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

dl Illo pumps, NLIo SnectS Vi spray, Ihdt
broke over our decks continually, drenched
us to the skin. Two of my shipmates
wept and prayed alternately, and even the
mate seemed to think that his time had
come. But the captain was as cool as a
cucumber, and sang amid the storm such
songs as "Will Watch, the Bold Snug
gler," g Bay of Biscay," &c. He was in
his glory. He took his turn at the pumps
with us, and behaved in all respects like
gallant tar of Old England, which he GER
tainly was. AS the seamen became IA
tigued with their labor at the one-armed
landlady,"I heard them mutter about 'the
/, nigger." l did not know what they meant
But the mate rushed forward to the fore
castle through tie binding spray, and I
heard him scolding and swearing prodi-
giously at some person down below 1t
appeared that the negro of whom | have
spoken, had actually gone to sea with us,
and had remained in the forecastle, where
he was continually drenched by torrents of
salt water which ran down upon him.
The alteration between our mate and
the negro was terrible. The mate was
bruiser, and the negro obstinate as Ba-
laam's ass. The mate swore and fought,
while the negro roared and snorted like
bull. Finally, the officer was obliged to
give up the contest, and coming aft, he told
the captain that the id nigger pre-
tended to be sick, and refused to come on
deck. The captain then went forward, and,
with gentle words, persuaded the negro to
come to the pumps.
Up came the sturdy black man, closely
wrapped in tattered blanket, and as wet
as if he had been dipped in the ocean.
His halfshut eyes, as he encountered the
light of day, the filthiness of his skin and
clothing, and the misanthropic aspect which
he assumed, rendered him very unat-
tractive object; but the seamen roared and
swore at him, and in the height of their
terror, were willing to believe that this
ominous parsonage was the breeder of the
storm and the author of all their calami-
ties. He came aft, and seemed to prepare
himself to go to work at the pumps; but
he was suddenly missing. Away went
the mate forward again, and again was
heard his horrible denunciations and the
negro's dogged replies. Neither threats
nor persuasions could induce him to re-
| turn.
| Night began to settle down upon the
ocean, and the dark waves, with crests of
fire, rose still more fercely around us.
| Until midnight we were enveloped in
spray, and the leak gained on the vessel in
spite Of the pumps,
Stand by to throw the cargo over
board r was now the command of the
captain, and the light from the cabin lamp
cleaned upon an axe in the hand of the
mate. We took up several planks to
throw them into the sea, when the captain
suddenly said, Stop!" There was lull
in the gale, and from that moment the
wind decreased in violence
We reached Valparaiso day or two af-
terward, and when the negro went ashore
| cannot tell. | never saw him on board
the Bio Bio after the gale. l left the brig
in Valparaiso, and having a little money,
took it into my head to pay visit to St.
Jago, large city about one hundred miles
from the coast. travelled on foot and
alone.
In crossing mountain not many hours
before l reached the city, | assembled above
the clouds which lay spread out beneath
me like an ocean, the plain below being
entirely hidden from view. After ascend
ing still further, | encountered cloud
which rested on the very summit of the
mountain. Through the mist, 1 observed
several dark figures moving about, and on
approaching them, | discovered that they
were a company of muleteers roasting a
large pumpkin. They saluted me with
grave politeness, and one of their number,
drawing out long knife, approached the
pumpkin and chopped off large piece,
which he presented me. | took the pump
kin, and while returning thanks, caught
sight OF very black negro, standing by a
mule and muttering to himself. On closer
examination, detected my obstinate ship
mate of the Bio Bio He did not know me
until | reminded him that we had sailed to-
gether. He instantly betrayed great Joy
at the recognition, shook my hand warm
ly, and evinced the kindest feelings to-
wards me. He said in broken English:
"Dey thinks to make me work in de old
Blaneo. | never works only when please.
NY master is God. | talk to him often.
was talking to him just now. l pray all
de time. Dem men in de Bio Bio tink dey
was going to die. Very well. If God
tell you shall die, den you is dead, and if
dat man not tell you shall die, den you
will not die. If you sink into de water,
God is dere too. God is everywhere"
went on my way to st. Jago, and af-
ter stay of several weeks, returned OH
foot to Valparaiso.
had not been long in Valparaiso be-
fore was showed into calaboose or pris-
on. Mere sel6shness might prevent my
committing any crime that might tarnish
my reputation. | was shut up for rebel
ling against what | considered tyrannical
authority.
After / had been confined couple of
weeks, / heard, one afternoon, great
noise in the outer prison. The guard
were swearing, the lieutenant of the pris-
on was squealing, in his peculiar manner,
and the voice of the jailor, with the rat