seems to linger, and the people are still capable of greater actions
than can ever be prompted by commercial interests and the search for
a market. America’s record is still clean compared to England’s, and
her impulses to compassion and justice will not be checked by family
affection for the royalties of one out of the two most degraded,
materialized, and unintellectual little states of Europe. America may
still take the part that once was England’s by right of inheritance.
She may stand as the bulwark of freedom against tyranny, and of justice
and mercy--those almost extinct qualities--against the restless greed
and blood-thirsty pleasure-seeking of the world. Let America declare
that her will is set against slavery, and at her voice the abominable
trade in human beings between Angola and the islands will collapse as
the slave-trade to Brazil collapsed at the voice of England in the days
of her greatness.
I am aware that, as I said in my first letter, the whole question of
slavery is still before us. It has reappeared under the more pleasing
names of “indentured labor,” “contract labor,” or the “compulsory
labor” which Mr. Chamberlain has advocated in obedience to the
Johannesburg mine-owners. The whole thing will have to be faced
anew, for the solutions of our great-grandfathers no longer satisfy.
While slavery is lucrative, as it is on the islands of San Thomé and
Principe, it will be defended by those who identify greatness with
wealth, and if their own wealth is involved, their arguments will gain
considerably in vigor. They will point to the necessity of developing
rich islands where no one would work without compulsion. They will
point to what they call the comfort and good treatment of the slaves.
They will protect themselves behind legal terms. But they forget that
legal terms make no difference to the truth of things. They forget that
slavery is not a matter of discomfort or ill treatment, but of loss
of liberty. They forget that it might be better for mankind that the
islands should go back to wilderness than that a single slave should
toil there. I know the contest is still before us. It is but part of
the great contest with capitalism, and in Africa it will be as long and
difficult as it was a hundred years ago in other regions of the world.
I have but tried to reveal one small glimpse in a greater battle-field,
and to utter the cause of a few thousands out of the millions of men
and women whose silence is heard only by God. And perhaps if the crying
of their silence is not heard even by God, it will yet be heard in the
souls of the just and the compassionate.
FOOTNOTES:
[14] An English resident at San Thomé estimates the serviçaes alone at
forty thousand.
[15] London’s death-rate in 1903 was 15.7 per 1000 against Principe’s
206.7 per 1000. Liverpool had the highest death-rate of English cities.
It was 20.5 per 1000, or almost exactly one-tenth of the death-rate
among the serviçaes in Principe. The total death-rate for England and
Wales in 1902 was 16.2 per 1000.
INDEX
Abeokuta, walled city of, 3;
population of, 3.
Accra, town of, 3.
_A Defeza de Angola_, Loanda newspaper, 27.
“Afoola,” native name for missionary, 142.
“Agent,” the, 9, 29, 151-153, 163, 167, 169, 171-175, 181, 191, 196,
199.
Ambriz, 180, 181.
American mission, Congregationalist, 140;
Wesleyan Episcopalian, 141.
Amorim, Captain, 45, 119, 157.
Angola, 26, 35, 37, 43, 51, 55, 67, 75, 83, 158.
Antelopes, 72, 74, 77, 110.
Ants, 6, 73, 112, 116.
“Apeka” (slaves), 121.
Arnot, F. S., missionary explorer, 51, 109, 141.
Ashanti, town of, 1.
Ashburton Treaty, 207.
Atundwa plant, the, 109.
Aureoles, 76.
Axim, settlement of, 2.
Bailundu, district of, 45, 156;
mission village of, 158.
Bailundu war of 1902, 45, 82, 115, 118, 141, 150, 157.
Bananas, plantation of, 32.
Barotzeland, 68.
Barracoons, remains of, 13.
Batatele cannibals, 52.
Bees, 76, 107, 108.
Beeswax, 42, 86, 149.
Beit, Mr., 151.
Belmonte, fort at, 84, 150.
Benguela, town of, 43, 44, 46, 51, 69, 149, 169, 171, 173, 176, 178,
182;
Boers at, 43.
Berlin General Act, 207.
Bihé, district of, 43, 45, 69, 77, 80, 83, 86, 104, 149-151, 152 _n_,
153, 156, 175.
Bihéans, the, born traders, 85, 86;
language of, 86;
villages of, 87;
public club (onjango) of, 88;
games of, 91;
proverbs of, 92;
folk-lore of, 94;
dancing of, 95;
musical instruments of, 96, 97;
witchcraft of, 99;
slavery among, 100, 115;
objections to burying slaves, 114;
eat those meeting with sudden death, 128;
thieves, 170.
Birds, 7, 76, 110, 192.
Black-headed crane, 76, 110.
Bluebock, 77.
Boer transport-riders, 43, 64, 82.
Boers, long trek of, 67;
knowledge of oxen, 68;
trade in slaves, 68.
Bogs, 65, 80, 81, 153, 154.
Boiling springs, 153.
Bourru-Bourru bog, 81, 154.
“Boys,” native, 9, 16, 79.
Brussels Conference of 1890, 149.
Brussels General Act, 207.
Buffaloes, 72, 74, 166.
Burchell’s zebra (quagga), 74.
Burial of slaves, 36, 114, 155, 206.
Bush paths, 31, 85, 86, 115, 118.
Bustard, great, 76.
Cabinda, in Portuguese territory, 182.
Caconda, fort at, 68;
turning-point of journey, 77, 80.
Caiala, town of, 84.
Calabar, missionaries at, 14.
Calei River, 81.
Cameron’s, Commander, _Across Africa_, 110 _n_, 155 _n_, 157 _n_, 159
_n_.
Camps, rest, 160.
Candombo, deserted village of, 82.
Cannibals, 52, 86, 162.
Cape Coast Castle settlement, 2.
Caravans, slave, 86, 117, 120, 121, 126, 163, 167.
Cassava, native food, 31.
Catholic mission, 56, 78, 79, 140.
Cats, civet, 192, 204.
“Central Committee of Labor and Emigration,” 46, 102.
Chain-gangs, 44, 119, 153 _n_, 171, 172.
Chibokwe tribe, the, 83, 107-110, 126;
kill their slaves, 126;
file their teeth, 127;
eat those meeting with sudden death, 128;
trade in rubber, 128;
artistic, 129;
dancing of, 129;
religious rites of, 130;
witchcraft of, 131;
missionaries among, 132-148.
Chicotes (hide whips), 120, 155.
Children pawned into slavery, 29, 51, 150, 151.
Chinjamba, pioneers at, 140.
Chocolate from San Thomé and Principe islands, 167.
Civet-cats, 192, 204.
Cocoa, 26, 27, 32, 44, 46, 167, 188, 189, 192, 193.
Coffee, 26, 32, 188, 198;
plantation, working a, 33.
Coillard, M., missionary, 142.
Coinage, real, in Central Africa, 42, 84, 85, 107.
Commercial Company of Angola, 84.
Committee of Emigration, 174.
Concubines, slaves as, 53.
Contract, form of, serviçaes, 28.
Contract labor, 23, 26, 34-38, 48, 57, 116, 153, 167, 169, 173, 196,
209;
form of contract, 28;
pay of, 38, 194-196, 208.
Contrahidos or serviçaes, 27, 44, 46-48, 58, 172, 187, 190, 196, 208.
Copper-mines, ancient, of Matanga, 86.
Cotton cloth, 9, 33, 35, 42, 84-86.
Cotton, trade in, 10.
Crane, black-headed, 76, 110;
dancing, 76.
Crocodiles, 6, 41, 165, 168.
Cuando River, 75, 80.
Cuanza River, 75, 83, 104-106, 111, 112, 126.
Cunene River, 80.
Cunughamba River, 82.
Cunyama, the, 78.
Cunyami natives, 68.
Currency, recognized, in Central Africa, 42, 84, 85, 107.
Currie, Mr., missionary, 142.
Dancing cranes, 76.
Debtor, a, body left to jackals, 115.
Decree of January 29, 1903, 158, 172-174, 176, 177, 180, 190, 194.
Deer, 77, 110, 166.
Deposits of magnesia, 153.
Desert, Kalahari, 67.
De Silva, fate of, 185.
Ditch-canals, 32.
Domestic slavery, 14, 17, 40-58, 100, 193.
Doves, 76.
Dried fish, “stinkfish,” 35, 37, 193, 194.
Drum, native musical instrument, 96-99.
Duiker, antelope, 77, 110.
Eagles, 76.
Eckstein, Mr., 151.
Elands, 72, 166.
Elephants, 74, 75.
“Empreza Nacional,” profits of, 175.
English mission, Plymouth Brethren, 140.
Eucalyptus-trees of Benguela, 43.
Exportation of slaves, 23, 157, 158, 168-185.
Factories, 8-10, 12, 155.
Fay, Mr., missionary, 142, 158.
Fernando Po, island, 200.
Ferries over the Cuanza, 111.
Feudalism, 16.
Fevers, 8, 105, 117, 150, 164, 168, 171.
Flag-grasses, 31, 107.
Flamingoes, 76.
Fly, tsetse, 24.
Form of contract, serviçaes, 28.
Forts, 20, 21, 68, 70, 78, 84, 105, 111, 119, 124, 141, 150, 155,
156-159.
Francolins, 76.
Fruits, trade in, 10.
Fugitive slaves, 171, 179, 194, 199-201, 203, 205, 207.
Gangers, 34, 35, 155, 184, 193, 194, 199, 201, 206.
Gnu, 77.
Gold, 10.
Grasses, 31, 107, 108, 153.
Guinea-fowl, 76.
Gums, trade in, 10.
Hartebeest, 77.
Hawks, 7, 76.
Hide whips (chicotes or sjamboks), 120.
Hippopotamus, 83, 111, 165.
Honey-guide, 76.
Hornbill, 76.
Hugo, Victor, quoted, 17, 18.
“Hungry country,” the, 47, 105, 107, 110-112, 115, 116, 118, 122, 124,
149, 164.
Hunting slaves, 204, 205.
Hyena, 76.
Il Principe Island, 48, 151, 167, 173, 187-202.
India-rubber plant, 33.
Islands, Il Principe, 48, 151, 167, 173, 187-202;
San Thomé, 26, 27, 44, 48, 51, 54, 116, 151-153, 157, 162, 163, 167,
170, 172-174, 176, 182, 187-202;
Fernando Po, 200.
Ivory, trade in, 10.
Jackals, debtors left to, 115.
Johannesburg, 201.
Ju-ju house, 13, 18, 173.
Kalahari Desert, 67.
Kamundongo, mission at, 141.
Kandundu, the, worship of, 99.
Kanjumdu of Chiuka, Christian chief, 146.
Kasai, tributary of the Congo, 106.
Katanga, ancient copper-mines of, 40;
district, 86.
Katumbella, river, 165;
town of, 41-43, 160, 169, 171.
Kernels, trade in, 10.
Kola, trade in, 10.
Koodoo, 76, 166.
Kraal, native chief’s, 81, 82.
“Krooboys,” 15.
Kukema River, 61, 80.
Ladysmith, 186.
Lagoons of Lagos, 11.
Lagos, town of, 2, 3, 13;
lagoons of, 11.
Lake Ngami, 80.
Lechwe, antelope, 77, 110.
Legalized slavery, 27-29, 173.
Leopards, 72, 76, 83, 87, 110, 156.
“Letters of freedom,” 46.
Life of slaves, the, 33-36, 187-210.
Lions, 71-74, 76, 77, 83, 148, 160, 161.
Livingstone, David, 32, 42, 51, 80.
Loanda, St. Paul de, 19-23, 27, 40;
slaves shipped from, 180.
Lobito Bay, possible future of, 40, 166, 169-171.
Luchazi tribe, 104.
Luena, tributary of the Zambesi, 106.
Lungwebungu, tributary of the Zambesi, 106.
Luimbi tribe, 104.
Magnesia, deposits of, 153.
Mahogany, trade in, 10.
Mangrove swamps, 5-7, 78.
Mashiko, fort at, 105, 124.
Matchets, 5, 34, 162, 204.
Matota, fort at, 124.
Mediums of exchange, 42, 84, 85, 107.
Metallic starling, 76.
Millet, trade in, 10.
Mines, Transvaal, 16.
Missionaries, 3, 14, 45, 79, 101, 109, 132-148.
Missions, 56, 78, 79, 133, 138-141, 152 _n_, 158, 159.
Monkeys, 7, 177, 192;
yellow, 162.
Moolecky, poisonous herb, 64.
Mortality among slaves, 25, 190, 198.
Mosquitoes, 81.
Mossamedes, 67, 152 _n_.
“Mountain of Money,” the, ancient city of, 81.
Mozambique, 16, 163.
Mud-fish, 6.
Mushi-Moshi (the Simoï), 118, 128.
Nanakandundu, district, 120;
villages of, 85.
Native “boys,” 9, 16, 79;
instruments, 96, 97.
New slavery, 17, 30.
Newspapers, 4, 27.
Niger, the, 5, 11.
Nigeria, 7, 13, 14, 201.
Nile, the, 1.
Novo Redondo, 159, 175, 178, 180.
Nurses, white women, on the Coast, 3.
Ochisanji, native musical instrument, 96, 97.
Okavango River, the, 80.
Onjango, public club of Bihéans, 88.
Orange orchards, 84.
Order of the Holy Spirit, 138, 140.
Oribi, the, 77.
Our Lady of Salvation, church of, 19, 20, 23.
Ovampos, cattle-breeding tribe, 87.
Overseers, plantation, 34.
Ovimbundu, the, 85.
Oxen, characteristics of, 62-65;
riding, 66;
language of, 67;
Boers’ knowledge of, 68, 87;
love of salt, 62, 107;
children pawned for, 150.
Ox-wagon, mode of conveyance, 43, 59-62, 148.
Palm-oil, 4, 8, 10, 13.
Parrots, 7, 76, 110, 192.
Peho, Mona, chief, 110 _n_;
town of, 109.
Plantations, 31, 188, 189, 190, 197;
banana, 32;
coffee, working a, 33;
overseers, 34, 35, 39;
slavery, 13, 17, 19-39, 49; 58, 100, 193, 203;
sugar-cane, 159;
sweet-potato, 84, 155, 159.
Polygamy, 89, 145, 146.
Porcupines, 110.
Profits on slaves, 174, 175.
Python, 76.
Quagga (Burchell’s zebra), 74.
Queensland, 201.
Railways, 31, 40, 41, 169, 185.
“Redeemed” slaves, 153, 165, 169, 173.
Redondo, Novo, 159, 175, 178, 180.
Red peppers, trade in, 10.
Reedbuck, 77.
“Repatriation Fund,” 48, 195.
Rest camps, 160, 161, 163.
Riding-ox, 66.
Rivers, 1, 5, 11, 31, 61, 80-83, 104-106, 111, 118, 124, 128, 165.
“Robert Williams Concession,” 40, 45.
Rubber, India, 26, 33, 42, 85, 86, 122, 128, 149, 150.
Rum, 4, 26, 29, 32, 35, 42, 145, 146, 149, 150, 155, 159, 164, 170,
172, 191, 192, 195.
Saccanjimba, mission village of, 159.
Salt, 9, 42, 62, 63, 86, 107-109, 128, 149, 164.
San Thomé, island of, 26, 27, 44, 48, 51, 54, 116, 151, 152, 153, 157,
162, 163, 167, 170, 172-174, 176, 182, 187-202.
Sanders, Mr., missionary, 142.
Scottish missionaries, 14.
Sekundi, settlement of, 2.
Serviçaes, 27, 44, 46-48, 58, 172, 187, 190, 196, 208;
form of contract, 28.
Settlements, 2, 159, 175, 178, 180, 141, 152.
Shackles, slave, 42, 46, 111-113, 117, 119, 152, 159, 160.
Sharks, 181.
Ships, slave, 169, 172, 175, 176.
Sierra Leone, 1.
Silva Porto, slave-trader, 84.
Sjamboks (hide whips), 55, 120.
Slave, caravan, 86, 117, 120, 121, 126, 163, 167;
hunting, 204, 205;
market, 46, 83, 84;
shackles, 111-113, 117, 119, 152, 159, 160;
ships, 169, 172, 176;
trade, 13, 30, 43, 45, 58, 80, 84-86, 113, 150, 151, 157, 172, 174,
207, 209;
traders, 13, 46, 51, 52, 79, 84, 103, 115, 118, 152 _n_, 168;
traffic, 124, 153, 158.
Slavery, 12, 14, 37, 48, 49, 51, 55, 57, 58, 100, 102, 145, 147, 150,
151;
domestic, 14, 17, 40-58, 100, 193;
legalized, 27, 29, 173;
new, 17, 30;
plantation, 13, 17, 19-39, 49, 58, 100, 193, 203;
tribal, 14, 16.
Slaves, 13, 37, 42-44, 46, 48, 50, 55, 85, 86, 102, 111, 113, 114,
118, 119, 122, 126, 139, 150, 152, 153, 155, 157, 162, 158 _n_, 168,
172, 174, 177, 179, 184, 189;
as concubines, 53;
burial of, 36, 114, 155, 206;
chain-gangs, 44, 119, 153 _n_, 171, 172;
exportation of, 23, 157, 158, 168-185;
fugitives, 38, 171, 179, 194, 199-201, 203, 205, 207;
life of, 33-36, 187-210;
mortality among, 25, 190, 198;
profits on, 174, 175;
“redeemed,” 155, 163, 165, 169, 173;
stamp duty on, 175;
treatment of, 54-56, 112-115,
117, 122, 151, 155, 162, 163, 167, 178, 179, 181, 198, 199;
value of, 29, 50-53, 85, 102, 114, 162, 167, 174;
wages of, 38, 194-196.
Sleeping-sickness, the, 24-26;
symptoms of, 24;
duration of, 25;
mortality of, 25;
its effects upon the labor supply, 26.
Small-pox, 24.
Snakes, 76, 157.
Springs, boiling, 153.
Stamp duty on slaves, 175.
Standard of value in Central Africa, 42, 84, 85, 107.
Starling, metallic, 76.
“Stinkfish,” dried fish, 35, 37.
Stinking water-buck, 77.
Stover, Mr., missionary, 142, 158.
Sugar-cane, 26, 32, 159.
Swamps, mangrove, 5-8, 78.
Sweet-potato, 164;
plantations, 84, 155.
“Tanganyika Concession,” 40, 85.
Tax on slaves, 175.
“The Rivers,” 5, 7.
Tobacco, 88, 164, 194.
Towns, 2, 3, 13, 14, 19-23, 27, 40, 41-44, 46, 51, 69, 82, 84, 109,
110, 149, 152, 159, 169, 171, 173, 175, 176, 178, 180, 182, 186.
Trade in slaves, 13, 30, 43, 45, 58, 80, 85, 86, 113, 150, 151, 157,
172, 174, 207, 209.
Traders, slave, 13, 46, 51, 52, 79, 84, 103, 118, 152 _n_, 168.
Traffic in slaves, 124, 153, 158.
Transvaal mines, labor forced to, 16.
Treatment of slaves, 54-56, 112, 113, 115, 117, 122, 151, 155, 162,
163, 167, 178, 179, 181, 198, 199.
Treaty, Ashburton, 207.
Trek, distance reckoned by, 69;
long, of Boers, 67;
ox, 60-67.
Tribal slavery, 14, 16.
Tribes, native, 68, 78, 86, 87, 104, 107, 126.
Tsetse-fly, 24.
Umbala, or King’s fortress, 156, 158.
Umbundu, language of Bihéans, 86.
Upeka (slave), 121 _n_.
Value, of slaves, 29, 50-53, 85, 102, 114, 162, 167, 174;
standard of, in Central Africa, 42, 84, 85, 107.
Vultures, 76.
Wages of slaves, 38, 194, 195.
Wagon, ox, mode of conveyance, 43, 59-62, 148.
Walled city of Abeokuta, 3;
population of, 3.
Wart-hogs, 110.
Water-buck, stinking, 77.
Wesleyan Episcopalian order, 141.
Wild animals, 7, 71-77, 83, 87, 110, 111, 115, 156, 160-162, 165, 166,
177, 192, 204.
Wildebeest, 77.
Witchcraft, 99, 131, 170, 191.
Women, white, on the coast, 3, 4;
nurses, 3.
Yams, trade in, 10.
Zambesi, awarded to Great Britain, rumor of, 110;
river, 106, 124.
Zebras, 72, 74.
THE END
Transcriber’s Notes
In a few cases, obvious errors or omissions in punctuation were
corrected.
Page 21: “Portuguese War Depatment” changed to “Portuguese War
Department”
Page 24: “hitherto suppoed to” changed to “hitherto supposed to”
Page 38: “been bought themelves” changed to “been bought themselves”
Page 47: “Under similiar circumstances” changed to “Under similar
circumstances”