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Mortality and Voyage Length in the Middle Passage: New Evidence from the Nineteenth Century

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  • Eltis, David

Abstract

New data on mortality and voyage length in the nineteenth-century slave trade make possible further testing of hypotheses on why slaves died during the middle passage. Mortality rates (defined as death per slaves embarked/voyage length in days × 1000) were higher in the nineteenth century than in earlier centuries and varied markedly between regions of embarkation. In the high mortality regions, all ships in the sample appeared to have experienced a higher death rate, suggesting that epidemics were not of prime importance. Mortality rates do not appear to have fluctuated very much during the voyage nor does the slaves–per–ton variable have much explanatory power. The major explanation is probably endemic disease.

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  • Eltis, David, 1984. "Mortality and Voyage Length in the Middle Passage: New Evidence from the Nineteenth Century," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 301-308, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:44:y:1984:i:02:p:301-308_03
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter M. Solar & Klas Rönnbäck, 2015. "Copper sheathing and the British slave trade," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 68(3), pages 806-829, August.
    2. Heblich, Stephan & Redding, Stephen J. & Voth, Hans-Joachim, 2022. "Slavery and the British Industrial Revolution," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118034, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Haines, Robin & McDonald, John & Shlomowitz, Ralph, 2001. "Mortality and Voyage Length in the Middle Passage Revisited," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 503-533, October.

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