Dick Sands, the Boy Captain · Chapter
Market-Day explained
Dick Sands kills Harris in a fit of vengeance and is imprisoned by Alvez.
What happens
Dick Sands kills Harris in a fit of vengeance and is imprisoned by Alvez. Two days later, the great slave market (lakoni) at Kazonndé begins, where thousands of natives and traders gather. Tom and his three friends are put up for sale, subjected to humiliating inspections, and ultimately sold together to an Arab dealer bound for Zanzibar. The chapter details the brutal realities of the slave trade, the diverse goods traded, and the despair of the captives.
Themes in this chapter
- Slavery and Human Trafficking
The lakoni market vividly portrays the dehumanization of slaves, their sale in lots, and the brutal inspections they endure.
- Courage and Perseverance
Tom and his friends remain united and hopeful despite being sold; Dick accepts his fate after avenging his comrades.
- Deception and Betrayal
Negoro's manipulation of Alvez and Coïmbra to delay Dick's execution for profit underscores the theme of betrayal.
Characters to notice
- Dick Sands
Imprisoned after killing Harris; awaits torture and death, having avenged his companions.
- Negoro
Arrives to prevent Dick's immediate execution, whispering to Alvez and Coïmbra to delay for profit.
- Tom
Sold at the market along with his three friends; fears separation but is bought together by an Arab dealer.
- Bat
One of the four captives; expresses grief at the prospect of his father being sold away.
- Alvez
Slave dealer who orders Dick's imprisonment and sells Tom and his friends at the lakoni.
- Coïmbra
Alvez's associate; demands Dick's death and treats slaves with brutality during the market.
Key passages
“Loaded with chains, he was placed in the dungeon where Alvez was accustomed to confine slaves who had been condemned to death for mutiny or violence.”
Dick was chained and thrown into the same dungeon used for slaves sentenced to death.
Dick's imprisonment after killing Harris.
“Just as though they were examining a horse, the buyers felt their limbs, turned them round and round, looked at their teeth, and finally tested their paces by throwing a stick to a distance and making them run to fetch it.”
Buyers inspected the slaves like livestock, checking their bodies, teeth, and even making them run for a stick.
Dehumanizing inspection of Tom and his friends at the slave market.
“Children were torn away from their parents, husbands from their wives, brothers from sisters, and without even the indulgence of a parting word, were separated never to meet again.”
Families were brutally split apart without a chance to say goodbye, never to see each other again.
Heartbreaking separation of families at the lakoni.
