...

DE SCRIPTION

SHIP.

'

FIG. III.

FIG. I.
p
A
.I

FIG. II.

_,

FIG. VII.

L
A

FIG. VI.

The Pz.AN and Sr.CTI0!.:5- annexed exhibit a fiave iliip with the ffaves\Vitn tnis allowance of roc m the utmoft number tha can be fiowed in a
!towed."* In order to give a reprefentation of the trade againfi which . no veffel of t he dirncn lion of th e Brooks, is as follow ' , (being the number
complaint of exaggerati0n could be brought by thofe concerned in it, the exhibited in the plan) and is kfs::E~ 1 i to a ton> 1:iz. t
BrotJks is here deicribed, a iliip well known in the trade, anJ the firft
On the
Act~ally
Plan.
carn.e
mentioned in the report delivered to the Houfc of Commons laH year by
Men-on the lower deck, at CC
124
Captain Parrey, who was fcnt to Liverpo0l by Government to take the
l9:J
351
Ditto
on
lhc
pl;atforn
of
ditto,
CC
DD
66
dirnenfions of the hips employed in the African Oave trade from that port.
Boys-lower deck EE
j.'B
Thefe plans and fctli n! are on a fcale of the 8th of an inch to a foot.
9.-,9_
90
Ditto-platform FF
24
"\V omen-lower deck, G G
83
D I M E N S I 0 N S OF T H E S H I P.
Ditto-platform,. HH
40
183
127
\"1 omen Half deck, .l 1M
Feet lnct . '
J6
Length of the Lowtr Deck, gratings, bulk-heads, included
Ditto Platform ditto, N N
24
at AA
100 0
Girls
Gun
room,
II
27
:Breadth of Beam on the Lower Deck infide, BB
41
25 4
Depth of Hold, 000 from cieling to cieling
10 0
G eneral total
~Q.
6 09
Height between decks from deck to deck - - 8
The
principal
difference
is
in
the
men.
It
mu!l:
be
obferved,
that
the
Length of the Mens Room, CC on the lower deck
mm, from whom only infurretlions are to be feared, are kept continually
Breadth of the Mens Room, CC on the lower deck in irons, and mu!l: be flowed in the room allotted for them, which is ofi
Length of the Platforms, DD in the mens room
a more fecure confiruction than the refi.
Breadth of the Platforms in mens rooms on each fide
In this fhip the number of men atlually carried was
Length of the Boys Room, EE
IJ
Breadth of the Boys Room 25 0 The number of men Hated in the plan at I foot 4 inches each
.Breadth of Platfo,~ms, FF in boys room
6 0
D iffcrence I 61
Length of Womem Room, G G - 28 6
As
the
fhip
on this plan would fiow 42 women boys and girls in the place
:Breadth of Womens Room
23 6 he e allotted them more than fhe did carrv, fuopofing that number of men
Length of Platforms, HH in womens room
./
2~
6
":~ f r um the mens roo';ll, and placed in their ftead, chis will reducct
.Breadth of Platforms in womens room
- 6 .
n IJ1ber of men to 309 in the mens room; of courfe the r0om allowed
IJength of the GU7t Room, II on the lower deck
- IO
:1
them,
infiead of being I 6 inches as in the plan, was in reality only 1 o inches
lheadth of the Gun Room on the lower deck
12 0
;
but if the whole number 351 were itowed in the mens room, they
each
Length of the f!(_uarte1 D eck, KK
33 6 had only
9 inches each to lay in.
Ereadth of I?(uarter Deck - 19 6
The
men
therefore, infiead of lying on their back , were placed, as is
Length of the Cabin, LL
-.o:::..
..
14 0
uh!al,
in
full
!hips, on their fides, or on each other. ln which lafi fituation
Height of the Cabin
(> 2
Length of the Half Deck, MM
16 6 they are not unfrequently found dead in the morning.
The longitudinal fecbon, fig. I. iliews the manner in which the flaves
Height of the Haif Deck
6 2
were
placed on all the <.leeks and platforms, which is al(o further illufrrated
Length of the Platforms, NN on the half deck
16' 6
Breadth of the Platforms on the half deck
6 0 by the tranfverfe fections, fig. II. & HI. By which it appears, that the
Upper deck, PP
height between the decks is 5 feet 8 inches, 'vvhich, allowing 2 inches
for the platform and its bearer , makes the height between the decks and
Nominal tonnage
297
the platform 2 feet 9 inches; but the beams and their knees,. with the carlings,
Suppofed tonnage by mea(urement 320
taking 4 inches on an average, this fpace is unequally divided, and above or
Number of feamen
45
under
the platforms cannot be eftimated at more than 2 feet 7 inches; fo
The numbe~ of flaves yvhich this velfel atlually carried appears fr m
the accounts gtven to Capt. Parrey by the flave-merchants themfelves as that the fl aves cannot, when placed either on or under the plattonn, relieve
fellows:
themfelves by fitting up,; the very fuort ones excepted, nor can they,
except on board the larger ve{[els. The average of 9 veffels meafured
Men
by Captain Parrey,. being mofi:ly large iliips, was only 5 feet 2 inches.
VVomen
127
The height of the Venus between. decks was 4 feet 2 inches; of the Kitty,
Boys
Total
609
90
4
feet 4 inches, both of which had platforms.
In thefe finaller ve.fiels
Girls
41
therefore they they bave not 2 feet under or upon the platforms.
~he room allowed to each defcription of flav.es in this plan is:
In fig. 1. under the upper dt ck PP, and the lower deck AA, the beams
To the Men 6 feet by 1 foot 4 inches.
and the intervening carling.s are reprefented by iliaded fquares. The beams
VVomen 5 feet IO in. by I fo~t 4 in4
are alfo introduced on one fide of the tranfverfe fetlions II and III, in order
Boys 5 feet by I foot 2 in.
to lhew the fpace which a 11ave placed under a beam has to lie and breathe in.
Girls 4 feet 6 in. by I foot.

}
}

3511

. t

It mull: be note~, that every pofi'iblc advantage of ftowing is allowed in the plan.

Th ere

( are or ought to be Jn each apar m ent one or more poopoo tubs; there are alfo ftan chion.
h ihrr:his i! the u(uaJ manner of placing the llaves, but it varies according t 0 h 0 fi
t e P ItiOn
to fupport the platforms and decks; for which no deduCtion is m~de ~ but the deck is fuppofed
t e lp) and the praaice of ditrere.nt commander$.
clear of every incumbrance what ever ..

fo

'" aparfme nts became

extremely hot~ as to be only fufferaole for a- vety"
ihort
time.
But
the
exceffive
heat was not the only thit1g that renderecf
creatures, ufed in their own countrv t5--~ a lif~ of eafe, and from the
anguilh of mind their 1ituation muil: necelfarily create, that many of them " their fituation intolerable. 1 he deck, that is, the floox: of their rooms,
fall f1ck and die. Inftances fometirnes occur of horrible mortality. 'l'he " was fo cmcred with the blood and mucus which- had proceeded from
. average is not lcfs than 1-5th, or 20 per cent. The half deck is fome~ " them i.n ccmfequence of the fiux, . that it refembled a. flaughter . houle .
times appropriated for a fick birth ; but the men jlaves are feldom indulged the " It is not in th.e power of the human imagination to pia.ure to itfclf
privilege of being placed there, till there is little hope of recovery. The fla\'es " a .fituation more dreadful or dHgufting. Nu~nbers of the fl.aves had
are never allowed the leafi: beddi.nrr, either fick or well ; hut are fiowed on " famted, they were carried upon deck, -v...'here [t;!ver-al of them died, and
tht! bare board~, from the frietionb of whir-l1, occafioned by the motion of " the refi were, . with. difficulty, refi:ored. It had ne.u Jy prov,ed fatal tO'
the !hip, and their chaim, they are frequently much bruife_d ; and in fome . " me alfo. "*
Another obje8:' which may be !hted, is, that here no r-oom is allowedcafes thF eih is rubbed off their fhoulders, elbows, and htps.
It may not be improper to add a iliort account of the mode of fecuring, for the failors hammocks. In flav:e [hips, while the flaves are on board>
the failors have co other lodging than the hare decks, or. (.i n large hi ps)
airing, and exercifing the fla ves.
.
The women and children are net chained, but the men are conftantly the tops. From this expofure, they often; ar-e wet for. a long . time together,.
chained two and two ; the right leg of one to ttlC left leg of chc other, and the rains in thole climates being fr q-!-Lent. and extr.emely heavy.- There is
in wet weather a tarpawling placed over the gratings : if the failors to
their hands are fecured in the fame manner.
They are brought up on the main deck every day, about eight o'clock, ilielter themfelves creep under this, they are expofed to the noifome an&
and as ea<.h pair alcend, a !hong chain, faftened by ring- bolts to the deck, infetl:ious effiuvia which continually exhale from the laves below.
It appeared from the evidence given by the flave m erchants laft year
is paffed through their !hackles; a precaution abiolute_ly neceifary to prevent infurreetions.- In this fiate, if the weather is favourable, they are before the Haufe of Commons, that the employment of the feamen, viz~
permitted to remain about one-third part of the twenty-feur hours, and boating up the rivers after the neg roes, guarding them on board, cleanfing
during t his interval they are fed, and their apartment below is cleaned.; the veilel, &c. is of a nature offenfive and dangerous beyond that of
lbut when the weather is bad, even thofe indulgencics cannot be granted feamen in other ;Cervices, and that the fm - 11-pox, meane~, flux, and. otbe,t;
them, and they ar.e only permitted to come up 'in {mall companies, of about contagious difon' rs, are frequent on board theie ihir.s.
en at .1 t,i e to be fed~_AVhe.r.e after remaining a quarter of an hour> each
It i'> therefore f: fe y f<~ irl by , the wt:ll- wilhcrs to this trade, that: th
.. fs j's obliged to give place to the next in rotation.
.
fuppreffion of it will deftroy a great nurfery for feamen, and annihilate a
In very bad weather), fome a~e unavoidably brought on deck: there be~ng very confidcrab!e fource of commercial profit.-The Rev., M ..... Clarkfon,
~no other method of getting wa~er, provifions, &c. out of the holJ, but by in his admirable , tr~tife on the 1m policy of the Trade, has proved: from
~emoving thofe flaves who lie on the hatch-ways. The confequence of the moil: }ncontdtable authority, that fo far from being a nurfery, it has
this v:iolent change from their rooms, which are inconce~vably hot, t0 the been confiantly ~nd ~egularJy a. grav:e for our feamen ;. for that in this
wind and rain, is their being attacked with coughs, fwell~ngs of the gla~1.ds trciffick only,, a gre tier proportion of mm perifh in ONE year, tha.n in all the
of the neck,_ fevers, and dyienteries ; which are-commumcatcd by mfecbon otber . trades qf G 1reat Brilain in TW O< years ..
-~ the othet flaves, and allo to th~ failors.
Bdidcs the tim e fpcnt on the coall:. to complete their cargoes, which
The only exercife of the men- laves is their being made t? jump in their fometimes lafts fl~ veral months, the fiaves are from fix to eight weeks oa
chains; and this, by the friends of the trade, is calle~ danon.
their paffage from thence to... the Weft-Indies.

To perfons unacquainted with the mode of carrymg on th1s fyfter~ of

Now let any pch fon reR etl: on the fitu ation of a number of thefe devoted
traoing in human flefh, thefe .Plans and Setl:ions wil~ appear rather.a fithon, people, thus managed and thus crammed together,. and he mL._fr think it
than a real reprefentation of a flave-fhip. They w1ll probably obJeCt, that dreadful> even ur!.der every favourable circum!lance of an humane captain,.
there is no room for flowing cables, and fuch other ,utenfds and ftores as an . able furgeon, fine weather,. and a !bart paffage.
But when to a long
are ufually placed between decks. In a lave {hip (i. e. a full one) tbefe pa!Etge are adde~, inhuman. treatment, fc anty and bad provifions, and
1
articles are either depofited in the ho1d, or piled upon the uppe: deck.; rough weather, th ei r condition is mif~rable bey6nd defcription. So deHrucand from thence, in cafe of bad weather, or accidents, no fmall contufion 1s ' tive is - t 1is traffick in fome ~ircumll:ances 1 partindarly in bad weather,..
ocafioned.-It may be a)fo 1.id, the i1aves are placed fo ve:X clofe,. th_at , when the !laves a te kept below, and the gratings covered with tarpawlings,
there is not ~oom for the furgeon. to viftt and affiH: them :. I he fact 1s, , that a iChooner"7 ,which carried only 140 !laves,. meeting with a gale of
when the furgeon goes amongfi them,, he picks out hts v:'ay as ~ell wind which laftcd eighteen hours, no lefs than. 5P fl.aves P.Criih.::d in tha~~
-as he can, by ftepping between their. legs. He frequently finds tt to be tm- fmall fpace of time.
pofiible to afford them that relief which an humane man (and fuch t~re
As then the inhumanity of thi tra.d~ mufl: be uv..,rvedbl1y admitted' and
are even in this trade) would willingly give them.. ~hen a_ttacked wJtb .lamented, people would do well to . confider that it:does not often f.aU to
tluxes,, thei-r fituation is fcarcely to be defcribed. To ~tve an mfrance, (as the lot of individuals, to have an. opportunity G performing fo important~
related by an eye-witnefs) as it fen:es to convey fome 1dea, though a v~ry . a moral and religious du.ty 7 as that of enJea~olllnng to put an. end to a pracfa int one of the fuHerin()'s of thofe unhappy bein()'s whom we wantonly drag tice, which may, without. exagger.ation, . be. ftiled. one of the gt;eat:jJ evils af
'
b
b
d
. .
from their native country, and doom to peq:etual labour aJt capttvny: this day exijting upm the earth ..
F,l!conbridge's _<\ccount of the Slave Tr:lde, pagv 3 I
I Some wet and blowing weather having occafioned the port-holes to
"" be !hut, and the grati-ng to be covered, fluxes and fevers among the
LONDON: :2Rl~TED lSY JAMES PHILLIPS, GEORC..EY.ARD,- LOMllAR.D~ '' negroes enfued.
Wht 'e they were in this fi.tuatio~, my profe1Jio_n
1
ST ~E ET.
M 1 D C C,LXX.Xl Xo" requiring it, I fr.eq.uently went down among themJ t1ll at length the1r

It

ma~,

be expceted,. from this mode-of packing a number of our fellow-

mat

L'

107861
...,