Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-04
The Africans on the slave ship At
Charleston.

Being curious to see the cargo and ar.
ranpement of the Echo, We obtained q per-
NIT from DR.. W. C. Rsvenel, the Port Physi-
clan, and With one or " others ACCOM- panied
Lieut.. Bradford in q small boat from the
wharf. Upon olambering up the side OF the
brig a strange and startling sight presented
itself: a deck covered with native Africans
10 q state of complete nudity. With rare in
STAGES of a narrow strip of rag sn inch
vide around the waist. These people were
seated for the most part With their legs
stretched out fat, or drawn up in front, or
doubled up; some squatted on their feet aud
hands. A few more standing about and q
few lying down. None were tied or fastened
10 any way. The majority we're very young,
apparently from eight 30 sixteen years OF
age, some younger aud some older; scarcely
one. however, over twenty-five. Some OF
them were ahle-bodied, good-sized and in
good case; but the greater part were half
grown children only, weak and worn. Many
were much emaciated, aud showed plainly
the effects of their long and crowded pas
sage 10 a confined ship. A few were evi.
IDENTIFY i'll aud soon to die. all we're pure
black in color except the dropsical whose
skins were tawny from disease. Their hsir
is very short aud crisp. Those who were
well appeared curious and pleased, come OF
them ogling and giggling and ohattering,
and others smoking tobacco out OF short clay
pipes with Cate stems, just as our own ne-
sross do. Those that we're thin and sick
looked dull and british, bu: there was moth
ing wild or ferocious 10 their aspect. They
looked amiable and docile, and readily obey.
ed the commands Of the person who bad
charge of them. They are great thieves,
however, and appropriate whatever they can
on every occasion. There were 246 males
and 60 females, who were kept separate on
deck and in the holds. The men and boys
were kept on the forward deck and in the
forward hold. bich latter is IS feet long, l9
feet wide in the broadcast part. and narrow
as the head, and Al inches high, the door
being formed OF loose boards, movable as
pleasure. The hold for the women and girls
is behind this. 1t is Of the sam height, Il
feet long and l9 wide. Undor this Temporal
~ flooring is stored the provisions, consist
lag of rice, peas, and the water to drink
Their food is boiled like "hoppinjohn," put
10 buckets twice a day, at 10 and 4 o'clock,
and placed 10 the midst Of circles of eight
or ten each, and we'll guarded to prevent the
strong negroes from taking more than their
share, although all are literally allowed
4 pint Of water is given to each, morning
and evening. Most OF them sleep on deck,
being placed 10 close order, spoon-!ashion,
on their sides, and not permitted to turn or
move during the night. At day light. they
are dashed with buckets Of water to wssh
them off. They sing Songs, clapping their
hands aid rocking their bodies 10 time, and
these songs have , great essen blance to some
OF our negro spirItusls. Severa! of the Ne
gro fellows exercise authority very much at.
ter the manner of our drivers, with airs OF
authority and ridiculous gesticulasious and
grimaces. Others we're cooking the ''big
pot" like good fellows, and with old breeches
on too, obtained from the sailors. The cap
tain OF the hold understands their lingo, and
says they are very aserse to going back to
Africa, as the Uuited States law requires
Our coast resembles that they come from,
and the group of pines opposite the city on
the south, looks to them lik" the cocoaDus trees
of their native Africa Charleston Mercury.