The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-17
TALES OF THE BORDERS
The SLAVE

| shall not wound your feelings by all th
details of this disgusting traffic. w
longed much for hing Peppel, the sovereign
Of the place, to come on board to breal
trade, as it is called for no native mer-
chant dare either to buy or sell until he ha
I got his dash, or present, and made hl
selection Of the goods that are on board, a
the same time that be fixes the price him
self AT times bis Majesty is very back
ward, and a long time elapses before b,
COMES on board for he is as cunning anC
political as any European statesman tha
ever penned a protocol; but the captain,
who had been often here before, knew wei
the customs Of the place, and bow to entIct
hIu quickly to bis wishes. In the morn
ng, alter we were all prepared, be sent bis
boat 10 the town, under the command OF the
mate, who carried private dash for his
Majesty, conss sting Of a blue uniform all
covered with blu, lace, 80 stiff that it would
scarcely fold. This bad the desired effect,
for the answer was that he would visit the
Queen Charlotte next day; and this was
tue ulnth snce our arrival.
In the morning all was again hustle, pre-
pairing for sumptuOus dinner for the king,
in which there behooved not to be forgot a
bUge plum-puddlng, and roast pig, Two
fishes upon which depend the good or i'll
humor OF his Majesty and the larger the
fragments are, the better is his bumOr, as
all that Is not consumed at the time is
taken ashore with him. 1t was necessary
that everything Of value ~ANuld be carefully
put out of sight for the mUu- it attracts
the attention Of the king e-Kl-y -aly4A4l.-
tune until be has obtained it. There IS
no use in refusing If you mean to trade !;
and all YOU can do, Is 10 make the Oest
terms for yourself you can, on the principle
Of present for present.
About eleven o'clock, We beard from
the shore a confused sound Ut drums and
horns and soon after, the royal canoe,
formed of one single tree, put OF IN great
state, with nearly one hundred men pad
ding her along, her colUrs flying, and
about a dozen musicians 10 her bow, some
blowing upon antelopes' horns, others beat
inU upon drums and other things, and the
remainder chanting or singing ID voice as
meiodious as the horns and drums. Ills
Majesty sat upon platform, III an arm-
char. n the centre OF the canoe, surround
ed by bis fayorites, all OF whom he invites
90 his feasts. They were dressed agreed
NV 10 their tastes-hls Male>ty's uniform
CONSISTING Of cooked hat, a blue laced
coat and red vest, with shirt rutfled al
breast and wristbands, and about six or sew
en- Yards Of calico wrapped round bis IoIns
while his legs and feet were wrapped II
flannel, as he was at this time suffering
from gout lie appeared to be about tttN
wears Of age, pOrtly in his appearance, bu
extremely fat When he was boosted uPoT
deck his attendants carried him, char ant
All. into the cabin, where be passed 10
vial afternoon, and matters were arranged
to the satisfaction Of all parties. i he KIN
had seven puncheons Of brandy, and oihe
articles In the same proportion, for his dash
winch was INN edlateiy put on shore.
Next forenoon, our decks were crOwdc
by the native merchants, bargaining ior th
cargo. which was soon arranged, and tn
J half Of the value paid IN adNance-a cu'
tom rendered necessary, from the trader
not having the slaves IN the town, but b'
ing obliged 70 20 up the river to purchas
them at the new moon. On the night III
fore they set out, the sound OF drums an
horns never ceased, while parties wit
Egbted torches, were to he seen all alOn
the beach, down to tie waters ed ge, plac
ing offerings Of fowls, manila, and GRE
fish. upon stakes, for the use OF the
lew or god, that be might give the '. pro
perous voyage. ] he object Of their wor
. .bip Is The guiana, creature having niue
the same appearance as the alligator, b
smaller and 20 completely domestcate
that they 90 out and IN the huts at plea
ure. Indeed, the natives build huts f
them. where v.ctuals are regularly place
every day.
On the morning, they set off with the
canoes loaded deep with goods, aud we
armed. OF the proceeds of this expedite
we only got twenty slaves, with assuran'
that our cargo would be completed ne
/! trip, as they had made arrangements mp Il
country for more of those we receive
at this time, all had to get their hurts f
mented and dressed, 50 much had thr
been injured, from the manner in whl
they had been secured by the traders al
Il was some days before they were col
pletely recovered. The gives we put
did rot gall the ankles, while they were !
cure: but their greatest ineonvenisce v
that On whatever occasion one had to mo7
the companion Of bis chain had to acco
Il. pany him. During our tedious stay,
i was nv duty often TO 20 to King lie
eI pers town for water, anl there l r
=, collect well, met handsome young
male slave who used to weep much, a
ID importune me, in Negro English, to y
"a chase and carry her 10 the West Ind
lus with me. | was much surprised at this
quest Tor the blacks are in general "
:" averse to leave the country and havl
II, made inquiry into her history, found 1t
IL. be most cruel. ! never was so sorry TO
slave as | was for that young creatu
She had been taken captive at the S
prisal and plunder Of ber native town