The effluvium that arose polluted even the fresh air of the ocean, and burdened the breeze for miles to windward.

The first duty of the boarding officer was to secure the officers of the craft with their papers.

Not infrequently such vessels would be provided with two captains and two sets of papers, to be used according to the nationality of the warship that might make the capture; but the men of all navies cruising on the slave coast came in time to be expert in detecting such impostures.

The crew once under guard, the first task was to alleviate in some degree the sufferings of the slaves.

But this was no easy task, for the overcrowded vessel could not be enlarged, and its burden could in no way be decreased in mid-ocean.