board, though it was in the evening. They put
us in separate parcels, and examined us attentively.
They also made us jump, and pointed to the land, signifying
we were to go there. We thought by this we should
be eaten by these ugly men, as they appeared to us;
and, when soon after we were all put down under the
deck again, there was much dread and trembling among
us, and nothing but bitter cries to be heard all the
night from these apprehensions, insomuch that at last
the white people got some old slaves from the land
to pacify us. They told us we were not to be
eaten, but to work, and were soon to go on land, where
we should see many of our country people. This
report eased us much; and sure enough, soon after
we were landed, there came to us Africans of all languages.
We were conducted immediately to the merchant’s
yard, where we were all pent up together like so many
sheep in a fold, without regard to sex or age.
As every object was new to me every thing I saw filled
me with surprise. What struck me first was that
the houses were built with stories, and in every other
respect different from those in Africa: but I
was still more astonished on seeing people on horseback.
I did not know what this could mean; and indeed I thought
these people were full of nothing but magical arts.
While I was in this astonishment one of my fellow
prisoners spoke to a countryman of his about the horses,
who said they were the same kind they had in their
country. I understood them, though they were from
a distant part of Africa, and I thought it odd I had
not seen any horses there; but afterwards, when I
came to converse with different Africans, I found
they had many horses amongst them, and much larger
than those I then saw. We were not many days
in the merchant’s custody before we were sold
after their usual manner, which is this:—­On
a signal given,(as the beat of a drum) the buyers
rush at once into the yard where the slaves are confined,
and make choice of that parcel they like best.
The noise and clamour with which this is attended,
and the eagerness visible in the countenances of the
buyers, serve not a little to increase the apprehensions
of the terrified Africans, who may well be supposed
to consider them as the ministers of that destruction
to which they think themselves devoted. In this
manner, without scruple, are relations and friends
separated, most of them never to see each other again.
I remember in the vessel in which I was brought over,
in the men’s apartment, there were several brothers,
who, in the sale, were sold in different lots; and
it was very moving on this occasion to see and hear
their cries at parting. O, ye nominal Christians!
might not an African ask you, learned you this from
your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you
would men should do unto you? Is it not enough
that we are torn from our country and friends to toil
for your luxury and lust of gain? Must every
tender feeling be likewise sacrificed to your avarice?