delight, pushing the hoop-skirt on one side to see it stick out on the other. Many violations might be cited. Sometimes ships reported deserted vessels on the high seas--vessels whose manacles and wooden spoons told a gruesome tragedy. An article in the New York _World_, in 1859, described some of the methods by which the slavers escaped punishment: “The slave trader takes care to cross the ocean without a national flag or purpose of any kind. The reason for this is that if captured, no court can condemn them for piracy. The vessels may be condemned and the negroes liberated by the captor, but the crew can be punished only by the nation under whose flag the offense was committed. No flag, the crew escapes.” Slavers no longer left America with manacles, gewgaws, and fire-water, but carried money. Once on the African coast they could buy from English or other vessels the articles needed for trade. The bargain struck, the crew that made the outward voyage was usually discharged, and a new one of adventurous spirit procured on the African coast. Thirteen years after the ratification of the Ashburton Treaty, when England made reclamations on the Brazilian Government for innumerable violations of her treaties, the reply of the Emperor was “if Great Britain would find the real culprits, she must go to the ports of Boston and New York to find them.”[17] CHAPTER IV PREPARATIONS FOR CLOTILDE’S VOYAGE In 1858, Mobile had been for almost a century and a half one of the important Gulf coast ports. Picturesquely situated at the head of a lagoon-like bay, the craft of many nations dropped anchor in her waters. Somewhat past the heyday of youth, her buildings mellowed by time and her streets shaded by trees, she wore an air that was calm and comfortable, and her homes and public buildings bespoke a settled prosperity. Survivors of primitive and pioneer life might be seen about the streets; some Indians lingered on and with baskets strapped across their shoulders sold _filé_ and sassafras about the streets, while white-covered “Chickasaha” wagons, drawn by from six to twenty oxen, came slowly and laboriously down Spring Hill and St. Stephen’s roads, bringing staples from the interior to the Mobile markets. The district near the river and towards the northern part of the town was given over to commerce and occupied by cotton warehouses--low-lying, monotonous structures of brick. The river boats carried on a brisk trade and Mobile’s export to foreign countries was large. Life about the wharves which was usually busy--and often gay--became very stirring during the latter part of 1858 and 1859. It drew upon itself the attention of the United States Government, elicited a special proclamation from the President, and a vigilant watch by United States officials.