Primary Reading: Slave Trade

Thomas Philips: A journal of a voyage made in the Hannibal of London in 1694”

(Human record, vol. 2, pp. 185-89)

Background

• The letter was written by Thomas Phillips (1694) who was an English slave trader.

• He documents the nature of business negotiations between European traders and African Kings and elites.

• The letter also provides an account of journey from Africa to Americas (Barbados).

Glossary

Hannibal: Name of Thomas Phillips’s shipWhydah: a kingdom in Africa during the times of slavery (now called Benin).“Factory”: trading station for slaves.Cappashiers: African kings noblemen (elites). Trunk: holding pins where slaves are kept before they are boarded on ships. Cowries: shiny shells of ocean snails. Highly valued by Africans. Dabbadabb: ground corn (like oatmeal) for feeding the slaves. Bagpipes, harp and fiddle: music instruments

Questions for Analysis (p.185)

1. What evidence does the source provide about the attitudes of the Whydah king and nobility toward Europeans? Did they consider themselves equal, inferior or superior to Europeans?

Possible Answer

• Based on the Phillips’s account Whydah King and his noble men viewed Europeans as providers of good business opportunities. Africans also considered them as superior as evident by their persuasive methods of trade negotiations.

• Also, The king and his nobility wanted to take as much as they could in exchange of slaves.

Examples:

• …[when were at the trunk], the king’s slaves, if he had any were the first offered to sale…..and we must not refuse them”….(p. 187 2nd paragraph, first lines).

• “….he [the king] would wrangle with us stoutly about heaping up the measure” (p. 188 first paragraph, last line).

(continued)

• Therefore, the king and his nobility eager to continue the trade with Europeans.

• For example: “…..being forced to promise him that I would return again the next year, with several things he desired me to bring him from England…(last paragraph p. 189).

How blacks viewed Whites

• Based on Phillips writings it seems Africans thought of Whites as bad, evil and therefore inferior.

• ……….because we are so, and are prone o judge favorably in our own case, as well as blacks, who in odium [hatred and loathing] of the colour, say, the devil is White, and so paint him……(second last paragraph, last lines p. 187).

Phillips’ view of Africans as businessmen

• Phillips thought that Africans were very shrewd businessmen.

• Africans knew how to negotiate the price of slaves and get maximum profit.

• Phillips also thinks that that Kings dealings were unfair and Phillips was made to do exchanges that he did not want to do.

• Remember, Phillips says that he had to buy kings slaves although they were the worst slaves.

(continued)

• He also mentioned that Africans would deceive them by shaving hair of slaves, and put oil on their bodies to hide slaves age. (p. 187 second paragraph last lines).

• Phillips thought Africans were manipulative and very cunning “…..for they would deceive their fathers in their trade if they could” (p. 188).

Things that African king/noblemen would take for selling slaves

• Cowries (small shells)• Brass pots and pans• Different types of cloth• Gun powder etc

Treatment of slaves on ship

• Phillips states that other merchants would cutoff arms and legs of slaves if they tried to resist, however he did not do it on his ship.

• But his slaves were kept is shackles (chains). • Loaded guns were kept at hand for slaves who tried

to run away or revolt.• Food give on the ship (dabbadab and beans).• Slaves were allowed to do some exercise so they

don’t get sick(jump, dance, play bagpipes, harp and fiddle

Important!!

• Phillips’s appears to be quite tolerant of slaves’ religion and their color (p. 187, 3rd paragraph).

• He does feel that that slaves’ religion is inferior but he does not blame them for it rather says that they were unfortunate not to be born Christians.

• Also that God loves them as much as anyone else.

Also,

• Phillips points out that he does not believe that one color (White) is better than another (black).

• He says that Blacks should not be hated because of their color…because God created them this way.

Question to think about

• Compare and contrast the attitudes/reaction of Spanish towards the Aztec and of European traders toward African slaves (tolerance or hatred for others’ religion, race, achievements, trade practices)

• Do you find any similarities or differences??