-•> The Last Phase of the Slave Trade 



Pedro Blanco lost in this way a hundred slaves while trying to 

 send them off in a hurry through the terrible breakers. 



Canot seems to have had a very engaging address, and 

 could speak equally fluently English, French, ItaHan, and Spanish. 

 He had about him such an English manner that he often 

 impressed favourably British naval officers or Colonial officials, 

 who should have viewed him with suspicion. Unlike most 

 of his colleagues (if one may believe his asseverations), he 

 led a clean, gentlemanly life, even though he was a slave trader. 

 Of course, when he willingly permitted inspection of his depots 

 on the Liberian coast, there were no slaves en evidence^ and 



51. SURF ON THE LIBERIAN BEACH 



everything was arranged to convey the impression of lawful 

 trading in the ordinary products of the country. He had 

 a good cook, and gave excellent dinners, and had at all times 

 an eye for a trim-built sailing vessel. On board one of these 

 vessels travelling up the Eiberian coast he met " Governor " Finley 

 of the American settlements at Sino (a white man), who had 

 been to Monrovia for change of air and recovery from fever. 

 Canot offered to take him on a cruise, and the Governor 

 accepted, but afterwards seemed very impatient to be landed, 

 possibly suspecting the true nature of his host. Such was his 

 impatience, in fact, that he insisted on going through the surf 

 to land at what is now Upper Buchanan (Grand Basa). It is 



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