Brick "Ouragan"

In 1815 the Spanish took  black people of Africa as slaves to work on their overseas possessions.

They were followed by all the other European nations.

For two centuries this was authorized and encouraged by all these countries.

Slavery was abolished as from 1815,  but it continued notwithstanding until 1880.

To escape from warships looking for slave ships these ships were modified; brigs were used -- large sailed vessels with a shallow draft enabling them to run up rivers -- such as the Casamance in southern  Senegal where they found safe harbors.

These harbors still exist  today .

The Brig Ouragan of light tonnage was one of the preferred ship of the slavers. With its slim hull  ( 42 meters long, 9.5 meters wide ) and its mast of 37 m the "Ouragan" is one of the finest specimens of the brigs, renowned for it speed.

This ship could carry 250 to 300 slaves ( usually 2/3 young virgins 1/3 men).

The Brig "Ouragan" serves as a reminder of those days.