John Hunt Journal, 1824 3mo. 25

              25 of 3rd month, 1824. At our preparative meeting there was some pamphlets handed out which friends had ordered to be printed and spread, giving an account of the enormous practice of the salve trade yet continued, notwithstanding divers nations have made laws to prohibit that most barbarous trade. The great number of vessels there is now employed in that trade so that they are bringing the poor Negroes away from their native land of near and dear connections by hundreds of thousands and [illegible] them into slavery to many of the various. One account seems to display a manifest judgment upon them. A vessel loaded with Negroes after they had got out to sea, a strange disorder in their eyes came upon them and both whites and blacks went quite blind so that they were unable to steer the vessel. Another vessel came up with them of whom they begged help, but obtained none, they fearing their disorder, and it was believed they all perished in the sea. � About 20 years ago as I was traveling in the western territories on the River Ohio, we lodged at a tavern where some men had got 52 Negroes from the Southern states and were taking to a place called the Natchees some hundreds of miles westward. There were men, women, and children, the men in chains and the women 2 had sucking babes at their breasts handcuffed with irons. To see and feel the darkness and hardness of their oppressors, hearts was painful to be in their company. It was a rainy evening and the Negroes had a fire made up in the yard and one set to singing, I suppose to drown their sorrow (see Psalms 137 and 3: for they that carried us away captive required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth etc.). Some years ao I picked up a bit of newspaper off the floor wherein was an account of a vessel with 130 Negroes (of the Mantanzes) which was struck with thunder and the vessel sunk in a few minutes and all perished but the captain and his mate, who lashed some spars together and floated on them near 2 weeks, but was found and taken up by a wrecker,* that is, a vessel looking for ship wrecks. But the captain and his mate had lain so long in water they had quite lost the use of their limbs. Some few years ago there were some men from the southern states brought a number of Negroes to Redstone on their way further to West. Whilst at Redstone, a strange sickness came on them and a number of the Negroes died and one of the 2 brothers that had them in keeping died. The other set off back to get help and he also died. The inhabitants being alarmed hired a man to conduct them down the river westward and he also died so the poor Negroes were left without apparel or masters or caretakers. What became of them I have not heard. But does not or these appear singular judgments
*[star and comment written later] Query. Does not the preservation of the caption and mate seem marvelous?