Page:Slave trade.pdf/24

( 24 ) about the town; but are ſoon hunted down and retaken.

When the ſcramble is on ſhip-board, the negroes are collected together upon the main and quarter decks, and the ſhip darkened by ſails ſuſpended over them, in order to prevent the purchaſers from being able to ſee, ſo as to pick or chuſe. The ſignal being given, the buyers ruſh in to ſeize their prey; when the negroes appear to be extremely terrified, and many of them jump into the ſea. But they are foon retaken, chiefly by boats from other ſhips.

On board a ſhip, lying at Port Maria, in Jamaica, the poor negroes were greatly terrified. The women in particular, clang to each other in agonies ſcarcely to be conceived, ſhrieking through excels of terror, at the ſavage manner in which their brutal purchaſers ruſhed upon, and ſeized them. Though humanity, one hſould imagine, would dictate to the captains to apprize the poor negroes of the mode by which they were to be ſold, and by that means to guard them, in ſome degree, againſt the ſurpriſe and teror which muſt attend it.