The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-23

reached. Horses do not thrive well In this climate,
for long Journeys. Negro labor being the cheapest
they are selected to do the work OF the quadruped
reach "f DesosS Rsireshments are fur rnSs
while on the journey. and even articles OF luxury
provided IN the most profuse ana generous
Close by Castle Desoza are the slave barracoons
OF this noted Portuguese r0bber they are OF I'M
the ground. with stout timbers and stone. The
doors and pigeon-hOle windows lace lnwardlv, the
circle. outside Of the ring runs paIisaae fence
made OF stout bamboo poles, securely driven
into the ground and dashed together. This fence
all these kennels with 10000 human beings the
largest number Of slaves they have ever held at
any one time. and the picture OF this African tene-
ment Will be complete.
on the occasion OF our visit the barracoons were
fortunately empty. Probably made so on purpose
by the lord OF the CASTLE that we might not Observe
the wretched inmates and the misery they en-
CURED; There was no apparent necessity however,
Spaniards, eight Arabs and the rest Bena men
who were doing patrol duty on the "deatL line' OF
the enclosure. unlCSs as we half suspected at the
time, II was to prevent tho barrac0Ons from being
secretly fired by some rebeliious black under mis-
slOnary influence who was cognzant OF the hor-
rors perpetratcd within.
THE SLAVE MARKET or wHYDAH.
where most Of the dstestaoe trallc Ia human
from any OF the great naval Powers, was the next
place vlslred. This place is located in the very
traders as the social p0liicaI ana financial centre
OF the Kingdom. 1t is constructed almost wholly
@ w se % as Ss
tween. Here and there were some pieces OF mat
ting which served as awnings 10 keep out the rays
OF the hot, burning MONDAY sun. The roof was
thafched with palm leaves, the whole structure
presenting the appearance Of q continuous line OF
The woodwork was covered with rude carvings OF
snakes and lizards, spear heads and shields. The
hours. Then the natives gather there to learn The
news nom the back villages when the bush people
come In with tue wares and trinkcts they have
pavilion OF somewhat more pretentious appear
ance which is sor apart as King Gobos council
above the root, were decorated with number OF
small, swalIow.tailed streamers made OF red and
nags which are carried by his Amazons when he
goes forth on one OF his marau0ing expeditions.
doing guard duty around the pavilion when We
arrived. Some carried spears and others short
baded heavy swords which looked for all the
rled long shield made OF bul0ck's hide, bearing
strange devices, daubed on with thick coating OF
Dominating. These, no doubt wero Intended
to represent the insignia OF their rank.
A ss We assn .S
possess us Iay0raby with their good looks. A
more tdIotic, brutal set OF faces VIC never wit
messed before, even ON this coast Their covering
consisted OF small piece or native cloth wound
around their waist and allowed to lan half way
down thoir lower limbs. and their only head gear
was the thick. woolly covering which nature had
given them All OF the amazons we saw had their
oroaa' nat noses n"Se perced and large metal ring
piece Of bone stuck through their lower lip which
gave them nost hideous appearance
The market was crowded with bush people
awaiting the Kings arrival. There was q great
deal OF gossip going on. Some OF them were offer
chickens small beef cattle on tho hoof, goats
meat and tropical fruits OF all kind, and keeping
up terrible tamult and yelling generally wnllo
trade with Them Fortunately Tor US we were
under Desoza's protection ana were not annoyed
by them. Several renegade whites-s0cal pariahs
from the more civilized portions OF Gods EARTH
and who are forced by their many crimes to be-
linen suits aud carrying sun SHADES in their hands
Trey were oil putting away at their cigars and
seemed desrous OF impressng rs with favorable
them had that indescribablo and peculiarly sim
lister look about the lines OF his face which
thief and raey we're
known as :. sIave dealers, ana nad attended
i s q as Sa r
fresh haul Of some 800 or AGO cap,ives his last
stealing expedition, and these white rascals were
determined to re on hand In time to g0bble them
all up before TOO much active competition should
SGT IN from the other white traders, who we're
These traders arc usually made up OF men OF all
nationaties, but the Spanish ana Portuguese ele-
When not buying Or selling slaves they seem to
spend most OF their time IN debauchery and gam.
bling Rum Drinking great extent is not
owing to me prevalence Of the iover 81 certain
seasons Of the year,. The whites We saw seem
fever gets very bad tnsy either retire
into the interior, where most .. them have sleir
OF sss 70 in
one OF the adjoining islands, We next looked il at
the slave pen which IS directly In the rear OF the
a high riesrs icurr constructed OF BAMBOO were
confined about 300 wretched looking beings, Of
both sexes, IN an entre state .! nudity. They
ceivable attitude and lay there almost motoniess.
Their very appearance was enough to excite the
II they were half iamished, and Kept up low
moaning wall, as II the "death song" they were
said to 1s singing r. them Of the un.
were taken from the country back OF Enk, on the
Calibar River, and were said to be cannibas.
gerous tribe, who cook and eat every Dahomeyan
they capture. In other words. they were Wild
from the orang-outangs and gibbons which are to
be seen on al sides and around us, as part OF the
good supply Of food was furnished them,
consisting Of baked .yams. raw fish and goats
meat unlocked and bloody which they devoured
was to DO seen. They had all been bought by
Desoza himself. and sent on to his slave pens on
'''' ''-A'' i DI IS Hhri OF CASTE.
French sloop-ofwar arrived later In the day
and several OF her Officers coming on shore we
soon scraped an acquaintance with them. In the
evening the Portuguese anu spanish traders and
residents got up fandangO In our honor, at which
We all attended and passed q jolly night OF 1t. We
were ali somewhat surprised, however. to see the
distractions OF caste which were carried out at this
fandango The half breeds would not dance with
those OF shade or two darker color nor would
the mulaLtoes iraternizc socially ct tho ball with
the pure blacks. although all were invited and
stood upon an equal social position. BY daybreak
by the loud beating OF tonl-toms,
the blowing OF conch norns, intersperscd
with the noisy changing Of cymbals and by great
cOmmOti0n generally, which proceeded from the
town. AS this was almost OF daily occurrence but
very little attention was paid to 1t at the time.
Descza, however, came In shortly after and an
nounccd that King Gobo would arrive IN about an
hour lie would then Introduce us OF the Kings
council.
y Before starting ont. however, slave girl be-
longing TO one OF the white traders of Whydah,
with rather pretty figure and lace for q hair
brced AraD, and having bright, shining leopard
like eyes, brought US some delicious not coffee and
stick or two OF sweet cocoa and basket OF freshly
nicKad oranges and rlpe ngs with which to break