Student SheetThe Triangular Slave Trade

1. Below Decks during the Middle Passage

I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life; so that with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was unable to eat, had I the least desire to taste anything. I now wished for the last friend, Death, to relieve me; but to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across, I think, the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely …..

The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, which had now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children fell, and were almost suffocated.

The Interesting Narrative and other Writing of Olaudah Equiano (1789) NLS

2. Breakfast on deck during the Middle Passage

The Black Women use broad sticks (as spoons), which they turn round …… then a man with a cat of nine tails gives them a scourge, which makes them cry out. When they go forward again, there is another man place at the door of the barakheada (barricade dividing the slave ship), with a cudgel in hand, the chain is slackened to let the cruze (food bucket) pass through to the (male) slaves. Then they all fall down ten in number around the cruze and they have no spoons but their fingers. When all is over, the Doctor then holds the cat (of nine tails) in his hands, when the whole company give three cheers, which is all they have for their grace.

Scottish apprentice Thomas Smith – Narrative of an Unfortunate Voyage of the Coast of Africa (Arbroath, 1813) NLS

3."[This is] a trade to the most advantage to this kingdom of any we drive, and as it were all profit, the first cost being little more than small matters of our own manufactures, for which we have in return, gold, elephant’s teeth (ivory), wax and negroes, the last is much better than the first, being indeed the best traffic the kingdom hath, as it doth occasionally give so vast an employment to our people both by sea and land."

John Cary, Bristol merchant

Fill in this table using the extracts above, referring to the glossaries/dictionaries you have created where necessary

Olaudah Equiano / Thomas Smith / John Cary
This person is telling us what they saw
This person is trying to influence people
This person is giving his opinion
This person supports the slave trade
This person could profit from the slave trade
This person would benefit from the slave trade being abolished
This source is/is not reliable because ...
This source is useful in that it tells me about …
This source supports what another is saying