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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 14, 5 July 1849, Page 3

Having presented you, in our last, with a short description, and a few accounts, of the atrocities of the slave trade, we now proceed to show you the heartless bnrbarity exhibited by those engaged in it and the wliolesalo murders to which they will tmserupufously have recourse, to save themselves and their ships from capture. THE DROWNING OF SIX lIUNDRI-D SLAVES. In the year 1830, (hero was hovering on the Alriran coast a large clipper brig, called • lie liriUinule, commanded by ;i desperado named Ilomans- Ilomans wns nn Englishman by birth, mid was known along llie whole coast niul in Culm, as the most successful slaver of bis day. Tim brig was owned by two men residing in Ilavamiafi—one an Englishman, ihe oilier a Spaniunl. She was bui!i 10 carry COO -negroes, and in licr Ilomans hail made ten successful voyages, actually landing in Cuba 5000 negroes ! The brig carried ten : guns, had thirty sweeps, and ft crew of sixty Spaniards, most of tliem old pirates, as desperate as their commander. An Knglisli brig of 1 war which atticked her was so cut up in hull and rigging tlmt she was abandoned, and soon after sunk. An- English sloop of wnr attempted to carry the l'rilliunte with boats, which were bent off with great slaughter. Now, it was known that ifumans was again on the coast, and it was resolved .to make another attempt to take him, with the evidence of guilt oil board. The arrangements for this purpose were well made. lie was allowi d to take in his cargo and set sail. . The Brillinnle bad not lost sight of the coast, when thcquick eye of her commander disco* ■Ycred that he was entrapped. F»ur cruisers, three of them English, ami one American, had been lying in wait for him, and escape was hopeless. In running away from one he would come within reach of tl;e other. Night was coming on, and Ilomans was silently regarding liis pursuers, when suddenly the huge sails of the brig flapped idly, the wind died away, arid the slaver was motionless on the 'waters. "This, wjll not do," Homan? muttered, knocking away'lhc ashes from his cigar, -"their boat will.be dowji upon mc before I •am ready for the visit nnd as lie said this bis stern face lit up with a smile, the expression of which was diabolical.' It was evident that he meditated some' desperate plan, '' A dozen sweeps were got out, and the vessel moved slowly'through the water. Mean* • time the darkness having deepened, Homuns ■ proceeded to carry out his design. The cable ntlache'd' to' the heaviest anchor • was taken outstde-'of the hawse bole, and carried. round, the rail of the brig, extending from the bow, aft round the- stem, and then forward on the other side. The hatches were then taken off, and the negroes passed up, each securely ironed by the wrists. As the ■ miserable wretches came up from the hot hold into the frosLv air, -they expressed by their

looks a gratitude which would have softened the heart ol'nny but tlm (icud in whose power thcyjwcrc. The irons which clasped tlieir wrists were then fastened by smaller chains to the links of the cable. It work, but at the -end of four Imurs 000 Africans, male and female, were bending o\sitlic rail of the briij, in a painful position, holding' by their chained hands the huge cable; which was attached to a heavy nnclior, suspended by a single sling froiii tlic'bow. Ilomans himself examined the fastenings to see that every negro was strongly bound to the chain. This done, he ordered the penwork ol the hold to be broken up, brought on deck, bound up in matting, and wfill filled with shot, and thrown overboard. The workwas completed an hoar before day-break, and now the only witness of Iloman's guilt were .'l i.iclied to that f ital chain. Ilonians turned to.ihe mate, and with a stnile full ol" meaning, said in Spanish ' " Harro, mke an axennd go forward. The wind will conic off to us soon. Listen to the 'Word, and, when you hear it, cut the sling." The man went forward, and Ilomans turned, and in vain endeavoured to penetrate the darkness. " I don't want to lose the nighe said, speaking aloud, " and yet I dnrs not wait uulil daylight. 1 wish I knew where the hounds were." A* that instant the report of a gun reached his ear, then another, and nnother, in different directions. The cruisers were filing signals. "That's enough," exclaimed Ilomans, "I khow where you are." Then raising his voice, he cried, " I larro, nro you ready l The wind wilt reach us soon." " Ay, ay, sir,'" was the response. • Iu n few minutes the sails began to fill, and the vos-iel moved slowly through the water. • " Flow much water do you suppose wo have here ?" said Homans, turning to the man nt the wheel. '■ Fifty fathoms at least," was the replj. " That will do," the slaver muttered, and he walkod forward, and examined carefully tho chain-gang," as lie brutally termed liis diabolical invention. The negroes sent up piteous groans. For many hours they had been bent over in this unnatural position, by which they were sullering the keenest torture. The breeze strengthened, and the Drilliante dashed liken racer over the deep, Ilomans Iniled from the fpiarter-deek, while his men, collected iu groups, saw unmoved (he consummation of the pi in. " Are you ready, Ilarro?" " Ay, ay, sir." Ilomans looked round, and into the darkness wlrc!i was fast giving way to the morn. Then lie thundered out —■ " Strike !" There was the sound of a single blow, a heavy plunge, and as the cable fell off the sidf, a trash, above which rose one terrible shriek —it was the last cry of the murdered Africans. One moment more, and -nil was still; GUO human brings had gone down with that anchor and chain into the depths of the ocean. Two hours after daybreak the Brillinate was overhauled. There was no evidence that she was n slaver, and her captors were obliged to let her pass. The instructions to cruisers at that time did not allow a vessel to' he captured unless negroes were found on board.' i ' ' j i I .