Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-12
The Wanderer Africans.
Correspondence of The Marion COmmonw ealth.l
MONTGOMERY, Dec. oath, 1853.

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1 was carried through Browns Spectator
House." $50 ealled) on Perry street In house,
in the back lot, were huddled together thirty
eight native Congo Africans Don't shudder
and say the moral sentiment of Christendom
condemns the trade - But it is q fact have
seen the native Africans, and it is fact they
were Africans.
l found them jabbering in cultural sounds,
something, could not comprehend what. They
were nearly all apparently in good health; fat,
sleek and greasy. In the party were some
five or six men; two or three women; four or
five girls; and the rest boys, or what might be
called "younsters." They were each clad in
common kersey pants and roundabout over
which they wore a heavy blanket Women
and all were thus dressed None had shoes,
for the reason that they could not walk in them;
in fact could scarcely walk at all-having been
confined and crowded so close on shipboard.-
Most of them were very pert and lively; laugh
ing and talking in their native tongue, pointing
larly attracted their attention. Some of them
had very singular shaped craniums-they al
most battle description-one nearly square
one had convex face-and another sort of
double concave-convex head; but most of them
had good heads Lar nat noses-big mouths
front teeth knocked out-rather small ears
and quite small hands and feet. Some of them
were good looking-but others shockingly ug
ly-sOme were what might vulgarly be called
"puff" or hog jawed. l noticed one man
who had very high cheek bones and several
scars on his face; and appeared very intell-
gent. He was "big chief" no doubt in his coun-
try. l was much surprised at one thing; they
repeated precisely every word said to them
asked one "where do you come froml"-and
he propounded the same interrogatory to me,
but, of course without knowing the meaning;
and in like manner many other things.
Not being able to walk, they were carried in
a wagon from the Railroad Depot to Browns,
and thence by wagon on to the st. Nicholas
l saw strong old farmers and r-sided mer-
chants gazing at the sable creatures, some of
them having no doubt holy horror at such a
sight.
The twenty-eight Africans brought here were
the share (as l learned) in the venture of citi-
zen of New Orleans; and that they cost him
delivered in Savannah) ftty dollars each!-
Only 81 800 for thirty-eight Africans-sound,
able bodied negroes They were in charge of
Mr.. Broadnax, who was carrying them to
New Orleans.
l said above, that the negroes were ''all welI''
so they were as well as could be expected
but as might be eonjectured, they were mostly
fuffering much from disorders incident to accli-
nation.
For some time the Africans could not be in
duced to go on board the boat, and seemed
much frightened at the smoke, DC. Doubtless
they had perfect horror of travelling on water
again, after having 50 recently endured long
and crowded sea voyage. The manner in
which they were induced to go is worthy of
notice. The mate tried every means to get
them on board but with no effect Finally, he
concerted plan with big black Alabama ne
gro. He tried to get him to go on board, but
he resolutely refused, when the mate laid him
down on the gang-way plank and hit him four
or five substantial licks with his ponderous |
leather strap, when the said Alabama negro got |
up, yelling awfully, and went straight on board |
beckoning to the Africans to folow-Gnd thev |
did t0ilOl0, to the amusement and amid the |
cheers of the crowd.