Liberia <«- 



found two parts of the North-west African coast well adapted 

 for their purposes.^ These were the River Pongo, in a No-man's 

 land north-west of Sierra Leone, and the Gallinhas lagoons on 

 the western frontier of Liberia, In those days the French had 

 made no attempt to establish themselves on the River Pongo, 

 nor did the British or the Liberians exercise any authority over 

 the Vai country east of Sherbro Island. 



One of the slavers of those days, Captain Theodore Canot, 

 has left us in his reminiscences a vivid picture of what the slave 

 trade was like in West Africa in its last phase. Canot was 

 born at Florence (Italy) in about 1803. His father was a 

 captain and paymaster in Napoleon's army, and his mother a 

 Piedmontese who was left a widow with six children. In his 

 boyhood Canot, through his uncle, a person of influence — 

 made the acquaintance of Lord Byron, But finding no chance 

 of employment near his home, and having a thirst for adventure, 

 he decided for a sea life, and in 1 8 1 9 became an apprentice on 

 the American ship Galatea of Boston, trading with the East 

 Indies. He rose to be mate, but met with several disasters, 

 one of which caused him to be wrecked off the coast of Cuba, 

 where the Dutch ship on which he was then serving was 

 captured by pirates. One of these pirates saved his life by 

 pretending a relationship, and through this man's advice he 

 drifted into the slave trade with Africa by engaging on a sailing 

 ship destined for the River Pongo. This was in 1826. When 

 this vessel, named the Areostatica^ reached the River Pongo, a 

 furious mutiny broke out on board owing to the incapacity of 

 the captain and the timidity of the mate, who were natives of 

 Majorca or Barcelona. Canot, in his own story, quelled the 

 mutiny by prompt action and the shooting of five of the 



' The Portugo-Brazilians devoted themselves more to the Dahome and Lagos 

 coast?. 



162 



