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ant upon fuch a fcene. I faw numbers of 

 cur fellow beings regularly bartered for gold, 

 and transferred, like cattle, or any common 

 merchandife, from one pofTelfor to another. 

 It was a fight which European curiofity had 

 rendered me defirous to behold, although I 

 had anticipated from it only a painful grati- 

 fication. I may now fay — I have feenitl — and 

 while nature animates my breaft with even the 

 feebleft fpark of humanity, I can never forget it! 



The poor Africans, who were to be fold, 

 were expofed, naked, in a large empty build- 

 ing, like an open barn. Thofe, who came, 

 with intention to purchafe, minutely infpe&ed 

 them \ handled them ; made them jump, and 

 fiamp with their feet, and throw out their arms 

 and their legs ; turned them about ; looked 

 into their mouths ; and, according to the ufual 

 rules of traffic with refpecl: to cattle, examined 

 them, and made them fiiew themfeives in a 

 variety of ways, to try if they were found and 

 healthy. All this was diftrefsful as humili- 

 ating, and tended to excite ftrong averfion and 

 difguft ; but a wound, ftill more fevere, was 

 inflided on the feelings, by fome of the pur- 

 chafers fele&ing only fuch as their judgment 



