SLAVERY. 



255 



that they continue in slavery. They are not, 

 however, numerous. Great neatness is shown 

 by them in their household arrangements, and 

 they often exert themselves to obtain money ; 

 but they are less careful and prudent than the 

 nations of which I have already treated. All 

 the Anjico negroes have three gashes on each 

 cheek, which are cut in a circular form from 

 the ear to the mouth. * 



The Gabam or Gaboon negroes have not been 

 very long introduced, and from the well-known 

 general character of the nation they are sold at 

 a reduced price. I have heard many persons 

 state that they are cannibals, t They appear to 

 be in a still more savage state than any of the 

 former-mentioned nations, and are much given to 

 despondency and consequent suicide ; indeed, 

 ten and even twenty that have been purchased 

 together have, in some instances, in the course 

 of a short period, all died from despair, or have 

 put an end to their lives in a more summary 

 manner. It is with difficulty that the Gaboons 



* Mr. Edwards mentions some of the Gold-coast negroes, 

 or those of the adjacent countries, and gives as an instance 

 the chainlet negroes, who follow this custom. 



f Whilst I resided at Jaguaribe, I heard that two negroes 

 of this nation had murdered a child of three or four years of 

 age, the son or daughter of their master, and that they had 

 been caught in the act of preparing to cook part of the body. 

 The men were carried down to Recife, but the person who 

 informed me of these circumstances did not know what 

 punishment had been inflicted upon them. 



