m are within the boundaries of truth. On
board the _Pandora_ these poor wretches were treated as is usual on
other slave-vessels. They were kept below, close packed and without any
accommodation as to sleeping, or even for lying down. They were obliged
to huddle together and lie over one another! They had not even space
enough to be all seated at one time; and the air which they were
compelled to breathe was foul and exhausted of all healthy principle.
They were fed and watered just as a farmer would provender his hogs or
cattle; and in fact they were treated in all respects as cattle are,
when transported across the sea--perhaps not quite so well as these.
Even brutes would scarce have been used so cruelly. They were only
permitted on deck four or five at a time, and only for a few minutes,
after which they were forced without ceremony to plunge back into their
loathsome quarters, and the merciless grating was shut down upon them.

Over this stood a sentry with loaded musket and bayonet--the latter of
which was called into requisition in the most wanton and cruel manner.
The object was to awe the poor wretches into such fear as would paralyse
all efforts at conspiracy or mutiny, for these are sometimes dreaded on
board the slaver.

Of course such treatment speedily produced its effect. In a few days a
change was apparent upon both the faces and forms of the unfortunate
victims. Their bodies became attenuated, their cheeks emaciated, and
their eyes sunk far into their sockets. Their high cheek-bones rose
higher, and gave to their features a gaunt, wolfish appearance that was
hideous to behold; while the shining black departed from their
complexions, and their skin assumed a whitish powdered appearance, as if
they had been rolling in meal.

It was indeed an awful spectacle, this transformation of the image of
God into what had more of the semblance of the Devil--an awful
spectacle; and hourly was my heart wrung with grief and pain.

Not so the crew of the _Pandora_. They ate and drank and were jolly all
the way. They never even thought of the sufferings of the poor wretches
below, whose groans often echoed their laughter. No, these blacks were
but brutes, to be bought and sold, and as such did they in reality
regard them.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

I shall spare the reader many details of this voyage of of the
_Pandora_. There were but few incidents outside the vessel itself to
break the monotony--not ev