An account of the slave trade on the coast of Africa

A former ship’s surgeon offers a stark, eyewitness portrait of the Atlantic slave trade as it unfolded on the West African coast in the late eighteenth century. Drawing on several voyages and conversations with crew and traders, he lays out the grim logistics of capturing, transporting, and selling human lives, while also turning his attention to the often‑overlooked hardships endured by the sailors who manned these voyages.

Listeners will hear vivid descriptions of bustling river ports, the negotiations with local kings, and the makeshift “houses” erected on deck to keep captives from leaping overboard. The narrative does not shy away from the oppressive heat, the choking smoke from mangrove firewood, and the desperate attempts at escape that punctuate life aboard these ships. Throughout, the author’s tone remains one of sober condemnation, aiming to illuminate a trade that was already drawing widespread moral outrage in his day.