Image: Brookes slave ship, British Library

Description: Brookes (ship). From the British Library: "This diagram of the 'Brookes' slave ship, which transported enslaved Africans to the Caribbean, is probably the most widely copied and powerful image used by those who campaigned to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Traders knew that many of the Africans would die on the voyage and would therefore pack as many people as possible on to their ships—in total there were 609 enslaved men, women and children on board this ship. The conditions would have been appalling. Each person occupied a tiny space in the hold. In this case they had to lie in spaces just 10 inches high and were often chained or shackled together in pairs, making movement even more difficult. The cramped conditions meant that there were high incidences of diseases such as smallpox, measles, scurvy and dysentery. Because of the long distances involved food and water was rationed and always in short supply or ran out completely."According to the British Library, the diagram had appeared in newspapers, books and posters across the UK by April 1787.
Title: Brookes slave ship, British Library
Credit: British Library
Author: Printed by James Phillips, George Yard, Lombard Street, London
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No