IV. authority of the British parliament, of which the CHA P. certain effect ought furely to be known, before the evils they are meant to redrefs are pronounced irremediable. By an act of the 28th year of his prefent Majefty (since renewed and amended) the flave fhips are restricted to the conveyance of five flaves to every three tons; and even this proportion is allowed only as far as 201 tons. For every additional ton they are limited to one additional flave. To thefe important precautions for fecuring to the Negroes a fufficiency of room, is added the neceffary provifion of a regularly qualified furgeon; to whom, as well as to the fhipmaster, very liberal encouragement is given, to induce both of them to exert every provident endeavour in preferving their unfortunate captives in health and spirits: the fum of one hundred pounds being allowed to the mafter, and £.50 to the furgeon, if the lofs on the voyage amounts to no more than two in the hundred, and half those fums if the lofs fhall not exceed three in the hundred. Of the full effect which this fyftem of reftriction and encouragement hath hitherto produced in all the British colonies, I am not informed; but judging by returns which I have obtained from one of the principal marts in the Weft Indies, it would feem to have been found, in a very eminent degree, advantageous and falutary. At the port of Montego-Bay, in Jamaica, the Negroes imported between the 18th day of November 1789, and the 15th of July 1791, were 9,993, It is alfo provided, that veffels not exceeding 201 tons fhall not carry of male flaves (exceeding four feet four inches in height) more than one for each ton, and veffels of larger fize more than three fuch males for every five tons. This regulation feems intended as an encouragement to the export of a greater proportion of females. in BOOK in 38 fhips; the mortality at fea, exclufive of the IV. lofs of 54 Negroes in a mutiny on the coaft, was 746, which is fomewhat under feven per cent. on the whole number of flaves. This, though much less, I believe, than the average lofs which commonly happened before the regulating law took place, is, I admit, fufficiently great; and, had it prevailed in any degree equally on the feveral fhips concerned, might, perhaps, have been confidered as a fair eftimate of the general mortality confequent on the trade, notwithstanding the precautions and provifions of the regulating act. But on examining the lift, I find that eight of the 38 fhips, were entitled to, and actually received, the full premium; two others received the half premium; and one other (a fchooner that failed from Jamaica to the coaft before the act took place) returned without the lofs of a fingle Negro. Of 746 deaths, no less than 328 occurred in four fhips only, all of which, with five other veffels, comprehending the whole number of fhips in which three-fifths of the mortality occurred, came from the fame part of the coast, the Bight of Benin; a circumstance that gives room to conclude (as undoubtedly was the fact) that the Negroes from that part of the country brought disease and contagion with them from the land; an epidemic fever and flux generally prevailing on the low marfhy fhores of the Bonny rivers, during the autumnal months, which fometimes proves even more destructive on fhore than at fea. Perhaps the trueft criterion by which to estimate the beneficial effect of the regulating law, is the comparatively trifling lofs that now occurs in the harbours of the West Indies before the Guiney fhips open their fales. This mortality, which IV. which was formerly eftimated at 4 per cent. and CHAP. was manifeftly the confequence of ficknefs or improper treatment in the voyage, is now happily mitigated in fo great a degree, that out of the whole number of 9,993 flaves imported into Montego Bay as before ftated, the lofs between the days of arrival and fale, was no more than 69, or not quite per cent. Enough therefore hath been effected to demonftrate, that it is by no means impoffible, nor indeed a very difficult matter, to render the conveyance of Negroes from Africa to the Weft Indies, as little prejudicial to their healths, as the tranfportation of any other body of people across the ocean in any part of the world. Few voyages were more deftructive to the feamen than that of Lord Anfon, and none lefs fo than thofe of Captain Cook; an inconteftible proof that the mortality which has commonly occurred at fea, has at all times arifen from ill-conftructed fhips, and neglect, or improper management on board. Concerning the Weft India planters, as they are intirely innocent and ignorant of the manner in which the Slave Trade is conducted (having no other concern therein than becoming purchafers of what British acts of parliament have made object of fale) fo it is equally confonant to their intereft and their wifhes, that effectual means fhould be purfued for preferving the health of the Negroes, by fecuring to them proper and reasonable accommodation on the paffage. The affembly of Jamaica, inftead of remonftrating against that augmentation in the price of flaves, which they muft have forefeen that the act of the British parliament would neceffarily create, with the liberality of dignified minds applauded the principle of the measure, declaring it to be founded in necefVOL. II. H fity, IV. BOOK fity, juftice, and humanity, and expreffed their opinion that the wifdom and authority of parliament might be beneficially exerted in further regulations of the African commerce, particularly in preventing the detention of fhips on the coaft; in prohibiting the purchase of flaves who should appear to have been kidnapped; in compelling the flaveships to transport an equal number of both fexes, and to provide ventilators and a fufficient quantity of provisions, especially water: fuch a recommendation it might be fuppofed would engage immediate attention, not only as coming from men who are certainly the best judges of its priety and neceffity, but also because the means of enforcing most of the regulations which they recommend are practicable and apparent. pro Having thus, I prefume, fufficiently treated of the means by which flaves are procured for fale in Africa, and the regulations that have been establifhed by the British parliament for their better conveyance to the Sugar Islands, I fhall proceed, in the next chapter, to a detail of their general treatment and fituation there, immediately on and after their arrival, and diftribution among the planters. СНАР. - CHAP. V. Arrival and fale in the West Indies.-Negroes newly purchased, how difpofed of and employed.-Detail of the management of Negroes on a fugar plantation. Mode of maintaining them.-Houfes, clothing, and medical care. Abufes.-Late regu lations for their protection and fecurity-Caufes af their annual decreafe.Polygamy, &c.-Slavery in its mildest form unfriendly to population. -General obfervations.-Propofals for the further meliorating the condition of the Slaves, with which the fubject concludes. THE arrival of a Guiney ship in the Weft CHAP. Indies is announced by public advertisement, fpecifying the number of Negroes imported, the country from whence, and day of fale. It was the practice until of late, to open the fale on fhip-board, the males being arranged in one part of the ship, and the females in another: but, as vifitors of all descriptions were admitted without hefitation or enquiry, it frequently happened, when flave fhips were fcarce, that fuch crowds of people went on board, and began fo difgraceful a fcramble, as to terrify the poor ignorant Africans with the notion that they were feized on by a herd of cannibals, and speedily to be devoured. The wifdom of the legislature of Jamaica has corrected this enormity in the ifland, by enacting that the fales fhall be conducted on fhore, and. that care fhall be taken not to feparate different H 2 branches V. |