Chapter XVI: Six Months on a Slaver in 1860 (1)

The ship _Thomas Watson_, a smart looking vessel of about four hundred tons burden, lay at anchor off the Battery, New York harbor, one day in June, 1860, having just arrived from New London, Connecticut, where she had been fitted out and received her crew, who had shipped for a three years’ whaling cruise. Some of the sailors, when they came aboard, were a bit mystified by the clean and neat appearance of her decks and bulwarks—for whalers usually are dirtier than a “lime-juicer” and the smell of oil pervades every part of the vessel. About an hour before sunset the wind freshened to a smart breeze and the mate came on deck and ordered the windlass manned and hove the anchor to a short stay, after which a signal was made for a tug and soon the ship was on the way to Sandy Hook. Meantime the wind had increased and the tug casting loose from the ship’s side took the tow-line, out ahead. Sail was then made and the wind was in such a quarter that soon the tug could not keep the tow-line out of water more than half the time and when the Hook was reached and the line was cast off, the ship ran over it and the crew could not haul it in without checking headway. This the captain would not permit and so gave the order to cut the line.

After the ship had been at sea nine or ten days, all hands were kept on deck in the afternoon to practice making and shortening sail, for most of the crew were landsmen and never had smelled salt water before this voyage. As soon as this was thoroughly learned, the men were assigned their stations in the boats and great pains taken to teach them the proper handling of the oars. When the latitude of the Azores was reached a lookout was stationed aloft and directed to keep his “weather-eye open for blows,” and this humbug of looking out for “blows” was persisted in until the ship arrived off the coast of Africa and the farce of whaling could no longer answer any purpose.

Among the crew was a young sailor named Edward Manning, who had signed articles under the fictitious name of Edward Melville. He afterwards wrote an account of his experiences during this voyage, which was published in 1879[50] and from this narrative the following account has been condensed, as it preserves an excellent description of life on board a slaver during the last days of slaving, with intimate details not to be found elsewhere.

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Footnote 50:

_Six Months on a Slaver_, by Edward Manning, New York, 1879.

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It was not until after we had done with cruising off the Azores Islands and had taken our departure for other parts, that our suspicions were aroused that the whaling business was merely a blind. The first evidence came to light after the crew had been set to work breaking out the hold, and it appeared in the shape of huge quantities of rice, hard-tack, salt beef, pork, etc., in quantities large enough to feed a regiment for a long time. We also found a great amount of light pine flooring. For what purpose it was intended we could not then imagine, but it will be seen, later on, that this was a very useful part of our outfit. The ship had no regular “between-decks.” A small deck had been built directly under the main-hatch and it was called the “blubber-room.” The blubber was supposed to be sent there for “mincing.”

For weeks the sham of whaling was carried on and, whenever a blow was cried out from aloft, all boats were called away. The master of a _bona fide_ whaler could not have been more anxious to secure his fish than our captain appeared to be. The strict discipline of a whaler was also kept up and no favors had been shown in the way of grub. We still had only our allowance of salt beef, pork, hard-tack, and beans.

CHASE OF THE SLAVER “GABRIEL,” JULY 6, 1841, BY H.M. BRIG “ACORN”
From a colored lithograph, after a drawing by N. M. Condy, in the
Macpherson Collection
]

Up to this time, however, we had not achieved much as a whaler, two or three porpoises being the net catch of fish, and they were harpooned from the bow. The blubber that we stripped from them, after being minced and tried out, yielded but an insignificant quantity of oil—not enough to make the try-pots even smell oily.

When not in the boats the work of breaking out the hold still went on with vigor. After a large quantity of rice and hard-bread had been shifted to the lazaret, the other stores were stowed up even with the deck of the blubber-room. This was about five feet below the main-deck. The pine flooring, which aroused our curiosity when it first came to light, was now laid smoothly down on top of the stores, thereby making a fair-looking floor. When we commenced breaking out the forward part of the hold it was found to contain chiefly large oil casks filled with fresh water. After stowing them in like manner as we had done the stores, namely, even with the blubber-room, we laid the pine flooring on top of them, and then had a smooth floor, fore and aft. This was the second tangible piece of evidence that our “whales” would not be taken out of the “mighty ocean.”

The crew generally seemed to be well pleased at the new phase the voyage had taken and were anxious for the time to come when the ship would be well filled with “blackfish” oil, as they termed the negroes, and her bow pointed toward the States. I did not share in their satisfaction at the changed aspect of affairs, for I had scruples about being made an outlaw in this summary manner and I foolishly expressed my sentiments openly. I thus brought on myself the ill-will of the captain. Later on, after the voyage was ended and while I was waiting for a passage in a Mexican schooner from Campeachy, Yucatan, to New Orleans, he swore that I should never leave the beach alive. This, however, was all brag. I knew him to be a coward and it did not intimidate me in the least.

Nearly three months had passed since we took our departure from Sandy Hook and during all that time, with the exception of breaking out the hold, there had been nothing unusual to change the monotonous routine of daily work. But I judged now, by the whitish appearance of the water and the orders given to the lookout to “keep his eyes wide open,” that we must be approaching land. The captain also passed a large part of the time on deck, night and day, and whenever a sail was reported from aloft, he would jump into the rigging, spy-glass in hand, and intently watch the approach of the stranger. If the course she was sailing would bring her within hailing distance, we at once avoided her by changing our course. Two or three times the skippers of different vessels manifested a desire to communicate with us by following in our wake, but, our ship being a smart sailer, they were soon convinced that there was no chance of overhauling us.

One night we had received orders from the captain that the whole watch should keep a sharp lookout for land ahead and just at daybreak the cry of “land-ho” was heard from a man stationed on the foretop-sail yard. The captain and mate at once went up to the maintop-sail yard, where they remained nearly an hour, scanning the horizon in the direction where land had been reported. When they returned to the deck it was noticed that the captain’s demeanor to the mate had taken a decided change for the better. Perhaps he had plainly told the latter what he intended to do, after which he no doubt thought it prudent to treat his subordinate with a little more respect, considering that he had taken the responsibility of making him an outlaw without his consent.

At three o’clock or thereabouts, that afternoon, a small boat was descried by the lookout. It appeared to be about two or three miles distant and, as near as could be made out, her crew were pulling toward our ship. When this was reported to the captain he directed the man at the wheel to steer for her. We soon overhauled the boat and found her full of negroes, whom I afterward learned were kroomen. These kroomen were black as coal tar and perfectly naked. They were sitting on the gunwales of their boat and propelling her with paddles. Standing up in the bow was a powerfully built negro holding in his right hand a bright-red rag which he kept waving to and fro. The crew kept time with their paddles to the motion of this rag and at every stroke they gave utterance to curious sounds which much resembled the noise made by a flock of crows. Right amid-ships of the boat we could see a white man, of dark complexion, whom we afterward knew as “the Spaniard.” He was straddling a cask and by his vehement gesticulation seemed to be urging the kroomen to do their best.

The maintop-sail was now braced aback and a ladder was put over the ship’s side. As soon as the boat had reached us our friend of the cask mounted the ladder. Upon gaining the deck he rushed toward our skipper and threw his arms around his neck, shook his hand again and again and kept up such a constant fire of words that no opportunity was given the latter to open his mouth. The Spaniard finally recovered somewhat from the excitement of the meeting, after which the captain invited him into the cabin.

As they went below orders were given to the kroomen to come on board and to make the boat fast astern, giving her plenty of scope by using a line from the ship. After this we were directed to “fill away and stand in closer to the beach.” We ran toward land as far as was safe, when the ship was again hove-to. The boat’s crew consisted of nineteen or twenty kroomen, all large and muscular fellows. They were all naked, not even having on a hat to protect their heads from the rays of a sun that would have melted the skulls of us white men, had we not had them well covered. Each one had a string of cowries tied round his ankles and wrists. These, as I supposed, were used in lieu of money for bartering. Two or three of them could speak a little broken English. This they had probably learned from the sailors of the English men-of-war frequenting the coast.

After a brief consultation our visitors selected one of their number to act as spokesman. He at once made good use of his knowledge of the English language by begging for something to eat. This we supplied. After their hunger was appeased they commenced begging, through their interpreter, for old shirts, hats, tobacco, and everything else they could see or think of. Some of our men went below and brought up a lot of old hats, shirts, etc., which they offered to exchange for the cowries worn by the negroes on their ankles and wrists. The kroomen seemed loath to part with these at first, but the sight of a red flannel shirt was too tempting an object for the leader (the knight of the red rag in the boat) to resist and he soon succumbed. After this it was an easy thing to strike up a trade with them. For an old shirt I secured a small string of cowries, which are still in my possession. It was a ludicrous sight to behold them strutting up and down the deck in their new attire. None was completely clad. One fellow had on a sou’wester and a short shirt; another, only a pair of overalls; and another, a pair of old seaboots and a straw hat. This last was the most extraordinary toilet I had ever seen.

The captain and his Spanish friend now came on deck and on beholding the fantastic appearance of the kroomen, gave vent to a tremendous roar. The boat was hauled to the gangway and her funny looking crew ordered into her and after giving our skipper another affectionate embrace the Spaniard took his departure. The maintop-sail was once more filled away and we stood out to sea, braced up sharp on the wind.

About this time our grub began to improve. The salt-horse kid was now accompanied with pickled onions, canned meats and other luxuries. Meanwhile “Bungs,” the ship’s cooper, was kept busy making small kids and as fast as he finished a lot we spliced rope handles in them. Away down in the run, with many things piled on top of them, we had some time before brought to light about forty of the same suspicious-looking kids. Later on it will be seen the use they were put to.

After our departure from the African coast we cruised about for a period of two weeks and during that time not a word was spoken by our captain which would even lead us to infer that the vessel was there for the purpose of carrying off a cargo of negroes. Of course there could be no doubt of it—that we felt sure of; but what his reasons were for not imparting some information on the subject at this stage of affairs, was a mystery we could not solve. Even if the men had the will to remonstrate, they were powerless to do anything. There was not another person on board who had sufficient knowledge of navigation to take charge of the ship and he knew it. The mate of a merchantman is supposed to be a competent navigator, but in this instance the rule did not hold good. Our mate knew less of navigation than I did, for I could figure out a day’s work by dead-reckoning and that was more than he could do.

The whaling humbug was played out now. The reporting of “blows” was still carried on, but no boats were ever after lowered for this purpose. During this whole two weeks I doubt if we were at any time more than ninety or a hundred miles distant from the coast, for the distance run off was generally recovered at the end of every forty-eight hours, by sailing the other way.

The cooper finished making his kids and with those found in the hold he mustered about sixty. All our provisions and water were handy but the hold was very much lumbered up with a large quantity of shooks and staves. These were finally hoisted to the deck and lashed along the bulwarks.

One night, shortly after this work had been done, the yards were squared and the course altered. The man at the wheel was cautioned to be very careful with his steering and the captain remained on deck all night. Sleep was out of the question in the forecastle and the watch below lay down on their sea-chests. Those who were able to think were no doubt wondering what the next day would bring forth; for, ignorant as they were of navigation, they had sense enough to know that, with a fair wind, the ship could not be more than a few hours in reaching the coast. I could see that they were anxious and perhaps a little frightened, for they all knew there was a gloomy outlook ahead should the ship be taken with a load of negroes on board. Confinement for several weeks in a prison on this sickly coast was not a pleasant thing to contemplate.

At last the long, dreary night came to an end and, as I expected, at the break of day the cry of “land-ho” was heard from aloft. At that cry the captain exhibited openly his nervousness or cowardice. Calling to the mate in a very shaky voice he directed him to take the spy-glass, go aloft to the main-royal yard as quickly as he could, and take a look all around inshore, and if he saw anything that had the least appearance of a vessel to report it immediately. He then directed the second mate to see that all hands were on deck and to have them ready for quick work. As it happened, we were already there, and as anxious as he, no doubt, for a few hours would decide our fate.

The wind being light, the ship’s progress was slow, and it was fully two hours before the land opened out sufficiently to tell how it looked. The part of the coast we were approaching appeared to be uninhabited, with a dense thicket two or three hundred yards back of the beach. As we came nearer I could see a long, low shed, just on the outskirts of the thicket facing the water. During all this time the captain had been nervously moving about and every five or ten minutes hailing the mate to inquire if he saw anything yet. On receiving a negative answer, he would mutter audibly: “It’s strange. She ought to be there.”

After the mate had been aloft nearly three hours, he suddenly cried out,

“Sail-ho!”

“Where away?” said the captain.

“Right ahead, and close to the beach, sir,” responded the mate.

Orders were now given to the second mate to get both anchors ready to let go, with a range of twenty fathoms on each chain. All hands went at it with a will and the business was soon despatched.

“Can you make out her rig and has she any flag or signal set?” yelled out the captain to the mate.

“She is schooner-rigged and has something flying at the main, but I can’t make it out,” was the reply.

CAPTURE OF SPANISH SLAVER “DOLORES,” APR. 4, 1816, OFF THE CONGO,
BY H.M. BRIG “FERRET”
From a colored lithograph, after the painting by W. J. Huggins, in
the Macpherson Collection
]

I now went aloft to the foretop and, looking toward the beach, I saw the vessel reported by the mate apparently lying at anchor. While I was aloft my chum passed me with a white signal flung over his shoulder and as he started up the topmast rigging I asked him what he was going to do with it.

“Bend her on to the signal halyards and stand by to run her up.”

The signal halyards had been rove but a short time previously and the ends made fast in the cross-trees.

“I think that signal is plain white, sir, and there is a boat pulling off from the beach,” sung out the mate.

“All right,” replied the captain: “run up the signal.”

“Ay, ay, sir,” answered Frank, and a moment later, the white signal waved from the fore-truck.

The land opened out rapidly and I could now see the long, low shed quite plainly. It looked as if it had been constructed by sticking poles in the ground and using brush from the surrounding thicket for the roof. This shed, I afterward learned, was called a “barracoon.”

When the boat reported by the mate was some four or five hundred yards from the beach, her crew ceased paddling and awaited our approach. The captain hailed the mate and told him to come down from aloft and after he had reached the deck we commenced taking in light sails, preparatory to coming to anchor.

We soon overhauled the small boat and our friend, the “palm-oil trader,” stepped on board and gave our captain another affectionate kiss. He was very much excited and I inferred from his actions that he desired the ship brought at once to anchor. The captain seemed to think differently, for he continued to run her in and did not anchor until we were dangerously near the breakers. The sails were allowed to hang in the buntlines, not half hauled up, and even the royals did not have the turn of a gasket around them. It was surprising that the ship did not drag her anchor, with so much sail for the wind to act on. She lay hard aback and kept the small scope of chain out as taut as a harp-string.

“Let everything hang as it is,” sung out the captain to the mate, “and send all hands into the hold to put down the flooring. Don’t be particular, but bear a hand.”

We went below and commenced to execute this order. The “palm-oil merchant” danced up and down the deck like a lunatic and every minute or two poked his head down the main-hatch and ordered us to “hurree uppe.” No such driving was necessary, however, for we had sense enough to realize that our anchor was down in a dangerous place and we worked with a will. We soon had the flooring laid; not very smoothly, it is true, but well enough to answer the purpose for the present.

“Man the boats, men! Step smart now, my lads!” was the next order.

We tumbled into our boats and shoved clear of the ship. We had pulled but a short distance when a large surf-boat passed us, crammed full of naked negroes—men, women, and children. She was manned by kroomen and they were using paddles to propel her. They were all jabbering at once in their monkeyish lingo and every few minutes I could see a paddle raised and brought down on the head of some unlucky negro.

When they had reached the ship I cast my eye ahead to see where we were going. I found that we had arrived within fifty or sixty yards of the beach. Five or six strokes more would have put us in the breakers, when the order was given to lie on our oars. Looking toward the barracoon, I saw a long line of negroes walking in single file, toward the beach, where a surf-boat was ready for launching. After a number of them had gathered around the boat she was shoved out far enough to float, the crew standing in the water up to their waists and holding fast to the gunwales on each side, in order to keep her bow to the breakers. The negroes were then seized, one by one, and tumbled in promiscously. After loading her full, the crew jumped in and seized the paddles.

This manoeuvre had to be executed quickly and it required experienced hands to make it successful. The least sheer of the boat would have brought the breakers quartering on the bow, when there would have been danger of her being knocked broadside to them. Once in that position, nothing could have saved her from being rolled over by the heavy surf then running and the negroes precipitated into the sea where possibly more than half of them would have perished. She was, however, brought safely out of the surf and her course directed toward our boat. The mate now gave us orders to receive the negroes and carry them to the ship. He cautioned us to take in our oars the moment the surf-boat reached us and then to seize the paddles and stand ready to knock the negroes over the head if they should all attempt to jump into our boat at once.

This warning was timely, for no sooner had she gained our side than the rush began. We did our best to keep them back by using the only argument they could understand, namely, hard knocks over the head. We were nearly swamped, nevertheless, by a number of them getting on one side of our boat as they piled into her. After they were all in we shipped the oars and started for our vessel, the surf-boat returning to the beach for another load. We made slow progress, the boat being so overloaded that it was impossible to take a fair stroke without chafing the backs of the negroes or striking them in the face with the oars.

When we finally reached the ship they were passed up the ladder until they came within the grasp of two swarthy Portuguese, stationed in the gangway. These men, who had come from the shore in the first boat, hauled the negroes up on deck. The poor creatures were much scratched and bruised by this rough handling.

At the same time we had constantly to watch the simple blacks, to prevent them from putting their hands on the outside of the gunwales where there was great danger of getting them smashed against the ship’s side at every roll of the boat.

After discharging our freight we started for another load, which we obtained in the same manner and we landed them safely on board. In this way we went back and forth until the last negro was put aboard the ship, when the boats were hoisted. During the time we had been thus engaged, the large surf-boats from the beach, although loaded to their utmost capacity with negroes, had, strange to say, made their way, in every case, through the breakers without losing a man.

When we arrived on board everything was in confusion. The negroes had been put into the hold without the least regard for stowage. Consequently, they were literally piled on one another; and the unsteady motion of the ship, combined with the foul air and great heat, made the place simply horrible. Naturally, they were nearly all dreadfully sick at the stomach. The women had been put in the steerage. The ship had what sailors call a high poop-deck—that is, the cabin had been built on the maindeck. The forward part had been partitioned off and the staterooms removed as far as practicable, leaving almost a clear deck to the dividing line. This we called the steerage. The wind circulated freely through it; therefore, it could be called a Paradise compared with the hold. Hence, the women fared much better than the men.

Now that our cargo was secured, we hove short the anchor and made sail, the ship lying in the wind at the time. Then, after hauling the head-sheets to windward and bracing up the head-yards on the opposite tack to the one we intended to cast, the anchor was hove up. But the ship would not fall off, and commenced drifting astern. This would not do for we were already too close to the beach and our captain gave the order to let go the anchor—the only safe thing to do under the circumstances. The Spaniard, however, opposed it and when he heard the chain rattle out through the hawsehole he flew up and down the quarterdeck like a wild man, crying out, “Oh, no, no, captain! English! English!” Then seizing a rope’s end he made unpleasant motions with it about his neck—meaning, no doubt, that there was danger of getting their guzzles squeezed should the anchor be let go. We now took the end of a six-inch hawser through the after-chock and, carrying it forward, made it fast to the chain close to the water, after which the hawser was bowsed taut aft. In the meantime, the second mate had unshackled the chain at the thirty-fathom shackle and, leading the end out clear for running, he stood by to let it slip.

Everything being ready, the order was given to slip the cable and as the chain went out the hawse-pipe the hawser was bowsed in aft. As the strain increased on the hawser the ship’s head fell off and as soon as the canvas would draw we put it on the ship. We soon had the pleasure of seeing the vessel go ahead instead of making sternway; and we could consider ourselves fortunate in escaping with only the loss of an anchor and hawser. The remainder of the day we devoted to feeding and watering the negroes. We also threw overboard all the shooks and staves lashed on the maindeck, after which we had more room. It was now time to set the watch for the night; so nothing more could be done for the comfort of the negroes until morning.

I omitted to state that the two Portuguese, who had assisted in hauling the negroes over the side, returned to the beach in one of the surf-boats after the cargo had all been taken on board.

Early next morning preparations were made to get a meal ready for the negroes. One of the try-pots was filled about three-quarters full of rice and two of the most intelligent of the blacks were appointed cooks, the cooper acting as superintendent. While this was being done we went down into the hold to see how they had fared during the dreadful night that had just passed. Their haggard looks bore evidence of the misery they had undergone. Pent up in such close quarters and inhaling such a terrible stench, it was miraculous that one-half of them had not perished. We found five or six dead bodies which were at once hoisted to the deck and consigned to the deep. There was no pretence of any religious ceremony. Just as they were, naked and forlorn, they were tossed overboard and for a long time we could see the bodies floating in the wake of the ship. I could not stay below long for the stench almost suffocated me. On reaching the deck I heard the captain say that at eight bells the negroes must all be ordered up on deck to mess and while they were thus employed we should thoroughly cleanse the hold.

Just before seven bells the captain notified the crew that there would be no more forenoon watches below, for we were so short-handed that no one could be spared from duty during the day. We were also told that, purely as a matter of safety, all hands ought to remain on deck in the daytime, lest the negroes might feel their power when they saw how weak in numbers we were. We could say nothing against this arrangement, for it looked reasonable enough. We must be satisfied with eight hours’ rest every other night, or perhaps even with less; for, should it be necessary to shorten sail, all hands would certainly be required on deck.

The crew breakfasted at seven o’clock and at half-past seven we turned to and commenced operations by sending the negroes on deck. After the deck was filled so completely that there was scarcely room enough to give us a chance to feed them, we found that a great number would have to remain below and mess there. They were now divided off into messes and the kids were filled by the cooper and his cooks with the rice, which they had all ready, and smoking hot, by this time. The kids were passed around to the messes and, in addition to the rice, each man was allowed two sea-biscuits. Very few of them had any inclination to eat, but the Spaniard, who took exclusive charge of them, seized a rope’s end and raised their appetites by showering blows on their bare shoulders. The poor negroes, being thus forcibly compelled to eat, quickly stuck their two forefingers into the hot rice and, taking up some, put it into their mouths. It being very hot they rolled it about with their tongues and their eyes looked as if they would burst from their sockets before it was cool enough to swallow. After two or three meals they learned to cool it before putting it into their mouths.

This feeding consumed nearly three hours; the hard usage they had received, combined with the nausea caused by seasickness, making it difficult for them to swallow or to retain any food on their stomachs. After the kids were removed, a tin pot, containing about a quart of fresh water, was passed to each one of them.

Before proceeding farther it would, perhaps, be well to describe the negroes. The kroomen were in every respect superior to the others. Large and well-built, with every appearance of robust health, they would undoubtedly bring the highest price in the market. They could all understand the Portuguese language and hence were invaluable to the Spaniard as interpreters. On the plantation where our cargo had been confined, prior to the time when they had been sent to the barracoon, the kroomen acted as bosses over the others. On board the ship they were armed with whips and given authority to abuse and beat the common negroes whenever they felt like it. It seemed to me that they felt like it much oftener than was necessary and took an actual pleasure in doing it.

On the backs of all the kroomen a letter had been branded and some also had their front teeth filed to a sharp point. Their complexions varied, some being very black and some a bright bronze color. Those whose teeth were not filed had beautiful sets. They were as white and lustrous as pearl and as regular and perfect in every respect as if they had been artificial. The kroomen were much better proportioned than the other negroes; their noses were not so flat nor the lips so thick. I suppose they all had names in their own dialect, but the effort required to pronounce them was too much for us, so we picked out our favorites and dubbed them “Main-stay,” “Cat-head,” “Bull’s-eye,” “Rope-yarn,” and various other sea phrases. These men did certain parts of the work and at night kept order and silence in the hold. The business of feeding the negroes was entrusted to them. We merely superintended the operation and saw that each received the proper allowance and no more. We never had occasion to punish them, as they faithfully performed the work allotted to them. They even formed quite an attachment to certain members of the crew, who furnished them with clothes and tobacco. Give them a pipe and tobacco and the measure of their happiness was full. No apprehension of trouble in the future seemed to interfere with their present comfort.

The other negroes numbered about eight hundred and included all sizes and ages—from infants at the breast to men and women of forty. Many of them were branded with curious devices. In some cases the whole body was covered with marks—not even the face being excepted. A large number, also, had the front teeth filed, like the kroomen, and when they opened their big thick lips they looked hideous. They were devoid of all intelligence, not even having as much sagacity as a Newfoundland dog. They were also arrant cowards; one white man being sufficient to intimidate and manage a hundred of them. The women were the pluckiest and had they all been of that sex we should probably have had a mutiny on board before the ship had been at sea two weeks. They numbered about two hundred and were stowed in the poop, as I said before. They were, with a few exceptions, all fine specimens of their race, physically. Five or six of the younger ones were hopelessly sick—consumption was, I believe, the complaint. They made more noise at night than all the males together. While on watch I often saw the Spaniard, whip in hand, bounce in among them and fiercely cut out right and left. This treatment would have the desired effect, for that night at least.

We had about fifty or sixty negro boys on board, ranging from six to fourteen years of age. They were all sound in body and enjoyed excellent health. The little fellows made no trouble at night, the awful looks of the kroomen acting like magic in suppressing any such tendency.

THE CAPTURE OF THE SLAVER “BOLODORA,” BY H.M. SCHOONER “PICKLE,”
JUNE 6, 1829
From the colored aquatint, after the painting by W. J. Huggins, in
the Macpherson Collection
]

Before sending the negroes below, the hold had to be thoroughly cleaned and a system devised for keeping it so. The Spanish captain, as he finally came to be called—no other name having transpired among the seamen—divided most of the kroomen into gangs and partitioned off the hold, each gang having a part of it to keep clean and a number of negroes to attend to. Those that remained were stationed on deck, to do whatever was required of them.

After these preliminaries were all arranged the work was commenced. In a short time the hold was thoroughly scrubbed out and the flooring laid down evenly, which made it much more comfortable to lie upon. Just forward of the fore-hatch, two spare try-pots had been lashed. They took up a great deal of room that was needed for other purposes and as they were a superfluous luxury for this kind of whaling, we got the captain’s permission to try our strength on them with a top-maul. After a great many blows had been given, we finally broke them into pieces small enough to handle and then tossed them overboard. The hold was now greatly improved and the negroes were sent below with a better prospect of being able to live there. Windsails were set at each hatchway and kept trimmed, and when there was any wind a refreshing air was distributed throughout the hold.

The Spanish captain, who was our mainstay in regulating the negroes, was an exceedingly ferocious man among them. Our own captain said of him that he had run eight cargoes to the Island of Cuba and had never once met with an accident. Having had such an extensive experience in the business, he must have thoroughly understood the best and safest way of handling them. When the number of negroes on board is compared with that of the crew (there were only eighteen of us), it will be seen that orders in regard to them, whether for punishment or anything else, had to be promptly executed and without the least appearance of fear. So great was their terror of the Spaniard that I verily believe he could have controlled the whole of them single-handed. Yet I never saw him practice any deliberate cruelty with the exception of two or three instances to be mentioned hereafter.

Among the little girls he was a great favorite and I cannot recall a single instance when he punished them or caused it to be done by the kroomen. During many a hot, sultry day, when the awning was spread across the main-deck, he would permit the little ones to gambol and play under it, often exerting his fancy to assist their childish amusements. He would frequently take small strips of calico, eighteen or twenty inches in length, tie them in the rigging, and then start a race, giving each an equal chance, to see who could secure one of the pieces. This was a prize to the lucky one, and she was regarded with envy by those who failed to secure a strip. The calico was afterward put to a practical use in the way of aprons. The Spaniard was also well skilled in medicine and by his intelligent treatment of the sick saved a number of lives.

As soon as the negroes were sent below after their first meal, he arranged for feeding them in the future at regular intervals. At eight o’clock in the morning breakfast was to be served. Then the kids were to be rinsed out, filled with salt-water and one passed to each mess, the members of which should be made to wash their hands and faces. After this, every man, woman, and child was to be allowed one quart of water each. The same programme was to be enforced at the afternoon meal, which was to commence at three o’clock. At first it required nearly three hours for each meal, but after a week’s practice the time was reduced to about two hours.

On the first day, when we had finished feeding them in the afternoon, it was six o’clock, the time appointed for all the negroes to be stowed away for the night. After the deck was cleared we went below to see that the kroomen arranged them properly. Commencing forward, we made the first man lie down, head to windward, facing toward the bow, and the knees slightly drawn toward the chin. Another one was then placed alongside, with his breast touching the back of the first and his knees bent at a similar angle. In this manner we stowed them, in tiers, the length and width of the hold. The kroomen were allowed the privilege of reclining as they chose, but it was their duty to keep the others in their proper places. When daylight came the negroes could change their positions to suit themselves.

At five o’clock every morning we commenced to wash down the maindeck, which was also the signal for the cooper to call his cooks and prepare the food for the negroes. After scrubbing and scraping until seven o’clock, the watch on deck would call the watch below and all hands go to breakfast. We were allowed half an hour for breakfast, after which the negroes had to be sent on deck and arranged in their proper messes for the meal. In the course of a week’s time we had them nicely regulated and after that there was no further trouble.

The Spanish captain now selected from among the kroomen his medical assistant. This negro went by the name of “shikko”—signifying, in their dialect, doctor—and he was very useful in helping his master. The shikko having found a great many sick below, the Spanish captain immediately held a consultation with the captain of the ship which resulted in a hospital being extemporized under the top-gallant forecastle. All the invalids were conveyed there and received prompt treatment. Dysentery, caused largely, no doubt, by the change of diet and water, was the principal and most fatal disease that attacked them. After lingering a long time, and suffering greatly, the first patients all died. Two or three cases of smallpox broke out, which received prompt treatment; but these also were fatal. It was providential that this loathsome disease did not spread. Had it done so, God only knows what would have been our fate. There occurred one remarkable case which the captain called the coast scurvy. The man sick with it swelled until his whole skin was transparent. No medicine gave him any relief and his sufferings were terrible to witness. He lived fully two weeks in dreadful agony before death relieved him. There was a case of palsy among the males and that the Spanish captain could do nothing for. When the poor victim took the water-cup in his hand it would shake very much and this pleased the negroes so that they would shout and laugh at an immoderate rate. Sometimes an application of the whip was necessary to quiet them.

Only one birth occurred on the passage. A woman was delivered of twins—one dead and the other living but a few hours after birth.

When the negroes were all below and stowed for the night, one of the watch was stationed at each hatch to guard it for two hours. At the expiration of this time he was relieved by another and so on until daylight. While on this duty the men were armed with native African swords or knives which the Spanish captain supplied. They looked like large rusty cheese-knives and, in my opinion, the only thing they were good for was to bang against the combings of the hatch. When the negroes were noisy the watch would yell out something which sounded like “Yock ho!” This always acted like magic for on hearing it they would quiet down instantly.

The crew expressed a wish for revolvers, to protect themselves in case of a sudden attack in force, but the Spanish captain said the sight of these rusty old knives would have inspired more fear than a dozen revolvers, the bulk of the negroes not even knowing the use of a pistol and hence having no fear of it. I thought that story would do to “tell to the marines.” The crew, fully armed with revolvers, would have been a formidable force and in case of a misunderstanding with the after-guards, would have held the balance of power. We carried our sheath-knives belted around the waist, which is customary with sailors, until our captain gave us a sensible hint to put them out of sight when among the negroes or the latter might take a notion to grab them.

The hatches had never been put on, the hold being open night and day. After we had been out four weeks some of them became so bold at night that they would disregard the orders of the kroomen and come to the hatchway. A slap over the head with the flat side of the sword, given by the man on watch, was something they could better understand and it never failed to be followed by an instant disappearance on the part of the offender.

One morning a krooman reported to the Spanish captain a negro who had resisted his authority during the night. The offender was hustled upon deck, stretched out at full length, face downward, and tied to the ring-bolts. One of the kroomen now commenced lashing the poor creature over the back and when he flagged another took his place and renewed the beating. The negro was grit to the bone and made not the slightest outcry. Not until life was almost extinct did the Spaniard order him released. It was the latter’s wish to draw blood, but the negro’s hide was so tough it could not be done by thrashing.

There was a large and corpulent woman in the steerage whom the sailors called “Miss Porpoise” and, judging by the grin that was always on her countenance, she seemed to be happy and contented with her present quarters. One day she appeared anxious to look over the rail and to gratify her desire some one gave her permission to do so. I was suddenly startled by the shrill cries of a female and on looking aft I saw the Spaniard lambasting “Miss Porpoise.” He was holding her by the wool with his left hand and she was bawling at a tremendous rate. After he had given her a sound thrashing a nail was driven into one of the beams in the steerage, when a piece of ordinary twine was tied around Miss Porpoise’s arm and secured to the nail. He called to an interpreter and told him something which, on being translated, had a pacifying effect on “Miss Porpoise’s” nerves, for her bawling at once ceased and she tried to avoid his eye.

It afterward transpired that this excitement was caused by “Miss Porpoise” trying to jump overboard. She nearly succeeded, as her body was half-way over the rail before the Spaniard saw her, and he was just in time to seize her legs and haul her back. We watched her after this, but she never broke the twine by which her arm was held. It was not a very secure way of putting her in irons but it nevertheless answered the purpose.

For several weeks after leaving the African coast, in consequence of light winds and calms, the vessel made but a poor run, so that there was every prospect of a long passage. About this time the allowance of water was reduced. There was no change made in the allowance of food, for we had an ample stock on board. On the contrary, the negroes were fed better, a certain quantity of pork and beef being given them twice a week. Good care and plenty to eat made a marked improvement in their appearance, at which the Spanish captain was proportionately pleased. A fine healthy negro would bring a much higher price than a puny, sickly one; therefore, to feed them well and take good care of them meant an increase of doubloons to the owners. Up to this period we had lost but about twenty and this mortality was caused principally by dysentery. When the wind was light during the day the maindeck awning was spread and the negroes in the hold were allowed to come up and stretch their limbs. This was a great relief from the intense heat and foul air of the hold and was no doubt the cause of saving a number of lives.

One afternoon the weather clouded up and by six o’clock it rained hard. We had made preparations to catch all the water we could by spreading the awning, leaving the crowfoot-halyards slack so it would settle down in the centre. The rain continued off and on until midnight by which time some eight or nine large casks had been filled. This stroke of good luck was thoroughly appreciated.

Among the ship’s stores, stowed aft in the lazaret, were five or six barrels of New England rum. The sailors all knew of its being there; for, at the time we were breaking out the stores, two or three barrels had been unearthed and some of them had got a taste by sucking it through a straw when the officers’ backs were turned. When the negroes were taken on board, the crew supposed an allowance of grog would be a sure thing for the balance of the voyage. In this they were mistaken for not a smell did they get except what they had stolen. The old man appropriated it all to himself and managed to get dead drunk every day by 4 P.M., after which he would retire to one of the spare boats on the poop-deck and sleep off the effects. He made this a regular business, leaving the ship in charge of the officers. The Spanish captain remonstrated with him and pointed out the bad example he was setting the crew. Arguments had no effect, however, for he continued to drink until the cargo was disposed of.

One afternoon an occurrence took place which came near resulting seriously. Just before arriving at the sleepy-drunk stage he always manifested a very ugly temper and usually relieved himself by cursing the men. During the earlier part of the afternoon mentioned the wind had died out and the ship was becalmed. The yards were squared and the courses hauled up to prevent chafing. The captain came on deck and gave orders to set the studding-sails. This was useless, as there was no wind and the officers told him so. He then began to swear at the officer of the deck and told him to go below, after which he bawled out to the men to reeve the gear. Having had plenty of work all the forenoon and scarcely any rest during the previous night, they were not in the humor for such unnecessary labor and, as they took the gear in hand to reeve, there was much audible growling. The captain had just rum enough in him to forget the kind of a voyage the ship was on and he cursed and threatened to trice up the first man he heard growl.

This was too much to take from him and the men threw the gear on deck and made a move toward him. Very opportunely for the old man the Spanish captain came on deck and took in the situation at a glance. Placing himself between the ladder that led to the poop and the men, he vehemently gesticulated and said, “No, no! Bad—very bad!” He called the officers and told them to tell the men not to do anything rash, for the captain was drunk and did not know what he was doing. It was some time before the men could be pacified and induced to go forward. I think the captain must have been sensible of his danger, for, drunk as he was, he had the prudence to go below instead of lying down in the boat as he had done on former occasions. This was a good lesson for him. He never again threatened to trice us up and his orders were not embellished with so many disgusting oaths as heretofore.

About this time the negroes were given their first bath. They were hustled upon deck and arranged in tiers, standing. The hose was now attached to the head-pump and a lively stream squirted over them. They laughed and chattered good-naturedly while receiving this ducking. After being confined in the hold all night the cool sea-water must have been very refreshing.

Nothing else of consequence transpired during this part of the voyage unless it was the appearance of a sail which was sighted from aloft one afternoon about five o’clock. As soon as the stranger could be made out from the deck the captain was anxious to determine the course she was steering. On a nearer approach it was evident that she was heading toward our ship. We did not, however, alter our course until we were absolutely certain that she would come close to us, for this running off caused too much loss of ground. But we had finally to do it or the stranger would soon have been within hailing distance.