“The men bought by Ruiz were taken on foot through Havana in the night, and put on board a vessel.  During the night they were kept in irons, placed about the hands, feet and neck.  They were treated during the day in a somewhat milder manner, though all the irons were never taken off at once.  Their allowance of food was very scant, and of water still more so.  They were very hungry, and suffered much in the hot days and nights from thirst.  In addition to this there was much whipping, and the cook told them that when they reached land they would all be eaten.  This ‘made their hearts burn.’  To avoid being eaten, and to escape the bad treatment they experienced, they rose upon the crew with the design of returning to Africa.

“Such is the substance of Grabeau’s story, confirmed by Kimbo, who was present most of the time.  He says he likes the people of this country, because, to use his own expression, ’they are good people—­they believe in God, and there is no slavery here.’

“The story of Grabeau was then read and interpreted to Cinque, while a number of the other Africans were standing about, and confirmed by all of them in every particular.  When the part relating to the crowded state of the vessel from Africa to Havana was read, Cinque added that there was scarcely room enough to sit or lie down.  Another showed the marks of the irons on his wrists, which must at the time have been terribly lacerated.  On their separation at Havana, Cinque remarked that almost all of them were in tears, and himself among the rest, ’because they had come from the same country, and were now to be parted for ever.’  To the question, how it was possible for the Africans when chained in the manner he described, to rise upon the crew, he replied that the chain which connected the iron collars about their necks was fastened at the end by a padlock, and that this was first broken, and afterwards the other irons.  Their object, he said, in the affray, was to make themselves free.  He then requested it to be added to the above, that ’if he tells a lie, God sees him by day and by night.’”

The interpreters alluded to in the preceding extract were two Africans belonging to the crew of the British brig of war Buzzard, which providentially arrived at New York, from a cruise on the coast of Africa.  They were found to speak the same language as the prisoners, and with the consent of Captain Fitzgerald, their services were immediately secured by the indefatigable committee for the African captives.  By their aid much information was elicited respecting the native country and previous history of these negroes, with many incidental particulars of great interest, some of which will appear in the following account.  The criminal proceedings against the Mendians being quashed, there remained the claim of Ruiz and Montez to have the negroes returned to them as their property.  To sustain this claim they produced the license, signed