Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-09-30
LIFE ABROAD SLAVE.SHIPS.

=
IT my experience in the alleged 'crueties' of this
commerce and the first question, in all likelihood
hat rises to his lips, is solicitation to be APP
prsed Of the embarcation and treatment of slaves
on the dreaded voyage
"An African factor Of fair rcputc is ever careful
to select his human cargo with consumate pru-
dcnce, 50 as not only to supply his employers with
athletic laborers, but to avoid any tant of dis
ease that may affect the slaves in their transit to
Cuba or the American main. Two DAYS before
embarkation, the head of every male and female is
neatly shaved and if the cargo belongs to several
owners, each mans brand is impressed on the body
/ OF his respective negro. This operation is per-
formed with pieces OF silver wire, or small irons
fashioned into the merchants initials heated lust
not enough to blister without burning the skin.
when the entire cargo is the venture of but one
proprietor, the branding is always dispensed with.
"On the appointed day. the JdrTocoot, or slave
pen, is made joyous by the abundant feed which
sgnaliles the negro's last hours in his native coun-
try The feast over they are taken alongside the
vessel in canoes and as they touch the deck they
are entirely stripped, so that women as well as
men go out of Africa as they came into it--naked.
This precaution it will be understood is iadispcn-
sable; for perfect nudity during the whole voy-
age, is the only means of securing cleanliness and
health. In this state, they are Immediately order
ed below, the men to the hold and the women to the
cabin, while boys and girls day and night are
kept on deck, where their sole protection from the
elements in sail in fair weather, and tayDaalia
in foul.
cat meal time, they are distributed in mcsscs
OF ten. Thirty years ago, when the Spanish slave
trade was lawful the captains were somewhat more
tremendously religious than at present, and it
was then universal habit to make the gangs say
grace before meat, and rive thanks afterwards
in our days, however, they dispense with this
ritual, and content themselves with Ticu Ia
Ha6aa0,' or 'hurah for llavanna,' accompanied by
Il clapping Of hands.
"This over, a bucket of salt water is served to
gO. al, H., . > r IL Il.
ton of hands, after which kidd-either of rice
larina, yams, or beans according to the tribal
habit OF the negroes-is placed before the squad.
In order to prevent greedncss equality in tie
appropriation Of nourshment the process is per-
formed by signals from monitor, whose motions
Indicate when the darkcs shall dip, and when they
shall swallow
| at is the duty of guard to report immediately
whenever slave refuses to cat, in order that his
abstinence may be traced to stubbornness or dis
ease. Negroes have sometimes been found, in
sayers, who attempted voluntary starvation so
that, when the watch reports the patient to be
'shamming, his appetite is stimulated by the med-
cal anudote of cat If the slave, however,
is truly i'll he is forthwith tckited for the sickist
| by bead or button around his neck and despatch-
ed to an intirmary in the forecasue.
! These meals occur twice daily--at ten in the
morning and four in the after noon--a and are ter
minated by another ablution. Thrice in each
twenty four hours they are served with half
,pil
economically among both sexes: but as each ne
gro cannot be allowed the luxury Of separate
bowl, boys are sent around with an adequate sup
ply, allowing a few whiiFs to each individual. On
regular days-probably three times wcek-thoir
mouths are carefully rinsed with vinegar while
nearly every morning, dram is giyeDsas an anti
dOte to scurvy.
Although it is found necessary to keep the
sexes apart, they are allowed TO converse freely
during the day while on deck. Corporeal punish
mcnt is Rerer inflicted by order of an officer
and, even then, not until the cuprit understands
exactly why it is done. Once week the ships
barber scrapes their chns without assistance from
soap: and on the same day, their nails are closely
pared, to insure security from harm in those night
ly battles that occur, when the slave contests with
his neighbor every inch of plank to which he is
glued. During afternoons Of serene weather, men,
women girls, and boys, are allowed to unite in
African melodies, which they always enhance by
an extemporaneous t0m-tom ON the bottom Of tub
or tin kettle.
"Thcso hints will apprse the reader that the
greatest care, compatible with safety is taken of
negros health and cleanliness on the voyage. In
every we-conducted SLAYER, the captain, officers
and crew alert and yigilnnt to preserve the
go 1t is their personal interest, we'll as the in
tercst of humanity, to do so. The boatswan is in
cessant in his patrol of publication and disnfect-
ing substances are plenteously distributed. The
! upper deckis washed and swabbed daily; the slave
deck is scraped and ho ystoned; and at nineocloc
each morning the captain inspects every part of
| his craft; so that no vessel, except man-ofwar
can compare with SLAYER in systematic order, pu-
Irity and ne0tness, | am not aware that the ship
| fever, which sometimes decimates the emgrants
from Europe, has ever prevailed in these African
traders
! AT sundown, the process Of slowing the slaves
for the night is begun. The second mate and boat
swain descend into the hold, whip in hand, and
range the slaves in their regular place; those on
the right side of the vessel tacing forward and ly
ing in each others lap, while those the left are
similarly slowed with their faces towards the stern
In this way each negro lies on his right side, which
is considered preferable for the action of the heart
In allottng places particular attention is paid to
size the taller being selected or the greatest breadth
of the vessel, while the shorter and younger arc
lodged near the bows. When the cargo is large,
and the lower deck crammod, the supernumeraries
are disposed of on deck which is securely covered
with boards to shield them from moisture. The
strict discipline of nightly stowage is, of course Of
the greatest Importance in savers else every ne
gro would accommodate himself as if he were 4
passenger.
"In order to ensure perfect silence and regulari-
| ty during night n slave is chosen constable from
every ten, and furnished with eat to enforce
commands during his appointed watch. In remu-
neration for his services, which, it may be believed.
are admirably performed whenever the whip is re-
quired, he is adorned with old shirt tarry
trowsers. Now and then, billets of wood are dis
tributed among the seepcrs, but this luxury is ne
yer granted until the good temper of the negroes
is asccrtained for slaves have often been tempted
to mutiny by the power Of arming themselves with
these pillows from the forest.
| at is very probable that many of my readers
will consider it barbarous to make slaves lie down
naked upon board; bat let me inform them that
native Africans are not familiar with the use of
! lcather-beds nor do any but the free and rich in
their mother country indulge in the luxury even of
a mat or raw-hide, Among the Mandingo chiefs
the most industrious and civilized of Africans
the beds, divans and sofas are heaps of mud, COW
cred with untanned skins for cushions, while logs
of wood serve for boSters | am Of the opinion,
therefore, that emigrant slaves experience very
slight inconvenience in lying down on the deck.
"But renhlation is carefully attended to- The
matches and bulkheads Of every SLAYER are grated,
and apcrtures are cut about the deck for amplcr