Olaudah Equiano Describes the Middle Passage, 1789
Olaudah Equiano's description details the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade.
He eventually bought his freedom and became an abolitionist in London.
The Ship's Cargo and Conditions Below Deck
After loading the cargo, the enslaved people were forced below deck amidst "fearful noises."
The stench in the hold was initially dangerous, but became "absolutely pestilential" once the ship was full.
Overcrowding led to extreme discomfort and suffocation, with people scarcely able to move.
"Copious perspirations" and "loathsome smells" made the air unfit to breathe, leading to sickness and death.
Many enslaved people died due to the "improvident avarice" of the purchasers.
Chains chafed the skin, adding to the misery, and the "necessary tubs" (likely latrines) were a hazard, especially for children who sometimes fell in and almost suffocated.
The sounds of the women's shrieks and the dying people's groans created an "inconceivable" scene of horror.
Equiano's Experience and Observations
Equiano was allowed on deck frequently due to his poor health; his youth spared him from wearing fetters.
He hoped for death to end his misery, envying the freedom of sea creatures.
The cruelty of the white crew intensified his suffering.
Fish were caught but, instead of being shared with the starving captives, the extra fish were thrown back into the sea.
Enslaved people who tried to take fish were severely flogged.
Two countrymen, preferring death, jumped into the sea and drowned; another was caught and flogged for the same attempt.
Hardships During the Voyage
The enslaved endured many hardships, including frequent suffocation from lack of fresh air.
The stench from the latrines contributed to the deaths.
Equiano saw flying fish for the first time, which greatly surprised him.
He also saw mariners using a quadrant and was curious about it.
A mariner showed him the quadrant, and the clouds appeared as land, increasing his belief that he was in another world and that everything was magic.
Arrival at Barbadoes
The ship arrived at Barbadoes, prompting shouts of joy from the white crew.
Source
Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, written by Himself (London: 1790), 51-54. via Internet Archive.