The Project Gutenberg eBook of Captain Canot, or Twenty Years of an African Slaver, by Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot.

Author:Benutzer1 [Benutzer1]
Language: deu
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Slaves dropped in slowly at Kambia and Bangalang, though I still had half the cargo of the Feliz

to make up. Time was precious, and there was no foreigner on the river to aid me. In this strait, I

suddenly resolved on a foray among the natives on my own account; and equipping a couple of

my largest canoes with an ample armament, as well as a substantial store of provisions and

merchandise, I departed for the Matacan river, a short stream, unsuitable for vessels of

considerable draft. I was prepared for the purchase of fifty slaves.

I reached my destination without risk or adventure, but had the opportunity of seeing some new

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phases of Africanism on my arrival. Most of the coast negroes are wretchedly degraded by their

superstitions and sauvagerie, and it is best to go among them with power to resist as well as

presents to purchase. Their towns did not vary from the river and bush settlements generally. A

house was given me for my companions and merchandise; yet such was the curiosity to see the

“white man,” that the luckless mansion swarmed with sable bees both inside and out, till I was

obliged to send for his majesty to relieve my sufferings.

After a proper delay, the king made his appearance in all the paraphernalia of African court-

dress. A few fathoms of check girded his loins, while a blue shirt and red waistcoat were

surmounted by a dragoon’s cap with brass ornaments. His countenance was characteristic of

Ethiopia and royalty. A narrow forehead retreated rapidly till it was lost in the crisp wool, while

his eyes were wide apart, and his prominent cheek-bones formed the base of an inverted cone,

the apex of which was his braided beard, coiled up under his chin. When earnest in talk, his

gestures were mostly made with his head, by straining his eyes to the rim of their sockets,

stretching his mouth from ear to ear, grinning like a baboon, and throwing out his chin

horizontally with a sudden jerk. Notwithstanding these personal oddities, the sovereign was

kind, courteous, hospitable, and disposed for trade. Accordingly, I “dashed,” or presented him

and his head-men a few pieces of cottons, with some pipes, beads, and looking-glasses, by way

of whet for the appetite of to-morrow.

But the division of this gift was no sportive matter. “The spoils” were not regulated upon

principles of superiority, or even of equality; but fell to the lot of the stoutest scramblers. As

soon as the goods were deposited, the various gangs seized my snowy cottons, dragging them

right and left to their several huts, while they shrieked, yelled, disputed, and fought in true

African fashion. Some lucky dog would now and then leap between two combatants who had

possession of the ends of a piece, and whirling himself rapidly around the middle, slashed the

sides with his jack-knife and was off to the bush. The pipes, beads, and looking-glasses, were

not bestowed more tenderly, while the tobacco was grabbed and appropriated by leaves or

handfuls.

Next day we proceeded to formal business. His

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