Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-08-14
Ole Anti- 5lauerp Bllele.
From the Pittsburg Commercial Journal.
EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA.


hlNGsTONJ oAhAlCAi loO9.
About o'clock in the morning, a, pilot came of
to where we were flying TO, awaiting him. lie
was the first Jamaican board-a mulatto.about
% years of age, plainly but decently clad, and
modest in his department, As we moved through
the harbor we passed close by two vessels entire
iy manned by negroes, no white persons appear
ing on board of either. The vessels we're old. but
seemed to be navigated and managed with skill,
and, as far as could be discovered, were as well
equipped as any others we have met. In little
over two hours, were safely moored TO the
wharf. In very few minutes, on coming down
from the upper deck, found that the work OF
coaling was going on with great activity. This
was performed by two gangs of females, each
about sixty in number. Every woman carried on
her.head a large tub Of coal, about 80 pounds,
and marching in single file from the coal hean,
about two yards off, ascending gangway, dexter
ously tilted the coal inio scuttle or hatchwly,
and turned and filed out by another gangway
The tubs were filled and placed the women's
head by few men at the coal yard. All the rest
Of the labor WAS performed by females singing,
laughing screaming and rubbing thor feeth with
soap.scks oil the while. This sight was novel,
and at frs: rather disagreenbe ihe work seemed
too heavy for their sex, more especially large
numbers of stout, strong negroes standing
idly around, doing nothing. And it indeed
amazing to see such burdens borne by females,
80 slight and young US somo appeared to be. They
were all apparently from Ii to % years of age
none of them large or stout Among them were
many with forms straight, slender and finely shap
ed any | ever beheld. All were decently clad
in plain calico dre1ses, not a half dozen had
dresses torn or ragged. Their movement was
lively, and their appearance cheerful during the
whole cay: At noon they knocked off work for an
hour and retiring in the shade refreshed themselves
with oranges and other fruits.
At 3 o'clock the work over ; tun of coal
being loaded in every ten minutes If working time
No one seemed tagged or worn out and each one
~ hnr hol he m had in la
around the ship, singing song of Good Bye
From oil that | could observe, the difference
between the condition of these women in freedom
and slavery was, that they worked cheerfully and
performed their labor, hard rs it was, and were
paid whenever it was done whereas in slavery.
heavier labor would have been done, and paid by
the whip, Besides these, the wharf was thIong.
ed with negro men and women selling fruits, su-
gars. cakes, and other products of the Island, a
noisy, chatterng, yelling, laughing throng that
could hardly be passed through. A strong negro
police formed a third class. These were armed
with wooden baton or staff, we're well dressed in
uniform, quiet, vigilanJ and unobtrusive. few
negro soldiers in scarlet uniforms were standingl
around as sI ectators, without arms, looking att
the busy scene During the whole day. | no
one intoxicated but some of our passengers,
and there was but one fight. and that between the
mate and steerage passenger.
This was the at the wharf After study
ing it for a while, visited the churches.
In going up town, we were accompanied by
volunteer crowd Of half'grown negroes and boys,
who insisted performing the service of
guide. whether not, and iavorng with a va
riety Of local information they deemed useful to
strangers. The hour was about 10 IL. In the
streets were crowds of well,dressed women, chill,
dren and men blacks, ,quadroons and various hues.
and few whites going to church. The first
went into was a Wesleyan chapel 1t was large
uuadrangular brick building, capable of holding
about 900 persons. The whites occupied gal.
lery that stretched around three sides of tho
building. The main body of the church was we'll
filed with coored persons. well clad, decent and
respectable as any assembly that ever witnessed
Thence went to the principal Episcopal church
This was a brick building erected in 1862 on one
side of the public square, in the form of cross
the pulpit being at the angle of junction, and so
placed that the preacher could easily address every
part of the church. The floor was stone flags
the walls were lined with marble funeral tablets
handsomely scuiptured, commemorating the vir
tues of deceased persons in naval and civil life
public and private, of both sexes, and stretching
back nearly 100 years. AT one end was Mat
form elevated about four feet, and surrounded by
arailing. This space was occupied by the mill
tary naval and civil authorities, all white, and
was the only distinction apparent in the
church. In every other part pews were flleG |
promiscously with whites, blacks and auadroons.
male and female, old and young without discrm.
iuation of race or color. At o'clock the church
was we'll filled by as well-dressed decent, respec-
table looking assemblage, as ever beheld. About
nine tenths of the congregation were colored vary
ing in hue from the coal black to the fantest tnge
The countenances were grave and Intelligent
The stricest decorum prevailed ;the children were
better behaved than ever before saw among
so great number. There were not nyIverysod
persons. but they generally averaged from ~ to'