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H 



250 



SLAVERY. 



fested upon the appearance of a purchaser ; 

 they start up willingly, to be placed in the row 

 for the purpose of being viewed and handled 

 like cattle, and on being chosen they give signs 

 of much pleasure. I have had many oppor- 

 tunities of seeing slaves bought, for my par- 

 ticular friends at Recife lived opposite to slave- 

 dealers. I never saw any demonstrations of 

 grief at parting from each other ; but I attribute 

 this to the dread of punishment if there had 

 been any flow of feeling, and to a resigned, or 

 rather despairing sensation, which checks any 

 show of grief, and which has prepared them for 

 the worst, by making them indifferent to what- 

 ever may occur ; besides, it is not often that a 

 family is brought over together, — the separation 

 of relatives and friends has taken place in Africa. 

 It is among the younger part of the assemblage 

 of persons who are exposed for sale that plea- 

 sure is particularly visible at the change of situ- 

 ation, in being removed from the streets of the 

 town ; the negroes of more advanced age do 

 whatever the driver desires, usually with an un- 

 changed countenance. I am afraid that very 

 little care is taken to prevent the separation of 

 relations who may chance to come over in the 

 same ship ; and any consideration on this point 

 lies entirely with the owner of the cargo.* A 



* I was present on one occasion at the purchase of some 

 slates. The person who was choosing those which suited his 



