Thread by @HistoryVille

When the British slave ship, "Zong" sailed from Accra with 442 slaves on August 18, 1781, it had taken on more than twice the number of people that it could safely transport (in order to maximise profit), when it was discovered that the water supply would not be enough.

If the slaves died a natural death the loss would fall on the owners. But if they were cast into the sea to drown, the loss would be covered by insurance, £30 for each slave lost. And that's what they did.

On November 29, 1781, 54 women and children were thrown through cabin windows into the sea.

On December 1, 1781, 42 male enslaved people were thrown overboard, and 36 more followed in the next few days.

Another ten, in a display of defiance at the inhumanity of the slavers, chose to commit suicide by jumping into the sea.

Having heard the cries of the victims as they were thrown into the water, one of the captives requested that the remaining Africans be denied all food and drink rather than thrown into the sea. The crew ignored this request.

In total, 142 Africans had been killed by the time the ship reached Jamaica on December 22, 1781, with 208 enslaved people on board, less than half the number taken from Accra.

Interestingly, the slaveowners got £30 for each slave that was drowned at sea.

In January 1782, the survivors were sold into slavery for an average price of £36 per person.

Criminal charges were brought against the captain, crew, and the owners, but it was unsuccessful.

The judge refused to take up the criminal charges claiming that, Blacks were goods and property – and that it was madness to accuse "these well-serving honourable men" of murder.

"The case is the same as if a wood had been thrown overboard,” the judge ruled. #HistoryVille