What is the general state and condition of slaves in Africa, may be gathered from the following extracts from the same work :—
"But these restrictions on the power of the master extend not to the case of prisoners taken in war, nor to slaves purchased with money. All these unfortunate beings are considered as strangers and foreigners, who have no right to the protection of the law; and may be treated with severity, or sold to a stranger, according to the pleasure of their owners. There are, indeed, regular markets, where slaves of this description are bought and sold; and the value of a slave in the eye of an African purchaser increases in proportion to the distance from his native kingdom; for, when slaves are only a few days journey from the place of their nativity, they frequently effect their escape; but when one or more kingdoms intervene, escape being more difficult, they are more readily reconciled to their situation. On this account, the unhappy slave is frequently transferred from one dealer to another, until he has lost all hope of returning to his native kingdom. The slaves which are purchased by Europeans on the coast are chiefly of this description.""It is a known fact, that prisoners of war in Africa are the slaves of the conquerors; and when the weak or unsuccessful warrior begs for mercy beneath the uplifted spear of his opponent, he gives up, at the same time, his claim to liberty, and purchases his life at the expense of his freedom."— " A battle is fought; the vanquished seldom think of rallying again; the inhabitants become panic-struck; and the conquerors have only to bind the slaves, and carry off their victims and their plunder. Such of their prisoners as through age or infirmity are unable to endure fatigue, or are found unfit for sale, are considered useless, and I have no doubt are put to death. The same fate commonly awaits a chief, or any other person who has taken a distinguished part in the war."
The testimony of Park is more than corroborated by that of the Rev. Stephen Kay, "Corresponding Member of the South African Institution established for investigating the Geography, Natural History, and General Resources of South Africa," as will be seen by the following extracts from his travels and researches.
"Having to pass several small villages on our way, we had repeated opportunities of observing the servile respect which the lower orders pay to their chiefs. A slavish dread evidently pervades their minds when one of these feudal lords is seen approaching; nor is this surprising, seeing that both person and property are in a great measure at his command. The use that is sometimes made of this power is iniquitous in the extreme; and should the subject dare to withhold even his wife, when demanded, he thereby places himself in the most perilous situation."
" Every page of African history renders it abundantly evident, that misery and destruction are in all the ways of fallen man, and that to him the way of peace is altogether unknown. As in the western, so also in the southern division of this dark continent, its numerous tribes and clans are continually feeding the vengeful flame. By predatory incursions alone, Caffraria has often been made a field of blood. Other causes indeed there are, from which strife, contention, and bloodshed have arisen; but in nine cases out of ten, at least, the native troops are mustered either to pillage their weaker neighbours, or to retaliate upon some thievish aggressor."
"Such being the estimate of life in general, the death of a female by violence attracts comparatively little attention. Previously to marriage she is regarded as a kind of marketable article, and valued according to the price she is likely to fetch when marriageable ; subsequently to marriage the husband laments her loss, as the master would that of his slave whom he had bought and paid for. But, should she be a widow, her case is pitiable indeed, being without a protector through life, and seldom if ever the object of sympathy in death. Many of these poor creatures are hurried to an untimely end, unfollowed by a single sigh, much less a tear; and scarcely has the spirit taken its flight to the eternal world before beasts of prey are allowed, without molestation, to tear them limb from limb, and drag the bones to their dens. Many a horrid and heart-rending deed is hereby placed beyond the power of human detection, and the murderer enabled effectually to elude the voice of blood.
" 'The infidelity of the Soolima women,' says Major Laing, ' is a never-failing source of litigation here, as in all other countries where, for want of being treated with due respect, they have no character to uphold. Like all other African females, they are loose in morals, as I could perceive from the numerous palavers which were brought before the king.' This is precisely the case in every part of Kafferland; quarrels and prosecutions are continually springing from the very same source. On this subject, therefore, Barrow, who states that ' instances of infidelity are said to be very rare; and, when they do occur, are accidental rather than premeditated,' was evidently misinformed."
"The last-mentioned chief, who in his lifetime had by such means sacrificed hundreds of his people, constituted, at the close of his pagan career, a most awful instance of the dreadful power of delusion: its influence seemed to grow stronger and stronger upon him as he himself became weaker. When greatly reduced, and consciously sinking under the virulence of his disorder, he mustered, in the service of the powers of darkness, all the remaining strength he had, but would not listen to a single word respecting God or the eternal world. On hearing the name of Christ mentioned by Mr. C, who visited him just before he died, he instantly requested him to say no more upon that subject. Like the heathen kings of ancient days, 'in his disease he sought not unto the Lord, but to his physicians,'—to the wizards and soothsayers; and to them only would he lend an ear. These were repeatedly assembled; and when able, he danced before them most immoderately, and ofttimes until completely exhausted, in the hope thereby of rendering their incantations effectual. As usual, their orgies terminated in deeds of blood. When he was at the very point of entering the regions of death, his own son, treading in the aged sire's steps, laid violent hands upon one of his father's most favourite wives, and without any ceremony whatever, or the least sign of compunction, deliberately killed her upon the spot."
"On all occasions of this kind the poor women are perfect slaves. It was with an aching heart that I witnessed many aged females passing by, in the course of the day, having both heads and hands so heavily laden with hides, calabashes, and cooking utensils, &c, as to be scarcely able to move along. Thus circumstanced, great numbers doubtless fall into the hands of the enemy in times of war, for their husbands afford them no assistance or protection whatever. The preservation of the cattle constitutes the grand object of their solicitude; and with these, which are trained for the purpose, they run at an astonishing rate, leaving both wives and children to take their chance."
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