SLAVES. 107

made their way. Eight or ten human beings thus
lost their lives, but the event seemed to cause no

 

 

 

concern to the captain or his officers. He had

 

only agreed to pay for those brought off to him in
safety. The embarkation continued as before, and
we were soon surrounded by canoes full of slaves,
who were forthwith hoistéd on board and stowed
below. Their price, chiefly in goods, was then
lowered into the canoes, which returned to the
shore with much more caution than they had come
out. 3

Two days afterwards we obtained an other addi-
tion to our cargo still further down the coast. On this
occasion we brought up in a sheltered bay. Here
the slaves were conveyed on large rafts. Every ex-
pedition was used in getting them on board, for
news had been received that an English cruiser
was in the neighbourhood. The moment they
were stowed away the anchor was hove-up and sail
was made.

As we were going out, and appeared to be clear
of the harbour, I heard a grating sound, and felt
the vessel’s keel touch the ground. At the same
moment the look-out from the mast-head gave
notice that a sail was in sight in the offing.