32. o 
PIISTORY OF THE [book m 
That this latter supposition is not a mere specu¬ 
lative contingency, is abundantly proved by many 
respectable witnesses, whose examinations were 
taken by the committee of the privy council:—Be¬ 
ing asked concerning the disposal of such slaves as 
are rejected by the European traders, either be¬ 
cause their cargoes are already assorted, or because 
the miserable victims are considered as too old or 
too feeble for labour, it was given in evidence, as 
a fact too notorious to be controverted, that they are 
very frequently, if not generally, put to death. The 
slave merchant, not having the means of maintain¬ 
ing his captives for any length of time, makes no 
scruple to avow, that it is his intention io destroy 
them provided they are not sold by a certain day; 
and the work of death, on such occasions, is some¬ 
times performed in sight of our shipping. Shock¬ 
ing as this account may seem, it is verified by un¬ 
disputed testimony; and to suppose that a discon¬ 
tinuance of the trade by one nation only, will put an 
end to this enormity, is to suppose that the African 
slaveholder will become more merciful, as his 
slaves are rendered of less value; a conclusion 
which I am afraid experience will not warrant.* 
* Mr. Newton (an evidence in support of the application to parli¬ 
ament for an abolition of the trade) admits, that some of the slaves 
that have been rejected by the Europeans, have been knocked on the 
head with the paddles of the boat that brought them, and thrown 
overboard. On the Gold coast, Mr. Miles supposed they are most¬ 
ly reserved for the purpose of being sacrificed at the burial of great 
men. One instance of this came within his own knowledge.-—Mr* 
Weuves knew an instance of a woman being destroyed who was ac- 
