MIDDLE PASSAGE
A STORY OF THE 18TH
CENTURY SLAVE TRADE
During the 18th
century , European ship captains, with ther vessels loaded with
European
merchandise, visited the
African coast and traded for for slaves which were stuffed aboard
the
ships that then set sail for
America, a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Once there
the slaves were traded for lumber, tobacco, grains, moleasses and
other produce which were returned to theEuropean countries. This
practice became known as the “Triangular Trade” . The middle
leg of
this triangle brought the
slaves to America and became known as the infamous “Middel
Passage”. A
term that was known to be a
journey of unbearable human suffering. Any voyage across the
Atlantic
faced enormous hazzards,
sailing ships were at the mercy of the winds and delays were deadly
for
the crowded slaves.
Few records were kept of
the “Middle Passage” and artifacts of the wreckage of the
“Henrietta
Marie”, off the coast of
Key West on it's final leg of the trip, have provided significant
information of conditions aboard a slave ship. Recovered were
shackles used to prevent a slaves escape. The slave
was sent to mid decks,
placed like cargo on shelves very close together. Weather
permitting the slaves were moved to the open decks but chained
togther to prevent any attempt to take over the ship.
Disease and ailments often
spread . Yellow fever, malaria, small pox, dysentery, and as many a
half the cargo died.
Source: Michael Morgan
Delaware Diary, Delaware Coast Press,
No comments:
Post a Comment