The slave owners had to ensure the slaves were in good condition when they reach land so that they will be of market value and be sold for a good price.
Olaudah Equiano's memoir "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" is a narrative of the author's life as a slave and how he became free. The memoir would become one of the best first-hand accounts of how slaves were treated.
- In "The Middle Passage", Equiano describes the sea journey that brought the captured slaves to lands away from their homes.
- During that journey, he reveals how they were kept in confined and unhygienic conditions that were bound to make anyone sick and desperate to rather die.
- He also narrates how he was unable to eat anything which made the slave owners "flog" him.
- This was because if the slaves refuse to eat, they will eventually become thinner and appear "unhealthy".
- This will then make it difficult for the owners or slave dealers to sell them.
- A healthy slave will be easy to sell and would also bring a good price to the seller.
So, when slaves refused to eat, they were being flogged and beaten. This is because they want the slaves to be healthy and appear good and saleable.
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