The slaves in the Middle Passage experienced a terrible journey that lasted from one to three months. It was a journey they did not want as they were crammed onto a ship with other slaves. Slaves were treated like worthless animals, then came aboard the ship and performed forced labor without any pay. The Middle Passage was a truly horrific experience for the slaves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Slaves experienced many horrors in the Middle Passage. As slaves were brought onto the ship to end up on another continent to do hard labor, it introduced them to an atmosphere no one would want to be in. The slaves did not know where they would be taken, what would happen to them, or whether they would even be alive at the end. After boarding, the slaves were thrown below deck and immediately introduced to the horrific scene beneath the ship's deck, and the stench awaiting them inside was disgusting. Slaves were branded as if they were animals and were completely dehumanized. The slaves were all packed together like a load, with the number of slaves reaching around 800 people. There was no way to feel the least bit comfortable. There was almost no air to breathe. Fresh air began to run out. Sharing it with many other people in a small compact area, who are also trying to breathe comfortably, led to near suffocation. The air would eventually become unfit for breathing, as it soon became humid from all the sweat and tears the slaves produced from the hot, dreary climate. Many slaves began to desire death, as it seemed like their only escape from what they were experiencing. Many slaves jumped into the sea when they had the chance and drowned. Those who were not lucky enough to commit suicide were then flogged because their actions preferred death; instead of serving as a master's slave. Disease was inevitable and slaves began to fall ill and many died from the disease. In some cases, sick slaves were thrown into the sea to prevent other slaves from becoming ill. The disease would cause people to refuse to eat and lose their appetite. Slaves were force-fed, and if they refused to eat, they were punished by sailors for not eating. Some slaves attempted to starve. Slaves were punished in the manner of being cut, whipped, and flogged. It would seem easier to just let the slaves die and not take care of them, but the goal was to transport the slaves and sell them and having dead slaves would only reduce their profits. The slaves were gripped by fear and greatly feared the sailors. It seemed there would never be an end to their suffering, but soon the suffering on the ship would end for them too. The ship finally arrived at its destination, on the island of Barbados. The slaves finally felt something other than fear, sadness, or death. They felt joy at finally getting off the ship and breathing fresh air without being crammed in and exposed to disease. Their suffering was over for the moment. Merchants and planters boarded ships to examine the slaves to see if they were well enough to work, then they were eventually directed to go to the land. The slaves feared again, for thoughts arose whether they would be eaten by the white men. Soon after the slaves were thrown back under the bridge and all the horror of being under the bridge began again. The slaves were then gathered together again to be sent to the land. What they saw, 1, 403-433.