On Ship: Off the African Coast

1
On ShipOff the African Coast

• William writes to his sister Sophie about his
  travels

2
My Dearest Sophie

• At last we are anchored off land in a calm sea.
• The heat is intolerable during the day, but at
  night as darkness falls I am able to write by
  candle-light.

3
A Chance meeting

• with a sea-captain from Conway allows me to send
  you this hastily-scribbled message.
• I have never been so uncomfortable in my life
  below deck all is stiflingly, intolerably hot,
  and the crew are working feverishly in the
  extreme heat to do work on the ship putting in
  the racking for the cargo as they describe it.

4
I have only been allowed to go on shore once,

• and then only to an offshore fort manned by some
  of our own Soldiers. Their commanding officer was
  most civil, but seemed very surprised to see me.

5
He asked

• what I was doing off the African coast, and
  warned me that the next stage of my voyage was
  likely to prove very shocking to a young man of
  limited experience.

6
He told me that he himself was hoping

• to be posted elsewhere very soon anywhere would
  be preferable to this hell-hole, and this filthy
  trade.

7
I had a most strange Conversation

• with Captain Wainwright this afternoon he has
  asked me to keep to my cabin on the Middle
  Passage, even if the weather is stiflingly hot.
• He has also rebuked me, most unfairly, I
  thought, for talking to one of the younger
  seamen, one Idris Peters, who, as you will
  remember, comes from Mostyn, near our dear home.

8
Young Idris tells me

• that he hates this work and he asked me if I
  had ever seen cattle being taken to a
  slaughterhouse.
• When I asked him why, he replied I want to know
  how strong your stomach is you will know why
  soon enough. It is all most mysterious.

9
And now..

• I must give my letter to my esteemed friend from
  Conwy, for he sails in a quarter of an hour. My
  next letter to you will, God willing, be from the
  West Indian Isles and our mystery may by then
  be uncovered.
• With all my Love, and my Love and Duty to our
  parents,
• William