338 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY without much regard to the principles of Christianity.

For without reflecting on particular persons, it may be said that what I have here asserted is sufficiently made out by the irregularity of their lives in those parts, and particularly as to lewdness and excess of drinking. It is almost incredible how many shorten their days by such debauchery." Agents of this character were not likely to deal over tenderly with their human merchandise. Ships of 300 and 400 tons burden usually took cargoes of from 500 to 800 slaves. A ship carrying 500 slaves needed to take in 100,000 yams, the slaves generally sickening and dying upon any other food. The space which was left for the slaves when such provision was made for feeding them, and for storing a proportionate amount of water, was not great. Here is Bosman's description of the manner in which slaves were shipped at Whydah. After explaining that they were usually prisoners of war, he says : '' When these slaves come to Whydah they are put in prison all together, and when we treat concerning buying them, they are all brought out together in a large plain, where, by our surgeons, whose province it is, they are thoroughly examined, and that naked, too, both men and women, without the least distinction or modesty.

Those which are approved as good are set on one side. . . . The invalids and the maimed being thrown out, as I have told you, the remainder are numbered, and it is entered who delivered them. In the meanwhile a burning iron, with the arms or name of the companies, lies in the fire, with which ours are marked on the breast. This is done that we may distinguish them from the slaves of the English, French, or others, which are also marked with their mark. . . . They come on board stark naked, as well women as men." Bosman, proud of the superior organisation of the Dutch ships, which he described as being **for the most part clean and neat," while the ships of the English, French, and Portuguese are always **foul and stinking," explains that on these better-class Dutch