of means shown in cutting the hawser off the screw nine feet
under water with long chisels made for the occasion; a task
which it took three days to accomplish. Captain Chapman
very kindly invited us on hoard the Ariel, and we accepted
his hospitality after the weather had moderated.
The little vessel was hauled through and against the huge
seas with such force that two hawsers measuring eleven inches
each in circumference parted. Many of the blows we
received from the billows made every plate quiver from stem
to stem, and the motion was so quick that we had to hold
on continually to avoid being tossed from one side to the other
or into the sea. Ten of the late Bishop s flock whom we had
on board became so sick and helpless that do what we could
to aid them they were so very much in the way that the
idea broke in upon us, that the close packing resorted to by
slavers is one of the necessities of the traffic. If this is so, it
would account for the fact that even when the trade was legal
the same injurious custom was common, if not universal. If,
instead of ten such passengers, we had been carrying two
hundred, with the wind driving the rain and spray, as by night
it did, nearly as hard as hail against our faces, and nothing
whatever to be seen to windward but the occasional gleam of
the crest of a wave, and no sound heard save the whistling
of the storm through the rigging, it would have been absolutely
necessary for the working of the ship and safety of
the whole that the live cargo should all have been stowed
down below, whatever might have been the consequences.
Having delivered the Pioneer over to the Navy, she was
towed down to the Cape by Captain Forsyth of the Valorous,
and after examination it was declared'that with repairs to the
am mint, of 3001 she would be as serviceable as ever. Those
of the Bishop’s flock whom we had on board were kindly
allowed a passage to the Cape. The boys went in the Orestes,
and we are glad of the opportunity to record our heartfelt
thanks to Captains Forsyth, Gardner, and Chapman for
rendering us, at various times, every aid in their power.
Mr. Waller went in the Pioneer, and continued his generous
services to all connected with the Mission, whether white or
black, till they were no longer needed; and we must say that
his conduct to them throughout was truly noble, and worthy
of the highest praise.
After beaching the Lady Nyassa at Cabotjeira, opposite the
house of a Portuguese gentleman well known to all Englishmen,
Joao da Costa Soares, we put in brine, cocks, and
cleaned and painted her bottom. Mr. Soares appeared to us
to have been very much vilified in a publication in England
a few years ago; our experience proved him to be extremely
kind and obliging. All the members- of the Expedition who
passed Mosambique were unanimous in extolling his generosity,
and, from the general testimony of English visitors in
his favour, we very much regret that his character was so
grievously misrepresented. To the authorities at Mosambique
our thanks are also due for obliging accommodation; and
though we differ entirely from the Portuguese officials as to the
light in which we regard the slave-trade, we trust our exposure
of the-system, in which unfortunately they are engaged, will
not be understood as indicating any want of kindly feeling
and good will to them personally. Senhor Canto e
Castro, who arrived at Mosambique two days after our
departure to take the office of Governor-General, was well
known to us in Angola. We lived two months in his house
when he was Commandant of Golungo Alto; and, knowing
him thoroughly, believe that no better man could have been
selected for the office. We trust that Iris good principles may
enable him to withstand the temptations of his position; but
we should be sorry to have ours tried in a den of slave