Slaves of both sexes in South Africa were chained together
in pairs, many being mere skeletons from the misery, want,
and fatigue of their march. In some the fetters had, by their
constant action, worn through the lacerated flesh to the bare
bone, the ulcerated wound having become the resort of myriads
of flies. One captain had thrust his slaves between decks and
closed the hatches for the night. When morning came fifty of the
poor wretches were found to have been suffocated. The captain
swore at the untimely loss, had the bodies thrown into the
river, and went on shore to buy more negroes to complete his
cargo.
As the summary of the facts recorded, it may be stated that:
Of 1,000 victims to the slave trade, one-half
perished in the seizure, march and
detention 500
Of 500 embarked on the transports, one-fourth,
or 25 per cent, died in the
middle passage 125
Of the remaining 375 landed, 20 per cent
died soon after 75