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[Illustration:
_F. E. Forbes, delt._ _Lith. of Sarony & Co. N. Y._
THE HUMAN SACRIFICES OF THE EK-GNEE-NOO-AH-TOH.]
AFRICA
AND
THE AMERICAN FLAG.
BY
COMMANDER ANDREW H. FOOTE,
U. S. NAVY,
LIEUT. COMMANDING U. S. BRIG PERRY ON THE COAST OF AFRICA,
A. D. 1850-1851.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON & CO., 346 & 348 BROADWAY,
AND 16 LITTLE BRITAIN, LONDON.
M DCCC LIV.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854,
BY D. APPLETON & COMPANY,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for
the Southern District of New York.
TO
COMMODORE JOSEPH SMITH, U. S. N.,
CHIEF OF THE NAVAL BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS,
This Volume is Dedicated,
AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE
OF RESPECT FOR HIS OFFICIAL CHARACTER,
AND AS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF HIS UNIFORM ATTACHMENT
AS A FRIEND.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Subject and Arrangement--Area of Cruising-Ground--Distribution
of Subjects. 13
CHAPTER II.
Discoveries by French and Portuguese along the Coast--Cape of
Good Hope--Results. 17
CHAPTER III.
Pirates--Davis, Roberts, and others--British Cruisers--Slave-Trade
systematized--Guineamen--“Horrors of the Middle
Passage”. 20
CHAPTER IV.
Physical Geography--Climate--Geology--Zoology--Botany. 31
CHAPTER V.
African Nations--Distribution of Races--Arts--Manners and
Character--Superstitions--Treatment of the Dead--Regard for the
Spirits of the Departed--Witchcraft--Ordeal--Military
Force--Amazons--Cannibalism. 46
CHAPTER VI.
Trade--Metals--Mines--Vegetable
Productions--Gums--Oils--Cotton--Dye-Stuffs. 65
CHAPTER VII.
European Colonies--Portuguese--Remaining Influence of the
Portuguese--Slave Factories--English Colonies--Treaties with the
Native Chiefs--Influence of Sierra Leone--Destruction of
Barracoons--Influence of England--Chiefs on the Coast--Ashantee--King
of Dahomey. 71
CHAPTER VIII.
Dahomey--Slavish Subjection of the People--Dependence of the King on
the Slave-Trade--Exhibition of Human Skulls--Annual Human
Sacrifices--Lagos--The Changes of Three Centuries. 85
CHAPTER IX.
State of the Coast prior to the Foundation of Liberia--Native
Tribes--Customs and Policy--Power of the Folgias--Kroomen,
&c.--Conflicts. 94
CHAPTER X.
General Views on the Establishment of Colonies--Penal Colonies--Views
of the People of the United States in reference to African
Colonies--State of Slavery at the Revolutionary War--Negroes who
joined the English--Disposal of them by Great Britain--Early Movements
with respect to African Colonies--Plan matured by Dr.
Finley--Formation of the American Colonization Society. 101
CHAPTER XI.
Foundation of the American Colony--Early Agents--Mills, Burgess, Bacon
and others--U. S. Sloop-of-War “Cyane”--Arrival at the Island of
Sherboro--Disposal of Recaptured Slaves by the U. S.
Government--Fever--Slavers Captured--U. S. Schooner “Shark”--Sherboro
partially abandoned--U. S. Schooner “Alligator”--Selection and
Settlement of Cape Mesurado--Capt. Stockton--Dr. Ayres--King
Peter--Arguments with the Natives--Conflicts--Dr. Ayres made
Prisoner--King Boatswain--Completion of the Purchase. 110
CHAPTER XII.
Ashmun--Necessity of Defence--Fortifications--Assaults--Arrival of
Major Laing--Condition of the Colonies--Sloops-of-War “Cyane” and
“John Adams”--King Boatswain as a Slaver--Misconduct of the
Emigrants--Disinterestedness of Ashmun--U. S. Schooner
“Porpoise”--Captain Skinner--Rev. R. R. Gurley--Purchase of Territory
on the St. Paul’s River--Attack on Tradetown--Piracies--U. S. Schooner
“Shark”--Sloop-of-War “Ontario”--Death of Ashmun--His Character by
Rev. Dr. Bacon. 123
CHAPTER XIII.
Lot Carey--Dr. Randall--Establishment of the Liberia Herald--Wars
with the Deys--Sloop-of-War “John Adams”--Difficulties of the
Government--Condition of the Settlers. 141
CHAPTER XIV.
The Commonwealth of Liberia--Thomas H. Buchanan--Views of different
Parties--Detached Condition of the Colony--Necessity of
Union--Establishment of a Commonwealth--Use of the American Flag in
the Slave-Trade--“Euphrates”--Sloop “Campbell”--Slavers at
Bassa--Expedition against them--Conflict--Gallinas. 148
CHAPTER XV.
Buchanan’s Administration continued--Death of King Boatswain--War
with Gaytumba--Attack on Heddington--Expedition of Buchanan
against Gaytumba--Death of Buchanan--His Character. 159
CHAPTER XVI.
Roberts governor--Difficulties with English Traders--Position of
Liberia in respect to England--Case of the “John Seyes”--Official
Correspondence of Everett and Upshur--Trouble on the
Coast--Reflections. 166
CHAPTER XVII.
Roberts’ Administration--Efforts in Reference to English
Traders--Internal Condition of Liberia--Insubordination--Treaties with
the native Kings--Expedition to the Interior--Causes leading to a
Declaration of Independence. 173
CHAPTER XVIII.
Independence of Liberia proclaimed and acknowledged by Great Britain,
France, Belgium, Prussia, and Brazil--Treaties with England and
France--Expedition against New Cesters--U. S. Sloop-of-War
“Yorktown”--English and French Cruisers--Disturbances among the
native Chiefs--Financial Troubles--Recurring Difficulty with
English Traders--Boombo, Will Buckle, Grando, King Boyer. 180
CHAPTER XIX.
Condition of Liberia as a Nation--Aspect of Liberia to a
Visitor--Character of Monrovia--Soil, Productions and
Labor--Harbor--Condition of the People compared with that of their
Race in the United States--Schools. 192
CHAPTER XX.
Maryland in Liberia--Cape Palmas--Hall and Russwurm--Chastisement
of the Natives at Berebee by the U. S. Squadron--Line of
Packets--Proposal of Independence--Illustrations of the
Colonization Scheme--Christian Missions. 200
CHAPTER XXI.
Renewal of Piracy and the Slave-Trade at the close of the European
War--British Squadron--Treaties with the Natives--Origin of
Barracoons--Use of the American Flag in the Slave-Trade--Official
Correspondence on the Subject--Condition of Slaves on board of the
Slave-Vessels--Case of the “_Veloz Passageira_”--French Squadron. 213
CHAPTER XXII.
United States Squadron--Treaty of Washington. 232
CHAPTER XXIII.
Case of the “Mary Carver,” seized by the Natives--Measures of the
Squadron in consequence--Destruction of Towns--Letter from U. S. Brig
“Truxton” in relation to a captured Slaver. 235
CHAPTER XXIV.
Capture of the Slave-Barque “Pons”--Slaves landed at Monrovia--Capture
of the Slave-equipped Vessels “Panther,” “Robert Wilson,”
“Chancellor,” &c.--Letter from the “Jamestown” in reference to
Liberia--Affair with the Natives near Cape Palmas--Seizure and
Condemnation of the Slaver “H. N. Gambrill”. 243
CHAPTER XXV.
Cruise of the “Perry”--Instructions--Dispatched to the South
Coast--Benguela--Case of a Slaver which had changed her Nationality
captured by an English Cruiser--St. Paul de Loanda--Abuse of the
American Flag--Want of a Consul on the South Coast--Correspondence
with British Officers in relation to Slavers under the American
Flag--The Barque “Navarre”--Treaty with Portugal--Abatement of
Custom-House Duties--Cruising off Ambriz--An Arrangement made with the
British Commodore for the Joint Cruising of the “Perry” and Steamer
“Cyclops”--Co-operation with the British Squadron for the Suppression
of the Slave-Trade--Fitting out of American Slavers in Brazil. 254
CHAPTER XXVI.
American Brigantine “Louisa Beaton” suspected--Correspondence with the
Commander of the Southern Division of the British Squadron--Boat
Cruising--Currents--Rollers on the
Coast--Trade-Winds--Climate--Prince’s Island--Madame Fereira. 272
CHAPTER XXVII.
Return to the Southern Coast--Capture of the American Slave-Ship
“Martha”--Claim to Brazilian Nationality--Letters found on board
illustrative of the Slave-Trade--Loanda--French, English, and
Portuguese Cruisers--Congo River--Boarding Foreign Merchant
Vessels--Capture of the “Volusia” by a British Cruiser--She claims
American Nationality--The Meeting of the Commodores at
Loanda--Discussions in relation to Interference with Vessels
ostensibly American--Seizure of the American Brigantine
“Chatsworth,”--Claims by the Master of the “Volusia”. 285
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Another Cruise--Chatsworth again--Visit to the Queen near
Ambrizette--Seizure of the American Brigantine “Louisa Beaton” by a
British Cruiser--Correspondence--Proposal of Remuneration from the
Captors--Seizure of the “Chatsworth” as a Slaver--Italian
Supercargo--Master of the “Louisa Beaton”. 306
CHAPTER XXIX.
Prohibition of Visits to Vessels at
Loanda--Correspondence--Restrictions removed--St. Helena--Appearance
of the Island--Reception--Correspondence with the
Chief-Justice--Departure. 324
CHAPTER XXX.
Return to Loanda--“Cyclops” leaves the Coast--Hon. Captain
Hastings--Discussion with the British Commodore in reference to the
Visit at St. Helena--Commodore Fanshawe--Arrival at Monrovia--British
Cruiser ashore--Arrival at Porto Praya--Wreck of a Hamburgh Ship. 336
CHAPTER XXXI.
Return to the South Coast--Comparative Courses and Length of
Passage--Country at the Mouth of the Congo--Correspondence with the
British Commodore--State of the Slave-Trade--Communication to the
Hydrographical Department--Elephants’ Bay--Crew on Shore--Zebras. 344
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Condition of the Slave-Trade--Want of suitable Cruisers--Health
of the Vessel--Navy Spirit-ration--Portuguese Commodore--French
Commodore--Loanda--Letter from Sir George Jackson, British
Commissioner, on the State of the Slave-Trade--Return to Porto
Praya. 357
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Island of Madeira--Porto Grande, Cape Verde Islands--Interference
of the British Consul with the “Louisa Beaton”--Porto
Praya--Brazilian Brigantine seized by the Authorities--Arrival
at New York. 369
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Conclusion--Necessity of Squadrons for Protection of Commerce and
Citizens abroad--Fever in Brazil, West Indies, and United
States--Influence of Recaptured Slaves returning to the different
regions of their own Country--Commercial Relations with Africa. 379
[Illustration:
_PROBABLE CONFIGURATION_ of AFRICA,
_as represented by Contouror Horizontal Planes_.
_J.J. Adamson, del._ _Lith. of Sarony & Co. N. Y._]
AFRICA
AND
THE AMERICAN FLAG.
CHAPTER I.
SUBJECT AND ARRANGEMENT--AREA OF CRUISING-GROUND--DISTRIBUTION OF
SUBJECTS.
On the 28th of November, 1849, the U. S. brig “Perry” sailed for the
west coast of Africa, to join the American squadron there stationed.
A treaty with Great Britain, signed at Washington in the year 1842,
stipulates that each nation shall maintain on the coast of Africa,
a force of naval vessels “of suitable numbers and description, to
carry in all not less than eighty guns, to enforce separately and
respectively, the laws, rights, and obligations of each of the two
countries, for the suppression of the slave-trade.”
Although this stipulation was limited to the term of five years
from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty,
“and afterwards until one or the other party shall signify a wish
to terminate it;” the United States have continued to maintain a
squadron on that coast for the protection of its commerce, and for the
suppression of the slave-trade, so far as it might be carried on in
American vessels, or by American citizens.
To illustrate the importance of this squadron, the relations which
its operations bear to American interests, and to the rights of the
American flag; its effects upon the condition of Africa in checking
crime, and preparing the way for the introduction of peace, prosperity,
and civilization, is the primary object of this work.
A general view of the continent of Africa, comprising the past and
present condition of its inhabitants; slavery in Africa and its foreign
slave-trade; the piracies upon the coast before it was guarded and
protected by naval squadrons; the geological structure of the country;
its natural history, languages, and people; and the progress of
colonization by the negro race returning to their own land with the
light of religion, of sound policy, and of modern arts, will also be
introduced as subjects appropriate to the general design.
If a chart of the Atlantic is spread out, and a line drawn from the
Cape Verde Islands towards the southeastern coast of Brazil; if we
then pass to the Cape of Good Hope and draw another from that point by
the island of St. Helena, crossing the former north of the equator,
the great tracks of commerce will be traced. Vessels outward bound
follow the track towards the South American shore, and the homeward
bound are found on the other. Thus vessels often meet in the centre of
the Atlantic; and the crossing of these lines off the projecting shores
of central Africa renders the coasts of that region of great naval
importance.
The wide triangular space of sea between the homeward bound line and
the retiring African seaboard around the Gulf of Guinea, constituted
the area on which the vigilance of the squadron was to be exercised.
Here is the region of crime, suffering, cruelty and death, from the
slave-trade; and here has been at different ages, when the police
of the sea happened to be little cared for, the scene of the worst
piracies which have ever disgraced human nature.
Vessels running out from the African coast fall here and there into
these lines traced on the chart, or sometimes cross them. No one can
tell what they contain from the graceful hull, well-proportioned masts,
neatly trimmed yards, and gallant bearing of the vessel. This deceitful
beauty may conceal wrong, violence, and crime--the theft of living
men, the foulness and corruption of the steaming slave-deck, and the
charnel-house of wretchedness and despair.
It is difficult in looking over the ship’s side to conceive the
transparency of the sea. The reflection of the blue sky in these
tropic regions colors it like an opaque sapphire, till some fish
startles one by suddenly appearing far beneath, seeming to carry
daylight down with him into the depths below. One is then reminded
that the vessel is suspended over a transparent abyss. There for ages
has sunk the dark-skinned sufferer from “the horrors of the middle
passage,” carrying that ghastly daylight down with him, to rest until
“the sea shall give up its dead,” and the slaver and his merchant come
from their places to be confronted with their victim.
The relation of the western nations to these shores present themselves
under three phases, which claim more or less attention in order to a
full understanding of the subject. These are,
I. Period of Discovery, Piracy and Slaving.
II. Period of Colonizing.
III. Period of Naval Cruising.