Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-11
scenes on Ronrd n SLAYER.

4AAC Adsh h4GNGL bCuh AlAkO AAHg NGoL va
captured by the U. s. Steamer Crusader, and
was an unknown vessel under French colors
A letter from on board the Crusader states
that the loathsome odor of crowded slave
ship was distinguished at intervals as the
steamer approached her, and also by the
boats which boarded her, when at a consid-
cradle distance. The colors and papers of
the SLAYER were all thrown overheard when
her officers found a capture inevitable. She
is said to have had Portuguese papers.
As soon as the steamers boats reached the
barque, the poor Africans with tremendous
shout forced of the matches and sprang on
deck by hundreds. The letter says:
"They climbed up all along the rail they
hung on the shrouds; they clustered like
swarming bees in the rigging, while rose
from sea to sky the widest aeclamations of
delight; they danced, they leaped and
waved their arms in the air and Screamed
and yelled in a discordant but pathetic con-
cert.
There was one thing, however, even more
touching than all this outery of barbaric re-
joicing. Ny attention was attracted to a
group consisting of somewhat more than
hundred women withdrawn apart from the
noisy men. Their behavior was in strong
contrast with that of the others, and was
characteristic of their sex. Entirely nude,
but innocently unabashed, they sat or knelt
in fearful and silent thankfulness. Several
Of them held infants in their arms, and
through their tears, like sunshine from be-
hind a cloud, beamed an expression Of the
greatest gratitude and happiness. The men
fnolrad though fhav bod inst haar pafsad
from despair to the most exultant gladness
but with the women it seemed as though res
ignation and patient suffering had been
changed into hope and gentle Joy. t.r...-
could not help being reminded of Mungo
Parks simple and touching account of the
kindness and gentleness of the African wo-
men as contrasted with the unfeeling cruelty
of the men-a fact confirmed by my own
experience in different parts of Guinea and
along the western coast Of Africa.
Another striking thing about these women
was their submissive meekness-a trait of
character well described by Michelet. He
says the " African woman is of gentle and
ohddlike humility-never sure of pleasing
always ready to do anything in order to
displease less. No tyranny wearies her obe-
dience-she can only tremble and ask your
pardon" Of course there are some excep-
lions TO this rule, as in the Amazon army Of
the King of Dahomey, which consists Of
1000 women trained to deeds of blood and
raDine a
The first use the slaves made Of their lib
erty was to satisfy their hunger and thirst,
which they did by breaking into the bread
barrels and water casks, and then running
about, eating, drinking, dancing and scream
ing all at once. 1t mattered little TO them
what sort of vessels they drank from-buck-
cts, boxes and troughs were all brought into
reguisition. even saw several fellows, hap
Py and delighted, with piece Of bread in
one hand and wooden spittoon, full Of mud
dy water, in the other. . I,sI5s
As soon as their appetites were satisfied,
the African fondness for fnery began to show
itself, and all the loose articles in the ship
were employed as personal ornaments.
Some fastened Delaying pins to their wrists
some tied old rusty tin kettles around their
waists, and some strutted proudly about,
with copper ladies hung round their necks.
By this time, however, detachment of
marines arrived from the Crusader, and order
was at once restored. The negroes were
clothed with pieces of canvas, and the cap
tain, supercargo and crew sent on board the
Crusader as prisoners. They stated that the
barque had no name, and that all their pa
pers had been thrown overheard with the
oolors. They seemed to bear their loss with
philosophic equanimity. Such a aeontingen-
cy had evidently been regarded by them as
part Of their risk and they were not unpre-
pared for it. The captain is Frenchman,
as is also the supercargo, and the crew are
mostly spanisrds, with few Frenehmen.
The negroes were selected from, among three
thousand prisoners Of war, recently taken by
the King of Dahomey. They were brought
from Whydah, large town on the slave
coast, in the Blight Of Benin-the seaport Of
the renowned kingdom of Dahomey. They
are much superior to the "COngos," who
usually compose the cargOes of slavers, not
only in physique, but also in intelligence.
Nearly all are in excellent health, which, no
doubt, is owing to the careful arrangements
made for their comfort on board the barque.
In number they amount 70 about four hnn-
dred and fifty, and the slave-deck affords
ample accommodations for them all. Dur
ing passage Of forty-fve days from the
gulf of Guinea, seven only have died, which
Is certainly very small number" III
Nor RETURNED.-Federick Douglass Paper
Of last.week, says the Syracuse Journal is
rnisinformed in regard to the return Of Mr..
Douglas from England.