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"Testiomony of Antonio, Jauary 9, 1840, U.S. District
Court, Connecticut"
Antonio.
testified that Raymon Ferrer was his master -- the Capt. of Amistad -- that he Antonio
was on board when blacks came on board. It was 8 o'clock in evening. Ruiz brot them
all on board but for Montez brought Mahgru, Teme, Kene, Cali all small children --
bound to Puerto Principe -- loose not chained. Sinqua killed Capt with cane knife
-- see it with my eyes. Can't tell who killed cook. Cook was killed first. killed
with cane knife. Capt was standing -- killed in night. dark. thrown over in day time
-- don't know what done with his watch. Sinqua took master's watch. Cook slept in
Sch- boat -- fed on rice, plantain, banana, cracker, meat -- plenty to eat. Capt
killed 2 days after sailed. from Havanna
The Cook told them by sign -- going to Puerto Principe to kill them and eat them
-- Don't know why he told them so. Don't know that it was in [short]. Cook could
not speak African -- did not see the blacks whipped. They tied me and Montez and
Ruiz. Montez was wounded. Sinqua and Burnah and Grabo took command. Sinqua was going
to kill Montez & me & Burnah because Burnah took Montez & Ruiz [part]
. Sinqua did not want to go back to Havana. I was tied to the anchor of Sch. Burna
cut me loose. I was in the Sch. boat going to the Sch. from shore (Long Island).
Three were with me. [Eight] Seven went with me on shore Sinqua,
Grabo, Burnah, Antonio, little Burnah, I can't tell anymore names -- There were others
on shore. I think 20 were on shore, did not count how many. Brig's boat was a big
one, maybe 10 black men carried on board in it, and 8 in schooners boat -- can't
tell the names. Sinqua told me to go on shore. He had been on shore before. I was
in the boat when pistol fired (from Lt. Mead's boat) The others had been on shore.
Burnah could talk a little -- he could not talk Spanish. Saw Capt. Green. Burnah
talked with Capt. Green. All men went on shore. Cook made signs when he told black
men they were going to eat them. My master Capt. Ferrer told me to throw bread among
them. They had one man 2 plantains -- rice -- beef. 1/2 were kept below.
The Sch. Amistad had carried slaves before -- every two months made trip. Ruiz had
before carried slaves. Burnah was whipped for stealing water. Sinqua thought when
Burnah talked with Pedro they take Sch. back to Havana. He wanted to go to Africa.
I did not testify at Hartford that I did not know who killed Capt.
The lamps at Havana was lighted when they came on board Amistad.
I don't know who struck Montez.
