The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-07-16
LAST CARGO.
SIMoN-PURE AFRICANS.
The Last Cargo Of Slaves Brought
From The Dark Continent to
American Soil.

When the last vessel that brought
human chattels to our shores shipped
| from Mobile harbor the war cloud,
which little later darkened the whole
land with its pall-like shadow, had not
appeared above the horizon. When
this good ship, returning with some
thing more than $50 uncivilized, tear
possessed Africans on board, dropped
anchor in Mobile bay the conflict was
in progress which made them valueless
to the man who had bartered a ship
load of lumber for them.
A short distance out of Mobile there
is swamp that includes an area of
many acres. Out beyond this swamp
there are fertile heights and piny
woods, and 1t was here that the last
slave ship discharged It's cargo and the
ebon- black. half-clad men, women and
chiden of which it was composed
were left, unhelped and without the
power to make themselves understood
to demonstrate their fitness to survive
Or to perish as the case might be.
They did not perish, for although
they could not talk in language that
could be understood by any human
being on this side of the sea except
themselves, they could live on what
eyer it was the good pleasure of their
employers to pay them and this was no
important factor in their success, for
being content with small remuneration
their services were In constant demand.
Thus they not only survived, but as
| time went on, in a small way, they
waxed prosperous in the strange
but not unkindly land where tate had
cast them.
The little homes have an appear
ance OF thrift and taste which is not
| found in the home of the American
born colored man in the South. Vines,
| Towering plants and shrubs are care
fully cultivated, and everything both
within and without is scrupulously
clean. There is about both the men
and the women, and even the children,
an independence and dignity which at
once inspire attention and a certain
respect.
Although it is now between thirty
and forty years since they we're taken
from their native land, without their
consent, and incontinently set down
where they now have their homes,
they still keep up the tribal govern
ment of their native country, and are,
as far as the community in which they
live is concerned, law unto them
selves.
When the Dahomeys, who exchang-
ed them with the American trader tor
ship load of lumber, came down in
darkness on their little village in the
interior of Africa their king escaped,
although many of the royal family
were captured. These persons OF high
degree have always been deferred to,
and they settle all disputes and differ
ences. They maintain the best OF Or
der among their dusky subjects, who
do not, however, pay them anything
more substantial than respect, for
prince and princesses work precisely as
do their subjects, save somewhat more
| intelligently. It is said that not one
of the Africans have ever been brought
before civil authorities.
A nobleman of the tribe, and one
whose word is law, Is one Cudjo Louis
whose last name has been An gllcized
from Consoulon to Louis. He and his
wife, Ahbiana, are among the few who
who can speak English, although they
can ali understand it. Ahbiana, who
is especially intelligent and thought
full. in speaking of their life in Africa
said they we're very happy in theil
own country and would much rather
be there than here. When asked
about their occupation and capture
she said they TILED the soil as they
do here, and were captured by the
dreadful Dahomeys, who make theil
living, not by work, but by stealing
people when they are asleep at night
She declared that If she had money
enough to take her whole family with
her, she would be glad to return to he'
native land, even though the merclless
haunting Dahomevs are still abroad iu
it because 'sit is so much nicer there
than it IS here"
These transplanted sayages are very
nious and without an exception are
either Baptists or Methodists. Wher
: questioned as to what Ideas of religion
they entertained before they were
brought to this country Cudjo Louis
said they knew about the one great
Shirt that made and controls all, bu
that they did not hear about His Sor
until they came here.
l L.