6977. _Chairman._] You believe that they have confidence in a man-of-war?--I believe they have the greatest confidence in a man-of-war, and also in the English people; but they might fancy that abuses might take place, and that they might be made slaves of, unless they had the evidence of some of their own people. 6978. Sir _T. D. Acland_.] Do you think it would be possible for a man-of-war to discharge the duty of securing against any possible abuse in their embarkation?--I do not think it would be at all necessary to have a man-of-war for that purpose. I think you might safely leave them to take care of themselves. The only purpose for which a man-of-war need interfere, would be to give them a feeling of confidence in the first instance. They might object to go over in any thing but a man-of-war. I think the first impression is all that a man-of-war would be required for. 6979. Do you think these people might not take others with them against their will?--I think not; I do not think they hold slaves in any way; the mark of the race is so very distinct, that other races could not be mixed with them as emigrants without detection. 6980. _Chairman._] You think that the connexion between the chiefs and those companies of boys is rather a voluntary connexion, for the purpose of protection, than one of compulsion?--It is a voluntary connexion, because it exists equally strongly at Sierra Leone as any where else. 6981. Sir _T. D. Acland_.] Have you any doubt that the commanders of one of Her Majesty’s ships could effectually prevent any embarkation of the natives against their will?--I do not think there would be the smallest necessity for a man-of-war to superintend the coast, except at first. 6982. Supposing no landing were allowed in the West Indies without a certificate of one of Her Majesty’s officers, would it be easy for the officer, before he gave such a certificate, to take effectual security against being imposed upon by the delivery of a person without his full consent?--It would be very easy to ascertain the fact; but the Kroo and Fish race are so distinct from all others, that I do not think there is the smallest apprehension of its taking the form of slavery. 6983. You mean so far as regards any embarkation from that part of the coast?--Yes, in British ships. 6984. Would it be equally safe on other parts of the coast?--It would be impossible in other parts, without perpetuating the slave trade, in my opinion. 6985. _Chairman._] What would be the difference between the two cases?--There are no other races upon the coast who leave their country voluntarily to labour. The only way in which it could possibly be expected that the natives would be obtained from any other part of the coast would be upon compulsion and upon sale, upon positive sale and nominal manumission afterwards, before embarkation; but that would hold out the same inducements to internal slave trade in Africa as the slave trade to Brazils or Cuba.