Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-17
EAST AFRICAN SLAVERY.

The Horrors of a Slave Dhow-A Capture
off 1tadagascar-Two Hundred and Fifty
victims Rescued from bondage.
The London Daily Telegraph prints
the subjoined letter, sent by "blue
jacket" serving in her Majesty's ship
Vulture. 1t will be read with interest
for the simple hut striking picture it
draws of the Infamous trade in slaves:
ALDEN, December 6.-Dear Mother.
and Father: I now have the pleasure
of writing these few lines to you, hop
ing they will find you In good health.
as, [ am happy to say, this leaves me at
present-thank God for it. Dear
mother, now will give you the full
particulars of that large slave dhcw
that was captured off the coast of NADIA
gascar on the 18th of August, 1874 AS
we were cruising along the cast of
Madagascar, in the morning, toward
Malunga, sail was reported by the
masthead man standing on in the direc-
ton of our port
Our captain decided to keep to his
rule and so after her, which we accord
ingly did at full speed, and by l o'clock
hailed her to lower her sail On her
poop were forty Arabs, and no slaves
were visible. "Lower the dipgy and
go on board, Mr.. Hamilton, and if you
find any slaves on board hail the ship,
and I'll send you hawser" A few
strokes of the oars placed the boat
alongside the dhow, and up sprang our
officer, followed by the interpreter. All
was suspense aboard the Vulture, for
by this time it was half believed that
she was SLAYER. Soon was heard the
exciting cry, 'She's a SLAYER, sir. !"
Three hearty cheers were given by the
Vultrre's crew. Chow many has she
on board?'' inquired our captain.
"They say zoe, sir Another cheer
was given by our men. Send the
dingy for the hawser." Plenty of
willing hands passed the hawser
In the boat, and in few mo-
ments the dhow was hauled along
side on our starboard quarter. Then
began that sickening task of transfer
ring the poor captives from the dhow to
the ship. [ must say [ never saw men
more noble in my life. Even the con-
stitutional grlmblers forgot their COM
plants, and came forward to assist In
carrying the weak and helpless crea-
lures from their prison. So cramped
and emaciated were they that some
could not walk without assistance, and
most of them had to be carried in the
arms of our men. Tenderly and care
fully did these strong, rough fellows
bear their helpless burdens, all covered
as they were with filth, the accumula-
ton Of their long Imprisonment in the
pestilential hold. Now and then q baby
came to some ones share. There were
seven on board, and as the little ones
were borne along they opened their
eyes with wonderment One of these
babies was born on board the dhow,
and another lost it's mother in that short
but fatal voyage. Those who had suf-
fered the most were children, whose
ages ranged from three to seven
years. They had evidently been
unable to hold their own against the
stronger ones In the scramble for food
which must have taken place In the
dhow at feeding time. The stronger
thrlyed, while the weaker starved. Of
the l37 children, at least 80 were at
deaths door, and about 80 more were
nothing but skeletons. It IS almost GER
tain many of these had scarcely tasted
food during their Imprisonment in the
dhow. In they poured, living stream,
until our decks were covered with a
black mass of human beings Of all ages,
including women so old that it is diff
cult to understand what object these
dealers IN human flesh could have In
shipping such worthless articles for the
slave market. At last the stream
stopped. "They are all out of the
dhow, sir, replied our jolly tars
"Have another look, and make quite
sure, said our gallant captain. Well
was it they did, for In dark corner of
the hold, buried all but her head in the
sand which the dhow carried for ballast.
lay poor old woman. She was dug out
and borne on board. Tt makes the blood
tingle in our veins to think these
Arabs could be so inhuman. In the
meantime the Arabs had been sent on
board; but these had suffered no priya-
tons, and were able to walk, and as
they came over the side the ships cor
poral and corporal of marines stripped
them to search for arms or money
Nothing being found, they had their
clothes returned, and were marched
on to the poop and placed under a SEN
try's charge to wait until they could be
turned over to the tender mercies of
the Sultan Of Zanzibar-a fate they
dread very much. There were two wo-
men on board who seemed past hope of
recovery-the one that was dug out of
the sand, and another with an infant in
her arms, Or rather at her back, as these
people carry their children. Several
others appear to be unable to recover
from the cramped posture they have
been kept In SO long time. The great
er part were suffering dreadfully from
dlarrhea. Forty-one men, fifty nine
women and 1877 children were taken out
Of the dhow from between her decks,
where they were packed unable to move
for the VIII lie voyage.
The New Tariff.
1t is officially announced that the new
rates OF duty take effect March 3, except
on goods named in the bill in ware