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Number  IIL 


ABRIDGMENT 


OF     THE 


MINUTES  OF  THE  EVIDENCEj 


TAKE^f    BEFORE    A 


O  «»»#■ 


COMMIXfE^^  OF  THE  WHOLE  HO  USE, 


TO   WHOM    IT   WAS  -RF.FIiXRlp  VO,  0_i>!>r5l9E"R.   OF    THE 

J  ■  '  '    '    '      '  .    .  '    ,  "  .     '  ,  '    ,    '      '         '- 

SLAVE-TRADE, 

1790. 


u. 


^\«.3~-t 


....     •      ••«••• 

,*  •.:  •  •  •..  .•••  • 

,  •  ••    ••  ••••••• 

• •  • ••   • 

•  •  •   • 

■  •  •  •  •   • 


•    •  •• ' 


ABRIDGMENT 


OF     T  H 


MINUTES  OF  THE  EVIDENCE, 

TAKENBEFOREA 

Select  Committee  of  the  Whole  House, 

TO    WHOM    IT    WAS    REFEPvRED     TO     CONSIDER    OF     THE 

S  L  A  V  E-T  R  A'D  E,   1790. 
Number     III. 


Witnefs  examined — Captain  Wilson, 


Was  between  five  and  fix  months  in  Africa,  be-    1790. 
tween  Cape  Blanco  and  the  River  Gambia,  in  1783 Part  If, 
and  1784,  as  commander  of  the  fhip  Racehorfe,  and   ^— v^ 
refided  chiefly  at  Goree,  where  he  learnt  how  flavesP*  3- 
were  generally  procured  for  the  trade,  as  m.atter  of^*  4» 
publick  notoriety,  from  frequent  converfations  with 
many  refpe6table  inhabitants,  themfelves  traders  in 
Haves,  (p.  13.)  who  fpoke  the  French,  Englifh,  and 
negro  languages  5  and  who  were  frequently  at  his 
table. 

Slaves  are  principally  procured  for  the  flave-trade 
by  inteftine  warsj  kings  breaking  up  villages ;  crimes, 
or  imputed  crimes  ;  and  kidnapping. 

Villages  are  broken  up  by  the  king's  troops  fur- 
rounding  them  in  the  night,  and  fcizlng  fuch  of  the 

Numb.  3,  A  inhabitants 


2  Africa.  WiLsorr. 

1790.    inhabitants  as  fult  their  purpofe.    Th4s  praflice  naoft 

Part  IL  common  when  there  is  no  war  with  another  (late. 
v-^s^-*-»        It  is  univerfally  acknowledged,  and  he  firmiy  be- 

P*  5*  lieves,  that  free  perfons  are  fold  for  real  or  imputed 
crimes,  for  the  benefit  of  their  judges. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  atGoree,  the  king  of  Darnel 
fent  a  free  man  to  him  for  faie,  and  was  to  have  the 
price  himfelf.  A  king's  guard  being  afked  whether 
the  man  was  guilty  of  the  crime  imputed  to  him, 
anfwered,  that  was  of  no  confequence,  or  ever  in- 
quired into.     Captain  W.  returned  the  man. 

P*  6»  Kidnapping  was  acknowledged  by  all  he  converfed 

with  to  be  generally  prevalent.  It  is  the  firft  prin- 
ciple of  the  natives,  the  principle  of  felf-preferva- 
tion,  (p.  17.)  who  never  go  unarmed  while  a  flave- 
veirei  is  on  the  coail;  and  on  being  alked  the  reafon, 
alledge  their  fears.  A  courier  of  Captain  Lacy,  his 
predeceiTor,  though  aMoor,  aMuiTulman,  a  free  man, 
a  native  of  Senegal,  fpoke  the  French  language 
fluently,  and  had  difpatches  in  his  pocket  on  his 
Britannick  Majefly's  fervice,  (for  particulars  fee  the 

?•  7'  Minutes)  was  kidnapped,  fold  to  a  French  vefl'el, 
and  his  releafe  with  difficulty  obtained  by  the  wit- 
nefs.  The  French  captain  endangered  the  man's 
life  by  his  inhumanity. 

P.  8.  Never  heard  of  flaves  being  bred  for  fale. 

Never  heard  of  the  practice  of  eating  human  flefh 
in  Africa,  and  is  morally  certain  that  it  did  not  exift 
on  the  part  of  the  coaft  where  he  was. 

Was  informed,  that  the  governments  near  Goree 
were  abfolute,  but  more  or  lefs  fo  according  to  the 
ftrength   of  the  princes.     King's  dues  feem  to  be 

P.  9.  very  regularly  coUeded  in  every  village  :  they  were 
always  paid  by  the  Ibip  commanded  by  witnefs.  and 
he  doubts  not  are  required  from  others.  Has  heard 
that  when  payment  has  been  refufed,  boats  and  men 
have  been  feized,   (p.  17.) 

Fully  believe^  Airicans  to  be  equal  to  Europeans 
in  capacity.  Ihey  have  various  manufadures, 
chiefly  for  home  confumption.     They  make  cotton 

cloths 


Africa.  Wilson-.  ^ 

cloths  beautifully  fine,  under  every  want  of  machi-    1790. 
nery  ;   alfo   very  curious  ornaments   of  gold,    and  Part  II. 
weapons,  and  tools  of  iron,  which  their  experience   v.^v — » 
makes  them  prefer  to  thofe  fent  from  hence,  which P*  141 « 
are  made  for  them.     On  this  account,  unmanufac- 
tured iron  is  preferred  by  them  in  their  barter  with 
us.     They  have  feveral  manufactures   in   cane  and  P.  10. 
leather.     They  fupplied  the  fhips  and  Goree  with 
every  thing  they  could  raife,  produce,  or  with  fafety 
catch,    and   entirely   found    them    with    provifions. 
Perceived  no  indifpofition  to  labour  or  commerce  in 
the  Africans. 

According  to  his  experience,  the  Africans  are 
grateful  and  afFe6lionate.  They  treated  him  moft 
kindly  when  many  miles  up  their  country,  and  un- 
prote6led,  and  numbers  fhed  tears  on  his  departure. 

The  natives  dare  not  explore  Africa  during  the 
continuance  of  the  flave-trade,  which  fubjeds  them  to 
the  rilk  of  being  kidnapped. 

Has  boarded  (lave- fhips  when  a  midfhipman — the^**  ii* 
llenck  intolerable — fuch  a  ftench  proceeded  from  two 
(he  believes  French)  which  anchored  to  windward  of 
his  fhip,  that  he  ordered  them  to  leev/ard  for  fear  of 
infedlion,  and  alfo  ordered  that  no  part  of  their 
crews  (hould  be  fufFered  to  board  her. 

Believes  the  flave-fhips  are  not  a  fource  of  fupplyP.  12. 
to  the  Royal  navy.  He  never  would  recruit  his  ihip 
from  them,  even  when  Ihort  of  his  compliment,  to 
which  he  attributes  not  having  loil  a  man  while  on 
the  coaft,  out  of  a  crew  of  about  100.  The  Guinea 
failors,  who  offered  themfelves  to  him,  befides  their 
cadaverous  looks,  were  the  moil  filthy  vagabonds  he 
ever  faw.  Rather  than  take  into  his  ihip  feven  men 
who  were  wrecked  in  a  Guinea-man,  he  fed  them  on 
fhore,  and  fent  them  home  in  fome  tranfports. 

When  he  prefided  in  a  court  at  Goree,  aMarabooP.  13, 
fwore,  with  an  energy  which  evinced  the  truth  of  his 
evidence,   that  his  brother,  another  Maraboo,  had 
been  kidnapped  in  the  a<5t  of  drinking,  facred  by 
their  religion^  at  the  inftigation  of  a  former  gover- 

A  z  nor^ 


4  AFRicAr  Wilson. 

1790.   nor,  who  had  taken  a  dlfllke  to  him:  and  two  op 

part  11.  more  (laves  being  offered  for  his  releafe,  declared 
*-nr^  that  he  would  not  liberate  him  for  any  confideration. 
This  was  a  matter  notorious  at  Goree. 

The  natives  would  enter  a  king's  fhip  on  her 
arrival  off  any  part  of  the  coaff,  and  traverfe  her 
with  as  much  eafe  and  confidence  as  if  they  had 
been  on  fhore,  but  he  never  faw  a  canoe  board  a 
flave-fhip,  and  concludes  this  arofe  from  the  reafon- 
able  fears  of  the  Africans. 

P.  14.  The  flaves  employed  by  the  Africans  live  with  their 
maftersj  and  are  fo  treated  as  fcarcely  to  be  diftin« 
guifhable  from  them. 

Guinea  failors  frequently  applied  to  be  taken  by 
witnefs,  and  do  not  feem  attached  to  their  Ihips  as 
in  other  trades. 

Has  been  in  mofl  of  the  Weft  India  iflands,  in 
1762,  1781,  and  1782.  The  new-imported  flaves 
appeared  dejected,  and  very  different  from  thofe  in 
Africa.  The  country  flaves  appeared  more  dejeded, 
and  bore  flronger  marks  of  flavery  than  the  town 

P'  ^S*  flaves,  many  of  whom  (the  domeftic  ones)  were  fat 
and  faucy.  A  great  proportion  of  the  flaves  were 
indelibly  marked  with  the  lafli.  Has  feen  runaways 
working  in  clogs  and  pothooks.  Has  relieved  ne- 
groes placed  by  the  road-fide,  in  the  moft  abjedt 
llate,  and  from  inquiries  on  the  fpot,  fully  believes, 
that,  being  unfit  for  labour,  they  are  turned  off  by 
their  mafters  to  fubfift  on  charity.  It  was  generally 
underftood,  that  where  planters  refided,  the  flaves 
were  better  treated  than  when  under  overfeers.  Heard 
from  refpedtable  merchants  at  Kingfton,  that  im- 
porting flaves  was  preferable  to  breeding  them,  but 
does  not  know  the  general  opinion  of  the  refldent 
planters.  So  far  from  the  flaves  appearing  as  happy  as 

P.  16.  the  lower  orders  in  Britain,  &c.  he  never  faw  any  figns 
of  happinefs  annong  the  imported  flaves,  except  at 
their  funerals,  when  they  fliew  extravagant  joy  from 
a  perfuafion  that  the  deceafed  is  eicaped  from  flavery 

ta 


Africa.  Wilson.  5 

to  his  native  country.     In  Africa  their  funerals  are    1790. 
attended  with  the  moft  mournful  cries.  Part  II, 

Has  been  great  part  of  his  life  in  America,  and   *--/^»i^ 
always  thought  the  flaves  better  tieated  and  clothed, 
more  domeftic  and  happy,  marriages  among  them 
more  frequent,    and  fewer  imported  in  proportion 
than  in  the  Weft  India  iflands. 

Has  feen  fome  branded  with  letters,  which  he 
thought  were  not  made  in  Africa,  but  thefe  were 
not  common. 

Has  long  entertained  a  moft  decided  opinion 
againft  the  juftice  and  humanity  of  the  flave-trade. 

In  1762  he  was  a  midfhipman,  in  1781,  1782,  aP.  17, 
firft  lieutenant  in  the  navy.  Never  refided  on  fhore 
or  lodged  on  a  fugar-plan ration,  but  made  his  obfer- 
vations  wherever  he  occafionally  vifited.  Was  fre-P,  i8# 
quently  on  fliore  at  feveral  plantations  in  17 81,  1782, 
v/here  he  was  a  few  days  at  Antigua,  and  five  or  fix; 
months  at  Jamaica, 


Witnefs  examined Wadstrom.' 

Mr.  Wadftrom  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  and   the  P.  18. 
Chief  Diredor  of  the  AfTay  Office  there.     Was  in 
Africa  near  3  months,  in  1787,  1788,  (p. 37)  with  Dr.  P.  19, 
Spaarman,  engaged  by  the  King  of  Sweden  to  make 
difcoveries.    The  department  allotted  to  witnefs  was 
mineralogy,  antiquities,  and  what  regards  the  ftate 
of  man.     They  had  the  protection  of  the  Senegal  P.  2.0. 
Company,  obtained  through  the  French  minifter,  at 
the  requeft  of  the  Swedifh  Ambaflador,  as  appears 
from  letters  produced. 

Witnefs  vifited  the  coaft  from  Senegal  almoft  top.  21, 
Gambia,  thofe  parts  being  then  in  the  hands  of  the 
French.  Was  on  ftiore  at  different  times  feveral 
days,  and  once  or  twice  feven  or  eight  days,  and  was 
up  the  river  Joal.  He  made  it  his  bufinefs  to  obtain 
information,    and  could  always  converfe  with  the 

natives 


6  Africa,  Wadstrom. 

1790.   natives  by  means  of  the  Englilh,  French,  and  Dutch 

Part  II. languages,  which  are  generally  fpoken  by  the  chief 

J-'"v*^  negroes.     He  offered  to  produce  a  journal  kept  at 

■^*  ^^'    the  time,  in  which  the  fads  he  fhould  deliver  in 

evidence  were  noted  down. 

He  thinks  he  knows  perfedly  how  flaves  are  ob- 
tained, between  Senegal  and  Gambia,  viz.  by  the  ge- 
neral pillage,  robbery  by  individuals,  ftratagem,  or 
deceit. 

The  general  pillage  is  executed  by  the  king's 
troops,  armed  and  on  horfeback,  who  feize  the  un- 
wary. Parties  were  fent  out  for  this  purpofe  by 
king  Barbeffin  almoft  every  day  during  the  week. 
He  was  at  Joal,  accompanying  one  of  thofe  embaf- 
fies,  which  the  French  Governor  ufed  to  fend  every 
year,  with  prefents  to  the  black  kings,  to  keep  up  the 
P.  23.  commerce.  It  is  cullomary  for  the  king  to  make  a 
return  for  thefe  prefents,  by  a  gift  of  flaves;  and 
though  unwilling  to  pillage,  he  was  excited  to  it  by 
means  of  a  conftant  intoxication,  kept  up  by  the 
French  and  Mulattoes  of  the  embaffy,  who  generally 
agreed  every  morning  on  taking  this  method  to  effed 
their  purpofe.  When  fober,  he  always  exprelTed  a 
reludance  to  harrafs  his  people  ^  thought  it  hard 
that  he  fhould  be  obliged  continually  to  do  fo; 
complained  that  the  inhabitants  of  Goree,  continually 
coming  under  pretence  of  trade,  took  occafion  to 
make  him  infignificant  prefents,  which  he  neither 
liked  nor  wifhed  for :  that  they  then  came  upon  him 
with  long  accounts,  debts  faid  to  be  due,  and  pre- 
tenfions  without  end :  that  the  Governor  of  Goree 
P.  24.  living  among  them  lifbened  too  readily  to  their  tales 
and  complaints,  and  thought  little  of  the  fufferings 
of  the  negroes;  and  that  he  muft  have  been  impofed 
upon  to  fuffer  his  name  to  be  ufed  on  fuch  occafions. 
This  fpeech  was  interpreted  on  the  fpot,  and  put  in 
a  journal  by  witnefs,  who  alfo  heard  the  king  hold 
the  fame  language  on  different  days,  and  yet  he  after- 
wards ordered  the  pillage  to  be  executed.  Witnefs 
has  no  doubt  but  that  he  alfo  pillages  in  other  parts 

of 


Africa,  Wadstrom.  7 

of  his  dominions,  fince  it  is  the  cuftonn  of  the  Mu-  1790, 
latto  merchants  (as  both  they  and  the  French  officers  Part  IL 
declare)  when  they  want  flaves,  to  go  to  the  kings,  v-^v^ 
and  excite  them  to  pillages,  which  are  ufuaily  prac- 
tifed  in  all  that  part  of  the  coaft. 

King  of  Sallum  praftifcs  the  pillage.      Witnefs 
faw  27  (laves  from  Sallum,  23  of  whom  were  wo- 
men and  children,  thus  taken.    Was  told  by  captains  P.  25, 
and  merchants  that  this  was  the  ulual  pradice. 

Was  told  by  merchants  at  Goree,  that  the  king  of 
Darnel  pradifes  the  pillage. 

Robbery,  in  which  individuals  feize  on  each  other,  P,  25. 
was  a  general  way  of  taking  fingle  {laves.  MentionsP.  26. 
a  woman  whom  he  faw  in  the  Captiveries,  and  a 
boy,  who  belonged  to  a  French  officer.  The  latter 
was  taken  in  the  interior  part  above  Cape  Rouge  by 
Health  from  his  parents,  and  declared  that  fuch  rob- 
beries are  very  frequent  in  his  country.  I'he  former 
was  taken  at  Ruhfque,  from  her  huiband  and  chil- 
dren. The  children  are  themfelves  articles  of  mer- 
chandize, if  not  fo  far  from  the  fhore  as  to  be  inca- 
pable of  walking  to  it.  Could  ftate  feveral  indances 
of  this  robbery  :  very  often  faw  negroes  thus  taken 
brought  to  Goree.  Ganna  of  Dacard  was  a  noted 
man-dealer,  and  employed  as  iuch  by  the  (lave 
merchants  at  Goree.  Witnefs  was  very  near  being 
in  danger  of  being  taken  by  this  man  to  the  king  of 
Damel,  then  at  war  with  the  French,  who  would 
have  demanded  a  high  ranfom  for  his  releafe ;  he 
having  agreed  to  travel  to  Senegal  with  Ganna,  but 
the  great  Maraboo  of  the  village  cautioned  him  to 
beware,  and  on  his  return  to  Goree,  he  was  congra- 
tulated on  his  efcape  by  feveral  of  the  inhabitants. 

As  inftances  of  ftratagem  being  a  way  of  obtain* 
ing  flaves,  witnefs  mentions  a  negro  whom  he  faw 
brought  from  Dacard,  where  he  was  on  a  vifit.  A 
French  merchant  taking  a  fancy  to  him,  perfuaded 
the  village  to  feize  him.  He  was  taken  from  his  P.  27. 
wife,  v/ho  wifhed  to  accompany  him,  but  the  mer- 
chant had  not  merchandize  enough  to  buy  both. 

The 


8  -Africa:  W  a  d  s  t  r  o  M. 

1790.  The  village  agreed  with  the  merchant  about  his 
Part  II.  price.  Witnefs  faw  him  at  Goree  on  the  day  of  his 
^^■'v^*-*  arrival,  chained,  and  lying  on  the  ground,  exceed- 
ingly diftrelTed.  The  king  of  Sallum  prevailed  on 
a  woman  to  come  into  his  kingdom,  and  fell  him 
fome  millet.  On  her  arrival,  he  feized  and  fold  her 
to  a  French  officer,  with  whom  witnefs  faw  this 
woman  every  day  during  his  flay  at  Goree. 

Was  on  the  ifiand  of  St.  Louis  in  the  Senegal,  and 
on  the  Continent  near  the  river. 

All  the  flaves  fold  at  Senegal  are  brought  down 
the  river,  except  thofe  taken  by  the  robbery  of  the 
Moors  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  is  fometirnes 
condudled  by  large  parties  in  what  are  called  petty 
wars.  Thefe  wars  are  promoted  by  prefents  given 
to  the  Moorifh  kings  regularly  every  year  by  the 
Senegal  Company,  to  engage  them  to  procure  as 
P.  28.  many  negroes  as  pofTible,  and  to  prevent  gum-arabic 
from  being  carried  to  the  Englifh  at  Portandick. 
Witnefs  heard  this  from  the  inhabitants  and  French 
officers  at  Senegal,  and  from  the  Moors,  even  in  the 
prefence  of  the  Diredor  of  the  Company. 

King  Dalmanny  having  been  brought  up  as  a 
Grand  Maraboo,  prohibited  flrong  liquors,  and  aifo 
the  flave- trade,  fo  as  not  even  to  fuffer  the  pafTage 
P.  29.  of  flaves  through  his  dominions;  nor  would  he  re- 
ceive fom»e  valuable  prefents  fent  by  the  Company, 
to  induce  him  to  alter  his  refolution.  Witnefs  was 
fhewn  the  prefents  by  the  Dire6tor,  on  their  return. 
The  king's  dominions,  including  both  fides  of  the 
Senegal,  his  prohibition  flopped  the  whole  trade 
with  Galam,  and  prevented  the  Company  from  re- 
ceiving 800  flaves,  which  they  had  purchafed  there. 
In  order  to  obtain  their  compliment  of  flaves  they 
had  recourfe  to  their  ufual  method  on  fimilar  occa- 
fions,  bribing  the  Moors,  and  fupplying  them  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  to  feize  king  Dalmanny's 
fubjedts.  By  January  12th,  1788,  when  witnefs 
arrived  at  Senegal,  50  were  taken,  whom  the  king 
defired  to  ranfom^  but  they  were  already  fent  to 

Cayenne. 


Africa,  Wadstrom.  q 

Cayenne.     Some  were  brought  in  every  day  after-   1790. 
v/ards,  and  put   in  the  Company's  (lave-hole,   in  a  Pare  II. 
miferable  ftate,  the   greater  part  being  very  much  ->'''^^*'*-> 
wounded  by  fabres  and  balls.  The  Director  condudled^'  3^- 
the  witnefs   thither,  with  Dr.  Spaarman,  whom  he 
confulted  as  a  medical  man  in  their  behalf.     Witnefs 
particularly   remembers   one,    lying    in    his   blood, 
which  flowed  from  a  wound  made  by  a  ball  in  his 
ihoulder. 

Mentions  an  inftance  of  a  flave-taker  being  him- 
felf  taken. 

Though  the  Company,  for  many  reafons,  feldom 
purchafed  Moors,  being  now  prelled  for  (laves,  to 
fulfill  their  agreement,  according  to  their  charter 
with  Government,  they  took  all  of  whatever  qua- 
lity. This  witnefs  heard  from  theDiredor,  and  im- 
mediately noted  it  down  in  his  journal. 

Was  told  by  the  French  officers,  that  European?.  31. 
fhips,    particularly  Dutch  and  Englifh^    frequently 
carry  off  natives,  by  treachery,  from  the  coaft. 

Was  informed  at  Goree,  by  Captain  Wignie,  from 
Rochelle,  who  was  juft  arrived  from  the  Gambia, 
that  a  little  before  his  departure  from  that  river, 
three  Engliili  vefTels  were  cut  off  by  the  natives, 
owing  to  the  captain  of  one  of  them,  who  had  his 
cargo,  being  tempted  by  a  fair  wind  to  fail  away 
with  feveral  of  the  free  negroes,  then  drinking  with 
the  crew.  Soon  afterwards  the  wind  changed,  and 
he  was  driven  back,  feized,  and  killed,  with  all  his 
crew,  and  two  other  veffels.  Witnefs  has  by  acci- 
dent met  with  the  infurer  of  two  of  thefe  vefTels,  in 
London,  who  confirmed  the  above  fa6ts. 

Witnefs  has  very  often  feen  the  merchants  defraud 
the  negroes  in  their  dealings  with  them.  There  are 
many  methods  of  deceiving  the  negroes  in  aimoll 
every  article. 

Thinks  the   negroes  underfhandings    capable  ofP.  ^l* 
equal  improvement  with  whites. 

Thinks  the  Africans  very  honefl  and  hofpitable  ; 

often  paffed  days  and  nights  alone  witii  them,  v/irh- 

Numb.  3.  B  ouc 


lO  Africa,  Wadstrom. 

^79^*  out  the  lead  fear,  and  was  treated  v/ith  all  civility 
rart  11.  and  kindnefs;  he  never  was  deceived  by  them. 
^^^^^'^^'^      Is  clearly  convinced,  that  the  negroes  furpafs  fuch 
Europeans  as  he  has  known,  in  afFedion,  and  are  ca- 
pable of  being  foon  brought  into  the  ftate  of  fociely 
enjoyed  by  Europeans. 

Has  been  furprifed  at  their  induftry  in  manufac- 
turing cotton,  indigo,  iron,  foap,  wood,  pottery, 
leather,  and  other  articles.  They  work  gold  fo  well, 
that  witnefs  never  faw  better  wrought  trinkets  and 
ornaments  in  Europe.  They  manufa6lure  cloth  and 
leather  with  uncommon  neatnefs.  The  latter  they 
tan  and  work  into  faddles,  fandals,  and  a  variety 
P.  32.  of  ufeful  and  ornamental  articles.  The  former  they 
P.  2  5.  dye  blue,  yellow,  brown  and  orange.  The  blue  is 
produced  from  indigo.  The  indigo  grows  abun- 
dantly all  over  the  country,  fo  as  to  fpoil  their  ground 
for  millet  and  rice  plantations  ;  and  equal,  in  the 
opinion  of  merchants,  &c.  who  have  been  in  Ame- 
rica, to  the  bell  in  Carolina.  The  yellow  and  brown 
dyes  are  produced  from  vegetable  produdlions  no- 
ticed by  Dr.  Spaarman.  Witnefs  has  in  his  collec- 
tion, a  kind  of  bean  ufed  in  dying,  and  carried  in 
quantities  on  camels  to  Morocco.  The  whole  army 
of  the  king  of  Damel,  is  clothed  in  cloth  dyed 
orange,  and  brown.  They  forge  iron  very  dexce- 
roufly,  on  anvils  of  a  remarkably  hard  and  heavy 
wood,  when  they  cannot  get  itone  for  the  purpofe. 

Witnefs  offered  to  Ihew  fpecimens  of  the  produc- 
tions of  Africa,  raw  and  manufactured,  which  he  had 
brought  with  him. 
P.  3/.  The  canoes  are  generally  made  by  negroes  near 
the  ihore;  bur  wood  of  a  fufficiently  clofe  texture 
being  feldom  found  there  ;  this  is  brought  without 
being  hollowed,  from  the  interior  parts,  being  drawn 
by  a  great  number  of  negroes  Tfor  weeks  together) 
each  village  generally  undertaking  to  drag  it  to  the 
next,  and  receiving  in  return,  partly  European  mer- 
chandife,  and  partly  fifti  and  fait.  Sale  is  prepared 
from  fea- water  by  the  negroes.     The  ropes  are  made 

of 


Africa,  W  a  d  s  t  r  o  m.  i'i 

"of  a  kind  of  aloe,  and  when  well  made,  are  exceed-  1790. 
ingly  llrong,  this  aloe  grov/s    abundantly   on  the  Pare  II. 
coaft.  w'^V'^ 

The  Africans  have  an  extraordinary  genius  for 
comnnerce  and  induftry,  fully  equal  to  the  fupply  of 
their  wants.  They  would  extend  their  cultivation  P.  3^. 
and  manufa(fl:ures,  if  in  fonne  degree  civilized  (which 
it  would  be  eafy  to  effedl,  were  not  the  Have  trade 
th^  only  means  of  commerce ;  and  it  would  be 
greatly  promoted  by  European  fettlers  not  going  thi- 
ther as  at  prefent,  with  the  fole  view  of  making  a 
fortune  Ihortly,  and  then  returning  home)  and  if  the 
flave  trade  did  not  occupy  the  minds  of  the  natives, 
who  are  continually  incited,  and  the  merchants  to 
engage  in  it,  and  have  no  encouragement  to  culti- 
vate their  country. 

Slaves  are  kept  by  the  natives  at  Goree  and  Sene- 
gal, but  fcarcely  any  on  the  continent.  They  are 
very  well  treated,  and  never  fold,  left  there  Ihould  be 
an  infurreftion  among  their  fellow  flaves.  Even  the 
French  officers  at  Goree  and  Senegal,  generally  ob- 
ferve  the  rule  of  not  felling  them,  very  ftri6lly. 

The  ifland  of  Goree  is  fupplied  by  free  negroes 
with  provifions,  fromi  the  continent. 

Rice  of  an  excellent  quality,  with  a  brownifh  hufk,P.  ^^, 
but  very  white  kernel,  is  cultivated  in  great  quan-p,  ^6» 
titles,  fouth  of  Sallum,  as  far  as  Gambia,  and  efpe- 
cially  at  the  River  Caramanfa ;  but  there  is  but  lit- 
tle north  of  Sallum.  Witnefs  has  feen  many  fmall 
veflels  and  boats,  loaded  with  it,  for  the  fupply  not 
only  of  Goree  and  Senegal,  but  of  the  ihipping 
there  ;  has  famples  of  it. 

Dodor  Spaarman  declared,  he  found  a  great  part, 
if  not  the  whole,  of  the  materia  medica  in  Africa, 
and  drugs  for  various  manufadluring  ufes. 

The  flave  trade  makes  it  dangerous  for  the  ne- 
groes to  pafs  from  one  part  of  their  country  to  ano- 
ther, and  is  the  chief  hindrance  to  the  improvement 
of  their  cultivation,  fince  they  never  venture  into- 
the  fields^  unlefs  very  well  armed, 

B  2  The 


12 


Africa;  Wadstrom. 


1790.  The  negroes  print  their  cotton  cloths  with  wood- 
Part  li.enftamps;  has  patterns  of  cloths  fo  printed. 
^^OT'^  He  refided  in  all  about  three  weeks  on  the  conti- 
nent. At  Joal  he  was  his  greateft  diflance  from  the 
fhore,  about  fix  miles.  When  there,  he  went  to 
feveral  villages,  Dacard,  Bain,  &c.  When  on  (Lore, 
he  vifited  the  interior,  as  far  as  he  could  in  one  or 
two  days  Tas  his  time  permitted)  and  at  Dacard  and 
Bain  he  was  quite  alone  for  feveral  days,  and  went 
with  the  negroes  five  or  fix  miles  up  the  country. 
He  was  about  a  week  at  Senegal,  and  went  fome- 
times  to  the  continent. 
p,  03.  His  evidence  is  the  refult  of  obfervation  and  in- 
formation on  the  fpot,  except  as  to  the  names  of  the 
vefTels  and  their  captains,  which  were  cut  off  in  the 
Gambia;  particulars  which  he  learnt  in  England. 

Kidnapping  is  not  allowed  by  the  laws  in  Africa, 
but  it  can  fcarcely  be  difcovered  by  the  kings,  and 
he  never  heard  of  an  inftance  of  its  being  punifhed  ; 
if  difcovered  it  would  be  puniihed,  he  believes,  and 
particularly  if  fome  European  trader  were  prefent  at 
the  trial.  He  was  prefent  at  atrial  for  fome  offence 
at  Joal,  when  the  king  was  incited  to  condemn  by 
the  Mulattoes  of  Goree,  who  wifhed  to  purchafe  the 
man  when  convi6led;  but  the  king  acquitted  him. 

There  are  fome  Haves  by  birth  on  the  coaft,  par- 
ticularly at  Sallum,  but  few  higher  up  the  coail;  and 
on  the  continent  oppofite  Goree,  very  few.  The 
wealth  of  great  men  is  not  eftimated  from  the  num- 
ber of  flaves  they  poflefs,  but  at  Sallum  from  the 
filver  and  European  merchandize ;  and  higher  up 
the  coaft,  from  the  quantity  of  millet,  and  of  their 
P.  3p.  cattle^  camels  and  horfes.  The  king  of  Sallum  ge- 
nerally takes  filver  for  his  flaves,  and  generally  kid- 
naps his  neighbours ;  but  higher  up  the  cqaft,  the 
kings  kidnap  their  own  fubje6ls. 

Was  informed  by  the  mulattoes  at  Goree,  that 
1200  flaves  were  procured  at  Joal,  but  he  believes 
the  real  number  is  not  fo  great.  He  was  informed 
that  more  than  1000  flaves  were  procured  at  Senegal. 

The 


Africa,  Wadstrom.  13 

The  manufadures  fpecified  are  carried  on  from   1790. 
Senegal  down  to  Goree.     The  negroes  are  particu-  Part  II. 
larlylkilful  in  manufaduring  iron  and  gold.     They<-  -y,i 
probably  derived  their  art,  with  regard  to  the  latter,  p^   ng^ 
from  the  Moors,  but  now  are  themfeives  the  artifts^p,  aq. 
witnefs  feeing  but  one  Moor  work  in  that  branch. 
They  are  equal  to  any  European  goldfmith  in  filla- 
gree,  and  even  other  articles,  as  bucklrs,  except  the 
chafes,  tongues,    and  anchors.     The  beft  manufac- 
ture of  cotton  cloths  is  at  Salium,  which  is  probably 
chiefly  owing  to  the  goodnefs  of  the  cotton,  this  be- 
coming  better  and  better    lower   down   the   coaft. 
Witnefs  has  famples  manufadtured  from  the  principal 
parts  of  the  coaft  where  he  was. 

The  Maraboos  in  fome  parts  deal  in  flaves,  but 
generally  not.  They  fupport  themfelves  in  the  fame 
way  as  other  negroes. 

The  French  excite  not  only  petty  wars,  but  man-P,  43. 
ftealing,  in  order  to  obtain  flaves.  Witnefs  has  heard 
that  the  EnglKh  and  Dutch  frequently  do  fo.  The 
Englifli  polleired  the  coall  he  vifited,  previoufly  top,  aa^ 
its  belonging  to  the  French.  He  never  heard  that 
the  pradlices  he  has  mentioned  in  his  evidence,  were 
newly  introduced. 

As  far  as  he  knows,  all  the  fabres  on  the  coafl:  are  P.  43. 
from  Europe. 

Except  working  in  gold,  the  Moors  are  known 
for  no  indufl:ry,  except  feizing  on  negroes,  and  col- 
led:ing  gum  arabic. 

At  Joal  the  king  has  a  certain  interefl:  in  the  trade, 
but  no  particular  taxes  ;  king  Darnel  has  fome  taxes, 
but  no  regular  fyfl:em  of  taxation  :  what  they  receive 
is  in  cattle  and  millet,  whah  they  fell  in  great  quan- 
tities at  Goree. 

Never  heard  of  any  infliance  of  the  king's  fending 
out  parties  to  enforce  the  pavmcnt  of  taxes  in  arrear. 

At  Sallum  the  trade  in  flaves  is  almofl:  entirely  in 
the  hands  of  the  king.     Ac  Sia  the  king  has  the 

principal 


14  Africa.  W  a  d  s  t  r  o  m.' 

1790.    principal  (bare,  but  fufFers  his  fubjeds  to  trade  alfo. 
,Part  11.  King  Darnel  has  no  prerogative  in  this  trade. 
'^-^^"w^      Was  told   by   two  French  captains,  and  French 
P.  44.   merchant,  that  the  French  Guinea  (hips  are  provided 
with  poifon,  with  which  they  may  deftroy  their  ne- 
groes, if  fubjeded  to   a  calm,  fhort  provifions,  or 
contagious  ficknefs  ;  and  captain  Le  Loup  inllanced 
a  velTei  from  Breft,  the  commander  of  which  was 
obliged  to  poifon  his  Haves,  in  a  paiTage  of  two  or 
three  months  ♦,  but  20  reaching  the  Cape  out  of  a 
carso  of  500. 


to' 


Witnefs  Examined — George  Rooke. 


P.  45.       Was   at   Goree   from  May  6th  to  Auguil  i6th, 

1779- 
Never  faw  the  pillage  executed  by  the  king  of 

Darnel  on  his  villages,  or  wounded  people  brought 
from  thence ;  he  always  underilood  that  when  he 
wanted  flaves  for  fale,  he  made  war  to  procure  them, 
and  does  not  know  whether  this  war  was  of  the  na- 
ture of  a  marauding  expedition  or  not. 

He  knew  that  kidnapping  took  place  in  the  neigh- 
P   4.6    bo^i^hood  of  Goree.     It  was  fpoken  of  as  a  common 
pradice.      It   was   reckoned   difgraceful   there,  but 
cannot  fpeak  as  to  the  opinion  on  the  continent.    As 
inftances  of  kidnapping,  he  remembers  two  or  three 
negroes  being  brought  to  Goree,  but  he  could  not 
difcover  by  whom.     At  their  requeil  he  immediately 
fent  them  back. 
P.  46,       It  was  propofed  to  him  by  three  captains  of  Eng- 
47,  48.  ^i^  ^ciYQ,  fhips  lying  under  the  fort  of  Goree  to  kid- 
nap 100  or  150  men,  women,  and  children,  the  king 
of  Damel's  fubje6ts,  (fome  of  whom  were  Maraboos) 
who  came  to  Goree   in  confequence  of  the  friendly 
intercourfe   between  him  and  Damel.     He  refufed, 
and  was  much  ihocked  by  the  propofition*     They 

faid 


Africa.  Rooke  15 

faid  fuch  things  had  been  done  by  a  former  governor,  1790, 
but  the  chief  Maraboo  at  Rufifque  did  not  recoiled  Part  If. 
any  fuch  event.  v.*-v->*j 

As  to  the  natives  being  fraudulently  taken  off,P,  46, 
recoliedls  being  informed  by  a  Maraboo,  that  four  or 
five  of  the  king  of  Darnel's  fubjects  were  on  board  a 
merchant  ihip.  He  had  them  brought  on  Hiore,  and 
fent  to  the  king.  The  captain  faid  in  excufe,  that 
they  came  on  board  drunk,  and  that  he  meant  to 
fend  them  afhore. 


Witnefs  examined — Robert  Norris,  Efq. 

Says,  that  the  evidence  delivered  by  him  before?.  50, 
the  Privy  Council  (m  their  Report  to  the  Houfe  of 
Commons)  is,  he  thinks,  to  the  bell  of  his  recollec- 
tion, a  correct  account  of  the  information  he  then 
gave  :  cannot  fpeak  with  precifion,  but  fuppofes  that 
the  printed  account  of  the  evidence  delivered  by  him 
at  the  bar  of  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  on  the  Bill 
for  regulating  the  tranfportation  of  Slaves,  is  a  cor- 
red  itatement  of  the  information  he  then  gave. 

Had  feveral  interviews  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark- P.  51. 
fon  at  Liverpool,  latter  part  of  1787,  who  exprefTing 
a  wilh  to  have  the  Have  trade  aboiifhed,  told  him  of 
feme  part  of  his  plan ;  which  was,  to  encourage  by 
bounties  a  trade  with  Africa  for  its  natural  produce  ; 
and  to  fubjed  veffels  in  the  Have-trade  to  a  licenfe 
tax,  from  which  to  defray  the  faid  bouncy  :  alfo 
fpoke  of  making  a  fetrlement  on  the  coaft,  and  thinks 
that  he  (Mr.  Norris)  propofed  Caramanfa  river,  as 
a  proper  place  :  that  flave  ihips  fnould  be  relfricled 
from  bringing  home  Weil  India  produce  was  alfo 
a  part  of  Mr.  Clarkfon's  plan  ;  of  which  he  has  now- 
given  the  fubflance.  Believes  he  faid  in  reply,  that 
confining  flave  -  fhips  entirely  to  the  fl  ive  -  trade,  ?•  52. 
would  give  greater  latitude  to  Ihips  trading  in  Afri- 
can produce.     Thinks  he  could  not  fui^pofe  the  plan 

propofed 


i6  No 


R    R    I    S. 


1790.  propofed,  could  abolifh  the  flave-trade,  but  encou^ 
Part  II.  rage  a  trade  in  the  produ6lions  of  the  country.  Mr. 
c-^^v  Ciarkfon  appeared  to  have  two  objects,  viz.  to  con- 
firm his  good  opinion  of  the  trade  for  the  natural 
produds  of  Africa,  and  to  difcover  the  abufes  in  the 
fiave-trade.  He  difcovered  an  anxious  folicitude  to 
effed  the  abolition  of  the  flave-trade,  but  Mr.  N. 
could  not  conceive  that  he  could  accomplifb  it,  and 
it  was  not  an  immediate  but  a  gradual  abolition 
which  he  undirftood  him  as  aiming  ac;  for  he  re- 
collefts,  that  he  (Mr.  C.)  wifhed  him  to  get  a  parti- 
cular friend  (Mr.  Falconbridge)  recommended  to  the 
command  of  a  flave  Ihip. 

Underftood  abolition  of  the  (lave -trade  to  be  the 
avowed  objedl  of  Mr.  C.  but  by  a  gradual  operation. 
Really  does  not  recoiled  what  he  then  thought  the 
propoiitions  from  that  gentleman  would  effedl ;  pre- 
fumes  he  thought  they  tended  to  a  gradual  abolition. 
P.  ^^,  He  gave  his  opinion  of  them  at  the  time  to  Mr.  C. 
who  iS,  he  Liares  lay,  more  able  than  himfelf,  at  this 
diftance  of  time,  to  recoiled  what  he  flated  his  im- 
prefTions  to  be  -,  but  as  well  as  he  recolle6ls,  it  was, 
that  they  tended  to  a  gradual  abolition  ;  and  he  gave 
him  every  information  that  he  polfefTed  frankly  on 
this  fubjeft,  Mr.  C.  will,  he  dares  fay,  do  him  the 
juftice  to  fay,  he  heard  him  with  temper ;  and  though 
he  could  not  think  an  immediate  abolition  practi- 
cable or  politick,  yet  he  withheld  no  advice  on  the 
fubjed  from  him. 

He  did  exprefs  his  concurrence  with  Mr.  C.  in  his 
objed  as  ilated  of  gradual  abolition,  and  ilill  enter- 
tains the  fame  opinion,  that  the  flave-trade  will  gra- 
dually come  to  the  abolition  he  wifhed  for. 

As  to  the  propoiitions  above  alluded  to,  believes 
he  fuggefled  one  or  them  himfelf,  and  the  others  he 
thought  conducive  to  the  end  propofed. 

He  could  approve  of  no  abolition  of  the  flave- 
trade  that  was  not  compatible  with  the  fituation  of 
the  Weft  India  iflands  •,  and  when  the  neceffities  of 
planters  there  no  longer  required  the  aid  ot  lajourers 

from 


N    O    R    R    I    S*  17 

from  Africa,  he  has   always  reckoned  that  the  trade   1790. 
will  ceafe  of  itfelf.  Part  II. 

Is  not  cafuifl  enough  to  decide  on  the  merits  or  ♦■"v-^ 
demerits  of  the  flave  trade    on    any  other   ground, 
than  that  of  political  and  commercial  necefTity. 

Previous  to  the  period  referred  to,  he  had  formed?.  54* 
his  own  private  opinion  •,  which  was,  that  the  fubjedts 
of  that  trade  are  in  general  more  happily  fituated  in 
the  colonies,  than  at  home  ;  and  when  conduced  with 
propriety,  thinks  it  confident  with  his  notions  of  hu- 
manity :  conceived  the  necefllties  of  the  Weft  India 
iflands  ought  to  prefcribe  the  continuance  of  the 
flave-trade ;  for,  he  confidered  flavery  as  a  condition 
of  rnankind  in  every  age,  and  in  every  country  •,  and 
whilft  the  neceffities  of  the  Weft  India  iflands  require 
a  fupply  of  African  flaves  (convinced  that  their  ftate 
there,  is  in  general  as  happy  as  it  was  at  home)  and 
whilft  thofe  necefllties  exift,  he  docs  not  difcover  that 
the  caufe  of  humanity  is  violated  by  continuing  that 
trade. 

Did  not  think  the  necefllties  of  the  Weft  Indies 
fhould  prefcribe  the  extent  to  which  the  flave  trade 
fliould  be  carried  on,  as  well  as  the  continuance  of 
it  J  for,  whilft  the  colonies  of  other  ftates  require  a 
fimilar  fupply  (which  they  would  endeavour  to  get 
for  themfelves)  as  a  commercial  man  he  conflders  we 
fliould  reiinquifh  an  important  fliare  of  our  com- 
merce, were  we  to  regulate  it  by  the  necefllties  of  the 
Britifli  colonies  alone.  Declares,  he  does  not  recoU 
Jecl  whether  any  thing  paflfed  in  his  intercourfe  with 
Mr,  C.  at  Liverpool,  about  preventing  our  fliips 
from  fupplyipg  fettlements  of  foreign  powers  with 
flaves  •,  but  if  there  did,  is  perfuaded  that  Mr.  C. 
can  inform  the  Committee,  but  fo  far  as  his  memory 
ferves,  believes  they  had  no  converfation  on  that 
point. 

Really  does  not  recoiled,  whether  Mr.  C.  made 
at  the  time,  any  minutes  of  what  paflTed  in  the  con- 
verfation. 

Numb,  3,  C  As 


l8  N   0    R    R    1    s, 

1790.        As  to  the  neceffities  of  the  colonies  for  flaves,  pre« 

Part  II.  fumes  his  opinion  then  was  the  fame  as  now  -,  that  the 

w-v^   iflands  want  a  fupply  of  10  or  12,000  annually,  and 

-^'  55'    as  to  the  time  fuch  fupply  may  be  wanted,  it  was  then 

as  impoffible  for  him  to  define  it  as  now.     As  to  the 

(lave  trade  being  carried  on  for  the  purpofe  only  of 

keeping  up  the  flaves  then  in   the  iflands,  he  cannot 

recoiled   his  opinion,   in   a  converfation  that  he  has 

almoft  entirely  forgotten ;  but  it  is  his  opinion,  that 

along  with  what  is  wanted  to  keep  up  the  fl:ock,  an 

additional  llrength  of  labourers  is  requifite  to  extend 

the  cultivation  of  the  iflands. 

Was  informed  by  Mr.  C.  that  he  had  been  at  Brif- 
tol,  to  colled  what  he  conld,  relative  to  the  abufes 
faid  to  have  been  committed  in  the  flave-trade,  v/ith 
a  view  of  bringing  thofe  officers  and  mafiers  tojnftice 
who  had  treated  their  feamen  harflily. 

Underflood  the  objed  of  his  journey  was,  to  re- 
drefs  the  injuries  faid  to  be  fuilained  by  individuals, 
and  gave  him  credit  for  the  attempt ;  but  does  not 
recollect  his  mentioning  any  other  objed  of  his  in- 
quiry there  than  to  difcover  what  violences  had  been 
committed  by  the  officers  againft  the  feamen. 

Underfl:ood  he  had  the  fame  objed  in  view  at 
Liverpool,  together  with  his  plan  for  an  efliablifli- 
ment  in  Africa,  and  gradual  abolition  of  the  flave- 
trade. 
P.  56.  Conceived  the  redrefs  of  the  injuries  fuffered  by 
feamen,  to  be  his  immediate  objed,  the  other  parts 
of  his  plan  he  conceived  to  be  a  more  difl:ant  con- 
fideration,  as  they  could  not  be  effeded  immediately. 
Is  not  competent  to  anfwer  what  was  his  main 
objed. 

The  converfation  before  alluded  to  with  Mr.  C. 
was  at  Liverpool  in  1787,  probably  at  his  own  houfe* 
Was  not  before  acquainted  with  Mr.  C.  had  feen  his 
book  on  the  Commerce  of  the  Human  Species.  Mr. 
C.  was  introduced  to  him  by  a  Mr.  Rathbone,  a 
merchant,  as  defirous  of  fome  information  refpeding 
the  African  flave-trade,  in  which  he  (Mr.  N.)   had 

been 


N  O   R   R   I   s.  ^9 

been  long  engaged:  he  replied  that  he  would  give  1790- 
him  what  information  he  knew,  and  fliew  him  a  ma- Part  II. 


nufcript  refpeding  Africa.  ^  ^ 

Does  not  recoiled  if  it  was  then  mentioned  that^*  .57 
Mr.  C.  was  purfuing  the  objed  of  an  abolition  of  the 
trade.  Believes  there  was  then  no  mention  made  of 
the  Society  inftituted  in  London  for  that  purpofe,  ei- 
ther by  Mr.  Rathbone  or  any  other  of  the  party. 
Does  not  recoiled,  whether  the  interview,  in  which 
the  proportions  for  the  gradual  abolition  of  the 
flave-trade  were  difcufled,  was  by  appointment  or 
not. 

As  to  being  fuppofed,  from  what  he  fald  before, 
to  concur  with  Mr.  C.  in  his  defign  and  wifb  for  the 
abolition  of  the  flave-trade,  or  only  to  declare  his 
opinion  that  the  proportions  if  adopted  would  tend 
to  that  effed.  Says,  that  Mr.  C.  being  introduced 
to  him  by  a  friend  whom  he  refpeded,  he  wilhed  to 
treat  him  with  courtefy.  He  found  him  flrongly 
impreffed  with  the  accomplifhing  of  a  particular 
objed.  Courtefy  to  a  (Iranger  induced  him  to  ac- 
quiefce  in,  rather  than  difcufs  the  merits  of  the  quef- 
tion,  and  it  was  his  opinion  that  the  propofitions  if 
adopted,  would  tend  to  that  effed.  At  that  time  he 
had  no  idea  of  ever  feeing  Mr.  C.  again,  nor  could  he 
interefl:  himfelf  either  in  the  abolition  of  the  flave- 
trade,  or  the  emancipation  of  the  negroes  in  the 
Wefl  Indies,  which  was  alio  one  of  his  propofitions  ; 
but  the  redrefs  of  abufes  of  feamen  was  an  objed  that 
he  defired  as  earneflly  as  Mr.  C. 

He  acquiefced  as  well  from  complaifance  to  aP«  5^' 
flranger,  as  from  a  convidion  which  he  flill  enter- 
tains, that  a  day  will  come  when  the  flave-trade  will 
ceafe.  Could  not  but  approve  of  Mr.  C's.  philan- 
thropy, though  he  doubts  of  the  policy  of  reducing 
his  principles  to  pradice ;  if  he  was  to  point  at  any 
thing  reprehenflble  in  Mr,  C's,  condud,  it  is  the 
abufing  a  private  converfation,  in  the  manner  he 
fufpeds  he  has  done,  by  making  him  fland  here  to 
fuftain  an  examination  upon  it  nearly  three  years 

C  %  after 


CO  N   O    R    R    I    S. 

1791.  after  it  pafied;  he  little  expe6ted  ever  to  have  heard 

Part  11.  any  future  mention  of  it. 

cori^  Could  not  but  condemn  the  meafure  if  carried  on 
with  precipitation,  as  ruinous  to  the  commerce  of 
this  country,  and  to  the  cultivation  of  the  iflands; 
but  at  fame  time  courtefy  to  a  ftranger,  whom  he 
never  expedled  to  fee  again,  prevented  him  from  de- 
bating the  merits  or  demerits  of  the  meafure. 

As  to  whether  he  underttood  Mr.  C's.  objedl:  to  be 
precipitate  and  immediate,  or  gradual  abolition,  does 
not  recoiled:  the  whole  of  his  obiedt;  their  conver- 
fations  on  the  fubje6t  were  much  too  fhort  for  a  full 
explanation  of  fo  important  a  meafure  j  but  believes 
a  gradual  abolition,  to  be  precipitated  by  his  plan, 

*  •  S9'  was  one  objed  of  his  inquiries  at  Liverpool :  he 
gave  Mr.  C's.  heart  full  credit  for  the  philanthropic 
meafure  which  he  purfued,  without  weighing  (in  his 
opinion)  the  political  and  commercial  inconvenien- 
cies  annexed  to  it;  and  civility  to  a  ftranger  induced 
him  to  acquiefce  in  the  meafure,  rather  than  condemn 
it.  Does  not  recoiled  that  he  ufed  anv  ars-uments 
with  Mr.  C.  to  dilTuade  him  from  purfuing  his  objed 
of  gradual  abolition,  for  he  found  him  to  cheriih  it 
fo  warmly,  that  any  attempt  would  have  been 
fruitlefs. 

Cannot  recoiled  when  Mr.  C.  left  Liverpool,  nor' 
after  what  interval  he  was  appointed  delegate,  which 
was  in  his  abfence,  and  without  his  knowledge.-~- 
From  his  firfl  feeing  Mr.  C.  to  his  appearing  before 
the  Privy  Council,  might  perhaps  be  fix  months. 

Does  not  recoiled  the  particular  abufes  in  the 
condud  of  the  flave  trade,  the  corredion  of  which 
Mr.  C  had  in  view,  except  as  before  intimated,  too 
much  feverity  faid  to  be  pradiled  by  the  officers,  and 
alfo  the  regulation  of  the  price  of  flops,  and  the 
cuilom  of  paying  half  the  wages  in  the  currency  of 

P.  60.  the  Weft  Indies  He  gave  him  all  the  information 
on  that  head  that  he  poiTeiTed.      Differed  from  him 

in 


N   O    R    R    I    S, 


at 


in  opinion  as  to  the  frequency  of  ill  treatment.    Mr.  1790. 
C.  quoted  more  inftances  than  had  ever  come  within  Part  IL 
his  knowledge.     Never  heard  of  many  inftances  in  ^--v'^J 
15  years  experience.     Some  he  has  known. 

Thinks  one  fingle  inftance  would  juilify  Mr  C's. 
endeavours  :  conceives  wanton  feverity  always  merits 
puniihment ;  the  inftances  he  has  heard  of  not  oc-  '^ 
curring  under  his  own  eye,  he  cannot  judge  of  the 
provocation  that  might  occafion  them  -,  bur.  if  they 
were,  as  reprefented,  he  Qiould  heartily  embrace 
Mr  C's.  fentiments  refpedling  them. 

Does  not  recolledl  that  he  gave  any  opinion  to 
Mr,  C.  as  to  the  general  practice  of  kidnapping  in 
Africa  by  natives,  though  he  might  have  mentioned 
it :  for,  a  few  months  after,  he  ftated,  in  his  evidence 
before  the  Privy  Council,  that  he  fufpeded  it  was 
pradifed  in  fome  inftances  between  the  unconne6led 
tribes  of  the  Windward  Coaft. 

Does  not  recollect  ftating  his  opinion  to  Mr.  C. 
upon  the  utility  of  the  {lave- trade  confidered  as  the 
fource  of  fupply  to  the  marine  of  Great  Britain; 
but  if  he  did,  he  probably  coincided  on  that  as  on 
other  points  to  the  opinions  which  that  gentleman 
entertained,  rather  than  harrafs  his  feelings,  by  dif- 
puting  opinions  which  he  cheriftied. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Appolo- 
nia,    are    fubjed    to    nearly    a    fimilarly  opprefTive 
tyranny  with  the  ftate  of  Dahomy.     Thefe  are  the  P.  61. 
only  two  arbitrary  governments  which  he  has  vifited; 
the  other  diftrids  of  the  Gold  Coaft  have  a  milder 


government, 


Whether  from  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Dahomy  or  Appolonia,  any  fair  conclufions  can  be 
drawn  as  to  the  people  of  Negroland  in  general, 
obferves,  that  in  drawing  fair  conclufions,  they 
fhould  be  taken  from  the  particular  countries,  and 
not  by  general  comparifon.  Thefe  two  countries 
are  not  a  ftandard  by  which  to  judge  of  the  adjoin- 
ing nations  on  the  fea  coaft,  and  he  knows  but  little 
of  the  interior  country. 

As 


22  N    0    R    R    I    S. 

1790.       As  to  the  weight  of  a  ba&et  or  crue  of  rice  on  the 
Pare  11. Windward  Coaft, — a  bafl^et  is  an  indefinite  weight-, 
* — r^  when  brought  aboard  in  ball^ets,  it  is  meafured  in  a 
crue,  which  is  about  20  lb. 

Has  read  the  entries  from  Capt.  Frafer's  journal, 
mentioned  in  the  examination  of  Mr.  Falconbridge, 
before  the  former  Seled  Committee  on  the  Slave 
Trade. — ^The  date  of  the  firfl:  entry  is  19th  Sept.  of 
the  laft  loth  of  November.  The  amount  of  the  total 
rice  mentioned  in  thefe  two  entries,  is  not  quite  i2{ 
tons,  not  quite  6  tons  of  which  appears  to  have  been 
gotten  at  Junk.  The  daily  confumption  of  the 
fhip's  company,  and  of  the  few  negroes  on  board, 
during  the  period  mentioned,  was,  he  believes,  not 
P.  62.  included  in  the  quantity  ftated  in  Captain  Frafer's 
journal. 

Whether  the  abolition,  for  which  Mr.  Clarkfon 
wifhed,  was  an  abolition  to  be  accelerated  by  means 
to  be  ufed  for  that  purpofe,  and  not  merely  a  dif- 
continuance  of  the  trade,  from  the  circumftance  of 
the  Weil  India  iflands  ceafing  to  want  any  further 
fupply,  he  cannot  at  this  diftance  of  time  take  upon 
him  to  fay;  nor  does  he  recoiled  more  of  it,  (Mr. 
C's.  plan)  than  a  gradual  abolition  of  the  flave-trade, 
and  the  emancipation  of  the  negroes  now  in  the 
iflands. 

Might  be  led,  from  the  perufal  of  Mr.  C's.  Eflay 
on  the  Slavery  and  Commerce  of  the  Human  Species, 
and  from  his  convei-fation,  that  he  had  in  view  the 
accelerating  of  the  abolition  ;  but,  with  refped  to 
the  concurrence  which  he  has  ftated  to  have  exprefled, 
with  Mr.  C.  in  his  objed,  he  calls  his  condud:  in  all 
his  communications  with  that  gentleman,  rather  an 
acquiefcence  from  deference  to  a  ftranger  of  his 
chara6ler  and  functions,  than  a  concurrence  with  his 
meafures. 

Even  had  he  difapproved  of  that  objeft,  which  he 
fuppofed  Mr.  C.  to  be  in  purfuit  of  ac  the  time,  he 
would   have   fuggeited  means  which^   in   his   own 

opinion^^ 


N    O    R    R    I    S.  23 

opinion,  conduced  to  the  attainment  of  it;  becaufe  1790. 
Mr.  C.  could  not  reafonably   fuppoie   him  totally  Part  IL 
ignorant  of  the  trade  which  he  was  inveiligating,  "-"^-^ 
and  if  he  had  withheld  every  hint  or  communication, 
he  would  have  been  charged  with  not    treating  a. 
llranger,  (introduced  to  him  by  a  friend  he  refpeded) 
with  "that  civility  and  hofpitality  which  he  wiflied  to 
do,  during  his  vifit  to  Liverpool.     Befides,  one  part 
of  Mr.  C.'s  plan  met  his  mofl  fmcere  concurrence, 
that  of  redreffing  the  abufes  faid  to  be  pra6tifed  to- 
wards feamen,  and  he  found  it  impofiible  to  converfe 
with  him  on  the  one  fubjed  v/ithout  being  infcnfibly  P,  63, 
led  to  the  other. 

He  found  Mr.  C.  fo  zealous  on  the  fubjefr,  that 
his  acquaintance  with  him  would  not  juftifv  his  pre- 
fuming  to  reafon  with  him  againd  a  fyftem  ruinous  to 
the  commerce  of  this  country,  and  which  he  thought 
at  the  timiC  he  could  not  pofTibly  effe6l.  He  con- 
ceived it  to  be  a  fine  fpun  theory  of  humanity,  and 
could  not  bring  himfelf  to  think,  that  men  and 
meafures  were  fo  powerfully  combined,  as  he  has 
fince  found  them,  to  promote  his  (Mr.  C's.)  views. 

Cannot  fay  now,  that  he  was  of  opinion  that  any 
of  thofe  propofitions  in  which  he  concurred,  and 
which  he  apprehended  to  tend  to  accelerate  the 
abolition  of  the  trade,  would  tend  alfo  to  accelerate 
that  period  at  which  the  Weft  India  lilands  would 
ceafe  to  require  any  further  fupply  of  fiaves.  Does 
not  recoiled  that  at  that  time  any  fuch  confideration 
occurred. 

As  to  the  period,  he  may  be  fuppofed  to  have 
-fixed  in  his  mind  for  the  abolition,  when  he  ftated 
that  fuch  an  event  would  gradually  take  place,  it 
would  have  been  prefumption  in  him  to  have  fixed 
any ;  for  in  all  his  converfations  with  Mr.  C.  on  a 
fubjed,  which  he  deemed  equally  imprudent  and 
impolitic,  he  had  fcarcely  one  ferious  confideration, 
beyond  being  commonly  civil  to  him. 

The  grounds  upon  which  he  entertained  the  opi- 
nion, that  the  African  flave-trade  will  gradually  come 

to 


24  N  O   R   R    I   s* 

179T.   to  be   abolifhed,  are,   the  reftridions   already   laid 

Part  11.  upon  the  trade,  and  the  meafures  fo  ably  and  unre- 

<y^\^^  mittingly  purfued  in  this  country  to  efFed:  it. 

P.  64.        Whether,    as  a  commercial   man,    he   thinks   it 

would  be  for  the  interefl  of  this  country  to  furnifh 

the  colonies  of  other  powers  with  flaves,  after  our 

own  have  ceafed  to  need  further  fupply,  this  being 

matter  of  opinion,    fhould   he  live  to  fee  the  day 

when  the  Britifh  iflands  have  ceafed  to  require  any 

further  fupply,  he  will  be  more  competent  to  form 

a  judgment  on  the  queftion  than  at  prefent. 

But  he  fancies  there  is  not  a  politician  or  merchant 
in  this  country  but  will  admit  that  fuch  a  commerce 
would  be  to  the  advantage  of  this  country ;  for  it 
would  be  fecuring  to  the  merchant  that  profit  which 
would  otherwife  center  with  other  merchants  and 
xnanufadlurers  that  continued  it. 

Whether  "  The  African  flave-trade  is  carried  on 
*^  as  much  to  the  eafe  and  comfort  of  thofe  that  are 
*'  the  fubjeds  of  it,  and  alfo  of  thofe  that  condud  it, 
"  as  it  is  poffible  for  human  ingenuity  to  devife:'* 
begs  leave  to  objed  to  the  quelUon,  becaufe  it  is  a 
quotation  from  a  pamphlet,  which  he  does  not  think  it ' 
incumbent  on  him  to  fupport  before  the  comm/ittee, 
P.  65.  Has  no  reafon  to  doubt,  that  all  the  fliips  in  that 
account  from  Liverpool,  which  he  delivered  to  the 
committee,  dated  to  have  been  laid  up  in  confequence 
of  the  adl,  commonly  called  the  Slave-carrying  Ad, 
were  adually  driven  out  of  the  trade  by  the  opera- 
tion of  that  law. 

Has  recently  received  an  account  of  a  late  rapid 
increafe  in  the  French  trade  to  and  from  the  Coaft 
of  Africa,  which  Hates,  that  there  had  failed,  or 
were  fitting  out,  between  id  June,  1789,  and  i8th 
January,  1790,  for  the  African  trade,  from  Nantes 
42  veflels;  Rochelle  12;  Bourdeaux  32^  St.  Maioes 
4  J  Harfleur  8;  Marfeilles4  5  and  from  Havre  28  ^ 
in  all  130  velTels,  in  fevQa  months  and  an  half,  or 
thereabouts.  His  information  does  not  fpecify  whe- 
ther any  of  tl^efe  veflels  are  employed  in  trade  for 

the 


Clarkson.  25 

the  produdions  of  the  country,  in  contradI6lIon  to  1790. 
the  flave-trade  ;  which  inducts  him  to  believe  that  Part  II. 
the  flave-trade  only  is  meant,  ♦---v-^ 


Witnefs  examined, — Rev.  Thomas  Clarkson, 

Went,  in  company  with  Mr.  Rathbone,  of  Liver  p.  56, 
pool,  to  Mr.  Norris's  houfe,  but  not  finding  him,  was 
introduced  to  him  upon  change,  as  the  author  of  an 
ElTay  on  "  the  Slavery  and  Commerce  of  the  Flumaa 
"  Species  i"  and  as  coming  to  Liverpool  for  infor- 
mation on  the  Have  trade.  Mr.  Norris  faid,  he  had 
read  his  book  with  much  fatisfa6lion,  adding,  as  near 
as  he  can  recolle6l,  that  it  contained  the  truth.  He 
promifed  him  alfo  every  information  as  to  the  obje6t 
of  his  journey,  and  appointed  Sunday  following,  for 
a  meeting  at  his  own  houfe. 

Was  afterwards  at  his  houfe  6  times  ;  and  was  wait- 
ed upon  alfo  by  Mr.  Norris,  3  or  4.  Each  time  they 
had  long  converfations  on  the  flave  trade.  On  the 
firflof  thefe  (Sunday)  witnefs  read  a  manufcript,  in- 
titled,  "  An  account  of  the  wars  and  cuftoms  of  the 
^^  Dahomans,"  which  Mr.  Norris  lent  him.  After- P.  67. 
wards,  on  fame  day,  in  fpeaking  of  productions  of 
Africa,  Mr.  Norris  dated  them  fuch,  as  they  v/ere 
afterwards  fee  down,  in  confequence  of  his  evidence 
in  the  Privy  Council  report.  He  aflirm.ed  alfo,  the 
almoft  univerfal  way  in  which  fuch  bccam.e  fiaves, 
as  he  had  tranfported  from  the  coall,  was  this,  That 
they  were  kidnapped  (by  the  natives,  p.  68)  either 
as  they  were  travelling  on  the  roads,  or  fiihing  in 
the  creeks,  or  cultivating  their  little  fpots,  which 
hiftory  he  had  learnt  from  themfelves.  In  future 
converfations  alfo,  as  to  this  being  an  univerfal  mode, 
his  reply  was,  <^  Undoubtedly,  no  perfon  can  deny 
''  it." 

At  a  future  time,  Mr.  Norris  gave  him  fome  black 

pepper,    brought  with  him  from  Whydah,  as  one 

Numb.  3.  D  argument 


0.6  C    L    A    R    K    S    O    n; 

1790.    argument  of  the  impolicy  of  the  flave  trade.     Being 

Part.  1!  fhewn  alfo    copies  of  fome  mufter-rolls   of  Briftol 

^■^^^'^^    Guineamen,  which  witnefs  had  colle6led,   he  faid, 

he  would  find  nearly  the  fame  lofs  of  feamen  in  thofe 

of  Liverpool,  as  in  thole  then  fhewn  him. 

At  another  time,  when  informed  by  witnefs,  that 
he  was  on  point  of  difcovering  a  murder  by  captain 
Brown,  on  Peter  Green,  a  feaman  ;  he  allowed  great 
cruelties  praftifed  on  feamen  in  Have  trade.  Called 
afterwards  on  witnefs  with  a  journal  of  a  voyage  in 
that  trade,  to  convince  him  he  had  not  been  deceiv- 
ed in  information  collefted  on  that  point;  and  to 
confirm  witnefs  more,  of  his  being  of  the  fame  mind 
P.  68.  with  himfelf,  invited  him  to  his  houfe,  to  communi- 
care  on  claufes  for  a  bill,  that  would  bring  abouc 
abolition  of  (lave  trade.  Witnefs  went,  and  after 
fome  converfation,  Mr.  N.  didtated,  and  witnefs 
wrote.  He  wrote  the  claufes  with  Mr.  N's  own  pen- 
and  ink,  and  in  his  own  room. 

Witnefs  had  fuch  confidence  in  Mr.  N.  as  a  man 
of  vcacity,  and  a  zealous  friend  to  the  abolition  of 
flave  trade,  that  on  making  a  fecond  edition  of  his 
work,  "  On  the  Slavery  and  Commerce  of  the  Hu- 
"  man  Species,'*  he  inferted  the  circumftance  of 
kidnapping,  as  well  as  that  of  the  king  of  Dahomy 
breaking  up  a  village  when  he  Vv^anted  Haves,  as  be- 
fore communicated  to  him  by  Mr.  Norris.  As  a 
farther  proof,  when  he  waited  upon  Mr.  Pitt,  to  ex- 
prels  his  hopes,  that  the  committe  of  the  Privy  Coun- 
cil (then  about  to  examine  into  the  flave  trade) 
would  examine  witnefles  on  both  fides  of  the  quef- 
tion.  He  mentioned  Mr.  Norris  having  material 
information  on  that  fide  of  the  queftion,  which  re- 
lated to  the  abolition  ;  repeating  the  fubftance  of  his 
different  converfations  with  him  on  the  produce  of 
Africa ;  the  new  trade  that  could  be  eftabiifhed 
there ;  the  lofs  of  feamen,  and  cruelties  exercifed  on 
them  in  the  flave  trade  •,  mentioning,  at  the  fame 
time,  the  claufes  which  Mr.  N.  had  given  him  for  a 
bill  for  its  abolition.     Was  afraid,  however,   that 

Mr. 


Clarkson.  127 

Mr.  N.  on  being  written  to  only  by  an  individual  1790. 
like  himfelf,  would  not  come  to  London,  connecledParr  il, 
as  he  was  at  Liverpool ;  though  he  knew  his  heart  *-^    w 
to  be  engaged  on  that  fide ;  wifhed  therefore  an  or- P.  69. 
der  to  be  fent  him  by  the  committee,  which  wo-i!d 
take  off  the  rifk  of  difobliging  connexions  there. 
On  being  told  by  Mr.  Pitt,   that  attendance  to  fuch 
order  could  not  be  enforced,  witnefs  wrote  himfdf 
to  Mr.  N.   at  Liverpool,   but  was  anfwered  by  Mr. 
Rathbone,  that  he  Mr.  N.  was  then  in  London.      ~ 

On  this  information,  witnefs  wifhed  much  to  find 
him  out,  to  intreathim  to  perfevere  in  the  fame  iii»e 
of  condudt,  as  manifefted  to  him  at  Liverpool. 
Found  his  addrefs,  but  before  he  could  fee  him,  was 
told  by  the  bifhop  of  London,  very  greatly  to  his 
furprife,  that  Mr.  Norris  *'  had  come  up  as  a  Liver- 
pool delegate,  in  fupport  of  the  (lave  trade."  Wit- 
nefs upon  this,  tells  his  lordfhip,  and  afterwards  ftates 
in  writing,  how  Mr.  Norris  had  behaved,  as  above 
ilated.  Diftreffed  at  the  time,  and  balancing  be- 
tween the  thought  of  violating  the  rights  of  hofpita- 
lity,  by  expofmg  Mr.  Norris,  and  the  duty  due  to 
the  caufe  he  had  undertaken,  he  allied  his  lordfhip 
how  to  ad  ;  who  advifmg  him  to  call  perfonally  on 
Mr.  N.  to  explain  the  reafons  of  his  condu6t,  he 
went,  but  not  finding  him  at  home,  left  his  card.  p.  ^o. 
Soon  after  Mr.  N.  waited  upon  witnefs,  who  was 
out,  and  left  the  follovv'ing  letter,  which  the  commit- 
tee defired  to  be  produced,  and  taken  down. 

"  My  dear  Sir, 
"  The  letter,  which  you  did  me  the  honour  to 
*^  addrefs  to  me  at  Liverpool,  miffed  me  tnere,  and 
"  reached  me  here  only  a  few  days  ago  ^  being 
"  brought  to  me  by  a  gentleman  from  thence,  who 
"  was  fo  obliging  as  to  charge  himfelf  with  rhe  care 
*^  of  it.  It  gave  me  the  fincereil  pleafure  to  receive 
**  this  teflim.ony  of  the  regard  of  a  gentleman,  whom 
qblic  I  ([^^w  ^y^j.  reiped:  and  efleem,  and  whofe  phi- 
^^  lanthropy  claims  the  admiration  of  every  perfon 

V  z  ^*  whofe 


2  3  C    L    A    R    K   S    O    N. 

1 790.    ^^  whofe  bofom  contains  a  fpark  of  humanity.    Upon 

Pare.  11.  *^  my  return  to  my  lodgings  lad  night,  I   was  ho- 

^•^»^/^  no'jred  with  your  card,  announcing  your  addrefs, 

^^  and  rtTolved  to  wait  upon  you  this  morning;   but 

'   "  the    arrival   of  a    packet  from   the  Weft  Indies, 

^'  which  called  on  its  way  at  Charlefton,  has  brought 

*'  me    letters    from    my    connexions    there,   which 

*^  oblige  me  to  relinquifh  my  intention,   from  avo- 

''  cations    which    require    my   immediate  attention 

"  elfewhere  j  and  as  I  am  under  an  engagement  to 

Vifii  a  friend  in  the  country  to-morrow,  and  dial  I 

not  return  till  Monday,    I  find  I  fhall  not  be  able 

to  enjoy  the  pieafure  of  waiting  on  you  until  fome 

day  early  in  the  enfuing  week. 

*^  Since  we  parted  lail,   the  fubjedt   of  our  con- 

verfation  has  frequently  employed    my  thoughts; 

and  the  force  of  your  arguments,   and  the  juftice 

^'  and  humanity  of  your  fentiments,   have  imprefled 

"  on  my  mind  a  due  deference  for  your  opinions; 

P»  71*    "  but  we  differ  in   fome  points  :  from   commercial 

and    political    confiderationsj   I    am    induced    to 

think,  that  the  benevolence  of  your  plan  cannot  be 

acceded  to  in  toto.     If  you  will  be  pleafed  to  turn 

to  my  favourite  author,  the  Abbe  Raynal,  vol.  i. 

p.  9,  you  will  fee  a   iirong  argument  againft  one 

part  of  it;   and  other  objections  occur  to  myfeif; 

but  I  affure  you,   that  whatever  my  own  private 

opinions  may  be,  I  Ihould    gladly   have  declined 

any  publick  interference   in   this  bufinefs,  could  I 

have  refufed  it  with  propriety.     The  prefent   in- 

veuigacion  will,  i  hope,  tend  to  correal  whatever 


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Ci 

(<. 

"  abufes  exile  in  the  African  trade,  as  well  as  to  im- 
*^  prove  the  condition  and  fituation  of  that  'inhappy 
*^  part  of  our  fellow-creatures,  whofe  unfortunate 
^^  lot  it  is,  perhaps,  for  fome  wife,  though  infcruta- 
'*  ble  piirpofe  of  our  Creator,  to  toil  for  their  breth- 
*'  ren  •,  and  every  idea,  tending  to  fo  defirable  a  pur- 
*'  pofe  i?,  I  truil,  as  dear  to  me  as  it  can  be  to  any 
^^  perfbn  whaccver. 

''  Your 


C    L    A    R    K    S    O    N;  ^9 

<«  Your  kind  remembrance  of  Mrs.  Norris,  claims  1790. 
*^  my  warmed  thanks,  and  I  am,  with  every  fenti-Part  II. 
"  ment  of  refpedl  and  friendfhip,  v.-^v^ 

«  Dear  Sir, 

*^  Your  obliged  and  mod  obedient  fervant, 

Salopian,  29th  Feb.  1788.    '     "  Robert  Norris*'* 

P.  S.  "  I  am  fo  prefTed  for  time,  that  I  mud  beg 
*'  you  will  excufe  this  very  incorred  letter,  which  I 
*'  afTure  you  I  have  not  leifure  to  copy." 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Clarkfon,  No.  10,  Gerrard-Street, 

Soho. 

Witnefs  fays,  that  he  dated  this  conduft  of  Mr.  N. 
to  Sir  William  Dolben,  fo  early  as  the  time  of  his  re- 
gulating bill :  as  alfo  2  or  3  times  to  Mr.  Cruden,  to 
fee  if  Mr.  Cruden,  who  was  prefent  at  the  fird  con- 
verfation  at  Mr.  Norris's  houfe,  and  knew  Mr.  Nor- 
ris's  great  pains  to  give  him  intelligence,  perfectly 
recoliefted  it,  and  if  fuch  condud  did  not  appear 
equally  driking  to  him  as  to  witnefs.  Mr.  Cruden's 
reply  to  witnefs,  in  the  prefence  of  another  perfon  or 
perfons,  was,  ^^  My  opinion  of  Mr.  Norris,  whom  IP.  72, 
*'  have  known  for  years,  is  of  the  highed  kind,  but  I 
*'  confefs  his  condud  to  you  at  Liverpool,  and  dnce 
^'  as  a  Liverpool  delegate,  embarrafTes  me  much." 

Says,  Mr.  Norris  could  not  but  have  known  his 
ohje6t  at  Liverpool  to  be  abolition  of  Have  trade, 
even  had  he  not  heard  it  from  himfelf.  It  was  noto- 
rious that  witnefs  went  there  with  that  view,  h'e  din- 
ing daily  in  publick,  and  merchants  pointing  at  him 
as  he  palled  the  change,  as  a  perfon  of  that  defcrip- 
tion. 

Is  fure  the  information  he  is  now  giving,  is  pre- 
cifely  what  he  received  from  Mr.  Norris  ^  for  as  to 
the  fcwo  fads  relative    "  to  kidnapping,  and  the  king 

"  of 


3^  Clarkson. 

1790.  ^^  of  Dahomy,*'  before  related,  he  put  them  down  in 
Part  II.  a  book,  foon  after  the  converfation,  he  kept  for  that 
*— v^*-'  purpofe;  and  as  totheclaufes  given  him  by  Mr.  N. 
for  a  bill  for  abolition,  he  put  them  down  alfo,  with 
this  difference,  that  he  put  down  the  latter  with  Mr. 
Norris's  own  pen  and  ink,  and  own  room  ;  has  that 
book  to  produce,  if  neceflary. 

The  committee  requefting  the  book  to  be  pro- 
duced, the  following  claufes  were  taken  from  it. 
F.  73,        I,     "  Make  every  Have  veflei  take  out  a  licence, 
'^  and  let  the  fum  paid  for  fuch  licence,  be  at  lead 

2.  ^^  Let  no  flave  vefTel,  under  fevere  penalties, 
'^  be  fufFered  to  take  a  tooth,  a  puncheon  of  palm 
*^  oil,  or  any  of  its  produdlions,  from  the  coaft. 

3.  "  Let  no  {lave  veflel  be  permitted  to  bring  a 
^^  bale  of  cotton,  a  hogfhead  of  fugar,  or  even  a  paf- 
*«  fenger,  from  the  Weft  Indies. 

4.  "  i^iooo  fine  for  a  vefTel  that  fupplies  the 
*'  Spaniards  and  French. 

5.  '^  Let  every  vefTel  that  goes  to  Africa  for  the 
*'  natural  productions  of  the  country,  receive  a 
"  bounty.  £s^^  ^^^  bounty  would  be  adequate  to 
'^  the  wages  of  feamen,  their  provifions,  and  the 
*'  ftores  of  a  vefTel  of  200  tons,  for  8  months  j  £2^0 
'^  to  be  paid  at  outfet,  ;^20O  at  her  return. 

6.  ^^  The  Bananas  to  be  head  quarters  and  firft 
*^  fettlement ;  they  belonged  to  one  Cleland,  a  mu- 
"  lattoj  perhaps  his  family,  who  remain,  would 
*^  fell  it. 

7.  '^  That  the  De  Lofs  Iflands  be  the  fecond 
"  from  Sierra  Leone  to  Cape  Mount.  To  wind- 
'^  ward  of  Sierra  Leone  there  is  a  tra6t,  where  the 
*'  blacks  are  defcendants  of  the  Portuguefe ;  thefe 
'^  people  are  indultrious  at  prefent,  more  civilized 
^^  than  the  natives,  good  boatmen,  craftfmen,  &c. 
"  They  are  free,  and  not  dependant  on  the  Fortu- 
"  gueie ;  a  fort  of  muiattoes,  and  would  eafily  be 
*'  brought  over. 

g.     "  Tha 


C    L    A    K    S    O    N.  31 

8.  *^  The  River  Caramanca,  on  the  Windward,    1790. 
*^  or  Gold  Coaft,  runs  parallel  to  the  fea,  and  would  Part  IL 
*^  be  a  moft  eligible  fituation,  both  in  point  of  de-  v-*-sr^ 
*^  fence  and  productions. 

9.  "  Thefe   regulations   will   deftroy  the  flaveP.  74, 
**  trade  in  a  few  years." 

Says,  the  claufe  relative  to  a  licence  for  flave  fhips, 
came  from  Mr.  N.  that  relative  to  a  bounty,  from 
himfelf  •,  though  Mr.  N.  calculated  the  fums  annex- 
ed to  it  J  that  relative  to  hindering  flave  Ihips  from 
taking  off  the  produce  of  Africa,  cam.e  from  himfelf 
alfo  ;  but  that  for  hindering  them  from  taking  Welt 
India  produce,  &c.  from  Mr.  N.  As  to  that  rela- 
tive to  the  trade  carried  on  for  the  French  and 
Spaniards,  cannot  fay  who  propofed  it;  but  Mr.  N. 
mentioned  the  fine  of  ^^  1000,  faying,  this  branch  of 
it  ought  immediately  to  be  abolifbed,  as  fupplying 
foreigners  at  the  expence  of  the  EngliHi  marine. 
The  fettlements  alfo  were  mentioned  by  Mr.  N.  in 
the  order  in  which  they  Hand,  though  witnefs  can- 
not fay  pofitively  whether  propofed  as  neceflary  by 
Mr.  N.  or  himfelf.  Mr.  N.  however,  gave  his  fanc- 
tion  to  the  whole,  for  witnefs  put  down  no  claufe 
not  approved  of  by  Mr.  N.  after  converfation  on 
the  propriety  of  it. 

Recolleds  Mr.  Norris  ftated  the  flave-trade  to  be 
a  lofing  trade,  in  prefencc  of  MeiTrs.  Cruden  and 
Copeland,  the  latter  of  whom  had  been  a  Have- 
merchant. 

Was  introduced  to  Mr.  N.  he  fuppofes,  in  the  ?•  75* 
beginning  of  Septemb.  left  him  the  end  of  06tober, 
and  in  the  February  following  was  told  that  Mr.  N. 
had  come  up  as  a  Liverpool  Delegate. 

Never  afked  Mr.  N.  to  procure  a  flave-fhip  for 
Mr.  Falconbridge.  Should  have  thought  he  would 
have  fuffered  in  Mr.  N's.  opinion  from  fuch  a  pro- 
pofal.  Befides,  Mr.  F.  had  previoufly  declared  to 
witnefs  at  Briftol,  before  a  gentleman,  that  he  had 
left  the  trade  from  principle.  Adds  that  the  obje6t 
of  Mr.  Falconbridge's  journey  to  Liverpool,  was  to 

aid 


32  ^LAKKSOn, 

1790.  aid  him  in  procuring  fadls  for  abolition  of  the  flave 
Part  II.  trade:  nor  did  he  make  fiich  a  propofal  to  any  other 
*«--v*^  perfon.  Thinks  it  not  improbable  he  might  have 
told  Mr.  N.  that  as  the  flave-trade  could  not  imme- 
diately be  aboliihed,  it  was  a  pity  that  humane  men 
fhould  not  be  feleded  to  command  flave-fhips  in  the 
interim,  but  does  not  even  recoiled:  this. 
P.  76,  Says  there  were  very  few  meetings  of  himfelf  and 
Mr.  N.  at  which  Mr.  F.  was  prefent.  Does  not  re- 
coiled being  at  the  Exchange  with  Mr.  F.  and 
Mr.  N.  or  of  feeing  Mr.  F.  at  the  Exchange  at  any 
diftance,  when  with  Mr.  N.  though  this  might  have 
happened.  Was  about  fix  weeks  at  Liverpool. 
P.  77.  Thinks,  in  his  calls  on  Mr.  N.  found  him  at  home 
five  or  fix  times;  dined  with  him  twice;  faw  him  in 
a  morning,  when  he  fhewed  him  copies  of  the 
Briflol  mufter-rolls ;  received  from  him  another 
morning,  at  his  houfe,  the  pepper  from  Whydah  : 
faw  him  alfo  when  he  went  to  tell  him  of  the  pro- 
bability of  proving  the  murder  of  Green,  by  Capt. 
Brown :  a  fixth  time  was,  when  he  received  from 
him  the  claufes. 

Was  of  opinion,  that  Mr.  N.  did  not  confider  the 
abolition  as  an  extraordinary  plan,  but  as  one  which 
ought  to  be  executed.  His  whole  conduft  to  him, 
(Mr.  C.)  at  Liverpool,  made  him  believe  fo. 

Recoiledts  Mr.  N.  fhewed  him  fome  papers,  and 
gave  him  one,  viz.  "  An  Invoice  for  a  Cargo  to 
*'  Whydah;"  but  none  about  the  lofs  of  feamen. 
Mud,  however,  do  Mr.  M.  the  juilice  to  fay,  he  has 
heard  him  ftate  the  lofs  of  feamen  in  his  own  fhip  to 
be  little  or  nothing  This,  however,  he  did  not 
llate,  to  fliew  Mr.  C.  had  been  deceived,  but  rhat 
there  were  Ihips  that  went  to  the  coaft  without  any 
material  lofs  ^  and  Mr.  C.  confidercd  it  as  a  proof 
of  Mr.  N's.  own  humanity. 

Underftood  kidnapping,  from  Mr.  N.  to  be  the 
general  pra6lice,  as  far  as  he,  Mr.  N.  could  judge 
from  his  own  experience,  except  only  Dahomy,  for 
that  king  was  faid  by  him  not  to  kidnap,  but  to 

feJze 


C    L    A    R    K    S    O    N.  33 

feize  on  a  village,  when  in  want  of  flaves.     Mr  N.   1790. 
never  difcriminated  between  kidnapping  by  hoftilePart  IL 
nations  or  by  individuals.     His  words  were,  (which  ^-^^r^ 
witnefs  will  never  forget)  "  that  on  inquiry  into  the^*  7^' 
hifbory  of  thofe  whom  he  had  taken  from  Africa  in 
his  own  veffels,  their  almoft  univerfal  anfwer  was, 
that  they  were  kidnapped  either  as  they  v/ere  tra- 
velling, or  fifhingj  or  cultivating  their  little  fpots." 
On  returning  from  Mr.  Norris's  he  put  down  thefe 
words  in  his  journal,  produced  yeflerday.     Says  it  P.  79.  , 
is  impoifible  for  him  ever  to  have  mifunderftood  Mr. 
N.  on  this  particular;  was  never  clearer  of  any  thing 
in  his  life.     Says  alfo,  that  though  he  inferred  the 
circumftance  into  the  fecond  edition  of  his  *'  Eflay  on 
the  Slavery  and  Commerce  of  the  Human  Species,'* 
he  djd  not  infert  it  as  the  bafis  upon  which  he  built 
the  affertion  there,  that  kidnapping  was  a  general 
pradlice,  but  only  to  corrroborate  other  circumftances 
mentioned  in  the  former  edition  of  that  book. 

Does  not  recoiled:  that  Mr.  N.  alluded  to  any- 
particular  period,  when  he  Hated  the  flave«  trade  to 
be  a  lofmg  one. 

Never  heard  Mr.  N.  exprefs  any  approbation  or 
difapprobation  of  his,  (witnefs's)  meafures  to  redrefs 
abufes  of  Guinea  feamen.  Knows  only  Mr.  N. 
concurred  with  him,  that  fuch  enormities  were  prac- 
tifed,  and  the  feamen  were  worfe  ufed  in  that  than 
any  other  trade,  which  Mr.  N.  not  only  exprelTed  at 
his  own  houfe,  but  when  he  lent  him  the  journal 
before  defcribed,  (p.  67.) 

As  to  any  plan  faid  to  have  been  communicated 
by  him  to  Mr.  N.  for  freeing  of  the  negroes,  fays  he 
was  never  fo  abfurd  as  to  think  of  fuch  a  plan.  His 
fole  objed  at  Liverpool  was  to  coiled  fads  for  the 
abolition  of  the  flave-trade.  This  diftindion  between 
abolition  and  emancipation  he  fet  out  with  as  a  firft 
principle,  and  has  preferved  till  now. 

As   to  the  fuppofition  that  Mr.  N.  could  not  beP,  80. 
ferious  in  condemning  a  trade  he  had  long  purfued, 
witnefs  believes  he  fincerely  meant  the  abolition  of 

Numb.  3.  E  the 


34  Clarksow. 

1790.  the  trade  in  many  branches,  as  neither  juftlfiable  on 
Part  II.  the  principles  of  humanity  nor  policy;  and  witnefs's 

v-^-v-*o  condud,  as  explained  yefterday,  proves  he  thought 
fo3  for  he.  not  only  mentioned  him  to  Mr.  Pitt,  as  he 
then  flated,  as  a  proper  evidence  for  abolition,  but 
even  wrote  him  to  come  to  London  in  that  capacity. 
On  being  alked  the  character  of  Mr.  Rathbone, 
witnefs  replied,  that  he  was  recommended  to  him  as 
to  a  very  worthy  man,  and  found  him  fo ;  and  being 
afked  again,  if  civility  to  a  flranger,  recommended 
by  Mr.  Rathbone,  might  not  prevent  Mr.  N.  from 
controverting  opinions,  which  he,  witnefs,  warmly 
efpoufed,  replied,  in  his  opinion,  civility  to  a  flranger, 
ought  not  to  prevent  any  man  from  telling  the  truth;, 
neither  does  he  believe  it  did  him,  becaufe  Mr.  R. 
repeatedly  told  witnefs  Mr.  N.  condemned  the  .trade. 


Witnefs  examined — Dr.  Thomas  Trotter, 
A  Surgeon  in  the  Royal  Navy. 

P,  80.  Was  a  voyage  in  the  African  flave-trade,  from 
Liverpool,  in  1783,  furgeon  of  the  Brookes,  Clement 
Noble,  mafter.  Ten  months  on  the  coaft,  from  the 
time  they  reached  Cape  Pahnas,  till  the  cargo  was 

P.  81.  completed  atAnamaboe.  Made  many  inquiries  into 
the  mode  of  procuring  flaves,  of  flaves  themfelves, 
of  traders,  and  particularly  of  Accra,  a  trader  at 
Cape  la  How,  who  was  a  moil  intelligent  man,  of 
uncommon  modeily  and  gentlenefs,  and  v/ell  known 
as  a  man  of  great  integrity.  The  information  re- 
ceived was,  that  the  natives  were  fometimes  flaves 
from  crimes,  but  the  greater  part  of  flaves  were  what 
they  called  prifoners  of  war.  Of  their  whole  cargo 
recoUeds  only  three  criminals,  one  fold  for  adultery, 
and  one  for  witchcraft,  whofe  whole  family  fhared 
his  fate.  One  of  the  firfl  faid  he  had  been  decoyed 
by  a  woman,  who  told  her  hufband,  and  he  was 

fentenced 


Africa.  T  r  o  t  t  e  r^"  3  j 

fentenced  to  pay  a  (lave ;  but  being  poor,  was  fold    1790. 
himfelf.     Such  ftratagems  are  frequent:  the  fourth  Part  II. 
mate  of  the  Brookes  was  fo  decoyed,  and  obliged  to   v-^v^-* 
pay  a  flave,  under  threat  of  flopping  trader 

Of  the  family  fold  for  witchcraft,  confiding,  he  P.  82. 
thinks,  of  the  man,  his  mother,  wife,  and  two 
daughters ;  the  women  fhewed  the  deepefl  affli6lion, 
the  man  a  fuUen  melancholy  :  faid,  that  having 
quarrelled  with  the  Cabbofheer  of  Salt-pan,  he,  in 
revenge,  had  accufed  him  of  witchcraft:  he  refufed 
food :  early  next  morning  it  was  found  he  had  at- 
tempted to  cut  his  throat  -,  the  wound  was  fewed  up, 
but  the  following  night  he  had  not  only  torn  out 
the  futures,  but  had  made  a  fimilar  attempt  on  the 
other  fide :  from  the  ragged  edges  of  die  wound, 
and  the  blood  upon  his  finger  ends  it  appeared  to 
have  been  done  with  his  nails,  for  though  ftrid 
fearch  was  made  through  all  the  rooms,  no  inflru- 
ment  was  found.  He  declared  he  never  would  go 
with  white  men,  uttered  incoherent  fentences,  and 
looked  wiihfuliy  at  the  Ikies.  His  hands  were  fe- 
cured,  but  perfiiling  to  refufe  all  fuftenance,  he  died 
of  hunger  in  eight  or  ten  days. 

Has  often  afked  Accra,  what  he  meant  by  pri- 
foners  of  war.  Found  they  were  fuch  as  had  beea 
carried  oiF  by  a  fet  of  marauders,  who  ravage  the- 
country  for  that  purpofe.  The  bulh-men  making 
war  to  make  trade,  (meaning  it  feemed  to  make 
flaves)  was  a  common  way  of  fpeaking  among  the 
traders.  The  pradice  was  alfo  confirmed  by  the 
flaves  who  fhewed  by  geflures  how  the  robbers  had 
come  upon  them  ;  and  in  the  Brookes,  during  the 
palTage,  fome  of  the  boy  (flaves)  played  a  game, P.  83* 
which  they  called  flave-taking,  or  bufli-fighting ; 
fliewing  the  different  manoeuvres  thereof  in  leaping, 
rallying,  and  retreating.  Inquiries  of  this  nature 
put  to  the  women,  were  anfwered  only  by  violent 
burfls  of  forrow.  Upon  afking  Accra,  what  they 
made  of  their  flaves  when  the  Englifh  and  French 

E  2  were 


36'  Africa.  Trotter. 

1790.  were  at  war,  he  limply  anfwered,  "  Suppofe  ihip  no 
Part  11/^  come,  maiTa,  no  take  flave." 

Had  many  boys  and  girls  on  board,  who  had  no 
relations  in  the  fhip ;  many  of  them  told  him  they 
had  been  kidnapped  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ana- 
maboe,  particularly  a  girl  of  about  8  years,  who  faid 
flie  had  been  carried  off  from  her  mother,  by  the  man 
who  fold  her  to  the  fhip. 

Oncefaw  fat  Sam,  their  gold  taker,  fend  his  canoe 
to  take  3  fifhermen,  employed  in  the  offing,  which 
were  immediately  brought  on  board,  and  put  in  irons, 
and  about  a  week  after,  he  was  paid  for  them.  Re- 
members another  man  taken  in  the  fame  way  from  on 
board  a  canoe  along  fide.  Fat  Sam  very  frequently 
fent  flaves  on  board  in  the  night,  which,  from  their 
own  information,  he  found,  were  every  one  of  them 
taken  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Anamaboe  :  he  re- 
marked, that  flaves  fent  off  in  the  night,  were  not 
paid  for  till  they  had  been  fome  time  on  board,  left, 
he  thinks,  they  fhould  be  claimed;  for  fome  were 
really  reilored;  one  in  particular,  a  boy,  was  carried 
on  fhore  by  fome  near  relations;  which  boy  told 
him,  he  had  lived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Anama- 
boe, and  was  kidnapped  (p,  90.) 

As  to  kidnapping  by  Europeans,  has  only  heard 
of  it;  but  the  mailer  of  the  Brookes,  urged  his  gold-^ 
takers  daily,  to  get  him  flaves  by  any  means. 

Slaves  in  the  paffage  are  fo  crowded  below,  that 
it  is  impoffibie  to  walk  through  them,  without  tread- 
ing on  them;  thofe  who  are  out  of  irons,  are  locked 
fpoonways  (in  the  technical  phrafe)  to  one  another ; 
it  is  the  firft  mate's  duty  to  fee  them  flowed  in  this 
way  every  miOrning ;  thofe  who  do  not  get  quickly 
into  their  places,  are  compelled  by  the  cat,  In  this 
iituation,  when  the  fhip  had  much  motion,  they  were 
often  miferably  bruifed.  In  the  paffage,  when  the 
fcuttles  mufl  be  fhut,  the  gratings  are  not  fufficient 
for  airing  the  rooms  ;  he  never  himfelf  could  breathe 
freely,  unlefs  immediately  under  the  hatchway. 
Never  faw  ventilators  ufed  in  thefe  fhips ;  a  wind- 
fail 


Africa,  Trotter.  37. 

fail  was  often  tried  on  the  coaft,  but  he  remembers  I790, 
none  ufed  in  the  paiTage.     Has  feen  the  (laves  draw- Part  ll. 
ing  their  breath  with  all  thofe  laborious  and  anxious 
efforts  for  life,  which  is  obferved  in  expiring  animals, 
fubjeded  by  experiment  to  foul  air,  or  in  the  ex- 
haufted  receiver  of  an  air  pump  ;  has  alfo  feen  them^, 
when  the  tarpawlings  have  inadvertently  been  thrown 
over   the  gratings,  attempting  to  heave  them  up, 
crying  our,  "  Kickeraboo,  kickeraboo,"  i.  e.  '^  We 
^^  are    dying ;"  on   removing   the  tarpawlings  and 
gratings,  they  would  fly  to  the  hatchway  with  all  the 
figns  of  terror,  and  dread  of  fufFocation ;  many  whom 
he  has  feen  in  a  dying  ftate,  have  recovered,  by  be-p^  31-^ 
ing  brought  thither,  or  on  the  deck  ;  others  were 
irrecoverably  loft,  by  fufFocation,  having  had  no  pre- 
vious figns  of  indifpofition. 

Slaves,  on  being  brought  on  board,  fhew  figns  of 
extreme  diftrefs  and  defpair,  from  a  feeling  of  their 
fituation,  and  regret  at  being  torn  from  friends  and 
conne6lions  -,  many  retain  thofe  imprefTions  for  a 
long  time  ;  in  proof  of  which,  the  Haves  being  often 
heard  in  the  night,  m.aking  an  howling  melancholy 
noife,  exprefTive  of  extreme  anguifh  ;  he  repeatedly 
ordered  the  woman,  who  had  been  his  interpreter,  to 
inquire  the  caufe ;  fhe  difcovered  it  to  be  owing  to 
their  having  dreamed  they  were  in  their  own  coun- 
try, and  finding  themfelves  when  awake,  in  the  hold 
ofaflave  fhip.  This  exquifite  fenfibility  was  parti- 
cularly obfervable  among  the  women,  many  of  whom, 
on  fuch  occafions,  he  found  in  hyfleric  fits. 

They  failed  after  dark  in  the  night,  when  the  flavesP.  86; 
were  fecured  below,  to  prevent  their  (hewing  figns 
of  difcontent  at  leaving  the  coail  j  he  thinks  this  the 
reafon,  becaufe  every  fhip  that  left  the  road  while 
the  Brooks  was  there,  left  it  in  the  nights  has  heard 
the  cuflom  is  general. 

Thinks  they  bought  upwards  of  600  (laves,  and 
loft  about  70  in  the  voyage. 

As  to  infurredions  among  the  flaves ;  a  number 
of  the  ftrongeft  men  in  their  Ihip  had  one  night 

fa  wed 


^  Africa. — ^W.  Indies.  TrotterV 

1790.  fawed  off  their  irons  with  an  old  knife,  notched  for 
Part  II. the  purpofe,  furnillied  by  a  woman  from  the  cabin;- 
%iHi^*«»  but  were  deteded  by  the  information  of  another 
flavei 

A  man  jumped  overboard  at  Anamabce,  and  was 
drowned  ;  another,  in  the  Middle  Paifage,  who  was' 
taken  up  -,  a  woman  was,  for  fome  time,  chained  to 
the  mainmafl,  after  being  taken  up  j  being  let  loofe, 
made  a  fecond  attempt ;  was  taken  up  and  died 
tinder  the  floggings  given  her  in  confequence. 

Believes  the  pradice  of  dancing  them  is  general 
in  the  trade  ^  in  the  Brookes  it  was  not  ufed  till 
exercife  became  abfolucely  neceflary  for  their  health  ; 
thofe  in  irons  were  ordered  to  ftand  up,  and  make 
what  motions  they  could,  leading  a  paflage  for  fuch 
as  were  out  of  irons,  to  dance  round  the  deck.  Such 
as  did  not  relifh  the  exercife  of  dancing,  were  com- 
pelled to  it  by  the  cat  ^  but  many  ftill  refufed, 
though  urged  in  this  way  to  a  fevere  degree. 
P.  87.  Befides  the  inftance  already  given,  of  a  flave  ftar- 
ving  himfelf  to  death — remembers  another.  A  wo- 
man was  repeatedly  flogged,  and  vi6luals  forced  into 
her  mouth ;  no  means  however  could  make  her 
fwallow,  and  fhe  lived  the  4  lail  days  in  a  ftate  of 
torpid  infenfibility. 

The  cargo  was  difpofed  of  in  Jamaica,  p.  94,  by 
what  is  called  the  fcramble.  The  buyers  ftand 
ready,  when  the  fignal  is  given  for  opening  the  fale, 
to  rufh  all  at  once  upon  the  flaves,  and  affix  their 
tallies  to  thofe  they  wifh  to  have ;  this  unexpedled 
mancsuvre,  had  an  aftonifhing  efl^ed  ;  the  flaves  were 
heard  crying  out  for  their  friends,  in  language  ex- 
preilive  of  the  deepefl:  affliflion.  Some  huftands  and 
wives  were  parted,  and  many  other  relations. 

The  feamen  lay,  in  the  Middle  Paflage,  under  the 
booms,  according  to  cuftom,  and,  when  the  weather 
was  bad,  were  certainly  expofed  very  much. 

During  the  Middle  Pafiiage,  fome  of  the  feamen 

,   were  moft  cruelly  flogged  by  the  mafter,  fo  much  fo, 

that  on  one  occafjon  he  faw  from  the  quarter  deck, 

fome 


Africa;  Trotter.  39 

fome  of  the  failors  coming  aft  from  the  forecaftle,  to  1790. 
refcue  a  man,  upon  which  the  mafler  let  him  go,  and  Part  II. 
never  afterwards  punilhed  any  of  them  in  that  man-  ^--nr^ 
ner.     Same  mafter  was  carrying,  in  a  former  voyage, 
12  paroquets  to  the  Weft  Indies;   they  died,  and  fuf- 
peding  a  failor  of  having  killed  them,  ordered  the 
man  to  be  lafhed  to  one  of  the  topmafts  for  12  days, 
in  which  time  he  had  no  other  food  but  one  of  thofe 
birds,  and  a  pint  of  water  a  day  ;  though  wonderful, 
the  man  furvived  this.     He  was  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  was  difcharged  in  the  Weft  Indies.  Has 
heard  the  mafter  who  perpetrated  this  wanton  barba- 
rity, relate  it  in  a  publick  company,  with  triumph. 

From*  what  he  has  feen,  he  ftiould  fuppofe  the  P.  8?, 
minds  of  Africans  very  capable  of  cultivation  ;  fome 
part  of  his  evidence  ftiews  them  fufceptibleof  all  the 
focial  virtues;  has  {"eea  no  bad  habits,  but  among 
thofe  engaged  in  trade  with  white  men  5  of  thofe, 
Accra  an  exception. 

Food  of  the  flaves  on  the  paffage  was,  rice,  horfe- 
beans,  and  unclean  corn,  with  ulual  condiments  of 
palm-oil,  fait  and  pepper:  the  beans  from  England, 
the  rice  was  got  to  windward,  and  the  Indian  corn  at 
Anamaboe  :  they  had  abundance  of  cheefe  :  a  quan- 
tity of  the  Indian  corn  was  fold  in  the  Weft  Indies. 
At  Anamaboe  it  was  in  fuch  plenty,  that  many  canoes 
of  it  were  fent  away  after  their  corn  room  was  full. 
The  rice  was  a  very  wholefome  food  -,  had  a  red 
hulk,  but  white  within. 

Does  not  remember  the  furf  was  too  high,  during 
the  whole  time  they  were  on  the  coaft,  for  canoes  to 
come  off  (nearly  10  months)  except  two  or  three 
days. 

The  3  fiftiermen,  before-mentioned  to  have  been  P.  89. 
feized,  faid  they  were  free  men.  Another  cafe  is 
mentioned  of  a  man  taken  out  of  a  canoe  along -fide  : 
both  done  with  fo  much  indifference,  that  he  thinks 
the  pradice  was  frequent,  of  feizing  and  felling 
free  men. 

As 


40  Africa.  Trotter. 

^790.       As  to  the  3  fifliernien  complaining  of  the  illegality 

Part  II.  of  their  capture ;  all  communication  is  prevented 

*i^>r^-»  between  the  Haves  on  board  and  the  traders  -,  and 

canoe-men  who  come  to  fell  fiaves  -,  hence  it  could 

not  be  fuppofed  that  any  of  their  connections  were 

P.  90.  informed  of  their  fituation.  Traders  are  not  allow- 
ed to  go  forward  after  the  barricado,  and  they  can- 
not, from  its  height,  look  over  it;  nor  are  they  per- 
mitted to  look  over  the  fhip's  fide. 

As  to  the  cafe  of  the  child  reclaimed,  before-men- 
tioned, it  is  probable  that  the  trader  v/ho  fold  him, 
perhaps  not  being  the  kidnapper,  had  informed  the 
boy's  relations. 

P.  91.  The  man  who  attempted  to  cut  his  own  throat, 
had  all  the  appearance  of  a  fullen  melancholy,  but 
was  by  no  means  infane;  believes  a  degree  of  deli- 
rium might  come  on  before  death;  but  when  he 
came  on  board,  believes  him  to  have  been  in  his 
perfed  fenfes. 

P.  92.  Cannot  be  pofitive  as  to  the  particular  amount  of 
the  mortality  on  board  the  Brookes. 

P.  ^3*  Engaged  to  go  as  furgeon  in  the  Brookes,  in  the 
fpring  of  1783,  at  the  clofe  of  the  war, 

P.  96.  Is  at  prefent  furgeon  to  the  Edgar  M.  W.  Had 
his  medical  education  at  the  Univerfity  of  Edin* 
burgh,  and  alfo  his  dodor's  degree. 

Many  fiaves  died  of  the  fcurvy;  thinks  only  a 
very  quiet  paflfage  faved  half  the  cargo ;  for  between 
2  and  300  were  tainted  with  this  difeafe  on  their  ar- 
rival at  Antigua.  Does  not  think  their  food  was 
fuch  as  would  have  produced  this  difeafe,  indepen- 
dent of  other  caufes,  viz.  their  peculiar  confine- 
ment •,  the  contaminated  atmofphere  of  the  fhip, 
with  all  thofe  depreffing  paflions,  infeparable  from 
the  ftate  of  a  human  being,  torn  from  all  that  is  to 
be  valued  in  life. 

P.  98.  Was  often  thwarted  (by  the  mafter)  in  his  pre- 
fcriptions  for  the  fick,  who  in  violent  burfts  of  an- 
ger, fwore  they  fell  vidims  to  his  medicines:  his 
(the  ijiafter's)  contradivtions,  were  particularly  ob- 

fervable 


Africa.  Trotter.  41 

fervable  when  the  fcurvy  broke  out ;  he  treated  with    1700. 
contempt  the  propofal  of  carrying  out  a  great  quaa-Part  II. 
tity  of  frelh  fruits;  of  which  not  a  loth  part  of  what  v-^v^ 
was  necelfary,  was  in  the  fliip  at  leaving  the  coaft; 
the  event  juftified  the  propofai,   for  when  a  liberal 
fupply  of  fruits  was  hacl  ac  Antigua,  the  recovery  of 
ilaves  was  rapid  beyond  example. 

Among  the  flaves,  were  many  related  in  different 
degrees;  remembers  two  or  three  hufbands  and 
wives  i  one  of  thefe  had  a  child,  which  he  often  car- 
ried from  the  mother  to  the  father,  who  always  re- 
ceived it  with  much  afFedion :  it  died  on  the  paf- 
fage. 

Any  intercourfe  between  hufbands  and  wives  on 
board,  is  carried  on  by  the  boys  which  run  about, 
and  are  allowed  occafionally  to  go  aft:  other  rela- 
tions, of  the  fame  fex,  commonly  willied  to  mefs  to-P.  59* 
gether,  and  their  affedion  to  each  other  was  cer- 
tainly very  confpicuous,  particularly  when  diieafed  ; 
in  fome  inftances  their  feelings  were  fuch,  as  would 
bear  a  comparifon  with  thofe  of  any  civilized  people. 

Boys  and  girls,  under  the  age  of  puberty,  gene- 
rally kept  fepar  ate ;  boys  with  the  men,  girls  with 
the  women. 

Firft  heard  the  mafter  relate  the  ftory  of  his  punifh- 
ing  the  Philadelphia  feaman  (by  having  him  tied  to 
the  topmaft,  and  fed  on  a  paroquet  a  day,  as  already 
mentioned)  on  a  Saturday  night,  when  he  had  com- 
pany, in  the  Road  of  Anamaboe;  does  not  recoile6t 
who  were  prefent;  the  fa6t  itfelf,  as  related,  (truck 
him  fo  forcibly,  that  he  thought  of  nothing  elfe  atp,  lOo, 
the  time;  he  was  fo  (liocked,  that  he  immediatcrly 
left  the  cabin,  and  told  the  ftory  to  one  of  the  mates  ; 
fhall  never  forget  the  imprcfTion  it  left  upon  his 
mind  at  the  time,  and  he  has  fince  mentioned  it  a- 
mong  his  friends,  as  a  piece  of  unparalleled  cruelty 

(p.  98.) 


Numb.  3.  F  Witnefs 


t      42      ] 

1790. 

PartIL 

Witnefs  examined — William  Dove. 


P.  100.  Mr.  William  Dove,  of  Plymouth,  was  1769  on 
the  coaft  of  Africa,  from  Sierra  Leone  down  to  Pic- 
cipini  Sifters  on  board  the  Lily,  Captain  Saltcraig, 
from  Liverpool. 

P.  loi.  Refpefting  the  mode  of  getting  flaves,  he  obferved 
an  inftance  of  a  girl  that  was  kidnapped  being 
brought  on  board  by  one  Ben  Johnfon,  a  black 
trader,  who  had  fcarcely  left  the  ihip  in  his  canoe 
with  the  price  of  her,  when  another  canoe  with  two 
black  men  came  in  a  hurry  to  the  Ihip,  and  inquired 
concerning  the  girl.  Having  been  allowed  to  fee 
her,  they  hurried  down  to  their  canoe  and  haftily 
paddled  off.  Overtaking  Ben  Johnfon,  they  brought 
him  back  to  the  fhip,  got  him  on  the  quarter  deck, 
and  calling  him  ''  teeffee''  (which  implies  thief),  to 
the  captain,  offered  him  to  fale.  Ben  Johnfon  remonf- 
trated,  afking  the  captain,  if  he  would  buy  him 
grand  trading  man  ;  to  which  the  captain^  anfwered, 
if  they  would  fell  him  he  would  buy  him,  be  he 
what  he  would,  which  he  accordingly  did,  and  put 
him  into  irons  immediately  with  another  man.  Was 
led  to  think  from  that  inftance,  that  flaves  were  kid- 
napped, and  as  well  as  from  having  feen  children 
brought  feparately  on  board,  and  men  and  women 
without  freih  wounds,  or  marks  of  old  ones  on  them. 

P.  102.  They  had  on  board  between  30  and  40  children, 
boys  and  girls,  fome  on  their  mothers  breafts  -,  four 
or  five  were  born  during  the  pafTage. 

The  Haves  in  his  ftiip  were  in  general  very  well 
treated,  as  well  as  any  fhip  on  the  coaft,  two  or  three 
inftances  of  great  cruelty  excepted,     v 

Captain  Saltcraig  coming  on  board  one  evening 
fomewhat  intoxicated,  fcolded  the  ofRcers  for  not 
manning  the  fides  to  receive  him,  then  with  a  rope's 
end  beat  many  white  people  on  deck ;  he  then 
ftretched  a  rope  acrofs,  and  ordering  a  negro,  a 
flout  fellow,  out  of  irons,  made  him  ftand  on  one 

fide 


Africa.  D  o  v  £.  43 

fide  of  the  rope,  while  he  flood  on  the  other,  and  1790. 
fetting  his  foot  to  the  black  man's,  fquared  as  if  to  Part  IL 
box  him,   faying,  that  he  would  learn  him  how  to  v.-nr^**' 
fight,  and  fignified  to  the  black  fellow  to  make  a 
blow  at  him   again,  which,  though  at  firft  he  knew 
not  how  to  do,  at  laft  he  did,  and  gave  the  captain  a 
terrible  blow;  the  captain  turned  about,  went  to  the 
cabin,  brought  up  a  horfe-whip,  and  beat  him  mofl 
unmercifully,  firfl  with  the  lafh,   then  with  a  full 
fweep  with  the  but  end,  till  the  black  man  evacuated 
both    by    urine  and    excrement,  infomuch   that  the 
Ihip's  company  thought  he  could  not  furvive  it. 

The  other  inftance ;  the  black  men  between  decks 
had  drawn  the  ftaple  of  the  fore  lazaretto  where  the 
horfe-beans  were  kept,  and  taken  as  witnefs  fuppofes 
through  hunger,  two  or  three  gallons;  at  night  theyP*  103- 
were  overheard  eating  them ;  five  were  leverely 
whipped  by  the  captain's  order,  two  of  the  ringleaders 
thumbfcrewed ;  a  punilhment  fo  fevere,  that  while 
under  it,  the  fvveat  ran  down  their  faces,  and  they 
trembled  as  under  a  violent  ague  fit. 

The  men  (laves  were  fettered  all  the  Middle  PafTage 
till  in  fight  of  Defida,  a  Weft  India  ifiand,  except  a 
few  fick  flaves  v^ho  were  let  to  walk  the  deck,  and 
taking  great  care  to  recover  them.  This  confine- 
ment may  be  neceffary  from  their  great  fuperiority 
of  numbers.  Has  known  men  fettered  together  quar- 
rel in  the  night;  but  this  was  put  to  rights  by  the 
fecond  mate  or  boatfwain's  going  down. 

As  to  capacity  among  the  negroes,  he  obferved 
feme  that  feemed  apt  at  taking  any  thing.  Two 
boys  from  a  little  oakum  given  to  them,  would  very 
dexterouily  work  a  curious  fifiiing-line,  twifting  it 
only  on  their  knees ;  it  v/as  ufed  often  to  catch  cat 
fifn  ;  there  w.-re  others  not  fo  apt.  In  the  Weft 
Indies  he  has  ken  them  at  different  handicrafts,  make 
as  good  workmen  as  white  people. 

W^as  not  on  ftiore  in  Africa  to  obferve  their  difpo-p^  104^. 
fition  either  to  agriculture  or  trade,  but  in  the  Weft 
Indies  he  has  feen  fom.e  diligent  and  attentive  to  the 

F  2  duties 


44  Africa.  D  o  v  e. 

i-oo.  duties  required  of  them-,  others  there  are  of  a  laz3r 
part  ILpafl,  juft  as  our  common  people  at  home.     He  has 

'--N--^  no  doubt  but  that  ?  trade  might  be  cultivated  with 
tiiem  in  Africa.  Sierra  Leone  afforded  rice  to  the 
11. 'p  ;  they  took  about  two  tons  Pine  apples,  plan- 
tanes,  bananas,  and  yams,  were  brought  to  them  in 
abundance  \  fome  honey  alfo,  and  a  few  bottles  of 
the  juice  of  th^  fugar-cane.  Both  natives  and  the 
fhip's  boats  brought  them  off,  but  chiefly  the  na- 
tives. 

i  he  African  rice  is  in  quality  equal  to  the  Caro- 
lina •,  is  thoughr  to  go  farther  i  it  has  a  rednefs  in 
it,  which,  when  the  hyfk  is  taken  off,  does  not  pene- 
trate the  grain,  but  lies  as  a  little  dull  upon  its 
furface. 

Tne  tatpaulins  arc  only  put  on  in  cafe  of  rain; 
when  taken  off  there  is  a  lleam  comes  up  between 
the  gratings,  by  which  means  the  air  is  communi- 
cated to  them  below,  and  has  relieved  them  when 
t!'  ^y  h.:^ve  been  panting  for  breath. 
P.  105.  Treatment  of  lailors  on  board  with  him  was  in  ge- 
neral oppreffive,  particularly  in  one  or  two  inftances  ; 
.  the  chief  mate  finding  a  leak  in  a  barrel  of  tar,  told 
the  captiiin,  who  called  the  boatfwain  to  account  for 
it  \  thr  boau'wain  faying  it  was  not  his  fault,  for  that 
tar  woyid  run  m  il  at  warm  climate  •,  the  captain  told 
Jiim  he  would  mal<e  him  prevent  it,  and  then  took 
an  end  of  a  rope,  and  beat  him  in  fo  immerciful  a 
manner,  that  he  did  not  recover  for  fome  weeks. 

Another  inffance  \  John  Coffee,  affitlant  furgeon 
was  taken  ill  of  a  diforder  prevalent  among  the  whites, 
waicii  firtl-  feizes  them  with  a  fleepy  heavinefs  and 
dihnc  linafion  to  move.  A  fwelling  of  the  legs  foon 
talvjs  place,  which  makes  it  painful  even  to  ftand  or 
walk  J  thi:  the  captain  faid  was  idlenefs,  and  that  if 
they  wauld  exert  themfelves,  they  would  foon  get 
well,  and  to  make  them  do  fo,  repeatedly  beat  them 
with  a  rope's  end.  In  this  manner  he  treated  Coffee, 
and  when  ^t  lafl  \i^  could  not  ftand,  infilling  on  it 
that  he  v/oqld  make  him,  he  ordered  one  of  the 

band§ 


Africa.  Dove;  45 

vhands  to  feize  him  up  to  the  flirouds,  where,  after  a  1790. 
few  minutes  in  that  pofition.  Coffee  begged  him  for  Part  IL 
God's  fake  to  fhoot  him  and  put  him  out  of  pain  •,  to  wOT*^ 
which,  inamoft  brutifh  manner  the  captain  anfwered, 
"  No,  no,   do  you  think  I'll  be  hanged  for  you  ?" 
Coffee  repeatedly  begged  him  either  to  let  him  down 
or  (hoot  him,  vet   ftill  he  kept  him  there  for  near 
three  hours.     When  loofed  he  lay  down  on  his  bed 
upo'n  the  deck,  and  in  about  two  hours  he  expired. 

In  the  outward  bound  paffage  they  were  tolerably 
well  off  in  point  of  provifions  :  they  had  41b.  of 
bread  a  week,  i  lb.  of  fait  beef  a  day,  with  a  pro- 
portion of  potatoes,  which  being  out  when  they  ar- 
rived on  the  coaft,  they  felt  it  a  little  iharp,  but 
caught  cat-fifh  to  fupply  their  place ;  this  however 
the  captain  forbid,  and  refufed  alfo  to  add  half  a  P.  106. 
pound  of  bread  to  the  week's  allowance.  Once  a 
week  they  had  ftock-fifh,  with  only  a  little  vinegar, 
chiefly  on  the  Middle  Paffage.  On  the  moft  part 
of  the  outward  bound  paffage  they  had  a  breakfail 
alfo  of  oatmeal  boiled  thick,  called  Burgou,  which 
was  very  comfortable. 

From  the  year  1774  to  1783,  he  refided  at  Bofton 
and  New- York.  There  are  there  many  negro  (laves 
and  free  blacks;  half  the  inhabitants  may  be  black. 
In  general  the  (laves  were  treated  very  well  there,  as 
are  fervants  here.  There  was  not  a  fingle  importa- 
tion of  (laves  while  he  refided  in  either  of  thofe 
places.  Thinks  the  numbers  did  not  decreafe,  and 
from  the  great  multitude  of  black  children  running 
about  the  ftreets,  he  infers  that  population  was  kept 
up.  He  never  faw  nor  heard  of  a  driver  in  America.  P.  107. 
Negroes  are  not  puniihed  ordinarily  there  with  whip- 
ping ;  beating  was  never  found  to  anfvver  the  pur- 
pofe;  they  are  transferred  toother  mailers,  fuch  as 
they  like  themfelves,  for  they  have  liberty  to  choofe. 

He  was  paid  two  months  advance-money  on  the 
fhip's  failing  from  Liverpool,  which  was  accounted 
for  in  Welt  India  currency,  on  his  arrival  in  Weft 
indies. 

Having 


4^  A  F  R  I  C  A»  Do 


V  t. 


1790.  Having  foon  left  Liverpool,  he  does  not  know" 
Part  II.  whether  captain  Saltcraig  was  difcharged  for  his 
drunkennefs  and  mifcondud.  He  was  repeatedly 
requeiled  by  Mr.  Rice,  one  of  the  owners,  to  remain 
in  the  fer vice  and  promifed  promotion  in  it,  but  he 
objedled  becaufeof  the  ill  treatment  of  the  ftiip's  com- 
pany, and  not  only  fo,  but  becaufe  he  did  not  like 
the  traffick.  He  had  an  alTurance  afterwards,  from 
Mr.  Rice,  that  Saltcraig  (hould  be  prevented  in  fu- 
ture from  ufmg  the  (hip's  company  as  before.  Mr. 
Dove  had  made  a  point  of  ilating  it  to  the  owners 
himfelf. 

He  does  not  know  whether  Piccinini,  Sifters,  and 
Wappoa,  are  diftindl  ftates,  nor  while  there,  did  he 
hear  of  any  hollility  between  them. 

He  never  heard  of  families  fold  on  account  of 
witchcraft,  nor  heard  of  fuch  a  thing  as  witchcraft 
while  on  the  coaft. 

Upwards  of  half  the  fhip's  crew  were  landmen. 

He  has  often  eaten  horle-beans,  and  thought  them 
an  excellent  mefs. 

He  went  to  Boflon  as  cooper  of  His  Majefty's  Ihip 
Preuon,  under  Admiral  Graves  •,  at  New- York  he 
was  cooper  to  the  fame  lliip  under  Com.  Hotham. 

At  Bofton  white  people  cultivate  the  land  as  welli 
as  negroes;  and  they  indilcriminately  work  together.^ 
B'>th  at  Bofton  and  New- York  he  was  appointed  to , 
oiiices  on  ftiore,  where  he  accordingly  refided  during: 
the  whole  war,  till  17  S3,  and  that  has  afforded  him 
an  opportunity  of  being  fo  particular  in  his  obfer- ^ 
vations.  I 

He  thinks  an  Englilh  conflitution  equal  to  field-] 
labour  at  Bofton.     He  has  not  a  doubt,  that  werej 
there  a  fc.fficient  number  of  white  people  there,  thel 
country  could    be  cultivated  without  any   negroes 
at  all. 


Witnefsi 


(     47     ) 

Witnefs  examined — Clement  Noble.  «— -nr— / 

Has  been  nine  voyages  to  Africa,  two  as  a  mate,P. 'loS. 
and  feven  as  a  mailer. 

Recolleds  the  voyage  when  Mr.  Thomas  Trotter  P.  109. 
was  furgeon,  they  failed  3d  June,  1783,  and  arrived 
at  Liverpool  in  Auguft  1784.  Had  no  previous 
knowledge  of  Do6lor  Trotter  ;  who  was  recommend'* 
ed  by  one  of  his  friends,  to  one  of  the  owners  of  the 
fhip.  Thought  him  often  very  remifs  in  his  duty, 
and  fpent  a  great  deal  too  much  time  in  drefs,  which 
he  often  reproved  him  for. 

Veflel  about  300  tons;  bought  638  flaves;  loft 
19  on  the  coaft,  33  on  the  paiTage,  and  6  in  Kingf- 
ton  harbour,  in  all  58.  In  preceding  voyage,  bought 
666y  buried  26  in  whole. 

In  the  voyage  with  Mr.  Trotter,  had  49  feamen, 
one  died  in  the  fmall-pox  ten  days  from  Liverpool, 
another  fell  overboard  from  a  boat  and  was  drowned, 
another  a  natural  death  ;  total  lofs  three,  which  he 
thinks  might  be  the  average  of  all  his  voyages.  P.  1 10. 

Does  not  remember  a  dead  man  and  a  living  ever 
being  found  chained  together,  nor  flaves  fufFocated 
from  the  tarpaulins  laid  over  the  gratings  through 
inattention,  which  it  is  impoffible  can  happen,  for 
flaves  are  always  ready  enough  to  call  to  the  people 
on  deck  to  put  the  tarpaulin  either  up  or  down  as 
they  feel  heat  or  cold.  Rain  is  kept  out  of  the 
rooms  by  a  tarpaulin  or  awning  fpread  10  or  12  feet 
above  the  deck  from  mail  to  mail,  like  the  roof  of 
a  houfe. 

Has  been  foften  at  Cape  la  Hou ;  trade  is  there 
chiefly  carried  on  by  the  Dutch ;  Englilli  or  French 
fliips  flop  a  day  or  two  only,  perhaps  fometimes  a 
week.  Believes  flaves  cannot  be  taken  off  the  coafl:, 
that  have  not  been  fold  under  the  lav/s  of  the  coun- 
try.    Never  knew  an  infl:ance. 

Really 


4^  Africa.  Noble; 

1790.  Really  does  not  believe  flaves  could  be  kidnapped 
Part  II.  wiih  impunity  on  the  Gold  coaft, 
\y^r^  Remembers  a  man  Have  on  board  his  ftiip  at- 
tempting to  deftroy  himfelf,  and  believes  the  man  was 
perfedlly  mad,  is  fure  of  it.  Did  not  appear  fo  at 
firfl,  or  he  fhould  not  have  bought  him  j  it  appear- 
ed fome  few  days  after  •,  he  ftormed  and  made  a 
great  noife,  worked  with  his  hands,  &c.  and  fhewed 
every  fign  of  being  mad.  Believes  he  generally  re- 
fufed  fuftenance.  Had  no  converfation  with  him, except 
at  times  when  he  feemed  to  be  rather  better  than  at 
ethers.  He  gave  no  reafon  at  all  for  his  violent 
condu(5l ;  could  feldom  get  him  to  fpeak  (p.  113.) 

Has  known  many  (laves  fall  overboard  by  acci- 
dent, but  generally  picked  up.  Remembers  one 
P.  1 1 1. only  in  the  voyage  Dr.  Trotter  was  with  the  fhip, 
who  was  fubjedl  to  fits,  and  fell  out  of  the  fore  chains 
in  a  fit  and  was  drowned  j  alfo  a  woman  who  was 
infane  and  very  troublefome,  believes  fhe  did  jump 
overboard  once  or  oftener.  Ordered  her  to  be  con- 
fined to  prevent  her  from  doing  it  again,  but  pu- 
nifhed  her  no  other  way.  Does  not  recoiled  whe- 
ther fhe  died  or  not. 

Never  had  any  flaves  die  on  board  in  confequence 
of  corredlion. 

His  officers  and  feamen  were  in  general  defirous  to 
fail  again  with  him. 

Remembers,  in  the  voyage  Mr.  Trotter  was  with 
him,  flogging  a  failor  for  abufing  the  flaves,  and  be- 
ing infolent  to  himfelf.  Believes  it  was  the  only  time 
a  feaman  was  flogged  in  the  voyage  ;  fame  man  came 
home  from  Jamaica  with  the  fhip,  and  behaved  well, 
and  ofi^ered  to  go  again  with  Mr.  N.  in  preference  to 
any  other  fhip  (p.  112  and  120.) 

Does  not  know  Mr.  Trotter  ever  exprefTed  himfelf 
diifatisfied  with  any  occurrence  on  the  voyage,  and 
has  no  reafon  to  think  he  would  not  have  gone  with 
him,  but  the  fhip  was  laid  up  (p.  116.) 
P.  112.  Does  remember  a  voyage,  when  he  had  a  number 
of  paroquets  on  board,  it  was  in  1774,  they  were  all 

killed 


Africa. — W.  Indies.         Noble.  49 

killed  in  one  night,  by  a  black  man  of  the  fhip  (noC  1790. 
a  flave)  who  told  fome  of  the  people  he  would  do  as  Part  If. 
much  for  him  (Mr.  N.)  the  next  night ;  when  afked  '-^-v*^ 
if  he  faid  fo,  he  faid,  yes,  with  all  the  infolence  in  the 
world ;   he  was  ordered  to  be  confined,  and  by  advice 
of  the  officers  of  the  fhip,  who  judged  it  unfafe  to  , 
keep   him  below,   he  was  fent  to  the  maft  head ;  at 
two  days  end  he  fent  to  fay  he  was  forry  for  what  he 
had  done,  and  hoped  to  be  let  come  down ;   he  v/as 
immediately  ordered  to  be  brought  down  and  let  out 
of  irons  -,  but  for   the  remaining  part  of  the  voyage 
he  (Mr.  N.)  took  care  to  have  the  cabin  door  made 
faft  in  the  night :  the  man   was  very  turbulent,  and 
at  Kingfton  was  caged  almofl  every  night  till  he  went 
off  the  ifland  :  when  lb  confined  he.  fent  every  morn- 
ing to  Mr.  N.  for  money   to  relieve  him:  he  never 
blamed  Mr.  N.  for  fending  him  to  the  mafi:  head,  but 
told  many  of  the  faiiors  it  was  very  fortunate  he  was 
fo  confined,   otherwife  he  was  fure  he   v/ould  have 
murdered  Mr.  N.for  his  refolution  was  fixed. 

Does  not  recolle6l  he  had  ever  any  trouble  with 
his  faiiors,  employing  attornies,  or  any  thing  of  that 
fort. 

Did  not  often  receive  flaves  in  the  night;  but  every 
now   and  then  ;  that  the   other  captains  fnould  not 
fee   them  come  on   board,    he  judged  was  the  caufe,P.   113. 
for  the  traders  wifhed  to  keep  on  good  terms  with 
ail  the  captains. 

He  was  nine  months  and  eight  days  on  the  coafb.    P.  1 14. 

Does  not  remember  receiving  three  men  that  were 
fiihing  in  the  offing,  but  has  frequently  feen  them 
taken  out  of  canoes  and  fold  :  they  were  flaves  to  be 
fure.  The  greater  part  of  thofe  that  paddle  the  ca- 
noes, and  go  afifiiing,  are  flaves. 

Believes  perfons  in  the  condition  of  flaves  on  the  p.  n  j, 
coail,  may  be  fold  to  the  fhips,  without  being  con- 
vicled  of  any  crime  :  always  under  flood  they  had  a 
right  by  the  laws  of  the  country  to  do  what  they 
pleafed  with  their  own  prOj-.-erty.  Never  made  any 
inquiry  whether  the  fl?.ves  brought  for  fale/were  the 

Numb.  3,  G  property 


50  Africa. — W*  Indies;  Noble. 

1790.    property  of  the  fellers  -,   they  being  ufaally  brokers 

part  II. only;    never  enquired  how  thefe   brokers  came  by 

^-"■^^"^  them^  thinks  there  is  no  occafion ;  always  fuppofed, 

and  did  not  doubt,  but  they  had  a  right  to  fell  them. 

Initances   of  fiaves   falling  overboard   in   Guinea 

ihips  are  not  very  frequent  ^  it  happens  every  now 

and  then. 

Is  not   at  prefent  engaged  in  the  African  trade ; 
quitted  the  fea  above  four  years  fmce. 
P.  116.     Some  of  the  (laves  appear  dejeded  when  brought 
on  board,  but  in  general  foon  mend  of  that,  and  are 
in  very  good  fpirits  while  on  board. 

Now  and  then  met  with  fulky  ones  that  would  not 
eat  without  force,  then  endeavoured  to  perfuade  them, 
and  if  that  would  not  do,  to  force  them  to  it. 

Has  been  often  below  when  the  flaves  Vv'ere  all  in 
their  rooms :  they  had  room  enough  to  lie  down, 
and  were  as  comfortable  as  could  be  expected  on 
board  a  (hip  :  could  walk  among  them  without  tread- 
ing upon  them,  it  is  done  every  night  by  the  officers 
P.  117.  after  they  go  to  reft:  all  the  fhips  he  has  had,  had 
platforms.  It  was  much  hotter  below  at  fome  times, 
than  at  others  3  that  depends  chiefly  on  the  weather : 
when  calm  it  is  fure  to  be  very  warm.  Never  found 
any  bad  etfeds  from  the  air :  the  air  cannot  furely  be 
fo  good  as  upon  deck:  it  is  rather  foul  and  offcn- 
five,  but  more  fo  in  calm  weather  than  at  other  times. 
Refers  in  what  he  has  faid  of  the  ftate  of  the  fhip 
between  decks,  &c.  to  the  voyage  that  Dr.  Trotter 
was  with  him. 

Cannot  fay  with  certainty  how  many  fiaves  were 
in  the  mens  room  in  this  voyage :  from  the  number 
on  board  thinks  there  muft  have  been  fomething 
fhort  of  300 ;  cannot  fay  the  exadt  proportion  of 
males  in  the  cargo,  but  fhould  fuppofe  about  two- 
thirds  males,  and  one-third  females. 

Cannot  recoiled  number  of  boys  •,  in  general  they 
reckon  in  their  accounts,  without  diftinguiihing  j 
they  had  many  of  both  boys  and  girls. 

Does 


Africa. — W.  Indies.  Noble.  51 

Does  not  remember  the  length  of  the  mens  room,  1790. 
the  breadth  about  26  feet:  there  v/ere  in  the  breadth  4Part  II. 
rows  of  (laves  on  the  deck,  and  one  on  each  plat-  v./'v"^-' 
form:  flowed  on  their  backs  or  fides  as  they  chofeP.  118. 
to  lie :  chief  mate  and  boatfwain  generally  flow 
them  in  the  mens  room :  never  meafured,  nor  calcu- 
lated what  room  they  had ;  they  had  always  plenty 
of  room  to  lie  down  in,  and  had  they  had  3  times  as 
much  they  would  all  lie  clofe  jammed  together;  they  dp 
fo  before  the  room  is  half  full :  the  fpace  in  the  middle 
between  the  two  rows  of  Raves  varies  accordinor  to 
the  lengths  of  the  flaves  ;  in  fome  places  perhaps  a 
foot,  in  fome  more,  in  fome  lefs  :  fometimes  when  the 
weather  is  cool  they  will  lie  as  near  the  fide  as  they 
can,  and  when  it  is  warm  crowd  more  under  the  grat- 
ings. Cannot  recoiled  how  they  were  dillributed  as 
to  numbers  ;  are  divided  fo  as  not  to  throng  one 
room  more  than  another :  they  were  he  believes  dif- 
tributed  as  the  cargo  ufually  is  on  board  of  Guinea 
fhips,  where  he  underflood  it  the  rule  to  diflribute 
them  equally  fore  and  aft :  there  were  men  flowed 
in  the  boys  room  adjoining  to  the  mens  -,  which  is  ge- 
nerally the  cafe  (p.  120.) 

The  flaves  v/ere  fold  in  the  Weft  Indies  after  this 
manner :  the  men  are  on  the  main,  and  the  women 
all  on  the  quarter  deck ;  the  buyers  come  in  at  the 
gangway  between,  where  they  remain  till  the  fale  is 
opened,  when  they  rufh  in  fore  and  aft,  and  fuit 
themfelves  as  they  can,  clapping  their  tallies  on 
whoever  they  mean  to  take. 

Believes  this  is  the  common  way  of  felling  a  cargo  P.  119* 
of  flaves  by  fcramble  in  Jamaica  -,  m  other  iflands  it 
differs. 

Remembers  the  (laves  being  in  great  diflrefs,  and 
making  grievous  outcries  on  the  iale  by  fcramble  in 
this  particular  voyage ;  the  caufe  of  it  is,  becaufe 
they  are  parting;  it  is  a  general  cry  and  a  noile 
throughout  the  whole  fhip  •,  but  more  particularly  fo 
v/ith  fome  that  think  they  are  going  to  be  parted 
from  their  hufbands,  Vs^ives,  mothers,  children,  &:c. 

G  a  but 


^2  Africa. — W.Indies.  Noble. 

^79'^*  but    the  purchafers    are  always  very    particular   iri 
Part  II- making  exchanges,  fo  that  hufoands,  wives,  mothers, 
''"■''''^'^''"^  and  children,  and  even  acquaintances,  fhall  go  to- 
gether..   Never  knew  it  otherwife. 

The  men  (laves  take  exercife  during  the  paflage ; 
a  drum  is  beat,  and  they  jump  or  dance  to  it,  as 
well  as  their  fituation  will  admit;  the  flout  men  are 
all  in  irons,  and  a  right  leg  and  a  left,  and  their 
hands  the  fame :  a  chain  faftens  the  greateft  part  of 
them  to  the  deck,  a  few  days  before  leaving  the 
coaft,  and  a  few  days  after ;  then  thofe  chains  are 
taken  away,  and  many  of  the  flaves  let  out  of  irons  j 
they  are  always  very  ready  and  very  fond  of  dancing, 
except  a  few  fulky  ones;  but  in  general  there  are 
very  few  of  them.  As  to  the  means  ufed  to  compel 
thern  to  clance  when  fulky,  the  mafter  or  people  that 
are  among  them  endeavour  to  perfuade  them,  and  if 
they  will  not,  they  let  them  do  as  they  pleafe. 
P.  120.  He  was  fupplicd  with  rice  or  corn  by  the  natives 
while  on  the  coaft. 


Witnefs  examined — Isaac  Parker. 

P.  122.  Ifaac  Parker,  Ship-keeper  of  the  MelampusFrigate, 
failed  in  1764  from  Liverpool  to  the  River  Gambia, 
in  the  Black  Joke,  Captain  Pollard,  who  treated  the 
flaves  well,  but  who  dying  off  St.  Jago,  was  fuc- 
ceeded  by  Capt.  Marfhall,  who  did  not  behave  fo 
well  to  them,  but  pinched  them  in  provifions  and 
v/ater,  while  there  was  plenty  in  the  Ihip.  One  ex- 
ception to  Captain  Pollard's  good  treatment  was,  a 
child  of  nine  months  old  which  refufed  to  eat,  for 
which  the  captain  took  it  up  in  his  hand,  and  flogged 
it  with  a  cat,  faying  at  the  fame  time,  ^^  Damn  you, 
I'll  make  you  eat,  or  I'll  kill  you.'' 

The  fame  child  having  fwelled  feet,  the  captain 
ordered  them  to  be  put  into  water,  though  the  fhip's 
cook  told  him  it  was  too  hot.   This  brought  off  the 

Ikin 


Africa,  Parker, 


53 


fkin  and  nails.   He  then  ordered  fweet  oil  and  cloths,   1790. 
which  Ifaac  Parker  himfelf  applied  to  the  feet;  and  Part  II. 
as  the  child  at  mefs  time  again  refufcd  to  eat,  the  -/'^^~^^ 
captain  again  took  it  up  and  flogged  it,  and  tied  a^*   123. 
log  of  mango-wood  18  or  20  inches  long,  and  of  12 
or  13  lb.   weight  j'ound   its   neck  as  a  puniiliment. 
He  repeated  the  flogging  for  four  days  together  atp,  127. 
mefs  time;  the  lafl:  time  after  flogging  he  let  it  drop 
out  of  his  hand,  with  the  fame  expreffDns  as  before, 
and  accordingly  in  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour, 
the  child  died.     He  then  called  its  miOther  to  heave 
it  overboard,  and  beat  her  for  refufing.     He,  how- 
ever, forced  her  to  take  it  up,  and  go  to  the  fliip's 
fide,  where  holding  her  head  on  one  flde  to  avoid 
the  fight,    fhe  dropped   her  child  overboard,  after 
which  flie  cried  for  many  hours. 

The  crew  confided  of  13  of  v/hom  only  5  furvived.P.  126, 
In  1765,  he  failed  again  from  Liverpool,  in  the 
Latham,  captain  Colly,  to  Old  Calabar,  and  there, 
for  want  of  provifions,  left  the  fhip,  which,  though 
bound  for  the  Weft  Indies,  lay  windbound  then  upon 
the  bar.  He  went  with  the  Ilirgeon  to  buy  flaves, 
with  the  goods  that  were  left,  to  Nev/town,  where 
Dick  Ebro,  a  king's  fon,  who  knew  of  the  ill  treat- 
ment given  the  crew  by  captain  Colly,  concealed 
him  for  three  days  in  a  room  till  the  (hip  was  gone. 
He  then  came  out,  and  employed  himfeif  in  filhing, 
cleaning  tiieir^arms,  &c.  and  remained  there  for  fiv^e 
months. 

When  there,  Dick  Ebro'  aflcing  him  to  go  to  war  P.  12  i. 
with  him,  he  complied,  and  accordingly  having 
fitted  out  and  armed  the  canoes,  they  went  up  the 
river,  lying  under  the  budies  in  the  day  when  they 
came  near  a  village;  and  ar  night  flying  up  to  the 
village,  and  taking  hold  of  every  one  they  could  fee. 
Thefe  they  handculfed,  brought  down  to  the  canoes, 
and  fo  proceeded  up  the  river,  till  they  got  to  the 
amount  of  45,  with  whom  they  returned  to  New- 
town, where  fending  to  the  captains  of  the  (hippino:, 
they  divided  them  among  the  ihips.  About  a  fort- 
night 


p. 


54  Africa.  Parker. 

1790.   night  after  they  went  again,  and  were  out  eight  or 

<- — /— -^nine  days,  plundering  other  villages  higher  up  the 

P.  1 25.  river.  They  feized  on  much  the  fame  number  as 
before,  brought  them  to  Newtown,  gave  the  fame 
notice,  and  difpofed  of  them  as  before  among  the 

P.  ijj.fhips.  They  took  man,  woman,  and  child  as  they 
could  catch  them  in  the  houfes,  and  except  fucking 
children,  who  went  with  their  mothers,  there  was 
no  care  taken  to  prevent  the  feparation  of  the  chil- 
dren from  the  parents  when  fold.  When  fold  to  the 
Englifh  merchants,  they  lamented,  and  cried  that 
they  were  taken  away  by  force. 

^'  ^35'  Dick  Ebro*  was  certainly  not  at  war  with  the  peo- 
ple up  the  river,  nor  had  they  made  any  attack  up- 
on him.  Slaves  were  very  flack  in  the  back  country, 
at  that  time,  and  were  wanted  when  he  went  on  thefe 
^35'  expeditions.  He  took  no  goods  with  him  in  the 
canoes.  He  was  not  at  war  with  any  body,  nor  did 
J.  P.  hear  that  there  had  been  any  war  before  his 
coming  there.  The  old  town  and  new  town  of  Ca- 
labar were  at  peace  with  one  another. 

^'  ^33'  Dick  Ebro'  had  many  (laves  of  his  own,  whom  he 
employed  in  cutting  wood  and  fiihing,  &c.  but  he 
treated  them  always  very  well. 

P.  132.  The  Guinea  captains  fixing  on  a  certain  price, 
agreed  to  lie  under  a  ^50  bond,  if  any  one  of  them 
Diould  sive  more  for  (laves  than  another  ;  in  confe- 
•  ^ 33* qnence  of  which,  the  natives  did  not  readily  bring 
(laves  on  board,  to  fell  at  thofe  prices ;  upon  which 
the  captains  ufed  to  row  guard  at  night,  to  take  the 
canoes  as  they  pafTed  the  (hip,  and  fo  flopping  the 
(laves  from  getting  to  their  towns  prevent  the  traders 
from  getting  them.  Thefe  they  took  on  board  the 
different  (hips,  and  kept  them  till  the  traders  agreed 
to  (lave  at  the  old  price. 

P.  133.      He  has  known  prefents  made  by  the  captains  to 

P.   135.  the  black  traders   to  induce  them  to  bring  flaves. 

Captain  Colly  in  particular  gave   them  fome  pieces 

of  cannon,  which  he  himfelf  fav/  landed. 

P.  134.     Captain  Colly  did  not  behave  fo  well  to  the  fhip's 

crew 


Africa.  Parker.  55 

crew  after  his  arrival  on  the  coaft  as  during  the  voy-  1790. 
age.  He  kept  them  on  fhort  provifions,  giving  them  Part  II. 
only  fi£h  for  four  months,  with  nothing  but  palm  oil  ^^""V"^^ 
to  ity  and  fometimes  not  that.    He  gave  alfo  41b.  of 
bread  by  the  week.      The  quantity  of  fifh,   when 
boiled,  was  not  fufiicient  for  a  meal,  and  the  reft  of 
the  day  they  were  forced  to  go  without  vi6luals. 
When   up  in  the  country,  he  took  a  yam  from  off 
the  coppers,  for  which  the  captain  charged  him  a 
Ihilling  againft  his  wages. 

He  has  been  more  than  once  in  the  Weft  Indies; P.  134. 
and  in  Jamaica,  Barbadoes,  Antigua,  and  the  Gre- 
nadas,  has  feen  feamen  fick,  with  fwelled  feet,  and 
begging  for  want  of  food  and  employment  j  and 
thefe  informed  him  that  the  ftiips  they  came  from 
were  Guineamen. 

He  did  not  know,  when  he  went  out  v/ith  captain  P.  135* 
Pollard,  that  any  part  of  his  v/ages  was  to  be  paid 
in  Weft  India  currency,  and  accoi-dingly  objected  to  P.  136. 
receiving  it  in  that  manner  when  there  ^  declaring  to 
capt.  MarHiail,  that  ^^  he  would  not  go  home  with 
the  ihip  if  he  did  not  give  full  pay-,"  upon  which 
the  captain  threw  him  and  fbme  others  of  the  crew 
into  prifon,  where  they  lay  two  or  three  days,  and 
then  agreed  to  go  with  him,  on  the  captain's  paying 
their  gaol  fees.  The  governor,  though  applied  to, 
gave  the  failors  no  redrefs. 

Since  his  return  to  England,  in  1766,  he  has  been  P.  131. 
fome  time  in  the  coafting  trade,  and  fome  time  in 
his  Majefty's  fervice,  and  in  1768,  entered  the  En- 
deavour bark,  in  which  he  went  round  the  world 
with  captain  Cook,  as  boatfwain's  mate.  He  ferved 
after  in  the  Monarch,  captain  Joftiua  Rowley,  and 
is  now  by  appointment  of  the  mafter-attendant  of 
Plym.outh  dock,  fhip-keeper  of  the  Melampus. 

The  flaves  on  board  ftiips  very  often  refufe  to  eat ; 
they  take  fick,   and  v/ill  not  eat :  blows  make  them 
only  more  fulky,  and  in  general  they  fcem  very  me- P«   13^- 
lancholy  and  dejeded,  P.  137. 

f  Witnefs 


fffisn'S^l  oj  kjs^l  ^py  ^b^'ti  hbdii^A  :3:b  §^mmhB 


4- 


^, 


179^-   :^;rMad|(?;  livp  voyages  to  AfricEj  the  lafl  in*;i?7;54^  .as 
Part  II.j^afiGr  of  a  flave-fliip.     Lived  aihore  about  a  year 
.^■*'^''*^   and  a  half,  chiefly  at  the  i (land  of  Plantanes,  at  the 
•  *37' Haouth  of  the  river  Sherbro. 

_'>Xhe  Purrow^  th^  iegillative  and  executive  power 
there.  A  fort  of  free- mafonry,  to  which  the  obedi- 
ence-paid may  be  a  mixture  of  fuperftitious  charms, 
and  fubniiiTion  to  government. 
-P*  13^*  Always  judged,  that,  with  equal  advantages,  the 
natives  capacities  jwould  be,  equal  to  ours.  Has 
known  many -of A'^^al  and,  decided  capacity.  The 
Sherbro  people  are  in  a.  degree  civilized^  often 
frieraily,  and  m.ay  be  truiled  where  not  previoufly 
deceived  by  Europeans.  Has  lived  in  lafety  among 
them/  when  the  only  white  man  there.  The  beft 
people  he  metwith  w^ere  on  the  R.  Gai)oon  and  at 
C.  Lopas.  Thefe  had  then  the  leaft  intercourfe 
with  Europe.:  Believes  they  had  then  no  flave- 
P'  I39'trade,  and  has  heard  them  fpeak  again  ft  it.  They 
traded  in  ivory  and  wax.  One  great  man  faid,  /'Z  If 
I  was  to  be  angry  and  fell  my  boy,  how  lliould  I  get 
my  boy  back  when  my  anger  was  gone  ?  " 

Has  known  fhips  and  boats  cut  off,  but  never  at 
Gaboon  or  C.  Lopas.  Sometimes  at  Sherbro,  ufually 
in  retaliation. 

Natives,  having  few  wants,  make  fewer  exertions ; 

but   he  does   not    think    them    naturally   indolent. 

P,  140.  Many  of  them  hired  to  work,  in  our  boats  and  fhips. 

On  the  Windward  Coail,  they  cultivate  the  land,  not 

only  to  fupply  themfclves,  but  the  fnips  with  rice. 

Polygamy  being  pradifed,  the  affedions  may  pof- 
fibly  not  be  fo  ftrong  as  in  other  countries  j  but  he 
never  heard  of  a  mother  felling  her  children,      ^ 

They 


Africa.  Newton.  57 

They  are  generally  worfe  in  their  conduft  in  pro-  1790. 
portion  to  their  acquaintance  with  us.  Part  11. 

Believes  the  African  trade  very  fatal  to  feamen, '^•^^"V^*^ 
from  expofure  to  weather,  intemperance,  and  ill 
treatment.  Thinks  in  a  trade  in  African  produce 
they  would  not  neceflarily  be  expofed  to  weather  fo 
much,  and  that  the  flave-trade  is  a  great  caufe  of 
their  hard  treatment.  The  real  or  fuppofed  neceflity 
of  treating  the  negroes  rigoroufly,  gradually  be- 
numbs the  heart,  and  renders  mod  of  thofe  engaged 
in  it  too  indifferent  to  their  fellow  creature's  fuffer- 
ings.  He  has  feen  them  when  fick,  beaten  for  lazi- 
nefs  till  they  have  died  under  the  blows.  P.  141. 

Once  when  on  fhore,  the  traders  fuddenly  put  him 
into  his  long-boat,  telling  him  that  a  mip  jufl: 
pafled,  had  carried  off  two  people,  Had  it  been 
known  in  the  town,  he  would  have  been  detained. 
Has  known  many  other  fuch  inftances/  but  after  ^6  < 
years  cannot  fpecify  them.  Ic  was  a  general  opinion, 
founded  on  repeated  and  indifputable  fads,  that  de- 
predations of  this  fort  were  frequently  coii)mitted  by 
the  Europeans,     (p.  147.) 

Knows  little  of  punilhments,  except  the  felling 
offenders  for  flaves.  Believes  many  were  fold  for 
flaves,  whofe  punifhment  otherwife  would  have  been 
trifling. 

Many  confidered  frauds  as  a  neceffary  branch  of  P.  14a. 
the  flave-trade.  Has  known  them  put  falfe  heads 
into  powder-cafks,  cut  off  two  or  three  yards  from 
the  middle  of  a  piece  of  cloth,  greatly  adulterate 
the  brandy,  and  fometimes  ileal  back  articles  de- 
livered. 

The  men  flaves  always  fettered.  He  never  put 
them  out  of  irons,  till  they  faw  the  land  in  the  W. 
Indies.  Thinks  the  (hip  would  not  otherwile  have 
been  fafe.  Two  or  three  plots,  in  his  fhip,  were 
timely  difcovered.  He  was  mate  of  a  fhip  where 
one  white  man  and  three  or  four  negroes  were  killed, 
in  an  infurredtion. 

The  flaves  had  more  room  in  his  fhip,  becaufe  Li 
Numb,  3,  H  nc   : 


fS  Africa,  N  e  w  t  o  i^. 

1790.  never  compleated  his  nnrchafc ;  but  their  firuation 
Part  Il.in  a  fiili  fiiip  is  uncomfortable  indeed,  being  kept 
.*^Or^^con(tantIy  in  irons,  crowded  in  their  lodging,  and 
often,  in  bad  weather,  almoft  deftitute  of  air  to 
breathe;  befides  what  they  fuffer  from  the  fhips 
motion,  in  their  irons,  and  the  difficulty  in  the  night 
of  getting  to  tncir  tubs,  which  are  fometimes 
overfet. 
Pr  14J.  In  plots  or  infurre6i:ions,  they  fuffer  mod  generally 
fevere  floggings,  to  which  the  mafters  of  fome  fhips 
he  has  been  on  board  of,  added  thumb-fcrews.  A 
captain  told  him  repeatedly,  that  he  had  put  negroes 
to  death,  after  an  infurredtion,  by  different  cruel 
tortures.  In  many  fhips  the  fufferings  of  the  women 
were  aggravated  by  the  brutality  of  the  crews.  He 
knew  many  women  in  Sherbro,  whom  he  thought 
modeft,  but  knows  not  how  to  compare  their  mo- 
defly  with  that  of  women  in  other  countries. 

The  (laves  are  fettered  in  pairs,  not  chained.  He 
has  often,  in  the  morning,  feen  one  of  the  pair  dead. 
He  has  known  pawns  taken  off  the  coall  by  Euro- 
pean traders.  Individual  Europeans  were  thought 
■well  of  by  the  natives,  but  they  had  no  good  opinion 
of  them  upon  the  whole,  and  fometimes  when  charged 
with  a  fraud  or  crime,  would  fay,  '^  What,  do  you 
think  I  am  a  white  man  ?  " 

Small  flaves,  from  8  to  16  years  of  age,  uftd  to 
conftitute  about  i-4th  of  the  cargo. 
P.  144,     He  was  at  three  Have  fales  in  the  Weft  Indies,  and 
at  one  in  South  Carolina.     Relations  were  feparated 
as  Iheep  and  lambs  are  feparated  by  the  butcher. 

His  concern  in  the  fiave- trade  was  not  profitable 
to  his  employers.  There  were  more  lofing  than 
gainful  voyages.  The  trade  was  generally  confidered 
as  a  fort  of  lottery. 

He  made  three  voyages  as  commander  of  a  flave- 
fliip.  He  firft  v/ent  on  board  a  flave-fhip  as  a  fore- 
mall-man  at  Madeira,  in  1745,  having  been  dif- 
charged  from  a  man  of  war;  but  was  made  fteward 
for  about  fix  months.     He  was  left  by  her  when  the 


A  F  R  r  c  A.  Newton.  59 

fliip  failed  with  a  perfon  who  was  part  owner,  on  1790- 
the  coaft,  where  he  lived  perhaps  )8  months,  as  a  ^"^'V^ 
fervant  to  white  traders.  He  left  the  coaft  in  the 
end  of  1747,  as  palfenger  in  a  Ihip  which  called  at 
Gaboon,  and  arrived  in  England  1748.  He  counts 
all  that  time  his  firft  voyage.  In  that  time,  the/ 
traded  to  R.  de  Nuna,  about  40  leagues  northward 
of  S.  Leone,  but  has  no  knowledge  of  the  inter- 
mediate country,  and  20  leagues  to  the  fouthward 
of  that  river,  in  the  R.  Sherbro. 

He  once  went  three  days  journey  inland,  which  hep.  146. 
fuppofes  might  be  fifty  miles  from  the  head  of  the 
river  or  creek  Caramanca.     Believes  he  did  not  ftay 
above  two  days.    He  never  went  fo  far  at  any  other 
time,  feldom  above  3,  4,  or  5  miles  from  the  coaft. 

He  has  fometimes  found  all  trade  flopped,  and  the  P.  147, 
depredations  of  European  traders  have  been  affighed 
by  the  natives  as  the  caufe,  and  he  has,  more  than 
once  or  twice,  made  up  breaches  of  this  kind  be- 
tween the  fhips  and  the  natives. 

He  believes  feveral  captains  of  flave-lhips  were 
honeft,  humane  men,  but  has  good  rcafon  to  think 
they  were  not  all  fo.  The  taking  off  flaves  by  force 
has  been  thought  moft  frequent  in  the  laft  voyages  P.  148. 
of  captains.  He  has  often  heard  mafters  and  officers 
exprefs  this  opinion.  Depredations  and  reprifals 
made  to  get  them  were  fo  frequent,  that  the  Euro- 
peans and  Africans  were  in  a  fpirit  of  mutual  diftruft:  . 
he  does  not  mean  that  there  were  no  depredations, 
except  in  their  laft  voyage.  Has  known  Liverpool 
and  Briftol  fhips  materially  injured  from  the  condu6t 
of  fome  fhips,  from  the  fame  ports,  that  had  lefc 
the  coaft.  It  is  a  fa6t  that  fome  captains  have  com- 
mitted depredations  in  their  laft  voyage,'  who  have 
not  been  known  to  have  done  it  before. 

He  was,  for  moft  of  his  refidence,  in   an  abjedP.  14^, 
ftate  of  fervitude  and  ficknefs.   He  knew  the  natives 
better,  when  a  mafter  to  the  fame  part. 

He  felt  the   trade   very   ineligible,    but   had    no 
f^-Tuple  of  us  lawfulnefs  while  eiiaageu  in  it. 

H  2  ^  Witnels 


ftjlc  (      60      ) 


Witnefs  examined,— James  Morley,  Gunner  of  the 
Medway. 

1790.       Made  6  voyages  to  Africa,  the  firft  in  1760,  the 
Part  Il.laft  in  1776  :  ever  fince  in  the  king's  fervice.     Let 
^^V""^the  African  trade  from  the  ill  ufage  he  himfelf  re- 
P*  H9'  ceived,  and  faw  towards  others.     He  continued  in 
r.  150.  the  trade  from  a  promife  of  promotion,  and  to  main- 
tain his  family.     In  the  firft  fhip,  being  then  9  or 
10  years  of  age,  he  was  a  fervant ;  alfo  in  the  fecoad  ; 
in  the  third  before  the  maft ;  in  the  fourth  gunner  j 
in  the  fifth  boatfwain  and  mate ;  in  the  fixth  mate. 

Has  been  much  on  the  coaft,  and  far  up  the 
country.  Has  been,  by  computation,  3  or  406  miles 
up  the  river  Nazareth,  and  about  200  miles  up  the 
river  Gaboon  (above  Parrot's  IQand,  p.  164,) 
P.  151.  Has  alfo  been  at  Angola,  AfTenie,  Cape  Apol Ionia, 
Cape  Coaft,  Anamaboe,  and  Old  Calabar  (at  this  lad, 
3  voyages — and  at  Commenda,  Succundee,  Dixcove, 
Amunda,  Brandenburgh,  and  many  other  places, 
p.  164.) 

Africa  produces  cotton,  gold,  rice,  peppers,  palm- 
oil>  tobacco,  and  dye  woods.  He  never  was  ricing 
on  the  coaft,  but  has  bought  fome  of  it  off  the  river 
Sifters,  and  different  places  on  the  Windward  Coaft. 
This  rice  was  brought  alongfide  in  canoes,  without 
any  inquiry  for  it  (in  bafkets  holding  about  2  gal- 
Jons,  p.  167.) 

The  natives  were  always  willing  to  do  any  fer- 
yices,  for  which  they  had  a  profped  of  being  paid 
immediately.  He  has  had  much  intercourfe  with 
P.  152.  them,  and  apprehends  they  would  raife  produce,  if 
made  to  fee  that  they  could  get  as  much  by  it  as  by 
felling  flaves.  They  traffic  only  in  provifions  and 
ivory  at  their  markets  i  alio  for  (laves  all  through 
the  country.  r^^'    \vr-'\\  < 

They 


Africa — W.Indies*  Morley.  •    6t'd 

They  treat  their  {laves  with  the  greateft  kindncfs,  i790' 
more  fo  than  our  lervants  or  (laves  in  the  Weii-P^^c  IL 
Indies.     They  do  not  care  to  fell  canoe-boys  and  '--^^''^ 
houfe-fervants,  who  raife  provifions,  fifh,  get  pahn-i^   i^^* 
oil,  and  palm-wine,   make  grafs  and  other  cloch  , 
build  houles,  go  in   the  canoes,  and  do  the   houfe 
bufinefs.     Is  convinced  it  is  a  common  pradice  MrPo  IJS^^' 
them  to  fet  flaves  to  work,  who  are  refufedrbyrrtlifiisr  JIitb'I 
Europeans.     In  Old  Calabar  he  faw  a  Have  thaciviCS'b 
offered  to  his  fhip,  at  work  in  the  plantation.    J: :  v  '^t 

He  owns,  with  (hame,  that  he  has  made  the  natives^ 
drunk,  and  has  given  an  extra  price  for  a  good  man' ^ 
or  woman.     He  has  feen  this  done  by  others.     Cap—' 
tain  Hildcbrand  paid  an  extraordinary  price  for  one 
of  the  wives  of  a  man  whom  he  had  made  drunk,  and 
who  wilhed  to  redeem  her  next  day,  as  did  the  perfon 
he  (Mr^  M.)  bought  the  man  of ;  but  neither  of- 
them  was  given    up,     Suppofes   they    would   hav©- 
given  one-third   more  than  their  price  to  redeem  ^^ 
them  (knew  of  no  other  inflance,  p.  i6^i)ti  oHb 'i£>H       |r|^T 

Mod  of  the  {laves,  as  far  as  he  faw,  were  "obtained:" 
by  purchafe.     He  knev/  and  faw  only  one  taken  by  ;, 
fraud  by  the  black  traders.     It  was  one  that  cameA 
down  to  get  ihell-fi{h,  that  he  bought.     Has  been 
told  by  the  natives  at  Calabar,  (but  never  faw  it,  p. 
165.)  that  they  took  flaves   in  what  they  call  War,'>^ 
which  he  found  was  putting  the  villages  in  confu-  * 
Hon,  and  catching  them  as  they  could.     A  man  on 
board  the  {kip  he  was  in,  fhewed  how  he  was  taken 
at  night  by  furprife,  and  faid  his  wife  and  children  F.  154. 
were  taken  with  him,  but  they  were  not  in  the  fame 
fhip.     Had  reafon  to  think,  from  the  man's  words, 
that  they  took:the.  wholC;  village,,  thofe-ihat  ^ould 
not  get  away.  "^'"^    ^-^.^rn    ^''.-^'   :■--[■'■':: ^     .vl^i^ihr  :.-r- 

In  Old  Calabar,  perfons  are  fold  for  flaves,  for'^'^l^ 
adultery  and  theft.  On  pretence  of  adultery,  he '^ 
remembers  a  woman  fold.  He  learnt  that  this  was-^ 
only  a  pretence  from  her  own  mouth,  for  fhe  fpake"'^ 
good  Englifh,  and  from  the  refped:  with  which  her  ' 
hulband,  king  Ephraim,  treated  h^r^  when  he  came 

on 


6'X  Africa.— W.  Indies.  MorleV. 

1790.  oil  board  •,  whereas,   in  real  cafes  of  adultery,  they 

Part  11.  are  very  defperate. 

•-^v^       He  has  feen  children  on  board,  without  parents 
or  relations. 

P.  155.  Off  Taboo,  two  men  came  along-fide  in  a  canoe. 
One  of  them  came  up  and  fat  on  the  netting,  bur 
would  not  come  into  the  Ibip,  on  which  the  captain 
intoxicated  him  fo  with  brandy  and  laudanum,  that 
he  fell  in  upon  deck.  (Does  not  know  laudanum, 
but  the  captain  ordered  him  to  pour  in  laudanum, 
and  he  (Mr.  M.)  faw  him  pour  out  the  liquid,  which 
was  of  a  very  dark  brown,  p.  165.)  The  captain 
then  ordered  him  to  be  put  into  the  mens  room,  with 
a  centry  over  him.  The  man  in  the  canoe,  after 
calling  in  vain  for  his  companion,  paddled  off  fail 
towards  the  fhore.  The  captain  fired  feveral  mufket 
balls  after  him,  which  did  not  hit  him.  About  3  or 
4  leagues  farther  down,  2  men  came  on  board  from' 
another  canoe.  While  they  were  on  board,  a  drum 
was  kept  beating  near  the  man  who  had  been  feized, 
to  prevent  his  hearing  them,  or  they  him. 

P.  156.  When  they  came  into  Gaboon,  in  the  Tom,  cap- 
tain Matthews  5  defired  the  mate  to  call  himfelf 
captain,  while  he  hid  himfelf.  Two  of  the  chiefs 
fons  coming  on  board,  told  the  mate  that  he  lied, 
and  that  he  was  not  the  captain  :  on  this  the  captain 
came  up  the  fcuttle,  laughing.  The  chiefs  fons 
aiked  him  what  he  had  done  with  their  fons,  and  the^ 
boys  he  had  carried  off,  and  told  him  in  Englifh,  that 
if  he  came  on  fhore  there  to  trade,  they  would  have 
his  head.  They  then  went  into  their  canoe,  and  left 
the  veffel,  calling  to  him  and  making  motions  to  the 
fame  purpoie.  Is  not  pofitive  as  to  any  other  in- 
fiance. 

When  at  Furnandipo,  in  the  Marcus  tender-floop, 
in  the  Jieighc  of  trading  with  the  natives  for  provi- 
fions,  a  man  ftole  a  few  firings  of  beads.  Bifhop, 
the  mader,  flriking  him,  the  natives  flew  up  to  the 
wood.     Bifhop  fired  among  them,  and  ordered  the 

boat*s 


Africa. — W.Indies.  Morley.  6j 

boat's  crew  to  do  the  fame.     A  great  fhrieking  was  1790. 
heard,   and  they  immediately  all  difuppeared.     The  Pare  II. 
boat's  crew  left  the  boat,  and  faw  the  track  of  blood   *-'>r*o 
for  many  yards  ;   but  they  could  never  learn  whether 
any  of  them  were  killed.     Does  not  remember  that 
any  of  the  natives  had  offered  violence  to  the  boat's 
crew. 

From  Old-Town,  Calabar,   to  the  Duke's«Town,  p,  jcj^ 
is  4  or  5  miles,  by  the  creek ;  but  by  the  mouth  of 
Crofs  River,  16  or  18  miles,  or  more.     New-Town 
is  a  long  way  from  the  (hipping.     Before  the  towns 
parted,  they  always  went  by  the  creek. 

When  there  has  been  a  full  purchafe,  the  (laves 
are  clofely  ftowed;  but,  when  a  fhort  purchafe,  and 
they  have  had  mortality,  they  have  more  room.  He 
has  been  employed  in  a  full  (hip,  in  (lowing  them  as 
clofe  as  he  pofTibly  could.  In  moft  fhips  he  has  been 
in,  the  men  were  in  irons  all  the  palTage.  In  full  P.  158, 
fhips,  he  has  feen  them  in  great  perfpirations,  efpe- 
cially  when  rains  obliged  them  to  keep  the  gratings 
long  covered.  He  has  wiped  them,  and  feen  them 
wiped,  in  perfpirations  fo  violent,  as  to  give  reafon 
to  think,  if  they  had  been  long  kept  fo  clofe,  fuffo- 
cation  muft  have  enfued  ;  but  this  he  never  found. 
He  has  feen  them  under  great  difficulty  of  breath- 
ing. The  women  particularly,  often  get  up  on  the 
beams,  where  the  gratings  are  raifed  with  bannifters, 
about  4  feet  above  the  combings,  to  give  air,  but 
they  are  generally  driven  down,  becaufe  they  take 
the  air  from  the  reft. 

He  has  known  rice  held  in  the  mouths  of  fea- 
fick  flaves,  until  they  were  almoft  ftrangled.  He 
has  i'cen  the  furgeon's  maces  force  the  pannikin  be- 
tween their  teeth,  and  throw  the  medicine  over  them, 
fo  that  not  half  of  it  went  into  their  mouths,  the 
poor  wretches  wallowing  in  their  blood  or  excre- 
ments, hardly  having  life,  and  this  with  blows  of  the 
cat,  d — ing  them  for  fulky  black  b .  He  de- 
clares he  has  known  the  dodlor's  mate  report  a  (lave 
dead,  and  have  him  thrown  overboard,  when  he  has 

feen 


^4  Africa. — ^W,  Indies.  Morley. 

1790.  feen  him  flruggle  in  the  water;  no  one  could  ima- 

Part  Il.gine  why,  only  co  get  clear  ofthe  trouble, 
w-^-^       In  his  firiV  voyage,  in  the  Eagle  Galley,  700  were 
taken  on  board  ;   believes  above  250  were  lo(l<     In 

^  s  5 9.  his  fecond  voyage,  in  the  Amelia,  about  200,  or 
more,  were  taken  in,  18  or  20,  more  or  lefs,  were 
loft.  In  his  fourth  voyage,  in  the  Tom,  about  150 
or  more  taken  in,  25,  more  or  lefs,  loft.  In  his  fifth 
voyage,  in  the  Venus,  between  250  and  300  taken  in, 
about  20  loft,  but  is  not  fure. 

Some  flaves  fold  on  board,  moft  commonly  on 
ihor^.  He  never  faw  them  ibid  byfcramble,  except 
in  his  laft  voyage,   in  the  Whim.     Refufe  flaves  are 

P.  160.  fold  by  vendue.  He  has  feen  refufe  flaves,  that  came 
out  ofthe  fhip  he  was  in,  lying  about  in  St.  Kitt's, 
in  a  very  bad  condition,  and  apparently  deferred. 
He  has  knjwn  the  poorer  people  buy  flaves  at  ven- 
due, t'or  a  trifle,  not  thinking  of  the  expence  of  cure ; 
when  they  find  the  raiflng  of  them  will  coft  a  good 
deal,  let  them  go  about  any  where.  He  has  been  on 
an  inqueft  at  Jamaica,  where,  from  the  appearance 
of  the  body,  ilit  verdict  was,  "  Died  for  Avant.'* 
Upon  inquiry,  the  perfon  fufpected  to  be  the  owner, 
has  denied  that  it  was  his  flave. 

Some  fcamen  tenter  voluntarily,  but  knows  others 
are  kept  by  landlords,  till  in  debt,  when  they  offer 
them  a  Gaineaman  or  gaol.  One  Sullivan,  a  land- 
lord in  Briftol,  got  2  or  3  young  fellows  in  debt,  and 
forced  them,  in  his  hearing,  to  go  on  board  the  Gui- 
neaman  he  belonged  to,  or  to  gaol.  He  helped  to 
carry  them  on  board  himfeif ;  cannot  pofitivcly  fay 
this  is  a  common  practice. 

The  feamen  in  the  Guineaman  he  failed  in,  were 
gencraily  treated  with  great  rigour,  and  many  with 
cruelty.  Recollects  many  inftances.  Matthews,  the 
chief  mate  in  the  Venus,  would  knock  a  man  down 

p.  161.  for  any  frivolous  thing,  with  a  cat,  a  piece  of  wood, 
or  a  cook's  axe,  with  which  he  once  cut  a  man  down 
the  fliouider.  In  the  Amelia,  captain  Dixon,  the 
men  were  tied  up,  and  had  4  or  5  dozen  lafhes  at  a 

time. 


Africa.— W.  Indies.        ::igwI  •^/•Morley.  6j 

tinf^jtaud  then  rubbing  them  with  pickle,  he  told  1790. 
them,  *'  They  fhould  not  ftink,  for   he  would  faltPart  if, 
them  well."  He  has  heard  him  tell  them  fo  often.  He  w*v^ 
(Mr.  Moriey)   when  his  cabin-boy,  for  accidentally 
breaking  a  giafs,  was  tied  to  the  tiller  by  the  hands, 
flogged  with  a  cat,  and  kept  hanging  fome  time.  He 
has  feen  great  feverity  in  all  the  Briftol  vefTels  he  has 
been  in  -,  but  capt.  Butler,  in  the  Whim,  from  Liver- 
pool, neither  treated  the  flaves  nor  the  men  fevere- 
ly.     He  has  known  him  fend  the  only  bit  of  frefh 
provifions  he  had  from  his  table,  to  the  Tick  (laves. 

The  feamens  provifions  were  ufually  fcanty.  Have 
no  fhelter.  Has  feen  them  lie  and  die  upon  deck. 
In  all  his  hrfb  5  voyages,  he  has  feen  feamen  fick  and 
ulcerated  •,  for  it  was  all  to  a  fickly  part  of  the  coaft 
that  he  went.  They  are  generally  treated  ill.  He 
has  known  men  afk  to  have  their  wounds  or  ulcers 
dreffed  ;  and  has  heard  the  dodor,  with  oaths,  tell 
them  to  take  their  dungr  and  drefs  them.  Never 
knew  the  captain  compel  the  dodtor  to  do  his  duty  ;- 
nor  does  he  know  that  the  dodtor  made  this  anfwer 
in  the  captain*s  hearing.  P.   i62. 

The  feamen  were  paid  in  Weft  India  currency,  in 
every  fhip  he  was  in.  There  are  more  deferters 
from  Guineamen,  than  from  any  Weft  Indiaman  he 
has  been  in.  He  has  frequently  feen  Guinea  feam.en 
lying  about  the  wharfs,  &c.  in  almoft  all  the  iflands, 
with  ukerated  legs,  and  other  diforders,  almoft  dead. 
He  has  often  relieved  them. 

In  Jamaica,  he  faw  a  man  hoifted   up  taught  to  a 

crane  on  a  wharf,  with  3  or  4  fifty-fixes  to  his  feet, 

and  flogged  with  a  Ihort  whip,  and  the  fkin  fwelled 

I  up  ia  great  lumps:  it  was  not  broke,   but  bruifed. 

I  The  negro  flogger  then  flogged  him  with  ebony  oa 

the  fame  parts,  until  the  blood  ran  from  moft  of  his 

back.     He  was  told  the    flave's  crime  was  running 

away;  and  that  the  ebony  was  ufed  to   let  out  the 

bruifed    blood      Another    time,    he   faw  a   woman 

cruelly  flogged  at  Kingfton.     He   was  told   fhe  wasp,  igj, 

to  pay  her  miftrefs  fo  much  a  month,  which  ihe  nad 

Numb.  3,  I  iiQC 


66  Africa. — W.  Indies.  Morle*/* 

1790.    not  done.     He  knows  many  fuch  inftances.     In  Ja- 

Part  Il.maica,  he  once  (and  only  once)  faw  marking  irons 

*-— w^^  heated  over  the  flame  of  rum,  and  applied  to  the 

thick  of  the  thigh  of  the  flaves,  as  they  came  through 

the  barricado-door  one  by  one. 

Captain  Briggs's  chief  mate,  in  Old  Calabar  river, 
lying  in  ambufh  to  flop  the  natives  coming  down  the 
creek,  purfued  Oruk  Robin  John,  who,  jumping  on 
fhore,  fhot  the  mate  through  the  head. 

Mr.  Walker,  mailer  of  a  floop,  was  on  board  the 
Jolly  Prince,  captain  Lambert,  when  the  king  of 
Nazareth  ilabbed  the  captain  at  his  own  table,  took 
the  veflel,  putting  all  the  whites  to  death,  except  the 
cook,  a  boy,  and  he  believes  one  man.  Captain 
Punter,  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  brig,  afking  W^alker 
why  the  king  of  Nazareth  took  this  flep  ?  he  faid, 
"  It  was  on  account  of  the  people  that  Matthews 
*'  had  carried  off  from  Gaboon  and  Cape  Lopas,  the 
^^  voyage  before."  Walker  efcaped,  by  knowing 
P.  164.  the  language.  The  Jolly  Prince  belonged  to  the 
fame  owners  as  Matthews's  fhip. 

He  was  fometimes  a  week,  fometimes  2  or  3  days, 
on  fhore  at  Gaboon.  He  faw  a  great  quantity  of 
ivory  there,  which  comes  from  inland,  on  the  fhould- 
ers  or  heads  of  the  negroes. 

By  the  water-fide  about  Gaboon,  the  country  is 
flat  or  marfhy  in  fome  places,  but  the  farther  up  the 
river,  the  better  the  land.  It  runs  fo  high  in  the 
back  country,  as  to  be  feen  a  great  way  off.  The 
country  was  never  overflowed  while  he  was  there, 
and  he  never  heard  that  it  was. 
P.  165.  There  are  great  quantities  of  cotton  at  Calabar  and 
Gaboon,  but  no  rice  that  ever  he  faw.  Never  faw 
any  cotton  exported  from  thence;  but  he  has  made 
pillows  of  it.  It  is  very  fine,  but  very  fliort  in  the 
pod. 

Sailors  in  the  Wefl;  Indies  are  called  wharfingers, 
by  feafaring  people  in  general,  becaufe  they  have 
ulcerated  legs,  and  are  flckly,  lying  about  the  wharfs 
and  private  places.     The  failors  call  them  fo  w  iv,-re 

-i.ere 


Africa.—W.  Indies.  Morley.  67 

there  are  wharfs;  but  they  call  them  beach  homers,    1790. 
and  other  cant  names,  where  there  are  no  wharfs.       Part  IL 

Very  particular   in  moft  captains  purchafing  no 
flaves  but  fuch  as  appeared  to  be  in  good  health. 

They  had  always  an  hofpital  forward,   before  the 
men's  room. 


Witnefs  examined — Capt.  Tho.  Bolton  Thompson, 
Of  the  Royal  Navy. 

He  was  fecond  lieutenant  of  the  Grampus  in  1784,?.  167, 
1785,  and  1786,  and  commanded  the  Nautilus   in 
1787,  in  carrying  out  the  black  poor  to  S.  Leone, 
where  he  was  from  May  to  September. 

The  principal  produdls  are  cotton,  indigo,  tobacco, 
fugar-canes,  cam-wood,  gums,  cardamums,  rice, 
ivory,  and  gold-duft. 

Were  the  natives  inftru6led  and  encouraged,  he 
fuppofes  they  would  cultivate  thofe  things.  Several 
natives  at  S.  Leone,  affifled  the  blacks  he  carried 
out,  in  building  their  houfes,  at  a  fmall  expenfe. 

The  natives  did  not  appear  inferior  in  capacity  to  P.  i5S, 
other  uncivilized  people.     On  the  contrary  they  ap- 
peared pofTefled  of  great  quicknefs   and  cunning. 
Thofe  of  S.  Leone  appear  harmlefs  and  inoffenfive. 

He  has  heard  that  the  word  '^  panyar,"  which  is 
common  on  the  coaft,  means  kidnapping,  or  feizing 
of  men. 

From  the  many  complaints  which  he  received  from 
them,  he  concludes  that  feamen  are  far  from  being 
well  treated  in  the  (lave-lhips.  One  Bowden  fwam 
from  the  Fiilier,  of  Liverpool,  captain  Kendal,  to 
the  Nautilus,  amidft  a  number  of  fharks,  to  claim 
his  prote6lion.  Kendal  wrote  for  the  man,  who 
refufed  to  go,  faying  that  his  life  would  be  endan- 
gered. He  therefore  kept  him  in  the  Nautilus  till  P.  16^, 
ihe  was  paid  oiF,  He  was  a  diligent,  willing,  atlive 
1  2  feaman. 


6^  Africa.— W.  Indies.  Thompson. 

1790.  feaman.      Several  of  the  crew  of  the  Brothers  of 

Part  II. Liverpool,  captain  Clark,  he  thinks,  fwam  towards 

*-^v-^*/  the  Nautilus,  pafling  by ;  two  only  reached  her,  the 

reft,    he  believes,  regained   their  own  (hip.     The 

majority  of  the  crew  had,  the  day  before,  come  on 

P.  169.  board  the  Nautilus,  in  a  boat,   to  complain  of  ill 

ufage  :  but  he  had  returned  them,  with  an  officer  to 

inquire  into  and  redrefs  their  complaints.    This  was 

in  July,  1787.     He  received  many  letters  from  fea- 

men  in  flave-ihips,  complaining  of  ill  ufage,   and 

defiring  him  to  proted  them,  or  take  them  on  board. 

Is  inclined  to  think  the  feamen  in  fhips  trading  in 
produce  are  not  fo  ill  ufed  as  thofe  in  flave- fhips. 
Several  of  his  own  officers  gave  him  the  beft  accounts 
of  the  treatment  in  the  Iris,  a  fhip  trading  in  wood, 
&c.  and  of  the  healchinefs  and  good  order  of  the 
P.  170.  ihip.     She  was  near  him  feveral  weeks. 

He  fhould  fuppofe  the  flave-trade  is  not  a  nurfery 
for  feamen,  as  thofe  on  board  the  flave- (hips  appear 
very  fickly,  from  their  being  very  much  expofed  to 
the  fun,  rains,  and  dews,  in  fmall  craft.  Thinks  a 
trade  in  the  produce  of  Africa  would  not  be  fo  un- 
healthy as  the  flave-trade.  A  crew  may  be  kept  as 
healthy  in  thofe  parts  of  Africa  he  has  been  in  as  in 
any  other  tropical  climate.  Only  one  man  was  loft 
in  the  Nautilus,  while  there,  and  that  was  from 
jiegle6l. 

Thinks  more  are  crowded  in  a  flave-fhip  than  can 
be  carried  with  a  due  regard  to  their  health  or  com- 
fort. His  fiiip  was  about  320  tons,  and  ftie  had  her 
full  peace  compliment,  100  men.  It  would  have 
been  impoffible  to  ftow  4  or  500  people  in  her,  with 
P.  171.  a  due  regard  to  their  health  and  comfort.  It  was  as 
much  as  he  could  do  to  ftow  his  100  men,  with  any 
comfort ;  but,  on  his  return,  by  the  Weft  Indies, 
being  ordered  to  take  in  70  or  80  invalids  for  Eng- 
land, the  ftiip  was  much  crowded. 

Thinks  the  S.  Leone  lettlers  were  landed  at  the 
moft  improper  feafon,  the  beginning  of  the  rains. 

At  Barbadoes  he  has  {ccn  feveral  feamen  begging, 

apparently 


Africa. — W.  Indies.  Thompson.  69 

apparently  very  fickly  and  defhitute.     He  believes  1790. 
moil  of  the  Guinea  feamen  receive  a  great  Ihock  to  Part  II. 


their  conftitutions. 

In  the  Weft  Indies,   he  has  very  often  feen  the 
negroes  backs  bear  indelible  marks  of  the  whip. 

Believes  there  are  feveral  fpecies  of  gum  in  and  P,  172. 
about  S.  Leone;  but  the  principal  is  gum  copal. 
Has  always  underftood  there  is  a  great  demand  for 
gum  copal  here. 

Each  man  has  from  18  to  24  inches  for  his  ham- P.  173. 
mock,  in  a  man  of  war,  according  to  the  room  they 
can  fpare. 

Believes  about  380  free  negroes  were  fent  to  Sierra 
Leone.  Many  more  were  embarked,  but  fome  got 
afhore,  and  others  died.  Their  behaviour  was  ge- 
nerally very  bad :  moil:  of  them  were  v^^orthlefs, 
lawlefs,  and  drunken.  Some  of  them,  he  believes,  P.  174, 
were  mechanicks-,  but  moft  of  them  vagrants  who 
infefted  London.  Thinks  a  colony  may  certainly  be 
eftablifhed  there,  by  people  of  a  different  charafter, 
under  proper  laws,  with  every  profped:  of  fuccefs,  as 
it  is  a  very  fine  fertile  country.  The  river  is  a  good 
port. 

At  fea  little  more  than  half  a  man  of  v/ar's  crew 
are  in  their  hammofcks  at  a  time,  as  they  are  generally 
at  watch  and  watch.  Fleight  between  decks  froai 
5  feet  4  or  5  inches,  to  5  feet  10  inches. 

He  feldom  or  ever  vifited  a  Guineaman,  as  his 
difguft  always  overcame  his  curioficy.     Certainly  no  P.  175  i 
comparifon  can  be  formed  between  the  fituation  of 
feamen  in  a  man  of  war  and  flaves  in  a  Guineaman. 

Cardamum  is  in  great  plenty  in  Africa.  He  has 
feen  fome  black  pepper;  red  peppers  of  many  fpecies 
in  abundance,  and,  he  has  been  told,  wild  nutmegs. 
The  ifland  of  St.  Thomas  abounds  in  wild  cinnamon, 
(which  he  cannot  diftingnilli  from  cafTia)  but  he 
never  faw  any  on  the  continent,  though  he  thinks  it 
equally  calculated  to  produce  it.  Wild  grapes,  tho' 
not  very  palatable,  are  in  plenty  at  S,  Leone,   and 

he 


70  Africa,  Hills. 

1790.  he  planted  fome  cuttings  of  TenerliFe  vines,  which 
Part  II.  throve  very  well. 


Witnefs  examined — Captain  John  Hills, 

Of  the  Royal  Navy. 

P.  176,  Was  at  Goree  and  the  Gambia  as  commander  of 
his  Majefty's  floop  Wafp,  he  thinks,  in  the  end  of 
178 1  and  beginning  of  1782.  (In  all  near  6  months 
in  Africa,  p.  181.) 

Knew  at  Dacard,  Moriel,  a  high  priefb,  very  in- 
telligent. 

He  faw  the  natives,  in  an  evening,  often  go  out, 
in  war-dreflTes,  as  he  found,  to  obtain  flaves  for  the 
king  of  Darnel,  to  be  fold.  Some  pirates,  who  had 
obtained  a  flave  improperly,  brought  him  bound  on 
board  the  Zephyr,  to  fell  him  to  him.  On  his  re- 
leafing  him  they  defired  he  might  (lay  till  morning, 
to  be  carried  to  governor  Wall  •,  who  would  take 
him.  Next  morning  the  man  jumped  out  of  the 
canoe,  and  was  refcued  by  the  Dacard  people. 

He  has  feen  them  tied  back  to  back  in  feveral 

P.  I77*huts.     He  was  told  by  one  perfon,  that  the  king 

was  very  poor,  not  having  received  his  ufual  prefents, 

and  that  parties  were  fent  to  get  flaves  for  him  on 

that  account. 

At  Dacard,  where  the  fhip  watered,  Capt.  Ganna, 
received  the  king's  dues.  This  Ganna  brought  the 
kidnapped  man  to  him  as  aforefaid.  Moriel,  his 
brother,  a  refpedlable  man,  held  this  mode  of  feiz- 
ing  the  natives,  in  high  indignation.  They  were 
both  the  king  of  Darnel's  fubjeds,  and  chiefs  of 
villages.  (Underftood  Ganna  was  not  a  Maraboo, 
p.   180.) 

The  natives  all  go  armed :  he  imagines  for  fear  of 
being  taken. 

When  in  the  river  Gambia,  wanting  fervants  on 

boards 


Africa.  Hills.  yt 

board,  he  exprefled  a  wifh  for  fome  volunteers.     A  1790. 
black  pilot  in  the  boat,  called  two  boys  who  were  Part  If. 
on  (hore,   carrying  bafkets  of  fhallots,    and  afked  ^-nr*^ 
captain  H.  if  they  would  do,  in  which  cafe  he  would P*  ^7^* 
take  them  off,  and  bring  them  to  him :  this  he  de- 
clined.    From  the  eafe  with  which  he  did  it,  con- 
cludes  this  was  cuftomary.      Black  pilot  faid  the 
merchantmen  would  not  refufe  fuch  an  offer. 

He  was  advifed  not  to  go  afhore  at  Gambia,  by 
the  merchants  there,  for  fear  of  being  taken  by  the 
natives,  who  owed  the  Englifh  a  grudge,  for  fome 
injuries.  A  man  at  Gambia,  who  called  himfelf  a 
prince's  brother,  had  been  carried  to  the  W  Indies, 
in  an  Engliih  fhip,  and  was  fent  to  Europe  by  the 
governor. 

A  boy,  whom  he  bought  from  the  merchants, 
had  been  carried  in  the  night  from  his  father's  houfe, 
where  a  flcirmifh  had  happened,  in  which,  he  believes, 
he  faid,  both  his  parents,  but  he  well  remembers 
one,  were  killed.  The  boy  faid  many  were  killed, 
and  fome  taken. 

Several  natives  fpoke  very  good  French  and  Eng-P,  170. 
liih.  He  had  a  letter  from  a  man  at  Gambia  very 
well  written  in  French.  A  man,  whofe  child  was 
to  be  buried,  could  not  Hand  the  (hock,  and  re- 
quefted  to  flay  on  board  the  Zephyr,  till  the  cere- 
mony was  over,  and  he  fliewed  much  grief  and 
amotion. 

He  was  often  applied  to  by  the  merchants  (Eng- 
lifh, p.  180)  for  help,  owing  to  deaths  and  ficknefs 
among  their  feamen.  He  did  not  lofe  a  man  in  his 
own  Ihip. 

Never  favv  the  women  working  in  the  fields ;  but 
has  often  feen  the  men  raifing  provifions  near  Dacard. 
Has  feen  them  drefs  their  corn  in  a  large  hole,  by 
cutting  it  to  pieces  with  fharp  inilruments  on  ilaves. 
Has  feen  them  working  their  common  cloths  in  their 
looms. 

He  apprehends  the  boys  (aforefaid)  were  free  peo-P.  180. 

pie 


7^'  Africa.  Hills, 

1790.  pie  from  the  pilot's  mode  of  fpeaking,  and  from  his 
Part  II.  winking,  implying  it  was  an  illicit  thing. 
*-oro  Was  ir  formed  the  perfon's  brother  who  was 
brought  to  him  bound,  was  a  great  man  in  the  vil- 
lage he  was  taken  from.  He  fhould  apprehend  no 
crime  was  ailedged  againft  him ;  becaufe  the  next 
day  he  returned  to  his  own  village. 

They  always  paid  the  king  of  Damel  for  wooding 
and  watering.  There  was  a  fixed  price  for  every 
boat  landing. 
P.  181.  He  attributes  the  healthinefs  of  his  crew  in  Africa 
to  medical  precautions,  (which  were  ufed  to  guard 
againft  the  noxious  land-vapours,  p.  181).  Bark 
and  Madeira  wine  v/cre  always  given  the  men  when 
they  went  on  iliore,  and  returned  on  board. 

The  natives  in  Damel  appear  very  lazy  and  idle. 
In  the  Gambia,  he  had  no  opportunity  of  landing  to 
fee  their  induftry.  He  does  not  think  they  could  be 
very  eafily  induced  by  any  encouragement,  to  ma- 
nufafture  their  produce  fo  as  to  become  articles  of 
trade. 

He  had  on  board  the  Zephyr,  on  an  average,  about 
90  men,  which  was  her  compliment.  She  was  about 
200  tons. 


Witnefs  examined — George  Baillie,  Efq. 

P.  182.  Refided  25  years  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
Commenced  merchant  in  Charlefton  in  1756,  (p. 
193.)  afterwards  planter  in  1767,  (p.  194.)  and  as 
CommiiTary  General  of  Georgia.  Settled  there  in 
1762,  (p.  197.)      ^  ^  ^ 

Many  velTcls  arrived  while  he  refided  at  Charlef- 
ton and  Savannah,  with  (laves  from  Africa.  He  faw 
many  of  the  crews  of  thofe  fhips  who  had  fqualid 
countenances,  and  ulcerated  limbs, 

Notice  of  the  fale  having  been  given  feme  days 
before,  the  flaves  were  ranged  in  a  clofe  yard,  a 
great  gun  $red,  and  buyers  rulhed  violendy  in,  and 

feized 


W.  Indies.— N.  America,  Baillie.  73 

feized  the  beft  looking  Oaves,  afterwards  picking  and  1790. 
culling  them  to  their  minds.     They  were  immedi-Part  H. 
ately  purchafed  and  hurried  out  of  the  yard ;  fo  that,  ^-^r-^ 
in   a   few  hours,  only  the  refufe   flaves  remained  •, 
whofe  health  had  fufFered,  generally,  as  he  conceived, 
from  crowding  and  confined  air  on  board,  and  who 
were  afterwards  fold  at  a  great  under-price. 

In  America,  the  overfeer  roufed  the  Haves  and  fetP.  183.^ 
them  to  work  in  the  morning.  They  did  not  work 
for  fet  hours,  but  by  talk-work,  generally  a  rood  of 
land  to  each,  when  eafily  cultivated  ;  if  otherwife, 
the  overfeer  fet  the  llrongeil  to  the  hardeft  work, 
and  vice  verfa;  and  indeed  it  was  ufual  to  lefTen  the 
piece  of  land  confiderably  when  uncommonly  foul. 
The  negroes  generally  helped  thofe  who  could  not 
finifh  fo  foon  as  the  reir ;  fo  that  they  left  the  field 
at  once,  pretty  early  in  the  afternoon  when  their 
work  ceafed,  and  they  were  at  perfect  liberty  for 
the  reft  of  the  day.  They  had  no  other  time  but 
Sunday,  and  a  few  holidays  at  Chriflmas.  Sunday 
was  intirely  at  their  own  difpofal. 

Each  man  and  woman  flave  had  weekly  a  peck  of 
Indian  corn  or  clean  rice,  each  about  141b.  or  a 
bufhel  of  potatoes,  near  4olb.  and  the  children,  in 
proportion  to  their  age.  (A  peck  of  Indian  corn 
about  7fd  a  peck  of  rice  lod.  a  bufhel  of  potatoes 
from  8d.  to  lod.  p.  196.)  Befides  they  had  gene-P»  184. 
rally  as  much  ground  as  they  chofe  to  cultivate,  the 
produce  intirely  at  their  own  difpofah 

Each  man  received,  at  the  beginning  of  winter,  a 
coat,  waiftcoat,  and  breeches  and  boots  of  white 
plains,  alfo  a  milled  worfled  cap  and  a  pair  of  ftrong 
ihoes.  In  fummer  they  commonly  have  an  Ofnaburg's 
fhirt  and  trowfers.  The  women  were  clothed  much 
in  the  fame  way,  except  the  boots.  The  children  had 
each  a  long  warm  gown  down  to  the  heels.  They 
had  aifo  every  fecond  year,  a  warm  duffel  blanket. 

It  was  ufual  to  have  overfeers  to  fuperinter^d  every 
'  plantation,  and  drivers  under  them.    Generally  fromP,  1851* 

Numb.  3,  K  thirty- 


^4  W.  Indies. — N.  America.  Baillie. 

1790.   thirty-two   to   thirty-five  workers  were  under  one 

Part  Il.overfeer  and  one  driver. 

«--v^  In  America,  he  has  feen  nnarks  on  them,  but  not 
very  often,  and  feldom  when  they  had  humane  m.af- 
ters.  The  drivers  feldom  or  never  whip  the  flaves 
through  their  day's  work;  becaufe  it  was  impofTible 
to  know,  till  towards  the  clofe  of  the  day,  whether 
a  flave  would  or  would  not  finifh  his  tafk;  and  it 
was  thought  time  enough  to  punifh,  when  their 
negle6t  deferved  it.  He  has  very  rarely  feen  them, 
in  America,  with  clogs  on  their  legs;  but  never 
with  chains. 

The  rearing  of  children  was  very  much  attended 
to  in  America.  Pregnant  women  did  no  work  for  a 
conliderable  time  before  delivery.  Coarfe  child-bed 
linen  was  provided,  and  fufiicient  care  taken  of  them 
when  lying-in.     The  child  was  properly    clothed, 

P.  1 06.^1^ J  taken  care  of.  Believes  they  are  raifed  in  as 
great  a  proportion  as  children  in  Europe,  when  they 
are  in  healthy  fituations.  Never  heard  of  the  teta- 
nus in  that  country. 

The  chief  produce  was  rice,  indigo,  and  humber. 
%  Lands  intended  for  rice,  if  fwampy,  are  drained  and 

banked  to  keep  water  from  lodging  on  them.  When 
perfedcly  dry,  the  rice  is  fown  (about  March  aoth, 
p.  195.)  in  ftraight  trenches,  weeded  as  it  grows, 
and,  when  about  three  feet  high,  and  quite  clean, 
the  iluices  are  opened,  and  the  water  admitted  about 
June  aoth,  which  ftands  about  a  foot  deep,  till  to- 
wards the  firft  w^eek  in  September,  when  it  is  ripe. 
After  the  ground  becomes  a  little  dry,  it  is  cut  and 
cocked  up  in  the  field.  Having  fcood  there  fome 
little  time,  it  is  flacked,  in  the  barn-yard,  like  corn 
in  Europe.  It  is  thrafhed  like  European  grain,  win- 
nowed, put  through  wooden  mills,  to  take  off  the 
external  coat,  and'  into  mortars,  worked  by  horfes 
or  v/ater,  to  diveft  it  of  the  inner  fkin.  It  is  then 
fifted,  and  put  up  for  exportation. 

P.  187.      In  October  or  November  1777,  he  v/ent  to  Jamaica 
and  the  Bahamas,  having  been  forced  from  the  con- 
tinent 


W.  Indies. -^N.  America.  Baillie.  75 

tinent  by  the  difputes  there.    Was  feveral  months  In  1790. 
Jamaica,  (viz.  from  about  Dec.  177B  to  February  orPart  II. 
March  1779,  p.  198.)  ^'-^r>f* 

Having  then  had  little  to  do  in  Jamaica,  he  went 
from  curiofity  to  various  eftates,  and  to  compare 
their  management  with  that  of  the  continent.  (He 
crofTed  the  illand  for  the  fame  reafon,  p  198)  He 
muft  confefs,  he  differed  in  opinion  with  feveral 
planters  in  their  way  of  working  the  flaves,  as 
thinking  it  rather  ferved  to  deprefs  their  fpirits,  and 
their  general  appearance  was,  by  no  means,  favour- 
able. He  obferved  that  they  worked,  almoft  from 
fun-rife  to  fun-fet,  he  might  fay  5  (they  had  almoft 
an  hour  for  breakfaft,  and  nearly  two  hours  for  din- 
ner, p.  200)  and  that  they  were  conftantly  followed 
by  drivers,  who  forced  the  weak  to  keep  up  with  the 
ftrong,  as  far  as  poffible.  Looking  into  the  books 
of  an  eftate  (of  Mr.  Gray's,  p.  199)  under  the  di- 
redion  of  a  friend,  (Mr.  Hug^Polfon,  who  was 
rather  attorney,  he  believes,  than  manager,  p.  199) 
to  his  utter  furprize,  he  faw  that  the  negroes  were 
turned  out  on  Sunday  as  regularly  as  on  any  other 
day,  to  work  in  their  own  grounds :  but  it  appeared 
that  the  produce  v/as  appropriated  to  the  negroes 
fubfiftence,  and  not  to  their  emolument,  unlefs  per- 
haps there  was  a  furplus  of  food.  How  far  that 
furplus  was  applied  to  their  benefit,  he  is  not  per- 
fedly  clear. 

He  thinks  he  could  perceive  a  confiderable  diffe-P.  188, 
rence  between  the  general  appeafance  of  the  field 
and  the  town  flaves;  becaufe  the  latter  were  much 
better   fed  and  clothed,    and    not  worked  fo  hard. 
Believes  that  might  be  the  reafon. 

The  fituation  of  married  men-flaves  on  the  conti- 
nent was  generally  very  comfortable,  as  they  had  a 
houfe  and  ground  where  they  could  raife  many  little 
neceifaries;  and  they  took  great  pleafure  in  raifing 
their  children,  for  whom  they  feemed  to  have  the 
fincere  ft  attachment.  He  muft  confefs,  he  did  not 
think  the  W,  India  flaves  feemed  to  enjoy  the  fime 

K  2  comfort^ 


76  W.  Indies. — N.  America.  Baillie. 

1790.   comfort  in  that  refpedb ;  as  he  apprehended  it  was 
Part. II.  not  fo  much  the  wifh  of  planters  there  to  increafe 
^-nr^  flaves  by  births,  as  on  the  continent. 

He  has  in  companies  in  the  Weft  Indies  (he  does 
not  think  they  were  very  ferious  neither — it  is  a  very 
invidious  thing)  heard  them  fay,  that  after  giving  a 
certain  price  for  a  negro,  if  he  worked  a  certain  time, 
there  would  be  no  great  lofs  fuftained  by  his  death ; 
but  believes  they  are  too  humane  to  wifh  a  man  to 
die.  Does  not  think,  that  on  the  continent,  any 
gentleman  would  have  fuggefted  fuch  a  matter. 
(Thefe  matters  pafTed  only  in  curfory  converfation, 
probably  at  a  table.  Does  not  fay  this  opinion  was 
general,  by  any  means,  p.  200.) 

Except  their  not  being  fo  much  driven  through  the 
day,  believes  punifhments,  on  the  continent,  as  fevere 
as  in  the  Weft  Indies. 
P.  1S9.  Planters  in  America  refided  almoft  entirely  on  their 
eftates  -,  but,  from  what  he  could  obferve,  confider- 
able  Jamaica  planters  moftly  lived  in  Europe,  It 
appeared  to  him,  that  the  (laves  of  a  refident  pro- 
prietor had  a  chance  of  better  treatment. 

Several  of  his  flaves  took  every  ftep  in  their  power 
to  be  taught  to  read.  On  Sundays  many  of  them 
went  regularly  to  church  (or  meetings,  p.  197.) 
which  he  encouraged.  In  evenings  they  very  often 
had  a  kind  of  regular  worftiip,  among  themfelves, 
They  bought  fpelling- books,  with  their  own  money, 
and  with  the  help  of  other  negroes  that  could  read, 
fome  came  to  read  tolerably. 

When  near  a  town,  they  regularly  carried  their 
produce  to  market.  Some  mafters  bought  it  of  them; 
or  little  veiTels  bartered  with  them  for  their  produce, 
poultry,  and  pigs. 
P..  190.  Has  known  leveral  town-negroes  buy  their  free-r 
dom  J  but  the  country  ones  never  did,  or  could 
come  at  property  enough  to  do  it.  Free  negroes  in 
America  may  hold  every  kind  of  perfonai  property  5 
hnty  he  thinks  not  land.     Is  not  very  clear. 

The 


W.  Indies. — N.  America.  BAiLLrE.  77 

The  negroes  in  fummer  were  much  healthier  than  1790. 
in  winter.  Part.  11, 

The  field-negroes  in  Jamaica  appeared  worn  down  v.-^v-^ 
with   extreme  labour,  and  being  conftantly  prelTed 
upon,  through  the  day,  by  the  drivers. 

He  thinks  the  climate  of  Jamaica,  in  every  refpe6t, 
much  more  favourable  to  negroes  than  that  of 
America,  and  hence  they  were  fubjed  to  fewer  dif- 
orders  :  is  alfo  of  opinion,  that  many  of  their  com- 
plaints arofe  from  extreme  fatigue,  and  that  reft  ge- 
nerally redored  them,  without  medicine. 

The  negroes  on  the  continent,  in  winter,  were  ex- P.  191. 
tremely  fubjecl  to  pleurifies  and  peripneumonies,  and 
fometimes  dyfentery.     In  fummer  rarely  fo  compara- 
tively. 

Jamaica  families  had  confiderably  more  domefticks 
than  thofe  of  Europe. 

He  thinks  negroes  perfedlly  capable  of  learning 
any  trade.  Has  known  many,  and  fome  of  his  own 
flaves,  who  almoft  without  inil;ru6lion,  became  good 
common  houfe  carpenters  and  coopers.  He  bought 
an  African  lad  who,  without  inilrudion,  but  juft  fee- 
ing carpenters  work,  and  ufing  tools  at  times,  be- 
came fo  good  a  carpenter,  that  he  could  frame  and 
build  any  common  houfe,  and  alfo  build  boats  for 
the  eftate.  He  has  known  many  filverfmiths,  black- 
fmiths,  taylors,  and  Ihip-carpenters.  A  mercantile 
houfe,  of  his  acquaintance,  had  a  number  of  black 
fhip-carpenters  and  blackfmiths,  with  the  fuper- 
intendance  of  two  [or  three  whites,  built  ihips  of  400 
tons,  which  were  fent  with  rice  to  the  Thames,  and 
fold  for  above  3000I. 

There  might  be  fome  few  worthlefs  fellows  among 
the  negroes  -,  but,  upon  the  whole,  they  were  always 
very  willing  to  work. 

He  has  ken  many  inftances  of  very  affedlionate  P.  192. 
parents,   and  of  their  being  pofTelTed  of  every  focial 
idea.     A  flave  of  his,   whofe  fon  was  drowned,  did 
not   recover  his,  fpirits  for  many  months.     All  his 
ilaves  fhewed  him  a  very  firm  attachment,  and  were 

fully 


78  W.  Indies. — N.  America;  Baillie.* 

1790.  fully  grateful  for  every  favour.  During  the  fiege  of 
Part  II.  Savannah,  he  and  another  had  rice  eftates  on  Hutch- 
v^v-*^  infon's  ifland  oppofite  Savannah,where  there  was  much 
grain  and  forage^  to  proted;  which,  the  commander 
ordered  the  flaves  on  the  ifland  to  be  armed,  and 
lent  feveral  whites  to  lead  them  on.  A  French  34 
gun  frigate  anchored  to  batter  the  town,  and  landed 
troops  on  the  ifland,  to  deftroy  the  barns.  His 
flaves  and  others  beat  the  French,  who,  he  thinks, 
never  made  another  attempt. 

Is  perfedly  fatisfied  that  the  cultivation  of  cotton 
or  coffee  is  much  eafier  than  that  of  fugar,  but  that 
of  rice  fully  as  laborious  (p.  201.) 

He  bought  a  man  about  ^S  years  old,  feemingly 
very  fteady.  While  the  other  flaves  were  cheerfully 
I*-  I93'reaping,  he  fliewed  him  how  manage  the  hook.  He 
difappeared  for  feveral  days,  and  at  lafl  he  was  dif- 
covered  hangmg  to  a  tree,  about  which  the  birds  ho- 
vered. As  he  had  not  been  at  all  ill  treated,  and  did 
not  fee  the  negroes  at  extremely  hard  work,  he  con- 
ceived he  committed  fuicide,  becaufe  he  would  not 
brook  flavery.  He  was  an  imported  African  (p. 
201.) 

On  almofl:  every  American  efl:ate  there  were  great 
numbers  of  very  thriving  children,  who  foon  became 
ufeful,  and  always  made  the  beft  flaves. 

A  child,  foon  after  birth,  was  valued  in  America 
at  5I.  fl:erling. 

Field-work  on  the  continent  was  not  held  degrad- 
ing to  Mulattoes  or  free  negroes,  nor  does  he  think 
it  would  in  Jamaica.  Both  certainly  worked  in  the 
field,  for  their  own  benefit,  in  America.  Not  pofi- 
tive  whether  they  did  fo  in  Jamaica. 
P.  194.  He  had  various  trads  of  land,  but  planted  from 
120  to  130  acres  of  rice,  chiefly  on  Hutchinfon's 
ifland,  where  had  between  200  and  300  acres  of  very 
P.  195. valuable  land,  and  about  40  working  flaves.  The 
land  could  produce  any  thing,  and,  at  times,  he 
planted  (perhaps  40  acres  of  J  indigo,  with  Indian 
corn;  peafe,  &c.  for  the  negroes. 

In 


W.  Inides. — N.  America.  Baillie.  79 

In  Georgia,  light  frofls  ufually  fet  in  about  061.   1790. 
afth,   which  generally    checked   vegetation.       The  Part  II. 
greateft  feverity  of  winter  feldom  till  Chriftmas;  fpring  v--v^^ 
began  about  March  20th,  when  grain  was  fown.  (The 
winter  is  about  the  fame  length  in  S.  Carolina  as  in 
Georgia,  p.  196.) 

In  winter,  the  negroes  threfhed  and  prepared  the 
rice,  and  a  little  before  fpring,  repaired  the  banks. 

;£.  1 10  Georgia  currency,  and  140 1.  Jamaica  cur- 
rency refpedively  equal  to  lool.  fterling. 
'   Before  the  American  difputes,  he  never  knew  the  P.  197. 
lead:  fcarcity ;    but   afterwards,  when    people   were 
driven  away,  and  much  difturbed  in  planting,  there 
was  a  confiderable  fcarcity. 

Mr.  Whitfield  had  grants  of  land  for  a  houfe  and 
a  plantation.  He  ereded  an  orphan-houfe,  with 
collections  chiefly  from  England,  bought  Ilaves, 
fettled  a  plantation,  and,  with  the  produce,  fupported 
the  houfe. 

Does  not  thinK  his  refidence   in  Jamaica  was  longp;  201, 
enough  to  give  him  a  complete  idea  of  the  fyftem. 
He  only  fpeaks  of  fuch  things  as  he  faw. 

He  has  heard,  and  partly  knows,  that  theEboesP.  202, 
are  very  high  fpirited,  and  do  not  brook  flavery  fo  well 
as  feveral  other  Africans. 

He  faw  a  fm.all  yellow  Indian  corn,  on  feveral 
eflates,  and  believes  it  was  for  the  horfes,  and  perhaps 
the  negroes  ;  alfo  fome  very  large  plantane-walks,  he 
believes  for  the  flaves'  ufe. 

As  it  was  cuftomary  in  America,  for  free  negroes  p.  203. 
and    Mulattoes   to  get   leave  to  plant   on   parts  of 
eftates,  or  to  rent  a  piece  of  land  to  plant,  and  as  he 
can  conceive   this  might  be  the  cafe  in  Jamaica,  he 
does  not  think  fuch  labour  would  be  held  deoradino-. 

.  Do' 

yet  It  was  not  common  for  thefe  people  to  work 
among  field-flaves.  Is  clear  they  do  not  in  America, 
but  not  To  pofitive  refpeding  Jamaica. 

His  refidence  in  Jamaica  was  not  long  :  but  muft 
confefs  he  did  not  think  the  negroes  there  fo  robull 
and  good-looking,   as  in   general  in  America.     He 

does 


So  W.  Indies. — N.  America.  Baillie. 

1790.  does  think  himlelf  fo  far  acquainted  with  negroes  that 
Part  11.  the  working  them  by  tafk  is  far  preferable  to  the  W. 
*-v*^  Indian  mode  of  working  them  conflantly.     Really 
believes  the  luperiority  in  appearance  jull  mentioned, 
may  be  partly  alcribed  this  different  mode  of  work- 
ing. 
P.  204.     In  the  upper  parts  of  Georgia  and  S.  Carolina, 
where  grain  or   Indian  corn   was  cultivated  by  the 
plough,  v/hite  men  fometimes  hired   themfelves  as 
fervants. 


Witnefs  examined, — Sir  George  Young, 

P.  205.  A  captain  in  the  navy.  Has  been  4  voyages  to 
Africa,  in  1767  and  1768 — 1771  and  1772.  From 
Cape  Blanco  to  Cape  Lopas,  including  every  Eng- 
lifh  fettleaient,  and  fome  Dutch. 

His  opinion  (from  information  of  natives  and  fet- 
lers)  of  the  general  modes  of  obtaining  (laves  on  the 
Coaft  of  Africa,  was,  that  the  greater  part  were  pri- 
foners  of  war ;  part  for  crimes  real  or  imputed  ;  kid- 
napping ;  but  the  term  there  is  panyer ;  and  a  fourth 
mode  was,  the  inhabitants  of  one  village  feizing 
thofe  of  another  weaker  village,  and  felling  them  to 
the  fhips. 

When  at  Annamaboe,  at  Mr.  Bruce's,  a  very  great 
merchant  there,  Mr.  B.  had  2  hoflages,  kings  fons, 

P.  206.  for  payment  for  arms,  and  all  kinds  of  military  floras, 
which  he  had  fupplied  to  the  2  kings,  who  were  at 
war  with  each  other,  to  procure  flaves  for  at  leafl  6 
or  7  fnips,  then  lying  in  the  road ;  prifoners  on  both 
iides  were  brought  down  to  Mr.  B.  and  fent  to  the 
fliips. 

Believes,  from  two  inftances,  that  kidnapping  was 
frequently  pradlifed.  One,  that  of  a  beautiful  infant 
boy,  which,  after  trying  to  fell  at  all  the  different 
trading  fhips,  they  came  along  fide  his  (the  Phcenix) 
and  threatened  to  tofs  it  overboard,  if  no  one  would 

buy 


Africa.— W.  Indies.  .        Young;  Si 

buy  it,  faying,  they  had  panynr'd  It  with  many  other  I79^* 
people,  but  could  not  fell   it,  though  they  had  fold  Parr  II. 
the  others  j  he  purchafed  it  for  a  quarter  cailc  of  v--vr*^ 
wine. 

The  fecond  was,  a  captain  of  one  of  the  Liverpool 
fhips  had  got,  as  a  temporary  midrefs,  a  giri  from 
king  Toai^  of  Sierra  Leone,  and  inftead  ofreturning 
her  on  fiioie  at  leaving  the  coall,  as  is  ufuaiiv  done, 
he  took  her  away  with  him.  Of  this,  the  king  com- 
plained to  him  (Sir  G.  Young)  very  heavdv,  and 
begged  him  to  apply  to  his  brotrier  George  (mean- 
ing our  king)  to  get  her  reflored  to  hi  n.  This,  king 
Tom  called  buchra,  or  white  m.an's  panyaring. 

The  term  panyaring,  feemed  to  be  a  word  gene- 
rally ufed  all  along  the  coafl:  where  he  was,  not  only 
among  the  Englifh,  but  the  Portuguefc  and  Dutch. 

Has  always  heard,  that  the  fov^ereign  or  chief  of  a 
diftridt,  generally  derives  a  certain  profit  from  the 
fale  of  flaves. 

Has  heard  many  inflances  of  depredations  on  thep,  207. 
Coaft  of  Africa,  by  European  traders.  For  one ; 
going  into  the  river  St.  Andrew,  and  making  a  pre- 
fent  as  ufual  to  the  king,  of  a  cafe  of  gin,  was  oblig* 
ed  to  drink  a  dram  out  of  each,  of  12  bottles;  upon 
afking  the  reafon,  the  king  faid  it  was  ufual  for  tra- 
ders  (but  did  not  fay  whether  black  or  white)  to 
make  ufe  of  poifon-,  but  that  he  fhould  not  have 
obliged  him  to  drink,  if  he  had  known  the  (hip  had 
been  a  man  of  war,  as  he  knew  a  man  of  war  had  no 
defign  of  panyaring. 

The  natives  all  down  the  coaft,  were  fearful  of  ap- 
proaching the  iliip,  till  convinced  of  its  being  a  man 
of  war,  when  they  readily  came  onboard. 

Many  negroes  he  met  with,  feemed  to  pofTefs  as 
flrong  natural  {<:n[e  as  any  fet  of  people  whatever; 
their  temper  appeared  to  be  very  good-natured  and 
civil,  unlefs  where  they  fufpecced  fome  injury;  are 
however  naturally  vindid:ive,  and  revenge  the  injury 
done. 
Numb.  3.  L  He 


82  Africa. — W.  Indies,  Young. 

1790.        He  verily  believes,  that  the  natives  wduld  culti- 
Paic  Il.vate  the  foil   for  natural  produdtions,  provided  they 
v-^v—'   had  no  other  means  of  obtaining  European  comnio- 
P.  2o8.dities.     He  recolieds  fon>e  circurnftances  in  proof 
of  their  induftry.     A  number  of  people  from   the 
Buliam  fhore,  came  over  to  Sierra  Leone,  and  ofter- 
ed  their  fervices   to  work,   at  a   very  low  price  ;   he 
accepted  of  a  few  (who  worked  very  well)  and  might 
■    have  had  thoufands  of  the  fam.e  defcription.     Further 
is  of  opinion,  from  obfervation,  that  Africa  is  capa- 
ble of  producing  every  thing  of  the  Eall:  or  Weil 
Indies,  in  equal  perfection,  with  equal  cultivation. 
Of  fpices,  he  met  with  two  forts  of  cardamoms,  black 
P.  209. pepper,  fame  as  in  the  Eaft  Indies:  the  bird  pepper; 
Chili  pepper,  or  Cayenne  ♦,  alfo  a  fpecies  of  ginger. 
Brought  to  England  feveral  plants  of  the  cinnamon 
tree,  from  the  ifland  of  St.  Thomas,  where  it  is  in 
great  abundance. 

Has  been  feveral  times  on  board  a  flave  fhip  ;  they 
were  all  m  a  flate  of  cleanlinefs;  as  clean  indeed  as 
their  (itaation,  with  the  number  of  men  confined  on 
board,  v/ould  admit  of.  He  attempted  to  go  down 
the  fore  hatchway  of  one  of  them,  but  was  deterred 
by  the  ftench,  which  was  intolerable,  though  there 
was  then  only  300  on  board,  and  waited  for  200 
more.  The  men  (laves  were  all  chained,  which  he 
confidered  as  a  necefTary  precaution,  as  there  was 
not  quite  20  feamen  on  board  at  the  tiiTiC. 

The  African  flave  trade,  not  a  nurfery,  rather  a 
G'-ave  for  feamen.  Thofe  of  them  which  he  favv 
on  board  the  flave  fhips,  complained  of  ill  treatment, 
bad  feeding,  and  cruel  ufage -,  ail  of  them  wanted  to 
enter  on  board  his  fhip.  He  afked  forne  of  them 
the  reafon  why  they  were  fo  treated,  they  anfwered, 
it  was  the  pradice  of  the  owners  and  mafters  of  the 
veffels  to  treat  them  fo,  that  they  might  run  away 
in  the  Weft  Indies,  and  fo  forfeit  their  wages.  It 
was  likewife  the  cuitom  for  the  feamen  of  every  fhip 
in  fight,  to  come  by  their  boats  on  board  his  fhip; 
moil  of  them  quite  naked,   and  threatening  to  turn 

pirates^ 


Africa. — W.  Indies.  Young.  83 

pirates,  if  the  king's  fhip  would  not  take  them  ;  this   1790. 
they  faid  openly,    and  is  pen'uaded,   if  he  had  had  a  Pan  il, 
fhip  of  the  line  to  have  manned,  he  could  have  done  ^--v-*-' 
it  in  a  verv  iliort  time,  for  they  would  all  have  left  P.   210. 
fhips.     Though  he  tcok  particular  notice,  he  could 
never  fee  a  boy  on  board  any  of  thefe  Ihips  ;  in  every 
other  trade,  there  are  always  boys  on  board. 

Has  heard  many  inftances  of  Tailors  efcaping  to 
the  woods ;  feveral  he  has  received  on  board  his  iliip 
from  the  woods,  where  they  had  no  fubfilUnce. 

Has  feen  a  great  deal  of  very  fine  timber  j  in  his 
opinion,  ufeful  for  (hip  and  houfe-building,  as  well 
as  furniture  ;  likewife  dying  woods  of  great  variety  -, 
fome  of  the  wood  he  brought  home,  and  turned  into 
furniture.  He  is  in  poffeiTion  of  f[:)ecimens  of  ebony, 
iron-wood,  and  other  forts,  all  very  hard.  When  at 
Sierra  Leone,  he  faw  a  velfel  belons-ino-  to  Mr.  Pin- 
tard,  built  upon  the  rocks,  of  the  woods  of  Sierra 
Leone. 

Has  been  a  great  deal  in  the  Weft  Indies;  at  Bar- 
badoes,  Antigua,  St.  Kitt's,  Dominica,  Grenada, 
G'jadaloupe,  Martinique^  Port  Rico,  and  lairly  at 
Jamaica,  from  the  years  176!,  to  1763.  Has  been 
fince  there  feveral  times  in  a  man  of  war,  and  fome- 
times  a  paffenger  in  a  merchant  fliip. 

Was  twice" in  the  Phcscix,  at  Barbadoes,  Antigua, 
St,  Kitt's,  Dominica  and  Jamaica,  in  1767,  and 
1768. 

Farming,  and  the  management  of  land,  has  in  P.  211. 
England  been  his  amufement  and  pleafure,  ever  fmce 
the  laft  peace.  When  in  the  Well  Indies,  has  re- 
marked to  the  gentle'iien  there,  the  great  want  of 
the  plough  and  fpade ;  and  confidered  the  hoe  as  an 
implement  much  more  laborious. 

Never  faw,  or  heard  ot"  tafk-work  praflifed  in  any 
of  the  Weft  India  iilands. 

Has  remarked  very  bad  efreds  from  the  abfence 
of  the  proprietors,  and  the  eftace  and  ikives  being  lefc 
under  the  direflion  of  managers,  which  greatly  lef- 
fens  the  value  of  Weft  Indian  eftaiesj  he  will  take 

L  2  upon 


84  Africa.-— W.  Indies.  Young. 

1790.  upon  him  to  fav,  to  the  amount  of  at  lead  one-fifth 
'P'dTi  i. part  of  the  whole;  for  the  overfeers  or  managers,  in 
^-'v-^  a  ilttle  time,  always  became  rich,  and  frequently 
more  fo  than  their  maders.  It  is  alfo  injurious  to 
the  iL've,  becnufe  he  was  made  to  work  harder,  than 
he  is  fure  the  owner  would.have  allowed  ;  their  pro- 
vifions  were  not  lo  good  ;  generally  fait  provifion, 
fometimcs  dried  fifh,  or  {linking  fait  meat,  which 
their  mafcrrs,  he  is  uire,  would  not  have  allowed  5 
for  he  his  ihe  honour  to  be  acquainted  with  fnme  of 
them.  He  was  informed  by  the  merchants  of  King- 
flon,  that  it  was  not  an  uncommon  practice  for  the 
overfeers  to  buy  fickly  ilaves  at  half  price,  or  lefs, 
and  charge  them  to  their  mailers  as  prime  healthy 
flaves;  trofc  frequently  died,  as  it  is  fajd  m  thefea- 
foning,  which  he  confidcrs  as  a  farce  altogether. 

Undeiftoodj  that  purchafing  African  ilaves  was 
much  the  cheapefl  mode  of  keepin-  up  the  numbers  ; 
for,  that  the  mother  of  a  bred  (lave  was  taken  from 
the  field  labour  for  3  years  j  which  labour  v>?as  of 
more  value  than  the  coil  of  a  prime  flave,  or  new- 
negro. 
P.  212.  The  negroes  work  in  gangs,  and  in  regular  rows, 
with  hoes,  with  which  they  kept  regular  time  in 
their  work,  the  whole  gang  together,  (o  that  the  weak 
were  obligrd  to  keep  up  with  the  more  robuft.  For 
there  were  black  drivers  over  them,  with  a  whip  cal- 
led a  cowfkin,  with  which  he  fuppofes,  if  they  had 
not  kept  up,  they  would  have  been  puniihed. 

Has  been  a  great  deal  in  the  Eiil  Indies;  never 
fav/  or  heard  of  any  labourers  working  in  thG  field, 
under  the  whip  of  a  driver  there,  or  in  America. 

Recolleds  a  particular  inftance  of  the  higli  fpirit 
of  the  negroes,  which  occurred  at  Accra.  The  go- 
-  vernour  had  bought  a  flave  (of  a  country,  the  natives 
of  which,  when  enflaved,  are  always  known  to  kill 
themfelves)  and  was  complaining  to  commodore 
Coilingwood  and  him,  that  he  had  been  cheated  by 
the  merchants,  of  whom  he  bought  him  ;  tiiat  he  was 
a  very  fine  feilQW  i  aiking  whether  they  would  not 


go 


Africa. — W,  Indies.  Young;  85 

go  and  fee  him,   for  that  he  had  mortally  woundedfi790, 
himfelf  laft  night ;  whea  carried  to  him,   they   up- Part  II. 
braided  him  with  his  rafh  condud,  by  the  interpre-  ^--v-^ 
ter,  and  his  reply  was,   that   no  man  of  his  country 
could  live  as  a  (lave,   but  that  he  was  very  vi^ell  in- 
clined to  ferve  the  commodore  in  the  man   of  war, 
but  not  as  a  flavej  he  dit-d  the  next  night. 

The  negro  women  on  the  coafl  of  Africa,  appear- 
ed to  hini  as  p'olific,  as  any  race  of  people  he  ever 
f  iw  in  any  part  of  the  world  ;  the  climate  of  the 
Weft  Indies  not  iefs  favourable  to  them  than  their 
own.  ^  p.  213, 

Was  about  6  months  on  the  coaft  of  Africa  each 
time.  T'le  crew  of  the  iliip  he  commanded,  amount- 
ed to  100,  of  which  loft  2,  who  were  fickly  when  they 
went  out,  and  i  boy  by  an  accident. 

The  ftock  of  flaves  migiir  be  kept  up,  or  increaf- 
ed,  without  importations  from  Africa.  At  firft  in- 
deed, the  deficiencies  would  be  felt  for  a  few,  per- 
haps 20  years*,  bar  afcer  a  while,  they  would  double 
taeir  nusnbers,  as  he  fees  no  phyfical  caufe  to  pre- 
vent a  blick  min  and  woman  being  equally  prolific 
in  the  Weft  Indies,  as  in  Africa. 

The  iand  of  Arr'ica  is  mjftly  cultivated  by  the 
men  ;  the  women  fometimes  fa  fire  to  the  grafs,  but 
that  is  very  little  ;  the  men  turn  up  the  ground  with 
pointed  fticks,  having  no  European  implements  there 
that  he  law. 

ia  the  Weft  Indies,  he  refidcd  longer  on  iliore  at 
a  time  in  Jamaica,  than  any  other  i:land ;  once  fo 
long  as  6  werks :  never  above  a  v.'eek  on  fhore  at 
any  other  ifland.  At  Janiaica,  lived  for  above  3 
weeks  at  ^iv.  Prevoft's,  'Ad  Flarbourj  ^nd  Mr.  P.  214, 
Thomas's,  Sixteen  Mile  Walk,  about  3  Vv'eeks  more  ^ 
both  fugar  eftates. 

In  the  arguments  which  he  held  with  the  planters, 
refpedin.';  the  fup'-riority  of  ihe  plough  and  fpade 
over  the  hoe,  was  never  able  to  make  a  profelyte. 

Under  ihc  prefect  fyftem.  the  Have  trade  is  necef- 
hry  to  tne  cultivaiion  of  the    VYell  Indies;  but   if 


86  Africa. — W.  Indies.  Young. 

1790.  the  breeding  of  the  negroes  were  promoted  there,  it 
Part  11.  would  be  iinnecefTary.  His  reafons  for  thinking  that 
.  *-'*v**'  due  attention  is  not  paid  by  the  planters  to  the 
rearing  of  children,  are,  that  when  he  was  upon  the 
above-mentioned,  and  fome  other  edates,  he  found 
no  encouragement  given  the  blacks  to  marry ;  that 
they  cohabited  promifcuouily,  and  that  the  women 
generally  mifcarried,  as  he  was  told  by  Mr.  Prevoft 
and  Mr.  Thomas,  from  their  hard  field  labour  ;  and 
that  it  was  a  rare  thing  for  a  negrefs  employed  in 
field  labour,  to  have  a  live  child. 

At  the  ifland  of  Cuba,  after  the  capture  of  the  Ha- 
vanna,  he  afibciated  with  the  Spanilh  planters,  and 
found  they  made  it  a  ferious  point  to  marry  their  ne- 
groes, wherever  they  could,  to  make  them  Chriftians, 
and  to  keep  them  regularly  together  :  they  had  them 
chriftened,  and  gave  them  little  rewards,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  children  they  produced  and 
reared;  and  the  men  ufed  to  boaft  of  their  being 
Chriftians,  and  wear  a  crofs  about  their  necks ; 
though  he  inquired  all  he  coukl,  he  remarked  nothing 
of  the  kind  done  in  Jamaica. 
P.  215.  The  planters  reafons  againft  the  ufe  of  the  plough 
were,  the  hardnefs  of  the  ground,  the  negroes  igno- 
ranee,  and  that  it  had  ever  been  the  practice  to  make 
ufe  of  the  hoe;  fuch  was  the  fubftance  of  their  argu- 
ment, which  he  thinks  was  faying  nothing. 

It  feemed  to  be  the  univerfil  fyftem,  to  fupply 
their  eftates  with  African  negroes,  rather  than  be  at 
the  trouble  of  breeding. 

Conceives  thofe  parts  of  Dominica,  and  the  other 
iflands  ceded  by  France  (by  tiie  peace  of  1763)  yet 
}v\  w^oods  and  uncleared,  cannot  be  cleared,  without 
the  purchafe  of  negroes  from  fome  part  or  other. 

The  cultivation  of  the  Weft  India  iflands,  to  the 
extent  of  which  they  are  capable,  certainly  will  in- 
creafe  the  trade  and  navio-ation  of  Great  Britain  :   was 
p.  2 16.  informed  there  is  a  great  deal  of  land  fit  for  cultiva- 
tion ilili  uncleared  in  Jamaica. 

Does 


Africa. — W.  Indies.  Young,  87 

Does  not  think,  that  the  lofs  of  feannen  by  the  un-  I79^« 
favourable  circnnnftances  of  the  flave  trade,  can  be  '-"v**' 
put  in  competition  with  the  increafed  number  of  fea- 
men  that  mull:  be  confequentiipon  the  increafed  cul- 
tivation of  the  iflands  ;  but  at  the  fame  time  he  mud 
obferve,  that  the  lofs  of  feamen  in  the  African  flave 
trade,  as  now  carried  on,  is  annually  greater  than  the 
increafe  in  the  Weft  India  trade. 

From  the  obfervations  he  was  able  to  make  at  Mr. 
Prevoft's  eftate,  he  could  not  difcover  any  diftindlion 
made  between  the  weak  and  ftrongj  but  they  were 
in  gangs  moft  certainly. 

Where,  in  the  Privy  Council  Report,  he  is  dated 
to  have  faid,  that  he  could  not  get  the  men  to  work  P.  217, 
for  him,  he  meant,  of  fome  particular  parts  of  the 
coaft,  not  in  generak  And  where,  in  the  fame  re- 
port, he  is  ftated  to  have  faid,  that  the  field  labours 
are  ufually  performed  by  women,  as  to  what  part  of 
the  coaft  he  meant  to  refer  that  aftertion,  fays  to  no 
part  whatever  J  for  he  never  faw  the  women  do  any 
thing  but  carry  the  corn  home,  and  fet  fire  to  the 
ftubble  of  laft  year. 

Is  of  opinion,  that  by  fhewing  the  natives  of  Afri- 
ca how  to  cultivate  the  land,  it  would  call  for  the 
labour  often  times  the  number  that  are  now  tranf- 
ported  to  the  Weft  Indies  as  flaves  ;  and  require  a 
greater  quantity  of  lliipping  and  feamen  in  the  com- 
merce, for  the  natural  productions  of  that  country, 
without  any  greater  inconvenience  in  point  of  health 
to  the  feamiCn,  than  in  the  prefent  Weft  India  trade. 

And  believes,  if  the  Have  trade  v/ere  abolifhed, 
and  every  proper  regulation  adopted,  to  encourage 
the  breeding  of  negroes  in  the  V7eft  Indies,  the  ftock 
of  negroes  v/ould  gradually  increafe,  fo  as  to  be  ade- 
quate to  the  clearing  and  cultivation  of  all  the 
iflands,  to  the  full  extent  of  which  they  are  capable. 

The  regulations  which  he  conceives  to  be  ftiil 
wanting,  are,  that  marriage  fliould  be  encouraged  i 
that  the  man  and  woman  fliould  have  a  hut  to  them- 
felves  3  that  the  woman  fhould  be  taken  wholly  from 

field 


8S  Africa. — W.  Indjes,  Y  o  u  n  g« 

1790.  field  labour,  and  only  put  to  fuch  as  fhe  is  capable 
Part  II. of,  as  a  woman  bearing  children.  The  man  fhould 
^-or^w  be  allov/ed  one  day  in  a  week  to  work  for  hinnfelf 
and  family  5  a  reward  (hould  be  given  to  the  woman, 
who  had,  and  {hould  rear,  the  greated  number  of 
children.  Under  thefe  regulations,  he  conceives,  in 
the  courfe  of  20  years,  their  prefent  nuaibersmay  be 
doubled,  and  the  trade  in  flaves  from  Africa,  totally 
unneceiTary. 
P.  2184  Is  not  competent  to  judge,  how  many  additional 
negroes  are  now  wanted,  to  clear  and  cultivate  the 
prefent  uncleared  lands  in  the  Britiili  iflands.  Does 
not  know  the  fpecitic  number  of  negroes  in  each  of 
thefe  iflands;  nnr  the  fpecific  quantity  of  lands  now 
uncleared  and  uncultivated ;  has  not  been  in  the 
Weft  Indies  fince  1772. 

The  principle  upon  which  he  fixes  the  period  of 
20  years,  for  the  purpofe  above-mentioned,  is,  the 
circumltance  of  the  Americans  doubling  their  num- 
bers in  leis  than  20  years. 


Witnefs  examined — Anthony  Pantaleo  How,  Efq, 

P. '219.  Was  in  Africa  in  1785  and  1786,  chiefly  on  the 
Gold  Coaft,  in  the  Grampus  man  of  v/ar,  employed 
by  government  as  a  botanift.  When  at  Secundee, 
fome  order  came  from  Cape  Coaft  Caftie ;    the  fame 

P,  220.  afternoon  feveral  parties  went  out  armed,  and  return- 
ed the  fame  night  with. a  quantity  of  fiaves,  which 
were  put  into  the  repofitory  of  the  faclory.  Next 
morning  faw  people  who  came  to  fee  the  prifoners, 
and  requefted^Mr.  Marfh  the  refident  to  releafe  fome 
of  their  children  and  relations.  Some  were  releafed, 
partfentoffto  C.  Coall  Caftie.  Had  every  reafon  to 
believe  they  were  obtained  unfairly,  as  they  came 
at  an  unfeafonable  time  of  the  night,  and  from  their 
parents  and  friends  crying,  and  begging  their  releafe. 
Had  been  told  as  much  from  Mr.  Marih,  who  faid, 

he 


W.     I  fJ  D  I  E  s;  J  E  F  F  E  R  Y  S.  97 

Cannot  fpeak  from  his  own  perfonal  knowledge  as  ij^o, 
to  the  condud  of  planters  and  their  flaves  in  the  part  If. 
Other  iilands  mentioned.  The  negroes  over  whichv«— y— ^ 
Mr.  Macvie  prefided,  feemed  in  a  much  more  com- 
fortable fbate  than  any  he  had  {een  in  the  W.  Indies. 
He  feemed  a  father  to  his  flaves.  Had  fccn  negroes  P.  244, 
whipped  on  the  wharfs  in  Jamaica  on  Monday  morn- 
ings. The  mode  was  to  make  faft  their  hands  to 
the  hook  of  a  crane,  and  their  feet  to  a  weighc  or 
two.  The  crane  was  then  hove  up  to  flretch  their 
hands,  and  prevent  them  from  moving,  while  flog- 
ged by  a  black  man.  Their  backs  afterwards  prickled 
with  a  fmall  bufh.  Does  not  recoiled  the  number 
oflafhes,  or  know  v^hether  thefe  puniihments  were 
inflided  by  judicial  fcntence,  or  the  private  order  of 
the  mailer.  In  Jamaica,  has  fcen  one  or  two  of  the 
diftreffed  feamen  called  wharfingers  carried  by  the 
blacks  to  a  burying-place  near  Spring  Path,  the 
blacks  themfelves  telling  him  '*  It  was  poor  Buchra 
"  man.''  Believes  the  blacks  performed  this  office 
of  their  own  accord.  ^  P.  245, 

At  Tobago  has  known  the  furf  to  run  fo  high  for 
two  or  three  days  together^  that  they  could  not  land 
or  take  off  goods. 

The  inftrum.ent  with  which  negroes  are  whipped, 
is  generally  called  a  cov/-fkin ;  a  piece  of  cow  or 
bullock's  hide  twilled  or  plaited  together,  which, 
when  dry,  becomes  exceeding  hard. 

He  recoileded  feeing  once  a  failor  in  a  man  of  war 
receive  three  dozen  with  the  boatfwain's  cat,  at  the 
gangway,  and  only  once  being  on  deck  when  a  man 
was  flogged  from  fhip  to  fliip,  his  hands  and  feet 
are  tied  to  prevent  his  moving.  In  this  infl;ance  he 
fainted,  but  cannot  defcribe  other  particulars.  Be- 
lieves all  hands  are  turned  upon  deck  to  fee  the  pu- 
nifliment  as  the  man  comes  alongfide.  His  backP«  246. 
receives  it. 

Always  underflood  that  the  ufual  punifhment  of 
negroes  on  the  wharfs  at  Kingfton  on  Monday  mor- 
ning, were  for  crimes  of  the  preceding  week.  Never 

Numb.  7.  N  nnderftood 


^8  W.Indies.  Jefferys: 

1790.  underflood  it  was  by  order  of  the  magiftrates,  but  by 
Part  II.  direclion  of  their  mafters  or  miftrefTes.  Never  faw  ne-- 
groes  punifhed  on  plantations  in  Jamaica.  Heard 
there  is  at  Kingfton  a  jumper,  a  man  who  punifhes 
the  negroes,  and  is  paid  for  it,  but  of  no  fuch  perfon 
on  the  eRates.  Knows  not  by  whom  this  jumper  is 
employed,  but  only  that  he  was  employed  to  whip 
the  nec^roes. 


V7itnefs  Examined — Rev.  Thomas  Gwynn  Rees. 

P,  247.  Went  to  the  W.  Indies  as  Chaplain  in  the  Princefs 
Amelia.  Arrived  at  Barbadoes  end  of  1782.  Made 
obfervations  on  the  fituation  of  (laves,  in  confequence 
of  being  informed  in  England  hov/  they  were  treated. 
Had  opportunities  by  going  alhore  almod  daily,  and 
vifiting  fuch  plantations  as  were  within  four  or  five 
miles  of  Bridge-Town.  The  negroes  appeared  gene- 
rally to  be  in  a  very  bad  (late,  it  ftruck  him  with 
the  impreffion  that  they  were  not  in  general  well  fed. 
The  clothing  of  the  flaves  was  a  fmall  rag  to  cover 
their   nakednefs.     Some  had   breeches   or  trowfers. 

P.  248.  Their  lodging,  in  fmall  huts  covered  with  cane  leaves 
to  appearance.  Their  furniture  confided  of  ftools 
or  -benches.  Saw  no  beds  or  bedding;  in  the  houfes 
he  was  in.  They  flept  on  a  kind  of  board  raifed  a 
little  from  the  ground,  and  fome  on  the  ground.  Saw 
three  or  four  gangs  or  more  at  different  times,  work- 
ing on  the  plantations.  The  firfl  he  faw,  were  work- 
ing with  hoes  or  mattocks  in  their  handsj  with  a  ne- 
gro driver  after  them  with  a  whip,  all  in  a  row  making 
imall  holes  to  put  corn  in.  A  driver  attended  each 
gang,  vv'homi  he  obferved  m.ore  than  once  to  ufe  his 
whip  on  the  negroes  at  work.  One  of  the  women 
appeared  pregnant,  and  rather  behind  the  reft.  He 
called  to  her  to  com.e  on,  and  going  back,  fbruck  her 
v/ith  the  whip  up  towards  the  ihoulders.  Saw  three 
working  with  iron  collars  in  one  gang,  and  one  with 
a  piece  of  chain  to  his  leg.     Aflied  a  pregnant  flave 

whether 


Africa.  H  o  w ,  Efq.  87 

did  no:  mind  how  they  got  them,  for  he  purchafed  them  1 790. 
fairly.    Cannot  tell  whcth^^r  this  practice  fubfiited  be-  Part  II. 
fore  •,    but  when  he  has  gone  into  the  woods,  has  met  -^'"V^^ 
30  or  40  natives,   who  fled  always  at  his  appearance 
although  they  were  arrne^.     Mr.  Maiih  laid,    chey 
were  afraid  of  his  taking  themprifoncrs. 

Concludes  the  flavc  trade  obflructs  induftry  and 
civilization  of  the  Africans.  Has  been  at  airpoif  all 
Englidi  fettlements,  and  found  the  culture  always  in 
a  highe;-  degree  there  where  was  lefs  Have- trade,  and 
vice  verfa.  Had  been  about  50  miles  inl-md  from  Sc- 
cundee,  and  about  15  or  16  from  xlpolonia,  and  found 
the  inland  every  where  well  cultivated,  and  hardly  P.  221. 
any  where  on  the  fhore.  Moil  cultivation  at  W;nne- 
bah,  Accra,  and  Goree.  Beautiful  cotton  and  in- 
digo plantations  at  Goree.  :''aw  ao  European  com- 
modities in  the  interiour  parts-,  is  fure  no  European 
fpif-its  were  to  be  had  there.  The  inhabitants  there 
remarkably  induflrious,  alfo  hofpi table  and  obliging. 
A  village  of  feveral  hundred  houfes  on  the  Lake  of 
Appolonia,  whence  in  the  ramy  feafon  they  fupply 
the  fea  coait  with  vegetables,  grain,  palai-wmej  &c. 
Thinks  they  have  but  little  capacity  in  regard  to  ma- 
nufadures,  but  quick  in  learning  languages.  No 
manufactures  among  them  except  at  Goree,  where 
they  weave  cloth,  and  have  aimoft  aboiiilied  the 
flave-trade  in  the  part  now  belonging  to  the  French. 

Abreall  of  Cape  le  Hou,  feveral  canoes  came  along  p.  222, 
fide  of  the  Grampus,  defired  her  colours  might  be 
hoifted.  Finding  her  an  Englifh  man  of  war,  they 
came  on  board  without  hefitation,  which  otherwife 
ey  would  nor  have  done  (fee  p.  225.)  Reaf}n  al- 
ledged,  that  an  Englifh  Guinea  trader,  a  fortnight 
betore,  had  taken  off  fix  canoes  with  men  who  came 
to  trade  with  provifions.  The  next  day  aoout  10 
leagues  off,  feveral  canoes  approached,  but  finding 
it  was  a  man  of  war,  retreated.  On  coming  to  Ap- 
polonia were  told  by  Mr.  Buchanan,  the  refidenc 
there,  that  a  Guineam.an  (belongi-ig  r.o  one  Griffiths, 
a  notorious  kidnapper)  was  in  that  ktitud^e,  the  cap- 
Numb.  3,  M       -ii:>iJ^n  v:s  bio-       jain 


SS  Africa:  How,  Efq. 

1790.  tain  brought  on  fhore,  tied  to  a  tree,  and  Hogged  for 

Part  11.  four  days,  in  revenge  for  a  depredation  which  another 

v-^vr*^  had    committed  :  thus  accounting  for  the  retreat  of 

the  canoes  on  finding  the  Grampus  a  iljip  of  war,  and 

fearing  retaliation  of  the  punifnment. 

Four  children  of  the  captives  brought  in  to  ?e- 
cundee,  fent  in  the  fame  canoe  with  himfelf  to  C. 
Coaft  Caflie. 

The  (laves  kept  in  the  Fadlories  chained  day  and 
night,  and  driven  to  the  fea  fide  twice  a  day  to  be 
waihed.  In  the  fadiory  law  different  kinds  of  iron 
P.  223.  chains,  alfo  an  inilrurnent  of  wood,  w^hich  Mr.  Marfii 
informed  him  was  thruil  into  a  man's  mouth,  to  pre- 
vent him  from  crying  out  when  tranfported  at  night 
along  the  country.  From  their  mild  behaviour  to 
their  attendants,  in  the  inland  country,  concludes 
they  had  no  domeftick  flaves  ^  on  the  fea  fide  this 
behaviour  very  different. 

The  natural  productions  of  Africa  confift  of  cot- 
ton  in  abundance,  indigo  of  a  fine  quality,  various 
dye  roots   and   woods,  yams,   fweet    potatoes,  rice, 
millet,   pulfe,    oranges,    limes,    bananas,    plantanes, 
cocoa-nuts,  palm-trees,  yielding  wine  and  oil,  black 
pepper,  grains  of  paradife,    cinnamon,    cardamoms, 
afiafoetida,  cabinet-woods,  and  timber-trees.    Of  the| 
latter,  a  fpecies  of  the  Ficktonia  grandis,  confidered  j 
P.  224. as  the  mofl  eligible  for  fhip-building,   the  worm  nei-; 
ther  touching  nor  the   iron  corroding  it;  grows  in' 
plenty  at  Appolonia,  Secundee,  and  wherever  he  had 
been.     Has  fpecimens  of  moil.     Has  no  doubt  but; 
fpices  in  general,    and  all  other  tropical  produdions 
might   be   cultivated   with   fuccefs   there.     The  foil 
and   climate  adapted  to   produce  the  fandal  wood. 
Has  feen  indigo  at  Appolonia  in  its  rav/  ftate,  and 
P.  225.  alfo   manufadlured,    but  not    manufacturing.     Alfo 
cotton  growing  in  great  abundance,   but  knows  not 
that  any  or  either  of  thefe  two  articles  v^ere  exported. 

Was  on  the  coalt  fnortly  after  the  rains,  when  the 
indigo  began  to  decay,  in  November,  December,' and 
January,     At  places^  at  Appolonia  and  Winnebah, 

the 


Africa,  Howe,  Efq.  89 

the  furf  runs   high   In  thefe  months.     It  Is  eafy  to    1790. 
land  3  ton  or  two  of  goods ;  only  performed  by  the  Part  11. 
inhabitants  in   canoes   built  on  purpofe  ;  though  at   *-''^r*Ni' 
Appolonia  thefe  pretty  frequently  overfet,  feldom  any 
thing  is  loft  in  rhe  furf. 

Cinnamon  plants  at  St.  Thomas,  at  the  fea  fide,?.  226, 
about  20  itet  high  -,  from  what  he  heard  grew  inland 
to  a  higher  fize  •,  thofe  on  the  fea  fide  he  confidered 
only  as  fnrubs,  He  faw  a  number  of  them,  and 
from  the  appearance  of  the  bark  brought  down,  con- 
cludes there  mult  be  a  great  quantity  inland.  The 
cinnamon  and  c  ITia  tree  of  different  genera  •  the  one 
belongs  to  the  clafs  Laurus,  the  other  the  Caffia-,  their 
genera  not  quite  eftablilhed.  Of  the  laurus,  the 
leaf  oblong,  nerved,  fhining,  fimple.  Of  the  caflla, 
the  leaves  are  bipennatej  different  from  the  laurus, 
and  not  unlike  the  mimofa  or  fenfitive  plant.  Is  notp^  227^ 
pofitive  that  it  is  the  fame  cinnamon  which  grows  in 
India,  but  the  bark,  leaves,  and  whole  ftrudure  of 
the  tree,  the  fame  as  thofe  brought  from  thence  to 
Kew  gardens.  Had  never  been  at  Ceylon,  but  had 
feen  the  tree  both  at  Bom.bay  and  Cambay  in  private 
gardens,  brought  as  prefents  from  Ceylon.  The 
African  caffia  not  unlike  that  he  had  feen  in  Eaft 
Indies. 

The  foil  on  the  Gold  coaft,  within  reach  of  the 
furf,  every  v/here  fandy  (Goree  IQands  alfo  fandy)  in 
the  reft  of  the  fettlements  he  had  been  at,  a  heavy 
loom  or  clay  :  every  where  fertile.  As  far  as  eight 
or  ten  miles  inland,  various  woods  produced,  ufed 
in  dying,  feveral  of  which  are  exported. 

At  Winnebah  and  Accra  rocky  5  alfo  about  Ap- 
polonia  within  three  miles  of  the  coaft,  but  the  in- 
lands 10  or  3  2  miles  from  the  fhore,  very  well  culti- 
vated with  rice,  yams,  fweet  potatoes,  indigo,  and 
cotton  ',  are  fertile,  and  plentifully  watered. 

Within  5  miles  up  the  country  from  Sccundee,  it  is 
mountainous  and   uncultivated;  the  roads  therefore p,  22S. 
very  bad  ;   in  parts  about  five  feet  broad,  but  where 
the  country  is  cultivated,  in  feme  parts  they  are  cut 
M  2  through 


90  Africa.  Howe,  Efq. 

1790.    through  the  woods  from  15  to  20  feet  broad.     Un» 
Pa  •:  Il.d'.ritood   from    iVjeffrs.    Buchanan    and    Marfh,   that 
v.'*^'-^  ■'-■  ■■   produce  was  brought  down  in  the  rainy  feafon  in 
canoes. 

Knows  of  no  navigable  rivers  on  the  Gold 
Coaii,  except  one  at  Accra,  only  navigable  for  fmall 
boats  af :d  canoes.  The  Lake  at  Appoionia  runs  in- 
land about  20  miles.  Has  feen  the  produce^  as  far 
as  th-  Lake  extends  at  Appoionia,  brought  in  fmall 
cai.K  es,  rowed  by  a  fmgV  woman,  but  never  law  them 
carry  any  thing  in  a  bafket. 

Griffiths,  the  notorious  kidnapper,  was  a  white  man 
and  flave-trader,  between  Cape  Le  Hou  and  Appo- 
ionia. Underiiood  from  Captain  Thornpfon  (who 
oifered  him  a  reward  of  looi.  if  he  could  catch  him) 
that  he  was  a  native  of  England  -,  but  had  no  know- 
P.  2  20.1^^8^  of  ^^"iiT"'  himielf.  Knov/s  neither  name  of  ihip 
or  captain;  wno  v/as  flogged  for  tour  days  by  the  na- 
tive Sj  but  unaeritood  fne  was  an  Englifh  Have- trader 
f;e;rn  L^  erpooL  Witnefs  is  a  Polandcr,  left  Africa 
I5rh  February,  17S6.  Afterwards  went  with  Capt. 
Tnompfoji  in  the  N.-iitilus,  commiirioned  by  this  go- 
ve^-nment  on  a  private  expedition.  After  his  return, 
n ,  id  feverai  months  in  London,  and  was  again  com,mif- 
f  oned  to  go  to  the  inland  countries  of  the  E.  Lidies, 
frOiii  whence  he  returned  19th  of  Auguil  laft,  and 
hi^s  beei  m  England  ever  fi nee. 

Slave-trade  on  Gold  C(;afl:  moftly  carried  on  in 
rit  ;-:hbo  sHiood  of  Cape  Le  Hou,  Secundee,  Com- 
'  menda,  and  Anamaboe.  Has  a  quantity  of  indigo 
gr  Ci.  him  by  the  chief  of  the  village,  near  Appolonra, 
wiio  told  him  it  was  manufadured  there,  but  had 
never  him felf  feen  it  manufacturing,  IN  ever  under- 
fcood  manu.adured  indigo  was  imported  into  that 
country  as  an  article  of  trade. 


Witnefs 


[    9t    ] 

Parti 

Witnefs  examined, — -Mr.  Ninian  Jefferys.         ^— v^ 

Mr.  Ninian  Jefferys,  mafler  in  the  Royal  Navy, 
fuperintending  fliips  in  r^rdinary  at  Portimouth,  was 
at  Jamaica  in  1773,  Tobago  1774,  Jamaica  1775, 
Grenada  1776,  Tortola  1779,  Barbadoes  and  St.  Lu-P»  23T 
cia  (in  the  navy)  1782,  Antigua  and  St.  Kitt*s  1783, 
and  at  Jamaica  a  few  days  in  1784.  In  Jamaica  m 
1773  and  75,  and  at  Tobago  in  1774,  had  leveral 
opportunities,  being  employed  as  fecond  mate  in  land- 
ing goods  and  taidng  off  fugars  from  the  iflands, 
chiefly  at  Tobago.  Obferved  the  field-negroes  at 
wrk  with  one  or  two  white  men  looking  after  them, 
and  a  black  man  or  two,  called  drivers,  conflantly 
cracking  ihe  whip  over  them,  and  fometimes  lalhing 
them,  which  he  thought  very  oppreffive  -,  fometimes 
a  white  man  whipping  them.  Had  frequent  oppor- 
tunities of  obferving  the  plantation-ilaves  in  his  vifits 
to  Jauiaica.  The  greater  part  of  them  had  marks  of 
the  whip,  particularly  the  back.  Says,  they  mufb 
have  been  the  effecl  of  feverer  punifhments  than  he 
ever  faw  inflicted  in  a  man  of  war,  which  lail  are  not 
in  the  leail  to  be  compared  with  them.  Saw  wheals p^  272 
on  their  backs  which  no  time  can  erafe,  never  any  of 
the  kind  at  a  man  of  war's  gangway.  Has  feen  flaves 
with  their  ears  cut  off,  and  underftood  it  v/as  done  by 
or  by  order  of  their  mafters,  though  never  faw  it 
done  ^  alfo  fomiC  with  one  of  their  hands  cut  off,  which 
he  .underftood  was  for  lifting  it  againft  or  ftriking  a 
white  man  (believes  by  the  lawsof  theiHand,  p.  239.) 
Has  feen  negroes  fick  or  paft  their  labour,  apparently 
neglected  and  deltitute.  At  Tobago,  more  than 
once,  at  an  outhoufe  in  a  very  miferabie  fituation.  In 
Jamaica,  and  about  Kingiton,  has  frequently  feen 
negroes  apparently  paft  their  labour,  and  in  a  dif- 
eafed  condition  lying  in  the  ftreets  and  roads,  Ob- 
ferved a  very  great  difference  between  the  domeftick 
and   plantaiion-flaves  ^    confidered  the   former  as  a 

nuifancc 


W.  Indies,  J  e  f  f  e  i.  y  s» 

nuifance  from  their  numbers,  as  generally  over  well 
[{.(td^  and  faucy  ;  the  plantation  Haves,  as  a  poor  de- 
*^  preffed  part  of  the  human  race.  Has  frequently 
feen  women  with  fucking  infants  v^^orking  with  the 
reft  of  the  gang.  Their  lodging  were  little  huts, 
S3*  with  clayed  wails,  and  the  roof  covered  with  cane 
trails.  Does  not  recoiled  any  bedding.  The  black 
tradefmen,  fifheraien,  boatmen,  free  negroes,  and 
mulattoes,  feemed  in  general  to  be  in  a  much  better 
condition  than  the  plantation  negroes.  Appeared 
to  him  that  no  comparifon  could  be  formed  between 
the  iituation  of  the  labouring  poor  of  this  country 
and  the  plantation  (laves ;  who  are  treated  in  many 
refpeds  like  cattle.  Has  feen  flaves  branded  with 
initials.  Has  ever  underftood  the  picking  of  grafs 
to  be  opprefTive,  as  encroaching  on  the  hours  of  reft; 
and  the  moft  common  caufe  of  their  defertion  is  ill 
treatment.  Has  fttn  them  at  work  with  logs  of 
•wood  faftened  to  their  legs  -,  in  the  ftocks ;  alfo  with 
an  iron  collar  round  their  necks,  with  a  perpendicu- 
:  lar  hook  on  each  fide  proje6ling  from,  the  upper  part 
of  the  head,  and  underftood  for  running  away. 

In  converfations  refpeding  the  moft  defirable  qua- 
lifications of  managers  or  overfeers,   always  under- 
ftood he  was  confidered  the  beft  managei  who  fent 
home  the  moft  fugar.     At  thefe  converfations,  white 
!      perfons  from  the  eftates  have  been  prefent,  but  does 
I      not  recoiled  whether  they  were  the  managers. 

Always  conlidered  the  negroes  as  good  mothers; 
as  to  their  feelings  and  capacities,  he  never  confi- 
dered  them,  being  young  when  among  them.  Knew 
an  aftonifhing  inftance  of  high  fpirlt  and  greatnefs 
of  mind  :  was  prefent  at  the  execution  of  7  flaves  in 
Tobago  in  1774,  whofe  right  arms  were  chopped 
off  ^  they  were  then  dragged  to  feven  ftakes,  and  a 
fire  of  iraih  and  dry  wood  being  lighted  about  them, 
they  were  burnt  to  death.  Does  not  recoiled  hear- 
ing one  of  them  murmur,  or  their  doing  any  thing 
which  indicated  fear.  One  of  them,  named  Chubb, 
had  been  taken  that  morning,  and  was  executed  in 

the 


W,  Indies*  J  e  f  f  e  r  y  §•  ^* 

the  evening,     Witnefs  flood  clofe  by  him  when  his  i^qq^ 
arm  was  cut  of;  he  flretched  it  out  on  the  block, p^^j.^  jj 
and  pulled  up  his  fleeve  with  more  coolnefs  than  he  ^^ry>s^ 
(the  witnefs)    fhould   have  done   to    be  let  blood ; 
would   not  be  dragged,    but  v/alking  to  the  flake, 
turned  about  and   addreifrng  himlelf  to  the  witnefs, 
faid  '^  Buchra,  you  fee  me  now,  but  to-morrow  I  fhallp^  2  re 
be  like  that,"   kicking  up   the  dull  with  his  foot.  "j 

Two  other  negroes  v/ere  prefent  at  this  execution,  \ 

and  fhewed   no   marks  of  difmay.      One  of  thefe,  : 

named  Sampfon^  was  hung  alive  in  chains  the  next 
morning,  and  fo  lived  (to  the  beil  of  witnefs's  recol-  ^ 

ledion)  feven  days;  believes  the  other  v/as   fent  to 
the  mines  in  South  America.     A  ilronger  inilance  of  I 

human  fortitude  he  never  faw. 

Obferved   a  much  greater  number  of  children  a- p^  2^i 
mong  the  domeilic  or  free  negroes,  in  proportion,  i 

than  among  the  field  negroes. 

Saw  numbers  of  feamen^  who  came  on  fhore  from 
the  Guinea  fhips  in  theW.  Indies,  in  and  about  Kingl^ 
ton,  in  a  very  diflreifed  flate,  ulcerated,  apparently 
in  want,  and  lying  about  on  the  wharfs,  known  by 
the  name  of  wharfingers ;  has  feen  them  in  a  dying  ; 

Itate,  Believes  not  ufual  for  king's  (hips  to  take  fuchp,  237 
feamen  on  board,  efpecially  in  time  of  peace;  left 
they  fhould  bring  contagious  diftem.pers  v/ith  them. 
Believes  they  were  not  able  to  do  the  duty  of  a  mer- 
chantman. Never  faw  infbances  of  feamen  difcharged  5 
from  other  trades  lying  about  in  a  fimilar  fituation. 
Thinks  the  Have  trade  is  by  no  means  a  nurfery  for 
feamen,  and  that  the  Wefl  India  trade  is  not  in  any 
degree  fo  dellru6i:ive  to  the  healrh  and  lives  of  the 
feamen,  though  not  fo  much  a  nurfery  as  other  trades.              ! 

Was  about  four  months  in  Jamaica,  in  1773  :  wasp  ^^A 
then  aged  about  19  years.  Refided  on  board  the  fhip  *  ^ 
he  belonged  to ;  was  on  three  or  four  plantations^ 
but  not  more  than  a  day  and  a  night  at  a  time.  Was 
about  4  months  in  1774  at  Tobago,  chiefly  refiding 
on  board  fhip,  though  fome  time  at  a  friend's  houfe 
IP.  the  country,  not  a  fugar  plantation.     Was  at  Ja- 


W.  Indies, 


J  E  F  F  E  R  Y  Sr 


maica,  as  fecond  mate,  about  four  months  in  I77J> 
L  refiding  modly  on  Hiip-board,  and  fometimes  a  day 
or  two  together  on  fhore  at  Kingilon  where  the  iliip 
loaded.  Was  not  then,  at  above  two  or  three  fugar 
plantations,  nor  above  a  night  or  two  at  a  time. 
Received  fugars  at  water  fide. 


A9' 


What  he  laid  refpecfting  the  mode  of  working  ne- 


4.0. 


groes,  relates  to  Tobago  only,  where  the  greater  part 
of  the  plantation  negroes  were  marked  with  the  whip. 

Travelled  through  a  great  part  of  Tobago,  never 
continuing  but  two  or  three  nights  on  one  eitate,  be« 
fides  that  of  his  friend,  which  was  not  a  fugar  eftate. 

Believes  the  field  (laves  to  be  more  ufeful  to  the 
owner  than  the  domeitic  ones.  Cannot  account  for 
fo  many  of  the  latter  being  kept,  and  better  fed. 
The  converfation  on  the  qualifications  of  a  manager 
were  held  at  Kingfton,  and  on  board  the  fhip  he  be- 
longed to-,  and  the  dodrine  beforemcntioned,  fup- 
ported  by  gentlemen  about  Kingltonj  and  white  men 
from  the  ellates,  who  he  did  not  conceive  to  be 
planters. 

The  crimes  for  which  the  men  were  burnt  at  To- 
bago in  1774,  were  murder,  and  deftroying  the  pro- 
perty on  the  eftate. 

There  may  be  an  hofpital  at  Kingfton  in  Jamaica, 
for  the  reception  of  faiiors  and  tranfient  poor^  but  he 
never  faw  it. 

Had  been  near  a  week  at  a  time  on  Little  Cour- 
land  eftate,  the  proprietor,  or  chief  gentleman  where- 
of was  Stuart  Macvie,  Efq.  •,  and  frequently  fpent  a 
night  in  the  boiling-houfe  of  different  eftates,  waicing 
for  fugar  being  carted  down.  Saw  no  punifhmients 
inflided  at  Mr.  Macvie's.  Does  not  particularly 
know,  but  believes  about  200  negroes  on  that  eftate, 
Recolleds  no  regular  punifliments  ^  except  of  thofe 
men  who  fuffered  death,  as  he  believes,  by  the  fen- 
tence  of  the  law.  It  was  in  Kingfton  market,  in 
143 'Jamaica,  where  he  faw  negroes  with  their  ears  cut  off, 
and  underftood  it  v/as  done  by  their  mafters,  or  their 
orders.  In  the  year  1784,  wicnefs  had  not  frequent 
opportunities  of  making  obfervations  in  that  it';  and. 

Cannot 


42 


W.  Indies.  R  e  e  s*  99 

^vhether  fhe  was  forced  to  work  like  the  refl,  and  flie  1790. 
faid,  Yes.  Saw  fucking  infants  in  bafl<els  on  the  Part  il. 
ground,  juft  by  where  the  women  were  at  work,  and  one  ^y^/-^^^ 
of  the  latter  fuckling  her  infant.  Recolleds  in  a  fu-  I^  249, 
gar  mill  a  young  girl  between  20  and  30  years  old, 
chained  to  a  large  block,  Vv^ithin  reach  of  the  mill, 
which  fhe  fed  with  fugar  cane.  She  faid  fhe  was  to 
be  chained  there  a  twelvemonth,  of  which  two  months 
had  elapfed,  for  running  away  from  her  mafter,  who 
had  ufed  her  badly,  and  that  fhe  was  obliged  to  fleep 
where  fhe  was,  on  the  ground,  having  very  little  but 
cane  juice  to  fuilain  her  ;  which  was  confirmed  by  a 
flave  prefent.  Says  that  about  half  a  mile  from  Bridge- 
Town,  he  heard  the  groans  of  a  perfon  at  a  fmall 
diflance.  On  inquiring  of  her,  fhe  told  him  that  Ihe 
had  been  flogged  for  running  away,  to  fuch  a  degree 
that  ihe  could  hardly  move.  Saw  the  marks.  Her 
left  fide  appeared  to  be  in  a  mortifying  {late,  almoil 
covered  with  worms.  On  her  faying  fhe  could  eat  if 
fhe  had  viduals,  he  fent  for  fome  to  the  town.  On  his 
return  in  a  few  hours,  faw  her  again.  Repeating  his 
vifit  a  day  or  two  afterwards,  was  informed  fhe  was 
dead,  and  carried  away  to  be  buried.  The  obferva-p,  250, 
tion  made  by  him  and  Mr.  Vivian,  the  purler  of  the 
Princefs  Amelia,  (then  in  his  company)  was,  whoever 
inflided  that  punifhment  would  have  done  a  kindnefs 
to  have  killed  her. 

Suppofes  they  remained  on  the  (lation  a  fortnight  p 
or  three  weeks  afterwards.  On  fhore  every  day,  but  *  ^ 
did  not  hear  of  any  public  inquiry  refpeding  the 
tranfadion.  In  faying  that  he  faw  3  or  4  gangs  or 
more  at  different  times,  he  meant  that  number  every 
time  he  went  on  Ihore.  A  great  many  more  in  the 
whole. 

Often  faw  negroes  returning  from  their  work  with 
bundles  of  grafs ;  one  of  them  faid  it  was  for  his 
Mafter's  cattle,  and  that,  if  he  did  not  procure  it, 
he  fhould  be  flogged ;  thinks  picking  grafs  mufc 
make  a  confiderable  addition  to  their  labour,  and  to 
the  length  of  time  they  were  employed,  as  in  the  parta 
'        N  2  he 


ICO  W.Indies.  R  e  e  s* 

1790.  he  faw  grafs  did  not  appear  to  be  in  plenty.     The 

Part  11. whipping  the  negroes  while  at  work,  by  the  driver, 
*--/"^  was  a  common  practice.      Thinks  it  impoffible  to 

Jr.  25  2. -walk  in  the  ftreets  or  roads  about  Bridge  Town -with- 
out feeing  fome  of  the  negroes,  apparently  in  great 
diftrefs,  fome  with  the  leprofy,  fome  enfeebled  thro* 
age,  and  others  who  have  loft  their  limbs,  begging. 

Obferved  very  frequently  the  marks  of  former  fe- 
vere  whippings  on  the  backs  of  the  plantation  (laves. 
Has  often  feen  feamen  flogged  on  board  a  man  of  war, 
particularly  in  running  the  gauntlet,  which  is  a  vio- 
lent flogging;  but  did  not  obferve  marks  of  equal 
feverity  on  their  bodies.  Obferved  marks  of  former 
floggings  on  feamens  backs,  but  the  wounds  did  not 
appear  fo  deep,  nor  the  wheals  fo  high  above  the  fKm, 
nor  were  the  fears  fo  long  as  on  the  (laves. 

Has  feen  the  negro-dance,  obferved  a  difference  in 
the  dancers,  fome  better  dreiTed  than  others ;  was  in- 
formed the  v/eli-drelTed  were  domeftic  fervants,  and 
the  others  field  flaves.  In  different  companies,  the 
weil-dreiTed  appeared  better  in  their  countenances 
and  in  fpirits. 

^  •  '^53'  The  negroes  appeared  to  be  as  reafonable  as  any  0- 
ther  beings  whatever  (confldering  their  education). 
Thinks  no  comparifon  can  be  drawn  between  the  flate 
of  plantation  ilaves,  and  that  of  the  labouring  poor 
in  England. 

Was  between  two  and  three  months  at  St.  Lucia, 
where  the  condition  of  plantation  (laves  feemed  much 
the  fame  as  in  Barbadoes. 

P.  254.  i^ad  no  idea  from  what  he  heard  in  England  before 
he  left  it,  that  the  flate  of  flaves  in  the  W.  Indies,  v/as 
fo  bad  as  he  found  it  to  be. 

Remembers  a  converfation  at  Mr.  Prettyjohn's,  on 
the  difference  between  breeding  and  buying  flaves,  in 
which  having  afl^ed  if  they  had  not  enough  born  with- 
out fending  to  Africa  for  them,  and  if  population  was 
encouraged;  Mr.  P,  anfwered,  they  could  not  encou- 
rage it  more  than  they  did,  as  it  was  not  worth  while. 

Doeg 


W.   Indies*  ReesT  lot 

Does  not  recollect  his  mentioning  any  particular  means  1790. 
that  had  been  ufed  to  encourage  population.  Part  11. 

Was  at  Barbadoes  about  five  or  fix  weeks.  Don*t  v-->n^j 
recolle6l  the  names  of  the  proprietors  of  any  fugar 
eilates  in  Barbadoes.  Slept  once  or  twice  on  fhore,  a- 
bout  four  miles  from  Bridge-Town,  but  don't  re- 
member the  name  of  the  planter :  thinks  it  was  on  a 
fugar  eftate  :  a  boiling  houfe  on  it.  Suppofes  he  v/asP.  255, 
not  on  20  fugar  eilates.  Knows  not  how  many  of  them 
within  four  or  five  miles  of  Bridge-Town  •,  nor  how 
the  lands  in  its  vicinity  are  divided;  the  chief  he  faw 
were  in  corn  and  cane  plots,  and  very  little  potatoes 
or  cafTada.  Made  very  little  inquiry  refpediing  the 
food  of  plantation-Haves.  Was  told  by  one  of  them 
that  it  was  chiefly  of  corn  and  cane  juice.  Refpediing 
their  clothing,  huts,  and  manner  of  fleeping,  his 
knowledge  was  got  from  his  own  obfervation.  In- 
tended to  be  better  informed  by  Mr.  Prettyjohn,  but 
their  fudden  departure  prevented  it.  Mr.  P.  he  thinks 
is  both  merch^vHt  and  planter,  and  that  he  was  gene- 
rally at  Bridge-Town  while  they  were  there.  Dined  p.  2c6. 
twice  or  thrice,  or  oftner  with  him.  The  firft  time 
with  Admiral  Hughes  a  week  or  nine  days  after  their 
arrival. 

Had  converfation  with  him  about  ploughing  the 
ground  for  corn  -,  he  faid  it  had  oeen  tried,  but  would 
not  anfwer.  Did  not  talk  to  him  of  ufing  the  plough 
in  the  cultivation  of  fugar,  thinking  it  impradlicable, 
rhe  canes  being  put  down  in  holes.  Mr.  P.  appeared 
to  be  an  ingenuous  fenfible  man,  whofe  opinion  would 
be  taken  as  foon  as  any  body's.  Was  no  otherwife 
acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wharton,  than  by  pro- 
bably having  dined  with  him  at  a  public-houfe. 

Never  afeed  the  name  of  the  proprietor  of  the  plan- 
tation on  which  he  faw  a  woman  chained  to  a  block,  P*  ^57* 
feeding  the  mill,  as  it  might  have  prejudiced  him  a- 
gainft  one  who  in  other  refpeds  might  be  valuable. 
Thinks  if  it  would  deter  others  from  fimilar  ufige, 
the  perpetrator  of  faid  cruelty  ought  to  be  publifhcd 
%Q  the  world.    Did  not  mention  it  to  Mr,  Prettyjohn 

buc 


102  W.    Indies.  Rees. 

1790.   but  on  board  the  fhip.  Three  or  four  of  them  were 

Part  11.  together  when  it  happened. 
^--v*^    Does  not  recoiled;  to  whom  the  woman  faid  fhe  be- 

Ir,  17^*  longed,  whom  he  found  to  have  been  fo  punifhed.  She 
was  found  from  half  a  mile  to  a  mile  from  Bridge-Town. 
Thinks  he  did  not  tell  Mr.Prettyjohn  of  it,  and  whether 
to  others,  does  not  recoiled.  The  reafon  he  did  not  pro- 
mote her  receiving  that  medical  afTifiance  which  feem- 
ed  necefTary-j  was  a  hope  that  her  mafler  would  fooa 
take  care  of  her,  and  they  did  not  care  to  interfere  a- 

sr.  '^S^'bout  his  (laves.  Witnefs  reiides  at  llchefter  in  So- 
merfetfhire,  and  is  not  a  beneficed  clergyman.  Afked 
if  he  has  heard  of  perfons  fuffering  in  England  for 
the  death  of  a  fervant  by  cruel  ufage,  and  has  obfer- 
ved  in  Great-Britain,  miferably  difeafed  white  perfons 
lying  about,  apparently  negleded,  with  fores  and  ul- 
cers expofed  to  naked  view;  begging  relief,  and  a  nui- 
fance  to  the  public:  anfwers,  he  has.  Never  faw  a 
flave  punifhed  on  a  plantation  in  the  W.  Indies,  but 
by  2  or  3  licks  of  the  driver.  All  the  poor  in  Eng- 
land have  a  parilh  to  go  to,  which  is  obliged  to  m.ain- 
tain  them  when  incapable  of  work.  Their  parifh  fur- 
nifhes  medicine  when  they  are  fick,  and  their  labour 

r.  ^59 'keeps  them  from  ftarving.  The  ufual  wages  pr.  week 
where  witnefs  refides,  of  labouring  men,  is  generally 
6s.  but  lefs  in  winter.  Is  of  opinion  that  a  labouring 
man  with  a  wife  and  2  or  3  children  and  their  affif- 
tance,  although  unalTifled  by  the  parifh,  can  fupport 
himfelf  with  the  necelfaries  of  life. 

Thinks  it  was  in  January  when  he  faw  the  woman 
chained  to  a  block  in  the  mill,  and  that  they  were  cut- 

P.  260.  ting  canes  in  Barbadoes  when  he  was  there.  Afked  whe- 
ther, when  the  woman  faid  fhe  was  to  continue  feeding 
the  mill  a  twelve  month,  witnefs  thought  fhe  mufl  be 
miftaken,  as  fhe  could  not  have  canes  all  the  year  to 
feed  it ;  anfwers,  he  thought  fhe  mufl. 

Holes  for  corn  made  with  the  hoe,  fmall  and  not 
very  deep.  Thinks  not  much  difference  between  that 
labour,  and  reaping  corn  in  England.  The  pregnant 
woman  before-mentioned,  had  a  hoe  in  her  hand  : 

thinks 


W.  Indies.  Rees.  103 

thinks  he  was  told  Ilie  was  making  holes  for  corn.  1790. 
Has  feen  pregnant  women  reaping  corn  in  Wales,  but  Part  II. 
thinks  not  in  England.  u*>r*j 

Thinks  it  would  have  been  more  for  the  fafety  of  P.  261. 
the  woman  he  found  in  the  fituation  before-defcribed 
to  have  communicated  it  to  the  owner  or  ovcrfeer  of 
the  eftate  fhe  belonged  to,  but  as  a  flranger,  did  not 
choofe  to  interfere.  Did  not  know  how  far  off  fhe 
lived  ',  nor,  as  many  muft  have  feen  her,  whether  her 
mailer  was  not  informed  of  it. 

Moft  of  the  negroes  had  a  little  rag  to  cover  their 
nakednefs  ;  fome,  breeches  or  trowfers.  Could  fee 
evident  marks  of  whipping  on  their  backs,  and  on  the 
breech  of  thofe  who  had  only  rags  to  cover  them. 
The  women  have  lliort  coats. 

His  being  fuddenly  called  away,  prevented  his  ob-p.  262, 
taining  that  accurate  information  of  the  condition  and 
treatment  of  flaves  which  he  intended.  Should  have 
made  more  inquiry,  thinking  that  thofe  he  faw  who 
had  been  punilhed,  might  have  been  guilty  of  worfe 
crimes  than  they  acknowledged  themfeves  to  have 
committed.  Thinks  that  two  or  three  that  he  cafually 
alked  whether  they  ever  went  to  church,  anfwered. 
No,  or  very  feldom.  Does  not  recoiledl  to  have  ever 
had  or  heard  any^^  converfation  about  any  attempts 
made  by  the  mafters  to  promote  their  religious  im- 
provement. Remembers  afking  a  driver  how  he  could 
Urike  a  perfon  fo  hard  as  he  did,  and  that  the  anfwer 
imported,  if  he  did  not  beat  him,  he  would  not  work. 
Does  not  recoiled  the  particular  objedions  to  theufe 
of  the  plough  in  the  culture  of  corn,  but  thought 
there  was  not  grafs  enough  on  the  the  ifland  to  main- 
tain the  cattle,  as  thofe  he  faw  were  generally  very 
poor.  Has  known  the  plough  ufed  in  a  foil  wherein  p^  262. 
there  v/as  abundance  of  large  ilones,  and  an  extreme- 
ly uneven  furface.  As  at  Stapleton,  Wiuterborn, 
Long-Brady,  &Ci  in  Dorfetfhire,  where  there  are  flints; 
and  at  Newport  in  Wales,  where  are  flones  under 
ground,  and  the  plough  can  fcarce  go  its  length  with- 
ought  meeting  one.     Never  faw  labourers  in  Britain 

working 


■io4  W.  Indies,  Rees. 

1790.   working  under  the  whip  of  a  driver,  but  has  feen 

Part  II.  them  beat  for  not  workincr. 

w-nr^  Thinks  that  of  green  provender,  they  gi'/e  the  cane 
tops,  as  well  as  grafs  to  the  cattle.  Knows  not  whe- 
ther cattle  are  fed  with  potatoe  vines,  and  Indian  and 
Guinea  corn.  Were  ufed  to  give  Guinea  corn  leaves 
to  cattle  on  board.     Suppofes  he  was  on  Ihore  a  fcore 

p.  264,  of  times  at  Barbadoes. 


Witnefs  examined — Mr.  Thomas  Woolrich.     ' 

Was  in  the  Weft  Indies  from  1753  to  1773;  but 
in  the  interim  took  two  or  three  trips  to  England, 
and  two  to  North  America;  was  in  a  mercantile  line 
chiefly  in  Tortola  i  but  alfo,  occaiionally  at  Barba- 
does, Antigua,  and  St.  Kitts.  On  his  firft  arrival 
at  Tortola,  faw  much  fe verity  ufed  upon  negroe 
flaves,  though  their  fituation  was  m.ore  tolerable 
than  afterwards.  At  that  tim.e  their  number  not  being 
near  fo  great,  they  were  allowed  fufficient  provifion 
ground,  which  fome  years  afterv/ards  being  abridged, 
had  a  tendency  to  a  want  of  food  for  their  fupport; 
P.  265.  as  the  ifland  was  more  and  more  cleared,  more  was 
converted  into  cane  land  ;  the  number  of  negroes 
increafed,  their  grounds  were  more  divided,  or  were 
given  them  in  fmailerlots;  as  the  number  increafed 
their  puniOiments  became  more  fevere.  Had  many 
opportunities  of  feeing  field-flaves  at  v/ork.  Lived 
fix  or  feven  years  in  the  houfe  of  a  principal  planter. 
On  lefiening  the  flaves  provifion  ground,  food  was 
very  feldom  imported  from  abroad  -,  there  was  no 
certainty  or  dependence  on  it. 

Had  heard  planters  comparing  the  number  of 
negroes  at  prior  dates,  with  the  then  number,  and 
they  fignified  their  increafe  by  births  without  impor- 
tation ;  there  was  reckoned  a  general  increafe  upon 
the  whole,  through  the  illand.  At  that  time  the 
planters  were  altogether  in  good  credit  with  the 

merchants  i 


W.  Indies.  Wool  rich.  105 

merchants ;  none  known  to  be  involved  in  debts  to  1790. 
the  merchants  in  the  ifland  or  in  England.  Being  Part  11. 
a  merchant  he  had  many  opportunities  of  knowing  ^-— v^-» 
their  fituationsj  their  payments  were  very  pundual,^*  2.66. 
had  great  opportunities  of  knowing  the  produce  of 
mod  eftates ;  their  expences  moderate  at  that  time; 
feldom  under  the  neceffity  of  purchafing  provifions 
for  their  (laves.  The  planters  he  thinks  then  wholly 
refided  on  their  own  plantations  in  that  ifland.  The 
chief  articles  of  produce  then  were  Sugar,  Cotton, 
and  Rum.  But  Cotton-planting  diminiihing,  as 
that  of  Sugar  increafed,  not  near  fo  much  Cotton  was 
made  the  latter  part  of  his  time  there.  Planting  of 
Sugars  is  more  laborious  to  the  flaves ;  in  fome  in- 
fiances  it  proved  more  profitable  to  the  owners,  but 
in  general  otherwife.  About  three  or  four  years 
after  his  arrival  there,  fome  Guinea  ihips  came  down 
with  cargoes  of  flaves ;  the  planters  in  general 
bought:  this  induced  many  to  turn  out  cotton  and 
plant  canes,  which. is  more  laborious.  Many  of  the 
new  negroes  often  die  in  feafoning,  and  Guinea  fhips 
coming  down  time  after  time,  the  planters  bought 
to  fupply  their  places.  This  continuing,  many  P.  267. 
planters  got  much  involved  in  debt  by  purchafing 
flaves  on  credit,  and  were  obliged  to  mortgage  their 
eftates  and  flaves  to  merchants  in  England.  Has 
never  known  a  planter  who  thus  mortgaged  pay 
off  the  debt.  Some  in  confequence  have  been  obliged 
to  have  them  fold  by  audion  much  under  value,  and 
the  Englifh  merchant  has  fuffered  in  his  debt.  Has 
known  fome  of  thefe  eftates  fold,  v^here  the  owners 
have  become  overfcers  upon  them.  During  the  lat- 
ter part  of  his  ftay  in  Tortola,  many  field-negroes 
had  finall  lots  to  plant  provifion  upon,  where  it 
could  be  afforded,  but  fuppofes  it  was  not  general. 
Some  planters  allowed  them  Saturday  afternoons, 
except  in  crop,  to  raife  provifions-,  many  alio  who 
had  land  worked  it  on  Sundays,  obliged  thereto  by 
the  owner  or  overfeer.  Very  diflicuh  to  judge  of  the 
Numb.  3,  O  mcreafe 


10^  W.  Indies.  W  o  o  l  r  i  c  h. 

1790.  increafe  of  negroes,  by  births,  in  Tortola,  in  the 
Part  II.  latter  period  of  his  ftay  there 5  but  in  that  period  they 
"-^ — '  did  not  increafe  in  the  proportion  they  did  on  his  firft 
arrival,  when  fewer  in  number,  and  more  moderate- 
ly ufed.  Droughts  are  common  in  ail  thofe  iflands  1 
fometimes  great  and  long;  and  a  caufe  of  fcarcity 
whereby  the  negroes  fufFer  greatly,  near  to  a  famine ; 
and  flaves  have  pined  away  and  died,  as  food  could 
P.  268.  not  be  procured.  Never  law  a  gang  of  negroes  that 
appeared  to  him  any  thing  like  fufficiently  fed  -,  their 
appearance  fufficiently  proves  their  fituation.  A  fight 
of  a  few  gangs  of  the  field-negroes  would  convince 
more  fully  than  his  defcription  by  any  number  of  words. 
Slaves  frequently  run  away  from  their  mailers.  It  is  to 
be  attributed  to  fevere  ufage  for  trivial  faults.  With 
refpe6b  to  their  emaciated  appearance,  fpeaks  as 
to  every  other  ifland  he  had  been  in  :  has  {t&n  it  more 
in  Antigua  than  in  Tortola.  During  the  whole  of  his 
Hay  at  Tortola,  the  clothing  of  the  field  negroes  was 
very  trifling;  the  men,  generally  a  pair  of  trowfers; 
the  women,  a  peticoat,  made  of  coarfe  Ofnaburghs, 
given  them  once  a  year  in  general  by  their  owners; 
fome  do  not  give  fo  m.uch.  Apprehends  the  field-ne- 
groes in  general  do  not  coil  their  mailers  half  a  crown 
per  head  per  annum  in  clothing.  Their  houfes  are 
imall  fquare  huts,  built  with  poles,  and  thatched  at  the 
top  and  fides  with  a  kind  of  Bam.boo  •,  built  by  the 
negroes  for  themfelves  :  the  field-negroes  lie  on  the 
ground,  in  the  middle  of  the  huts,  with  a  fmall  fire 
generally  before  them  ;  have  no  bedding;  fome  ob- 
tain a  board  or  mat  to  lie  on  before  the  fire;  a  few 
of  the  head  negroes  have  cabbins  of  boards,  raifed 
from  the  floor,  but  no  bedding,  except  fome  v/ho 
P,  269. have  a  coarfe  blanket.  The  ufual  puniihments  of 
plantation-flaves  according  to  the  nature  of  their 
crimes;  of  a  runaway,  it  is  exceeding  fevere;  four 
negroes  to  take  hold  of  each  arm  and  leg,  and  lay 
him  on  the  ground,  when  the  chief  whippet  lays 
upon  their  bare  back  40,  50,  60,  or  more  lafhes, 
juil  at  the  pleafure  of  the  owner  or  overfeer.     Has 

feea 


W.  Indies.  Woolrich.  107 

feen  negroes  whipped;,  when  the  firfl  ftroke  has  made  1790. 
the  blood  fpout  out  innnnediately.  There  are  other  Part  TI. 
ways  of  correflion  very  barbarous  ;  fuch  as  letting  ^--v^^ 
upon  a  picket,  which  is  Handing  on  one  foot  upon  a 
fharp  ftick;  alfo  the  thumb-fcrews,  which  give  in- 
tolerable pain.  It  is  very  common  to  fee  marks  of 
whippings  on  the  perfons  of  the  (laves,  fome  with 
their  backs  an  undiftinguiflied  mafs  of  lumps,  holes, 
and  furrows,  by  frequent  whippings  j  mod  of  the 
field-negroes  are  marked  by  the  whip;  all  that  he 
had  feen,  work  under  the  whip,  which  the  drivers 
carry  for  their  corre6lion,  ahd  of  which  they  are  con- 
tinually in  dread.  It  is  made  generally  of  plaited 
cowlkin,  with  thick  ftrong  laihesi  ^  formidable  in- 
flrument  in  one  of  the  overfeers  hands,  who  would 
take  the  ikin  off  a  horfe's  back  with  one  of  them  ; 
has  feen  them  lay  its  marks  into  a  deal  board. 
Knows  not  of  any  protection  flaves  had  from  the  ill  P.  270. 
ufage  of  their  mailers.  A  negro  ran  away  from  a 
planter  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted ;  the 
overfeer  having  orders  to  take  him  dead  or  alive,  a 
while  after  found  him  in  one  of  his  huts,  fafl  afleep, 
in  the  day  time,  and  (hot  him  through  the  body. 
The  negro  jumping  up,  faid,  "  What,  you  kill  me 
*^  afleep,"  and  dropt  dead  immediately.  The  over- 
feer took  off  his  head  and  carried  it  to  his  owner. 
Knew  another  inftance  in  the  fame  iQand  :  a  planter 
offended  with  his  waiting  man,  a  mulatto,  ilepped 
fuddenly  to  his  gun,. on  which  the  man  ran  off,  but 
his  mailer  Ihot  him  through  the  head  v^^ith  a  fingle 
ball.  Mentioned  another  inilance,  a  manager  of  an 
eilate  in  Tortola,  whofe  owner  did  not  refide  on  the 
iQand,  fitting  at  dinner,  in  fudden  refentment,  ran 
his  cook,  a  negroe  woman,  through  the  body,  and 
fhe  died  immediately.  The  negroes  were  called  in 
to  take  her  away  and  bury  her.  All  the  white  peo- 
ple in  the  iQand  were  acquainted  with  thefe  fadls, 
which  happened  when  he  was  in  it,  and  which  none 
doubted  :  neither  of  thefe  offenders  were  ever  called 
to  an  account,  nor  were  they  at  all  fliunned  or  con- 

O  2  fidered 


io8  W.  Indies.        '  Woolrich. 

1790.    fidered   in  difgrace.     Had  feveral   times  feen  flaves 
Part  II. working  in  the  fields,  in  chains;  the  moil  ftriking 
*-^v-^  inilance  of  it  was  in  Antigua,  where  a  confiderable 
gang  were  working  in  one  chain.     Had  feen  another 
gang  or  two  carrying  down  fugars  from  the  moun- 
tainous parts  of  that  ifland,  upon  their  heads  in  tubs, 
P.  27i^bafkets  or  bags,  heavy  laden.    Their  appearance  was 
fhocking,  from  the  fcantinefs  of  cloathing,  their  ap- 
parent great  want  of  food,  and  other  inllances   of 
fevere  ufage.     It  was  noticed   by  fome  gentlemen 
who  alfo  faw  them,  and  feemed  to  exprefs  themfelves 
in  terms  denoting  refentment  at  fuch  feverity  3  but  it 
is  too  common. 

In  all  the  idands,  fo  far  as  he  has  feen,  it  is  ufual 
to  turn  the  field  negroes  out  to  their  work  as  foon  as 
the  light  well  appears,  and  they  are  not  difcharged 
from  their  drivers  or  overfeers  until  the  clofe  of  the 
evening,  or  dark.  They  have  time  to  eat  their  food 
in  the  morning,  and  alfo  at  noon;  but  their  ufual 
hours,  or  other  particulars  of  reft,  he  cannot  fpeak 
to.  When  difcharged  from  field  labour,  they  have 
generally  to  pull  grafs  for  their  matter's  horfes  and 
cattle.  By  the  time  this  is  done,  it  is  dark.  If 
picking  grafs  be  reckoned  as  a  part  of  their  day 
labour,  it  lengthens  the  day;  if  as  an  addition  to  it, 
it  is  a  great  hardfbip.  When  grafs  is  plenty,  it  is 
no  harder  work  than  field  labour,  but  in  droughts  it 
is  fcarce;  and  if  they  fail  in  their  quantity,  they  are 
often  punifhed.  Are  compelled  to  do  this  bufinefs 
P.  27 2. as  duly  as  any  part  of  the  day's  labour.  Thinks 
that  pregnane  women  (field  flaves)  had  fome  little 
indulgencies,  but  it  is  cuftomary  for  them  to  work 
in  the  field,  till  near  their  time.  The  whip  occa- 
fionally  ufed  upon  them,  but  not  fo  feverely  as  on 
the  men,  that  he  ever  obferved. 

The  ''  fcafoning  of  negroes,"  not  any  difeafe  or 
difternper.  Always  underftood  the  new  negroes 
deaths  to  be  occafioned  by  being  put  to  hard  labour 
foon  after  being  landed,  and  from  the  fcarcity  of 
food,    and  want  of  almoft  every  other  neceflary. 

Knew 


W.  Indies;  Woolrich.  109 

Knew  many   inftances   of  this  feafoning  being  ex-    1790. 
prenaely  fatal   to  flaves.     Some  planters,  who  pur- Part  II. 
chafed  new  negroes,  told   him  they  have  loft   one-  ^^^>n^ 
third  of  the  number,  or  more,  in  the   firfl:  year  of 
the  feafoning      Never  faw   a  cargo  of  fiavcs,    but 
what  had  fick  or  refufe  negroes,   more  or  lefs,  which  P.  273. 
fold  at  a  lower  price;  probably  for  cotton  planters, 
an  eafier  bufmefs  than  that  of  the  cane. 

Negro  flaves,  attached  to  a  plantation,  befides 
field  Haves,  are  houfe  carpenters,  coopers,  and  ma- 
fons.  The  treatment  of  thefe  generally  better  than 
of  field  flaves,  they  have  more  certain  allowance  of 
proviflons.  Many  of  the  female  domei^ics  are  in  a 
pretty  good  fituation  :  their  labour  is  more  mode- 
rate, and  they  have  more  food  and  cloathing.  Heard 
but  of  few  inftances  of  fuicide  among  the  Creole 
flaves;  but  of  a  good  many  among  Africans.  The 
principal  indance  :  A  planter  purchafed  fix  men  flaves 
out  of  a  Guinea  fhip,  and  put  them  on  a  fmall  ifland 
to  plant  cotton.  They  had  a  white  man  with  them 
as  overfeer,  who  left  them  of  a  Saturday  night. 
There  v^'cre  no  white  inhabitants  on  the  ifland.  On  P.  274, 
the  Monday  following  the  overfeer  returned,  when  he 
found  all  the  f  x  hanging  near  together  in  the  woods. 
Had  often  inquired  of  the  moll  fenfible  negroes 
what  could  be  the  caufe  of  fuch  adions,  and  the 
anfwer  was,  '^  That  they  would  rather  die,  than  live 
in  the  fituation  they  were  m." 

Not  able  to  fay  particularly  what  a  tradefman  flave 
and  a  field  flave  could  earn  for  themfelves.  Manv 
field  flaves  have  it  not  in  their  power  to  earn  any 
thing  exclufive  of  their  mailer's  work.  Some  few 
raife  fowls,  and  fome  few  pigs,  and  fell  them  :  but 
their  number  is  very  few.  The  black  tradefmen  in 
Tortola  have  very  feldom  any  jobs  to  do  on  a  Sunday, 
which  is  the  only  day  allowed  for  themfelves.  The 
intelled  of  the  negroes  are  various,  as  among  other 
people.  Some  that  are  brought  up  amongll  the 
white  people,  of  as  good  abilities  as  are  common 
amongft  mankind,  confidering  their  fltuation,   and 

want 


no  W.Indies.  Woolrich. 

1790.  want  of  education.  Had  obferved  the  young  negroes 
Part  II.  learn  trades  as  readily  as  whites.  Many  are  ingenious 
^^^^V^^  workmen.  Knows  of  no  exceptions  to  their  pofTeiT- 
ing  the  focial  afFedlions  as  ftrongly  as  whites,  more 
particularly  the  Creoles.  Apprehends  their  natural 
afFe(5lion  for  their  children  and  relatives,  is  as  great 
^*  275.35  elfewhere.  No  kind  of  religion  amonft  the  negroes 
of  Tortola.  The  Creoles  have  a  certain  belief  in  a 
Supreme  Being.  The  Africans,  at  firfl  coming, 
fpeak  no  language  but  their  own  ;  but  he  never  knew 
one  that  could  expreis  himfelf,  but  allowed  of  a 
Supreme  Being.  If  the  word  of  a  flave  is  difputed, 
he  will  frequently  lift  up  his  hands,  and  fay,  God 
above  knows  what  they  afTert  to  be  true^  After  the 
arrival  of  African  negroes  in  Tortola,  they  are  ge- 
nerally kept  a  few  days  before  they  are  put  to  field 
labour.  Never  knew  any  who  were  not  put  to  labour 
a  week  after  they  were  purchafed.  Knew  but  one 
or  two  planters  who  branded  their  flaves.  Never 
faw  the  operation. 

Droughts  generally  affed  all  kinds  of  vegetation, 
and  hurt  the  provifions.  Some  kinds  are  lefs  injured 
by  them  than  others,  and  it  is  faid  yams  lead. 

The  lower  orders  of  people  in  this  country  cannot 
be  compared  with  the  general  condition  of  (laves. 
The  fituation  of  thefe  is  very  lamentable,  (would 
not  wifh  to  ufe  any  word  to  exaggerate)  but  it  can- 
F.  276.  not  be  defcribed  to  the  full  to  the  underftanding  of 
thofe  who  have  never  fccn  it.  Never  knew  any 
planter  or  owner  of  a  gang  of  flaves  that  ufed  them 
as  well  as  either  a  good  or  bad  mailer  ufes  his  fer- 
vants  in  England.  Hard  labour,  with  the  want  of 
neceffaries  of  life,  wages,  or  cloathing,  are  fufficient 
to  make  their  condition  much  harder  than  the  loweft 
degree  of  fervants  in  England.  Certainly  the  maf- 
ter's  interefl:  to  treat  his  flaves  well,  as  the  contrary 
never  fails  to  bring  lofs  and  embarrafrment  on  their 
owners.  Believes  it  is  from  want  of  wifdom  that 
they  are  treated  ill.  Apprehends  the  mailers  of 
flaves  become  morofe  and  cruel  by  being  ufed  to  that 

kind 


W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  W  0  O  L  R  I  C  H.  1 1 1 

kind  of  bufinefs,  and  that  it  confiderably  hurts  the  1790. 
morals  of  the  white  people.  Part  IL 

Since  he  left  Tortola,  by  means  of  correfpondence,  v-nr««-» 
or  feeing  fome  perfon  from  the  ifland,  (which  is  ge- 
nerally every  year)  he  has  been  informed  of  its  Itate 
from  year  to  year,  to  the  prefent  time.  The  iaft: 
information  reprefented  the  planters  to  be  in  very 
diftrefied  circumftances.  Divers  of  their  eftates, 
mortgaged  in  England,  had  been  fold  at  public 
vendue,  upon  very  low  terms,  becaufe  few  were  able 
to  pay  for  them  -,  and  the  general  credit  fo  low  with 
the  planters,  that  but  few  could  obtain  the  neceiTariesp,  277. 
they  want  from  the  (tores  kept  there,  by  reafon  of 
the  debts  to  Englifh  merchants.  It  has  been  his 
opininion  for  many  years,  that  the  unneceiTary  pur- 
chafing  of  African  flaves,  has  been  the  main  caufe 
of  their  embarrairments,  and  the  accumulation  of 
their  debts.  Many  new  negroes  dying  foon  after 
imported,  the  planters  are  induced  to  buy  again  upon 
credit,  by  which  their  debts  have  been  increafed 
with  the  Englifli  merchants. 

Has  aflced  many  African  flaves  how  they  were 
brought  into  that  fituation — amongft  others  a  wait- 
ing boy  he  had,  who  told  him,  that  he  and  his  filter 
being  catched  together  in  the  field,  tending  fome 
corn,  were  both  carried  away.  Men  flaves  had  told 
him  they  were  furprized,  and  made  prifoners  of  by 
the  enemy,  in  the  night,  in  their  own  houfes  or  vil- 
lage :  others,  that  they  were  prifoners  of  war. 

Amongft  different  planters  there  are  different  ufages 
of  their  flaves.  Some  feed  and  treat  them  better  than 
others.  Fully  believes  the  circumftances  of  the 
owners  have  a  great  effedi;  in  that  cafe.  The  flaves 
of  thofe  who  are  much  in  debt,  are  generally  more 
feverely  and  worfe  treated,  than  flaves  of  fuch  as  are 
in  eafy  circumftances. 

The  planter,  with  whom  he  refided  6  or  7  years, 
was  named  John  Pickering,  whofe  houfe  was  on  his 
plantation,  and  he  had  none  in  town.    Lodged  there  p.  278. 

that 


112  W.  Indies.  Woolrich. 

1790.  that  rpace  of  time,  but  was  never  fo  long  at  one  time 

Part  II.  in   Tortola,    but  a  longer   fpace    at    two    different 

^*/V^^  periods. 

The  lands  in  Tortola,  which  ufed  to  be  planted  in 
cotton,  could  not  have  been  cultivated  for  fugar  in 
fo  fliort  a  time.  Without  the  importation  of  flaves 

P.  28o,from  Africa.  Apprehends  the  planting  of  fugar 
would  require  a  larger  body  of  negroes  than  the 
cotton  planters  generally  have.  There  never  has 
been  any  cotton  planted  in  thofe  parts  of  the  ifland 
/"where  the  fugar-cane  is  planted.  As  to  comparing 
the  planting  of  cotton  and  fugar  by  equal  quantities 
of  land,  is  not  a  judge  of  the  difference  of  labour. 
Cotton  is  planted  upon  the  pooreft  parts,  upon 
rocky  and  iteep  places,  moftly  where  canes  are  not 
planted.  No  regular  plantations  of  cotton  but  upon 
keys  and  rocky  hills.  When  he  firfl  went  there,  he 
thinks  more  than  one-half  was  in  its  native  woods. 
The  befl  parts  were  in  the  hands  of  different  pro- 
prietors, who  cleared  fmall  parts  of  it  from  year  to 
year,  whereby  they  enlarged  their  fugar  plantations, 
and  made  new  ones. 

P.  281.  During  the  whole  of  his  refidence  in  Tortola^  a 
court  of  jufbice  was  held  the  firfl  Monday  in  three 
or  four  months  of  the  year,  by  the  governor  and  fix 
magiftrates,  but  no  affembly :  though  the  ifland  was 
not  under  the  fame  fettled  adminiftration  of  juftice 
that  prevailed  in  the  other  iflands,  juftice  was  admi- 
niftered  in  as  good  and  regular  order,  as  in  any  of 
the  others  before  mentioned. 

The  wood  lands,  by  clearing  of  which  the  fugar 
eftates  were  increafed  from  10  or  12  to  50  or  60, 
could  not  have  been  in  fo  fhort  a  time  if  there  had 

P.  282.  been  no  importation.  Is  very  certain  the  event  has 
been  greatly  to  the  lofs  and  embarraffment  of  the 
planters,  owing  to  the  bad  management  and  hard 
ufage  of  the  flaves  ;  and  that  7-8 ths  of  the  planters 
would  have  been  in  much  better  circumflances,  if 
they  had  not  bought  any  negroes  during  the  time  of 

his 


W.  Indies.  Woolrich*  iij 

his  refidence  there,  but  had  ufed  thofe  they  had  with  1790. 
humanity  and  care.  Part  II. 

Water  brackifh  and  fcarce  in  Tortola.  v-/^Vv-/^ 

Never  refided  on  any  other  fugar  plantation  than 
J.  Pickering's.  Thinks  a  pair  of  trowfers  and  a 
Ihirt  are  quite  fufficient  cloathing  for  a  working?.  285. 
negro  in  the  field  ;  and  that  a  petticoat  and  jacket 
for  a  woman  is  an  equivalent.  Cannot  fay  that  a 
fhirt  is  abfolutely  necellary,  but  it  appears  beneficial, 
and  is  what  they  would  chufe.  Has  never  known 
thofe  who  had  one  on,  to  pull  it  off,  when  at  work 
in  the  field. 

When  he  fettled  in  the  Road  Town,  his  family 
confifted  of  a  clerk  and  two  apprentices  in  his  (lore, 
and  occafionally  three,  four,  or  five  black  domeflics. 
Sometimes  fowls  or  vegetables  M/ere  to  be  bought 
from  the  negroes,  but  very  rarely.  The  fupply  of 
thefe  articles  in  the  (lores  was  very  fmall.  Generally 
ufed  faked  beef  and  pork.  Sometimes  dried  peafe 
from  America.  Freih  meat  dear  and  fcarce  through 
the  iiland.  Beef  and  mutton,  killed  by  the  planters, 
at  times  to  be  bought.  A  good  fupply  of  fifh  ac 
times,  and  always  at  a  reafonable  price. 

Heard  of  a  great  number  of  wrecks  of  (hips  upon 
the  ifland  or  reefs  of  Annigado,  but  was  never  there: 
alfo  that  a  Spanifh  fhip  was  wrecked  a  year  a  two  P.  286. 
before  he  went  to  Tortola,  and  that  before  his  arrival 
lieutenant-general  Fleming,  the  commander  in  chief 
of  the  Leeward  Iflands,  came  down  from  St.  Kitts, 
to  demand  and  fecure  for  the  right  owners,  the 
money  faved  from  that  wreck.  Was  told  that  fome 
delivered  to  him  what  they  got  of  it,  and  that  others 
delivered  none,  but  never  heard  of  any  being  brought 
to  juftice  upon  that  account. 

Has  been  two  or  three  times  in  Barbadoes,  but 
never  above  two  weeks  at  a  time  -,  and  then  did  not 
refide  on  any  fugar  plantation. 

Has  been  four,  five,  or  fix  times  at  Antigua : 
believes  the  longelt  was  three  or  four  weeks,  but  did 
not  refide  on  any  fugar  eftate  there. 

Numb.  3.  P  Had 


114  ^-  Indies.  Wool  rich; 

1790.      Had  been  only  once,  a  very  fhort  time,  in  Su 

Part  ILKitts,  and  not  on  any  fugar  eftate. 

:^^"V""^      Kept  one  horfe,  while  refident  in  the  Road  Town 

Jr.  207.^1;  Tortola.  The  grafs  for  him  was  bought  from 
negroes  who  fometimes  brought  it  to  the  road  for 
fale,  in  the  evening.  It  was  their  own  property, 
and  generally  paid  for  with  tobacco,  fait  herrings,  or 
coarfe  linens.  In  crop  time  their  horfes  were  fed 
from  cane  tops,  which  were  had  for  fetching.  Ap- 
prehends fuch  of  the  other  merchants  in  Road  Town 
as  had  no  eftates  of  their  own,  fupplied  their  horfes 
in  the  fame  way.  Computes  the  grafs  bought  for  his 
horfe  every  night  when  the  negroes  came,  to  have 
coll  two  bits,  or  about  iid.  fterling,  but  with- 
out oats  thinks  two  bits  worth  would  have  been 
infufficient.  Grafs  picking  in  the  evening  on  plan- 
tations,   continues  in   crop  time  and  all   the  year. 

r,  288.  Never  faw  any  cane  tops  carried  home  for  planter's 
horfes  or  flock  j  the  draft  mules  at  the  mill  live 
entirely  upon  them  during  crop  time.  They  are  a 
nourifhing  food  for  mules,  who  altogether  live  on 
them ;  and  for  horfes  aifo.  Does  not  know  whether 
horned  cattle,  fheep,  and  goats,  eat  them  or  not. 
Negroes  in  a  plantation  who  have  a  hog  to  feedy 
have  what  quantity  they  pleafe  to  take  for  that  pur- 
pofe.  The  pork  fed  on  them  reckoned  the  belt. 
They  had  generally,  he  thinks,  the  fkimmings  of 
the  boiling  of  fugar.  Cannot  fay  if  that  Ikimming 
is  allowed  or  not  by  their  mailers  *,  thinks  fome  prime 
negroes  would  not  be  debarred  of  it,  as  it  feemed  noc 
to  be  fit  for  any  other  ufe.  Knows  of  no  negro  be- 
ing flogged  for  feeding  his  hogs  with  it.  J.  Pickering 
had  a  dittillery  for  rum  on  his  plantation.  Appre- 
hends the  fkimmings  of  the  fugar-coppers  are  not  a 
main  ingredient  ufed  in  the  diftil-houfes,  fot  fetting 
of  liquor  in  the  cafks  for  making  of  rum.  MolafTes 
is  the  m.ain  and  principal  ingredient;  but  thinks 
fkimmings  are  alfo  always  ufed  with  the  molalTes 
for  fetting  cafks  for  diflilling. 

P.  289,     He  traded  at  Tortola,  in  mod  kinds  of  manufac- 
tured 


W,  Indies.  Woolrich,  115 

tured  goods;  alfo  In  Irilli  provifions ;  fometimes  in  1790. 
American  cargoes  of  flour,  bread,  and  other  articles ;  Part  IL 
but  no  corn.      Has  fold  Ofnaburghs,  checks,  and  «-'^r^ 
other  coarfe  linens,  &c.  to  the  negroes.     Has  fre- 
quently imported  and  fold  fait  herrings  from  Ireland  ; 
never  any  cod  or  mackrel,  that  he  recoUedls ;  fold 
the  faked  herrings  to  the  planters ;  for  the  flaves  in 
crop  time  were  generally  employed  at  hard  work  the 
whole  6  days  of  the  week.     They  are  a  perifhable 
commodity,  and  he   thinks  will  not   keep  good  a 
whole  year  in  that  ifland.    Knows  no  inftance  of  great 
fcarcity  of  Irifh  fait  provifions,  fince  he  kept  a  ftore 
in  the  road.     There  was  a  fcarcity  of  flour  and  bread, 
but  not  much  to  difl:refs  the  white  people.     There 
was  never,  to  his  knowledge,  any  certain  fupply  of 
provifions,  fuitable  for  the  negroes,  at  all  times  of 
the  year.     There  was,  more  frequently,  no  neccflary  P.  290. 
food  for  them  to  be  bought  at  the  merchant's  fl:ores. 
Never  had  any  concern  in  planting,  or  as  proprietor 
of  any  plantation  at  Tortola,  or  elfewhere.     Never 
had  more  than  4  or  5  flaves  at  one  time.     One  of 
them  came  to  England  with  him,  the  others  were  left 
at  the  fl:ore  with  a  partner.     During  his  flay  in  Tor- 
tola,  there  was  no  complaint  that  white  people  could 
not  obtain  legal  redrefs  for  injuries  they  might  have 
received.     The  inhabitants  were  fenflble  there  was 
not  in  the  ifland  a  fufHcient  authority  to  bring  capi- 
tal ofi^enders  to  trial  and  punifhment,  without  a  fpe- 
cial  commiflion  from  the  governor  general.     While 
he  was  there,  a  murder  was  committed  by  one  white 
perfon  upon  another.     The  murderer  was  tried,  inP.  291. 
confequence  of  a  commifllon  from  the  governor  ge- 
neral, by  a  jury,  who  acquitted  him.     Redrefs  was  to 
be  had  on  complaints  of  fmaller  offences,  from  the 
governor  and  council.     White  mechanics  or  tradef- 
men  purfued  their  occupations  in  Tortola,  through- 
out the  day,  as  in  other  countries.     Did  not  ferve  on 
the  jury  s  is  one  of  the  people  called  Quakers.     In 
fpeaking  of  Tortola,   he  alfo  included  the  Virgia 
Iflands. 

P  2  Witnefs 


ii6  (    ii6    ) 


Witnefs  examined, — Henry  Hew  Dalrymple,  Efq. 

1790.  Was  lieutenant  in  the  75th  regiment,  in  garrifon 
Part  II.  at  Goree,  and  on  various  parts  of  the  coaft,  from  May 
'"""^^■^  to  the  end  of  September,  1779.  Made  it  his  bufinefs 
P,  291.10  inquire  as  to  the  mode  of  obtaining  flaves ;  had 
P.  292. his  information  from  French  mulattoes  and  natives, 
particularly  the  Maraboo  of  Dacard>  a  fenfible  and 
intelligent  man.  Inhabitants  of  Goree  refpedlable. 
He  was  weekly  on  the  continent,  with  a  view  of 
knowing  the  fituation  of  the  country,  and  modes  of 
procuring  flaves,  becaufe  he  held  flaves  himfelf  in  the 
Weft  Indies,  and  wilhed  to  afcertain  that  matter  be- 
yond doubt.  In  confequence,  was  informed  that  the 
great  droves  (called  cafhllas,  or  caravans)  of  flaves 
brought  from  inland,  by  way  of  Galam,  to  Sene- 
gal and  Gambia,  were  prifoners  of  war.  Thofe  fold 
to  vefTels  at  Goree,  and  near  it,  were  procured  either 
P,  293.  by  the  grand  pillage,  the  lefTer  pillage,  or  by  rob- 
bery of  individuals.  The  grand  pillage  is  executed 
by  the  king's  foldiers,  from  3  or  400,  to  2  or  3000, 
who  attack  and  fet  fire  to  a  village,  and  feize  the 
inhabitants  as  they  can.  The  fmaller  parties  gene- 
rally lie  in  wait  about  the  villages,  and  take  otF  all 
they  can  furprize ;  which  is  alfo  done  by  individuals, 
who  do  not  belong  to  the  king,  but  are  private  rob- 
bers. Thefe  fell  their  prey  on  the  coaft,  where  it  is 
well  known  no  queftions,  as  to  the  means  of  obtain^ 
ing  it,  are  afl<.ed. 

It  feemed  to  be  univerfally  believed  on  the  coaft, 
that  their  wars  are  undertaken  for  the  purpofe  of 
procuring  {laves.  Whenever  he  aflied  the  negroes 
in  the  Weft  Indies  (who  had  been  brought  in  thofe 
cafUllas,  or  droves)  how  they  had  been  made  prifon- 
ers, they  generally  told  him,  had  been  thus  taken  by 
furprize,  either  at  night  in  their  villages,  ftraggling 
from  their  huts  (particularly  the  women)  or  whea 

cultivating 


31frica.— W.  Indies;  Dalrymple.  117 

cultivating  their  fields.     He  does  not  fay   no  wars  I79*^- 
arife  in  Africa,   but  from  a  defire  of  making  (laves  jPart  II. 
but  that  this,  from  anfwers  received,  appeared  to  be  ^-^-v^^ 
the  general  caufe.     Every  body  on  the  coaft  reported 
that  thefe  wars  were  feldom  of  more  than  8  or  10 
days  continuance  ;  that  feldom,  in  the  mod  decifive 
actions,  the  number  of  prifoners  or  killed,  amounted 
to  more  than  20  or  30,  and  that  it  is  principally  on 
the  coaft  marauding  expeditions  are  found.     Kidnap- P,   2^4^ 
ping  is  fo  nocorious,  that  he  never  heard  any  perfon, 
French  or  native,   deny  it  there.     Two  men,  while 
he  was  at  Goree,  offered  a  perfon,  a  mefTenger  from 
Senegal  to  Rufifco,  for  fale,  to  the  garriibn.     They 
did  not  deny  he  v/as  a  free  man,  but  rather  boafted 
of  what  they  had  done,  in  making  themfelves  mafters 
of  him.     Witnefs  indifpofed,   withdrew.    On  a  fub- 
fequent  day,  defired  to  explain  the  former   part  of 
his  evidence,  having  been  fo  ill  when  he  delivered  it: 
faid,  that  as  to  the  marauding  expeditions,  informa-P,  295. 
tion  from  flaves  in  the  Weft  Indies,  tended  to  con- 
vince him,  they  were  procured  in  that  manner  in  the 
interior  of  Africa  alfo.    Many  were  brought  to  Goree 
while  he  was  there,  but  feldom  more  than  3  or  4  to- 
gether, and  oftner  only  one.     He  underftood  it  com- 
mon for  European  traders  to  advance  goods  to  chiefs, 
to  induce  them  to  feize  on  their  fubjcds,  or  neigh- 
bours.     Not  one   of  the  mulatto   traders  at    Goree, 
ever  thought  of  denying  it.     Thefe  depredations  are 
^Ifo  praftifed  by  the  Moors;  faw  many  flaves  in  Af- 
rica, who  told  him  they  were  taken  by  them ;  3  of 
thefe,  one  of  them  a  woman,  cried  very  much,  and 
feemed  to  be  in  great  diftrefs  -,  the  two  others  more 
reconciled  to  their  fate.     All  crimes  in  the  parts  ofp,  29^. 
Africa  he  was  in,   were   punillied  with   flavery.     At 
Goree,  where  moft  inhabitants  are  mulattoes,  flaves 
are  common ;    but  on  the   continent  ti;cre  ai  e  buc 
few,  and  thefe  are  treated  fo  well,  eating  and  work- 
ing with  their  mafters,  that  they  are  not  uiftinguifli- 
able  from  free  miCn.     Never  law  any  whip  or  inftru- 
jDent  Qf  torture  ufed  there  ^  nor  did  hq  believe,  on 

inquiry. 


tiS  Africa.— W.  Indies*  Dalrymple. 

1790.   inquiry,   that  flaves  there  were  ufed  with  feverity. 

Part  II.  They  believe  in  witchcraft. 

vnr*^  Frauds  are  often  praftifed  on  the  natives,  by  Eu- 
ropean merchants.  He  has  heard  niulatto  mer- 
chants, and  European  captains,  boafl  of  it. 

While  at  Goree,  a  fhip  attempted  to  fail  out  of  the 
bay  with  a  number  of  negroes,  without  paying  for 
them  ;  and  this  was  the  reafon  given  for  their  orders 
to  fire  on  her,  and  bring  her  to.  From  what  he  faw 
and  heard,  he  has  no  doubt  but  the  thing  is  com- 
mon. 

P.  297.  xhe  productions  of  the  part  of  Africa  he  was  in, 
are  cotton  of  3  kinds,  indigo,  dyes  of  different  kinds, 
fpices,  fugar  canes,  tobacco,  millet  of  2  kinds,  ebony, 
and  different  kinds  of  cabinet  wood.  The  fugar 
canes  were  thought,  by  judges,  to  be  fuperior  to  any 
produced  in  the  Weft  Indies.  The  cotton  grows 
fpontaneoufly  almoft  every  where,  though  fometimes 
cultivated;  is  of  a  remarkable  fine  ftaple,  and  as  he 
was  told  by  Mr.  Ofwald,  an  African  merchant,  is 
efteemed,  by  the  Englifh  merchants,  far  fuperior  to 
any  that  comes  from  the  Weft  Indies.  The  indigo 
is  likewife  of  a  better  quality  than  what  grows  in  our 
iflands ;  it  is  reckoned  equal  to  that  of  Guatimala. 
He  has  referved  fpecimens  of  thefe  articles.  They 
have  befide,  at  Goree,  a  root  which  dyes  a  beautiful 
fcarlet,  and  its  leaves  a  bright  yellow  or  orange.  The 
foil  and  climate  feem  both  extremely  favourable  for 
the  growth  of  fpices.  Cardamoms  are  found  in 
great  perfe6t:ion  near  Cape  Verd. 

As  far  as  he  could  judge,  in  natural  capacity  the 
negroes  are  equal  to  any  people  whatever :  and  in 
temper  and  difpofition  (of  which,  from  being  con- 
llantly  among  them,  he  had,  he  believes,  as  many 
opportunities  of  judging,  as  any  Englilhman  on  the 
coaft)  they  appeared  to  be  humane,  hofpitable,  and 
well  difpofed.  The  country  well  cultivated,  and 
from  the  general  difpofition  of  the  natives  tolabour, 
he  is  convinced,  that  had  they  a  proper  market  for 
their  produce^  they  would  be  as  induftrious  as  any 

Europeans. 


Africa. — W.  Indies.  Dalrymple.  119 

Europeans.     He  remarked,  that  where   there  was  1790. 
little  or  no  trade  for  (laves,  they  were  moft  induftri-Part  II. 
ous.     They  manufadure  cotton  cloths,  almoft  equal  *— -v-^ 
in  the  workmanfhip,  to  thofe  of  Europe  ;  they  work 
in  gold,  filver  and  iron,  remarkably  neat;  alfo  inP,  29S, 
wood,  and  make  faddles,  bow-cafes,  fcabbards,  gris- 
gris,  and  other  things  of  leather,  with  great  neat- 
xiefs. 

Was  much  and  often  in  the  country  among  the 
natives  •,  and  having  learned  (from  La  Brue  and  o- 
ther  writers)  that  it  was  a  common  pra6lice  for  their 
kings  to  feize  their  fubjeds  and  fell  them  as  (laves 
for  European  goods,  he  wifhed  to  know  whether  the 
report  was  founded  in  fad. 

When  he  was  on  board  the  Atalanta  (loop  of  war, 
they  fell  in  with  a  fhip  from  Gambia,  the  crew  of 
which  had  all  died  but  the  captain,  whofe  name  was 
Heatly,  and  the  mate.  On  going  aboard  he  found 
the  captain  lying  on  deck  upon  a  mattrefs,  and  the 
mate  appeared  in  bad  health. 

He  was  on  his  palTage  to  the  W.  Indies  in  a  (laveP«  209* 
vefTel  two  months,  during  which  the  (laves  were  ex- 
ceedingly unhappy,  made  many  attempts  to  rife : 
not  fucceeding,  they  begged  to  be  permitted  to  throw 
themfelves  overboard,  and  perpetually  regretted 
their  own  country. 

He  was  three  times  in  the  W.  Indies;  in  1773,  at 
Grenada  (ix  months  5  in  1779  ^^^  ^780,  at  Antigua, 
Barbadoes,  Tobago,  St.  Lucia,  and  St.  Chriflophersi 
and  in  1788  and  1789,  at  Grenada,  Coriacou,  St. 
Vincents,  and  Tobago. 

General  treatment  of  the  negroes  was  very  cruel. 
He  lived  neat  the  market-place  of  St.  George's,  at 
Grenada,  where  negroes  were  (logged  every  day  by 
the  particular  orders  of  their  mailers;  they  were  tied 
down  upon  the  ground,  every  ftroke  brought  blood, 
and  very  often  took  out  a  piece  of  the  flelh.  Saw 
them  often  in  chains,  thus  marked.  A  French 
planter  fent  for  a  furgeon  to  cut  off  the  leg  of  a 
negroe,  who  had  rua  away.     On  the  furgeon's  re- 

fufing 


1^20  Africa. — W.Indies*  Dalrymple. 

1790.    fufing  to  do  it,  the  planter  took  an  irori  bar  and  broke 

Part  II.  the  leg  in  pieces,  and  then  the  furgeon  cut  it  oflF* 

*-^-^r^   This  planter  did  niany  fuch  afts  of  cruelty,  and  all 

with  impunity.     It  did  not  appear  to  be  the  public 

F.  300.-Opinion  that  any  puniihnient  was  due  to  him,  for  tho* 
it  was  generally  known,  he  was  equally  well  receiv- 
ed in  fociety  afterwards  as  before. 

Walked  into  the  country  at  Grenada,  almoft  daily* 
Many  of  the  field-negroes  bore  the  marks  of  the 
whip  on  their  bodies,  and  feveral  worked  in  the  fields 
in  chains.  Whip  is  made  of  a  thong  of  cow's  hide, 
about  half  an  inch  in  breadth,  with  large  knots  on 
it  in  feveral  places.  The  day  after  his  arrival  at  An- 
tigua, he  faw  three  or  four  old  negroes,  reduced  to 
fkin  and  bone,  digging  in  the  dunghills,  in  the 
llreets,  for  food :  and  was  told  by  themfelves  and 
others,  that  they  had  been  turned  off  by  their  owners, 
who  could  not  afford  to  keep  them.     This  he  under- 

F.  30i,f{:ood  was  no  uncommon  practice.  As  he  was  per- 
petually removing  from  place  to  place  with  the  fleet 
and  army,  in  1779,  and  1780,  he  had  then  but  lit- 
tle opportunity  of  feeing  the  treatment  of  the  negroes 
in  the  plantations.  In  Grenada,  the  plantation  (laves 
generally  worked  (out  of  crop-time)  from  day-light 
to  dark.  On  fome  plantations  he  has  known  them 
called  out  long  before  day-light ;  they  generally  have 
an  hour  allowed^them  for  breakfaff,  and  two  for  din- 
ner. When  lad  at  Grenada,  he  lived  in  the  country, 
about  15  or  16  months;  and  obferved  that  (laves 
are  generally  fent  to  pick  grafs  after  the  field-labour, 
which  continues  till  fun-let  is  over.  A  certain 
quantity  is  required,  and  if  they  do  not  produce  it 
they  are  punifhed  -,  though  it  is  often  very  fcarce  and 
brought  from  a  great  diftance.  In  crop- time  they  are 
obliged  to  work  as  long  as  they  can,  which  is  as  long 
as  they  can  keep  awake  or  fland  on  their  legs.  Some- 
times they  fall  afleep  through  excefs  of  fatigue  when 
their  arms  are  caught  in  the  mill  and  torn  off.     He 

F.  302. faw  feveral  who  had  loft  their  arms  in  that  v/ay. 
Except  one  or  two   holidays  a  year,    he    did  not 

underftand 


Africa. -^W.  Indies.  DaLryMple.  121 

underdand  they  had  any  time  allotted  them  for  their    1790. 
own   amufement  or  repofe  :  for  on  Sundays  they  la- part  II. 
hour  more  than  on  any  other  days  of  the  week;  it  ^^-v-v> 
being  then  that  they  exert  themfelves   in  procuring?.  J02. 
fupplies  of  food  for  their  own  fuftenance,  and  there- 
fore are  not  attended  by  the  driver.     At  other  times 
every  gang  is  attended  by  one  or  more,   who  make 
frequent  ufe  of  the  whip,  without  diftin6lion  of  fex. 
He  believes,  that  in   general,   their  food   is  neither 
fufficient   in  quantity  nor  good   in  quality;   though 
the  domeflic  are  better  fed  than   the  field-negroes. 
On  the  fortifications,  where  their  labour  is  of  the  fe- 
vered kind,  they  had  only  feven  pounds  of  bread  and 
four  of  falt-fifh   per  week.     They  carried   bricks, 
lime,  and  large  planks,  from  the  fliore  to  Richmond 
Hill,    about  a  mile  and    an    half,    and  were  often 
fcarcely  abb  to  move  under  their  burthens. 

Is  not  pofitive  if  thefe  flaves  were  paid  for  by  go- P.  ^03. 
veanment  or  by  the  ifland. 

Believes  it  depends  entirely  on  difpofition  and 
ability  of  rnafters  whether  they  are  well  or  ill  [cd. 
In  Grenada  they  were  differently  fed  at  different 
times.  He  dined  at  the  houfe  of  a  gentleman,  who 
faid  his  grafs  field  had  been  plundered  the  night  be- 
fore, by  certain  negroes,  fome  of  whom  he  could  have 
taken  and  punifhed,  but  refrained,  becaule  he  knew  P.  304. 
their  allowance  fo  fmall  that  without  robbing  they 
could  not  have  exifted  ;  but  only  fpeaks  to  this  par- 
ticular inftance.  The  place  was  near  town,  where 
grafs  fells  at  a  great  price.  Ic  was  the  general  opi- 
nion, that  it  was  more  profitable  to  import  flaves 
and  work  them  out,  than  to  breed  them.  Believes 
they  are  not  confidered  as  proteded  by  law;  for  ne« 
groes  were  often  treated  cruciiy,  and  even  murder 
had  been  committed,  not  only  with  impunity,  but 
without  its  being  fuppofed  the  perpetrators  could  be 
punifhed  on  that  account.  At  Grenada,,  in  the  town 
of  St.  George,  a  mafon,  named  Chambers,  killed  a 
negroe,  in  the  middle  of  the  day  (he  thinks  in  the 
church-yard)  and  no   notice  v/as  taken  of  it.     The 

Numb.   -7.  O  •'•   - -^ 


122  Africa. —W.  Indies.  Dalrympie, 

1790.  prefent  chief  judge  of  Grenada  (who  has  permitted 
Part  II.  him  to  ufe  his  name  on  this  occaficn)  aifured  him  it 
^^^^'\^-^  was  true.  Another  inftance  v/as  of  a  planter  who 
flogged  his  driver  to  deaths  and  even  boaded  of  it  to 
the  perfon  from  whom  witncfs  had  the  account. 
(Does  not  exa6lly  know  the  time  this  happCxTtd, 
but  it  was  before  the  year  177?,  when  he  heard 
P.  305.  of  it  from  the  Chief  Juitice,  p.  316.)  Another 
was  that  of  the  French  planter  who  broke  his 
negror's  leg  in  order  to  prevail  on  the  furgeon  to 
cut  it  off.  And  in  June  lad,  he  fav/  a  negrefs 
brought  to  St.  George's  to  have  her  finger  cut  off: 
fhe  had  committed  a  fault,  and  ran  av/av  to  avoid 
punifliment ;  but  being  taken,  her  mailer  fufpended 
her  by  the  hands,  flogged  and  cut  her  cruelly  on  the 
backjbelly^breaftand  thighS;,a[id  then  left  her  fufpend- 
ediill  her  fingers  mortified:  in  this  (late  witnefs  faw 
her  at  Dr.  Gilpin's,  but  no  notice  was  taken  of  the 
fa6l,  though  it  happened  months  after  the  new  aib 
for  the  protection  of  (laves  was  paiTed.  Another 
negrefs  who,  though  a  young  woman^  had  no  teeth, 
informed  him  that  her  miftrcis,  had  with  her  own 
hands  pulled  them  out,  and  given  her  a  fevere  Hog- 
ging befides,  the  marks  of  which  fhe  then  bore. 
This  relation  was  confirmed  by  feveral  town's  people 
of  whom  he  inquired  concerning  it. 

He  v/as  in  Grenada,  1788,  when  the  aCt  was  paf- 
{edy  entitled,  *'  An  Ad  for  the  better  protection  and 
**^  promoting  the  increafe  and  population  of  (laves. " 
P.  306.  The  principal  objedlion,  and  which  he  repeatedly 
heard,  to  its  paffing  was,  that  it  might  make  the 
flaves  believe,  that  the  authority  of  their  mailers  v;as 
leifened:  but  otherwife,  many  thought  it  v/oul<i  be 
of  little  ufe,  as  it  was  a  lav/  made  by  themfelves, 
ao-ainft  themfelves,  and  to  be  executed  by  them- 
felves: they  obferved  befides,  that  fuch  laws  were 
.  iinnecefTary  for  the  prote^Hon  of  negroes  who  were 
treated  v/eil ;  and  that  others  had  (o  many  opportu- 
nities of  evading  the  lav/,  (the  evidence  of  negroes 
not  being   admitted)   that  it  would  be   of  no  ufe. 

The 


Africa. — W.  Indies.  Dalr^m^le.  123 

The  members  of  the  legiflature  were  not  all  plan- 
ters. Some  of  them  were  (lave  merchants  and  (lore 
keepers,  in  tlie  rov/n  of  St.  George.  At  the  time 
of  pafllng  faid  act,  the  propofal  in  the  Britilli  parlia- 
ment for  the  abolition  of  the  fiave  trade  was  a  mat- 
ter of  general  di  feu  (Hon  in  the  iHand  :  and  he  be- 
lieves was  a  principal  reaibn  for  paiTing  it.  For 
report  faid,  that  the  agent  for  the  ifland  had  men- 
tioned in  a  letter,  that  unlefs  they  made  laws 
themfelves  for  the  protec5lion  of  flaves,  the  Britifli 
parliament  would.  This  letter  he  never  faw,  tho' 
he  fought  it;  and  as  a  proprietor  in  the  ifland 
thouo:ht  he  had  a  r'lfihi  to  read  the  ao-ent's  letters. 
He,  however,  often  heard  it  urged  as  an  argument 
that  the  adl  fnould  pafs.  He  believes  it  will  prove 
ineffedtual  :  becaufe,  as  no  negro  evidence  is  ad-P»  3*^7» 
mitted,  thofe  wlio  abufe  them  will  frill  do  it  with 
impunity;  and  people  vv^ho  live  on  terms  of  inti- 
macy, would  diflike  the  idea  of  becoming  fpics  and 
informers  againfl;  each  other. 

Believes  the  chaflity  of  the  wives  of  (laves  is  not 
prote6led  by  law  :  and  has  never  heard  that  thcye 
was  any  punifnment  for  its  violation.  That  fometimzes 
female  flaves  are  offered  by  the  iriaders  to  their  vifi- 
tors :  and  has  known  comDulfion  ufcd  to  oblige 
fuch  to  fubmit  to  protiitution. 

Does  not  fay,  that  (laves  never  become  poffeiTed 
of  mucji  property;  but  he  never  knew  an  initance; 
nor  can  he  conceive  how  thev  can  have  time  for  it. 
NeitJier  did  he  ever  know  of  (ield  fiaves  havins^  ex- 
pen  five  feaPcs.  A  negro  woman,  v/ho  became  unfit-  P.  308. 
ted  for  lahonr  by  difeafe,  was  turned  off  by  the 
truilees  of  his  father's  efiaie.  She  iubli{i.ed  by  cha- 
r i  ty  i  n  t h e  to w n  o f  S t .  G  eo vgx. 

The  tetanus,  or  locked  jiw,  was  formerly  very 
fatal  to  negro  cliildren  ;  but  there  are  now  means 
oi"  trearuig  tiic  rnoihcrs  and  children,  svhich  render 
it  lels  lo. 

i''ield   flaves  did  not  appear   to    !:iim    cheerful  or 
v^  2  happv- 


124.  Africa;— "W.  Indies,  Dalrymple» 

1790.   liappy.     Thtre  are  frequent  inflances  of  flaves  del* 

Part  ILtroying  rhcmlelves. 

^-'v-*-'        Has  a  lanJed  ellate  in  Grenada,  but  it  is  not  cul- 
tivated.    Part  of  it  has  been. 

P.  309.  Mis  perfonal  oblervations  on  the  eoafl:  of  Africa 
extend  to  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Cajore,  which 
is  oppofite  Goree,  to  the  country  north  and  fouth 
for  foine  leagues  •,  and  to  about  eight  or  ten  miles 
inland  from  the  Ihore.  Within  that  diftance  indigo 
is  inanufaclured  fit  for  ufe  ;  and  cloths  dyed  with  it. 
Never  faw  the  procefs.  The  manufadures  he  men- 
tioned in  gold,  fiiver,  iron,  and  other  materials,  are 

p.  7  10.^^^^  work  of  both  negroes  and  Moors.  He  law  but 
few  Moors  in  the  country  about  Cape  Verd,  and  thofe 
were  ilrangers;  and  none  at  Goree,  or  in  any  other 
parts  where  h.e  had  been.  He  thinks,  as  the  negroes 
are  remarkably  induftrious,  they  might,  with  proper 
encouragement,  be  brought  to  cultivate  the  different 
produ6lions  of  that  part  of  the  coaft  to  a  much  greats 
er  extent  than  they  do  at  prefent :  for  where  there 
was  a  demand  for  any  article  or  produce,  he  obferv- 
ed  they  were  remarkably  induftrious. 

In  lyySy  went  to  Grenada  on  a  vifit  to  his  father. 
He  was  then  2a  years  of  age  ;  and  Mr.  Leyburne 
then  governor  of  the  idand.  He  then  ftaid  6  months, 
moftly  in  town  -,  but  was  fometimes  in  the  country, 
1  ,  when  he  made  frequent  vifits  to  different  planta- 
tions ;  but  in  both  town  and  country  faw  many  in- 
flances of  cruel  treatment.  Some  of  the  punifhments 
iniiicled  might  be  by  order  of  the  magiilrates  j  but 
many,  he  was  informed,  were  ordered  by  the  maf- 
ters  :  and  he  knows,  that  by  the  laws  of  the  ifland, 
they  have  fuch  a  power  ;  for  there  is  an  ad,  paifed 
Odu  18.  1784,  for  regulating  the  fees  of  the  clerk 
of  the  market,  and  authorinng  him  to  take  1  8d.  for 
every  Gave  he   fhall   flog,  whether  it  be  ordered   by 

P.  312.  the  m.agiftrare  or  owner.     Thefe  were  generally  be- 
longing to  people  in  town. 

Does  not  retnember  the  name  of  the  French 
planter,  who  treated  his  negroes  fo  barbaroufly,  nor 
pitcikly.the  year:   but  was  informed  of  it  by  feve- 

ral  5 


Africa; — W.Indies.  DalrympL^/'  125 

ral  i  and  believes  many  Grenada  prentlemen  now  in  ijgo, 
England   have  heard   the  llory.     Has  {(!:Qn  this  man^art  IL 
in  the  bed  fociety  of  tlie   illand  oftener  than  once,   '' — "^""^ 
after  the  ftory  was  generally  known.     It  was  fpoken 
of  as  a  thing   notorious,   and   believed.     Does   not 
know  whether  or  not  fuch  atrocious  a61s  are  confi- 
fidered   by   the  better  fort   of  people   as  worthy   of 
inveftigation  or  puniOiment.     Would  willingly  be- p,   ojo 
lieve  they  are,  by  fuch,  difapproved  of;   but   never 
heard  that  there   had   been   any  attenapt  to  puniOi 
this  offender. 

He  went,  in  the  flave  fliip  mentioned,  to  the  ifland 
of  Antigua;  was  there  about  three  weeks,  in  the 
year  1779  :  from  thence  to  Barbadoes  :  was  there  a 
fortnight  or  three  weeks,  and  thence  to  St.  Kict's  ; 
where  he  fliaid  about  the  fame  time.  In  thefe  ifiands 
he  was  moftly  in  the  towns. 

His  own  affairs  drew  him  to  Grenada,  1788.  At 
the  death  of  his  father  he  inherited  his  (laves;  but 
the  eftate  being  in  poffeiTion  of  the  mortgagee,  he 
can  give  no  account  oi  the  manner  of  providing  for 
his  own  Oaves;  but  he  underftands  the  planters  inp^  '^i^., 
Grenada  allow  their  flaves  fait  provifions  and  flour, 
which  are  brought  from  England  and  America, 
Many  of  them  diftribute  thefe,  exclufive  of  the 
ground  proviilons,  regularly  every  week,  fome  of 
them  daily  :  and  at  times  corn  of  various  forts  ei- 
ther in  grain  or  meal  -,   but  many  others  do  not. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  towns  in  Grenada  are  fur- 
nifhcd  with  grafs  and  other  green  provender  for  their 
horfes,  by  plantation  (laves  in  the  neighbourhood, 
who,  he  believes,  fometimes  receive  to  their  own 
life  the  money  or  other  commodities  they  get  in  re- 
turn :  but  that  is  fometimes  fold  for  the  account  of  p^  ^^^ 
their  mailers.  The  planters  do  not  commonly  dif- 
^ofe  of  their  grafs.;  but  fometimes  fell  milk  and 
greens.  He  is  uncertain  whether  they  cultivate 
grafs  to  fell,  or  for   their  cattle. 

He   frequently  convcried   with  the  prefent  chief 
jufiice  of  Grenada,  v/ho   loid  him    the  fai^:!:  already 

mentioned. 


126  Africa.— W,  Indies.  Dalrymple, 

1790.    mentioned,  in  his  own  hoiifc  5  r.nd  ihii  ks  he  laid  ic 

Pare  II.  was  committed  in  the  year  1768. 
*^.-v--*^        Being  afl;ed    if  he,  or  any   other  neiTon,  ever  in- 

P.  316. formed  the  chief  juilice  of  the  cruel  treatment  re- 
ceived by  the  negro  ^.irl  v/'iom  he  fav^  at  Dr.  Gil- 
pin'Sj  faid,  he  ino'jired  after  lorn e  time  whether  any 
notice  had  been  taken  of  it,  and  did  not  find  there 
had.  He  did  not  himfelf  inform  the  chief  juftice, 
nor  does  he  know  whether  or  not  he  was  informed 
of  it.  Ac  the  timie  it  happened,  he  was  preparing 
to. leave  the  ifiand,  and  believed  as  it  was  known  to 
fo  many  people,  that  the  chief  juftice  mufc  have 
been  informed  of  it  by  fomebody  5  but  he  did  not 
know  that  it  paiTed  unnoticed,  tiii  he  was  juft  fetting 

■p^  ^,7^ out  for  Europe,  after  which  he  never  faw  the  chief 
juitice. 

Recolledls  a  claufe,  or  claufes,  in  the  law,  for  the 
protection  of  ilaves,  whereby  three  perfons,  free- 
holders in  each  parifn,  are  appointed  guardians  for 
carrying  it  into  execution;  and  their  teftimony  de- 
clared to  be  competent  in  ail  cafes  necefTary  there- 
to:  but  is  of  opinion,  that  while  a  (lave's  evidence 
is  not  admitted  in  a  court  of  law,  they  can  be  of 
very  little  or  no  fervice  to  himi.  Slaves,  however, 
would  not  be  without  remedy  in  every  infiance: 
birt  thinks  fuch  as  are  difpofed  to  treat  their  negroes 
ill,  may  find  ways  of  evading  thefe  lau's.  Laws  for 
tlie  proreclion  of  the  negroes,  and  fetding  them.,  had 
been  before  pafTed  ;  but  it  was  found  neceffary,  not- 
v/ithftanding,  to  make  a  new  adl.  That  dated  loth 
Dec.  1766,  for  the  allowance  of  provifion  grounds 
to  Piaves,  direfts  the  appointm.ent  of  four  freeholders 
by  the  juilices  of  each  parifli,  to  inipedl  the  grounds, 
and  fee  that  there  was  a  fuScient  quanriryot  provi- 
fions  :  yet  the  preamble  to  the  hift  a^fl  feems  to  im- 
ply that  this  formiCr  one  had  not  been  fuiTiCiently 
attended  to. 

He    believes   it  comimon   for  plantation  ilaves  in 
Gren:ida,   to    bring   to   marker,  and    particnlarly   oil 
■  '  3 1 8. Sundays^   various   arcicki   of  trait    and  vegetables^ji 

pouitry^j 


Africa — W.  Indies.  Dalrymple.  i2y 

poultry,  pork,  kids',  and  goats,  their  own  property,    1790. 
and  railed  by  themfclves.  Part.  11. 

Suppofes  it  coft  him  two  fnilings  a  day  each  to  ^-"-v^ 
maintain  his  horlcs  in  grals  and  other  green  provender, 
and  that  grafs  is  more  lefs  picked  the  year  round  :  that 
the  proviiions  of  the  (laves  on  the  fortifications  at 
Grenada  were  only  the  ariov/ance  made  by  govern- 
ment, of  ylb.  of  bread  and  4  of  fait  fifii  per  w^telc 
each,  without  any  ground  provifions  from  matters; 
but  of  this  is  not  certain.  The  rations  neceiGTary  for 
their  fupport  in  this  fervice,  he  apprehends,  were  af- 
certained  by  the  commander  in  chief*,  and  the  quan- 
tity of  their  labour  by  m^anagers  and  overfeers,  nD 
European  oiiicer  being  fo  competent  to  judge  of  ei-P.  ^^^* 
ther  as  the  W.  Indiaiis  themfelves.  A  white  or  a 
black  man  was  fent  by  the  owner  Vvnth  his  Oaves,  to 
take  care  of  them  •,  and  fuppofcs  a  perfcn  v/as  let 
over  the  whole  by  the  commander  in  chief  to  fee  that 
they  did  their  duty.  Does  not  remember  any  foldiers 
were  employed  to  work  on  the  fortifications  j  or 
whether  the  excefs  of  labour,  in  carrying  burthens  as 
before  mentioned,  was  to  be  afcribed  to  the  perfon 
appointed  on  the  part  of  the  king,  or  thofe  lent  to 
take  care  of  the  Oaves  by  the  planters.  He  believes  P,  020* 
there  is  an  act  of  afiembly,  condicuting  a  joint  com* 
mittee  of  the  council  and  aiTem.bly,  to  lee  to  this  fer- 
vice of  the  ilaves  and  their  food  :  but  that  never- 
thelefs  thofe  employed  by  the  committee  can  ill  treat 
the  ilaves  in  many  refped:>,  without  its  coming  to 
their  knowledge. 

Says  he  migiit  have  put  his  eftate  under  cultivation 
by  getting  iiaves  from  the  houle  Backhouie  and 
Tarleton  in  Grenada;  but  knowing  when  in  Africa, 
how  happy  tiie  negroes  v/ere  there,  and  the  unjufti- 
fiable  means  of  enQaving  them,  their  cruel  ufage  on 
fnip-board  and  in  the  Weft  Indies,  he  could  not, p,  021. 
confiftent  Vv'ith  his  ideas  of  right,  purchafe  any  flaves, 
cipecially  as  he  did  not  intend  to  remain  on  the 
plantation  himielf. 

He 


I2S  -*^Africa--W.  Indies^  DALRyMPLi.. 

179O.        He  has  feen  many  difeafed  and  difablcd  Teamen  m 

Part.  II.  the  town  of  St.  George,  and  on   inquiry  found  they 
*--v-^  had  belonged  to  Guinea  fliips  which  had  left  them 
there. 

Could  not  fay  it  was  likely  any  planter  would  be 
defirous  of  interfering  very  actively,  to  remedy  the 
fmalier  abufes  pra6liied  by  white  people  on  their  ne- 
groes ;  nor  what  Mr.  Bruce's  method  was  of  curing 
the  tetanus ;  but  Mr.  B.  afiured  him,  from  the  time 
he  adopted  it  (which  he  thinks  was  two  years  before) 
he  had  lofi  none,  or  but  one  or  two  children.  He 
thinks  one  part  of  his  method  was,  to  give  the  v/o- 
men  immediately  before  the  labour,  a  large  airy 
room. 

Does  not  pretend  to  fay  that  all  flaves  in  Gre- 
nada are  ill  ufed,  but  believes  that  bad  ufage  is  too 
general,  ^ome  he  knew  who  treated  their  flaves 
well. 

P.  322.  j^s  to  happy  ftate  of  negroes  in  their  own  coun- 
try, he  can  fpeak  pohtively  only  of  that  part  of  the 
coafl:  where  has  been,  which  might  be  rather  lefs  than 
40  miles  extent. 

His  plantation  he  purchafed  from  Mr.  Town  fend, 
tht  treafurer  of  Grenada,  who  was  truftee  of  his  fa- 
ther's eftate.  It  lies  in  the  pariil:!  of  St.  David,  and 
about  feven  or  eight  miles  from  George's  Town.     It 

p.  323. was  cultivated  in  cocoa  and  provifions,  and  confifts 
of  about  250  acres.  At  prefect  it  is  unculpvated, 
and  no  fiaves  belong  to  it. 

On  inquiry  of  chief  juftice,  he  mentioned  one  in- 
flance  of  a  white  man  being  brought  to  trial,  and 
hanged  for  the  murder  of  a  ilave  -,  but  faid,  he  be- 
lieved if  this  murderer  had  been  a  man  of  good  cha- 
racter, or  had  had  friends  or  money  to  pay  for  the 
flave,  he  would  not  have  been  broughc  to  trial.  He 
"Was  of  a  very  bad  character,  and  had  bten  obliged  to 
leave  Barbadres  on  that  account.  At  Grenada  he  had 
been  a  bailiff's  follower,  and  from  his  rigour  in  exe- 

P,  324.cuting  his  office,  and  bad  charader,  w-as  particularly 

obnoxious 


Africa — W.  Indies.  Dalrymple.  129 

obnoxious  to   the    inhabitants  of  the   town  of  St.   1790. 
George.  Part  II. 

He  had  been  at  St.  Vincent's  and  Calliaqua,  and  ^^-v^ 
had  converfed  with  the  Yellow  Caribs,  but  not  with 
the  Black ;  the  latter  he  fuppofes  a  mixture  of  the 
Yellow  Caribbs  and  fome  negroes  caft  away  on  the 
ifland.  The  Caribbs  had  no  other  clothing  than  a 
clout  or  girdle  about  the  middle,  and  no  flioes  ;  but 
all,  as  far  as  he  can  recolledl,  were  armed  with  cut- 
lafles.  The  black  Caribbs  attended  the  market  of  p.  '^25. 
Kingfton  with  tobacco  and  other  articles,  which  the 
women  carried.  The  fugar  eftates  which  he  faw  un- 
der cultivation  in  St.  Vincent's  were  chiefly  border- 
ing on  the  fea  coaft. 

The  white  man  who  was  hanged  for  murder  he 
thinks  was  named  Bachus  Prefton. 


Witnefs  Examined — Kev.  Rob.  Boucher  Nicholls, 
Dean  of  Middleham,  in  Yorkfliire, 

"Was  born  in  Barbadoes ;  refided  there  fome  years  p.  026, 
in  his  youth,  and  two  after  he  was  of  age,  from  1768 
to  1770,  when  in  holy  orders.  While  there  was  en- 
abled to  judge  of  the  fituation  both  of  field  and  houfe 
{laves  :  for  his  uncle,  with  whom  he  lived  four  year^ 
had  a  fugar  efbate.  Several  others  whom  he  vifited 
were  concerned  in  eftates ;  and  in  his  laft  refidence 
there,  he  himfelf  refided  on  a  very  large  eftate,  and 
obferved  the  management  both  of  that  and  furround- 
ing  eftates.  The  fituation  of  flaves  with  rcfped  to  ' 
food  and  treatment,  he  thinks  cannot  be  comprehend- 
ed under  any  one  general  defcription,  fome  being  v/ell 
fed  and  taken  care  of  both  in  ficknefs  and  health,  and 
others  much  negleded  and  feverely  treated.  The 
latter  fo  imprefted  his  mind,  that  he  faid  to  a  perfon 
largely  concerned  in  the  management  of  flaves,  ^  This 
people  will  find  a  Mofes  •/  which  perfon  lately  remind- 
ed him  of  the  words.  Never  read  the  laws  of  Bar-p^  .^ 
badoes,  but  underftood  flaves  were  not  protected  by 

Numb.  3.  R  themi 


I  -^o  W.  Indies.  N  i  c  h  o  l  l  §. 

li 

''  ^  1790.   them  •,  that  murders  by  owners  werepunifhed  by  fine. 

Part  II.  But  if  not  by  owner,  then  he  received  the  value  of  the 
*—-v-^  negro  from  the  murderer,  and  the  fine  was  paid  into 
the  exchequer,  at  the  fuit  of  the  Attorney-General. 
He  never  underilood  that  where  negroes  were  Hinted 
or  ill  ufed,  legal  redrefs  had  ever  been  applied  for,  or 
could  be  obtained  •,  what  legal  provifion  for  it  there 
is,  eannot  fay.  Knew  often,  where  the  mailer's  regard 
of  his  own  intereil  did  not  prevail,  with  refped  to  u- 
fing  his  flaves  well,  and  giving  fufficient  food,  &c. 
P.  3 2S.  Among  the  reft,  that  of  one  M'Mahon,  whofe  feverity 
was  generally  mentioned,  (and  always  with  deteftati- 
on,  p.  338.)  had  deftroyed  more  negroes,  than  the 
value  of  the  additional  crops,  produced  by  their 
extra  labour.  So  that  though  in  eight  years  he 
paid  off  a  confiderable  debt,  he  was  faid  to  have  def- 
troyed more  negroes  than  the  amount  of  it.  Alfo  re- 
coileds  where  fiaves  were  reduced  to  a  general  ftate 
of  debility  and  difcontent,  from  a  want  of  necefTaries 
while  they  were  urged  to  their  accuftomed  labour : 
fo  that  he  heard  it  obferved  that  the  manager  of  a 
particular  eftate,  "  for  a  long  cane  would  produce  a 
dead  negro."  On  the  other  hand,  he  could  mention 
many  inftances,  where  humanity,  and  a  regard  to  in- 
tereil joined  in  providing  well  for  them-,  particularly 
that  of  Dr.  Mapp,  whole  eilate  was  in  the  moil  flou- 
riihing  condition,  both  in  refpeft  to  the  number  of 
^      ^    .     negroes  by  natural  increafe,  and  the  fuccefs  of  his 

f^A-  p^^'    plantation. 

'        f  The  treatment  of  llaves  appeared  to  depend  wholly 

on  the  perfons  who  had  the  management  of  them.  Sir 

/    /    }  Hanfon  Berney's  eftate  was  managed  by  his  brother, 

humanely  and  judiciouOy  ^  he  believes  without  any 
puniihment,  and  that  the  eftate  was  produ(5live.  Has 
often  heard  a  relation  of  his  who  had  the  care  of  feve- 
rai  large  eftates,  declare,  that  he  would  willingly  fub- 
mit  to  have  the  power  of  puniihment  taken  from 
him,  if  he  might  allow  fufficient  rewards  for  good 
behaviour  ard  labour.  One  eftate  in  particular  he 
conducted  for  two  years  i  during  which^  (though  the 
-  I  -  Witnels  ■ 


W.  Indies.  N  i  c  h  o  l  l  s.  i  -ji 


J 


WItnels  vlfited  him  almoft  daily)  no  inftance  of  pu-|  1790. 
niihment  had  occurred.     And  yet  he  declared,  whenPart  II. 
he  took  the  management  of  that  eftate  upon  himjlv-^v-^o 
though  there  was  hardly  a  place  on  the  backs  of  the  | 
labouring  negroes  free  from  the  mark  of  the  lafh,  itl 
had  not  been  fuccefsful  to  the  owner  in  point  of  crops." 

Says,  effeds  of  owners  embarraffed  fituation  on  P.  3-29. 
fiaves,  is  pufhing  them  beyond  their  ftrength,  and  lea- 
ving them  without  their  ufual  allowance  of  provifi- 
cns,  or  any  thing  as  a  fubftitute,  for  a  week  or  two  •, 
this  was  confirmed  to  him  by  the  manager  of  a  gen- 
tleman fo  circumilanced.  This  manager  alfo  told 
him  that  the  fame  perfon,  as  well  as  feveral  others, 
either  abridged  or  withheld  in  crop  time,  the  ftated 
allowance  given  at  other  times. 

Ufual  inftruments  of  puniihing  negroes  were  the 
thong-whip,  chains  on  the  legs,  irons  on  the  neck, 
and  confinement  in  the  dungeon.  In  cafes  of  enor- 
mous crimes,  they  were  gibbetted  alive  in  chains  : 
but  he  never  faw  but  two  inftances  of  the  latter.  The 
puniihnent  of  whipping  is  fevere,  cutting  deep  into 
the  fiefh,  and  leaving  marks  which  are  vifibie  a  long 
time;  fometimes  to  old  age.  The  (laves  always workP,  330, 
under  a  driver,  with  a  thong  whip  plaited. 

The  rights  of  marriage  as  among  the  negroes,  he 
believes,  are  not  protected  in  the  fmalleft  degree,  ei- 
ther by  law  or  cuftom ;  but  the  chaftity  of  the  wo- 
men intirely  liable  to  invafion  by  the  manager,  or 
other  white  perfons. 

Natural  capacity  and  difpofition  of  negroes,  appre- 
hends to  be  juft  the  fame  as  thofe  of  the  whites.  He 
grounds  his  opinion  on  many  inftances.  One  of  a 
negro  woman  purchafed  from  a  flave  Ihip,  and  given 
to  him  by  his  father.  She  appeared  at  firft  as  dull 
and  fullen  as  any  negro  he  ever  faw  ^  but  on  inftruc- 
tion,  became  quite  the  reverie,  and  of  her  own  accord 
defired  to  be  made  a  Chriftian. 

She  afterwards  was  his  domeftic  fervant,  and  by 
her  fidelity  to  her  hufband,  and  her  good  behaviour  ia 
all  refpeds,  manifeited  a  good  underftanding,  and  the 

R  2  belt 


iji  W.    Indies.  N  i  c  h  o  l  l  s. 

1790.  bed  difpofition.  He  obferved  in  many  negroes  in  the 
Part  II.  northern  provinces  of  America,  the  fame  improve- 
ment where  equal  care  was  taken.  He  remembers  a 
Phillis  Wheatley  in  Bofton,  an  African  Have,  who  in 
Jefs  than  three  years,  learned  the  Englifh  language, 
and  wrote  elegant  Engliih  verfe,  which  has  been  pub- 
lilhed. 

He  has  feen  other  inflances  of  their  ingenuity  in 
arts  and  letters.  Among  others,  an  elegant  chair, 
which  a  negro  of  Jamaica  carved  with  a  knife  only. 

Their  difpofition  is  in  general  affedlionate  where 
well  treated,  which  he  thinks  would  eafily  lead  to 
piety,  if  they  were  in  the  way  of  improvement. 

Several  in  Barbadoes,  who  had  attended  the  church, 
exprefled  to  him  a  wifh  to  become  Chriftians.  Many 
are  fo  in  the  Northern  provinces  of  America ;  but 
knows  not  of  many  in  Barbadoes,  who  were  inftrudled 
or  baptized. 

They  were  generally  regarded  by  perfons  of  prin- 
ciple and  education  among  the  whites,  as  unfortunate 
men  entitled  to  compafTion  and  good  treatment ;  but; 
the  bulk  of  the  whites  confidered  them  as  beings  of 
an  inferior  fpecies. 
-P*  33^'  His  father  had  a  boy  who  faid  he  was  the  fon  of  a 
prince  in  Africa,  and  taken  away  forcibly.  He  af- 
terwards knew  a  negro  woman,  who  alledged  that  her 
father  was  a  king  in  Africa,  and  as  fhe  could  find 
none  her  equals  in  Barbadoes,  fhe  would  neither  eat 
nor  converfe  with  any  of  the  other  negroes.  This  her 
miilrefs  declared  had  been  the  cafe  for  20  years. 

Apprehends  the  flaves  frequently  robbed  the  pro- 
vifion  grounds  of  the  neighbouring  plantations :  to 
prevent  which,  armed  watchmen  are  therefore  fet ; 
and  he  has  heard  of  negroes  brought  home  wounded. 
P.  ^^2. Some  perfons  allow  their  negroes  all  Sunday,  befides 
5  or  6  holidays  in  the  year,  and  fometimes  a  Saturday 
afternoon,  during  the  time  ot  holing.  Others  allow- 
ed lefs  vacation,  requiring,  on  Sundays,  meat  for  the 
cattle,  to  be  gathered  twice  in  the  day ;  and  often  in 

th^ 


W.    I  N  D  I  E  S;  N  I  C  H  0  L  L  S.  SJJ 

the  crop,  continue  the  boiling  of  the  fugar  till  late  ^79^- 
on  Saturday  night,  ^^^^  I^- 

In  one  inftance  recolleds  it  to  have  been  protract-  ^^OT^*'. 
ed  till  fun-rife,  on  Sunday  mornings  and  the  care 
afterwards  of  fecting  up  the  fugar  jars,  mud  require 
feveral  hours.  The  flaves  had  commonly  no  other 
day  than  Sunday,  (except  as  above)  tocultivate  their 
own  grounds. 

The  criterion  of  a  manager's  merit  in  general,  he 
apprehends  to  be  the  produdlon  of  large  crops. 

The  quantum  of  ground  allowed  the  field  negroes 
for  raifing  provifions,  does  not  admit  their  frequently 
poffcfling  any  confiderable  property.  It  is  not  likely 
they  can  fpare  much  of  the  produce  for  fale.  Some- 
times they  poflefs  a  pig  and  two  or  three  fowls;  and 
if  they  have  alfo  a  few  plantain  trees,  thefe  may  be 
a  means  of  fupplying  them  with  knives,  iron  pots, 
and  fuch  other  conveniencies,  as  the  mailer  does  not 
allow. 

Cannot  pofitively  fay  they  never  have  expenfive 
treats,  but  the  utmoll  he  ever  heard  of  was,  that 
fometimes,  when  a  negro  married,  he  has  provided  a 
pig  for  his  friends.  Never  underftood  that  the  dances 
were  attended  with  treats ;  and  believes  if  their  en- 
tertainments had  been  expenfive,  he  (hould  have 
heard  of  them.  The  principal  feafts  they  ever  give, 
as  he  underftands,  are  after  the  funerals  of  their 
friends,  when  they  featter  fome  provifions  on  the 
grave,  and  eat  the  reft  themfelves,  with  a  view  of 
holding  a  communion  with  the  deceafed. 

He  does  not  recolledt  any  inftances  of  the  Creole  P,  733, 
negroes  deftroying  themfelves,  but  remembers  five 
or  fix  fuch  inftances  of  African  negroes,  immediately 
after  they  were  purchafed. 

He  knew  very  few  free  negroes.  One  of  them 
was  wife  to  a  Mulatto  flave,  on  Sir  Hanfon  Berney's 
eftate.  She  was  very  induftrious  in  the  care  of  her 
family,  and  in  raifing  poultry  to  fell,  with  the  profits 
of  which  (he  paid  for  the  fchooling  and  cloathing  of 
her  children^  which  flie  was  encouraged  to  do,  as 

knowing 


134  W.Indies.  NiccholsJ 

1790.  knowing  they  would  be  free.  They  were  baptized. 
Part  II.  and  the  whole  fanaily  fo  orderly,  that  he  never  heard 
'—v^-'  any  mifbehaviour  attributed  to  them.  The  hufband 
ferved  in  feveral  capacities  on  the  eftate,  was  very 
fkilful  in  the  care  of  the  fick,  and  remarkably 
honefl.  Having  met  with  reward  and  indulgence, 
by  his  own  and  his  wife's  induflry,  it  was  faid  he 
amaffed  100 1.  fterling,  which  he  offered  for  his  free- 
dom; but  it  was  refufed,  his  mafter  not  being  willing 
to  part  with  him  at  any  price.  What  relates  to  his 
own  and  wife's  behaviour,  the  witnefs  knew  from  his 
own  obfervation. 

The  only  other  inftance  of  a  free  negro,  in  his 
knowledge,  was  of  a  Joe  Rachell,  in  Bridge  Town. 
He  was  a  merchant,  had  large  and  extenfive  con- 
cerns, and  was  fo  much  efteemed  for  his  honefly, 
that  he  was  commonly  admitted  to  the  company  and 
converfation  of  merchants  and  planters. 

The  fituation  of  domeflic  (laves,  was  not  by  any. 
means  as  comfortable  as  that  of  the  correfpondent 
rank  of  people  in  this  country,  though  preferable  to 
that  of  field  negroes.  The  indulgence  given  domef- 
ticks  here,  is  withheld  from  the  flaves,  and  thefe  are 
liable  to  corporal  punifhment.  In  the  country  do- 
meftic  flaves  are  commonly  corrected  by  the  driver, 
and  in  town  a  man  was  employed,  who  went  from 
houfe  to  houfe  for  that  purpofe,  who  was  called 
the  Jumper.  Neither  does  he  think  the  flate  of  field 
(laves  will  bear  any  comparifon  with  that  of  the  la- 
bouring poor  in  this  country;  becaufe  of  the  feverity 
of  the  heats,  which  are  little  varied  by  the  feafons, 
becaufe  the  intermiflions  from  labour  are  lefs  fre- 
quent, and  the  food  lefs  fubilantial  than  in  England ; 
and  becaufe  they  are  perpetually  fubjedl  not  only  to 
arbitrary  punifhment  from  the  chief  overfeer,  but 
from  the  book-keepers  and  drivers,  who  follow  them 
conilantly  at  their  work  with  the  lafh,  correal  them 
before  an  excufe  can  be  heard,  and  often  vent  their 
own  refentments  upon  them,  under  the  plea  of  pu- 
nifhing  them  for  negligence. 

The 


W.  Indies.  Nicholls.  135 

The  white  people  called  Tenants,  who  ferve  in  the  1790. 
militia  for  a  fnaall   allotment  of  land,   comnnonlyPart  IL 
work  in  their  grounds  with  the  negroes,  if  they  have  ^yy-^ 
any^  or  if  not,  cultivate  them  by  their  own  labour. 
Thefe  ufually  raife  provifions,  but  not  canes.    Many 
■whites  in  Barbadoes  exercife  handicraft  trades ;  fuch 
as  carpenters,  joiners,  mafons,  copper-fmiths,  black- 
fmiths,  fhoemakers,  &c.  and  alfo  fome  of  the  poorer 
whites  fpin   cotton  for  the   lamps    in    the    boiling 
houfes.     Whites  are  alfo  employed  in  the  coafling 
vefTels,  and  as  filhermen. 

In  refped  to  flocks  of  (laves,  kept  up  by  the  births  P.  335. 
only,  underftood  from  Dr.  Mapp's  fon,  that  the 
Hock  on  the  eftate  to  whicn  he  had  juft  fucceeded,  ; 
had  increafed  fo  much,  that  there  was  a  redundance  ; 
fufEcient,  nearly,  to  Hock  another  eftate.  Another 
inftance  which  came  within  his  own  obfervation,  was 
of  flaves,  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carter,  who 
increafed  confiderably ;  they  cultivated  his  glebe, 
and  he  annually  planted  canes,  which  were  manu- 
fadured  into  fugar  at  an  adjoining  eftate.  His  own 
brother  informed  him,  that  his  negroes  had  doubled 
their  number  by  natural  increafe  in  twenty  years ; 
and  he  believed  they  were  generally  employed  in 
common  field  bulinefs,  as  other  negroes.  He  had 
heard  of  feveral  others  of  his  acquaintance,  who  had 
kept  up  their  ftocks  by  the  natural  increafe,  without 
purchafe.  In  converfation  with  judicious  planters, 
he  underftood  it  to  be  their  opinion,  that  the  rear- 
ing of  flaves  on  the  eftates,  depended  much  on  the 
managers. 

Remembers  to  have  feen  two  Guinea  failors,  who 
were  lame,  begging  in  the  country,  at  the  houfe  of 
a  perfon  who  had  relieved  many  fuch,  by  extrading 
the  Guinea- worm,  and  healing  fores  contrafted  in 
that  fervice. 

Cannot  fay  what  difference  a  long  refidence  of  the 
blacks  in  the  iflands  might  occafion,  as  to  their  hap- 
pinefs,  as  he  did  not  himfelf  make  a  long  refidence; 
he  however  remembers  both  to  have  feen  and  heard, 

that 


136  W.Indies.  Nicholls. 

\tA 
1790.   that  thofe   newly  imported,    were   often   dejeded^ 

part  II.  emaciated,  and  incapable  of  work,  fo    as  even   to 

*«i>v*^  refift  all  artempts  to  confole  and  adminiller  nourifh- 
w-  '     ment  to  them. 

P»  33^'  Never  faw  the  a6i:  of  branding;  has  feen  marks, 
but  does  not  remember  how  they  arofe,  nor  whether 
they  were  made  in  Africa,  on  board  iOiip,  or  elfe- 
where.     Were  not  many. 

Never  heard  of  any  nation  of  negroes  prone  to 
fuicide  in  their  own  country.  Befides  the  five  men- 
tioned, who  deftroyed  themfelves  the  day  after  they 
were  purchafed,  he  remembers  to  have  heard  of  a 
flave  who  deftroyed  himfelf,  fometime  after  he  was 
purchafed,  fuppofed  from  dejedion,  and  certainly 
not  from  ill  treatment. 

"•  337'  Does  not  know  by  what  law  the  pecuniary  pu- 
nifhments,  annexed  to  the  murder  of  a  flave,  are  im- 
pofed.  He  fuppofes  it  to  be  by  an  adt  of  the  ifland, 
becaufe  the  laws  of  this  country  inflid  a  different 
punifhment  for  murder.  When  a  law  is  palled  in 
the  ifland,  he  apprehends  it  is  immediately  fent  to  be 
prefented  to  the  King  in  council,  and  is  valid  unlefs 
negatived  within  three  years,  without  any  diftindl  ap- 
probation of  the  law  being  exprefTed. 

P.  239'  While  in  Barbadoes,  many  particulars  mentioned 
by  him,  which  fell  not  within  his  own  perfonal  know- 
ledge, he  had  from  his  father  and  brother,  who  re- 
fided  near  him.  They  at  different  times  had  the  care 
of  flaves,  to  the  amount  of  between  icoo  and  2000, 
and  knew  the  ftate  of  the  whole  ifland ;  fome  par- 
ticulars had  been  communicated  to  him  by  letters, 
and  moft  of  the  information  iince,  he  had  from  a  per- 
fon  then  in  England.  Has  converfed  and  correfpond- 
ed  with  another  gentleman  of  fome  diflinclion,  a  pro- 
prietor of  eflates  and  flaves  in  Barbadoes,  and  has  been 
in  both  countries,  within  the  lafl  10  years,  but  ab- 
fent  from  Barbadoes  about  five  years.  Has  under- 
llood  from  himfelf  and  fome  difmterefled  perfons, 
that  the  management  on  his  plantation  fince  his  ab- 

fence. 


W.   I  M  D  I  £  S*  N  I  C  H  0  L  L  S:  t^J 

fence,  has  not  been  prejudicial  to  the  flaves  in  point  1790. 
of  treatment  and  provifion  in  the  fmalleft  degree.        Part  II. 

He  lived  much  with  his  father  and  uncle  who  were  >'*'^'**-' 
humane  men;  recolleds  but  one  inftance  of  correc--^*  3  39 
tion  of  a  negro  by  either  of  them,  and  that  was  for 
breaking  open  a  ftore,  and  ftealing  a  pipe  of  wine, 
for  this  he  thinks  the  culprit  received  24  lafhes* 

During  his  lad  refidence  on  the  iQand,  he  avoided 
feeing  the  punifhment  of  (laves>  yet  recoUeds  feeing 
them  with  irons  upon  the  feet  and  neck,  and  once 
to  have  heard  a  tremendous  punifhment  adminiftered, 
which  he  did  not  fee  •,  it  was  for  running  away,  and 
confifted  of  60  lafhes  on  the  breech  with  a  thick  whip. 
Aperfon  in  the  fervice  of  the  owner,  who  ordered  that 
corredion,  told  him  that  the  flave  was  compelled 
to  run  away  by  harfh  treatment ;  and  another  who 
faw  the  punifhment,  that  the  whip  had  made  incifions 
large  enough  for  the  finger  to  be  laid  in. 

The  flave  was  afterwards  fent  to  the  dungeon* 
This  he  thinks  the  fevereft  chaftifement  he  can  re^ 
colled. 

Corredion  with  the   whip  was  generally  on   theP»  34^» 
back,  on  all  parts  of  which,  it  was  common  to  fee 
very  large  wheals  (the  remains  of  lafhes).     On  fud- 
den  provocation  believes  the   blows  to   be  on  the 
back;  in  formal  punifliments  on  the  breech. 

Does  not  remember  an  inilanceof  property  acquired 
by  any  negro  Have,  beyond  that  of  Tom  Ferryman^ 
the  mulatto  already  mentioned.  Believes  they  have 
indulgences,  but  to  what  extent  is  uncertain.  On 
further  recolledion  remembers  another  Have,  of  the 
fame  Sir  Hanfon  Berney,  who  was  employed  to  carry 
t4ie  rum  of  the  eflate  to  market  and  fell  it,  and  to 
make  bargains  for  fmall  fupplies,  with  the  traders  in 
town  *,  for  which  he  had  fome  indulgence  allowed 
him,  and  lived  comfortably  upon  it;  but  whether 
he  had  acquired  any  property  or  not,  the  witnefs  is 
uncertain.  This  man  he  believes  had  alfo  a  free 
woman  for  his  wife. 

Numb.  3  S  Speaks 


kt 


138  W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  'N  rc  H  O^L  LS^ 

1790.  Speaks  only  to  what  he  knew;  and  does  not  fupi 
Part  Il.pofe  that  his  want  of  a  more  extenfive  knowledge  of 
v.-v-^  the  fubje6l,  is  to  criminate  other  gentlemen,  many  of 
whom  poiTefied  principles  of  honour  and  humanity, 
though  he  could  not  fee  a  derail  of  their  eftates. 
P,  341.  Cannot  however  think  himlelf  entitled  to  fay  what 
encouragement  was  generally  given  to  negroes  of  the 
above  defcription ;  or,  from  the  fentiment  then  form- 
ed, and  ever  fmce  pofTelTed  ffetting  afide  on  one  hand 
particular  inftances  of  great  feverity,  and  on  the 
other  hand  particular  inftances  of  great  humanity) 
that  treatment  altogether  humane  and  proper,  was 
the  lot  of  fuch  as  he  had  either  obferved  or  heard  of. 
Has  repeatedly  feen  negroes,  at  the  inegro-market, 
in  Bridge-Town,  on  Sundays,  felling  feveral  different 
articles  of  vegetables,  and  poultry,  fometimes  pig- 
meat;  but  of  other  meat  but  little,  as  they  never  keep 
the  larger  cattle.  Goats  are  much  difcouraged,  and 
the  pigs  neceffarily  confined,  left  they  ftiould  injure 
the  canes.  Whatever  returns  the  negoes  obtain,  he 
believes  are  allowed  to  themfelves. 

He  refides  between  his  two  livings  at  Middleham 
in  Yorkiliire,  and  Stony  Stantoa  in  Leicefterfhire. 
•  One  farmiCr  of  Leicefterfhire  informed  him,  that  he 
gave  lol.  a  year  and  board  to  his  waggoner.  Ano- 
ther, that  he  gave  9I.  a  year  and  board  to  his  day- 
P.  -^AS.  labourer.  la  Stony  Stanton  parilh,  a  day  labourer 
in  agriculture  had  6s.  per  week,  and  a  load  of  coals 
brought  17  miles  from  the  pits  free  of  expenfe.  In 
all  other  maters  he  found  iiimfelf,  except  in  harveft 
time,  when  he  was  allowed  provifions.  In  Yorkfhire 
he  believes  labour  is  rather  dearer.  About  Middle- 
ham  he  gave  I4d.  a  day  for  labour  in  the  garden^ 
from  between  feven  and  eight  in  the  morning  to  five 
in  the  afternoon. 

In  Leicefterfhire  the  average  wages  of  labouring 
men  in  the  farming  bufinefs,  who  find  themfelves, 
and  contradl  to  ferve  the  year  through,  he  under- 
ftands  is  6s.  per  week.  The  food  of  fuch  he  cannot 
fpecify,  but  as  it  is  a  cheefe  country,  fuppofes  that 

cheefe 


W.'  Indies.  N  i  c 'h  o"l  l  s.  ^339 

^^eefe  enters  largely  into  their  diet,  with  wheaten' and  1190. 
;tye,  and  fometimes  barky    bread/    They  ufe    fomePartIL 
,but  not  much  oatmeal,   and   frefh   butcher's  meat  on  ^•^'^^r^ 
Sundays,  of  which  they  commonly  m.ake  broth  j  alfo 
beans   in  fummer ;   bread   with  hog's  lard  inflead  of 
vbutter-,  meal  fried  with  lard,  fiiced  apples,  and  fmall 
pieces   of  bacon,   if  they  have   any,    and    potatoes. 
This  is   a   general   defcription   of  the  fare  of  fuch    " 
labourers. 

Befides  the  6s.  wages,  fuch  a  labourer  has  fome-P,  34^. 
times  aids  from  his  wife's  fpinning,  knitting,  and 
other  v/ork,  by  which  they  earn  from  3d  to  6d.  per 
day,  alfo  from  corn-gleanings,  which  are  fometimes 
confiderable  J  befides  the  relier  which  he  obtains  dur- 
ing harvefl,  in  more  fubftantial  living.  Some  of 
them  have  a  little  bit  of  garden  ground,  others  hire 
land  and  keep  a  cow,  or  have  the  priviledge  of  a 
common.  In  Stony  Stanton  the  bulk  of  the  labouring 
inhabitants  are  employed  in  the  man  ufa6lu  ring  of  (lock- 
ing. From  the  means  thus  ilated  they  generally  are 
enabled  to  furnifh  themfelves  and  families,  with  ne-' 
celTary  food,  and  defray  the  expenfe  of  houfe  rent, 
clothing,  medical  aliiftance,  and  other  incidental 
charges.  He  inftances  a  widow  left  with  two  chil-P,  344, 
dren,  who  never  had  fo  much  after  her  widowhood, 
and  yet  maintained,  and  brought  them  up  to  be  in- 
duftrious  members  of  the  community,  and  parents 
of  families,  without  affiitance  from  the  parifh  :  and 
another  day-labourer,  who  had  uinformly  lived  with 
comfort,  and  brought  up  an  uieful  family.  Several  other 
inftances  are  adduced  to  fhew,  that  a  fober  man  with 
an  induftrious  family,  is  capable  of  maintaining  them,, 
as  a  day-labourer  only.  In  YorkQiire  prizes  have 
been  given  away  to  feme  fuch,  who  have  brought  up 
large  families,  with  no  other  affiftance  than  their  own 
labour.  In  the  inftance  above  mentioned  of  the  wo- 
man and  children,  the  woman  (pun  worded,  and  af- 
fured  the  witnefs,  who  attended  her  when  dying, 
that  in  order  to  keep  her  family  from  the  parifh,  flie 
fat  up  to  fpin   through  the  whole   of  two  or  three 

S    1  eights 


,I4P  W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  N  I  C  H  O  L  L  S.'- 

17.90.   nights  in  the  week.     In  the  other  inftance  of  theday-^ 
Part  II.  labourer,    his  wife  was  dead  at  the  time  mentioned, 
v.or*-»  but  he  brought  up  two  fons  in  the  flocking  trade, 
one  of  which  living  with  him  earns  9s.  per  week .; 
the  daughter  is  induftrious,  and  appears  very  decent. 
In  vifiting  the  father  when  fick,  Ihe  was  fometimes 
_  fpinning,  at  others  knitting,  or  nurfing  her  father. 

\  P.  346.  So  far  as  he  obferved,  where  the  flaves  in  Barba- 
does  were  under  judicious  and  humane  mafters,  they 
were  well  fed,  clothed,  lodged,  taken  care  of  in  fick- 
nefs,  and  treated  with  moderation  and  lenity.  He 
confiders  liberty  as  the  firfl  comfort  of  life,  as  well 
as  an  unalienable  right  -,  that  the  want  of  it  leflens 
the  comforts  of  life,  and  is  a  fource  of  continual  re- 
gret, by  cuttijig  off  the  hope  of  bettering  one's  con- 
dition, as  in  the  cafe  of  Tom  Ferryman,  before-men- 
tioned, &c.  To  fhew  that  this  is  not  mere  fpecula- 
tion,  he  could  give  inftances  in  England,  of  agricul- 
tural labourers,  rifing  into  fituatiqns  that  enabled 
them  to  marry  with  a  fortune  of  ^500,  and  provide 
well  for,  and  educate  their  children,  at  grammar  and 
boarding  fchools. 
P.  347.  Does  not  believe,  that  negroes  are  not  fo  fufcep- 
tible  of  the  fentiment  of  liberty,  as  the  free  peafants 
in  England  :  for  the  feveral  rebellions  engaged  in  by 
the  negroes,  and  efpecially  the  2  great  rebellions, 
mentioned  by  Long,  in  his  Hiflory  of  Jamaica,  fuf- 
ficiently  prove  the  contrary. 

He  conceives  diet  and  accommodations  of  the  la- 
bouring peafantry  here,  more  fubftantial  than  that 
of  the  negroes,  and  is  confirmed  in  that  opinion,  by 
the  large  fize,  health,  and  long  life,  of  many  of  them 
in  Yorklhire,  particularly  at  Weft  Whitton,  where,, 
out  of  about  500  inhabitants,  there  is  a  large  pro- 
portion of  peafantry,  anfwering  the  above  defcrip- 
tion  in  ail  points ;  and  in  the  parifh  of  Bolton,  adjoin- 
ing, there  is  fcarcely  a  day  labourer,  who  does  not 
'  keep  a  cow.  Does  not  fay  this  reprefentation  holds 
tjniverfaliy,  but  thinks  it  unfair  in  forming  acompa- 
rifon,  beiween  the  negroes  in  the  Weft  Indies,  and 

peafantry 


W.  Indies.  N  i  c  h  o  l  l  s.  "141 

peafantry  of  Britain,  to  take  a  part  of  the  one  which   r79<^.. . 
is  beft  treated,  to  compare  with  the  whole    of  the  ^^"V*"**^ 
latter,  among  which,  though  there  are  many  in  com- 
fortable circumftances,   yet  there   are  many   others 
extremely  diftrefTed  for  the  fubfiftence  of  themfclves 
and  families.     But  if  he  was  to  judge  from  his  own  p.   o^S. 
obfervation  (fetting  afide  liberty  on  the  one  hand,  * 

and  cruelty  on  the  other)  he  fliould  prefer  the  con- 
dition of  a  peafantin  England,  believing  it,  if  even 
with  equal  labour,  to  be  much  preferable. 

Stated  allowance  of  food  to  negroes  in  Barbadoes, 
under  what  is  called  good  management,  was,  9  pints 
of  Guinea,  or  India  corn,  and  i  pound,  1 1  or  2  pound 
of  fait  fifh,  or  from  4  to  6  herrings  per  week.  This 
was  the  fpecies  of  provifion  in  mod  inftances,  that 
fell  within  his  obfervation  throughout  the  year. 
There  was  fometimes  a  variation,  by  allowing  yams 
or  eddoes,  or  pidgeon  peas,  the  growth  of  the  ifland, 
in  lieu  of  the  corn  :  but  does  not  recolle6t  that  oat-^ 
meal,  meal  of  wheat,  or  rye,  were  ever  offered  as  a 
fubftitute  :  nor  that  there  was  a  fufficient  growth  of 
caffada,  to  anfwer  that  purpofe.  Bifcuit,  flour  and 
oatmeal,  have  been  allowed  in  ficknefs,  and  particu- 
larly in  fluxes;  but  rarely  in  health.  On  fomc 
eftates  the  weekly  allowance  was  equal  to  12  pints 
of  corn,  and  6  herrings,  to  field  negroes  ;  but  to  wo- 
men not  working  in  the  field,  and  children,  it  was 
much  Ihort;  and  alfo  to  thofe  paft  labour.  Some 
humane  mafters  have  continued  the  ufual  allowance 
to  negroes  paft  labour,  and  this  was  noted  as  very 
humane.  -^  ^^ 

The  above-mentioned  articles  of  food,  varyirttRe't^.  340^ 
degree  of  nutrition   they  afford  ;  Guinea  and  India 
corn  are  lefs  nutritious  than  wheat  or  barley.    When' 
India  corn  happens   to  be  heated  in  the  hold  of  the' 
(hip,  it  creates  diforders.     Eddoes  are  the  moft  nutri- 
tious and  wholefome  article  of  food   in   the  iflands! 
yams   are  lefs  fo.     Potatoes  and    pidgeon   peas   are- 
wholefome,  but  the  latter  have  a   very    thick  coat. 
Sailed  herrings,   with  other  fait  filh,  often  fuffer  by 

the 


%4^  ^  W.  Indies,  .^Ni  c  ho  l  l  s. 

1790.   the  voyage,  and  are  often  in  a  bmken,  unwholefome- 
Fart  Il.ilate.     Salt    beef  and,  pork   are  feldoiii  given,  but 
^-'-yw  when    other  provifions    fail,   or  as    a    great  indul- 
gence, in  fmail  quantities  ;   fometimes  in  a  bad,  and 
.    ibnietimes  a  good  ilate,  as  they  happen  to  come  to 
market.     He  never  knew  thein  given   as  a  part  of 
the  ftared  allowance. 

The  negroes  frequent  the  Sunday  markets  in. 
Bridge  Town,  with  pidgeon  peas,  Guinea  corn,  ed- 
does,  potatoes,  and  whatever  other  native  provifions 
of  the  ifiand  they  can  fpare,  which  they  fell,  or  com- 
mute for  other  fpecies  of  provifions.  The  huckflers 
often  give  them,  at  a  disadvantage  to  the  negroes, 
fmall  loaves  of  wheaten  bread  for  corn  ;  forinftance, 
a  fmall  half-penny  loaf  for  a  pint  of  Guinea  corn  ;- 
and  fometimes  they  fell  their  provifions  to  obtain 
rum,  and  other  matters,  which  they  think  neceiTary 
to  their  convenience.  This  exchange  is  often  made 
when  the  negro,  tired  of  his  labour,  has  not  time  or 
inclination,  to  grind  the  corn,  or  fetch  water,  and 
procure  fuel  to  boil  it  for  ufe. 
^»  354'  It  liruck  him,  to  fpeak  generaliy,  that  negro  mo- 
thers commonly  went  into  the  field  too  early  after 
their  delivery,  taking  their  children,  while  yet  very 
tender,  with  them  -,  that  the  milk  of  the  mother  be- 
came feverifb  with  labour,  and  the  heat  of  the  fun 
tc)0  powerful  for  the  child,  which  was  commonly  ex- 
pofed  in  a  bafket,  and  in  rainy  weather  unfnekered. 
He  underftood  that  this  was  lb  generally  the  pra6lice, 
that  fome  humane  gentlemen,  refident  in  Ena&land 
many  years  fince,  gave  diredions  to  their  overfeers, 
to  obicrve  a  contrary  practice. 

He  never  heard  that  M'Mahon,  already  mention- 
ed, ever  fnffered  any  other  ill  confequence  from  his 
feverity  to  his  negroes^  than  the  lofs  confequent 
thcieon. 
^'  35S*  Again,  not  having  any  right  to  their  children,  is 
a  dilcumfort  neceiiarily  refulcing  from  the  confticu- 
tKui  )f  human  nature  j  and  efpecially  as  thofe  child- 
ren, if  females,  may  be  fabjected  to-  the  brutal  lulls  . 

of 


W.  Indies.  '."  ■  Ni  colls.,  t^^ 

<if  their  fuperiors,  without  remedy  from  law.     The    1790, 
being  obliged  to  labour  at  the  will  of  another;  the  Part  IL- 
being  unprote(5led  by  laws,  and  enduring  punifhment   *--^r^ 
at  the  caprice  of  another,  are  certainly  inconvenien-P.  3^^» 
cies,  which  necefTarily  arife  out  of  flavery    itfelf,   and 
prevent    a  fair  comparilan  being   made   between  a 
Have  and  a  free  man. 


Witnefs  examined, — Henry  Ellison,  Gunner  of 
the  Refiftance  Man  of  War. 

He  thinks  his  firft  voyage  was  in   1759,  to  Gam-P,  361, 

bia ;  was  in  the  Have  trade  till  about  1770 ;  was 
prelTed  in  1771  ;  was  3  voyages  to  Gambia,  i  to 
Benin,  i  to  Old  Calabar,  2  to  Naw  Calabar,  and  i 
to  Ifle  de  Los. 

"  A  native,  called  captain  Lemma,  came  on  board 
their  fhip  to  receive  his  cuftoms  ^  he  faw  a  canoe  in 
fhore,  with  3  people  in  it  (an  old  man,  a  young  man, 
and  a  woman)  he  ordered  one  of  his  canoes  to  take 
this  canoe,  which  they  did,  and  brought  the  people 
on  board,  and  Mr.  Wilfon's  chief  mace  bought  the 
young  man  and  woman,  the  other  being  too  old, 
was  refufed.  Lemma  ordered  the  old  man  into  the 
canoe,  his  head  was  chopped  off,  and  immediately 
thrown  overboard.  Lemma  had  many  war  canoes; 
fome  had  6  or  8  fwivels;  he  brought  about  lo  when 
.he  received  his  cuftoms  •,  he  feemed  to  be  feared  by 
the  reft  of  the  natives.  Mr.  E.  did  not  fee  a  canoe  P.  3^2, 
out  on  the  river  while  he  was  there,  except  this,  and 
if  they  had  known  he  had  been  out,  they  would  not 
have  come.  He  difcovered  by  figns,  that  the  old 
man  killed,  was  the  2  negroes  father,  and  that  they 
were  brought  there  by  force;  could  not  conceive 
Lemma  had  any  right  to  fell  them,  they  were  not  his 
fubjeds.  Lemma  ftaid  about  10  days  near  theirP.  ^6;^, 
fhip  ;  he  was  on  board  every  day  to  get  his  cuftoms, 
and  eat  and  drink. 

He 


144  AfRicA. — W,  Indies.  Ellisoi^; 

1790.       He  never  remembers  any  flave^  brought  on  board 

Part  II.  with  marks  of  wounds.     Does   not  remember  any 
«— v-^  other  inftance  of  (laves  being  obtained  by  fraud  or 
force. 

He  has  known  many  boys  and  girh,  in  every  fhip 
he  has  been  in,  without  parents  and  near  relations. 
He  fpeaks  the  Mandingoa,  and  has  often  converfed 
with  flaves  that  fpoke  it,  who  all  faid  they  had  been 
llolen  and  fold. 

-'.■^'i.  He  has  often  known  flaves  brought  on  board  in 

the  night  in  the  Gambia;  fuppofes  they  were  afraid 
to  be  feen  in  the  day ;  he  has  afTifted  in  fetching 

P.  364.  canoe  boys  on  board  in  the  night.  It  is  common, 
when  their  mafters  want  goods,  or  for  trifling  of- 
fences, thefe  boys  are  brought  on  board.  We  fetch 
them  in  our  own  boats  from  their  mafters  houfes, 
when  afleep  in  the  night,  for  fear  they  fhould  efcape  j 
fuppofes  they  could  not  know  they  were  to  be  fold, 
or  they  would  have  made  their  efcape  5  he  has  known 
their  mafter  call  them  out  of  the  canoe  to  bring  him 
fomething,  and  when  on  board,  immediately  put  in 
irons. 

He  never  faw  thefe  canoe-boys  ill  treated ;  has 
feen  them  eating  and  drinking  in  the  fame  houfe 
with  their  mafters,  and  fometimes  with  them. 

He  knew  2  flaves  taken  from  Furnandipo  while 
there,  by  the  Dobfon's  boat  of  Liverpool,  and  car- 
ried to  ^  dd  Calabar,  where  the  fhip  lay.  He  went  for 
yams  a  few  days  after,  and  fired,  as  a  fignal  to  the 
natives,  to  bring  them  ;  feeing  fome  of  them  peep 
through  the  bufhes,  wondered  why  they  would  not 
come  to  the  boat  •,  he  fwam  on  fhore,  fome  came 
round  him  ;  an  old  man  made  fignii.a  l"hip*s  boat  had 
ftole  a  man  and  woman  ;  he  was  foon  furrounded  by 
numbers,  who  prefented  darts  to  him,  fignifying, 
they  would  kill  him  if  the  man  and  woman  were  not 
brought  back.    The  people  in  the  boat  fired  fome 

p,  26^.fhot,  when  they  all  ran  into  the  woods  ;  they  left  a 
goat  and  fome  yams,  which  they  put  into  the  boar, 
and  ftaid  to  fee  if  they  would  return,  but  they  did 

not. 


Africa. — \V.  Indies.  E  l  l  i  s  o  in      v,       ^45 

not.     He  went  to  Calabar  and  told  his  captain  they  1790. 
could   get   no   yams,  from  two  people  being  dole;  Part  If. 
captain  Briggs  told  the  captain  of  the  Dobfon,  there v.^-y'-^-j 
would  be  no  more  trade  if  he  did  not  deliver  up  the 
people,  which  he  did  J  when   the  natives  faw  them, 
they  loaded  the  boat  with  yams,  goats,  fowls,  honey 
and  palm  wine;   they  would  take  nothing  for  themi 
They  had  the  man  and  woman  delivered  to  themy 
whom  they  carried  away  in  their  arms.  fr 

The  Dobfon   did   not   ftay   above  eight,  ten,  orP.  3^5. 
twelve  days.     That  was  the  lad  trip  her  boat  was  to 
make  when  they  carried  off  the  two  (laves. 

When  they  were  laying  at  Yanamaroo  in  Gambia, 
flaves  were  brought  down.  The  traders  raifed  the 
price.  Captains  would  not  give  it,  but  thought  to 
compel  them  by  firing  upon  the  town.  They  fired 
red  hot  (hot  from  the  fhip,  and  fet  feveral  houfes  on 
fire.     All  the  fhips,  feven  or  eight,  fired. 

They  often  took  children  and  relations  as  pawns 
for  goods.  They  carried  off  two  in  the  Briton, 
captain  Wilfon,  who  were  much  dejecfLed.  All  theP,  ^S6. 
flaves  he  faw  brought  on  board  were  very  much  de- 
jected. He  never  faw  the  women  otherwife  thaa 
modefl  and  decent. 

He  has  fttn  both  men  and  women  work  in  the 
fields. 

He  has  feen  flaves  faint  away  in  iliips  from  heat 
and  flench. 

They  were  always  much  crouded.  Had  two  tier 
of  people  on  one  deck.  One  on  platform.  They 
were  much  crouded  in  the  Nightingale,  a  fmail 
fnow,  about  170  tons.  Purchaied  270  (laves.  Thirty 
boys  meflcd  and  flept  in  long- bout  all  the  Middle 
Paffage.     No  room  below. 

The  Briton,   230  or   240  tons.     Much  crouded, P.  357,. 
Purchafcd  375  (laves. 

Thinks  only  buried  6  or  7  in  the  Nightingale, 
were  remarkabl /  healthy.  They  buried  near  200  in 
the  Briton.  Laft  man  brought  on  board  had  the 
fmall-pox.      Dodor  told   Mr,   Wilfon  ic   was   the 

Numb.  3.  T  fmall-pox. 


J 4^  Africa.'—W.  Indies*  EtLisoif. 

1 790.  fmall-pox,  w1io  would  hot  Belie^'^  it,  but  fai3  he 
Part  IL  would  keep  him,  as  he  was  a  fine  man.  It  foon 
broke  out  amongft  the  (laves.  He  has  feen  the  plat- 
form one  continued  fcab.  Hauled  up  8  or  10  flaves 
dead  of  a  morning.  The  flefh  and  fkin  peeled  off 
their  wrifts  when  taken  hold  of>  being  intirely 
mortified. 

They  buried  in  the  Nightingale*s  fecond  voyage 
about  150,  chiefly  of  fevers  and  flux.  They  had 
250  when  they  left  the  coaft* 
368.  Men  flaves  generally  fettered  on  board  vefTels  he 
failed  in,  being  two  and  two  Ihackled  together. 
When  brought  on  deck,  a  chain  is  reeved  through  a 
ring  on  the  fliackle  on  their  legs,  and  locked  abaft 
the  barricado.  They  are  chained  on  both  fides  the 
deck*  They  are  made  dance  every  day  ;  fometimes 
are  willing  to  dance,  fometimes  compelled  by  the 
cat. 

Has  known  in  the  Middle  PafTage,  in  rains.  Oaves 
confined  below  for  fome  time.  He  has  frequently 
feen  them  faint  through  heat,  the  fleam  coming 
through  the  gratings  like  a  furnace.  Has  been 
obliged  to  get  on  deck,  left  they  would  die  in  the 
rooms. 

Never  faw  wind  fails  ufed  in  any  vefTel.  Never 
faw  flaves  treated  ill  in  any  fliips  but  the  Briton  and 
Nightingale. 

Has  known  Mr.  Wilfon  order  eight  or  ten  up  at 
a  time,  for  making  a  little  noife  in  the  night,  tie 
them  up  to  the  booms,  flog  them  feverely  with  a 
wire  cat,  and  afterwards  clap  the  thumb-fcrews  upon 
them,  leaving  them  in  that  ftate  till  morning.  He 
has  feen  their  thumbs  mortify,  fevers  enfue,  and 
death. 

The  women  making  a  little  noife  over  head  while 
the  captain  was  dining,  he  came  out,  and  with  a 
wire  cat  began  to  flog  away  among  them  :  6  jumped 
overboard,  5  of  which  were  drowned.  The  other 
he  ordered  to  be  ducked  at  the  crotchet-yard-arm  : 

file 


Africa. — ^W.  Indies.  Ellison.  147 

fhe  was  led  up  and  down  a  dozen  tinies,  he  believes.  1790. 
She  died,  he  thinks,  next  day,      ^^'  Y^/''  Part  II. 

The  Nightingale  was  lying  in  New  Calabar  vivcTy^..^^^^-^ 
when  the  (laves  role  on  board  the  Africa.  They  P.  369. 
were  quelled,  and  about  eight  or  ten  picked  out  as 
the  ringleaders,  for  punifhment :  they  were  tied  to  a 
fpare  naaft,  and  the  people  of  the  Africa,  with  the 
boat's  crew  of  the  Nightingale,  took  fpeli  and  fpell 
at  flogging  them,  till  they  all  were  tired;  yet  they 
were  fo  flubborn  they  never  cried  out.  Captain 
Carter  came  on  board,  and  ordered  fome  cooks 
tormentors  and  tongs  to  be  made  red  hot,  and  with 
his  own  hands  burnt  their  bare  breech  in  a  moll 
dreadful  manner. 

Slaves  often  ref'^fe  their  vidluals;  when  they  do, 
they  are  flogged  till  they  eat. 

Women  are  whipped  or  beaten,  but  not  fo  very 
often  as  men  In  the  Nightingale,  on  the  pafTage, 
a  woman  difobliged  the  fecond  mate  one  day,  who 
gave  her  a  cut  or  two  with  a  fmall  cat  he  had  in  his 
hand  :  Ihe  flew  at  him  with  great  rage,  but  he  pufhed 
her  from  him,  giving  her  three  or  four  iVnart  ftrokes 
with  the  cat.  Finding  (he  could  not  have  her  revenge 
of  him,  (he  fprung  two  or  three  feet  on  the  deck,  and 
dropped  down  dead.  Was  thrown  overboard  about 
half  an  hour  after,  and  torn  to  pieces  by  the  (liarks. 

The  chief  mate  and  boatfwain  have  charge  of  the 
men ;  the  fecond  mate  and  gunner,  if  there  is  one, 
of  the  women  •,  each  having  conftantly  a  cat  in  their 
hand. 

Slaves,  at  the  time  of  their  dancing,  always  iingP.  370, 
to  fome  tune  or  other  in  their  own  way;   has  often 
heard  them  (InG;  mournful  tunes  in  the  ni2:ht. 

Befidcs  the  inftance  given  of  (laves  riling,  they 
attempted  it  in  the  Upton,  but  it  came  to  no  head, 
(a  few,  though  v/omen,  had  got  out  of  irons). 

As  to  the  lit'jation  of  feamt-n  in  different  lliips  he 
has   been  in,  refpecting  food,  lodging,  and  general 
treatment  : —The   allowance   was  fmall    in   all   the. 
fhips,  efpccially  in  the  Middle  PafTage  3  v/ere  always 

T  2  at 


14^  Africa. ~^W.  Indies.  ELLisajT. 

1790,  at  allowance  outward  and  homeward.  In  the  Middle 
Pare  ILFailage,  were  obliged  to  fetch  a  gun-barrei  from  the 
cor^  top-maft-head  when  they  warned  to  drink,  and  to 
carry  it  back  without  permitting  another  to  ufe  it 
at  the  time:  has  often  been  drier  before  he  came 
down  again,  than  when  he  iiiril  went  up  ;  but  durft 
hot  bring  the  barrel  dow-n  a  fecond  time  till  fome 
other  had  ufed  it :  the  fick  fo  long  as  they  were  able 
were  obliged  to  do  fo  ;  remembers  one  who  had 
bad  ulcerated  legs,  when  he  had  got  half  way  up, 
the  main  flirouds,  was  fo  weak  he  could  get  no  fur- 
ther;  he  and  another  went  and  helped  him  down 
again,  and  begged  of  the  dodor  to  give  him  a  little 
deco6lion,  which  at  firfl  he  refufed,  but  afterwards 
gave  him  a  fmall  pannikin  full.  The  man  died  in 
a  day  or  two  after,   (p.  372.) 

Never  was  in  a  fnip  in  which  the  feamen  had  a 
place  to  put  their  heads  in  below,  but  were  obliged 
to  lie  upon  deck  in  all  weathers. 
P.  27'^^  The  feamen  he  faw  v/orle  ufed,  were  thofe  in  the 
Briton  and  in  the  Nightingale:  they  had  nothing 
eife  but  bad  treatment  in  thofe  two  fhips  from  the 
firft  of  the  voyage  to  the  laft.  (p.  371.) 

On  board  the  Briton  was  a  boy  wdiom  *\¥ilfon  the 
chief  mate  was  always  a  beating.  One  morning  in  the 
pafTage  out,  he  had  not  got  the  tea-kettle  boiled  in 
time  tor  his  breakfaft ;  when  it  was  brought,  he  told 
him  he  would  fevereiy  flog  him  after  breakfaft  ;  for 
p.  'ijiJ^^^y  ^^^  ^^y  ^^^^  into  the  lee  fore  chains  :  when  W. 
came  from  the  cabin,  and  called  for  Paddy,  (the 
name  he  went  by,  being  an  irifh  boy)  he  would  not 
come,  but  remained  in  the  fore  chains;  on  which  W. 
went  forward,  and  attempted  to  haul  him  in;  when 
the  boy  jumped  overboard,  and  was  drowned. 

Another  time,  on  the  middle  pafTage,  Wilfon  or- 
dered one  James  Allifon,  (a  man  he  had  been  conti- 
nually beating  for  every  trifle)  to  go  into  the  wo- 
men's room,  to  fcrape  it;  he  faid  he  was  not  able,  for 
he  was  very  unwell-,  but  W.  obliged  him  to  go  down; 
he  did  not  however  begin  to  fcrape;  which  W.  ob- 

fervino:. 


Africa. — W.  Indies,  Ellison".  t46 

ferving,  aflced  why  he  did  not  work,  and  was  anfwer-  1790. 
ed  as  before,  that  he  was  not  able,  on  which  he  threw  Part  II. 
a  handfpike  at  him,  which  ftrucic  him  in  the  breall,  ^-'v-^ 
and  he  dropt  down  to  appearance  dead-,  he  recovered 
a  little,  but  died  next  day. 

In  tlie  Nightingale,  on  the  pafTage,  the  gunner  was 
on  the  barricado  with  a  mufl<er,  as  a  centry,  while 
the  {laves  were  going  down  ;  happening  to  look  aft, 
he  was  afked  by  captain  why  he  did  not  look  for- 
ward at  the  Haves,  faid,  "  That  he  could  willingly 
turn  the  muil^et,  and  blow  his  brains  out:"  but  did 
not  think  the  captain  heard  him.  When  the  flaves 
were  down,  the  captain  caufed  him  to  be  tied  up,  and 
flogged  very  fevereiy.  He  died  in  two  or  three  days 
after.  ^ 

As  to  the  feamen  leaving  their  fhips,  on  the  coad 
of  Africa;  the  boatfwain  and  five  of  the  crew  of  the 
Phoenix  of  Briftol,  Cap.  Bifhop,  made  their  efcape  in 
the  yawl,  but  were  taken  up  by  the  natives.  When 
the  captain  heard  it,  he  ordered  them  to  be  kept  a- 
ihore,  at  Forge,  a  fmall  town  at  the  mouth  of  Cala- 
bar river,  chamed  by  the  necks,  legs,  and  hands,  and 
to  have  each  a  plantain  a  day  only.  The  boatfwain,?.  372. 
who  had  been  a  Ihip-mate  of  the  witnefs's,  and  a  ve- 
ry^good  leaman,  died  raving  mad  in  his  chains;  the 
otner  five  alio  died   in  their  chains. 

As  to  the  the  motives  which  induce  feamen  to  en- 
ter on  board  Guinea  Ihips,  believes  they  are  compel- 
led  by  want;  by  getting  in  debt  to  their  landlords, 
when  they  mull:  go  on  board  a  Gulneaman,  or  to  gaol. 
(P-  3750-  Landlords  are  fare  of  getting  paid  by  the 
advance-money  the  fiilor  has  to  receive  on  entering 
into  the  Guinea  employ,  if  no  other  way.  (p.  377.)'^ 

As  to  his  opinion,  which  is  mod  advantageous  to 
the  country,  to  become  a  fiilor  or  go  to  gaol^to  be- 
come a  lailor,  he  fnould  fuppofe.  (p.  377. 

Has  been  in  many  VV.  Indi^  iQands,  Barbadoes  and 
Jamaica  in  particular;  where  he  has  often  iccn  Gui- 
nea lailors  lying  on  the  wharfs,  and  under  the  cranes 
aimolt  at  the  point  of  death,  with  large  ulcers  upon 


||<^  Africa.- — W.  Indies.  Ellison, 

179a.   their  legs  and  feet,  and  iQ  a  ftarWng  (late:  and  he 

Part  IL  has  often  carried  them  provifions  from  his  fhip.  Has 

^-'v^^  alfo  feen   the  negroes  carrying  them  when  dead  to 

Spring  Path,  and  burying  them.      Jelieves  they  had, 

ail  whom  he  faw,   left  their  Ihips  from   bad  ufage, 

"without    wages.     It  is  commonly  the  cafe.     Many 

told  him  they  got  no  pay,  but  were  glad  to  get  afliore. 

He  knew  them  to  have  belonged  to  Guineamen,  be- 

P.  373.caufe  he  knew,  and  had  failed  with  fome  of  them,  and 

others  told  him  fo.   Never  faw  any  belonging  to  other 

Ihips  than  Guineamen  in  that  ftate. 

Was  almoft  daily  on  fhore,  for  eighteen  months, 
at  Kitigflon,  where  he  has  fccn  fix  or  feven  flaves 
■whipped  of  a  morning,  by  a  man  they  called  Johnny 
Jumper  j  their  backs  much  cut,  and  the  blood  run- 
nmg  down.  Saw  alfo  a  woman  at  Dominica  hung 
up  by  the  wrifls,  on  a  ftage  (ereded  to  punifh  ne- 
groes on)  her  feet  two  feet  from  the  ftage,  and  thus 
Jeverely  flogged  v/ith  a  cow-flvin,  by  her  miftrefs's 
order,  it  was  faid,  for  running  away. 

As  to  appearance  of  field  and  town-flaves,  the 
laft  are  always  better  drelTed,  and  look  better;  the 
other  look  very  poor  and  were  always  badly  clothed  : 
much  marked  with  the  whip. 

They  often  bring  down  fugar  and  rum  from  the 
country  to  be  fhipped  ;  when  aboard  they  would  beg 
and  pray  for  a  bit  of  bifcuit  and  beef,  which  they 
are  very  thankful  for,  (p.  374). 

On  Sundays  they  generally  bring  fome  little  trifle 
or  other  from  the  country  to  fell,  fuch  as  oranges, 
plancanes,  &c.  to  the  value  of  half  a  bit,  a  bit,  or 
two  bits  eachj  does  not  remember  ever  feeing  them 
have  any  pigs  or  kids  to  fell.  As  to  their  being  fo 
well  protected  by  laws,  as  to  be  able  to  fell  thefe  ar- 
ticles unmolefted  and  for  their  own  ufe  •,  does  not 
think  there  is  any  law  for  theni ;  has  feen  their  things 
taken  by  the  failors  and  then  beat  for  allying  their 
moneys  they  would  run  crying  through  the  ftreer, 
and  evenfollov/  them  down  to  the  boats,  bur  they  got 
neither  the  things  nor  their  money  (p.  375). 

Has 


Africa. — W.Indies.  Ellison.  tifi 

Has  been  many  voyages  to  Virginia  and  Mary-  1790. 
land,  and  has  often  gone  through  the  tobacco  plan-  Part  !!♦ 
rations  while  the  flaves  were  at  work.  w*v-^^ 

Looked  much  better  than  thofe  in  the  W.  Indies  j;?*  374« 
were  much  better  clothed,  and  not  fo  hard  worked, 
having  feldom  feen  a  driver  over  them  with  his  whip; 
they  generally  work  by  themfelves ;  has  feen  therift 
at  their  vidluals  often,  in  their  houfes,  and  they 
leemed  to  have  plenty. 

Has  feen  the  flaves  on  board  when  fold  in  the  W  P.  375. 
Indies,  very  much  diilrefled  at  the  profpect  of  fepa- 
ration. 

Was  fifteen  or  fixteen  years  old  when  he  went  firft 
to  Africa;  his  firft  voyages  were  to  Gambia.  Talked 
the  Mundingo  tongue  pretty  well ;  underftood  but 
little  of  the  other  negro  languages;  does  not  recol-i- 
left  how  old  he  was  when  told  by  the  flaves  that  they 
were  all  ftolen,  but  they  commonly  told  him  fo  in 
every  voyage  he  has  been,  in  the  befl  manner  they 
could  make  themfelves  underflood.  His  higiieftP,- 376. 
birth  on  board  a  Guineaman  was  that  of  gunner. 

Has  been  in  the  king's  fervice  fince  177  i  ;  firfl 
llation  there,  quarter  gunner :  has  been  gunner  in 
the  Refiflance  fince  June  1784  (p.  377.) 

The  canoes  on  the  coafl  of  Africa  are  rowed  by 
flaves.  Maflers  often  fell  their  canoe  boys.  Such 
canoe  boys  as  have  been  fold,  he  believed  to  have 
been  flaves  to  thofe  who  fold  them.  Captain  Lemma 
lived  a  good  way  up  Benin  River :  the  people  whom 
he  feized  in  the  canoes,  lived  at  a  little  fifhing  town 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  fubjed:  he  believes  to  the 
to  the  king  of  Benin :  he  was  very  much  feared  by 
the  natives  of  that  part :  cannot  fay  whether  he  was 
at  war  with  the  king  of  Benin  from  his  taking  away 
his  fubje6ls. 

Lemma  was   generally   confidered   as   a    pirate, 

(P-  377)-  . 

The  natives  know  very  welU  that  if  pawns  are 
not  redeemed  before  the  fhip  fails,  they  will  be  car- 
ried off.  .^ 

Witnefs 


[     152     ]  ' 

Part  II. 
*--v"^*'  Witnefs  examined — John  Marshall. 

P.  377'  Has  made  about  19  voyages,  chiefly  to  the  Gold 
Coaft.  Never  knew  Africans  go  to  war,  to  procure 
flaves  to  the  fhips.  On  the  contrary,  when  wars 
have  happened,  it  has  been  of  the  utmofl  prejudice 
to  the  Ihipping. 

P.  378.  Was  at  Annamaboe,  when  the  king  of  Afliantee 
made  war  againft  the  Fantees,  which  fo  totally  ftopt 
the  trade,  that  he  lay  fixteen  months  there,  before 
he  was  fully  flaved.  The  Alhantees  failed  of  con- 
quering the  Fantee  country.  The  Fantees,  on  the 
contrary,  took  many  Afliantees  prifoners;  mod  of 
whom  would  have  been  fold,  and  fome  put  to  death, 
but  for  Mr.  Brew,  who  propofed  to  the  king  of  A- 
fhantee  the  redem^rien  of  thofe  prifoners,  which  he 
gladly  acceded^to.  Thinks  kidnapping  impoflible. 
Is  certain  ^e  governors  of  forts  could  not  with  im- 
punity feize  and  fell  the  natives ;  they  are  them- 
felves  too  much  in  their  power  to  attempt  it:  never 
knew  governors  give  any  fuch  orders.  Knows  it  is 
impra6licable. 

P.  •^'-Q.  Has  been  frequently  at  Cape  la  Hou ;  never 
knew  or  heard  of  natives  carried  from  thence  frau- 
dulently. Natives  come  on  board  as  freely  as  a 
boat  would  board  a  fliip  in  the  Thames. 

On  the  Gold  Coaft  the  cultivation  is  very  tri- 
fling :  that  for  corn  (which  is  very  rude)  is  fuch, 
that  there  is  no  certainty  of  fupply  there;  in  the 
Bight  of  Guinea,  at  Bonny,  the  only  cultivation  he 
knew  was  of  yams.  Is  certain,  that  in  Africa  they 
know  nothing  of  the  maauraclure  of  indigo,  for 
both  indigo  and  blue  are  carried  from  Europe,  for 
the  ufe  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  forts  :  and  you  can- 
not pleafe  a  female  better  than  by  giving  her  a  lit- 
tle of  either,  with  which  they  paint  themfelves. 

Never  failed  in  the  night  from  Africa  3  it  is  the 
cuftom  to  fail  in  the  morning,  to  have  tjie  land- 
winds  : 


ArTvicA.  Marshall,  153 

\^inds :  from  Bonny  it  Is  innpoffible  to  fail  in  the  1790. 
nighc,  the  river  is  too  dangerous.  Part  IL  ' 

^He   is   not  at  prefent  concerned   in    the  African  u-v — » 
'  trade,  either  as  captain  or  merchant. 

He  took  on  board  the  Elizabeth,  one  of  the  fhipsP.  380. . 
which  he  connmanded,  546  Haves ;  was  peculiarly 
Unfortunate  in  the  lofs  of  fiaves  and  crew;  had  at 
one  period  fmall-pox,  meafles,  flux  and  fever  on 
board;  whereby  he  loft  158  flaves ;  a  greater  lofs 
than  in  any  6  of  his  voyages  together.  Loft  alfo  2ip,  ^Sl. 
out  of  52  feamen  ^  45  of  which  Engliih,  and  7  Spa-^ 
niards.  The  latter  lofs  was  chiefly  owing  to  intem- 
perance; they  were  not  to  be  controuled. 

Is  confident  the  king  of  Afliantee's  motives  for 
war  upon  the  Fantees,  was  to  conquer  their  coun- 
try, as  he  has  often  heard  from  the  king's  brother 
and  nephew,  who  were  hoftages  with  Mr.  Brew  i 
could  not  fuppofe  he  had  any  view  to  flaves  in  making 
war  on  the  Fantees,  having  no  means  of  conveying 
them  to  the  fea  but  through  their  country. 

Slaves  fold  to  the  Europeans,  come  under  the  fol- 
lowing defcription;  fome  are  born  flaves,  a  few  taken 
in  war,  others  forfeit  their  liberty  by  crimes,  and 
many  fold  for  witchcraft;  by  fuch  means  flaves  are 
obtained  in  general,  at  leaft,  the  natives  fay  fo,  for 
in  his  various  voyages  he  has  often  converfed  with  P.  382^ 
them  on  the  fubjed.  Of  the  flaves  bought  on  the 
Gold  Coaft,  one  third  may  be  inhabitants  of  the 
coaft,  the  reft  are  Afnantees  and  Duncocs,  who  both 
fpeak  the  Fantee  language. 

Believes,  the  perfons  fold  for  v/itchcrafr,  undergo 
a  previous  trial,  though  it  is  fecreted  from  the  Eu- 
ropeans. 

In  his  voyages  in  the  Alfred,  he  had  very  few 
boys  and  girls:  in  purchaflng  flaves  they  generally 
go  by  height,  and  he  made  a  point  (it  was  indeed 
his  orders)  not  to  buy  any  under  4.  i'^Qt  4  inches: 
on  his  laft  voyage  he  v/as  allowed  to  buy  them  as  low 
as  feet:  fuppofes  he  might  have  had  from  40  to 
60  of  that  defcription. 

Numb.  3.  U  Vv^here 


154  Africa*  Marshall. 

1790.      Where  our  fettlements  or  forts  are,  they  are  tole- 
Part  Il.rably  civilized,  from  their  intercourfe  with  the  Eu- 
v-nr-**^  ropeans^  at  other  towns  they  are  not  fo  much  fo. 
Their  natural  abilities  he  thinks  much  inferior  to  the 
people  of  other  countries  ^  and  believes  they  know 
nothing  of  morality. 
P.  383.     Having  faid  that  kidnapping  by  the  natives  is  im- 
poiTible:  his  reafon  for  it  is,  becaufe  it  could  not  be 
done  fecretly,  nor  with  impunity.     It  muft  be  found 
out,  either  in  conveying  them  to  the  water  fide  to  be 
fhipped,  or  certainly  after  they  were  put  on  board  5 
from  the  free  intercourfe  the  traders  have  with  the 
fhips,  it  is  impoflible  for  a  perfon  fo  taken  to  be 
concealed  long :  he  fpeaks  here  pofitively,  as  he  ne- 
ver knew  an  inftance  of  the  kind.     And  fhould  fuch 
a  thing  be  done  by  the  firfl  perfon  in  the  country, 
reftitution,   in  his  opinion,  is  the  leaft  punifhment 
which  would  follow  ;  does  not  believe  perfons  are 
ever  unjuftly  accufed  with  a  view  to  be  fold. 

Believes  that  flaves  are  fometimes  fold  by  their 

owners  through  the  neceflities  of  the  owner.     That 

P.  384.  they  have  a  right  to  do  fo,  he  apprehends,  becaufe 

he  has  known  it  publickly  done.     One  of  the  traders 

with  his  fiiip,  fold  him  two  of  his  houfhold  flaves* 

The  crimes  which  fubjedl  convi6ts  to  be  fold,  he 
believes,  are  principally,  theft,  incontinence,  and 
others  perhaps,  which  he  cannot  fpeak  to. 

He  was  never  faather  than  three  miles  up  the 
country  on  the  Gold  Coaft, 

Inhabitants  did  not  appear  to  decreafe  in  number; 
that  this  iliould  be  the  cafe,  notwithftanding  the 
large  drains  continually  made  by  the  European  tra- 
ders, he  can  account  for  no  other  way  than  by  the 
prevalence  of  polygamy. 

Believes  the  treatment  of  feamen  in  the  flave  trade 
to  be  as  in  other  voyages :  as  there  are  men  of  dif- 
ferent difpofitions  in  the  African  trade,  as  well  as 
others,  their  treatment  will  vary  accordingly. 

Having  faid,  "  That  they  know  nothing  about 
*^  the  manufadure  of  indigo  in  Africa/*  h€  referridl 
particularly  to  the  Gold  coaft, 

Hal 


AFRiCAt  Marshall.  155 

Has  purchafed  rice  on  the  Windward  Coaft,  and  1790. 
corn  on  the  Gold  Coaft  j  but  the  fupply  at  either  Part  II. 
place  was  fo  uncertain^,  that  he  never  depended  much  «-^sr*»-> 
upon  it,  but  generally  carried  moft  of  his  provifionsP.  3S5. 
from  England. 

Believes,  Europeans  never  inquire  the  right  per- 
fons  have  to  difpofe  of  flaves  j  as  it  is  taken  for 
granted  they  have  the  right. 


Mr.  George  Millar,  Gunner  of  His  Majefty's 
Ship  Pegafe. 

Has  been  in  Africa;  his  laft  voyage  to  Old  Cala-P.  385. 
bar  in  1767,  in  the  fhip  Canterbury,  Capt.  Parke. 

Says,  a  quarrel  happened  between  the  people  of 
Old  and  New  Town,  which  prevented  the  fhips  lying 
in  Calabar  River  from  being  Qaved.  Believes  in 
June  1767,  Capt.  Parke  came  one  evening  to  witnefs, 
and  told  him  that  the  two  towns  fo  quarrelling  would 
meet  on  board  the  different  Ihips,  and  ordered  him  to 
hand  up  fome  fwords. 

Next  day  feveral  canoes,  as  Parke  had  before  ad- 
vertifed  him,  came  from  both  of  the  towns  on  board 
the  Canterbury,  witnefs's  own  iliip,  and  one  of  the 
perfons  fo  coming  on  board,  brought  a  letter,  v,/hich 
he  gave  Parke,  immediately  on  the  receipt  of  which 
he,  P.  took  a  hanger,  and  attacked  one  of  the  Old 
Town  people  then  on  board,  cutting  him  immedi- 
ately on  the  head,  arms,  &c.  The  man  fled,  ran 
down  the  fteps  leading  to  the  cabin,  and  P.  ftill  fol- 
lowing him  with  the  hanger,  darted  into  the  boys 
room.  Witnefs  is  fure  this  circumftance  can  never 
be  effaced  from  his  memory.  From  this  room  heP.  386. 
was,  however,  brought  up  by  mtans  of  a  rope,  when 
P.  renewed  his  attack  as  before  on  the  man,  who, 
making  for  the  entering  port,  leaped  overboard. 

This    being  concluded,    P.  lett  his  own   Oiip  to  go 

on   board  fome  of  the  other   fnips  then  lying  in  the 

U  2  river* 


T  56  A  F  R  I  c  A;  Mil  l  a  r.' 

1790.  river.  Soon  afrer  he  was  gone,  a  boy  belonging  to 
Parr.  11.  witnefs's  fhip,  came  and  intorraed  witnefs,  that  he 
w-v*^  had  dilcovercd  a  man  concealed  behind  the  medicine 
cheft.  Vv  itneis  went  and  round  the  man.  He  was 
the  perlbn  before  mentioned  to  have  brought  a  letter 
on  board.  On  being  difcovered  by  witnefs  l>e  begged 
for  mercy,  intreating  that  he  might  not  be  delivered 
vip  to  the  people  of  New  Town.  He  was  brought 
on  the  quarter  deck,  where  were  fome  of  the  New 
Town  people,  who  would  have  killed  him  had  they 
not  been  prevented.  The  man  v/as  then  ironed  and 
condudled  into  the  room  of  the  men  fiavcs. 

Soon  after  the  captain  returned,  and  brought  with 
him  a  New  Town  trader,  named  Willy  Honeily.  On 
coming  on  board  he  was  informed  of  what  had  hap- 
pened in  his  abfence ;  believes,  in  the  hearing  of 
Willy  Honeily,  v^ho  immediately  exclaimed,  "  Cap- 
*^  tain,  if  you  will  give  me  that  man  to  cut  cutty 
*'  head,  I  will  give  you  the  befc  m.an  in  my  canoe, 
*'  and  you  fhall  be  flaved  the  firft  fhip."  The  cap- 
tain upon  this  looked  into  Willy  Honefty's  canoe, 
picked  his  man,  and  delivered  the  other  in  his  (lead, 
when  his  head  was  immediately  ilruck  off  in  wlt- 
nefs's  fight. 

Believes  fome  other  cruelties  befides  this  particular 
adl  was  done,  becaufe  he  faw  blood  on  the  flarboard 
fide  of  the  mizen  mail,  though  he  does  not  recollect 
feeing  any  bodies  from  whence  the  blood  might  come-, 
and  others  in  the  other  fhips,  becauie  he  heard  fe- 
veral  muH^ets  or  piftols  fired  from,  them  at  the  fame 
time.  This  aflair  might  lail  ten  minutes.  Remem- 
bers a  four  pounder  fired  at  a  canoe,  but  knows  not 
if  any  damage  was  done. 
P.  387.  In  the  voyage  a  fickly  flave  got  through  the  ne- 
ceiTary,  and  in  fwimming  bore  herfelf  higher  upon 
the  v/ater  than  he  had  ever  feen  any  perfon :  the  cir- 
cumdance  being  told  the  captain,  he  faid,  ''  Damn 
^'  her,  let  her  go,  ilie  is  not  worth  picking  up,"  or 
fomething  to  that  purpofe. 

Recolle^cS 


Africa.  Millar,  157 

Recolle6ls  a  woman  Have  being  brought  on  board,  179^,  ! 
who  reru'ed  any  fuflenance,  neither  would  (lie  fpeak  ;Parc  11. 
fhe  was  then  ordered  the  thumb-i crews,  and  fuipended  -/^"-w 
in  the  mizen  rigging,  and  every  attempt  made  with 
the  cat  and  thofe  inilruments  they  have  generally  on 
board  ;  but  all  to  no  purpofe.    She  died  three  or  four 
days  afterwards.     He  was  told  by  fome  of  the  women 
flaves,  that  fhe  faid  the  night   before  fhe  died,  Ihe 
was  going  to  her  friends.  P.  j3^^ 

The  death  of  180  in  the  voyage  above  mentioned 
was  mouly  by  the  flux,  brought  on  he  believes  by 
their  being  fo  much  crowded  in  the  (liip :  he  had 
himfslf  the  care  of  the  men  (laves,  and  when  flowed, 
there  was  not  room  to  put  down  the  point  of  a  ilick. 
The  Ihip  might  be  between  500  and  600  tons.  The 
apartments  tor  the  flaves  were  very  difagreeable,  it 
could  not  be  otherwife,  being  fo  much  crowded;  but 
they  were  kept  as  clean  as  pofiible.  The  men  were 
generally  fettered.  The  flaves  appeared  generally. 
dejected  when  brought  on  board. 

They  were  frequently  made  to  dance,  or  jump  up 
and  down  in  their  irons  -,  if  unwilling,  they  w^ere  fre- 
quently compelled  to  do  it  by  the  cat. 

Recolkdts  no  inllances  of  frauds  praflifed  on  the 
natives. 

ihe  feamen,   in   the  African  fliips  in   which    he  P.  389. 
failed,  were  very  well  treated. 


End  cf  No.  3.— Part  II,   1790, 


Number  IV, 


ABRIDGMENT 


OF     THE 


MINUTES  OF  THE  EVIDENCE^ 

TAKEN    BEFORE    A 

COMMIH^EE  OF  THE  WHOLE  HOUSE, 

TO    WHOM    IT    WAS    REFERRED    TO    CONSIDER    OF    THE 

SLAVE-TRADE, 

1791. 


ABRID    GMENT 


OF     THE 


MINUTES  OF  THE  EVIDENCE, 

TAKEN     BEFORE     A 

Select  Committee  of  the  Whole  House, 

TO    WHOM    IT    WAS    REFERRED     TO     CONSIDER    OF     THE 

SLAVE-TRADE,   1790. 
Number     IV. 


Witnefs  Examined, — Richard  Storey, 

Mr.  Richard  Storey,  lieutenant  In  the  Royal  Navy, p.  j, 
having  been  from  1766  to  1770,  on  every  part  of  the 
coaft  from  S.  Leone  to  the  river  Sabon,  declares. 
That  {laves  are  generally  obtained  by  merauding  par- 
ties, from  one  village  to  another  in  the  night.  He 
has  alfo  known  canoes  come  from  a  diftance  and  carry 
off  numbers  in  the  night.  P,  4^ 

In  1769,  Captain  Paterfon,  of  a  Liverpool  fhip, 
lying  off  Brill ol  Town,  fet  two  villages  at  variance, 
and  bought  prifoners,  (near  a  dozen)  from  both 
fides.  While  refident  at  Briftol  Town,  on  the  W. 
Coall,  for  three  months,  he  was  in  many  villages,  but 
did  not  hear  of  any  pe -fons  being  carried  off^  on  other 
parts  of  the  coail  he  has. 

Has  gone  into  the  interiour  country  between  the  P.  j, 
Baffauand  the  river  Sellers;  and  all  the  nations  there 
go  armed  from  the  fear  of  merauding  parties  :  there 
Numb.  4.  A  were 


%  A  F  R I  c  a7  Storey. 

'791..  were  no  wild  beafts  to  alarm  them;  and  the  people 
i0^^r^^  there  have  informed  him,  that  they   have   obtained 
their  (laves  by  war ;  thefe  merauding  parties  are  con- 
fidered  by  them  as  war. 

He  was  twice  in  danger  from  thefe  parties  him- 
felf.  In  1767  he  was  put  into  a  trading  long-boat 
of  the  fhip  i  about  this  time  a  merauding  party  from 
Grand  Setters  had  come  in  canoes  and  attacked 
Grand  Cora  in  the  night,  and  taken  off  12  or 
Vm  6»  14  of  the  inhabitants ;  foon  after  which,  having  in 
his  boat  a  native  of  Grand  Sellers,  the  people  of 
Grand  Cora  came  to  the  boat  in  the  river  Sellers, 
and  told  the  mate  they  had  a  (lave  to  fell,  on  which 
he  went  afhore  with  them,  leaving  only  Mr.  Storey, 
a  boy,  and  the  black  man  in  the  boat.  In  about 
four  hours  after,  a  canoe  came  on  board  the  boat, 
with  the  four  men  that  the  mate  had  gone  with,  fay- 
ing, the  mate  was  in  another  canoe  in  fight ;  and 
taking  him  off  his  guard,  two  of  them  feized  him, 
while  the  other  two  got  the  black  man  overboard. 
Mr.  Storey  freed  himfelf,  and  drove  the  two  men 
overboard:  the  mate  lay  all  this  time  on  (hore 
tied  neck  and  heels,  which  confinement  was  occa- 
fioned  by  his  refufmg  either  to  give  up  the  native 
of  Grand  Seders,  or  pay  them  the  price  of  a  (lave  in 
goods.  This  black  man  had  before  told  of  this  ex- 
pedition of  his  countrymen  againft  Grand  Cora,  and 
P.  7.  often  declared  himfelf  afraid  to  go  on  fhore  for  that 
reafon  5  he  never  gave  it  to  be  underftood  that  there 
was  a  war  at  the  time  between  Grand  Sellers  and 
Grand  Cora  ;  the  only  reafon  he  affigned  for  the  ex- 
pedition was,  that  his  own  countrymen  were  poor. 
It  was  impoffible  that  there  co-jld  be  any  exiiiing 
wars  between  thefe  tvvo  people,  as  they  are  20  leagues 
afunder;  and  thofe  of  Grand  Cora,  not  having  canoes 
to  carry  more  than  two  or  three  men,  never  go  to 
fea  but  to  fifh  :  the  canoes  of  Grand  Sellers  carry 
12  or  14  men,  and  with  thefe  go  meraudmg  among 
their  neighbours.  He  has  feen  them  at  fea  out  of 
fight  of  land  in  the  day,  and  taking  the  opportunity 
of  night  to  land  v/here  they  pleafed^ 


W.Indies.  Storey.  c 

It  is  his  opinion  that  the  natives  are  often  fraudii-  i^qj, 
lently  caried  off  by  the  Europeans  :  he  has  been  told  [^-y\^ 
by  them,  that  they  have  loll:  their  friends  at  different 
times,  and  fuppofed  them  taken  by  European  ihips 
going  along  the  coad.  He  has  himfelf  taken  up  ca- 
noes, which  were  challenged  by  the  natives,  who  fup- 
pofed the  men  in  them  had  been  taken  off  the  day 
before  by  a  Dutchman. 

That  the  natives  retaliate  fuch  injuries  Is  proved 
from  the  following  fadls :  When  lying  to  an  anchor 
in  his  boat  between  the  river  Seders  and  Settra  Crue, 
a  Dutch  Ihip  running  down  the  coaft  fent  her  long- 
boat to  where  he  was,  to  buy  vegetables,  &c.  When 
come  to  an  anchor,  a  number  of  canoes  came  about  P.  8. 
the  two  boats,  and  one  of  the  head  men  of  the  place 
wifhed  him  to  go  away,  as  they  waited  to  take  the 
Dutch  boat  and  kill  the  crew.  As  a  reafon,  they 
told  him  that  a  Dutch  lliip  fome  days  before  had 
taken  four  men  belonging  to  the  place. 

Afterwards,  in  1768,  being  driven  by  contrary 
winds,  in  a  coafting  ihip  in  which  he  was  a  pafTcnger 
into  the  river  Angra,  as  there  appeared  a  profped  of 
trade,  they  ftaid  there.  The  fecond  day,  two  canoes 
with  12  or  14  men  each  came  on  board  with  two  men 
bound,  to  fell.  Having  agreed  for  one  of  them  he 
went  down  for  irons  to  put  him  into ;  but  in  coming 
up  again  was  feized,  with  the  mailer  of  the  boat  and 
another  white  man,  whofe  throats  were  immediately 
cut.  He  got  clear  of  thofe  who  feized  him,  but 
could  not  get  upon  deck.  Half  an  hour  after,  be- 
ing covered  with  wounds,  and  weak  with  the  lofs  of 
blood,  he  propofed  to  give  up  both  boat  and  cargo  if 
fuffered  to  go  to  Gaboon,  to  which  they  agreed,  and 
then  helping  h;m  up  on  deck  they  dripped  him 
naked,  put  him  into  a  canoe,  and  took  him  on  ihore 
to  their  town.  The  reafon  they  gave  for  this  Wcts, 
that  a  ihip  from  Liverpool  (name  forgotten,  the 
captain's  name  Lambert)  had  lome  time  before  taken 
a  canoe  full  of  their  townfmen  and  carried  her  away. 
He  heard  the  fame  thmg  afterwards  at  Gaboon. 

A  2  He 


4  Africa.  Storey. 

17 91.       He  has  been  at  Old  Calabar,   where   flaves   are 
Vor^  brought  down  the  river  in  war  canoes,  carrying  up- 
wards of  50  men  armed,  and  a  three  01  four  pounder 
in  the  bow. 
p.  p.  Captain  Jeremiah  Smith,  in  the  London,  in  iy66^ 

having  a  difpute  with  the  natives  of  Newtown  Old 
Calabar  concerning  the  ftated  price  which  he  was  to 
give  for  flaves,  for  feveral  days  flopped  every  canoe 
coming  down  the  creek  from  Newtown,  and  alfo 
fired  feveral  guns  indifcriminately  over  the  woods 
into  the  town  till  he  brought  them  to  his  own  terms. 
He  looks  upon  the  natives  of  the  Windward  Coail 
to  be  in  general  a  hofpitable  friendly  people,  always 
willing  to  fell  what  they  have,  and  alfo  to  give  the  bed 
provifions  the  country  affords.  The  men  in  general 
are  very  adive  and  induftrious,  and  chiefly  employed 
in  fiihing,  and  trade  with  the  Europeans  •,  the  wo-^ 
men  chiefly  in  cultivating  rice  and  other  vegetables. 
Old  men  alfo  taken  by  merauding  parties,  and  not 
faleable,  they  are  put  into  their  plantations;  and  to 
'  this  employment  he  believes  that  flaves  refufed  by 
the  Europeans  as  too  old  for  fervice  are  commonly 
deflined,  having  feen  many  fuch  at  this  work. 

On  the  Rice  Coafl,  great  quanities  of  rice  are  fol4 
to  the  Europeans,  the  natives  in  parties  of  eight  or 
ten  bring  it  from  the  interiour  country,  three  or  four 
P,  10.  days  journey ;  he  has  known  them  take  back  fait 
and  other  European  goods  in  return,  and  has  every 
reafon  to  believe,  that  if  there  was  nobody  to  pur- 
chafe  Oaves,  they  would  turn  themfeives  to  cultivate 
their  ground,  and  raife  rice,  &c.  to  purchafe  Eu- 
ropean goods.  The  quality  of  African  rice  is  far 
fuperiour  to  that  of  Carolina^  bearing  one-fourth 
more  water. 

The  natives  carry  on  their  heads  from  40  to  60 16; 
has  heard  trom  them  they  go  more  than  a  month's 
journey  inland  with  various  articles  from  the  coaft, 
and  has  feen  parties  of  more  than  20  together  men 
and  women  employed  in  carrying  them. 

In 


Africa*  Stored. 

In  every  thing  they  deal  in,  Europeans  defraud  1791. 
the  natives,  adulterate  fpirits  with  water,  and  then 
heat  it  with  pepper,  and  iuch  guns  have  been  ibid 
to  them,  that  he  has  feen  many  with  their  barrels 
burll  and  thrown  away  ;  he  has  alfo  feen  feveral  na- 
tives without  fingers  and  thumbs,  blown  off,  as  they 
faid,  by  the  burfling  of  thefe  guns. 

He  has  been  in  the  Wed  Indies,  and  has  there  at  P.  ii, 
St.  Chriilopher's,  and  part  of  Grenada,  feen  furfs  as 
high,  and  higher  than  in  Africa.  At  Madras  in  the 
Eaft  Indies  much  higher,  for  a  longer  time  than  on 
the  Windward  Coaft,  where  there  is  no  place  (except 
where  fometimes  for  a  day  or  two  the  furf  is  too 
high,)  boats  are  not  continually  loading  in  mod 
places  in  Africa,  fome  rocks  or  points  of  land  break 
the  furf,  which  is  not  the  cafe  in  the  cleai"  and  open 
coafb  of  Corom.andel.  Goods  are  landed  every  where 
along  the  coaft  •,  has  feen  them  fomei  imes  wet,  but  ne- 
ver loft.  They  do  not  ufe  the  fame  expedients  here 
for  loading  and  unloading  boats  that  are  ufed  in 
the  Weft  Indies. 

In  his  firft  voyage  to  Old  Calabar  the  flaves  at- 
tempted to  rife,  but  did  not  fucceed.  In  the  year 
1769,  a  Liverpool  ftiip  between  Cape  Mount  and 
Meluradej  had  every  perfon  killed  by  an  infurredlion, 
except  one  boy. 

In  the  Ihips  he  failed  in,  the  men  flaves  were  al-P.  I2, 
ways  kept  in  irons  dunng  the  Middle  Paflage. 

In  the  Regus,  firft  ftiip  he  had  failed  in,  provifions 
were  plenty.  In  the  fecond,  the  Tyger  of  White- 
haven, the  feamen  in  ten  days  after  laiiing  were  put 
to  an  allowance  of  4  lb.  of  bread  per  week,  and 
half  a  pound  of  beef  or  pork  per  day,  which  was  the 
whole  fare  for  nine  months  -,  he  has  but  little  com- 
plaint to  make  of  ill  ufage  againft  the  fhips  in  which 
he  failed. 

Think  the  flave  trade  very  unhealthy  in  the  rivers, 
but  not  on  the  open  coaft;  they  buried  14  out  of 
32  the  firft  voyage  in  Calabar  river  ;  and  in  the 
Tyger  in  nine  months^  fivQ  or  fix  out  of  28.    In  three 

voyages 


6  Africa.  Storey. 

1791.  voyages  to  Virginia  they  buried  one  man;  in  five 
Vrr^  Baltic  voyages  not  one  •,  in  one  to  the  fouthern  whale 
fifhery  none;  and  in  two  Mediterranean  none.  Of 
the  three  Virginia  voyages,  the  firit  was  11  months  ; 
the  other  two  about  feven  months  each.  The  num- 
ber of  men  in  each  16.  The  fouthern  whale  fifhing 
voyage  was  of  11  months. 
P.  13.  In  the  Tyger  the  bread  was  tolerable,  the  beef  and 
pork  fo  faked  that  in  boiling  they  ihrunk  to  half 
this  weight.  Having  once  in  this  vefTel,  when  hand- 
ing rice  to  the  (laves  taken  a  handful  for  his  own 
ufe,  he  was  unmercifully  beaten  with  a  rope ;  he  has 
known  others  who  had  done  the  fame  thing  through 
hunger,  treated  for  it  in  the  fame  manner. 

As  an  inftance  of  fimilar  ill  treatment  in  other 
fiave  fhips,  he  fays,  that  lying  in  the  Tyger  at  BafTau, 
he  heard  the  failors  of  three  different  (hips  complain 
heavily  of  their  provifion,  as  being  bad^  and  infuf- 
ficient  in  quantity  j  thefe  were,  the  Lancaihire  Witch, 
Captain  Coil ;  the  Lilly,  Captain  Scragham ;  and 
the  Violet,  Browne,  notorious  all  for  bad  provifions 
P.  14.  and  ill  ufage ;  he  has  feen  the  failors  of  each  un- 
mercifully beaten  for  the  moft  trifling  offences ; 
knocked  down  with  handfpikes,  or  any  other  thing 
that  came  in  the  Captain's  or  officers  way  that  took 
offence  at  the  men.  One  man  he  faw  in  the  Lanca- 
ihire Witch  confined  for  fome  trifle,  with  an  iron 
collar  on  his  right  leg  and  arm  fhackled,  and  then 
chained  to  a  ring-bolt  on  the  deck,  where  he  remam- 
ed  a  confiderable  time  in  this  condition  without  any 
other  allowance  but  bread  and  water. 


Witnefs  Examined, — James  Towne. 


P.  15.  Mr.  James  Towne,  carpenter  of  His  Majefly's 
fhip  -^yren,  made  a  voyage  1760  to  the  Ifles  de  Los 
on  board  the  Peggy,  Captain  Cuthbert  Davis,  about 
140  or  150  tonsj    and  another  in  1767  to  Grand 

Cape 


Africa;  Storey. 

Cape  Mount,  in  the  Sally,  Captain  George  Evans,  1791 
above  200  tons.  The  firft  voyage  he  remained  be-  Vi^nr* 
tween  feven  and  eight  months  on  the  coaft,  then  a 
boy ;  the  fecond  as  carpenter,  (laid  more  than  fix 
months.  He  was  moftly  on  fhore  three  months  to- 
gether in  the  firft  voyage ;  in  the  fecond,  for  five  or 
fix  weeks  at  a  time.  Repeated  ill  treatment  was  the 
occafion  of  his  being  fo  long  on  fhore,  for  having 
gone  ia  the  trading  fhallop,  he  run  away ;  he  went 
into  the  back  country  among  the  inhabitants  for  fome 
time  to  conceal  himfelf,  and  was  up  the  rivers  and 
inland  together,  upwards  of  between  300  and  400 
miles. 

The  natural  produ6lions  of  Africa  are  rice  and 
yams  in  abundance,  plantanes,  bananas,  and  all 
other  tropical  fruits  j  plenty  of  camwood  and  ele- 
phants teeth ',  fome  tobacco,  cultivated  by  natives 
who  had  been  in  England,  but  not  yet  fkilfully 
cured.  Great  quantities  of  fugar-cane,  long  pepper  ; 
a  bark  like  cinnamon  ;  cotton  in  abundance,  and  of- 
ten beautifully  manufadlured  into  cloth  ;  a  fine  blue 
dye  ',  beautiful  woods  for  cabinet-makers ;  wax, 
ivory,  palm-oil,  palm-wine,  and  Indian  corn. 

The  natives  are  hofpitable  and  kind,  and  capable 
of  learning  quicker  than  white  men.  They  differ  as 
our  own  people  in  charadler,  thofe  on  the  coaft  learn 
to  be  roguifli ;  inland  they  are  innocent.  The  in- 
tercourfe  with  Europeans  has  improved  them  in 
roguery,  to  plunder  and  fteal,  and  pick  up  one  ano- 
ther to  fell. 

Slaves  in  Africa  were  never  ill  ufed  by  their  ownp,  j5 
people,  but  when  bought  by  white  traders  they  were 
ufed  rather  worfe  there  than  when  on  board. 

He  has  feen  both  men  and  women  cultivating  the 
lands,  but  not  often  the  women. 

Vvhen  a  Ihip  arrives  (he  makes  prefents  to  the 
traders,  to  encourage  them  to  bring  any  perfon  down 
to  lell  as  a  (lave,  and  they  often  pledge  their  own  re- 
lauons  till  they  procure  the  fldtves  wanted.  i  he 
blacK  kings  h^ivc  told  him,  that  they  go  to  war  on 

purpofe 


5  Africa.  Towne. 

1791.  purpofe  to  get  flaves,  and  he  has  feen  the  prifoners, 
(the  men  bound,  the  women  and  children  loofe)  de- 
livered up  to  the  white  traders,  or  driven  in  gangs 
of  two  or  three  hundred  for  fale  to  the  water  fide* 
He  has  known  them  go  in  gangs  merauding  and 
catching  all  they  could.  In  the  Galenas  river  he 
knew  an  inilance  of  four  blacks  who  took  a  man  that 
had  been  to  fell  one  or  more  flaves^  plundered  and 
Uripped  him  naked,  and  brought  him  to  the  trading 
fhaliop  and  fold  him.  The  people  on  board  did  not 
Ufideriland  his  language,  nor  imagine  why  he  feemed 
fo  call  dov/n  as  they  all  are,  but  king  Battou  coming 
on  board  and  knowing  the  man,  inquired  the  caufe 
of  his  being  there  as  a  (lave  5  he  related  the  circum- 
flanee  •,  a  guard  of  grumettas,  with  fome  of  Towne's 
people,  were  fent  after  the  blacks  to  take  them,  but 
did  not  fucceed*  They  could  not  make  the  man  eat, 
not  even  by  flogging;  they  then  put  him  irons,  and 
in  a  little  time  he  died.  He  believes  the  Haves  fome- 
times  become  io  for  crimes,  as  murder,  theft,  and  adul- 
tery; the  the  laft,  if  properly  proved,  is  often  pu- 
nifhed  with  death. 
17.  He  has  repeatedly  heard  both  from  the  accufed 
and  accufers  rhemlelves,  and  he  believes  it  common 
on  the  coaft,  to  impute  crimes  falfely  for  the  fake  of 
having  the  accufed  perfon  fold.  One  inftance  of  a 
woman  fold  by  her  hufband  for  adultery,  and  whom 
he  himfelf  brought  off  to  the  boat,  and  from  her  la- 
mentations, and  by  her  declaration,  that  fhe  knew 
not  what  fhe  was  accufed  of,  he  thinks  he  has  reafon 
for  imagining  the  crime  imputed  falfely.  Mr.  Mur- 
ray, formerly  of  Bance  ifland,  Mr.  Wood,  his  partner; 
Mr  Jenkins  and  Mr.  Power,  being  to  the  windward  of 
Bance  Ifland,  all  told  him  that  it  was  not  an  uncom- 
mon thing  to  bring  on  palavers  to  make  flaves,  and 
be  believes  it  trom  the  information  of  the  flaves  af- 
terwards when  brought  down  the  country  and  put  on 
board  the  (hips. 

Slaves  are  brought  from  the  country  very  diftant 
ffom  the  coait,     The  king  of  Barra  has  informed 

him. 


A  F  R  1  e  A.  T  O  W  N  E, 

iilm,  that  on  the  arrival  of  a  fhip  he  has  gone  300  1791 
or  q.00  miles  up  the  country  with  his  guard,  and  v-^v^ 
driven  down  200  or  300  (laves  to  the  Tea  fide.  From 
Marraba,  king  of  the  Mundingoes^  he  has  heard  that 
they  had  marched  them  out  of  the  country  more 
than  700  miles,  that  they  had  gone  wood  ranging  to 
pick  up  every  one  they  met  with,  whom  they  flrip- 
ped  naked,  and  if  men,  bound  •,  but  if  women, 
brought  down  loofe  •,  this  he  had  from  themleives, 
and  alio  that  they  often  went  to  war  with  the  Ballam 
nation  on  purpofe  to  get  flaves.  They  boailed  that 
they  fhould  foon  have  a  fine  parcel  for  the  flialiops, 
and  the  fuccefs  often  anfwered. 

He  was  once  prefent  with  part  of  the  crew  at  anP.  iS. 
•expedition  undertaken  by  the  w^hites  for  the  purpofe  of 
feizing  negroes,  and  joined  by  other  boats  to  receive 
thofe  they  could  catch.  To  prevent  all  alarm,  they 
bound  their  mouths  with  oakum  and  handkerchiefs  ; 
one  woman  fhneked,  and  the  men  turned  out  in  de- 
fence. He  had  then  five  tied  in  the  boat,  and  the 
other  boats  were  in  readinefs  to  take  in  what  more 
they  could  get  -,  all  his  party  were  armed,  and  the 
men  of  the  town  purfued  chem  with  firft  a  fcatter'ng, 
and  at  length  a  general  fire,  and  feveral  of  the  men 
belonging  to  the  boats,  he  has  reafon  to  believe, 
•were  killed,  wounded,  or  taken,  as  he  never  heard 
of  them  afterwards.  He  was  wounded  himfelfi 
What  became  of  the  other  boats,  he  knows  not,  for 
he  knew  nothing  of  the  expedition,  until  ordered  to 
take  command  of  the  boat,  which  though  then  he 
thought  it  a  fport,  he  was  afterwards  forry  for  havmg 
done.  The  flaves  he  had  taken,  were  fold  an 
Charlefton,  South  Carolina.  The  natives  had  not 
previoully  committed  any  hoftilities  againfl:  any  of 
the  fhips,  whofe  boats  were  concerned  in  this  tranf- 
a6lion  ;  they  owed  goods  to  the  captain,  for  which 
he  refolved  to  obtain  llaves  at  any  rate.  He  has  had 
feveral  Ihipmates,  who  have  themfelves  told  him, 
they  have  been  concerned  in  fimiiar  tranfadions,  and 
Numb.  4.  B  have 


ip  Africa.  T  o  w  n  e. 

I79i«  have  made  a  boafl  of  it,  and  who  have  been  wound- 
*-v*^  ed  alfo. 

The  Europeans  endeavour  to  cheat  the  natives ; 
they  adulterate  their  liquors,  and  in  buying  and  fel- 
ling ufe  different  weights,  to  which  they  give  the 
fame  appearance,  by  cafmg  a  Hone  and  a  piece  of 
P.  19,  lead  alike  in  brafs  ;  he  kept  fuch  himfelf,  and  ufed 
them  in  dealing  for  wax,  teeth,  &c.  by  order  of  his 
commanding  officer,  whom  he  has  alfo  repeatedly 
feen  do  it  himfelf. 

The  natives  brought  to  the  coafl  appear  not  to 
come  on  board  willingly  -,  on  the  contrary,  they  come 
down  with  a  guard,  and  are  forced  into  the  boats. 

When  on  board,  they  are  always  fettered  with  leg 
Ihackles  and  handcuffs,  two  and  two,  right  and  left. 
They  lie  in  a  crowded  and  cramped  ftate,  having 
neither  their  length  nor  breadth,  in  a  fpace  by  no 
means  fufficient  for  their  health;  and  fuch  is  their 
fufFocated  flate  below,  that  he  has  knov/n  them  go 
down  well,  and  in  the  morning  be  brought  up  dead. 
When  they  come  on  deck,  they  are  all  in  a  dew  fweat, 
from  the  tarpawlings  being  laid  over  the  gratings  in 
bad  weather.  The  height  between  decks  in  the 
Peggy  (tonnage  140  or  150,  fee  p.  15  at  the  top) 
was  about  4  feet,  and  in  the  Sally,  4  feet  4  or  5. 
The  Peggy  took  on  board  about  230  negroes;  the 
boys  room  only  had  a  platform :  between  50  and  60 
P.  20.  of  the  cargo  died.  There  were  25  feamen,  he  does 
not  recoiled  above  6  or  7  dying. 

The  Sally  (better  than  200  tons,  p.  15,  at  top)  had 
platforms  in  boys  and  womens  rooms,  and  the  aft  part 
of  mens.  The  cargo  was  nearly  400,  of  whom  about 
60  died.  The  crew  confifled  of  40  men,  of  whom 
above  30  died.  They  were  forced  to  get  men  from 
other  fliips  on  the  coaft;  out  of  6  mates,  not  i  lived. 

Something  better  than  a  pint  of  water,  after  they 
are  fed,  ferved  at  twice,  w^as  the  daily  allowance  of  a 
Have;  and  after  being  fed  in  the  afternoon,  the  boat- 
fwain  taking  one,  and  the  mate  the  other  fide  of  the 
deck,  they  are  made  to  dance,  and  flogged  with  a 

cat 


Africa;  T  o  w  n  e.  It 

cat  if  they  do  not.  In  fine  weather  they  are  brought  i79i- 
on  deck  between  eight  and  nine  in  the  morning,  and 
put  down  again  at  four,  there  to  remain  until  next 
dav.  He  has  known  them  refufe  their  food  in  con- P.  2i, 
fequence  of  being  confined  ;  ill  treated,  to  induce 
them  to  eat ;  they  are  flogged,  and  put  into  irons 
feparartrl  v'  ;  both  their  hands  handcuffed,  both  legs 
ilicickicd,  a  collar  round  their  neck,  with  a  chain, 
and  often  the  thumb-fcrew  applied,  to  take  the  flub- 
bornnefs  out  of  them.  This  was  his  talk,  and  fome- 
timcs,  from  their  ill  treatment,  they  attempted  to 
jump  overboard ;  at  others,  have  gone  mad,  and 
died  in  that  fituation.  They  often  fall  fick,  fome- 
times  owing  to  their  crowded  ftate,  but  moftly  to 
grief,  for  being  carried  away  from  their  country  and 
friends,  which  being  very  well  acquainted  with  their 
language,  he  knows  from  frequent  inquiries  into  the 
circumttances  of  their  grievous  complaints.  He  has 
known  them  attempt  to  rife  on  board,  and  on  in- 
quiry into  the  caufe,  has  been  afked  what  bufinefs  we 
had  to  carry  them  from  their  country  •,  they  had  wives 
and  children  they  wanted  to  be  with.  To  check 
them,  they  are  put  fingly  into  irons  and  flogged. 
He  nas  known  women  with  infants  on  board,  two  P.  21. 
particularly,  who,  when  their  infants  died,  grieved  P.  ^2. 
after  them,  and  died  themfelves.  Guinea  captains 
feldom  buy  women  with  children.  Has  heard  the 
flaves  finging,  but  their  fongs  were  lamentations.  A 
flave  kidnapped  or  fold,  contrar/  to  the  cudom.  of 
the  country,  to  the  fhips,  cannot  complain  to  the 
black  traders  on  board,  for  thefe  traders  never  fee 
the  main  deck,  nor  even  fpeak  to  the  women  abaft, 
left  they  might  make  fignals  to  rife.  When  canoes 
come  to  the  fhip,  no  flave  on  the  main  deck  can 
look  over  the  (hip's  fide;  two  officers  ftand  with 
cats  to  prevent  them,  and  this  prevents  their  feeking 
releafe.  A  barricado  of  great  ftrength,  cuts  off"  all 
intercourfe  between  perfons  on  the  main  deck  and 
thofe  in  the  after  part  of  the  fhip;  the  women  and 
the  men  thus  cannot  fee  one  another. 

B  2  When 


A  F  R  I  C  A»  T  O  W  N  E, 

When  fick,  in  the  vefTels  he  failed  in,  the  negroes 
were  put  forward,  which  was  confidered  the  iliip's 
hofpital  J  and  though  fometimes  medicines  are  given^ 
and  fometimes  forced  down,  they  are  in  general  but 
indifferently  attended,  fo  that  they  often  die  in  their 
own  filth.  They  are  feldom  long  fick  before  they 
die.  Never  faw  one  fea  fick.  Small  attention,  con-= 
finement  below,  and  the  fituation  of  being  fla*  es,  he 
'  fuppofes  the  cai^fe  of  this  rapid  death  of  the  fick. 
He  looks  on  their  dying  as  partly  due  to  want  of  at- 
tention.; in  one  inflance  there  was  no  furgeon  oi^ 
board, 

P.  24.  Mr.  Towne  has  been  in  the  Wefl  Indies;  at  Bar- 
badoes  for  near  a  year,  in  1779  and  1780;  in  An- 
tigua for  about  15  months,  in  1780  and  178 1 ;  for 
a  months  at  St.  Kitt's,  in  1781  ;  and  a  little  whilp 
in  Jamaica,  in  1782.  He  was  in  many  plantations 
at  Barbadoes,  particularly  Mr.  Gibfon*s  and  Mr. 
Bifhop's;  on  Mr.  Tyrrel's  and  Sir  John  Laforey's, 
at  Antigua,  and  on  fhore  at  St.  Kitts  and  Jamaica. 
Slaves  are  fold  in  the  Wefb  Indies  fometimes  by 
vendue,  fometimes  in  lots;  thofe  of  the  veirels  in 
^hich  he  v/as,  were  fold  to  the  befl  bidder,  and  fome- 
times in  lots;  he  never  heard  of  any  care  taken  to 
prevent  the  feparation  of  relations  and  friends.  Re- 
fufe  flaves  are  fuch  as  are  fickly  from  any  caufe; 
they  are  often  kept  on  board  to  fatten  them  for  fale^ 
but  if  they  do  not  recover,  they  are  fold  then  to  any- 
body, fome  even  fo  low  as  a  guinea. 

p.  25,   '    The  (laves  in  the  Weft  Indies  work  from  four  in 
the  morning,  till  very  late  in  the  evening;  if  they 
come  but  a  irioment  after  their  time,  they  are  flog- 
ged with  whips  by  the  drivers,  to  whom  they  mufl  | 
come  ready  ftripped   for   their  punifhment,  to  fave  | 
time.     Som.e,  though  lame,  are  obliged  to  work;  if  ; 
they  complain,  they  are  called  lazy,  and  flogged  by 
the  driver.'    Has  fcen  (laves  laid  down  and  ftretched 
out  to  four  ftakes  in  the  ground,  and  fo  receiving  40 
or  50  lafnes.     He  has  i^een  them  fwang  up  to  a  crane, 
with  weights  at  their  feet  to  ftretch  them,  fo  as  to 

enlarge 


Africa.  T  o  w  n  e#  I  j 

^enlarge  the  wounds  of  the  whip;  men  and  women  1791. 
alike.  After  flogging,  they  bring  ebony  fwitches,  ^^'-^r^ 
full  of  thorns,  and  with  thefe  flog  them  again,  to 
let  out  the  bruifed  blood.  To  encreafe  the  feverity, 
they  ufe  a  manner  of  whipping,  which  they  call 
.crofTing.  They  then  pickle  them,  to  keep  flies  from 
blowing,  and  maggots  from  breeding  in  their 
wounds.  A  jumper  who  goes  from  houfe  to  houfe 
for  employment,  inflids  thefe  punilhments  at  Bridge- 
town, Barbadoes,  and  St.  John's,  Antigua.  In  the 
plantations,  a  black  called  the  boatfwain  of  the  plan- 
tation inflifts  them,  under  the  manager's  diredtion. 
The  marks  of  former  whippings  he  has  alfo  obferv-P,  26, 
ed  in  a  large  proportion  of  the  plantation  (laves ; 
there  are  in  general  fcarce  any  without  a  number  of 
them.  They  are  nearly  as  large  as  a  man's  finger 
above  the  (kin. 

Mr.  Bifhop  told  him,  that  in  his  plantation,  at 
Speight's  Town,  in  Barbadoes,  they  had  not  bought 
a  Guinea  negro  for  upwards  of  40  years,  and  that 
by  good  ufage  there  were  a  great  many  more  now 
there  than  then.  Mr,  Bifhop  told  him,  the  encreafe 
was  due  to  more  having  been  born,  than  had  died 
on  his  eftate.  Knows  of  no  encouragement  given 
to  the  marriage  of  flaves. 

Seamen  are  procured  at  Liverpool  for  the  Have 
fliips,  by  merchants  clerks,  who  intoxicate  them  in 
publick  houi'es,  and  fo  get  them  on  board.  The 
publicans  alio  get  them  in  their  debt,  and  if  they  re- 
fufe  a  Guineaman,  fend  them  to  gaol;  the  Guinea?*  27. 
captains  are  then  informed,  that  if  they  want  men, 
they  may  have  fo  many,  for  paying  thefe  debts ;  and 
if  then  they  agree  to  go,  they  are  fent  on  board,  and 
never  fuftered  to  come  out  of  the  fhip  again  ;  if  not, 
they  remain  in  a  gaol  on  a  very  fcanty  allowances 
has  known  many  mltances  himfelf. 

On  board  the  veiTels  in  which  he  fiiled,  feamen 
vvere  ti-eated  with  the  greateft  inhumanity,  in  the 
Peggy,  captain  Davis ;  for  inftance,  they  were  fo  foon 
as  when  round  the  rock  of  Liverpool,  brought  to  an 

allowance 


i4  Africa.  T  o  w  n  e» 

1791.  allowance  of  four  pound  of  bread  per  week;  their 
^'"""^'^  chcfts  were  ftaved  and  burnt,  and  thennfelves  turned 
out  from  lying  below.  If  any  murmured,  they  were 
inhumanely  beaten  with  any  thing  that  came  in  the 
way,  or  fiogged,  both  legs  put  in  irons,  and  chained 
abaft  to  the  pumps,  and  there  made  to  work  points 
and  gafkets.  The  captain,  as  he  palfed  by,  repeat- 
edly kicked  them,  and  if  offended  at  any  thing  they 
faid,  immediately  called  for  a  ftick  to  beat  them,  and 
put  their  necks  in  an  iron  collar,  with  a  chain.  On 
thecoaft  of  Guinea,  if  not  releafed  before  their  arri- 
val, they  were  made  to  row  in  boats  back  and  for- 
ward, or  any  duty,  in  all  their  irons,  and  the  chain 
locked  to  the  boat,  and  at  night,  when  returned  to 
the  fhip,  they  were  locked  fafl:  to  the  open  deck,  ex- 
pofed  to  the  heavy  rain  and  dews,  without  any  thing 
to  lie  on,  or  cover  them.  This  was  a  common  prac- 
tice, but  he  adds,  that  not  any  of  them  died  in  this 
fituation. 
P.  28.  On  board  the  Sally  alfo,  where  the  ill  treatment 
v/as  general,  one  of  the  feamen  had  both  his  legs  in 
irons,  a  collar  on  his  neck,  and  was  chained  to  the 
boat  for  three  months,  and  when  he  complained,  was 
often  beaten  mofl  inhumanly,  by  both  the  captain 
and  other  officers.  He  grew  at  length  too  weak  to 
fit  and  row.  He  was  then  taken  on  board  the  lliip, 
and  made  to  pick  oakum,  with  only  three  pound  of 
bread  per  week,  and  one-half  pound  of  fait  beef  per 
day  ;  his  legs  remained  in  irons,  but  the  collar  was 
taken  off  the  latter  part  of  the  time.  One  evening, 
on  the  Middle  PaiTage,  coming  aft  to  beg  for  fome- 
thing  to  eat,  or  he  fliouid  die,  the  captain  inhuman- 
ly beat  him,  and  then  ordered  him  to  go  forward  and 
die  and  be  damned  ;   the  man  died  that  night. 

One  Edward  Flilton  alio,  being  out  in  the  boat 
watering,  complained  of  being  long  without  meat  or 
drink,  on  which  the  boatfwain  beat  and  cut  his  head, 
with  the  tiller.  When  he  came  on  board  all  bloody, 
and  was  telling  his  fbory  to  Mr.  Towne,  the  mate 
(by  tliQ  captain's  order)  with  the  furgeoa  and  boat- 
fwain. 


Africa.  T  o  w  n  e;  §f 

fwain,  came  forward,  and  beat  him  with  canes  (which  179^* 
they  call  ferving  out  grog)  the  furgeon's  cane  flruck  *— ->r*-* 
his  eye,  which  mortified,  and  Vv'as  totally  loll.  His 
legs,  when  unable  to  ftand,  were  then  put  in  irons, 
and  next  morning  he  was  fent  in  his  irons,  on  the 
fame  duty  in  the  boat,  to  which  he  was  locked  witii 
a  chain,  until  he  was  unable  to  remain  any  longer; 
he  was  then  taken  on  board,  and  dill  in  irons,  laid 
forwards,  and  by  the  furgeon's  advice,  his  allowance 
was  flopped.  Hilton  lying  before  the  mafl  almoft 
dead,  and  Mr.  Towne  having  received  orders  to  go 
in  the  fhallop  to  Jack  River,  when  under  weigh,  the 
commander  of  the  fhallop  was  ordered  to  bring  to, 
to  take  Hilton  in,  and  to  leave  him  on  fhore  any 
where  i  he  died  early  next  morning.  Two  brothers, P,  2^, 
William  and  John  Walker,  were  equally  ill  ufed. 

The  general  provifions  of  the  crew  were  three 
pound  of  bread  per  week,  and  half  a  pound  of  fait 
beef  perday.  Water  they  had  from  the  gun  barrel, 
lafhed  to  the  topmaft  crofs-trees,  which  ev^ery  one 
was  to  take  down  for  himfelf  ^  he  was  himfelf  punifli- 
ed  for  giving  the  barrel  to  another  halfway  up, 

Capcain  Colly,  on  board  the  Hare  Snow,  (as  he 
heard  from  the  people  of  the  fliip  at  different  times) 
killed  his  carpenter,  carpenter's  mate,  cook,  and 
another  man,  and  when  the  crew  complained  of  thefe 
murders  in  Virginia,  they  were  not  redreffed,  but 
fent  on  board,  or  threatened  with  the  cowfkin,  39 
ladies,  the  general  punifhment  of  Guinea  feamen, 
who  are  fuppofed  to  offend.  He  has  feen  many 
fhips,  and  always  found  the  fame  treatment  as  in  his 
own. 

Captain  Scrogham,  of  the  Lilly  Snow,  inllead  of 
complying  with  the  requefl  of  a  fick  man,  who  came 
aft  for  fomething  to  eat,  ordered  him  to  be  imme- 
diately flripped,  and  feized  to  the  main  llirouds, 
with  his  feet  clear  of  the  deck;  he  then  ilripped 
him  himfelf  to  the  fhirt,  and  flogged  him  feveral 
times  with  a  cat,  the  man  flill  hanging  by  his  hands; p.  jo, 
when  tired,  he  called  on  his  oi5cei:s  to  fioe:,  but  they 
^  ^  refuied, 


t&  A  F  R  r  C  A. 


OWNS. 


1 79 1,  refufed,  on  which  he  made  the  men  (laves  come  off 
^""y^  the  main  deck,  and  flog  him  until  he  was  dead. 
The  fhip  was  then  along-fide  the  wharf  of  Charle- 
Hon,  South  Carolina,  where  feme  of  the  crew  com- 
ing on  Hiore  with  the  furgeon  and  mate,  who  was  the 
captain's  brother,  reported  the  murder ;  the  corpfe 
being  brought  on  fhore  next  morning,  Mr.  Towne 
and  many  others,  flopped  and  examined  it,  and  had 
a  coroner's  inqueft,  which  brought  in  a  verdi6b  of 
wilful  murder,  through  the  evidence  of  the  furgeon 
and  the  captam's  own  brother.  Lord  Charles  Mon- 
tague, the  Governor,  fent  officers  on  board  to  take, 
and  confine  the  captain  in  gaol,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done,  but  for  want  of  evidence  he  was  after- 
wards acquitted. 

He  has  {een  failors  apparently  difeafed  and  dif- 
abled,  wandering  about  in  the  Weft  Indies,  with  fore 
legs,  which  is  common  in  Guineamen,  emaciated ; 
he  has  known  them  turned  afhore  by  the  captains, 
and  lie  upon  the  beach  and  the  wharfs,  where  many' 
have  died,  as  he  has  feen.  They  are  called  whar- 
fingers ;  none  chufe  to  employ  them  for  their  wretch- 
ed appearance,  and  thus  they  are  left  deftitute  of 
fupport.  He  was  himfelf  thus  left  on  fhore,  with- 
out money  or  friends,  at  Charlefton,  Soutii  Carolina, 
with  two  others,  who  died.  That  thefe  failors  came 
from  the  (lave  fhips  he  knows,  from  having  inquir- 
ed ',  but  without  inquiry,  they  are  eafy  to  know,  from 
the  abje6l  ftate  of  their  appearance. 
P.  31.  He  has  repeatedly  known  Guinea  failors  jump 
overboard,  and  even  from  fhips  he  belonged  to,  on 
the  Guinea  coaft,  where  fharks  abounded.  Some 
have  fucceeded  in  getting  away,  but  on  the  offer  of 
a  large  reward,  which  was  afterwards  charged  agaiiifl 
their  wages,  have  been  brought  back  by  the  natives, 
and  immediately  punifhed  inhumanly  with  irons, 
collar  and  chain,  and  locked  as  before  to  the  boat, 
to  row  on  the  duties  of  the  fhip  during  the  captain's 
pleafurej  with  a  very  fcanty  allowance  i  he  has  never 

known 


A  F  R  I  c  A.  Town  e,  17 

known  Tailors  jump  overboard  from  any  other  than   179T. 
Guinea  fhips.  * — ^^^ 

From  the  ill  treatment  he  has  feen,  and  the  lofs 
of  fuch  numbers  on  board,  both  thelliips  he  belong- 
ed to,  and  was  acquainted  with,  ic  is  not  his  opinion 
that  the  African  trade  is  a  nurfery  for  feamen.  He 
knows  that  the  treatment  of  lailors  in  the  Weft  India 
trade,  is  not  fnnilar  to  that  in  the  African  ;  they  are 
not  fo  hard  worked  ;  they  live  and  lie  well,  and  are 
always  taken  great  care  of  by  the  captains. 

He  afTigns  as  a  reafon,  for  (laving  and  burning  the  P.  32* 
feamens  chefts,  that  it  was  done  to  clear  the  fhips 
for  ilaves ,  their  contents,  which  were  wearing  ap- 
parel, if  no  bag  was  found  to  put  them  in,  were  of- 
ten thrown  overboard.  The  feamen^s  bedding,  as 
well  as  their  cheits,  was  thrown  upon  the  deck,  and 
none  fuffered  to  lie  below  but  the  captain  and  the 
mate;  if  caught  below  to  (leep,  they  were  feverely 
punifhed.  This  was  the  cafe  of  the  fhips  he  fiiled 
in,  both  during  the  outward  and  Middle  Paffage. 

The  reafon  of  his  being  left  on  fhore  at  Charleflon 
was,  the  fear  of  returning  to  captain  Evans,  after 
having  been  refufed  to  be  taken  on  board  by  a  king's 
Ihip,  to  which  he,  and  the  two  others,  had  applied 
for  in  vain ;  redrefs  of  grievances  againft  captaia 
Evans. 

Being  afked  whether  he  meant  to  affert,  that  what 
he  has  faid  concerning  Wefl  India  punifhments, 
was  the  general  pradice,  or  only,  that  he  has  himfelf 
feen  the  circumftances  he  has  related,  he  anfwers. 
That  he  only  meant  to  fpeak  to  fuch  things  as  he 
was  an  eye-witnefs  to,  a  number  of  times. 


Witnefs  examined — Mr.  Claxton. 

Mr.  Claxton  failed  in  the  Garland,  Capt.  Forbes^ 

for  Africa  in  1788,  as  furgeon's  mate,  and  thert:  on 

Numb.  4.  C  the 


tS  Africa,  C  l  a  x  t  o  jt. 

1 791.  the  Bonny  Coaft  commenced  furgeon  to  the  Young 

V— -V— — »Hero  brig,  Capt.  Molyneux. 

P»  33'  They  had  250  Haves,  of  whom  132  died^  chiefly 
of  the  flux ;  fo  crowded  that  they  could  only  lie  on 
their  fides,  if  they  did  otherwife,  it  created  quarrels 
among  them  :  they  flowed  fo  clofe,  that  he  could  not 
go  among  them  with  his  fhoes  without  danger  of 
jhurting  them.  This  crowded  fl:ate  aggravated  their 
fufferings  when  ill,  and  tended  to  increafe  the  dif- 
order.  It  was  impofljble  to  treat  them  with  the  ne- 
cefTary  accommodations.  The  fteerage  and  boys 
room  infufficient  to  receive  the  fick,  fo  greatly  did 
the  diforder  prevail,  they  were  therefore  obliged  to 
place  together  thofe  that  were  and  thofe  that  were 
not  difeafed,  and  in  confequence  the  difeafe  and 
mortality  fpread  more  and  more.  The  captain 
treated  them  with  more  tendernefs  than  he  has  heard 
was  ufual,  but  the  men  were  not  humane.  Some  of 
the  mofl:  difeafed  were  obliged  to  be  kept  on  deck, 
with  a  fail  fpread  for  them  to  lie  on :  this,  in  a  little 
time,  became  nearly  covered  with  blood  and  mucus, 

!*•  34*  which  involuntarily  iflfued  from  them,  and  therefore 
the  failors,  who  had  the  difagreeable  tafk  of  cleaning 
the  fail,  grew  angry  with  the  flaves,  and  ufed  to  beat 
them  inhumanly  with  their  hands,  or  with  a  cat.  The 
flaves  in  confequence  grew  fearful  of  committing  this 
involuntary  adion,  and  when  they  perceived  they 
had  done  it,  would  immediately  creep  to  the  tubs, 
and  there  fit  fl:raining  with  fuch  violence  as  to  pro- 
duce a  prolapfus  ani,  which  could  not  be  cured.  The 
fame  punifhments  were  inflidted  for  the  fame  caufe  on 
thofe  who  were  not  quite  fo  ill. 

Slaves,  whofe  flux  was  accompanied  with  fcurvy, 
and  fuch  cedematous  fweliings  of  the  Itgs  as  made 
it  pain  to  move  at  all,  were  made  to  dance,  as  they 
call  it,  and  whipped  with  a  cat  if  they  were  re- 
lu6tant. 

The  (laves  both  when  ill  and  well,  were  frequently 
forced  to  eat  againfl  their  inciinations.    Were  whip- 
ped 


Africa.  C  l  a  x  t  o  n,  t§ 

ped  with  a  cat  if  they  refufed.     They  ufed  other  1791. 
means  ftill  worfe,  and  too  naufeous  to  mention.  w-v*^ 

The  parts  on  which  their  lliackles  are  faftened  are 
often  excoriated  by  the  violent  exercife  they  are 
forced  to  take,  and  of  this  they  made  many  grievous 
complaints  to  him. 

That  flaves,  when  firft  brought  on  board,  are  com- 
monly dejeded,  he  fhews  by  an  inftance  of  nine 
purchafed  on  his  palTage  from  Bonny  to  the  Ifle  of 
Bimbe,  who  were  all  very  much  deje<5led :  one  girl 
in  paricular,  clung  to  the  neck  of  her  feller,  and 
though  only  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  could  not  be 
comforted.  She  continued  three  or  four  days  in 
that  fituation.  The  whole  cargo  appeared  more  or 
lefs  afflidled  on  leaving  their  country. 

Some  had  fuch  an  averfion  to  leaving  their  nativeP.  3|, 
places,  that  they  threw  themfelves  overboard,  on  an 
idea,  that  they  fhould  get  back  to  their  own  country. 
The  captain,  in  order  to  obviate  this  idea,  cut  off 
the  heads  of  thofe  who  died,  intimating  to  them, 
that  if  determined  to  go,  they  muft  return  without 
their  heads.  The  flaves  were  accordingly  brought 
up  to  witnefs  the  operation,  one  man  excepted,  who 
was  at  length,  againft  his  will,  forced  up,  feeing, 
when  on  deck,  the  carpenter  (landing  with  his  hatchet 
up  ready  to  flrike  off  thehead,with  a  violent  exertion, 
he  got  loofe,  and  flying  to  the  place  where  the  nettings 
had  been  unloofed,  in  order  to  empty  the  tubs,  he 
darted  himfelf  overboard.  The  fhip  brought  to, 
and  a  man  was  placed  on  the  main  chain  to  catch 
him,  which  he  perceiving,  dived  under  water, 
and  rifing  again  at  a  diftance  from  the  fhip,  made 
figns,  which  words  cannot  defcribe,  expreflive  of 
his  happinefs  in  efcaping.  He  then  went  down, 
and  was  feen  no  more,  A  ftridl  watch  over  them 
was  now  kept,  yet  ftill  they  found  means  to  elude 
all  precaution.  One  of  the  tubs  being  fet  near  where 
the  nettings  were  lafhed  to  the  bulk-head,  fome  of 
the  (laves  who  had  premeditated  an  efcape,  under p,  0$^ 
pretence  of  eafmg  themfelves,  contrived^  wliile  fitting 

C  3  on 


^o  Africa,  C  l  a  x  t  o  n; 

1791.   on  the  tubs,   to  unloofe   the  lafhing,   fo  that  twa 
v-rsnN,'  actually  threw  themfelves  overboard,  and  were  loft. 
A  third  was  caught  when  three  parts  over. 

Once  imagined  an  infurredion  was  intended.-— 
(See  particulars.) 

They  fing,  but  not  for  their  amufement.  The  capt, 
ordered  them  to  fing,  and  they  fang  fongs  of  forrow. 
Their  licknefs,  fear  of  being  beaten,  their  hunger, 
and  the  memory  of  their  country,  &c.  are  the  ufual 
fubjects;  he  could  even  mention  their  words.— 'They 
generally  fpeak  the  fame  language,  but  there  was 
one  man  who  fpoke  a  language  unknown  to  all  the 
reft,  which  made  his  condition  very  lamentable.  He 
never  took  exercife  but  when  compelled.  His  fitua- 
tion  (he  believes)  produced  a  ftate  of  infanity,  and 
he  died  mad. 
p.  ^y.  The  ilaves  had  not  a  fufficient  quantity  of  food^ 
owing  to,  the  extraordinary  length  of  the  paiiage, 
which  was  fifteen  weeks.  At  firft  they  did  not  like 
their  food,  and  would  not  eat,  but  when  ufed  to  it, 
they  would  have  eaten  near  twice  as  much  as  allowed 
them. 

A  confiderable  number  of  flaves  died  in  the  early 
part  of  the  voyage.  After  eight  weeks  at  fea,  they 
had  only  got  three  days  fail  from  the  place  they  had 
{et  out  from.  On  examination,  they  did  not  find 
Hvc  weeks  provifion  on  board.  Two  nations  being 
at  war,  they  could  not  procure  food  from  either. 
A  Dutch  fhip  fupplied  them  with  a  little  bread,  and 
fufficient  water.  The  food,  notwithftanding  the 
mortality,  was  fo  little,  that  if  ten  days  more  at  fea, 
they  fhould,  as  the  captain  and  others  faid,  have 
made  the  flaves  walk  the  plank,  that  is,  throw  them- 
felves overboard,  or  have  eaten  thofe  flaves  that  died. 
Fell  in  with  the  Hero,  Wilfon,  which  had  loft,  he 
thinks,  360.  flaves  by  death,  he  is  certain  more  than 
half  of  her  cargo  :  learnt  this  from  the  furgeon. 
They  had  died  moftly  of  the  fmail-pox.  Surgeon 
alfo  told  him,  that  when  removed  from  one  place  to 
another,    they  left  marks  of  their  fkin  and  blood 

upon 


Africa:  C  l  a  x  t  o  k,  21 

upon  the  deck,  and  that  It  was  the  moil  horrid  fight  1791. 
he  had  ever  feen.  v^^-Vv-/ 

They  had  on  board  about  fifty  bovs  and  girls,  but  P.  38. 
without  parents    or   other  relations  3  there  was  one 
inftance  of  two  fillers. 

At  Rumbie  the  natives  apprehenfive  that  they  were 
going  to  war  with  them.  Did  not  come  off  the 
eoaft  for  fome  time.  Two  canoes  at  lengtn  ventured, 
and  inquired  if  they  were  come  to  war  or  trade: 
being  told  to  trade,  with  apparent  caution  they  at- 
tempted to  cope  on  board,  and  afked  the  captain  if 
he  had  not  two  tongues.  Captain  affured  them  he 
would  not  hurt  them,  on  which  one  of  them  ven- 
tured on  board,  declaring  if  the  captaia  killed  him, 
thofe  in  the  canoes  would  kill  the  fliip's  crew.  The 
reft  followed,  and  convinced  that  trace  was  the  fhip's 
obje^l,  defired  that  two  might  ftay  to  examine  the 
goods ;  at  the  fame  time  requiring  two  hoftages, 
which  was  complied  with.  He  knew  another  inftance 
of  the  fame  kind. 

Whilft  lying  off*  the  Batteau  iflands  he  heard  of  P.  39. 
fome  Europeans  being  cut  off  a  little  before  by  the 
natives,  and  this  from  a  perfon  cloie  by  at  the  time, 
fo  as  to  convince  him  of  its  truth.  The  terror  of 
the  natives  on  feeing  the  veffel,  left  they  ftiould  de- 
ftroy  the  ifland,  afforded  a  proof  of  the  fad.  They 
were  in  arms  all  night,  which  obliged  the  crew  alfo 
to  arm. 

The  natives  have  a  particular  pleafure  in  bartering 
what  they  have  for  European  goods  of  any  kind. 

The  flaves  were  fold  in  the  Weft  Indies  in  an  in- 
fedious  ftate,  and  fome  that  he  believes  v/ere  going 
to  die,  and  accordingly  out  of  14  of  this  defcriptioti 
only  4  lived.  He  apprized  the  feller's  agent  of  their 
danger,  and  his  anfwer  was,  it  would  be  beft  to  dif- 
pofe  of  them  immediately  j  but  fuch  as  afforded 
hopes  of  recovery,  he  defued  to  have  purchafed  for 
himfelf,  which  was  donCi^ 

Witnefs 


[      22      ] 


Witnefs  examined — Lieutenant  Simpsoi^, 

Mr.  John  SImpfon,  lieutenant  of  marines,  went 
out  in  his  Majefty's  Ihip  the  Adventure,  and  was  on 
the  coafl  chiefly  from  Settra  Crue  to  Accra,  in  1788 
and  1789.  From  what  he  faw,  he  believes  the  fiave 
trade  is  the  occafion  of  wars  among  the  natives. 
From  thofe  of  the  windward  coaft  he  underftood 
that  the  villages  were  alvt^ays  at  war,  and  the  black 
traders  and  others  gave  as  a  reafon  for  it,  that  the 
kings  wanted  flaves.  If  a  trading  canoe  along-fide 
the  fhip  faw  a  larger  canoe  coming  from  a  village 
they  were  at  war  with,  they  inftantly  fled,  fometimes 
without  receiving  the  value  of  their  goods.  On 
inquiry,  he  learned  their  reafon  to  be,  that  if  taken 
they  would  have  been  made  flaves. 

At  C.  Coafl  Cafl:le,  and  other  parts  of  the  Gold 
Coafl:,  he  heard  repeatedly  from  the  black  traders 
the  flave-trade  made  wars  and  palavers.  Mr.Quakoo^ 
chaplain  at  C.  Coafl:  Cafl:le,  informed  him,  that  wars 
were  made  in  the  interior  parts  for  that  fole  purpofe. 

There  are  two  crimes  which  feemed  made  on  pur- 
pofe to  procure  flaves,  adultery  and  the  removal  of 
fetiches.  As  to  adultery,  he  was  warned  againfl: 
conneding  himfeif  with  any  woman  not  pointed  out 
to  him,  for  that  the  kings  kept  feveral  who  were 
fent  out  to  allure  the  unwary,  and  that  if  found  to 
be  conne6led  with  thefe,  he  would  be  feized,  and 
F.  41.  made  to  pay  the  price  of  a  man- (lave.  As  to  fetiches, 
Confifl:ing  of  pieces  of  wood,  old  pitchers,  kettles, 
&c.  laid  in  the  path- ways,  he  was  warned  to  avoid 
difplacing  them,  for  if  he  fliould,  the  natives,  who 
v/ere  on  the  watch,  would  feize  him,  and  as  before, 
exa6t  the  price  of  a  man-flave.  Thefe  baits  are  laid 
equally  for  natives  as  Europeans,  but  the  former  are 
better  acquainted  \^ich  the  law^  and  confequently 
more  circumfpedt. 

That 


Africa.— W.  Indies;  Simpson.  sj 

That  the  Europeans  fotnetimes  fraudulently  carry  i79^- 
t)fF  the  natives  on  that  part  of  the  Windward  Coaft  ^-'v-^ 
where  there  is  no  Englifli  fadtory,  he  believes.  The 
repeated  inquiries  and  difinclination  of  the  natives 
to  come  on  board  the  fhip,  till  convinced  fhe  was 
not  a  flave-lhip  but  a  man  of  war,  confirmed  his 
opinion.  When  they  were  fatisfied,  they  came  oa 
board  readily,  and  in  numbers. 

The  natives  fometimes  retaliate  on  the  Europeans 
for  fuch  injuries.  From  Albion  Have  fhip,  at  Settra 
Crue,  learnt,  that  two  chiefs  being  at  variance,  one 
of  them  feizing  five  of  the  other's  party,  had  fold 
them  to  the  Albion,  for  which  that  party  leized  three 
of  the  Albion's  feamen,  and  would  not  releafe  them 
without  the  (laves  were  returned. 

Believes  if  the  Have-trade  were  abolilhed,  the  P.  42, 
indolence  of  the  natives  is  not  fuch  as  to  prevent  a 
commerce  with  them  in  their  native  produce  •,  for  to 
his  repeated  inquiries  what  they  would  do  were  it 
aboliihed,  the  black  traders  anfwered,  they  did  not 
care,  they  fliould  foon  find  fome  other  trade  to 
live  by. 

Convinced  the  treatment  of  feamen  on  board 
Guinea  Ihips  is  very  bad.  When  at  Fort  Apollonia, 
the  Adventurer's  boat  was  hailed  by  fome  feamen  of 
the  Fly  Guineaman,  beggmg  to  be  taken  in  the  maa 
of  war,  for  their  treatiTienc  made  their  lives  miferable. 
The  boat  was  accordingly  fent  to  the  Fly  by  captain 
Parry,  and  one  or  two  men  brought  on  board.  The 
Aibion  at  another  time,  unable  to  avoid  the  Adven- 
ture, (which  fhe  tried  to  do)  fpoke  to  her,  and  the 
captain  brought  a  i'caman  on  board,  whom  he  wiflied 
to  leave,  complaining  he  was  riotous  and  diforderly. 
The  man,  in  every  inftance,  proved  the  reverfe,  and 
from  hun  he  learned  that  he  had  been  half  ftarved  and 
cruelly  beaten,  both  by  captain  and  furgeon,  who 
negleAeu  the  feamen,  faying  he  was  only  paid  for 
attenci  ag  the  flaves.  Alio  learned  their  allowance 
was  increafed,  and  their  treatment  better,  when  in 
fight  of  a  man  of  war^  which  was  confirmed  to  him 

by 


24  A  F  R  I  c  A. — W.  Indies.         S  i  m  p  s  o  r^* 

1791.  by  another  man  from  a  flave  fhlp,  who  had  been  left 
*---v*%^  behind  with  a  fhockingly  ulcerated  leg,  and  recited 
various  infrances  of  ill  treatment  he  had  received. 
The  Adventure's  boat  having  been  fent  to  Anamaboo 
-t  •  43*  to  the  Spy  Guineaman,  returned  with  three  men  con- 
cealed under  her  fail,  who  fled  from  the  flave  fhip, 
where  they  complained  their  treatment  had  made 
their  lives  miferable,  beaten  and  half  fliarved.  Be- 
fides  thefe  there  were  other  inilances  not  remem- 
bered. 

He  never  heard  any  complaints  from  Wefl:  India- 
men,  or  oiher  merchant  Ihips :  on  the  contrary,  they 
wiflied  to  avoid  a  man  of  war-,  whereas  if  the  Adven- 
ture had  taken  all  who  complained  and  offered  them- 
felves  from  the  Guineamen,  it  mufl  have  greatly 
diftreflTcd  the  trade. 

Has  been  in  Barbadoes  and  Jamaica.  When  firfl: 
at  Bridgetown,  his  imprefTion  as  to  the  treatment  of 
flaves  by  their  general  appearance  was  trivial,  they 
were  natives,  houfhold  fervants,  and  their  labour 
very  light ;  but  was  impreflTed  with  the  utmofl  horror 
on  feeing  the  field  flaves,  fome  working  in  irons, 
under  the  lafli  of  an  iniiuman  negro  driver,  and  their 
backs  in  general  lacerated  by  his  blows.  He  never  faw 
a  gang  without  one  or  two  of  thefe  tormentors,  fnap- 
ping  their  whips,  and  threatening  to  make  them 
feel  them. 

When  at  Cape  Coafl  he  faw  flaves  brought  from 
the  interior  country,  who  were  bought,  he  believes, 
by  the  then  Governor,  Mr.  Norris.  He  examined 
them,  and  they  appeared  much  concerned  at  coming 
P,  44.  int;Q  the  hands  of  Europeans,  Dejedion  and  defpair 
were  ftrongly  painted  on  their  countenances.  When 
at  Bridgetown,  he  faw  in  the  poor-houfe  18  or  20 
feamen,  from  diflrerent  flave  fliips.  They  related  va- 
rious inftances  of  the  barbarities  of  their  late  com- 
manders, who  had  left  them  behind  without  any 
means  of  getting  home.  They  feemed  very  much 
emaciated,  and  fome  of  them  ulcerated  and  in  a 
condition  in  which  they  faid  neither  Well  Indiamen 

nor 


W.   I N  D  I E  s.  Harrison;  25 

nor  men  of  war  would  receive  them.    They  haa  not   1791. 
only  been  beaten  but  nearly  ftarved.  * 


Witnefs  examined — Dodtor  Harrison,  M.  D. 

He  was  above  10  years  in  Jamaica,  from  1755  ^^ 
1765,  and  in  America  from  1765  to  1778  :  in  the?*  44» 
medical  line  in  both. 

He  had  every  pofiible  opportunity  of  knowing  the 
fituation  of  the  flaves,  feeing  them  in  ficknefs,  m 
health,  and  often  punifhed.  Has  been  on  feveral 
fugar  works  in  different  parts  of  Jamaica,  at  all 
feafons,  for  two  or  three  weeks,  fometimes  only  a  P.  45, 
few  days. 

The  field  (laves  have  land  enough  for  their  fupport, 
had  they  time  to  cultivate  it.  They  had  no  other 
food  allowed  on  the  eftates  he  was  on,  except  fak 
provifions  at  Chriftmas.  New  negroes  were  allov/ed 
a  year's  provifions,  that  is,  till  they  had  cultivared 
their  land.  They  had  only  holidays  and  Sunaays  to 
work  it,  which  was  not  fufiicient,  for  they  mull  work 
their  grounds  after  dark.  Saturday  afternoon  was 
not  allowed  them  on  any  eftate  he  knew.  They 
looked  much  better  than  one  could  exped  confider- 
ing  their  fevere  treatment,  bur,  in  general  very  in- 
different. Believes  on  all  eflates  ilaves  often  plunder 
other's  provifion  grounds  for  fupport.  In  the  iiril 
inftance  he  knew  of  this,  a  flave  was  cut  nearly  all 
to  pieces  for  it;  but  after  he  k>iew  the  eftates  better,?.  46. 
he  heard  and  knew  it  to  be  frequent. 

Not  the  lead  attention  is  paid  to  the  religious 
inftrudion  of  the  flaves. 

They  were  very  badly  lodged,  and  had  no  clothes 
but  what  they  get  by  their  own  extra  labour,  except 
at  Chriftmas,  2  frocks  and  2  pair  Ofnaburgh  trowlcrs 
for  the  men,  and  2  coats  and  2  Ihifrs  for  the  women, 
and  fome  had  2  handkerchiefs  for  the  head.  In 
general,  their  mailers  give  them  no  bedding  ac  all. 

Numb,  4,  D  Some 


i6  W.    Indies.  Harrison; 

17  91.   Some  new  negroes  have  a  few  blankets,  but  not 
•s'^v^*-*  generally. 

They  were  not  married,  nor  encouraged  to  bring 
up  families  •,  the  univerfal  opinion  being,  that  it  was 
better  and  cheaper  to  buy  than  to  breed.  Humane 
overfeers  allowed  t>omplaining  pregnant  v^^omen  to 
retire  from  work;  but  he  has  feen  them  labouring 
in  the  field,  when  they  feemed  to  have  but  a  few 
Vv^eeks  to  go.  They  were  generally  worked  as  long 
as  they  were  able. 
p  Does  not  think  proper  attention  was  paid  to  the 

^'  ^7*     children.  Thinks  the  labour  he  faw  pregnant  women 
doing,  muft,  at  fome  times,  have  injured  them. 

Old  flaves,  pad  labour,  if  they  had  no  friends  to 
give  them  neceffaries,  muft  have  wanted  every  thing. 
Has  feen  a  number  of  thofe  objects  on  different 
eftates. 

They  ufally  work  from  fun-rife  to  fun-fet ;  fome- 
times  13  or  14  hours,  including  2  hours  for  dinner. 
In  crop  they  work  night  and  day,  without  ceflation. 

Grafs-picking,  when  he  faw  it,  was  always  extra 
work,  and,  on  fome  eftates,  was  a  cruel  hardfhip. 

He  has  always  feen  the  driver  with  a  whip  in  his 
hand,  and  fometimes  exerciftng  it  feverely. 

The  plantation  punilhments  are  fevere  whippings, 
chaining  them  by  the  neck  and  leg,  putting  heavy 
iron  boots  on  their  legs,  and  iron  pothooks  on  their 
necks,  and  putting  them  in  the  ftocks.  He  has 
often  feen  thefe  punilhments  inflided  with  what  he 
^*  4o'  thought  capricious  or  feverity.  On  an  eftate,  at 
Liguanea,  he  faw  the  overfeer  whip  feveral  old, 
decrepid  women  very  feverely,  only  for  not  picking 
cotton  enough.  Has  often  {een  negroes  in  chains, 
half  famiihed,  and  fcarcely  able  to  walk,  compelled 
to  go  into  the  field. 

At  Kingfton  the  negroes  were  flogged  in  the  gaol, 
round  the  town,  and  on  the  wharfs.  He  thought 
the  whippings  in  gaol,  and  round  the  town,  too 
fevere  to  be  infli<5led  on  any  of  the  human  fpecies. 
He  attended  a  man^  who  had  been  flogged  in  gaol, 

five 


W.   Indies.  Harrison.  a 

five  or  fix  weeks  before  he  was  well.  It  was  by  his  17 91. 
mailer's  order,  for  not  coming  when  he  was  called.  *-nr^ 
He  could  lay  two  or  three  fingers  in  the  wounds 
from  the  whip.  Knows  of  many  fimilar  inftances. 
The  gaol  and  wharf  whippings  were  by  order  of 
the  mafters  or  miftrefles,  fometimes  by  the  magif- 
trate,  but  generally  the  magiflrate  orders  whipping 
round  the  town.  The  punifhments  of  foldiers  (which 
he  has  very  often  witnefTed)  were  generally  mild, 
compared  to  the  whipping  of  flaves  in  gaol  or  round 
the  town. 

Never  knew  flaves  had  any  legal  protedion.  The 
only  protedlion  they  had,  was  from  their  mafters 
againft  any  indifferent  perfon.  Formed  this  opinion 
from  a  multitude  of  unredrefTed  violences.  Among 
others,  a  negro  was  flogged  to  death,  by  order  of  her 
miftrefs,  who  flood  by  to  fee  the  punifhment.  The 
negro  died  a  few  days  after. — A  negro  man  was  put 
on  the  picket  fo  long  as  to  caufe  a  mortificadon  of 
his  foot  and  hand,  on  fufpicion  of  robbing  his  mafter, 
a  publick  officer,  of  a  funi  of  money,  which  it  after- 
terwards  appeared,  the  mafter  had  taken  himfelf. 
Yet  the  matter  was  privy  to  the  punifliment,  and  the 
flave  had  no  compenfation.  He  was  puniflied  by 
order  of  the  mafter,  who  dd  not  then  chufe  to  make 
it  known  that  he  himfelf  had  made  ufe  of  the  money. 
Neither  the  miftrefs  nor  mafter  were  profecuted  for  P.  49, 
thefe  ads. 

A  gentleman  ofi'ended  at  a  negro,  named  Monday, 
for  mimicking  him,  bought  him.  After  buying 
him,  he  ordered  him  to  be  flogged  ;  the  confequence 
was,  that  Monday  cut  his  own  throat. 

He  thinks  the  abilities  of  the  negroes  equal  to  our  P.  50, 
own,  and  their  difpofltions  much  the  fame.  The 
free  negroes  are  as  induftrious  as  the  whites,  and.  he 
thinks  flavery  caufes  the  unwillingnefs  of  the  others. 
In  general,  flaves  are  not  fo  good  mechanicks  as 
whites,  which  he  attributes  to  the  fame  caufe.  Many 
free  negroes  are  very  good  mechanicks. 

D  2  He 


?! 


^^  I  NDiEs.  Harris  o  ». 


IJW^  /Jle  has  often  heard  flaves  lament  their  unfortu- 
f^r^  nate  fituation.  A  negro  man  once  allied  him,  whe- 
tHer  the  old  gentlemen  of  the  country  had  not  much 
^^p  anfwer  for,  for  not  teaching  them  Chriftianity, 
'and  for  treating  them  fo  cruelly  as  they  did,  not 
allowing  them  to  obtain  their  own  freedom  when 
they  merited  it. 

A  negro  boy  of  his,  detefted  flavery  fo  much,  that 
he  refuted  all  fupport,  which  brought  on  a  dropfy 
that  killed  him.  Another  negro,  who  had  been  a 
greai  man  in  his  own  country,  refufed  to  wor<  for 
any  wh.te  man,  and  being  therefore  puniftied  by 
tht'  overfeer,  defired  him  to  tell  his  mafter,  that  he 
wou^a  be  a  Have  ro  no  man,  His  mailer  ordered 
him  to  be  removed  to  another  eftate.  His  hands 
were  t;cd  behind  him,  and  in  going  over  a  bridge  he 
jumped  into  the  water,  and  appeared  no  more.  Thefe 
are  tw  facts  ot  Dr.  Karrifon's  own  knowledge,  out 
of  a  great  many  which  he  cannot  now  recoiled:. 
Po  5^*  A  flave  or  his  told  hmi  fhe  had  been  kidnapped, 
by  being  put  in  a  bag.  A  man  who  was  kidnapped 
tola  .him  ne  v/as  a  great  many  months  in  travelling 
' to  the  lea,  that  there  v/as  a  traffick  for, (laves  to  fell 
to  the  whites,  even  beyond  his  country,  and  that 
kidnapping  was  common  there. 

Saks  oi  the  flaves  of  diftrefled  proprietors  were 
frequent  over  all  the  ifland,  when  families  were  of- 
ten leparated.  He  bought  a  negro  woman  and  child 
out  o»  compaffion,  that  fhe  might  not  be  taken  from 
her  hufband.  When  negroes  are  leized  for  debt, 
the  marfhal  takes  them  as  he  can  find  them,  which 
generally  leaves  a  part  of  the  family  on  the  eftate : 
though  when  he  chances  to  feize  a  whole  family, 
he  has  knovm  them  put  all  up  in  one  lot  j  but  gene- 
ral})  part  only  of  a  family  was  fo  feized. 

i  e   has  heard   feveral  overfeers   fay,  the  plough 

would  f  .ve  a  great  deal  of  negro-labour,  and  lament 

it  w  s  n  .t  ufcd. 

P,  52,/     ,Gene  d  opinion  favoured  thofe  overfeers  who  made 

/  mgj^iu,^%;-#ith  little  or  no  refped  to  lenity  j  but  he 

knew 


W.  I  N  D  I  E  s.  Harrison*  I; 

knew  one  overfeer,  remarkable  for  humanity,  who  1791- 
made  more  fugar  with  fewer  hands  than  others  did  <--v^*' 
with  more,     in    his  opinion,    were  (laves  more  en- 
couraged and  more  humanely  treated,  they  would  do 
much  more  work. 

Slaves  were  certainly  worfe  treated  when  their 
mailers  were  embarralTed ;  for  their  diftrefles  ob- 
liged them  to  work  their  flaves  beyond  their  llrength, 
to  make  fugars  to  pay  their  debts. 

The  planter's  refidence  was  of  the  greateft  ad- 
vantage to  his  flaves.  They  were  always  the  bet- 
ter ul'ed  for  it  in  every  refped.  It  was  the  ge- 
neral opinion,  that  the  condu6l  of  attornies  was  often 
inconfiftent  with  the  intereft  of  non-refidents,  and 
in  many  cafes  very  injurious  to  them. 

It  is  well  known  there,  that  negro  women  have 
no  fecurity  againft  violation,  uniefs  their  mailers 
choofe  to  proted  them. 

He  never  thought  free  negroes  fufficiently  pro- 
tedled  againft  injuries  from  whites ;  becaufe  their 
oaths  were  not  allowed,  except  in  cafes  of  debt. 

In  theoutfkirts  of  Kingfton,  hehas  always  feen  fe-P,  ^2* 
veral  emaciated  and  difeafed  failors,  who  were  left  on 
Ihore  by  mafters  of  Guineamen. 

The  Jamaica  (laves  were  generally  treated  very  ill, 
and  only  individuals  treated  them  well.  In  South 
Carolina,  the  (laves  were  in  general  treated  very  well, 
and  only  individuals  treated  them  ill.  In  S.  Caro- 
lina, they  were  well  fed,  well  clothed,  iefs  worked, 
and  never  feverely  whipped.  In  Jamaica  they  were 
badly  fed,  indifferently  clothed,  hard  worked,  and 
feverely  whipped.  In  S.  Carolina,  the  negroes  la- 
boured by  talk- work,  which  was  often  liniihed  by 
three  or  four  P.  M.  which  enabled  them  to  work 
their  grounds,  and  to  hunt  and  fi(h  for  themfelves. 
He  never  faw  a  driver  with  a  whip,  for  generally 
there  was  no  occafion  for  it,  as  they  worked  by  taf!<.. 

In  Doctor  Harrifon's  opinion,  as  a  medical  man, 
the  climate  of  Jamaica  is  more  favourable  to  the  in- 
fTcafe  of  Haves  thag  that  of  Carolina,  notwithiland- 
''■  '  in  2 


jd  W.Indies.  -HARRisoif; 

1791.  ing  which  difadvantage,  Carolina  increafed  in  flaves, 
while  thofe  in  Jamaica  decreafed.  Sufficient  atten- 
tion was  not  paid  to  the  rearing  of  negro  children 
even  in  Carolina,  becanfe  they  were  of  opinion  it  was 
cheaper  to  buy  new  negroes  than  to  rear  children. 


Witnefs  Examined, Do6lor  Jackson,  Phyfician, 

Stockton-upon-Tees. 

F.  54.  Went  to  Jamaica  in  1774,  refided  there  four  years, 
chiefly  at  Savannah -la- Mar,  where  he  pra6lifed  me- 
dicine ;  his  profeiTion  led  him  daily,  eight,  ten,  or 
more  miles  into  the  country ;  has  occafionally  been, 
for  a  fhort  time,  at  moft  parts  of  the  ifland. 

On  his  arrival  found  the  condition  of  negroes  hard, 
and  their  treatment  cruel. 

Firfl  thing  that  fhocked  him  was,  a  Creole  lady  (of 
fome  confequence)  fuperintending  the  punifhment  of 
her  (laves,  male  and  female;  ordering  the  number  of 
lalhes,  and  with  her  own  hands  flogging  the  negro 
driver,  if  he  did  not  punifh  properly. 

Though  this  the  only  inftance  he  faw,  believes  it 
not  uncommon  for  women  of  rank  thus  to  fuper- 
intend  punifhments  of  their  flaves  (p.  ^^) :  they 
were  not  worfe  received  in  fociety  for  it ;  it  might  be 
faid,  "  fuch  a  one  is  a  termagant,"  but  fhe  was  not 
for  that  lefs  refpedied ;  it  was  indeed  thought  ne- 
ceiTary  for  an  induilrious  wife  to  be  rigid  in  the  pu- 
nifhment of  her  flaves. 

The  punilhm.ent  feemed  to  him  very  fevere,  blood 
flowed  at  every  flroke,  and  if  the  allotted  quantum 
could  not,  without  danger  to  life,  be  given  at  once, 
the  negro  was  put  into  the  flocks  for  fome  days,  and 
when  a  little  recruited,  received  the  reft  of  his 
flogging. 
J  .        As  to  mode  of  punifbing,  in  ibme  cafes  the  offender 

was  tied  and  flood  upright^  in  others  more  fevere, 
was  flretched  between  four  ftakes,  fo  tight  that  he 

could 


W,  Indies.  Jackson.  '31 

could  not  flirink  or  move  ;  the  whip,  like  what  our  17 91. 
waggoners  nfe,  was  thrown  at  the  diftance  of  three  ^--v*** 
or  four  paces,  which  of  courfe  greatly  increafed  the 
weight  of  the  lafhes :  for  women  too  far  advanced  in 
pregnancy  to  be  ftretched  flat  on  the  ground,  a  hole 
was  dug  in  the  earth  to  receive  their  bellies  j  this 
lait  he  never  faw,  but  is  as  certain  of  it,  as  one  caa 
be,  of  a  fad:  he  has  not  {ci^n. 

Thinks  fevere  whippings  fometimes  occafion  flave's 
death  :  recolleds  a  negro  dying  under  the  lalh,  or 
very  foon  after ;  it  was  generally  faid  the  negro  was 
killed  by  it^  no  attempt  to  bring  the  perfon  to^*  S^» 
juftice :  people  faid  it  was  an  unfortunate  thing ; 
were  furprized  the  man  was  not  more  cautious,  as  it 
was  not  the  firft  thing  of  the  kind  that  had  happened 
to  him  ;  but  chiefly  dwelt  upon  the  proprietor's  lofs. 

Has  (ten  flaves  with  a  leg  cut  off,  for  running 
away,  he  was  told  :  law  there  allows  owners  to  do 
fo.  Has  heard  of  negroes  caftrated  for  trefpafs  on 
overfeer's  black  mifl:refs,  of  which  ad  no  account 
was  taken. 

IS! ever  knew  a  negro  complain  to  a  magiilrate  of 
his  mailer  :  it  was  underftood  he  could  not  have 
legal  redrefs,  or  if  fo,  negroes  were  ignorant  of  it. 

In  general,  no  attention  paid  to  the  religious  in- 
ftru6tion  of  flaves.  In  the  difliricl  where  he  lived, 
the  church  was  never  opened  but  for  a  company  of 
foldiers  quartered  there  j  nor  to  introduce  marriage 
among  them.  Negro  men  cohabited  where  they 
pleafed.  White  men  had  unreftrained  intercourfeP.  57; 
with  plantation  females. 

Negroes  were  generally  efl:eemed  a  fpecies  of  in- 
feriour  beings,  whom  the  right  of  purchafe  gave 
the  owner  a  power  of  uflng  at  his  will. 

After  much  knowledge  of  them,  he  could  not  per- 
ceive them  at  all  inferiour  to  unlettered  white  men 
in  capacity.      As  to  dijpofltion,  they  poflefs  many  ! 
amiable  qualities.     They  are  charitable  to  all  in  dif-  | 
trefsj  parents  fl:rongly   attached  to  their    children;  I 
and  many  have  given  ilrongefl:  proofs  of  gratitude  * 

and 


:34  W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  J  A  C  K  S  O  NT. 

'¥791.  and  attachmerit  to  their  maflers.  To  mention  one 
inftance  of  this;  during  the  American  war,  in  the 
adion  at  the  Cow  Pan,  a  negro  who  was  attached  to 
him,  had  efcaped  with  the  fugitives  of  the  army  to 
a  diftance  of  two  or  three  miles ;  when,  hearing  from 
fome  foldiers  that  his  mafter  had  been  feen  unhorfed, 
he  returned  to  the  field  to  fearch  for  him,  and  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

"'- -They  often  complain  they  are  an  opprefTed  people; 

that  they  fuffer  in  this  world,  but  expedt  happinefs  in 

I  the    next,  whilft  they    denounce  the  vengeance  of 

I  God  on  the  white  men  their  opprefTors :  if  you  fpeak 

/    to   them  of  future  punifhments  they  fay,  "  Why 

/      *'  (hould  a  poor  negro  be   punifhed :    he  does  no 

:^*  wrong ;  fiery  cauldrons,  and  fuch  things,  are  re- 

*'  ferved  for  white  people,  as  punifhments  for  the  op- 

*^  prelTion  of  flaves." 

P.  <8.       Were  (laves  well  ufed  he  cannot  conceive  why  they 

ihould  not  keep  up  their  numbers  :  they  are  naturally 

prolifick,  and  the  iflands  are  in  general  congenial  to 

their  conilitutions. 

The  buying  fyftem  was  generally  preferred.  Sup- 
pofes,  they  are  frequently  loil,  from  mothers  being 
forced  to  work  while  nurfes,  as  at  other  times,  and  fo 
becoming  indifferent  to  rearing  their  children;  not 
that  they  want  parental  affedion,  but  hard  ufage^ 
and  the  idea  of  rearing  children  fubje6t  to  cruel  treat- 
inent,  leads  them  to  wifli  their  offspring  may  faiL 
Has  heard  them  wifh  them  dead,  or  that  they  had 
never  been  born,  rather  than  be  forced  to  fee  them 
daily  punifhed  :  hence  alfo  they  are  fuppofed  to  pro- 
cure abortion,  to  which  motive  may  be  added,  a  fear 
4n  fuch  as  are  handfome,  to  diminifh  their  charms  in 
the  eyes  of  white  men. 

Slaves  whofe  owners  are  in  embarrafTed  circum- 
llances  are  ill  clothed,  hard  worked,  and  poorly  fed, 
p,  rg^  In  general,  he  confiders  the  hardfhip  of  negro  field 
labour  to  be  more  in  the  mode,  than  in  the  quantity 
done.  A  white  man  in  England  would,  doubtlefs^ 
though  not  fuperiour  in  Hrength,  do  with  eafe  the 

work 


W*    I  M  B  I  E  S.  J  A  C  K  S  O  T7.  {35 

work  of  three  negroes  in  the  Wefl  Indies;  becaufe  .1791. 
the  (lave  feeing  no  end  to  his  labour,  Hands  over  the  *-*v>i# 
work,  and  onlv  throws  the  hoe  to  avoid  the  lafh,  he-^*  59* 
appears  to  work  without  actually  working.   ,^,    ^j^- 

A  planter^s  intereft  well  underftood,  would  doubt- 
lefs  prevent  his  wearing  out  his  flaves  by  exceflive 
labour ;  but,  there  are  few  in  circumilances  to  at- 
tend to  this :  they  look  to  the  immediate  returns  of 
the  feafon  only ;  the  other  is  a  view  too  diftant  for 
the  mod  of  them.  .  lu  ^^fi. 

The  flaves  of  refident  owners  are  generally  better 
fatlsfied  than  thofe  of  abfentees. 

The  criterion  of  a  manager's  merit  feemed  to  be  the 
increafing  the  number  of  hhds  of  fugar-,  keeping  up 
the  flock  of  flaves  by  breeding,  was  not  the  thing 
principally  looked  to.  .,  ** 

Managers  have  almofl:  always  flaves  of  their  own. 

Field  flaves  have  land  given  them,  fufiicient  if  in  P.  60, 
good  culture,   for   their  fubflilence,  and  fomething 
over  to  carry  to  market.    Many  are  allowed  to  keep 
a   breeding  low,  or  Ibme  poultry  j  in   general  they 
have  no  other  property.  oa.,-u 

As  a  medical  man,  is  of  opinion  tj^at  white  arti- 
ficers may,  and  adually  do,  work  at  their  trade  in 
the  Weft  Indies;  that  Europeans  are,  with  proper 
caution,  equal  to  the  ordinary  field  labour,  without 
any  material  injury  to  health;  he  knows  from  per- 
fonal  experience,  they  may  fafely  walk  20,  30,  or 
more  miles  a  day. 

The  mortality  among  the  troops  may  be  afcribed 
more  to  want  of  difcipline,  encampments  on  un- 
healthy fpots,  immoderate  ufe  of  fpirituous  liquors, 
and  perhaps  defeds  in  the  medical  department,  than 
to  climate. 

Did  not  perceive  any  great  defedb  in  the  medical 
treatment  of  flaves,  every  eftate  being  provided  with 
a  medical  perfon  who   vifits  the  negro  hofpital   at  p.  61, 
flated  times  in  the  week,  and  in  extraordinary. .caf^s 
gives  immediate  attendance  when  called,  v  ii  ';.-^.'iod 
^^- Numb,  4,  E  ,      ion  fi;2u'3frJ^e 


J4  W.  Indies.  J  a  c  k  s  o  w. 

1791.       The  manager  vifiting  the  fick  along  with  the  fur- 
^-'^v'*^  geon,  from  his  firft  entering  as  a  book-keeper,  be- 
comes equal  to  the  treatment  of  flight  complaints  :  in 
general  there  is  a  flave  on  each  eftate  who  can  let 
blood,  and  do  other  common  things. 

Superanuated  (laves  who  have  no  relations,  are, 
he  believes,  often  placed  at  the  corner  of  a  corn  field, 
and  have  a  few  plantanes  weekly  to  keep  them  from 
dying  with  hunger;  fuch  of  them  as  he  has  feen, 
were,  dirty  and  emaciated  to  the  laft  degree. 

What  flaves  have  occafion  to  carry,  they  bear  on 
their  heads,  and  can  carry  great  weight  in  this  way. 

Runaways  are  brought  back  by  the  Maroons, 
P.  62.  Has  been  in  America:  joined  his  regiment  (71ft) 
in  17785  at  York  Ifland,  accompanied  it  to  Savannah  ; 
traverfed  all  the  fouthern  provinces  with  the  army  to 
York- Town,  Virginia  ;  on  its  furrender,  pafTed 
through  Maryland,  Pennfylvania,  and  Jerfey,  to 
New-York.  The  negroes  of  America  appeared  to 
great  advantage  compared  with  thofe  of  Jamaica  ; 
their  ideas  were  more  expanded,  and  their  bodily 
exertions  greater. 

Thrice  more  domeflicks  are  kept  in  Jamaica  than 
would  be  in  England  for  the  fame  work. 


Witnefs  Examined,— Capt.  Robert  Ross. 

F,  6j.  Captain  Robert  Rofs  was  from  176210  1786  in 
Jamaica.  For  three  yc^ars  and  a  hair  he  was  book- 
keeper then  on  Mr.  Dawkm's  eflate-,  he  was  in  fuc- 
cefTion  overfeer  on  Mr.  Morant's,  Lord  Dudley's, 
Dr.  Rois's,  and  Mr.  M'Lellan's ;  he  then  com- 
manded a  company  of  rangers  for  fix  years  ;  fettled 
a  property  of  his  own  in  1775;  refidcd  on  it  from 
178  I  to  1786,  Vvhen  he  caa,e  home. 

i^irft  imprelTion  on  feeing  the  treatment  of  flaves 
was,   that  they   were  cruelly  treated,  and  that  they 

might 


W.  Indies.  Ross;  35 

might  do  their  mailers  work  with  lefs  feverity,  and    1791. 
without  the  whip.  ^-*v-**-» 

Has  feen  a  negro  woman  flogged  with  ebony 
bulhes,  fo  that  the  Ikin  of  her  back  was  taken  off 
down  to  her  heels ;  Ihe  was  then  turned  round  and 
flogged  from  her  breaft  down  to  her  waift,  and  in 
conlequence  he  faw  her  afterwards  walking  upon  all- 
four,  and  unable  to  get  up.  He  alfo  faw  a  negro  man 
tied  up  by  the  wrifts,  naked,  picketted  and  flogged 
with  two  whips ;  driver  flopped  for  fome  minutes 
and  then  began  again.  The  punifliment  might  lafl: 
an  hour  and  a  half,  and  was  not  by  order  of  a  ma- 
giftrate,  but  privately  by  the  overfeer.  At  Kingflon 
faw  a  negro  flogged  by  his  mailer  with  a  two  inch 
rope,  from  his  neck  to  the  waiilband,  fo  that  his 
back  and  body  rofe  in  lumps  as.  big  as  a  man's  fin- 
ger. He  has  feen  feveral  fo  feverely  flogged  as  to 
be  difabled  from  working  for  days,  and  even  weeks 
after. 

Was  acquainted  with  a  mailer  who  cut  off  the  P.  64, 
ears  of  a  flave  running  away,  and  acknowledged  the 
fadl  to  him.  Saw  the  flave  both  before  and  after; 
and  feveral  others  he  has  alfo  feen  with  one  ear  cut 
ofl'.  He  has  known  often  feverity  of  punifhment, 
with  bad  care  afterwards,  occafion  the  death  of  ne- 
groes. 

Law  limits  number  of  lafhes  to  be  given  in  private 
punifhment  to  39,  but  has  known  negroes  receive 
200  at  a  time  by  order  of  overfeers,  where  the  law 
would  only  give  39.  Never  knew  an  overfeer  pu- 
niihed  for  infliding  them. 

Is  fure  they  were  inflidled  by  overfeers  for  crimes 
which  the  law  upon  convidion  would  not  have  pu- 
niftied  with  death. 

It  is  underfl:ood  if  a  flave  applied  to  a  magidrate 
he  could  get  redrefs  for  exceffive  punifhment,  or  wan- 
ton cruelty  on  the  part  of  his  mailer  or  other  white 
perfon.  In  towns  he  has  frequently  known,  ^hem 
apply,  but  not  in  the  country,  l^.,. 

E  2.  General 


^6  W.   Indies*  R  o  s  s. 

17  91.       General  mode  of  punlfliing  flaves  in  the  towns  Is 

<-^v-*^   by  fending  them  to  wharfs  or  workhoufes,  where  they 

P«  ^5'   are  piinifhed  at  the  will  of  their  owners.     In  towns 

where  the  magiflrate  was  nigh  at  hand,  nnderflands 

they  gave  redrefs  to  the  flaves  who  applied  as  before 

for  it. 

For  feme  years  he  refided  near  the  town,  but  not 
in  any  of  them,  and  in  that  period  he  has  known 
many  inllances  of  feverity.  Numbers  carried  to  the 
wharfs  at  various  times. 

Inftances  of  extreme  feverity  already  flated  were  all 
at  that  time  pradifed  in  the  country.  Generality  of 
the  field-negroes  in  every  place  were  more  or  lefs 
marked  with  the  whip. 

Has  known  many  negroes  on  their  firft  arrival,  finding 
themfelves  to  be  flaves,  deftroy  themfelves ;  and  fome 
alfo  on  feeing  their  fellow- creatures  pimilhed.  They 
often  run  away  too  for  fear  of  the  whip,  and  of  be- 
ing flogged  for  negle6l  of  duty.  The  overfeers  are 
frequently  turned  out  of  place  for  overwhipping, 
when  complaint  is  made  to  the  mafler  or  magiflrate, 
and  therefore  the  overfeers  are  now  more  lenient  in 
their  punifliments  than  formerly. 

Overfeers  alfo  are  more  attentive  now  to  keeping 
up  the  flock  of  flaves  by   breeding  than  formerly. 
P«  66»   Except  Lord  Dudley's   eftate,   he    knows   of  none 
which  were  not  obliged  to  buy  flaves. 

There  has   been   a  confiderable  increafe  of  flaves  " 
on  the  eflate  of  MeflTrs.  Muir  and  Atklnfon,  and  on 
Mr.    Malcolm's   eftate,    where   the    overfeers    have^i 
taken  great  care  of  the  flaves  both   old  and   young, 
and  ftudied  conftantly  to  promote  their  matter's  inte-  ^ 
refl:.    Thefe  the  only  inftances  of  the  kind  he  knows, 

A  negro  can  have  no  redrefs  for  punifliment  from 
a  magiftrate.  What  induced  him  to  fay  that  a  flave 
could  obtain  legal  redrefs  was,  that  a  negro  who  was 
flogged  at  the  wharf  at  Kingfton,  and  afterwards  was 
fo  beaten  about  the  head,  that  his  eye  was  knocked 
out,  and  lay  upon  his  cheek,  faid  that  he  would  go 
flie\y  his  eye  to  Mr,  French^  who  kept  a  negro  wench, 

and 


W.     I  N  D  I  E  S.  R  OS  SF  Sft 

and  had  therefore  a  great  attachment  to  flaves ;  but  1791.^ 
as  to  having  redrefs  from  Mr.  French  as  a  magiftratei  *— v*.!  1. 
he  never  underftood  he  had  any.  '  '  ^^ 

Docs  not  know  if  the  perfon  who  beat  out  tli'i'^'' 
flave*s  eye  was  his  owner  or  only  one  hired  by  hini.^^ 
A   dozen   white    perfons  were  prefenc  at   the  timeP^ 
Does   not  know   that  the  man  was  ever  called  to  an  P.  67* 
account  for  it. 

There  is  a  law  in  Jamaica  forbidding  owners  at 
one  time  and  for  one  crime,  to  give  more  than  39 
lalhes  to  a  (lave,  and  if  fufficient  evidence  were  pro- 
duced he  has  no  doubt  that  the  tranfgreiTor  might  be 
called  to  an  account  by  a  magiflrate,  but  the  evi- 
dence of  a  negro  is  not  good  againft  a  white  man. 

He  has  feen  overfeers  give  above  200  ladies,  and 
afterwards  flog  flaves  about  the  head  and  flioulders 
with  a  cow  fkin  ♦,  he  never  heard  of  one  being  called 
to  account  for  it  before  a  magifl:rate. 

He  faw  Mr.  John  Shackle  a  magifl:rate  in  Jamaica 
flog  a  negro  tliree    times  in  one  day ;  at  breakfaft 
time;  dinner  time;  and  at  flx  in  the  evening.     The 
negro  was  in  the  flocks  between  the  floggings.     No;^ 
publick  notice  was  taken  of  it. 

As  to  perfons  commonly  reputed  to  have  mur- 
dered negroes- 


he  had  hanged  a  negro  on  a  pofl:  clofe  to  his  houfe,  p 

and  in  three  years  deftroyed  40  out  of  60  by  feverity. 

*  ****** 

******* 

*  *  *  *  *  *  * 

He  has  known  flaves  feverely  puniflied,  then  put 
into  the  fl:ocks,  a  cattle  chain  of  60  lb.  or  70  lb. 
weight  put  on  them,  and  a  large  collar  about  their  ; 
necks,  and  a  weight  of  561b.  faifened  to  the  chain'' 
when  they  were  drove  afield.  They  often  die  in  a  few  ' 
days  of  their  fevere  punilhments,  for  having  but  little  ^ 
^^jk  od\-  food. 


62, 


at,  W.    Indies.  Ross. 

1 79 1,  food,  and  little  care,  to  keep  the  fores  clear  after  the 
*-— v-*^  whipping,  their  death  is  often  the  confequence. 

Has  known  negroes  flogged  as  unwilling  to  work, 
who  were  in  fa6t  fick  and  unable  to  work,  they  could 
not  work  for  many  weeks  after,  and  the  caufe  was 
often  want  of  food. 

Where  there  are  many  negroes  the  work  muft  be 
P.  6^.   lighter,  but  it  depends  on  the  lenity  of  overfeers. 

Bought  59  African  negroes,  but  was  never  forced 
to  buy  any  one  he  did  not  like,  with  a  view  of  not 
feparating  relatives. 


Witnefs  Examined, — Mr.  Henry  Coor,  of  Settle, 
Yorkfhire,  Gent. 

p.  6^.  Was  in  Jamaica  15  years,  ending  17745  as  a  mill- 
wright, chiefly  in  Wefl:moreland,  but  did  bufmefs  in 
three  other  pariflies. 

After  he  had  been  near  18  months  there,  he  had 
16  or  20  flaves  under  his  direction.  Had  about  20 
of  his  own,  whom  he  made  mill-wrights  and  car- 

P.  70*  penters,  among  Mr.  Beckford's  negroes.  After  they 
learnt  their  buflnefs,  he  became  partner  with  one 
Pavid  Thomas,  who  fuperintended  his  Mr.  (Coor's) 
flaves,  v/ith  a  few  of  his  own. 

Had  great  opportunities  of  obferving  field-ne- 
groes' treatment :  was  on  feveral  eftates  daily,  and 
had  people  conftantly  working  there.  Generally 
breakfafted,  and  often  dined  with  overfeers,  and  faw 
all  their  adions  as  much  as  any  man  poflibly  could. 
Overfeers  fetting  flaves  to  work,  in  the  morning, 
was  moftly  attended  with  loud  peels  of  whipping. 
Obferved  when  overfeers  came  early  to  the  fieldy 
flaves  who  game  afterwards  were  fure  of  whipping 
over  the  clothes.  Breeches  for  the  mien,  and  petticoats 
for  the  women,  generally  of  coarfe.  linen.  In  this 
cafe,  a  few  fteps  before  they  join  the  gang,  they 
throw  down  the  hoe^  clap  both  hands  on  their  heads, 

and 


W.  I  N  D  I  E  s.  Ross,  39 

and  patiently  take  lo  to  15,  or  20  lafhes :  but  thofe  1791. 
who  could  not  (land  without  fhrinking,  were  fure  to 
be  ftretched  on  the  ground,  or  held  by  four  of  their 
fellows,  till  they  had  received  their  compliment. 
This  flight  whipping,  as  it  is  generally  called,  is  car- 
ried on,  more  or  lefs,  all  day.  In  a  gang  of  about  100, 
are  generally  four  or  five  black  drivers,  with  each  a 
whip;  and  in  moft  fields,  one  or  two  white  drivers  who 
have  only  fticks  to  lean  on,  while  they  ftand  along 
the  line,  and  dire6l  the  black  drivers  to  touch  up  thofe 
they  think  remifs.  About  eight  o'clock  the  over- 
feer  goes  to  breakfafl:,  and  if  he  has  any  criminals  at 
home,  he  orders  a  black  driver  to  follow  him  ;  for 
it  is  then  ufual  to  take  fuch  out  of  the  ftocks,  and  fiog 
them  before  the  overfeer's  houfe.  The  method  ge- 
nerally is  this  :  the  delinquent  is  ftripped  and  tied  on 
a  ladder,  his  legs  to  the  fides,  and  his  arms  above 
his  head,  and,  fometimes  a  rope  is  tied  round  his 
middle.  The  driver  whips  him  on  the  bare  fkin,  and 
if  the  overfeer  thinks  he  does  not  lay  it  on  hard 
enough,  he  fometimes  knocks  him  down,  with  his 
own  hand,  or  makes  him  change  places  with  the  de- 
linquent, and  be  fevere^y  whipped.  Has  knov/n 
many  receive  on  the  ladder,  from  1 00  to  1 50  lafhes, 
and  fome  two  cool  hundreds,  as  thev  are  generally 
called.  Has  known  many  returned  to  confinement, 
and,  in  i,  2,  or  three  days,  brought  to  the  ladder, 
and  receive  tne  fame  complement,  or  thereabouts^ 
as  before.  They  ieldom  take  them  off  the  ladder^' 
until  all  the  fkm,  from  the  hams  to  the  fmall  of  the 
back,  appears  only  raw  ficfh  and  blood,  and  then 
tht-y  walh  the  pans  with  falc  pickle.  This  appeared 
to  him,  from  the  convulfions  it  occafioned,  more 
cruel  than  the  whipping;  but  was  done  to  prevent 
mojiificat'on.  fias  known  many,  after  fuch  whip- 
piig,  fent  to  the  field,  under  a  guard,  and  worked 
all  d^y,  with  no  f.»oi1  but  what  th-rir  fiends  might 
give  them,  nut  of  their  own  poor  pittance.  He  has 
known  thfrm  rerurned  to  the  flocks  at  night,  and 
worked  acAC  ddy,  fucceirively.     This  cruel  whip- 


40  W.  Indies.  CooRi 

1791.  ping,  hard  working,  and  flarving,  has,  to  his  know- 
ledge, naade  many  comnnit  fuicide.  Remembers  14 
flaves,  who,  from  bad  treatment,  rebelled  on  a  Sun- 
day, ran  into  the  woods,  and  all  cut  their  throats  to- 
gether. He  could  relate  feveral  other  inftances, 
(p.  74.)  He  has  been  often  a  juryman  in  fuch  cafes, 
and  remembers  no  other  verdict  given  that  '^  Felo 
*'  de  fe,"  and  except  once,  never  knew  it  oppofed, 
and  that  was  a  flave  on  William's  Field  eftate,  who 
was  whipped  by  order  of  the  overfeer,  and  after- 
wards beaten  by  him  moil  inhumanly  with  a  ftafF 
over  his  head.  The  negro  told  him  he  had  broke 
his  arm,  which  he  held  up  to  ward  off  the  blow ; 
72.  yet  he  kept  on  beating  him,  till  the  man  fprang  oft, 
and  next  morning  was  found  hanging  to  a  tree.  An 
eye-witnefs  declared,  in  evidence,  he  believed  the 
negro's  arm  was  broke,  and  that  this  cruel  treatment 
made  him  kill  himfelf.  A  dodlor  agreed  the  arm 
was  much  fwelled,  but  could  not  fay  it  was  broke. 
After  a  long  canvas,  the  verdidl  was,  as  ufual,  feif 
murder.  The  Gold  Coafl:  negroes,  when  driven  to 
defpair,  by  harfli  ufage,  always  cut  their  throats  ; 
and  thofe  of  the  moil  inland  country,  mofbly  hang 
themfelves. 

Once,  when  dining  with  an  overfeer,  an  old  wo- 
man, who  had  run  away  a  few  days,  was  brought 
home,  with  her  hands  tied  behind.  After  dinner, 
the  overfeer,  with  a  clerk,  named  Bakewell,  took  the 
woman,  thus  tied,  to  the  hot  houfe,  a  place  for  the 
fick,  and  where  the  (locks  are  in  one  of  the  rooms. 
Mr.  Coor  went  to  work  in  the  mill  about  100  yards 
off,  and  hearing  a  moil  diftrefsful  cry  from  that 
houfe,  he  afked  his  men,  who,  and  w^hat  it  was,  they 
faid  they  thought  it  was  old  Qualheba.  About  5 
o'clock  the  noife  ceafed,  and  about  the  time  he  was 
leaving  work,  Bakewell  came  to  him,  apparently  in 
great  fpirits,  and  faid,  "  Well,  Mr.  Coor,  old  Qua- 
'^  Iheba  is  dead.  We  took  her  to  the  flocks  room  ; 
*^  the  overfeer  threw  a  rope  over  the  beam  y  I  was 
*^  jack  ketch,  and  hauled  her  up,  till  her  feet  was 

^^  ofFi 


W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  Coo  R*  4t 

*«  off  the  ground.  The  overfeer  locked  the  door,  17;9Tr 
"  and  took  the  key  with  him,  until  I  now  returned  ^— -v*^ 
'f  with  a  (lave  into  the  ftocks,  and  found  her  dead/'^*  1Z*\ 
Mr.  C,  faid,  "You  have  killed  her  j  I  heard  hef 
*'  cry  all  the  afternoon."  He  anfvvered,  "  D — n 
*f  her  for  an  old  b — h,  (he  was  good  for  nothing, 
Y  what  fignifies  killing  fuch  an  old  woman  as  her." 
Mr.  C.  faid,  "  Bakcwell,  you  fhock  me,"  and  left 
him.  The  next  morning,  his  men  told  him^  they 
had  helped  to  bury  her  ;  fo  here  it  refted,  till  ano- 
ther affair  brought  it  on  the  carpet  The  poultry 
keeper,  a  girl  about  ii  or  12  years  of  age,  brought 
the  overfeer  a  young  duck  that  had  died,  to  clear 
herfelf  of  having  killed  it;  that  not  fatisfying  him, 
he  beat  her  very  feverely  himfelf,  and  then  forced 
her  to  eat  up  the  duck  guts,  feathers  and  all,  threat- 
ening her  with  5  times  as  much  beating,  if  Ihe  did 
not.  The  girl  thinking  more  would  kill  her,  tore 
and  eat  every  bit  of  it.  In  the  evening  fhe  com- 
plained to  her  mother,  who  went,  at  night,  and  com- 
plained to  Mr.  Beckford's  attorney,  of  that  and  other 
cruelties  of  the  overfeer;  and' for  one,  the  ftory  of 
old  Qualheba,  referring  for  proof  of  all,  to  Mr. 
Coor,  who  was  all  the  time  on  the  eftate.  The  at- 
torney fent  for  him,  Mr.  C.  to  wait  on  him  next 
morning,  which  he  did,  and  told  him  old  Qiiafheba'sP.  73^ 
ftory,  as  related.  He  was  very  angry  at  him,  aOcing 
him  how  he  could  fee  his  matter's  flaves  murdered 
fo,  without  telling  him  (the  attorney)  of  it.  He 
faid  it  was  not  his  bufinefs  to  tell  him,  but  fuch 
•cruelties  were  fo  common  on  the  edates,  that  he  had 
thought  no  more  of  it.  The  overfeer  fuffered  no  le- 
gal punifhment.  The  attorney  appeared  very  angry 
■with  him,  at  the  time,  but  all  was  fettled,  and  he 
went  on  as  ufual  for  about  half  a  year,  when  he 
was  difmiffed,  Mr.  C.  cannot  exa6lly  fay  for  what. 

He    thought   the  treatment  by   the  overfeers  in  p.  ^a 
'general,  very  fevere.     He  did  not  think  this  feve- 
rity  neceffary,  for  many  fubftantial  reafons  he  could 
iSHimb.  4,  '    F  give. 


4^  W.  I  tr  D  I E  s.  Coo  r; 

1791.   give.     He  pi-oved    it  himfelf  from  ocular  demon- 

c.'v^o  ilTatior!. 
P.  87.  One  George  White,  kept  up  fo  fharp  a  difcipline 
over  a  gang  of  flaves,  which  fell  under  his  (Coor's) 
care  afterv/ards,  that  he  generally  flogged  them  very 
feverely  for  the  finalleft  faults,  fo  that  he  reduced 
them  both  in  their  perfons  and  faculties.  They  were 
never  without  fores,  from  his  cruelty.  The  flog- 
gings quite  difabled  them  from  ufihg  the  little  lei- 
fure  they  had  in  working  their  grounds,  which  was 
their  chief  fupport.  Hence  they  became  poor  both 
in  body  and  property,  and  fubje6t  to  theft,  which  he 
moftly  attributed  to  want ;  for  their  fores  from  beat- 
ing made  them  unwilling  to  flir,  when  at  leifure. 
When  thefe  (laves  came  under  him  (Mr.  Coor)  he 
ufed  them  kindly,  excufed  fluall  faults,  promifed  re- 
wards for  good  behaviour;  fuch  as  allowing  them 
time  to  work  their  grounds.  His  firft  care  was  to 
fee  them  make  a  good  ufe  of  this  time  ;  but  after  he 
found  their  grounds  thriving,  he  had  little  more  to 
do,  and  in  a  few  months,  from  a  poor,  fcabbed,  ill- 
looking,  difpirited  gang,  they  became  fat,  fleek, 
lively,  and  worked  as  chearfully  as  ever  he  faw  work- 
men in  England  ;  and  he  could  have  done  more  work 
with  them,  in  one- third  lefs  time,  than  White  could 
have  done  with  all  the  force  of  the  whip.  Good 
treatment  changed  their  very  morals :  he  could  have 
trufhed  them  with  any  thing.  Being  a  lieutenant,  he 
was  once  ordered  out  after  outlaws,  by  the  colonel, 
who  gave  him  leave  to  chufe  a  ferjeant's  guard  of  the 
white  militia;  he  told  the  colonel,  if  he  pleafed  he 
(Mr.  Coor)  would  arm  his  (laves  for  that  duty, 
which  he  did,  and  found  as  much  fidelity  in  them, 
as  he  could  have  expeded  in  Engliilimen.  They 
pitched  their  tents  round  his,  faying,  they  would  all 
P.  8S.  die,  fooner  than  he  (liould  be  hurt.  Thofe  fiaves 
were  under  his  care  13 1  years,  during  which  he  never 
flogged  one  of  them.  They  w^ould  have  been  more 
afham.ed  of  a  fmall  tap,  with  a  fupple  jack  from  his 
hand,  than  of  loo  lafties  from  their  former  mailer. 

They 


W.  Indies.  C  o  o  r.     .  43 

They  were  grateful  in  the  higheft  degree.     On  Sun-  i79^' 
day,  they  often  would  bring  him  a  fowl,  as  a  prefent,  ^-'•"v'>i' 
and  never  killed  a  hog,  but  they  faved  fonae  choice 
part  for  him.     He  could  mention  a  variety  of  other 
inftances  of  their  gratitude  and  affe6tion  to  him. 

An  eftate,  at  which  he  did  bufinefs  at  times,  in  his 
neighbourhood,  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Dunn,  was  a 
fmail  one  when  he  firft:  went  there,  not  from  want  of 
land,  but  of  negroes.  It  then  made  about  50  hhds. 
of  fugar.  He  worked  his  flaves  moderately,  and  his 
wife  took  great  care  of  the  Tick,  lying-in  women  andp.  88. 
children,  who  feemed  to  fwarm  on  this  eflate,  and 
he  never  heard  any  complaint  of  the  locked  jaw  there. 
To  Mr.  C's  knowledge,  in  a  few  years,  this  eftate 
doubled  its  produce,  and  before  he,  Mr.  C.  left  Ja- 
maica, he  had  fettled  another  thriving  eftate,  under 
his  eldeft  fon,  which  then  made  about  60  hhds.  and 
all,  to  the  beft  of  his  knowledge,  had  arifen  out  of 
the  fmail  (lock  of  flaves  before-mentioned,  except 
fix  new  negroes  bought.  He  could  not  but  haveP.  ^g* 
known  it,  had  more  been  bought.  A  neighbour- 
ing eftate  to  this,  whofe  fituation  was  far  fuperior  for 
health  and  eafe  in  getting  provifions,  yet  perpetually 
decreafed  in  (laves,  owing,  in  his,  and  other  peoples 
opinions,  to  inhuman  treatment.  The  owner,  who 
managed  it  himfelf,  very  often,  to  Mr.  C's  know- 
ledge, bought  20,  2>^y  or  40  new  flaves  at  a  lot,  and, 
in  about  10  or  is  years,  the  eftate  v/as  very  much 
reduced,  both  in  produce  and  negroes  •,  fo  that  from 
good  circumftances,  his  credit  was  in  that  time  re- 
duced to  a  very  low  ebb,  v/hich,  he  verily  believes, 
arofe  from  ill-treating  his  flaves.  It  would  be  to  no 
purpofe  to  tell  the  particulars.  Some  inftances  of 
his  capricious  cruelties  are  too  bad  to  relate. 

He  has  always  thought  the  rearing  of  children  v/ell 
worth  the  planter's  notice  ;  but  fo  inattentive  did  he 
always  find  them  to  it,  that  he  has  heard  overfeers 
fay,  they  would  far  rather  the  children  ft:iould  die 
than  live;  nor  did  he  ever  fee  any  proper  prepara- 
tion for  the  reception  of  them.     The  fides  of. the 

.  F  2  huts 


2|.4  W.  Indies.  Coor. 

X79I.  huts  they  are  born  in,  are  no  more  defence  againft 
*-**v-*^  the  cold  night  damps,  than  one  of  our  pallure  hedges. 
Bedding  they  have  none,  but  a  board  or  bafs  mat. 
When  the  child  is  born,  the  midwife  afks  the  over- 
feer  for  fomething  for  the  woman  ;  a  bottle  of  rum, 
P.  go.  2.nd  2  or  3  pound  of  fait  beef,  which  does  well 
enough,  for  they  feldom  fail  to  recover.  But  they 
never  put  the  infant  to  the  mother's  bread,  till  8 
days  be  over,  for  which  time  a  woman  out  of  the 
field  nurfes  it,  who  probably  has  a  child  2,  3,  or  4 
months  old.  Here  he  fubmits  to  medical  men, 
what  elFed:  the  milk  of  a  woman,  hardly  wrought 
and  poorly  fed,  under  a  vertical  fun,  would  have  on 
a  tender  infant.  They  moftly  die  convulfed,  gene- 
rally abouc  the  8ch  day.  This  want  of  care  is  more 
lamentable,  not  only  from  humanity,  but  intereft,  for 
if  they  furvive  the  8th  day,  they  moftly  do  well,  and 
he  very  feldom  remembered  any  dying,  from  the  8th 
day  to  the  8  th  year.  What  convinces  him  farther  it 
is  for  want  of  care,  is,  becaufe^  where  they  have  warm 
houfesjkind  treatment,  and  the  child  fet  to  the  mo- 
ther's bread,  he  very  feldom  knew  any  die ;  and  it 
was  neither  labour  nor  expence  to  raife  them,  after 
the  fatal  8th  day  was  over.  It  is  his  firm  opinion, 
that  with  kind  and  judicious  treatment  of  the  infants, 
the  Haves  in  Jamaica  will  increafe,  without  any  im- 
portations from  Africa. 

It  was  more  overfeers  object  to  work  flaves  out, 
and  trufl:  for  African  fupplies,  than  work  them  mo- 
derately, and  keep  them  up  by  breeding  ;  for  he  has 
heard  many  fay,  ^'  1  have  made  my  employer  20,  30, 
'*  or  40  more  hhds.  per  year  than  my  predeceiTors, 
*^  and  though  I  have  killed  30  or  40  negroes  per 
^^  year  more,  yet  the  produce  has  been  more  than 
^'  adequate  to  the  lofs." 
P.  91.  The  Ilav^es  can  exped  no  redrefs,  but  from  the  at^ 
torney.  Many  of  them  have  commiiTions  on  the 
produce,  and,  if  they  give  ear  to  the  (laves  com^ 
.  plaints,  the  overfeer  will  tell  them  he  will  leave  the 
eflate,     |f  he  makes  great  crops,  Mr.  C  has  often 

pbfervecl 


W.  Indies.  C  o  o  r.  45 

obferved  the  attorney  wink  at  his  prefling  the  flaves   1791. 
to  perform  more  work  than  human  nature  could  bear.  v.*-\r»^ 

Moft  of  the  field  (laves  are  marked  with  the  whip, 
not  only  Africans,  but  Creoles.  Has  known  many 
very  well  difpofed  Creole  negroes,  that  have  had 
wheals  from  their  hams  up  to  the  fmall  of  their 
backs ;  but  this  is  nothing  thought  of,  as  it  is  fo 
common. 

It  is  natural  to  think  that  flaves  will  fuffer  from 
their  mafter*s  being  in  debt ;  for  they  are  generally 
hard  worked,  and  ill  clothed  and  fed.  He  could 
mention,  as  inftances,  2  or  3  neighbouring  eftates. 

Domefticks  are  very  often  treated  ill,  without  re- 
drefs,  from  their  mailer's  caprice.  He  has  heard 
many  fay,  they  would  rather  be  under  the  field  hard- 
Ihip,  than  in  the  houfe.  He  boarded  about  6  months  P.  gu 
with  a  dodlor,  who  ufed  his  fieid-flaves  ill,  but  he 
daily  faw  how  his  domefticks  were  treated.  He 
made  no  more  of  knocking  down  his  waiting-boy, 
than  if  he  had  been  a  piece  of  wood,  for  what  Mr.  C. 
thought  no  fault  at  all.  Two  houfe-wenches  were 
treated  the  fame  way.  One  of  them  having  broken 
a  plate,  or  fpilt  a  cup  of  tea,  he  nailed  her  ear  to  a 
poft.  Mr.  C.  remonftrated  in  vain.  They  went  to 
bed  and  left  her  thtre  ;  in  the  morning  ilie  was  gone, 
having  torn  the  head  of  the  nail  through  her  ear. 
She  was  foon  brought  back,  and  when  he  came  to 
breakfaft,  he  found  ihe  had  been  very  feverely  whip-  . 
ped  by  the  do6lor,  who,  in  his  fury,  dipt  both  her 
ears  ofFclofe  to  her  head,  with  a  pair  of  large  fcif- 
fars,  and  fne  was  fet  to  pick  feeds  out  of  cotton,  a- 
mong  3  or  4  more,  emaciated  by  his  cruelties,  until 
they  were  fit  for  nothing  elfe.  This  girl  never  ap- 
plied for  legal  redrefs.  The  negroes  generally 
thought  they  could  have  noredrefs,  but  from  their 
mafters  or  atcornies.  He  believes  no  more  notice 
was  taken  of  the  dctd^  than  if  he  had  cut  off  his  dog's 
ears.  Thinks  fome  magiftrates  could  hardly  mifs 
knowing  it;  for  feverai  vifited  at  the  dodors.  The 
girl  waited  at  table  with  her  ears  off. 

He 


4^  W.  Indies.  C  o  o  r, 

179 1.  He  never  knew  a  field  (lave  have  mqre  than  a 
breeding  fow  and  a  few  poultry,  and  thinks  it  impof- 
fible  for  fuch  to  get  any  property.  Never  knew 
even  tradefmen  poffefs  any  thing,  though  they  have 
more  opportunities  of  accumulating  than  a  field- 
flave. 

93.  Slaves  were  forced  to  carry  from  their  grounds, 
whatever  they  could  fpare  from  the  bread  of  their 
family,  to  buy  fait  provifions  for  all  the  week.  One 
negro  would  carry  about  4  bits  worth,  more  or  lefs, 
according  to  the  varying  market  price,  which  they 
lay  out  in  eatables  or  clothes ;  for,  in  general,  they 
had  only  5  yards  of  cloth,  worth  about  leven-pence, 
or  feven- pence  half-penny  per  yard. 

Slaves  were  fed  many  ways,  but  themoft  common 
was,  depending  on  their  little  grounds.  The  poor- 
er, who,  never  had  fpirits  or  ability  to  cultivate  them, 
depended  on  fome  one  of  the  plantation  flaves,  for 
whom  they  worked  all  the  little  time  they  were  al- 
lowed. Does  not  fpeak  of  nevv^  negroes;  for  they 
are  generally  diilributed  to  the  plantation  flaves,  who 
have  the  bed  grounds,  under  whom  they  work  all 
the  little  time  they  are  excufed  from  their  mafter's 
bufinefe.  They  have  land,  which  overfeers  think 
they  fhould  bring  into  fome  order,  while  under  the 
faid  negroes  ;  but  too  often,  from  quarrels  with  the 
mafter  ilaves,  they  are  turned  out  of  doors  before 
their  grounds  are  in  perfecTcion,  and  obliged  to  ileal 

94.  or  beg.  Thinks  this  the  greateft  reafon  v,?hy  there 
are  fo  many  bad  flaves.  Slaves  land,  wherever  he 
has  beenj  is  quite  fufficient ;  but  they  have  not  time 
to  work  it. 

Dead  mules,  horfes,  cov/s,  &c.  v/ere  all  burnt, 
under  infpedion  of  a  white  man.  Had  they  been 
buried,  the  negroes  would  have  dug  them  up  in  the 
night,  to  eat  them  through  hunger.  It  was  gene- 
rally faid  to  be  done,  to  prevent  the  negroes  from 
eating  them,  lelt  it  lliould  breed  diforders. 

On  Shrewfbiiry  eftate,  the  overfeer  fent  for  a  flave, 
3.nd  in  talking  with  him,   he  hailily  ftruck  him  on 

the 


W.  Indies.  C  o  o  r.  47 

the  head  with   a  fmall  hanger,  and  gave'  htfri'  IWO'  if^i^^ 
fiabs  about  the  waift.     The  flave  faid,  ''^  Ov^rfeef,  ^-^'^*^*^ 
'^  you  have  killed  me."     He  pulhed  him  out'<i)f  the- 
,niazza.     The  (lave  went  home  and  died  that  nighti- 

d  was  buriedi  and  no  more  faid  about  it.  Mr.  C's 
l|iioufe  was  on  this  eftate,  near  the  overfeer's  hiDufe, 
About  6  months  after,  the  overfeer  moved  thence^^ 
to  Anchovie-Bottomeftatej  Why,  Mr.  C*  cannot  tell ; 
but  knows  it  was  not  for  thisi  This  was  about 
1770.  He  was  called  a  very  valuable  sc^verfeer,  ai 
he  worked  the  flaves  hard,  ahd  made  great  crops  of 
fugar.  It  was  generally  believed  he  had  killed  2- 
more  at  Anchovie-Bottom  5  as  a  proof  of  this,-^it 
being  whifpered,  among  the  neighbours,  that  thefe 
two  made  three  Qaves  he  had  killed,  and  it  being 
looked  upon  then^  that  the  killing  of  three  Oaves 
was  capital,  he  thought  proper  to  go  privately  away, 
and  Mr.  C.  never  heard  more  of  him.  A*  Mr^  Foot, 
(an  inferior  attorney  under  Mr.  Herring)  Mr.  C.  is  p.  or, 
clear,  knew  the  particulars  of  the  iirft-mentioned 
murder,  having  often  talked  with  him  on  that,  and. 
many  fimilar  fubje6lsj  but  knows  not,  if  Mr.  Fo^t- 
told  it  to  Mr.  Herring.  He  never  heard  of  theleafl: 
attempt  to  bring  the  overfeer  to  jufbice-,  but  has 
heard  Mr.  Foot  fay,  he  was  a  very  good  overfeer^-' 

but  a  d d  wicked  dog  v/hen  drunk.     Mr.  C.  is 

pretty  clear  he  was  drunk  when  he  did  that  deed. 

The  llaves  allowed  food,  in  Jamaica,  was  moftiy 
herrings.  He  has  known  about  2  barrels  amolig 
100,  150,  or  160  flaves,  at  a  time;  about  once  a 
month  or  fix  weeks ;  and  he  is  ciear^  that  every 
common  man's  fhare,  was  very  feldo'm  above  7  or  8 
herrings.  The  field-negroes  had  no  other  allow- 
ance ;  and  fometimes  he  has  feen  herrings  fo  rottera, 
as  to  have  been  meafured  out,  all  malhed  up  like  a 
porridge. 

He  bought  6  boys  and  2  girls  from  a  Guinea  fhip. 
He  took  a  flave  with  him  to  interpret,  and  who 
afl^ed  the  flaves  he  bought,  if  they  had  had  the  yawls. 
They  all  told  him   they  had,  their  fkin  being  then 

'  very 


48  W.  Indies, 


o  o  R< 


1791.  very  clean  and  black  ;  but  In  6  weeks  or  two  months, 
^-nr^  they  all  broke  out  violently  with  the  yaws.  They 
then  fpoke  a  little  Englifh,  and  he  allced  thenfi,  if 
they  had  not  the  yaws  in  their  country.  They  faid 
yes ;  but  when  they  came  near  buccra  country,  the 
P.  96.  buccra  on  board  rubbed  them  with  fornething  that 
made  their  Ikin  clean.  He  has  known  feveral  Gui- 
neamen  in  port  2  or  3  weeks,  before  declaring  fale, 
or  allowing  any  inhabitant  to  go  on  board  (which 
tliey  never  allow,  until  they  have  declared  fale)  and 
it  was  always  reported,  that  this  delay  was  to  get  the 
flaves  in  proper  trim  for  fale. 

Jobbing  gangs  were  increafing  much  when  he  left 
Jamaica.  Every  overfeer  or  white  man,  who  had 
money  or  credit,  bought  new  negroes  to  job  them 
out.  He  could  have  had  ^14  per  cent,  for  his 
money,  in  that  way,  and  have  had  it  infuredj  but 
mailers  that  work  them  themfelves  in  that  way,  make 
much  more. 

Epidemicks  are  much  more  fatal  to  poor  and  ill 
ftdy  than  to  well  fed,  hearty  flaves.  But  one  fatal 
epidemick  (a  flux)  prevailed  while  he  was  there.  It 
attacked  all  ranks  of  whites  and  blacks;  and  it  was 
generally  poor,  ill  fed  negroes,  that  died  of  it.  Few 
well  fed  negroes  died  of  it,  and  not  one  white 
perfon. 

On  fbme  eilates,  the  negroes  provifion  grounds 
are  clofe  at  hand  -,  on  others  tolerably  near  ;  but  he 
knows  feveral,  where  they  were  4  or  five  miles  off. 

Always  obferved  negroes,  who  had  grounds  in  to- 
lerable order,  work  with  great  pleafure ;  but  thofe 
who  were  turned  into  them  only  covered  with  woods 
and  bufhes,  had  very  ill  heart  to  begin  upon  them, 
and  generally  were  obliged  to  fpend  that  time  they 
fliouid  have  laid  out  upon  their  grounds,  in  working 
under  fome  other  negro,  for  prefent  fupport. 
^-  37*  Has  often  known  the  different  offices  of  overfeer, 
dodlor  and  attorney,  on  an  eftate,  filled  by  the  fame 
perfon. 

Runaway 


W.  Indies, 


C  O  O  R. 


49 


Runaway  (laves  never  take  refuge  among  the  Ma-    1790. 
roons ;  for  thefe  are  a  check  on  them.     They  have 
£2  p^r  head  for  taking  them,  and  a  (hilling  for  every 
mile  they  bring  them. 

On  one  eilate,  moil  of  the  Daves  were  chriilened 
and  inftruded  by  a  perfon  fent  from  Europe,  and 
they  vv^ere  always  the  beil  difpofed  flaves  in  that 
neisrhbourhood  -,  but  on  no  other  eflates  did  he  ever 
hear  fuch  a  thing  named.  Of  a  number  of  flaves 
taken  from  Guadaloupe,  one  family  was  bought  by 
a  neighbour  of  his,  and  the  dodor  told  him,  the 
father  of  that  family  had  prayers  in  his  houfe  night 
and  morning.  He  does  not  remember  the  eitate, 
where  the  flaves  were  infl:ru6led,  buying  any  new 
flaves,  and  they  v/ere  always  very  flirong  handed. 
Fie  v/as  very  v/ell  acquainted  with  the  whole  gang, 
as  he  took  care  of  their  mills,  &:c.  for  moil:  of  the 
time  he  was  there. 

Promifcuous  intercourle  was  very  common,  both 
among  the  flaves,  and  between  the  white  men  and 
negro  women.  There  was  no  reftridion.  It  was  the 
greateil  difgrace  for  a  white  man,  not  to  cohabit 
with  fome  woman  or  other.  No  attempts  were  made 
to  induce  the  men  flaves  to  reftrid  themfelves  to  one 
woman.  It  was  not  confidered  any  way  difadvan- 
tageous  to  an  eilate,  for  the  men  to  have  i,  2,  3,  or 
4  wives,  according  as  they  could  maintain  them  withp,  q8, 
the  produce  of  their  little  fpots  of  ground.  The 
negroes  wives  were  not  at  all  fecure  from  the  at- 
tempts of  the  overleer  or  book-keepers ;  for  though 
a  man  might  know  of  his  wife  having  lain  with  the 
overfeer  or  book-keeper,  he  dared  not  refent  it, 
either  to  her  or  to  them,  for  if  he  did,  he  would 
be  fure  of  a  very  fmart  flogging  for  it,  though  pro- 
bably on  fome  other  pretext. 

In  Bolton,  Rhode-Ifland,  New- York,  New-Jer- 
feys,  and  Pennfylvania,  the  flaves  are  treated  much 
like  farmers  fervants  in  England,  and  he  faw  them 
carry  on  their  malters  buflnefs  juft  m  the  fame  way. 
IWhere  a  mailer  had  3,  4,  or  more  flaves,  one  of 

Numb.  4.  G  theai 


55  W.    1  N  £)  I  E  S.  C  O  O  R. 

179 1,   them  was  moftly  a  leading  man.     He  has  often  con- 
*-^v-^  verfed  with  fuch  head  man  on  farming,  ploughing^ 
&c.  and  always  found  him  very  intelligent. 

Thinks  a  great  deal  of  his  evidence  has  tended  to 
fhew,  that  the  behaviour  of  the  negroes  generally 
correfpond  with  their  treatment. 

At  his  firft  going  to  the  ifland,  a  common  flogging 
would  put  him  in  a  tremble,  fo  that  he  did  not  feel 
right  for  the  reft  of  the  day  5  but  by  degres  it  be- 
came fo  habitual,  that  he  thought  no  more  of  fee- 
ing a  black  man's  head  cut  off,  than  he  fhould  now 
think  of  a  butcher  cutting  off  the  head  of  a  calf. 


Witnefs  examined — John  Giles, 

Near  Hay,  Brecknockfhire,  —  Farmer. 

P.  74.  Was  in  Montferrat  from  1757  to  1762;  in  Grand- 
terre  1763 ;  in  Grenada  1764,  and  part  1765  ;  in  N. 
America  reft  of  1765  ;  in  St.  Croix  from  1766  to 
1772-,  in  England  1773;  in  St.  Croix  1774  to  1778. 

His  firft  imprefllon  in  the  Weft  Indies  was,  that 
flaves  were  cruelly  treated,  feverely  punifhed  for 
trifling  offences,  and  not  fufEciently  fed. 
P.  75*  He  arrived  in  crop  time;  there  was  then  no  food 
allowed,  except  a  furnace  of  horfe-beans  or  potatoes 
daily  boiled  for  the  weaker  part  of  the  gang.  Out 
of  crop,  the  allowance  was  from  four  to  fix  pints  of 
horfe-beans,  rice,  or  Indian  corn,  and  four  to  fix 
herrings  weekly,  to  each  flave. 

A  grrat  deal  of  land  allowed  them,  but  no  time 
to  cukivate  it,  except  Sunday ;  when  they  were  aifo 
obliged  to  pick  large  bundle  of  grafs,  morning  and 
night  •,  many  too,  watched  the  works  in  rotation ; 
no  other  day  was  allowed  in  lieu  of  the  time  loft  to 
them  on  thefe  occafions. 

Picking  of  grafs  is  ever  a  great  hardfhip,  particu- 
larly in  dry  feafons  :  they  are  forced  to  do  it  on  week 

days^ 


W.  Indies.  J.  Giles.  51 

days,    in  the  time    allowed   for  dinner,    and  after  1791. 
fun-fet.  u-v-^ 

Has  often  known  flaves  (leal  from  hunger. 

Knows  of  no  care  taken  to  inftrud  flaves,  or  in- 
duce them  to  marry. 

Their  capacity  is  good,  and  their  difpofition  better 
than  might  be  expeded  from  perfons  fo  untutored. 

Severe  treatment  is  no  ways  neceflary.     On  two 
eftates  where  he  lived,  the  increafe  of  the  flaves,  un- 
der a  milder  treatment,  exceeded  decreafe  by  one  per 
cent.     There  was  alfo  more  work  done,  as  they  didp,  ySt 
not  run  away  as  on  other  eftates,  where  treated  ill. 

The  flaves  were  very  inhumanly  treated  on  the 
cftate  he  lived  on  in  Montferrat :  the  field  gang  was 
not  aflbrted  as  to  flirength,  the  weak  flaves  being 
forced  to  work  as  much  as  the  flirong. 

Recolleds  feveral  fliocking  inftances  of  punifliment 
there;  in  particular,  the  driver,  at  day-break,  once 
informed  the  overfeer,  that  one,  of  4  or  5  negroes, 
chained,  in  a  dungeon,  would  not  rife :  he  accom- 
panied overfeer  to  the  dungeon,  who  fet  the  others 
that  were  in  the  chain  to  drag  him  out,  and  not 
rifing  when  out,  he  ordered  a  bundle  of  cane  trafli 
to  be  put  round  him,  and  fet  fire  to.  As  he  fl:ill 
did  not  rife,  he  had  a  fmall  foldering  iron  heated, 
and  thrufl;  between  his  teeth.  As  the  man  did  not 
yet  rife,  he  had  the  chain  taken  off,  and  fent  him  to 
the  hofpital,  where  he  languiflied  fome  days,  and  died. 
Though  the  owner  reflded  on  the  ellate,  never  heard 
that  he  condemned  this  condudt,  which  if  he  had, 
he,  (Mr.  G.)  muft  have  knew  it.  He  could,  if  ne- 
ceflfary,  relate  feveral  other  infl:ances.  The  overfeer, 
fo  far  from  being  puniflied,  or  called  to  account  for 
this  adtion,  was  always  in  great  favour  with  his 
mafters.  Slaves  often  ran  away,  and  when  retaken  p.  yy^ 
were  puniflied  by  fevere  whippings,  by  chains,  by 
very  hard  work,  and  often  not  releafed  from  the 
chain  till,  being  fo  emaciated,  they  were  in  danger 
of  dying.  The  deaths  exceeded  the  births  more  than, 
two  to  one.  The  eftate  did  not  profper,  the  gende- 
G  2  man 


52  W.   Indies.  J.  Giles. 

1791.  man  was  almoft  ruined  by  it.     The  mortality  was 
^--nr^  chiefly  among  the  grown  field  flaves,  by  their  being 
hard  worked,  cruelly  punifhed,  and  fparingly  fed. 

Thinks  the  flaves  were  often  fo  fatigued  by  the 
labour  of  the  week,  as  fcarcely  to  be  capable  of 
working  their  own  ground  on  Sunday. 

The  marks  of  the  whip  were  to  be  feen  on  almofl 
all  the  weaker  part  of  the  gang,  from  forcing  them 
to  keep  up  with  the  reft. 

Pregnant  women  punifhed,  but  not  very  feverely. 
When  flaves  were  fo  old  as  to  be  paft  labourj  their 
P*  78.   owners  did  not  feed  them. 

Kegroes  might  be  managed  with  comparative  eafe, 
were  their  tem.per  and  dilpofition  attended  to.  The 
bufinefs  might  then  be  done  in  a  better  manner,  and 
without  fuch  frequent  flogging. 

Never  heard  that  flaves  had  any  prote6tion  from  ill 
ufuage  from  owners,  or  thofe  under  them. 

Never  knew  one  planer  interfere  with  the  treat- 
ment of  the  flaves  of  another. 

Never  heard  any  thing  of  the  locked  jaw.  They 
had  children  die  fometim.es  1  but  neither  overfeer  nor 
do61:or  interfered  j  they  w^ere  left  to  old  woiuen,  the 
mid  wives. 

The  treatment  in  Grenada  was  exa6lly  flmiiar  to 
that  in  Montferrat^  he  law  no  difference. 

The  merit  of  a  manager  was  eilimated  by  the 
quantity  of  crops  produced  on  the  eftate. 

A  manager  of  Grenada  told  him  of  a  great  cruelty 
he  had  committed.  Several  negroes  and  mules  had 
died  on  the  eftatCj  an  old  woman  was  fufpeded  of 
having  poiloned  them.  He,  (Mr.  G.)  afl^ed  the 
manager  if  they  had  not  given  her  up  to  the  law, 
who  faid  no,  they  had  taken  a  fliorter  method  with 
her.  They  made  a  bit  of  a  thatched  hut,  put  her 
into  it,  with  fome  combuftibles,  and  burnt  her  to 
death.  The  manager  was  not  difcharged  for  this : 
thinks  he  told  him  it  was  done  by  the  owner's,  defire. 
It  was  not  told  him  as  a  fecrec 

Never 


P.  79' 


W»   Indies.  J.  G  i  l  e  s.  53 

Never  heard  of  any  care  taken  at  African  fales  to   1791. 
prevent  the  feparation  of  relations,  v-'-v^*! 

Never  knew  pains  taken  to  improve  mode  of  cul  P.  8o, 
tivation,  or  implements  of  hufbandry,  except  in  that 
of  cutting  cane  tops  by  a  machine.      Plough  might 
be  applied  with  great  effed  in  thefe  two  ifiands  in 
eafing  the  labour  of  (laves. 

Slaves  in  St.  Croix  were  better  ufed  than  in  either 
of  the  two  Britifh  iflands,  but  not  f  ;>  well  as  they 
ought,  were  the  planters  attentive  to  their  intereil; 
and  if  properly  treated,  believes  their  increaie  would 
be  general  throughout  the  ifiands. 

Never  heard  that  the  flavcs  had  any  proteclion 
there. 

Planters  there  refide  on  their  eftates,  and  do  not 
live  fo  extravagantly  as  in  the  Englifn  iilands. 

KecoUedts  an  instance  of  the  eftcdls  of  treatment  of 
fiaves.  Where  he  wa^  manager,  the  flaves  were 
forced  to  be  up  at  two  in  the  morning,  at  a  time 
when  canes  were  cutting,  on  80  acres  of  a  rifmg 
ground,  which,  from  a  want  of  mules,  they  were 
alfo  obliged  to  carry  half  a  mile  upon  their  heads. 
This  year  the  flaves  decreafed.  Fie  prevailed  on  the 
ow^ner  to  buy  fix  mules  more  againft  next  crop  j  that 
and  the  following  year  the  flaves  increafed  one  per 
cent.  Was  perfedliy  convinced  t/at  dje  decreafe  and 
increafe  fpoke  to,  was  in  coniequence  of  the  difference 
of  labour. 

Never  heard  talk  of  the  Code  Noir  while  in  Grande 
Terre :  if  it  had  been  ufual  for  Oaves  to  be  any  way 
relieved  by  it,  they  would  have  fought  redrefs  for 
the  very.fevere  ufage  of  a  man  v;ho  was  his  partner 
in  a  diltillery  :  the  commanders,  to  whom  he  was 
very  obnoxious,  would  certainly  have  taken  cogni- 
zance of  his  conciudl  to  his  flaves,  had  it  been  ufual 
to  do  fo. 

Thinks  one  half  of  the  domeflics  of  the  planters 
pf  Montferrat  and  Grenada  unneceffary. 

The  Chief  Judge  at  Montferrat  was  the  Honourable 

John 


54 


W.  Indies.  Matthew  Terry. 


1 79 1.   John  Dyer.    Grenada,  while  he  was  there,  was  under 
military  law. 

The  judges  were  planters — not,  he  believes,  bred 
to  the  law — removable  at  the  King's  pleafure. 


Witnefs  examined — Matthew  Terry, 

Of  Afkrig,    Yorklhire,    Land  Surveyor, 

P.  82.  Was  four  years  in  Dominique  as  book-keeper  and 
overfeer,  one  at  Tobago  as  a  land-furveyor,  in  the 
King*s  fervice,  and  feven  in  Grenada,  ending  in 
178 1,  as  a  colony  furveyor. 

His  trade  gave  him  full  opportunity  of  obferving 
the  treatment  of  flaves.  They  appeared  in  general 
to  be  ufed  with  great  feverity  j  believes  they  gene- 
rally underftood  that  the  law  reftridled  the  number 
of  lafhes  to  39,  but  this  was  not  in  the  lead  ob- 
ferved;  has  feen  it  broken  repeatedly;  never  knew 
^'  ^3'  any  redrefs  obtained.  It  was  ufual  to  rub  their 
backs  with  brine  after  fevere  punifhments. 

In  his  time  one  Thochard,  a  French  planter,  in 
Grenada,  was  generally  fuppofed  to  treat  his  flaves 
very  cruelly,  and  for  trivial  offences  to  cut  off  their 
ears  and  legs,  and  otherwife  mutilate  them.  Heard 
of  no  attempt  to  punilh  him.  Saw  upon  his  ellate 
two  men-flaves  with  wooden  legs. 

The  greatell  property  he  ever  knew  a  field  flave 
po0efs  was  two  pigs,  and  a  little  poultry.  The  flave 
has  not  the  means  of  getting  much  property,  (p. 85). 

Little  or  no  attention  was  paid  to  the  breeding 
of  flaves;  child-bearing,  and  confequent  lofs  of 
labour,  was  matter  of  regret  to  planters;  little  or 
no  difference  in  the  punifhments  of  pregnant  females 
and  others.  The  planters  appeared  to  prefer  in- 
creaflng  their  crop  to  increafing  their  flaves,  (p.  85) 
to  depend  upon  African  fupplies,  and  deflrous  to 
have  as  many  males  as  poflTible, 

Very 


W.  Indies.  Matthew  Terry.  55 

Very  confiderable  lofTes  were  common  among  the  1791. 
newly  imported  Africans.    One- third  die  within  the  *-nr**^ 
firft  year.     Of  a  lot  of  fix,  bought  by  himfelf,  two 
died  within  the  firft  year,  and  at  the  end  of  five 
years  two  only  furvived.  P.  85, 

Suicide  is  common,  particularly  among  the  Ebos. 
Never  heard  of  an  inftance  of  it  among  Creole  flaves. 
The  latter  are  more  induftrious,  being  inured  to  it 
from  their  infancy. 

Seldom  run  away.  Infurredlions  are  confined  to 
Africans. 

Never  knew  a  flave  buy  his  freedom. 

No  allowance  of  grain  or  flour  given  to  any  butP«  S5, 
new  negroes.      Has  known  a   bunch  of  plancanes 
(fufiicient  for  a  week's   allowance)  given   to  each 
negro  once  or  twice  a  year. 

Many  managers  pofTefs  flaves  of  their  own. 

Land  furveying  is  exceedingly  laborious  in  the 
Weft  Indies;  he  purfued  it  for  7  years  without  in- 
jury to  his  health:  has  often  feen  mill-wrights  at 
work  in  the  fun,  whofe  health  did  not  fulFer.  There 
are  alfo  white  blackfmiths  and  coopers  there,  but  the 
latter  only  dired  negroes  working  under  them. 


Witnefs  examined Capt.  Hall,  of  the  Royal 

Navy. 

Was  at  Barbadoes  and  the  Leeward  ifiands  from  P.  99« 
1769  to  1773,  and  from  1780  to  1782  at  thole  places, 
and  at  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo. 

The  treatment  of  negroes  on  the  B,  ifiands  appear- 
ed to  him  tolerable  in  the  towns  -,  on  the  plantations 
rather  inhuman.  Punilhments  infl;6led  were  very 
fhocking  to  pe^fons  not  ufed  to  fee  them  :  much 
more  fo  than  on  board  a  man  of  war.  The  field 
flaves  he  has  feen  (a  great  many)  were  generally 
marked  with  the  whip. 

In  cafes  of  ill  treatment  by  their  mafters,  it  was 
generally  underftood,  they  could  not  obtain  redrefs ; 


againft 


'56  W.  Indies.  Capt.  Hall, 

1 791.  againfl  others,  their  mader  afTifhed  them.  That  this 
^^"^  fevere  iydem  was  not  neceiTary,  nor  for  the  naailer's 
Jr.  ioo.  •^j.gj.^fj-^  |.j^  jg  confident,  from  the  good  efreds  he 
has  Ccen  refult  from  a  lenient  treatment  in  the  French 
iflands:  for  inflance,  the  Marquis  de  Rouvray  was 
particularly  attentive  to  population,  and  the  good 
treatment  of  his  flaves  at  St.  Domingo :  they  were 
never  hard  preiTed  in  their  work  :  he  fufFered  no 
improper  intercourfe  between  the  males  and  females, 
every  man  had  his  own  wife,  and  no  white  was  fuf- 
fered  to  disjoin  that  union  :  the  parties  were  punifh- 
ed  for  feparating  without  caufe. 

Hofpirais  were  built  for  the  fick  and  pregnant; 
the  latter,  when  far  advanced,  were  taken  in  there, 
and  employed  in  trifling  work  to  the  time  of  deli- 
very. Here  they  might  remain  feparated  from  their 
hufbands,  and  excufed  from  field  labour,  till  the 
child  could  be  fupported  without  the  mother's  help; 
or  when  their  (Irength  would  permit,  return  with  the 
child  to  their  hufbands,  and  take  the  chance  of  work. 
In  confcqnence,  the  Marquis  had  not  for  fome  years 
occafion  to  buy  negroes.  Having,  however,  left  his 
eftate  to  the  care  of  a  nephew,  upon  his  return,  after 
an  abfence  of  two  years,  inftead  of  the  happinefs 
that  reigned  when  he  left  it,  he  found  nothing  but 
mifery  and  difconcent;  the  whites  had  feized  upon 
the  pretty  women  -,  their  hufoands  through  difcontent 
ran  away ;  and  the  labour  failing  heavier  upon  the 
reft,  they  became  difcontented,  and  their  work 
badly  carried  on  •,  fo  that  it  coft  him  two  years  be- 
P.  lOI.fore  he  could  re-eftabliih  order.  It  was  a  pleafure 
to  walk  through  this  eftate,  for  the  Haves  ufed  to 
look  up  to  him  as  a  father. 

In  the  Britifh  iflands  breeding  not  thought  deflra- 
ble  :  they  rather  thought  it  a  misfortune  to  have 
pregnant  women,  or  even  young  flaves.  They 
cfteemed  the  charge  of  rearing  a  child  to  maturity, 
more  troublefome,  and  greater,  than  buying  a  flave 
fit  for  work ,  and  it  was  not  uncommon  for  them  to 
give  away  a  child  of  two  years  old,  as  you  would  a 

p^ppy 


W.   Indies,  Capt.  Hall^ 

puppy  from  a  litter.  Has  heard  an  overfeer,  of  Tome 
confequence,  exprefs  this  opinion.  It  was,  in  fad:, 
his  fyftem  to  prevent  population,  as  far  as  in  his 
power ;  and  he  underflood  this  to  be  a  general 
fyftem. 

So  little  care  was  taken  of  infants,  that  mothers 
deemed  it  a  misfortune  to  have  children.  After  che 
month,  they  were  feat  to  field  labour^  with  their 
child  upon  their  back^  and  fo  little  time  afforded 
them  to  attend  to  its  wants,  that  he  has  feen  a  wo- 
man feated  to  give  fuck  to  her  child,  roufed  from 
that  fituation  by  a  fevere  blow  from  the  cart  whip. 

Domeilic  flaves,  from  their  general  good  treat- 
ment, were  underflood  to  increafe. 

Believes,  that  flaves  fufFered  from  the  owner's 
abfence,  becaufe  it  was  the  bufinefs  of  the  overfeer, 
for  his  own  credit,  to  make  as  much  fugar  as  pofTi- 
blej  to  do  this,  he  mufl  work  the  flaves  to  the  ut- 
mofl :  it  being  no  concern  of  his  whether  they  died 
or  not. 

Knows,  from  an  inftance  which  fell  under  his 
eye,  that  the  Cave's  death  may  be  occafioned  by 
fevere  punifliment,  and  the  mafier  not  be  called  to 
legal  account. 

As  to  the  Qave- trade  being  a  nurfery  for  feamen, 
he  conceives  it  to  be  quite  the  reverfe. 

In  taking  men  out  of  merchant-lhips  for  the 
King's  fervice,  he  has  from  the  crew  of  a  Guinea- 
man,  70,  been  able  to  feled  only  30,  who  could  be 
thought  fit  to  ferve  in  any  fhip  of  war,  and  when 
thofe  were  furveyed,  he  was  reprimanded  for  bring- 
ing fuch  men  into  the  fervice,  who  were  more  likely 
to  breed  diflempers,  than  be  of  ufe;  and  this  was 
at  a  time  when  they  were  fo  much  wanted,  that 
almofl  any  thing  would  have  been  taken,  viz.  in 
1782,  when  they  had  not  men  to  man  the  prizes 
taken  on  the  12th  of  April.  The  inflance  related 
was  not  a  particular  cafe,  he  found  it  generally  fo  ; 
having  had  many  opportunities  between  1769  and 

Numb.  4.  H      ,  .         1773 


58  W.   I N  D I  E  s.  Capt,  Hal  l. 

1 791.  1773  of  feeing  the  great  diflrefles  of  crews  of  Guinea 
«-— y—Thips,  when  in  the  Weft  Indies. 

Has  great  reafon  to  believe,  that  in  no  trade  are 
feamen  fo  badly  treated  ;  from  their  always  flying  to 
men  of  war  for  redrefs,  and  whenever  they  come 
within  reach;  whereas  men  from  Weft  Indies  or 
other  trades  feldom  apply  to  a  fhip  of  war. 

As  to  peculiar  modes  of  punifhment  adopted  in 
Guineamen,  he  once  faw  a  man  chained  by  the  neck 
in  the  main-top  of  a  flave-fhip,  when  pafTing  under 
the  ftern  of  his  Majefty's  ftiip  the  Crefcent,  in 
Kingfton-bay,  St.  Vincents ;  and  was  told  by  part 
of  the  crew,  taken  out  of  the  (hip  at  their  ov/n  re- 
queft,  that  the  man  had  been  there  120  days. 

Is  clearly  of  opinion,  that  white  men  might  do 
the  lighter  field  work,  without  injury  to  their  health, 
as  feamen  go  through  very  heavy  work  there  unhurt. 


Witnefs  examined — Capt.  Giles,  of  the 
19th  Regiment  of  Foot. 

P.  103.  Was  in  Barbodoes,  Antigua,  St.  Lucia,  and  Ja- 
maica, from  June  1782  to  April  1790,  except  about 
15  months  in  England. 

Thought  the  treatment  of  flaves  generally  fevere. 
Field  fldves  in  general  marked  with  the  whip. 

P.  104.  Punifhment  by  whipping  (though  fewer  lafhes 
given)  more  fevere  and  cruel  than  that  of  the  army, 
becaufe  of  the  fize  of  the  whip. 

Had  once  an  opportunity  of  obferving  the  treat- 
ment of  a  jobbing  gang,  which  he  thought  beyond 
what  human  nature  could  fupport  for  any  length  of 
time,  becaufe  their  allowance  of  food,  (which  he 
daily  faw)  was  not  equal  to  fupport  them,  and  this 
he  underftood  to  be  generally  the  cafe.  This  gang 
had  the  fame  refpite  at  noon  as  plantation  negroes, 
but  as  fome  of  them  would  eat  their  week's  allow- 
ance in  3  or  4  days,  they  were  obliged  to  carry  wood 

and 


W.   Indies;  Capt.  Giles.  59 

and  water,  between  twelve  and  two  o'clock,  for  the  I79^- 
foldiers,    for  which   they   were   paid   in  provifions.  ^--^rw 
Has  underflood  it  to  be  calculated,  that  a  jobbing 
gang,  lafting  for  feven  years,  would  bring  a  profit 
to  the  owner. 

He  had  no  opportunity  of  feeing  that^  fuperanu- 
ated  Haves  were  not  properly  taken  care  of  by  their 
owners. 

Can  fpeak  to  the  inefficiency  of  laws  to  protedtP.  lOj, 
flaves  againft  the  ill  ufage  of  their  mafters  or  other 
white  perfons.  Was  told  by  a  planter,  that  he  once 
heard  one  of  his  own  negroes  was  killed  by  his 
overfeer.  He  had  the  body  taken  up,  and  there  was 
found  upon  it  foine  chains  or  fetters  (p.  106.)  but 
the  overfeer  could  not  be  puniHied  for  want  of  a 
white  evidence. 

A  free  woman,  and  her  two  children,  were  claimed 
by  a  perfon  in  Jamaica,  as  his  propert)^,  who  confined 
them,  in  order  to  fell  them  to  the  Spaniards.  He, 
(Capt.  G.)  heard  of  the  circumftance,  and  interfered, 
knowing  the  perfon  could  have  no  claim  either  to 
the  woman  or  her  children.  She,  with  her  hufband, 
had  joined  the  royal  army  in  South  Carolina:  he  , 
worked  in  one  of  the  public  departments  as  a  car^ 
penter,  and  a  driver,  and  ihe  laboured  upon  the 
lines  at  the  quarter-houfe  camp. 

After  two  trials  at  the  Surry  affizes,  Kingfton,  the 
woman  and  her  children  were  liberated ;  which  muft 
have  been  the  cafe  at  the  firft,  had  black  evidence 
been  admitted  5  of  which  he  could  have  produced 
people  bred  upon  the  fame  eflate,  and  neighbour- 
hood, who  alfo  had  free  tickets  from  the  Governor, 
Sir  A.  C. 

Without  his  inteference  believes  this  woman  and 
children  muft  have  been  fold  as  flaves,  becaufe  none  on 
the  ifland  fo  well  knew  the  circumftances  as  himfelf. 
Another  cafe,  previous  to  this,  was  that  of  a  woman  ^ 

claimed  by  a  perfon  in  Jamaica,  who,  fupported  by 
[Major  Nefbit,  of  the  19th  regiment,  was  alfo  rcfcued 
'rem  flavery,  after  a  trial  at  the  Surry  affizes. 

H  2  Once 


66  W.   Indies,  J.Terry. 

1791.  Once  faw,  in  Jamaica,  a  negro  mafon  with  a  wooden 
leg,  at  work:  upon  aiking  the  white  people  who  fu- 
perintended  the  work,  how  he  had  loft  his  leg,  was 
anfwered,  that  it  was  for  no  good,  for  the  fellow 
ufcd  to  run  av/ay  for  months  at  a  time. 

The  (laves  fituation  and  treatment  will  vary  ac- 
cording to  the  difpofition  and  circumftances  of  the 
owner ;  for  on  one  or  two  eflates  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  his  ftation,  the  (laves  were  well  treated  ; 
they  appeared  much  happier  than  on  feveral  others 
adjoining!  (confequentiy  he  imagines  better  fed,) 
Thinks  none  of  thefe  flole  to  fuppiy  their  wants,  as 
was  frequently  the  cafe  with  other  gangs  in  the 
neighbourhood. 

Saw  the  negroes  go  v/eekly  to  market,  a  diftance 
of  14  or  15  miles. 


Witnefs  examined— -John  Terrv,  of  Aflcrig, 
Yorkfhire. 

p.  107,     Was  in  Grenada  from  1776  to  1790,     Firil  7  or 
8  years  an  overfeer,  then  a  manager. 

Thought  the  (laves  treatment  very  bad  ;  it  hurt 
him  much  at  firil  ♦,  in  time  became  more  inured 
to  it. 

Has  known  (laves  punilhed  by  managers  feverely 
for  trifling  faults;  durft  not  complain  to  owner,  for 
fear  of  worfe  treatment;  has  known  them  punidied 
for  fo  doing  by  owner,  and  fent  back,  though  their 
P.  ic8.  complaint  was  juR.  Field  (laves  ufualiy  bear  marks 
of  the  whip.  Never  heard  that  a  fiave  complained 
to  a  magiftrate  of  his  owner,  manager,  overieer,  or 
attorney. 

Has  known  the  fame  perfon  both  attorney,  ma- 
nager, and  doclor,  on  one  eftate. 

Never  knew  a  planter  or  manager  interfere  with 
gnoiher's  treatmiCnt  of  his  (laves. 

Has 


W.  Indies;  J.  Terry.  6i 

Has  known  eftates,  where  flaves  were  worfe  fed  1791. 
and  clothed  than  on  others ;  in  confequence,  were  ^.y^^'^ 
great  thieves ;  eat  alfo  putrid  carcafes.     Food  is  the 
general  pbjed  of  theft  among  flaves,   and  at  the 
hazard  of  their  lives. 

Picking  of  grafs  a  confiderable  addition  to  their 
labour.     Done  at  dinner-time,  and  after  fun-fet.       F.  log. 

An  overfeer,  on  the  eilate  where  he  was,  (Mr. 
Coghlan)  threw  a  Dave  into  the  boiling  cane  juice, 
who  died  in  four  days.  He  was  not  punifhed  other- 
wife  than  by  replacing  the  flave,  and  being  difmified 
the  fervice.  Was  told  of  this  by  the  owner's  fon, 
the  carpenter,  and  many  flaves  on  the  eftate.  Has 
heard  it  often. 

Has  known  entertainments  given  among  negroes; 
fome  of  which  might  cofb  a  thirty-flx  fliiiling  piece, 
but  fuch  were  very  rare,  (p.  no.) 

A  field  flave  in  favourable  circumfliances,  (he  does 
not  mean  the  commonality)  may  earn  about  Cix  bits 
a  week :  he  has  known  them  fo  poor  as  not  to  be 
able  to  buy  poultry.  Never  heard  of  a  field  negro 
buying  his  freedom,  (p.  no.) 

Slaves  were   not  allowed  to  keep  fheep  on  any  P.  HO* 
eflate  he  knew.     On  fome  they  might  keep  two  or 
three  goats,  but  very  few  allowed  it.     Some  keep  a 
few  pigs,  and  poultry,  if  able  to  buy  any. 

While  a  manager,  he  never  received  any  direc- 
tions about  attention  to  pregnant  vv^omen  or  children. 
Has  heard  managers  fay,  it  was  cheaper  to  buy 
African  flaves  than  to  breed :  that  they  w^iflied  the 
children  to  die,  for  they  loft  much  of  the  mother's 
work  during  their  infancy. 

The  beft  recommendation  of  a  manager  was,  that 
he  made  the  mod  fuo-ar. 

o 

On  the  eiiates  he  knew,  the  fexes  were  about 
equal. 

Of  imported  Africans,  women  have  the  befl:  chance P,  iii* 
for  life. 

On  the  eflates  he  knew,  more  men  died  than 
women, 

Never 


6a  W.  Indies.  J.  Terry; 

1791.  Never  knew  any  children  die  of  the  locked-jaw. 
^■''v-*^  Free  negroes  were  generally  as  well-behaved  as 
others  in  the  fame  rank  of  fociety.  Thofe  who  had 
learnt  a  trade,  worked  as  journeymen  with  white 
mafiers  :  thofe  who  had  not,  went  a  fifhing,  by  which 
they  earned  more  than  by  field  work. 

The  driver's  whip  is  a  fevere  inftrument,  and  will 
bring  blood  through  the  breeches.  Twenty  ftripes 
feverely  laid  on  the  bare  breech,  may  unfit  a  man 
for  work  for  two  or  three  days. 

The  opinion  in  Grenada,  upon  pafTing  the  laft 
flave  ad  there,  was,  that  it  never  would  have  the 
intended  effed. 
P.  112.     Did  not  obferve  it  make  any  difference,  except  in 
the  half-days  in  the  week. 

The  clergymen  of  the  parifii  where  he  refided 
never  performed  the  duty  the  ad  impofed  on  them. 

Never  heard  of  any  complaints  againft  them  for 
non-performance  of  it. 


Witnefs  examined — John  Bowman, 

Clerk  to  a  Ship-Builder  of  Whitehaven. 

112.  Was  in  the  African  employ,  from  1765  to  1776, 
moilly  on  the  Windward  Coaft,  as  third,  fecond, 
and  chief  mate.  Sent  up  the  country  as  a  trading 
mate  to  buy  (laves,  ivory,  and  cam-wood  •,  a  diftancc 
of  20  to  40  or  50  miles,  in  the  rivers  Scaffus,  S. 
Leone,  Junk,  within  the  rocks  of  Grand  Buffau,  and 
Little  Cape  Mount  River. 

Was  eight  months  as  a  fador  at  the  head  of  S. 
Leone  ;  and  17  to  18  months  at  that  of  the  R.  Scaffus. 
Traded  in  a  boat  at  Junk,  Grand  Baffau,  and  Little 
Cape  Mount  Rivers. 
113.  Having  fettled  at  the  head  of  Scaffus  with  10 
flaves  money,  he  informed  the  King,  and  others, 
that  he  ^)v'as  come  to  refide  as  a  trader,  his  orders 

being 


A  F  R  I  c  Ar  Bowman.  Cj' 

being  to  fupply  them  with  powder  and  ball,  and  ijgi, 
encourage  them  to  go  to  war.     They  anfwered  they  wOr^*^ 
would  go  to  war  in  two  or  three  days :  by  that  time 
they  came  to  the  factory,    faid  they  were  going  to 
war,  and   wanted  powder,  ball,  rum,  and  tobacco. 
They  were  drefTed  in  fome  kind  of  fkins,  with  large 
caps,  and  their  faces  painted  white,  to  make  them 
look  dreadful.      They  afked  for   a  drink  of  rum, 
which  when  given  them,  they  went  off  to  the  num- 
ber of  25  or  30.     After  fix  or  feven  days  fome  ofP.   1 14. 
them  returned  with  two  women,  and  a  girl,  6  or  7 
years  old. 

They  faid  they  had  got  thefe  in  a  fmall  town  which, 
they  furprifed  in  the  night,  that  others  had  got  off,  but 
they  expedled  the  reft  of  the  party  would  bring  them 
in,  in  2  or  3  days.  When  thefe  arrived,  they  brought 
with  them  two  men  whom  he  knew,  and  had  traded 
with.  Upon  queilioning  them,  difcovered  the  wo- 
men he  had  bought,  to  be  their  wives.  Both  men 
and  women  informed  him  that  the  war-men  had  taken 
them  while  afleep. 

The  war-men  ufed  to  go  out  once  or  twice  in  S^*  ^^S* 
or  10  days,  while  he  was  at  Scaflus;  it  was  their 
conftant  way  of  getting  flaves,  he  believed,  becaufe 
they  always  came  to  the  fadory  before  fetting  out, 
and  demanded  powder,  bail,  gunflints,  and  fmall 
Ihot  i  alfo  rum,  tobacco,  and  a  few  other  articles. 
"When  fupplied,  they  blew  the  horn,  made  the  war 
cry,  and  fet  off.  If  they  met  with  no  flaves,  they 
would  bring  him  fome  ivory,  cam-wood,  &c.  Some- 
times he  accompanied  them  a  mile  or  fo,  and  once 
joined  the  party,  anxious  to  know  by  what  means 
they  obtained  the  flaves.  Having  travelled  all  day, 
they  came  to  a  fmall  river,  when  he  was  told  they 
[had  but  a  little  way  further  to  go;  after  croffmg 
[which,  they  delayed  till  dark.  When  they  had  got 
over,  (about  the  middle  of  the  night)  he  was  afraid 
to  go  further,  and  afked  the  king's  fon  to  leave  him 
a  guard  of  4  men.  In  half  an  hour  he  heard  the  war 
cry,    by  which  he  underftood  they  had  reached  a 

town; 


^4  A  F  R  I  c  A*  B  6  w  M  A  n: 

town ;  in  about  half  an  hour  more  they  returned^ 
bringing  25  to  30  men,  women,  and  children,  fome 
>at  the  breaft.  At  this  time  he  faw  the  town  in 
flames.  When  they  had  re-crofled  the  river,  it  was 
juft  day-light,  and  they  reached  Scaffus  about  mid- 
day. The  prifoners  were  earned  to  different  parts 
of  the  town.  They  are  ufually  brought  in  with 
firings  around  their  necks,  and  fome  have  their  hands 
tied  acrofs.  Never  faw  any  flaves  there  who  had 
been  convided  of  crimes. 

Has  been  called  up  in  the  night  to  fee  fires,  and- 
told  by  the  town's  people,  that  it  was  war  carry- 


ing on, 


Whatever  rivers  he  has  traded  in,  he  has  ufually 
paffed  burnt  and  deferted  villages,  and  learned  from 
the  natives  in  the  boat  with  him,  that  war  had  been 
there,  and  the  natives  taken  and  carried  to  the  ihips» 

He  has  alfo  feen  fuch  upon  the  coaft  :  while  trad- 
ing  at  Grand  Buffau,  he  went  afliore  with  four  black 
"'  ^^7* traders  to  the  town  a  mile  off.  In  the  way,  there 
v/as  a  town  deferted,  only  2  or  3  houfcs  (landing, 
which  feemiCd  to  have  been  a  large  one  from  two  fine 
plantations  of  rice.  A  little  further  on,  they  came 
to  another  village  in  much  the  fame  ftate.  Was  told 
the  firil  town  was  taken  by  war,  there  being  many 
ihips  then  lying  at  Buffau  :  the  people  of  the  other 
had  moved  higher  up  in  the  country,  for  fear  of 
the  white  men.  In  paffing  along  to  the  traders 
town  faw  feveral  deferted,  deftroyed,  they  faid,  by^ 
war,  and  the  people  taken  out  and  fold. 

Slaves  were  obtained  in  the  fame  manner  in  thofc 
rivers  where  he  traded  on  the  Windward  Coafl 

The  inhabitants  of  all  thefe  places  fubfill  on  rice, 
yams,  caiTada,  fowls,  deer,  fifh,  and  an  animal 
called  tornboer.  They  raife  more  rice,  &c.  than 
they  confume,  and  difpofe  of  the  furpius  to  fuch 
Ihips  as  may  be  lying  in  the  rivers,  fending  it  down' 
in  large  canoes.  While  at  Scaffus,  he  gave  frequent 
P.  1 1 8.  orders  for  goods  from  S.  Leone,  which  he  defired 
might  be  fent  up  by  thefe  periocas,  having  found  the 

men 


P 


Africa.  Bowman. 

men  good  and  honeft.  Provifions  of  every  kind 
were  abundant  in  the  town.  Has  (t:i:n  countrvuien 
carrying  baikets  of  4'>  or  50 lb.  weight  of  rice,  be- 
iides  fowls,  eggs,  &c.  which  he  has  bought  in  ex- 
change for  tobacco  and  beads. 

The  natives  appeared  to  be  indudrious,  and  dif- 
pofed  to  trade  in  their  native  produce.  Believes 
they  would  have  cultivated  more  ground,  if  a  greater 
fupply  had  been  wanted  by  the  (hipping.  When 
afked,  they  have  faid  they  would  like  to  trade  with 
good  white  men  in  their  own  produce,  and  would 
foon  make  more  plantations  of  rice. 

When  under  Captain  Strangeways,  the  fliip  then  P.  119. 
lying  in  the  river  S.  Leone,  at  White-man's  bay, 
ready  to  iail,  he  was  ordered  down  from  the  fadory, 
,  (all  the  fliip's  company  being  then  dead  but  fiye) 
and  the  captain,  who  lent  him  on  fhore  to  invite 
tvv^o  traders  on  board.  They  came,  and  were  fliewa 
into  the  cabin.  Meantiip.e  people  were  employed  in 
fetting  the  fails,  it  being  almoft  night,  and  the  land 
breeze  makin,^  down  the  river.  \¥hen  they  had 
weighed  anchor,  and  got  out  to  fca,  the  witnefs  was 
called  dov/n  by  the  captain,  who,  pointing  to  the 
fail  cafe,  defired  him  to  look  into  it,  and  fee  v^hat  a 
fine  prize  he  had  got.  To  his  furprife,  he  Aiw  Iving 
fad  afleep  the  two  men  who  had  come  on  board  with 
him,  the  captain  having  made  them  drunk,  and  con- 
cealed them  there.  When  they  awoke,  they  were  fent 
upon  deck,  ironed,  and  put  forward  among  the  other 
flaves.     On  arrival  at  Antigua,   they  were  iold. 

The  natives  were  afraid  to  come  along- fide  of  a  P.   120. 
vellel  when  under  fail. 

Frauds  were  praclifed  by  Europeans  in  the  articles 
they  traded  in  with  the  natives  j  fuch  as  in  rum,  by 
mixing  it  ^  in  powder  kegs,  feemingly  large,  but  hold- 
ing only  a  little  ;   in  faife  ftcelyards  and  weights. 

The  natives,  W'lere  he  refided,  were  fi'iendly  and 
hofpirable-,  juil  and  punctual  in  their  dealings. 

When  he  besjan  to  feccle  at  the  river  Scadlis,  there 
were  only  four  or  five  houfes  there>  and  about  25 

Numb.  4.  1  People, 


S6  Africa*  Bowman. 

^79 1 •  pcopl"*  ^o  that  he  was  doubtful  if  he  could  do  it  to 
uon^  advantage :  but  informing  the  king,  that  a  white 
man  was  come  to  trade  with  them,  was  told  that 
ftrangers  would  come  and  fettle  there.  In  the  courfe 
of  a  few  days,  feveral  people  came  and  built  houfes, 
and  the  town  increafed  fail,  (p.  121.)  So  that  there 
might  be  40  to  50  houfes,  and  120  to  130  inhabitants 
when  he  left  it. 

P.  121.  Has  been  in  Jamaica,  Antigua,  Grenada,  St.  Vin- 
cent's, Dominique,  and  Barbadoes,  in  mod  of  which 
he  has  feen  Guinea  feamen  lying  about  in  an  ulce- 
rated abjedt  (late,  without  means  of  fupport. 


Witnefs  examined,  —  John  Douglas,  Boatfwain  of 
the  Rufiel  Man  of  War. 

P.  121.  Sailed  to  Africa  in  1771,  in  the  Warwick -Caftle 
(lave  fhip*  Only  one  voyage  in  the  trader  becaufe 
he  could  not  bear  with  the  filthinefs  and  difagree- 
ablenefs  of  the  voyage. 

Seamen  were  well  ufed  in  his  fhip  ^  not  fuffered  to 
lodge  between  decks  when  the  (laves  were  on  board. 

P.  1 22. Loft  7  out  of  53.     Had  plenty  of  provifions. 

Had  reafon  to  believe  that  the  crews  of  other  fhips 
on  the  coaft,  were  neither  fo  well  fed,  nor  treated  j 
becaufe  boats  from  the  Gregfon,  and  others,  which 
he  cannot  mention,  came  often  aboard,  and  the  fea- 
men begged  much  for  provifions. 

As  to  the  ways  in  which  flaves  are  procured: 
when  afliore  at  Bonny  Point,  he  faw  a  young  wo- 
man come  out  of  the  wood  to  the  water-fide  to  bathe ; 
foon  after,  two  men  came  from  the  wood,  feized, 
bound  and  beat  her,  for  making  refiftance,  and 
bringing  her  to  him,  defired  him  to  put  her  on  board, 
which  he  did ;  the  captain's  orders  were,  when  any 
body  brought  down  (laves,  inftantly  to  put  them  off 
to  the  fhip. 

When 


Africa. — ^W.  Indies.  Douglas.  67 

When  a  fhip  arrives  at  Bonny,  the  king  fends  his  1791. 
war  canoes  up  the  rivers,  where  they  furprize  all  they  «--v^ 
can  lay  hold  of.  They  had  a  young  man  on  board, 
who  was  thus  captured,  with  his  father,  mother,  and 
three  fifters.  The  young  man  afterwards  in  Jamaica 
having  learnt  Engli(h,  told  him  the  ftory,  and  faid  ic 
was  a  common  pradice. 

War  canoes  always  armed.  P.  123, 

Slaves  fent  in  the  king*s  canoes,  came  openly  in 
the  day,  others  in  the  evening,  with  one  or  two 
bound,  lying  in  the  boat's  bottom,  covered  with 
mats. 

Near  Cape  Coaft,  the  natives  make  fmoke  as  a  fig- 
nal  for  trade;  they  faw  the  fmoke  and  flood  in  fliore, 
which  brought  ofFmaay  canot:s :  pipes,  tobacco,  and 
brandy,  were  gat  on  deck,  to  entice  them  on  board  ; 
the  gratings  were  unlaid,  the  Dave-room  cleared,  and 
every  prcp.irarion  uiade  to  feize  them;  two  only 
could  be  prevailf'd  on  to  come  up  the  fhip's  fide, 
who  (lood  111  tae  ma  a  chains,  but  on  the  feamens 
approaching  tnem,  they  jumped  off,  and  the  canoes 
all  made  for  fhore. 

The  Gregfon's  people,  while  at  Bonny,  informed 
them,  that  in  running  down  the  coaft,  they  had  kid- 
napped  32.  H<:  faw  flaveson  board  that  (hip  when 
fhe  came  in  ;  and  it  is  not  cuftomary  for  velfels  bound 
to  Bonny,  to  flop  and  trade  by  the  way. 

Does  not  think  (laves  are  much  fubje6l  to  fea* 
ficknefs. 

Has  been  in  the  Weft  Indies^  in  the  king's  and 
merchants  fervice,  from  1766  to  1782. 

Has  frequently  {ccn  Guinea  ieamen  lying  or  wan- 
dering about  the  ftreets  and  wharfs,  moftly  in  Ja-  - 
maica,  in  a  difeafed  and  miferable  condition  :  they 
were  called  wharfingers ;  it  was  on  the  north-fide  of 
the  ifland  he  has  feen  the  moft;  many  of  whom  were 
not  capable  of  walking  to  Kingfton  for  relief. 

Recolleds  to  have  feen  3  funerals  of  Guinea  fiaves 
ill  the  VYeft  Indies,  at  which  they  fing  and  are  mer- 

I  2  rys 


63  W.  Indies.  Tottenham. 

I79f.  .ryj  and  naming  the  deceafed,  they  fay,  he  is  going 
^--N**^  home  to  Guinea. 


Witnefs  examined, — Major  General  Tottenham. 

P,  125.  Went  out  to  the  Weft  indies  in  1779,  ^^^^  ^^^^ 
reginr.encs  nuder  his  command.  Was  about  20 
months  in  Barbaaoes,  and  fometime  at  St.  Lucia, 
St.  Kitt's,  and  St.  Euilatius. 

Thinks  thr-  flaves  in  Barbadoes  were  treated  with 
the  greateil  craelty.  Cannot,  judge  of  the  other 
illands,  from  his  fnort  (lay  there. 

All  the  punifhmencs  he  faw  were  remarkably  fe- 
vere.  Was  at,  a  planter's  houfe,  when  the  jumper 
came.  Heard  him  afK  the  mailer,  if  he  had  any 
commands  for  him.  He  faid,  no.  Jumper  then 
aficed  the  mifiirefs,  who  replied,  yes.  She  dire6i:ed 
him  to  take  out  two  very  decent  wom^en,  who  attend- 
ed at  table,  and  to  give  each  of  them  a  dozen.  Ge- 
neral T.  expoitulated  with  her,  but  in  vain.  They 
were  taken  out  to  the  publick  parade,  and  he  had 
the  curiofity  to  go  vv'ith  them.  The  iuQiper  carried 
a  long  whip,  like  our  waggoner^.  He  ordered  one 
of  the  women  to  turn  her  back,  and  to  take  up  her 
clothes   entirely,    and  he  gave  her   a  dozen  on  the 

P.  1 26.  breech.  Every  ilroke  brought  flefii  from  her.  SciQ 
behaved  with  aftoniPning  fortitude.  After  the  puniih- 
nienc,  iliej  according  to  cuftom,  curtefied  and  thank- 
ed him.  The  other  had  the  fame  punifnment,  and 
behaved  in  the  fame  v/ay.  About  3  weeks  before 
the  hurricane,  he  faw  a  youth,  about  19,  walking  in 
the  fhreets,  in  a  rnoil  deplorable  fituacion,  intirely 
naked,  and  an  iron  collar  about  his  neck,  with  five 
long,  projecting  fpikes.  His  body^  before  and  be- 
hind his  breech,  belly  and  thighs,  Vv'cre  almoll  cut 
to  pieces,  and  vv'ith  running  fores  all  over  them,  and 
you  might  put  your  fingers  in  fome  of  the  v/heals. 
He  could  not  Ht  down,  owing  to  his  breech  being  in 

a  ftate 


Africa,  Tottenham. 

a  (late  of  mortification ;  and  it  was  impoffible  for 
him  to  lie  down,  from  the  prqjcdion  of  the  prongs. 
The  boy  came  to  the  general,  and  afked  relief  He 
was  fhocked  at  his  appearance,  and  aflced  him  what 
he  had  done  to  fuifer  fuch  punifbment,  and  who  in- 
Aided  it.  He  faid  it  was  his  mailer,  who  lived  a- 
bout  2  m/iles  from  town  ;  and  that,  as  he  could  not 
work,  he  would  give  him  nothing  to  eat. 

There  were  very  few  flaves  that  did  not  bear  the 
marks  of  the  whip.  If  feverely  laid  on,  they  retain 
the  marks  many  years.  There  is  no  comparifon  at 
all,  between  plantation  and  regimental  puniOiments, 
the  former  being  fo  much  more  fevere.  Military 
only  cut  the  ildn,  the  others  cut  out  the  flefh. 

The  field  negroes  were  treated  more  like  brutes, 
than  the  human  fpecies.  The  houfe  negroes  are 
clothed  and  better  fed. 

Slaves  in  general  appeared  very  ill  fed.  Was  in- 
form.ed,  each  flave  for  24  hours  had  a  pint  of  grain, 
which  he  boiled  ;  and  fometimes  half  a  rotten  her- 
ring, v/hen  to  be  had.  When  unfit  for  the  whites, 
they  were  bought  up  by  the  planters  for  the  flaves. 

There  was  no  care  taken  of  Haves  fuperanuated  P.  127. 
and  pad  labour.  They  are  turned  adrift,  and 
obliged  to  live  by  plunder.  He  has  feen  them  him- 
fdf.  An  old  woman,  pa(l  labour,  told  him  flie  was 
fet  adrift  by  her  mailer,  to  fhifc  for  herfelf.  He  faw 
her  about  3  days  after,  lying  dead  in  the  fame  place. 

No  attention  at  all  feemed  to  be  paid  to  keeping 
v.p  the  ftock  by  breeding.  On  the  contrary,  he  be- 
lieves many  difcouraged  it.  He  faw  but  a  very 
fmall  proportion  of  children. 

He  has  \ttn  the  women  at  v/ork  with  the  hoe, 
and  their  naked  infants  lying  oe  the  ground,  clofe 
by  them. 

In  1780,  a  Dutch  Guineaman  was  taken,  and 
brought  to  Barbadoes.  He  thinks  they  had  abouc 
270  fkives.  He  attended  moil  of  their  fales,  and  ob- 
lerved  a  number  of  the  fick  flaves  in  an  adjoining 
yard.     Thoie  chat  Vvcre  not  very   ill,  were  put  into 

huts. 


70  W.  I  N  D  I  E  s.  Tottenham. 

17  91.  huts,  and  thofe  that  were  worfe,  were  left  in  the  yard 
4-i^v-j  to  die,  for  nobody  gave  them  any  thing  to  eat  or 
drink.     Some  of  them  lived  3  days  in  that  ftate. 

The  free^negroes  feemed  very  induftrious.  The 
greateft  misfortune  of  all  negroes  is,  that  they  are 
left  in  darknefs.  He  obferved  a  vaft  difference  be- 
tween the  negroes  at  St.  Lucia  and  any  others,  ow- 
ing to  the  attention  of  the  priefts,  who  inftrudled 
thcrn  in  religion  and  morality. 
P.  128.  He  has  feen  a  great  many  Englifh  feamen  in  great 
diftrefs,  in  Barbadoes ;  for  the  captains  often  fet 
them  athore  to  (hift  for  themfelves.  He  cannot  fay 
from  what  (liips  they  came;  but  only  from  mer- 
chantmen. In  St.  Lucia,  while  in  our  hands,  he  faw 
feveral  Englifh  feamen  lying  in  the  fame  ftate. 

There  was  no  fort  of  pains  taken  to  prevent  pro- 
xnifcuoiis  inteicourfe,  not  even  witii  domefticks, 
waiting  on  their  miftrefles. 

Is  very  pofuive  the  impreffion  on  his  mind,  of  the 
]  treatment  of  fl  yes,  was  made  at  the  time,  and  on 
■  the  (pot ;  for  he  repeatedly  told  the  people  of  Bridge- 
:  town,  that  he  hoped  to  live  to  fee  the  unfortunate 
fituarion  of  thofe  poor  wretches,  taken  up  by  fome 
member 01  parliament;  that,  (hould  fuch  an  event 
take  place,  he  fhould  look  upon  it  as  his  duty  to  of- 
fer a  voluntary  declaration  of  what  he  knew  of  the 
matter. 

He  thinks  a  prefent  abolition  of  the  flave  trade, 
would  be  attended  with  very  ferious  confequences  j 
but,  if  thofe  unfortunate  beings  were  not  left  to  the 
tyranny  of  their  cruel  mafters,  but  were  inftrudled  in 
morality,  and  their  increafe  encouraged,  and  they 
were  rewarded  for  good  behaviour,  he  thinks  that, 
at  a  future,  period,  the  flave  trade  would  die  away 
ofitfelf. 


Witnefs 


[    71    ] 


Witnefs  examined,  — Robert  Forster,  of  Heble- 
thwaite,  Yorkfhire. 

Was  in  every  Britiih  ifland^  except  Jamaica,  in  all  i79^- 
about  6  years,  ending  1778.     The  firft  4  years  ap- ^"^'"^ 
prentice  in  a  (lore  in  St.  John's,  Antigua;  the  relt^'  ^'^9' 
of  the  time  a  midlliipman  and  fecond   mafter,  and 
pilot  of  the  king's  brig.  Endeavour. 

He  lived  among  the  town  flaves,  and  often  went 
to  colledt  debts,  and  vifit  managers  in  the  country. 
When  in  the  king's  fhip,  he  fpent  much  time  among 
them,  having  known  them  before. 

The  general  imprefTion  on  his  mind  was,  that 
flaves  were  feverely  treated,  and  in  a  low,  deprefTed 
ftate. 

In  Antigua,  the  common  allowance  was,  7  pints 
of  corn,  or  horfe-beans,  for  able  negroes,  with  about 
3  or  4  herrings  weekly;  occafionaily  a  little  fair, 
fometimes  rum,  but  not  very  common.  Their  work 
is  hard.  The  bell  calls  them  to  it  at  day- break,  and 
they  work  till  fun-fet;  have  2  hours  at  noon  5  but 
in  their  hours  of  reft,  grafs  is  expeded.  They  are 
treated  never  as  fellow-creatures,  but  merely  as  pro- 
perty, and  are  feverely  punifhed  for  flight  offences. 

They  are  allowed  a  few  yards  fquare  of  ground  ; 
but  only  Sundays  to  cultivate  it,  except  a  few,  who 
had  Saturday  afternoon. 

The  plough  might  be  advantageoufly  ufed,  andP,  130, 
though  perhaps  not  wholly  to  fupercede  the  hoe,  yet 
might  eafe  the  negroes  of  many  difficult  parts  of 
their  manual  labour.  The  grinding  of  their  corn  at 
night,  by  hand,  was,  in  crop,  a  great  hardfhip  :  they 
might  be  much  relieved  by  fome  trifling  mechanifm 
applied  in  the  fugar-mill,  and  in  many  other  cafes. 
In  general,  they  feem  to  have  no  idea  of  improve- 
ments to  eafe  their  flaves.  Underftood  it  a  general 
opinion,  that  if  negroes  were  not  conftantly  kept  at 
hard  labour,  they  would  become  unruly. 

The 


72  W,    Indies.  Forster; 

179 1.       The  inftrument  of  punifhment  cuts  their  flefh,  and 
*-.*v--<*-»  leaves,  indelible  marks. 

No  attention  at  all  was  paid  to  marriage.  It  did 
not  appear  to  him,  that  they  attended  as  much  to 
the  rearing  of  children,  as  we  do  to  the  rearing  of 

P.  I30.calves.     He  has  known  exceptions.     A  widow  Sher- 

P.  i^i.vington  was  left  in  debt,  with  5  or  6  negroes,  who, 
by  kind  treatment,  increafed,  in  15  or  20  years,  to 
15,  or  more.  He  knows  feveral  fuch  inftances.  As 
to  eilates,  on  the  whole  of  Col.  Farley's  plantations, 
they  had  no  need  of  new  negroes.  He  has  heard 
him  fay,  there  was  a  confiderable  increafe  on  one 
particularly.  A  Mr.  Tho.  Gravener's  negroes  alfo 
increafed.  He  knew  captain  Thomafon,  of  Sea- 
cow-bay,  Tortola,  v/ho  has  wanted  no  new  negroes 
for  many  years. 

Little  or  no  attention  was  paid  to  intruding  Oaves 
in  religion.  He  believes  none  at  all  by  the  efcab- 
lilhed  clergy.  Where  inilruclion  has  been  attempt- 
ed, as  it  has  on  feveral  Antigua  eflates,  by  Moravian 
miffionaries,  the  advantage  was  evident  in  their  man- 
ners and  behaviour, 

P.  131.  Thofe  were  not  thought  the  mod  fiourifhing 
eilates,  which  bought  the  mod  new  negroes.  It 
was  exacSlly  the  revtrfe. 

He  never  knew,  or  heard,  of  a  field-negro  buying 
his  freedom. 

Domefticks  have  much  lefs  work  than  field-ne- 
groes ;  but  their  fituation,  in  fome  refpeds,  is  per- 
haps harder;  for,  being  under  the  liand  of  caprici- 
ous, paflionate  mafters  and  midreifes,  they  are  often 
puniihed,  not  only  corporally,  but  with  numberlefs 
teazing  and  mortifications ;  nor  are  they  fo  regularly 
fed.  He  never  knew  them  allowed  above  one- half 
bit  a  day  5  and  he  believes  fome  are  often  driven  to 

P.  132.  theft  or  proditution,  by  want.  The  women  domef- 
ticks are  expeded  to  dref$  neatly,  and,  having  no 
clothes  from  their  owners,  they  mud  ufe  indirect 
means,  to  get  them.  They  are  not  often  whipped 
publickiy  s  but  their  private  whippings  are  very  fe- 

vere. 


W.  Indies.  F  o  r  s  t  e  r,  75 

vere,  and  he  has  known   a  Creole  woman  drop  hot  1791. 
fpalincr-wax  on    a  wench's    back,  after  a  floo-o-ino;.  '-"^v-*^ 

e,  and  many  others,  faw  a  young  woman  of  for- 
tune and  character,  flog  a  negro  man  very  feverely 
with  her  own  hands.  Many  fimilar  inilances  he 
coLild  relate,  if  necefiary  ;  they  are  ahuofl:  innume- 
rable. He  has  been  fpeaking  chiefly  of  town  do- 
meilicks. 

Slaves  have  no  legal  proteflion  at  all  againft  their 
mafters,  for  any  injury  fhort  of  murder.  A  little  be- 
fore he  arrived  in  Antigua,  one  Patrick,  a  huckfter, 
whom  h.e  knew,  murdered  a  woman  (lave,  with  cir- 
cumilances  of  the  moil  attrocious  and  favao-e  barba- 

o 

rity.     He  v^as  tried,  convided,  and  fined.     He  was 
univerfally    blamed,   but  was  dealt  with   as   ufual. 
Slaves  have  no  mode  of  getting  redrefs  from  daily 
injuries  of  whites,  nor  their  owners  ;  and  even  fome- 
times  their  owners  cannot  get  redrefs  for  them.     AP»   133* 
negro  woman  v/as  drowned  by  fome  feamen  of  the    ' 
Favourite  floop  of  war.     A  negro  man  v/as  knocked 
on   the  head   and  drowned,   for  dealing  a  piece  of 
beef,  alongiide  a  merchantman,  at  St.  John's.  Thefe 
facts  were  well  known,  but  no  inquiry  made.^ 

He  has  known  negroes,  but  not  many,  turned 
adrift  by  their  owners,  when  pafl  labour. 

Negroes  are  liable  to  be  taken  for  their  mailer's 
debts,  and  are  confined  in  a  clofe,  difagreeable  dun- 
geon, till  fold.  No  regard  paid,  that  he  remem- 
bers, to  felling  families  together.  Saw  a  family  of 
mulattoes  and  blacks  fold  at  vendue,  and  fent  to  dif- 
ferent iilands.  They  difcovered  great  forrow  at  be- 
ing feparated. 

African  negroes  ihewed  the  mod  extravagant  joy 
at  their  friends  funerals,  from  believing  the  deceafed 
gone  back  to  their  country. 

He  has  ieen  many  of  thofe  deplorable  obje6ls, 
Guinea  feamen,  particularly  on  the  beach  at  Rofeau, 
Dominique.  When  the  Endeavour  was  at  Grenada, 
there  were  7  Guinea  feamen,  exceedingly  em.aciated 
and  full  of  fores,  who  complained  much  of  their 
Numb.  4.  K  ill 


74  W.  Indies.  Forster.- 

ill  ufage  in  the  voyage.  In  a  few  months,  they  re- 
covered  fo  much,  as  fcarcelv  to  be  known  for  the 
^34* fame  men.  Captains  of  men  of  war  fometimes  take 
them,  to  recover  their  wages,  but  generally  do  not 
keep  them,  for  fear  of  infedion.  Such  feamen  in 
Antigua,  are  called  wharfingers,  and  in  Dominique, 
fcow-bankers. 

He  lived  at  Lancafcer,  when  flave-fhips  were  fitted 
out  there.  From  their  ill  treatment,  and  the  iiTiall 
numbers  that  returned,  the  young  men  were  dif- 
couraged  from  entering  on  that  fervice,  and  they 
were  obliged  to  take  fome  Ihips  to  Liverpool  to  man 
them. 

The  lives  of  a  prodigious  number  of  negroes  were 
careiefsly  and  impolitically  facrificed  in  clearing  the 
lee  tide  of  Dominique,  for  fugar  eftates.  He  recol- 
lects one  planter  there  who  bought  30  new  negroes, 
and  loll  them  all  v^^ithin  the  year, 
P.  135.  Negro  porters,  who  pay  their  owners  a  weekly 
fum,  having  no  fixed  rates,  endure  great  impofitions 
and  hardfhips.  If,  on  being  offered  too  little  for 
their  work,  they  remonftrate,  they  are  very  often 
beaten,  and  receive  nothing  :  and  lliould  they  refufe 
the  next  call,  from  the  fame  perfon,  they  are  liable 
to  be  fummoned  before  a  magiftrate,  and  punifhed 
on  the  parade,  for  refufal,  and  he  has  known  them  fo 
puniilied.  Negroes  that  bring  grafs  to  town  to  fell, 
have  often  their  grafs  taken  away,  without  pay,  and 
fometimes  with  a  bearing.  The  indignities  the  ne- 
groes receive  in  markets,  from  white  failors  and 
©thers,  are  frequent,  vexatious,  and  fevere. 


Witnefs  Examined, — Capt.  John  Samuel  Smith,  of 
the  Royal -Navy. 

Was  in  the  Weft  Indies  in  1772,  1777,  and  1778, 
for  above  a  year  altogether. 

Had  ieveral  opportunities  of  obferving  the  treat- 
ment 


W.  Indies.  Capt.  J.  S.  Smith.'  7J 

ment  of  plantation- flaves,  from  meeting  with  an  old  ^791. 
fchoolfellow,  a  manager,  who  introduced  him  to  ^-or^ 
many  other  managers. 

Firft  impreffion  was  that  flaves  were  treated  more 
like  beads  than  the  human  fpecies.  The  mode  of  pu- 
nifhment  generally  was,  a  negro  ftretched  on  his  belly, 
on  the  ground,  a  man  at  each  hand  and  leg ;  the  pu- 
nifhment  inflicted  by  a  negro  with  a  long  whip,  ta- 
pering from  the  fize  of  one's  thumb,  to  a  fmall 
lafh.  At  every  ftroke  a  piece  of  flefli  was  drawn 
out,  and  that  with  much  unconcern  to  the  diredor 
of  the  punilhment. 

Grafs  picking  and  theft,  the  moft  frequent  caufes 
of  punifhment.  Some  were  punifhed  for  not  getting 
fo  much  grafs  as  others,  and  that  at  a  time  when  he 
thought  it  impolTible  for  them  to  get  half  the  quan- 
tity, having  been  on  the  fpot.  The  grafs  is  gene- 
rally picked  after  their  day's  work.  His  idea  is, 
they  feldom  leave  work  till  fun-fet,  let  the  diftance 
be  what  it  may ;  and  they  are  obliged  to  pick  grafs 
all  the  way  home. 

The  plantation-flaves  were  very  generally  marked P»  I37» 
with  the  whip.     The  only  inllance  to  the  contrary 
is  what  he  (hall  fpeak  to  on  a  Grenada  eftate. 

It  by  no  means  appeared  to  him,  or  to  be  gene- 
rally underftood,  that  flaves  could  get  legal  redrefs 
for  ill  ufage  by  their  mafl:ers,  or  other  whites.  A 
flave  who  paid  his  mafl:er  for  leave  to  work  for 
himfelf,  and  kept  a  (hop  and  flaves  under  him,  was 
employed  on  a  job,  by  a  gentleman  of  property  ^  on 
being  difpleafed  with  the  man,  he  fent  for  him  and 
puniflied  him  publickly,  and  the  flave  had  no  re- 
drefs. This  he  has  no  doubt  often  happens.  He 
has  heard  of  many  inflances  of  the  like. 

Has  heard  of  many  cafes  of  flaves  fufl^ering  from 
their  mafl:er's  bad  circumftances,  and  has  heard  it 
often  obferved,  "  If  you  want  to  know  a  proprietor's 
circumftances,  look  at  his  Oaves," 

Thinks  a  planter's  refldence  a  neceflfary  check  on 

rnanagersj  and  it  was  generally  unfteritood  fo.     Has 

K  z.  feen 


^&  W.  Indies.  Capt.  J.  S.  Smith; 

1 791.   feen   managers  particularly    attentive   to   their  own 

<-^v-*->  flock  and  Haves,  which  he  thinks  they  could  not 
have  done  had  the  owner  -been  there.  This  differ- 
ence of  ufage  muil  doubtlefs  caufe  much  jealoufy  to 
the  field-flaves.  Has  often  [tQn  more  food  given 
to  managers  flaves;  and  it  is  commonly  obferved, 
that  it  is  eafy  to  know  the  manager's  Haves  from  the 
owner's,   from  their  better  appearance.     Has  reafoa 

P.  138.^0  believe  managers  often  favour  their  own  flaves, 
in  labour,  and  other  particulars,  efpecially  in  grafs 
picking,  as  he  has  often  feen ;  and  he  has  no  doubt 
but  the  grafs  is  generally  appropriated  to  the  mana- 
ger more  than  the  ov/ner.  Managers  never  employ 
their  own  flaves  for  this  purpofe.  The  keeping 
llock  is  generally  a  part  of  the  manager's  income, 
and  he  has  no  doubt  it  is  fed  at  the  proprietor's  ex- 
penfe. 

Planters  never  appeared  careful  to  keep  up  their 
flaves  by  breeding.  Has  feen  indances  which  con- 
vinced him  that  managers  attended  more  to  the  in- 
creafe  of  their  own  flaves.  The  managers  feemed 
generally  profperous,  and  that  often  when  the  owners 
feemed  to  be  going  behind  hand. 

It  never  appeared  to  him  that  any  attemipts  were 
made  to  check  promifcuous  intercourie,  and  to  intro- 
duce regular  domeftick  habits.  He  has  often  known 
where  people  from  the  fhips  vifited  managers,  and  had 
opportunities  given  by  them  of  feleding  women  for 
their  private  ends :  nor  were  the  wives  of  negroes  fe- 
cure  from  the  whites  on  the  eflates.  He  has  known 
complaints  made  of  the  overfeer  having  infringed  in 
that  particular,  againil  the  woman's  will,  without 
redrefs. 

p^  joQ^  Has  feen  many  flaves  negleded,  who  were  aged 
and  pail  labour.  On  obferving  to  the  inhabitants 
the  (late  of  fuch  objed:s,  he  has  been  told,  that  build- 
ing hofpitals  for  them  would  be  endlefs,  as  flaves 
would  bring  complaints  on  themfeives  to  leave  the 
eft  ate. 

It 


W.  Indies.  Capt.  J.  S.  Smith.  ^y 

It  was  underftood^  a  common  pra6Licej  and  he  i'tqi. 
himfeif  has  known  iniLmces  of  women,  in  refpedable  s.*.nr^ 
ilationsj  (landing  by  to  lee  their  ilaves  punillied. 

Always  confidered  negroes  as  keen^  lenfible,  well- 
difpofed  people,  when  their  habits  were  not  vitiated 
by  cruel  uiage. 

Never  thought  it  necelTary  to  treat  them  fo  fevere- 
ly,  having  leen  an  inftance  where  the  reverie  ufage 
produced  a  good  effect,  and  which  he  often  men- 
tioned to  managers  whom  he  law  a6ling  differently. 
Was  anfwered  it  might  be  practifed  in  particular 
cafes>  but  it  would  be  impoffible  to  gee  the  work 
done,  were  it  general.  The  manager,  in  that  one 
indance,  told  him  that  more  work  was  done  than 
on  eftates  where  the  treatment  was  otherwife.  He  P.  140* 
does  not  remember  alking  if  the  pairing  of  the  (laves 
was  attended  to  on  that  eflate-,  but  he  faw  religion 
the  Hr(b  objedl  of  the  manager,  which  he  thought 
had  a  very  good  effect. 

Believes  (laves,  if  ufed  ill,  dare  not  complain  to  an 
attorn.y  except  in  attrocious  cafes.  Firmly  believes, 
the  opinion  of  the  (laves  is,  that  the  attorney  and 
manager  are  one  and  the  fame,  with  refped  to  under- 
ftandingeach  other. 

Never  faw  balls  or  dances  among  fidd-llaves ;  but 
often  among  houfe-fiaves. 

On  the  whole,  it  by  no  means  appeared  to  him, 
that  the  fcate  of  (laves  could  bear  any  comparifon 
with  tnat  of  peaiants  here-  He  always  confidered 
them,  as  treated  and  fpoken  of  as  cattle. 

Has  often  been  employed  to  board  Guineamen  to 
imprefs  men  ;  and  though  he  fuppofes  he  may  have 
boarded  near  20  veffels,  at  tiip.es,  he  never  could  get 
more  than  two  men,  who  turned  out  fuch  inhuman 
fellow,  that  they  were  forced  to  difmifs  them,  though 
good  feamen.  But  the  chief  reafoh  of  his  not  getting 
men  was,  the  fear  of  mfedion,  having  icen  many  of 
them  ulcerated  very  much,  and  otherwife  difordered ; 
and  though  often  fohcited  by  them,  and  told,  that 
if  he  did  not  receive  them,  they  would  be  fent  adiore 

and 


W.  Indies.  Capt.  J,  S.  Smith. 

and  left  behind.  To  be  applied  to,  by  feamen,  in 
any  other  trade,  to  be  taken  out  of  their  own  fhips 
into  His  Majefly's,  is  fo  uncommon  as  feldom  or 
never  to  happen. 


Witnefs  examined — Mr.  William  Duncan. 

P.  141.  Was  in  Antigua  from  Jan.  1785  to  July  1789, 
as  clerk  in  a  ftore  fix  or  eight  months ;  as  overfeer 
for  about  two  years  and  a  half  3  the  reft  of  the  time, 
kept  ftore  for  himfelf. 

Firft  imprefTion  was,  that  flaves  looked  very  poor- 
ly and  ill  treated. 

The  ufual  allowance  of  plantation-flaves  is  a  gal- 
lon of  Indian  corn  or  horfe  beans  weekly,  with  fome- 
times  two  herrings  5  at  other  times,  241b.  of  yams 
and  a  little  fait. 
^  The  negroes,  on  the  eftate  he  was  on,  which  were 
162,  had  only  fix  or  kven  acres  among  them,  of  but 
indifferent  land.  They  had  Sunday  to  work  it,  and 
fometimes  Saturday  afternoon,  out  of  crop. 

Negroes  appear  in  the  beft  condition  rather  to- 
wards the  end  of  crop.  At  other  times,  look  ill  fed. 
He  fhould  fuppofe  they  are  driven  by  hunger  to 
theft.  They  ufually  fteal  provifions,  at  the  riil^  of 
being  cut  and  beat  by  the  watchmen. 
P.  142.  Thinks  about  fourteen  pence  fterling  the  utmofb 
fum  which  an  induftrious  field-negro  can  earn  for 
himfelf  in  a  week.  He  never  knew  fuch  have  any 
confiderable  property,  nor  heard' of  a  field-flave  buy- 
ing his  freedom. 

Very  feldom  knew  entertainments  given  by  the 
negroes.  Thinks  about  fix  dollars  might  be  the 
utmoft  coft  of  fuch  as  he  has  feen. 

Thinks  provifions  allowed  by  matters,  and  that 
which  flaves  raife  in  their  own  grounds,  are,  in  gene- 
ral,  infufficient  to  fupport  them  and  their  families 

properly 


W,    Indies.  Duncan.  -79 

properly  and  comfortably.    He  has  often  heard  them  i79i« 
complain  for  want  of  food.  v-#-v-^ 

He  thought  the  plantation-Haves  cruelly  treated, 
and  not  fufficiently  attended  to. 

The  pregnant  women,  on  the  eftate  where  he  lived,  P.  143.' 
did  little  work  after  they  were  four  months  gone  with 
child ;  came  out  at  eight  o'clock  and  went  home  by 
four  ;  if  wet  came  not  out  at  all.  At  times  the  wo- 
men work  a  little,  and  their  children  are  left  with 
old  women,  in  the  field.  They  are  allowed  to  fuckle 
them.  On  a  neighbouring  eRate,  the  ufage  of  preg- 
nant women  was  the  fame  :  cannot  fay  as  to  others. 

He  looks  on  the  work  generally  required  of  lieid- 
flaves  as  laborious,  according  to  their  ftrength  to 
perform  it. 

Sometimes  flaves  have  39  lafhes,  fometimes  they 
are  connned  with  chains  and  collars ;  and  fometimes 
with  iron  boots  on  their  ancles.  Their  whippings 
are  fevere,  fometimes  wantonly  inflidled,  and,  at  other 
times,  difproportionate  to  the  offences.  Many  ne- 
groes bear  about  them  the  marks  of  the  whip.  He 
has  ken  a  negro  fo  cut,  that  he  could  not  lie  on  his 
back  or  fit  down. 

He  knew  of  no  protection  which  flaves  had  againft 
ill  ufage  from  their  owners,  or  managers,  or  over- 
feers.  The  owner  was  liable  to  be  punifhed  for 
murdering  his  flave.  He  knew  a  white  man,  in  in- P.  144. 
different  circumftances,  who  was  fined  lool.  cur- 
rency, and  imprifoned  12  months,  for  murdering  his 
negro  boy. 

Relates  an  inflance  of  a  flave  unjuftly  beaten  by 
an  intoxicated  manager.  Though  laid  up  in  confe- 
quence  of  it  fome  months,  hegotnoredrefs. 

He  has  known  the  fame  man  do6lor  and  attorney, 
and  manager  and  attorney. 

The  opinion  was,  that  a  Creole  negro,  by  the  time 
he  v/as  fit  to  work,  coil  more  than  one  from  Africa. 
-     The  treatment  on  the  eitate  he  lived  on  was  better 
than  common.     The  effedt  was  that  they  increafed. 
Alio  the  Haves  on  Sir  G,  Thomases  Belfaft  eifate,  and 

Carlifle's, 


?Q  W.    In-dies.  Duncan-. 

1 791.   CarliHe's,   and   fcveral   others  he  cannot  name,    in- 
***«v*^  creafed,  or  kept  up  their  numbers,  without  addition 
^»  145*  by  purchafe. 

On  a  neighbouring  eft^te,  the  treatment  was  worfq 
than  ufual,  and  the  effedl  was,  the  ilaves  decreaied. 

He  thinks  the  fexes  nearly  equal,  but  he  believes, 
moil  males. 

The  capacities  and  difpofitions  of  negroes  are  much 
like  thoie  of  the  whites. 

They  received  religious  inflru6lion  chiefly  from 
Methodift  preachers.  The  ifland  clergy  were  not  fq 
attentive  as  the  Methodiils.  The  negroes  fo  in- 
truded were  improved  in  their  morals  and  behavi- 
our. Such  paid  more  attention  to  marriage.  H^ 
has  often  known  negroes  defire  to  have  their  chiU 
dren  baptized.  The  clergy  ufually  took  a  dollar  from 
them  for  baptifm. 
P.  146.  He  has  known  families  fent  to  different  ifiands, 
from  fales  by  execution,  or  otherwife. 

He  has  feen  fome  free  negroes  very  well  behaved^ 
and  very  induflrious.  They  are  ufually  tradefmen 
and  huckflers.  He  never  knew  them  work  in  the 
'  field.  They  would  think  it  a  difgrace  to  worK  with 
aflave.  They  can  earn  more  by  thofe  employments 
than  by  field-work. 

He  has  often  heard  the  Oaves  fay,  they  were  kid- 
napped; particularly  a  woman  who  waited  on  him» 
faid  that  when  going  on  an  errand,  fhe  was  carried  off 
in  a  bag  and  fold. 

He  fees  no  rcafon  why  the  plough  might  not  be 
tifed,  efpecially  to  loofen  ftiif  land,  which  would  cer- 
tainly fave  much  labour. 


Witnefs 


(     8i     ) 


t' 


Witnefs  examined — Captain  Thomas  Llovd, 
Of  the  Royal  Navy. 


Was  in  the  Wefl:  Indies  in  1779.  Commanded 
the  Glafgow,  and  was  burnt  out  of  her  in  Montego 
bay,  Jamaica. 

His  firft  impreflion  was,  that  the  (laves  were  very 
generally  confidered  as  black  cattle,  and  very  often 
treated  like  poil-horfes. 

Relates  inftance  of  a  man  and  woman  Have  exe- 
cuted at  St.  Ann's  bay,  in  fight  of  his  fhip's  com- 
pany. The  former  for  running  away,  the  latter  for 
fecretino;  him. 

At  Mrs.  Winners,  of  Mammee  bay,  faw  a  woman 
flave  with  one  hand  only,  and  afked  Mrs.  W.  how 
fhe  loft  it.  She  faid  it  had  been  cut  off.  She  had  a 
female  (lave  to  whom  fhe  trufted  her  linen  and  other 
valuable  efFedls,  from  fufpefting  her  indented  white 
fervant  had  abufed  that  confidence.  She  directed  P.  i^^ 
her  (lave  never  to  ifiTue  out  linen,  without  her  orders. 
The  white  woman  wanted  a  pair  of  fheets,  and  at- 
tempted forcibly  to  take  them.  A  fcuffle  enfued, 
and  fix  weeks  after  the  fuppoled  offence,  the  white 
woman  fvvore  the  flave  had  ftruck  her,  and  fiie  had 
her  right  hand  cut  off,  Mrs.  W.  having  in  vain 
endeavoured  to  fufpend  the  amputation.  She  fpoke 
of  this  as  an  inhuman  ad,  and  a  great  injury  to  her 
property. 

He  was  told  by  a  perfon  of  veracity,  whom  he 
wifhes  not  to  name,  that  it  was  the  pradice  of 
a  certain  planter,  whofe  name  he  does  not  now 
recoiled,  to  frame  pretences  for  the  execution  of  his 
worn  out  (laves,  in  order  to  get  the  ifiand  allowance  : 
and  it  was  fuppofed  he  had  dealt  largely  in  that  way. 
t  Captain  Cornwallis  told  him,  while  he  was  there, 
that,  at  a  dinner  with  fome  of  the  principal  planters, 
the  converfation  turning  on  the  profit  and  lofs  of 

Numh.  4,  L  fugar 


ti  W.  Indies.  Capt.  LLOYor 

1791.  fugar  eftates,  one  of  them  faid,  that  in  crop  he 
worked  his  negroes  20  hours  out  of  the  24.  Another 
faid^  many  of  them  muft  have  died.  He  granted 
that,  but,  on  the  whole,  it  anfwered. 

He  has  feen,  about  the  ftreets  and  roads,  many 
old,  miferable  objefts,  and  was  told  many  of  them 
had  their  freedom  given  them,  when  no  longer  able 
to  work.  The  moft  wretched  objeft  he  ever  faw  was 
at  Port  Royal. 

He  had  reafon  to  believe,  that  negroes  might  be 
induced  to  work  properly,  without  feverity.  A  Mr, 
Greenland  had  but  a  few,  who  looked  well  and  happy. 
Captain  L.  afked  him  the  reafon.  He  faid,  he  never 
punifhed  them,  and  he  did  not  find  but  he  was  as 
well  off  as  others  who  purfued  a  different  condud. 
149'  He  has  heard  fenfible  people  afcribe  the  decreafe 
of  flaves,  on  feveral  eilates,  to  the  feverity  of  their 
treatment. 

Many  inftances  of  the  ill  treatment  of  the  (laves, 
have  been  told  him  by  his  brother  officers,  upon  the 
ftation  ;  but  why  they  keep  back  thtir  evidence  he 
cannot  tell.  He  has  heard  of  military  combinations 
to  obtain  juftice,  and  to  refift  oppreffion  ^  but  this  is 
the  firft  infbance  he  ever  heard  of  affociations  for  the 
fuppreffion  of  truths. 


Witnefs  examined-— Lieutenant  Baker  Davisqn^; 

Of  the  late  79th  Regiment. 

P.  150.  Was  in  Jamaica,  from  the  middle  of  1771  to  the 
end  of  1783,  except  a  few  months  on  the  Spanifh 
main.  (Fra6lifed  furgery  in  Jamaica,  many  years, 
before  the  French  war,  p.  154.) 

Had  many  opportunities  of  feeing  the  treatment 
both  of  field  and  town  flaves.  Was  quartered  in 
ipany  parts  of  the  iflandj  refided  fome  time  at  a 

planter's, 


W.   Indus.  Davison;  S3 

planter^s   houfe,    given   him  and   his  family  for  a  1791. 
barrack.  vx^V^nJ 

The  firft  general  impreflion  on  his  mind  was  that  P.  151, 
the  flaves  were  very  cruelly  treated,  by  being  moil 
unmercifully  flogged  by  their  owner^s  order.  Such 
punilhments  never  were  reftrided  to  39  lafhes. 
Underftands  there  was  fuch  a  law,  but  never  knew 
it  abided  by,  where  punifhment  was  really  meant. 

Sometimes  owners  in  town  would  have  them 
flogged  at  home,  or  fend  them  to  gaol,  to  be  pu- 
niihed,  or  have  them  tied  up  to  a  crane  on  the  wharfs. 
He  has  very  often  feen  thofe  punifhments  infiidled, 
at  all  times  of  the  day.  In  houfes  and  on  the  wharfs 
flaves  are  always  punifhed  by  order  of  the  owners, 
and  often  in  gaol. 

They  appeared  much  more  fevere  than  regimental 
punifhments.  He  remembers  a  new  negro  girl 
flogged  by  her  miftrefs's  order,  and  who  died  of  a 
mortification  from  the  wounds  two  days  after. 

In  towns  the  flaves  are  generally  flogged  with  aP.  152^ 
cowfkin,  and  on  eftates  with  a  long  whip. 

On  eftates  they  are  faftened  to  four  flakes  driven 
into  the  ground,  and  whipped.  He  has  often  {qch 
regular  punifliments  in  the  field,  for  negledl  of  work, 
and  other  offences  committed  on  the  fpot. 

He  has  often  {'et^n  owners  fend  their  flaves  to  be 
whipped  in  gaol ;  and  has  very  often  feen  them 
brought  home  by  perfons  belonging  to  the  gaol. 
The  precife  number  of  ftripes  to  be  given  in  gaol 
was  not  ordered.  The  owners  generally  told  them 
to  flog  them  well,  according  to  the  crime. 

He  knew  many  cruelties;  but  none  followed  by 
death,  except  that  mentioned.  The  clergyman^s 
wife  at  Port  Royal,  was  remarkably  cruel.  She  ufed 
to  drop  hot  feaiing-wax  on  her  negroes,  after  flogging 
them.  He  was  fent  for^  as  furgeon,  to  one  of  them, 
whofe  breaft  was  terribly  burnt  with  fealing-wax. 
A  woman  next  door  to  him  was  often  flogging  her 
negroes  fo  cruelly,  that  he  has  frequently  gone  in 
and  infilled  on  her  deflltingj  and,  at  lafl,  he  com- 

L  2  plained 


§4  W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  t)  A  T  I  S  0  isf , 

plained  of  her  to  a  magiftrate,  who  told  him  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it. 

He  is  very  fure  the  flave's  treatment  depends 
wholly  on  the  owner's  difpofition  s  as  fome  were  very 
cruel,  and  others  not  fo. 

He  has  very  often  remonftrated  to  owners  and 
managers  on  fe verity,  efpecially  to  the  clergyman's 
wife,  and  the  clergyman  himfelf,  who  faid  they 
would  not  do  without  feverity,  and  even  being  half 
flarved,  which  he  often  knevv  was  the  cafe  at  his 
own  houfe.  He  has  often  talked  to  them  on  their 
flaves  being  ill  from  feverity  and  hunger.  He  par- 
ticularly remionflrated  to  the  woman  mentioned 
(whofe  negro  died)  when  he  has  feen  the  negro  at 
work,  kneeling,  on  her  bare  knees,  on  the  pebbles, 
a  punifhment  very  common  in  houfes  there. 

He  believes  the  flaves  generally  underftood  they 
had  a  right  to  legal  redrefs,  for  feverity,  as  he  has 
often  had  complaints,  when  quartered  up  the  coun- 
try, from  different  eftates.  He  never  kniew  fuch 
redrefs  obtained,  from  negroes  themfelves  complain- 
ing. When  ill  ufed  by  others,  the  owners  take  care 
to  get  redrefs. 
154.  He  faw  a  flave  both  of  whofe  nollrils  had  been  flit, 
by  her  miftrefs's  order,  from  jealoufy.  No  attempt 
was  made  to  punifli  this  woman,  as  flie  was  of  fome 
confequence,  being  the  wife  of  the  engineer  of  the 
ifland. 

It  was  very  common  for  women,  in  refpedablq 
fituatlons,  to  ftand  by,  at  the  punifliment  of  their 
flaves. 

He  thinks  pregnant  women  were  not,  in  general, 
properly  attended  to,  having  been  fent  for  to  feverai 
eilates,  where  the  mother  fcarcely  had  any  cloaths  to 
cover  her,  nor  any  baby-cloaths,  and  was  in  want  of 
every  kind  of  proper  nourifliment. 

He  has  i^t^n  feverai  pregnant  women  flogged  on 
eflates,  and  a  hole  made  in  the  ground  to  receive 
their  belly.     He  was  once  fent  for  to  a  woman  who 

had 


W.  Indies.  Davison.  85 

had  mlfcarried  from  fevere  flogging,  when  both  child  1791. 
and  herfelf  died.  4-i«->r^ 

The  jaw-fall  was  fatal  to  negro  infants,  in  many 
cafes  which  fell  under  his  notice,  owing,  he  believes, 
to  want  of  proper  neceflaries,  bad  houfes,  and  vari- 
ous other  caufes.  It  is  impofTible  to  account  entirely 
for  it.  He  is  fure  it  was  not  equally  fatal  to  white 
children  5  as  in  the  different  regiments  he  was  in, 
they  had  a  great  many  children  born,  but  he  never  P.  I55» 
knew  one  of  them  die  with  it. 

Thinks,  in  general,  the  flaves  were  very  badly 
fed. 

It  appeared  to  him,  that  when  maflers  were  in 
debt,  the  flave's  food  was  reduced  -,  as  the  flaves  of 
feveral  very  poor  planters  near  him,  ufed,  in  the 
night,  to  rob  him  of  every  kind  of  proviiions. 
There  were  feveral  eftates  where  he  knew  the  (laves 
were  better  fed,  and  who  never  troubled  them. 

He  is  fure  the  flaves  were  not  univerfally  allowed 
Saturday  afternoon,  to  work  their  grounds,  as  he 
never  knew  it  j  and,  had  it  been  common,  he  mult 
have  known  it. 

He  has  known  the  flaves,  on  the  eilate  where  he 
lived,  feveral  times  obliged  to  work,  even  on  Sun-  a 

days,  for  their  mailer.     His  houfe  was  very  near  the 
works. 

He  has  often  known  them  work  all  night  at  the 
boiling-houfe  and  mill. 

The  taylor,  who  v;orked  for  him  the  whole  time 
he  was  in  Jamaica,  bought  his  own  freedom;  and  P.  ,156. 
when  he  left  the  ifland,  had  fome  fiaves  of  his  ov/n. 
He  never  knew  a  field-flave  buy  his  freedom. 

Has  known  flaves,  (generally  Africans)  defliroy 
themfelves,  particularly  one  at  Port  Royal,  who 
having  been  puniflied  over-night,  was  found  hanging 
in  his  hut  in  the  morning.  He  was  an  African  who 
had  not  been  long  bought.  He  never  knew  a  Creole 
kill  himfelf. 

Is  fure  old  negroes,  pafl:  labour,  were  not,  in 
general,  fufficiently  attended  to.     He  knew  two  old 

men^ 


26  W.  Indies.  Davison.' 

1 79 1,   men,  belonging  to  a  woman  in  Port  Royal,  who 
<-on^  fubfifted  by  begging. 

The  negroes  wives  were  not  fecure  from  the 
whites;  for  he  has  known  difrerenc  book-keepers, 
juft  come  to  the  eflate,  take  their  wives  from  them. 
Believes  this  was  very  often  a  caufe  of  difcontent  to 
the  (laves,  (if  there  be  a  law  againft  this,  he  never 
knew  it  inforced.  It  is  common  for  whites  on  eftates 
to  chufe  negro  women  for  themfeives  or  friends, 
p.  i8i.) 

Both  houfe  and  field  flaves  were  generally  marked 
with  the  whip. 

A  great  many  indances  have  fallen  within  his  no- 
tice, which  proved  feverity  unnecefTary.  He  had  al- 
ways 5  or  6  flaves,  whom  he  never  found  it  necef- 
fary  to  punifh,  as  he  ufed  them  well.  A  Mr.  Mal- 
colm, who  had  a  large  eftate,  would  not  allow  a  ne- 
gro to  be  punifhed,  without  his  knowledge.  In  an 
infurredion,  Mr.  D.  exprefftd  his  furprife,  that  he 
would  leave  his  wife  and  family  on  the  eftate,  when 
^«  ^57-  he  was  8  orio  miles  off.  Mr.  M.  faid,  he  was  fure 
his  negroes  would  behave  as  well  in  his  abfence,  as  in 
his  prefence.  Mr.  D.  has  been  often  at  his  houfe, 
and  has  known  him  moft  days  go  among  his  negroes, 
and  hear  their  complaints.  He  told  him  that  he 
had  not  bought  a  nev/  negro  for  lo  or  1 2  years.  That 
they  never  ran  away,  and  that  his  eftate  and  negroes 
had  confiderably  increafed  in  that  time.  Has  often 
heard  him  fay,  he  had  as  much  work  done  as  others, 
and  that  his  negroes  always  worked  willingly.  Is 
fure  he  encouraged  their  pairing,  as  he  gave  them 
every  neceffary,  and  kept  their  houfes  in  good  re- 
pair. He  knew  an  eftate  where  the  negroes  were  all 
Creoles.  Is  fure  they  were  treated  better  than  com- 
mon. 

Free  negroes  were  generally  tradefmen,   and  very 
induftrious. 

Saw  a  mother  and  her  daughter  feparated  at  a  fale 

P*  '^79*by  vendue.     A  negro  woman  had  been  fold  by  her 

miftrefs  to  a  Jew,  to  be  fent.oft  the  iflandi  but  Mr. 

D.  bought 


W.  I  N  D  I  E  s.  Davison.  87 

D.  bought  her  from  the  Jew.  She  had  2  children,  1791. 
whom  her  miftrefs  kept  from  her,  and  whom  £he  of-  '-^-v-n^ 
ten  begged  him  to  buy,  which  he  could  not  conve- 
niently do.  He  bought  a  new  negro,  who  found  his 
brother,  and  brought  him  to  rhe  fort  to  Mr.  D.  Mr. 
Chambers,  owner  of  the  brother,  begged  Mr.  D.  to 
part  with  his,  as  the  brother  was  a  very  valuable 
boiler.  This  Mr.  D.  reludantly  complied  with,  for 
his  was  equally  valuable. 

The  Maroon  negroes  in  Jamaica,  increafed  mod  P.  180. 
certainly.  He  has  often  been  in  all  their  towns,  and 
always  faw  great  numbers  of  children.  Their  num- 
bers were  confiderably  more  when  he  left,  than  when 
he  went  to,  the  illand.  He  is  fure  they  did  not  in- 
corporate run-aways  among  them,  as  they  had  a  re- 
ward and  mile-money,  for  bringing  them  to  the 
gaols. 

Is  fure  whites,  if  temperate,  could,  without  ma- 
terial injury,  do  any  kind  of  out-of-door  work.  It 
is  well  known,  that  the  Ihip-wrights  and  other 
tradefmen,  in  the  king's-yard,  Port-Royal,  often 
work  all  day  long,  and  he  never  knew  them  un- 
healthier  than  people  in  general.  White  artificers 
certainly  do  work  at  their  trades,  in  the  Weil  Indies, 
without  materially  hurting  their  health. 

He  believes  thumb-fcrews  are  very  often  ufed  in 
the  Weft  Indies,  having  (cen  feveral  negro  girls  at 
work  with  the  needle,  in  prefence  of  their  miftrelTes, 
with  a  thumb-fcrew  on  their  left  thumb,  and  he  has 
ften  the  blood  guih  out  from  the  end  of  them. 

Domefticks  certainly  are  particularly  fubje6l  to 
their  owner's  caprice.  He  has  often  known  their 
miftrefs  fend  them  to  be  puniftied,  without  telling 
them  for  what.  He  has  been  frequently  fent  for, 
to  the  clergyman's  ftaves  before-mentioned,  after 
they  have  been  fevereiy  flogged,  and  otherwife  ill 
treated,  fo  that  he  conceived  their  lives  in  great 
danger:  particularly  to  one  woman  vv^ho  had  beenP.  181. 
tied  up  ail  night,  by  her  hands,  and  abufed  with 
cayenne  pepper,  in  a  way  too  horrid  and  indecent  to 

mention 


88  W.  Indies.  Davison, 

1791.  mention.  He  lived  next  door  to  a  waflier-wonnan, 
*-*nr-^  at  Port  Royal,  who  was  almoft  continually  flogging  ' 
her  negroes.  He  has  often  gone  in  and  remonftrated 
againft.her  cruelty,  where  he  has  feen  the  negro  wo- 
men chained  to  the  wafiiing  tubs,  alnaoft  naked,  with 
their  thighs  and  backs  in  a  gore  of  blood,  from  flog- 
ging. He  could  mention  various  other  capricious 
punifhments,  if  neceflary. 

He  isfure  means  are  ufed,  in  Guineamen,  to  fup- 
prefs  the  flaves  difeafes  (which  afterwards  break  out 
ftill  more  violently,  or  bring  on  other  diforders)  ef- 
pecially  fluxes,  as  he  made  it  his  bufmefs  to  a(k  the 
furgeons,  who  candidly  told  him  their  mode  of  treat- 
ment on  board.  He  made  this  inquiry,  on  his  wife's 
father  having  bought  a  good  number  of  flaves  out  of 
a  Guineaman,  ieveral  of  whom  broke  out  in  violent 
fluxes. 

He  has  knownnew  negroes  put  into  the  field  2  or 
3  days  after  being  bought.  They  fometimes  remain 
on  board  in  the  harbour,  2  or  3  weeks  before  fale. 

Has    feen    a   great  many  ulcerated  failors  lying 
P.  182.  ^^o^tj  i^  i'nofl:  parts  of  the  ifland,  efpecially  at  King- 
flon.     They  chiefly  belonged  to  Guineamen,  for  he 
particularly  afl<:ed  them. 

Has  often  heard  planters  fay,  fuch  an  overfeer  had 
improved  the  efliate,  by  large  crops:  but  never 
heard  any  fuch  thing  mentioned,  in  connexion,  as 
his  care  of  the  negroes,  or  keeping  them  up  by 
breeding. 

He  has  often  gone  on  the  efl:ates  of  abfentees, 
with  attornies,  and  came  away  with  them,  and  faw 
very  little  attention  paid,  except  aflcing  the  overfeer 
when  the  fugars  would  be  ready  for  market.  He 
never  heard  any  inquiries  made  into  the  negroes  fl:ate 
and  treatment. 

Has  frequently  heard  owners  of  flaves  fay,  that  a 
Creole,  when  flc  to  work,  cofts  more  than  a  new 
negro. 

The  attorney  and  overfeer  are  not  always  difliind 
perfons.     He  has  known  feveral  that  were  both  at- 
torney 


W.Indies;  DaVisoit,  89 

torney  and  overfeer.     He  knew  feveral  in  Spanilh  1791* 
Town,  from  20  to  40  nfiiles  off  the  eflates  they  were  ^-nr^^ 
attornies  for.     Attornies  are  often  diredly  interefted 
in  increafing  the  crops,  as  he  always  underftood  they  P.  iSj, 
have  a  per  centageon  them. 

Overleers  very  often  have  (laves  of  their  own  :  he 
has  known  them  have  jobbing  gangs.  Has  known 
the  abfent  mailer's  houfe- (laves  fcnt  into  the  field, 
and  the  overfeer's  put  in  their  room. 

Many  more  domeflics  are  kept  in  Weft  India  fa- 
milies than  in '  fimilar  Engli(h  ones.  Has  known 
from  1 2  to  20  in  a  houfe,  where  half  as  many  would 
do  very  well. 

Domeftics  certainly  increafe,  from  being  better  fed 
and  treated,  and  lefs  worked. 

Female  fiaves  are  very  commonly  let  out,  by  their 
owners,  for  proftitution. 

Slaves  fell  vegetables  at  market,  on  their  owner's 
account  •,  as  feveral  mountain  eftates  chiefly  depend 
on  felling  vegetables. 

On  many  eftates  he  is  fure  proper  medical  care  was 
not  taken  of  the  negroes  -,  as  the  furgeon  often  lives 
far  from  the  eftates,  and  vifits  them,  when  he 
thinks   proper. 

He  brought  a  Guinea  woman  to  England,    who  P.  iSjf. 
wifhed  much  to  be  fent  to  her  own  country.     It  is 
common  for  fick  negroes  to  fay,  with  much  pleafure, 
they  are  going  to  die,  and  are  going  home  from  this 
Buccra  country. 

Has  often  known  flaves  12  months  in  gaol,  from 
their  mafter's  debts. 

Believes  owners  are  very  commonly  involved  with 
Guinea  merchants  ;  for  they  often  ftay  on  the  eftates, 
all  the  week,  except  Sundays,  with  their  gates  always 
locked.  Bayers  of  new  negroes,  if  planters,  are 
credited,  from  one.  crop  to  another  ^  if  not  planters, 
'from  6  to  12  months. 

He  has  very  often  feen  refufe-negroes,  fold  at 
vendue,  in  a  wretched  fituation,  and  very  cheap. 
Several  make  a  trade  of  it. 

Numb.  4.  M  There 


90  W-  Indies.  Davisoi^,  ■ 

1791.  There  was  a  captain  to  every  Maroon  town,  and 
^-^v^  a  fuperintendant  over  the  whole,  to  keep  up  order. 
P.  1 85.  He  thinks  runaways  could  not  be  harboured,  in  the 
Maroon  towns,  without  coming  to  the  captain's 
knowledge,  who  always  lives  very  near  the  towns. 
He  is  appointed,  by  the  governor,  as  guardian  of  the 
treaty  with  the  Maroons.     He  is  always  a  white  man. 


Witnefs  examined  —  Drewry   Otley,   Efq. 

His  Majeily's  Chief  Juftice  on  the  liland  of 

St.  Vincent. 

P.  158.  Refided  in  the  W.  Indies  fmce  1776,  chiefly  in  St. 
Vincent.  Has  vifited  Antigua,  Tobago,  Sc.  Kitts, 
Grenada,  and  St.  Lucia:  was  in  England  about  ten 
months  of  the  time. 

Is  of  the  council  of  St.  Vincent's,  appointed  in 
1784,  and  chief  juftice  in  1787. 

Managed  his  own  eftates  there  till  made  chief 
juftice ;  when,  often  abfent  on  public  bufmefs,  he 
employed  a  manager,  whofe  conducl  he  conftantly 
fuperintended. 

As  to  the  laws  refpeding  (laves  ;  the  old  flave 
a6ts,  which  v/ere  the  general  laws  throughout  the 
iflands  and  which  in  many  ftill  continue  unrepealed, 
have  appeared  to  him  in  many  cafes  unjuft  and  in- 
human, as  to  the  perfonal  fecurity  of  (laves ;  which 
appears  only  to  be  provided  for,  in  cafes  of  murders, 
difmemberm.enr,  and  mutilation.  And  as  the  evidence 
of  (laves  is  never  admitted  againft  whites,  the  difn- 
P.  is9>^^^^^y  ^^  legally  eftabliiliing  fads  is  fo  great,  that 
white  men  are  in  a  manner  put  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  law  :  howeverj  fuppofmg  the  proof  full,  the  mur- 
der of  a  fiave  in  feme  iflands  is  only  puniOiable  by  a 
larger  fine,  and  diliiiemberment  and  mutilation  by  a 
fmaller.  Some  of  the  acls  are  filent  on  the  murder 
'  of  a  (lave,  and  it  has  been  fuppofed,  in  thofe  iflands, 
that  it  was  punifliable  by  the  common  lav/  of  Eng- 
land: 


W.  Indies.  Ottley.  91 

land  :  however,  on  confidering  the  latter  part  of  the  1791. 
fecond  claufe  in  the  St.  Vincent  (lave  a6b,  which  is  ^--v^ 
alfo  introduced  in  fome  of  the  flave  a6ls  of  the  other 
iflands,  is  of  opinion,  that  by  inference  from  that 
claufe,  the  murder  of  a  flave  is  not  puniftiable  by- 
common  law  as  a  capital  offence. 

There  is  no  law  for  fecuring  the  ilave's  property, 
againft  his  mailer,  nor  againll  llrangers,  uniefs  the 
mafter  brings  an  adion. 

There  are  laws  in  mod  of  the  iflands  obliging 
mafliers  to  provide  food  and  clothing  for  their  flaves  j 
but  does  not  think  them  in  general  efficient,  from  the 
difficulty  of  bringing  proof  of  the  breach  of  the  law. 

Some  claufes  in  the  St.  Vincent's  (lave  ad  appear 
to  be  oppreffive  and  impolitic ;  particularly  that 
which  obliges  the  whites,  under  a  penalty,  to  fearch 
once  a  fortnight,  the  negroe  houfes  on  the^eftate,  for 
runaways  or  ftolen  goods  -,  that  which  prevents  (laves 
from  hiring  themfelves  of  their  mafters  to  work  on 
their  own  account ;  thofe  which  lay  certain  reftric- 
tion  on  free  negroes,  and  deprive  them  in  fome  cafes 
of  trial  by  jury  ;  the  claufe  which  throws  obftacles  in 
the  way  of  (laves  buying  their  freedom ;  and  fome 
others  which  he  does  not  jufi:  now  recoiled. 

In  his  anfwers,  he  confines  himfelf  to  St.  Vincent's 
where  named;  where  no  ifland  is  named,  his  obferva- 
tions  extend  to  all  where  the  old  (lave  ads  are  yet  in 
^force. 

The  omiffions  in  the  old  laws  are  fo  numerous  that  P.  160. 
it  is  difficult  to  afcertain  them  ;  he  will  therefore  fpeak 
to  fuch  alterations  and  provifions  as  appear  neceifary 
for  the  protedion  of  (laves. 

He  would  recommend  the  paffing  a  (lave  ad  in 
every  ifland,  repealing  thofe  now  in  force,  and  eflia- 
blifliing  regulations  upon  the  principle  of  the  late 
Grenada  ad,  to  obviate  the  difficulty  of  bring- 
ing evidence  againfl:  whites  :  councils  of  protedion 
or  guardians,  (hould  be  named  to  fee  that  the  provi- 
fions made  for  the  benefit  of  flaves  are  enforced  :  they 
fliould  be  empowered  to  infped  provifion  grounds, 

M  2  lick 


gi  W.  I N  D I  £  s.  O  T  T  L  E  y; 

1791.   fick  houfes,  clothing,  negro-houfes,  and  the  general 

«— -Nr^»j  condition  of  flaves  ^  and  upon  juft  grounds  of  fufpi- 

cion,  to  have  power  to  examine  whites,  or  other  free 

perfons,   on  oath,  and  to  profecute  offenders,  -where 

neceffary. 

Thinks,  if  the  guardians  do  their  duty,  and  adt 
•with  impartiality,  that  the  fubftitute  for  the  evidence 
of  (laves,  (provided  by  the  Grenada  adt)  affords  as 
great  a  degree  of  protedion  and  fecurity  as  perfons  in 
a  ftate  of  fiavery  can  enjoy. 

Can  devife  no  means,  likely  to  be  adopted,  for  ad- 
initting  the  evidence  of  flavts,  in  their  prefent  ftate 
of  ignorance. 
P,  i6i.  The  laws  lately  pafTed  in  Jamaica,  Grenada,  and 
Dominica,  (as  contained  in  the  Privy  Council  report) 
have  fupplied  moftof  the  omifTions  now  noticed  j  but 
the  Grenada  law  feems  beft  calculated  to  have  full 
effcd. 

The  punifnments  to  be  inflicted  by  the  St.  Vincent's 
flave  a6b,  muft  be  by  order  of  juft  ices  of  the  peace  : 
recollefts  no  provifions  there,  which  limit  the  degree, 
or  afcertain  the  nature,  of  the  puniihment  which  a 
mafter  or  manager  may  infiicl. 

The  general  modes  of  punifhment  he  has  obferved 
on  Weil  India  eflates,  were,  whipping,  the  ftocks, 
chains,  iron  collars ;  the  latter  not  frequent,  nor 
long  worn,  becaufe  deemed  hurtful  to  the  fiaves 
health. 

As  to  whipping  in  a  cruel  manner  and  difpropor- 
tionate  to  the  offence,  overfeers  ftriking  flaves 
wantonly,  fubtradling  from  his  allowance,  taking  a- 
way  the  provifions  he  has  railed,  or  other  arbitrary 
and  cruel  treatment  independent  of  punifhment  for 
P.  1 62,  offences,  much  depends  on  the  temper  and  difpofition 
of  mafters  or  managers.  On  all  the  eftates  he  has 
known,  where  the  mafter  or  manager  refided,  over- 
feers were  forbidden  to  ftrike  any  flave,  and  were  li- 
able to  be  turned  off  if  they  did.  Sometimes  they  do 
it^  but  does  not  think  it  common* 

The 


W.   I  N  D  I  E  S.  O  T  T  L  E  V,    -  93 

The  treatment  of  flaves,  fo  far  as  he  has  obferved,    1791. 
is  in  general  humane.  o^v-^ 

Inftances  of  cruelty  do  and  will  occur,  but  does 
not  think  them  common.  Certainly  thinks  them 
exceptions  to  general  ufage. 

As  to  inftances  of  notorious  cruelty  in  the  iflands 
going  unpunilhed,  never  knew  but  one  cafe  where  a 
man  was  puniihed  by  law  in  St.  Vincent's  for  cruelty 
to  a  flave,  and  that  was  very  lately.  Flas  heard  of 
other  cafes  of  cruelty  notorious,  which  have  gone 
unpunilhed. 

In  St.  Vincent's,  induftrious  field  flaves  are  gene- 
rally poflefled  of  fome  property.  So  far  as  he  can 
guefs,  an  induftrious  but  ordinary  field  flave  may 
acquire  to  the  amount  of  61.  or  81.  fterlingper  ann. 
Of  200  fiaves  on  an  eftate,  not  more  than  one-thirdp^  i5«. 
can  be  reckoned  field  flaves  •,  fome  of  whom  will  be 
young  and  indifferent  to  property,  others  lazy.  He 
ihould  fuppofe  12  to  18  might  acquire  to  the  amount 
mentioned.  Has  heard  of  field  flaves  acquiring  to 
^  greater  amount,  but  in  general  they  are  careful  to 
conceal  their  property  from  their  mafters.  They 
acquire  it  by  raifing  hogs,  goats,  poultry,  and  by  the 
culture  of  their  grounds,  of  which  they  have  in  ge- 
neral more  than  they  can  cultivate,  and  as  good  land 
for  the  purpofe  as  any  on  the  eftate.  Out  of  crop 
they  have  half  of  Saturday,  or  one  day  in  a  fort- 
night. Thinks  the  latter  better  for  the  flave,  as  he 
can  go  frefti  to  his  work,  and  has  more  time  to  com- 
plete any  particular  job. 

In  St,  Vincent's  flaves  are  never  married  according 
to  the  rites  of  the  Church,  but  they  are  very  often 
attached  to  one  woman. 

Knows  of  no  law  to  prevent  a  white  from  de-P.  164. 
„  bauching  the  wife  of  a  Have  :  but  does  not  recollect 
any  cafe  of  the  kind. 

As  the  females,  who  are.  not  married,  do  not  feem 
,  to  prize  chaftity  much,  he  fhould  fuppofe  the  men 
licentious  with  regard  to  women. 

Slaves, 


94  W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  O  T  T  L  E  Y. 

1791.  Slaves,  when  pad  the  time  of  youth,  often  live 
faithfully  as  man  and  wife. 

The  men  are  in  general  fo  addided  to  the  ufe  of 
fpirituous  liquors,  that  they  will  get  drunk  as  oft  as 
they  can. 

Has  heard  young  females  ftudy  to  procure  abor- 
tions, but  never  knew  a  cafe :  they  are  fo  fond  of 
dancing,  that  he  does  not  think  pregnancy,  unlefs 
far  advanced,  would  prevent  their  going  a  great  way 
for  it.  Dances  are  common,  but  ilaves  from  diflant 
eflates  are  forbidden. 

The  (laves  are  in  general  very  harmlefs  and  peace- 
able. Never  knew  a  cafe,  even  where  they  have 
been  faid  to  be  ill  treated,  of  their  attempting  to 
injure  their  mailer's  property  from  refentment;  tho* 
were  they  fo  inclined,  they  have  many  opportuni- 
io5«ties,  partitularly  in  crop  time.  They  difcover  a 
benevolent  difpofition,  and  a  general  good  will.  On 
every  diftrefsful  emergency,  fuch  as  fire,  which  often 
happens,  he  has  always  obferved  negroes  from  the 
neighbouring  plantations,  uncalled,  even  in  the 
night,  ready  and  a6live  to  their  utmoft  exertion  in 
relieving  the  misfortune  of  the  moment.  Recolle6Vs 
an  inftance  which  occurred  in  1785  :  A  fire  fuddenly 
broke  out  among  his  canes,  at  a  place  the  moll  dif- 
tant  from  where  his  own  flaves  were  working.  Thofe 
of  Sir  William  Young,  who  were  at  work  near  the 
fpot,  voluntarily  run  to  the  place,  and  with  much 
trouble  and  fome  rifque  extinguidied  the  flames, 
which  might  otherwife  have  deflroyed  50  or  60 
hogfheads  of  fugar ;  nor  did  they  afk  any  reward ; 
but  of  courfe  fome  recompence  was  fent  them. 

Thofe  feafoned  to  the  iflands  appear  to  be  of  a 
chearful  temper ;  and  are  fo,  when  well  ufed  ;  which 
may  be  known  by  their  returning  merry  and  fing- 
ing,  from  their  work. 

Thinks,  on  eflates  well  handed  with  feafoned 
negroes,  and  which  have  a  regular  fuccefTion  of  chil- 
dren to  fuppiy  thofe  who  fall  off  by  age,  the  numbers 
might  be  kept  up,  and  probably  increafe  without 

importation:^ 


W.   I  N  D  I  E  S.  O  T  T  L  E  Y.  95 

importation.     In  many  inftances,  eftates,  humanely  1791. 
managed,  and  with  a  fuitable  proportion  of  the  fexes,  v^^"V*n^ 
adually  have,  and  do  increafe  their  numbers  without 
importation,  (p.  167.) 

Is  acquainted  with  the  Caribs  of  St.  Vincent's,  p,  i55. 
They  are  moflly  of  the  negro  race,  faid  to  be  defcen- 
ded  from  fuch  as  efcaped  from  a  Have  fhip,  wrecked 
upon  the  coaft. 

Believes  they  do  not  incorporate  runaways,  who 
would  be  eafily  diftinguifhed  from  the  Caribs,  who 
have  a  peculiar  flattening  in  the  forehead,  produced 
in  infancy;  they  have  a  reward  too  for  bringing  in  run- 
aways ;  and  there  is  befides  a  ftrong  antipathy  be- 
tween them  and  theflaves  (p.  169).  Their  number  is 
faid  to  be  3000,  fo  that  they  muft  certainly  have  in- 
creafed,  and  believes  they  are  ftill  on  the  increafe : 
they  are  fond  of  fpirituous  liquors  (p.  169). 

As  flaves  can  never  live  fo  much  at  their  eafe  as 
the  Caribs  do,  and  muft  be  more  expofed  while  at 
work,  they  will  be  fubjed  to  difeafes,  to  which  the 
Caribs  and  free  negroes  are  not  •,  they  will  therefore 
probably  not  increafe  fo  much,  though  they  may  in- 
creafe. 

W.  India  eftates  are  in  general  deeply  mortgaged:  p.  i^-?, 
in  proportion  to  the  weight  of  debt  on  them,  they 
will  in  many  inftances  be  worked  with  greater  exer- 
tion of  labour,  and  under  difad^vantages  of  credit  pre- 
judicial to  the  fuppiies  for  comfort,  or  even  fub- 
iiftence  of  the  Oaves,  in  many  cafes. 

He  ihould  necelTarily  conclude,  that  v/here  Oaves 
are  not  fupplied  equally  with  the  neceffaries  and 
comforts  of  life,  they  will  of  courfe  be  proportionally 
defective  in  increafe. 

The  proprietors  of  eftates  preficd  by  their  credi- 
tors would,  he  fears,  be  induced  to  work  their  gangs 
beyond  their  ft:rength,  were  they  cut  off  from  frefh 
fuppiies  of  flaves,  and  thus  a  fudden  and  total  aboli- 
tion eventually  prove  oppreffive  to  many  flaves  in 
the  Weft  Indies, 

Belie  v^es. 


^  W.     I  N  D  r  E  S.  O  T  T  L  E  Y. 

1791.  Believes,  the  queftion  of  the  flave-trade  depending 
*-^v^  in  the  Britifli  Parliament,  may  have  diredled  the  at- 
tention of  the  colonial  legiflatures,  to  the  reform  of 
the  laws  in  favour  of  flaves  ;  and  while  the  queftion 
P.  168.  continues  pending,  believes  they  will  be  difpofed 
to  adopt  any  prafticable  regulations  which  may  be 
recommended  to  them ;  but  does  not  think  they 
would  attend  to  fuch  recommendation  with  the  fame 
good  temper  and  fatisfadlion  were  the  queftion  de- 
cided, and  the  fiave-trade  ftopt. 

Does  not  think  any  efFedual  reform  of  the  flave 
laws  could  be  made  without  the  co-operation  of  the 
colonies^  as  by  the  conftitution  of  their  governments, 
their  legiilative  bodies  muft  pafs  the  laws,  and  the 
magiftrates  and  others  in  the  iflands  enforce  them. 

His  letter  to  Sir  William  Young,  contained  in  the 
Privy  Council  Report,  was  written  in  hafte,  and 
merely  for  Sir  William's  private  information. 
*'  As  the  laws  now  ftand  in  many  of  the  iflands,  do- 
meftick  (laves  muft  be  peculiarly  fubjed  to  their 
mafters  caprice-,  and  their  fituation  can  lefs  be  eiFe6t- 
ed  by  regulations  of  law,  than  even  that  of  field 
flaves,  becaufe  the  conduft  of  mafters  to  domefticks 
P.  169.  is  not  fo  open  to  the  obfervation  of  the  world. 

As  to  fuppofing  private  puniihments  to  be  reftric- 
ted  to  a  certain  number  of  lafhes,  and  mafters  and 
overfeers  ftiould  exceed  the  limitation,  or  fplitting 
one  crime  into  many,  give  the  limited  number  for 
each;  can  devife  no  mode  of  bringing  fuch  mafter 
or  other  to  juftice,  while  the  evidence  of  a  flave  con- 
tinues inadmiflible. 

Believes  there  are  400  or  500  whites  in  all,  ex- 
clufive  of  the  military,  in  St.  Vincent's  •,  perhaps  15a 
more  in  the  fmall  iflands  now  connedled  with  it  -,  and 
imagines  the  flaves  on  thofe  iflands,  which  are  not 
many,  are  included  in  the  number  of  St.  Vincent's 
flaves. 

Never  knew  a  free  negro  hire  himfelf  to  field  la- 
bour, to  hire  as  mechanicks  is  common. 

The 


W.  Indies.  '     Ottley. 


97 


The  flock  of  flaves  on  his  eftate  when  he  firfl:  went  lyqo, 
out  have  conftantly  increafed  5  but  the  new  negroes  «.-v— » 
he  has  bought  fince  1784,  have,  in  fpite  of  all  poffibieP.  170. 
attention  to  them,    decrcafed  at  lead   one  in  eight. 
Mr.  Robley  told  him,  that  on  his  eftate  Sandy  Point, 
in  Tobago,  there  has    been  a  conftant  confiderable 
increafe  by  births,   though  the   fituation    does    not 
feem  healthy.     In   St.  Vincent's,  upon  Sir  William 
Young's  eftate,  Calliagua,   there  has  been  for  fome 
years  paft  a  conftant  increafe  by  births  -,  the  fame  on 
Mr.  Haffey's  eftate,  and  he  believes  aifo  upon  Mr. 
Winn's;  and  likewife  upon  Mr.  CoUins's  and  a  Mr. 
Morgan's  eftates. 

if  proper  attention  was  paid  to  the  religious  in- 
ftru6tion  of  Qaves,  he  is  convinced  it  would  be  of  the 
greateft  advantage  to  the  planters.  Within  thefe 
three  or  four  )cars,  fome  Methodift  mifiionaries, 
have  had  accefs  to  many  eftates  in  St.  Vincent's,  for 
that  purpofe.  Has  heard  that  in  Antigua  the  (laves 
have  been  greatly  improved  in  their  morals  by  the 
inftrudtions  of  the  Moravians  -,  infomuch,  that  the 
adual  value  of  fuch  flaves,  confidered  as  objeds  of 
commerce,  has  been  raifed.  An  increafe  of  popula- 
tion trom  the  births,  -would  be  an  undoubted  con- 
fequence  of  the  moral  improvement  of  Haves   (p. 

174.)  , 

Does  not  think,  that  even  on  thofe  eftates  where 
he  has  known  the  fcock  kept  up  and  increafed  by 
births,  fuch  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  fubjcd  as 
he  would  judge  proper  (p.  174.) 

As  t-o  whites  efcaping  punifhment  in  atrocious 
cafes,  from  negro  evidence  bdng  invalid,  recollefts, 
that  in  October  1789,  a  flave  in  Tobago  vv^as  faid, 
and  univerfally  believed,  to  have  been  ftabbed  by  a 
white  (thinks  the  manager  of  the  eftate)  in  the  pre-p  j^j^ 
fence  of  many  other  (laves.  The  man  died  on  the 
fpot,  and  the  white  was  tried,  but,  for  want  of  fuch 
evidence  as  Weft  Indian  courts  of  lav/  require,  was 
acquitted.  Another  cafe  occurred  in  St.  Vincent's  ; 
a  white,   v/as  ftrongly  fufpefled   of   having  fhot  his 

Numb.  4.  N  brother- 


9§-  W.   Indies.  Ottley, 

1 79 1,  brother-in-law,  the  fadl  was  faid  by  two  or  three 
V-nr*^  flaves  to  have  been  done  in  their  prefence ;  and, 
the  coroner's  inqueit  (he  thinks)  confirmed  this  fuf- 
picion,  by  a  verdi6l  of  wilful  murder,  againft  this 
white.  At  a  court  where  he  (Mr.  Ottley)  prefided, 
the  caufe  was  tried,  and  although  there  fcarcely  re- 
mained a  doubt  with  the  jury  of  the  man's  guilt,  he 
was  neverthelefs  acquitted,  for  want  of  fufficient 
evidence. 

Thinks^  that  flaves  in  general  are  better  treated, 
and  more  fatisfied  with  their  condition,  where  the 
owner  refides. 

Where  ground  provifions  are  fcarce,  and  the  owner's 
embarraiTments  prevent  his  getting  fupplies  of  im- 
ported provifions,  his  negroes  mull:  certainly  fulter. 
In  1779,  he  has  heard,  many  perfons  fuffered  in  An- 
tigua from  this  circumftance. 
p.  172.  Has  always  heard  that  in  St.  Kitt's  the  chief  de- 
pendance  is  on  imported  provifions,  and  it  mud  be 
often  fo  in  Antigua,  from  the  droughts  to  which 
they  are  fubje6l. 

Where  planters,  as  has  often  happened,  take  in 
more  cane  land  than  thev  can  properly  cultivate,  the 
labour  of  the  negroes  will  be  increafed,  and  the  lan4 
will  not  be  produdive. 

Never  knew  a  field  (lave  buy  his  freedom.  Never 
heard  of  a6l  of  fuicide  amons;  Creoles. 

o 

As  to  infurredlions,  whether  moil  to  be  apprehend- 
ed from  African  or  Creole  flaves,  there  never  was 
an  infurre6lion  in  Si.  Vincent's ;  but  thofe  which 
happened  in  Tobago,  he  has  heard,  originated  with 
the  Africans. 

The  circumftance  of  being  forcibly  torn  frorr^ 
jtlieir  families  and  friends,  will  frequently  have  the 
clfedl  to  fliorten  the  lives  of  imported  flaves  -,  parti- 
cularly the  aged  :  thofe  who  deilroy  themfelves  are 
always  found  to  be  adults. 
F.  i/j-  The  climate  of  St.  Vincent's,  when  firil  fettled, 
being  covered  with  wood,  was  Ycvy  fatal  to  Eu- 
ropeans ,  but  now  it  feems  as  healthy  as  any  other 

of 


Wi     I  N  D  I  E  Si  O  T  T  L  E  y.  99 

of  the  iflands  ;  and  it  has  been  remarked,  that  nb  1791. 
greater  mortality  has  occurred  among  the  troops,  for  v---y--^ 
thefe  five  or  fix  years  paft,  than  is  common  in  Eng- 
land.    The  Europeans  who  are  refident,   from  ex- 
pofure  during  the  hours  of  labour,  are  frequently  fub- 
je6l  to  difeafes. 

By  the  court  ad,  flaves  may  be  feized  for  the 
owner's  debt,  but  not  till  his  goods,  chattels,  and 
produce  are  found  infufficient.  Slaves  by  the  laws 
of  St.  Vincent's  are  in  general  confidered  as  of  the 
nature  of  real  eftate,  and  lb  defcend  to  the  heir,  and 
widows  are  dowable  from  them  •,  but  where  the  per- 
fonal  eftate  is  infufficient,  executors  may  inventory 
Haves,  and  apply  them  to  the  difcharge  of  the  tefta- 
tor's  debts.  But  to  prevent  eftates  being  deprived  of 
flaves,  there  is  a  particular  law  in  St.  Vincent's,  al- 
lowing the  executors  to  advance  money  at  6  per  cent* 
intereft,  taking  fecurity  on  the  flaves. 

In  cafe  of  aftual  feizure,  the  marflial  is  equally 
refponfible  for  flaves,  as  for  other  property. 

As   to  feparation  of  families,  by  fuch  fales,  the  p."  17^, 
law  has  provided,  that  a  woman  and  her  infant  child 
fhall  always  be  fold  together.     Does  not  recollect 
any  other  provifion. 

Is  of  opinion,  that  the  reforms  in  the  treatm.ent  of 
flaves  hinted  in  the  preceding  part  of  his  evidence, 
would  be  for  the  mutual  advantage  of  owner  and 
flave. 

With  refpeA  to  the  intereils  of  the  owner  and 
managers  being  fometimes  at  variance,  it  is  in  ge- 
neral the  manager's  intereft  to  make  large  crops,  to 
fupport  his  chara6ler  as  a  planter ;  and  perfons  often 
judging  from  effeds,  he  may  feel  himfelf  under  a 
kind  of  necefllty  of  working  the  (laves  harder  than 
he  wiihes,  to  keep  up  to  the  produce  of  former  years. 

Never  loft  more  than  two  or  three  children  on  his 
eftates  by  the  tetanus,  but  many  by  worms  between 
three  and  fix  years,  which  feems  the  moft  fatal  dif- 
order  to  children  in  the  Weft  Indies,  white  as  well 
as  negro, 

N  2.  Waat. 


ICO  W.  Indies,  O  t  t  l  e  i% 

J 79 1,  Want  of  food  and  other  ill  treatment  he  fnould 
^--y**-'  fiippofe  to  be  one  great  caufe  of  flaves  running  away  : 
P«  ^7S*  indeed  he  has  heard  of  a  cafe,  where  about  20  negroes, 
who  had  been  long  abfent,  on  the  death  of  a  mailer 
efteemed  very  fevere,  voluntarily  returned  to  the 
eftate :  however,  has  known  negroes  run  away  with- 
out any  provocation. 

Upon  aflcing  his  African  negroes  how  they  became 
flaves,  fome  who  were  imported  young,  faid,  they  were 
kidnapped-,  others,  that  they  had  been  fold  for 
crimes,  or  prifoners  of  war. 


Witnefs  examined — Reverend  Mr.  Stuart. 

P.  175*  Has  been  at  Guadaloupe,  Dominique,  St.  Croix, 
St.  Euftatius,  St.  Kitts,  (at  the  lad  about  a  year) 
and  Nevis.    Went  to  the  Weil  Indies  about  the  be- 

P.   1 77*  ginning  of  1778,  and  left  them  in  1779  for  America, 

P.  175*  which  he  left  atChriftmas  1782.  Has  had  a  twenty 
years  acquaintance  with  the  condition  of  ilaves  in  the 
different  ilates  of  N.  America. 

He  is  v/arranted  in  declaring  that  the  negroes  are 
an  opprefTed  and  much  injured  race,  in  no  better 
ellimation  than  labouring  cattle i  and  every  delcrip- 
tion  of  their  treatment  he  has  met  with,  falls  fhorc 

P.  fy6,o{  their  real  ftate.  He  read  Mr.  Ramfay's,  in  ma- 
nufcript,  at  St,  Kitts,  and  comparing  it  on  the  fpot 
with  the  treatment  of  the  (laves,  thought  it  too 
favourable. 

Though  there  are  as  humane  people-  in  the  Wed 
Indies  as  elfewhere,  they  are  from  the  nature  of 
flavery  led  into  cruel  meafures.  The  punifhments 
there  often  feemed  too  fevere.  Has  feen  many  ne- 
groes working  in  chains  both  in  America  and  Weft 
Indies.  Has  often  known  runaways  put  in  a  dun- 
geon at  night,  and  once  faw  about  fourteen,  fome  of 
whom  were  in  chains,  put  into  a  dungeon,  apparent- 
ly 


I  W.  I N  D I E  s.  Stuart.  lot 

I  ly  much  too  fmall  for  them.     Next  morning  he  faw  179 1. 
I  one  of  them  taken  out  dead.  ^.,^^/0 

Slaves  in  America  feem  more  hearty  and  robuflP.  lyj* 
than  thofe  in  the  Weft  Indies,  owing,  he  fuppofes, 
to  their   being  better  fed.     Their  allowance  was  a 
quart  of  Indian  corn^  peafe,  or  rice,  each  day,  and 
a  little  fait. 

It  was  generally  believed  the  Carolina  flaves  in- 
creafed  without  importation. 

He  was  told  at  St.  Croix,  that  the  ilaves,  inftrucled 
by  the  Moravians,  were  better  behaved  than  the 
others. 

The  blacks  are  not  inferior  to  the  whites  in  abili- 
ties or  difpodtion.  They  have  as  much  generofity, 
fidelity, 'gratitude,  underftanding,  and  ingenuity;  | 
capable  of  receiving  religious  inftrudlion,  and  im-  | 
provement  of  every  kind.  Has  f3und  his  black  } 
fervants  in  nothing  inferior  to  his  white  ones,  and  is  f 
fure  that  education  and  opportunity  alone  make  a  | 
difference  between  the  two  defcriptions.  I 

Nothing  had  been  done  to  alleviate  the  fituatioa 
of  the  negroes,  in  general,  in  the  period  of  Mr. 
Stuarts's  refidence  in  America  and  the  W.  Indies* 


Witnefs  examined— Captain  Scott. 

Captain  Alexander  Scott,  of  the  Royal  navy,  ^;^asp.  j^j, 
on  the  coaft  of  Africa  from  Senegal  to  Cape  Coaft,p,  i-g. 
in  the  Merlin,  1769,  during  the  rainy  feafon.  Out 
of  90  men  they  buried  there  8,  of  whom  only  4  died 
of  t\\Q  diforders  of  che  country.  The  furfs  there  are 
not  an  ucter  inpediment  to  landing  and  flapping 
goods.  He  has  himfelf  landed  from  his  own  boat 
at  Dixcove,  Commenda,  and  Cape  Coaft,  and  the 
boats  without  him,  alfo  at  Succonda.  He  has  been 
in  the  W.  Indies  longer  than  on  the  Coaft  of  Africa, 
and  has  of  courfe  ^t^n  greater  furfs, there  than  on  the 
coaft. 

From 


\  A  F  R I  (5  A.  Scott.         \ 

pr.  From  a  tranfadion  which  happened  the  fecond  day 
after  his  arrival  in  the  Weft  Indies,  he  thought  the 
negroes  very  cruelly  ufed.  He  faw  a  white  man 
purfue  a  negro  into  the  water,  bring  him  out,  and 
take  him  to  the  wharf,  where  he  had  him  hung  up 
to  a  crane  by  his  hands,  which  were  tied  together, 
and  weights  tied  to  his  feet.  When  thus  hoifted  up, 
but  fo  as  ftiil  to  touch  the  ground,  another  negro 

179.  was  ordered  to  whip  him  with  a  prickly  bufh.  He 
walked  away  from  the  difagreeable  fight.  The  next 
day  he  faw  the  fame  negro  lying  on  the  beach,  and 
with  the  afUftance  of  another  taking  the  prickles  out 
of  his  breech,  feemingly  fwelled  and  bloody.  The 
negro  affigned  as  a  reafon  for  the  whipping,  that 
the  wharfinger  thought  he  had  ftaid  too  long  on  an 
errand. 


Witnefs  examined — Rev.  Mr.  Davies. 

]  8^.  Refided  at  Barbadoes  fourteen  years  •,  the  three  laft, 
learning  the  management  of  a  fugar  eftate  •,  left  it 
twenty-one  years  ago. 

It  was  not  underftood  that  flaves  had  a  right  to  le- 
gal redrefs  when  ill  ufed  by  maders. 
186.  -^^  ^^  field-flaves  being  well,  or  fparingly  fed,  it  is 
difficult  to  judge  from  appearance  only  ^  before  crop 
many  feemed  very  emaciated,  in  crop  they  looked 
well.  Has  ittn  their  allowance  dealt  out  5  a  grown 
negroe  had  nine  pints  of  corn  and  about  one  pound 
of  falt-fiih  per  week:  fome  principal  flaves  had  as  far 
as  twelve  pints ;  but  the  grain  of  the  Weil  Indies  is 
much  lighter  than  wheat. 

Never  knew  field-flaves  acquire  confiderable  pro- 
perty-, they  had  a  few  houfe-neceffaries,  and  were 
allowed  to  keep  a  pig,  or  a  goat,  and  poultry. 

As  to  its  being  a  ferious  objed  wi  h  planters,  to 
keep  up  the  flock  of  flaves  by  breeaing;  it  was  fo 
much  otherwife,  as  co  be  generally  thought  a  necef- 

fary 


W.  Indies,  D  a  v  i  e  s.' 


10 


fary  part  of  plantation  expenfe  to  buy  a  lot  of  new  1791. 
flaves  every  fix  or  feven  years.  Thinks  the  caufe  why  ^^^/^ 
the  number  of  flaves  are  not  kept  up  by  births  is,  that 
females  are  over  worked,  in  turning  dung,  carrying 
it  out  in  bailiets  of  60  to  70  pound  weight  on  their  | 

heads,  and  that  for  about  eight  hours  a  day,  in  the 
feafon.  On  their  return  home,  they  have  to  grind 
their  corn  by  the  ftrength  of  their  arms,  rubbing  it 
between  two  ftones  :  they  muft  rife  with  the  earlieit 
dawn  to  prepare  their  food,  that  they  may  be  in  the 
field  in  time  to  efcape  punifhment.  Their  circum- 
ftances  (particularly  the  grinding  corn)  tended  to  dif- 
courage  marriage,  the  woman's  life  becoming  harder 
then,  from  being  thus  a  flave  to  her  hufband  (p.  1 87).         I 

Pregnant  women,  and  fuch  as  had  children,  are 
allowed  to  come  into  the  field  a  little  later  than  the        1 
reft.  ^  i 

With  very  good  ufage,   if  the  females  are  to  the 
males  as  three  to  four,  the  (lock  may  be  kept  up  by 
births*,  as  it  was  on  Kendal  plantation  belonging  to       j 
Jofliua  Steele,  efq.  though  the  proportion  was  as  two       ! 
to  three  (p.  188}. 

Though  people  in  general  feemed  to  confider  flaves 
as  their  moll  valuable  property  -,  yet  their  attention  to 
them  (from  a  fenfe  of  intereft)  appeared  infufficient, 
becauie  a  great  number  of  recruits  was  neceflfary. 

To  produce  large  quantities  of  fugar  at  a  fmall  ex- 
penfe, was  the  chief  criterion  of  a  manager's  merit ; 
though  owners  fometimes  difcharged  their  managers 
for  too  much  feverity. 

Is  of  opinion  they  cultivated  too  much  cane  land, P. 
and  too  little  provifions,  as  many  were  obliged  to  buy 
American  corn  :  thinks  having  lefs  cane  land  would 
produce  better  treatment  to  the  flaves,  and  be  ulti- 
mately for  the  mailer's  benefit. 

The  dependance  on  imported  flaves  certainly  con- 
tributed to  embarrafs  planters. 

As  to  the  prafticability  of  keeping  up  the  ftock  of 
■{laves  by  births,  provided  it  had  been  an  ojpjed  of 
ferious  attention  to  the  plan:€rsi  cannot  fay  heattenc"   ' 


>^ 


W.  Indies.  D  a  v  r  e  s. 

t.  to  it  when  on  the  ifland,  but  it  does  appear  to  him 
now  (from  the  fafts  which  then  fell  under  his  notice 
p.  1 88.)  that  by  general  good  ufage  of  the  flaves, 
and  a  milder  treatment  of  females  in  particular, 
by  the  ufe  of  cattle  and  inftrumcnts  of  hufbandry,  e- 
fpecially  the  plough,  their  numbers  might  be  kept 
up,  perhaps  increafe.  Knew  a  few  eftates  which  kept 
up  their  numbers  without  im^portation. 
8.  Is  of  opinion  Haves  were  in  general  too  fparingly 
fed,  whether  the  mafter  was  embarralled  or  not. 

Underftood  from  common  report,  that  there  were 
few  eftates  that  were  not  more  or  lefs  embarraffed, 
from  debt  to  the  Eupopean  merchant,  or  from  join- 
tures, or  fortunes  to  brothers  and  fillers. 

On  afliing  African  negroes  how  they  became  flaves, 
was  anfwered  they  had  been  kidnapped. 

Thinks  their  feelings  mucR  the  fame  as  Europeans. 
"When  removed  from  their  habitations  and  Tpots  of 
ground,  they  have  been  known  to  pine  away. 

As  to  the  pradice   of    (laves  conftantly  working 

under  a  driver,  -does  not  recollect  a  fmgle  exception. 

).      The  whip  is  committed  to  the  hands  of  apprentice 

boys,  as  well  as  to  men,  who  often  punilli  the  llaves 

for  very  flight  faults,  arbitrarily. 


Witnefs  Examined— Mr.  Mark  Cook. 

Mr.  Mark  Cook  arrived  in  Jamaica  in  1774,  and 
left  it,  179O;  was  three  years  in  planting  bufinefs  : 
left  of  the  time  as  clerk  and  fchooimafter  with  dif- 
ferent frentlemen  there. 

<^  . 

His  tirft  impreilion  of  flaves  treatment  fhocking; 

x>r  he  lived  clofe  by  a  cane-piece,  where  they  worked, 

and  conftantly  heard  the  whip  going.     Slaves  ufed 

:ruelly,    hardly  looked  on   better  than  beafts,  and 

i\cn  ufed  Vv'orfe. 

Have  not  fufficient  food    nor  time  to  cultivate 
leirgrounds.  Has  known  both  Africans  and  Creoles 

eac 


W.   I  ?^  D  1  £  s.  M.   G  o  o  K.  105 

cat  putrid  carcafes,  is  convinced  through  want,  would  1*791. 
not  have  done  it  if  they  had  had  other  fufficient  food  :  ^•'-v^n^ 
when   they    have    time    and   opportunity,  are   veryp,  iqo, 
cleanly  in  their  food  — are  very  fond  of  wafhing 
themfelves. 

Are  but  indifferently  clothed  :  one  half  of  them  al- 
mod  naked  in  the  field;  this  not  from  choice  but 
want  •,  are  fond  of  clothes  when  they  can  get  any  5  alfo 
badly  lodged ;  if  overfeers  can  get  their  work  done, 
they  do  not  attend  to  fuch  matters. 

Their  ufual  punifhments  very  fevere,  more  fo  than 
neceflary  to  procure  the  work  to  be  done  properly: 
much  more  of  it  might  be  done,  were  they  better 
fed  and  iefs  whipped. 

Common  to  dung  cane  pieces  by  moon-light,  and 
to  oblige  them  to  pick  grafs  after  their  day's  work: 
this  a  great  hardfhip.  Negroe's  grounds  generallyp,  igi, 
about  two  miles  from  the  works;  common  to  exa6t 
grafs  picking  for  overfeer's  cattle ;  feldom  efcape 
puniihment  if  they  negled  it.     (p.  191.) 

In  crop-time  they  work  in  general  about  18  hours 
out  of  24 :  are  often  hurt  through  mere  fatigue  and 
want  of  deep  :  knew  a  girl  lofe  her  hand  by  the  mill 
while  feeding  it;  for  overcome  by  fleep,  fhe  dropped 
againft  the  rollers.  Has  heard  of  feveral  inilances 
of  the  kind. 

Has  known  negroes  own  grounds  taken  from  them 
to  be  put  in  canes  for  mailer's  ufe,  and  wood  land 
given  them  in  exchange — a  great  hardfhip,  and  cer- 
tainly the  caufe  of  great  diffatisfadtion  among  them. 

Thinks  they  are  in  general  much  negledled  in 
ficknefs.  There  are  dodtors  on  eflates,  but  they 
feldom  attend.  Has  known  negroes,  ordered  to 
work  by  dodtor  when  incapable  of  doing  it,  drop  in 
the  field,  and  obliged  to  be  brought  back  again. 

Much  the  fame  work  is  expelled  from  pregnant 
women  as  others;  has  feen  them  holing  v*^ithin  a  few 
hours  of  delivery;  has  known  39  lafhes  given  them  p.  i92» 
at  this  time ;  has  heard  many  of  them  wiili  never  to 

Numb.  4  O  have 


io6  W.     I  N  D  I  E  S.  M.    C  O  O  K, 

1 7 91.   have  children  to  undergo  the  hardfhips  they  them* 
w^r^**  felves  have  been  fubjed  to. 

vSuperannuated  flaves  have  no  allowance,  and  only 
what  they  can  get  among  their  relations  5  has  {qqii 
them  wandering  about  the  beach,  left  to  take  care  of 
themfelves. 

Defert  frequently,  owing  to  hunger  and  fear  of 
flogging  when  threatened :  when  brought  in  are  ge- 
nerally fevereiy  flogged,  and  fometimes  have  an  iron 
boot  put  on  one  or  both  legs,  and  a  chain  or  collar 
round  their  neck.  The  chain  is  locked,  the  collar 
faftened  on  by  a  rivet.  When  the  collar  is  with  3 
projedions,  it  is  impoflible  for  them  to  lie  down  to 
lleep5  even  with  2  they  mud  lie  uneafily,  Plas  feen 
collars  with  4  projeftions.  Never  knew  any  injury 
from  the  chain  and  collar,  but  fevereiy  galling  their 
necks  •,  has,  however,  known  a  negro  iofe  his  leg 
from  wearing  the  boot. 
^*  ^93'  A  man  and  his  wife,  if  induftrious,  and  have  their 
due  time  allowed  them,  may  earn  3  or  4  bits  per 
week,  at  the  utmofl.  Never  heard  of  a  field  negro 
buying  his  own  freedom. 

Domellic  negroes  are  often  fevereiy  punifhed,  but 
not  fo  often  as  field  flaves :  has  known  many  inflan- 
ces  :  knew  a  lady,  who  had  both  her  men  and  women 
domeftics  laid  down  and  flogged  every  Monday 
morning  for  different  flight  offences,  which  happened 
in  the  previous  week. 

Knows  of  no  legal  protedlion  flaves  have  'againfl 
injuries  from  their  mailers. 

Has  known  a  field  flave  receive  200  laflies  by 
order  of  the  overfeer,  and  a  domeflic  50,  by  order 
of  his  miftrefs. 
r.  194.  Once  knew  a  runaway  flave  brought  in,  with  part 
of  a  turkey  with  him,  which  he  had  flolen.  His 
mafter  immediately  made  two  negroes  hold  him 
down,  and  with  a  hammer  and  a  punch  knocked  out 
two  of  his  upper  and  two  of  his  under  teeth.  Really 
thinks  negro  had  ftolen  from  hunger,  as  he  was  no- 
thing but  flcin  and  bones.    Mafl;er  was  not  reckoned 

cruel. 


W.     I  N  D  I  E  S.  M.     C  O  G  K.  107 

cruel.     Witnefs  lived  with  him  three  years,  and  re-  17 91, 
members  no  other  cruelty  committed  by  him.  u^wy— bJ 

Never  knew  any  complaint  made  to  a  magiflrate, 
or  punifhment  inflicted  on  owner  or  overfeer  in  any 
of  the  cafes  mentioned,  or  in  any  other  cafe  whatfo- 
ever,  for  ill  ufing  a  negro. 

Has  known  negroes  often  punifhed  for  complain- 
ing to  the  owner  or  attorney  againft  their  overfeers. 

Chaflity  of  negro  women  is  not  at  all  fecure 
againll  overfeers  :  if  overfeer  fends  for  a  girl  for 
fuch  a  purpofe,  (he  muft  come  or  be  flogged.  Has 
known  them  threatened  and  flogged  for  refufing. 
Knew  a  Mulatto  girl  run  away,  in  confequence  of 
being  threatened  on  that  account.  She  was  the  wife 
of  one  of  her  own  colour.  Her  hufl^and  and  chil- 
dren ran  away  at  the  fame  time. 

Has  known  both  Mulattoes  and  Quadroons  con- P.  195. 
fined  in  irons  6  or  7  years,  at  the  fole  will  of  their 
owner.  When  they  came  out,  (which  was  on  the 
death  of  their  mifiirefs)  their  limbs  were  fo  difl:orted 
they  could  not  walk.  Was  informed  of  it  by  one 
who  lived  two  years  on  the  efl:ate,  and  had  feen  them 
often,  and  with  whom  he  lived  afterwards  in  the 
fame  employ. 

Created  recommendation  of  an  overfeer  is  the 
magnitude  of  the  crop  he  makes,  without  regard  to 
working  the  negroes  hard  •,  muft  work  them  hard  to 
make  large  crops. 

Some  overfeers  are  paid  fo  much  upon  every  hogf- 
head  of  fugar,  and  puncheon  of  rum.  Others  have 
a  fl:ated  annual  falary. 

Perfons  fometimes  officiate  on  efl:ates  both  as 
attorneys  and  overfeers  at  fame  time.  Has  known 
attorneys  reflde  40  or  50  miles  from  the  eftates  they 
were  to  fuperintend. 

A  gentleman,  on  whofe  efliate  he  lived,  bought  P.  [196. 
25  negroes  in  one  lot,  and  at  two  years  end  had  only 
8  or  10  left.     A  great  many  African  negroes  die  in 
the  firft  three  years  after  importation. 

Has  heard  African  negroes  cxprefs  their  praife  of 
O  2  their 


io8  W.     I  N  D  I  E  S.  M.     C  O  O  K. 

1791.  their  own  country,  and  grief  at  leaving  it.  Never 
wv^^  knew  one  but  wifhed  to  go  back  again.  Was  told 
by  one,  when  afking  him  the  mode  of  his  capture, 
that  they  undermined  the  houfe  in  which  he  and  fa- 
mily lived,  and  came  in  upon  them  in  the  night,  and 
took  them  all  away. 

Knew  a  negro  man  who  hanged  himfelf,  alfo  a 
woman.  On  the  fam^e  property  a  man  had  fhot  him- 
felf before  witnefs  came  to  it.  Has  heard  of  many 
other  initances  of  the  kind ;  all  Africans.  Great 
rejoicings  made  by  African  negroes  at  the  funerals 
of  each  other,  from  a  belief  that  the  deceafed  are 
gone  to  their  ovm  country  again. 

Capacity  of  fome  negroes  is  very  great :  as  to  dif- 
poiition,  they  feem  llubborn  at  firft  coming,  but 
grow  better  in  time.  In  both  thefe  points  they  do 
not  differ  much  from  lower  white  people,  when  they 
have  been  fometime  in  the  country. 
*•  197*  Knows  two  ellates  where,  he  believes,  negroes 
increafed  by  births,  which  he  afcribes  to  good  ufage 
and  their  not  being  worked  too  hard. 

Maroon  negroes,  believes,  are  increafing  very  faft:. 

Domeftic  ufed  in  general  much  better  than  field 
{laves  ',  thinks  they  uTually  increafe,  but  not  fo  fad 
as  field  {laves,  when  well  ufed. 

Cultivation  of  cotton,  coffee,  and  pimento,  much 
more  eafy  than  that  of  fugar;  and  flaves  there  look 
better  and  increafe  fafter  than  thofe  on  fuo;ar  eftates. 

Jobbing  gangs  are  ufed  in  general  better  than 
field  flaves,  if  they  work  under  their  own  mailers; 
but  if  under  the  overfeer  of  the  eftate,  much  worfe. 

Slaves  of  a  perfon  embarralTed  are  worfe  clothed 
and  fed  on  that  account ;  thinks  in  general  they  are 
ufed  better,  when  their  owner  lives  on  the  eftate 
himfelf. 

Knows  of  no  regulation  to  prevent  feparation  of 

families,  when  flaves  are  fold  by  writs  of  venditioni, 

P.  198.  or  from  African  fhips.     Slaves  fubjecl  to  imprilbn- 

menc  when  feized  for  mafter'a  debts.     Flas  known 

them 


W.    Indies.  M.    C  o  o  k.  109 

them  lie  long  in  gaol,  and  then  fold,  if  the  debt  1791. 
not  paid.  wnr**^* 

Is  of  opinion  white  mechanics  can  do  equally  as 
much  labour  in  Jamaica,  if  under  ilicker,  as  in 
England  out  of  doors,  at  proper  hours. 

Believes  there  are  now  more  drougivs  in  Jamaica 
than  formerly,  on  account  of  lo  much  land  havmg 
been  cleared.  Has  heard  many  elderly  natives  fay, 
they  never  formerly  wanted  fealonable  weather. 

Has  feenmany  Guinea  ladors  lying  about  t  he  towns, 
and  travelimg  in  the  country  lul!  ot  ulcers  ;  feemed 
very  milerable  people  :  a  very  great  proportion  of 
thole  in  Kingiton  hofpital  are  Guineamen. 

Feweilates  but  what  have  runaway  negroes.  When 
the  number  is  fufficient  to  make  it  worth  while, 
book-keepers  from  the  different  eftates,  armed  with 
a  mufket  and  a  couteau,  hunt  after  them  in  the  woods. 
They  tire  at  them  at  times,  but  not  with  a  view  of  P.  199. 
killing  them.  Never  knew  any  killed  on  fuch  oc- 
cafions. 


Witnefs  examined— Captain  Cook. 

Captain  Cook,  of  the  89th  regiment,  was  in  Bar-p,  jgo. 
badoes,  St.  Lucia,  Su.  Kitt's,  &c.  in  1780  and  1781. 
Thought  the  negroes  m  the  towns  were  treated  with 
very  great  feverity.  He  faw  a  woman  named  Rachel 
Lawder  beat  a  female  tlave  mod  unmercifully;  having 
bruited  her  head  almoft  to  a  jelly  with  the  heel  other 
fhoe,  (he  threw  her  with  grear  force  on  the  feat  of  a 
child's  necciTary,  and  then  tried  to  (lamp  her  head 
through  the  hole,  and  would  have  murdered  her  if 
not  prevented  by  two  ofBccrs.  The  girl's  crime  was 
the  not  bringing  money  enough  trom  on  board  fhip, 
where  llie  was  lent  by  her  miltrefs  for  the  purpofe  of 
proftitution. 

A  dome  (lick  (lave,  an  excellent  fervant,  and  in  ge- 
neral well  refpedted  by  the  officers  on  whom  he  at- 
tended 


no 


W.   Indies.  Capt.   Cook, 


179 1,  tended  at  mefs,  having  made  a  mlftake  on  an  errand  for 
wnr*.^  fome  cards,  his  miftrefs,  a  perfon  of  refpedtable  con- 
dition, calling  him  by  name  {aid,^Go  to  the  jumper  (to 

P.  200.  whom  fhe  paid  20s.  a  year  to  flog  her  negroes)  give 
my  fervice  to  him,  and  tell  him  to  give  you  27 
laihes,  with  which  the  poor  creature  was  obliged  to 
comply.  The  company  was  difpleafed,  ana  the  of- 
ficers left  the  houfe. 

Two  young  ladies  of  fortune,  fifters,  one  of  whom 
was  difpleafed  at  the  pregnancy  of  a  female  flave 
belonging  to  the  other,  by  the  fon  of  the  furgeon  at- 
tending the  eftate,  proceeded  to  fome  very  derogatory 
ads  of  cruelty.  With  their  own  garters  they  tied 
the  young  woman  neck  and  heels,  and  then  beat  her 
almofl:  to  death  with  the  heels  of  their  fhoes:  one  of 
her  eyes  continued  a  long  while  after  in  danger  of 
being  loll.  They  afterwards  continued  to  ufe  her 
ill,  confining  and  degrading  her.  Captain  Cook 
came  in  during  the  beating,  and  was  an  eye  witnefs 
of  it  himfelf. 

Neither  in  thefe  nor  any  fimilar  inftances  (and  he 
could  mention  others)  did  the  flave  obtain  any  legal 
redrefs,  nor  does  he  know  of  any  redrefs  from  law  for 
the  word  injuries,  nor  even  of  punifhment  for  the 
murder  of  flaves.  Two  flaves  were  murdered  and 
thrown  into  the  road  during  his  flay,  yet  no  legal  in- 
quiry took  place  that  he  ever  heard  of.  This  ex- 
cited his  frequent  inquiries  from  perfons  of  all  ranks 
and  defcriptions,  and  the  univerfal  anfwer  was,  that 
they  did  not  choofe  to  make  examples  of  white  men 
there,  fearing  it  might  be  attended  with  dangerous 
confequenc.es. 

He  never  knew  an  inftance  of  any  endeavour  to 
conceal  cruelties  of  this  kind.  Being  on  a  vifit  to 
General  Frear  at  an  eftate  of  his  in  Barbadoes,  and 
riding  one  morning  with  the  General  and  two  other 
officers,  they  faw  near  a  houfe  upon  a  dunghill,  a 
naked   negro    nearly  fufpended  by  ftrings  from  his 

P.  201.  elbows  backwards,  to  the  bough  of  a  tree,  with  his 
feet  barely  refting  upon   the  ground,   and   an  iron 

weight 


W.    Indies,  Capt.    Cook.  hi 

weight  round  his  neck,  at  lead,  to  appearance,  of  1791. 
141b.  weight:  and  thus  without  one  creature  near  *--r*^ 
him,  or  apparently  near  the  houfe,  was  this  wretch 
left  expofed  to  the  noon-day  fun.  Returning  a  few 
hours  after  they  found  him  in  the  fame  ilate,  and 
would  have  releafed  him  but  for  the  advice  of  Ge- 
neral Frear,  who  had  an  eftate  in  the  neighbourhood. 
The  gentlemen  through  difgufl  fliortened  their  vifit, 
and  returned  the  next  morning. 

The  inferior  white  people,  however,  have  a  general 
imprelTion,  that  they  are  punilhable  by  law  if  they 
inflidt  more  than  39  lafhes  at  one  time  on  a  negro. 

This  law  may  be  evaded  by  fplitting  a  crime  into 
many,  and  by  intervals,  dividing  the  times;  and  of 
this  where  flaves  are  punifhed  at  home,  there  are 
daily  inftances.  Returning  home  one  evening  late  with 
Major  Fitch  of  the  90th  regiment,  they  heard  moil 
dreadful  cries,  and  on  approaching  the  fquare  at 
Bridge-Town,  found  they  proceeded  from  the  houfe  of 
a  man  that  fold  liquor,  and  heard  the  repeated  lafhes 
of  a  whip  on  a  creature  whom  they  conceived  to  be 
dying.  On  their  requefting  admiifion,  the  cruelty 
feemed  to  be  wantonly  increafed,  which  fo  provoked 
them  that  they  broke  open  the  door,  and  found  a  negro 
girl  of  about  19  chained  to  the  floor,  almoft  expiring 
with  agony  and  lofs  of  blood.  The  man  taking  re- 
fuge behind  his  compter  from  their  indignation,  and^*  202, 
thinking  himfelf  free  from  the  law,  immediately  cried 
out  with  exultation,  that  he  had  only  given  her  39 
lafhes  at  a  time,  and  that  only  three  times  fince  the 
beginning  of  the  night.  He  then  threatened  them 
for  breaking  his  door,  and  interfering  between  him 
and  his  flave,  whom  he  would  flog  to  death  for  all 
any  one,  and  have  given  her  the  fourth  39  laflies  be- 
fore morning,  which  mufl  have  killed  her  as  Ihe 
feemed  then  to  be  dying. 

When  mailers  were  embarrafTed  their  flaves  al- 
ways fufrered  in  clothes  and  food  ;  they  often  fuf- 
fered  in  the  fame  manner  from  the  rapacity  of  ma- 
nagers in  the  abfence  of  their  mafl:ers. 

The 


112  W.    Indies.  Capt.  Cook. 

179 1.        The   flaves  on    large  eftates,   the  managers  being 
*-nr^  in  general  more  refpe^Sable  men,  feemed  happier  than 
thofe  on  the  imajler. 

Female  flaves  in  the  towns  are  very  frequently  let 
out  for  proflitution,  or  at  lead  on  paying  a  weekly 
fum  to  their  owners,  have  leave  to  go  on  board  the 
fhips  of  war  for  that  purpofe.  This  is  common  with 
the  inferiour  people,  and  frequent  even  among  the 
better  fort.  He  has  known  a  girl  feverely  punifhed 
by  her  owner  for  returning  without  the  full  wages 
of  her  proilitution. 

On  fome  eft ates  of  the  better  kind,  care  was  taken 
of  thofe  w^hom  age  or  infirmity  had  rendered  no 
longer  ferviceable,  and  eafy  ofHces  were  afTigned 
P.  203. them,  fo  that  fome  have  grown  extremely  old,  and 
been  ufeful  to  the  laft  :  but  among  the  inferiour,  and 
fometimes  among  the  mofl:  opulent,  the  reverfe  is  the 
cafe  ;  they  have  been  difmilfed  to  poverty  and  diftrefs; 
and  he  does  not  believe  that  there  is  any  law  to  pre- 
vent owners  from  turning  fuch  flaves  upon  the  pub- 
lick,  to  ftarve  and  die  in  the  ftreets. 

He  has  no  doubt,  and  he  fpeaks  from  many  in- 
ftances,  that  white  people  by  habits  of  temperance, 
and  regularity  of  hours,  might  bring  themfelves  to 
go  through  nearly  as  much  labour  and  fatigue  in  the 
Weil  Indies  as  any  people  whatever. 

It  does  not  appear  to  him  that  the  abfence  of  the 
owner  is  in  general  hurtful  to  the  flave,  but  that  it 
has  fometimes  been  much  fo,  on  one  eftate  in  particu- 
lar, where  the  manager  made  a  larger  fortune  than 
his  mafter. 

In  general  among  the  white  people,  and  particu- 
larly the  women,  even  of  the  better  families,  they  be- 
lieve, and  endeavour  to  propagate  an  opinion,  that 
the  negroes  are  an  inferiour  ipecies  of  being. 

The  clearing  of  Barbadoes  has  been  thought  pre- 
judicial to  the  fertility  of  the  ifland,  the  trees  for- 
merly having  attraded  fhowers  that  do  not  now  fall 
fo  frequently  as  before. 

He 


W.  I  N  D  I E  s.  Capt.  Cook;  i  13 

He  has  known  both  mulattoes  and  African  ne-  1791. 
groes  purchafe  their  freedonn,  but  never  a  field  (lave,  v-^^-^-* 

When  refident  at  Barbadoes,  two  inftances  of  ne-P-  204*, 
gro  fuicide  occurred.  A  flave  who  had  fled  from 
home  for  fome  crime  he  had  committed,  was  loft  for 
feveral  weeks.  Being  accidentally  met  by  a  man 
whofe  bufinefs  it  is  to  take  up  runaway  negroes,  and 
two  affiftants  with  him  ;  the  negro  too  much  inti- 
midated to  fly,  cried  out  to  them,  "  I  will  not  be  ta- 
ken alive  ;  you  and  I  have  lived  many  years  together, 
and  why  fliould  we  hurt  each  other/'  So,  brandifh- 
ing  his  hanger,  he  faid,  "  Keep  off,  "  and  imm^cdi- 
ately  flabbed  himfelf.  In  the  other  inftance,  a  flave 
jumped  into  a  well  to  avoid  punifhment  for  a  mur- 
der he  had  committed  through  jealoufy. 

When  up  in  the  country,  he  heard  it  faid  by  the 
manager  of  an  eftate,  that  an  old  man,  whofe  ofHce 
it  had  long  been  to  flog  the  negroes,  could  ftrike 
with  a  whip  of  7  feet  long  or  longer,  fo  exa6lly,  as 
to  lodge  the  point  of  the  lafli  juft  within  the  flelh, 
where  it  would  remain,  till  picked  out  with  his  fin- 
ger and  thumb.  The  manager  offered  to  fhew  the 
experiment,  and  tendered  wagers  that  he  fucceeded 
once  in  three  times,  which  were  of  courfe  declined. 
Negroes,  when  flogged  in  the  country,  are  laid  on 
their  belly,  with  a  negro  at  each  hand  and  foot  to 
raife  them  from  the  ground.  In  towns,  they  fland 
bare  in  the  open  ftreets,  and  expofe  their  pofleriors 
to  the  jumper.  He  has  been  fliocked  to  fee  in  the 
flreecs  of  Bridge-Town,  a  girl  of  16  or  17,  a  domef- 
tic  flave,  running  on  her  ordinary  bufinefs,  with  an  P.  205. 
iron  collar,  having  two  hooks  projedling  feveral  in- 
ches both  before  and  behind. 


Witnefs   Examined— -Mr.  William   Fitzmaurice. 

Was  in  Jamaica  from  June,  1771,  to  March,  E786P.  20 
As  overfeer  the  lad  ten  years,  the  former  time  book- 
Numb.  4,  P  keeper. 


114  W.    INDIES,  FiTZMAURICE. 

1791.  keeper,  except  the  firft  fix  months,  when  he  was 
^-'v-^  clerk  to  a  ftore  in  Kingfton. 

In  towns  flaves  were  ufually  flogged  on  the  wharfs, 
(where  they  were  fent,  becaufe  the  place  was  public, 
and  for  the  conveniency  of  the  crane  and  weights, 
p,  206.)  They  are  ftript,  tied  up  to  the  crane,  with 
one  or  two  fifty-fixes  to  their  feet,  and  a  handkerchief 
round  them  for  decency,  and  flogged  with  39  lafhes. 
probably  more*  Others  were  fent  to  the  work-houfes 
and  flogged  every  morning,  or  every  monday  morn- 
ings according  to  the  mafler's  difpofltion.  The  pu- 
nifhment  was  generally  fo  fevere,  as  to  cut  them  and 
bring  blood,  fo  as  to  make  their  frocks,  if  immedi- 
ately put  on,  appear  as  flilF  as  buckram.  He  never 
knew  it  inflidted  by  a  magiftrate's  order. 

Pregnant  women  were  very  often  flogged  as  dc{- 
cribed,  and  frequently  mifcarried  from  fevere  whip- 
pings. 
P.  206,     This  mode  of  punifhment  continued  the  fame  du- 
ring all  his  flay  in  the  ifland. 

Negroes  provifion-grounds  were  always  diflant 
from  their  houfes,  fometimes  three  miles  off;  and 
fometimes  where  it  was  with  great  difliculty  they 
got  at  them. 

The  flaves  of  involved  mafliers  were  always  pinch- 
ed in  provifions,  at  llorms  or  hurricanes. 

Slaves  provifion-grounds,  if  near  the  cane-pieces, 
and  the  owner  wifhes  to  enlarge  his  eftate,  are  always 
taken  from  them,  and  put  into  canes.  Other  grounds 
are  given  them,  and  perhaps  a  day  weekly  allowed 
them  to  bring  it  to  perfedlion.  This  is  often  atten- 
ded with  the  greateft  deftrudion  to  the  negroes^  who 
go  about  new  grounds  or  to  new  houfes  with  great 
reluftance.  He  has  changed  negroes  to  a  far  health- 
ier fituation,  and  loft  many  from  the  efFcd  of  the 
change  on  their  fpirits. 

Some  negro  houfes  are  pretty  dry,  but  mofl  of 
them  are  open  to  the  weather,  being  wattled  without 
plafl:er.  They  fleep  on  a  board  on  the  ground,  near 
the.  fire,  and  after  it  goes  out,  they  fufFer  from  cold 

and 


W.Indies.  Fitzmaurice.  115 

and  damp.     This  caufes  many  diforders,  efpecially  1791. 
to  lying-in-women,  who  lofe  more  children   by  this  ^-'^Sr^-' 
than  any  other  caufe,  as  they  generally  die  of  the 
locked  jaw. 

Weakly-handed  eftates,  which  are  far  the  mod  P.  207. 
numerous,  form  their  negroes  in  crop,  into  two 
fpells,  which  generally  change  at  12  at  noon,  and  12 
at  night.  The  boilers,  and  others  about  the  works, 
cut  canes  from  fhell-blow,  half  pad:  one,  till  dark ; 
when  they  carry  cane-top,  or  grafs  to  the  cattle- 
penns,  and  then  may  reft  till  12  at  night,  when  they 
relieve  the  fpell  in  the  boiling-houfe,  by  which  they 
themfelves  were  relieved  at  12  in  the  day.  On  all 
eftates,  the  boiling  goes  on  night  and  day,  except 
funday.  But  well-handed  eftates  have  three  fpells, 
and  intermifTions  accordingly. 

After  crop,  they  form  two  gangs,  if  tolerably  well  P.  217. 
handed.  The  ftiell  blows  for  turning  out  at  4  or  5 
o'clock,  or  earlier.  It  depends  on  the  overfeer. 
They  work  till  10:  have  a  quarter  or  perhaps  half 
an  hour  for  breakfaft;  work  till  one,  when  ftiell 
blows  for  dinner  :  if  a  rainy  feafon,  to  take  advan- 
tage of  it,  they  work  till  the  rain  falls,  which  is  two 
o'clock,  perhaps  later.  He  now  fpeaks  of  the  feafon- 
able  parts  of  the  ifland.  They  have  about  an  hour 
and  half  for  dinner,  and  half  an  hour  to  get  into  the 
field,  fo  as  that  the  laft  ftiali  get  there  exadly  at  the 
end  of  two  hours ;  if  not  they  are  generally  flogged. 
They  often  run  to  their  grounds,  which  may  be  dif- 
tant,  to  get  provifions  for  fupper.  Hence  lofs  of 
time,  and  frequent  flogging.  From  dinner  they 
work  till  dark,  when  they  trafli  cattle-penns,  or  carry 
home  grafs.  Then  the  book  keeper  calls  the  lift. 
When  they  get  home,  it  may  be  about  8  o'clock., 
This  exaction  is  grievous,  as  the  willing  ones  inuft 
wait  till  the  lazy  are  brought  up;  and  it  caufes  whip- 
ping to  thofe  who  neglect  it.  Some  eftates  do  not; 
exad  this  duty,  but  moft  do. 

.    Various  works  are  confidered  as  detached  jobbs 
from  the  field-work,  as  hoeing  intervals,  which  they 

P  z  caa 


Ii6  W.  Indies.  Fitzmaurice. 

1791.   can  do  before  day  5  alfo  moulding  the  cattle-pens^ 
^-nrw  chopping  up  dung,  making  mortar^  and  other  prepa- 
rations for  tradefmen.     Thefe  are  called  before-day 
jobbs,  which  muil  be  done,  fo  as  not  to  hinder  the 
general  work. 

He  never  knew  but  one  inftance  of  work  being 
done  by  taflc.  He  hired  60  negroes,  all  American; 
from  a  Mr.  Douglas,  and  they  had  a  tafk  every 
iTJorning  meafured  out  to  them  by  Mr.  D.  or  his  o- 
verfeer,  and  which  they  finifhed  by  i  or  2  o'clock, 
and  had  the  reft  of  the  day  to  themfelves.  The  dri- 
ver carried  no  whip,  and  only  went  occafionally  to 
fee  that  the  work  was  properly  done.  The  plantation 
negroes,  on  the  adjoining  land,  would  not  finiih  till 
dark  (even  with  the  driver)  the  fame  quantity  of 
work.  From  this  he  thinks,  talks  (of  work  that 
admit  of  it)  would  be  to  the  eafe  of  the  negroes. 
P.  2IQ»  From  the  negroes  working,  as  they  commonly  do, 
in  rows,  with  the  driver  after  them  with  his  whip,  it 
almoft  neceffarily  follows  that  the  weak  will  be  hard 
pudied  to  make  them  keep  up  with  the  ftrong.  He 
is  lorry  to  fay,  that  from  this  caufe,  many  negroes 
are  hurried  to  the  grave ;  as  the  able,  even  if  placed 
with  the  vv-eakly  to  bring  them  up,  will  leave  them 
behind,  and  then  the  weakly  are  generally  feverely 
flogged  up  by  the  driver,  confidered  as  worthiefs, 
and  perhaps  kept  all  noon  to  bring  up  their  rows. 
•  It  is  the  overfeer  and  book-keeper's  duty  to  attend 
particularly  to  the  negro-grounds.  The  lazy,  or  thofe 
who  give  trouble  by  allying  for  food,  are  colledled 
by  the  driver  every  Sunday  morning,  and  on  the  days 
for  working  their  grounds,  (allowed  every  other 
week  as  the  overfeer  chofe)  and  kept  to  work  in  a 
gang,  in  clearing  provifion-ground,  or  putting  in 
order  thofe  they  have. 

Negroes  often  go  18  or  20  miles  to  the  Sunday 
marker,  as  he  particularly  knew  the  laft  four  years 
he  was  in  Jamaica.  Thefe  journies  are  very  hurtful 
to  the  Negroes,  and  it  is  almoil  impolTible  to  pre- 
vent them. 

He 


W.Indies.  Fitzmaurice.  117 

He  never  heard  of  a  common  field-flave  buying  1791. 
his  freedom.     Has  known  negroes  who  had  faved  a  ^-'^S'*^^ 
little  money ;  generally  head-carpenters,  &c,  endea- 
vour to   do   it.     Some  mafters  have  fold  them  theirP.  220, 
freedom,  when  or  the  border  of  becoming  invalids, 
and  where  the  eflate  was  not  mortgaged.     On  the 
laft  eflate  on  which  he  lived,  a  very  old,  yet  valuable 
man,  who  was  head  cattle-man,  ailced  him  to  fpeak 
I  to  the  attorney  to  get  him  his  freedom  ;   but  the  ef- 
tate  being  mortgaged  it  could  not  be  done.  (Afri- 
cans who  have  been  many  years  tradefmen  or  head- 
men, may  probably   buy  their  freedom  when  old,  p. 
232). 

Very  often,  efpecially  in  the  towns,  the  poorer 
whites  and  Jews  let  their  negroes  work  out,  and 
pay  them  a  certain  weekly  fum.  Many  who  have 
no  trades,  are  pufhed  very  hard  to  do  this,  and  often 
flculk  into  the  country,  rob  on  eftates,  are  chopped 
or  maim^ed  by  watchmen,  or  fent  to  gaol  as  run- 
aways. Handfome  women  are  obliged  to  bring 
home  more  money  than  ordinary,  it  being  expedled 
they  will  be  kept  by  whites  or  free  perfons.  This  is 
much  the  pra6lice  in  Kingfton  and  Spanifli  town, 
where  he  was  a  good  deal.  Old  negroes  paft  labour, 
efpecially  thofe  of  Jews,  are  defired  to  provide  for 
themfclves,  and  he  is  forry  to  fay  often  fufFer  by 
hunger,  or  rough  treatment,  when  caught  Healing 
on  the  eflates. 

On  fome  eftates,  where  the  proprietor  lives,  the 
do6tor  may  attend  twice  a  week,  which  is  generally 
expecledj  but  where  the  proprietor  is  abfent,  and  theP.  221, 
attorney  30,  50,  or  100  miles  off,  the  negroes  often 
fuffer  very  feverely  indeed,  for  want  of  medical  care. 
The  doctors  are  often  young  and  inexperienced, 
which  IS  generally  artended  with  very  fatal  cffeds  and 
certain  ruin  to  the  owner,  as  he  knows  from  experi- 
ence. The  ordinary  care  of  the  fick  depends  on  the 
hot  houfe  (hofpital)  man  or  woman,  who  bleed,  drefs 
fores,  and  give  medicine,  as  direfted  by  the  do6lor  or 
overieer.     Kefident  planters  allow  the  hot-houfe  per- 

fon 


ii8  W.  Indies.  Fitzmaurice. 

1791.  fon  a  little  wine,  by  the  dodor's  order ;  but,  on  ab- 
w.nr^^  lentees  eftates,  the  over feer,  even  if  fo  humane  as  to 
give  it  out  of  his  own  pocket,  is  perhaps  diflant  from 
town,  and  has  no  wine.  Attornies,  generally  do  not 
give  it,  alledging  it  would  not  be  allowed  in  their 
accounts :  they  always  told  him  fo,  when  he  wrote 
for  wine  for  the  fick.  He  knows  fome,  whofe  eftates 
are  in  their  own  pofleiTion,  who  fend  out  wine  from 
hence;  but  this  is  not  general.  After  long  droughts, 
Begroes  are  apt  to  get  fluxes,  by  eating  green  vegeta- 
bles, or  bad  flour,  efpecially  the  former. 

He  lived  with  proprietors  who  wifhed  to  encou- 
P*  222. rage  propagation  ;  but  they  are  often  obliged  to  pufh 
them,  for  good  crops.  He  lived  with  others  who 
defired  to  pufh  them,  and  with  whom  the  lofs  of  a  few 
negroes  or  ftock  was  nothing  compared  to  large  crops, 
to  fatisfy  their  creditors. 

Negroes  particularly  fuffer  in  the  hands  of  mort- 
gagees. In  general  people  in  debt  pufh  conftantly  to 
get  out  of  it,  and  to  raife  their  credit  to  buy  negroes, 
which  he  has  known  them  buy,  when,  probably,  they 
could  not  get  credit  for  any  other  commodity.  There 
is  a  cuflom,  in  Jamaica,  of  obtaining  negroes  on  bond 
,    and  judgment. 

Some  years  ago,  it  was  an  old  faying,  in  St. 
Thomas  in  the  Vale  (or  Sixteen- Mile- Walk)  that 
if  a  negroe  lived  7  years,  he  paid  for  himfelf.  The 
work  was  fo  hard  there  that  it  was  proverbial,  "  A 
*^  Sixteen-Mile- Walk  book-keeper,  and  a  Clarendon 
mule,  are  the  two  hardell  animals  in  the  country.'* 
Several  proprietors  told  him,  they  confidered  a  child 
born  and  reared  on  the  eflate  to  be  a  dear  negro,  and 
overfters  generally  diflike  breeding,  as  interfering  with 
the  work  of  the  women.  He  has  known  other  pro- 
prietors take  pleafure  in  feeing  the  women  breed. 
Many  infants  die  of  the  locked  jaw,  within  the  14th 
day,  which  he  believes,  from  his  lafl  fix  years  ex- 
perience, is  chiefly  owing  to  cold  and  uncleanlinefs. 
The  lying-in  women  generally  have  large  fires  in 
their  rooms,  which  being  often  broken,  let  in  the 
■  '-^.-  ,.  ■  cold,r 


W.Indies*  Fitzmaurice,  119 

cold,  and  when  the  fire  goes  out  a  fevere  chill  fol-    1791. 
lows,  by  which  the  infant  fufFers.     A  great  many  die  »— -v-^ 
of  yaws  which  require  great  cleanlinefs.    When  over--^*  2.23. 
leer,  he  has  been  dire6ted  to  attend  to  the  rearing  of 
children  ;    but   fpeaking   generally,    from   his  own 
knowledge,  infants  had  not  the  requifite  care.     Be- 
lieves the  ftock  of  ilaves  could  not  be  kept  up  or  in- 
creafed  on  the  prefent  fyftem ;  it  would  take  fome 
time  to  bring  about.  He  means  the  eafing  the  negroes, 
which  he  thinks  might  be  done,  by  ufing  the  plough 
on  every  eitate,  and,  where  it  can  run,  putting  in  the 
canes  after  it. 

On  Raimefberry  edate,  in  Clarendon,  the  negroes 
increafed  fo  fail,  that  a  gang  of  them  was  drawn  off 
to  fettle  a  new  eflate  called  Yarmouth,  which  he  had 
the  care  of,  but  the  fettlement  was  difcontinued, 
from  the  change  of  the  attorney.  On  Orange  in 
St.  James's  no  negroes  were  bought,  for  at  leaft  15 
years,  and  they  increafed  -,  as  alfo  on  Eden  in  the 
fame  parifh.  He  lived  on  both  thefe  eflates.  Negroes 
worked  moderately  may  be  increafed.  He  has  known 
eflates  where  the  negroes  were  worked  feverely  hard, 
they  increafed  and  decreafed  nearly  equal. 

Nothing  is  more  common,  than  negroes  fufferingP.  224, 
by  change  of  management-,  as  new  overfeers,  as  well 
as  inexperienced  overfeers,  pufh  the  negroes  to  make 
greater  crops  than  their  predecefTors. 

A  gentleman  had  two  eftates  in  Clarendon,  one  of 
which  Mr.  F.  managed.  He  had  too  few  negroes  for 
both,  but  enough  for  one.  He  was  alfo  much  in 
debt,  and  his  negroes  fufFering  from  being  over- 
wrought. He  put  both  gangs  on  one  eftate,  which 
were  amply  fufficient,  is  now  making  400  hogfheads 
of  fugar,  and  is  a  clear  man.  Both  eftates  did  not 
before  make  1 50  hogfheads.  Moft  of  the  time  he 
was  his  own  overfeer.  Mr.  F.  never  knew  he 
bought  any  negroes  fmce  then,  which  is  about  13 
years  ago.     But  cannot  fpeak  of  this  as  a  fad. 

In  St.  Thomas  in  the  Vale,  on  the  eftate  of  a  gen- 
tleman lately  deceafed,  by  over-pu filing,  moft  of  the 

negroes 


120  W.  Indies.'  Fitzmaurice., 

1791.    negroes  were  deftroyed,  while  he  was   in  England. 

w-v*^  On  his  return,  his  eftates  were  almoil  without  negroes 
and  thofe  that  lived  were  taken  by  writs  of  Vendi- 
tioni, and  judgments  againft  him  to  a  large  amount. 
Mr.  F.  bought,  at  a  iale,  50  odd,  to  cover  a  debt 
for  a  houfe  in  Kingfton.  Two  of  his  eftates  were 
thrown  up  when  Mn  F.  left  the  ifland,  the  other 
three  are  in  the  hands  of  mortgagees.  Another  eftate, 
within  three  miles  of  Montego  bay,  was  making  from 
P.  225.180  to  200  hogHieads,  with  an  adequate  ftrength, 
when  it  was  put  in  pofTeffion  of  mortgagees.  In 
twelve  years  it  was  reduced  to  10  hogfheads.  The 
fiaves  were  deftroyed,  by  making  an  unnecelTary 
canal  in  fwamps.  It  was  brought  to  fale  in  1788, 
bought  by  the  mortgagee,  and  is  now  brought  up  to 
its  former  crops.  The  proprietor  of  the  eftate  was 
moft  of  the  time  in  England.  The  overfeer  of  it 
made  1 0,000 1.  and  retired. 

When  overfeer  on  an  eilate  in  St.  John's,  the  eflate 
being  fhort  handed,  Mr.  F.  mentioned  to  the  pro- 
prietor that  he  would  not  take  off  the  crop  with  the 
negroes  and  cattle.  He  told  Mr.  F.  to  drive  them 
without  mercy,  as  the  lofs  of  a  few  negroes  and  ftock 
was  no  objedl  compared  to  fending  home  his  crop  in 
time.  Mr.  F.  left  him  about  the  end  of  crop,  be- 
becaufe  he  would  not  fee  100  laflies  given  to  a  do- 
meftic,  not  imTjediately  under  his  direftion,  and  who 
he  did  not  think  deferved  this  punifnment. 

He  has  known  the  plough  ufed  on  many  eftates 
with  advantage,  as  it  eafes  the  negroes,  and  pulve- 
rizes the  foil.  (But  fome  foils  do  not  require  pul- 
verizing, p.  226.)  Dove-Hall,  in  St.  Thomas  in  the 
Vale,  plows  40  or  50  acres  every  fall.  He  has  known 
Mr.  Edwards  only  put  in  canes  after  the  plough  with- 
out holing,  except  on  an  eftate  Mr.  Pinnock  is  attorney 
for,  and  which  made  great  returns.  The  chief  ob- 
ftacle  to  the  plough  is,  that  managers  have  not  time 
to  adopt  it,  looking  for  immediate  labour,  and  often 
there  is  not  a  blackfmith  within  15  miles  to  repair  it. 

He 


W.  Indies.  Fitzmaurice;  121 

He  has  often  attempted  plowing  and  has  been  obliged,    1791. 
by  thefe  obftacles,  to  leave  it  off.  s,.--V*n-/ 

In  feme  cafes,  the  Do6tor's  vifits  are  a  confidera* 
ble  check  on  the  overfeers  feverity,  where  the  pro- 
prietor lives  on  the  eilate.  But  when  the  attorney- 
lives  perhaps  20,  ^o^  40,  or  even  100  miles  off,  then 
it  is  the  intereft  of  the  overfeer  and  dodlor,  not  to  find 
fault  with  each  other. 

He  is  forry  to  fay,  he  never  knew  recourfe  had  to 
legal  redrefs  for  wanton  cruelty  to  flaves.  Flas 
known  people,  a  Mr.  Rufhie  in  particular,  whom  he 
had  occafion  to  fee,  almoft  daily,  commit  cruelties 
which  brought  negroes  to  their  end.  He  caught  him, 
one  day,  in  the  adl  of  hanging  a  negroe.  On  his  re-  . 
monflrating,  Rufhie  ordered  him  oft  his  eftate*  He 
rode  away  and  informed  his  employer,  who  was  a 
magiftrate  and  vv^ho  defired  him  to  go  and  inquire  the 
next  morning,  before  R.  was  up,  whether  the  negro 
was  dead.  This  Mr.  F.  did;  and  on  privately  afk- 
ing  a  white  man,  he  defired  Mr.  F.  to  go  into  the 
curing- houfe,  when  he  faw  the  negro  lying  dead  on 
a  board.  He  returned  and  told  what  he  had  k^n  to 
his  employer,  who  v/as  very  much  fhocked  ;  but  Mr. 
F.  heard  nothing  more  of  it.  It  was  well  known  this 
man  killed  many  of  his  negroes,  and  that  fo  fail,  as 
to  force  him  to  fell  his  eilate.  Cafes  of  this  kind, 
he  cannot  fay,  are  frequent  -,  but  feverity,  and  hard 
work  certainly  caufe  a  conftant  decreafe  of  the  able 
negroes.  No  attempt  was  made  to  bring  Rufhie  to  P.  227. 
punifhment.  His  chara6ler  was  generally  known, 
and  much  defpifed  by  the  neighbouring  proprietors. 
He  thinks,  his  employer  defired  him  to  make  the 
above  inquiry  more  from  curiofity  than  an  intention 
to  inforce  the  law  againft  Rufhie,  with  whom  he  was 
on  decent  terms.  He  and  his  employer  often  vifitcd 
him,  and  always  found  his  negroes  laid  up  with 
cruelties,  and  thofe  that  could  work  chained  to  the 
coppers,  or,  in  gangs  linked  in  the  field.  Other 
cruelties  he  pradifed,  were  too  indecent  to  be  men- 
tioned.    He  often  found  Rufhie  dropping  hot  lead 

Numb.  4.  Q^  oa 


1 2.2  W.  Indies*  Fitzmaurice. 

1 791.  on  his  negroes,  but  took  no  notice  of  it;  as  he 
wv^  wifhed  nobody  to  fee  him  ading  thofe  cruelties. 
He  did  not  interfere;  becaufe  he  got  his  bread  from 
employers,  and  did  not  wijfh  to  be  diDiked,  or  called 
officious,  p.  231).  Other  adls  of  cruelty  are  often 
pradlifed,  according  to  the  difpofition  or  vicioufnefs 
of  the  mailer  or  overfeer.  An  overfeer  he  knew 
well,  (and  who,  as  before  faid,  brought  down  an 
eftate,  by  the  countenance  of  the  mortgage-in-pof- 
feffion,  from  180  to  10  hogfheads)  was  charged  with 
gelding  a  negro  on  the  eftate,  for  riding  out  his 
horfes  at  night,  and  he  believes  juftly;  as  afterwards 
Mr.  F.  knew  he  gelt  a  negro  of  his  own  :  on  which 
the  troop  of  horfe  he  was  captain  of,  and  in  which 
Mr.  F.  ferved,  objected  to  do  duty  with  him. 
P.  228.  Hq  cannot  fay  field  Haves,  in  general,  appeared  to 
him  marked  with  the  whip.  Where  there  are  cruel 
managers,  and  large  crops  exadled,  the  effe(fl:s  are 
vifible  on  the  negroes. 

Negroes  are  often  driven  by  fe verity  to  run  away. 
They  go  to  their  mafters  or  attornies,  if  within  reach; 
but  v/hen  the  attorney  lives  perhaps  70  or  100  miles 
off,  they  prefer  going  into  the  woods,  being  generally 
taken  up  as  runaways  before  the  journey's  end. 
Planters  who  employ  diftant  attornies,  are  fure  to 
fuffer  by  it.  Runaways,  Vv^hen  caught,  are  whipped 
and  confined,  or  if  the  manager  is  humane,  perhaps 
forgiven ;  but  they  are  generally  punifhed  to  deter 
others. 

He  never  faw  mutilation  a6lually  inflided  ;  but  on 
an  eftate  where  he  was  book-keeper,  there  was  a 
negro,  whofe  mafter  had  had  his  leg  cut  off,  and  had 
made  him  a  blackfmith.  The  mafter  faid  he  had, 
by  fo  doing,  made  him  his  moft  valuable  negro ;  as 
he  did  all  the  iron-work  of  the  three  eftates,  and, 
before  that,  he  was  always  running  away. 

It  was  generally  underftood  that  whipping  was 
limited  to  39  lafhes:  but  it  is  often  evaded  by  putt- 
ing the  negio  into  the  ftocks,  and  giving  him  39 
more,  for  the  fame  offence,  next  day.     Hafty  and 

vicious 


W.  Indies.  Fitzmaurice.  123 

vicious  people  would  give  perhaps  100  lafhes,  and  1791^ • 
if  the  negro  died  from  it,  (which  however  he  never  ^-*-v-^ 
knew)  where  the  owner  or  attorney  lived  not  near 
enough,  they  efcaped  unpuniihed. 

Has  known  too  many  fuicides,  among  new  negroes  P.  229, 
efpecially,  both  by  hanging  thcmfelves  and  by  dirt- 
eating,  which  they  knew  to  be  fatal.  He  loft,  one 
year,  12  new  negroes  by  it,  though  he  fed  them 
well.  On  his  remonftrating,  they  conftantly  told 
him,  they  preferred  dying  to  living.  A  great  pro- 
portion of  the  new  negroes  that  go  on  fugar  eilates, 
die  in  this  way. 

They  are  always  talking  of  their  being  taken 
away,  and  kidnapped,  from  their  country,  and  of 
the  hardlhip  of  flavery. 

Nothing  is  more  common  than  perfons  buying 
new  negroes,  before  they  have  fufficient  provifion* 
grounds,  and  other  accommodations  for  them  :  and 
the  matters  finding  it  very  difficult  to  buy  provifions, 
the  negroes  feel  hunger,  before  they  can  etlabliHi 
grounds,  and  foil  and  feafons  are  often  againft  their 
raifing  provifions.  Hence  fuch  negroes  are  often 
iofl.  New  negroes  in  towns,  are  better  off,  being 
generally  employed  in  the  houfe,  and  fed  weekly. 

A  man  may  be  attorney  for  from  i  to  20  eilates, 
according  to  his  interefl.     He  knows  feveral  who  P.  230. 
are  attornies  for  a  great  number,  in  various  parts  of 
the  idand,  perhaps  at  the  diflance  of  10,  2^^  60,  or 
80  miles,  or  more,  as  it  happened. 

Some  overfeers  have  premiums  for  all  they  make, 
above  a  certain  number  of  hogfheads;  but  this  is 
not  the  common  mode.  Attornies  have  falaries  or 
commifTions.  Believes  attornies  on  m.oil  mortgaged 
eftates,  draw  commifTions  on  the  net  crops,  as  well 
as  on  what  they  buy  on  the  ifland  for  the  ufe  of  the 
eilates  s  and  they  accumulate  great  riches. 

Some  overfeers  have  negroes,  others  have  not ; 
but  generally  they  convert  their  falaries  into  negroes. 
If  allowed  to  work  them  on  the  eilates  where  they 

Q_^2  themfelves. 


124  W.  Indies.  Fitzmaurice. 

1791.  themfelves  live,    it  caufes  a  jealoufy  between  the 
S'OO*^  manager's  and  the  plantation  negroes. 

Thinks,  on  an  average  at  lead  one-third  of  the 
nev/  negroes  imported  into  the  ifland,  die  in  the  firft 
three  years,  and  three  men  die  to  one  woman  as  he 
has  experienced.  The  men  take  every  thing  un- 
pleafant  to  heart,  and  often  kill  themfelves.  The 
women  have  many  prote6lions  the  men  have  not,  as 
being  taken  as  wives  by  the  plantation  negroes,  or 
being  made  domeftics. 
P.  231,  In  the  laft  four  years  he  was  in  Jamaica,  he  bought 
g^  new  negroes  ;  at  the  end  of  that  time,  he  fold  52, 
all  that  were  aiive,  and  thofe  not  feafoned.  Had  he 
kept  th^n  till  feafoned,  he  fhould  have  loft  more, 
and  for  this  very  reafon  he  fold  them. 

The  lower  whites  too  often  looked  on  the  negroes 
as  inferior  beings,  and  often  beat  them,  unlefs 
checked  by  the  attornies  or  overfeers. 

He  only  knew  one  attempt  made  to  give  the  ne- 
groes religious  inftrudlion,  and  that  was  by  a  pro- 
prietor in  Liguanea,  who  encouraged  one  or  two 
American  negroes,  who  profefTed  to  be  capable  to 
give  his  negroes  fome  religious  notions.  But  the 
neighbours  confidered  this  as  dangerous,  by  alTem- 
P,  232.b]ing  too  many  negroes,  who  might  be  mutinous. 
The  aforefaid  gang  of  80  American  negroes,  after 
work,  went  to  prayers^  they  were  a  valuable  gang, 
and  worked  tafk-work  for  him  about  nine  months. 

The  cane  land  is  generally  as  fit  for  cotton,  coffee, 
or  other  articles. 

Though  domeftics  may  not  be  the  beft  flaves, 
they  appear  ib,  as  the  houfe  foon  makes  a  vifible 
change  on  them. 

He  has  been  at  tv/enty  fales  by  fcramble,  at  leaft. 
No  particular  care  was  taken  to  prevent  the  fepara- 
tion  of  relations,  except  fucking  children,  or  thofe 
lander  three  or  four  years. 

Sales  by  venditioni  are  very  frequent,  where  levies 
are  made.     He  has  known  them  three  months  or 

longer 


W.    I  N  D  I  E  S.  Fl  TvZ  MAURICE.  125 

longer  in  prifon,  before  fale.     But  this  depends  on  1791- 
occafional  circunriftances. 

Refufe  Haves  are  Ibid  according  to  their  appear- 
ance, fome  as  low  as  three  dollars.  They  are  gene- 
rally bought  by  the  Jews  in  towns,  at  vendue  or  at 
private  fale. 

He  has  always,  as  overfeer,  given  in  to  the  vef- 
tries,  the  annual  returns  of  (laves,  ftork,  &c.  and, 
as  veftry-nian,  (in  17  >6,  in  St.  Thomas,  in  the 
Vale,  where  he  pofTefTed  land  and  negroes)  has  re- 
ceived fuch  returns,  in  which  it  was  not  ufuai  to 
difcinguiOi  the  fexes. 

Has  very  frequently  feen  Guinea  failors  wandering 
about  the  ifland,  in  an  abjed  ftate. 


Witnefs  examined, — Mr.  Thomas  Clappeson-. 

Was  at  Jamaica  in  1762  and  1763;  from  1768  toP.  207* 
1778,  and  1786  to    1789.     The  general  opinion  he 
formed,   was,   that  the  ilaves  were  feverciy  treated, 
and  in  a  miferable  ftate. 

Thinks  that,  in  general,  the  food  which  they  can 
obtain,  is  infufficient. 

For  the  firft  2  years,  he  was  in  the  feafaring  line,  P.  208. 
the  reft  of  the  time  wharfinger  and  pilot. 

Had  opportunities  of  fet-ing  many  negroes  from 
the  eftates ;  fuch  as  he  aflced,  as  to  their  feeding, 
generally  faid  (particularly  in  droughts,  when  provi- 
fions  were  fcarce)  ^'  Hungry  da  kill  me." 

Very  commonly  fuffer  both  in  quality  and  quan- 
tity of  food,  from  the  embarraffments  of  their  maf- 
ters  :  has  known  feveral  who  had  not  credit  for  pro- 
vifions  ;  others  who  bought,  for  cheapnefs,  damaged 
corn,  &c.  when  better  was  to  be  had  3  v/hich  he  has 
himfelf  fold,  and  which  the  (laves  complained  of, 
when  they  came  to  fetch  it  from  the  wharf  j  a  neigh- 
bour told  him  his  hogs  would  not  eat  it. 

Knew 


126  W.Indies.  Clappeson. 

1791.       Knew  a  perfon  near  him,  reputed  worth  ;^50,ooo 
*— V-"'-'  lofe  10  or  12  Haves  for  want  of  food,  when  it  was  to 

be  had. 
P.  209.     Slaves  generally  fteal  provifions,  foap,  candles.  Sec, 
which  they  fometinmes  Ileal  to  fell. 

They  are  generally  ill  clothed  y  never  knew  any 
go  naked  from  choice. 

The  punifhments  appeared  in  general  fevere,  to 
the  fear  of  v/hich  he  chiefly  attributes  the  frequent 
defertions. 

Knew  a  pregnant  woman  whipped,  and  delivered 
on  the  fpot. 

Has  heard  of  very  great  feverities  to  runaways;  has 
feen  them  wear  iron  collars  on  their  necks,  and  pot* 
hooks,  with  3  prongs,  both  rivetted  ;  the  prongs  pro- 
jefling  2  feet ;  thinks  the  wearer  cannot  eafily  lye 
down. 

Never  heard  of  flaves  obtaining  any  redrefs  for  in- 
juries, by  m.afters  or  overfeers. 
P.  210.      An  ovei-feer  told  him,  he  had  often  picketed  the 
flaves  to  extort  confeffion. 

Knew  a  cooper  give  his  flave  200  lalhes,  for  ileal- 
ing  a  little  rice  from  him.  He  allowed  his  flaves  a 
herring  a  day,  and  a  bit  a  week. 

The  wharfinger  whom  he  fucceeded  in  1786,  al- 
lowed his  negroes  a  herring  a  day  only. 

Knew,  in  1789,  a  man  who  had  an  old  decrepid 
"woman  flave,  to  whom  he  would  allow  nothing.  He 
remonflrated  with  him  on  it,  in  vain. 

Slaves  are  often  imprifoned  on  writs  of  venditioni ; 
at  the  fale  of  fuch,  never  heard  of  any  attention  to 
avoid  feparating  families. 

The  general  recommendation  of  an  overfeer   is, 
P.  21 1, good    fugars   and  large  quantities;  has   known  an 
overfeer  paid  a  guinea  per  hogfhead,   befides  his  fa- 
iary,  for  all  he  could  make  beyond  a  certain  quan- 
tity. 

Has  known  fever al  perfons  attorney  and  overfeer 
on  the  fame  ellate. 

Slaves 


I      W.Indies,  Clappeson. 

Slaves  are  fuppofed  better  ofF  where  the  owner  re- 
fides ;  has  heard  it  always  fuppofed,  that  the  better 
they  are  treated,  the  more  it  is  for  the  owner's  in- 
tereft. 

It  is  common  for  perfons  who  have  a  few  (laves, 
and  but  little  work,  to  oblige  them  to  earn  3  or  4 
bits  a  day,  and  punifh  them  very  feverely  if  they  fail 
to  bring  home  fuch  fum  ;  has  known  them  ileal  grafs 
and  fell  it  to  do  this :  knew  a  man  compel  his  old 
negro,  wanting  a  leg,  to  pay  him  4  bits  a  day. 

African  negroes  are  capable  of  being  made  me- 
chanics. 

They  deflroy  themfelves  fometimes,  from  various  p,  212, 
caufes;  fear   of  punifliment,  jealoufy,   &c.  it  is  a 
very  prevailing  opinion  with  them,  that  at  death  they 
return  to  their  own  country. 

Has  often  heard  of  their  being  kidnapped  in  Af- 
rica :  he  had  a  flave  who  had  been  a  negro-catcher 
in  his  own  country. 

Has  feen  feveral  Have  fales  on  board,  all  by  fcram- 
ble.  In  1789,  faw  a  fale  by  fcramble  in  a  butcher's 
llaughter-houfe  on  the  beach.  Never  heard  of  any 
precautions  at  fcrambies,  to  prevent  the  feparation 
of  relations  or  friends  Thinks  whites,  if  temperate, 
are  able  to  labour  in  Jamaica  -,  he  never  worked 
harder  than  he  has  done  there;  no  people  v/ork 
harder  than  our  failors  do  there. 

Has  heard,  that  clearing  the  lands,  has,  near  the 
fea  coaft,  caufed  more  drouo;ht. 

In  his  returns  to  the  veftry  of  the  number  of  Oaves, 
he  never  ufed  to  diflinguifh  the  fexes. 

The  free  negroes   in   general   behaved  well,   they  P.  213. 
were  fifhermen  and  tradefmen. 

Has  heard  of  feveral  people  buying  more  Haves 
than  they  could  pay  for. 

Has  heard  often  feamen  fay,  that  in  Guinea  fliips, 
the  crews  are  ill  treated,  to  make  them  defert ;  has 
always  underilood,  that  they  did  not  want  to  carry 
home  as  many  feamen  as  they  took  out  •,  that  they 

got 


128  W.Indies.  Clappeson. 

179 1,  got  rid  of  what  they  could  in  the  Weft  Indies,  to 
w-v^o  fave  their  wages. 
p.  214.  Was  in  Jamaica  when  the  aflembly  pafTed  the 
confolidated  law ;  he  has  often  heard  it  waspafled 
becaufe  of  the  ftir  about  the  flave  trade  in  England. 
Never  heard  that  any  regard  was  paid  to  it,  (laves 
being  ftill  treated  as  before.  Never  heard  of  any 
profccution  for  fuch  difregard  :  recolle6ts  an  inftance 
of  difregard  to  it,  which  came  under  his  eye.  The 
owner  of  an  old  and  decrepid  female  (lave,  would 
allow  her  neither  victuals  nor  clothing ;  advifed  a 
fon  of  the  woman  to  complain  to  a  magiftrate,  who 
would  perhaps  order  her  to  be  taken  care  of;  be- 
lieves he  was  deterred  from  fear  of  punidiment,  as 
that  owner  treated  his  (laves  very  harflily  in  general. 


Witnefs  examined — William  Beverley,  Efq. 
A  Student  of  Lincoln's    Inn. 

P.  215.  Was  born  in  Virginia,  and  lived  there  the  firft  16 
years  of  his  life,  returned  in  1786,  and  refided  above 
two  years  in  di(ferent  parts  of  America. 

The  negroes  in  Virginia  always  kept  up  their  num- 
bers, and  generally  increafed.  His  father's  more 
than  doubled  their  numbers.  In  1761  he  had  about 
200,  and  in  1788,  he  paid  taxes  on  above  540,  of 
whom  not  above  20  or  30  had  been  added  by  pur- 
chafe. 

P.  216.  Slaves  there  had  no  legal  redrefs,  for  ill  ufage  by 
their  mafters.  In  other  cafes  they  had,  on  proving 
the  fadt  by  two  white  witnefTes. 

In  fummer,  negroes  were  generally  healthier  than 
in  winter,  when  they  always  complained  of  the  cold, 
though  it  did  not  hurt  their  health,  v/hen  v/ell  clothed. 
The  difeafes  moft  fatal  there  ax^e  agues  and  fevers,  in 
fummer,  to  which  negroes  are  lefs  fubjed  than 
whites. 

They 


America*  SeVerLev*  129 

They  were  generally  punlllied  with  much  feveri-  1790. 
ty ;  biit  that  depends  greatly  on  the  owner's  difpo-  <— v— » 
fition: 

Each  (lave  had  a  bufhel  of  Indian  corn  meal  week- 
ly :  befides  this  allowance,  they  ufually  had  ground 
to  cultivate  for  their  own  ufe  •,  but  this  depended  a 
good  deal  on  the  mafter.  They  were  ail  allowed  to 
raife  poultry. 

He  never  heard  of  any  attempts  to  give  the  flaves 
religious  or  moral  inftrudion. 

Has  heard  of  fome  flaves  working  by  talk ;  but,  in 
general,  it  was  not  pra6tifed. 

Never  knew  a  flave  deilroy  himfelf. 

The  flaves  of  difiant  proprietors  were  often  treated^  P.  232. 
by  the  overfeers,  much  more  feverely,  than  thofe  un- 
der the  mailer's  eye.     This  different  treatment  was 
obfervable  m  the  appearance  of  the  flaves. 

Was  told  in  America,  that  when  the  abolition  of 
the  flave-trade  was  firft  agitaced  in  1774,  many 
doubted  the  pradicability  of  keeping  up  the  numbers 
by  births  5  and  the  perfons  fo  doubting  have  fmce 
expreflfed  to  him  a  conviction  that  their  fears  were 
groundlefs.  The  flave-trade  was  aboliflied  in  Ame- 
rica in  1774. 


Witnefs  examined— Mr*  George  Woodward. 

Mr,  George  Woodv/ard   is   both  an   owner  and  P.  233, 
mortgagee   of  W.   Inaia  property,    in    Barbadoes ; 
where  he  refided  in    1782  aad  17S3,  and  was  alfoP.  2341 
in  1777. 

Both  in  town  and  country  he  thought  the  domef- 
tics  very  numerous.  There  feemed  to  be  more 
females  than  males  m  the  ifland.  While  refident, 
he  never  heard  any  complaint  of  the  want  of  negroes 
to  carry  on  plantation  or  other  bufmefs.  He  does 
not  recoiled  the  faie  of  a  fingle  cargo  of  flaves  while 

Numb.  4.  JR.  there. 


>jo  W.  Indies,  G,  Woodward. 

179 1,   there.      The  labour  of  flaves   the  year   round   he 

\'-r^     thinks  cannot  be  reckoned  eafy. 

It  is  pofllble  in  a  great  degree  to  relieve  the  la- 
bour of  flaves  by  the  plough.  He  has  ufed  it  him- 
felf  *.  the  firft  he  ever  faw,  he  took  over  himfelf,  and 
he  is  fure  it  tilled  the  ground  better  than  the  hoe 
did.  One  plough,  two  men,  and  four  horfes,  will 
do  as  much  work  as  thirty  negroes,  and  better* 
The  labour  of  holding  the  plough  is  much  eafier 
than  holing.  It  did  not  require  much  negro  labour 
to  prepare  the  ground  for  the  cane  after  the  plough. 

P.  235. There  is  not  much  difficulty  of  ploughing  to  the 
depth  of  fix  inches,  which  is  the  rule,  and  a  fuffi- 
cient  depth  for  the  cane.  The  plough  may  be  made 
to  plough  the  ftrongeft  clay  land  that  is. 

The  negroes  are  capable  of  learning  the  manage- 
ment of  the  plough.  He  thinks  that  the  largefl 
part  of  the  cane  land  and  ginger  land  of  Barbadoes 
may  be  ploughed  to  the  advantage  of  the  proprietor, 
and  faving  of  negroes  labour.  The  negroes  are  not 
averfe  to  the  plough  :  he  has  feen  them  both  hold 
and  drive  it.  He  did  not  find  the  cattle  injured 
by  the  labour.  He  is  acquainted  with  the  ufe  of  the 
plough  in  England,  he  farms  land  of  his  own.  Capt. 
Lee  took  out  fome  ploughs  about  3  years  ago. 

He  is  not  apprehenfive  that  the  abolition  of  the 
Have  trade  will  injure  his  W.  India  property.  He 
thinks  it  would  be  of  advantage   to  the  ifland  of 

P.  236, Barbadoes.  By  ufing  them  well,  and  by  good  ma- 
nagement, the  ftock  of  flaves  would  naturally  in- 
creafe,  without  importation. 


Witnefs  examined — Mr.  Joseph  Woodward. 

Mr.  Jofeph  Woodward  has  been  in  Barbadoes  in 
1788,  1789  and  1790.  He  has  there  feen  the  plough 
in  ufe  by  Mr.  Henry  Trotman^  jun.  He  believes 
he  has  ufed  it  many  years* 

Mr. 


W.  Indies.  J.  Woodward.  131 

Mr.  Trotman  informed  him  that  he  thought  til-  1791. 
lage  by  the  plough  both  better  and  cheaper  than  the  w-v— » 
labour  of  negroes  with  the  hoe.  The  foil  that 
he  ploughed  was  not  the  beft,  it  was  rather  rocky. 
Mr.  Trotman  told  him,  that  the  plough  then  an- 
fwered  his  purpofe,  and  in  time  would  become 
general,  when  people  became  acquainted  with  its 
utility. 

He  once  at  Bridgetown  faw  a  negro  lying  on  the 
wharf,  fo  very  much  debilitated  that  he  could  notP.  237,' 
fland,  and  heard  from  him,  that  his  owner  would 
not  take  him  in.     He  appeared  about  60  years  old. 

He  has  known  free  negroes  hire  themfelves  to 
flow  fugars  in  the  fhips  hold  ;  he  has  known  them 
fo  employed  on  board  his  own  fhip.  He  knows  no 
labour  either  of  blacks  or  whites  more  fevere  than 
this  is. 


Witnefs  examined — Mr.  James  Kiernan. 

Was  in  Africa  in  1775,  1776,  1777,  and  1778,  top.  227, 
learn  the  nature  of  the  trade,  to  carry  it  on. 

The  trade  for  flaves  in  the  R.  Senegal,  where  he 
refided,  was  chiefly  with  the  Moors,  on  the  nor- 
thern banks,  who  got  them  very  often  by  war,  and 
not  feldom  by  kidnapping  -,  i.  e.  lying  in  wait  near 
a  village,  where  there  was  no  open  war,  and  feizing 
whom  they  could. 

Has  often  heard  of  villages^  and  feen  the  remains?.  238. 
of  fuch,  broken  up  by  making  the  people  flaves. 

Has  always  heard  kidnapping  fpoken  of  there  as 
notorious;  and  has  i'ccn  proofs  of  it  by  perfons  fo 
taken  being  ranfomed  -,  when,  very  often,  the  white 
trader  afl^s  more  than  the  value  of  the  flave,  to  give 
him  up  :  never  heard  of  a  white  trader,  before  buy- 
ing a  flavCg  inquire  into  the  right  of  the  feller. 

R  2  Never 


43-  W.Indies,  Kiernah^ 

lypi.       Never  knew  any  perfon  fold  for  witchcraft;   Jl 
\.r~j    belief  in  it  exifts  ftrongly  on  that  part  of  the  coaft. 

The  firft  year,  by  far  the  greateft  number  of 
flaves  were  offered  to  fale,  from  an  open  war  then 
fubfifting  between  the  Moors  and  negroes  :  to  which. 
P«  ^39*  the  Moors  have  always  a  ftrong  inducement,  molt 
of  the  European  goods  they  obtain,  being  got  in 
exchange  for  Daves.  Hence  defolation  and  wafte  : 
in  a  few  years,  they  extirpated  large  fettlements  oa 
the  northern  banks  of  the  Senegal,  and  in  time  they 
were  expedled  to  root  out  all  the  black  nations  be- 
tween the  Senegal  and  Gambia.  The  IVIoors  nei- 
,  ther  follov/  nor  encourage  agriculture. 

Believes,  that  to  be  fold  to  Europeans,  is  confi- 
dered  by  all  negroes  from  inland^  as  well  as  on  the 
coaft,  as  a  puniiliment  only  fhort  of  death. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  ifland  of  St.  Louis,  are 
eftimated  at  about  5000,  who  are  fupplied  with  cat- 
tle by  the  Moors,  and  with  corn  by  the  blacks 
only. 

Ships  bound  to  the  ¥/".  Indies,  were  fupplied  by 
the  blacks  with  large  quantities  of  corn,  which  the 
flaves  preferred  to  any  other  food. 

The  blacks  on  the  fouth  banks  of  the  Senegal 
raife  cotton,  indigo,  and  tobacco,  fufficient  for  their 
"ufe. 

/  Knows  the  negroes  manufadlure  cotton,  leather, 
and  metals,  for  they  fupply  Senegal  with  clothing, 
articles  of  leather,  and  ornaments  of  gold  and  filver  : 
they  dye  fome  of  their  cottons  very  finely,  blues 
and  fcarlets  5  believes  their  confumption  of  cotton 
ploths  is  very  confiderable. 

Never  knew  the  natives  backv/ard  in  fupplying 
any  confiderable  demand  for  provifions,  when  pro- 
perly encouraged. 

Never  knew  the  natives  encouraged  by  Europeans 
to  raife  for  fale  other  produce  than  provifions. 

Perfons  of  property  there,  have  a  great  num.bcr  of 
perfons  under  the  denomination  of  flaves^  whom 
^  ^  ^  they 


E.  and  W.  Indies.  Both  am.  ^'  133 

tfiejr  treat  as  Europeans  would  people  of  their  own    179 1. 
family. 


Witnefs  examined— Henry  Botham,  Efq. 

Went  to  the  W.  Indies  1770,  and,  in  about  two  P.  24I0 
years,  vifited  all   the  iflands,   Englilh  and  French, 
and   was  employed  by  governmciit   in  Grenada,  to 
afcertain   the  difference  of  property   there  between 
the  old  and  new  fubjeds. 

He  was  not  long  a  planter  in  the  W.  Indies.  He 
diredled  MriFrs.  Bofanquet  and  Fatio's  lugar  eftate 
there,  in  their  partner's  abfence;  but  he  carried  on 
fugar  works  many  years  at  Bencoolen,  in  the  Eaft 
Indies. 

He  has  examined  the  account,  in  the  P.  Coimcirs 
Report,  of  the  mode  of  cultivating  Ibgar  in  the  Eaft, 
Indies,  and  it  is  the  fame  which  he  delivered  in. 
He  drew  it  up  from  having  long  confidered  the  fub- 
je6l,  and,  fince  he  delivered  it  to  the  P.  Council, 
fees  no  reafon  to  make  any  alteration  in  it. 

The  following  is  an  Abridgment  of  the  faid  ac- 
count : 

*^  Mr.  Botham  on  the  Mode  of  cultivating  a 
"  Sugar  Plantation  in  the  Eaft  Indies,  &c." 

Having  been  2  years  in  the  Englifh  and  French 
W.  India  iflands,  and  fince  condudied  fugar  eftates 
in  the  E.  Indies;  it  may  be  defirable  to  know  thacP.  242^: 
fugar,  better  and  cheaper  than  that  in  our  iflands, 
and  alfo  arrack,  are  produced  in  the  E.  Indies,  by 
the  l.bour  of  free  people.  China,  Bengal,  and  the 
coaft  of  Malabar,  produce  quantities  o(  fugar  and 
fpirks  ;  but,  as  the  moft  confiderable  fugar  eft-ates 
are  near  Batavia,  I  fnali  explam  the  improved  mode 
of  conducting  thofe  eftates.  The  proprietor  is  ge- 
nerally a  rich  Dutchman,  who  has  buik  on  it  fub- 
ftantial  works.  He  rents  the  eftate  (fay  of  ^^00  or 
rnore  acres)  to  a  Chinefe,  who  lives  on  and  fuperin- 


'IS4  E.  and  W.  Indies.  B  o  t  h  a  m, 

1791.  tends  it,  and  who  re-lets  it  to  free  men,  in  parcels 
u..v->  of  50  or  60,  on  condition  that  they  fhall  plant  it  in 
canes  for  fo  much  for  every  pecul,  133^  lb.  of  fu- 
gar  produced.  The  fuperintendant  colleds  people 
from  the  adjacent  villages  to  take  off  his  crop.  One 
fet  of  tafk-men,  with  their  carts  and  buffaloes,  cut 
the  canes,  carry  them  to  the  mill  and  grind  them. 
A  fecond  fet  boil  them.  A  third  clay  and  bafket 
them  for  market,  at  fo  much  per  pecul. 

Thus  the  renter  knows  with  certainty  what  every 
pecul  will  coil  him.  He  has  no  unneceffary  ex- 
pence,  for  when  crop  is  over,  the  talk-men  go  home, 
and,  for  7  months  in  the  year,  there  only  remain  on 
the  eftate  the  cane  planters,  preparing  the  next  crop. 
By  dividing  the  labour,  it  is  cheaper  and  better  done, 
F.  243.  Only  clayed  fugars  are  made  at  Batavia,  which  are 
equal  to  the  beft  from  the  W.  Indies,  and  fold  at 
1 8s.  per  pecul.  The  Shabander  exads  a  dollar  per 
pecul  on  all  fugar  exported.  The  price  of  common 
labour  is  from  9d  to  icd  per  day.  But  the  tafkmen 
gain  confiderably  more,  not  only  from  extra  wqrk, 
but  from  being  confidered  artifls  in  their  feveral 
branches.  They  do  not  make  fpirits  on  the  fugar 
cftates ;  the  molaifes  and  fkimmings  are  lent  for  fale 
to  Batavia,  where  one  diftillery  may  buy  the  produce 
of  100  eftates.  Here  is  a  vail  laving  in  making 
fpirits,  not  as  in  the  W.  Indies,  a  diftillery  for  each 
eftate :  arrack  is  fold  at  Batavia  at  about  8d.  per 
gallon  ;  the  proof  of  the  fpirit  is  about  5-tenths. 

After  fpending  two  years  in  the  Weft  Indies,  I 
returned  to  the  Eaft  in  1776,  and  in  the  laft  war 
conduced  fugar  works  at  Bencoolen,  in  Sumatra, 
on  nearly  the  fame  principles  as  the  Dutch  ^  I  con- 
fined my  expences  to  what  they  had  done,  allowing 
for  the  unavoidable  charges,  on  a  new  and  fole  un^ 
dertaking. 

The  cane  is  cultivated  to  the  utmoft  perfedlion 
at  Batavia  5  the  hoe,  almoft  the  fole  implement  of 
the  Weft,  is  there  fcarcely  ufed ;  the  lands  are  well 
ploughed  by  a  light  plough  with  a  fingle  buffalo  ;  a 

drill 


I     E.  and  W.  Indies.  BotiIam.  tj 

drill  is  then  ploughed,  and  a  perfon  with  two  baf-  1791- 
kets  filled  with  cane  plants,  fufpended  to  a  ftick  acrofs  ^--vh^ 
his  llioulders,  drops  into  the  furrow  plants  alternately 
from  each  bafket,  covering  them  at  the  fame  time 
with  earth  with  his  feet.  Young  canes  are  kept  often, 
ploughed  as  a  weeding,  and  the  hoe  is  ufed  to  weed 
round  the  plant  when  very  young;  but  of  this  there  P.  244. 
is  little  need  if  the  land  has  been  fufBciently  plough- 
ed.     When  the  cane  is  ready  to  earth  up,  the  fpace 
between  the  rows,  is  ploughed  deep,  the  cane-tops 
tied  up,  and  with  an  inftrument  like  a  (hovel,  with 
teeth  at  the  bottom,  a  fpade-handle,  and  two  cords 
fixed  to  the  body  of  the  Ihovel,  ending  by  a  wooden 
handle  for  a  purchafe,  is  ufed  by  two  perfons  to  earth 
up  the  cane,  the  ftrongeft  holding  the  handle  of  the 
fhovel,  preffing  it  into  the  ploughed  earth,  while  the 
other  on  the  oppofite  fide  of  the  plant,  by  a  jirk  of 
the  cord,  draws  up  to  the  plant,  all  the  earth  that 
the  plough  had  loofened.    Two  perfons  with  this  in- 
ftrument, will  earth  up  more  canes  in  the  day  than 
10  negroes  with  hoes.    The  canes  in  India  are  much 
higher  earthed  than   in  the  Weft  Indies ;  in  moift 
foils,  they,  with  little  labour,  earth  them  as  high  as 
the  knee,  at  once  making  a  dry  bed  for  the  cane,  and 
a  drain  for  the  water. 

The  improvement  in  making  the  cane  into  fugar, 
at  Batavia,  keeps  pace  with  that  in  its  culture :  eva- 
poration being  in  proportion  to  the  furface,  their 
boilers  have  as  much  of  it  as  pofTible.  The  cane  juice 
is  tempered  and  boiled  to  a  fyrup ;  it  is  then  thrown 
into  vats,  which  hold  one  boiling,  there  fprinkled 
with  water,  to  fubfide  its  foul  parts:  after  ftanding 
fix  hours,  is  let  off  by  3  pegs  of  different  heights, 
into  a  copper  with  one  fire ;  it  is  there  tempered  a* 
gain,  and  reduced  to  fugar,  by  a  gentle  fire ;  it  gra- 
nulates, and  the  boiler  dipping  a  wand  into  the 
copper,  ftrikes  it  on  the  fide,  then  drops  the  fugar 
remaining  on  it,  into  a  cup  of  water,  fcrapes  it  up 
with  his  thumb-nail,  and  can  judge  to  a  nicety  of 
the  fugar*s  being  properly  boiled.  The  vats  I  men- 
tioned 


136  E.  and  W,  In  DIES*  Botham. 

1790.  tloned  are  placed  all  at  the  left  end  of  a  fet  of  cop* 

'•^v^  pers.    After  running  off  for  boiling  all  that  is  clear, 

P.  245.  the  reft  is  ftrained  on  the  outfide  of  the  boiling- 

houfe  j  what  is  fine  is  put  into  the  copper  for  fugar, 

the  lees  kept  for  diftilling. 

Claying  of  fugar  is  as  in  the  W.  Indies.  The 
cane  tralh  is  nor,  as  in  our  iflands,  carried  into  fheds, 
where  it  lofes  much  of  its  ftrengih  before  it  is  ufed  •, 
but  is  laid  out  immediately  to  dry,  then  made  into 
faggots,  {tt  up  in  cocks,  and  ufed  immediately -when 
dry  •,  hence  its  force  of  fire  is  much  greater,  and  the 
carrying  it  to  and  from  the  trafli-houfe  is  faved. 

The  culture  of  the  cane  in  the  Weft  Indies  is  in 
its  infancy.  Many  alterations  are  to  be  made,  ex- 
penfes,  and  human  labour  lefTened  -,  the  hoe,  now 
ufed  to  turn  up  foils  of  different  texture,  is  of  one 
conftrudtion,  cheap  and  very  light;  fo  that  the  ne- 
gro, without  any  help  from  its  weight,  digs  up  the 
earth,  (and,  the  cane  roots,  on  replanting)  by  the 
fevereft  exertion.  In  the  Eaft  we  plough  up  the 
cane  roots. 

Having  experienced  the  difference  of  labourers 
for  profit,  and  labourers  from  force,  I  can  affert,  that 
the  favings  by  the  former  are  very  confiderablc. 

The  Weft  India  planter,  for  his  own  intereft, 
fliould  give  more  labour  to  beaft,  and  lefs  to  man ; 
a  larger  portion  of  his  eftate  ought  to  be  in  pafture. 
When  pradticable,  canes  fhould  be  carried  to  the 
mill,  and  cane  tops  and  grafs  to  the  ftock,  in  wag- 
gons; the  cuftom  of  making  a  hard-worked  negro 
get  a  bundle  of  grafs  twice  a  day  aboliftied;  and  in 
P.  246.ftiort  a  total  change  take  place  of  the  miferable 
management  in  our  Weft  India  iflands.  By  this 
means  following,  as  near  as  poffible,  the  Eaft  India 
mode,  confolidating  the  diftilleries,  I  do  fuppofe 
our  fiigar  iflands  might  be  better  worked  than  they 
now  are,  by  two-thirds,  or  indeed  one-half  of  the 
prefent  force  Let  it  be  confidered,  how  much  labour 
is  loft  by  the  perfons  overfeeing  the  forced  labourer, 
which  is  faved  when  he  works  for  his  own  profit.     I 

have 


E,  and  W.  Indies.  Botha m.  137 

have  ftated,  with  the  ftrideft  veracity,  a  plain  matter  179 1. 
of  fad — that  fugar  eftates  can  be  worked  cheaper  by  ^-^v"^ 
free  perfons  than  flaves. 

Whether  the  flave-trade  can  be  abolifhed,  and  the 
blacks  freed,  is  for  the  confideration  of  Parliament.  ' 

In  my  judgment,  thefe  defirable  piirpofes,  may  be 
eiTe6ted  without  materially  injuring  the  Weft  India 
planter.  He  has  but  to  improve  his  culture,  leffen 
human  labour,  and  the  progeny  of  the  prefent  blacks 
will  anfwer  every  purpofe  of  working  Weft  India 
eftates.  [See  this  account  at  large  in  the  Privy 
Council's  Report,  at  the  end  of  Part  III.] 

The  flaves  in  the  French  iflands  appeared  to  be| 
better  cloathed,  better  fed,  and  better  behaved,  than  | 
in  the  Britiih  :  and  their  being  well  fed  is  chiefly  | 
owing  to  the  French  planter  putting  a  great  pro-  ^ 
portion  of  his  eftate  in  proviflons. 

Whether  it  miight  or  might  not  be  ultimately  for 
the  intereft  of  the  Britifli  planter,  and  the  benefit  of 
his  flaves,  if  he  were  to  allot  to  proviflons,  more  of 
the  land  now  deftined  to  fugar,  is  a  queftion  thac 
can  only  be  decided  by  experiment  in  the  difFerenC 
iflands,  as  the  fame  anfwer  to  it  would  not  fuit  each. 
In  iflands  that  feldom  fail  in  rains,  it  is  no  doubt  for 
the  planter's  intereft,  to  facriflce  a  part  of  the  ground 
allotted  for  fugar,  to  proviflons  s  as  thefe  feed  his 
negroes  better  than  any  dry  or  other  proviflons  im- 
ported :  but  in  iflands  fubjed  to  droughts,  he  does  P.  247, 
not  think  the  planter  can  without  materially  leflfen- 
ing  his  crop  of  fugar,  give  up  any  portion  of  ground 
to  proviflons. 

In  1764,  when  the  Eaft  India  Company^s  poflef- 
fions  in  Sumatra  were  returned  to  them  by  the  French, 
they  were  informed  by  their  fervants  at  Bencoolen, 
that  the  public  works,  and  other  labours  of  their 
fettlement,  could  not  be  carried  on  without  a  large 
fupply  of  flaves ;  the  Company  therefore  fent  flave- 
fliips  to*  Africa  and  Madagafcar,  and  tranfported  to 
Bencoolen  nearly  1000  flaves,  in  much  the  fame 
proportion  of  men,  women^    and  children,    as   are 

Numb.  4,  S  carried, 


138  E.  and  W.  Indies.  Botham. 

1791.  carried  from  Africa  to  the  Weft  Indies^  that  is  more 
«-*-v-.^  men,  than  women  and  children.  Thefe  flaves,  on 
the  firft  years  of  their  arrival,  from  the  unheal- 
thinefs  of  the  climate,  and  other  caufes,  decreafed  : 
but  when  they  had  been  at  Bencoolen  a  few 
years,  where  they  were  well  fed,  humanely  treated, 
and  had  very  little  work,  they  began  annually  to 
increafe ;  notwithftanding,  from  the  little  attention 
that  was  paid  to  their  way  of  life,  both  men  and 
women  lived  in  the  moft  abandoned  way.  The 
wonder  was,  that  they  did  increafe,  as  the  young 
female  flaves  were  common  proflitutes  to  the  foldiers 
and  failors. 


Witnefs  examined — John  Savage,  Efq. 
P.  247. 

Refided  in  Carolina  from  1729  to  1775.  Was  not 
a  planter,  but  was  repeatedly  on  many  plantations 
as  a  vifitant  for  a  day  or  two  at  a  time,  and  knew  the 
irate  of  negroes  there. 

Underflood  labour  was  performed  by  tafl<.  in  moft 
P.  248. operations  on  eftates. 

Negroes  increafed  greatly  where  well  clothed  and 
fed  j  is  doubtful  if  they  increafed  where  clothed  and 
fed  badly.  Heard  where  mafters  were  harih,  they 
could  not  raife  children,  or  but  a  few. 

Where  mafters  were  prudent,  and  kept  themfelves 
out  of  debt,  negroes  were  hearty  and  ftrong :  hence 
they  got  more  work  out  of  them  than  thofe  who  did 
not  ufe  them  fo  well,  and  thefe  were  they  who  made 
fortunes  by  planting. 

A  friend  of  his,  Gabriel  Manigault,  Efq.  informed 
him,  that  in  1737  he  had  on  his  eftate  86  negroes,  of 
whom  12  of  14  were  fuperannuated.  The  latter  he 
replaced  by  others.  With  no  more  addition  than 
this,  they  had  increafed  to  270  about  a  year  or  two 
before  witnefs  left  the  country.  Mr.  Manigault's 
eftate  (by  purchafe)  confifted  of  about  18000  or 
19000  acres,  6000  of  which  were  fettled,  and  12000 

or 


America.  Savage.— Clapham.  139 

or  13000  not  fo  ;  for  the  latter  he  had  taxes  and  quit  i79i' 
rents  to  pay  for  many  years  till  his  fon  came  of  age, 
to  whom  he  then  gave  them.  Notwithftanding  this 
charge  on  the  unimproved  land,  he  always  made  in- 
tereft  of  his  purchafe-money.  Mr.  M.  was  a  man 
of  humanity,  and  gave  his  flaves  fufficient  clothes, 
food,  and  accommodations. 

In  the  year  1739  there  was  a  duty  laid  on  the  im- 
portatation  of  flaves  to  Carolina,  which  amounted  to 
a  prohibition,  and  which  continued  to  1744.  The 
purchafe  of  new  negroes  having  involved  the  plan- 
ters greatly  in  debt,  was  the  reafon  why  the  legif- 
lature  laid  it. 


Witnefs  Examined — John  Clapham,  Efq. 

Was  upwards  of  20  years  in  Maryland.  Negroes ?•  249, 
kept  up  their  numbers  there  by  propagation,  and  in- 
creafed,  fo  that  the  overplus  in  fome  inflances  were 
fhipped  to  the  W.  Indies.  Has  known  100  fales, 
v/here  proprietors  have  had  too  many  for  their  ,ufe 
in  confequence  of  increafe  by  propagation;  yet  they 
v/ere  not  thought  to  be  well  treated,  though  better 
than  to  the  fouthward,  and  the  climate  wasfubje(5l  to 
great  and  fudden  variety  of  heat  and  cold. 

Attempts  were  not  frequent  in  Maryland  to  give 
religious  inftrudtion  to  negroes. 


Witnefs  Examined — Robert  Crew,  Efq. 

Is   a  native   of  Virginia,    and    refided    there   till 
1783.    Knew  the  ftate  of  the  plantation  flaves  there. 

Had  fufEcient  clothing,  and  as  much  Indian  mealP*  250. 
as  they  could  ufe,   and  were  in  general  fupplied  daily 
with  flefh,  fifh,  or  fomething  elfe  added  to  their  meal 
or  bread. 

Overfeers  on  large  eftates  fuperintended  flaves,  but 
S  Q.  without; 


140  America.  Crew. 

1791.   without  a  whip,  as  a  mailer  on  a  fmall  eflate,  or  a 
^^""v*^  bailiff  would  in  this  country. 

Negroes  in  Virginia  increafed  rapidly  without  im- 
portation, fo  much  fo,  that  it  was  a  general  opinion^ 
that  it  was  profitable  to  hold  flaves  on  this  account, 
exclufive  of  the  profits  of  their  labour. 

Treatment  was  different  on  different  edates.   Where 

/        the  mailer  was  involved  and  did  not  fuperintend  his 

own  eftate,  his  overleers  were  direded  to  make  the 

f  greatefl  pofiible  quantities  of  tobacco,  to  fupply  his 

t         prefUng  neceilities.     Here   the  ilaves  were  ill  ufed, 

\       worked   exceffively  hard,   and  were  not  fufiiciently 

fed.     Where  the   proprietor  was  in    good  circum- 

flances,  and  could  purfue  his  own  interefb,  they  were 

I      not  fb  hard  worked,  and  had  better  fupplies  of  food 

/      and  clothing. 

P,  ^51,     This  levere  lyflem  in  Ibme,  though  he  thinks  ne- 

\      ver  fo  fevere  in   any  circumfliances  (with  a  few  ex- 

i     ceptions)  as  to  caufe  a  decreafe  in  their  numbers,  and 

I     indeed  fmall  profits  of  tobacco  plantations  could  not 

I      afford  frefh  fupplies,  yet  had  the  effect  certainly  of 

/      preventing  their  increafing  fb  fail  as  they  otherwife 

would.     Such  a  fyilem  was  deemed  unprofitable. 

Spent  a  few  months  at  Barbadoes  and  St.  Croix. 

j  Was  flruck  with  the  difference  of  the  treatment  of 

\  flaves  there  and  in  Virginia.     A  driver  with  a  whip 

1  flood  over  them  while  at  work :    they  were  nearly 

I  without  clothing.     Thefe  were  the  obvious  difTer- 

■  ences.     No  knowledge  of  particulars.     Thinks  the 

I  life  of  the  whip  formed  a  difference  in  their  treatment 

I  confiderably   to  the   difadvantage   of   Weft   Indian 

I  flaves. 

^^  Thinks  the  culture  of  tobacco  nearly  as  laborious, 
as  that  of  fugar-5  and  the  climate  of  Virginia  is  not 
fo  favourable  as  that  of  the  Weft  Indies,  to  African 
conftitutions,  on  account  of  the  fevere  cold  of  the 
winter. 

Importation  of  African  flaves  into  Virginia,  has 
been  generally  difcontinued  flnce  1772. 

Witnefa 


[     141     ] 


Witnefs  examined, — Hercules  Ross,  Efq. 

Refided  chiefly  in  Jamaica,  from  1761,  to  1782,   1791. 
and  occafionally  in  Hifpaniola.  "  v^-sno 

Had  occaflon  to  be  in  every  parifh  of  the  ifland,  P-  252. 
and  to  be  acquainted  with  the  ftate  and  treatment  of 
fiaves,  which  depends  on  circumftances  :  under  a  man 
of  humanity,  and  where  the  numbers  were  equal 
to  the  work,  they  lived  happy  j  it  was  difficult  under 
one  of  a  different  defcription. 

It  was  not  underflood  they  had  legal  redrefs  againlt 
owners  or  overfeers  for  ill  ufage;  nor  againfl  others, 
unlefs  the  owner  or  manager  flood  forward  to  protedt 
them. 

He  had  the  mortification  of  feeing  innumerableP.  a§2* 
punifhments  inflided,  many  with  feverity,  and  he 
tears,  fome  unjuftly.  An  uncommon  one  now  occurs, 
though  it  was  long  ago,  at  Savanna  la  Mar.     Hear- 
ing, from  an  inclofure,  the  cries  of  fome  poor  wretch 
under  torture,  he  looked  through,  and  faw  a  young 
female  fufpended  by  the  wrifls  to  a  tree,  fwinging  to 
and  fro ;  her  toes  could  barely  touch  the  ground,  and 
her  body  exceedingly  agitated.     The  fight  rather, 
confounded  him,  as  there  was  no  whipping,  and  the  I 
mafter  juft  by,  feemingly  motionlefs;  but  on  look-l 
ing  more  attentively,  faw  in  his  hand  a  flick  of  fire,! 
which  he  held  fo  as  occafionally  to  touch  her  aboutt 
her  private  parts  as  Ihe  fv/ung.     He  continued  thisi 
torture  with  unmoved  countenance,  until  the  witnefs  I 
calling  on  him  to  defifl,  throwing  flones  at  him  overl 
the  fence,  flopped  it.     Thinks  it  right   to  fay,  that 
on  mentioning  it  on  the  bay,   it  was  heard  with  uni- 
verfal  deteitation  :  the  perpetrator  was  not  a  man  of 
charader;  he  was  not  brought  to  legal  punifliment. 
Does  not  know  that   the  law  then  extended  to  thep,  254, 
punilliing  whites  for  fuch  a6ls. 

Slaves  in  Kingflon,  when  flogged,  were  tied  up  by 
the  wriftsi  if^on  the  wharfs  to  the  crane-hook,  with 

weights 


142  W.Indies.  H.Ross. 

1791.  weight3  to  their  feet,  and  the  crane  wound  up  fo  as 
^-''v^^  to  extend  them  greatly ;  the  whip  was  a  cow-fls:in  at 
firil,  and  then  ebony  buflies,  to  take  off  the  bruifed 
blood.  A  gaol  was  alfo  a  place  of  correction  :  in 
fa6t,  every  naan's  premifes  was  a  place  of  punifhment, 
if  he  chofe  -,  but  the  wharfs  and  gaol  were  ufed  by 
fuch  as  did  not  choofe  to  dillurb  the  neighbours  with 
the  flaves  cries;  but  it  was  underftood  that  any 
owner  had  a  right  to  order  fuch  punifhments,  with-. 
out  a  magiftrate. 

In  his  refidence  in  Jannaica,  it  became  more  clear- 
ed and  improved,  and  of  courfe  healthier :  the  ftile 
of  living,  and  manners  of  the  whites,  gradually  im- 
proved, and  extended  a  favourable  influence  to  the 
Hate  of  the  (laves. 
•t  •  ^55*  Negroes  are  as  capable  of  labour  in  the  Weft  In- 
dies, as  other  people  in  climates  congenial  to  them : 
that  they  are  better  adapted  than  whites  to  that  cli- 
mate, is  certain.  Negroes  on  board  fhips,  fed  on 
animal  food  as  the  whites,  are  capable  of  great  exer- 
tions. In  the  laft  war,  on  the  expedition  to  St. 
Juan's,  government  ordered  a  number  of  negroes  to 
be  colleded,  to  eafe  the  military;  they  were  chiefly 
culprits,  many  taken  from  gaols,  whom  the  owners 
were  glad  to  part  with ;  though  exhaufted  by  con- 
finement and  low  diet  when  fhipped,  they  returned 
almoft  to  a  man,  in  health,  and  much  improved  in 
looks  (having  had  rations  with  the  reft)  while  the 
whites,  on  that  fervice,  fufFered  great  ficknefs  and 
deaths.  Something  fimilar  was  the  cafe  with  a 
greater  body  of  negroes  fent  from  Jamaica,  to  the 
fiege  of  the  Havannah. 

As  to  ilaves  fufFering  from  the  bad  circumftances 
of  owners,  unable  to  buy  provifions,  in  fome  in- 
ftances  it  may  be  the  cafe,  when  from  ftorms  or  other 
cafulties,  ground  provifions  are  injured. 

Slaves  may  be  feized  and  fold  for  their  owners 
debts :  whereby  near  relations  are  often  feparated. 
In  Kingfton  and  Spanifti  town,  they  are  confined  in 
gaols  till  fold  to  the  higheft  bidders i  fome  of  whom 

may 


W.  Indies.  Ross.  143 

may  be  foreigners,  and  carry  a  part  ofFthe  ifland :  a  1791, 
hardihip  which  often  happens,  and  to  which  Creoles  « — r^ 
as  well  as  Africans  are  fubjed.  P.  237, 

Has  often  been  at  fales  of  Guinea  cargoes.  On 
the  day  advertifed  by  the  agent,  buyers  attend  a- 
board ;  at  a  given  hour  the  fale  is  declared  open, 
when  each  exerts  himfelf  to  get  firfl  among  the  flaves 
to  have  a  good  choice,  and  the  whole  of  the  healthy 
and  likely  ones,  are  often  fold  that  day.  There  ufed 
to  be  in  Kingfton  many  people  who  bought  on  fpecu- 
lation  thofe  left  after  the  firft  day's  fale,  to  carry  them 
to  the  country,  and  retail  them,  or  to  fhip  them  off* 
Has  often  ^ttn  the  very  refufe  landed  and  fent  to 
vendue  mailers  in  a  very  wretched  flate  j  fometimes 
in  the  agonies  of  death,  has  known  them  expire  in  the  . 
piazza  of  the  vendue  mafler.  Has  feen  them  fold! 
even  as  low  as  a  dollar.  I 

Thinks  the  Have  trade  has  been  produdive  of  great 
deflrudion  to   the   human   race,    both    blacks    and| 
whites  ',  of  which  he  could  furnifh  many  inftances  :  | 
one  marked  v/ith  peculiar  circumftances  of  horror,  I 
was  this.  * 

About  20  years  ago,  a  fhip,  with  about  400  flaves 
ftruck  on  a  fhoal,  half  a  league  from  the  MorantKeys,   \ 
(3  fmall  fandy  iflands,  1 1  leagues  S.  S.  E.  from  Ja-    \ 
maica)  the  officers  and  crew  took  to  the  boats  with 
arms  and  provifions,  and  landed.  At  day  light  it  was    I 
found  that  the  flaves  had  got  out  of  their  irons,  and  | 
were  forming  rafts,  on  which  they  placed  the  women   ■ 
and  children,  the  men  fwimming  by  the  (ide,  whilft  J 
they  drifted  towards  the  little  ifland  where  the  crew  J 
had  landed  -,  who  lefl:  the  flaves  fliould  confume  their 
proviflons,  came  to  the  refoiution  to  fire  upon  them, 
and  adtually  killed  from  3   to  400.     Of  the   cargo, 
2";^  or  34  only  were  faved,  which  he  faw  fold  at  ven- 
due at  Kingflon.     The  fliip,  he  thinks,  was  confign-  ., 
ed  to  a  Mr.  Hugh  Wallace,  of  St.  Elizabeth's  panlh.  | 

As  it  is  faid  to  be  common  when  fliips  are  wreck- ^^  2/^q, 
ed,  for  the  crew  to  break  up  the  fpirit  room  and  get 
drunk,  he  is  inclined  to  think  the  crew  of  the  Gui- 


neaman 


144  W-  Indies.'  Ross, 

1791.  neaman  mnfl  have  been  drunk  to  have  adopted  fo 
v^^  horrid  a  reiblution,  without  firft  difpatching  a  boat 
to  Jamaica  (5  or  6  hours  fail)  for  afliftance.  But 
this  is  only  conjedlure,  from  a  perfuafion  that  if  they 
had  a6led  with  common  difcretion,  there  was  no  lie- 
ceffity  for  deftroying  any  of  the  ilaves. 

Guinea  fhips,  leaving  their  feamen  behind,  was  fo 
common  as  to  have  been  a  great  nuifance  and  ex- 
penfe  to  the  people  at  Kingilon,  and  occafioned  a 
law,  obliging  the  matters  of  all  fhips  to  givefecurity 
againft  leaving  any  difabled  feamen  behind^  or  pro- 
vide for  the  charge  of  taking  care  of  them.  It  v^as 
not  uncommon  for  Guinea  mailers  to  fend  on  lliore 
a  few  hours  before  they  failed,  their  lame,  ulcerated, 
or  fick  feamen,  leaving  them  to  perifn.  As  to  the 
Guinea  trade  being  a  nurfery  for  feamen,  he  has  ever 
26o.confidered  it  the  reverfe. 

As  to  any  compafTion  between  the  flate  of  Weft 
'  India  Oaves  and  the  peafantry  of  Great  Britain, 
whatever  others  may  think,  he  coniiders  it  as  an  infuk 
to  common  fenfe :  the  peafantry  in  this  country  are 
obliged  to  labour  it  is  true;  but  there  is  no  market 
for  the  fale  of  human  beings,  where  men  of  all  cha- 
radlers  may  become  buyers,  and  by  the  laws  hold  an 
I  abfolute  right  in  the  perfon  pui-chafed.  It  is  impofTi- 
^  ble  to  conceive  a  man  fo  degenerate,  as  not  to  prefer 
the  fcantieft  morfel  with  freedom  and  independance, 
to  the  luxury  enjoyed  by  the  wealthieil  flave  on  earth. 
A  peafant  here  however  poor,  cannot  be  imprifoned 
for  his  mailer's  debts ;  nor  purchafed  without  a  legal 
difcufTion  :  he  beholds  his  growing  family  with  plea- 
fure,  his  induilry  often  enables  him  to  give  them  fuch 
an  education,  as  advances  them  in  life,  and  puts  it  in 
their  pov/er  to  comfort  his  old  age:  the  flave  who  has 
refledion,  views  his  offspring  with  very  different  feel- 
ings ;  knowing  them  doomed  to  eternal  ilavery,  and 
ignorant  of  the  charader  of  thofe  to  whom  they  may 
hereafter  belong. 

His  refidence  in  Jamaica  for  above  twenty  years  of 
P.  a6i.  the  prime  of  bis  life,  mull  have  given  him  as  perfed: 

a  know- 


W.  Ii^DiES.  Ross.  145 

a  knowledge  of  the  flate  of  flaves  there,  as  it  is  pof-  1791. 
lible  to  acquire.  As  to  the  information  which  may  ^-•^'""V^ 
have  been  got  by  thofe  holding  high  commands  there 
he  cannot  Ipeak  decidedly;  but  if  it  is  meant  to  know, 
whether  fuch  on  occafional  vifits  to  eftates,  were  like- 
ly to  obtain  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  treatment 
of  flaves,  he  thinks  they  could  not. 

He  has  often  accompanied  Governors  and  Admirals 
on  their  tours  there  •,  when,  the  eftates  vifited  (be- 
longing generally  to  perfons  of  diftindion)  might  be 
fuppofed  under  the  bed  management;  befides  that 
all  pofiible  care  would  be  taken  to  keep  every  dif- 
gufting  objedl  from  view,  and  on  no  account,  by  the 
exercife  of  the  whip  or  other  puniihments,  harrow  up 
the  feelings  of  ftrangers  of  fuch  diftindion. 

As  to  his  opinion  of  the  probable  efFeds  of  the  P.  261. 
abolition  of  the  flave  trade,  he  is  at  feme  lofs  to  ex- 
prefs  himfelf ;  he  thinks  however,  that  as  it  would 
tend  to  prevent  making  new  fettlements  in  the  iflands, 
the  produce  of  fugar  not  keeping  pace  with  the  in- 
creafmg  demand  for  it,  the  price  muft  rife  and  of 
courfe  the  prefent  eftates  became  more  valuable:  the 
value  of  the  flaves  would  alfo  be  increafed  and  it 
would  become  more  the  owners  intereft  to  attend  to 
their  health  and  population. 

Finally,  as  the  refult  of  his  obfervations  andmoft: 
ferious  refledion,  he  hefitates  not  to  fay,  that  the  trade 
for  flaves  ought  to  be  abolifhed  not  only  as  contrary 
to  found  policy,  but  to  the  laws  of  God  and  nature; 
and  were  it  poffible  by  the  prefent  inquiry  to  convey p|  252. 
a  juft  knowledge  of  the  extenflve  mifery  it  occafions, 
every  kingdom  of  Europe  muft  unite  in  calling  on 
their  legiflatures  to  abolifti  the  inhuman  traffic. 
This  is  not  a  hafty,  nor  a  new  fentiment,  formed  on 
the  prefent  difcufllon,  which  has  in  no  refped  in- 
fluenced his  judgment.  The  fame  opinion  he  publicly 
delivered  feventecn  years  ago,  in  Kingfton,  in  a  fo- 
ciety  formed  of  the  firft  charaders  of  the  place,  on 
debating  the  following  queftion  (propofed  he  thinks, 
by  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Hibbert,  who  had  been  40 

Numb.  4.  T  or 


tA.6  W.  Indies.  Ross, 

1 791.  or  50  years  the  moft  eminent  Guinea  faftor  there) 
Whether  the  trade  to  Africa  for  Haves,  was  con- 
"  fiflent  with  found  policy,  the  laws  of  nature  and 
*^  morality.'*  The  difcufTion  occupied  feveral  meet- 
ings, and  at  lad  it  was  determined  by  a  majority,  that 
the  trade  to  Africa  for  flaves  was  neither  con- 
fiftent  with  found  policy,  the  laws  of  nature,  nor 
morality. 

,  The  chief  ground  on  which  the  advocates  for  the 
|flave  trade  refted  their  opinion  (he  thinks)  was,  that 
I  God  had  formed  fome  of  the  human  race,  inferior  to 
{others,  in  intelled;  and  that  negroes  appeared  to 
|have  been  intended  for  flaves,  or,  to  that  purpofe. 

Has  been  in  fome  of  the  foreign  Weft  India  iflands, 
in  N.  America,  and  St.  Domingo.  The  ftate  of  flaves 
feemed  flmilar  to  that  in  Jamaica ;  in  America  he 
had  but  little  opportunity  for  obfervation:  but  upon 
the  whole,  they  appeared  decenter  in  their  manners  ; 
more  domefticated,  and  to  have  fome  notions  of 
religion. 


The 


(     147    ) 


The  following  Evidence  is  printed  at  full  length, 
there  not  being  time  to  abridge  it. 

Witnefs  exantiined — Thomas  Irving,  Efq, 

Does  not  your  official  fituation  afford  you  a  gene-  179 1. 
ral  view  of  the  connmerce  of  the  Britilh  empire,  and 
of  the  relation  of  its  feveral  branches  to  each  other, 
and  particularly  to  Great  Britain  ? 

The  office  of  Infpedlor  General  of  Imports  and 
Exports,  committed  to  my  management,  exhibits  a 
flate  of  the  importations  into,  and  exportations  from. 
Great  Britain,  and  the  Britifli  Colonies  and  Iflands  in 
America  and  the  Weil  Indies,  and  of  all  the  revenues 
arilingfrom  our  commerce.  Accounts  are  tranfmitted 
to  the  office,  from  the  feveral  ports  of  Great  Britain 
and  the  colonies,  of  every  article  imported  into,  or 
exported  from,  fuch  ports,  diftinguifhing  our  trade 
with  each  refpedlive  country,  together  (in  as  far  as 
relates  to  our  Colonies)  with  the  number  of  vefTels, 
their  tonnage,  and  number  of  men  employed  in  the 
trade.  I  am  alfo  annually  furnifhed  (extra-officially 
for  a  fpecial  purpofe)  by  the  Regiller  General  of 
Shipping,  with  a  fimiiar  account  of  the  number  of 
vefTels,  their  tonnage,  and  number  of  men,  both 
Britifh  and  Foreign,  which  enter  and  clear  in  the 
ports  of  Great  Britain.  In  a  word,  the  Infpedor 
General's  office,  as  it  at  prefent  Hands,  exhibits  a 
complete  view  of  the  commerce,  navigation,  and 
commercial  revenues  of  the  Britifh  empire,  Ireland 
excepted.  I  am  the  more  particular  in  explaining 
the  nature  of  the  office,  in  order  that  it  may  appear 
from  what  fources  I  draw  any  information  which  I 
may  have  occafion  to  offer  to  the  Committee,  in  the 
courfe  of  the  fubfequent  examination. 

Did  you  ever  execute  any  other  office,  which  af- 
forded you  the  means  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of 
T  2  the 


'14^  W.  Indies.— America.  Irving. 

1791.   the  trade  of  the  Britiih  Colonies  in  America  and  the 
Weft  Indies  ? 

In  the  year  1767  I  was  appointed  Infpedor  General 
of  the  innports  and  exports  of  North  America,  and 
Regifter  of  Shipping,  which  offices  I  continued  to 
execute  until  the  year  1774,  when  I  was  appointed 
Receiver  General  of  South  Carolina,  and  a  Member 
of  the  Council. 

This  office  of  Infpedor  General  and  Regifter  of 
Shipping  in  North  America  furnifhed  me  with  the 
means  of  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
trade  and  navigation  carried  on  between  the  conti- 
nental Colonies  and  the  Britifti  Weft  India  lilands, 
and  the  books  and  papers  of  that  office  are  ftill  in 
my  pofleffion. 

Have  the  Britifh  Weft  India  iflands,  in  their  pre- 
fent  ftate,  the  means  of  furniftiing  the  fupply  of 
fugar  and  rum  that  is  requiftte  for  the  confumption 
of  Great  Britain  and  her  immediate  dependencies  ? 

The  Britifh  Weft  India  iflands  produce  annually  a 
greater  quantity  of  fugar  and  rum  than  is  requilite 
for  the  confumption  of  Great  Britain,  her  immediate 
dependencies,  and  the  kingdom  of  Ireland.  In  tefti- 
mony  of  this  fad  I  beg  leave  to  lay  before  the  Com- 
mittee the  paper  which  I  now  hold  in  my  hand, 
containing  an  account  of  the  quantity  of  Britifh 
plantation  fugar  imported  into,  and  exported  from. 
Great  Britain,  in  the  years  1772,  1773,  1774?  and 
1775,  and  in  the  years  1787,  1788,  1789,  and  1790. 
I  have  feledled  thofe  years  as  exhibiting  the  faireft 
ftate  of  the  produce  of  the  fugar  colonies;  for  in 
the  year  1776,  our  trade  began  to  meet  with  many 
interruptions  from  the  war  which  was  then  become 
general  on  the  continent  of  America :  and  I  am  of 
opinion,  that  the  iflands  did  not  recover  the  fhock 
which  they  had  fuftained  by  capture,  and  other  con- 
fequences  of  war,  fooner  than  about  the  year  1787. 

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W.Indies. — America.  Irving.  149 

Do  you  think  that  the  extention  of  the  Weft  India   1791. 
plantations  beyond  the  degree  that  is  requifite  for  ' 
fupplying  Great  Britain,  and  her  immediate  depen- 
dencies with   the  principal  articles  of  Weft  India 
produce,  would  materially  promote  the  intereft  of 
the  Britifti  empire  ? 

This  queftion  is  of  a  very  extenfive  nature,  and  is 
involved  in  a  variety  of  obje6ts  and  confiderations, 
commercial  and  political,  which  I  am  afraid  I  am 
incompetent  to  offer  an  opinion  uponj  more  efpeci- 
ally  in  the  prefent  debilitated  ftate  of  my  health, 
having  only  lately  recovered  from  a  dangerous  illnefs. 

The  Committee  informed  Mr.  Irving,  that  they 
did  not  wifti  that  he  fhould,  in  anfwering 
this,  or  any  other  queftion,  make  exertions 
to  the  prejudice  of  his  health,  and  that  he 
would  therefore  confine  himfelf  to  fuch  fads 
and  opinions  as  ftiail  readily  occur  to  him. 

The  Witnefs  then  proceeded  as  follows : 

The  extenfion  of  the  culture  of  the  Britifh  W.  India 
iflands,  beyond  that  degree  that  is  requifite  for  fup- 
plying Great  Britain  and  her  immediate  dependencies 
with  the  principal  articles  of  Weft  India  produce, 
does  not  appear  to  me  likely  to  promote  the  intereft 
of  the  Britifli  empire;  and  in  fupport  of  this  opinion, 
I  beg  leave  to  offer  the  following  reafons : 

The  Weft  India  iflands  have  been  fettled  upon  a 
fyftem  very  different  from  the  Britifti  Continental 
Colonies  (now  a  part  of  the  States  of  America).  I 
allude  to  the  colonies  which  are  cultivated  chiefly  by 
(laves ;  namely,  the  tobacco,  and  rice,  and  indigo 
colonies.  The  fettlement  of  thefe  colonies  v/as  un- 
dertaken upon  fmall  capitals,  and  the  increafe  of 
their  wealth  arofe  almoft  wholly  out  of  the  growing 
profits  of  the  induftry  of  the  proprietors ;  whereas 
our  iflands  in  the  Weft  Indies  have,  agreeable  to  the 
fyftem  hitherto  purfued,  been  fettled  and  extended 

by 


fjQ  W.Indies. — America,  iRvina^ 

1791,   by  means  of  large  capitals  drawn  from  the  mother 
*— v--'   country.     The  Ceded  Iflands  were  ahinoit  entirely- 
fettled  with  the  Britilh  capitals  ;  and  in  the  ifland  of 
Jamaica  large  fums  of  money  have  from  time  to  tirne 
been  borrowed  from  this  country  upon  mortgage, 
in  order  to  extend   the  cultivation  of  that  ifland. 
Thus  a  capital  to  a  great  amount,  which  might  hJve^ 
been  employed    in  carrying  on  and  extending  the 
manufadlures,    the   commerce,    and    agriculture  of 
Great  Britain,  has  been  transferred  from  hence  to 
the  mofb  vulnerable  part  of  the  empire;  and  there 
invefted  in  purfuits  which  do  not  appear  to  me  to 
have  been  produdive  of  a  profit  to  the  proprietor, 
or  of  advantages  to  the  public,  in  any  degree  ade- 
quate to  the  precarious  fituation  in  which  fueh  pro- 
perty ftands,  from  the  contingencies  of  climate,  the 
fate  of  war,  &c.     For  although  the  planter  refident 
on  the  fpot  will  moft  likely  abide  by  his  property 
whatever  change  of  government  he  may  be  fubjedled 
to,  yet  the  lofs  of  an  iiland  by  capture  is  a  complete 
lofs  of  fo  much  capital  to  the  empire.     Notwitli- 
ftanding  our  general  fuperiority  at  fea,  the  precarious 
tenure  on  which  v/e  hold  our  colonial  poiTefTions  was 
fufficiently  evinced  in  the  courfe  of  la(l  war.     Thir- 
teen great  provinces  feparated  themfelves  for  ever 
from  the  empire,  whereby  property  to  the  amount  of 
many  millions  was  lofl  to  the  inhabitants  of  Great 
Britain,  and  her  adherents.     The  provinces  of  Eafl 
and  Weft  Florida,  and  the  iiland  of  Tobago,  were 
ceded  to  Spain  and  France ;  and  the  iflands  of  St. 
Kitts,  Nevis,  Montferrat,  St.  Vincents,  Dominica, 
and  Grenada,  were  all  captured,  but  reftored  at  the 
peace. 

But  befides  the-  reafons  already  offered — the  impo- 
licy of  extending  the  cultivation  of  the  Weft  India 
iftands  beyond  the  degree  ftated  in  the  queftion,  is 
in  my  humble  opinion  ftrongly  marked  by  fome 
further  confiderations. 

Notwichftanding  whatever  may  be  the  difference 
between  the  Britilh  aad  Foreign  fugars  at  prefent,  or 

for 


Numb.  4; 


It 


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W.  Indies.-- -America.  Irving.  153 

for  thefe  two  or  three  years  pad,  fmce  the  diflurb-  1791. 
ances  in  France  began  to  convulfe  her  colonies ;  yet 
if  we  take  a  comparative  view  of  the  difference 
between  the  price  of  Britilh  and  Foreign  fugars,  even 
in  a  period  the  moft  favourable  to  the  Britilh  iflands, 
namely,  before  laft  war,  when  they  received  a  com- 
plete fupply  of  lumber  and  provifions  from  the  con- 
tinent of  America,  it  will  be  found  that  the  French 
fugars  were  fold  by  the  planters  from  20  to  30  per 
cent,  cheaper  than  the  Britifh  fugars  could  be  pur- 
chafed  in  our  iflands.  This  fad  I  ftate  from  the  in- 
formation whicn  I  received  time  after  time  from  the 
merchants  and  others  concerned  in  the  trade  between 
America  and  the  Weft  Indies,  when  1  executed  the 
office  of  Infpcdior  General  of  the  Imports  and  Ex- 
ports of  North  America;  and  I  was  the  more  mi- 
nute in  my  inquiries,  as  the  acquiring  information 
of  the  prices  of  the  feveral  commodities  imported 
into  and  exported  from  America  formed  a  part  of 
my  duty,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  eftablilh  a  table 
of  the  rates  of  value  for  the  ofRce.  But  as  a  further 
teilimony  of  the  Foreign  fugars  being  materially 
cheaper  than  the  Britidi,  I  take  the  liberty  of  pre- 
fenting  an  account  of  the  quantity  of  Britifh  and 
Foreign  fugars,  diftinguifhing  each,  imported  into 
our  colonies  in  North  America,  in  the  years  1769, 
1770,  177 1,  and  1772.  The  Committee  will  perceive 
by  this  account,  that  the  difference  between  the 
quantity  of  Britifh,  and  of  Foreign  fugars  imported, 
was  not  very  confiderable,  notwithftanding  that  the 
Foreign  fugars  were  clandeflinely  obtained  in  the 
French  iflands  by  our  traders,  which  enhanced  the 
price  in  proportion  to  the  rifque,  and  were  alfo  fub- 
je6l  to  a  duty  of  5s.  per  cwc.  on  importation  into 
America:  nor  were  our  traders  by  any  means  under 
the  necefficy  of  taking  thefe  foreign  fugars  in  ex- 
change for  merchandize;  for  they  were  chiefly  pur- 
chafed  with  cafli  which  they  received  for  their  lumber 
and  proviflons  fold  in  our  iflands.  I  am  the  more 
particular  in  ftating  the  difference  of  the  prices  be- 
U  2  tween 


1^4  W.  Indies*— America.  I  r  v  i  n  e. 

1791,  tween  the  Britifh  and  Foreign  fugars,  becaufe  I  con- 
ceive it  is  a  maxim  thoroughly  eftablifhed  in  national 
commerce,  that  it  is  unwife  to  pufh  forward  by  means 
of  monopolies,  rellridlive  regulations,  or  bounties, 
any  branch  of  commerce  or  manufadtures,  which 
cannot  be  carried  on,  after  a  fair  trial,  within  15  per 
cent,  of  the  prices  of  other  rival  countries :  and  I  am 
of  opinion  that  this  obfervation  will  ftri6lly  apply 
even  to  thofe  branches  of  commerce  from  which  the 
nation  is  fuppofed  to  derive  the  greatell  political 
advantages  from  the  fmalleft  capital  employed, 
namely,  our  fifheries.        ,  ^ 

The  money  expended  upon  Weft  India  eftates  is  in 
general  far  from  yielding  a  profitable  return,  and  in  this 
opinion  I  am  fupported  by  the  tefcimony  of  fome  of 
the  beft  informed  gentlemen  conneded  with  the  Weft 
Indies,  particulary  the  agent  for  Jamaica,  who  ftates, 
in  his  examination  before  the  Privy  Council,  that  the 
planters  throughout  that  ifland  do  not  make  more 
than  four  per  cent,  upon  their  capital  j  and  the  agent 
of  Barbadoes  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  "  That  after 
^^  payment  of  expenfes  and  plantation  loiTes,  even  a 
good  crop  does  not  leave  the  owner  more,  or  fo 
much  as  fix  per  cent,  the  intereft  of  the  iiland,  on 
his  capital."  Befides  the  return  to  the  proprietor, 
the  publick  certainly  derives  a  confiderable  profit 
from  the  freight  of  the  fugars,  and  the  cornmifTion 
paid  to  the  merchants  of  this  kingdom.  This  latter 
circumilance  1  perceive  is  upon  all  occafions  ftrongly 
urged  by  gentlemen  conneded  with  the  Weft  Indies  ; 
but  the  fame  national  profit  and  political  advantages 
appear  to  me  to  apply  lefs  or  more  to  every  other 
branch  of  our  foreign  commerce,  and  in  many  in- 
llances  to  our  internal  manufa61:ures.  Indeed,  the 
teftimony  of  the  Weft  India  gentlemen,  which  ftates, 
that  the  capital  invefted  in  the  Weft  India  eftates  is 
far  from  yielding  a  profitable  return,  is  ftrongly  con- 
lirmed  by  the  account  which  I  now  beg  leave  to  lay 
before  the  committee.  By  this  account  it  appears 
that  the  principal  article  cultivated  in  the  Y/eft  Indies 

liaSj 


I 


An  ACCOUNT  of  the  (Quantity  of  Sugars,   being  Brkifh  Plantation  Produce,  imported  into  Great  Britain  in  the  following 
Years  ;  diftinguifhing  each  Year,  and  each  Ifland  from  whence  imported. 


1772. 

>773- 

1774- 

'775- 

1787. 

1788. 

1789. 

1790. 

Cwts. 

IS.  lbs 

Cv/ts.        cirs.  lbs. 

Cwts.        qrs.  lbs. 

Cwts.         qrs,   lbs. 

Cwts.         qrs.  lbs. 

Cwts.       (ji-s.  lbs. 

Cwts.        qrs. 

lbs. 

Cwts.       qls.  lbs. 

Antigua    -     - 

115,364 

I  23 

83,965       1   20 

Z35^8'S     «  23 

255,861        1    26 

254,57s       I    18 

181,813      2  — 

144,204  — 

II 

65,022       1    26 

Anguilla  -     - 

— 

— 

— 

—        — 

1,298 

2,129      2    16 

3,728       I       2 

3     2 

12 

2,150       2     18 

Barbadoes 

141,341 

i     3 

iiO;9H     2    4 

139,564     I     3 

70,181        1    25 

130,242    —    16 

110,955    —    19 

97,389     2 

27 

113,038       3    21 

Dominica 

ic,370 

2     S 

26,705     1    5 

53,464    2  12 

40,683       I     21 

58,665       I    pi 

47,610       I    24 

34,709     3 

5 

50,036    —    23 

Grenada    -     - 

198,362 

2     5 

202,679 

185,542    —    10 

199,824       I     23 

172,880    ,  9 

193,783    —    25 

164.338     3 

9 

191,625     I     6 

Jamaica     -     - 

874,560 

1   20 

1,057,958  —  23 

947,073     I     I 

995,387       2     18 

824,706      2    |!5 

1,124,017    —   44 

1,236,603     I 

27 

1,185,519      2      7 

St.  Kite's 

220,716 

2     14 

110,657    3    3 

212,267    —15 

206,049       3    17 

231,397     2  :iz 

187,379       I    25 

89.755     I 

23 

113,379       1     16 

65,125 

.1     ?b 

30,369     1  20 

68,408  -    9 

•50,488    —    10 

72,475   I  1" 

30,050       I       4 

28,151     3 

35.467     3     I 

Montferrat     - 

58,008 

2    — 

33,77&  —  21 

47.590     3     9 

39,327       2       9 

3  5,^9     3  JO 

25,113    —    13 

25,089     2 

16 

19,186     .3    24 

St.  Vincent    - 

S5'9°9 

I    1 8 

61,084  —  »8 

65,177  —  17 

54,071       2    16 

64,449     1  |z7 

76,735       2    24 

81,283  — 

18 

76,747     2     I 

34,660 

—     3 

30,126     3  24 

33,962     3     4 

38,665     z     7 

78,749     I     6 

84,513        3     22 

33,704  — 

23 

29,830     I   14 

Tobago     -     - 

13,625 

z  21 

H.«S3     3  '7 

27,045     2  24 

50,3X5       2      4 

~         ~ 

_             „ 

—         _ 

Total      - 

1,786,045 

-     1 

1,762,387     3  ,5 

2,015,911      I    15 

2,002,224     3     8 

1,926,121  —     3 

2,065,700    12 

1,935,223     2 

21 

1,882,005  —  17 

Average  of  the  Annual  Pro- 
duce of  tiie  firft  Period. 

Cwts.       qrs.     lb. 
1,891,642       I       — 

Average  of  the  Annual  Pro- 
duce of  the  laft  Period. 

Cwts.       qrs.     lb. 
1,952,262     —     — 

Increafe  in  the  laft  Period. 
Cwts.     qrs.     lb. 
60,620    —    — equal  to 
.about  4,040  HogQieads, 


£To  face  page  154.] 


W.Indies — America.  Irving.  155 

has,  in  point  of  quantity,  been  in  a  great  meafure  fta-  1791. 
tionary  for  thefe  twenty  years,  and  yet  there  is  no 
part  of  the  empire  in  which  property  ftands  in  a  more 
favoured  footing.  Prohibitory  laws  were  early  made 
tending  to  force  the  confumption  of  Weft  India  pro- 
duce upon  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  and  the 
other  fubjedts  of  the  empire,  whereby  the  proprietors 
of  the  iilands  obtained  (and  ftill  retain)  a  complete 
monopoly  of  our  markets  at  a  very  confiderable  ex- 
penfe  to  the  Britifh  confumer,  as  appears  by  the  dif- 
ference of  the  prices  between  the  Britifh  and  the  fo- 
reign iflands. 

In  our  colonies  in  America,  in  oi-der  to  encourage 
our  iilands,  the  ufe  of  foreign  rum  is  abfolutely  pro- 
hibited, foreign  coffee  is  fubjed:  to  a  duty  of  two 
pounds  nineteen  fhillings  per  cwt.  whiift  Britidi  is 
chargeable  with  a  duty  of  feven  ihillings  ;  and  foreign 
fugars,  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  pay  a  duty  on 
importation  into  the  continent  of  five  ihiilings  per 
cwt.  and  into  this  kingdom  one  pound  feven  fliillings 
and  twopence,  which  is  fourteen  iliillings  and  tenpence 
per  cwt.  more  than  the  Britilli  fugars.  The  whole 
duties  impofed  upon  Britifli  fugars  are  drawn  back 
vipon  exportation,  and  refined  fugars  are  entitled  to 
a  bounty,  when  exported,  of  twenty-fix  fhillings  per 
cwt.  which  exceeds  the  duty  colleded  upon  the  raw 
material  three  or  four  fhillings.  In  order  to  give 
the  planters  a  more  extenfive  market  for  the  fale  of 
their  prcduce,  fugars  were,  by  the  i2tli  of  Geo.  II. 
taken  out  of  the  lift  of  enumerated  commodities,  and 
the  exportation  of  them  permitted  to  all  parts  fouth 
of  Cape  Finifterre,  in  Europe. 

The  evidence  upon  the  part  of  the  Weft  India 
planters,  before  the  Committee  of  Privy  Council,  ftate 
many  natural  advantages  v/hich  the  foreign  i Hands 
poilefs,  as  reafons  why  our  iflands  will  never  be  able 
to  enter  into  a  competition  in  point  of  price  with 
the  foreign  plantations. 

For  thofe,   and   the   reafons  which  I  have  had  the 
honour  upon  this  occafion  of  fubmitting  to  the  Com- 
mittee, 


t^S  W,  Indies. — America,  Irving. 

1791.  mittee,  I  am  of  opinion,  that  however  ju ft  and  pro- 
per it  may  be  to  encourage  our  own  iflands  to  the 
extent  of  fupplying  ourfeives,  and  thereby  doing 
that  juftice  to  the  proprietors  of  eftates  there  which 
they  confider  themfelves  entitled  to ;  yet  the  extenfion 
of  the  cultivation  of  thofe  iilands  beyond  that  degree 
that  is  requifite  for  fupplying  Great  Britain  and  her 
immediate  dependencies,  v/ith  the  principal  articles 
of  their  produce,  is  by  no  means  likely  to  promote 
the  interefts  of  the  em.pire ;  becaufe  from  the  great 
difparity  of  price  between  the  Britifh  and  Foreign 
fugars,  the  former  cannot  be  made  an  objed  of  ex- 
port by  any  other  means  than  by  that  deftrudtive 
fyflem  of  policy  which  has  been  too  much  adopted 
in  fome  other  branches  of  our  commerce,  namely, 
the  granting  of  bounties  out  of  the  Exchequer,  in 
order  to  enable  the  Britifh  exporter  to  ftand  rhe 
competition  of  prices  in  the  foreign  market.  It  is 
a  dangerous  principle  to  force  commerce  and  manu- 
faftures  like  fruit  raifed  on  a  hot  bed.  In  fuch 
cafes,  the  capital  and  the  induftry  of  the  individual 
are  too  often  drawn  from  objedts  of  profit,  to  purfuits 
which  can  only  be  carried  on  by  the  aid  of  the  na- 
tional purfe. 

Do  you  think,  that  by  a  proper  attention  to  the 
breeding  of  (laves  in  the  Britifh  Weil  India  iflands, 
fuch  a  number  of  fiaves  may  be  obtained  and  kept 
up,  without  the  aid  of  importation  from  Africa,  as 
will  be  lufiicient  to  raife  the  Weil  India  produce  that 
is  requifite  for  the  fupply  of  Great  Britain  and  her 
immediate  dependencies  ? 

I  have  long  been  of  opinion,  that  by  proper  atten- 
tion to  the  breeding  of  fiaves,  the  ftock  might  be 
kept  up  in  the  Britifh  Weft  India  iflands,  vv^ithout  the 
aid  of  importation  from  Africa.  I  beg  leave,  how- 
ever, to  be  underftood,  that  this  meafure  is  not  like- 
ly, in  my  judgment,  to  be  effeded  by  putting  an' 
immediate  ftop  to  the  importations,  but  by  adopting 

fucii- 


W.  Indies^ — America;         '     Irving,  157 

fuch  a  fyftem  of  policy  as  will  gradually  do  away  1791. 
the  necelTity  for  importation,  c«xv^ 

Prior  to  the  late  war,  the  provifions  for  feeding  the 
flaves  were  chiefly  imported  from  North  America,  the 
attention  of  the  planters  being  almoft  wholly  dire6bed 
to  what  is  called  the  crop,  namely,  fugars,  &c.  and  as 
thefe  provifions  were  bought  at  a  confiderable  expenfe, 
the  planters  did  not  confider  it  their  intereft  to  encou- 
rage the  breeding  of  flaves  at  the  expenfe  of  feeding 
them  ten  or  twelve  years  before  they  were  capable, 
by  the  produce  of  their  labour  in  the  cane  walks,  to 
fupport  themfelves.  Hence  grown  flaves,  whole 
labour  can  be  brought  into  immediate  efledl:,  were, 
and  fl:ill  continue  to  be,  imported  from  the  coafl:  of 
Africa ;  and  of  thefe  a  greater  proportion  of  males 
than  females. 

If  a  different  fyfl:em  of  policy  were  adopted  with 
refped:  to  the  cultivation  of  the  plantations  in  the 
Wefl:  Indies,  and  which  fyfl:em  I  have  many  reafons 
for  thinking  would  be  attended  with  advantage  to 
the  planters  themfelves :  I  am  perfuaded  a  fuflicient 
number  of  flaves  might  be  bred  at  leafl:  to  keep  up 
the  prefent  ftock ;  I  allude  to  the  cultivating  of  a 
proportion  of  land  fuflicient  to  fupply  the  negroes 
with  proviflons,  in  which  the  little  flaves,  from  fevem 
years  old  and  upwards,  might  be  ufeful.  In  that 
part  of  America  where  I  was  refident,  and  which  was 
cultivated  as  much  by  negroes  as  the  Wefl:  Indies, 
the  breeding  of  flaves  was  confldered  fo  advantageous, 
that  the  planter  generally  valued  a  child  on  the  day 
of  its  birth  at  five  pounds.  The  prevailing  opinion, 
to  the  befl  of  my  recolledion,  in  South  Carolina,  at 
that  time  was,  that  the  increafed  population  of  flaves 
by  birth  was  from  two  to  ten  per  cent,  and  yet  the 
climate  of  Carolina,  particularly  of  the  rice  planta- 
tions, is^  I  believe,  more  hoftile  to  the  human  con- 
fl:itution  than  any  part  of  the  Wefl:  Indies. 

In  order  gradually  to  check  the  importation  of 
negroes  from  the  coafl:  of  Africa,  I  would  fubmit  that 
a  flight  duty,  in  the  firfl:  infl:ance,  fliould  be  laid  upon 

all 


15S  W.  Indies — America^  Irving, 

1 79 1,  a^l  flaves  imported;  the  duty  impofed  on  males  t6 
V,  y.^  be  confiderably  higher  than  upon  females ;  or  per- 
haps that  the  latter  fhould  for  a  tirrie  be  imported 
free ;  and  that  the  rate  of  this  duty  fhould  be  pro- 
greffively  increafed  as  the  means  fhould  be  provided 
of  fupplying  the  deficiency  which  this  check  would 
give  to  the  importation.  And  in  order  to  encourage 
the  raifing  of  plantation  born  flaves,  and  cultivating 
provifions  for  their  fupport,  which  latter  circumftance 
1  confider  to  be  materially  conneded  with  the  breed- 
ing of  the  negroes,  I  would  propofe  that  the  produce 
of  the  duties  collected  upon  (laves  imported  from  the 
coafl;  of  Africa  Ihould  be  applied  as  bounties  for 
promoting  the  above  purpofes.  The  raifing  of  pro- 
vifions in  fome  of  the  iilands,  would,  no  doubt,  be 
lefs  advantageous  than  others ;  but  I  am  of  opinion, 
that  the  cultivation  of  a  fufficient  quantity  for  the 
ufe  of  the  flaves  would  be  profitable  and  politick* 
Anterior  to  the  late  war,  the  negroes  in  the  Weft  Indies 
depended  in  a  great  degree  for  their  fupply  of  food 
on  the  continent  of  America.  When  the  difturbances 
broke  out,  this  fource  of  fupply  was  at  once  cut  off, 
and  the  importations  from  Europe,  through  capture3 
at  fea  and  other  caufes,  were  rendered  very  precari- 
ous. The  planters,  thus  impelled  by  necefiity,  were 
obliged  to  deviate  from  their  former  fyftem,  and  to 
turn  their  attention  more  towards  raifing  provifion 
upon  their  own  eftates.  The  good  effedls  of  this 
plan  has  been  fo  forcibly  felt,  that  the  importation 
of  Indian  corn,  which  may  emphatically  be  ftiled  the 
bread  of  life,  with  refped  to  the  food  of  the  flaves, 
is  reduced  from  about  600,000  bufnels,  the  quan- 
'  tity  annually  imported  before  the  war,  to  fomewhat 
under  300,000  bufhels,  the  medium  importation  of  the 
laft  three  years  5  and  peafe,  &c.  in  a  fimilar  propor- 
tion. In  a  political  fenfe,  I  conceive  that  no  coun- 
try capable  of  producing  corn  to  feed  itfelf,  ought 
to  be  dependent  upon  any  other  for  any  article  which 
it  cannot  do  without,  even  for  a  day. 

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W,  Indies.— America-  Irving.  159 

If  the  Britifh  Weft  India  iHands  fhould  in  future  1791. 
raife  a  quantity  of  provifions  fufficient  to  feed  the  ^-^-v^^ 
flavesj  in   what  manner  do  you  think  the  planters 
would  be  enabled  to  difpofe  of  that  part  of  their 
rum  and  molafles,  which  is  at  prefent  fuppofed  to  be 
applied  to  the  purchafing  of  provifions  ? 

Before  I  reply  to  this  queftion,  I  beg  leave  to  lay 
before  the  Committee  an  account  of  the  quantity  of 
rum  and  molafles  exported  from  the  Britifh  Weft 
India  iflands,  to  all  parts,  for  the  three  years  pre- 
ceding the  5th  of  January,  1790,  which  is  the  lateft 
period  to  which  the  account  can  be  made  up. 

The  quantity  of  provifions  fuitable  for  feeding  of 
the  flaves  raifed  in  the  Britifh  Colonies  in  North 
America  is  very  inconfiderable,  and  the  barrelled 
mackrel  and  other  fifti  exported  from  thofe  Colonies 
to  the  Weft  Indies,  would  almoft  in  any  event  be 
in  demand,  more  efpecially  as  it  is  now  fufHcientiy 
proved,  that  the  produce  of  the  Britifti  Herring 
Fifliery  is  far  from  being  equal  to  the  demand  of  our 
iflands.  The  Continental  Colonies  would,  therefore, 
be  very  little  affected  by  any  change  of  fyftem  in 
raifing  provifions  for  the  negroes  in  the  Weft  Indies; 
and  fo  far  from  its  being  probable  that  the  demand 
for  rum  in  thefe  Colonies  is  likely  to  be  leflened  m 
future,  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  confumption  will 
increafe  in  proportion  to  the  growing  population  of 
the  country. 

By  the  account  which  I  have  juft  now  laid  before 
the  Committee,  it  appears  that  upon  a  medium  of 
three  years,  about  1,500,000  gallons  of  rum  have 
been  taken  off  by  the  fubjeds  of  the  United  States; 
which  rum,  including  the  freight,  as  it  can  be  only 
imported  in  Britifti  bottoms,  may  be  valued  at  about 
3s.  3d.  fterling  per  gallon  in  America ;  the  total  value 
at  that  rate  would  be^. 243, 750.  This  fum  is  by  no 
means  more  than  equal  to  the  purchafing  of  lumber, 
flour,  and  other  articles  which  have  little  or  no  con- 
nexion with  the  food  of  the  (laves.  In  a  long  exa- 
mination which  I  underwent  before  the  Lords  of  the 
X  2  Committee 


i6o  W.  Indies. — America.  Irving. 

1791.  Committee  of  Privy  Council,  in  the  year  1784; 
relating  to  the  opening  an  intercourfe  between  the 
States  of  America  and  the  Britifh  Weft  Indies,  I  had 
occafion  to  look  very  minutely  into  the  nature  and 
value  of  the  articles  which  the  Weft  Indies  receive 
from  the  States,  and  into  thofe  which  the  States  take 
in  return  from  the  iflands,  and  it  then  appeared  to 
me,  (and  nothing  has  fince  occurred  to  alter  my 
opinion)  that  the  Weft  India  planters  will  always  find 
a  fufficient  demand  for  their  rum. 

The  quantity  of  melafles  exported  from  our  iflands 
is  too  inconiiderable  to  merit  notice. 

If  a  fufficiency  of  flaves  for  the  culture  of  the 
Britilh  Weft  India  fettlements  ftiould  be  raifed 
within  thofe  fettlements,  do  you  think  that  the  di- 
minution of  Britifli  exports  to  Africa,  which  may 
be  the  confequence  of  fuch  a  change,  would  be 
materially  prejudicial  to  the  manufadluring  interefts 
of  Great  Britain  ? 

I  feel  more  diffidence  in  anfwering  this  queftion 
than  any  of  the  preceding,  as  nothing  is  more  difR« 
cult  to  forefee  than  the  confequences  that  may  arife 
from  any  alteration  of  fyftem  in  a  trade  long  eftab- 
liftied.  Cafting,  however,  a  retrofpedive  eye  to  the 
effed  which  the  changes  in  other  branches  of  our 
commerce  have  undergone  in  the  courfe  of  public 
events,  and  comparing  the  probable  confequences 
which  may  take  place  in  the  cafe  in  queftion,  by 
thofe  which  experience  has  afforded  an  opportunity 
of  determining  upon,  I  fhall  fubmit  fuch  ideas  as 
occur  to  my  weak  judgment,  as  to  the  tendency  that 
a  probable  diminution  of  the  Britifh  exports  to  the 
Coaft  of  Africa,  in  confequence  of  the  change  pro- 
pofed,  is  likely  to  have  on  the  manufad:uring  in- 
terefts of  this  kingdom. 

The  medium  value  of  the  Britifh  manufadlures 
exported  to  Africa,  chiefly  for  the  purpofe  of  pur^ 
chafing  flaves,  amounts  to  about  ^^,400,000  a  year, 
agreeable  to  the  rates  of  value  in  the  Infpedor  Ge- 

neral'sij 


W.  Indies.— "America^  Irving,  i6i 

neral's  books;  but  I  mention  with  regret,  that  from  1791. 
the  loofe  manner  in  which  the  entries  of  free  goods  »— v*-» 
are  made  in  the  Cuflom-houfe,  the  Infpedor  Gene- 
ral's value  of  fuch  goods  is  not  abfolutely  to  be  re- 
lied upon,  and  therefore  the  value  of  the  exports  to 
Africa  may  have  been  lefs  or  more ;  however,  the 
Committee  will  pleafe  to  obferve,  that  in  the 
^^.400,000,  I  include  the  value  of  the  goods  ex- 
changed for  gold  duftj  ivory,  cam  and  redwood, 
gum,  drugs,  &c.  imported  from  Africa,  either  di- 
redly  into  Great  Britain,  or  through  the  circuitous 
paflage  of  the  Weft  Indies. 

An  immediate  ftop  being  put  to  our  exports  to 
Africa,  would  doubtlefs  be  felt  in  a  very  considerable 
degree  by  thofe  artificers,  who  are  at  prefent  em- 
ployed in  manufacturing  goods  for  that  branch  of 
our  export  trade;  becaufe  they  would  find  the  chan- 
nels through  which  their  induftry  paiTed  to  a  market 
fhut  up  before  they  had  time  to  turn  their  attention, 
labour,  and  capital  to  other  purfuits.  It  was  not  lefs 
with  a  view  to  this  obje6l,  than  to  the  confequences 
which  the  planters  in  the  Weft  Indies  might  ex- 
perience by  their  being  at  once  deprived  of  their 
ufual  fupply  of  flaves,  that  I  took  the  liberty  of 
fuggefting  the  crude  ideas  offered  in  my  anfwer  to 
the  preceding  queftion. 

In  cafes  of  war  breaking  out,  and  being  of  long 
continuance  with  countries  with  which  we  had  been 
in  habits  of  carrying  on  commercial  intercourfe,  tem- 
porary inconveniences  are  doubtlefs  experienced,  but 
not  to  the  extent  which  theoretical  reafoning  would 
induce  us  to  imagine.  The  enterprife  of  our  mer- 
chants foon  difcovers  frefh  means  of  vending  the  pro- 
duce of  the  labour  of  our  manufadurers.  The  fupe- 
rior  capital,  ingenuity,  induftry,  and  integrity  of  the 
Britifli  artificer,  will  ever  command  a  market  for  the 
produce  of  his  induftry.  The  late  revolution  in 
America,  affords  ftriking  proofs  of  the  juftice  of  this 
obfervation.  With  the  independence  of  thefe  ftates, 
it  was  very  generally  apprehended,  that  Great  Britain 

would 


i6z  W.  Indies. — America.  Irving. 

179 1,  would  alfo  lofe  the  benefit  of  their  commerce;  but 
experience  has  proved  the  fallacy  of  that  opinion. 
The  exports  of  our  native  manufadtures  to  that  part 
of  the  world,  inftead  of  being  leiTened  fince  the  fe- 
paration  of  the  two  countries,  are  increafed  -,  and  as  a 
proof  of  the  delufion  of  the  idea,  that  the  employ- 
ment of  the  capital  of  this  country  has  for  fome  time 
paft  been  at  its  ne  plus  ultra,  I  beg  leave  to  inform 
the  Committee,  that  the  value  of  Britifh  manufac- 
tures exported  from  this  country  of  late,  exceeds  that 
of  the  mofl  flourifhing  period  before  the  late  war, 
when  the  laws  of  trade  confined  thofe  colonies,  which 
now  conftitu^ce  the  American  States,  in  their  fupply 
of  merchandize  to  Great  Britain,  the  fum  of  upwards 
of  ^2,500,000  annually  ;  and  that  our  fhipping  has 
alfo  increafed  between  two  and  three  hundred  thou- 
fand  tons,  over  that  v/hich  the  empire  pofTeiTed  when 
the  American  States  formed  a  part  of  its  dominions. 
Nor  has  this  great  increafe  of  trade  and  navigation 
arifen  from  any  fpecial  or  temporary  caufe,  for  ic 
will  appear  by  the  books  of  my  office,  that  the  value 
of  our  exports  has  been  gradually  increafing  every 
year  fince  the  late  war. 

For  the  fad:s  and  reafons  which  I  have  thus  fet 
forth,  I  am  under  no  apprehenfions  that  a  gradual 
check  to  the  importation  of  flaves  would  materially 
afFed:  the  manufaduring  interefts  of  this  country. 

Do  you  not  know  the  price  of  fugars  has  doubled 
in  Great  Britain  within  the  laft  eighteen  years  ? 

I  believe  the  price  of  fugars  in  Great  Britain  is 
very  confiderably  increafed  within  the  lad  eighteen 
years  ;  but  to  what  amount  I  am  not  prepared  to  give 
an  anfwer.  A  confiderable  addition  has  been  made 
within  that  period,  to  the  rate  of  duties  upon  fugars, 
which  will  confequently  increafe  the  price;  and  I 
am  inclined  to  think,  that  the  prices  at  prefent,  and 
for  two  or  three  years  pati,  have  been  materially  af- 
feded,  as  I  have  already  obferved,  by  the  diilurbances 
in  the  French  illands. 

Po 


W.  Indies — America,  Irving.  163 

Do  you  not  think,  if  a  more  ample  fupply  of  fu-    1791. 
gar  were  fent  from  the  Weft  Indies  to  Great  Britain, 
that  the  price  in  the  home  market  would  decreafe  ? 

I  have  already  informed  the  Committee,  that  the 
Britilh  Weft  India  iQands^  in  their  prefent  fituation, 
raife  a  quantity  of  fugar  more  than  adequate  to  the 
confumption  of  the  whole  Britifli  empire.  If  the 
quantity  of  fugars  in  the  Britilh  Weft  India  iflands 
were  confiderably  increafed,  fuch  increafc  might  pro- 
bably have  fome  efFe(5l  in  lowering  the  prices  to  the 
Britilh  confumer;  but  the  natural  confequence  mull 
be  a  diminution  in  the  price  to  the  Weft  India  plant- 
er, which  would  tend  greatly  to  difcourage  him  in 
the  extenfion  of  his  plantation. 

Do  you  not  believe,  that  the  confumption  of  fu- 
gar, and  confequently  the  revenue  arifing  from  that 
article,  would  increafe  very  confiderably  if  the  prices 
were  lower  ? 

I  conceive  I  have  already  anfwered  this  queftion. 


S^  Should  any  errors  have  crept  into  the  foregoing 
Work^  it  is  hoped  they  will  be  cafididly  at^ 
trihuted  to  their  true  caiife — the  want  of 
time  to  corre&  the  prefs. 


FINIS.