Treatment of the Slaves.
As soon as the Wretched Africahs, purchased at the fairs, fall into the hdnds of the black traders, they experience an earnest of those dreadful sufferings which they are doomed in future to undergo. And there is not the least room to doubt, but that even before they can reach the fairs, great numbers perilh from cruel usage, want of food, travelling through inhospitable deserts, &c. They are brought from the places where they are purchased to Bonny, &c. in canoes ; at the bottom of which they lie, having theif hands tied with a kind of willow twigs* and a strict watch is kept over them. Their usage in other respects, during the time of the passage, which generally lasts several days, is equally cruel. Their allowance os' food is so scanty, that it is barely sufficient to support nature. They are, besides, much exposed to the violent rains which frequently fall here, being covered only with mats that afford but a (light defence ; and as there is usually water at the bottom of the canoes, from their leaking, they are scarcely ever dry.
Nor do these unhappy beings, after they become the property of the Europeans (from whom, as a more civilized people, more humanity might naturally be expected) find their situation in the least amended. Their treatment is no less rigorous. Tht men negroes, on being brought aboard the ship, are immediately fastened together, two and two, by hand-cuffs on their wrists, and by irons rivCtted on their legs. They are then sent down between the decks, and placed in an apart* ment partitioned off for that purpose. The woB 2 men men likewise are placed in a separate apartment: between decks, but without being ironed. And an adjoining room, on the fame deck, is besides appointed for the boys. Thus are they all placed in different apartments, <" .
But at the lame time, they are frequently stowed so close, as to admit of no other posture than lying on their sides. Neither will the height between decks, unless directly under the grating, permit them the indulgence of an erect posture ; especially where there are platforms, which is generally the cafe. These platforms are a kind of shelf, about eight or nine feet in breadth, extending from the fide of the ship towards the centre. They are placed nearly midway between the decks, at the distance of two or three feet from each deck. Upon these the negroes arc stowed in the fame manner as they are on the deck underneath.
In each of the apartments are placed three or four large buckets, of a conical form, being near two feet in diameter at the bottom, and only one foot at the top, and in depth about twenty-eight inches; to which, when necessary, the negroes have recourse; It often happens, that those who are placed/at a distance from the buckets, in endeavouring to get to them, tumble over their companions} in consequence of their being shackled. These accidents, although unavoidable, are productive of continual quarrels, in which some of them are always bruised. In this distressed situation, unable to proceed, and prevented from getting to the tubs, they desist from the attempt; and, as the necessities of nature are not to be repelled, ease themselves as they lie. This becomes a fresh source of broils and disturbances, and tends to render the condition of the poor cap
tave wretches still more uncomfortable. The nuisance arising from these circumstances, is not uu-: frequently increased by the tubs being much too small for the purpose intended, and their being usually emptied but once every day. The rule for doing this, however, varies in different ships, according to the attention paid to the health and convenience of the slaves by the captain.
About eight o'clock in the morning the negroes are generally brought upon deck. Their irons being examined, a long chain, which is locked to a ring-bolt, fixed in the deck, is run through the rings of the shackles of the men, and then locked to another ring-bolt, fixed also in the deck. By this means fifty or sixty, and sometimes more, are fastened to one chain, in order to prevent them from rising, or endeavouring to escape. If the weather proves favourable, they are permitted to remain in that situation till four or five in the afternoon, when they are disengaged from the chain,* and sent down.
The diet of the negroes, while on board, consists chiefly of horse-beans, boiled to the consistence of a pulp; of boiled yams and rice, and sometimes of a small quantity of beef or pork. The latter are frequently taken from the provisions laid in for the sailors. They sometimes make use of a sauce, composed of palm-oil, mixed with flour, water, and pepper, which the sailors call Jlabber-sauce, Yams are the favourite food of the Eboe, or' Bight negroes, and rice or. corn, of those from the Gold and Windward Coasts; each preferring the produce of their native soil.
In their own country, the negroes in general live on animal food and fish, with roots, yams, and Indian corn. The horse-beans and rice, with
B 3 which which they arc fed aboard ship, are chiefly taken from Europe. The latter, indeed, is sometimes purchased on the coast, being far superior to any' other.
The Gold.Coast negroes scarcely ever refuse any food that is offered them, and they generally eat larger quantities of whatever is placed before them, than any other species of negroes, whom they likewise excel in strength of body and mind. Most of the staves have such an aversion to the horsebeans, that unless they are narrowly watched, when fed upon deck, they will throw them overboard^ or in each other's faces when they quarrel.
They are commonly fed twice a day, about eight O'clock in the morning and spur in the afternoon. Jn most ships they are only fed with their own food once a day. Their food is served up to them in tubs, about the size of a small water bucket. They are placed round these tubs in compa. nies of ten to each tub, out of which they feed themselves with wooden spoons. These they soon, lose, and when they are not allowed others, they feed themselves with their hands. In favourable weather they are fed upon deck, but in bad weather their food is given them below. Numberless quarrels take place among them during their meals; more especially when they are put upon, flioft allowance, which frequently happens, if the passage from the coast of Guinea to the West-India jflands, proves of unusual length. In that case, the weak are obliged to be content with a very scanty portion. Their allowance of water is about half a pint each at every meal. It is handed found in a bucket, and given to each negroe in a pannekin; a small utensil with a strait handle, somewhat similar to a sauce-boat, However, when the ships approach the islands with a favourable breeze, they are no longer restricted.
Upon the negroes refusing to take sustenance, X have seen coals of fire, glowing hot, put on a ihovel, and placed so near their lips, as to scorch ^and burn them. And this has been accompanied with threats, of forcing them to swallow the coals, •if they any longer persisted in refusing to ,eat. These means have generally had the desired effect. I have also been credibly informed, that a certain captain in the slave trade, poured melted lead on such of the negroes as obstinately refused their food.
Exercise being deemed necessary for the preservation of their health, they are sometimes obliged to dance, when the weather will permit their coming on deck. If they go about it reluctantly, or do not move with agility, they are flogged j a person standing by them all the time with acat-o'nine-tails in his hand for that purpose. Their musick, upon these occasions, consists of a drum, sometimes with only one head ; and when that is worn out, they do not scruple to make use of the bottom of one of the tubs before described. The poor wretches are frequently compelled to sing also j but when they do so, their songs are generally, as may naturally be expected, melancholy lamentations of their exile from their native country.
The women are furnished with beads for the purpose of affording them some diversion. But this end is generally defeated by the squabbles which are occasioned, in consequence of their stealing them from each other.
On board some ships, the common sailors are allowed to have intercourse with such of the black women whose consent they can procure. And some
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