Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/46

( 16 ) have been got in war, and sold by the persons taking them.

Mr. J. Parker says, he left the ship to which he belonged at Old Calabar, where being kindly received by the king's son, he staid [sic] with him on the continent for five months. During this time he was prevailed upon by the king's son, to accompany him to war. Accordingly, having fitted out and armed the canoes, they went up the river Calabar. In the day time they lay under the bushes when they approached a village, but at night flew up to it, and took hold of every one they could see; these they handcuffed, brought down to the canoes, and so proceeded up the river till they got to the amount of forty-five, with whom they returned to New-town, where sending to the captains of the shipping, they divided them among the ships.

About a fortnight after this expedition, they went again, and were out eight or nine days, plundering other villages higher up the river. They seized on much the same number as before, brought them to New-town, gave the same notice, and disposed of them as before among the ships.

They took man, woman and child, as they could catch them in the houses, and except sucking children, who went with their mothers, there was no care taken to prevent the separation of the children from the parents when sold. When sold to the English merchants they lamented, and cried that they were taken away by force.

The king at Old Calabar was certainly not at war with the people up this river, nor had they made any attack upon him. It happened that slaves were very slack in the back country at that time, and were wanted when he went on these expeditions.