Sale of Slaves. 101 



and disregard of reputation in the manner of acquiring it, are 

 characteristic of both. 



" I happened, some days ago, to step into one of the Ven- 

 duties, or pubhc sales, in Capetown, where, among other arti- 

 cles, I saw three or four slaves set up to sale. This was alto- 

 gether a new sight to me. I could not without pain remark 

 the anxiety with which those poor creatures regarded the per- 

 sons who were bidding for them. It seemed as if they wished 

 to trace the character of their future master in the lineaments of 

 his countenance, and showed indications of joy or fear, accord- 

 ing to the opinion they had formed of his disposition. 



" Among the terrible reactions produced by the slave trade, 

 none is perhaps more merited or more evident than the disso- 

 luteness of morals and ferocity of disposition which it creates 

 among the people who are concerned it. The cold-blooded cal- 

 culator of profit and loss, the prime agent in this unhallowed 

 traffic, feels its influence but in a remote and subordinate de- 

 gree. It is when we cast a view on those who are placed imme- 

 diately within the sphere of its action, that we perceive its dete- 

 riorating effects ; their morals, their temper, their air, and their 

 very features confessing its malignant influence. The softer 

 sex, more especially, are transformed by it into cruel tyrants. 

 When you mix in female society, you look in vain for that 

 cheerful play of features which indicates a sweet disposition ; 

 in vain you listen for that harmonious tone of voice which is 

 mellowed by the habit of associating with one's equals. 



" The slaves at the Cape are composed of more various races 

 than are to be met with in any other part of the world where 

 the traffic in human flesh is sanctioned. The coast of Guinea, 

 Mosambique, Madagascar, Malacca, and the islands of the 

 east, have contributed in their turn to supply the colony ; and 

 from the intermixture of this heterogeneous group, aided by a 

 dash of European and Hottentot blood, a mongrel race has 

 sprung up, which exhibits an astonishing diversity of feature as 

 well as of disposition. Of all the unadulterated race of slaves, 

 the Malay bears the most marked character. He is cunning, 

 active, and intelligent ; but, at the same time, implacably re- 

 vengeful. If a Malay commits a fault, and is punished for it, 



