chap, iv.] WEST INDIES. 327 
than females? I have to observe; that though it is 
impossible to conduct the business, either of a 
house or of a plantation, without a number of fe¬ 
males, yet, as the nature of the slave service in the 
West Indies (being chiefly field labour) requires for 
the immediate interest of the planter, a greater 
number of males, the European trader would of 
course wish to purchase his assortment according 
to the proportion wanted; but the fact is, he has 
not an option in the case, for the reasons already 
mentioned; so that in most parts of Africa it is 
with great difficulty he can get as many saleable 
females as will form any tolerable assortment.” 
The application of these remarks will hereafter be 
seen.—I now return to the manner of transporting 
the slaves thus purchased, from Africa to the West 
Indies. 
It is difficult, I think, to assign any probable rea¬ 
son or motive, why the treatment of these poor 
people at sea should be otherwise than as humane 
and indulgent as the safety of the crew will admit. 
Many shocking instances were however adduced, 
in the evidence delivered to the committee of pri¬ 
vy council, of most outrageous and wanton barba¬ 
rity and cruelty exercised towards them in different 
ships; but as the witnesses that were brought for¬ 
ward to establish those charges were not the most 
respectable in point of character, and in some cases 
were proved to have suits at law with the captains 
against whom they gave evidence, I shall collect 
my account from less disputable authority. 
