VOA慢速英语:'Benito Cereno,' by Herman Melville, Part One

suspicion - n. a feeling that something bad is likely or true

handspike - n. a wooden rod with an iron tip, used as a lever on board ship and by artillery soldiers.​

hatchet - n. a small ax that has a short handle​

authority - n. the power to give orders or make decisions

intense - adj. ​very great in degree; very strong

disorder - n. a confused or messy state; a lack of order or organization

*Negro countries refers to nations that would be ruled by people of African heritage. Senegal is one of the countries in Africa from which enslaved people were taken to the Americas.