11. As might be expected,the privations suffered by the whites in the sea crossing were nothing when compared to the misery of the Negroes.Here is a sample account of conditions on the slave ships:
11. As might be expected, the privations suffered by the whites in the sea crossing were nothing when compared to the misery of the Negroes. Here is a sample account of conditions on the slave ships:
12. "She had taken in,on the coast of Africa,336 males,and 226 females,making in all 562,and had been out seventeen days,during which she had thrown overboard 55.The slaves were all enclosed under grated hatchways,between decks:The space was so low that they sat between each other's legs,and stowed so close together that there was no possibility of their lying down,or at all changing their position,by night or day.Over the hatchway stood a ferocious-looking fellow,with twisted thongs in his hand,who was the slave-driver of the ships,and whenever he heard the slightest noise below,he shook the whips over them
12. “She had taken in, on the coast of Africa, 336 males, and 226 females, making in all 562, and had been out seventeen days, during which she had thrown overboard 55. The slaves were all enclosed under grated hatchways, between decks:The space was so low that they sat between each other’s legs, and stowed so close together that there was no possibility of their lying down, or at all changing their position, by night or day. Over the hatchway stood a ferocious-looking fellow, with twisted thongs in his hand, who was the slave-driver of the ships, and whenever he heard the slightest noise below, he shook the whips over them
13. But the circumstance which struck us most forcibly was,how it was possible for such a number of human beings to exist,packed up a and wedged together as tight as they could cram,in low cells, three feet high,the greater part of which,except that immediately under the grated hatchways was shut out from light or air,and this when the thermometer, exposed to the open sky,was,standing in the shade, on our deck at 89 degrees
13. But the circumstance which struck us most forcibly was, how it was possible for such a number of human beings to exist, packed up and wedged together as tight as they could cram, in low cells, three feet high, the greater part of which, except that immediately under the grated hatchways was shut out from light or air, and this when the thermometer, exposed to the open sky, was, standing in the shade, on our deck at 89 degrees
14. It was not surprising that they should have endured much sickness and loss of life in their short passage.They had sailed from the coast of Africa on the 7th of May,and had been out but seventeen days, and they had thrown overboard no less than fifty-five, who had died of dysentery and other complaints,in that space of time,though they had left the coast in good health.Indeed,many of the survivors were seen lying about the decks in the last stage of emaciation, and in a state of filth and misery not to be looked at." 15. And so they came,both the willing and the unwilling
14. It was not surprising that they should have endured much sickness and loss of life in their short passage. They had sailed from the coast of Africa on the 7 th of May, and had been out but seventeen days, and they had thrown overboard no less than fifty-five, who had died of dysentery and other complaints, in that space of time, though they had left the coast in good health. Indeed, many of the survivors were seen lying about the decks in the last stage of emaciation, and in a state of filth and misery not to be looked at.” 15. And so they came, both the willing and the unwilling