THE PERUVIAN SLAVE TRADE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 110, 4 November 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PERUVIAN SLAVE TRADE.

.The following letter on the above subject from Mr William Wyatt &11, is putfiished in the S. 31. HerrJd of the 13th inst. :— . .-w " Sir, — You have probably heard of the doings of the Callao slavers at Savage Island, Danger Island, Rakaangaiand especially Penrhyns. Five of our teachers" are sold into jhopelesa slavery; and nearly 600 'native* of the various islands where I , have recently been in the ' Joh- Williams*; We hear that many thousands off the peaceful inhabitants of these islands'" have •been deceived by these men-stealers and sold into captivity on*lhe .Peruvian coast. -F-roikVlliSJshrJd^f Mangaja five have been stolen. On Sabbath' 2sth January ultimo, a vessel hove in sight, and was at first t»k3n for the missionary barque. " A canoe, paddled by eight natives, put off. - On nearing the vessel they discovered their mistake ; but upon being assured that it was an American' vessel, the natives foolishly made fast their canoej and live of them clambered on deck. Drugged spirits were given to each of them, and they stood looking vacantly over the ship's side at their friends. The three below now found that the rope had been cut by the white men, and, fearing for the safety of their companions on deck, they shouted to them to throw themselves overboard and swim to the canoe. One of the five had sense enough left to attempt to pull off his shirt,' but was kept prisoner by two white men. The slaver immediately made all sail, and was speedily out of sight. One of the five stolen is the favorite son and intended successor oTthe King, an old man upwards of 70. Itappears that six ' Peruvian slavers have been taken and condemned by the French authorities at Tahiti, and one by the natives of Rapa. At the Marquesas twenty-four poor heathens went on board one of the slavers, supposing her to be an American whaler, and intend- , ing to pilot her in. To some of them diugged spirits were given. Othtrs were invited to go below to an entertainment, which was liberally spread out-; but as; soon as a 1 pood number were below, the fatal iron grating was fastened down upon them ! The few left in their senses on deck struggled for sweet liberty — one of ■ them sent the blade of a knife through the ', shoulder of a sailoi*. Five, however, ! managed to escape. Nineteen are in slavery. The poor heathen registered a vow that they would devour the crew of the first vessel they got into their power. It seems that the steward and another white man on board were opposed to taking the natives by force. The enraged captain put them on shore, in irons, on one of the most savage islands of the group, with strict injunctions to the natives to kill and eat them. Happily the poor fellows managed to escape and got to Tahiti, where i bey told tiieir tale to the French authorities. Another painful occurrence was related to me by the commander of the French .steamer the Latouche Treville, who has had the good fortune to capture one of the Peruvian slavers. It relates to the proceedings of the Peruvian slaveisat Papahui, or Easter Island, the natives of which are still heathen. ISix slavers lay off the island at the same time; but not being successful in their endeavors to decoy the natives the masters resolved upon a more enterprising line of" action. The crews of the six vessels were put under the command of the senior captain, and pulled ashore in their boats all well armed. Quantities of biscuit and -cloth were scattered on the beach to attract the poor natives. About 500 of them came to divide the Spoil. At length the appointed signal was given by the tiring -of the senior captain's pistol. The whole body of heccaneers now fired upon the unsuspecting mn hi- [ tude. Ten were killed and numbers wounded. A rush was now made by the invaders to cut off the retreat of the , affrighted and defenceless natives. Two hundred captives were secured and put on board the boats. These were equally divided among the six vessels. As the boats pulled along shore, two lads were seen resting upon a point of rock. When the natives were scattered by the firing they betook themselves to the sea and swam for their lives. Theslaverscalled to the lads to come into their boat, but as they did not seem inclined to obey they were deliberately shot dead. As the boats passed on numbers of men, women, and children were observed to be hiding behind the overhanging roclcs. These were all shot. Next day they set sail with their poor captive*. One of the captains overhauling those who fell to his lot considered that one poor old woman would not repay the cost of her keep, and therefore quietly ordered her to he thrown overboard. And then as to their fa(e in Peru. They are employed in all kinds of work. On one plantation seventy-five died in three weeks from the effects of hard work, bad food, change ov climate, and brutal treatment. Some are employed in digging guano in the Chin €hin Islands (I think they are called). These poor creatures are prevented from resting during the day by a collar with spikes. They cannot run away, as there legs are chained together. They are fed on rice of the worst description. If any die, a hole is dug in the guano, and the body is thrown in. Many of the poor Chinamen who preceded them were driven to commit suicide by ripping up their own bowels. As the Peruvians dare not now get slaves from China, they are trying the experiment of getting them from a much nearer source — by depopulating the South Sea Islands, I have not drawn upon fancy for these particulars. Dunng our late visit to the colonies one of the Callao slaving captains called here — sat at the table where I now write, to make a false entry in the shipping list. He wanted 200 men, but failed. He passed onto Atica,.where he got one of the principle chiefs oh board with his wife and gave them a good dinner. He then produced bags of gold containing (as hi said) 30Q0 dollars, to be the property of .the said chief if he would fill up his ship for him' with 200 slaves. The chief's eyes were now opened. To secure his. own safety he said that he would consider of it. He; got ashore all right, but forbade his people to go. One luckless wight swam off,,-little dreaming what he was doing. The barque sailed for Apia,- where I saw Ker^im the Bth of February last. She -afterwards filled up with poor captives, ■jln: April last, Captain Tttcholls, of the American whaler Rainbow, of ,New Bed■ford, saw her-at anchor at Sunday Island. ■Through disease 130 had died, so that only seventy remained alive at that ti me. .These are-sad, sober facts.. The question now is, are these things to Tie permitted itp'edntmue | .Are: the unoffending, Chris--tianised, and-to some extent, civilised- fnKafeitintS'of ihes^slantistofall a -prey to j these horrid 7 dealers -^in^ human ; flesh \ A&pngstf the . : captives are 7 five colored preachers- of .the. Gospel. Unless the matter be speedily dealt with the captives must all perish. In two orj three years hence not one will be left to" tell the taje

of jvbe. Natives of the tropics for the most [part, and unaccustomed to labor, they cannot long endure, the barbarous treatment they receive. The silver aud quicksilver mines, as well as the guano islands, of Peru will continually .require , fresh supplies of laborers. „ A-te- these fair islands to be depoptfla.ted.fbr the purpose ! Is the legitimate alttcl/beneficial traffic in" cocoanut oil, &c, which has of late' years sprung up, with^the .Australian colonies' to be de^rdy«d by this new species of slave trade v ? The French authorities at Tahiti .have acted vigorously in ihe-matteis, Will the English and Colonial Executives be unconcerned, spectators ? The king of this island"appeals to England for the rescue of his beloved son from' slavery of the worst fcirfd. -Would not Ins Excellency .the- Governor of New; South Wales fe*> < justified in for* ardin.fr a p'-etSsc to the Peruvian^ OvemiiienT 'without delay, accompanied by a demand for the liberation of the captives I