What were conditions like on slave ships?

Slave ships spent several months travelling to different parts of the coast, buying their cargo. The captives were often in poor health from the physical and mental abuse they had suffered. They were taken on board, stripped naked and examined from head to toe by the captain or surgeon. read more

In conditions like this slave ships were an ideal breeding ground for disease. Slavers were notorious for their stench and could be smelled from miles away. Slave ships on average lost 15% of their slaves in passage. read more

Conditions aboard the slave ships were wretched. Men, women and children crammed into every available space, denied adequate room, food or breathing space. The stench was appalling - the atmosphere inhumane to say the least. read more