SLAVE TRADE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 514, 8 June 1869, Page 3

SLAVE TRADE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

H.M. corvetto Eosario has arrived at Sydney and reports that she captured the slave schooner Daphne, Captain Dagget, at Levuka (South Seas), on the 21st April. One hundred Hebridians, from Banks' Tslaud, were found packed in the hold. The slaves were landed at Levuka, and the captain and crew of the Daphne were taken prisoners. A fresh crew was supplied her, and she was ordered on to Sydney. Messrs Ross, Lewin, and other Queenslunders were aboard the slave schooner Daphne when she was captured. On being boarded bv the boat from H.M. ship it was ascertained that one-half the complement of uatives had been engaged for Queensland, but on the vessel arriving at Tanna, where Mr Ross Lewin has a station, he informed the captain and super-cargo that a better market could be obtained by bringing them on to Fiji, on which advice they acted. Captain Palmer, on examination of the vessel's papers, found such discrepancy in dales, and suspicious circumstances surrounding the whole transaction, that he at once seized the vessel. The unfortunate natives were found huddled together on board the schooner, entirely naked, unable to make themselves understood, and were unaccompanied by an interpreter. They were at once taken on shore and placed under the charge of the British viceconsul ; an officer (Lieutenant Bingham) and prize crew taking possession of the ship with orders to bring her on to Sydney fir adjudication. Captain Palmer is of opinion, from what he has observed and intelligence gleaned, that a wholesale system of slave traffic, in its worst form, exists in certain groups, Tanna beiug apparently the head quarters.

The Government have resolved to prosecute the captain of the slave schooner Daphne, and also to get the vessel condemned in the vice-Admiralty Court. The opinion of Sir William Manning, as to the legality of the Beizure of the vessel, has been' taken, and that gentleman entirely concurs in the step. The trial of Captain Howell, of the schooner Young Australia, and Bangi, one of the crew, for murdering three Polynesian natives at the Island of Tanna (South Seas,) in October last, was brought to a conclusion on the 25th ult. The jury said they could not agree, so the}- were sent back to think over the evidence more carefully, and they finally brought in a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy. Sentence of death was passed in the usual form.