INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 3I9 
of their former condition. They were all very inquisitive ; but 
they viewed me at first with looks of horror, and repeatedly- 
asked if my countrymen were cannibals. They were very de- 
sirous to know what became of the slaves after they had crossed 
the salt water. I told them, that they were employed in culti- 
vating the land ; but they would not believe me; and one of them 
putting his hand upon the ground, said with great simplicity, 
" have you really got such ground as this, to set your feet upon 1" 
A deeply rooted idea, that the whites purchase Negroes for the 
purpose of devouring them, or of selling them to others, that they 
may be devoured hereafter, naturally makes the slaves contem- 
plate a journey towards the Coast with great terror ; inso- 
much that the Slatees are forced to keep them constantly in 
irons, and watch them very closely, to prevent their escape. 
They are commonly secured, by putting the right leg of one, 
and the left of another, into the same pair of fetters. By 
supporting the fetters with a string, they can walk, though very 
slowly. Every four slaves are likewise fastened together by the 
necks, with a strong rope of twisted thongs ; and in the night, 
an additional pair of fetters is put on their hands, and sometimes 
a light iron chain passed round their necks. 
Such of them as evince marks of discontent, are secured in a 
different manner. A thick billet of wood is cut about three 
feet long, and a smooth notch being made upon one side of it, the 
ankle of the slave is bolted to the smooth part by means of a 
strong iron staple, one prong of which passes on each side of 
the ankle. All these fetters and bolts are made from native 
iron ; in the present case they were put on by the blacksmith 
