A Slave's Journey by Francis

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 We were ushered inside the mighty vessel. Fear flooded my body as I was going to be whipped .The conditions on the ship were horrific. The menacing crew threatened us with their hollow whips. Fellow passengers were looking nervous and scared. The heat of the African sun beat down as if it was a sauna. After what seemed like an age, we were finally ushered into the hull.

Going down below deck was a little cooler, but it was still baking hot. The first thing to hit me was the awful stench of sweat, vomit, wee and human excrement. The horrible, ghostly lanterns were swaying in the sea breeze. Waves crashed against the side of the unstable hull. I was attached to four other slaves using tight iron fetters and manacles. Soon, night came and I slowly closed my eyes.

Low moans and groans echoed around me most of the night. I eventually managed to get to sleep, only for a few hours though. The mighty ship kept violently rocking from side to side and front to back. I kept hearing the lashes and slaps of whips hitting skin. Large tears swelled in my eyes as I thought about my family. There was no way back to my lovely home. The great vessel carried on its long journey into the Americas.

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