102 THE AFRICAN TRADER.

sible the building could have held so many human
beings. Some were strong men, who cast scowling
glances at their guards; others were youths, many
mere lads and young boys, and there were a con-
siderable number of women, mostly young, many,
indeed, being mere girls. Several of the elder
women had infants in their arms, and children of
various ages trotted by the sides of others, or clung
to their hands. The sad procession came towards
the vessel. A bridge had been formed from her
deck to the shore. The leading slaves hesitated
as they reached it, and refused to move forward
till urged on by the lash of their guards.

Their condition had been bad before, but they
knew now that they were to be shut down and
crowded together in the dark noisome hold of the
slave ship. As they arrived on board they were
compelled to go below and take their seats on the
bare deck, side by side, with their legs secured to
the iron bars, and so closely packed that their
knees were drawn up almost to their chins. Still,
although nearly a hundred had come on board, a
considerable portion of the deck remained unoc-
cupied.

I took an opportunity of going on shore, no