The Boats Of African Migration: A Historical Perspective

The topic of the kinds of boats that Africans were forced to ride in during the transatlantic slave trade is a harrowing one. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, ships of varying sizes were used to transport enslaved Africans, with capacities ranging from 30 to 700 people. These ships, often referred to as Guineamen, were specifically designed or modified for this cruel purpose, with cramped and inhumane conditions. The lower decks were divided, separating men and women, with men typically shackled together and women confined in their quarters. The Middle Passage, the journey from Africa to the Americas, was notoriously brutal, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, disease, and cruel treatment by captains and crews contributing to high mortality rates among the captives. The suffering endured by the enslaved Africans on these voyages is a dark chapter in history, with lasting impacts that are still felt today.

Slave ships were built or adapted to carry as many people as possible

Slave ships, also known as "Guineamen", were large cargo ships that were built or adapted from the 17th to the 19th century for the purpose of transporting enslaved people, primarily in the Atlantic slave trade. These ships were designed to carry as many people as possible, with little regard for their comfort or safety.

To maximise profits, ship owners divided the hulls of slave ships into multiple holds with minimal headroom, allowing them to pack in as many enslaved people as possible. The conditions on these ships were appalling, with hundreds of people crammed together in unsanitary and tightly confined spaces. The lower deck was typically divided into separate compartments for men and women, with the men shackled together in pairs and the women left unchained but confined below.

The size of slave ships varied, ranging from smaller vessels like the ten-ton Hesketh, which could carry a crew plus thirty enslaved people, to larger ships like the 566-ton Parr, which had a crew of 100 and could hold up to 700 enslaved people. American traders generally preferred smaller ships, such as two-masted sloops or schooners, which required smaller crews and shorter stays on the disease-ridden African coast.

Initially, merchants adapted existing merchant vessels for the slave trade. However, as the trade grew, they began constructing ships specifically designed for this purpose, incorporating features such as portholes for improved airflow and copper-sheathed hulls to prevent wood rot in tropical waters. Despite these modifications, the conditions on board remained horrific, with inadequate ventilation, limited space, and brutal treatment by the crew contributing to high mortality rates among the enslaved people.

The Middle Passage, which lasted around 80 days, was a particularly harrowing part of the journey, with enslaved people suffering from diseases, malnutrition, and the psychological trauma of being ripped away from their families and homelands. The mortality rate among captive Africans averaged above 20% in the early decades of the slave trade and decreased to about 10% by 1800.

The Middle Passage was the route from Africa to North America

The Middle Passage was a journey of unimaginable horror for the captive Africans. They were thrust into a hostile and alien world, at the mercy of people who were unlike anyone they had ever seen before. Upon boarding, they were stripped of their belongings, branded, chained, and sent below decks, where they would remain for most of the months-long journey. The slave decks were often only a few feet high, and the captives were shackled together, lying down side by side, or head to foot. Deaths from suffocation, malnutrition, and disease were common, as were arbitrary torture and murder by the crew. The closeness, filth, and fear drove many into madness, and suicide attempts were frequent.

The conditions on the slave ships were appalling, with hundreds of people crowded together with little airflow and sanitation. The captives suffered from diseases such as dysentery, scurvy, and smallpox, as well as depression and despair. The cruelty of the captain and crew, as well as sexual exploitation, added to their misery. The mortality rate among captive Africans was high, averaging above 20% in the first decades of the slave trade and about 10% by 1800.

The Middle Passage was a large financial undertaking, generally organized by companies or groups of investors. The ships were designed to transport as many captives as possible, with little regard for their health or humanity. The captives were wedged below decks, chained to low-lying platforms stacked in tiers, with minimal space to move. They were underfed and brutally treated, and many died before even reaching their destination. The average space allotment for each individual was 6 feet long, 16 inches wide, and 3 feet high. Unable to stand erect or turn over, many slaves died in this position.

The duration of the transatlantic voyage varied from one to six months, depending on weather conditions. The journey became more efficient over time, with crossings in the 19th century often requiring fewer than six weeks. The need for profits in the 18th-century Atlantic market economy drove changes in ship designs and improvements in airflow, which helped decrease the mortality rate. However, the journey remained a time of unimaginable suffering and inhumanity for the millions of enslaved Africans who endured it.

Conditions on board were cramped, unhygienic, and deadly

Slave ships were large cargo ships built or modified to transport enslaved people. These ships were designed to carry as many captives as possible, with little regard for their health or humanity. The conditions on board were cramped, unhygienic, and deadly.

The slave deck was often only a few feet high, and the captives were shackled together, lying down, side by side, head to foot, or even closer. The lower deck was divided into separate compartments for men and women, with the men shackled in pairs and the women left unchained but confined below. The captives were crowded together, with little airflow and sanitation. The oppressive heat, filth, and fear drove many into madness, and suicide attempts were common.

The lack of space, sanitation, and airflow led to the spread of diseases such as dysentery, smallpox, ophthalmoparesis, malaria, yellow fever, scurvy, measles, typhoid fever, hookworm, tapeworm, sleeping sickness, trypanosomiasis, yaws, syphilis, leprosy, elephantiasis, and melancholia. The mortality rate among captives averaged above 20% in the early decades of the slave trade and decreased to about 10% by 1800.

In addition to the physical ailments, captive Africans suffered from depression, despair, and the cruelty of the captain and crew, including sexual exploitation. The possibility of mutiny or revolt resulted in harsh discipline, with crew and captives routinely whipped and subjected to extreme violence, such as thumbscrews. Despite this, Africans resisted through suicide, hunger strikes, and insurrection.

Food and water were provided but were often in short supply and of poor quality

Food and water were provided to enslaved people on slave ships, but they were often in short supply and of poor quality. The diets of the captives typically consisted of carbohydrates and proteins, including grains, Indian corn, barley, shelled peas, rice, yams, salted meats, and beans. The high salt concentration in the meat, used as a preservative, led to dehydration among the enslaved people, as the concentration was much higher than what their bodies were used to.

The food supplies were usually sourced from England and coastal Africa, with items such as beef, pork, biscuits, oatmeal, bread, and stockfish. However, the long journey, high temperatures, changing weather patterns, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions made it nearly impossible to maintain fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the diet, leading to further deprivation of vital nutrients.

The living conditions on the slave ships were appalling, with hundreds of people crowded together, resulting in limited airflow and sanitation issues. These factors, combined with the poor diet, contributed to the spread of diseases such as dysentery, scurvy, and smallpox, as well as mental health issues like depression and despair. The mortality rate among the captives averaged above 20% in the early decades of the slave trade and decreased to about 10% by 1800.

The water available on the slave ships was also of questionable quality. With limited access to freshwater sources during the long voyages, the water supplies could become contaminated or spoiled, further endangering the health of the enslaved people.

Overall, the food and water provided to the enslaved people on the slave ships were inadequate and detrimental to their health, contributing to the high mortality rates and the inhumane conditions they endured during the Middle Passage.

Slave ships were crewed by poorly paid sailors who were subject to brutal discipline

Slave ships, also known as "Guineamen", were large cargo ships built or adapted for the purpose of transporting slaves from the 17th to the 19th century. The crews of these ships were often poorly paid and subjected to brutal discipline and treatment.

Slave ships typically had much larger crews than other ships, as they were needed not only to sail the ship but also to guard and care for the enslaved Africans, who numbered anywhere from 100 to 700. The threat of slave uprisings meant that a large number of crew members were required to prevent any trouble.

The crew members of slave ships were often coerced into joining or did so because they had no other employment options. The work was backbreaking and dangerous, and the mortality rate among sailors was high, with disease being the leading cause of death. Sailors on slave ships were often exposed to tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, which they were not immune to, and for which there were no cures at the time. The cramped and unsanitary living conditions on board the ships also contributed to the spread of diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, and smallpox.

The captains of slave ships had absolute power over their crews and were known for their harsh treatment of their men. Captains could whip, flog, and otherwise punish crew members as they saw fit, even for minor infractions. Sick crew members or those who fell out of favour with the captain were often left behind in the Caribbean without their wages or belongings, forcing them to beg or find another ship to take them home.

In addition to the harsh treatment from their captains, crew members on slave ships also faced the constant threat of violence from the enslaved Africans. While the sailors were instructed not to mistreat the slaves, it is clear from historical records that captains and officers routinely raped female slaves and severely punished slaves for minor offences.

Despite the risks and harsh conditions, some sailors did volunteer to join slave ship crews. For those who were coerced or had no other options, life on a slave ship was a brutal and deadly experience. The combination of poor pay, brutal discipline, and dangerous working conditions made slave ship crews a desperate and vulnerable group.

Frequently asked questions