3^3 TRAVELS IN THE 
weakness of their crews,) being abundantly more rigid and se- 
vere than in British vessels employed in the same traffic, made 
these poor creatures to suffer greatly, and a general sickness pre- 
vailed amongst them. Besides the three who died on the 
Gambia, and six or eight while we remained at Goree, eleven 
perished at sea, and many of the survivors were reduced to a 
very weak and emaciated condition. 
In the midst of these distresses, the vessel, after having been 
three weeks at sea, became so extremely leaky, as to require 
constant exertion at the pumps. It was found necessary, there- 
fore, to take some of the ablest of the Negro men out of irons, 
and employ them in this labour ; in which they were often 
worked beyond their strength. This produced a complication of 
miseries not easily to be described. We were, however, relieved 
much sooner than I expected ; for the leak continuing to gain 
upon us, notwithstanding our utmost exertions to clear the ves- 
sel, the seamen insisted on bearing away for the West Indies, as 
affording the only chance of saving our lives. Accordingly, 
after some objections on the part of the master, we directed our 
course for Antigua, and fortunately made that island in about 
thirty-five days after our departure from Goree. Yet even at 
this juncture we narrowly escaped destruction ; for on approach- 
ing the north-west side of the island, we struck on the Diamond 
Rock, and got into St. John's harbour with great difficulty. 
The vessel was afterwards condemned as unfit for sea, and the 
slaves, as I have heard, were ordered to be sold for the benefit 
of the owners. 
At this island I remained ten days; when the Chesterfield 
