Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-18
Bri,i.h slave Trade I'm the M auritIus.

In a work which has just made its appear
ance in Philadelphia under The title of
-Four Years Aboard the Whaleship," there
are some curious revelation concerning the
existence and active prosecution OF the slave
traffic under British rule in the Mauritius.
The author Mr.. Whitecar. though a common
sailor appears from the internal evidence of
his book to he a trustworthy and intellig,n Mt
Observer; and. until his statements receive
an authoritative contradiction. we see no
reason for questioning their correctness.
10 describing the motley population of the
island Mr. Whtecar acc"rn's for the presence
OF the Malabar and Malaga car natives in
such large numbers by the tact that they are
purchased from the native chiefs by English
or French traders in exchange for old mus
kcts, kegs of powder. jack knives. hoop iron,
trinkets, beads. calico, and such other articles
as are held in esteem amongst the savagrs.
They are sold ostensibly for a term of years,
hut in reality for rs long ms their owners
choose TO deiain them. The Governor of the
Maurtius. receiving so much per head as
perqu.ite for each one that Is imported into
the colony. holds out every inducemcnt for
their introduction into the island, and from
the crowded state Of the ships that arrived
during Mr.. Whiecar's stay, he was led to
conclude that the trhde must he n thriving
one. As soon as the slaves reach the colony
they are dispos, Il Of to the highest bidder.
aud our author was justly surprised TO sce
two English auctioneers mounted on their
rostrums, engaged in selling them "a they
wonld any other merchandise. The poor
creatures. he says, were gathered and arrang-
ed in groups and neither scX had any other
covering than the breech cloth, in order that
their muscular system night be displayed to
the best advantage. The purchasers, who
were for the most part French planters.
aik ad in nHst mi tbgi
muscles, teeth and joints, made them leap 10
show their activity, and, in every way that
their experience suggested, satisfied them
selves in regard to their availability. The
oely saving clause in the whole transaction
was that, in case any of the slaves had n
family, the purchaser was compelled to buy
them all together or not at all.
OF the treatment of these unfortunates on
the plantations. Mr.. Wietecar gives anything
but a favorable account. The overseers APP
ply the whip without rcmorse, and there is
this worse fcatur" than the punishment by
J she's on The bsu is vogue in our Southern
States. tina, tbe ld,,ws pre- gen.rsl's.
poor wretchcs are in general subj cted may
Ice jud Sed of from the fact that he saw POI
liceman calmly looking on whilst slave
was knocked down and dragged 10y the waist
band over the sharp points of the macada- |
missed street, with nothing To preserve his |
body from laceration, except the calico that |
was wound round his lnins. This scene 90
curr,d q, not in an obscure or out Of the way /
play, but in a public street. whore people !
were constantly passing, aud who. il any I
freling al all were expressed 10y them, only /
laughed at the ludicrousneSs Of the scenr.
Here. then. we have in British colony, |
und' British laws and under n British gov
crnor, slave traffic not only OF internal ex-
chang, aud ~ great practical cruelty. but |
iruttc that is eonstaEtly bring fed 10y impor-
tation. Aud whilst Ia our Southrvn States /
the,c Is the Justification 0f a pr,-eSislent
aud present necessity, which can only be
dispense with by time. aud To the extension /
u which the laws offer an eifrctual barrier. |
IN the Manrilius. where no plra &c eSpeden-
cy can bc urged in opposition TO positive cn-
actment the fullest latitude il accorded TO il /
Ihrse facts will not surprise those who know 4
anything about John Bulis career in trupic- l
al Countries. VIII r. his true Halure can dis /
play ils'lf unchecked by Exeter Hall fanati-
;lsni. The OH elton that we make Is less 20
bis own ming slaves himself. than To bis affect
nag such virlu"us horror Of the same prae- /
lice in others.-N. u. Hrraia