Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-19
SLAVE TRADE
In Portuguese Africa to
Be Suppressed.
England Seeks Aid Of Ameri.
can Government and People.
Mr.. Joseph Burt Presents Mat.
tiers to Officials at Washington.

slave trade in Africa. This sounds as
though it might have been written a
hundred years ago. but it applies to
the year Ammo Domini 1910. 1t is true
the solicitation has not come through
official channels but those presenting
| it have the unofficial support of the
| English government Mr.. Joseph
| Burt of London, has been in the city
for some days presenting the matter
to high officials Of the government,
including President Taft, Secretary OF
State Knox, Senator Root and d num-
Der of others to whom he brought let
| terS of introduction from distinguished
Englishmen and Americans as we'll
Mr.. Burt is representing the Anti
Slavery and Aborignes Protection
Society" of England, of which Sir T.
Fowell Buxton is President, and which
has for its object the stamping out of
| the slave trade in all parts OF the
world.
The visit of Mr.. Burt to this coun-
try is to arouse sentiment against
slave grown cocoa. The appeal is that
all Americans should join with the
English. Dutch and Germans and
cease to buy slave grown cocoa.
While this is going on Mr.. Burt hopes
to arouse sufficient interest in Con-
gresS to secure the adoption of reso-
luton cOndemning the slave trade in
Portuguese Africa. which supplies the
labor for the cocoa plantations. Early
last year the English cocoa manu-
featuring firms. aroused by the hOr-
rors perpetrated in securing the labor
for the Portuguese plantations, de-
clared they would buy no more Of the
product. Great manufacturers of Ger
many and Switzerland Joined in the
movement. The Portuguese Islands of
San Thome and Principe, lying off the
west coast of Africa produce about
one sixth of the worlds supply of CO.
Goa. and the practical European pro-
test was severely felt by the planters.
But thew had America on which to
dump their cocoa so the anti-slavery
society sent Mr.. Burt here to lay the
situation before the American govern
ment and people and especially the
cocoa manufacturers. A number of
the leading manufacturers have agreed
not to buy any more Portuguese cocoa
until free labor is introduced and the
National Consumers League has ia
urging consumers to decline to buy
cocoa manufactured from slave grown
raw material. Already there have
been evidences given that the Portu-
gese planters are alarmed at the sit
uation and are taking steps towards
reform. Two thousand free laborers
We're shipped to the island last year
and some of the laborers We're sent
The agitation in America promises to
press forward these reforms, which
will end a disgraceful traffic which has
existed for years.
Mr.. Burt has made two trips to An
COLA, Portuguese West Africa, where
the slaves are recruited, and has thor
oughly explored the plantations of San
Thome and Principe, so that he is able
to speak with authority. He made his
preparations for the journey with the
greatest care, spending some months
in Portugal studying the language and
customs of the people before setting
| out for Africa. He spent nearly six
| months at the cocoa plantations and
considerably longer on the continent,
the trip consuming nearly two years
| in all.
Speaking of the conditions he found
there. Mr.. Burt said: 1.-The island OF
San Thome lies in the Gulf of Guinea,
| 90 miles west of the French Congo. 1t
has an area of 416 square miles, is
mount ainous. and we'll watered, with
it's rich soil and hot, damp atmos-
phere, is peculiarly suited for tropical
agriculture. The natives proper will
| not work and the cultivation is con-
Quoted by blacks imported from An
COLA. No official figures are obtaina-
bic on the number of servicals. as the
slaves are called. but $4,000 were
| brought in within five years and the
number is now estimated at 10000.
1.-THE slaves are obtained either by
capture or through being sold for debt
and the traders resort to all manner
| of schemes to get possession of their
| chattels. One case coming to my atten-
| ton was that Of Neyamb a girl of
fifteen. An old native named Saulam-
| ba set up claim that his uncle had
once loaned some goods to the girls
| family IebtOr and creditor We're both
dead but on this ancient gTeviencc
Saulamba took possession of Neyambi
ard exchanged her with a Portuguese
| trader for another slave, making Ney-
ambi a slave for life. l could recite
numerous instances under my personal
observation where slaves have been
bought for few yards of cloth or
some trinkets. or have been sold away
in payment of slight obligations They
are shipped to the plantations as la
borers who have voluntarily entered
| into five-year contract.
ION the islands there is little diff
Guilty in keeping the slaves in service
indefinitely. sit is true said Mr..
Rurtt in conclusion. that these labor
ers are called servicals and their serv-
itude the servical system. I am salts
fed. however, that under the 'servical
system as it exists, thousands of black
men and women are, against their will
and under circumstances of great cru
city, taken away every year from their
homes and transported across the sea
to work on unhealthy islands. from
which they never return. If that is not
slavery and they are not slaves know
of no words in the English language to
correctly express their condition"
~, his return TO England Mr.. Burt