Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/330

 truthful and reliable as to the events described. While the genius of Mayei has imparted a pleasant, coloring to some of the incidents, it has also portrayed with fidelity the repelling horrors of a traffic, which, in the language of a gallant naval officer, "for revolting, heartless atrocity, might make the devil wonder, and hell recognize its own likeness"

A correct idea of tbe crew of a slaver may be formed from Canot's description of his first voyage: "Our crew consisted of twenty-one scamps, Spaniards, Portuguese, Frenchmen and mongrels, the refuse of the press-gang and jailbirds. The Areostatico cleared at Havana for the Cape de Verde isles, but in truth bound for the Rio Pongo. Accustomed as I had been to wholesome American seamanship and discipline, I trembled not a little when I discovered the amazing ignorance of the master and the utter worthlessness of the crew. Forty-one days, however, brought us to the end of our voyage at the mouth of the Rio Pongo. While we were slowly drifting between the river banks, and watching the gorgeous vegetation of Africa, which that evening first burst upon my sight, I fell into a chat with the native pilot, who had been in the United States, and spoke English remarkably well. Berak very soon inquired whether there was any one else on board who spoke the language besides myself, and when told that the cabin-boy alone knew it, he whispered a story which, in truth, I was not the least surprised to hear.

"That afternoon one of our crew had attempted the captain's life, while on shore, by snapping a carbine behind his back! Our pilot learned the fact from a native who followed the party from the landing along the beach, and its truth was confirmed, in his belief, by the significant boasts made by the tallest of the boatmen who accompanied him on board. He was satisfied that the entire gang contemplated our schooner's seizure.

"The pilot's story corroborated some hints I received from our cook during the voyage. It struck me instantly, that if a crime like this was really designed, no opportunity for its execution could be more propitious than the present. I determined, therefore, to omit no precaution that might save the vessel and the lives of her honest officers. On examining the carbines brought back from shore, which I had hurriedly thrown into the arm-chest on deck, I found that the lock of this armory had been forced, and several pistols and cutlasses abstracted.

"Preparations had undoubtedly been made to assassinate us. As night drew on, my judgment, as well as nervousness, convinced me that the darkness would not pass without a murderous attempt. There was an unusual silence. On reaching port, there is commonly fun and merriment among crews; but the usual song and invariable guitar were omitted from the evening's entertainment. I searched the deck carefully, yet but two mariners were found above the hatches, apparently asleep. Inasmuch as I was only a subordinate officer, I could not command, nor had I any confidence in the nerve or judgment of the chief mate, if I trusted my information to him. Still I deemed it a duty to tell him the story, as well as my discovery about the missing arms. Acccordingly, I called the first officer, boatswain, and cook, as quietly as possible,