I think the slave hunters were probably the higher class of Africans during the slave days. They preyed upon the less progressed African tribes. These Slave hunters knew the value of the dollar and what it meant to their tribe.

Now... I do not nor have I ever approved of these actions. It's terrible you have to post a disclaimer,,,

But it makes sense why the more progressed African preyed upon the others, providing slaves to the White World. Even to the Slave hunter these people did not appear to be any more human than the average horse.

Take the cannibals of North America, they did not recognize their captive as anymore human than the last Deer they killed and ate.

Or is it they did not recognize themselves as barely more than animals?

So this could be the precursor to Slavery as it was practiced and viewed 150 years ago. The last cannabalistic act occurred in 1868 (I think) in SW Indian Territory.