A Slave's Journey by Elsie

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After hours of waiting, we were dragged onto the wooden goliath that was anchored in the harbour. Sweat trickled down my brow and my heart was thumping against my chest like a drum. The harsh manacles bit and tore at my flesh as I followed the rest of the slaves on deck. As we approached the crew they scoured at us with repulsion, holding their thick leather whips. Tragically, the younger and more intimidated slaves wept uncontrollably as they had been separated from their loved ones. The burning African sun beat down on us for what seemed to be an age. Suddenly, our chains tightened and we were pushed below deck.

As I entered the gloomy hold the warmth of the sun disappeared and was replaced with a cold shiver that ran down my spine. A disgusting stench of whale oil and human waste hit me. My stomach turned over and I wasn’t the only one to vomit. The small confinement was swaying gently and I suddenly heard the crack of a whip. Without warning, I was shoved into position by the white man. The heavy metal chain seemed to drag me to the damp floor. After a while, the final lamp was extinguished and I slowly closed my eyes.

I wasn’t able to sleep that night as I lay there in the murky darkness. Agonising wails and cries echoed around the slave cage. The disgusting stench of human excrement hung heavy in the air. My whole body was trembling and I felt terrified as I lay there hoping that this nightmare would end. Gradually, the massive vessel moved out of the harbour. Tragically, I realised that there was no way back, I had no idea the horrors that awaited me in America.  

Comments

  1. Mr BainbridgeOctober 23, 2020 at 12:24 PM

    Outstanding writing Elsie. You were able to really capture the horrors faced by the Africans as they were transported across the Atlantic.

    ReplyDelete

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