Last night I prayed for death and thought that it had come. Water came in the hole in the roof and the pale men were shouting to each other. The lightning and thunder and wind could not hide the sound of our weeping and wailing. The boat moved so much even the strong were sick. Even death has abandoned me.
I am forgetting the days I have been here so long. Even water makes me ill now. The sickness is my only hope for leaving this place.
This wax seal of King George III shows his coat of arms and the words 'OFFICE FOR REGISTRATION OF SLAVES DEMERARY'. It shows the extent to which slavery was a state-sanctioned trade.
The journey from Africa to America generally lasted between six and eight weeks, but often took a lot longer depending on the weather and where the ship was sailing to and from. However, if the ship was collecting cargo or Africans from other ports the time spent on board was much longer and so much harder.