Who is Captain Saul Thurso from Sacred Hunger and what is their importance?

Captain Saul Thurso commands the Liverpool Merchant. He has a great deal of experience in the transportation and trade of African slaves. He plans to make this trip with the Liverpool Merchant as his last. He often commits horrible acts, such as flogging and torturing his crew and slaves, to pacify some deity that controls the wind and water. He is murdered by this same crew and these slaves.