Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-17

From the African Coast. 1
We are favored with the following intereating
extracts from letter received In this city from
the African coast:
U 9. FLAG SHIP CoxsTKLLATIos,
81 Pauls de Loanda. Aug. 20, 1850.
We are again at anchor of LoaRda, after an
absence Of near i've months during which ume
we visited Madeira, Porto Praya, Porto Grande,
and Princes Island.
A few days since we Were not little surprised.
20 ace the steamer Niagara come steaming briskly
up the bay Sne Is en- route for Japan, and touched
here for coal and provisi ons-snce sailed. During
her scjourn we made quite respectable display,
counting six American men-of-war-Constella-
tion, Niagara, Mohican, San Jacinto, Marion and
Mystic.
The steamer Mohican captured, q few DAYS
since, ship having on board about nine hundred
and ninety slaves; the San Jscinto one with be-
tween i've and six hundred; and the Mystic one
without any negroes on board. So you see the
steamers now DO 10th the work work quite P,sttiy Our
we fast ship, and captured brig last winter
during my sojourn at Loanda, which fun Of course
missed She was not, however, condemned
| slave catching, African cruising 10 more than
tame.
Loanda looks much as when we left last winter
The squadron went TO sea and left me here, where
spent about month experimenting the build
Naval Depot.
Loanda is a dilapidated old town, situated on
| the margin, and at the head of deep bay, bear
| ing the same name. II has many large buildings,
some Of them pretily situated; also several cathe
drals, one now entirely without roof The whole
place has gloomy and dingy appearance. Some
| OF the large houses seem about In keeping with
the old church of fallen roof, and set them down
\ as having hourished about the same time. On
| one noticed date In a wall much defaced, yet
could make out 1853, Zone of the officers informed
| me he saw one date 14i6,) which is no doubt
about the time this antique looking town was
most prosperous In those days the slave trade
L being huiidinUs
put up by slaveTs. Near the old custom house. on
/ pier, still may be seen large stone chair,
elaborately chiseled, and In tolerable good state
| Of preservation, which was occupied, II is said,
by priest during the embarkatOn Of slaves In
DAYS Of yore, whose Cflce was to bless each slave
an he passed into the boat receiving a certain fee
for each one. or course this consistent In
| those early times; but would not much please
| Harper's Ferry Brown discip plies. l have an idea
the trade is still familiar to the Portuguese and
| Spaniards Of Loanda.
| Scarce any English Is spoken here except In
| the two American mercantile houses; scarce any
tfng but negroes to be seen, but no lack Of them
| | assure you. They can be bought for about $50.
| Those who can speak little Spanish or Portu-
guese Of course command more money.
wish you could see the interior people coming
| In, laden with beeswax, elephants tusks, &c
Sometimes six or eight hundred may be seen
| making their way to the town, resembling SO
many ants, for certainly they are quite az black
about the same proportion to the carrier as those
l Of the little insects. They are indeed, rude
| specimens Of the human family. Soon as they
reach town the greedy traders readily relieve
| them Of their burdens. Then they group abou,
| the streets, basking in the scorching sand, with
| which the place seems filed, or crowd about a
| few burning smbers each one cooking or scorch-
Ing corn cassani, to suit their respective tastes
then filling up with the rough food, with equal
| lack Of ceremony. Such crowds present not the
| most beautiful picture TO look upon, and assure
| you their proximity is Objectionable, on account
| Of a certain accompaniment which in this no,
| climate necessarily pervades such a crowd. You
must not, however, suppose that there Is no other
way Of getting over Loanda sand besides pass ng
through so interesting a crowd. The Portuguese
use a novel little fixing which is carried by two
| slaves, called "Machill2.n BY this arrange
| ment the motive power becomes intelligent fol
your special comfort, or in other words the horse
! becomes also the driver. All you have to do il
TO step into ''Machilla" and intimate what poin
you wish to make, then draw your curtains and
rive at your destination, for so smoothly do thest
/ fellows walk, you scarce realize you are moving
The Portuguese have also introduced a new
mode Of riding at Madeira since was there In
1877. sled, on which nice spring carriage II
| arranged, drawn by well fed and well cared fol
oxen, and as they jog along with their easy gait
} | their glossy hides almost rejecting the sled,
| kind Of lullaby feeling s brought about, bearing
| no analogy to those break-llmb apprehension
which are ever In attendance when darting alon,
| behind a 2 40 horse.
| We are daily expecting the sloop Portsmouth
|. whom presume we will again make q cruise, {
mean on her arriyal.)