Note B — Chapter XI
Reading edition
As the reader may scarcely credit so large a profit, I subjoin an account of the fitting of a slave vessel from Havana in 1827, and the liquidation of her voyage in Cuba:—
1.—Expenses Out.
Cost of La Fortuna, a 90 ton schooner, $3,700 00
Fitting out, sails, carpenter and cooper’s bills, 2,500 00
Provisions for crew and slaves, 1,115 00
Wages advanced to 18 men before the mast, 900 00
“ “ to captain, mates, boatswain, cook, and steward, 440 00
200,000 cigars and 500 doubloons, cargo, 10,900 00
Clearance and hush-money, 200 00
$19,755 00
Commission at 5 per cent., 987 00
Full cost of voyage out, $20,742 00
2.—Expenses Home.
Captain’s head-money, at $8 a head, 1,746 00
Mate’s “$4 “ 873 00
Second mate and boatswain’s head-money, at $2 each a head, 873 00
Captain’s wages, 219 78
First mate’s wages 175 56
Second mate and boatswain’s wages, 307 12
Cook and steward’s wages, 264 00
Eighteen sailors’ wages, 1,972 00
$27,172 46
3.—Expenses in Havana.
Government officers, at $8 per head, 1,736 00
My commission on 217 slaves, expenses off, 5,565 00
Consignees’ commissions, 8,878 00
217 slave dresses, at $2 each, 634 00
Extra expenses of all kinds, say, 1,000 00
Total expenses, $39,980 46
4.—Returns.
Value of vessel at auction, $3,950 00
Proceeds of 217 slaves, 77,469 00
$81,419 00
Resumé.
Total Returns, $81,419 00
“ Expenses, 39,980 46
Nett profit, $41,438 54