The Middle Passage was a treacherous voyage for Africans headed toward their fate as slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. A journal kept by a crew member aboard the Dutch slaver, St. Jan, describes the voyage and the plight of the slaves in 1659. During the Dutch slavers first listed stop, the crew purchased tamarinds for their unwilling passengers. The purchase of the fruit suggests a concern over scurvy. Scurvy, a disease common among sailors and slaves while at sea, was fatal and could be prevented by access to food rich in Vitamin C. The journal later discusses the St. Jan’s supplies of food on the verge of running out. Despite attempts of ensuring there was enough food for the journey, provisions would become scarce or the ship could be
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Jan. The bloody flux, or dysentery, was a painful and fatal sickness. An outbreak of the bloody flux was blamed on the bad provisions. Not only did the slaves contract the bloody flux, but the ship’s surgeon died of the disease. The presence of the surgeon implies a concern over outbreaks and also suggests the prominence of illnesses on slave ships. This invisible threat was a major danger to slaves during the Middle Passage. Another danger came in the form of dehydration. The human cargo only had access to purchased water. The journal details an account when the St. Jan’s water leaked through the casks until water supplies became limited. The ship was forced to locate another place to buy water unless the African slaves died. Also, the water the ship sailed on posed a hazard to the slaves.
The Atlantic Ocean contained many perils for ships. The St. Jan encountered one these perils when it was damaged at the Reef of Rocus. The sailors then abandoned the slaves to an unknown fate. The slaves were viewed as a product to be bought or sold. They were a commodity of value. Thieves wanted the human objects aboard the St. Jan in the same manner they might want an inorganic object. Pirates captured a boat which was carrying some of the rescued slaves to safety. Dangers of the Middle Passage, whether in the form of diseases, lack of supplies, or other human beings, were abundant. Overall, it was a horrific experience for the surviving …show more content…
Jan, appears to have a very detached attitude toward the human cargo the ship was transporting. He seems to have an overall lack of empathy. Also, he treats the voyage solely as a business venture concerning goods to be sold. He is removed from the fact his cargo is not an inanimate object but actual living breathing human beings. His concern over the food supplies does not seem to stem from a concern about the slaves, but it is over protecting a business investment. The ultimate sign of his disinterest occurred when the St. Jan was damaged at the Reef of Rocus. The author, along with the rest of the crew, abandoned the slaves to selfishly seek safety. He abandoned his business venture to survive. The author’s attitude was most likely the prevalent and commonly shared attitude of anyone involved in the slave
Jan. The bloody flux, or dysentery, was a painful and fatal sickness. An outbreak of the bloody flux was blamed on the bad provisions. Not only did the slaves contract the bloody flux, but the ship’s surgeon died of the disease. The presence of the surgeon implies a concern over outbreaks and also suggests the prominence of illnesses on slave ships. This invisible threat was a major danger to slaves during the Middle Passage. Another danger came in the form of dehydration. The human cargo only had access to purchased water. The journal details an account when the St. Jan’s water leaked through the casks until water supplies became limited. The ship was forced to locate another place to buy water unless the African slaves died. Also, the water the ship sailed on posed a hazard to the slaves.
The Atlantic Ocean contained many perils for ships. The St. Jan encountered one these perils when it was damaged at the Reef of Rocus. The sailors then abandoned the slaves to an unknown fate. The slaves were viewed as a product to be bought or sold. They were a commodity of value. Thieves wanted the human objects aboard the St. Jan in the same manner they might want an inorganic object. Pirates captured a boat which was carrying some of the rescued slaves to safety. Dangers of the Middle Passage, whether in the form of diseases, lack of supplies, or other human beings, were abundant. Overall, it was a horrific experience for the surviving …show more content…
Jan, appears to have a very detached attitude toward the human cargo the ship was transporting. He seems to have an overall lack of empathy. Also, he treats the voyage solely as a business venture concerning goods to be sold. He is removed from the fact his cargo is not an inanimate object but actual living breathing human beings. His concern over the food supplies does not seem to stem from a concern about the slaves, but it is over protecting a business investment. The ultimate sign of his disinterest occurred when the St. Jan was damaged at the Reef of Rocus. The author, along with the rest of the crew, abandoned the slaves to selfishly seek safety. He abandoned his business venture to survive. The author’s attitude was most likely the prevalent and commonly shared attitude of anyone involved in the slave