Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/82

( 48 ) in a morning and the flesh and skin has peeled off their wrists when taken hold of.

Mr. Morley says, that in four voyages he purchased about 1325, and lost about 313. Mr. Town, in two voyages, 630, and lost 115. Mr. Claxton, in one voyage, 250, and lost 132. In this voyage, he says, they were so streightened [sic] for provisions, that if they had been ten more days at sea, they must either have eaten the slaves that died, or have made the living slaves walk the plank, a term in use among Guinea captains for making the slaves throw themselves overboard. He says also, that he fell in with the Hero, Captain Withers, which had lost 360 slaves, or more than half her cargo, by the small-pox. The surgeon of the Hero told him, that when the slaves were removed from one place to another, they left marks of their skin and blood upon the deck, and it was the most horrid sight he had ever seen.

Mr. Wilson states, that in his ship, and three others, belonging to the same concern, they purchased among them 2064 slaves, and lost 586. He adds, that he fell in with the Hero, Captain Withers, at St. Thomas's, which had lost 159 slaves by the small-pox. Capt. Hall, in two voyages, purchased 550, and lost 110. He adds, that he has known some ships in the slave trade bury a quarter, some a third, and others half of their cargo. It is very uncommon to find ships without some loss in their slaves.

Besides those which die on the passage, it must be noticed here that several die soon after they are sold. Sixteen, says Mr. Falconbridge, were sold by auction out of the Alexander, all of whom died before the ship left the West Indies. Out of fourteen, says Mr. Claxton, sold from his ship in an infectious state, only four lived; and though in the four voyages mentioned by Mr. Wilson no less than 586 perished on the passage out of 2064, yet