[Footnote D:  When the great income which arises to the Negroe Kings on the Slave-Coast, from the slaves brought thro’ their several governments, to be shipped on board the European vessels, is considered, we have no cause to wonder that they give so great a countenance to that trade:  William Bosman says, page 337, “That each ship which comes to Whidah to trade, reckoning one with another, either by toll, trade, or custom, pays about four hundred pounds, and sometimes fifty ships come hither in a year.”  Barbot confirms the same, and adds, page 350, “That in the neighbouring kingdom of Ardah, the duty to the King is the value of seventy or eighty slaves for each trading ship.”  Which is near half as much more as at Whidah; nor can the Europeans, concerned in the trade, with any degree of propriety, blame the African Kings for countenancing it, while they continue to send vessels, on purpose to take in the slaves which are thus stolen, and that they are permitted, under the sanction of national laws, to sell them to the colonies.]

[Footnote E:  Bosman, page 340.]

[Footnote F:  Note, from the above account of the indecent and shocking manner in which the unhappy Negroes are treated, it is reasonable for persons unacquainted with these people, to conclude them to be void of that natural modesty, so becoming a reasonable creature; but those who have had intercourse with the Blacks in these northern colonies, know that this would be a wrong conclusion, for they are indeed as susceptible of modesty and shame as other people.  It is the unparallel’d brutality, to which the Europeans have, by long custom, been inured, which urgeth them, without blushing, to act so shameful a part.  Such usage is certainly grievous to the poor Negroes, particularly the women; but they are slaves, and must submit to this, or any other abuse that is offered them by their cruel task-masters, or expect to be inhumanly tormented into acquiescence.  That the Blacks are unaccustomed to such brutality, appears from an instance mentioned in Ashley’s collection, vol. 2. page 201, viz.  “At an audience which Casseneuve had of the King of Congo, where he was used with a great deal of civility by the Blacks, some slaves were delivered to him.  The King observing Casseneuve (according to the custom of the Europeans) to handle the limbs of the slaves, burst out a laughing, as did the great men about him:  the factor asking the interpreter the occasion of their mirth, was told it proceeded from his so nicely examining the slaves.  Nevertheless, the King was so ashamed of it, that he desired him, for decency’s sake, to do it in a more private manner.”]

CHAP.  XII.

Extracts of several Journals of Voyages to the coast of Guinea for slaves, whereby the extreme inhumanity of that traffick is described. Melancholy account of a ship blown up on that coast, with a great number of Negroes on board, Instances of shocking barbarity perpetrated by masters of vessels towards their slaves. Inquiry why these scandalous infringements, both of divine and human laws, are overlooked by the government.