iv of the barbarism that blood and tradition have handed down from the beginning, and embalmed in its prejudices, like the corpses of Egypt could not fail to be of incalculable importance to philanthropists who regard no people as beyond the reach of enlightenment. The completed task rises before me like a moving panorama, whose scenery and background are the ocean and tropics, and whose principal actor combines the astuteness of Fouché with the dexterity of Gil Blas. I have endeavoured to set forth his story as plainly as possible, letting events instead of descriptions develope a chequered life which was incessantly connected with desperate men of both colours. As he unmasked his whole career, and gave me leave to use the incidents, I have not dared to hide what the actor himself displayed no wish to conceal. Besides the sketches of character which familiarize us with the aboriginal negro in Africa, there is a good moral in the resultless life, which after all its toils, hazards, and successes, leaves the adventurer a stranded wreck in the prime of manhood. One-half the natural capacity employed industriously in lawful commerce, would have made the captain comfortable and independent. Nor is there much to attract in the singular abnegation of civilised happiness in a slaver's career. We may not be surprised that such an animal as Da Souza, who is pourtrayed in these pages, should revel in the sensualities of Dahomey; but we must wonder at the passive endurance that could chain a superior order of man, like Don Pedro Blanco, for fifteen unbroken years, to his pestilential hermitage, till the avaricious anchorite went forth from the marshes of Gallinas laden with gold. I do not think this story is likely to seduce or educate a race of slavers. The frankness of Canot's disclosures may surprise the more reserved and timid classes of society; but I am of opinion that there is an ethnographic value in the account of his visit to the Mandingoes and Fullahs, and especially in his narrative of the wars, jugglery, cruelty, superstition, and crime, by which onesixth of Africa subjects the remaining five-sixths to servitude. As the reader peruses these characteristic anecdotes, he will ask himself how, in the progress of mankind, such a people is to be approached and dealt with? Will the Mahometanism of the North, which is winning its way southward, and infusing itself among the crowds of central Africa, so as, in some degree, to modify their barbarism, prepare the primitive tribes to receive a civilisation and faith which are as true as they are divine? Will our colonial fringe spread its fibres from the coast to the interior, and, V like veins of refreshing blood, pour new currents into the mummy's heart? Is there hope for a nation which, in three thousand years, has hardly turned in its sleep? The identical types of race, servitude, occupation, and character that are now extant in Africa, may be found on the Egyptian monuments built forty centuries ago; while a Latin poem, attributed to Virgil, describes a menial negress who might unquestionably pass for a slaye of our Southern plantations: "Interdum clamat Cybalen; erat unica custos; Torta comam, labroque tumens, et fusca colorem ; Continuis rimis calcanea scissa rigebant." * It will be seen from these hints that our memoir has nothing to do with slavery as a North American institution, except so far as it is an inheritance from the system it describes; yet, in proportion as the details exhibit an innate or acquired inferiority of the negro race in its own land, they must appeal to every generous heart in behalf of the benighted Continent. It has lately become common to assert that Providence permits an exodus through slavery, in order that the liberated negro may in time return, and, with foreign acquirements, become the pioneer of African civilisation. It is attempted to reconcile us to this "good from evil," by stopping inquiry with the "inscrutability of God's ways!" But we should not suffer ourselves to be deceived by such imaginary irreverence; for, in God's ways, there is nothing less inscrutable than his law of right. That law is never qualified in this world. It moves with the irresistible certainty of organised nature, and while it makes man free, in order that his responsibility may be unquestionable, it leaves mercy, even, for the judgment hereafter. Such a system of divine law can never palliate the African slave-trade, and, in fact, it is the basis of that human legislation which converts the slaver into a pirate, and awards him a felon's doom. For these reasons, we should discountenance schemes like those proposed not long ago in England, and sanctioned by the British government, for the encouragement of spontaneous emigration from Africa under the charge of contractors. The plan was viewed with fear by the colonial authorities, and President Roberts at once issued a proclamation to guard the natives. No one, I think, will * MORETUM,-Carm. Virg. Wagner's ed. vol. 4, p. 301. vi read this book without a conviction that the idea of voluntary expatriation has not dawned on the African mind, and, consequently, what might begin in laudable philanthropy would be likely to end in practical servitude. Intercourse, trade, and colonisation, in slow but steadfast growth, are the providences cntrusted to us for the noble task of civilisation. They who are practically acquainted with the coloured race of our country, have long believed that gradual colonisation was the only remedy for Africa as well as America. The repugnance of the free blacks to emigration from our shores has produced a tardy movement, and thus the African population has been thrown back grain by grain, and not wave by wave. Every one conversant with the state of our colonies, knows how beneficial this languid accretion has been. It moved many of the most enterprising, thrifty, and independent. It established a social nucleus from the best classes of American coloured people. Like human growth, it allowed the frame to mature in muscular solidity. It gave immigrants time to test the climate; to learn the habit of government in states as well as in families; to acquire the bearing of freemen; to abandon their imitation of the whites among whom they had lived; and thus, by degrees, to consolidate a social and political system which may expand into independent and lasting nationality. Instead, therefore, of lamenting the slowness with which the colonies have reached their vigorous promise, we should consider it a blessing that the vicious did not rush forth in turbulent crowds with the worthy, and impede the movements of better folks, who were still unused to the task of self-reliance. Men are often too much in a hurry to do good, and mar by excessive zeal what patience would complete. "Deus quies quia æternus," saith St. Augustine. The cypress is a thousand years in growth, yet its limbs touch not the clouds, save on a mountain top. Shall the regeneration of a continent be quicker than its ripening? That would be miracle-not progress. Accept this offering, my dear Willis, as a token of that sincere regard, which, during an intimacy of a quarter of a century, has never wavered in its friendly trust.-Faithfully, yours, Baltimore, 1st July, 1854. BRANTZ MAYER. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAP. I.-My parentage and education-Apprenticed at Leghorn to an American captain-First voyage-its mishaps-overboard- black cook-Sumatra-cabin-boy-Arrival in Boston-My first command-View of Boston harbour from the mast-head-My first interview with a Boston merchant, William Gray. CHAP. II.-My uncle tells my adventure with Lord Byron-Captain Towne, and my life in Salem-My skill in Latin-Five years voyaging from Salem-I rescue a Malay girl at Quallahbattoo- The first slave I ever saw-End of my apprenticeship-My back- slidings in Antwerp and Paris-Ship on a British vessel for Brazil -The captain and his wife-Love grog, and grumbling-A scene in the harbour of Rio-Matrimonial happiness-Voyage to Europe -Wreck and loss on the coast near Ostend CHAP. III.-I design going to South America-A Dutch galliot for Havana-Male and female captain-Run foul of in the Bay of Biscay-Put into Ferrol, in Spain-I am appropriated by a new mother, grandmother, and sisters-A comic scene-How I got out of the scrape-Set sail for Havana-Jealousy of the captain-De- prived of my post-Restored-Refuse to do duty-Its sad con- sequences-Wrecked on a reef near Cuba-Fisherman-wreckers- CHAP. IV.-Bury my body in the sand to escape the insects-Night of horror-Refuge on a tree-Scented by bloodhounds-March to the rancho-My guard-Argument about my fate-"My Uncle" Rafael suddenly appears on the scene-Magic change effected by my relationship-Clothed, and fed, and comforted-I find an uncle, and am protected-Mesclet-Made cook's-mate-Gallego, the cook CHAP. V.-Life on a sand-key-Pirates and wreckers-Their differ- PAGE 27 -My restoration to the key-Gallego's charges-His trial and CHAP. VI.-I am sent from the key-Consigned to a grocer at Regla CHAP. VII. Reflections on my conduct and character-Morning after CHAP. VIII. —I take possession of my new quarters-My household CHAP. XI.-An epoch in my life in 1827-A vessel arrives consigned 38 46 51 57 64 |