day-time, if the weather is good, they are brought upon deck for air. 10. They are placed in a long row, two and two together, on each side of the ship: a long chain is then made to pass through the shackles of each pair, by which each row is at once secured to the deck. In this state they take their food, which consists chiefly of horse beans, rice, and yams, with a little palm oil and pepper. After their meals, they are made to jump for exercise, as high as their fetters will let them, on beating a drum; and if they refuse, they are whipped till they comply. 11. When the number of slaves is completed, the vessels weigh anchor, and begin what is termed the middle passage, to carry them to the respective colonies. The vessels in which they are transported are of different dimensions, from eleven to eight hundred tons, and they carry from thirty to fifteen hundred slaves at a time. When the vessel is full, their situation is truly pitiable. A grown person is allowed, in the best regulated ships, but sixteen inches in width, two feet eight- inches in height, and five feet eight inches in length. 12. Whether well or ill, they lie on bare planks, and the motion of the ship often rubs off the prominent parts of their body, leaving the bones almost bare. So wretched is their condition from the heat, the pestilential breath, and the corrupted air, that sometimes, when they go down at night, apparently in health, they are brought up dead in the morning. Nearly one fourth of them die, from the time of being put on board, to the time of their being disposed of in the colonies; and almost as many more lose their lives during the first two years of servitude, which is called the seasoning," the time requisite to inure them to their new situation. 13. The ships, having completed the middle passage, anchor in their destined ports; and the unhappy Africans are prepared for sale. In disposing of them, the nearest relations, as husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, are separated without any consideration, and if they part with mutual embraces, they are severed by the lash! Some are consigned to brokers for sale; others are sold by auction; and a third mode of selling them is by the "scramble." 14. In this case the main and quarter decks of the ships are darkened by sails, which are hung over them at a convenient height. The slaves are then brought out of the hold, and are made to stand in the darkened area. The purchasers, who are furnished with long ropes, rush, as soon as the signal is given, within the awning, and endeavour to encircle as many of them as they can. These "scrambles" are not, however, confined to the ships, but are frequently made on shore. 15. Nothing can exceed the terror which the wretched Africans exhibit on these occasions. A universal shriek is immediately heard. All is consternation and dismay. The men tremble. The women cling together in each other's arms. Some of them faint away, and others have been known to expire. If any thing can exceed the horror of such a scene, it must be the iniquity of valuing a part of the rational creation in so debased a light, and of "scrambling" for human flesh and blood! 16. The poor negroes are then subjected to a state of servitude the most merciless and hopeless. They are doomed to labour under the lash-to work hard and fare hard, with no hope of reward, and for no other object than to enable their inhuman oppressors to live in idleness, and riot in luxury. Such are a few of the many horrors of the slave trade; a trade long sanctioned by the most civilized and enlightened nations of Europe-nations professing the Christian religion, one of whose leading principles enjoins us to "love our neighbours as ourselves, and to do unto all men as we would that they should do unto us!" 17. The persevering and godlike benevolence of Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others, men whose names will be cherished with affection as long as any generous feeling exists in the world, after a twenty years' hard struggle, at last effected the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain. An act of parliament for abolishing it was passed in 1806, which went into complete operation in 1808. And in 1808 it was abolished by act of Congress in the United States; it had long before been prohibited by many of the individual states. 18. The English government afterwards entered into negotiations with the continental powers of Europe, in order to effect the universal abolition of this execrable traffic. It has, however, of late been prosecuted with great zeal by the Portuguese and French, and in a less degree by the Spanish. 19. During eighteen months, ending in August, 1822, upwards of one hundred thousand unfortunate negroes were carried from the western coast of Africa, nearly one half in French vessels, the rest mostly in Portuguese. In 1807, the African institution was established in London to watch over the rights and interests of the Negroes, to teach them the arts of civilized life and the principles of religion. The English settlement of Sierra Leone, in the west of Africa, has been placed under their direction. Note. Europe, the first grand division of the earth, is bounded north by the Frozen Ocean, south by the Mediterranean, west by the Atlantic Ocean, and east by Asia; and is situated between 35° and 720 north latitude.-Great Britain, the most considerable island of Europe, between 50° and 58° north latitude, lies to the north of France, from which it is separated by the English Channel.-Sierra Leone is a country in the west of Africa between 70 and 100 north latitude. FALLS OF THE ANDROSCOGGIN. 1. SNOW'S Falls on the Little Androscoggin River, about four miles north from the Court House in Paris, possess some considerable notoriety, and are well worthy a visit from the curious. The country circumjacent to the Falls is rocky, uneven, and almost mountainous. Two hills, one upon either side of the stream, seem heretofore to have met, and to have interposed a barrier to the pas sage of the river, through which it finally has burst its way, strewing the valley beneath with ruins, and fashioning out a multitude of circular cavities in a ledge of granite, which was now laid bare at the base of these falls, and over which the waters rushed with deafening uproar. 2. There was probably a fissure in this ledge, traversing it in a direction with the river, which in process of time has been so deepened and widened, that now the whole body of the stream is precipitated through a channel so narrow that one may easily step across it. 3. Standing upon this smooth and solid bed of granite, you hear the water rushing and roaring deep below you, and sending up sprays in its angular passage, to be coloured by the golden beams of the sun, and to be drank in by the thirsty verdure on its banks. Looking through the zigzag channel from either extremity, it presents a profile strongly analogous to artificial fortification, and the eye hastily searches for the bristling bayonet and the cannon, as it sees the numerous bastion, and curtain, extending themselves at length, with almost the regular disposition of engineer construction. 4. Above you, the river spreads itself out in ample dimensions, and approaches, peaceably and silently until it is forced to find vent in this narrow channel, where it lashes itself into fury, and pours itself along in a roar that is heard for miles around. Standing in perfect security on the very edge of this chasm, you may look down into it, 5. "Through which foam globes in eddies ride, That down life's current drive amain, As frail, as frothy, and as vain." Below you the country spreads itself out in a rich landscape; you see the silver stream threading itself along through occasional woodland and opening, both sides of its rich banks exhibiting the thick monuments of industry and art. 6. At a distance, the village spire raises itself up proudly above the buildings that surround it, and divers roads are seen traversing the adjacent country, converging to the village, like so many radii from circumference to centre. These Falls take their name from the circumstance of a hunter, named Snow, being killed there by the Indians, as far back as the year 1762. This country was then a wil derness.-New-Gloucester, the nearest settlement, was just commencing: and Captain Snow and a Mr. Butterfield were engaged in hunting and trapping on this stream. 7. Their camp was pitched on the east side of the river, near by the Falls, and tradition points to the very spot. Indian depredations, at that time, were frequent. A party of warriors had descended from Canada, and, scattering themselves upon the frontiers, were carrying with them devastation and terror. One party having laden themselves with booty, in returning discovered the traps of these hunters, and eventually traced them to their camp. 8. Butterfield, who happened to be upon the outside, discovered them when within a few rods of it. He uttered a scream of terror, and conjured Snow, who was within, to surrender, as resistance would be useless. Snow, who was aware of the horrible sufferings to which they doomed their prisoners, replied, that he would not surrender himself alive-that it was better to perish there than at the stake. 9. The Indians, finding themselves discovered, by a yell precipitated themselves upon the camp. Snow appeared at the door, with his musket in his hand, and made a demonstration of surrender; but he did this only to single out his victim. The Indian who covered the file in its approach, was of ferocious appearance and uncommon stature. 10. His head was adorned with the plumage of the eagle, taken entire, its wings depending over either shoulder, and its talons and beak so arranged that it still seemed to have life and be conscious of its kingly power. When within a few steps of Snow, and signifying to him good quarters, Snow suddenly elevated the muzzle of his piece, and saying that he neither asked nor gave quarters, discharged it into the bosom of the Indian Sachem, who rolled upon the ground, convulsed in the mortal agonies of death. 11. Before Snow could recover the camp, or make another movement of offence, he himself was slain and cut to pieces by the whole party, who had flung themselves at once with fury upon him. They then betook themselves to lamentations and howlings for the loss of their chief; and after having performed all the funeral rites due to his rank, they sunk him in a bog, and continued their march northward, taking Butterfield with them, calculating to offer him up as a sacrifice for the death of their captain. 12. On the borders of lake Umbagog they were joined by the Indians who had been spoiling in other directions, and here they feasted several days, holding their orgies, both for the success of their campaign and the loss of their Sachem. They afterwards went on to Canada; and Butterfield, watching every opportunity to escape, at length ventured-and travelling the wilderness alone, finally reached |