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"African Testimony," New York Journal of Commerce, 10 January, 1840,
p.2.
THE AMISTAD NEGROES.--On the second day of the trial (Wednesday) Professor Gibbs
was called to the stand, and testified that the great body of the prisoners speak
the Mendi language, some knowledge of which he had acquired from Covey and Pratt,
the two Africans from the Buzzard. He was proceeding with his testimony, when Judge
Judson remarked that he was fully convinced that the men were recently from Africa,
and that it was unnecessary to take up time in establishing that fact.
In consequence of this avowal, the counsel for the Africans stated that they should
not examine any of them for the purpose of proving that they had recently come from
Africa, but to ascertain who of them were onshore when taken, within the District
of New York.
Jinqua, the leader of the Africans, was then examined. Also Covey as interpreter.
He swore that at the time of their capture by Lieut. Gedney, a large number of them
were on shore on Long Island. He was on shore, and "plenty of them--can't count
them." He gave the names of ten, and said he could not recollect the names of
the others. They gave up to Captain Green two guns, one knife, and one hat. There
were four other white men there with Captain Green. Jingua told Capt. G. he might
take the vessel and keep it, if he would send them to Sierra Leone. His conversation
with Capt. G. was carried on by the aid of Bernar, who could speak a little English.
They had taken on board part of their supply of water, and wanted to go to Sierra
Leone. They were three months coming from Africa to the Havana, where they were kept
on shore ten nights. They were three and a half months coming from Havana to this
country. [He probably misunderstood the question.] The four children they met for
the first time at Havana. All the rest came together from Africa from a factory called
Lomboko. The girls and boy are of the Mendi tribe also.
Cross examined by Gen. Isham. Came from Mendi. Taken in the road where he was at
work, by countrymen. Was not taken in battle. Did not sell himself. Never sold any
one. He was taken to Lomboko, where he met the others for the first time. Those who
took him--four men--had a gun and knives. Has three children in Africa. Has one wife.
Never said he had two wives. Can't count the number of days after leaving Havana
before the rising upon the vessel. Said they knew nothing about any other commander
but Pepe, (Ruiz.) The man who had charge of the schooner was killed. Then he and
Pepe sailed the vessel. Witness told Pepe, after Ferrer was killed, to take good
care of the cargo. They found a box below, which they broke up for fire wood. It
contained money, a part of which they afterwards paid away for dogs, &c. They
wrapped up the money in duck, and tied it around their bodies. They afterwards gave
the rest of the money to the white men in the boat. They took some clothes ashore
in a trunk. No money in the trunk. The brig fired a gun, and then they gave themselves
up. Four came off from the Island in the schooner's boat and four in the brig's boat.
They did not destroy things after taking the schr., but they got cold, and took some
of the goods to make clothes of. Saw Pepe first at Havana at the prison. When they
first landed there they were put in prison. Were not chained. Pepe came and felt
of them. [Jingua here described how Pepe felt of the Africans to ascertain if they
were healthy and sound.] He then said, "fine," that is, good, and that
he would take them. The man who brought them from Africa was there with Pepe. They
were chained coming from Africa to Havana, hands and feet. [Jingua here described
the manner in which they were packed on board the slaver.] They were chained
also on board the Amistad. Were kept short of provisions. They gave them "half
eat and half drink"--one plaintain and two potatoes--and the cook told them
they were going to take them where they would eatthem. The cook could not
speak the Mendi language but used some words that they could understand. Were beaten
on board the schooner by one of the sailors. Pepe told the sailor to beat them. Pepe
was present on shore--when they went on board the schooner at Havana. Four men were
whipt by order of Pepe. No body struck witness, except the cook, who slapped him
with a plaintain. He was asked if it was in play. Jingua said, very emphatically,
"oh no, no." Pepe was present when the men were struck. When they had taken
the schooner they put the Spaniards down in the hold and locked them down.
Grabbaung and Fuliwa, two more of the Africans, testified, in the main, to the same
facts as above. Fuliwa stated that Capt. Ferrer killed one of the Africans, Duevi
by name, before the Africans killed him. The cook was killed first--was killed by
Jingua with a stick, while lying in the boat.
Prof Gibbs, Marshal Wilcox, and Mr. Geo. E. Day, were examined relative to a conversation
with Jingua, in which he was said to have admitted that he had himself sold slaves.
Mr. Wilcox stated that soon after the arrival of Covey, (the interpreter,) he told
him to ask Jingua how he came to be taken and sold. Covey asked him. Jingua replied
that he owed a man two pounds, (holding up his fingers,) and to pay him he had taken
two negroes and sold them; that one of them ran away and the man called upon him
for one pound. He had no other negro and turned him out clothing--that the clothing
was turned over to another person, and that the man called on him to pay, and being
unable to do so he was seized and sold to pay the debt. Jingua said he came in a
ship from Africa with 400 men and 200 women.
Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Day, who were present at that time, think Mr. Wilcox misapprehended
what Jingua said. Covey also declares that Jingua never told him, or Mr. Wilcox in
his presence, that he (Jingua) had sold men as slaves, nor that he was himself seized
and sold because he owed a debt which he could not pay.
The Court, without making any further progress, adjourned till the following day.
