How the Africans came to Guyana

Many Guyanese boys and girls forefathers came

from Africa. These people were captured and
brought to the Americas and the Caribbean.
They came by ships. For the Africans to reach Guyana,
the ships had to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
The journey took as many as eight weeks if the ocean was
calm,
and longer, when the ocean was rough. This was a very
dangerous
trip for the Africans. They were always closely packed in
the
hold of the ship. They lay in chains on wooden shelves.
This hold was dark and hot. They could hardly move.
Their food
supply sometimes ran out and they were forced to go
without food.
All of this caused diseases.
Many of them died before
reaching here. Of course
some captains of vessels
took care of the Africans.
They made sure they had
enough food, exercise and a
doctor on board. They knew
that dead Africans meant less

money for the traders.