Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

SLAVERY — CITY. March sands of unhappy wretches, who, once landed, become the helpless instruments of immense gain to their owners : neither can any reasonable number of shipping efficiently blockade the coasts of two great continents. If I am right in these assertions, it appears that there is no method by which the slave trade can be totally suppressed, except by destroying the cause of so abominable a traffic : and that, to this end, a native population should be encouraged in hot climates, who, being gradually inured to work on their native soil, for remuneration from their employers, and a pros- pect of future comfort for themselves and their offspring, would totally supersede the demand for constrained labour. Of course, the only way by which such a result could be obtained — should say, perhaps, the first step towards so satisfactory a result, would be, that the government of a slave-importing country should declare that trade piratical : and proclaim every human being free ; bound to no man, free to do any thing not contrary to religion, or law, from the moment he or she embarked on board a vessel belonging to that country, or placed a foot upon its soil ; which might then indeed be termed, in common with our happy land, a sacred soil. By such a plan as this, individuals would suffer for a time, but the mass of society would be gainers incalculably. WeU-known authors have already said so much of Bahia, its spacious harbour, and delightful environs, that it Avould be impertinent in the writer of a mere narrative to add his hasty remarks to the calmly considered information which their works contain. But I will venture to notice that however pleased a stranger to Bahia may be at the sensations conveyed through his eyes, previous to landing, he will be miserably disap- pointed when he finds himself in the dij'ty, narrow, crowded, and hot ' lower town ; and that the sooner he gets into a sedan* chair, and desires the almost naked bearers to make the best of their way to the ' upper town,' where he will enjoy * An arm-chair, with a high hack, a foot-board, and curtains to draw round, hung to a pole which rests on the shoulders of two men.