Gallinas is the largest establishment for the sale of slaves on the
northern division, besides which there are factories at the Pongos,
Sherbero, Shebar, and Grand Bassar, and the line of coast to be
guarded is about 150 miles. Some of these are migratory. At Shebar,
along the Kiltain coast, a distance of about 60 miles, there are
stockaded barracoons for the reception of slaves, should the Gallinas
be well blockaded.
In Gallinas, the chiefs still have remains of the ancient splendour
acquired by the profits of the trade in former times. Huge bowls of
solid silver adorn their tables, while satin and cloth of gold bedeck
their jet-black bodies. The trade, by no means so lucrative, is now
carried on in muskets, powder, spirits, and piece-goods, &c.,
supplied by vessels under American, French, Sardinian, or other
colours of nations whose Governments have rendered their treaties as
abstruse as possible; and as was the case with the 'Maid of Islay'
steamer, sometimes by English vessels. These receive money in
exchange, or, should the opportunity be a good one, a cargo of slaves.
A factory consists of several large dwelling-houses for the members,
clerks, &c., of huge stores for the reception of goods, to the amount
of sometimes one or two hundred thousand pounds.
When purchased, the slave is imprisoned in a barracoon, a shed made
of heavy piles, driven deep into the earth, lashed together with
bamboos, and thatched with palm-leaves. If the barracoon be a large
one, there is a centre row of piles; along each line of piles is a
chain, and at intervals of about two feet is a large neck-link, in
one of which each slave is padlocked. Should this method be
insufficient, two, and sometimes, in cases of great strength, three,
are shackled together; the strong man being placed between two others
and heavily ironed, and often beaten half to death beforehand to
insure his being quiet. The walls of the barracoon extend from four
to six feet high, and between them and the roof is an opening about
four feet, for the circulation of air. The floor is planked, not
from any regard to comfort to the slave, but because a small insect,
being in the soil, might deteriorate the merchandise, by causing a
cutaneous disease. Night and day these barracoons are guarded by
armed men; the slightest insubordination is immediately punished.