VOYAGE FROM CAPE TOWN TO CHINA. 39 



Islands, the two American merchant-vessels having 

 sailed a few hours before the departure of the Enterprise. 

 The fresh winds which we had expected to encounter on 

 our way to Tamatave, but which fortunately had failed 

 us, now set in with much force, and a comparatively 

 quick trip was made, chiefly under sail. 



We arrived at Johanna Town, Comoro Islands, on the 

 morning of the loth. I visited the blind but intelligent 

 Sultan at his country residence on the opposite side of 

 the island, and, while there, at his request viewed a lot of 

 slaves which he told me had been landed on the island 

 without his permission and against his wish, and which 

 he was about to turn over to the commander of a small 

 English gunboat to take to Zanzibar where they would 

 be set free. There were 107 of these poor wretches hud- 

 dled together, nearly all of whom were young, — ap- 

 parently from five to seven years of age, — male and 

 female. Before my interview with the Sultan was over 

 they had started to cross the island to embark on board 

 the gunboat. The English commander and I, mounted 

 on good donkeys, overtook the slaves as they were being 

 driven up the steep mountain-paths in the hot sun by 

 the Sultan's followers, and it was painful to witness their 

 sufferings. 



I was told afterwards that the crafty Sultan had kept 

 back about thirty of the best of the slaves, and had 

 secreted them where they could not be found; and that, of 

 the 107 which started to cross the island, only 85 reached 

 the ship, the others having been kidnapped on the way. 



