Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver
our language. It was by treachery alone that Fana-Toro had been
dragooned into an arrangement, by which my _quondam_ blacksmith, who
married a sister of Cain, was elevated to the dignity of prince
George's _premier_!
Both these scamps, with a troop of their followers, planted themselves
on my premises near the beach, and immediately let me understand that
they were my sworn enemies. Cain could not pardon the aid I gave to
Fana-Toro in his earlier conflicts, nor would the renegade colonist
forsake his kinsman or the African barbarism, into which he had
relapsed.
By degrees, these varlets, whom I was unable, in my crippled
condition, to dislodge, obtained the ears of the British commanders,
and poured into them every falsehood that could kindle their ire. The
Spanish factory of Fana-Toro's agent was reported to be _mine_. The
shipment in the A---- and the adventure of her boat, were said to be
_mine_. Another suspected clipper was declared to be _mine_. These,
and a hundred lies of equal baseness, were adroitly purveyed to the
squadron by the outlaws, and, in less than a month, my fame was as
black as the skin of my traducers. Still, even at this distant day, I
may challenge my worst enemy on the coast to prove that I
participated, after 1839, in the purchase of a single slave for
transportation beyond the sea!
From the moment that the first dwelling was erected at New Florence, I
carefully enforced the most rigid decorum between the sexes throughout
my jurisdiction. It was the boast of our friends at Cape Palmas and
Monrovia, that my grounds were free from the debauchery, which,
elsewhere in Africa, was unhappily too common. I have had the honor to
entertain at my table at Cape Mount, not only the ordinary traders of
the coast, but commodores of French squadrons, commanders of British
and American cruisers, governors of colonies, white and colored
missionaries, as well as innumerable merchants of the first
respectability, and I have yet to meet the first of them, in any part
of the world, who can redden my cheek with a blush.
But such was not the case at the Cape after Cain and Curtis became the
pets of the cruisers, and converted the beach into a brothel.[10]
After a brief sojourn at my quarters to repair "The Chancellor," in
which I had come with a cargo from the United States, I hastened
towards Gallinas to dispose of our merchandise. We had been already
boarded by an American officer, who reported us to his superior as a
regular merchantman; yet, such were the malicious representations on
the beach against the vessel and myself, that the Dolphin tarried a
month at the anchorage to watch our proceedings. When I went to the
old mart of Don Pedro, a cruiser dogged us; when I sailed to leeward
of Cape Palmas for oil and ivory, another took charge of our
movements,--anchoring where we anchored, getting under way when we
did, and following us into every nook and corner. At Grand Buttoa, I
took "The Chancellor" within a reef of rocks, and here I was left to
proceed as I pleased, while the British cruiser returned to Cape
Mount.
The fifteenth of March, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, is scored in
my calendar with black. It was on the morning of that day that the
commander who escorted me so warily as far as Buttoa, landed a
lieutenant and sailors at New Florence, and unceremoniously proceeded
to search my premises for slaves. As none were found, the valiant
captors seized a couple of handcuffs, like those in use every where to
secure refractory seamen, and carried them on board to their
commander. Next day, several boats, with marines and sailors, led by a
British captain and lieutenant, landed about noon, and, without
notice, provocation, or even allowing my clerk to save his raiment,
set fire to my brigantine, store-houses, and dwelling.
As I was absent, I cannot vouch for every incident of this
transaction, but I have the utmost confidence in the circumstantial
narrative which my agent, Mr. Horace Smith, soon after prepared under
oath at Monrovia. The marines and Kroomen were permitted to plunder at
will. Cain and Curtis revelled in the task of philanthropic
destruction. While the sailors burnt my houses, these miscreants and
their adherents devoted themselves to the ruin of my garden, fruit
trees, plantations, and waterworks. My cattle, even, were stolen, to
be sold to the squadron; and, ere night, New Florence was a
smouldering heap!
I would gladly have turned the last leaf of this book without a
murmur, had not this wanton outrage been perpetrated, not only while I
was abroad, but without a shadow of justice. To this hour, I am
ignorant of any lawful cause, or of any thing but suspicion, that may
be alleged in palliation of the high-handed wrong. Not a line or word
was left, whereby I could trace a pretext for my ruin.
Three days after the catastrophe, my ancient ally of Toso paid the
debt of nature. In a month, his tribes awoke from their stupor with
one of those fiery spasms that are not uncommon in Africa, and,
missing their "white man" and his merchandise, rose in a mass, and,
without a word of warning, sacrificed the twin varlets of the beach
and restored their lawful prince.
FOOTNOTE:
[10] I have spoken of visits and appeals from missionaries, and will
here insert a letter of introduction which I received by the hands of
the Reverend Mr. Williams, whilst I inhabited Cape Mount. Mr. Williams
had been a former governor of Liberia, and was deputed to Cape Mount
by the Methodist Episcopal Mission, in Liberia.
"DEAR SIR:
"This will be handed you by the Rev. A. D. Williams, a minister of the
M. E. Church, with whom you are so well acquainted that I hardly need
introduce him. It is a matter of regret that I am so situated as to be
unable to accompany Mr. Williams to Cape Mount. It would have afforded
me pleasure to visit your establishment, and it might have facilitated
our mission operations, could I have done so. Allow me, however to
bespeak for Mr. Williams your attention and patronage, both of which
you have, in conversation, so kindly promised.
"Our object is to elevate the natives of Cape Mount; to establish a
school for children; to have divine service regularly performed on the
Sabbath; and thus to endeavor to introduce among the people a
knowledge of the only wise and true God and the blessings of
Christianity. Such is the immense influence you have over the Cape
Mount people, in consequence of your large territorial possessions,
that a great deal of the success of our efforts will depend on you.
"To your endeavors, then, for our prosperity, we look very anxiously.
In the course of a few months, should circumstances warrant the
expense, I intend to erect suitable buildings for divine service, and
for the occupation of the missionary and his family. In this case, we
shall have to intrude on your land for building room. I shall endeavor
to visit Cape Mount as soon as possible.
"I remain, my dear sir,
"Yours truly,
"JOHN SEYS.
"TO THEODORE CANOT, ESQ.,
"_Cape Mount_."
It would have afforded me sincere pleasure to gratify Messrs. Williams
and Seys but, unluckily, they had chosen the worst time imaginable for
the establishment of a mission and school. The country was ravaged by
war, and the towns were depopulated. The passions of the tribes were
at their height. Still, as I had promised my co-operation, I
introduced the Rev. Mr. Williams to the king, who courteously told the
missionary all the dangers and difficulties of his position, but
promised, should the conflict speedily end, to send him notice, when a
"book-man" would be received with pleasure.
To give my reverend friend a proof of the scarcity of people _in the
towns_, I sent messages to Toso, Fanama and Sugarei, for the
inhabitants to assemble at New Florence on the next Sunday, to hear
"God's palabra," (as they call sacred instruction;) but when the
Sabbath came, the Rev. Mr. Williams held forth to my clerk, mechanics
and servants, alone!
I reported the mortifying failure to the Rev. Mr. Seys, and Mr. W.
returned to Monrovia.
THE END.
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