Okechukwu - Journey to the ship
I had seen the water when we had arrived and had heard it moving some nights, but I could not imagine it could be so big. They pushed us into wooden boats that I thought were huge until I saw an even larger boat out in the water. I don't know if it was the water or the sight of the big boat but one of my people jumped - I was too weak to try. Some of the pale men laughed, leaving him for a moment before they pulled him from the water. He looked very sick.
Read about the journey to the ship for Kwame, Oyeladun and Kofi.
Ship Bowl
This 18th century earthenware ship bowl features the slogan 'Success To the Dobson'. The Dobson was a slave ship, built in Liverpool in 1770. The bowl was made to mark her launch.
Water
Many Africans would not have seen the ocean before being brought to the coast by slave traders.
Jumped
The shallow African ports were not often suitable for the deep-water slaving vessels; therefore they had to anchor off the coast. Canoes carried the Africans out to the ship. Many captives tried to escape during this transport, leaping into the water while still tied in pairs and unable to swim.
