New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-27

salants. With its proverbal obstinacy, after
charging one maj, who steps away, while another,
with loud scream. thrusts the long stiff spear into
it's hind quarters il turns fercey from the fugitive
to the fresh antagonist. Thus the battle RACES,
until the elephant losipg both breath and neart
attempts to escape. Its enemies then renew their
efforts, and at eDgtb the huge prey, overcome by
pain and the loss of blood which flows from hun
dred Casbes, is forced to bite the dust The We
tors celebrate their triumph with song and dance
They then Gu, out the tusks with small sharp axes,
and devour the rich marrow on the spot. The
hunt concludes with grand feast Of fat and gar
haze and the hunters return home laden with
ivory with oyals of hide for shields, and with fes-
toops of raw and odorous meat spltted upon long
poles.
With regard to the social and moral condition OF
the East African, the descriptions of Capt Bur-
ton do not afford materials for any fatteriug pic
lures. The main characteristic Of this people is
updisguised selfshness. He has no sense of graft
tude, but deems the reception of favor the proof
of the weakness of his benefactor, and his own
strength Hence, he does not recognize even the
terested motives, ia virtue Of which be does not
know the name. He is exceedingly improvident,
taking no thought for the morrow, through inyete-
rate carelessness and stupidity, yet 80 greedy of
gain that he will not tell traveller the road with
cut present of beads. But not even the love OF
gain can overawe the leviy and laxity of his mind,
or operate as stimulus on his iDgained lsziaess.
Marriage with this people is mere matter OF buy
ing and selling. A man must marry because 1t is
necessary TO his comfort, ard hence the woman
becomes marketable commodity. Her father
sells Der for the highest price he can get extcrt-
iug from the sutton as macy cows, clothes, and
brass wire bracelets as he can afford. She thus
forms part of the live stock of the buyer who
may sell her at profit; Or if she be taken from
hun By another man. he RECEIVERS what would be
her current price in the slave market. The benefit
to be derived from numerous progeny forms
strong induceneut to msrrisge. Polygamy is un-
limited and the chiefs pride themselves on the
number of their wives, which varies from twelve to
three hundred. 1t ia no Disgrace for an unmarried
woman to become the mother of family, though
after marriage the wife il held to strcter account
Divorce il easily effected by tuning the wife out
of doors, and the chi dren becoming the property
Of the father. Tbers is nothing that can bear the
name Of domestic attachment. Husband, wife,
ard children have divided interests, and live to-
gether with hardly the semb!ance of affection
When childhood is passed, the father and son be-
come natural enemies, after the manner of Wild
beasts.
The neral degradation Of East Africa, according
to Capt. Burton, is due, in great degree, to the
influence Of the slaye-trade. The tribes are no
longer III state of nature, and from their inter
course with strangers, have derived nothing but
corruption The origin of slavery in East africa is
vailed in the darkness of antiquity. At present, 1t
is almost universal. In many parts of the country
the tribes are rather importers of slaves, than ex
porters. Although they hdDsp others, they will
not sell their fellows, except when convicted of
crime Still, in case of necessity, man will part
with his parents, wives, and children, and wien
they are all gone, he will cell himself without
shame. The practice of slavery, beside demoral
ling and brutaziDg the race, is an effectual pre-
ventive to increase Of population and progress TO-
ward civilization, leading to border wars and To-
teitine confusion. Slaves are the constant object
of feud and foray. The process Of kidnapping is
an inyeterate custom; the inhabitants of the land
have thus become wolves TO one another; their
only ambition is to dispeople and destroy; and the
blow thus dealt to thinly populated country
strikes at the very root of progress and prosperity.
The slaves retain in thraldom the savage traits
which distinguish both the people and animals Of
their native lsnds. They are trapped, but not
tanned; they become captyes, but not civilized.
However trained they make the worst servants in
the world. slave household is model of dis
comfort. They are ingenious in all sorts of per-
versity ard mischief, which, rightly directed, would
make them invaluable. The old definition Of q
slave, that he is "an animal that eats much, and
does as little as possible holds good in East Africa
He is always clumsy, dirty, and careless. He will
never labor, except on compulsiOn. Even the ill.,
dueement of stick cannot make him continue bis
eIertion, for any length of time However well
be may begin, he soon tires of his task. He seems
to be incapable of learning. His first impulse, like
that of the ass is not to obey. He is bound to de-
ceiye for his force is in fraud He steals instinct
lively, Ike nsgpe. The slave is almost always
half naked. Whatever clothes he obtains from his
master are pawDed or sold in the bazaar He pill
fers almost openly for the means Of gratifying his
love of debauchery. AS regards the female slaves,
in the opinion of Capt Burton, the less said about
them the better. They are equally defciett in
modesty and decorum, and in grace and beauty.
The commerce of East Africa presents some
points of interest. The principal imports are do
mestics and piece goods, plain and unblesched