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62 SLAVERY— CITY. March
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sands of unhappy wretches, who, once landed, become the
helpless instruments of immense gain to their owners : neither
can any reasonable number of shipping efficiently blockade
tlie coasts of two great continents.
I f I am right in these assertions, it appears that there is
no method by which the slave trade can be totally suppressed,
except by destroying the cause of so abominable a traffic: and
that, to this end, a native population should be encouraged in
hot climates, who, being gradually inured to work on their
native soil, for remuneration from their employers, and a prospect
of future comfort for themselves and their offspring, would
totally supersede the demand for constrained labour. Of course,
the only way by which such a result could be obtained—I
should say, perhaps, the first step towards so satisfactory a
result, would he, that the government of a slave-importing
country should declare that trade piratical: and proclaim
every human being free; bound to no man, free to do any
thing not contrary to religion, or law, from the moment he or
she embarked on board a vessel belonging to that country, or
placed a foot upon its soil; which might then indeed be termed,
in common with our happy land, a sacred soil. By such a
plan as this, individuals would suffer for a time, but the mass
of society would be gainers incalculably.
Well-known authors have already said so much of Bahia, its
spacious harbour, and delightful environs, that it would he
impertinent in the writer of a mere narrative to add his hasty
remarks to the calmly considered information which their works
contain. But I will venture to notice that however pleased
a stranger to Bahia may he at the sensations conveyed through
his eyes, previous to landing, he will be miserably disappointed
when he finds himself in the dirty, narrow, crowded,
and hot ‘ lower t o w n a n d that the sooner he gets into a
sedan* chair, and desires the almost naked bearers to make the
best of their way to the ‘ upper town,’ where he will enjoy
• An arm-chair, with a high back, a foot-board, and curtains to draw
round, hung to a pole whicli rests on the shoulders of two men.
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