ADVERT NUMBER 1
To be sold on board the Ship: Island, on Tuesday the 6th of May next, at Ashley Ferry; a choice cargo of about 250 fine healthy Negroes just arrived from Windward & Rice Coast. The utmost care has already been taken, and shall be continued, to keep them free from the least danger of being infected with the smallpox, no boat having been on board, and all other communication with people from Charles Town prevented. Austin, Laurens & Appleby. N.B. Full one Half of the above Negroes have had the smallpox in their own country…
ADVERT NUMBER 2
TO BE SOLD & LET BY PUBLIC AUCTION, On MONDAY the 18th of MAY, 1829
under the trees. FOR SALE the three following slaves:
HANNIBAL, about 30 Years old, an excellent House Servant, of Good Character.
WILLIAM, about 35 Years old, a Labourer.
NANCY, an excellent House Servant and Nurse.
The MEN belonging to “LEECH’S” Estate, and the WOMAN to Mrs. D SMITH
TO BE LET
On the usual conditions of the Hirer finding them Food, Clothing, and Medical Maintenance, the following male and female slaves:
ROBERT BAGLEY, about 20 Years old, a good House Servant.
WILLIAM BAGLEY, about 18 Years old, a Labourer.
JOHN ARMS, about 18 Years old.
JACK ANTONIA, about 40 Years old, a Labourer.
PHILIP, an Excellent Fisherman.
HARRY, about 27 Years old, a good House Servant.
LUCY, a Young Woman of Good Character, used to House Work and the Nursery.
ELIZA, an Excellent Washerwoman.
CLARA, an Excellent Washerwoman.
FANNY, about 14 Years old, House Servant.
SARAH, about 14 Years old, House Servant.
Also for Sale, at Eleven o’Clock, Fine Rice, Gram, Paddy, Books, Muslins, Needles, Pins, Ribbons, &c. &c.
ADVERT NUMBER 3
CASH! All persons that have SLAVES to dispose of, will do well by giving me a call, as I will give the HIGHEST PRICE for Men, Women and Children. Any person that wishes to sell, will call at Hill’s tavern, or at Shannon Hill for me, and any information they want will be promptly attended to. Thomas Griggs, Chalestown, May 7, 1835.
ADVERT NUMBER 4
Sale of Negroes, Mills, Mules, Hogs, Farming & Mining Tools, wagons and carts. Will be sold in Columbia County, at the Columbia Mines, 14 miles north of Thomson on Tuesday, August 14th, 1860
That was over a 100 years ago in the United States where the human conscience was blackened by greed and men dehumanized others to the extent of putting black Africans on the market stall for sale next to fine rice, needles and pins. The trader’s conscience was dead. On one hand he held to the Holy Bible and spoke of another country where God together with his holy angels reigned supreme, while on the other hand he held to the gun, the whip and the sharp axe. He put the slaves to work side by side the brute mule on a plantation thousands of miles away from the slave’s people and land. God looked on and he was appalled. The slave had lost his humanity. He was at the level of carts, hogs, mules and hogs. He could be traded for cash and the highest price proposed in his sale. At the time there were men who saw nothing wrong with the practice and defended it as part of the strategy of developing the Americas. Later the slave got used to being a slave. He ate the leftovers of the master’s table. To avoid being sold, flogged or part of his leg chopped, he had to be a good slave and show complete allegiance to his master and owner. So he smiled and danced and monkeyed around. He couldn’t see a life without his master. The idea of running away to a promise of freedom was foreign. Where could he possibly run to? The master and his friends owned a series of plantations from one state to another. He would certainly get killed if he tried to run away.
Where would he get food? He did not own land or horses. He was trapped ÔÇô forever imprisoned in his life. He was forever a slave. These reflections came flooding to my mind as I pondered on the state of our republic, trunks of money and the return of Mr. Makgalemela & Masimolole to the BDP.
