Slave Auctions

In an auction sale slaves would be brought from the pen to stand on a raised platform so they could be seen by the buyers. People could inspect the slaves if they wanted to. The auctioneer would decide a price to start the bidding and whoever gave the highest price won.
In a scramble sale all people who wanted to buy a slave would pay the trader an agreed amount of money. The trader would then give them a ticket and all buyers would rush in the pen and grab the slaves they wanted. It was a terrifying ordeal for the slaves.