The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-07-30

and oaths, the door opened, and a very
black negro was thrown into our apart
ment. AS the door opened to give him
ingress, | saw bristling bayonets and blud-
geons, red faces and flaming eyes, all be-
tokening state of excitement very unu-
sual even in that den of iniquity. But
the door was quickly shut and double
locked. The negro stood moment, like
bafied tiger, painting and looking around
him, first at the grated windows, then at
the walls, and finally at us. Notwith-
standing the furious rage of which he had
been the prey, he suddenly assumed a
friendly tone, and greeted his fellow pris-
oners with cordiality and politeness. His
clothes were nearly torn off in his late en-
counter, and his body, pricked by bayo-
nets in various places, was stained with
blood. I was not long in recognizing my
shipmate of the Bio Bio. This time he
knew me also, and, shaking hands, said he
was =" glad to see me there" The compi-
ment was rather equivocal, but his mean
ing was good
[ will not undertake to describe this ne
gro's continued quarrels with the iailor, in
which the guards were frequently called
upon, who knocked him on the head with
the butts of their muskets, and pricked him
with their bayonets. Nothing could quell
his spirit Twice he was called out and
hogged with long black cowhide; but he
would neither work nor be quiet. Finally
the prison was shaken by violent earth
quake, and when the doors were opened to
let the prisoners into the front enclosures,
he broke away, and made his escape
During his stay in the calaboose /
learned more of his character lie could
perform many strange juggling tricks,
which he said were taught him by the dew
il. This did not seem to agree very we'll
with his praying habits, and his steadfast
faith in Divine protection Yet it will be
recollected that on one occasion, Martin
Luther declared it was the devil who in
cited him to undertake the Reformation
He said that he came from Brazil, but did
not seem disposed to dwell upon his histo-
ry, either prior or subsequent to his leav-
ing his native land. He was warm and
devoted friend, exceedingly disinterested,
but was determined to submit to no au-
thority whatever.
AT the end of five months, | left the cal
aboose. Six months after my enlodge-
ment, l found myself on board of ship
bound to Guayaquil We touched at Co
quimbo, where who should [ see come on
board of us but very black negro. /
did not at once recognize him as my friend
from Brazil, as he was dressed in the style
of cholar, with peaked straw hat, pam
cho and wide trowsers, without shoes to
his feet.
This time he spoke first. The strong
man appeared to have endured much suf-
fering since we parted at the prison, dur
ing the earthquake. He said that he was
hidden for long time among the noun
tains, where the runners pursued him close
ly. He had lost much flesh, yet his eyes
emitted the same untameable fire which had
rendered his whole life one constant scene
of adventure and hardship. Fighting and
praying had been his whole employment
Now, however, he had shipped on board
our vessel, and | trusted that he would
keep quiet until he had recruited himself
and rounded out his skin. Such was not
the fact, however, for he had not been to
sea three days when he was ordered to do
some work that did not suit his fancy, and
he peremptorily refused. He and the
mate had an encounter, in which the officer
was worsted. The captain and the other
mates, assisted by three of the crew, then
fell upon the negro and got him down.
Having put shackles upon his wrists and
ankles, they slowed him away in the fore
hold, the captain declaring that he would
put him in prison at the first port we en-
tered. On the very next morning the
crew were at breakfast, and l was alone on
deck, at the wheel | saw the Brazilian
emerge from his place of confinement, and
throw overheard grating, to which seve-
raj planks had been hastily lashed He
then plunged into the sea and swan to his
raft, on which he seated himself The
ship passed on and left him in its wake,
floating on his raft. The land was just
visible, like dark streak in the horizon
He would probably have reached the shore
in safety, had not one of the mates espied
him through the cabin windows; and, no
sooner had the captain and his officers
rushed on deck and given orders to tack
ship in pursuit of the adventurous runa-
way, than we were struck by a white
squall. The fore-top-sail went out of the
bolt-ropes with a noise like the discharge
of cannon; the vessel heeled down till
the white waters boiled over the lee bull
warks. All was instantly noise and con-
fusion. was out on the jib-boom assist
ing others in slowing the .jib, when I be-
held the negro shooting by IFS on the crest
of huge wave, shaking his clenched fists
over his head like the demon of the storm
while his white teeth shone amid the spray,
as he grinned with defiance and exultation
at our unexpected discontinue. l saw
him no more; for all our attention was now
directed to the ship. We lost several
spars; and although the vessel was saved,
yet, when we entered port, our appearance
was that of wreck.
The story of this negro was related a
thousand times by our ships company, with
such additions as were necessary to fill out
+ha ,,or;odc ~, fbo ,,orrotion. and cinea