Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-24
BLACKS Arb sold.
HORRORS OF The AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE OF
TO-DAY.
Grizzlies Pracfcei By the Raiders TIA. Baas De.
sEigdon-Aged and Dsfornsd Cagdyss Saot
D0wn Like RAsbiS-Drsggsi
By The Heels.
Nsg York Aarr,issr.


posed that the subject Of African slay-
cry would be one Of undying interest to
the people of this country, II must be
admitted that the American press has
been In comparison with some OF the
English newspapers, sadly neglectful OF
OF any consideration Of the horrors OF
the slave trade as IL exists to-day.
Itcannot be that nation which spent
so royalty OF blood and money in stamp
ing out forever from American soil the
faint Of negro slavery can be regardless
OF or indifferent 10 the fact that this
traffic in human beings is still going
forward with all its unspeaksble atroc-
tiles in another portion OF the globe.
The London Gruphic has been at much
pains TO obtain full information concern
ing the present status OF the African
slave trade, and from that journal the
following descriptions and illustration
(sketChed by an EngltShman on the
spOt) are taken.
The African slave trade, says the
Grdghic, is dying hard, but 1t is doomed.
The stormiDg and capture OF Mponda,
on the Upper Shire; the freeing OF near
ly three hundred slaves, bought IN
Oponda's country by traders from Kill
wa, Kivluge and Lindi, and Oponda's
consent 10 the entire abolition Of slav-
cry throughout his dominions are
achievements which rebound in no
small degree to the credit OF
Mr.. II. II. Johnston, the Commits
sioner OF British Central Africa, and
and taken together with the uniform
success OF his expedition on both sides
OF the Nyassa are full Of promise that
freedom is dawning, even In the heart oil
Africa. The slave raiders are lighting
hard in defense Of their Ubiquitous trat-
&c, and both Mr.. Johnston and Captain
Mcguire had some remarkable escapes
during the hostilities AZ MakanjtraS In
October, when their steamer was hred
on, and the town was captured only
after two days fighting; but, neyerthe-
less, the latest adyices from Zanzibar
are encouraging enough TO justify the
hope that the results OF the expedition
will be enduring. AT 1.-THE present junct-
ure. therefore, an altogether exception
al interest attaches 20 the revelations OF
the slave trade contributed by Mr.. Ii.
II. Johnston, from which this account
is taken:
1T may be questioned whether, not
withstanding all that has been said and
written on the slave trade, It's horrors
are realized. Little is really known As
TO the conditions OF life In the heart OF
the Dark Continent. African villages
are. no doubt, seldom peaceful, and the
environment probably Of most tribes Is
always one OF battle, murder and sud
den death. But none OF their enemies
are so dreaded by the negroes as the
Arab slave-hunters. Many OF the tribes
are not. 10 Is true, clean-handed In
this matter. They have themselves
levied war upon their neighbors for
years, selling their captiyes 20 the
traders. But sooner or later Ne
meSis comes upon them, and they are
themselves suddenly exposed TO
the same fate. Notwithstanding the
most elaborate precautions against sur
prise, the result is nearly always the
same. Tho Arabs are too experienced
10 let their movements be known, and
as often as not the negro scouts have
only time TO run back into the doomed
village, sDoutluB ouG tuat es'ap' - 'lh-
possible. II resistance Is attempted By
the lighting men tits almost always In
vain. The slave hunters always come
In strong force, and are so ruthless In
their attack that they are rarely beaten
off. 1t is known, too, that they punish
resistance by instant death, aud many
natives at once lay down their arms aud
surrender al discretion. In few min
utes all the inhabitants Of the village
who have not been killed are chained,
the hunters soon bring In. dead or alive,
any who may have attempted to escape.
If by chance any Of the Mohammedans
are killed, they wreak q savage vengence
on their helpless captlyes. They