''M^J^ 



248 



SLAVERY. 



crouded to a most shocking degree, nor was there 

 any means of preventing this ; but a law has 

 been passed for the purpose of restricting the 

 number of persons for each vessel. However, 

 I more than suspect, that no attention is paid to 

 this regulation, — that means are made use of 

 to evade the law. On the arrival at Recife of a 

 cargo of slaves, the rules of the port direct that 

 these persons shall be disembarked and taken to 

 St. Amaro, which is an airy spot, and sufficiently 

 distant from the town to prevent the admittance 

 of any infectious disorder, if any such should 

 exist among the newly-imported negroes j and 

 yet the place is at a convenient distance for the 

 purchasers, St. Amaro being situated imme- 

 diately opposite to Recife, upon the inland bank 

 of the expanse of waters which is formed by the 

 tide on the land-side of the town. However, 

 like many others, this excellent arrangement is 

 not attended to, and even if the slaves are re- 

 moved for a few days to St. Amaro, they are 

 soon conveyed back to the town. Here they are 

 placed in the streets before the doors of their 

 owners, regardless of decency, of humanity, and 

 of due attention to the general health of the 

 town. The small-pox, the yaws, and other com- 

 plaints have thus frequent opportunities of 

 spreading. It is probable, that if the climate 

 was not so very excellent as it is, this practice 

 would be discontinued, but if it was not put a 



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