Captain Canot

Published in 1854, a first-hand account of the life of a slaver, giving an intimate insight into the slave trade.

1. My parentage and education; 2. My uncle tells my adventure; 3. I design going to South America; 4. Bury my body in the sand to escape the insects; 5. Life on a sand key; 6. I am sent from the key; 7. Reflections on my conduct and character; 8. I take possession of my new quarters; 9. Pains and dreariness of the 'wet season'; 10. Mode of purchasing slaves at factories; 11. An epoch in my life in 1827; 12. How a cargo of slaves is landed in Cuba; 13. I become intimate with 'country princes' and receive their presents; 14. Joseph, my partner, has to fly from Africa; 15. I study the institution of slavery in Africa; 16. Caravan announced; 17. I set forth on my journey to Timbo; 18. A ride on horseback; 19. A night bivouac in the forest; 20. Spread of Mahometanism in the interior of Africa; 21. We approach Tamisso; 22. Improved character of the country and population as we advance to the interior; 23. Our caravan proceeds towards Timbo; 24. Site of Timbo and the surrounding country; 25. My home journey; 26. Arrival of a French slaver; 27. Ormond communicates with the Spaniard; 28. Capt. Escudero of the Esperanza dies; 29. Off to sea; 30. I am sent on board the corvette; 31. I drift away in a boat with my servant; 32. My greeting in Kambia; 33. A visit to the Matacan river in quest of slaves; 34. What became of the Esperanza's officers and crew; 35. I escape capture; 36. A 'white squall'; 37. A long holiday; 38. Our captain longs for calomel, and how I get it from a Scotchman; 39. My returns from the voyage $12,000, and how I apply them; 40. All Africans believe in divinities, except the Bagers; 41. My voyage home in the Estrella; 42. Smallpox and a necessary murder; 43. The Aguila de Oro, a Chesapeake clipper; 44. I am sent to France in the frigate Flora; 45. Madame Sorret and my new quarters; 46. New lodgers in our quarters; 47. Monsieur Germaine, the forger; 48. Plan of escape; 49. Condition of the sentinel when he was found; 50. I go to Portugal; 51. I reach Goree, and hasten to Sierra Leone; 52. Anecdotes of Blanco; 53. I visit Liberia; 54. My establishment at New Sestros, and how I created the slave trade in that region; 55. No river at New Sestros ; 56. I go on a pleasure voyage in the Brilliant; 57. What Don Pedro Blanco thought of my Quixotism; 58. My compliments to British cruisers; 59. Ups and downs; 60. The confession of a dying sailor; 61. My establishment at Digby; 62. I escape from the bloody scene in a boat; 63. Don Pedro Blanco leaves Gallinas; 64. I make arrangements for future trade and business with Mr. Redman; 65. I find my establishment in danger; 66. I am attacked by the British cruiser Termagant; 67. My barracooons destroyed; 68. We land at Cape Mount; 69. Visit to Monrovia; 70. I remove, and settle permanently at New Florence; 71. Account of the character of the Vey negroes; 72. My workshops, gardens and plantations; 73. Fana-Toro's war, and its effect on my establishment.