Page:Slave trade.pdf/5

( 5 ) Another purpoſe for which theſe temporary houſes are erected, is, to prevent the purchased negroes from leaping overboard, which the horrors of their ſituation frequently impel them to attempt; and they now & then effect it, notwithſtanding all the precautions that are taken, by forcing their way through the lattice work.

The ſlave ſhips generally lie near a mile below the town, in Bonny river, in ſeven or eight fathom water. Sometimes fifteen ſail, Engliſh and French, but chiefly the former, meet here together. Soon after they caſt anchor, the captains go on ſhore, to make known their arrival, and to enquire into the ſtate of the trade. They likewiſe invite the kings of Bonny to come on board, to whom, previous to breaking bulk, they uſually make preſents (termed daſhes) conſiſting of cloth, cotton, chintz, ſilk handkerchiefs & other India goods, and ſometimes of brandy wine, or beer.

Bonny, a few years ago, was the reſidence of two kings, named Norfolk and Peppel. The houſes of theſe princes were not diſtinguiſhed from the cottages or huts of which the town conſiſts, in any other manner than by being of ſomewhat larger dimenſions, & ſurrounded with warehouſes containing European goods, deſigned for the purchase of ſlaves. Theſe ſlaves, which the kings procure in the ſame manner as the black