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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 116, 2 June 1853, Page 4

American Slavery.—An Auction. —While travelling at the South, a short time since, one day, as I passed through a noted city, my attention was arrested by a concourse of people upon the public square. Soon I sawtwo iiicii coming through the crowd, aiieiuled by a female, they entered the ring around the stand. The sequel showed tliem to be an auctioneer, Ihe unfortunate merchant, ami the still more linforlunale young lady, for slave she could not he. The auctioneer stepped upon Ihe stand, ami ordered her to follow. She dropped her head upon her heaving bosom, hut she moved not. Neither did she weep—her emotions were too deep for tears. The merchant stood near me. I attentively watched his countenance. Twas that of a father for the loss of an j only daughter. Daughter he had not; but I understood (hat he had intruded lo adopt her, who, instead of being now free, was doomed to perpetual shivery, lie appeared to have a humane heart. Willi tears in his eyes, he said, "Helen, you must obey—l! can protect you no longer." 1 could "hear \ no more—my heart struggled to free itself j from Ihe li 11111:111 form. I turned my eyes upwards— the. flag lay listlessly by the pole, for not a breeze had leave to stir. I thought I could see the spirits of the liberly-niartyrs whose blood had once stained that soil, and . hear llicm sigh over the now desecrated spot. 1 turned lo look for Ihe doomed. She stood upon the auction stand. (11 stature she was ' of middle size; slim and delicately built. Her skin was lighter ihau many a northern brunette, and her features were round, with thin lips. Indeed, many thought no black blood could he in her vains. Now despair salon her couiilcitanee. ()! I shall never forget thai look, "(iood heavens!" ejaculated one of the two fathers, as he beheld the features of Helen, "is thai beauliful young lady lo be sold?" Then fell upon my ear llie auctioneer's cry, "how much is said for Ibis beauliful healthy slave girl—a real nlbinn/ How much.' How much.' Who bids:'" "l'ive hundred dollars," "eight hundred," "one thousand," were soon bid by diflerenl purchasers. Thelasi was made by the friends or Ihe merchant as they wished lo assist him to retain her. At first no one seemed disposed lo raise Ihe hid. The crier then read from a paper in his hand, "She is intelligent, well-informed easy lo communicate, ;i (irsl-rateinstructress." " Who raises Ihe bid.'" This had ihe desired cu'ert—"twelve hundred"—"fourteen"—"sixteen," quickly followed. He read again—"She is a devilled Christian, sustains the best of morals, and is perfectly trusty." This raised the bids lo two thousand dol'ms, at which she was struck off to the Gentleman in favour of whom was the prosecution. Here closed one of Ihe darkest scenes in Ihe book of time. This was a southern auction—an auction at which (Ik; bones, muscles, sinews, blood, and ncives of a young lady of nineteen, sold for one thousand dollars; her improved intellect for six hundred more; and her Christianity—the person of Christ in his follower-—four hundred more.—Liberty /'res.*.

Tin: Cui\r.sr. Il.vr-i:.\Tr.ns.—The Cdiiiosn, who arc emij<ralin;,' lo California 011 ;i largo scale, arc, it is found, unionist UlO most ingenious, laborious, economical, and docile labourers anions the mines. They demand less wages, and California is so abundantly .supplied Willi rats, that ihey can live like Celestial Kinpernrs anil pay very littles for llieir board. The rats of California exceed the rats of our older slalcs, just as naiim: on that side of the continent excels in boiiiiiifulness of mineral wealth. The Cali- | Coi'iiiuii rats are incredibly large, highly ; flavoured, and very abundant. The most ( reliued Chinese in California have 110 hesilalion in publicly expressing their opinion of. "thenirals."