|
Having loaded the ships with sugar, tobacco and rum
paid for from the proceeds of the sale of slaves, the captains would try to set sail for
England on the final part of their triangular voyage before the Hurricane season began
in mid-July. This was to avoid much higher insurance rates which were demanded for ships
leaving at more "dangerous" times of year. Captains would always wish to be fully loaded,
to ensure greater profit, but this might not always be the case if time was short.
The journey home, following trade winds, could be expected to take between
6-8 weeks. The journey was not without dangers associated with Atlantic storms prevalent
at that time of year. A ship that sank, or was wrecked near the English coast, could mean
disaster for a single owner. This was the reason most
Merchant
Venturers shared the risk, and therefore the profit, by investing jointly in the
trade.
Sugar barrels being unloaded at Bristol, about 1800
|
The Grave of Scipio Africanus
St Mary's Church, Henbury, Bristol |
|
Once back in Bristol the cargo would be unloaded and sold for often a very good profit,
releasing funds for financing new Transatlantic
Trade.
In the early days of the slave trade it was rare for
slaves to be aboard ships on the return journey to Bristol, although one or more
personal servants might accompany their master.
These slaves were taken to England purely to indicate the
wealth of their owner although some were undoubtedly well loved and cared for.
However they would usually be looked upon as 'pets' rather than as human beings.
By the end of the transatlantic trade, however, many thousands of the new
African-Caribbean or African-American slaves were being transported to England. Many were
to spend their remaining years as English domestic slaves but a small number were
eventually granted their freedom and continued to live and work in England.
|
|
|
Copyright ©
2002-2004, Andrew Nash |
|
