Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-09-24
THE CAPTURED NEGROES.

Mos, Of the descriptions Of the cap
ired Africans given in the Charleston
apers have presented altogether the
right side of the picture. The fearful
offerings aud emaciaied condition OF the
grulchcd Congos have been CLOSED over
IS lightly as possible. A writer in one
If the Charleston papers seems to have
1oen impressed with this idea, aud fur
nishes statement from personal obsery-
alton which we doubt not viii be read
with interest lie says;
OF those in health, or comparatively
so. found about 250-ot whom some
so we're females. There were about 90
others Il do not pretend TO exactness in
feure) in the sick wards, in various
stages Of disease. You have already
shown that The negroes are from almost
under the Equator--latitude $50 ).
longitude 1920 l.. In the few books to
which | have had access since l saw
them, | have not found them described.
Bowens explorations were in Central
Atrica-I.iviugstones in the southern
part Bsrth's volumes, as far as he has
gone, are descriptive OF North and Cen
trail Airica-so that am left somewhat
at loss for references. The negroes
are Of various ages, from thirty years to
a few months, or even weeks-some l
should Judge, having been born on the
passage II is wonderful how either
mother or infant survived such an event.
II 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
b groups, and the evident inability to con-
verse generally with each other. l OBJ
served nothing like general concert of
thought or action between them, except
y in the chanting and ella ping Of hands,
IF In these all, under tle leadership of one
} man, the largest among them, united.
il has also been noticed that those
Africans are far below the size common
/, to the same age Of negroes among u.s.
This is understood TO refer to hight; for,
emaciated as most Of them are, no one
not better skilled in human anatomy than
| am could conjecture what their weight,
in health, would be- Among the whole
4; number, il 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 70 BE- any Of the men who were
over FIVE feet two or three inches. Some
no few-half a dozen, perhaps-of the men,
u and few more women, seemed in good
-. heal,h aud condition. Ii is supposed
u that these exceptions Of the former were
u Of such rs were not slowed away in the
,a hold, bat were employed in working
= about the SLAYER. The women, for some
go unexplained reason, were undoubtedly
IN better condition than the men. You
have already stated that the latter were
wholly nude and the former nearly So
J.. One Of the most singular Of the exhibi-
ii tons / saw was that Of n woman whose
If hands were adorned by a pair of cotton
gloyes-almOst her only covering. There
,d was scarcely any comeliness among them;
he and the onJ one whose appearance
.n agreeably attracted attention was the SC
y styled princess, whose iattooing certainly
ol gave evidence Of great dexterity and
Cd skill IN the art.
as have no preieHsions 10 science, and
.ut must leave the chronological questions to
ed the learned, who, trust, are engaged in
ID their investigations. But to even the
d. casual observer, the difference Of tribes
te- Il quite evident. ] was surprised that
on few or none exhibited the very thick
Ter lips and fat noses which we are accus.
Of toned 70 see in The African. The haii
on would doubtless be kinked, but, in ae
.Gi cordanee with tire usage Of slayers, il hai
ed been shaved, probably At the time Of sail
ing from Africa. Our communication,
"a with them were made in part BY signs
for which they understood readily, and il
,f- part through an interpreter. This mar
d.. was one Of the slayer's crew, who did no
Ia profess kuowledge Of the negroes dia
ler leei bat the principal negro had a smat
3m iering knowledge ol Portuguese, from
~ having worked 90 ships, &cq on tn,
ad coast. and 10 THE language he eonYerses
u with ihe Interpreter. II was eyiden
IN they understood each other, for upon oui
on party asking the sailor to show Us th'
biz Congo tribe, the negro brought three
~. men, uilo took their places before US
be and distinctly heard him say Congo.
5ls / uas struck With their teeth som,
Eers even. as usual. One tribe had the