Captain Smith of the Navy had also declared, that when employed
to board Guineamen to impress sailors, although he had examined near twenty
vessels, he never was able to get more than two men, who were fit for
service; and these turned out such inhuman fellows, although good seamen,
that he was obliged to dismiss them from the ship.
But he hoped the committee would attend to the latter part of the assertion
of Captain Smith. Yes:--this trade, while it injured the constitutions of
our sailors, debased their morals. Of this, indeed, there was a barbarous
illustration in the evidence. A slaveship had struck on some shoals, called
the Morant Keys, a few leagues from the east end of Jamaica. The crew
landed in their boats, with arms and provisions, leaving the slaves on
board in their irons. This happened in the night. When morning came, it was
discovered that the Negros had broken their shackles, and were busy in
making rafts; upon which afterwards they placed the women and children. The
men attended upon the latter, swimming by their side, whilst they drifted
to the island where the crew were. But what was the sequel? From an
apprehension that the Negros would consume the water and provision, which
had been landed, the crew resolved to destroy them as they approached the
shore.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223