Travels in India (Tavernier) 159.1

159.1

arrived soon afterwards. There arrived, moreover, two Portuguese vessels laden with slaves of both sexes, which came from the Guinea coast, and was taking them to the mines of Peru. There were some Dutchmen in our fleet who had dwelt at Castel de Mine, and knew the language of these poor people. They went on board, both to see them, and also to see some Dutch sailors who were in the Portuguese service ; and on the following night about 250 of these poor blacks threw themselves into the sea. It was believed that the Dutch, who knew their language, had told them that they would be miserably treated when they reached the mines, and that it was that which had driven them to this action in despair. It is true that it is a very hard and miserable slavery ; for frequently, after having mined for some days, there are parts of the ground more movable or softer than others, and this ground collapsing it suddenly buries 400 or 500 of these poor people. As soon as they are put to mine, their faces, eyes, and skin entirely change in colour ; this is caused by the vapours of these hollows, and the slaves only exist in these places by the quantity of spirits which both the men and women are given to drink.