The African Trader | Page 7

Portuguese, especially,
come here to carry off the unfortunate inhabitants as slaves, and
sometimes the villainous crews of their craft, if in want of provisions
and water, will help themselves, without ceremony, from any
merchantman they may fall in with. And should she have a rich cargo
on board, they have been known, I have heard say, to make her people
walk the plank, and sink or burn her, so that no one may know anything
about the matter. Now our skipper has no fancy to be caught in that
fashion, and if we were to sight a suspicious looking sail, as the
`Chieftain' has got a fast pair of heels of her own, we should do our best
to keep out of her way. You see when once fellows take to slaving they
go from bad to worse. I have known something of the trade in my time,
and it made my heart turn sick to see the way in which they crowd
hundreds of their fellow-creatures down on the slave decks of their
vessels, packed as close together as herrings in a cask, for their run
across the Atlantic to the Brazils or Cuba. It may be, before we leave
this coast, you will have the opportunity of seeing for yourself, so I
need not tell you more about it now."
After this I was as vigilant as anyone on board in looking out for
suspicious craft,--for I had no fancy to be caught by a piratical slaver,
and be made to walk the plank, and have our gallant little "Chieftain"
sent to the bottom.
We continued cruising along the coast for some weeks, slowly
exchanging our cargo for African products.
At length Captain Willis got tired of this style of doing business. "I am
going to run up the river Bonny, Harry, where we are certain in time to

get a full cargo of palm oil, though I would rather have filled up
without going into harbour at all, for the climate, I own, is not the
healthiest possible, and we may chance to have a touch of sickness on
board."
He spoke, however, in so unconcerned a way that I had no serious
apprehensions on that score.
I had not forgotten my promise to Mammy, and had asked all the
blacks I could manage to speak to if they could tell me anything of
Cheebo. I need scarcely say that my question was received with a broad
grin by most of them. "Plenty Cheebos," was the general reply. "Dat
black fellow Cheebo; and dat, and dat, and dat Quamino," was added,
when I said that such was the name of the father of the Cheebo of
whom I was in search, but none of them answered the description of
poor Mammy's son. At length I felt very much inclined to give up my
inquiries as hopeless.
CHAPTER THREE.
WE ENTER A RIVER.--ITS SCENERY DESCRIBED.--RECEIVE A
VISIT FROM THE KING, AND TRADE WITH THE
NATIVES.--THE PRODUCTS OF AFRICA, FOR WHICH WE
TRADE, MENTIONED, AND THE CURIOUS MODE IN WHICH
TRADE IS CONDUCTED.-- FEVER BREAKS OUT ON BOARD,
AND SEVERAL OF THE CREW DIE.--SAD END OF POOR
BOB.--THE BOATSWAIN AND MATES ATTACKED WITH
FEVER.--MORE DEATHS.--THE CAPTAIN'S UNWILLINGNESS,
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS, TO LEAVE THE RIVER TILL HIS
CARGO IS COMPLETED.
Standing in towards the coast with the sea breeze we saw before us an
opening between two low mangrove covered points, which formed the
mouth of the river we were about to ascend. The scarcely ever ceasing
rollers, coming across the wide Atlantic, broke on the bar which ran
across its entrance with somewhat less violence than on the coast itself.
Still there was an ugly looking line of white foam which had to be

crossed before we could gain the smooth water within. We hove-to,
making the signal for a pilot. A canoe in a short time came off, having
on board a burly negro, dressed in a broad brimmed hat, nankeen
trousers, and white jacket, with a sash round his waist. He produced
several documents to show that he was capable of taking a vessel over
the bar.
"Wait bit captain," he said, "high water soon, and den ship go in
smooth--batten down hatches though, case sea break aboard."
Captain Willis followed this advice; it was well that he did so. "Up
helm now captain--bar berry good--plenty breeze." We stood on with
all canvas set; the hands at their stations ready to shorten sail when
necessary. Soon we found ourselves mounting to the top of a high
roller, then on we glided, till in another instant down we came amid the
hissing roaring breakers, their foam-topped summits dancing up on
either side, and deluging our decks. I saw our black pilot holding on
pretty tightly by the main shrouds--I followed