Title

Despatches from the Governor of the Bahamas relating to the Wreck of a Slaver off the island of Abaco

Accession Number

2006.003.0005

Creation Date

1861

Description

Extracts of despatches from the Governor of the Bahamas relating to the wreck of a slaver off the island of Abaco, with a copy, or extracts, of despatches relating to the wreck of a slaver off the Muracas Shoals, which complaints were made of the violation of British Territory by American or Spanish Slave Traders. A detailed example of how the African slave trade persisted 53 years after the official ban by the British; a ban that had been agreed to by most nations, including the afore mentioned. These two slavers had run aground with 360 and 500 Africans on-board, respectively. Most of the captive were very young; "a great many of them children; and hardly any above twenty five years of age." These slave were en-route to Cuba from the Congo. The crews of the vessels were predominantly Portuguese and Spanish, with some Americans.