- description
- # Introduction
## Overview
This is an "intro" type entity, specifically an introductory section extracted from the text file [the_piazza_tales.txt](arke:01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD). It comprises lines 5223-5279 of the source file. It is part of the larger section "—That he believes that all the negroes, though not in the first place knowing to the design of revolt, when it was accomplished, approved it." [section](arke:01KG6YGRZTSHMVJG70A44QVCY4).
## Context
The source file [the_piazza_tales.txt](arke:01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD) is part of the [Melville](arke:01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF) collection, which contains the complete works of Herman Melville. This intro section is followed by another section titled "Then follow various random disclosures referring to various periods of time. The following are extracted" [section](arke:01KG6YH5JMWEY4END4BSSE0M9E).
## Contents
This "Introduction" section contains excerpts from a deposition or testimony, detailing the events of a slave revolt aboard a ship. It includes specific accusations and observations regarding the roles of various individuals involved in the revolt, including:
* The negro José, who communicated information about the state of things in the cabin to the negro Babo.
* The mulatto steward, Francesco, who was a tool of Babo and suggested poisoning Captain Amasa Delano.
* The Ashantee Lecbe, who fought with hatchets and participated in murders.
* Yan, who prepared the skeleton of Don Alexandro.
* Babo, identified as the main plotter and leader of the revolt.
* Atufal, Babo's lieutenant.
* The negresses, who were aware of the revolt and supported the deaths of the Spaniards.
The section also mentions the fate of the crew and cabin boys, and the overall violence and brutality of the revolt.
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- 2026-01-30T07:58:23.924Z
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- description_title
- Introduction
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- 5279
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- 2026-01-30T07:57:52.469Z
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- 5223
- text
- —That he believes that all the negroes, though not in the first place
knowing to the design of revolt, when it was accomplished, approved it.
* * * That the negro, José, eighteen years old, and in the personal
service of Don Alexandro, was the one who communicated the information
to the negro Babo, about the state of things in the cabin, before the
revolt; that this is known, because, in the preceding midnight, he use
to come from his berth, which was under his master’s, in the cabin, to
the deck where the ringleader and his associates were, and had secret
conversations with the negro Babo, in which he was several times seen
by the mate; that, one night, the mate drove him away twice; * * that
this same negro José was the one who, without being commanded to do so
by the negro Babo, as Lecbe and Martinqui were, stabbed his master, Don
Alexandro, after he had been dragged half-lifeless to the deck; * *
that the mulatto steward, Francesco, was of the first band of
revolters, that he was, in all things, the creature and tool of the
negro Babo; that, to make his court, he, just before a repast in the
cabin, proposed, to the negro Babo, poisoning a dish for the generous
Captain Amasa Delano; this is known and believed, because the negroes
have said it; but that the negro Babo, having another design, forbade
Francesco; * * that the Ashantee Lecbe was one of the worst of them;
for that, on the day the ship was retaken, he assisted in the defense
of her, with a hatchet in each hand, with one of which he wounded, in
the breast, the chief mate of Amasa Delano, in the first act of
boarding; this all knew; that, in sight of the deponent, Lecbe struck,
with a hatchet, Don Francisco Masa, when, by the negro Babo’s orders,
he was carrying him to throw him overboard, alive, beside participating
in the murder, before mentioned, of Don Alexandro Aranda, and others of
the cabin-passengers; that, owing to the fury with which the Ashantees
fought in the engagement with the boats, but this Lecbe and Yan
survived; that Yan was bad as Lecbe; that Yan was the man who, by
Babo’s command, willingly prepared the skeleton of Don Alexandro, in a
way the negroes afterwards told the deponent, but which he, so long as
reason is left him, can never divulge; that Yan and Lecbe were the two
who, in a calm by night, riveted the skeleton to the bow; this also the
negroes told him; that the negro Babo was he who traced the inscription
below it; that the negro Babo was the plotter from first to last; he
ordered every murder, and was the helm and keel of the revolt; that
Atufal was his lieutenant in all; but Atufal, with his own hand,
committed no murder; nor did the negro Babo; * * that Atufal was shot,
being killed in the fight with the boats, ere boarding; * * that the
negresses, of age, were knowing to the revolt, and testified themselves
satisfied at the death of their master, Don Alexandro; that, had the
negroes not restrained them, they would have tortured to death, instead
of simply killing, the Spaniards slain by command of the negro Babo;
that the negresses used their utmost influence to have the deponent
made away with; that, in the various acts of murder, they sang songs
and danced—not gaily, but solemnly; and before the engagement with the
boats, as well as during the action, they sang melancholy songs to the
negroes, and that this melancholy tone was more inflaming than a
different one would have been, and was so intended; that all this is
believed, because the negroes have said it.—that of the thirty-six men
of the crew, exclusive of the passengers (all of whom are now dead),
which the deponent had knowledge of, six only remained alive, with four
cabin-boys and ship-boys, not included with the crew; * *—that the
negroes broke an arm of one of the cabin-boys and gave him strokes with
hatchets.
- title
- Introduction