8 CAPTURE OP A SLAYER.
having a rod of iron between their ankles. They probably
were recent investments, and could not be
trusted at large. But what shocked us most deeply
was seeing a poor woman brutally struck across the
chest by her master, a black half-caste Portuguese, for
attempting to go out without leave. Such are some
of the vicissitudes in the life of a slave 1-—submission
may obtain kind treatment, but even this is not
always sure.
The Portuguese troops in Fort Sebastian have Hin-
dostanees amongst them, and they observe the pleasing
(Spanish?) custom of doffing their caps during the
“ beat off” at sunset, and I understood from a sentry
that they paid this respect also to the rising sun. The
governor dined with the Admiral. He was in plain
clothes, and wore a star. His crew of ten negroes
had to wait in their boat during the operation of
dinner. They were in man-of-war costume, and, remarkable
enough, the head-dress was a black Highland
bonnet with crest.
On the 1 Oth of August a slave - vessel, Sunny
South or Manuella, was captured with upwards of
500 slaves on board, 75 of whom were women.
The scene they presented of nakedness, despair,
disease, and hunger, was too loathsome to describe;
while, to judge from the ham and preserves I saw
with Long, our mule attendant, who had been sent
on board and made good use of the opportunity,
the captain and officers must have fared well. The
crew were brought on board the Brisk for the Admiral’s
inspection. All came willingly, with the exception
of one or two, who were a little rusty, requiring
the assistance of one of our big marines to bring them
ARRIVAL AT ZANZIBAR. 9
to order. They continued smoking till stopped by
the stern discipline of the ship’s corporal, who received
and ranged them in formal line to take their names.
Eventually they dispersed over our ship, and, after
some days, might be seen working quietly with the
other sailors. The slaver, one of the fastest and most
beautifully - proportioned vessels ever put together,
went to the Mauritius, losing 105 of the poor
starving creatures during the passage, and was afterwards
wrecked near the point at which she was
captured.
At Johannah Island (about 12° S. lat.) we stayed
four days taking in coals. To a rambler or lover of
picnics by clear brown mountain-streams, margined
by a most luxuriant flora, I know of no such charming
spot within the tropics. Its harbour, however, is a
dangerous coral basin or lagoon.
On the 17th August the island of Zanzibar came
in sight; also four smaller isles, looking like great
arks whose bows and stems hung bushing over the
waters. The island has a low appearance. The town,
running along the shore for a quarter of a mile of
flat-roofed warehouse-like buildings, is not imposing,
its mud fort-towers and the flags of four consulates
being the only prominent objects. The bay is
perfect, and we anchored close to shore in seven
fathoms, this being the 108th day since we departed
from England.
The greatest heat encountered—and it was felt to be
excessive—was when in 16° S. lat. at Mozambique, the
medium temperature in the shade being, on the 7th
August, 78°. Lat. 37° S., long. 21° E., on the 22d of
June, after a storm during the night, shows the lowest