Produced by David Garcia, Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) [Illustration: CAPTAIN CANOT OR TWENTY YEARS OF AN AFRICAN SLAVER D. APPLETON & CO.] CAPTAIN CANOT; OR, TWENTY YEARS OF AN AFRICAN SLAVER BEING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS CAREER AND ADVENTURES ON THE COAST, IN THE INTERIOR, ON SHIPBOARD, AND IN THE WEST INDIES. WRITTEN OUT AND EDITED FROM THE Captain's Journals, Memoranda and Conversations, BY BRANTZ MAYER. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 846 & 848 BROADWAY. LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN. M.DCCC.LIV. [Illustration: MANDINGO CHIEF AND HIS SWORD BEARER.] ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by BRANTZ MAYER, in the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. TO N. P. WILLIS, OF IDLEWILD. MY DEAR WILLIS, While inscribing this work with your name, as a testimonial of our long, unbroken friendship, you will let me say, I am sure, not only how, but why I have written it. About a year ago I was introduced to its hero, by Dr. James Hall, the distinguished founder and first governor of our colony at Cape Palmas. While busy with his noble task in Africa, Dr. Hall accidentally became acquainted with Captain Canot, during his residence at Cape Mount, and was greatly impressed in his favor by the accounts of all who knew him. Indeed,--setting aside his career as a slaver,--Dr. Hall's observation convinced him that Canot was a man of unquestionable integrity. The zeal, moreover, with which he embraced the first opportunity, after his downfall, to mend his fortunes by honorable industry in South America, entitled him to respectful confidence. As their acquaintance ripened, my friend gradually drew from the wanderer the story of his adventurous life, and so striking were its incidents, so true its delineations of African character, that he advised the captain to prepare a copious memorandum, which I should write out for the public.