On the same day, just as the men had dined, a sail ahead was discovered. The wind was light, and the boats immediately sent away. On closing with her, we found she had two large canoes (such as are used for embarking slaves) towing astern. Observing the boats’ crews had got on board, and appeared inclined to remain, we concluded that we had at last caught a prize. We sent on board and examined her. The canoes astern were for landing her cargo. Found five negroes on board and seventeen more in the boats astern, and I believe, had we sent her to Sierra Leone, she would have been condemned, as the negroes, although not part of her cargo, were the property of a slave-dealer, who was on board for the purpose of purchasing. But, taking into consideration the dreadful mortality among the prize crews lately sent to Sierra Leone, as well as the small value of a nearly empty vessel, we did not detain her. The slave procurer was sent on board the _Childers_ to be examined, when he was immediately recognised by some liberated African boys who were on board as part complement from _Columbine_. These boys had been kidnapped or bought--one was bought for a keg of rum--by these brutes and sold to the captain of a slave-vessel, which vessel had been captured by one of our cruisers. They spotted him, and would have torn the shirt off his back had they not been prevented. One boy stated that this fellow had stolen him and buried him in the sand on the beach for a whole day with nothing out but his head, over which the fiend placed a calabash, and threatened to kill the boy if he made a noise. The African children captured in the slave-vessels are sent to school at Sierra Leone, and, when big enough, are put on board men-of-war on the station, and placed under artificers to enable them to learn some trade by which to maintain themselves. The boys turn out very well, but little is ever made of the grown-up negroes. The vessel was another beautiful brig called the _Amigos_, with raking masts and a white ribbon, which appears to be the fashion on this part of the coast. She was 150 tons, and had a crew of twenty-five men. The master was a Portuguese named Don Ferando José Canieras, an obliging, civil fellow. Most of the captains of these slavers are superior men; some belong to good Spanish and Portuguese families; generally young. I believe many of them take command of these vessels for the excitement of the service. Canieras appeared a gentleman-like fellow: above having any personal dislike to us from the unpleasant duty on which we were employed. He invited me to dine with him, and offered his services in boats, and many other ways. One of the slavers on the coast is commanded by a man from Barcelona, who had been on board _Childers_ at a dance and supper I gave three years ago. From the _Dos Amigos_ we ascertained we were off Cape St. Paul’s, the Hamattan having changed the direction of the current, which we found setting strong to the westward.