Introduction

When a slave ship arrived in Amenca or the West Indies, the slaves were fattened up for sale, and their skins were oiled to make them shine.  Traders hid sores by rubbing them with rust, and slaves with dysentery were 'plugged' with rope dipped in tar.

After you have studied this webpage, answer the question sheet by clicking on the 'Time to Work' icon at the top of the page.

Links:

The following websites will help you research further:

• Slave auctions: BBC Bitesize. 

• A short History Channel documentary on a slave auction as shown in the TV series Roots.  

1  Captain John Stedman, 1773

An extract from The Narrative of a Five Years Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam (published 1796).
In 1773 Stedman signed up with the Dutch military to quell a rebellion of Maroons (rebel slaves) in South America.  His book was based on his journal (1790), which in turn was compiled from jottings and notes he made continuously during his days in Surinam.
Although he supported the institution of slavery, he sympathised with the suffering slaves, and his candid descriptions of hanging, lashing, torture and abuse made his book popular with the Abolitionists.

Such a resurrection of skin and bones, as … appeared to be risen from the Grave …. walking skeletons covered over with a piece of tanned leather. .

2  Anonymous letter, 1838

This description was written "by a young member of the Society of Friends" (Quakers) of a "short visit" to Havana in Cuba.  Whilst the author was openly opposed to the slave trade – "the disgrace of the civilised world" – he did not oppose the idea of slavery: "on the contrary, I can bear frequent testimony to the lenient treatment of slaves, and their apparent contentment on estates it was my fortune to visit".

They were crouched down upon their benches around a large room, during a visit of more than an hour not a word was spoken.  They were nearly all naked … with a few exceptions they were but skin and bone, too weak to support their weary bodies...

3  Henry Laurens, 1756

Letter from Henry Laurens, a slave trader, to Vernon Brothers, Newport (1756).

They seemed past all hope of recovery.  God knows what we shall do with what remain, they are a most scabby flock, all of them full of sores – some have extreme sore eyes, three very puny children and add to this the worst infirmity of all with which 6 or 8 are attended (i.e.) Old Age.

4  A slave sale in America, 1849

An illustration from The Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, Written by Himself (1849). 
Bibb was a black American who had been a slave.

5  A slave sale, 1853

An illustration from Wilson Armistead, Five Thousand Strokes for Freedom, published by the Leeds Anti-Slavery Society (1853).  Armistead, was an active opponent of slavery.

A Slave Sale: ABOVE:

• Note how Armistead has adapted Bibb's illustration.
• How has he tried to make the atrocity worse?
• Had Armistead ever been to a slave auction? Had Bibb?
• Does this mean we can trust Bibb's drawing?

6  Bryan Edwards, 1819

An extract from Bryan Edwards, History of the British West Indies (1819).
Edwards was a Jamaican plantation owner and West India merchant.  In 1796 he became an MP, and was a fierce opponent of Abolition.

They show on being brought to the market very few signs of sadness for their past, or fears for their future, but a great eagerness to be sold ... and appearing disappointed when refused.  

7   Nicholas Cresswell, 1774

An extract from Nicholas Cresswell's Journal (1774-7).
Cresswell was the son of a Derbyshire sheep-farmer who, aged 24, tried to start a new life in America.  He was horrified by the treatment of the slaves and the Native Americans, and disliked the rebelling colonists, and he returned home after just three years.

Tuesday, September 13th, 1774

Went ashore and saw a Cargo of Slaves land.  One of the most shocking sights I ever saw.  About 400 Men, Women, and Children, brought from their native Country, deprived of their liberty, and themselves and their children become the property of cruel strangers without a chance of ever enjoying the Blessings of Freedom again, or a right of complaining, be their sufferings never so great...  They were all naked, except a piece of blue cloth about a foot broad to cover their nakedness, and appear much dejected.

8   Alexander Falconbridge, 1788

British surgeon Alexander Falconbridge served on four slave trade voyages 1780-87 before becoming an abolitionist and writing An Account of the Slave Trade on the Coast of Africa (1788).

As soon as the hour agreed on arrived, the doors of the yard were suddenly thrown open, and in rushed a considerable number of purchasers, with all the ferocity of beasts...  Some instantly seized such Negroes as they could conveniently lay hold of with their hands.  Others, being prepared with several handkerchiefs tied together, encircled with these as many as they were able... 
The Negroes appeared extremely terrified, and near thirty of them jumped into the sea.  But they were all soon retaken.

9  Rev. Richard Bickell, 1824

An illustration taken from Bickell's West Indies As They Are; Or, A Real Picture Of Slavery - But More Particulary As It Exists In The Island Of Jamaica (1824).
Bickell spent five years as naval chaplain and curate at Port Royal, Jamaica.  He account was considered at the time as "an impartial Christian observer ... fair and unbiased, who describes plainly the scenes which have passed under his own eyes".