SELF-EMANCIPATORS* 



00 



Her Majesty's sliip Meander, the alaves were carefully 

 locked up like otlier live stock, with the exception of a few 

 old servants, who, having received such long- continued 

 kindness as to be slaves in name only, were trusted by 

 their mastci's. Gratitude, however, m as rare in Soloo aa 

 elsewhere ; and about a dozen of these faithful well-fed 

 slaves were fools enough to find their way on board the 

 MemndiTf to be landed at the next port at wliicli we 

 miglit touchy and there to starvo as free men. Their 

 usual plan was to sneak alongside at night, cling hold of 

 the chain-platesj kick the canoe adrift — which they had iu 

 all probabihty stolen — and then make a noise until helped 

 up the side, when they imagined themselves Britishers. 

 Every one of these whom we questioned appeared to have 

 been treated bj their owueris with the greatest confidence 

 and kindness. 



Considering that Soloo Avas the great commercial centre 

 of these aeas, we were surpiised at not seeing more large 

 prahus ; there were none afloat, and very few hauled up j 

 the number, however, of building-sheds and blacksmiths' 

 forges showed that they have the means of starting mto 

 activity at short notice. 



Mr. Windham had been trying to persuade the Soloos 

 to beai' a flag with a St, George's Gross in their trading 

 prahus, as a badge of peaceful mercantile occupation, by 

 which they might be known to our cruisers ; but thia 

 suggestion had not yet been adopted. 



We quitted the Soloo capital with some regret, and ran 



