ). and the only
one whose appearance agreeablY attracted at
tention was the so-styled Princess, whose tat
tooing certainly gave evidence OF great deXterl-
ty and skill in the art.
have no pretensions to science, and must
leaye the chronological questions to the learned,
who, trust, are engaged in their Investigations
But to even the casual observer, the difference
of tribes is quite evident. was surprised that
few or none exhibited the very thick lips and
flat noses which we are accustomed to see IN the
African. The hair would, doubtless be klnked
but in accordance with the usage OF sayers, Il
had been shaved, probably at the time OF sail
inp from Africa. Our communications Will
them were made in part by signs, which they
understood readily, and in part through an IN
terpreter. This man was one of the slayers
crew. who did not profess knowledge OF the ne
gro dialect but the principal negro had smat
tering knowledge OF Portuguese, from havint
worked on ships, &c., on the coast, and in thl
language he conversed with the interpreter. L
was evident they understood each other, for up
on our party asking the sailor to show US tut
Congo tribe, the negro brought three men, Wh'
took their places before US, and distlnctl.
heard him say "Congo." was struck witt
their teeth; some were even, as usual. ON
tribe had the two central upper foreteeth Gu
out In a semicirole; while in another, the iron
teeth were sharpened to point. Many OF tn
negroes, especially with the aid of an OLD Han
mel shirt or trowsers, looked as familiar q
household or plantation slaves. 10 many sucl
the feature and expression reminded us OF Ia
miliar faces at home. .a ~, -sa.
! The result of the whole visit was intense sym
Ipathy for them and indignation towards thel
taptors. You may read of the horrors OF tn
| 'middle passage" but the half cannot be toll
as one view of these unfortunates will tell tin
tale. Dysentery, dropsy and opthalmia, all,
believe, the productions of contact, want OF ven
tilation and want of exercise, are the prevailing
diseases But even where these were not visi
BILE the spectacle was narrowing. a Skeleton
taken down from the nail of doctors closet
and presented to your view, would scarcely D'
more descriptive of anatomy thar many OF thes'
living walking specimens Of the human frame.-
The effect was very startling, when you saw
them squatting on their launches, with tnei
knees drawn up behind their elbows, In an attl
tude common TO apes and babboons, but Whlcf
no human frame clothed in flesh can attain
Some. when sitting and told to rise, did SO with
great difficulty, and moved with step as TOT
terins as lever saw after illness. Inc very
head seemed but skull encased il black GOV
ertng. 1t is common to speak OF man being
reduced to skin and bone, but one who saw
these can scarcely use the expression again.
But if this is to be said of those comparatively
in health, what language can describe the sick
| saw one poor creature swollen TO the mos
wonderful size with dropsy; and as he lay or
his back, he moved his hands, signifying TO-. one
of our party request for his cigar, which, wheI
given to him, he smoked with the greatest avid
ity. Another manifested similar wants, and re
piled to our beckoniDgs to come to US by POM!
ing to his leg, which we construed into lnaoiil
ty to move. Two ley near, whose troubles here
had ceased in death; while another, the mos
affecting sight of all, child ofsix or eight years
lay On its side in the sun on the stone wharf
with eyes closed, and no other evidence OF liz
than the slight motion indicating breathing
The poor creature, alone and unattended, ha(
rested its head on its little hand as naturally G.
our own little ones do, and in this touching at
titude OF suffering childhood was fast losing tb'
consciousness of life whose experience hat
been only that of sorrow and suffering.
It is very erroneous imputation upon one Q
our prominent politicians that she drinks hard.
81 bo'd aoofar