Question

Read the following passages from John Newton’s diary.

Saturday 22 June: Being pretty warm, got up the men and washed all the slaves with fresh water. l am much afraid of another ravage from the flux [diarrheal infection], for we have had 8 taken within these few days.

Thursday 27 June: When we were putting the slaves down in the evening, one that was sick jumped overboard. Got him in again but he died immediately between his weakness and the salt water he had swallowed, though I imagine he would have lived but a little while being quite worn out.

Which claim is supported by this reading?


The men on board the ship treated the enslaved people well.

The ship suffered an epidemic of bacterial infection.

The enslaved people onboard suffered from illness with some frequency.

A large percentage of the enslaved people onboard had died.

Answer 1

C. The enslaved people onboard suffered from illness with some frequency.

Answer 2

The correct answer would be The enslaved people onboard suffered from illness with some frequency. The reason being that many of the slaves didn't make it while being transferred from one continent to another. Although Newton and his men took better care of these slaves then most slave ships, there was nothing they could do about the living quarters, and they probably boarded the ship with some sickness.