The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-09-15
Appearance of slaves on a SLAYER.

The Charleston papers have been filed
for some days with descriptions, incidents
and comments relating to the SLAYER Echo,
recently captured and brought into that
port by the U. S. Brig Dolphin. The
Charleston Mercury gives the following
notes of visit to the brig Echo:
Upon clambering up the side of the
brig strange and startling sight pre-
sented itself--a deck covered with native
Africans in state of complete nudity,
with rare instances of a narrow strip of
rag an inch wide 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 hands. A few were standing about
and a few were lying down. None were
tied or fastened in any way. The major
ity were very young, apparently from eight
to sixteen years of age-some younger
and some older; scarcely one, however,
over twenty FIVE. Some of them were
ale bodied, good sized aud in good case,
but the greater part were half-grown chill
dren only, weak worn.
Many were much emaciated, and show
ed plainly the effects of their long and
crowded passage in confined ship. A
All were pure black in color, except the
dropsical, whose skins we're tawny from
disease. Their hair is very short and
crisp. Those who were well appeared
curious and pleased, some of them ogling
and g,ggling and chattering, and others
smoking tobacco out of their short clay
pipes with cane stems, just as our own
negroes do. Those that were thin and
sick looked dull and british, but there
was nothing wild or ferocious in their
aspect. They looked amiable and docile,
and readily obeyed the command of the
person who had charge of them. They
are great thieves however, and appropri-
ate whatever they can on every occasion.
There we're 246 males and 20 females, who
were kept separate on deck and in the
holds. The men and boys we're kept on
the forward deck and in the forward hold,
which latter is 55 feet long, 10 feet wide
in the broadest part, and narrow at the
head, and A inches high, the floor being
formed of loose boards, movable at pleas
urc The hold for the women and girls
is behind this. 1t is of the same height
IL feet long and 10 wide. Under this
temporary flooring is stored the provi-
sions, consisting of lice, peas, and the
water to drink. Their food is boiled like
"hoppinijohn" put in buckets twice day,
at 10 and o'clock, and placed in the
midst of circles of eight or ten each, and
well guarded to prevent the strong ne
groes from taking more than their share.
although all are literally allowed
A pint of water is given 10 each, MORN
ing and evening Most of them sleep on
deck, being placed iu close order, spoon
fashion, on their sides, aud not permitted
to move during the night. At day light
they are dashed with buckets of water to
wash them of. They sing songs, clap
ping their hands and roc king their bodies
in time. and these songs have great re-
semblancc to some of our negro spirituals
Several of the negro fellows exercise
authority very much after the manner of
our. drivers. with airs of authority and
ridiculous gesticulation and grimaces.-
Others were 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 averse to going
back to Africa, as the United States law
4 CT tbot %bnx,
come from and the group of pines oppo-
site the city on the south, looks to them
1 like cocoanut trees of their native Africa