Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-09-09
From the Charleston Mercury.
The Afrie ans In the Bay,

The Africans In tho Bay.
Mr.. Editor:-Your very interesting account Of
these people almost renders further description
unnecessary. But as some Of therecent contribu.
tions to your paper presented picture altogether
bright, would be glad to show both sides.
OF those in health, or comparatively so, found
about 250-of whom some 90 were females. There
were about so others Il do not pretend to exact
ness in fgures in the sick wards, in various stages
of disease. You have already shown that the ne
gros are from almost under the Equator-latitude
books to which have had access since I saw them,
I have not found them described. Bowen's ex-
porations were in Central Africa-Livingstone
in the Southern part. Barth's volumes, as far as
he has gone, are descriptive Of North and Central
Africa-so that am left somewhat at loss for
references. The negros are Of various ages, from
80 years to q few months or even weeks-some, I
should judge, having been born on the passage. It
is wonderful how either mother or infant survived
such an event.
1t has already been stated that they belong to
various tribes. This is soon apparent from the
difference Of shades, from their being congregated
in separate groups, and the evident inability to
converse generally with each other. I observed
nothing like general concert Of thought or action
between them, except in the chanting and clapping
Of hands. In these all, under the leadership Of
one man, the largest among them, united.
1t has also been noticed that these Africans are
far below the size common to the same age ofsne-
gros among us. This is understood to refer to
height for, emsciated as most Of them are, 40
one not better skilledin human Gnotomy than am,
could conjecture what their weight, in health,
would be. Among the whole number, 1t struck
me that the man above referred to may have been
FIVE feet eight inches high-a few more may reach
five feet six but besides these, there did not seem
to DO any Of the men who were over FIVE feet two
or three inches. Some few, o half dozen perhaps,
of the men, and few more women, seemed in
good health end condition. 1t is supposed that
these exceptions Of the former were Of such as
were not slowed away In the hold, but were en-
ployed in working about the SLAYER. The women,
from some unexplained reason, were undoubtedly
in better condition than the men. You have al
ready stated that the latter were wholly made, and
the former nearly 80. One Of the most singular
of the exhibitions I saw was that Of q woman
whose hands were adorned by pair Of cotton
gloves-almost her only covering. There was
scarcely any comellness among them; and the
only one whose appearance agreeably attracted
attention was the styled Princess, whose tat
tooips certainly gave EVIDENCE Of great dextsrity
and skill In the art.
have no pretensions to science, and must leave
the chronological questions to the learned, who, I
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 fat noses which
We are accustomed to see in the African. The
hair would, doubtless, be kilked, but, in qceard-
ance with the usage Of alavers, it has been shaved,
probably at the time Of sailing from Africa Our
communications with them were made in part by
signs, which they understood readily, and in part
through an interpreter. This man was one Of the
slaver's crew, who did not profess knowledge Of
the negro dialect; but the principal negro had q
smattering knowledge of Portuguese, from having
worked ships, &c., ON the coast, and in this lam
gpage be eolyersed With the interpreter. II was
evident they understood each athet, for upon ouP
party asking the sailor to show rs the Congo tribe
the negro brought three men, who took their places
before u.s. as distinctly heard him say Congo"
/ was struck with their teeth some were even, as
usual. One tribe had the two central upper fore
teeth cut out in semi. circle while in another,
the front teeth were sharpened to point. Many
of the negros, especially with the aid Of an old
flannel shirt or tp6wsera, looked as familiar %
household or plantation slaves. In many such the
feature and expression reminded US Of familiar
faces at home.
1ne result vi tue WuOio -tleII WAS lutouSo
thy for them and indignation towards their cap.
tors. You may read Of the horrors Of the ''middle
passage" but the half cannot be told as one view
Of these uufortuuates will tell the tale. Dysente
~, drQpsY and epth4lmis, all, 7 belieye the gr9-
ductions of Contact, want of ventilation and want
Of exercise, are the prevailing diseases. Bat even
where these were not visible the spectacle was har-
rowing A skeleton taken down from the nail Of
q doctors closet, and presented to your view,
would scarcely be more descriptive Of anatomy
than many of these living walking specimens Of
the human frame. The effect was very startling,
when you saw them squatting on their launches,
With their knees drawn up behind their elbows, in
an attitude common to apes and hahhepns, bgt
which no human frame clothed in flesh can attain,
Some, when sitting and told to rise, did 80 with
great difficulty, and moved with step as totter-
ing as ever saw after illness. The very head
seemed but skull encssed in o black covering.
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!
7 saw one poor creature swollen to the most won
derful size with dropsy; and as he lay on his
back, he moved his hands, signifying to one Of
our party q request for his segar, which, when
given to him, he smoked with the greatest avidity.
Another manifested similar wants, and replied to
our beckonings to come to us, by pointing to his
eo, which We construed into inability to move.
Two Law near, whose troubles here had ceased iR
death while another, the most affecting sight Of
nl-a child Of six or eight years, lay, on its side
in the sun on the stone wharf, with eyes closed
and no other evidence Of life than the slight mo-
ion Of the stomach indicating breathing. The
Door creature, alone and unattended, had rested
ts head on its little hand as naturally as our own
little ones do and in this touching attitude of suf
ferinp childhood was fast loosing the conscious
ness Of life whose experience had been only that
of sqrroy apd suffering.
As tnrped from this spectacle the taoqght vac
naturally suggested-for what was oil this ineur-
.ed? In all charity ] could only answer-syarice.
IF ever argument was wanted In proof OF human
lepravity, 1t was furnished here.
!, One thing impressed me forcibly-the complete
iocility, amounting to mere mechanical submits
,ion Of all these creatures. In the sick ward the
pbysiciau was applying caustic to- the eyes Of his
patients. When this painful remedy was applied
and poo- cresture, they know not that it was 0
remedy. or anything but part Of the System Of
cruelty to which they had been subjected-they
,oyered their faces with their hands in pain and
With their heads all bowed in meek submission;
md though many were young children, not sound,
,ot raurmur escaped. The scene was truly
oiuching 70 one Of any sensibiiity the horrors
# battle field we're less 90. ! LET'S tho scene
,hastened snd h4mbled, but yith gratitude too,
rust, to Almighty God for lot cast in Chris
ism land. -.. '-..
I cannot close without one reflection. 1t iss
,sinS ikcsorcession, but it must be msdei-t
hs DIVE trade cannot be suppressed hy ooeroiVe
The efforts Of the three or four prtn.
,ipaF Powers Of the world have failed, and indeed
aggravated the evil Tus traffic in Slaves 10 81