Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-08
TIE APPEARANCE OF THE SLAYER.

TIE APPEARANCE OF THE SLAYER.
The editor of the Charleston Mercury, having
visited the Echo, gives the following account oil
tho appearance of the SLAYER and tho condition
Of tho Africans.
"Dcing curious to see the cargo and arrange.
mont of the Echo, we obtained permit from
DR.. W. e. Ravcncl, the Port Physician, and with
one or two others accompanied Lieut.. Bradford
i'll small boat from the wharf. Upon Chamber,
ing up the side Of the brig strange and start.
ling sight presented itself: deck covered with
native Africans in state of comblete nudity,
with rare instances of narrow strip of rag an
inch wide round the waist. These people were
seated for the most part with their legs stretched
out flat, or drawn up in 'front.' or doubled up;
some squatted on their feet and hands. A few
were standing about and 8 few lying down. None
wer: tied or fastened any way. The majority
were very young, apparently from eight to six.
teen years of age, some younger and some older
scarcely one however, over twenty-five Some
of them were abled bodied, good sized and in
good care; but the greater part were halfgrown
children only, weak and worn. Many were much
emaciated, and showed plainly the effects OF
their long and crowded passage in confined
ship. A few wcre evidently i'll and soon to die.
All were pure black in color except the dropsi.
cal, whose skins were tawny from disease. Their
hair is very short and crisp. Thuse who were
well appeared curious and pleased, some of them
sgling and ,giggling and chat,ering, and others
smoking tobacco out Of short clay pipes with cane
stems, Just as our own negroes do. Those that
were thin und sick looked dull and british, but
there was nothing wild or fcrocious in their as.
,,,,t 'rhay ploI p,io hlo loolo ro,,l;
" obeyed the commands of the person who had
charge of them. There were 24G males and sixty
females, who were kept separate Oil deck and in
the holds The men and boys were kept on the
forward deck and in the forward hold. which lat
ter is iiyvc feet long, nineteen feet wide in the
broadcst part, and narrow at the head, and forty.
four inches high, the floor being formed of loose
boards, movable at pleasure. The hold for the
women and girls is behind this. 1t is Of the
same height, twelve feet long and nineteen wide.
Under this temporary flooring is stored the pro-
visions, consisting OF rice, peas, and the water to
drink. Their food is boiled like hoppinjohn,'
put in buckets twice day, at ten and four o'clock
and placed in the midst OF circles Of eight or Ten
each, and we'll guarded to prevent the strong ne.
groas from taking NOR. than their share, although
all l;ro lib,lally allowed. A pint If wafer is given
to each, morning and evening. Most of them
sleep on deck, being placed i'll close order, spoon
fashion, on their sides, and not permitted to turn
or move during the night. At day light they are
dashed with buckets OF water to wash them OIL
They sing songs, clapping their hands and rock
Ing their bodies in time, and these songs have
great resemblance to some of our negro spritu
ais Several of the negro fellows exercise au.
thority very much after The manner af our dr
vers with airs of authority and ridiculous gesti.
culation and grimaces. Others were cooking
the big pot like good fellows, and with oil
breechcS on, too, obtained from the sailors The
captain of the hold understands their lingo, and
says they are very aversr to going back to Africa
as the United States law re .uires. Our coast
resembles that they come from, and the group of
pines opposite the city on the South, looks to
them like tho Cocoanut trees of their native
Africa"
WHOLESALE DBY GooDs HoUsB.-The atten.
ton of merchants in the interior, is particularly
invited to tho advertisement of Messrs Jackson,
Miller Verdery, i'll another column. The firm
Ii one OF long standing and popularity, and wo
are assured that they arc prepared to oiTer every
inducement to buyers to make their purchases
without going farther than Augusta Within the
last few days they have been receiving and open.
ing an usually large supply of Dry Goods of va.
rious description, indicating, what we believe is
the opinion Of our merchants generally, that an
active business season is in prospect. Their
stock of goods for mems. wear embraces every.
thing from the commoncst kcrscys to the finest
Cloths, while their assortment Of prints and the
staple articles of Fancy Goods are unsurpassed.
1t would certainly be to the interest OF our friends
in the interior to give the house call before 60
ing farther.-Augusta Chronicle & Sentinel.
CorAgTNERsHIp-It may interest our brethren
Of the press to Know that DR.. j. G. Aver of Low.
ell CHERRY Pectoral and Cathartic Pills. has as
sociated with him, his brother Frederick Aver,
Esq., long and tayorably known as lcadiag
meichFat Of the West. Mr.. Aver will conduct
the widely extended business of the firm, which
now reaches to the commercial nations Of both
himispheres, while the Doctor will devote him.
self to his scientific Investigations and pursuits.
Journal. ''''