Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-13
A DAY on BOARD A sLAvaR.


We viii now imagine our ship clear of the
coast, and with q fair wind. A description
Of life on board for one day will answer for
the voyage, usually about thirty-fYe days it
length.
Our ship is one hundred feet long and thir-
u wide, and on her deck and under her deck,
and on her cabin snd in her cabin, are stow
ed seven hundred and ffty human beings, so
cfamped and crowded that they can scarcely
sit down when standing or stand up when
sitting.
Early in the morning the crew lead hose
from thePump, and without regard to sex or
| condition, give each one thorough bath,
and then proceed to wash from the decks the
accumulated filth and exorement of the pre-
vious day and night Each negro then il
compelled to wash out his mouth with vine-
gar-this is done to prevent scurvy. Now
I comes the morning meal, which consists of
4 a pint of water and quantity Of boiled rice
and beans Afler breakfast the doctor makes
bis rounds, pitches overheard the dead and
! the dying, and administers medicine to such
as are not beyond the hope ofrecovery, The
1 principal diseases with which they have to
/ contend are dysentery and opthslmia, both
! Of which are generally fatal, and both owing
/ TO confined space end foul atmosphere.
/ During the day the acontra maestro goes
! about among them with his whip; cows
down the boldest and silences the noisiest
| with his merciless lash, and sometimes selects
the weakest, takes them TO the least crowded
/ crowded space and makes them dance "a the
tune Of his cowhide-to restore circulation !
j / Dinner consists of the same, with the occa-
bional addition of scraps of jerked beef
There is no change from this food during the
voyage; at times, when the negroes appear
Respondent or weak, they are given little
rum. At night they are compelled to lie
| down, ''spoon fashion" las housekeeper
places her spoons in a basket); canvass
covering is hauled over them, and it is i'm
possible for them to change their position
until the following morning.
II But we will pass over all Of the sickening
details of heightened voyage, che excite
ment of chase fWhen negroes are frequently
iisuff0easad nndaF the hatchesl. the frequent
scantiness Of water and provisions, with the
consequent frightful mortality among the
cargo and creW-ofteu the nWages of sin Is
death"-and the thousand and one barbarouI
incidents which merely to read Of mus
lidWakeu bho uNeiloSt leeiknk OF our nature
but to witness and participate in must event
ually harden and degrade 3 man until h'
becomes more brutal than beast.
ARRIVAL AT CUBA.
We will now suppose our ship safely ar
rived at the key St. Phillip"-this is on,
of many of the secluded rendezvous abound
ing on the coast Of Cuba. The captain drop
his anchor, hoisis his privste sigusl, and thu
launches which have been waiting since
certain Fixed day, came OF, and with them
custom-house officer, probably seat by th
governor Of the district. The negroes ar
landed aud sent off at once to some plac
where they are exercised washed and fat
tened for the market. The companyls agen
pays of the crew, giving to each man hi
pro rata
The ships anchor is raised-sail is made
holes are bored in the bottom-and the Of
craft, foul with crime and fuH Of all unclean
illness, is started forth upon the sea to surel
sink, and thus oblitefate fronthe records al
evidence of the guilt in which she has beel
an innocent participation.