These went in a fleet.
There might be from thirty to forty armed natives in each of them.

Every canoe also had a four- or a six-pounder (cannon) fastened to her bow.
Equipped in this manner they departed; and they were usually absent from eight to fourteen days.

It was said that they went to fairs, which were held on the banks of these rivers, and at which there was a regular show of slaves.

On their return they usually brought down from eight hundred to a thousand of these for the ships.

These lay at the bottom of the canoes; their arms and legs having been first bound by the ropes of the country.
Now the question was, how the people, thus going up these rivers, obtained their slaves?
It was certainly a very suspicious circumstance, that such a number of persons should go out upon these occasions; and that they should be armed in such a manner.