- end_line
- 5201
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T07:57:55.409Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 5141
- text
- was expected to enact in every device, and what story he was to tell on
every occasion, always threatening him with instant death if he varied
in the least: that, conscious that many of the negroes would be
turbulent, the negro Babo appointed the four aged negroes, who were
calkers, to keep what domestic order they could on the decks; that
again and again he harangued the Spaniards and his companions,
informing them of his intent, and of his devices, and of the invented
story that this deponent was to tell; charging them lest any of them
varied from that story; that these arrangements were made and matured
during the interval of two or three hours, between their first sighting
the ship and the arrival on board of Captain Amasa Delano; that this
happened about half-past seven o’clock in the morning, Captain Amasa
Delano coming in his boat, and all gladly receiving him; that the
deponent, as well as he could force himself, acting then the part of
principal owner, and a free captain of the ship, told Captain Amasa
Delano, when called upon, that he came from Buenos Ayres, bound to
Lima, with three hundred negroes; that off Cape Horn, and in a
subsequent fever, many negroes had died; that also, by similar
casualties, all the sea officers and the greatest part of the crew had
died.
[_And so the deposition goes on, circumstantially recounting the
fictitious story dictated to the deponent by Babo, and through the
deponent imposed upon Captain Delano; and also recounting the friendly
offers of Captain Delano, with other things, but all of which is here
omitted. After the fictitious story, etc. the deposition proceeds_:]
—that the generous Captain Amasa Delano remained on board all the day,
till he left the ship anchored at six o’clock in the evening, deponent
speaking to him always of his pretended misfortunes, under the
fore-mentioned principles, without having had it in his power to tell a
single word, or give him the least hint, that he might know the truth
and state of things; because the negro Babo, performing the office of
an officious servant with all the appearance of submission of the
humble slave, did not leave the deponent one moment; that this was in
order to observe the deponent’s actions and words, for the negro Babo
understands well the Spanish; and besides, there were thereabout some
others who were constantly on the watch, and likewise understood the
Spanish; * * * that upon one occasion, while deponent was standing on
the deck conversing with Amasa Delano, by a secret sign the negro Babo
drew him (the deponent) aside, the act appearing as if originating with
the deponent; that then, he being drawn aside, the negro Babo proposed
to him to gain from Amasa Delano full particulars about his ship, and
crew, and arms; that the deponent asked “For what?” that the negro Babo
answered he might conceive; that, grieved at the prospect of what might
overtake the generous Captain Amasa Delano, the deponent at first
refused to ask the desired questions, and used every argument to induce
the negro Babo to give up this new design; that the negro Babo showed
the point of his dagger; that, after the information had been obtained
the negro Babo again drew him aside, telling him that that very night
he (the deponent) would be captain of two ships, instead of one, for
that, great part of the American’s ship’s crew being to be absent
fishing, the six Ashantees, without any one else, would easily take it;
that at this time he said other things to the same purpose; that no
entreaties availed; that, before Amasa Delano’s coming on board, no
hint had been given touching the capture of the American ship: that to
prevent this project the deponent was powerless; * * *—that in some
things his memory is confused, he cannot distinctly recall every event;
* * *—that as soon as they had cast anchor at six of the clock in the
- title
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