his head people, for if I sent them on shore before he had
done so they would kill them. "If that is the case," I replied, "I will
hold you on board as a hostage for their good behavior." This threat
surprised him, and he changed his tactics. After a little powwow with
some of his followers, he said that if I would give him fifty muskets,
twenty pounds of powder, the colonel's sword, and some red cloth for his
wives, I might land them. I replied that I had not a musket to spare
nor an ounce of powder, that the colonel was a high officer of his
government, and that he of course would not give up his uniform.
Fortunately the colonel had retired to the cabin and did not hear this
modest demand, or he would have been as much outraged as if his sable
Majesty had asked for him to be served "roti a l'Ashantee." However, I
told the king I would send his wives some cloth and buttons. He grunted
his approval but returned again to the charge, and asked that he might
choose a few of the captives for his own use, before landing. "Certainly
not," I answered, "neither on board nor on shore," and added that he
would be held accountable for their good treatment as free men and
women. He left thoroughly disappointed and bent on mischief.

In the meantime Mr. Block had made all preparations for landing, and had
the boats lowered and ranged alongside, with sufficient rice to last the
blacks a week or ten days. The men and boys were sent first. When they
were called up from the hold and ordered into the boats not one of them
moved. They evidently divined what had been going on and dreaded leaving
the vessel, though our Kroomen tried to explain that they would be safe
and free on shore. The explanation was without effect, however, and
they refused to move. The could only understand that they were changing
masters, and they preferred the present ones. Sending three or four men
down, I told them to pass up the negroes one at a time. Only a passive
resistance was offered, such as one often sees exhibited by cattle being
loaded on the cars or on a steamer, and were silent, not uttering a word
of complaint. By noon the men were all on shore, and then we began with
the girls. They were more demonstrative than the men, and by their looks
and gestures begged not to be taken out of the vessel. I was much moved,
for it was a painful duty, and I had become interested in these beings,
so utterly helpless, so childlike in their dependence on those around