Answer:
They threw them to ensure the survival of the rest of the crew and to cash in the insurances of the slaves as cargo.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Zong massacre happened in 1781. It was a mass killing of more than 130 slaves on the hands of the British crew of the Zong ship, they were part of a syndicate that sailed through the Atlantic slave trade.
During the journey there were some navigational mistakes that lead to a lack of water within the ship, so the crew decided to throw slaves overboard. They would no loose money because it was usual on those times to take on insurance on the lives of the slaves as cargo.
I hope this answer helps you.