PERKINS LIBRARY Duke University Ivare Dooks LIBRARY 1 ^ /^ -^^W^r^ /^y^ Xn^ (rr^^^^-€^^^ y^ c^ A B R I D G N T . OF THE MINUTES OF THE EV1E)ENCE, \ TAKEN BEFORE'A COMMirrEE OF THE l^HOLE HOUSE. J? uic. 0/boston\^^ PUBLIC I TO WHOM IT WAS REFERRED TO CONSIDER OF TI\E^V; IBRARY ,4 SLAVE-TRADE, 1790. Witnefs Examined — James Frazer, 1790. P. 3. P. 4. Has been 20 years in the African flave trade — Part II. went out firft as fecond mate, afterwards as chief" mate, till 1772, when he became commander. Has made (from Briftol) 4 voyages to the coaft of Angola, I to New Calabar, 5 to Bonny, i to the windward and gold coall — a part of a voyage to the windward coaft, where h§ was captured — another voyage to the windward coaft, drove from thence by a man of war — went to Angola, where, having pur- chafed half her cargo, returned and completed it upon the windward coaft. In his firft and fecond voyages as mafter, to An- gola, he relided on (hore on Melimba hill — 3 months the firft, and in the fecond voyage 7 months. The government is monarchical at Melimba, Ca- benda, Loango, and at different other places he has heard — each of which are governed by diftind: mo- narchs — whofe audiority, however, is frequently op- pofed by the principal officers. Numb. 2, A " Thefe f Africav ". ^ Frazer. T 700. Thefe officers have the power of life and dcath^^- Part II. t^cy punifli fometimcs 'oy mutilation, but com- *— -V — ' moiily adjudge the convict to be fold. (P. 6.) When fentence is paifed, the perfon in whofe fa- vour it is given is generally obliged to put it in exe- cution ; and when he cannot, he has often no other redrefs. in fome cafes the convid: is fined — the fine going to the judge. V^allals flying from one diftriift, to put' thcmfelves nndcr the protcclion of a mailer in another, often occafion petty wars — private feuds between particu- lar families, continued from father to fon, are ano- rher fource of war. Many other caufes provoke war between the principal men of the country, which th& king has not power always to controul. The number of freemen in the country is propor- tionally fmall— many find it unfafe to be free — and for protedion, becom.e voluntary vaffals, or flaves, to a great man. There are a certain defcription of flaves, who, by the laws of the country, cannot be fcnt out of it ; but may be transferred from one mailer to another, within the country. P. 6.- The crimes cognizable by thefe judges are :— Blood drawn in any quarrel — abule of men in power, by curling in a mode peculiarly offenfive in that country — arjiiltery — poifoning and witchcraft ; in the latter cafe, after a fummary examination — the ac- cufed fometimes farther tried by ordeal, taking pills and a drink, adminiftered by the Feticke dodor — The doctor, it is fuppofed, according as he is paid, fo compofing thofe pilb, as to have a favourable or unfavourable eflfeft — iftheaccufed is found guilty, the magiftrate pronounces fentence— to be fold, or put to death, if the convidi: is of the lower or middling rank ; and a heavy fine upon fuch as they cannot compel to undergo the trial perfonally, but who do it by deputy, and who are too poweiful to be reduced to flavery. Having acquired their larg;uage in a great Africa. Frazer. Aiz-a. X great meafure, he has fometimes attended one of 1790. thefe trials for 1 2 hours. Part IJ. The families of the perfons fold become the flaves ' — v— ^ of the accufer. The fines are paid, eidier in flaves, a P. 7. common medium of payment in purchafes of large value, or in goods, or in the proper money ot the country (which is a grafs cloth). Has undcriiood, that debts of long ftanding have, P. 8. by order of die magiilrate, been adjudged to be paid •fcven fold, agi "eabie to cuflom. Debtors urablc to pay are liable firft to have their fiacres feized — then their children — their women next T— .ind laftly themfclves, if the debt Itill remains un- fatisiicd. Cannot fpeak to his own knowledge of any human Xacrifices in this part of Africa. Tiie national produdions of Angola are, caflada, caiavances, plantanes, bananas, a few yams, a few fweet potatoes, pumpkins, water melons, Indian corn, tobacco, and, tliough he never faw any, there mull be fome cotton, as they make a fort of cloths like what are made in the Portuguefe iflands, but of no value in trade — having been long abfent from that country, cannot particularize any other articles. A little tobaCco is produced on the banks of the river Ambris (after being fertilized by the inundation in the rainy feafons) with very little labour. Has heard of partial famines in that country, and felt the effefts of them fometimes — in not being able to purchafe fufficient country provifions for the flaves — thefe may be occafioned by a failure in the rainy p^ g, feafons, but oftener by the indolence of the natives ; and, perhaps, by the impoflibility of preventing their crops from being ftolen. The people are profelTed thieves. Every article of cultivation in that country has been by the women. Europeans, trading on the coaft of Angola for jlaves, have fadlories on fliore at Melimba, Cabenda, and Loango — to which the people from the interior A 2 parts del 993 4 Africa. Frazer. • 1790. parts bring down flavcs, a journe}' of one, two, and Part II. lometimes three months— thofe they barter for goods, •— V — ' and fometimes return with freib flaves in a month or fix weeks. Thofe brought for fale to thofe faftories are com- monly of three nations — the Majumbas, fuppofed to come from a tradt of land htuated from thfe cqui- 'noxial line, to the latitude of 3 or 4 degrees fouth — the Congoes, from the kingdom of Congo, fup- pofed to extend from 5I to 7 degrees fouth — the Madungocs, from the interior part of the country, and are a long time in coming down to the coaft ; they are fuppofed to be Canibals, and, when the queftion has been put to them, if they ear one ano- ther in their country, they owned it, faying it was the fweetefb flefh they knew — Of the the Madungoes, fevy are brought for iale. As to the Congoes and Majunibas, he generally vinderftood that the black traders bought them in ihe country ; and fometimes they were brought down for Pi 10. fale by the original proprietors. The number from thofe two countries are nearly equal, wi^h this dif- ference, that when a war fubfifts in either country, there are feldom any flaves brought from the country at war. Either from the attention of the natives be- ing by that means diverted from every other objeft, or that the merchants find it dangerous to travel through the country at the time, war is carried on b}? ambufh and furprife, rather than by pitched battle P. II. in the open field. The captives thus made, are fold, and he has had their friends come and redeem fuch as he had bough? fome weeks after. Numbers of flaves are obtained in this way, though but few fold to him ; and the proportion of fuch fold to Europeans, fmall upon thq whole, compared to what there may be, upon fome other parts of the coaft. Thinks the greater part fold at Angola were born flaves, bccaufe they appear generally cheerful and contented, and feldom exprefs any refentment againfl tliofc Africa. Trazer. f thofe who fold them. Some Congo princes fold him 1790. fome of their own il;ives— and one of them in parti- Part II. cular fold him one of his wives (p. 10.) — People of u-— v— ^ Angola have as many wives as they can afford. — There may be a greater proportion of convids among p the Haves fold there than can poffibly be known, as they all fay they were honeft, and knew not for what they were fold. Does not know of any ilaves ob- tained by Europeans, by force or fraud. He has been applied to by fome principal men of the coun- try to affifl in feizing as a flave, a perfon who, tl.ey faid, was condemned for crimes, and had armed himfclf in defence — but he had always refuted. Be- lieves (though he has not known any) that cafes have happened among the natives of kidnapping each other — the offender, in fuch cafe, if difcovercd, would be feverely punilhed, as well by the friends of the perfon llolcn, as by the fovcrcign of the countrv, (p. 9.) The black traders come to the forts attended by fome of the people on the coaft as brokers. They examine minutely the goods tlmt are offered them, and if fatis- ficd with the quantity and quality, the bargain is .completed. In cafes where the aflbrtment of goods has not pleafed them, or where the Haves have been refufed by the Europeans — has known them fell a few p. j^, to the people on the coafl, at very low prices, and carry the rell back — has fcen them fomctimes beat and threaten the refufe ilaves,v;ho appeared always anxious to be fold with the reff. Thofe of them who were young did not fcem to be under the fame apprehen- lions as the old ; from whence he concluded the latter to be criminals, under fear of fome fort of puniflimenr. Ships ufually give long notice on the coaft of their intention to fail — the notice-given, is loofmg the fore- tops fail at fun rifing, and tiring a gun. — Suppofes this notice is underftood even by the flaves on board, as well as by the natives — the flaves appear gene- rally impatient to leave the coaft. — ^The hour of fail- ing, is indifferently in the day or night, as the wind Terves. Thjn^cs 281993 .$ Africa. Frazeh. 1700. Thinks there is a trade in flaves carried on be- Part II. t^'c^" Angola and the eallern parts of Africa. y~~..y,^-^ Confiders the pradlice of taking Pawns as a very JP. 14. bad one — it prevails ac Angola, the windward coaft, and believes at other places — but kldom at Bonny. People will pawn iheir flaves, children, or other rela-. tions, to procure goods — lome of the great men, will,. perhaps, in a fit of paflion, order fome of their friends to be Ibid— thofe who are obliged to put this order in ]P. jc, execution, will fometimes deliver the perfon as a pawn, taking his value in return — putting it thus in the powei of the maRer to redeem the pawn. Captains of (hips are fometirnes detained 2 or 3 days after they are ready to fail, waiting for the redemp- tion of the pawns left with them — which, when the friends are unable to do, they will borrow ilaves for that purpofe frcm another veflel that is to remain a longer time upon the coaft, and pawn them anew — has known epidemical diftempers conveyed by this means from Qiip to (hip, to the deftruCtion of many^ flaves. Fawns arc always confidered as Haves iinttl redeemed, and when their friends refufe or are unable to redeem them, they are carried off and fold — has fometimes been defired by pawns to carry thetn away, rather than theyUiould be fliifxed from (hip to (hip upon the coafl:. p. 16. Uied to be dayly on fliore for 2 or 3 months at a time, in each of his 5 voyages to Bonny, has ac- quired a general knowledge of the government of the country — has heard there are 17 towns dependent on Bonny, fome of which he knows — there are at Bonny a certain number of people who are fuppofed to have an equal right to be at the head qf the go- vernment. — As it derives its confequcnce from com- merce, mailers of fliips h.ive upon the death of a, king, a great influence in appointing his fuccelfor. P. ly* '^"here are 9 parliament men, who with the king and a number of principal people of the towns niake laws for the time— but at prefent the king, influ:» cnced by the priefls, directs every thing. The greater parr Africa. I^razeii. f .part of the inhabitants of Bonny are flaves — but as i y^^, the fafety of the town depends upon the exertions of Part II,- the whole — many of the Haves fcarce know them- * — ^.^ felves fiichj until by committing fome offences they fubjed themfclves to punKhment — or to be fold. A certain number of the inhabitants are univer- fally acknowledged to be free— there are alfo a num- ber of Haves, who themfelvcs polTefs 4c, 50, or more Haves, and are allowed by their mailers to carry on trade as freemen. Slaves purchaled from the interior part of the country may be fold at the will of their mailer — but thcfe born in the town can- not be fold out of it, but unlefs found guilty of cer- tain crimes. It is generally (uppofcd the mailer, from his own intcreft, will not falfcly accufe his ilavcs. Freemen charged with crimes, are brought before p. jg, a tiibunal of freemen, parliament men, and priells; if convided, he undergoes punilhment, which is ge- nerally arbitrary; cannot fpeak particularly to the crimes thus tried; fome of them are, poifoning, formerly much practifed at Bonny, but rarely now ; a freeman convicted of this was to be put to death, and buried under ground — a Have thrown alive to the (harks — adultery and witchcraft are alfo tried before this tribunal — knows not if theft is — believes it is puniOied, in a freeman, by fine — in a Have, at the will of his maHer. For fome crimes the convidt k adjudged to be fold ; but not out of the country, except in particular cafes. Slaves at Bonny generally procured by people that live in the Up Country. If there are wars, they go in their war canoes to the places in the Up Country where the fairs are held. The old or unfaleable arc fent back by the Bonny canoes, together with the goods received for fuch as had been fold. Has known no indances of white traders poHefs- ing thcmfelves of Slaves by fraud or force; deteftion in fuch an attempt would be attended perhaps with deftrudion, if not with a heavy fine — the black X traders 8 Afkica. FrazerJ 1 790. traders do fometlmes arreft men for debts real or pre- pare 11. tended, and obtain a judgment allowing them to fell <^— y — ' fuch perfons for flaves. At Bonny there are generally two prices current for Haves — the fhips preparing to fail paying higher than thofe newly arrived. The price is fettled by the king, the fadors, and a captain — ^When the king breaks, or opens trade with t!ie fliip, the aflbrtment of the cargo is fufficiently known to all the traders — the captain ufually goes on fhore to view the flaves in the traders' houfes — at night — if any then taken on board are found faulty, they are returned early next morning. The trader comes on board when he thinks proper, for payment — and then, not before, he and his people examine the goods very minutely. Never knevv an inftance of (hips leaving the river Bonny, without giving previous notice, although not neceflary there. P. 21. There are many circumftances by which all the people in Bonny are fufficiently warned of the (hips being ready to depart. The mode of carrying on trade at Calabar, does not differ eflentially from that at Bonny. P. 22. The government there is fimilar to that of Bonny — the town has been for feveral years pad governed by a man whofe condition is that of a flave — his name Amachree — he was obliged to fupport his mafler for feveral years, though his own wealth gave him power over him, and he often flogged him when difpleafed. There is generally a weekly fair at Calabar for flaves — they can fell their canoe boys, which the people of Bonny ?re not permitted to do, even though they may have been brought from the interior country, as they are deemed ufeful to the country in general. Believes there are no natural produdlions in the countries of Bonny and Calabar, which might be- come fubjeds of exportation — there is a little ivory-— and a few cotton cloths brought thither from other places ; but thefe are too dear, or of too coarfe a qua- lity—the kings at both places are obliged to keep a certaia Africa* Frazer. g certain number of teeth, 2 or 3 for each fliip— 1790. fometimes they make their fcarcity a pretence for Part II. non payment — the cloths come from Benin, the Brafs- ^ — y*— ' pan coLintry, &c. — a httle palm oil is aUb fometimes bought at Calabar and Bonny — but feldom more than is wanted for the Slaves provifions. Has been often on the windward coafl — not in every P. 23* part. The country in general produces rice, Guinea corn, caffada, plantains, bananns, limes, pine apples, oranges, and fuch other fruits :'.s are to be found in the Weft Indies — has bought ivory at mod parts of' the coaft he frequented, and camwood at one place. Ships accuftomed to ilave there fend their boats along fhore and up rivers ; they alfo efiabliQi facto- ries on Ihore. Knows moft part of the coaft of Africa from Cape p^ ^4* de Verd to Cape Negro. The foundings are for the nioft part very regular, and the ground favourable for anchorage. Relpeding harbours, fays there are feveral places where he conceives Ihips may lye with fafety, viz. Gambia and Sierra Leon, and, perhaps, fome other rivers on the windward coaft. There are others at Bonny and Calabar, and believes at Old Ca- labar. The current of the Congo is fo rapid that fhips cannot at all times get in. At Mount Negro, lat. 10 deg. fouth, there is a very deep bay, open, he thinks, from fouth weft to north weft. The anchor- age good — a good rivulet of frefti water — the coun- try, as far as the eye can reach, an arid fand, defti- tute of all vegetation. There is fome rifque from the bars and fhoals at the entrance of Rivers — but beheves that experienced perfons may at all times> when the wind permits, go into the river Gam.bia and Sierra Leon. On the windward coaft, between the (hoals of St. Anne and Cape Palmar, and from thence down to the Gold Coaft, knows no place where, in the rainy feafon, Oiips boats can land with fafety. The afTift- ance of canoes is at tliat time neceflary, which are Numb. 2, B . alfo 10 Africa. Frazer. 1790. alfo often overfct and the goods deftroyed— it » Part II. much the fame at Bonny in the bad feafon; with this ^ ,^ difference, that the Tornado blows from the (horc on the windward coail, but towards the (hore at Bonny ; there are feme places (heltered by rocks, where a landing may be effected, and boats, acquainted with the bars, can go into the rivers, but no velTels that draw much water. The currents are fo ftrong and the fea fo rough, that no feamen are equal to the la- bour of rowing to and from fhore. The fea beats * more violently on the (hores than he ever faw in any other part of the world, at the full and change of the moon. p. 25. It is feldom that a fufficiency of provifions can be got any where on the coaft, either for the middle palfage or while the fliip is trading; believes moft Englilh (hips buy what country provifions they can get, though generally furnifhed from England with a fufficiency for the whole voyage; that intended for the negroes confifting of beans, rice, fome ftock fifli, flour, bread, and beef. ^ The flaves while in the hands of the black traders for fale, are fed on corn or plantains ; faihng thefe, on the root of the caffada. The flaves who are natives of the fea coaft, fhew a reludlance at leaving it and their relations, but the number of thofe is very inconfiderablc. P. 26. With refpedl to the arrangement on board for the accommodation of the flaves, and their treatment while lying on the coaft and on the middle pafTage— Says, on the coaft of Angola, they are fo long in purchafmg the cargo, that the Ihip is fit for fea feve- ral days before the purchafe is completed. The fpace between decks is ufually divided into 3 apart- ments — the fexes are feparated, and the boys have a room by themfelves. The Angola flaves being very peaceable, are feldom confined in irons — and they are allowed to keep below or upon deck, as they pleafe — it is defirable to have them all day upon deck, and engaged in fotue exer cife — thofe who ilecp Africa. Frazer. II deep in the day, difturb others In the night, and if per- i ^qq. mitted to talk then, it adds confiderably to the heat be- Part I£. low. Particular attention is paid to keeping the (hips * ^. .i^ clean between decks, and fome think, (though he is not of the number) that frequent walhing the floors is pernicious, from the difficulty of thoroughly drying them. p, -Q^ So foon as the ilaves are brought up, a canvas hofc, )r pipe, is fixed to the head pumps, and conveys the fwater down between decks, which are fcrubbed ufu- ally with bricks and fand, then waflied clean, and fwabbed as dry as poffible. Pans with ftrong fires, are placed in different parts, which generally dry be- tween decks perfeftly in an hour — but the fires arc generally kept an hour or two longer — if the weather and time of day permit — tobacco, brimftone, &c. are frequently burnt below to fweeten the rooms. Every {hip has gratings, and moil have air ports, others have different contrivances to admit air. p In rainy weather, though not cold, it is thought ' unfafe to admit them upon deck, when they defirc it. There are alfo cold fogs and dews which make it necefTary fometimes to keep them below ; but they are commonly fo fenfible of cold, that no reftraint is then neceflary — they feldom complain of heat while the air is fweet — they complain often of cold be- tween decks — they will often fleep expofed to the heat of the fun — a proof they can bear heat better than Europeans — thev are accumftomed in Africa to have fire in their huts, at once to keep them warm, and drive away the Muskitoes — they lye p. 32. clofe together, the face of one to the back of another — this is alfo a common cuftom among the flaves on board — care is likewife taken to keep them clean in their perfons, by walhing and furnifhing them with palm oil, wFien it is to be had. Particular care is taken as to their provifions, conforming them as near as may be to what they had been ufed to in Africa. Plantains, bananas, &c., will not keep at fea ; but in every voyage he has made to Angola, or to any other country, he had always as much provi- B 2 fions 12 Africa. Frazer. 1^90. fions as they could eat, and fufficient wine and fpiri-* Part II. tuous liquors for the ufe of the negroes and fliip's * — y»--' company — vvhen ailing, the furgeon's orders were, and he had free leave, to give them any thing in the ihip. As good a {lock of frelh proviiions were laid in on the coail as could conveniently be kept on board. It is dcfirable, and is their own wifh^ to make their meals upon deck; and, though their food is boiled to a conliltcncy to be eat without, a fpoon is given t^^ each, which, however, rhey will feldom ufe — the)^ are generally 10 in a mefs — when done eating, they are allowed to drink as much ufually as they chufe • — they have regularly 2 meals a day, and almoft al- ways a n:)iddle meal, of bread, and beef, pork, or ftock-fifh, &c. ; fomeiimes calavances, of which they are in general fond. This middle meal not be- ing cuflomarv in their own country, they confider as an indglgence. The moft humane of the fhip's company^re generally appointed to attend the flave? and ferve their provifions. The chief officers have their rcfpeftivc ftations to attend them. Their ge- P. 28. neral cheerful difpofition is encouraged — they have frequent amufements peculiar to their country— lit- tle games with ftones or Ihells, dancing, jumping, and wr ftling — they are neverthelefs apt to quarrel ; and it is the charadler of an African to be impla- cable. P. 20. A fum of money is allotted to the furgeon, that he may fupply himfelf with the neceffary medicines for the voyage : it is his duty, of which he is often reminded, to inquire every morning into the flate of health of the flaves. For the fick flaves fome apart- ment is allotted where they are lead likely to be mo- lefted. The mafter and officers are intcrefted in the health and fafcty of the {laves. Should any die, the furgeon lofes his head money, which is a fee of a fhilling for each {lave fold, paid out of the proceeds of the cargo ; and the captain his commiffion of fo much per cent, upon the grofs or nett produce of the cargo, according to agreement with his owner. Should Africa. Frazer, 13 Should the ilaves be brought to market in a iickly 1790. ftate, the officers, t ft and 2d mates and furgeon, will Part II. lofe upon their privilege flaves, for which they are '— v— ' paid at the average rate of the cargo. The captain alfo had formerly privilege flaves and coaft commif- P. 30. fions ; but the mode of paying him by a commiffion on the proceeds of the cargo in the Weft Indies is now moft general, and deemed the moft equitable, as^iaking the owner's and mafter's interefts reci- pCal. The climate of the coaft of Angola generally confidered healthy; but the change of the feafons P. 31, have a fimilar cffedt upon the conftitution as in this country, and affedts natives as well as ftrangers — frequently had fcvere illnefles himfelf, but never P. 32. loft any of his crew or flaves there. The weather to be met with from thence to the Weft Indies depends upon the feafon at leaving the coaft, but in general the pafl"ages from Angola arc fafe and fure. In the fliips which he has failed in from Angola the mortality has been very moderate, either among the flaves or the crew. Made two voyages as fecond and chief mate from Angola; one in the Amelia of Briftol, the other in P. 33. the Polly, both commanded by Capt. Thomas Dun- can. In the Polly (cannot fpeak to her tonnage) they purchafed nearly 500 flaves ; the mortality be- lieves was very fmall ; average price very high — this voyage concluded in 1772. Commanded the fliip Catherine in 1772 ; made 2 voyages from Angola to South Carolina; her tonnage about 140 by regifter ; purchafed upwards of 80 flaves ; loft about 8 on the coaft ; on the middle paf- fage, as far as he recolleds, the lofs very moderate; loft one feaman on the middle palfage, and a boy at Charleftown. In fecond voyage purchafed upwards of 300 flaves ; was not permitted to fell them in Carolina ; obliged to return to the Weft Indies ; fliip in a dif- Z treflTed 14 Africa. Frazer. 1790. treffed condition, nearh' foundered at fea; loft, if part II. he recolledts right, 2 or 3 Haves upon the coaft ; ^— v<— ^ mortality at fea very trifling till the (hip became leaky ; cannot fpeak to the exaft number who died ; loll 3 or 4 feamen on the coaft and middle paflage. p. 34. Ships bound for Bonny and Calabar carry gene- rally from England beans, fometimes rice, flour, bread, and beef, but never in fo large quantities as to Angola, as the Haves have commonly one or |^re meals a day of yams ; except in this refpeft Wey are mefled exacftly as on the trade from Angola—^ generally eat the beans and rice with relud:ance, always preferring yams, the ufual food of their country. Being more vicious than the Angola flaves, they are kept under ftridter confinement ; ihew alfo more relutlance at leaving the coaft; of opinion that white mtn intend to eat them ; fuppofed to arife from their being tbemfelves canibals. Many of them appear half ftarved when brought down for fale; likewife complain of want of provi- fions and other hard treatment in their own country ; but as officers are not permitted to go up the rivers, little can be known of the inland country. P. 35. Ships trading at Bonny generally take in their water there; they can water at 3 or 4 different places be- fides — at Calabar there are 2 watering places, both frequented. Some veflels call at St. Thomas's for refreftiments; he never did. Does not recolledt the mortality on board the Alexander, which he commanded in a voyage from Calabar in 1776, but it was very moderate. The mortality next year on board the Valiant, commanded by him, was confiderable — of about 500 flaves, loft above 100, occafioned by the meafles. On board the Tartar, which he commanded in a voyage from the windward and gold coaft, of from 270 to 280 flave-', the lofs did not exceed 3 ; the crew 60, of which 2 that were foreigners died on the gold Africa. Frazei. ij- gold coaft, and i drowned on the windward coaft, 1790. the remainder he believes he carried in good health Part II. to Jamaica; thinks the burthen of the Tartar was * — ^-^ 140 to 1^0 tons J in this veflcl he was taken, and P. 36. loft all his papers, of courfc has no documents to refer to refpedting this or former voyages. Commanded the Emilia in a voyage in 1783, be- gun OR the windward coaft ; drove from thence by a French (hip of war ; failed to the river Ambris, pur- chafed there 140 to 150 Haves; returned to the windward coaft and completed his cargo ; had nearly an equal quantity he thinks of Angola and Wind- ward-coaft flaves ; mortality on the paftage very ; fmall ; reafon why he does fpcak with certainty, came to town on private bufmefs, and not expecting to be called upon to fpcak in this buiinefs, brought no papers with him ; vvas on the coaft on this voyage he thinks 8 or 9 months. He made 4 voyages in the fame fhip from Bonny: in the firft, of 490 Haves, loft 50, fold the remain- der at Dominica ; the mortality in part occafioned by the fhip getting aground on the bar in going out, which obliged the air ports to be fhut ; this was ac- knowledged by the underwriters, who, upon appli- cation, were willing to pay a part of the lols, but P. 37. ' thert being no precedent to go by, the owners dropt their claim ; mortality of the crew on this voyage inconfiderable ; they were feldom employed from the ftiip, and ftieltered there from the rains and dews : by an awning of mats. I In the 2d voyage purchafed 420 Haves ; loft on the coaft and in the paffage to Jamaica upwards of 30 I —the crew 40 to 44, of which he thinks loft 4 on I the coaft and paffage. Purchafed in the 3d voyage upwards of 400 ; loft in the pafl~age to Grenada about 40 — crew upwards 1 of 40, loft about 4. In the 4th voyage purchafed about 570; fent of! , 150 of thefe in a tender to St. Thomas's ; of thefe I has been informed 5 died, and one of the crew wa$ loft i6 Africa. Frazer. 1790. loft by accident. He carried the remainder of his Part 11. purchafe to St. Kitt's ; loft upwards of 20 on the ^ y * coaft and in the pafTage ; loft near 20 more while lying in Bafleterre road by an epidemical diforder which then prevailed over all the ifland : of the crew (44 or 45 in number) 3 or 4 died, but cannot fpeak pofitively. P. 38. In his laft voyage to Jamaica the mortality on the coaft, middle paffage, Kingfton harbour, and on ihore, previous to fale, exceeded 100; the hurri- cane came on before the day of fale, and drove moft of the fliips on fliore ; the ftaves fuffered much du- ring the bad weather ; there was a fcarcity of water, and a total want of country provifions ; the flock of yams brought from Africa was expended ; they were indifferently fed, and very badly lodged on ftiore, the places appropriated for their ftielter being de- ftroyed by the hurricane •, had been advertifed for fale at two different times, but no purchafers ap- peared ; the diforder which they are ufually fubjedt to in their own country, together with the fever that then raged in Kingfton, broke out amongft them ; mortality, after the ftiip's arrival, 60 to 70, but can- not fpeak precifely. "With refpedt to the additional extraordinary pre- cautions taken with the flaves from Bonny, they (the Brafs-pan men excepted) are fecured as the wind- ward and gold-coaft flaves ; the full-grown men are chained two and two with leg-irons and handcuffs ; when their number is large, and any of the failors lick or abfent, or the captain on fliore, it is necef- fary to confine them below ; fo foon as the Ihip was out of fight of land, he ufually took off' their hand- cuffs, and foon after their leg-irons ; tiever had the flaves, even from the gold and windward coaft, in irons during the middle paffage, except a few who were mutinous. On board the fhips he commanded there was al- ways plenty of provifions and water, but not always the fort thty liked beft. He I Africa. Frazef. ly He once arrived in the Weft Indies rather fhort 1790. of provifions, but neither the flaves nor Ihip's crew Part II. were put to Ihort allowance. '^ — v — ' As to the crews of Guinea Ihips, there was a greater P« 39- proportion of landmen before the laft war than hnce — never knew any exadt proportion obferved ; bur, lince the laft peace, there are many half feamen that are feldom received into any other trade than that to Guinea. In the Alexander, his crew of 39 was thus made up ; lo officers, 6 able fci^men, about 15 half feamen — the remaining 8 landmen. One voyage with the Catharine he had 14 able feamen, both thefe in time of peace ; aboard the Tartar, during the war, had 16 or 18 able feamen. It was his wilh and orders, that the feamen fliould be treated with tendernefs ; he paid every ntccirary attention to the health and lafety of everv individual aboard his Ihip. The furgeon was conftantly pro- "* 4"^' vidcd with a medicine cheft. and had hberty to give the fick wine, frefh provifions, and every refrefliment on board — their refpedive mefs-mates had orders likewife to give every necelfary attendance and allif- tance. Landmen lefs fit, when grown up, to bear the change of climate than feamen and young lads ; can- not fay precifelv whether young lads or ieamen fuffer moft, as too manv of the latter come dilealcd on board the Guinea fhips. With relpe6l to wages, it has been the cuftom at P« 39* Briftol, to pav from i to 3 mos. advance llerling be- fore failing -, in the W. Indies, the wages for half the time that has elapled fince failing from Briflol, is paid in currency. No part of the crew can be difcharged in the Weft Indies, but by the authority of a chief magiftrare, who miifl indemnify the mafier of the fhip, who has previouflv given bond of 1500I. and the fadtor ano- ther for fame fum at the Secretary's office, that none of the crew fhall be left to diftreis the country. Numb. 2 C Some i8 Africa. Frazer. 1790. Some of the crew frequently apply to attornies at Parr II. law to obtain their discharge ; and the Vice-Prefident ^^ — V — ' of the Admiralty, on the requeft, ufiially iflues an order to the Captain to comply ; the men fo dif- charged, are often a burthen to the country, con- tracting ficknefs from idlenefs and intemperance; no feaman or landman can be forced to receive their . diicharge before the conclulion of the voyage. \ _j Thinks it is neither for the intereft of the owners, ^^' nor the crew, that the Commander Ihould be allowed to difchargc a man in the Weft Indies ; becaufe, in difcharging one man, he always conceived that every other man in the fhip had a right to the fame if he defired it ; he underftood this to be the cuftom in merchant Ihips, and that fallors generally avail them- felves of it ; for which reafon if any offender, fea- man or landman, wiftied for his difcharge, to re- main in the country, he firft made him obtain the concurrence of the whole fhip's company in writing. In his laft voyage to Jamaica, the faiiors became very quarreUome among themfelves, and I difcharged from 12 to 14 healthy people, upon condition that p in cafe they were not fliipped on board other veffels he would take them again, changing their names, a cufiom very common among faiiors. Has not generally difcharged any of his crc«w in other voyages, unlefs compelled by the authority of a magiftratc, or an officer of the navy. Some leamen who have made a voyage with him— hive wailed till he was ready to go on another, re- fuiin;^ the offer of other employment in the interval. Some, both able and ordinary fcamen, have gone 3 vovages, and a few 4. Mr. Alexan ler Falconbridge failed two voyages p. 42. ^^'^'^'^ him, one to the windward coaft and Angola, and another to Bonny, and part of a third to the windward coaft, when the fhip was taken — Mr. F. had always declared that he underftood little of the language of the country. In one of the voyages, in which 2 Africa. Frazer. 19 which Mr. F. was with him, recoUefts the circum- 1790. fiance of a man being brought a-long fide the fhip. Part. 11^ and delivered on board, who he believes, did not ^ y'* know that he was going to be fold — but from not underftanding the language of the country, cannot fay whether the man had been invited off to look at the fhip or not. (Says he had no bufinefs to queftion the right of that perfon who fold him this man, as tKat might have ftopped further trade between them. The fadt was known to a number of traders, and the man was put on board publicly in the forenoon ; ne- ^* 43* ver was applied to to deliver him up again.) In that voyage to Bonny, when Mr. F. was with him, a few of the Haves there purchafed, informed him, that they were taken forcibly or by furprife ; (he means in the manner in which he has defcribed the Angola wars) many of them owned they were (laves in their own country, but the little knowledge he had of the language did not enable him to diftin- guilli thofe that were born (laves, or made fuch ; does not believe the practice of kidnapping by fmall parties from 5 to 10, and bringing flaves to the black people's houfes, can exill at Bonny. Recolled:s, that while trading at the river Ambris, a fignal was made one afternoon from the land, for him to come on fhore with his boat, when a perfon was fold and delivered to him, who, being a fifh- erman, was accufed of having afked a greater price for his filh than he ought ; he was himfelf the only perfon in the fhip that underllood a word of the lan- guage of the natives ; they told him the man was a great rogue; the principal officers, and the King's people were prefenc when the goods were paid for him; thefe otEcers, as their titles implied, he con- fidered as the Miniftcr of Finance and of the war de- partment ; kno.vs nothing at all of this man's guilt, obfeived that he behaved very infolently, and heard him accufed of afking more for his filh than cuftom- ary — does not know of any other crime befides ex- C 2 tortioa «o Africa. Frazer. 1790. tortion charged againfl the fifherman— they were not Part II. obliged to tell if there was. ^ V * from his own knowledge while in health, and the report of his officers while fick, he judged that twice as many flaves were returned to the country as he bought — for the reafons before given — that if they had been kidnapped, a trader would probably have fold them at any price, rather than carry them back, at the hazard of a difcovery. When arrived at the river Ambris in that voyage, Mr. F. was with him — he was told by the natives, P A4. that his f^as the firft Ihip that had been flaving on * that coaft for feveral years — of which he acquainted his officers. His Ihip w-as feveral weeks upon the coaft at that time, before any flaves were offered for fale — cannot fay the exadt time — he purchafed at different times a few Haves from the towns on the fea coaft — the flaves, when no fhips lye there, are fent to St. Paul de Loando or Cabenda — Every time he has traded at the river Ambris, if there was no veffel there before him, it was fome time before the flaves from the interior part of the country were brought down — does not recoiled: any inftance at this place, of a flave being reclaimed by the government of the country, as having been improperly fold — but has known inftances at Melimba — in fuch cafes, he was always offered and accepted a flave in exchange. Believes the Captains feldom or never enquire concerning the right which thofe perfons who offer negroes for fxle have to difpofe of them — believef every Captain would be confidered as a fool by any^ trading man, to whom he put fuch a queftion. The flaves in general have not ,a^reat averfion to horfe-bcans — thofe purchafed at Cabenda and Me- limba always eat beans when mixed with rice, with much fafisfadlion. The country about the Ambris produces a great deal of calavances. — The flaves he purchafed there, were fonder of calavances, India corn and calfjda, than of any oiher food — they are n ver Africa. Frazer, 21 very fond of beans, but like them well enough when 1790. mixed with rice and flock fifh. Part. II. When negroes have refufed their food, he has al- ^"-"^"^ waj'S ufed perluafion — force is always inefFeftual. Never did hold hot coals to a negro, thieatening to p .^ make him fwallow them, if he periifted in refufing to eat — and defies any perfon to prove that he has done fo. Being at one time fick in his cabin, the chief mate and furgeon once and again came to inform him, that there was a man upon the main deck, that would neither eat, drink, or fpeak — he c^red them to ufe every means in their power to pcrfuade him to fpeak, and affign reafons for his filencc — defired that fome of the other flaves fhould be employed to endeavour to make him fpeak j — when informed, that he ftill remained obftinate, and not knowing whether it was fulkinels or infanity, he ordered the chief mate, or furgeon, or both, to prefent him with a piece of fire in one hand, and a piece of yam in the other, and to repoit what cffc 1790. Is at prefent unemplo3'ed in the Have trade, but Part II. iliall be loon. «^ — y — ' The fines impofed on convicts, go, firft, to the P. 49. relations of the perfons poifoned. The dodlor is paid by both parties, and fhares in the fines, and the King and chief officers have alfo part of them. Refpedting the treatment of flaves in that coun- try — has fecn them at meals fitting round their maf- ter. Never faw an inftance of a vefTel loft on the coaft of Atrica; has heard of fome, but few. He ui'ed to lay in, for a paii'jge from Angola, Bonny, or the windward coaft, from 60 to 80 gallons of water per man, and had generally a fourth of his ftock left at the end of his voyage. P. CI. Does not rscolledt anv inftance of Captains being convicfted of leaving failors in the Weft Indies, and paying the penalty ; — never had any law difpute him- lelf with any of his people. Grafs cloth pafles for money in Africa as brafs money or fmall change does with us ; — has feldom feen a fufficient quantity of it to purchafe a flave. — Much of it is deftroyed in wrapping up the dead ; — has alfo feen it worn by the natives. P. C2. Believes pcrfons fuppofed acceflary to witchcraft, are liable to be burnt. Believes a number of the aged flaves are criminals, or confidered as fuch. A circumftance at the river Ambris, related to him on his fecond voyage with Capt. Duncombe, makes him think that a number of them are put to death. A Cabenda boy, whom he had with him as a linguift, informed him that a flave whom he had refufed to purchafe, was put to death in the following manner : The owner, (who was from the inland country) calling the traders and fifliers together under a tree, accufed him of difho- nefty J faid that he had run off thrice, and thereby coft him more than he was worth, in the cuftomary rewards for apprehending him ; that he gained no- thing by his labour ; and that the white man having refufed Africa. Frazer. 25 rcfiifed him, he would put him to death, to fave 1790. further expence, and as an example to his other Part II. flaves. This he inftantly executed, with circum- ^ — y— ' fiances of moil horrid cruelty. From what befel this Have, who he did not fuppofe P. 53. to be very criminal, they have a right, it would ap- pear, to put their own Haves to death ; and of courfe anv ufelefs criminal, or old flave, may be fuppofed liable to like treatment ; in which he is confirmed by another circumllance. Having gone on fliore in the evening, for the benefit of the air, accompanied by his linguifl, he was led by him to a fpot where fome of the countrymen w^ere going to kill a fucking child. Upon being afked the reafon, they faid it was of no value ; having requcfted, in that cafe, that it might be given to him, he was anfwered, that if he had any ufe for tha child, it was worth money ; he finally bought it for ajug of brandy, and ic hap- pened to belong to a young female whom Captain Lawfon had bought that very day. Capt. Lawfon thanked him, and carried it on board. On its being prcfented to the mother, fhe fell on her knees, and kilfed his feet. The lafl time he was at Melimba, there were forae Romifli mifiionaries fettled at Chclango, but it pro- duced noeffed: on the manners of the natives. Did not mean to fay that the domellic flaves, or followers, were well fed ; they might be fo, if in- dudrious ; moft parts of the country which he has feen being tolerably fertile — but never faw any man working in the grounds, that being the women's pro- vir :e. Seldom any of them came to his fadtory, wtio were not hungry, and glad of the worft provi- fions he had to fpare. No large trads that might be ploughed or planted, but here and there very fer- tile fpots. Has been witnefs to a mode of carrying on war at Melimba between the great men of the country, P. ^^. but no captives were made in it. Numb. 2. D In iS Afric4^ Frazer. ■ 1790. In every voyage he has made, there was alvvavs Part II. more than room enough for the fl'aves, except in the '^-.^r-^ firft voyage to Bonny in the Emilia. The diforders incident to feamen aboard Guinea ihips, are fcurvy and fevers. The feamen got at Briftol for the Guinea trade, being inferior 10 thofe of other ports, it is fcldom neceflary to give more wages than in the W. India trade ; but in general they have had 5s. per month more. Was a prifoner of war in Niort of Poiftiers, France, for 8 months. Has been fince 10 months in France, at Bourdeaux, Nanrz, St. Maloes, Havre de Grace, Harfleur, and Rouen. — Returned in Auguft; — made every inquiry he could refpedting the African trade. Several French merchants, having all their own veflels and officers employed, propofed to him to fit out from this country, to purchafe flaves, undei P. 56. French colours, and carry them to St. Domingo.— Good flaves fell in general, at St. Domingo, for 60I. to 70I. fieri. — has feen the account fales of flaves.^ Such friends as he formerly knew on the coafl ol Africa, and are now eflablifhed at Nantz, St. Ma loes, and Rochelle, have offered him employment for himfelf, and as many of his officers and friendj as he would recommend. Has been credibly informed, that the African ilave trade has been confiderably extended in France, fince the idea of abolition was taken up in England, has been told in France, and in this country, tha' the merchants of Bourdeaux and others concernecl in that trade, pay from 8 to 10 per cent, for mone] to carry it on. There were 360 fail of vcfibls, wholt tonnage, on an average, was 352 ts. employed in thi African and Wefl-India trade from Bourdeaux ; rheir cargoes in general are much richer than ours having more cotton, indigOj and coffee. Thinks it more than probable, if the flave tra w cc ih I Africa. Frazer. 27 -ere abolifhed here, that the French would carry it lyoo. on more extenfively than now. part II, Believes, from the number of (hips laid up in «w«y_«/ iliis country, from the late regulating adt, the idea p, 5^. of abolition, and encouragements held out by the French, feveral pcrfons have been empJoyed in ihips ibid from hence, and fitted out from France. Believes it unneccffary for the Portuguefe to ex- tend their trade, poUcfling great part already, and moft of that exclufively. The Danes, fupported by Government, have (to his knowledge) tried to ex- tend their trade from the windward and gold coaft ; believes tlvey already have the means of carrying it on to more advantage than the Britifli, if their offi- cers and men were equally acquainted with it ; — thinks there is no reafon to fuppofe the Dutch will ever forego any commercial advantage v^'hich they can lay hold of. The people of Oftend have (hewn a difpofition to carry on every kipd of trade that Africa and the Eall Indies prefcnt to them. — The Danifh W. Indies are in part fupplied with (laves by American vclTels, bought on the gold and wind- ward coaft, and perhaps elfcwhere. — The Spanifh Government have opened fome of their ports for African fliips of all nations, and it is faid that the Philippines have attempted, or are trying to com- mence a trade to Africa, to fupply S. America ; — has been told, that thev wilh to get their officers em- ployed in the Englifh or other African fhips, to gain experience. Is certain, the French have deprived the Britifh of the trade on a confiderable tradl of the African coaft, although he cannot prove it formal! v, from the difguife neceflary in conducting fuch bufinefs. Never made any calculation between the number p -o of ilaves he carried and the tonnage ; there is no * "^ * geometrical proportion between the tonnage and the places allotted for the ftaves to lie in, that depending upon the form and conftrudtion of the ftiip, few of them being exadtly alike ; — believes no fuch idea D 2 each 28 W. Indies. Francklyn. 1790. ever entered the head of a feaman, as apportioning Part II. the number of ilaves to the tonnacre. o * — y— ^ Has known (to the bell: of his recolledtion) two inflances, in which nine-tenths of the Haves made no complaint of ficknefs ; has known flavcs recover- ed by the care of the doctor, and other officers, with- out medicine ; — every experienced furgeon knowing how avcrfe the Africans are to taking medicine, docs all he can to recover them, without giving what to them is fo difsuflins:. . . ■ p. Witnefs Examined.— -Mr. Francklyn. p^ ^g^ Gilbert Franklyn, Efq. a native of England, went to th'j W. Indies in 1766, where he principally re- fided in Antigua till the latter end of 1787. Hq chiefly fupe'rintended a number of negroes let byi 79- contradl to government by himfelf, and the late Mr.| Ant. Bacon, (his partner) in order to attend the Pur- veyors marking out the lands to be fold in the ceded iflands, and the troops, &.c. emplo)'ed in the fervice of the commiffioncrs, which led him much among the iflands, from Barbadocs to St. Kitt's inclulive. He lived trom 1766 to the latter end of 1767, and from 1768 to 1770, in Antigua; from 17 74 to 1776, and from 1779 to 1789, in Tobago. He was about 7 or, 8 months, in 1788, in Jamaica. Was particularly attenrive to the negroes belonging to himfelf and his partner, which were about 400. The firft negroes he knew were in Antigua. The firfl: of v.'hich he became owner, were bought by his agent, and by contradl ought to have been either feafoned, or *ufed to the climate. A knowledge of the Engiifh language was alfo required, to enable| them to take diredions. This obliged them to give h;gh prices for negroes no otherwife qualified, as good-feafbned negroes were feldom found on falc, except W.Indies. Francklyn. 29 except from diftrefs of cnafters ; in confequence of 1790. which, when a few feafoned negroes were obtained Part II. for the moil neceiiary employments, the commiffioners ^ — y — ' and others in the fervice preferred new and aftive negroes, Thefe** ritgroes were found, and, in cafe of death P. 80. or defcrtion, replaced at contra»^^ors' rifk. The iflands in which they were being in a very uncukivatcd (late, they were obliged to fupply them with the fame pro- vifions, as the troops, flour, peas, beet, and pork. The quantity was direftcd by the king's officers: They had rum alfo given them when thought condu- cive to health. 1 here was an agent appointed to take care of them ; and the fame furgeon who at- tended the troops, attended ihem at the cxpence of the contraftors. Except carrying the chain to the woods, which rnay be an unwholefome ta(k, he believes this work was neither heavy nor laborious. The moft of them were employed in attending the officers and foldiers, drawing this v\ood and water, and affifling to cook their provifions. There was rather more mortality among them than pn fettled plantations. They had fores in their legs and feet, difabling them for fervice, and frequently incurable. They were particularly well clothed ; and in order to fave'their feet, (hoes were provided, till it appeared evidently they would not wear them. Some of them, he fears, were ill ulVd by the foldiers ; and as he had occafion to complain, and had the .fol- diers punifhcd : he knew of none negletfled in illnefs. He docs not afcribe their mortaliry to this ill ufagc, of P. 81. which not more than ten inftanccs had come to his knowledge. He bought largely in the ceded iilands, particu- larly in Tobago, where, till lately, he had 2,000 acres. He purpofed cultivating, and by the only pra<5licable mode, the labour of the negroes. He believes there is no other mode by which land in the W.Indies is cultivated, to whatever nation it belongs ; thofe ^o W. Indies. Francklyn. 1 790. thofe negroes he expected to receive from the co^ Part II. of Africa. If he had underftood the importation of '^ — v — ' negroes was to be prohibited, he would not have bought lands he could make rio ufe of. Believes a great part of the lands he purchafed is ftill unculti- vated. There is a great deal of land in Grenada un- cultivated — he is well convinced in St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Dominica — there are not negroes ^ enow to cultivate i the land — but cannot fay fo of *• °^' his own knowledge. Many of his friends bought land in Grenada irridcr faith of H. M.'s proclama- tion. He believes in Dominica and St. Vincent's, much the greatcft p;;;rts of the land fold by the crown under commifTion is not yet brought into culiivation ; but he has never been in either of thefe iilands fmce 1776. He found the fettlement of lands in the ceded iflands difficult and expenfive — he laid out 40,0001. in Tobago. The negroes being much the mod valuable part of a man's property, whofe welfare are intimately con- nected with his own interefts, it can fcarcely be doubted that he will pay every attention to them. ^ Every prudent proprietor endeavours to fludy the temper and difnolition offlaves; they are therefore treated with kindncfs and attention. There arefome negroes that neither chaftifement will correcfl, nor good treatment reform ; fuch are fometimes treated with feverity : but for crimes which mod civilized nations would punifh capitally, the generality of well- difpofed negroes are feldom or never chaftifed. A prudent mailer is cautious hov/ he offends a negro of good character; for if dillatished, they (hew their refentment either by working unwillingly, or fre- p quent defertions. When negroes, therefore, are • 3* treated with feverity (which certainly is fometimes the cafe) the mafter fuffers, both in reputation and fortune. In general, therefore, it may be faid, that negroes are well treated, well lodged, well clothed, and well fed ; well attended in ficknefs, and fupphed with medicines, and even the incurable with every necef' W. Indies. Francklyn. 31 neceffary. This the intered of the owner requires, 1790. even if not poflcfled of humanity. Negledt of fuch Pare II. negroes would difpirit a gang, and particularly affedt '^ — y"^ any relations and friends they might have on the eftate. In the ceded iflands, and where land is plenty, p. 8". they cultivate large trails for their own bcncht, and in fuch cafes neither require nor receive a large al- lowance of what is called pound provifions. I'o thofe who will receive it, the proportion is from 6 to 10 quarts of Indian corn, flour, and guinea corn, or a very ample alio vvance of yams, potatoes, and edoes. In Grenada, meal of cjlfada from 6 to 10 quarts, from 6 to 10 herrings, or from 2 to 3 pounds of fait fifli, and in fome plantations, of beef or pork, are given for a week's fubfiHence — A fufficlent allowance for a hearty man — Plantanes alfo make a chief part of their provifions, and (when received) they are al- lowed of thefe from 50 to 70 per VN'cek — they are of P. 84. a lefs lize than the plantanes of Jamaica. The allot- ment of land is fuch that an induilrious negro will be enabled not only to fupply himfelf, but to difpofe of fuch a quantity of poultry, pork, and goats flcfh, as to enable him to clothe himfelf, his wives, and his children, very handfomely. If his mafter oppofed his difpofition of that property, it would probably oc- cafion an infurrcLllon on the plantation. Thinks he has known where provifions have been fcarce, that a mafter has objetfled to a negro's carrying his from the eftate to fell ; but thofe inftances are very rare, and the gang has been iliown the impropriety of it. The mafter docs not, in fuch cafes, take the provifions from the negro, or oblige him to fell it againft his will ; he only forbids his going off the plantation to difpofe of it in time of fcarcity. If the negro vvilhes to fell, the mafter buys from him as any indifferent perfon ; but the negro will feldom fell to his mafter as he would to a ftranger. 3-4ths of all the poultry or pork ufed by the planter, are bought from his own or other people's ^aves. I The 32 tV. Indies. Francklyn, 1790. The crimes, for which piinKhment of any degree Part II. of feverity is inflicted, are generally defertion, break- ^ — v'— ' ing open ftorcs, and ftealing rum, fugar, or fait pro- ,P. 85. vilions ; breaking open negro houfcs, or houies of people in the town, robbing negro grounds, &c. The punifhments then confill from 20 to 40 lafhes on the pofleriors, feldom more. He fpeaks in gene- ral. Exceptions to the rule prove the generality of it. There are cruel, fevere, and inhuman people, to be met with every where. With regard to the ca- pital punilliment of negroes, each colony has its own laws. He has himfelf fcarcely known death awarded, except in the cafe of premeditated murder. Repeated burglaries have incurred no other punifh- ment than a whipping lefs fevere than a foldier fuffers for fmall offences. A fingle lafli every morning for fix weeks, reformed for a time, a negro of his own, who had broke open at leaft fifty houfes. In two years he returned to his practices, and died a natural death on the plantation. He does not fuppofe a labouring man in Europe could gain his bread if working no harder than a negro. Conceives the labour of a negro flight com- pared with any field labour in Europe. They are lefs affefted by the heat of the climate than Euro- peans ; in general they like heat fo as to fleep with fire in their houfes. Rain injures them mofl:. When rains are heavy in the ceded iflands, which is fre- quently the cafe, they are lent out of the field into their houfes. F-. 86. In the plantations their punifhment is a flight whip- ping, or confinement in the ftocks at noon, or after work : they ufually prefer the former. For flight of- fences, fuch as not coming in time to their work, they are generally flruck over their clothes. As no man chufes to buy a negro of notorioufly btd charader, the owners of fuch ufually fend them to foreign iflands, or to N. America, at the rifk of re- ceiving but a very fmall price for them. The time of harveft is in the Weft Indies, as in all other coun- "^ mes W. Indies. f'RANCKLYN. 32 tries the time of greatell labour ; but it is alfo that of 1790. conviviality and happinefs. Tlie negroes are gene- Part H. rally more healthy and fatisfied at crop than at any v -|^.. 1^ other time of the year. However a maflcr may wilh to difpofe of a flave, P. 87. it may not always be in his power; the Have being mortgaged or under jointure. Mortgages and mar- riage fettlements covenant, he believes, in every well- drawn deed to keep up the precife No. of negroes fo mortgaged or fettled. To keep up that number without importation, is certainly poffible, for it has been done; but in general otherwife. The punilh- ments already defcribed are plantation punifliments. It frequently happens in offences of a public na- ture, the perfons offended remit the negroes to the mailer for that punifhmcnt which he would otherwife receive from public juftice. One negroe, at leaft, he conceives requifite for every cultivated acre in a fugar eftate, and the No. on cotton plantations muft depend on the foil and iea- fon ; in favourable cafes one negro is fufftcient for 3 acres — he fuppofes the gang not to have a great No. of old people or children, for otherwife more would be required. He cannot from his experience conclude that a fullicient fupply of negroes for the cultivation of the iflands could be had without importation of Afri- cans. As (o many reafons why the pra(fLice of keeping up P. 88. the flock of negroes is not general, while fome few plantations have maintained theirs, he flatus the un- healthinefs of fome fituations ; the difpofition of males to females ; the difeafes the fex is particularly fubjed: to ; for the length of time a breeding woman fuckles a child, Ihe has feldom two children till an interval of two years ; the promifcuous amours of many ; and a cuitom with tl>e gang women who are dlffolute, and think themfelves handfome, of procur- ing abortion. Numb. 2. E Where 34 W.Indies. Francklyn. 1 790. Where the females exceed the males, it feldom Part II. happens on a plantation that the negroes do not in- V— ,y,— ^ creare ; he gives, in proof, a companion of tvvo eftates kii"^!. fettled in Antigua, about the fame time, one by Mr. Carlille, the other by Mr. Mackennin : the former purchafed chiefly new negro gang women, the latter chiefly young male negroes, with a view to imme- diate returns from their labour. The refult was, that at the end of 50 years, when Mr. Mackennie died, \ie is faid to have purchafed the gang twice over, and to have left it in fuch a ftate that a large fum of money was then requiiite to purchafe new negroes ; whereas on theCarlifle eftate (then Sir Ralph Payne's) there were very few negroes who had not been born upon it ; and luch was his furplus, that he was able to obtain large fums of money by letting them out to work on other eftates. He fays, the reafon why Mr. Carlille's example is not followed, is, that the breeding women imported arc not on an average I -4th df the cai'go. Inftances of plantations that keep up their flock, he beHeves, are very few. The difordcrs of children, particularly that called the jaw- fall, which carries them off within nine days, is another impediment to population ; they die early P. 29. in great: numibers, but not from want of care. He found their deaths fo frequent, and thought breed- ing fo effential to the well-being of a plantation, that he built an hofpital clofe to his houfe, for more eafy infpeftion ; here he obferved their cuftoms of re- fufing their own breafl to the child, as not good, for three or four days, and getting a friend to fuckle it; of wafliing the new-born infants in warm water with rum in it; of leaving the children to fleep in wet clothes, and frequently admitting cold air to them iii their hot rooms; thefe he overcame with fome difficulty, and from that time to his leaving Tobago, had four or five children born, of which he did not lofe one. The labour of pregnant women is too light in ge- ■nej;^!, from the time they are 5 months gone-, they I complain Francklyn, 2^ complain or a iiignc laoour, and injure both them- i79'^' felves and their infants by a fedentary life. Thofe Part II. who work hardeft and longeft, have ufually the ^^ — v^ ftouteft children and cafieft births ; when pregnant women complain they are generally put into the fe- cond gang. They are not out fo early in the morning. The}' are employed in weeding, planting provifions, and luch light labour. As they encreafe they are put to fhelling peas, or colled:ing provifions for the pot- p gang. He never knew them treated with any want * ° of tendernefs, even by thofe who thought a child born on an ertate coft as much, or more than a new negro. This opinion, he believes, is not entertained by many. It is now the pride of a manager to Ihcvv a number of joung children in good order. A pot-gang confifts of negroes, unable, or unwil- ling, from idlenefs, to procure and drefs provifions for themfelves ; it is dilgraceful, except in ficknefs, to be fed in this gang, as having plenty is a mark of a good negro. On every plantation of any magnitude there is a fick-houfe or hofpital, with proper attendance for the fick, of whom care is taken ; in proof of this, he relates, that previous to the-capture of Tobago, part of the foldiers from an unhealthy fituation, became fickly, and ulcerated in their legs. That, in confe- quence, as frefli mcat-provifions were difficult to pro- cure, the gentlemen of the illand fubfcribed money to purchafe and fupply them, and that feveral took the foldiers into the negro hofpitals, where they re- ceived the fame care and attention as the negroes did, they found the benefit from it rhey expected. Midvvives attend the lying-in women : medical advice and afljftance is given other negroes when fick; P. 91, perfons of medical fkill are annually retained to take care of the negroes, if they fail in their attendance feveral times in a week, or to attend when fent for, they are difcharged. The negroes in general have very comfortable houfes, E 2 Managers 2,6 W.Inbies. Francklyn. 1790. Managers kind behaviour to his negroes, fo as to Part II. g^in their afled:ions, while he makes them do their * — y— -» bufinefs, is to him, and believes to moft people, a higher recommendation than his ficill as a planter. One of the firil things enquired into is his charac^ ter in that refpedt ; no perfon would employ a ma- nager of a cruel charadter, believing him to be fuch; fuch treatment is fcarcely poffible to be pra<5lifed in fecrecy. He does not believe the poor of any counrry live happier than the negroes on the plantations in the p W.Indies; — in many cafes they have an evident fu^ * f ' periority, their labour is flight ; good care is taken of them in ficknefs and in health, and they have no occafion to fear the diftrefles of their children from inability to labour, but then they certainly have not thofe means of bettering their condition, which fnany Englifli poor of induftry and genius may avail ihemfelves; perhaps, therefore, a proper comparifon cannot be drawn. He thinks their lot in general to be envied by the poor of all the countries he has feen. There are feveral epidemical idifcafcs which con- tribute to the depopulation of negroes. Thefe are' frequent in all countries between the tropicsj the ne- groes bring fome contagious diforders trom Africa; the yaws in particular which none know how to cure; it kills many, and makes others miferable objedis during life, yet they are (lill nouriflied and protected by their mailers. Ulcerated legs is another diforder | in the new fettled iflands; the lofs by that complaint has been very connderable. A child till 10 years old has f the allowance of ^ grovv'n perfon ; after that age full allowance. V. 93. A negro, properly fpeaking, conlidering the dif: tindtion of maftcr and flave, cannot be faid to have property. Opinion, however, and the conduct of mafters fecures them whatever they poffefs in the W.Indies, in a manner more fecure than^per- haps in any other part of the worW^ No mafter W.Indies. Francklyn. 37 ,dares violate flieir perfonal property, without being 1790. expofed to deteftation and contempt. Even when part II, the mafler is ruined, and the negroes w^ith his other l—v^-.—» effefts, fold to fatisfy his creditors, their property (though very confiderable) is inviolably perferved to p them; they carry their money and goods to the * ** plantation of them who buys him. Their plantation- ground is not exchanged without making them a .compenfation for the crop on it ; when they die they dillribute their eftedts among their relations and friends without control. Negroes gcnei"ally conceal their money, and do not chufe to be thought rich. He had himfelf a negro, who bought out the freedom of his wife from a lady at Monferrat, at the price of near 80I. and in her name poflfeired two houfes at Tobago ; he believes he was worth 6 or 700I. he alked for his freedom, and on his alledging that his property might be luft to him in cafe of his wife's death, obtained it from the witnefs, who had before endeavoured to dif- fuadc him from his requcft. There is reafon to believe he has iince lort above i of what he was worth. Many of the negroes are pofleiTcd of a great deal of pro- perty. He cannot tell the amount, but almoll all the fmall current money of the iflands is in the pof- fcflion of the negroes. A flave he had at Tobago p, g^,, took with him thence to Grenada about lool. fter. He gave 20I. of it to a lifter at Grenada, to help to purchafc her freedom, and lent forty guineas to To- bago, to buy a negroe. He believes it is not com- mon for Haves to be themfelves fiiafters of (laves, few owners ivould allow it ; he knows only the in- ftancc he has named. When he firft knew the W. Indies, he bought fome negroes at 26I. or 27I. a head: In 178^ he paid 41]. for the fan:ie negroes at Grenada, and has fince heard of a cargo of 402 fold at Jamaica, on an average of 49I. per head (fterling). He Ihould ima- gine the report of the abolition of the flave trade has increafed the price.; it had reached the W. Indies (before he left it, but few gave crtdit to it. In Ja- maica ^8 W. Indies. Franckltk. 1790. niaica he found the alarm great. The idea of eman- Part II. cipation, and the abolition . of flavery and. the Have ^— V — ' trade, and other reports induftriouQy circulated from England, made them apprehend a general infurrcc- tlon among the negroes might be the confequence. P. g^. If Great Britain were to try to prohibit the flave trade, * it would certainly be very difficiilt to prevent the Britiih plantations from purchafing them. if planters, however, could not procure new fup plies, the labour of thole they have muft be encrcafed, or the produce of their eftates lefiened ; but the encreafe of labour would effedt a decreafc of the labourers : they would, therefore, run all riiks to fupply thcm- fclves, while credit or fortune would enable them ; and it is probable they would be fupplied at a cheaper late than at prefent, from nations which would then be unrivalled on our leaving the trade. To fup- port this conjedure he ftates that Mr. Hartman, of Santa Cruz told him lately that the Gold Coalt cargo, in that ifland averaged only 40I. If the negro trade was fo efte, and number of work ing hours, are concerned, the crop is doubdefs thc' feafon of fcvereit labour. Negro boilers and fire men bear a hear, without fuxiering, which 10 white P. 102. men would be intolerable. It is univerfally re- marked, that the negroes are moll healihy and cheer ful in crop. The only mode he knows of preparing cane-landi iz by holing, which is certainly hatder than molt other works ; but it is only done by the ableil ne- groes, and is but a fmall part of the yearly labour. To an able negro he thinks it cannot be called fevere. He has often fecn negro women boaft of holing quicker than men. When holing, the men have grog, and the women fugar and water, and work, roj^- only without repining, but iinging cheerfully. On other eftates, holers may have extra food^ but does not think his had, or dclired ir. (Thinks ho ling and dunging, if conftcint, would be harder work than he fhonld wilh to put negroes to, p. 124.) Labour is mod certainly proportioned to the age and ftrength of negroes ; but he thinks the fex' makes no difference in lield-work. General pracftice for invalids, and women fome months gone with child, to be put to ilight work, as weeding, &c., as much for their health as for the work. P. 103. Conjecflures that fome works in England mud be fevercr than any done by the flaves. In the iirfl: fettlement of St. Vincent the flaves were fed, at a heavy expence, with grain in 'large quantities ; but, after his flaves had completed their provifion grounds, they voluntarily offered to give up all their provilions, except fait ones, for Satur« day afternoon, out of crop; afterwards grain w^as^ only given to invalids and nurfing women. In St.- ^ • Vincent W. Indies. Byam. 4c Vincent and Grenada the flaves' grounds are fuch as 1790. not to require much imported food, except in Part II. droughts, when they have weekly 8 to 10 mcafures '^-v^— ' (knows not whether pints or quarts) of grain, with 8, 10, or 12 herrings, according to the fizc, or an equivalent in fait meat, and beef, poik, and flour, at Chriftmas. The allowance is ample for any flave that will work even a few hours in his ground. If a flave fall o'ff, it is ufual to view his grounds. If in* dolent and incorrigible, he is fed by the mafter. He gave children no fixed allowance of grain, but directed the mothers, when they aikcd help, to be amply fupplied, according to their families. His, and he thinks the general cuftom, was, to give the mothers 1 allowance of fait food for children under the age of 8 or 10. He had no pot-gang; but has heard of ihem, and that they confided of negroes inattentive to the providing and drcfiing of their food. He ufually gave fucii in charge to lome truily negro to fee him \(^d. He thinks this is the uniform praCfice where there is no pot-gang, uniefs among' the French, in our iflands, who, he believes, often^ take improvident flaves into their kitchens, or feed them from their tables. But, without fome fuch re- gulations, many flaves woi?ld undoubtedly perilh. By the late Grenada aCt, proprietors are obliged to allot land to their flaves, and guardians are appointed to infpeft each eftate's provifion grounds. Saturday afternoon, out of crop, and all Sunday, p .^^ the whole year, v/ere very generally allowed for working fuch grounds ; and he thinks the faid a(ft has fixed it from 12 o'clock on Saturday. This time is fuiHcier.t not only for raifing the necelTary food, but alfo for the flave's carrying to market his furplus provifions and his poultry, &c. Negroes have ufu- ally furplus produce, except perhaps a very few idle ones, probably in all gangs. He recollects no in- flance of a mafler interfering with the property his flave has acquired by felling fuch furplus. Cannot remember p;uticular infl-ances andfums; but from the 4^ W.Indies. Bi'AM. 1790. the Sunday cloathing of induftrious flaves, and their Part II. comfortable furniture, has no doubt many acquire ^—v — ' and fpend yearly at lead from lol. to 20I. fterling, P. 106. which they lay out openly on luxuries and comforts. He knows of no reflraint, except in rum. (He fpcaks of field negroes, for he has no doubt that many tradefmen acquire and difpofe of double that fum, p. 120.) He has known many fuch Haves buy their free- donij and generally for higher prices than he fhould have valued them at. (Can't certainly fay if they were field flaves ; but is fure that i or 2 who applied to him on the fubjedt had been, or were field ne- groes, when their meters allowed them to provide tor their freedom, p. 120.) Slaves near the towns fell grafs every evening, and vegetables on Sundays, for their own benefit ; but on other days it is purchafcd of ilaves fent in by the pro- prietors of gardens to be fold for their mafter's be- nefit. Believes King's fhips and merchantmen are chiefly fupplied with vegetables, poultry, &c., by negroes, on their own account. Negroes' cloathing varies, in quantity and kind, with the mafter's difpoficion ; but lately, in Grenada, the minimum has been fixed by law. This, he dares fay, is fufficient ; but recolledls not what it is. But moft negroes have much more cloaths than the maf- ter allows. (Field negroes' cloathing is generally fent from hence ready made ; but their finer cloaths are bought ready made in the ifiand, or made by themfelves or perfons they employ, p. 127.) P. 107. Negroes' houfes are wattled and daubed, and co- vered with cane-tops. But tradefmen and other chief negroes ufually contrive to get wooden houfes. The negro houfes are quite wind and water tight ; but ufually made much hotter than whites could bear. Slaves generally bear a heat that furprifes Eu- ropeans. Cold afieds them feverely. Has often known them br.ik in the fun when hotter than he could W.Indies. Byam. 47 could bear for a few minutes. It is ufual to allow a 1790. negro, with 2 or 3 others, time to build his houfe. Part. II. He ufually brought home the materials for him. * — y — ' Every eftate has a hofpital. A furgeon vifits the Haves twice a week, or oftener if required. One or more nurfes attend the fick. The owner provides wine and other comforts recommended by the fur- geon. It is ufual to ktep convalefcents about the houfe or kitchen, to be better fed than ufual. Ne- groes generally diflike going into the hofpital; but the practice of allowing the lick to flay in their own houfes is attended with fome danger. Never allow- P. loS, ed any to do fo but trufty negroes, or lying-in wo- men. His furgeon, befides the yearly fum of los. for each flave, was paid for fracftures. Sec, and had 20s. for each inoculation. He remembcis no ill cffedt from allowing the wo* * men to lye-in in their houfes. He was more fortu- nate than moll people in rearing negro children. Some months before his women exped:ed to lye-in they were put to light work; but this period varies with appearances ; lo that fometimes a negro woman is not delivered till 2 or 3 months after fhe has pre- tended to exped: it. Inflances may have occurred of p. 109. pregnant woaien being puniflied ; but he fliould think very early in their pregnancy, or perhaps be- fore it was known. Confinement would be fubfti- tuted where Ihe was evidently pregnant. Thinks there are local laws providing for old, dif- abled negroes ; but he fliould think that fufFcring them to beg about would be cognizable, as a mifde- meanor, independent of any pofitive law. Thinks they are, in general, properly taken care of. The women, on all the efiates he knew, were al- 1 lowed to lye-in in their own houfes, and fuch negro women as they wifhed were ufually allowed to flay with them the firfl 5 or 6 days. She had candles, flour, wine, and any other things recommended. With him, and many others, they were not expected to 48 W. Indies. Byam. 1700. to work till a month after delivery. A fufficiency Part II. of old linen is provided for the infants. It is gene- K0i-y^ rally remarked that | the children die under 2 5'ears, P. 110. and mofl: of that i- the iiifl 9 days, from the jaw-fall. If they furvive that, they fcem pretty healthy while fucking. Some time after weaning they very ofteti have worms, which he has known very fatal. Chil- dren, as well as adults, have alfo yaws, which im- mediately, or in their efFcdts, are very fatal. Fluxes, though not very peculiar to negroes, are a great caufe of mortality, and baffle the ableft phyficians, as they have often told him. Epidemics are frequent in the W. Indies ; but he does not know they are peculiar ■to adults. Venereals are common, and he thinks tend to lefl'en population. Small-pox, mealies, chicken-pox, dyienteries, and lately the liver com- plaint, a{fe-^v — -' crop. They are commonly in the field from fun-rife, ne- ver earlier, till fun-fet, which never difLrs | hour from 6 o'clock. In Grenada, and, he believes, the other Ceded Iflands, they have from | to i hour for breakfaft, and, from 12 to 2, for dinner. A field-negro works the fame time in, as out of crop. But in Grenada, and the other Ceded Iflands, they boil fugar all night, and commonly have 3 fpells of boilers, mill people, &c. which arc changed at mid- night; fo that only every 3d night, they lofe their 6 hours rert. Oa fully flaved eftates, there arc often 4 fpells. The cutting of canes is not very hard, tying them eafy; the feeding the mills and fires are the mofl: la- borious. The rcilof the work is very eafy. On the P. 1^.0. whole, thinks the negroes are mofl: healthy in, and like the crop beft. Nevei knew them complain of work then. The mill -gang commonly fingall night. Certainly labour in crop is the hardeft, as i their time, out of crop, is weeding. Holing is the molt fcvere work out of crop. A bafket of dung for the firong, holds about 301b, for the weak about 151b. Thefc gangs go in a row, the drivers with them. Some put more, others lets into the bafkets. It is impoffible lor any healthy grown flave to think this laborious. Dung, in Gre- nada and other iflands, where carts and mules with p, j^j^ bafkets can go, is carried out by them, univerfally, and the negroes feldom have above 200 yards to carry it to the holes. ■ In Grenada, they gave no provifion to the healthy (except herrings or fait fifh) unlefs their grounds fail them, and if fo, they give no more food at one time than another. They often give holers weaL grog twice a-day. Holing does not occafion ficknefs. Ne- groes Teem fond of it, jind commonly fmg at at. He H }i.nov;s 58 W.Indies. — N.America. Campbell. 1790, knows feveral ta/k-gangs who hole, all the year, hy Part II. tafic-work, equally healthy with thofe employed in * — V — ' other works. Nor does he think holing fo hard as mowing, and other works here. The work of field- negroes much eafier than the common labour here. Negroes are fed differently in different Illands. In Grenada, where eftatcs are large, and have much P. 142. new ground, they have as much land as they can work, to maintain themfelves and fell the furplus, as it has been univerfally confidered the greatefh be- nefit to a planter, that his flaves fhould have plenty, and the more money they got, the more attached they were. They have an afternoon weekly, to work their grounds, and the manager or overfeer calls over the lill, twice a day, to fee who were in their grounds, and always on Sunday morning, 9 o'clock, when the negroes were ordered into their grounds, except fuch as had palfports, to go to market, or church, or to fee their countrymen, which he never knew refufed, when there was occafion. The ma- nager fometimes, and the overfeers twice, weekly, viewed the negro-gardens, and always gave an al- lowance, and often further time, to fuch whofe gar- dens were negledied, or w^hen there was not fufficient food in them. If negroes had not fufUcient grounds, they would rob their neighbours, and might revolt ; and it is of the greateft confequence that all the ne- groes be properly fed. As fome were not fo atten- tive to their intereft as others, the Grenada legilla- ture pafTed a law for infpedting negro grounds, in 1766, and another in 1788, inferred in the P. Coun- P. 143. cil's Report. Negroes may raife poultry and hogs, and fell them for the befl price they can get. (They are forced to labour at their own ground, p. 179). They raife, for their own ufe, or for fale, in Gre- nada and the Ceded lilands, plantanes and fig-bana- mas, caffada, yams, 8cc. &c. alio cabbages, fhal- lots, &c. likewife pine-apples, water-melons, &c. Every one of thefe the negroes have in their grounds, at fome time or other of the year. Very little la- bour" W.Indies. — N.America, Campbell. 59 Bour in planting them, and they only require 2 or 3 1790. weedings, which can be done by the children. Part II. Plantanes are very fruitful, 3 or 4 weedings the only v-— v-^ cultivation required. The negroes need not work half their allowed time in their gardens, and that only out of crop, as the rains fct not in till May or June, before which they cannot plant. In Grenada, the negroes commonly have from p. j ^^^ 8 to 12 herrings weekly, or fait fifh in proportion ; children and infants have half allowance. They have beef and pork at Chriftmas. In Grenada and the Ceded Iflands it is cuftomarv, and, in Grenada, there is a law, that provifions fliould be raifed by the whole gang, for the fick, and for the indolent who negleft their grounds, or who, from cafualties, have not food enough in them ; (re- peated, p. 179) and parilh guardians are appointed to infpedl the grounds ; and in cafe of want, the mafters commonly buy provifions. New negroes are cloathed, and placed with the p^ j^r, chief negroes, and regularly feed thrice a day, for a year or more, till they have enough food in their grounds, and can provide for themfclves. Their firft work is to plant their grounds, and they are al- lowed, at times, days to weed them. They generally are allowed to fell the firil: provifions they raife, to attach them to the eftate and encourage them. Pro- perty they can call their own makes them happy, and gives them a better idea of their ftate. Mafters very often give them poultry and encourage them to rear them. In general, the negroes fell provifions, poultry and hogs. A Have who makes proper ufe of his time, may fell produce to the value of from £^ to ^15 fter. yearly. Some induftrious negroes, who have good land, often fell from £ 30. to £ 40 fter. Slaves with children have a greater proportion of land than iingle flaves; and, he believes, in the Ceded Iflands, § the current fpecie is the property of the negroes. H 2 Negroes 6o W. Indies. — N. America. Campbell, 1790. Negroes are naturally fond of gay drefs, and the' part II. allowed lufficicnt working day cloaths, they buy w-y-- ^ fine cloaths for Sundays. It is very common, in Grenada and the Ceded lilands, to fee field- negroes in white dimity jackets and breeches, and fine Hol- land fliirts ; and the women in muflins, and 4 or 5 India muilin Handkerchiefs on their heads, at 8 or 10 fh. each. He has often feen flaves give feafts to P. 146. 100 or 200 other flaves, with every rarity and wines, which he could not have given for ^T 60 fter. and they very often borrow their mafter's plate and linen to entertain their friends. Thefe feafts are very fre- quent amongft the flaves. When large hogs are killed by the plantation-negroes, they are commonly fold to the reft, in fmall quantities. Negroes with families, or fingle ones, who wifli for houfes, are aflifted by their maflers to build them. They are commonly from 25 to 30 feet long, from 12 to 15 feet broad, the fides and tops covered with wild cane, and thatched with cane-tops. They are war- mer, drier, and efteemed healthier, than if boarded. At one end there is a hog-pen outfide, and at the other a hen-rooft:. Knows no where a greater proportion of able, ex- perienced, medical men, than in the W. Indies. There are about 40 in Grenada, where they are allowed ^fli. 6d. cur. for each flave, young and old, and paid befides for frad:ures and operations, and 2ofh. cur. per head for inoculation. Sick flaves are im- mediately fent into the hofpital, where 2 nurfes al- ways attend to nurfe and give them phyfick. The- Do(ftor, if not refidenr, always vifits them thrice a week and oftener, if neceflary, and the owner or manager, and chief nurfe, examine all the fick every morning. The hofpitals are conveniently divided. P. 147. There is one on every cftate, obliged by law to be properly kept. Wine and every necefifary is gene- rally found for the fick. Believes the plantation hof- pitals, in Grenada, are generally as well attended as thofe in England. If the IqslH fore appears on a ne groe's W. Indies. — N.America. Campbell. 6i groe's leg, he is laid up, as it Is difficult to cure 1 790. fores withoLii confinement. Negroes are regularly Part II. fed in the hofpital. They often remain a day or ^ v - ' two in the hofpital, with only a dry fkin. An cftate of 3 or 400 acres, with fufficient flaves and flock, may be worth 30 or £ 400C0 ftcr. The manager ought to have fenfe, humanity and good condudt. He muft ftudy the Haves tempers, and know the care of ftock and land, fo that he Ihould polTefs the firft abilities. It is the owners intcreft and care to get fuch a man. Planters, knowing it the chief point to have the negroes in good heart, look firfl: to his humanity, without which no planter would employ his brother. Managers in Grenada, and the Ceded Iflands, have commonly from £ 150 to £ 300 per Annum, which, with the provifions and ftock they raife, enables them to live well, and to fave moft of their wages. If humane, they are ge- nerally as much refpe^fVed as owners, and very often become owners. Are very often gentlemen's fons from Europe, who, having experienced, as over- feers, the management of flaves and manufad:ure of produce, become managers. N Negroes are generally fubjedt to thieving and drink- p^ j .© ing; and a number of ill difpofed negroes coming * from Africa often break open llores and rum cellars, fteal provifions, quarrel, and run away. Thefe are the caufes generally for which mafters punifli them. All eftatcs are obliged to guard negro gardens, &c. In Grenada, by law, owners or managers cannot or- der above 39 laihes, on the breech, for any one crime — and overfeers cannot themfelves punilh, or order above 12 lafh'^s. Plantation-puniflimcnt is not fo fevcre as 50 hifhes given to a foldier, and is foon cured. Great crimes are often foro-iven to intereft not to punilh fo feverely as to keep negroes from working: nor did he ever fee d punifhmenC which he could call very fevere, or more than the P. I4Q ^^g^o could bear. In the W. Indies, as every where elfe, fome are more indulgent than others; but he never remembers to have feen any cruelties, tho' he has heard of owners feverer than others. In 10 years, ending 1788, he faw no beggars or miferable objects, except at Barbadoes, where he faw many whites of that defcription, fome ferving free negroes and Haves, who pay a weekly fum to their matters. French domefticks are very often made com- panions by their owners. Many of them are their , matters' mulatto children. Their domctticks are generally better treated than the Englifh ; but they do not feed and cloath their field-negroes fo well as the Engllili: they generally work them more and punifli them more feverely. He thinks the French Haves confiderably better difpofed than the Englifh : they are not fuch thieves. Being moftly Chrittians, they have better ideas of right and wTong. Every evening, out of crop (and on Sunday evenings in crop, p. 150.) they meet of their own accord, and pray, and ling hymns, with fervency and devotion. (The Grenada negroes are equally devout, p. 150.) p^ J £-0. -All the new negroes he bought feemed to be in the favage ftate. Thofe of the Gold coaft appeared more tractable and induttrious. They generally fhewed themfelves off to be bought and when ex- amined feemed difappointed, if refufed. On feeing their countrymen, on the ettates, cloathed and com- fortable, they feemed very happy. He knows not that he ever faw one otherwife. He has often aiked fome of his ttavcs, if they wifhed to return to Africa, and their univerfal anfwer was, *' No mattier, me know better". They wifli not to be thought Africans W.Indies. — N.America. Campbell. 65 Africans, and, with them, " Salt waternegro" and 1790. '^Savage" have the fame meaning. Part II. In Grenada, all the Creoles and mod new negroes ' — --^j areChriftians, being generally chriftened 2 or 3 years P« 151. after their arrival. They often read the fervice over their dead. They often attend the churches, En- glifh and Catholick. The clergy, by law, mull chrilten them gratis, and certain times, yearly, vifit and inftruct them. Believes the negroes in the other Ceded Iflands are equally religious; tho' there is no fuch law He had an eftate 2 years, near the Caribs in St. Vincent, and he has an ifland 5 leagues oft', where they fifh. They have the richeft land in St. Vin- cciit, and have cleared fome fpots where plantanes, tobacco, and calFada are planted by the women. The men iilh, get crabs, eggs and birds, and make bafkets, which they fell among the Iflands for li- quors : are quite idle at other rimes. They have only a rag round the waill:, and live in the favage Hate they did in Africa. They generally fpeak French; and there were always French miffionaries among them till the Ifland was ceded to us; but they never could convert th.em. He has often feen his negroes feed them out of pity. They are free, and their lands have been confirmed to them by treaty P. 152, with England, when they were fuppofed to have 800 fighting men. It is thought they have fmce de- creafed; but believes their exadt numbers have never been known. In 1787, he went from 20 to 30 miles into Trini- dad, and faw parties of yellow Caribs. The women and children had only rags about their waifts. They feemed perfedly favage. The Governor told him they were numerous, an"d had many parcels of the richeft land in the Ifland, but not cultivated, except with a few plantane and orange-trees near their houfes which were temporary, as they often changed P. 153* their grounds : alfo that tho* that Ifland was one of the firft fettled by the Spaniards, yec the priefts, with 64 W. Indies.— N. America. Campbell. 1790. with all their zeal, never could convert the yellow Part. ll.Caribs. They are free. ^- - y* .' Mod of the free negroes in the Iflands, have been freed by gift. He has known many repent of their being freed, finding it difficult to fupport themfelves and get comforts when fick, equal to what they had before. The women commonly huckfler, and often receive ftolen goods from flaves. Some free tradef- men wcrk till they can buy a negro, and then leave off. Some live idle on wenches' gains. Never knew a free negro work, nor does he think fuch would work in the field, for any wages. Their general idea of liberty feems to be exemption from work. P. 154. It is impofiible for Europeans to fland W. India field-work of any kind. Soldiers and failors ex- pofed to the fun, are liable to difeafe. It is cufto- mary to exercife foldiers before fun-rife. Often give overfeers umbrellas to keep off the fun and rain. White tradefmen there feldom work, in, or out of doors. They direct negro tradefmen how to lay out the work, and do light, nice jobs. (Repeated p. 173.) The Ceded Iflands, being generally very moun- tainous and flony, very little land can be ploughed. Not 1000 acres in Grenada. Steep land ploughed would foon be wafhed away. The flat land is moflly flrong clay, and could not be ploughed in wet wea- ther, and, in dry, its hardnefs would make it dif- ficult. Land ploughed would ftill want fome negro labour. Lands in the Ceded Iflands rattoon. The lands can generally be holed by the negroes, after weeding, when they have little elfe to do, and the fame number mufl be kept to take off the crop. Ploughing would fave very little, from the difficulty and expence of getting a proper ploughman, the ex- pence of horfes and cattle, and the various ftrudtures of ploughs : the charges of ploughing would bo double that of holing by tafk-work. Ploughs have p often been tried without fuccefs. Believes the plan- ^^' ters would eagerly purfue any mode that promifed to eafe their flaves. (Believes it polTible to plant, I after W. Indies. — N. America. Campbell. 65 after the plough, (without holing) with a good 1790. ploughman, but he believes few could plough a Part II. furrow rtraight enough. Knows not that it ever was u. -w--/ or can be fuccefsfully praiftifcd in the W. Indies, p. 180). Thinks it impoffible to cultivate a W. India ef- tate without negroes attached to it, where 2 or 300 negroes are requifite for 3 or 400 acres. The ableftP. ir^, planter cannot tell when the conftant Attendance of the negroes is mod wanted. Their abfence for a fortnight would be very injurious, and might not be recovered in years. It would be impoffible, with- out negroes attached, to hire, lodge, or feed the number requifite. Believes women in the W. Indies breed not fo foon, nor fo long, as in colder climates, leldom have above 5 or 6 children, have early and more various connexion, which tends to hinder breeding. From 27 years experience, and the opinions of medical men, has found, that many infants die of locked-jaw, of worms, and of the putrid fore throat. Molt children have the yaws, which, at times, have baffled the firft phyficians in England. All the W. India Illands are, at times, fubjeftto long droughts, heavy rains, calms and cold north winds, caufing dif- orders, and often great mortality. It is generally moft p, j r^r, fatal to the healthieft, ablefl flavcs. In the W. Indies, hurricanes or exceffive rains, deftroy the provifions, from July to November when no (hips are there; and this country being too dif- tant to lupply them, the flaves are forced to eat un- ripe provifions, often caufing great mortality from fluxes, which he has often known attack I a gang. Thinks this caufe dcllroys as many Haves as the country diforders. Formerly they could foon get dry provifions from America; and this evil may be remedied by a trade, in fmall veffels, with that country. Seldom above c; or 4 years pafs in any Ifland but the whites and blacks arc vilited by epidcmicks. I Very 66 W. Indies. — N. America. Campbell. 1 790. Very often an eftate will increafe by births for a time, Part II. and, in i or 2 months, lofe ^ or j of its flaves. * — V — ' He has an eflate, with about 200 ilaves, in the healthieft part of Grenada, where, from 1766 to 1786, his numbers diminifhed not above 10: In 1786 they were 12 lefs; in 1787, he loft 25, moft of them the ftouteft he had, with a liver-complainr. All his neighbours fuffered equally, and one parti- P. i58.cularly loft 47, out of 300, of that diforder. In 1788, it was fatal, both to whites and blacks, in other parts of Grenada, where it had never been fo fatal before; but it has fmce been more frequent in all the Iftands. In the year ending June 1789, his Grenada ftavcs have increafed 8 by births ; but, by letters of 0^— ' Large fums of money have been expended in improvements, and buildings made with accommo- dations for taking off the crops which the whole of the lands are capable of producing. Similar improvements have been made on the eflates bought from the French in Grenada, which iiland never was fufficiently flocked with flaves, and the nivmber has been greatly lefTened by excefs of labour or the French military works during the capture, &c. ThouGinds have been purchafed fince the peace, but the eRatcs in general are far from being fufficiently handed. Large tracts in Grenada are uncultivated, which may be improved if pro- prietors are permitted to purchafe flaves. P. 18^, Improvements mud: ceafe in all the W. India iflands, without a regular fupply of African flavcs. The prefent flock is not fufficient to keep the lands i in their prefent flate, without occafional fupplies I from Africa. — Cannot be kept up by breeding — I could not do it on his own eflate, which is a re-* markable healthy fituation in Grenada, where only two whites have died in 24 years. From 1765 to 1 77 1, he was in the habit of improving the eflate, and increafed the flock of Haves from about 140 to 300 by purchafe. From 1771, till the capture of Grenada in 1779, there was not a decreafe in the eftate of above one per cent, per ann. (reckoning the births) though no new negroes were purchafed, iPuring the French captivity the negroes decreafed, for the reafons before-mentioned, In the year 1786, a contagious diflcmper, in a fevv months, carried 0IT47 ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ flaves, which number has been fince replaced by purchafe, or the cultivation of the eflate mufl have diminifhed in proportion. — The p. 185,, difeafe was a complaint in the liver, and the work of the plantation was in great backwardnefs the whole year it appeared. It lafted from 4 ro 6 K 4 months^ ^6 W.Indies. — N.America. Baillie. 179^* months. No plantation could be better appointed : Part II. in provifion grounds ; there were warm and conve- ^' " ' nient hofpitals for the fick, and though the negroes had always of their own the greareft abundance of 1 provifions, he always fupplicd the hofpiral with flour, rice, bread, wine, and other refrefliments. There was a general order to fupply the fick. with mutton, and fuch other frefh meats as the tftate afforded. The fick had fuch medical aid as was proper. For the firfl 10 years a furgeon was kept for the fole purpofe of attending the negroes, and, during the diftemper, a j^hyfician went from the town of St. George to attend this eflate, and fome F. 186. others in the neighbourhood. Manv children die of the Tetanus, or Locked Jaw ; but this does not arife from want of care, or excefs of labour in the mothers ; for when women are known to be pregnant, their work is gradually diminifhed, till within 2 or 3 months of their de- livery, when they pick grafs, and do other light work. During confinement they are comfortably lodged at home, and are attended by able midwives and nurfes. They have proper refrelhments and cordials; (fee p. 202) are allowed 4 or 5 weeks to recover ; and it is generally 2 or 3 months after their delivery before they return to the harder labour of the plantation. When in the field, fome elderly ■women are generally employed in taking care of the children. Believes thefe regulations prevail generally. P. 187. Negroes are well provided with food and cloath- ing in all the iflands he has been in; but there is a greater abundance of provifions in Jamaica and the Ceded Ifiands, than in the fmaller, when they are more circumfcribed, and the climate more un- certain. Negroes fupply the markets in the Ceded Iflands with frelh provifions, roots, and vegetables, the profits of which they apply to their own ufe. Some of them have property to the amount of 40, 50, 100, or even j^aoo fterling, which is tranf- mitted W.Indies.-^N. America. Baillie. fj mitted from one generation to another. Labour Is 179^* in proportion to ability, and cannot be confideredPart II. as leverc, when compared to the labour ot the* *'""' lower order of people in Europe. Holing of land, which is from Auguft to January, P. 188. he has always conlidered as the hardeft labour on a plantation, during which they have generally a cer- tain allowance of bread, and very frequently fpirits mixed wirh water. Punifliments not fevere when compared with the difcipline of the army or navy. The mortality in the interval between the arrival P. 189. of the fhips and the fales (which is generally about 10 days) cannot even be eftimated at much more than I per cent, on an average, in the Windward IHands — Knows of no inftance of medical arts ufed to conceal the real Hate of health in the flaves. Greateil attention is ufed to prevent the fepara- tion of Haves, connedtcd either by relationfliip or friendfliip. Never knew Haves exprefs a defire to return home. Slaves in Grenada are generally Chrifliaus, and in a Hate of comfort and happinefs. Recolle(fls negro freemen marrying flaves, though P. 190. they know the children of fuch marriage will be born flaves. Introdudion of new flaves cannot be prevented by any regulation in this country. France pays a bounty on the importation of flaves into her colonies, amounting nearly to ;^ 7 per head. Number of feamen in the French W. I. trade, be- lieves, is upwards of 50,000. Thinks the number imported from Africa to her W. I. iflands, by France, mufl exceed 20,000. Spain is giving every poffible encouragement P. 191. for the purfuit of the trade in her owai colonies. Infurances are now making on Guinea-men from Bofton, Virginia, and Charles Town, S. Carolina. A confiderable number of Guinea-men will be fitted 7^ W.Indies. — N.America. Baillie. 1790. fitted out from Copenhagen the inftant the trade is Part Il.abolifhed in this country. i * — ^ — ' Is of opinion that the grofs value of the W. India and African trade, together, exceeds 7 millions flerling per ann. Is of opinion, that if an abolition of the flave- trade was to take place for a few years only, it could not be recovered. p. 192. The abolition of the trade would throw flaves in the W. Indies into a ftate of difcontent and defpon- dency. Every frefli importation is highly accept- able to them. Abolition will produce diforder amongft the white inhabitants, and alienate their affeftions. Thinks his produce was 240 hogfheads of fugar per ann. on an average. Many negroes have purchafed their freedom. p. 193. Had a greater proportion of females than were upon eftates in general, believes they may amount to more than two-fifths, having, when he left the W. I. fent all his female houfe-flaves to his eflate. Field-fiaves are as happy as houfe-flaves. Had a great proportion of deaths among the children within the 9th day, notwithflanding the fituation was healthy, and the flaves well attended to. P, 194. Slaves are much better ufed now than formerly— are increafed in value from ;^ 25 to j^ 33 llerling per head : before the war, to £ ;^o or ^^40 fterling. Many cargoes in Jamaica, have averaged lately from ^42 to ;^ 50 fterling. P- ^9B* ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^' ^"^ ^^ "^^^ which his eflate contained, was allotted for provifion grounds. Proprietors of plantations in the French iflands are much more commonly refident on their eftates than thofe on the Englilh iflands. French field-negroes not fo comfortable as ours ; punifhmcnt more fevere; confumption of flaves greater* The W.Indies. — N.America. Baillie. *^9 The number of whites in the French illands, Is 1790. much greater than in the Britifh; number of white Part II. fervants pretty nearly the fame. *^ — »^ — ' The Danifli government have given every pofli- P. log, ble encouragement to the introducing the Chriltian religion among their ilaves ; and if the government of Great Britain was to pay more attention to the inftruction of flaves, their morals might be very much improved, and it might in the end prove a greater fecurity to the welfare of the W. India iflands than people in general are aware of. The Danifh iflands, though perfeiflly cultivated, are under a neceflity of purchafing annual fupplies. Has always confidered the Regulating A6t to be P. inn, an advantage to the trade. * Lands, in the Ceded Iflands, were fold confi- p, 200. dcrably beyond their value, and fettled at a great expence. Plough cannot be ufed. P, 203. Lands cannot be cultivated by Europeans. Old iflands more ftraitened, as to provifion-grounds ; deficiency made up by importation. There arc confiderable mortgages on eftates. P. 204. Accounts of pawns carried off from Cameroons, P. 20c, by Captain Bilby, other Englifli veflxels fl:op'd there- upon ; pawns claimed in the W. Indies, fent back to Africa, but refufed. Vide Particulars. The credit of the iflands is materially injured by tKe apprehenfions of abolition, in which cafe the fecurity will come to nothing. * Prohibition to fupply foreigners with flaves, would much njure the trade and manufaciliure ot Great Britain. Had a field-llavc, a driver, worth J^ 200. tj ^ In Grenada, the flaves found there on its ceflion to us, were 200. ill baptized, and continue in the praftice of the Roman Ca- holic religion. And it has an exceeding good effeift on their norals. In the old Englifli illands, and in St. Vincent and Dominique, negroes flianiefully neglected as to religion. , Thinks it will require ten years to get any confiderable return I'rom a new fettled ellate. Never 8o W.Indies. — N.America. Baillie. 1790. Never was on the coaft of Africa, and therefore Part II. cannot fay whether the negroes imported from ^■"y*— '' Africa are taken from a more happy ftate to be placed in a worfe ; but believes, from information, that they are more comfortable in the W. Indies than in their own country. Provifions in the illands are of quick growth. Witnefs examined, — Mr. John Castles. P. 7.0"'. Refided in Grenada from 1766 to 1788 (except one 3'^ear) as a furgeon till the lalt 2 years. Purchafcd fome uncultivated land, and furniflied it with negroes from Africa. Population, he thinks, will diminifli every year, without recruits from Africa : becaufe negro wo- P. 208. men are not fo prolific as women of this country, owing to early, exceffive, and promifcuous concubi- nage. Children are fubjedt to the tetanus, or locked jaw, arifing from an irritability of conftitution in- duced by the warm climate; the wound on the la- ceration of the navel- ftring, retention of the meco- nium, bad milk, and fuddcn cxpofure to cold. No remedy for jaw fall. Fatal epidemical diliempers, i of the children die within the month. Few im» P 2TO ported women breed. * Gave all attention to railing children on his eftate. It was his intereft. Negroes injure their health by P. 211. night vifits and dances more than by labour. Ill treatment of negroes not the caufe of the want of fpecies by breeding. P. 212. Would not have bought the eflate had he under- flood the means of fupplying African negroes were to be cut off. Has kept up his number, but not his flrength. If the Planters cannot recruit his numbers he mufl: be ruined. Condition of negroes much more comfortable than that of the labouring poor in England. I Brous?;ht W. Indies. — N. America* Castles. 8i Brought two negro flaves to England, who, after* 1796. flaying about 3 months, begged to return. Said they Part IL did not like this country; it was dull. They pined '^ — *— ' after their dances and other cuftoms. He fent them "• ^^3* both home, where they remain contented. "• ^'^4* They were exceedingly ftruck with the number of beggars in the ftreets, and ufed to fay, " Buccra not good". On their return, one of theni (the man) had the P. 2ij;. option of what trade he would be put to. The woman was hired to hawk merchandife about the country. Two males are imported to one female. Loll by deaths about 6 per cent, per ann. Planters always go upon the fyftem of breeding P. iin flaves ; it is their intereft. Adults alfo are fubjedl to tetanus. P. 217, Has heard they arc not fond of felling, in Africa^ thofe women beft adapted for breeding. Fancies negroes in Africa do very little work, muft P. 2. 1 8« be habituated to labour by degrees ; in 2 or 3 years are faid to be " fenfoned." Not many die within 3 years, though more afterwards. Relations always fold together. The lofs of field ilaves would be P. ^20» fupplicd in a very trifling degree by fending houfe ilaves into the field. Witnefs examined, — John Greg, Esq^* Was in the W. Indies for about 20 years, from the P. aau year 1764. Was in the Ceded Iflands 2 or 3 times each year, twice in. Jamaica, at Antigua, Hifpaniola, Martinique, and St. Lucia, but refidcd moilly in Dominique. Secretary to the King's CommiPaon, and Audiioneer in difpofing of the lands in the Ceded Iflands. Sold 174000 acres for ^^.620000, under a covenant for the purchafer to cut down, clear and cuUivate one acre out of 20, every year, till half L the S2 W.Indjes. — N.America. Greg. 1 790. the uncleared land fliall be cleared ; under penalty of Part II. paying 5 per ann. for every acre negledted. Vide | * ' ' Grants. ! r. 222. 'j-j^^ greateft part of St. Vincent and Dominique j remains in wood. More than | of each have been difpofed of. \ P. 223. The lands, in numerous inftances, were fold far above their apprehended value. P. 224. Immcnfe funis have been laid out In buildings and other works, in fome inftances more than the pur- chafe money. Number of negroes in Dominique and St. Vincent, a year ago, was about 27000. Judges the prefent number inadequate for the lands already cleared, without large annual fupplies. Some plantations are falling back to a dcfert ftate, from the high price of negroes caufed by the rumour of abolilh ing the trade. 120000 additional negroes would hardly be fufficient to clear and cultivate the un- cleared lands. Had it been apprehended that the Have trade would be abolilhed no perfon would have purchafed thefe lands. P. 225. There will be a great deficiency of labour, from the prefent full grown negroes growing pad their work. Has obferved negroes in all the Iflands much happier in general than the lower people in England. Recolledts no beggars, or dcfcrted Haves. P. 226. Number could not be kept up by breeding : Thj^ not the effeft of fevere treatment. Effed: of abolition would be general ruin of the whites, and deftrudion of the blacks. Befides common caufes of mortality, negro-women plunge in rivers immediately on delivery, and under other improper fituations, put on wet cloaths, which bring on complaints unfavourable to propagation. All pofiible means have been attempted to coun- terad: the feveral caufes of mortality. P. 227. The negroes apply hot linen to the navel firing, which produces irritation and brings on the fall of the jav^r. Som» W.Indies. — N. America. Greg. q^ Some eflates in Dominique were begun to be 1700 worked with capitals unequal to the enterprife ; be- Part 11 iides which, ufurious loans, an impolition of 4I per ■— v— '* cent, on the produce, and a duty of 30s. on every P* 228. imported negro, ferved to complete the ruin of the adventurers. French houfe negroes better, field much worfeP. 220. treated than our own. The price of negroes in 1765, was ^.iG los, per P. 210. head. At prefent they are £. 50. Before the report of an abolition prime negroes fold at /. 35 to £. 38. The relief held out by Parliament in cafes of fa- p. 2'^?, mine, by permitting the Governor of any Ifland to * ^ import provifions from the foreign Iflands, is futile ; becaufe no ftores of provilions are, or can be, kept there. Hurricanes have done great damage. It is the maxim, and the intereft of Planters to raife Creoles. Witnefs examined, — John Anthony Rucker, Esq* Is a coniiderable proprietor of lands in Grenada, p ^^r Cariacau and St. Vincent. Would not have adventured his property if he had underftood that Great Britain would prohibit the importation of negroes ; wilhes he had not. Has lent large fums, which he would not have done, had he apprehended abolition of Have-trade. Has not fufhcient numbers to keep up the prefent cultivation. Cannot pofitively fay, whether the ilock may, in fu- ture, be kept up by breeding, having never been in the W. Indies, but is informed by his agents they cannot. Abolition will have a dreadful effcd:, as we muft have recourfe to foreigners to fupply us with fugar, which will caufe a balance of trade ao;ainfl Great Britain of 1 000000 to 120C000, The lofs of fliip- ping would alfo be great. L 2 The 84 ^V". Indies. — N. America. Rucker. 1 790. The credit of W. India property was very bad before Part II. the agitation of this queftion, and it is now grown <- — - — -^ much worfe. The fecnrity of the large debt from the !*• ?37' W. Indies to G. Britain would be materially injured. The purchafes he made in the W. Indies were par- ticularly fortunate and advantageous. The experience of 2; years has taught him the flock of negroes cannot be kept up by breeding. Witnefs examined, — John Hankey, Efq. Is a very large proprietor of lands in the Ceded Iflands, fince 1764, has alfo very large fums out- flanding. Would neither have purchafed lands nor lent money, had he conceived the importation of ncT groes would have been prohibited. His eftate can by no means be cultivated without ne» P, 2^9. g'"oeSj nor has he, at prefcnt, a fufficient (lock, nor can he keep up a ftock without fupplies from Africa. Believes the defe(5l of population not owing to ill treatment or exceffive labour. Eifed: of abolition will be the gradual decay and, at laft, ruin of the Iflinda. The agitation of this queftion has injured the cre- dit on W. India property, and if the lupply of ne- groes be flopped, the fecurity of the large debt of the planters to G. Britain will be very materially injured. P. 240. Never was in the W. Indies — W. India credit was very good before the war,, and lince would have re- vived but for the queftion of abolition. Amount of the advances of this houfe on W. IndiJI property, was about £ 250000, at 5 per cent. Witnefs examined, — William Tod, Efq, P. 241. ^^ ^ merchant of London, and proprietor of lands in Grenada and the Grenadines, iince 1774 or i775' —Is W. Indies. — N. America. Tod. 8j »— Is alfo a creditor on the fecurity of W. India eilates. 1 790. Eftates cannot, in his opinion, be cultivated but Part II. by negroes. ' ^"""^ Would not have purchafed, or lent, if he had un- derftood that the importation of negroes would be prohibited. Eftates have not a fufncient ftock, nor could that be kept up without fupplies from Africa. Defedl: of population not owing to ill treatment, nor exceflive labour. Effedlof (lopping the importation from Africa, in his opinion, would be fatp.l. Has refufed to lend money on W, India fecurity, till he faw the event of the qucftion of abolition of flave trade. The fecurity of the debt from the W. India planters will not be fo good as it was if the trade be flopped, I^Jever was in the W. Indies. Witncfs examined, — Mr. Robert Thomas, Refided about 9 years in St. Kitts and Nevis as a p^ 24.6 furgeon, and attended between 4000 and 5000 ne- groes annually. A furgcon's attendance expedled once or twice a p, 247. week, or daily, if nccelTary. On moft eilates 6s. per head annually allowed, befides extra charges for capital operations, &c. and night vifits. Had every opportunity of obierving how negroes were treated, worked, fed, lodged and cloathed. They are divided into three clafles or gangs, the ift or great gang able-bodied negroes (exclufive ot tradef- men and watchmen) who do the moft laborious part of the work. The 2d, or weeding gang, from the age of 12 to 18 or 20, fuoh as are wcikly or ailing, and employed in light work. The 3CI gang, from the age of 6 to 12, employed in picking grafs for the manager's or proprietors ftock. 4 Negroes S6 W. Indies.— N. America. Thomas. 1790. Negroes in Nevis appear in the field about 6 o'cU Part II. work rill about 9, when they breakfaft; at | before ^— V — > 10 rcfume their work, which is continued to 12, they 1. 248. are then difcharged till 2, in this interval, out of crop, the major part of the gang are expedted to bring a final! bundle of grafs, during crop: the cattle fed with fliced cane-tops. At 2 o'clock they enter the field again, and work till 6, and about 7, if out of crop, a few bundles of grafs are again thrown. Once a week allowance given out to the head of each family, either at 12 at noon, or about 7 at night. Women with children at the breafl have many in- dulgencies, as coming an hour later into the field, never throwing grafs, retiring to fuckle their chil- dren ; pregnant women, on molt of the eftates, when 3 or 4 months gone with child, if in the large gang, are ufually removed to the fmall one, and in their 7th month excufed from all labour, going where and doing as they pleafe, — A negro midwife attends the lying-in women in natural cafes, but in preter- natural a furgeon, who has a handfome fee, about £ 9 fterling. A nurfe waits on the woman;, wheri de- livered, and her infant, till fhe can attend to it herfelf; every comfort afforded which that lituation required, and not expedled to work till the end of 4 weeks, and not ihen if the furgeon thought a longer indul- gence nccelTary. For the cloathing of negroes eflates, having a cre- P. 2J.0 ^^^ ^^^ England, ulually fet a fufiicient quantity of coarfe baize and ofnabrugs with worfted caps and proper hats. Each negro man receives a quantity of baize for a blanket, and of ofnabrug for a fhort jacket and trowfers, and each female enough for a fhort wrapper and petticoat, with a like quantity of the baize. The younger negroes receive a proportion- able quantity. Eitates having no credit in England, buy thefe articles of the flore-keepcrs at a high price. For many of the negroes, v/ho are idly difpofed, and not truft- worthy, the proprietors or managers have thofe articles made into cloaths, and given them. For W. Indies. — N. America. Thomas. 87 For the negro infants many owners either fend 1790. out annually a couple of fuits of baby deaths or, Part II. ifrefident, have them made up for them by negro ^—v—' fempftreffes. The food ufually didributcd among the negroes confifted of rice, coarfe flour, rye- meal, dried peas and beans, American corn, and alfo of fait provi- fion, viz. herrings, (had and other fait filL ; they had alfo the Ifland provilion, viz. potatoes, yams, Indian corn, bananas, plantanes and cafTada ; but thefe three laft articles v/ere the produce of their own provilion ground, their private property. The quan- tity of provifion allowed was moftly from 7 to 9 pints a week for each negro, of any of the above articles, and the fame number of herrings or fliads, or a pro- P. 250. portional quantity of fait {iCi\ ; the above quantity was given on many eftates to every child as loon as weaned. This food, in his judgment, proper for the negroes, and though a bare fufficiency for their fup- . port, the weekly allowance is not wholly depended on, the induftrious having many advantages from their provifion ground, the produce of which fur- nifhes them with confiderable fums ; as well as raifme hogs, goacs and various fpecies of poultry. Negroes near towns derive advantage from felling grafs and fuel to the inhabitants. Hence they have food amply fufficient for their fupporr, infomuch that many of them purchafe fine cloaths, and frequently die polTelTed of what maybe called large fums of money to them. Seldom any reluftance to give whatever the fur- geon thought proper to negroes in ficknefs, fuch as chicken or mutton broth, or even wine, which ar- ticles the manager regularly made a charge of to the owner. The lofs of negro children occafioned by denti- tion, worms, eating dirt; alfo the putrid fore throat, p. 251. which ufually carries off numbers; but the principal caufe is, the negledl of the mothers. Has known few inftances of the tetanus or locked jaw in chil- dren, 88 W. Ikdies. — N. America. ThomAS* 1790. dren, but adults very liable to it from lacerated Part II. wounds or injuries in the tendinous parts. * — * — ' There was an annual diminution of negroes on an eftatc, whofe owners gave a pecuniary revvard and other indulgcncies to every mother, who reared her child to the age of 2 years. i Pregnant women during the time of their lying-irt' and afterwards, certainly not under greater difad- vantages than the lower clafs of white women in this country, being exempted from hard labour dur- ing pregnancy, and proper care taken of them aftei* lying-in. See 248. P. 252. The caufcs of the decreafe of adult negroes on the fugar plantations very numerous, ill. The free and eafy intercourfe of females with males. 2d. The frequent abortions which the women defignedly bring on themfelves. 3d. The chronical difeafes to which women in warm climates are more fubjecft than ill colaer ones. 4th. Putrid fevers, fore throats, and fluxes, the laft occafioning vaft mortality. 6th. The im. moderate ufe of fpirits, and many difeafes contracfted in their nightly rambles and dances. Laftly, too long fuckling, viz. about 2 years, bclides many difeafei prevalent in cold climates. Except in cafes of atrocious offences, corporal chaftifement is now feldom inflidled. Never called upon, in his medical capacity, td negroes after fevere punitliment. Refident in St. Kitts, about 12 months com* mencing in 1776. p 2^-^ Refident in Nevis from 1777 to 1785. In 1788 pafled 8 months in Nevis and St. Kitts, but not as a medical man. The preceding evidence relates to the^treatment of negroes in St, Kitts, as well as Nevis. Prefumes a greater proportion of African negroes may die in the firft three years after their importation than afterwards, and that the change of climate pro- duces very great effeds on the conftitution of the ne- groes I f W. Indies. — N, America. Thomas. 89 p;roes, many dying under the greatefl: care and at- 1790. tention, though put to no laborious employment. Part II. Believes labour of ilaves by no means tend to * — ^-~' ihorten their lives, as they always appear chearful P* ^54* during crop time when they work the hardeft. The Creole negro generally induftrious^ the Afri- can ufunlly very indolent. A woman of equal health and ftrength with a man, he confiders far more valuable, becaufe her increafe benefits the proprietor; fpeaks not of field-negroes. Nco-roes are not allowed fhocs, nor do they wilh -n 1 A. 2CC. to wear them.. *'"^ St. Kitts and Nevis are liable to fevere droughts, by which almofl: all vegetation is flopped, and the ufual produce of the Iflands diminifhed. Thinks J at lead of the infants born, die under a twelvemonth. The office of watchman is to keep cattle from in- truding on cane-pieces, whilft the plants are young, and when mature, to guard them from depredations of negroes. Watchmen alfo attend itores, &c. where any valuable eflfecfts are depofited. While refident in Nevis from 1777 to 1785, an epidemical putrid fore throat prevailed once or twice, which carried off manv children, and almofl: every year during the rainy months, fluxes were fatal to ap ^^ great many full grown negroes, elpecially fuch as * '-^ * were weakly. The rains commence about Augufl, and end with November or the beginning of December. Air impregnated with moifl particles, tends to give a certain check to the perfpiration, which being thrown upon the bowels, is very apt to end in a flux. Fluxes are apt to prevail after heavy rains, from the water that is commonly drank coming down from the mountains impregnated with noxious particles. In 1786 a putrid fever prevailed in both Nevis and St. Kitts, which fwept off many black and whites. The flaves in that and the former year were more M than ^p VV. Indies. — N.America. Thomas. 1 790. than ufually unhealthy, flaxes and fevers of a putrid Part II kind prevailing more than common. ' — « — ' ' Thinks the colonial laws rcilrain the mafter from "• ^57* exercifing any undue authority over his flaves. Any owner ill treating them would certa'nly be defpifed, and not admitted into the fociety of refpcftable men. The planters in Nevis more ufually refide on their eflates than in moft other Iflunds. The owner of an ertate, if refident in England, names an attorney, who appoints a manager, whofe conduit is often enquired into by the attorney, and when guilty of a breach of truit, or of any feverities to the negroes, he is difchargcd. As t-o whether it was generally believed in Nevis and St. Kitts, that the law of England extended its protection to flaves in thofe Iflands ? Ele fays, be- fore the framing of the Colonial laws of the different Iflands, the mafter had an ablolute authority over his flave ; but as felf-intereft is a predominant paf- fion, and that as it is contrary to every owner's intereil: to be cruel to his negroes, he prefumes that they were ufed as mildly as they now are. The allowance given to the flave is juft a fuffi» ciency for his fupport, the fuperfluity arifing from this and the produce of his provifion ground, which is not very great, is converted into money for flaves private purpofes. The ufual quantity of ground al- lotted each flave, befides that about his houfe, may P. 258. be about \ of an acre, and generally fome mountairi- land. The \ acre is always planted with potatoes or fome other vegetables for the flave's ufe. The al- lotment of mountain-land is always increafed in pro- portion to the family of the flave, but not the ground round the houfe. Many eftates have no mountain ground, the owner then gives a greater allo^'ance of food. Where there is no mountain-ground, believes the greateft allowance to be 11 pints of any kind of grain per week, befides an equal number of herrings; the allowance out of crop time being g/eater than during the crop/eafon i t!ie redud:ion^of allowance may X may be from 9 to 6 or 7 pints ; hut at this time the 1790. negroes have many advantages, fuch as a fupply of Part II. hot fyrup, a liberty of eating canes, and are in bet- ^ — - — ' ter condition and health than at any other period of the year. The negro-women lie-in in their own houfes. Never faw much whipping, and on his lafl viiit ■^* ^S9* to the W. Indies found it was almoft difufed, con- finement being attended with better confequences, for a negro would rather be whipped than confined. And this difcontinuance of whipping he thinks to the interefl of both mafler and flave. From the interefl of the Planter depending on the ilave, the tyrannic ads of opprefTion and tortures faid to be inflided on the negroes, are furely fuch abfur- dities as are felf-apparent. Is very certain the cultivation of fugar eflates can- not be carried on by Europeans. Is perfedly fenfible it is the interefl and wifh of the Planters in general to rear as many negro-children as they can. Has pofitive evidence that the flaves in the W. P» 260* India Iflands, have a decided fuperiority, as to every comfort of life over the common labourers and poor people of Ireland and Scotland, by being regularly fupplied with every neccfTary of life, cloathing, food, comfortable houfes, protedlion in health, the beft advice in ficknefs, and, on their dcceafe, having a father and proteftor for their children. r- W. Indies. Tobin. _^19^' Witnefs examined — James Tobin, Efq. Part II. •' . . '^-y— ' Has lived lo or 12 years in the W. Indies at difr ferent times, chiefly in Nevis. Has often been in St. Kitt's, and occafionally in mod other Englilh and feme French iflands. Knows the manner of cultir P. 261. vating W. Indian eftates, and has an eflate in Nevis. Thinks it impoflible to cultivate W. India lands by any other than negro labour. Sees no reafon why- free negroes fliould not do as much work as Haves^ but never knew a free negro do field labour. In St. Vincent are many free negroes, (improperly called Caribs) and there negro labour is very dear; but were they difpofed to work, the planters would give them very great prices ; they live, however, like favages. In Jamaica there is a good number of fiee negroes ; but he does not find that any of them wprk in the field for hire. Does not conceive it poffible to cultivate fugar plantations by whites. Does not think that the number of negroes fuffi- cient to cultivate fugar eftates can be kept up by pror pagation, for thefe reafons — more males imported than females, from the Africans being all Polygamiih, P. 262. and of courfe unwilling to part with their females— the early and promifcuous intercourfe of the fexes—r the venereals — young females procuring abortions, to preferve their perfons— the obftrudions, &c., the female, negroes are fubject to from their irregulari- ties — the negro women fuckling too long — the pre? mature debility of the men by fpirits— the liitle care too many of the negro women are apt to take of their children — the many diforders to which negro chiU (dren are peculiarly fubject, as fluxes, woims, and the fevers incident thereto, the lock'd jaw, and eating dirt. On his eflate has had 2 males to 3 females, of whom remarkable care has been taken — a free wo- man conflantly attends the fick and breeding wo- men ; yet, for thefe 4 or 5 years, he has but juft ben able to keep up his number. Has W. Indies. Tobin. 93 Has never found the lock'd jaw fo frequent in 1790. Nevis as in St. Kitt's, and feveral other illands. Part. II. Negroes, infant and adult, are fubjedt to fluxes, * — y — ' putrid fevers, and fore throats, befides the fmall- pox, mealies, &c. ; and has no reafon to think the Joffes from thefe difeafes would be counterbalanced I' by breeding. Negroes are ufually fed with flour, Indian com, p. 26". ^ rye meal, bifcuit, Guinea corn, and other grain ; and i yams, potatoes, &c., when to be had : they have be- ! fides, fait herrings, fait fifli, &c. The provifions al- lowed may be fufficient ; but it is always underftood that they are to add to their allowance by their own induftry, which they can do, having always land to plant, and leave to raife goats, hogs, and poultry, to fell for themfelves ; alfo grals and wood, which they j fell in the towns. During his refidence in the W. I Indies, perhaps 2-3ds of the frefli provifions he ufed. I were bou^rht of his flaves, or thofe of others. The negroes have Ofnabrugs, or coarfe hnen, for a : jacket and breeches for the men, and a jacket and petticoat for the women ; with fome woollen cloth, I and generally hats and caps, at leall once a year. The children of all ages are allowed cloathing. Negroes' houfes arc built by themfelves, with tlie mafters* help, with, at leaft, two rooms, one to deep ' in, the other for common ufe ; many of their houfes have 3 or 4 rooms, with cook rooms detached. The houfes are generally tliatchcd and wattled, and many plaiftered ; but many head negroes, par-p > ticularly in St. Kitt's, have boarded and fliingled ' ^* houfes. They flcep on raifed benches fpread with niatts and blankets. On all eftates there arc regular fick nurfes, and ge- nerally a furgeon employeci by the year. Sick flavcs have fago, portable foup, wine, frefh ir.eat, &c. Poultry and mutton are often killed to make them broth. He knew a convalcfcent flave have 16 lambs, each worth 2 dollars, killed for his ufe. A negro \vofnan, 4 or j months gone with child, works 54- "V^^- Indies. ' Tobik. 1 700. w'orks not in any of the gangs, but picks grafs, at- Parr II. tends the children in the field, or does foinc light t.«-v*«^ work, more to keep her in exercife than for profit. .| In lying-in flic has the fame attention as the fick. A midwife is generally on the eftate ; but in cafes of neccfTity an ellablilhed praditioner is called at a very heavy cxpencc ; as midwifery, night vifits, or capital operations, are paid for extra. They have always 4 weeks to lye in, and more, if necefiary ; and after coming out, are allowed to come an hour or two later into the field whilft nurfing. Never recollefts feeing a negro woman far gone with child put to any hard labour. Lame, incurably difcafed, and aged negroes, have the fame food, clothing, and accommodation, as if * • ^^S' perfedly ferviceable. He is warranted to fay, that the punifhments of flaves are mild, compared to thofc of BritiQi foldiers and feamen. From obfervation he has no doubt but the fituation of the W.- India flaves (punilliments apart) is pre- ferable to that of the labouring poor in Europe, the climate giving an obvious advantage to the Have ; for in a cold climate two of the greateft luxuries arc' warm lodging and warm clothing, both which the labouring poor can fcarcely procure ; but in the W. Indies cool lodging and cool clothing are two of the greateft indulgencies, both which the negro can ea- fily obtain. The labour expcfted from the negroes varies with their flrength, and, in fome meafure, with the fea- fons. They are generally divided into 3 gangs ; the great gang confifts of the ableft men and women ; the (mall gang, of the younger and lefs able ; and the grafs gang, of children under an old v/oman, to keep them out of mifchief, and ufe them to employ- ment. The great gang hole the ground ; in weed- ing and in crop the two gangs are generally united. The negroes arc generally called into the field by a bell about 6 o'clock ; about 8'they have i hour for P. 266. brcikfaft, generally in the fields m about i of an hour \V. Indies. Toein. mr hour they refume their work, which they continue 1790. till noon ; but in very dry fealbns (being out of crop Part H. expected to bring grafs at noon) they are generally ^ — y — ' difcharged at about I paft 11. At 2 o'clock they return in the field, and continue till about 6, whea they are difcharged to bring more grafs ; in crop when the ftock is fed on cane tops, and little or no grafs required. A few attend the mill and boiling houfe fome hours after dark ; and on fome efliates being divided into proper fpells, they attend them moft of the night, fo that on the whole the crop may be called the feafon of hardelt labour ; and yet the flaves are always then hearticfl:. On the whole, he is convinced that the labour of a negro throuali the year is by no means fofevere as that of ao Englilh labourer. Out of crop the negroes can generally go to rell: by 7 o'clock ; but this partly depends on themfelves, as they are fomctimcs backward in bringing their grafs, and generally ccune to get their allowance at that hour. As it is dark between 6 and 7, it could anfwer no purpofe to keep them out of crop, from their houfes, after that hour. The cultivation of a fugar eftate bears a much nearer refemblance to that of a garden, than to that of an EngliQi farm. Planters who have kept this idea in view have generally made the moft of their property. W.-India lands require very nice prepara- tion. No produce is fown ; every thing, even grain, being planted : the plough and other Euro- pean implements are therefore excluded : they have, he l:ielieves, been tried on eftates level enough to admit the experiment, but, he is well informed, with- out any good effe^s. The young cane fprouts are re- p ^r^ markably tender, and require repeated hoings, to lie * '* done molt carefully of courfe by hand. Manure in the W. Indies is not fpread as in England, but is car- ried and carefully placed round each plant fcpa- rately ; fc that wheelbarrows or carts could not be ufed after the canes are come up ; but the manure is gene- ^6 W. Indies. Tobin. I7QO' gcncrnlly carted, and made into heaps at proper dif- Part II. tanccs on the land before holing, to fave as much o' «.-^^,--' the work as pofliblc to the negroes. In Nevis and Monticrrat it would be impofiible, from the rocks, (except a very few fpots) even to try the plougli. 'i he fevcre droughts, to which the fmall iflands arc fubjetft, would alfo be an invincible impediment to the plo\igh, as lands, if they could be ploughed, would require a long time to mellow. The planter are fo fenllble of the value of negro labour, that the\ have left very few experiments untried that were likely to leffen it — it being a maxim among all pru- dent planters never to employ a negro in doing fuch work as can be done otherwife. In St. Kitt's flaking cattle, to provide manure and fave negro labour, prevails more than in any illand he knows. In Nevis they ufe moving pens, fome- what like flieep folds ; by which dung is made where it is ufed. There are very few places where fmall light dung carts, drawn by mules, cannot be ufed ; but in * places too fteep for fuch carts, the manure is car ried out in horfe-hair bags, on mules, to fave negro , labour. i P 268 Mod planters certainly prefer Creole flaves to J ' Africans, and therefore pay all poffible attention to breeding:. Knows in Nevis, that a pecuniary reward is given to the mother on rearing her child to be 2 years old ;• and that freedom from all labour is granted to every negro woman who is the mother of 6 working chil- dren. From reading, and from converfing with men well acquainted with Africa, and from occafional conver- fation with Africans themfelves, has eveiy reafon to think that their iitu'ation is better generally in the W. Indies, than it was in their own country ; and it is- very fingular, that there never was an inftance of a negro (even an African) who had obtained his free- dom, ever returning to Africa, or even expreflirig a wilh W Indies. Tobin. 9y vvllh to do fo. This has been faid to arife from the 1790. connexions they have made in the W. Indies ; and Part. II. if fo, it proves that they can form conneflions there * v ' equally, if not more, agreeable to them than thofe they quitted. It is a general miflake to fuppofe that negroes in the W. Indies are very anxious to procure their freedom ; if fo, many of them could buy their* freedom with the money they fave. Has known freedom offered to flaves on the molt moderate terms, and refufed, becaufe they fliould lofe their friends p, 269. and protectors. Has little doubt but thofe negroes could have bought their freedom at the fuxn pro- pofed ; is pofitive in one inftance, as he (the Have) has bought his fon's freedom, and flaves for his fon's ufe, himfelf (who was a fiQierman, 280) (till re- maining a Have. It is very common for free negroes to marry (in the r fcnfe of the word) women flaves, though they know that their oifspring would be flaves. Has refided in England as a W.-India merchant fince 1784. Has great reafon to think tliat the agitation of the queftion for abolilhing the flave trade has had effects on W. -India credit, very baneful and very extcnfive. The houfe he is concerned in, and, he beheves, many greater houfes, have been deterred by this confidcration alone from making advances. Was moftly in the W. Indies from 1758 till 1766. p. 270. His father poflelfed the family eftate for that time, and for a great part of it renter of another pretty con- fiderable property ; in the management of both which he was chiefly employed. In 1766 he returned to England, remaining there till 1777, when he went back to the W. Indies, and ftaid till 1784. Did not particularly attend to his gang till he lafl; left the W. Indies, being before that time employed in get- ting rid of fome of the worft, and ixi procuring a gang, likely to increafe. In 1784, had 72 males and 100 females; in 1785, 72 males and 98 females ; in 1786, -73 males and 98 females, having this year ^^Tumb. 2. N bought oS W. Indies. 1790. bought one ; in 1787, 77 males and 102 females, 6 Part 11. new negroes being bought — the increafe this year V— ,^^ — t was 3 ; m 1788, 77 males and 102 females, having with fuch a fupcriority of females barely been able to keep up the number, but cannot ftate the births and deaths in that peiiod. P. 271. In St. Kitt's the land is {0 very valuable that the negro houfes ftand very clofe ; the negro grounds, therefore, are generally at fome diftance from their houfes. In Nevis, where land is not fo valuable, the houfes ftand farther afunder, and there is generally a lot of land to each houfe ; but in both believes it is ufual (in Nevis it is) to allow them one crop from a piece of cane land, befides the land round their houfes and the negro provifion ground. The diftant land is generally either mountain land, or gutfides. Had about 260 or 270 acres in cultivation, of which in general he planted yearly about 90. The whites in his fervice were a manager, an overfeer all the year, and a diftiller in crop — he hired a free Mulatto woman to attend the lick and the lying-in woman ; and the fame number were cm- ployed in his abfence. Never knew any fenfible planter who did not think it for his intereft to breed, rather than buy flaves. Thinks the general treatment of flaves to be better now than it was 30 or 40 years ago ; but knows of no particular alterations of late. The protection enjoyed by the flaves in thefe two iflands was that of the laws of England — he does not recoiled: any colonial laws in Nevis interfering with P. 272. ^^^^'^- ^^ ^f- Kitt's he believes there is a law to punilh the maiming of flaves, pafTed in 1783. Apprehends it to have been the general opinion,, rliat the Englifli law extended to (laves in Nevis and St. Kitt's. Inftanccs proceedings in Nevis in the cafe of a f-ippoic^I murder of a ncgio by 2 white men, carried on, as he apprehends, under the laws of England : s.nd another cf a white overfeer, fuppofed to have J wantonly ToBIN. ^p wantonly murdered a negro ot the eftate he lived on, 1790. who was capitally indifted and tried ; but the proofs Part II, not appearing fatisfadory, found guilty of man- v — y,— » llaughter — fentenced to a year's imprilonment. — Vide particulars. Can't fay it was commonly underftood that the P. 273. flave was fecured by the laws of England from im- moderate punishment by his mafler ; but knows it to be a general- received opinion, that all the lav.s of*^ England are in force in the W. Indies, where they are not counteraded by particular colonial laws. Rooms were not generally appropriated for lying- in women, as many planters, in the old iflands, hold even hofpitals to be more detrimental than ufeful, by increafing epidemicks ; and where the negroes are moftly Creoles, the fick and lying-in women find themfelves more at eafe in their houfes. Thfere is a poll tax in Nevis and St. Kitt's, which, he believes, commences from the birth. Few of the flaves pretend to much religion — their morals, probably, as good as thofe of the very lower order in England. The regulating afl, he has been informed, has P. 274. raifed the price of flaves ; and to it he chiefly attri- butes the late advance. Has reafon to think, that the fituation of field ne- groes in the French iflands is by no means better than in the Englifli, efpecially as to punifliment — - the houfe negroer. feem to be treated with more fa- miliarity than in the Englifh iflands, but doubts whether that materially benefit them. The Code P. 275, Noir appears to be well calculated to fecure good treatment to the flaves ; but he believes it is far from being rigidly enforced, and fometimes it is impoflible for the planter to comply with it, particularly refpedt- ing provifions. Believes the French planters oftener refide on their eftates than the Englifli. The negroes are not likely to be better ufed by the proprietor, than by a prudent manager, becaufe the former feels immediately the cxpence of an ample N 2 provifion lOO W. Ls'DIES. , TOBIN. 1790. provision and necefTaries, which the latter does not; part II. and it is a particular pleafure to the manager, re- ^^ — y — ' dounding much to his credit, that the negroes under him look well. P. 276. Docs not rccolleft any managers difcharged for (he-A ing too great indulgence to the negroes in food and labour. Information, as to their true intereft, is equally ac- ceffible to to the French as to the Englifh planters; but from obfervation thinks the former in general not fo well educated as the latter. The greateft time the negroes have to culrivare their own land is all Sunday — fometimes, and in fea- fonable weather, when a little extra time is likely to be particularly ufeful to them, they have Saturday af- ternoon ; and he believes, on fome eftates, they ge- nerally have it; befides there are holidays, 2 or 3 at Chriftmas, Good Friday in general, and on many eftates, a day at the finilhing crop, the other times are fuch as they chufe to take from their reft ; the 2 hours at noon is fcldom employed in preparing a regular meal, their chief meal being fupper ; fo that they often work their ground then. The allowance from the mafter generally, he thinks, is regular and fettled, but fometimes affected by th° fcarciry or plenty of provifions to be bought. The allowance d fters in fome meafure on dift'erent eftates ; the average may be ftared at about 6 to 9, or 10 pints of grain or flour for each negro per week, including every weaned child ; befides this they have 6 or 8 herrings per week, or fait fifh, &c. in proper^ P. 277.tion; in addition to which, on many eftates, and on all which he directed, they had out of crop, a re- gular breakfaft ferved them in the field, of a bifcuit, molafl!es and water, qualified with rum in rainy wea- ther. Whenever from indolence or inattention to drefling the provifions ferved out, any negroes fall off, they have more vi6tuals ferved out to them drefl^ed. Negroes thus fed with drefiTed viduals, are called the pot gang ; and it is a reproach for a negro to be-i(b careiefs W. Indies. Tobin. lOI carclefs as to be obliged to be fed that way. On moft 1790. cftates a pot is boiled daily for the children, weak and Part IT. convalefcent negroes, and thofe under confinement, v -t^.-,.^ The negroes may negleft cheir provifion grounds, but on fome eilates they are obliged by their mafters to cultivate fuch grounds, though this is not common. The charadlcr of negroes as to indolence or indullry, as various as that of whites, and depends much on the part of the coafl: they come from. Has found it eafy to perfuade fome negroes to adopt fuch alterations in managing their own con- cerns as might tend to their advantage, but in gene- ral they are obftinatelv wedded to their own cuftoms. Not to be fuppofed that mmy negroes poflefs con- p^ 278, fiderable property in a fmall ifland, like Nevis; be- fides they are very jealous of letting their owners or managers know it. A lum fiifficient to buy a field negroe's freedom, would not be deemed a confiderable property, if he chole to fave the money he could earn inltead of fpending it in fineries for himfelf and his wives, and other fuperfluities. His property depends chiefly on the quantity of flock and poultry he may rjife. The paltures of the eftate, if cxtenfive, are gene- rally more than enough to keep the mafler's ftock in wet, but not in dry weadier. Severe droughts are common in Nevis and St. Kittys, efpecially Nevis. In thofe droughts the mafler's cat- tle are often with difficulty furnifhed with fufficient grafs, yet it is very remarkable, that from fome caufe or other, the negro flock fcldom or ever appears af- teded by fuch droughts. The managers are not in general allowed to keep flock, at leaft fuch as go into the paftures ; fuch ftock out of crop are fed with „ grafs or (hrubs gathered by grafs gang generally. Surgeons, for their attendance in thefe two iflands, have ufually 6s. per ann. for each negro, young and old ; but fuch annual fum is the leaft part of their profit, as they charge for every night vifjt 3I. 6s. ; for loi W.Indies. Tobin. 1790. ^or every midwifery cafe (in Nevis) 5 times t;hat Part 11.^'"^? ^"<^ fo^' ^^^ capital operations in the fame pro- i~-v — * portion ; they alfo charge feparately for inoculation. With feme of the moll ufeful medicines (bark efpe- cially) they are generally fupplied by the planters, or charged feparately by the furgeons. Currency varies from 160 to 1871 per cent. It is not very common for field negroes to have more than one wife. Apprehends that taking the coaft of Guinea alto- gether, the W.-India illands may be faid to be in a healthier climate ; and yet, from experience, the change of the climates has very bad effe(fts on die negroes, on their firft arrival. Doubts very much whether, if the negroes in the p W. Indies were to be freed, they would be nearly as happy as they are now ; but to fuch of them as have induftry and prudence to make a proper ufe of it, freedom is preferable; but thofe who abufe it, are lefs happy than a good ilave. In the prefent (late oi the inlands, and few as free ne- groes are, they can earn more by fundry trades, fi(h- ing, &c. with the fame time and induftrv, than by hiring themfelves to do field work on eftates at the ufual price ; but were a general emancipation to take place, or the number of free negroes greatly increafed, it might probably be otherwife ; it cannot therefore be expeded, in the prefent ftate of the iflands, that free negroes fl:iould offer to do field labour. JP. 282. The communication between the W. Indies and Africa not very frequent, but vefTels are occafionally fent from the ifland to trade for Haves. Believes few managers keep negroes to let as job"!- bing gangs, either to their mafters or others. The cane pieces, provif]ons,and other ftores, are ge- nerally watched. For the protedion of free negroes from ill ufage, every law is as much open to tWem as to Whites. P. 283. Suppofes an African cannot lay by a fum to buy- his freedom in a Ihort time after his importation, ana in Wi Indies. Tobin, 16J in his comparifon of the ftate of Haves in the W. In- 1790W dies, and negroes in Africa, and alfo of the former and Part IL the labouring poor of England, he has alluded to the '^->'— ' tolerably induftrious flaves, which, in tail, are the majority. The profligate and incorrigible are gene- rally apt to run away, to fell their clothes, and to neg- ied: the food allowed them, are often loitering aboac the towns, and drolling along the ba}^ and lea jMe, half naked, and apparently half (larved ; and from fuch wretches he thinks the ftate of the flaves in tbe iflands has been defcribed and publilhed in England, by people who have tranfiently vifited them, without knowing the management of eftates, and the tress- ment of the flaves. Three perfons have been tried, convided, an.d puniflied, for ill treating their own flaves, under the common law of England, in St. Kitt's ; and of f-jck convidtions authentic tranfcripts liave been fent home for the information of the H. of Commons. Such docu- - ments evince how much the police of Nevis and Sr, Kitt's has been mifreprefented by afl^ertions that, ia thofe iflands, there was no law to interpofe between the tyranny of the planters and their defenceiefs P, 2S4. flaves. The flaves, neither before nor after the furrender of Nevis to the French, (hewed any difpofition to revolt, but quite the contrary. In St. Kitt's, when attacked by the French in 1782, the flaves eagerly defired arms to defend their maf- ter's property ; and, on fome eflates, where the whites were infulted by the French foldiers, the negroes took the mod ample and favage revenge. The inftances of convidion and punifhment of perfons for ill treatment of flaves in Nevis referred only to the two murders before fpecified. The inftances of conviclion and punifliment of mafters for ill treating their own flaves, mentioned to have occurred in St. Kitt's, were, fince the pafllng of P. 285. the ad for punilTiing offenders for particular kinds of ill treatment ; but the indiftments under which ihey 104 W. Indies. A. Douglas. 1790. ^^^^Y ^vere convicted and punldied, were under the Part li. common law of England. Knows of no fimilar ^^—y^-^ convi(5lions and puniihmcnts in St. Kitt's previous to this period. Does not recoiled; having heard the particulars of the feveral cafes of convidtion and pu- nidiment in St. Kitt's, except the cafe of Strode for flitting a negro's ear. P. 2S6. -^y cudom the mailer fuppofes he has the right of exafting labour from the flave by compulfion, the mailer being the judge of the labour exaded ; but knows no law that gives hi m fuch right. And the ftatute law of England fuppofes that right to exift in the mafter, as clearly as any colonial laws, as many a6ls of parliament relating to the colonies, would be abfurd, without fuppofing fuch right aAually to exift. p. 287. Thinks the mode adopted in profecuting Strode and Burke on the common law of England, and not on the new-ifland ftatute, demonfl rates, that, in the opinion of the profecutors for the crown, the ftatute created no new indidable offence ; but that an adt of wanton cruelty by a mafter on his flave was a mifde- meanor indidable at common law in that ifland, before the ftatute pafTed. Witnefs examined — Alexander Douglas, Efq. Refident in St. Kitt's from 1749 to 1771, except a few months ; leafed part of an eftate, managed two eftates befides his own, and was attorney to feveral P. 288. eftates of abfentees. Had under his care about a 6th or 7th part of all the negroes in the illand. Could not keep up the negroes without importation. On the eftate he leafed are 100 males and 115 fe- males, but in general, believes the males exceed the females. The ftock has not bqen kept up by breed-^ ing. W. Indies. A. Douglas. 105 ing, even on the eftate he leafed. To increafe the 1790. negroes by breeding, was a particular objedl: of his Part II. attention. * >— ' Thinks it impoffible for whites to undergo field- work in the W. Indies, and free negroes arc too idle to do it for hire ; never knew an inltance of it Does not think it probable that the proprietors could keep up the neccllary flock of negroes by breeding, having himfelf tried it and failed. Does not fuppofe it owing to over-working, neglec"t, or ill treat- ment. Women fix months gone with child, do as they pleafe, and their indolence has been deemed one caufe of the children dying of the locked jaw, with- in the ninth day. They are attended by a midwife P- 289. and Tick nurfe, and have everv thing neceflary in their condition, alfo the afTiflance of a plantation furgeon, if required. Should the mother be too in- dolent (which fomctimes happen) to provide baby cloaths, mofl people, he believes, fcod for them to England. Added to the produce of their own grounds, the general allowance to negroes in St.Kitt's, was from 6 to 8 pints of flour, beans, and Indian corn, or a baficet of yams. With 1 2 to 15 acres of cane land planted in yams, he has been able to feed the negroes, fometimes for 9 months together ; but the produce depends on the weather. Each flavc has alfo 6 or 8 herrings a week, or fait fifh in proportion ; and Jit Chriitmas falted beef j but their allowance is more or lefs, as the mailers fee requifite. Good negroes live in plenty ; the vagrants often want, and it is impoflible to prevent it. Good negroes have very large quan- t titles of grafs, wood, poultry, pigs, roots, &c. to fell. In crop, negroes that grind all night, divide their gargs into 3 or 4 fpells, but of late, on n;oft eftates grinding in the night is left off. Out of crop, they are generally difcharged about 6 or 7 at night, and , called out in the morning at davlighr, about 6. Thinks the negroes in St.Kitt's have from 9 to Numb. 2. O II io6 W.Indies. A.Douglas. 1790. 'I hour's rcfp'te in the 24, and they are unlverfally P^rr II. healthier in ciop than at any o h.r feafon. v_^^_> 1 he texture of the hnd at S: Kitt's is loofcr and cafier holed than the other ifl.inds. A Creole is put in^o the holing g^ng, according to his growth or flrcngth, at 16, 17, or iH years of age. As to maftcrs, in their behaviour to flaves, being aftuated by a conftant jealoiify, not to be fatisfied by any exertion, or foftcntd by any attachment of the flaves, the idea is perfectly new to him ; never knew niafters treat their flaves in St. Kitt's with fpiteful le- verity ; thinks all madcrs treat their flaves with compaffion, as their mofl valuable polllffion, and recolle(fls no inflance of feverity. By accounts re- ceived^ thinks the treatment of negroes in St. Kitt*s better, if any thing, than while he was there. Every proprietor, of common fenfe, wiflies to breed as many negroes as he can. 291. A Creole negro of equal age and (Irength, would, he thinks, from the knowledge of his good quality, be worth 2 at Icafr, perhaps 3, of new negroes, whofe qualities the proprietor muft be ignorant of. Managers, in tiie proprietors' abfence, have no reludtance, nor Ihcw any inattention, to rearing and breeding negro children. The planters generally prefer a fmgle to a married manager, unlefs the wife happens 10 be remarkably careful of the negroes. Does not conceive any want of attention to breed ing is confequent on the abfence of the proprietors. Of the 6 ellates mentioned in the paper the Rev. Mr. Ramfay delivered in to the Privy Council, he believes about four of the proprietors never were in the \y. Indies in his time ; of courfe, their affairs were left to managers and attornies. Mr. Molyneux was there for about a year, he believes ; Mr. Crook, j|l,. after living long in England, fpent a few of the laft years of his life in S.. Kitt's, vv^here he died. 4 ,781 was the amount of the Treafurer's account of negroes in St. Kitt's in 1 768. 3 20,435 W. tiJDiES* A.Douglas. 107 20,435 ^^^s the number of negroes in Sr. Kite's in i y^o. 17S8, as ffnt by the illand, and given in to the Part II. Pr/vy Council. «- — ,^— J Thinks the negroes have certainly more comforts P. 292* than the labouring poor of Europe : they do not work fo hard, and have a maftcr to take care of them and their children when fick. Thinks the tffedof the abolition of the Have trade on the negroes now in the colonies, would be fedi- tion, from a fear that their labour would be greater as the gang decreafed, and there being no hopes of afliftancc from Africa, as heretofore. Thinks no ad: could prevent the importation of negroes into the Englifh iflands; every man would naturally affift h s neighbour in the common caufe. Thinks, from 6 to 8 pints of flour, beans, &c. per week was given to each negro, and herrings from 5 fo 8. Recolledis no criminal proceedings againft whites for offences againil flaves, while he was in the W* Indies, but one or two being threatened with profe- cutions, left the ifland. His whole gang was 215 ; his eftate about 25«o acres. They lofl a great many infants, and there were a p. 292, great many very old people on the eftate when he came into pofleflion ; the eftate is healthy. Very young children, he thinks, have half al^ lovvance; rccoUedils having a complaint from fome mothers, that they had not time to drefs their chil-^ dren's food, but having always looked on the breed- ing women as the mo(l valuable of the gang, from their fobriety, and always keeping at home, he de- termined to have victuals dreffed for their children daily. They came for this food punctually, a week or two, or longer ; but at laft they dropped off one by one, and he left off the practice. Whilft he was in Sc. Kitt's, JSJr. Thomas loft, in a year, by a flux, 34 of his beft negroes, out of 170 O2 to *^ io8 W. Indies. Kerby. 1790. to 200 ; and Mr. Thomas, he believes, was remark- Part II. ably careful of his negroes. Docs not believe that *— V ' lofles of negroes by epidemics are uncommon in St. Kitr's, and knows no means by which thefe lofles could be fupplied but from Africa. "Witnefs examined — Thos. Nor bury Kerby, Efq. I^. 299. A native of Antigu?. — left it In 1762 — returned February 178c — (laid till July 1788 ; was a Mem- ber of Affcmbly till early in 1784, then received a mandamus from home to a feat at the Council. Has 2 fug;ir ]ilantations ; has been attorney for friends at different periods ; cannot exactly fay how many years the eftatcs had been in his family — but a confiderable time — and defcended to him. P. 300. Thinks rnoll of the eftatcs in the illand want fiaves ; one of his eftates is fufFicienily handed, the other not : as to thofe he is concerned for, fome arc fufficienrly handed, others not. Thinks there may be as many born as die ; but by no means raifed to maturity. On one of his eftates, the increafe equals the decreafe ; on the other, does not : on one for which he is concerned it is equal, on the others not ; cannot cxadly tell the numbers raifed, where the increafe equals the decreafe, but certainly not J], as many die within nine days of the tetanus. Believes many die from inattention of the mothers, as thev are ap: to think young children a burden, and great bar to their plcafures, and ro nocturnal meet- ings and dances. Having been very unfuccefsful in railing children on one of his ciiates, he built a lying-in hofpital, hoping to have the women, lying in, more imme- diately W. Indies. Kerby. 109 dlately under the manager's eye, and fo greater care 1790. would be paid to the liulc comforts they wanted. — Part II. But from the flaves' difpofitions, and their great dif- '^ — y — ' like to all confinement, his endeavours had not P. 301. proved, when he came away, very beneficial ; and he is apt to believe his lofles fince have ftill been in the fame proportion. On arriving in the W. Indies, he found that the flave-houfes on the eflate, where they decreafc, had formerly flood expofcd to the N. wind, and that me- dical men had advifed re-building them in a dilTe- rcnt fite, which was directly done ; yet his loli'es flill continue, though he is confident no eftate has greater attention p;iid ro the flaves in every fituation, particularly to mothers and children. The negro women nre very partial to their own midvvives. A flave in labour, on his own eftate, was reported to him as in danger : he diredtly went to her friends, and told them he had fent for a do(flor to give her every help. The anfwer was, if he came he fliould not attend her, as flic preferred the eftate midwife. She was delivered before the dodtor came. Doubts not, loffes are fuftained from want of fk-ill in iome midwives. Whenever a diflicult cafe cocurs, believes a medical perfon is always employed. It is the practice on his eftates, and thofe for which he has been concerned, to pay the midv/ife for every child born ; — to encourage the mothers, he has alfo made them fome prefcnt, generally about Ch rift mas. Certainly does not afcribe the failure of increafe p. ^02. and rearing of children, to hard work, harfli ufage, or improper food of the mother, while pregnant or afterwards. As foon as a flave fays flic is with child, and that hard work would hurt her, every attention is paid her. Believes it general to relieve from all hard work a flave 4 months gone with child ; fometimes they do not lie-in for 6 or 7 months after. They are al- ways no W.Indies. Kerbt. 1 790. ways attended by the niii fe of the cftate and fome fc- Pait II. male friends; and care is taken that they have every * — y — ' necertary. He allows fuch baby-linen as is wanted. Makes the women bring their children to him at the end of the ^th week, then orders them to fuch work, as he thinks they cnn bear. Believes a woman never goes to hard work till the end af 6 weeks — Children of carclefs mothers are always put under one ot the nuries, who pay them every attention, while the mother is in the field. To the children of other mothers every attention £S to food and lodging is paid, though they are not taken from them. The work is always proportioned P. ^0^. f'^ th^ flave's ftrength. The eftatcs in general, and his own, have not a proportionate number of females. Cannot at all times get out of a cargo, the breeding females wanted: the proportion brought from Africa is verr inadequate. Thinks it would be impoflible to keep up the prefent rtock without fupply from Africa ; and is confident it would be impradticable, if they had an equal number of woinen, confidering the diforders to which perfons in the W. Indies are fubjedt, and the dreadful ravages often caufedby epidemical ones. In 1779, it was generally thought in the ifland, and from his own lofles verily believes, kh of all the ne- groes died of a dyfentery. In 1 782 many died by an epidemical pleurify ; in 1783, by the meafies ; and in 1786, there were heavy lofl'es by the fmall pox and chin-cough, though every attention was paid to inoculation. Generally fpeaking, thinks they may, with pro* priet}', be put to the hardeft field-work from 18 to P. 304. 20 ; fome are more cap-^blc of labour fooner. If he Ihould iofe an\ able flaves, b- fore the Creoles reached this age, if the African trade Vvas abolilhed, a pro- portion of his land muft be uncultivated, or his young negroes be worked too foon. If the trade was not abulillied, he would certainly look to Africa for W. Indies. Kerby. hi for fupply. Thinks every negro brought forward 1790. to work beyond his ftrength, muft be worn out very Part II. early. His loffes in 1779, 82, 3, and 6, have '^ — y— ' not been repaired ; though he conftanrly bought flives, when he could, from Africa or elfewhere, as far as he was able ; but, from many bad years, few planters were able to repair their lofles. The crops in the ifland in 1779, 80, and 81, were generally very bad : he did not make, in 3 years, 'what he ought 10 have made in 1. Thinks, if the crop had been large in 1780 and 81, anil there had been no fupplies from Africa, it would have been impofiible for the flaves then on the ^Hand to have done the work. If the African trade fliould be abolilhed, and the ifland again have fuch calamitous years as 1779, 82, 3, and 6, great part of the land now cultivated mull be negledted. It has been generally found, that eftates which are p. ^Of.' bell: handed, make in proportion the largefl crops. Thinks, were the flave-trade abolilhed, ail the flaves would be very forty, as they would be certain the work would fall wholly on themfelves: It is very well known, they exprefs much fatisfaftion when they hear of the arrival of flaves, and often alk their mailers to buy a few more help-mates. In July 1788, he paid 42I. for the fame kind of ilavc, which in 1787 he bought for 36I. — Which. he attributes entirely to the report of the abolition, which had reached the W. Indies ; but fhould cer- tainly prefer a Creole, even at an advanced price. Thinks every planter, who lludies his intercft •would prefer the breeding of flaves to buying Afri- cans. Believes planters conflantly pay new negroes every attention, and give them neceflary time to recover from the fatigue of the voyage. Slaves are lodged in Hone, wattled and dawbcd, and wooden houfcs, built and kept in repair by the jmafter, or by illowing the flave time to do it : — Cioihcd by him (fpeaks of his own eftates and thofe he 112 W. Indies. KERBr. 1790. he direfts) with i fuit of woollen, and 1 of Ofna- Part II. burgs annually. — He always allows from 3 to 12 ' — Y — ' mealiires of grain per week to each flave — from 26 to 361bs. of yams or eddoes ; — trom 4 to 8 herrings according to the age, or from 2 to 3lbs. of fak-fiih. )il'h£^ have alfo dry filr. Every eilate gives each if'c.vc ^ams or flour, with fait beef or pork at Chrilt- mas, beyond the weekly allowance, and 3 holidays. Belifves it rr. general rule on every well-regulated eftat' to g-'"',!' any Have that applies foi additional fo'' fuch h-/ip as he appears to want, without re- fpev.. to weather. In bad v/eather, the whole gang have grog, — ^nd when working hard. He gives allowance to every one on his eftates, and thole under his care, according to their ages. On every eftate land is allotted for the flaves, which "• 3^7* they cultivate for theii* fole benefit. All may raife fmall ftock, goats and hogs, which they dil'pofe of entirely as their own. Ne'vcr knew a cafe where the money arifing from them w^s confidered but entirely as the flave's own. Men of war, and merchant-fliips are conftantly fupplied on Sundays with vegetables, the ilaves pro- perty ; — on other days ^t is uiual to fend vegetables to market by the flaves, on the owner's account ; — the fmall ftock, goats, and hogs aie chiefly the llavc's property, and with which the fliipping is chiefly fupplied. — The people of St. John's have their fmall flock and vegetables chiefly in the fame way as the fliipping. — It is common for mafters to buy flock from their flaves, and pay as much as other perfons. Remembers a flave giving 200I. for his freedom : Alfo knows many who fpend annually trom lol. to 15I. One afternoon weekly is allowed to the flaves out of crop, to work their own grounds, — lometimes in crop, but not conflantly. They hold every Sunday a market to fell their produce and flock. Every W.Indies. Kerby; 113 Every eftate has an hofpital for the fick, who are 1790. attended by a medical man and proper nurfes, — fup- Part II« plied with every rcquifire, and never fent to work. * — r— ' without the dodtor's fandtion. A doctor is conftantly employed iit a certain rate for each flave attends twice a week, is liable to be lent for wheii 'cr ceflary — paid alfo for fractures, midwifery v^.. j- reals, &c. Thinks the flave enjoys full as any comforts as the Englifli labourer, in fome re dts mc 'e ; as he is fure of being taken care of in h Knefs, has not the anxiety of providing perhaps for a \\d^ and young family. The ufual puniiliment of flaves is, whipping for petty thefts, fuch as breaking open negro-houfes, ftores, and ftealing from other flaves ; — for higher offences they are tried by 2 juflices, one being of the quorum, and 6 white jurors balloted for out of 12, and punifhed according to the offence. A mafter generally inflidts from 10 to 39 laihes for the offences he takes cognizance of. Believes no planter ever thinks of engaging an over- p^ ^qq^ fcer, without enquiring his charad:er, and if cruel, he is never employed. An overfeer is never allowed to punifh except by an occalional lafh at work, and that generally over the clothes ; — on ill behaviour he complains to the manager. Every man tries to get a manager of infor- mation and education, with whom to truil his pro- perty, and he is generally affociated with by gentle- men. Has himfelf difcharged an overfeer and a ma- nager for cruelty ; — the lad could get no employ- ment afterwards, and was obliged to leave the ifland. Thinks holing (which lafts about 3 months) and dunging the hardefl work ; though in crop the flaves work many more hours. The dung is carted to the land's fide, and thence carried by the flaves in fmali bafkets, on their heads, to the holes. The flaves carry them with the greatefl: Numb. 2. P apparent 114 W.Indies. Kerby. 1790. apparent eafe, as that is the ufual mode of carrying Part II. weights. '— V — ' It would be impoflible to diftribiite the dung any P. 310. other way. Heat appears congenial to the flaves — never knew one complain of it — has often fecn them bafk in tlie fun in the heat of the day, when they might have been in their houfes. Thinks it morally impoflible for Europeans to do the neceflary field labour — for he twice made trial ; one with a gardener, the other a carter — after a very Ihort time, not above a fortnight, they each gave up their offices, finding the climate too fevere. Knov/s the military always complain of the heat, if kept out any length of time. It is the ojnnion of all the officers with whom he has converfed, that it is too fatiguing for the men to be out, except evenings and mornings. Recollects the legr. quartered in An- tigua were obliged to carry their provifions fi-om the king's flores to the barracks, and in a few weeks it was neceflary to give them a cart, the work being too fevere, though it was not 5 of a mile on level ground. Knows the plough has been ufed by fome, but found not to anfwer. p, /,jj^ His fiaves cod him 5I. per annum each, befides the yams he raifes, which generally feed them all between 4 and 5 months ; and wine, frefh meat, &c. for the fick. Were it poffible by the plough, &c., to leffen in the lead the flave's labour, or the expence, certainly the planter would mod readily adopt it. Recolleds another flavc, worth 180I., pnrth' in- herited, confiderablc pare got by his inthiifry — he thinks, becaufe he was a valuihle tradefman, and had conftant employ. He who gave, as mentioned, 200I. for his freedom, was a mafon. P. 312. When he fpoke of many flaves fpendmg from 10 to 13I. per annum^ he alluded to field, as well g,s houfe- W. Imdies. Kerby. li^ lioufe-llaves. The laft acquire their property from 1790. felling their {lock, roots, and fruit. Thefe fell at a Part. II. moderate price, compared with the fame or fimilar *^ — y^*— ' articles here. One of his cftates confiib of 120 acres of cane land, the gang 152; the other of 222 acres, gang Cannot flate the proportion of infants, &:c. ; but thinks there are about 22 domefticks on the eftate where he rcfidcs, bcfides about five more, who wait on the manager and overfeer ; on the other, about 8 attend on them. Were he to fpeak of the acres in an eftate in An- tigua, he fliould include every part. The proportion of flaves' provilion-grounds varies p. 21^-, in almoft every eftate : on one of his, the provifion- ground is large ; on the other, very fmall. The ground- provifion is the produce of a part of the mafter's land allotted for railing provifions for the whole garg. Every negro family, he believes, has a piece of ground for raifing provifions, univerfally through Antigua. On one of his eftarcs, where there are the mofl: flaves, he thinks the land for the whole gang not above from 2 to 3 acres ; on the other, about 4. Some of it ad- joins the negro huts, or within a ftone's throw ; the reft is at fome little diftancc. As far as he fa w, each hut h^s between 1410 18 feet fquare, which is the quantity on his eftates on which the flaves generally allot to ftock-pens, and not provifions — fome plant fruit trees. The provifion land, divided among the flaves, is feldom the beft, but anfweis for provifions. Believes a ftave fells full as much provifion of his own growth as he ufes ; but as they are generally fond of new provifion, they often fell their allowed grain, and eat part of the provifions they ralfe thenifelves. In 82, many of his own told him, they often got a dollar a week for the vegetables they fold in the hurricane months to the flupping. P 2 While ii6 W. Indies. Kerbv. 1790. While he lived m the W. Indies, he often knew Part 11. the Haves' proviiions, as well as the mafters', much ^— V — ' hurt by bad weather and winds— in that cafe they have an extra allowance. The flave commonly gets his property by felling his produce, allowed grain and (lock, and, from his induftry in the time allotted him to reft, has often known field flavcs earn | a crown a day as porters ; particularly Sunday, that being confidered as entirely his own. P. 315. No field work is ever allowed on Sundays. Me- chanics, he believes, work almoft every Sunday, if they can get work. It is very ufual in crop for Haves to thatch, on Sundays, negro houfes. No mafter has a right to exad: any work, ever fo trifling, from his flave on a Sunday without pay. In crop the flaves' hogs are generally fed with the canes they carry away ; the goats with grafs, he. ; the poultry with grain. He Ipcaks of canes, ground and unground, efpecially the laft ; though Haves are not allowed to take a large quantity of canes not ground, it is done very conftantly. Confiders the yearly expcnce of 5I. each flave, ex- clufive of ground -provifion, to begin nearly from the birth, as he regularly gives food and cloathing from that time ; but it was on an average, of old and young. P. '^16. The chief articles in this eftimate are food, cloth- ing, doctor's charges, and parifh and public taxes, which begin at birth, continue through life, and are confidcrabie. Some free negroes work as tradellnen in towns, but in general they prefer fedentary bufinefs. Has bought ne.v negroes, in various lots ; the largeft, he thinks, not above 16. Bought as many females as poffible, and preferred young perfons* Thinks the laft 2 lots were all under 15. Many were only fit for chiWren's work. It is not very common to get a lot of flaves, all young; W.Indies. Kerby. iiy young; nor fliould he, had not a friend wifhed for 1790. adults; they therefore accommodated each other. . Part IT. The buyer may rejed: any flaves out of any lot ; * — v — ' and the feller never obliges him to take more than he P. 31 7« wifhes; but then the price is often raifed. Believes near relations, appearing to be fo, are never paried. Is confident no near ones were parted by his and his friend's purchafc ; but in his lot there were 2 futers and 2 brothers. Thinks a Creole flavc fo much more defirablc, as being attached to the foil, than an African, that the expence can never be worth any planter's attention ; though he believes by the time a Creole comes to maturity, he cofts as much, if not more. Believes the motives for prefTing an aft for regu- lating the trial of criminal ilavcs by jury, originated from all the magillrates thinking it too great an un- dertaking to fit, both as judge and jury, on any per- fon's life. Never heard any bad effects refulted from the former modes of trial. It certainly was generally underftood that flaves were protedted by the common law of England. A ^ Have of his had been ill-treated by a young man with- 3^"^- out any provocation : he thought it his duty to apply to a magiflrate : the man was bound over ; but through fome of his friends the matter was made up, at the particular requeft of the Have, to whom he made fatisfaftory recompence : but for this he (liould certainly have profecuted him to the utmoft. The Have was a cooper, and coming home from St. John'?. the young man very wantonly rode againft him ; and on the flave's rcmonftrating, beat him. The flave applied to him diredtly. From every information he has gained, the regu- lating aft has certainly tended materially to raife the price of flaves. Speaking within his own knowledge, does not know any alteration in the treatment of flaves. The Ii8 W. Indies. Kerby. 1700. The Moravian and Methodift preachers have ap- Part If. plied themlelves very zealoufly and fuccefsfully in the- V— y-— ' converfion of negroes in Antigua ; and having built P. 319. proper meeting houfes, all the flaves are encouraged by their mafters to attend. 1 he general effect on the converts has been a more decent behaviour and religious attendance ; and mod are become Chiiilians. Before the Moravians and Methodills came to the ifland, the negroes very generally attended all the churches, and they confidered themfelves as influ- enced to purfue the dodrine they heard ; but from their having had greater attention paid them by the Moravians and Methodifts, he thinks, they are much more enlightened than they were. Managers have often flaves, (their own). Some wait on them : others are often hired to work with the gang of the eftate they manage. The lives of flaves are full as long as thofe of free negroes, but not quite fo long as that of whites that do not work. Has know negroes live to a great age. P. 320. Doubts not flaves would live much longer, if lefs de- bauched. From the fitnation of his ellate clofe to the fea, where there are moft flaves, they want land lets than on the other, by being moft plentifully fupplied with frefh fifli from the fea, and the guts adjoining. A young healthy Creole flave is generally put to the hard work of an eftate at Antigua, about the age of 18. The ifland is fubjeft to frequent long droughts, fometimes fucceeded by great rains. RecollecVs no rain of confequence from Feb. So, when he arrived P. -^2 1. ^h^^^^ t<^ C)6t. and he underftood, before his arrival, ^ the ifland in general had wanted rain many months ; he has juft received from thence fimilar accounts. Various epidemicks often follow fuch a change from droi'ght to moifture. Underftands epidemicks have lately raged there,'^ and many have died. On fomc eftates it has been more W. Indies, Dr. Samuel Athill. Ii^ more fatal; on one eftate, of 24oflaves, 12 died in '79®* very few days ; and at diffcreat times from 20 to 30 Part II, lay dangeroufly ill. Certainly does not think it poflible, under fuch cir- ciimftances, for a planter, the mod fucceisful in rear- ing Creoles, to cany on his iifiial cukivarion without interruption, unlefs he can buy new {laves to iupply the occafional lofles of Haves by thefe epidemicks. Witnefs examined. — Dodlor Samuel Athill. Was born in Antigua. Firfl: loft it 1764, re- P. 321. turned to it 1779. Was in the aflembly 5 years, and appointed counfcllor 1786. Pradtifcd phyfic there, and attcoded from 8 to p^ ^22. Qooo negroes. Had fo much per head yearly, and bound to attend when called on (at times, twice a day) bcfides 1 or 2 vifits weekly. Had exira pay for laborious deliveries, fradtures, &c. Poirelfes 2 eftates in Aniigua. By far the greater part of cftates there were under- handed. Some few perhaps had more flaves than p. 323. they wanted. As a medical man and a planter, thinks births ' may equal deaths, but the number raifed does not equal the decreafe ; negro children are liable to the ijaw-fall ; fev.' had it on his own cftates-, on thofe which he attended, he was never called for ir, death following fo quickly : Thinks the cold and damps they are expofed to, by their mothers night rambles is one great caufe why children aie not reared ; which the owners cannot remedy; they do what they can by exempting nurfing women from throwing grafs at night, or other work which the icft are oc- cafionally forced to : Many other caufcs prevent children being reared ; unhealthy fituation of an eftate, its nearncfs to a town or port : On one of his 2 eftates I20 W. Indies. Dr. Samuel Athill. I'jgo. eftatcs far from town, his Haves increafed ; on his Part II. other eftatcs near Englilh harbour, fewer children «^^v-o are born and raifed, from the excelles of both fexes, P. 324. at that port. Great attention was paid to rearing children on all the eftates he attended ; a good Have, when fettled and had feveral children, is always careful of them, and is encouraged by her mafter ; many owners give midwives rewards on births. He gives a dollar. Pregnant women feemed more likely to fuffer from indolence, than hard work : As foon as they feel themfelves with child, and often long before, they withdraw from work ; and he has found it difficult to get them to attend the field merely to look on; which » he always infilled on, to prevent their carrying heavy burdens to marker, or doing other injurious work for themfelves. When brought to bed, on moft eftates, Ihe has any nurfing woman fhe chufes, to at-, tend her the firft 9 days : She has fugar, oatmeal, &c. daily, and often candles and other indulgencies ; Never works till her month is up, and then fhe does not turn out till the fun is well up, and retires before it is down : She has the child with her in the field which flie attends, as it cries; lb that the work of p. 525.^ nurfing woman is very trifling indeed. Where he has ordered wine, animal food, or other induleencieb, has no realon to think they were ever Vv'iihhcld. The dyfentery was epidemic in Antigua 1778, 9, 1780, and carried off nearly 1 c^r\\ of the flaves. On his eflate, eafl-part of the ifland he loft few, being a heahhy fituaiion, on his other eftate he loft: more. Every medical exertion was ufcd to flop the pro-' •ircfs of this dii'iemoer. Has known food fcarce from a long drought ; it the owner gave lefs food, the woik mud have been lefs, and his wants kept pace with the flaves wants; . for his lall 5 years refidence, the ifland has been more flourifliinc:, and he has fcen no fio;ns of fcarcit- Th VV.IrNDlES. Dr. SAMtJEL AtHILL. IZI The fcarcity from the drought mentioned, was in 1790- tvar-time, when the whites alio fuffered very much.P-irt. H. Hlis in the courfe of his pradtice, generally found ' — >r^ the negroes in health, fpirits, and fecmingly con- tent, and when he noticed their houfes want repair, on mentioning it to the manager, it was done. Docs not recolleft being called to attend any flave in confequence of a punifliment ; though had it bap- i)cned, thinks he mud have known of it. For great faults they are oftencr confined, which they mind UK^re than chaftifement. New flaves arc generally very much indulged. From the want of flavcs, he thinks there is not enow of females. The abolition of the flave trade would certainly jncreafe the difficulty of keeping up the (lock; a few fcftates on the ifland, not very much weakened by liiortality, may never require an African fl.ive, but fuppofes thofe mull originally have had moll wo- Incn. The lofs of 1779 is not yet repaired, the bad . crops which followed difabled molt from buying, till within thefc 2 or 3 years. Many mud have Itopt cultivation, had the Afri- can trade been aboliflied, as tafk work would have been fo high as to prevent them from doing it that t^'ay, nor could the cultivation have been catried on even by this mode. For tafk work being at 7I. los. per acre, irdlead of 4I. los. as prior to 1779, the HLmd muft be concluded (lill very much underhanded. As a medical man and a planter, thinks the (laves eould not be kept up by breeding; fome eftates are unhealthy, and have other circumllanccs un- favourable, which makes him doubt if, by any means, the encreafe could be made equal to the de- creafe : the planter would conftantly prefer breeding, 'Creoles being preferable to Africans. Thinks eftates could not be cultivated otherwife than at prefent ; The, number of Haves required in crop, could not be otherwife fupplied : Whites could not Numb. 2, Q^ do 122 W.Indies. Dr. Samuel AthilL. 1790. do the work : Plough-men and boys were brought Part II. out to eftates where the plough was tried ; but they *^— y— -> could not {land the labour there. P. 328. Never heard a negro complain of heat, but often of cold. Thinks the plough cannot be wfcd in Antigua ; where it has been tried in fituations mod favourable, it has always been given up. The planter would certainly adopt any mode tending to leflen expence and his Have's labour. In crop, the firfl; work in thcmorningis cutting canes, in which all that can be, are muftcred; when there is enough cut to put the mill about, 3 able men attend it, and 5 or 7 younger hand them canes ; when 2 coppers of juice are ground, 2 more ftrong men are called as fire- men, and 2 boilers; as more juice is collected, more men are called, and there are ge- nerally 7 boilers, and 4 fire-men on a moderate eftate with 9 coppers-, amounting, with thofe in the diftillery, to 20 or 30, when the work is brifk ; for that few are left to cut canes, drive the cart, and do the other work, except on very vtell-handed eflates : Such an eflate with 9 coppers, fhould pro-, P. ^20. duce 200 Hhds. of fugar a year. The number of flaves in the boiling- houfe is not proportionate to the fize of the eftate, the produce, or number of flaves ; for, fome, over-rating their property, may have ered:cd buildings for 200 Hhds*t when perhaps it does not turn out 60; but flill, the coppers being there, are ufed and attended. On eftates weakly handed, the canes are cut by the whole gang one day, and manufa was paid, and no exceffive labour required. Thinks every artent;oii generally, given to preg- nant v/onien, on plantations known to him. There may be inflances to the contrary: knows none. In general, the locked jaw annong children is P. 365. fatal. — A native is of more v^iluc than an African : certainly for planters* benefit to encourage their rearing. Slaves are often fo reduced by dileafes, &c. as to make it needful to purchafe or hire frelh. Th-nks fuch eftates could not be kept up without frefi) iir.porrs. Sugar eftates lb reduced, could not be put to other ufe v/ith eqii;d profit ; in fome cafes might do for paiture, or cotton, bur the works and appendages would be of little or no ule. Thinks coffc", indigo or pimento could not be railed on old lugar land -, that It mufl bs* thrown up as fuch, not t > be ufed in another w«y, to any thing like the fame gain. Is, ever heard domeftic negroes in the ifland com- puted. In towns, the principal families he knew, have from 10 to 30 ; in the country, in gen-ral, P. 2^^' ^^^^^y what is necelfary. Does not think if all the domerticks were turned into the field, frePn impor- tations would be unneceffliry. It is mollly thought a puniftimenr. Many would be fo hurt in their fpirits by fuch change, as to be of very little ufe, even if their numbers were greater. He is a member of the affrmbly. — A duty of 30S. currency on every negro imported is impofed by their kgiilature •, 20?. paid by buyer, los. by importer; makes part of the ifland fund for fubfiftence of the king's iro(ips ; quite independant of their Englifh pay. Believes, if Great ^Britain fliould forbid importation of Africans, they would want ratner power than will tj continue it ; that the plantations only partly feitied, muft depopulate the Imall fet- tlements, or be thrown up i and that the full-handed plantations I W. Indies. R. Hibbert. 137 folantations (the fexes being in general badly af- 1790. fbrted) would naturally, in rime, decreafe in Part IL produce, and a total (top be put to improvemenr. ^ ">/-*J The whites have very fehiom any other tiomeftics "* 6^1* than negroes. Upon plantations in general no more, he believes, than are necefTiiry. The full-handed plantations are io badly aflbrted as to fex (5 to 3) becaufe merl are fuppofcd rapa- ble of more labour; knows not wh.it it is alfo owing to the deficiency of procuring females in Africa, or difpofing of them in the Weft Indies : Knows nothing of the trade on the coatt of Africa : Sugar planters chiefly chufe males. Believes the number of negroes annually exported and imported from and to Jamaica, very accurately Hated in the report of the aflembly j cannot now call it to mind : They diff^er greatly. When a plough is firft ufcd, a white man Is p. 268. moftly employed. On fuch plantations as he has had care of, the annual ufual decreafe has been about 5 per cent, increale 2 and ^. No true judgement can be formed whether the decreafe is greater or Itr-fs on cotton or coffee plantations being new. Rather thinks the proportion of fexes more equal there, as the work is lighter. Believes inftances of inattention to pregnant wo- men very rare. White ploughmen and tradefmen have very high wages. Never knew the fun opprclTive to negroes in full health j does not recoiled; one fuch P. 369. that complained. Believes many difeafes brought on negroes by tioftural ramblino;s anddancino-. Their food is in general good and fufficient. They are prote6ledand provided with food and raiment by law : Thinks the laft confolidated flave-law indifpu- tably (hews the legiflature of the ifland difpofed to give them every necefTary comfort and proteftion. S W. Indies. [ IJS ] ^ W.Indies. — Witnefs ex**. — JoHNVVEDDERBURN,Erq; 1790. Part ir. Is a native of Great Britain-, has lived between 26 ♦ ' and 27 years in Jamaica ; left it the beginning of laft ^' 37^' May; was a planter, and h.is property there: had care of feveral plantations j of fuU 5000 negroes. Thinks they are treated with humanity ; are in general in a happy Hate i are attended when fick by a dodor, who prefcribes every medicine proper for them i have proper nurfes, often provifions of the bed fort from ovvnei 's or overfeer's table. They have often alfo wine, and whatever other neceflary the doctor thinks proper. Has known in dangerous cales the medicines given by whites, who often lofe their night's reft by it. Negroes by age or infirmities, inca- pable of labour, mofliy live in a comfortable negro- houfe ; have every allowance and attendance, as if (lill of the greateft value, are ftill fed and cljthed j P. 571. never knew one fuch difcarded by his mafter. The Africans have a rt-maj kable faying in their difputes, to fhew that the ftronger can take no advan- , tage of thrm ; '' this no for we country, this for ** Buccra country i Buccra country every body have '^ right i" i. e. in their own country, the ftronger often ufe the weaker as they pleafe, whether juftly or not. 1 he negroe-. have lands to cultivate for their fole benefit ; raife much more provifions than they ufe, and fell poultry, hogs, and various kinds of fruit, and have the p;ufits .^>iany might be rich; numbers fpend their money in fine cloaths, and fait meat from England ; others buy cows and heifers : Has known P. 372. on diiTerent eftates from 10 to 40 taken care of pro- mifcuouQy with their mafters, who take no part. They fell them when they will. He has bought from different negroes, young fteers, and paid them from / 10 to / 13 per head. He W. Indies. Wedderburi*. «39 He has known different negroes wifh to buy their t ;qo. frtedoiTi therrUclves, and a few friends ponefTed of Parr IT. money fuiScient. ■ Rccolkfts an eftace where there ^-v-«j wrre 300 Qaves, the owner, in eafy circiiinftances before the hurricane of 17S0, by th;it cala'iiicy, other ftorms, and perhaps fome little imprudence, became embarraffed : A writ was ifTued the maifhall came to the eftate to fecure hiin, and left it difippointed. Ill the evening a few of the chief negroes came to their mafter, told him what they had heard, and brought him betv/een £ 200 and 300. He refufed it with th;inks. Such land in Jamaica as may be cultivated to f^dvantage, is not, by many thoufand acres. He thinks the lands now in canes cannot be ufcd to advantage in coffee and cottons; if it could, the lofs to many planters would be great, having bought lands and flocks, raifed buildings, and had various flores from England, only to cultivate the fugar- cane •. thinks cane-land in general not adapted to thofe articles, and that to oblige die owner to this change, would be much the fame as taking part of his property P. 373. without paying for it. Thinks Jamaica cannot be cultivated by Europeans. They could not bear the necelfary labour, and the mortality he thinks would be lb great as to flop the attempt. Thinks the fun's heat not hurtful to the negroes healrh, and that it affe(5l:s them little at work ; has feen them often at it, and flood with them hours at a time : They feemed to him ^q feel no incon- veniences. Jamaica cannot be cultivated by the plough : It is ufed in many parts, but after ploughing they are forced to dig the cane-holes with hoes, to plant the canes, and often to trench the land to dry it. — Great part, deep and hilly, does not admit the plough ; many thoufand acres have ftones and rocks fo intermixed \vuh the foil, that the plough cannot turn it up. S 2 Many 140 W. Indies. Wedderburn. 1790. Many eflates are cultivated fo, that the canes are not Parr If. (locked up, but it is a rule to keep them on the llock ^-^^/~*^ as long as ponTible. The plough could be of no ufe there only the hoe. When the plough is ufed, the fame number of negroes are requifire ; but it is of infinite advantage p. 574. to them by breaking the foil, and making a parr of the hardeft labour from them : But fuppofin^ fewer at ploughing feafon. the ufual number would be neceflary in crop-time. Has heard thf legiflatureofjamaica has encouraged inventors of machines fir faving manual labour. Planters have readi!v a Jopred all ;hrv thought ad- vantageous, or that nave ftood the teft of experience. An ovcrfeer has com nonly from 6 to j o do- mellics, mortly unable to fupporr field-labour j the mod weak and delicaie, are generally put to do- me (lie ufes Thinks the prefent cultivation of Jamaica carnot be kept up without annual imports : not that the negroes are ufed ill ; the women do not breed there, as the labouring one* of Great Britam -, i^ready from promifcuous i* tercourfe, caufing vcner. al diforciers, ^- 375* often de(lru£live of the conftitution. Ma y die by yaws, fluxes, ulcers, and pleurifies ; infants, befides the diforders to which they are fubje<5t in Great- Britain, are liable to the locked-jaw^ of which he thinks ^ die. Suppofes thclofs in 20 landed in tolerable health, about 5 in the firft 3 years ; if wirh yaws, or other difeafe, double at leaft. Thinks rhev would be diilatisfied in having no more recruits from Africa, having often heard them wifh for fuch help ; and that the flaves now in Jamaica would be worfe uled, becaufe mod fugar-plantations being at fo great expcnce, are obliged to borrow of the Britifli mer- chant, and make him annual confignments, and payments; deprived of (laves, thev could not: The merchant \yould be difappointed-r-the connec- tion^ W. Indies. Wedderburn, 141 tion unprofitable to him. He may, to be fiire, take T790. jPieps, compelling the pbnter to pufli his Oaves be- Part If. yond their ftrength, to pay hi:Ti, in hopfs of keeping ' — .'— ^ up his crops, and preventing the ruin of himiclf,and P* 37^' family. Slaves labour about 11 hours out of crop-time ; injcrop-time, though the rime of labour with foinc is longer, they are modly happier, and in better con- dition, from the canes they ear, aiid the liquor they drink. Thinks, if the (lave trade wts abolifli^d, m'^ny planters could not pay their debts. Some fmall trifling fettlement might be pradicable ; none of much importance. There are manv free negroes in Jamaica, ibme of tliern tradefmen ; but moft idle. The eftates often require the help of other negroes, befides the owner's J has known the free then employed as tradefmen, bur in no other way. Many eflares, . where expenfive works have been fretted, and much money laid out, are only partly fertled j no further progrefa can be made, without fuppiiesfrom Africa; Tjnlefs thofe, who have jobbin■ — -^ when the crop is fmallell, the exprnce is greatefl-, ^ • J^4» only in particular cafes; in ftorms, along con- tinuance of dry weather, when the canc-ftalks arc hurt by it, if the crops of corn and provifions are on the ground, they are deftroyed ; but the provi- fions taken early, before the hurricane months come on, are iafe. The hurricane of 1 780 deftroyed the plantains, and in many refpeds, the ground pro- vifions. The pr prietors bouo;ht on this account provifions from England and America Never knew but one free negro defire to return to Africa; he went to fee his friends, and returned again. As far as he can recollect, he was a Gold Coall flave. if the eft:;\tes in an incoinpleat cultivation for want of fufficient Oaves, could be cultivated to their extent, he thinks the increafe of produce would be a very great addition to the revenue, commerce, and manufacture of the mother country. It is not ufu.U in general for flaveb to obtain their freedom, till afier a long r^fidence in the Weft- Indies. '"Witnefi examined.— George Hiebert, Efqi— A merchant of London. The houfe he is concerned in, has had confiderable P. ;^S^. dca'ings wirh Jamaica Cas fadors to the planters) and to whom the houfe is confiderably in advance. I'hey import trom 5000 to 6000 hoglheads of fugar, befides other articles, the grofs valu.e of which may be from £ 200,000 to £ 250^000. From the concurring evidence of planters, others P. 386. who have lived in the i (lands, and from his expe- T nence 146 W. Indies. G. Hibbert. Tiygo. rience gained in the courfe of bufinefs, he believes Part II. the abolition of the (lave trade will greatly injure the ^— >-*^ population and produce of Jamaica, and confer quently himfelf as a merchant and creditor. Any eftimatepf his, of the debt of the fugar Iflands to Great-Britain mult be from partial inadequate grounds : but could never make it Icfs than / 20,000,000. Lord Sheffield conjectures fuch debt to be one-third of the value of the colonies, which has, fince he wrote, been eftimated ^70,000,000. Speaks from experience, that the creditors of Wefl: India property include thefe clafTes, each to a con- fiderable fum, efpecially the 2 firit. ift. Merchants who have advanced money, to get confignments, fupport old correfpondents, or protect old engage- ments. 2d. Morgagees who have advanced money on intereft. 3d. Annuitants by purchafe, will, or marriage- fettlement. 4th Legatee?, many under old bequefts. 5th. Confignors of goods to the Weft Indies, captains and mates of fhips, &c. 6th, Shippers of goods for the (tores, to order. 7th, Creditors on bond, note, dec. 8th. Reprcfentatives of the deceafed of the above clafles, or whofe concerns are afligned to others. Their engagements are chiefly under the firft clafs. ?• 3^7* A conliderable part of their capital is lent tp creditors, part in fettling new, and extending and improving old, eftares -, and, he believes, part in new machinery and modes of manufacture •, alfo a very confiderable part in advances made to repair damages by hurricanes, and to feed the negroes in drought and famines. Their books contain fome debts which have exifted from 40 to 50 years : and he believes had they not protected thole debts by advances to buy negroes and other relief, the eftates, now their fecurity, would have been long ago ruined. Believes, that when by (hort crops, low markets, or other caufes, the planters have been diltreffcd, they are generally relieved by Britilh loans. In molt of |heir W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 147 their concerns^ they have underftood the buying new 1790. negroes to be abfolutely neceffary to carry on the Part II. eftates, and have advanced money for that ufe. ^■^'■*^ Several planters have aflTured him that they wifli for new negroes, not to extend eftates, but merely P. 3880 to cafe their prefent flock. In Jamaica there is a confiderable number of (lore- keepers, and importers of Britifh goods, and whd are not land-holders : Advances to fuch reft on thd fecurity of the produce -, Agriculture in the Weft- Indies, efpecially in Jamaica, is the bafis of their returns and folvency. Their fecurity refts intirely on the produce of eftates cultivated by negroes. Real fecurity is either an cftate with negroes, or negroes alone. Land without negroes, or an immediate profpctfb of buying them to work the land, would be confidered by a merchant here, as no fecurity. Such Weft-India properties as give fecurity for Britifti loans, he thinks, may, with a very few lucky- exceptions, be comprized in 3 claffes. ift. Long fettled eftates, which, thro' depopulation, or acci- dental calamities, need iupplies of negroes. 2d. Bftates, in a progreflive ftate, prudently adding a few negroes yearly to their gangs, till their fettlcment is compleated. 3d. Eftates newly fettled, or by accidents almoft without negroes, but which would be an ample fecurity to their creditors, if furnifhed with negroes cheap. Several Jamaica eftates mortgaged to them, have portions of uncleared land, which are fome fecurity, while negroes may be bought to make them produc- tive. On fome of them the cultivation has been advantageoully extended. Believes minor's eftates leafed, with but few negroes, have been often improved by fuch leafing, when the minor came of age. Knows a renter of a minor's eftate, who, on the minor's taking poftTeflion of it, carried off a good gang of negroes, and fettled an T 2 entire 148 W. Indies. G. FIibbert. 1790. entire new eftate, which with a fnTiall addition to Part II. that g^ng, promifes to turn out very well j but the ^"v— ■»> proprietor has in his late letters to them cxprefTcd great anxiety about working his own eflates ; and I if he can't buy new negroes, will find his prefent fine canes of little value, and his eftate worth almoft nothing. Believes the eftates of infants, or others^ fo fituated, could not pofTibly be improved or kept up, without new negroes. Had their houfe expefted or believed that the flave trade would be abolifhed, they certainly would not have made the great advances or engagements ftated. He never thought of the abolition, as not believing it probable ; but knew that his trade, the Weft- India eftates which fecure his advances, the African trade which fupports thofe eftates, and even the very loans he has made, have been encouraged and fanc- tioned by repeated acts of parliament, of which he P. jpo. produced a lift as follows, viz. ift. A^s encou-- raging and protedling the fugar colonies, 15 Cha. II. chap. 7; 22 and 23 Cha. II. ch. 26. — 7 and 8' Will. III. ch. 22. — 6 Anne ch. ^o and ch. 37 i 8 Anne ch. 13. — 4 Geo. II. ch. 15; 5 Geo. II, ch. 24; 6 Geo II. ch. 13; 12 Geo. II. ch. 30 j 19 Geo. II. ch. 30; 21 Geo. II. ch. 30. — 5 Geo. HI. ch. 45; 6 Geo. HI. ch 52; iy Geo. III. ch. 27. The leading feature in all thefe ads is encouragement to the fugar colonies as inhabited by Britifh fuhjeds, and very advantageous to Great Britain. P. 391. The 2d divifion of acls on the flave trade, and ftating it neccflary for the We ft- India colonies. Royal charters of Cha. IL of 1664 and 1672.-— 9 and 10 Will. 111. ch. 26. — 10 Anne ch. 27.—^ 1 he Queen's fpeech, June 17 12. — 23 Geo. II.' I ch. 31 ; 25 Geo. II. ch. 40. — 4 Geo. III. ch. 20; 5 Geo. Ill ch. 44; 23 Geo. III. ch. 6si alfo, tho' quoted before, 27 Geo. III. ch. 27. Alfo the pro- ceedings of the Houfe of Commons from 1707 to 1713, during all which time the flave trade was under their W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 149 their confideration ; and it was recommended, by a 1790. meflage from the Queen, to confidcr its nature ; and Part II. no publick cenfure was then pafied on it; but it was ' — v— -^ repeatedly voted advantageous to Great Britain, and nectflary for the fugar colonies. And, tho' the various bill', brought in, and fome of which paflcd theXTom- mons, failed from difputes between the chartered company and private traders, it does not appear the reftridlion, much leG the abolition of the trade, was ever thought of. The 3d head of a6ls encouraging loans to the Weft India proprietors, from Britith and foreigners, viz. 5 Geo. II. ch. 7; 13 Geo. III. ch. 14, and 14 The infpeilor general of imports and exports, '• 39^* has ftated to the Privy Council, the imports from the Wcft-lndies to Great-Brirain in 17S7, ac And from the Weft- Indies in 1787, was exported to Ireland, value 4'945'387 : 19 : io TheU. S. BrltifllCol Foreign W of Amerlta in America cll-Iadies - 127,585 ; 196,460 : 100,506 : 18,245 : «68 : 4 • 8 ; '7 : 12 : »5 : J. ■ S : ; 10 6 445,666 Grand total ;^ 5,389,054 : 17 : 7 The infpe6lor general ftates th: fe to be mercantile values formed on the prices current publifhed at Lloyd's. This trade employed 18 15 veffeis, 2^2,72 r tons, and 21,1 : 4 Ic amen. That the exporrs from Great Britain to the Wtft-^nd'es in 1787, in Britifh goods, ike. amounted to £ 1.638,703 : ip : lo^/. and from Ireland, befidcs what is ftii- ped in veffels cleared out from Great Britain £ jo,i6o • The witnrfs believes the annual average of flaves imported and retained m the Britifh Weft Indies may ^ »5>^57» itmounting at i ^5 p^' ncad, to £ 547,995. ihe I50 W. Indies. G. Hibbert^ 1790. The infpedlor general has alfo ftated the quantities. Part If. and cuftom-houfe values of imports from the Weft- V V -' Indies to Great-Britain only in 17F8, whence he has, with all the care and exaftnefs he could, efti- mated their grofs mercantile value, (taking the opinion of experienced brokers on the average prices of that year) and which on a very moderate calcu- lation, amounts tO;^ 6,800,00 of which he finds that |he cu'ioms and cxcife received about £ 1,800,000 Sh'p owners for home freight, about 560,000 Britilh merchants and brokers, tor? » ^ ^ ■rr u V 222,000 commmions, about - - - -3 ^ ' Under-writers for infurance, about- - 150,000 "V^'harfingcrs, &c. including primage 7 or freight, about 3 ____-2£l__ The whole of which is - - jC 2>837>ooo P. 393. The refl, being fomcthing lefs than 4 millions, is the net proceeds pafTed to the credit of the planters, by the Britifh merchant -, but from which muft be farther dedufled the value of Britifh goods ex- ported to the plantations, with freight, infurance, commifiion, and port charges thereon •, alfo the fum paid the African merchants annually for flaves ; and when to this is added the intereft of the debt due from the colonies to Great Britain, there can be no doubt but the wliole ^ 6,800, oco refled in Great Britain. In confirmation, can alTert that tracing the grofs produce received through their houfe, for many years, in his time and his predeceflbrs, (no inconfiderable value) there is a very fmall part of it indeed, which he cannot follow home to one or other of the above heads. j The tonnage in the Weft India trade, in i')%yf, has been ilaied 242,721 tons; and though in thafi edimate, fome veflels are included which muft have made more than one voyage a year, and their tons are counted for eacfi voyage, yet in many cafes, the cftimaced tonnage is fomewhat under the real : cak' I W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 151 ing therefore that quantity, and eftimating the Weft I79°- India (hips, with all their expences at lea, at only Part II. £ 10 per ton, the amount is £ 2,427,210. t— v-^-* The amount paid by the Britilh Weft-India trade to (hip owners, for freight alone, may be eftimated as follows : Homewards to Great-Britain, as above - £ 560,000 Outwards on Britifh manufadures.&c. about 120,000 On Iri(h manufadures exported, and pro- 7 vifionsin (hips clearing out from G.Britain J * On exports from the Weft -Indies to Ireland 14,000 On exports from ditto to Britilh America, 7 and the United States ----- ^ ^* On imports from America to the W.Indies, 7 including fhipsclearingout from G.Britain J ' Total freight £ 941,000 To which add the freight paid, in the price of P. 394^ i pegroes, to the African (hips, and this Article alone I will be found above a million fterling. Molt certainly the diminution of Weft- India produce, will aftedthe quantity of freight; and if the (hips now employed in that trade don't get other employ, it muft affedt the price. The fame caufes will reduce the tonnage, and number of feamen. The increafe of price of the Welt-India produce will be nece(rary 'o counter- balance it's diminution, 10 n.ake the eftares as pro- ductive as at prefent. A diminution of Weft-India produce, if cauled by any difficulty of getting ne- groes, will raife their price, when to be had. The rcreafe of price of produce, will certainly diminifh it's confumption, and the export of it from Great- Britain. Having never been in the Weft-Indies, he can only fpeak from facts well authenticated, or generally ad- mitted. The committee of council in Jamaica ftated, he believes from the tax-rojls, that the (laves there in 176b, were about 167,000. Governor Keith in 1774 ,152 W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 1790. 1774, about 193,000. Governor Clarke in 1787, at part 11. 256,000. The affemblv in 1787 dated the flaves at ' w— -' 240,000, at the Icalt : But obfcrves that the number on the tax-rolls, was only 2 10,894. Governor Keith favs, his number in 1774 was from the tax roi.s; but p there were at Icaft io,oco more, as many jobbers and "^■^■'' others gave not in their numbers. i he witnefs ihmks, the only fair calculation can be from the tax- rolls, according to which, he gave in this ftatement : Slaves ,In 1768, the number was about - - - , 167,001 Left in the ifland to 1774, inclufive - - 41,038 Left in the ifland from i 774 to i78;,inclufive 87,624 295,662 ^Dediidt on the tax- rolls in 1787 - - - - 21 (,89 4. C: - ■ 7^ The deficiency m 19 years IS - - ... - 84,768 or 4,461 annually, i e. 2.34 (in decimals) per cent. per annum, on the medium nuniber. j J 768 167,000 J774 193,000 , 1787 • 210,894 J 3)570,894(190,298 is the medium N.'i The calculation of lofs in the tirll 6 years, will be •. In 1768 the number was - - . - . 167,00^0 Left in the ifland to 1774, inclufive - - 4i,0|8 208,0^1 Deduct on the tax-rolls in 1774 - - - i93,gqc The deficiency in 6 yeajs was - - - - 15,02[^ t)r 2.506 per annum, i.e. 1.4 per cent per annuap. on the n edium number. 1768 167,000 J 774 '93^000 2) j 60,000(180,000 is the medium Nr Thi i W. Indies, G. Hibbert. ^53 The calrulation of lofs the lafl 13 years will be : 1790. In T 7 74, the number W3S i 93,000 Part U. Left in the ifland t'j 1787 - - - . . 87,624 <- - n>->w . P. 39^ 280,624 Dedud on the tax rolls in 1787 - - - - 210,894 — ■ The deficiency in T 3 years was - * - - 69,730 or 5,364 pt*r annjm, or 2,65 per cent, per annum, on the medium number. 1774 .— ^ 193,000 1787 210,894 I 2)403,894(201,947 is the mediuuu N* The laft 13 years was marked by war and re- peated hurricanes, from which for the firft 6 Ja^ maica was exempt. The whole 19 years form no unfair average of the circiimliances of the iOands j ! and it appears, the population of Jamaica for thofe i 19 years, has diminifhcd moie than two and oi^e- third per cent on the medium number i that it has diminifhed in an increafing ratio, and not intreafed in a growing,ratio,as has been ftated^ that admittii^g 150CO flaves to have pcrifhed in the above periods, from hurricanes, the diminifhed population in , Jamaica alone will remain nearly 70000 in 19 years; thar a lolsoftwo and one-ihird percent, upon , 450,000 flaves, faid to be in the Britifh Weft Indies I is 10,500 and may be computed as the immediate annual diminution of the number, Ihould the fiave-tiade be abolifhed. He is cert iin that an abolition of the flave-trade - would be followed by an immediate decay of the credit of the Britilh merchants who have confider- ahle engagements with the Weft Indies, and that they would be obliged, however unwilling, to prefs ?• 397* their debtors, and to foreclofe mortgages, to the I ruin ot many plantations, whofe value would be ;affc6bcd by the quantity of fuch property at market, U and J|4 W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 1790. and the notoriety of the caufe of their fale. The Part II. Britifh merchants, finding their profits diminifh with V'^y"*^ the diminifhed produce of the iflands, muft ne- cefTarilv lefl^en the expence, by which they contri. bute to the revenue, and muft look forward to the ruin of the trade, that they and their families have depended on. He believes many rich Weft India planters, whofe eftates are large and full-handed, might for a while feel little injury from the abolition, and even receive a temporary benefit from it, while the prefent fyftem of colony regulation is continued, as by the ruin of fmaller planters, whofe flaves they would buy, their rivals would be diminiftied ; but that they and the kingdom at large, muft foon feel the ruinous event of the abolition, in the total decay of the fugar colonies, and in the dependance of Great Britain on foreigners for her immenfe confumption of their produce. J*. 398. In lending money on a Weft India eftate, th(j annual produce is more con^dered than the nominal value. ■ T he London merchant has 2^ per cent, coni- mifTion on the grofs fa^s of produce, the fame oi| amount of fupplies ftiipped, and i per cent, on making infurance on each. Much of the Jamaica rum is fold on the eftate, or at the next fliipping port. What is fent home by the planter, is generally configned to him to whoni he fends his fugar. |*c 299* Infurance outwards or homewards, is always made on a policy, deliverable to the planter on demand. Jf the merchant ftands part of the rifk, it is as an under-writer, as an individual, not in the firm of the houfe. The Weft India merchant is often the hufband of Ihips, and holds his ftiare of them. The ftiare of the merchant in general is fuppofed much lels now, than it was fome years ago. W. Indies; 6. Hibbert. 155 The eflates do not require fupplies in proportion 1790. to their produce. Part IF. The planters often draw bills on the merchants to ^'-'^— ^ whom their produce is configned, to pay for the flaves they may buy. The planter has often credit in the ifland for the Qaves he buys. When he draws on his merchant, at the expiration of that credit, he draws at the ifland ufance, or, if for a longer time, intereft for fuch time is included in the bill. P. 40O1. Bills from Jamaica are ufually drawn at 90 days fight, they may be, on an average, 2 months on the voyage. In all cafual bufmefs, the merchant reimburfes himfelf from the fale of the fugars, for the fums advanced to the planter, for (lores Tent out, com- miflions, &c. but where there is a connexion (and in fuch there is commonly an advance) fuch exadh- nefs in keeping the account balanced cannot be ex- pcded. In the war, it was certainly difficult to fell Weft India eftates to advantage ; and he thinks the agita- tion of the quellion of the flave trade has in part renewed that difficulty. The facility of borrowing money on Well India eftates has certainly increafed fince the peace-, and, if not entirely prevented by P. 401* the agitation of the prefent quellion, he believes it to be becaufe they who well know the value of the Weft India trade, cannot believe the abolition of the flave trade, on which that commerce depends j will take place. As to eltates which have kept up their flaves without importation, he can rccolletfl but one^ among all with whom his houle was connedlcd, that of Lord Dudley, which he underftands, is pecu- liarly fortunate in fituation, eafy of labour, number of flaves and proportion of the (exes. In 1776, their number was O37, in 1788 it had increafed only 31, in that time it was exempt from any of thole cala- mities that affcdled the neighbouring eftates, yet U z there 1^6 W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 1790* there were two years in which there was decreafe, of Part II. one year they have no account, and in one year *— v-*^ there was neither increafe or decreafe. In 17^8, there was 222 men, 220 women, 59 boys, 41 girls 126 children, 668 in all. The late Lady Dudley faid, that the edate did not pay her above 3 per cent, on the capital advanced. He is not certain, but believes, that in the period juft mentioned, no new negroes were bought for Lord Dudley's eftate. in 1787, Jamaica did not make its average crop* The importation into London only, was 10,009 hogfheads lefs than in 1785. and 13,000 lefs than in 1788. Has always underllood the leeward iflands" made much lefs than an average crop in 1788. P. 402. the year on which he calculated for all the Weft Indies. In Jamaica of late years there has been con* ilantly a premium paid to drawers of bills on Great Britain, at ufance from 5 to 10 per cent. A large debt due fiom Weft India iflands to Foreigners, contracfled, as he believes, on the faith of parlia- ment, their being an adt exprefsly encouraging it. A very confiderable quantity of herrings is fenc from Scotland, Ireland, and Newfoundland, to the Weft Indies for negroes. The feamen employed in thofe fifheries are not included in the above eftimatc, except fuch New- foundland feaman as may occafionally carry the fifh to the Weft Indies. P. 403. When he ftated that the rich planter, whofe cftatf is large and full handed, may find a temporary benefit in a greater price, ihould the abolition of the flave trade diminifti the number of his rivals at this market, he prefumed on his being able to keep up his flaves and produce during fuch temporary benefit. 1 hinks the diminution of produce from the abolition mult increafe in compound progreflion, and that a price could not be afforded here any way adequate to fuch a diminution. If the price was much higher, he W. Indies. G. Hibbert. 157 he believes, ar\ equal confumption could not be ex- 1790. peded, for it was generally thought much afFedcd Fart II. by the high prices lalt war, u— v*-* Has heard lord Dudley's eflate is feparated from Others, in a particular way. Has often heard perfons who lived on it fay, this peculiar fituation keeps the negroes from rambling at night, and getting vene- rcals, pleurifies, &c. whicii tend to leflen popu- lation. And alfo from being infedlcd with the fmall- pox, &c. The attorney or manager informs them that when by a late contagion, many of the neigh- bouring eftates fuffered, that cftate loft none, and had but few ill of it. Witnefs examined. —Admiral Shuldham. Lord Shuldham (Admiral) has obferved the be- P. 404. haviour of mailers to their negro flaves, in the iflands where he has commanded, vto have been mild, gentle, and indulgent, equal to that generally (hewn by mailers to their fervants in this kingdom. The flaves were decently clothed, and properly for the climate, and feemed perfectly fatisfied with their vitfluals, and lodging: He never heard them make any complaints ; they are in all refpedls perfedlly fatisfied, fo, that when a midlhpiman, he envied their condition, and often wiflied to be in the fame fituation. In his opinion, the Weft-Indies could not be cul- tivated to advantage by Europeans, it muft be attended with immenfe expence, and the lofs of a greater number of lives, from efFeft of climate on European conftitutions. French Weft-Indiamen he confiders as one of the principal fources of the French naval power j thefe . fliips he does not think remarkably fine veflii^ls ; they are of about 3 or 400 tons, and manned pretty much P. 405* as our owni but it is 27 or 28 years ago, fmce he was in that part of the world. W. Indies [ »58 ] W.lNDiES.-Witnefs examined — Adm. Barrincton; 1790. Admiral Banington has obferved, that the maflers, Part II. in the iflands where he ha; commanded, have always ^•-w^ behaved to their flaves with the greateft humanity. The flaves appeared properly fed, clothed, and lodged ; and more labour did not feem to be required of them than they could properly bear. They are, in general, perfectly fatisfied with their condition, fo much fo, that when being miferable himfelf, (from being 4 months C.-mmander in Chief, without an opportunity of revenging the infults of France) he has feen them fo happy, that he wilhed himfelf a negro ; but when he had his full revenge, he never wilhed himfelf a negro afterwards. He does not conceive the plantations in the Weft- Indies could be cultivated to advantage by Europeans. P. 406. Ships employed in the French Weft-India trade, he confiders as one of the principal Iburces of the naval power of France j they are remarkably fine velTeis j have, he fuppofes, double the number of hands that our fhips have, and are as large or larger than ours in the fame trade. He conceives the French have of late years encreafed their Weft- India trade, and alfo the number of their Weft-India fhips. The Britifh Weft-India trade is no doubt a confider* able nurfery for feamen. He holds it by all means important to keep up, and encourage the flave-trade : its abolition, will tend to reduce the Weft-India tradci and confequently to lefTen the number of fhips, and feamen. In the laft war, he was three months at Barbadoesj and on fliore every day, where he had continual op- portunities of obferving the fituation of the negroes, P. 407. and condudl of their mafters ; he never knew any a ^7^^^'* ^nd 1761. Has not ^ ^-^ been refident in the iflands, and does not know any *• 4»J« thing very particular of" the behaviour of mafters towards their flaves ; does not recoUeii:! any particular cruelties j and in particular eftates has obferved a jQiare oi: humanity to the negroes ; he never heard any complaints of then* provifions, and as to their clothing, he has moftly obferved them naked, fome inftances P. 412. excepted. He never knew any inftance of more labour required of them than they could bear. He by no means conceives the Weii-tndia plantations could be cultivated by the labour of Europeans. He has been on the coaft of Africa, and when there received and rcdrefled a few complaints of the men on board African fliips, of want of provifions, and other cafual matters ; thinks the feamen treated in this as in other trades ; never was any where but men and mailers made mutual complaints : believes, if the flave trade v«-ere aboliilied, the French and Dutch would engrofs the trade of the Gold Coaft. He beheves the flaves treated better now than when he Hrll was in the Weft-Indies ; thinlcs moft flaves on the Gold Coaft are fupplied from the Along-fliore- coaft, from the different forts, and the boats which go often for a week or longer trading from the fhips ; "• 415* thinks the numbers fold to other Europeans would be increafed on our aboliPning the flave trade, and that we Ihould be forced to buy of them. He never heard of an African flave in Weft-Indies cxprefs a wifli to return home. The flave trade, as combined with the Weft-India trade to England, he apprehend*^^, is of equal confcquence in manning the Britifli navy, ia time of war, as any trade he knows ; thinks the abo- lition of, or a c|ieck to either of thefe trades would X produce iSi W. Indies. Edwards. 1 790. produce no good to the navy. As to preventing the part II. (inuggling of new negroes into the Wcil-India iflandsi^ '— v^ — • it could no more be prevented than fmuggling any- where elfe. The flaves in all the iflands furnifli the (hips of war with live flock, &c. for they have bum- boats, as we have at Spirhead, and elfewhere ; but not being a judge, he cannot fay that this trafHc amounts P. 414. to any confiderable fum. The African trade by itfelf is of confcqucnce to the manning the navy j he fays, he could have no converfation with anyone, as. to the inclinations of negroes to return hom.e, becaufe he never knew any tiling of their inclinations for it. ■ W. Indies. — VVitnefs examined — Admiral Hotham. Admiral (William) Hotham has known the Wed- India iflands from a boy, and never found the condudt of matters to flaves otherwife than very proper. The treatment of flaves was mild and humane j they fecmed properly fed, clothed, and lodged ; he never thought more labour was required of them than they could properly bear ; they did not appear defponding, but very well fatisfied with their condition, and always very chearful. Judges it impofTible to cultivate the P. 415. Weft-Indies by Europeans, — their conilitution would not bear it. The Ihips in the French Wefl- India trade he thinks a principal fource and nurfery of the naval power of France; fays they are fine fliips, as laige or larger than Britifh Weft-India fhips, but knows not how they are manned. He thinks the Britifli Weft-India trade a confiderable nurfery forfeamen, die African trade alfo a nurfery; thefe two trades are advantageous in fupplying , feamen in time of war, and they fhould therefore be kept up ; thinks the abolition of the flave trade would reduce the Weft-India trade, and lefTen its fhips and fea- P. 4(6. men. He has been often on Ihore in the Weft-Indies, and W. Indies. Hotham. 163 1 790. and frequently obferved the condition of flaves, and the Part II. behaviour of their maflers towards them ; was on ^-v— «^ Sir Wm. Coddrington'b eftate, for 6 weeks or 2 months, and had daily opportunities of obferving their treat- ment, and has been occafionally on other eftates, on all of which diey were well treated i with no particular fevcrity ; he has been five or fix years in the Weft- Indies, at different times, and does not recollect to have feen more than 3 or 4 punifliments, and is far fxom thinking the planters may be juftly accufed of cruelty or wanton feverity. — The flaves in all the iflands carry p. Aiy, on a confiderable traffic in fupplying the fleets with provifion, who pay them more with fhips provifions in exchange, than with money; but thefe provifions he believed were for the perfonal profit of the flave. On the abolition of the flave trade, he fliould thini<: it lalmoft impoffible to prevent the fmuggling of new Qaves into the iflands : What number of fliips could prevent it he cannot judge, nor can he fpeak to the mefficacy of the regulations made to prevent the ntroducfcion of American provifions into the Weft- India iflands, not having been there fince that time. W. Indies. — Witnefs examined — Captain Lambert. Captain (Robert) Lambert has ferved in the W^eft- .'ndies, at different times, 8 or 9 years, particularly in famaica ; he ferved firft in a king's fliip, afterwards IS commiffioner at Port Royal. He never obferved 11 ufage to the flaves, but thought they generally eemed happy, and faw nothing to the contrary of their )eing properly fed, clothed, and lodged j it did not P, 41S. tppear to him that more labour was required of them han they could properly bear, always faw them chear- ul after leaving work ; thinks he fees more defponding >eople in this country, than among the negroes : is ure the Weft-India plantations could not be cultivated X 2 to 164 W. Indies. Lambert. 1790. to advantage by Europeans. From number of Parr II. fhips and the number of men carried, he thinks the U.">,"'»^ lliips in the French Weft-India trade a principal fourc' of their naval power. Their Weft-Lidia fhips a: extremely fine, large, and well manned. The Britiftit ] Weft-India trade forms a confiderable nurfery of feamen in time of war ; he never had any other means of recruiting his ftiip than from Weft-Indiame- imagines it highly important to keep up and encoura; p. 419. the Weft-India trade. The abolition of the fla\ trade would undoubtedly tend to Icflen the Weft-India. • trade, and the number of ftiips and feamen. Were the flave trade abohftied, it would not be poftible to pre- vent the running new fla\'^s into the iflands. He thinks he left Jamaica in 1 784 j fays only from hear- fay, that the population cannot be kept up without continuing the importation of African flaves; was ^: obliged to have the king's flaves under his dire6tion ' repleniftied, to carry on conftant work j thefe were •» moftly men, who had wives, but neither their wivjes ■ nor children belong to the king. He has known a greater number of men come to the navy from Gui- neam.en than from other ftiips, becaufe they carry a ,» greater number. Does not know of any confiderable ii number of plantations able to fupport their ftock ol ilaves, without purchafing recruits. W.Indies. — Witnefs exam'* — CommodoreGARONER P. 420. Commodore (Allan) Gardner has ferved in all the Weft-India iflands, and returned from Jamaica Auguft ' 1789. Cannot point out any particular impropriety of conduft of mafters to flaves, as in all countries there > may be good and bad ; in Jamaica he believes the! I treatment in general humane and mild. He believes' , but thefe he underftood to be marks of their own country, and his reafon for thinking fo is, that all new negroes imported while he v/as in Jamaica had their particular country marks ; • thefe he does not mean to lay were received in the interior country, from which they originally came, but made in Africa previous to their exportation thence : he never faw them appear frefh ; underftood all fuch mai ks to have been made inAfi ica before they came to the iQand, but where he never heard. Wc. underftood that the tribes in Africa diftinguiOi them- felves by tattooing, or imprefling marks on their faces and bodies. When iSz W. Indies. Campbell. 1*790. When the Maroon negroes made their treaty with Part II. Governor Trelawny in 1739, he has heard they c— w"«^ amounted to about gooo men, fit for arms. During his govcrnnicnr, he endeavoured to get all the fighting men in their towns, to turn out when Jamaica was threatened by the French and Spaniards, and was fur- prized to find they did not amount to 300. He never knew the Maroons hire themfelves to field labour. There are great numbers of free negroes in the towns, and different pariihes in the iflandj in general they are idle, and difTipated. Does not know, but thinks they had matrimonial connections with negro women on the plantations : He thinks it very probable that thefe connexions were formed, in order to derivc- fubfiftence from the wives, and fo live in idlenefs themfelves. He afcribes the decreafe of the IN/Iaroon negroes chiefly to a fi-ee accefs to fpirits. They have women am.ong them, and have wives j another caufe of their decreafe, he has heard, is their cohabitation with the women of the neighbouring plantations. He under- ftands they are daily decreafing j cannot fay in what proportion. The decreafe from 3000 men in 1739, to 30c in 1782, extends only to fighting men. Witnefs examined J. O r d e, Efq; ^' 4-55' John Orde, Efq; had been at Jamaica 3 years as rriidfhipman and lieutenant j a few months at the Leev/ard iflands as lieutenant in the navy, and near 6 years at Dominique as governor j it is 7 months iince his return to England. In iflands where he has been, has obfervcd the treatment of flaves in general humane and good. Severe mafters occur in all parts of the world ; one or two he has known at Dominique. A knowledge of thefe, ijccafioned the legiflature *>. W. Indies. Orde. igj , iegiftature to pafs a law to give farther proteflion to 1790. I negroes, and promote religion and morality among Part 11. them ; it obliges mailers, under heavy penalties, to <-— v-^^ give them a certain quantity of food, clothing, and ^- 45^* ■medical aid; limits powers of punifhing; fecures them a trial by jury in all capital cafes ; makes it felony in white men to kill them ; enjoius mafters to chrillen {| -their children within a certain time, and to have divine '' iervice performed by a white perfon, on the eftate, once a week. This law, but lately pad, he believes is attended to : The negroes are, as in general before the law, well taken care of He confines his anfwers here to Dominique; ferving in the navy, when at Jamaica, though he was there 3 years, had but little opportunity to remark, fo particularly, the treatment of mafters towards their flaves. I More labour was not feemingly required of negroes than they could properly bear; 10 hours in the 24 was all the time required; they do not turn the negroes, at Dominique, into the field till after fun-rife, -I" an hour is given them for breakfaft, which they eat in the^field, and from 1 2 to 2 o'clock for their dinner, and they ceafe labour at fun-fet, except bringing home ,, a bundle of grafs. Believes they are generally thought y moft healthy at crop time, both at making fugar and I coffee. Their labour h^ thinks not greater than thaP7 I of a common labourer in England ; that o( the hedger/ ' and ditcher, he thinks full as great. When fick they are well taken care of; many eftates p have hofpitals for them; fome have medical people I; Jiving on them, and almoft all are attended by the ! faculty once or twice a week, or oftener, if necelTarv. The old people, he believes, are well taken care of ^ he never faw a beggar in the ftrcet. I They appear very well fatisfied with their condition • in general ; fome, he has heard, have been offered to " • return to Africa, but refufed it : Old negroes confider their fituadon as vaftly preferable to that of the new, jind go to the Beach to fee them when imported. To prove 1^4 W. Indies. Orde. 1 790. prove the attachment of (laves to their mailers, he re- Part. II. lates chat a number of foreign runaways had come over; v»"-v^ — ' that a number of the negroes of Dominique, perhaps tempted by the French, had left their mafters, and that others, perhaps through difcontcnt, had deferted alfo ; that thefe altogether inhabited the woods ot Domi- nique, and were armed, and there committed many afts ot violence againll the inhabitants, fo as to de- termine the legiflature,after an inefFedtual trial of ever\' Jenient method, to endeavogr to reduce them by force. Slaves from the different eftates were on this fervice, and through the whole courfe of it manifefted the greatefl zeal and defire to bring them back to their duty. He conceives it impoflible to cultivate Weft-India plantations to advantage by Europeans; manywhite ar- j titicers work in all the illands for very great wages, and are thus enabled to live well ; yet thefe work mode- rately, and almoft always under cover ; notwithftand- ing, he believes more than {• of thofe who were at Dominique when he went there, were dead when he came away. The lofs of European troops in St. Lu- cia, he has heard, was due to their rolling provifions, i for a few hours only in the day, up to Morne Fortune. P. 4'"8. ^^ ^-^^ ^^^ doubts, whether 'n Dominique,where the negroes have certainly not decreafed for 6 or 7 years paft, the numbers might not be kept up, if not attacked by epidemical difeafes, or other caufes of extraordinary mortality, incident to that climate; but Dominique has advantages, perhaps not pofTeffed by any other ifland ; a great quantity of uncultivated lands allows them to raife as much provifions as they pleafe, and a lurpius to buy a thoiifand neceffaries and conveniencies. The proximity of the foreign illands, and our frequent communication with them, affords them an advan- tageous marker; and the good water, may aitb con- tribute to their health; but he only fays, that the prefent number could be kept up without importation. There could be no pollibility of extending the culti- vation W. Indies. Orde. 185 *^ ri> nor does he believe the quantity of land now 1700. in Cultivation could be kept fo ; for as land grows Part II. old, it requires more labour. — Dominique contain t^m^ > m^ about 186,000 acres, of thefe about 54,000 are in occupation, and 26,000 in cultivation. The merely- keeping up the ilock, therefore, would be very in- fufficient for the wants of the Dominique proprietors, and fhould the trade be abolilhed, they would certainly be great fufferers. If fome fuch encouragements for breeding, were held out to Dominique, as are to the French iflands in the Code Noir ; and if the pradlice of feparating children from their parents were more precifely dropt than it is, he thinks it would ftill more contribute to infure keeping up the prefent ftock, without farther importation. - In explanation of the apparent difference between p ^ his own anfwers to the queries tranfmirted to him by * "* the Secietary of Hate, and the returns fcnt home from -the cuftom-houfc : he fays, that in fome of his anfwers, he dated the negroes of Dominique to have encreafed in the laft 5 or 6 years j whereas the cuftom-houfe returns declare, that the negroes imported,from 1784 to 1788, amounted to 27,553 ; that the numbers ex- ported in the fame period, amounted to only 15,781, and of courfe, that the number remaining in Dominique was 11,772. As a reafon for the difference in thefe accounts, (as at the time explained by him to the Secretary of ftate) fays, that previous to the free-port a6l of 1787, no flavcs could be legally exported in foreign veflels, and in the French iflands, fo heavy a duty was laid on thofe imported in foreign bottoms, as to make that mode of fending them difadvantageous to the merchant, and the vigilance of the French cruifers rendered it dangerous to attempt running them illicitly i they were therefore fmu,o;gled out of Domi- nique, of which the cuftom-hc'ufe had no returns, nor fince the free-port a6l, can any returns be reUed on. The French have, in fadb, taken about 4-5ths of the whole number imported, and the Spaniards, and other A a foreigners iS6 W. Indies. Orde. 17 00. foreigners (o many more, as not to leave, in his opinion, Fart II. above icoo in Dominique, and many ofthefe, refufe negroes, part of which died, perhaps, before they got on the eftates. The encreale by births, was ft a ted from documents received from Mr. Conftable, deputy treafurer of the ifland, a perfon very capable of giving true account. The returns of the French inhabitants, m the parifli of St. Patrick, and his own obfei-vations, confirm them. T 4.60. The perfons to anfwer the queries of the privy council, were felefted by Mr. Orde ; finding the ' aflembly backward to anfwer them, and defirous of cpUeding the fentiments of proprietors in the ifland, he fent difterent copies of the queries to 4 or 5 of the principal fettlers in each parifh, to be communicated by them to the whole ; he fent alfo to the merchants for the fame purpofc, and requetled anfwers. He conceives the anfwers he received, may be fuppofed the relult of the experience, and knowledge of the moft intelligent men in the ifland : Being firft com- municated to him, he fent them to Great-Britain. Where there is but little provifion-ground on an eflate, (a rare cafe in Dominique) the negroes are almoft altogether fed by the owner ; he believes they receive 2 lb. of fait fifh, fait beef, or pork, or 7 or 8 herrings, and about 7 or 8 quarts of farine each <^ week- ; the children in proportion : The fame pro- portion of fifli, or meat, and nothing more, is given where there is provifion-ground, but not quite fufficient for full fubfiftence ; but where provifion-ground is plenty, (generally the cafe in Dominique) the negroes are allowed to cultivate as much as they pleafe, and have a day in the week, befides Sunday, for it ; this is the ufual method with t};e French inhabitants, and the mpfi: fatisfatlory to tkr negroes. P. 461. The number of ilaves lofl; in opening new lands in Dominique was afcertained, but being before his time, he cannot ilate it;. they were, he believes, very con- ijderabk, and partly owing to mifmanagement : A luilom W. Indies, Orde. 187 cuftom then prevailed of working new negroesj which 1790. contributed to the lots, but this is not now followed. Part II. Does not know that the difference of profit to the »— y—^ refident and to the abfentee proprietor ofcltates in the Weft-Indies is fo great as he ftated to the privy- council, he believes it however to be in general very material. > Believes attention to moral and religious inftruftions of ilaves would contribute to their comfort, and their mafters intereft; the French are more attentive to thefe points than we are, and benefit accordingly. Underflands that lately in Tobago the French have eftablifhed a regulation, excufing female flaves from labour, in proportion to the number of children they bear and bring up, and liberating then after having 6 or 7. Being afked if a flaves's fecurity from ill ufage does not depend on the temper of the owner, he anfwered, the laws in the Colonies are not fo well executed as in England ; in general, he dares hope the honor and humanity of the owners lead them to attend to the protedlion of flaves. The treatment of flaves in the French iflands he believes more fevere than in the Englifh. In Dominique the French follow the cuflom of the Engliih. The laws provide fecurity for free negroes againfl ill ufage of white men ; their evidence is not good, in capital cafes, againfl white. Thinks the Tobago law flated above, rewarding a woman who has brought up many children might be advantagcoufly adopted ; at prefent, negro women are certainly averfe to bearing childien, and carelefs in bringing them up ; as he thinks bearing children interrupts their hbidinous purfuits, and makes them lefs defirable to the men. Were the planters to fee the benefit of the Tobago regulation, as before ftated, they would, no doubt, * • 4-®3- adopt it. Believes, if the flave trade is abolifhed, the con- fequence will be difadvantageous to the empire in general, and in particular to Dominique, die pro- A^ 2 prietors tZB W. Indies. Orde. 1700. prietors of which bouf»ht their lands of government i Pare II. at a very high rate, tr\i(ling for their cultivation in an ™ c^iyi-w uninterrxipted importation of flaves j no more than one-third of the ifland is now in occupation, and only 26,000 acres is in real cultivation : A ftop to the im- portation of flaves would therefore make it impofTiblc to clear more, and very difficult, perhaps, to keep what IS now planted in the fame ftate of improvement. He does not recolle(5t the refufal of a free negroc's evidence againfl a white man, except in one inllance, which was a cafe of murder. Witnefs examined. — David Parry, Efq; David Farrv, Efq; refided at Barbadoes near 7 years, as governor of the ifland, and left it July 6, 1789. Mafters behave to their flaves v/ith every poflible kind- nefs and attention Negroes feem properly fed, clothed, P 4.64. ^^^ lodged : had it not been fo, he would, as it was his ' bufinefs, have enforced the law to that end. Not half fo much labour was required of them, as their cv.ners had a right to demand •. the common labour of a negro would be play to any Englifli peafant. Never faw the lead degree of defpondcncy among them ; has every reafon to fuppofe them perfeftly fatisfied, as no com- plaints ever reached his ear. Banifliment is the fevereft punifliment to a negro at Barbadoes; there is no cor- poral punifliment they would not prefer; has known them even hefitate between banifhmcnt and death; In general, he thinks their ftate infinitely more com- fortable than that of the labouring poor in England, or any other part of the world that he knows. He thinks it impofiible that the Weft-Indies could be ■cultivated by Europeans, without fuch a deftruftion of che human race as would harrow up the feelings of -the hardeil breafl, and would be (to the imaginary diftreffes of the negroes) inhumanity in the extreme. tic W. Indies. Parry. 189 He has not the fmalleft doubt, that a fupply of negroes 1 790. from Africa is neceffary to the cultivation of fujar Part IT. cftates, particulaiiy if they mean to improve more <—- ^— »•> land The abolition of the flave trade, would, in his P* 4^5* opinion, prove detrimental both to the colonies, and the empire at large ; it would raife rhe produdlions of that country, beyond the power of the confum.ers here to purchafe, and confequently leflen the revenue, in proportion as die confumption is diminifhed, and would injure the individual in his property, by en- Creafing his private expences j it would occafion the immediate declenfion, and final ruin of the fugar co- lonies, unlefs they v/cre at liberty to leek for, and carry their fugar and other produce, to other markets ; and thi^i, in his opinion, would be bad policy. If fupplies of negroes be totally (lopped, the gradual diminution of their produce, and finally the extindion of the fugar colonies, he thinks, would take place, and he thinks it a dangerous and unneceflary experiment to make ; the planters of Barbadoes he knows, and the planters in general, he believes to be men of fenfe, difcernmcnt, and humanity ; and he thinks, that good policy, ought to leave them in the quiet management of their own affairs, and fo render them, as beneficial as pofr?ble to this country, to whofe laws, conftitution, and king, they are warmly and zealoufly attached. One man will annually cultivate 3 acres of cotton, *• 400, but only one of fugar ; die fubftitution of cotton for fugar in many plantations in Barbadoes, arofe more from the lofs of negroes in the hurricane 1780, than from the depredations of vermin, or other caufes. This fL'bftitution is going on, though in a lefs degree, becaufe new negroes have been imported. The greater part of the lands, where cotton was fubftituted, is now again allotted to fugar. I'he fubftitution of cotton for fugar, might have been made immediately, but did not take place to any extent for 3 or 4 years after- •wards. The difficulty of obtaining African negroes, ■-was the caufe of that fubftitution, aided by the blowing down 19° W. Indies. Parry. 1790. down of the fiigar- works and buildings. That Pstn II. difficulty aroie from their not being brought to the ^•"^ -^ illand, and from their high prices. The anfvvers fent P. 467. by him, to the queries of the Privy Council, were framed by himfelf -, the anfwers of the council, and aflembly, by thofe bodies refpeftively -, thofc returned by individuals, were tranfmitted by him, for the pur- pofe of returning thofe anfwers : He feleded men, on whofe difcernmcnt, experience, and integrity, he could rely, and perfons alfo differing in fentimenrs, in order to give the Secretaries of State, the fullefl information. Witnefs examined — Lord Rodney. Lord Rodney went firft to the Weft-Indies in 1761, he refided firft at Barbadoes, then Martinique, An- tigua, St. Kitt's, and a fmall time at Guadaloupe, whert thofe iflands belonged to Great-Britain j he was alfo in Jamaica 3^ years. P. 468. Mafters, in the feveral iflands, feemed very attentive to their (laves ; it is their intereft to be fo j he never faw one inftance of cruelty, but many of forbearance, on an impertinent anfwer being given to the mafters. Slaves feemed properly clothed for the climate, in all the iflands ; in Jamaica, feemed better fed than the common labouring people here ; the other iflands have not grounds to give them fuch food as Jamaica can afford J they appeared alfo extremely well lodged for the climate, and their houfes calculated for it. No more labour was required of them than they could properly bear : A hundred times he has noticed, that he thought a labouring man in England did more work in one day than any 3 negroes. He has often j ~ noticed in the many plantations he has vifited, that' "'"^ there is an hofpital, called the fick-houfe, with negr» P 6a "^^"^^^ attending as nurfes ; there is fcarce a plantation ' "* without a furgeonj it is their intereft to be attentive. Thc"i W. Indies, Rodney. 191 The negroes appeared to him to be in a flate the 1790, reverie of defponding ; after the day's work, they Part iL were generally dancing, and making merry. Thinks u.-v— ^ it impofilble to cultivate Weft-India plantations to , advantage by Europeans. Believes the prefent ftock in the illands could not be kept up, without frefli importadons ; for he believes, breeding is encouraged as much as polTible ; for one Creole is, in value, worth. two new ones from Guinea. Confidcrs the (hips in the French Weft-India trade as the greateft fource of their power, for die Weft- India commerce enabled France laft war to difpntc with Great-Britain the empire of the Tea; their Weft- Indiamen are generally much larger than the Briti(h, and appeared more than doubly manned. Thinks the Britifti Weft- India trade a confiderable nurfcry for fcamv.n, and the W^eft-India fleet very advan. t.igeous in time of war in furni filing men for the fervicc, who are feafoned to the Weft Indian climate, p^ ^jq^ Thinks it extremely important to keep up a trade, which he confiders one of our principal branches of commerce; without the African trade the Weft-Indies he thinks could not be fupported. In 1787, the ^ French paid 200 livres a head premium for ev^eiy flave imported into St. Domingo and St. Lucia, and 100 for each imported into Martinique and Guada- loupe, befides a premium on ftiips that traded from the ports of France to the coaft of Guinea, payable immediately on their failing, at fo much per ton.— . The abolinon of the flave trade would tend to reduce the Britifti Weft India trade, and lelfen the number of fliips and feamen, it would tend to encreale the Iwench marine in general; if die Britifh Have trade were abolillied, and engrofted by foreign nations, it would add to the naval power of France, who has iilresdy much more than half the Wcft-Lndia trade in her h^nd;), and diminifti diat of Britain in propor- i tioi). I Never 192 W. Indizs. Rodney 1790. Never made a comparative eftimate of the expcncc Part II. of breeding a negro till fit for the field, and that of * <— ^>.-< buying an able African : declares that wherever he p. 471. went, it appeared they encouraged breeding, and took great care of the children. Does not recoUeft ahy ■ regulation for the encouragement for breeding fanc- tioned by che legiHature of the iQands, but always underftood they gave every encouragement for the negroes to breed, and for the fcttiement of the white people; ic appeared fo to him, They were domeftic flaves tliat gave impeitinent anfwers. The negroes feemed very bad labourers, compared with Europeans. Their inclination to labour was not c«5'jal to a labouring man's in England, not 3 of them could do fo much work as one white man in Europe. In the Weft Indies they do more than the climate would permit a white man to do there. P. 472. They are left to chufe their own wives ; if there be any regulations concerning their marriages, he does not know them. Being an'— ^ daloupe, and occafionally vifited Barbadoes and all the leeward iflands except Nevis. In 1777 he was appointed admiral and commander in chief of all the King's fhips at Jamaica, where he arrived Feb. P. 477, 1778, and remained till 1782. • The treatment of flaves in the feveral iflands was lenient, mild and humane. He never heard of even one inllance of feverity during his ftay at Ja- maica. 1 he flaves not only fcemed properly fed, lodged and cloclied, but in a more comfortable ftate than the lower clafs of people in any part of Eurofie, Great Britain not excepted. No more labour was required of them than they could pro- perly bear. Our peafantry fcarcc earn a livelihood by labour much harder than thefe are put to ; and in age and infirmities, dragon a miferable life on a pitiful allowance of is. 6d. or 2S. per Week from their parilhes ; whereas the negro, when old and infirm, has particular attention paid to make him I cafy and comfortable; and if he has acquired money, which all induftrious negroes may do, he may live in affluence the reft of his days ; he knows that his family and friends will be fure of proteflion, and good treatment after his deceafe, and that he may bequeath his property how and to whom he pleafes. They are far from being in a ftate of defpondency, '. and generally chearful and merry.— —It is abfolutely P» 47^* impoftible to cultivate the Weft Indies by Euro- peans •, to fhcw how inimical the climate is to European conftitutions, he fiys he need only refer to the military returns there of 1779, 1780, and 1781. The very exiftence of the Ibldiers depends B b 2 oa 19^ W. Indies. Parker, 1790. on thcT being allo>^ed negroes to carry their ftore^ fart 11. and provifions, and do other adls of dru.'^^ery, Vr-v^ Our feanrif-n work under awnings, to keep off the lun. The manning veflels in our dock yards with negroes, to water and llore the King's (hips, he is fatisfied has faved the lives of thoufands. The cap- tains under his command had all leaye to ener a few negros. The fhips when once watered, keep up the quantity with their own long boats. lr| proof that negroes are neceflary for this fervice, he relates that a frigate, about to fail from Port Royal, fent her long-boat to Rock F 'rt for water, with a mid^ipman, cockfwain, and fix feamen, and that on her return next morning, the middiipman and fix feamen were taken ill and died. He thinks the prefcnt ftock of negroe§ cannot be kept up without frefh importations from Africa | experience proves it otherwife. He confiders the ihips in the French Weft Indi% trade, as 4 principal fource of their naval power. Their fhips in general are larger than ours, and carry double the number of men, Their Weft India trade is immenfe, and, in his opinion, twQ thirds of their whole commerce ; fhould they obr ftru6t their African trade, which he thinks they are too wife to do, they would lofe their confequence among the nations of Europe, and not be able tp fit out fleets fufficient to alarm their neighbours. H9. hears, and ^hinks it probable, that they are en« deavouring to improve their Well India trade, ai]^4 their African, as connedted with it. ?• 479? The Britifh Weft-India trade is a great nurfery fof feamen 5 we ftiould find it difficult to man a great fleet withoijt it. There can be no doubt, that that trade^, and alio the African, are extremely ferviceable in manning King's fliips in the W^ft-li^dies in time 0^ war. He received upwards of 2000 into the fleet^ under his command, and manned feveral ftiips that h« fought for the King from Weft-India merchantmen. m W.Indies. Parker, 197 and African fliips : Thofe traders furnilh feamen pc- 1 790. culiarly adapted to Weft-India fcrvice, and more able Part II. to manage the King's (hips in that ftation than feamen <— -v-*i^ ufually employed in Europe. It is important to the kingdom to keep up Britilh Weft-India trade j but inore important to keep up the African. The abolition of the African trade would, in his opinion, caufe a general defpondency among the ne- groes, and gradually decreafe population, and con- fequently the produce of our iflands, and muft in time deftroy near-j our commerce, and take from Great- Britain all pretenfions to the rank (he now holds of being the firft maritime power in the world. In the fame ratio that our power decreafes, that of the French will encreafe. He has never feen nor heard of failors dying in the flreet"? of Jamaica in an ulcerated ftate, objects both of commiferation and horror, as ftated in the report pf the Privy Council, except in the committee room. Wi^nefs examined. — Stephe^j Fuller, Efq; Agent for the ifland of Jamaica. Produced extradls from the minutes of the joint com-P» 4^'« mittee of allcmbly and council of Jamaica, 3d De- cember, 789, which are infcrted from page 485 to page 496 of the minutes at large*. He alfo produced a paper intituled, " Jamaica f- export and import of negroes, and negroes retained « in Extradls froin the minutes of the joint committee of aflembly and council of Jamaica^ 3d December ly^^. Mr. Murray xeported as followi ; Mr. Speaker, Your committee appointed to i^eet a committee of the council P. 485. in a free conference, to enquire into and to report to the houie |heir opinion, what fteps are neceflary tu be taken with regard to the flave trade, in conlequence of the information received from the agent of this ifland of the proceedings had in the Houfe pf Commons ia the laft leiSon of parliament in refpeft of the faid XXide, ^9^ Jamaica. Fuller. 1790. ** in the if] and for 49 years, viz. from 1739, to Paitll." to 1787, both inclufive, diftinguifhing the years ^^■'v— ^ '* of war from thofe of peace." 7 his paper is to fhew that the importation of negroes into Jamaica was trade, have accordingly met, and have taken the examinations of • feveral perfons, and have agreed to the fcllowing refolutions : I Kelolved, It is the opinion of the joint committee, that the fupprcfiion, either direft or virtual, of the flave trade, by the Britiih nation only, (other nuions continuing the trade as ufual) would not promote the purpofes of humanity, either in re(pc£l of the negroes which are annually brought to the African markets for fale, or in regard to the negroes at prefent in a (late of flavery in this and the reft of the Britiih iflands in the Weft-Indies. The efFedts in ^ifrica of a partial abolition would be this, that the purchafers from Europe, being fewer in number* would have a greater choice of fla\'es, equal to the whole demand of the Britiih merchants at prelent which is ftatcd at 38,000 annually; whereby prime flaves only would be faleable; and the aged and infirm (many of whom are now purchafed of necef^* fity) being rejefled in g.-eater numbers than formerly, the horrid pradlice which has long exifted among the ftave-merchants on the coaft, of putting to deaih luch of their captives as are brought to market and rejecled by the Europeans, would be more prevalent than ever. In the Britiih Weft-Indies the cifcd (however lightly felt at firft) muft neceffiirily, in the courfe of a few years, from an unavoidable decreafe confequent on the prefent inequality of the ff.xes, have this operation j that the labour which is now performed by a given number of negroes, muft eitner be per- formed by a lefs number, or the planter muft contradt the limits of his plantation, aud diminilh his produce. 1 hus immediate intereft, and in many cafes urgent diftrefs from the importunity of creditors, will be fct in oppofition to the principles ot juftice, and the didates of humanity. II. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint committee, that to condemn the flave trade as peculiarly deftrudive to Britifh feamen (th« contrary whereof is proved by the evidence of Vice- Admiral Edwards before the privy council) and to adduce in proof thereof the lofTes fuftained on certain unhealthy parts of the coaft, without taking into the account the loffes fuftained in other branches of the African commerce, fuch as the wood and ivory trades, where the mortality principally occurs, and the encreafe of feamen from fuch other parts of the Britifti navigation as are principally de- pendant on the African commerce, is partial and unjuft. Among thefe branches may be reckoned the Weft India and lumber trades, and above all, ihofe great nurferies for feamen, the Irilh, Briiilh, Britilh-Amcrican and Newfoundland filheries ; tne confumption of herrings and failed fiflji by the negroes, being immenfe. We have Jamaica. Fuller; 199 was very confiderable in war time. He formed the 1 790. calculation from 1739 to 1772, from an original Part II, account found among Mr. JRofe Fuller's papers, \— v— » after have likevvife reafon to believe, that fince the late regulating aft, the mortality of Britilh feamen in the flave trade has decreafed nearly one half. III. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint Committee, that the lofs of Negroes which is fometlmes fullained in the voyages from Africa, as well as in the harbours of this ifland, between the days of arrival and fale, and which is dated to happen from the mode of tranfporting them from the Coaft, being a remediable grievance, affords no argument for a total fupprefTion of the ilave Trade. IV. It is the opinion of the joint Committee, that no jufl efti- mate can be formed of the effcfts which the Regulating Act of the Britilh Parliament, paiTed in 1788, will ultimately produce in refpeft of the lofs of the flaves in the middle paflage, inafmuch as it appears, from \ return of negroes purchafed on the coaft of Africa by (hips that have entered in the port of Kinijfton fince the firft of January laft, that, out of 2099 flaves purchafed on the Gold Coaft, 2042 have been fold in this ifland, a lofs of* only- two and three -fourth? per cent, but that, out of 2550 flaves pur- chafed in the Bite of Benin, only 1642 have been fold ; a lofi amounting to thirty-five and three eighths per cent, and unknown before any regulation took place. Two veflTels have fince arrived from the fame coaft, the Ann and the Vulture : thefe veffcls pur- chafed 785, flaves of whom only 14 have died ; a lofs not exceed- ing one and three -Jevenths per c^nt, I his amizing difference, as ap- pears by the evidence taken on oath, is partly 10 be attributed to the fmall-pox, which raged in fome of the fliips, and the meafles and flux, which broke out in others. The lols by the flux was chiaflv occafioned by the ufe of unripe yams, for want of other provifions. V. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint Committee, that the number of flaves at prefent in this ifland is about 250,000; of which, according to the beft enquiries that can be made con- cerning the proportion of the fexes, there are 140,000 males, and I io,oco females : it follows therefore, that if future impor- tations from Africa be difcontinued, there will unavoidably c■n^ue,^^ from the difproportion of the fexes alone, a very great redv.£lioii from the prefent number of our flaves, before any augmentation can be expeftcd from natural increafe by generation ; a diminu- tion which muft not only precKide all attempts at th.! further im- provements of our unfettled lands, but likewife occaf.on a propor- tionable decreafe in the prefent cultivation ; it being an undoubted feft, that almol\ all the plantations already fettled are much vnder-handed. VI. ioo Jamaica; fuiLEii; 1790. after his death, printed part III. of the Privy- Part II. Councils report •, thence to 1787, from the Infpedlor- ^»^y,^ Gcnerars account, printed part IV. of that report. Hd ' VI. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint Committee, that' it is abfjlutely impoflible to cultivate the Welt Jndia iilands, (d as to prodace any commodities that would enrich the mother- country, by white labourers. Fatal experience demonftrates thtf fallacy of fuch an expeftation- In the year 1749, ^^c legiHature of this ifland pafTed a law holding out great encouragement for" the introduftioa of white families into this colony, which proved' ineffcdlual ; very few families having come in Confequence there- of, and of thofe that came not a veftige is left. I'he French mi- Tiiftry in 1763, attempted to fettle a colony by means of wbite labourers at Cayenne, on the coaft of America ; twelve thoufand miferable people were the victims of this impolitic fcheme. If further inftances are wanting to prove, that Europeans cannot withftsnd the climate when exp'^fed to the fun and the rains, re-- courfe may be had to the accounts of the fiege of Carthagenaf the expedition to Cumberland Harbour ; the fi'^ge of the Havan- nah ; the returns of tne regiments that came out under the com- mand of General Garth in 1779 and 1780 j and the expedition' to Fort Saint Juan, on the Spanifh Main. VII. Refolvedi It is the opinion of the joint Committee, that according to the beft eftimate which can be formed, this iflancJ may be ftated to contain four millions and eighty thouland acres of land, of which not more than one -fourth part, or about one* million of acres, is at prefent in adual cultivation ; and although' a confiderable part of the country, confilHng of high mountain! and rugged precipices, is incapable of improvement, yet it ma/ be prefumed, tha: no part of the lands, which are aAually pa- tented, falls within that defcription ; inafmuch as the owner* ' thereof pay a quit-rent to the Crown for ho'ding the fame ; which quit- rent, and the arrears thereof, collefted fmce Chrift- mas laft, amount to the fum of 27,000!, or thereabous, exclufive. of I 3,000 now in a train of fcttlement. VIII. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint Committee, that it appears, from the offices of the Clerk of the Patents and Re- ceiver-General, that there are at this time patented in this ifland» or taken up by grants from the Crown, 1,907,589 acres of landf from which, the quantity in aflual Cultivation being deduced, there will remain, with every allowance for unproduftive territory, 900,000 acres of cultivatable land yet unfettled ; the whole of which, if the Slave Trade be abolifhed, mull become an abfolute burthen and incumbrance on its prefent proprietors ; who will# jn fuch cafe, be entitled as of right, and on the principles of na< tural juftice, to the liberty of furrendering the fame back to thfl Crown, and receiving full compenlatioo for the c;ipitalt thereia Jamaica. Fullkr. 201 He looked on this laft account as more perfeft than 1790. his own, which was that of a private gentleman (of Part II, Jamaica) only, and the other that of a publick offi- w-^.^-*^ cer. vefted, and all quit-rents paid on account thereof. The faid land, valued only at 3I currency per acre, is worth 2,700,000!- currency, equal to 1,928,500!. Ik-rling. IX. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint committee, that the planters and proprietors ot" negroes in this ifland will in like manner, be entituled to compcnTation for tnc diminution which mull neceffarily enfue in the number of our flaves, fhould all further importations be difcontinucd by authority of parlia- ment ; the prefcnt diiproportioii between the fexes having arifen from caufcs which are not imputable to us. With the reduftiou of our flaves will likewife unavoidably happen a proportionate de- creafe in the value of our lands, buildings, and produce ; for which and all other loffbs ccnfequent on a change in the pre- fent fyilem, it is the opinion of the joint committe, that the in- habitants of this, and the rclt of his Majefty's fugar colonies, are fairly andjuilly entitled to compcnfation ; the faid colonies hav- ing been originally fettled under tlie moll facred compads with the mother country, finftioned by royal charters and proclama- tions, as well as by a fuccclhon of a^ls of parliament, authorifing and encouraging the flave trade ; particularly by the charters granted in 1662 and 1674, by King Charles II. which eftablilhed a Royal African company, the lall of which was granted in con- fequence of an addrels from both houfes of parliament, and by the afts ofthegthand 'Oth of William the III. a period when the principles of civil liberty were minutely invcftigated, well underftood, and freely aficrtcd ; and more recently, by the ad of 2^ George II. whicli recites the ufefulnefs and abfolute ne- cciTity of the African trade. Our claim of compcnfation is founded in, and fupported by, not only the rules of natural as well as moral juilice, but bv the e.vpecl.uions we are warranted to enter- tain from the examples of compcnfation made by parliament to the Royal African company, for the refumption of their lands, forts, &c. .Sjc. (fee llat. 25 Geo. II. c. xl. in 175 ^, and to the Britifli merchants and owners of (hip-: engaged in the African trade, for lofTcs fullained by them in confeqaence of the act for regulating the (hipping aud carrying flaves in Britifh velfels from the coail of Africa, paifed in thj lall fcfhon of the Hritilli parlia- ment : and it is our opinion that, before any further meafures towards the abolition of the Have trade be taken by the parlia- ment of Great Britain, commiflioners ought to be appointed for afcertaining the lolfes to arife therefrom. X. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint committee, that the charges which have been brought againll the planters of this iilaud, of improper and inhuman treatment of our Slaves, may C c be 202 Jamaica. Fuller. 1790. cer. Hence he has taken the laft part of his calcu- Pare II. lation from the Infpeflor-Generars account, which v^v"-- reaches from 1772 to 1787. I he faid account was delivered be fully refuted and difproved ; firft by an appeal to our laws, and, fecondly. by the evidence of refpeftable men who have re* fided among us, and have been witnelTes to our manners. What* ever may be faid of our ancient Colonial Slave-laws, the Afts which have been pafTed. vvithin the lafl: ten years, are written iu characters of juillcc, mercy, and liberality. Concerning the ge» nerai treatment of our Haves, e refer to th? evidence alread^' per- fonally given to the Lords of he Council, by the Right Hon. Lord Rodney, Sir Peter Parker, Adm. Barri-.gton, Sir J ofbua Rowley, Admiral Hotham, Vice Admiral Edwards, and Sir George Young : and to the further evidence that may be produced from gentlemen of charafter in E.igland who have refided many years in this ifland, and are intimately acquainted with our condudl and manners. V/e conceive that the teftimony o* fuch perfons is un- anfwerable and conclufive ; and fhall therefore only remark, that it is notorious our Slaves, in general, are not only treated with kindnefs and humanity, but that they are alfo protected by law from immoderate chaftifement or cruel treatment, and enjoy more cafy, comfortable, and happy lives, than multitudes of the la- bourers in Great Britain. XI. Ref^h edj it is the opinion of the joint committee, that, in confidence of the validity of plantation fecurity, and the fupport and encouragement the fugar-colonies, and the African trade, have hfitherto experienced from government, the merchants in Great-Britain have been induced to enter in very large advances, and engage in extenfive loans to the Weft-India planters ; and, on the faith of an aft of parliament, pafled on purpofe to make the receiving of fix per cent, on colonial fecurities lawful in Great-» Britain, great numbers of private perfons at home as well as the fubjefts of foreign ftates, have likewife embarked confiderable fums on nprtgages, and have purchafed annuities to a very large amount on Wefl- India eftates : now the Have trade being the great fource of every Weft-India improvement, its abolition muft iner vitably diminifh the value of all fuch fecurities, and drive the creditors to ufe every means in their power to extricate their property from ftjch a precarious fituation ; to the immediate diftrcfs of the planters and their families, and the ultimate ruiij of many of the mortgagees and annuitants themfelves. XII. Refolved, It is the opinion of the joint Committee, thaf the prefent value of property in this ifland may be fairly and rea- fonably eftimated as follows ; viz. 250,000 negroes, at 50I. fter- ling per head, is 12,500,0001. The patented lands, with theiy erections, and the perfonal property appertaining thv.'reunto,f at double the vajue of the negroes (being tl^e moft general rule of valuation) Jamaica. FtJLLER. 203 delivered in and read, and is inferted from page ^79^- 497 tti 499 '^'f the minutes at large. By this ac-Panll. count it appears that, in ^T"^' '^ Total flaves Average (499') Years retained per Ann. War from 1739 to 1749 — 10—55230 5523 Peace from 1749 to 17^5— 7—43645 6235 War from 1756 to 1763 -- 8 — ^9368 6.71 Peace from 1764 to 1775 — 12 — 88443 7370 War from 1776 to 1782— 7— 4'53^ 5/9^ Peace from 1783 to 1787— 5— 3221 8 6444 49 310440 AVERAGES. War 25 years. Peace 24 years. 55^3 6235 6171 7370 579« 6444 3)174^5 3>oo49 5828 6683 5828 Peace annual average exceeds war 855 Annual average retained ^or 49 years 6^2S C c 2 Wltnefs valuation) ah:ount to 25,000,000]. and the article of houfes in the towns, the coailing and tr iding veflels. Sec. may be eftlmated at one million and .1 h It :.t the leaft ; it appearing, by the Report of the Committee of the Lords of the Privy Council, that the houfes in Kingflon and Spanilh Town are alone worth 1,428,521!. fterling. The total is thirty- nine millions of pounds Sterling j the whole profits and produce of which capital, as alfo of the va- rious branches of commerce to which it gives rile, center in Great Britain, and add lO the national wealth, while the navigation ne- ceflfary to all its branches, eftablilhes a ftrength which wealth can neither purchaie nor balance. ( ^H ) Witnefs examined. — Robert Norris, Flq; Produced a paper, intitled, " An account of the P IT " vefles and amount of their cargoes, now employed ' " by the merchants of Liverpool in the African /,g,> " flave trade, 3d March 1790." It was fent him by the fecretary of the committee of African mer- chants at Liverpool. He believes it to be a true ilatement of fa6ls. It was delivered in and read, and is inferted from p"-ge 500 to 509, of the printed minutes. By this account it appears that there -wepe then 139 fhips, 24907 tons, :?853 fcamen, employed by the Liverpool merchants in the flave trade-, that the value of fhips and outfit was^ 961,608 : os. : Bd. and the total amount / 1,092,546 : os. : gd. The witnefs alfo produced the following account and lifts. An account of the number of men difcharged by the mafter tradefni'-n of Liverpool employed in the flave trade, and who are now out of work, or gone to other places, from the reflridlions laid on that trade by parliament, with their occupations, and wages in a year. This account isd£«ed--i5th March 1790, and is inferted page 510 of the' minutes at larce. The perfons fpecified in it, are 10^7 tradei- men and labourers, 22 maftcrs of flave fhips, 47 mates, 356 feamen : total 1432 perfons, - in the fituations defcribed. — N. B. In »7S7, there were only 719 perfons in the poor-houfe of Liverpool; but from the faid rcftrictions, there are now in the poor- houfe 1227: increafe 508. Added to thefc, the poor relieved out of the houfc, are now 1060 ; and in 17S7, were 700: increafe 340. A lift of African fhips laid up in Liverpool, from the re(tri6lions on the trade, inferted page 5 1 2 of minutes at large: total 22 fhips of 5366 tons. P. 484. A lift of African ftiips fold out of the trade, or fent on other voyages from the faid reftrictions, inlefLcd ibid. Total i6 fhips of 3061 tons. [ 205 ] W.Ikdies— Witnefsex''.— CaptJoHNAsHLEvHALL Now in the Weft-India trade from London, was 1790. in the African trade from 1772 to 1776 inclufive. ParcII. Made two voyages to Africa in the Neptune, as < —^-^^ third, fecond and chief mate i touclied at C. Mount, ($^3-) and failed along fhore, fometimes trading for rice to C. Palmas ; failed thence the firft voyage to the river Del Rey, in the bight of BiafFra, where they llaved. Second voyage, failed from C. Palmns to Del Rey ; but the trade being dull, went to the R. Old P. 514' Calabar. The flaves were brought on board by the black traders pinioned, and fometimes 4 or 5 with collars chained together. Thefe traders always went for the flaves, after the arrival of the ihip, with goods they got, and in war canoes. He law from 3 to 10 canoes in a fleet, each with 40 to 60 paddlers, and 20 to 30 traders, and other people, with mufkets, fuppole one to each man, with a 3 or 4 pounder laflicd on the bow ; they were generally abfent from 10 days to 3 weeks. Often afl-ced the mode of buying flaves inland ; was told by the traders they were prifoners of war, and fold by the captors. He never faw a flavc brought on board with a frefli wound, and a few with old fears. Often afked them how they became flaves : they conftantly laid, either furprized in their towns, at work in the fields, or taken in fixed battle. Often faw flaves brought on board from S to 13 P. 315, years old, always without relations ; never knew but one inllance to the contrary, which was a woman with a fucking child about 6 weeks old. The trade in the rivers Calabar and Del Rey is carried on by means of pawns, who very often are children of the traders. They were always parti- cularly •2o6 W. Indies. J. A. Hall. 1790. cularly anxious as to the fate of the pawns, and Part II. feemed much diftrefled when fufpicious of the fhip's u^'^-w failing away with them. Never faw more guns in the king's and principal trader's houfes than appeared for ufe ; never any trade guns but of a better fort. On the fea coaft they were afraid to fire a trade gun. In Old Calabar river are two towns, Old Town and New Town. A rivalfbip in trade produced a jea- loufy between the towns -, To that through fear of each otiier, for a confiderable time, no canoe would leave their towns to go up the river for flaves j (537') "^^^^h happened in 1767. He correfts an error of its being in 1768, when examinc-d before the Privy Council, from a copy he has fince feen of the de- pofition of William Floyd, mate of the Indian (516.) Qtieen. In 1767 feven fhips lay off the point which feparates the towns -, fix of the captains in- vited the people of both towns on board on a certain day, as if to reconcile them : at the fame time agreed with the people of New Town to cut off all the Old Town people who fhould remain on board the next morning. The Old Town people perfuaded of the fincerity of the captains* propolal, went on board in great nunibers. Next morning at 8 o'clock one of the fhips fired a gun, as a fignal to commence hoftilities. Some of the traders were fecured on board, fome were killed in refifting, and fome got overboard and were fired upon. When the firing began, the New Town people who were in ambufh behind the point, came forward and picked up the people of Old Town, who were fwimming, and had efcaped the firing. After the firing Was over, the captains of 5 of the (hips deli- vered their prifoners (perfons of confequence) to the New Town canoes, two of whom were beheaded along fide the fhips ; the inferior prifoners were carried to the Weft-Indies. One of the captains, who had fecured three of the king's brothers, deli- vered W. Indies. J. A. Hall. 207 ; vered one of them to the chief man of New Town 1790. ^ who was one of the two beheaded alonii fid ; the Part II. I other brothers he kept on board, promifing, when <-— >/-*^ the fhip was (laved, to deliver them to tUe ■ ief man of New Town. His fhip was foor flaved from this ptomife, and the number of^ prifoners made that day •, but he rcfufcd to deliver the king's two brothers, and carried them to the Weft-Indies and fold them. Thence they efcaped to Vt -inia, and thence, after g years, to Brilh^i : where ihc captain who brought them, fearing he had dene wions;, meditated carr\ ini; or fendn <.: rliem back to Virginia. Jones, of Bnilol, who hid fhips ti ailing to Old Calabar, had them taken irom the fhip (where they were in irons) bv Habeas Corpus. After enquiry how they were brought from Afnca, they p were liberated, and put in one of Jones'.s ihips for Old Calabar, where tiie wtnefs was, when tliey ar- rived in the ftiip Caro, i ,an<;doii. I'iiey faid they were treated very ill in the Well-Indies, but much better in Virginia. So fitisfied were the people of Old Town, in 1767, of the finccrify of the captains who invited them, and of the New Town people towards a reconciliation, that, the nighi before the maflacre, the chief man of Old Town gave to the chief man of New Town one of his favorite women as a wife. It was faid, that from ^ to 400 perlbns were killed that day, in the fhips, in the water, or carried off the coaft. The king efcaped from the fhip he was in, by Jiilling two of the crew who attempted to feize him : he then got into a one-man canoe, and paddled to the fnore; a 6-pounder from one of the fhip's itruck, jthe canoe to pieces, he then iwam on fhore to the woods near the fhip, and reached his ov/n town vho* clofcly purfued j it was laid he receivca 1 1 wounds i from mulket'ihoc. Captain 2o8 W. Indies. J. A. Hall. T790. Captain Hall in his firft voyage on board the Pan II. Neptune, had this accountfrom the boatfwain, Thomas <— ^^ — > Rutter, who, in 1767, had been boatfwain to the Canterbury, captain Sparkcs, of I,ondon, and concerned in the faid maffacre ; Rutter told him the ftory exacflly a? related, and never varied in it j and alfo from the king's two brothers, who agreed exadly ■wiih Rutter. When failing along the windward coaft, he often faw canoes hovering about the fhip for a confiderable time, after mucli intreaty they came on board, but were fo fufpicious tliat they kept conftantly near the P. 518. fhip's fide, to jump overboard j they faid they were fearful of being taken off the coaft, as fome of their countrymen had been. The Daves when brought on board to be fold' always appear dejecbed. It foon wore off with the young flaves, and fome women ; but not with the men, which he afcribed to their being forced from their deareft connecftions, and native country. The men w^ere immediately put in irons, two toge- ther, and kept in irons, hands and (Qet, 'till their arrival in the Weft Indies, unlefs taken ill, when the irons were taken ofK Never faw a female in irons. They often difagreein the night about their fleeping places ; the men linked together often fight, when one wants perhaps to obey the calls of nature, and the other is unwilling to go with him. Their ufual food on board was horfe-beans, rice P. ciQ,^^^ yams, with a little palmoil and pepper. They often refufed to eat, efpecially beans, when they were correded with a cat o'nine tails. He has known their refufal to eat attributed to fullennefs, when owing to ficknefs, particularly one man who was corre(5ted| moderately for no: eating, and was found dead next, morning. 1 They were made after meals to jump on beating a| drum. This is called dancing. VVhen they refufed,! they were compelled bv the cat. Ofcenl W. Indies. J. A. Hall. 20^ Often heard them cry out below for want of air. 1790. Between decks is fo hot, that often after being below Part II. a few minutes, his fhirt was fo wetted by perfpiration, * — v — ' that he could have wrung it. Their veflel was about 180 tons by regifter. They purchafed firft voyage about 270 flaves: the fecond voyage 280. In the firft voyage they loft he thinks 20; but having been ill, was obliged to give up his journal i in the 2d, exa6Uy 90. In the Weft-Indies he P. 520. found the lofs of flaves to be very confiderable on board many fliips : Knew fome bury half their cargo, ibme a quai ter, and fome a third j it was very uncommon to find ftiips without fome lofs of their flaves. They loft 10 feamen the firft voyage out of 23 J and the fecond voyage 9 out of 30. He kept a journal, fo that the fafts were mentioned as they happened. The Venus failed with them both voyages, belong- ing to the fame owners; they kept company to the river Del Rey the firft voyage, where they flaved; that ftiip buried in that voyage 1 8 feamen out of 30. The fecond voyage they kept company to the river Calabar, where they both ftaved, and in that voyage her lofs exceeded their's in proportion to her crew j but cannot fpeak cxadly. In his 2d voyage they fpoke to the York, Adams, on the windward coaft; fhe had been 10 months from Liverpool, had loft 51 of her people including 6 ^lates, out of 75 men. He relates this, from a remark p made in his journal on the day they fpoke to the * ^ York. In May 1788, two (hips arrived in the Weft- Indies from Africa, called the Hornet and Benfon ; they anchored clofe to his ftiip. He went on board the Hornet, and was told they had loft 1 1 men out of 35 ; when the Benfon came to anchor, he was in his own ftiip, and could only fee 2 whites handing the fails, die reft were black boys, flaves, D d The It 10 W.Indies. J.A.Hall. 1790. The crews of the African fhips when they arrive4 Part II. in the Weft-Indies, were generally (he did not know '^ — V — ' a fingle inftance to the contrary) in a fickly, debilif tated ftatcj the feamen who were difcharged or de- ferted from thofe Ihips in the Weft-Indies, were the moft iniferable cbjefts he ever met with. He often faw them with their toes rotted off, their legs fwelled to the fize of their thighs, and ulcerated all overj fuch was their ftate, that however inclined to relieve them, by taking them into their fhips, they were deterred by not having furgeons on board to give them the neceffary affiftance ; he faw them on the wharfs in Antigua, Barbadoes and Jamaica (efpecially the two laft) laying under the cranes and balconies expiring, and fome dead. He faw laft July a dead J*. 522. feamen laying on the wharf in Bridge Town, Bar- badoes, who had been landed out of an African Ihip, Never fliipped an African feamen in any voyage he made to the Weft-Indies. He commanded a Weftr- Indiaman 10 years, made 10 voyages, and never loft but one feaman, and that was through intem- perance. Believes the African trade to be deftru£tivc to feamen, and beyond all comparifon with any trade he knov/s ; believes they are in general treated with great barbarity in the flave fliips j and does not know of their being ill-treated in any other fervice. On the windward coaft he had feen rice, ivory, jand Malaguetta pepper, plantanes, bananas, yams, and many tropical fruits ; alfo on the leeward coaft^ palm oil, ivory, bar wood, and moft tropical fruits, -J and has feen very fine fugar canes brought on board * ' ^^2* the ftiips. Has feen traders and canoe men fmoaking tobacco of their own growth. The African rice was confidered in the fhip he failed in much heartier food than the Caroline rice ; they put two crues of water, to one crue of Caroline rice j and three crues pf water, to one crue of the Afrcian rice. Has been at South Carolina, but never faw rice growing; but jnformed upon enquiry that it grew in fwampsj had W. Indies. J. A. Hall^ at leen rice grow in Africa, In a dry foil : has bought it 1790. on the windward coaft from the natives, who brought Part II. it on board in fmall canoes, (often with only one * — ^'— < man) had been often on fhore buying it in the Ihip's boats, and he does not recoUedt ever lofing any from the furf. Has feen the furf at Dominique and St. Kitt's, full as high as he ever faw it on the windward coatl. On the leeward coafi, he was in the rivers were there was no furf. The Europeans who trade for flaves in the bight of P. 524. Benin, buy great quantities of yams and eddoes from the people of Fcrnandipo, where he had often been from Del Rey and Calabar to buy yams, and always found them very ready to trade. The fliips from Old Calabar, Del Rey and the Cameroons, he believes all fend thither : has been 7 miles in the inland part of Fernandipo, and the yam and the eddoc plan- tations he always found in the highefl order, and much more fo than thofe of Calabar. The yams were much better than any he ever faw in the Weft-Indies. There is no Have trade carried on by the natives p -^-^ in Fernandipo, but fome of them have been taken off by the fhips and boats touching there. At Calabar and Del Rey the only people that he heard called flaves, were the canoe boys : has always feen the flaves treated there with great kindnefs and familiarity ; fo much fo as to be fometimes diiScult to diflinguilh mafler from flave. He beheves negroes to be as ingenious as Euro- peans, under the fame difadvantages, and as capable of all the virtues : he never faw them particularly indolent, when there was an opportunity of working to advantao;e. He quitted the flave trade from convidtion, that it was perfectly illegal, and founded in blood. He could often have had a fhip in that fervicc, which was then very lucrative for the mailers : was fecond mate P. 326a when aged 22. D d 2 Was 212 W. Indies. J. A. Hall. 1790. Was often on ihoreon the windward coaft in the Part II. river Calabar, not often at Del Rey. Was very ^— -V — ' often on (bore at Calabar, fometimes c^ or 4 times a day to bring on board flaves, palm oil, and other articles. Qviitted the trade from confcientious prin- ciples, and not to receive a legacy in the Weft Indies. Was firft offered the command of an African (hip in P. 527. Antigua, by Mr. Taylor in 1782-, and from iVlr. Cox in 1781 and 1782. P. 528. He faw at Calabar in the pofleffion of the king's two brothers, their depofitions taken at Briftol ; and of William Floyd, who was mare of one of the fliips when the tranfadion happened; he took no copy. The names of fome of the fhips there (i.e. 1 767 )at Calabar, ^vere the Duke of York, Beaven, of Liverpool ; the Edgar, Lace, of Liverpool ; the Indian Qiieen, Lewis, of Briftol; the Nancy, Maxwell, of Briftolj the Canterbury, Sparks, of London. Was told above 400 people from the old town came on board p -^Q the Ihips, and moft of them remained all night. Has ■ ' faid before the privy council that the Englifh were as well received after the tranfaftion, alluding to the time he went thither. Believes it not general in Guineamen to put the firft 8 or 10 negroes in irons ; but after that, every man is put in irons when he comes on board, and fo continued, unlefs in ficknefs, till they reached the Weft Indies. It was fo in his ftiip. Relieves the boats he faw going from Calabar (in vliich many then were armed) went to trade. Was tcld by Capt. Jeremiah Smith, that the voyage before, he (Capt. Hall) was with his brother, (which was in 1772) a Capt. Fox had taken off fomc people from the windward coaft. P. 532. Never knew a (hip fail away without giving notice. Believes the calamity of the feamen, mentioned in page 521, proceeded in general from the fcurvy, oftener to be found in African fhips than in any Others j having never feen a man, in any ftiip that he had W. Indies. J. A. Hall. atj had failed in, with the fcurvy in a great degree. As 1790. to having fcen people in Barbadocs, with that cala- Part 11. mity, that had not been in African (hips, has feen v^-v— -^ people labouring under the black fcurvy. Does not know whether the fcurvy produces the efFedt mea- tioned on the toes and legs, but believes it does. When on the windward coaft they were two fh'ips in company both voyages, and procured as much rice in addition to what they had, as they wanted. Has {een fields of rice. The moft diftant plantation from the fea he has feen, was from 3 to 4 miles- : the rice was carried to the (hips in bafkets on perfons heads : does not know whether he could have got rice to load a Ihip of 200 tons. Saw but little ivory p^ rj^, on the windward coaft, which was brought on board in canoes : believes on the leeward coaft they might have bought about 3 tons of ivory in each voyage, p^ e^^^r;. Has known a little bread given now and then to the fick J procured at tlie ifland of Annabona fome ■ cocoa-nuts and caflada flour, of which occafionally gave the flaves a little,— -and the fick flaves fome- times had a dram in the morning — confined his anfwers to his own ftiip. Suppofes the armed canoes, feen in Del Rey river, were equipped for the proteftion of thofe on board them, an'"" their goods ; but believes they would take • any opportunities that might offer of ieizing and carrying off any perfons whom they might be able ^ to furprize, page 558. At Calabar and Del Rey the flaves were always bought by the captain's ; on the windward coaft, they P* 53^ ■ are in a great meafure bought in boats by the mates. Thinks many Haves are killed, and of courfe that it is a bloody trade, founded his opinion on having heard fome traders fay the flaves were taken in war; and from fome of them in the W. Indicb- having told him they were kidnapt. Said before the privy council P. 537, he did not believe wars were entered into on the fea* coaft, to make flaves. Heard ±14- Africa. J. A. Hal^/ 1790. Heard that captains Fidler and Doyle, of LiVer-i Part li. pool, in 1775, were po.r.ncd •, but believes by the ^^ — «- — ^ New Town people. His Ihip lay abreaft of the Old Town, the people of which always behaved ^' 539' very well to his fli'p. Heard that the natives on the windward coall detained the officers of fhips a-fho t^ and extorted goods for their releafe, but never law one inftance. Heard that they atiemptd to feize and boarded his majefty's fhip Chefterfield,- capt. Barton, off cape Palmas. Has heard, but does not know^ that they attacked trading Ihallops and boats, murdered the creWj and plundered the goods on board them; and fuch actions may in fome inftances be the probable caufe of the cau&ion ftated, when they came on board our (hips. Brings P. 540. the journal of his fecond voyage. The evid,ence of his firft voyage was from memory, having loft his journal. Continued fecond mate till the fhip arrived at Dominique, and came home chief mate ; the fecond voyage he was fecond mate, and came home chief P r^i mate from Jamaica. His duty, as fecond mate, was * in the hold, when provifions and water were ro be ferved, or goods wanted for trade -, on every other occafion he deemed his duty on deck and in the boats neceflary. In the middle paffage to ferve out provifions and attend on the quarter deck and round- houfe when the flaves were meffing. The neccfTary duty confifts in overhauling the rigging, going on fhore according to the captain's diredlions, and any other requifite duty. When fent a-lhore it was his duty to bring on board fire- wood, and any thing elfe that was wanted. Had been fent to Fernandipo as officer of the boat to buy yams and eddoes. Never bought flaves, it not being the mate's duty, but the P* 542' captain's, at Del Rey and Calabar. Never flept on fhore in Africa. Was never abfent from the (hip more than 8 or 9 days at a time, when he trufted himfelf Africa. J. A. Hall. 215 himfelf with the natives ; and gained his information 1790. relating to the flave trade from the tradc-rs, who all Part II. fpeak Englidi. '^ — ^ — ' On the different parts of the windward coaft, ?• 54^* whe he had been, he landed with equal lafety as at St. Kitt's and Do:Diniqui, The furf does fometimes run very high on the windward coaft, and the fea, in fome places, breaks at fome diftance from the fhove; t)ut he always went on fhore without meeting with any accident to the people or boat ; and was there, he thinks, froir* i6 days to 3 weeks each voyage; not in the rainy feafon. Hfe anchored at a diliance, and went on fhore in a fniall boat on account of the furf. Had they had any bulky articles to take into the large boat they could have efFcdled it in the fame manner as at Dominique and St. Kitt s, which is by anchoring near the ihore, and having 2 fkids from p the boats ftern to the ihore, which is the way of taking off" fugar^; where there is a furf. Where they were on the windward coaft they could not have landed always, but believes they could have landed as often as not; and they obferve the fame precau- tions in landing at St. Kitt's and Domirviqueas up^m the windward coaft. At Dominique he has been in Rofeau bay ; and at St. Kitt'a Baffeterre. Thele ports are at the leeward of the iQand, but he had frequently known the fea breeze blow very ftrong in both thefe ports, fo as to do niifchief, and make landing difficult. The trade wind generally blows ^* 545* from E.N.E to E.S.E, and continues from April to July, at times in each of thok; months. When goods were to be ftiippcd on the windward coaft he never anchored in the large boat above 50 fathoms off" fliore ; and ufed the fame precautions at Dpmi- Xjique, about 30 teet diftance, bccaufe he had bulky articles to take in. Saw the fame precautions ufed P. 546. at St. Kitt's, and could have gone as near between (Cape Mefurado and cape Three Points. The 2i5 Africa. J. A. Hall. 1790. The ivory bought on the windward coaft, was alt Part II. fmall ; he bought each voyage about 5 tons of u-v - 1^ rice on the windward coaft, which was got in from 16 days to about 3 weeks. Another fliip, in company both voyages, bought about as much. 1 he rice is fometimes wet with fait water, when brought in the lictle canoe. Believes oftner dry, P» 547* It *-'^ reddifh, and is a very hearty food. Thinks exercifc necefifary for tlie flavcs health, in the middle pafl'age. He never knew the tlaves complain of being cold in the fliip he belonged to, which had grating, but no air- ports. Has often met with African (hips without air-porrs, but fmce he left the trade has feen more with air-ports coming to the Weft-Indies than without. JVIoft of thofe who died on board the Neptune were afble feamen, had no landfmen on board in one voyage, but the cooper, armourer, and car* penter's mate j and never an apprentice, but 2 p - boys each voyage. Thinks the Venus loft all her ' -^ ^' officers the firft voyage, except the chief mate and captain. At Annabona feme cocoa nuts and caf- iada flour were all the refrefhments they got. He iaw fomelive ftock, plantains and bananas brought along-fide his fliip ; the captain boughi fome of them for the cabin, but the fick flaves had no refrefhments of that fort. In that voyage they had a dyfentery, fo that the captain was afraid to give them plantaines and bananas j and they had no room on deck for fowl-coops, nor any where, except in one of the fmall boats, coops might have been lalhed on the Ihip's quarters, but were not. p. 550. It is very high land at Fernandipo, and much rain falls there in the rainy fea. The yams are much better than at Calabar, he thinks from the difference of the foil, and the people of Fernan-^ dipo, not having any (lave trade, give all their attention to cultivation. Ac Africa, J. A. Hall. 217 At Fernandipo in his 2d vovage, a boat of the 1790. | Venus, Smith, which had been fent there for yams Part II. S from Calabar, enticed a canof to come along fide *— '^>'— ' with about 10 men in her-, as foon as fhe got very near, the m^n fired inro her from the flnip's boat, on which they juinpcd over-b^ard ; fomc of them were wounded, one was taken out of the water, and &.td in lels than an hour in the boat ; z others were taken up unhurt, and carried to Cala- bar to the (hip. Captain Smith wasi. angry at the officer, and fent another officer in the boat to land the two men m the bay, whence they were takea. Immediately after the boat had brought off thefe two pcrfons, the witncfs wet;t into the bay in their ©Nvn long boat, and fending on ftiore two men to fill water, they were furrounded by tlie natives, who drove three fpears into one of the men, and vounded the other wiih a large ftick, in confe- quence of taking away the two men jufl men- tioned. Knows of no oiher inftance. It was faid ?• 55^^ thev had difputed with the people on fliore when tradinLiwith them for yams, bur they had not done any of the boat's crew any injury. Never was more than 2 miles from the fhip, except in the long boat to Farnandipo. When he fp.oke of 15 leagues up the river, faid the fhip lay at anchor thereabouts. He never faw any flaves in the country of Del Key and Calabar, except the women and canoe- men. Firll entered in:o the Well-India trade, as P. §§'*» commander of a vefTel from London in 1780 ; be- tween 1777 and 1780, was on board the Tartar privateer. As ro the property acquired on board a private fhip of war being a traffic founded in blood, ■ does not tnink himfelf competent to fpeak to it. The Tartar carried 34 guns, 230 men j he was firit lieutenant. Knows the furf to be lefs at Woodbridge's bay, P. 544. than at Rofeau, and has heard that to be the general E e place 2iS Africa. J. A. Hai-l. 1790. place where all Guineamen in particular brinof np Part II. on their arrival, and where they take on board their 4— V— » homeward bound cargo. The larore bents coire tq anchor at lo;re diftance from the Ihore at BaflVtcrre, ?• 555' St Kitt's, which is open to the fouth. Ha'; not feen much fug.ir taken off from St. Kitt's. Docs not know Half- moon bay. Is not competent to ipeak of the treatment of the flaves in Weft- Indies: wifhes 10 declme it : hasofteri heard that the furf at BaflTeterre i-^ ottrn f> high as to prevent the boats from taking off fugar for days together. When he faw the Benfon in the Weft-Indies, hp heard that flie had loft 3 1 pei fons. Has feen the ftaves in Africa eating with their mafters. Difputes were the caufes he generally heard affigned for the natives of Africa detaining the officers and crews of fhips' boats, and requiring a ranfom and retaliation. Rutter told him, that the king of the Old Town gave his daughter for a wife to the chief trader of the New Town, but the two king's brothers faid ftie was a favorite woman. F. iC'S. Capt. Smith was particularly attentive to the fick failors and flaves. He remembered an inftance of a woman being bought, with her child about fix weeks old ; the child was vci y crofs from fukncfi., and made much noife at night. The boatfwain wiftie4 much to throw it overboard, and folicited the captaia for permiiTion to do it, alledging it would not live, and, if it did, would fetch nothing -, which requefts the captain received wirh horror and deteftation. F, 559. It was always neceffary for the perfon to have a cat who attended the flaves, in meffin^:!, and taking their exercife ; they fometimes received a few ftrokcs when they refufed : he attended by the captain's order, b\it iiicd the cat at his difcretion, ' Remembers Africa. J. A. Hall. 21^ Remembers at Dominique they could not land with i 790. either of the fliip's boats for 48 hours. Part lit One of the captains at Calabar did not combine < '*-*^— -^ with the p(^ople of New Calabar, tofurprize the Old Town people i but knows not the captain's or Ihip'a name. Knew a (lave jump overboard in the river Del Rey, and another in Antigua* Witnefs examined Isaac Wilsonj Surgeon in his Majefty's navy^ made i voyage to Africa, in the Elizabeth of 370 tons, John Sniiihj from London, failed Joth May, 17 88, and returned 6th Dec. 1789, the crew and (laves were as well treated as in iany other fliip; took on board 602 flaves> v^~::o were p^ rg^, all confined, arid crowded between decks a: night, during the voyage ; (a few women excepted) when brought on board, a gloomy penfivenefs feemed to over call their countenance, and continued in a great many. I'hey loft in the voyage i§^ (laveSj of whom there wee, in his opinion, two-thirds ; the primary caufe of vvhofe death might be deemed melancholy ; the fymptons of their diibrders generally the fame, and he does not recoUefb ever to have cured any of them : Another reafon for beheving that their deaths might be afcribed to melancholy from their fituation was, that fome taken ill, who had not the melancholyj took medicines with very good effed* He heard them ^ fay, in their language, that they wilhed to die, and wa:: ' ^^* told by captain ijinith, the mortality of the (laves, was owing to their thinking fo much of their fituation. The flux prevailed in their fhip, which he conc^eivcd in • a great meafure owing to the fame caufe, and to their refufmg fuftenance, by which they became debilitated;, bur the (laves had no other very fatal diforder^ Has heard the flaves compl.iT of heat j the ill effeds v/hich £ e a refulted 220 Africa. I. Wilsom. 1 790. refulted from this, and their confinement, was weak- Part II. nefs, and fainting; which he believed had been the ' — ^ — ' caufe of the death of flaves, having fecn fome die a few minutes after being brought up, which proceeded from corrupted air, and heat, jointly. Has feen them go down apparently quite well at night, and found P. 564. dead in the morning They had an hofpital, but the fick flaves lay on the bare planks, which by the motion of the veffel, often caufed excoriations from the prominent parts of the body. The lofs of men was greater thari that of women. The men were generally kept in irons, the fickly excepted. Thinks this trade could not be purfued fiifely, if the men were not in general in irons. They attempted to rife on them at Bonny ; a few of them jumped over-board, and were picked up. The flaves on being brought P. ^6 J, on deck, are placed clofe to each other, and on each of their irons there is a ring, through which a chain is rolled, and fattened with ring-bolts to the deck, by a hook, in which fituation they are compelled to dance by the cat often. It is very common for the flaves to refufe fuftenance j with fuch, gentle means are ufed, but if without fuccefs, the cat is generally applied : Slaves appeared much crowded below. He generally took off his flioes before going down, and was very cautious how he walked, left he fliould tread on them. Three vefTels belonging to the fame houfe as their's, failed to the coaft for flaves. — Elizabeth, Wallis, and the Favourite, Bamfield, both of London ; and the , Elizabeth, Marflialk The Elizabeth^ Waliis, the firfl: ■*^' 50 D voyage bought about 450 flaves, and buried above 200 before her arrival in the river Plate, as he was told by the Commiffioner of the Royal Phillippine Com^pany of Spain. The Favourite bought 466 in Africa ; her mortality 73, and delivery 39^ in the river Plate, as he was told by her chief mate and furgeon. The Elizabeth, Marfliall, bought 546; mortality 158;, delivery 388, as told by Mr. Duflin. There were 2 or 3 in captain Marflmli's fliip in the fraall pox, when. Ihe Africa. L Wilson. ?2i fiie arrived in the river Plate ; and after delivery of the 1 790. cargoes of the 3 fliips, 220 (laves died by this diforder, Part II. which he knows, by being appointed, with th€ Spajiifh '•^ — ^— -^ furgeon, to take care of the negroes on fhore. His Ihip's company were a, 5 in all ; of which they loft 1 8, P« 5^7* viz. 1 6 by ficknefs, and 2 drowned. Of the crew of the Elizabeth, Marfhall, he was told by the furgeon, the mortality was 27, (a woman found means to get rope-yarn, the night preceding, which (lie tied to the head of the armourer's vice, then in the woman's room ; ihe faftened it round her neck, and in the morning was found dead, whence it appeared, fhe muft have ufed great exertions to accomplifh her end. A young woman alfo hanged herfelf, by tying rope-yarn 'to a batten, near her ufual fleeping place, and flipping ' off the platform ; the next morning llie was found : warm, and he ufed the proper means for her recovery> j but in vain. Among many cafes where force was neceflary to oblige the (laves to take food, he would relate that of a young man, who, he conceived, ftarved himfelf i he had not been veiy long on board before he perceived him get thin j they found he had not taken his food, and refiifed taking any ; mild means were ufed to divert him from his relokition ; they endeavoured to make him underftand that he fliould have any thing he wiflied for > but he ftill refufed to eat ; they then ufed the cat with as little fuccefs; he always kept his teeth fo faft, that it was impoQible to get any thing down; they endeavoured to introduce a fpeculum oris\ but the points were too obtufe to enter; and next tried a bolus knife without effed. In this ftate he was 4 or 5 days, when he ^ was brought up as dead, to be thrown overboard ; but he, agreeable to h'S general exprefs dirediuns, j was called and ufed endeavours to recover him. I' tho' in vain ; two days afterwards he was brought up in the fame ftate as before; he then feemed to * wifli to get up, they alTiftcd him and brought him aft 10 the (ire place, when in a feeble voice, in his own 222" Africa. J. Wilson' 1790. tongue, he afked for water, which was given him, j Part II. and he drank •, they began to have hopes of dinuadirg j ^— V — ^ him, but he again fhut his teeth as fait as ever, and refolved to die, which on the 9th day from his per- P. cSg.^^^"^^^^^ refufal, he did: has Icnown IlaVes jump overboard, he believes to drown themfeves -, could relate two inftances in their own (hip-, the firft, when | off Annabona, a flave on the fick lift, jumped over- board, and was picked up by the natives •, the fecond, when at fea •, the captain and officers, at dinner, heard the alarm of a iLive being overboard, and perceived him making every exertion to drown himfelf, by putting his head under water, and lifting his hands up, and thus went down, as if exulting that he got away, the pcrfon picked up in the former inltance, died foon after: the fhip is fitted up in a way to prevent fuch attempts, by high nettings round the quarter-deck, main deck and poop. A man who came on board apparently well, ihortly after looked melancholy ; a certain wildnefs appeared in his countenance} he began to eat his food voraciouQy, and fometimes as if infcnfible what it was, at other times refufed it entirely ; at length he became noify, and called out, *' armourer," who generally took the (laves out of irons when nece(rary : he at length died infane. An inltance on board, induced hin to believe they were as affeflionate as moft other people. Ac P. 6y:, Bonny, one of the people caled Breaches, of the higher clafs, was brought on board. He feemed to take his fituation to heart, and got illj but from indulgencies, which nont- of the reft had, he partly recovered. When he was convalefcent, a young woman, was alfo brought on board, who proved tO be his fitter. On their firft meeting, they ftood in filence, and Iboked at each other appatently with tiie greateft affcdlion ; — they ru(hed into each others arms — embraced — feparated themfelves again— and Africa. I. Wilson. «23 Ugain embraced. The witnefs perceived the tears to 1790. run clown the f-^males cheeks. The man had a Part II. return of his former complaint, and his fifler attended * v * him with the areatefl: care : the firft thino; fhe did of a morning, was to come to the witnefs, and afk how her brother did. — He at length died — on the news of which, the filler wept bitterly, tore her hair, and (hewed other figns of diftraftion. They carried her ^fe to Soudi America, and there delivered her. They generally found more females than males for fale on the coaO:, and the males he believed ibid at the higheft price. There were 80 Haves fick and pn recovery, when they arrived in the river Plate. He quirted the trade becaufe it did not perfeclly coincide with his ideas, and being obliged to ufe means tor the prefervation of the cargo contrary to his feelings, which was the frequent ufe of the cat p. 271. to o'-'lige tiiem to take their food-, and even in the a6l of chaftifement he has fecn the flavcs look up at him with a fmile, and, in their own language, fay, ** prefcntly we fhall be no more." There never was a man of greater fc-elin.vs, of more humanity, or who paid mote attention to the prcfervati n of the flaves for the fake of his emplovrrs, &c. than the capt. of their fhip. He never allowed any one to chaftile the flaves except himfelf and the furgeon. Has been told by the furgeon of the Elizabeth, Marfhall, that while they lay at the iQ.uidof St. Thomas, the Hero, Withers, was there, and had loft 159 flaves ot the fmall pox. in the river Bonny he was on board a Spanifh viirel, uncer American colours, the St. An- tonio. The cr-ptain had buried the iurgeon, and all the officers (the boatfwam excepted j and moll of the crew, he himftlf was taken ill, and begged the wit- nef'^ mi' ht attend him. Hedid fo, but he died soins: over the bar ; by which means a Spanifh gentleman (fupercargo of their fhip went down to this velTcl : finding Spanifh ]iapers on board, he put officers in J;er from their veflTil, and the two others which were there 224 Africa.. I. Wilson. 1 790. there in the fame employ. Before the death of capt. Part U. Daniel, ot the St. Antonio, he told the witnefs he u-x<— ^ came trom Carthagena in North America, went into feme port in Holland with the cargo, got goods there to buy flaves in Africa, and carry them to Cartha- gena or fome other Spanifh fettlcment, This infor- mation he defired him to give the Spanifh gentleman. Believes, far her fize, the faid Spanifh veflel fuf- fercd more lofs than any Englifh vetlel he ever knew. They bought the flaves at Bonny, which being an iQand, he believes they were brought from the inland country. Had three in the Elizabeth in the P. /574. medical line. He was head furgeon i is 25 years of age. Never took any on board, but what were appa- rently in good health-, and believes two or more males died to one female. T he Oaves oft com-' plakied of heat, and he was induced to believe they were dilTatisfied with their fituation, from their refufing food and end^eavouring to kill themfclves. p ^^^ Recolle(5ts fomething of the fhip being very near *^^''*cn fhcre in going out of harbour-, believes they were one day in that fituation, and the men fl^ives were kept below, but the womm were on deck at intervals he believes, and than their health was vifibly affefted, while they were kept below by the diftrcfs of the Ihip. Believes fixed melancholy to be one cauie of the lofs of Oaves , the fymptoms, lownefs of fpirits and defpondency : refufing nourifhment eri- . creafes them, the flomach gct?^ weak, fluxes enfue, and, from dcbi'itated flate, ioon carry them oft. The iliip hoifted Spanifli cobur.s after they left Africa, and were fomeway to the fouth of the line. He underrtood Meffrs. Firm in de Tallet and Co. "were the owners, and believes ti.ey were Britilh fub- jedls. The fliip came home under hngliOi colours, which he believes were hoirted fhortly after they left p. 577. the river Plate. Believes the two fbips in company with them were bound to Cadiz.' After it was fet- tled Africa. I. Wilson. ^25 tied that he fbould go with capt. Smith, he under- 1790. ftood they were to fail to Africa to take in flaves, Part II. and deliver them to commiffioners of the Philippine ^— >^"*^ Company of Spain at Montevided on the river Plate. They had a Spanifh fupercargo, furgcon, boatfwain, and mate in their fhip. The flaves attempting to rife, was a reafon for keeping; a ftrider guard over them than they otherwife fhould have done. Their (hip had proper gratings and air-ports, though the negroes complained of heat. He alfo heard the negroes complain of cold, and defire the air ports to be ihut, when they got near the mouth of the river Plate. They fometimes llationed a white man at night in the men's room. Has not heard melan- P* 579* cholic habit afcribed by medical men as a caufe of dyfentery. Believes the melancholy of the flaves was the reafon of their not eating, they became weak, and incapable of digefting their food ; the confe- quences were belly-ach, and a dyfentery generally enfued. Debility is olten the cnufe of indigefl:ion. This is his opinion. Melancholy or grief has been held by phyficians to produce a coftive habit. The dyfentery in their fliip, he believes, was in fome rr.eafure contagious. Debility of ftomach increafes themelarch >ly : are obliged to give medicines, which their weak Hate is fcarcely able to bear. Melancholy, therefore, the remote caufe of dyfentery. Africa. - Witncfs ex**. Alex Falconbridge Is a Surgeon, has been four voyages to Africa, in p. rgf, 3 of them ro \Ve(i: Indies, from 1780 or ijSf to 1787, firrt m the Tartar, Frazer, fccond and fourth tmilia, Frazer, third Alexander, Mc Ta^gart, was taken in firll voyage at C Mount, in the 2d w^nu to windward and Grain Coaft, in 3d and p o 4th to Bight of Benin, fuppofes SiavcTra.de chiofly ^ F ^ fupplied ^2$ Africa. Falconbridge. 1790. fupplied hv kidnapping and crimes; believes fo Part II. becaiife on feconci voyage at C. Mount, a man was » — » — ' broLight on board well known to Frazer and his officers, by name of Cape Mount- Jack, then fpoke a little Fnglifli, was very triftable and learned more. He laid he was invited one evening to drink with his neighbours. When about to de- part, two of them got up to feizc him ; would have ■ efcapcd, but was (lopped by a large dog ; faid this was a common pracftice in his country ; told his ilory (ifttn, (607) never varied. From his beha- viour thinks his veracity might be relied on ; was cntriilled by witnefs with various articles, of which he loil none, alfo bv the failors. Has fcen feveral dogs, large enough to hold a man at Cape Mount, on Windward CoaO. Tucker has i or z maftiffs. Africans there will always give a good price tor fuch dogs ; (^606) has feen many fmaU' ones at Bonny not large enough to hold a man: (ibid) was told by Cape-Mount- Jack this was a common praftice. (607) p. ^8^. In 3d vova2:e at Bonny, a woman was brought V on board big with child; afked her by the inter- preter how {he came to be fold -, laid that return-x ing from a vifir was feized, palfed through feveral hands before brought on board. Same voyage an elderly man brought on board faid, (thro' inter- preter) that he and his fon planting yams were icized by pri fefied kidnappers, by which he means perfons who make kidnapping their conllant practice. (604) (605) On lad V yage at Bonny, .faw a canoe came alono (i'je belonging to Blundell Foubre, a trader; .faw no ilavcb in tiie canoe ; two traders on boa'd handed up a fine flout fellow, defired he might be put in irons, which was direclly done, and he was paid for : witnefs enquiring whv he was fold, he faid tliat he came to Bonny to the Tra !er's houfe, who alked if he had ever leen alliip? reph'ing no i Africa. Falconbridge. '' 22; no; the Trader faid he woiil-l trear him with the iTQ-^. figlu, and he was fold ; was induced to be the more Paitll. curious about this man, frora his apnea'-irig amaz- c-v^,^ ed when brou{];ht on deck. Cannot tell v. he; her Frazer knew the man was tluis trepanned, but he was paid for on board the lliip. (62:) Capt. Gouhd of the Alert, told wirnefs he had take a man from little C. Mount. He was turricd* out of the brig Alert, perhaps for this. On laft voyaa;e landing fome flaves .t Grenada, one, when on fhore, converfed witli a Blick called Liverpool, captam of a (loop. W'itnels ailing the "• 5°4' fubjeft of conveifation, he (liid the flave knew his parents in Africa, and told him that being con- cerned in kidnapping fome ncighb^airs, their friends had kidnapped him, or caufcd it to he done, faid this was a common practice in his country: thinks he can depend on the aurhentcity of thefe inftances. Neither the flaves nor hiuifelf had any interefl: in mifreprefentation. Does not immediately recollect any others within his own knowledge-, has heard an hundred oihci ac- counts. In the fecond voyage, two black traders came in a canoe, and informed the Captain there was trade a little lov\ er down. The Caj^tain went there and finding no trade, faid he would not be n-,ade a fool, and detained one of the canoe-men In about two hours a very tine man was brought on board and fold, and the canoe-man was releafed. Was informed by a Black pilot that this man had committed no crime, but was furroundcd and feized on the beech, and brought on board. Is induced to think the people on the Grain Coaft are fomctimes carried off by the Europeans. They fhew great fufpicion when in (hips, always ftand as near the gangway as they can, and on the leaft alarm jump overboard. F f 2 Thinks 1 «28 Africa. Falconbridge, 1790. Thinks crimes are falicly imputed for the fake Partll. of felling the accufc.l. On the 2d voyage at R.' « — ■ ' Amb is, among the flaves. brought on board vva$ f •5^5?one who had the craw-craw, a kind ot itch. Was told by one of the failors, that this man was fifhing in the river, a king's officer called Mambooka, wanted brandy and otht-r goods in the boat, but having no flave to buy them with, accufed this man with extortion in the fale of his filh, and after* fome kind of trial on the beach, condemned him to be fold. Was told this by the boat's crew who were afhore when it happened, who told it as o: their own knowledge, (618) In lad voyage was aifured by the Rev. Mr. Philip QMaci^oo, chaplain to C. Egaitcaute, the greateft number of flaves were made by kid- napping. Has heard that the great men drefs up and em- ploy women to entice young men, that they may be convifted of aduke y and fold. Children were brought to the veffel to be fold ■ almoil every day. Never recollects their parents coming with them, or relations known to befuch. Does nof believe many flaves are prifoners of' war, as we underftand the word war. In Africa a piratical expedition for making flaves is termed P ^86 '^^^- Blundell Foubres before - mentioned, at * Bonny faid white men went to war like fools when they knew their enemies were prepared. They weiit in the night, fet lire to the town, and caught the "leople as they fled from the flames. Thi^^ Traocr laid this pradice was very common.608 Does not recolleft ever feeing a flave with q, frefh wound, has feen their wrifls and arms exco- jiated by the country ropes they were tied with. Has never heard of flaves being bred in Africa for fale. Believes violent means are ufed by Europeans to force trade for flaves. Heard the Captain of a Briftol Africa. Falconbridge. «29 Briftol fliip fay at Bonny when his traders were 1790. flack, he fired a gun into or over the town, to Part II. freflien their way. Capt. Vickers told this to him w-v— ^ and other people of the (hip. Has fecn no inftance of it himfelf '■609) Few gun^ kept in Africa for fhew ; has Cccdl great numbers lying in a heap with other goods ; always underftood they were for trade, particularly at Bonny. Many black people faid thefe ordinary trade guns kill more out of the butt than the muzzle. Five ro ten ^aves, more or lefs generally bought P. 587, every day, greateft numbers come from fairs. Large canoes, fome having a 3 or 4 pounder lalhed on their bows, go to the up-country, in 8 or 10 days return with great numbers of flaves ; heard once to the amount of 1200. The fliip that has been longeft in the river has firfl choice, and gene- rally fails in a few days. People in thefe canoes have generally cutlafles ; a quantity of mufquets is always in the canoes, cannot tell for what ufe. Slaves examined generally by the fiirgeon. All he has feen appear dcjeded when brought on board. P. 588. Some are fo the whole voyage, others till they die. Has known feveral refufe fuftenance with a defign to ftarve themfelves ; compulfion ufed in every (hip he has been in to induce flaves to take their food. Has known many inilances of their refufing to take medicines when fick, becaufe they wilh to die. A woman on board the Alexander, was de- jected, taken ill of a dyfenterv, and refufed both food and medicine. Being aiked by the interpreter what (he wanted, Ihe replied, nothing but to die — and Ihe did die. Many other flaves exprciled the fame. A great miftake in his evidence before the Privy Pouncil refpedling the> tonnage of the fhip he fail'd jn, being there flared twice the real fize, were as f^ear as he can guefs, from aoo to 250 tons. On iecond 230 Africa. Falconbridge. 1790. fecond vovage piirchafed about 300 flaves, and ParcII. lo(t between 30 and 40. In the Alexander, pur- « 1 chafed 380, loft 105 : In laft voyage, piirchafed l^'SS^. about 420, and loft 51 or cy.. When emploj'cd in ftowing flaves made the moft of the room and wedged them in, they had not fo much room as a man in his coffin either in length or breadth impoffible for them to turn or Ibitt with any degree of eafe, had often occafion to go from one fide of their rooms to the other always took off his ftioes, but could not avoid pinching them; has the marks on his feet where they bit and fcfatched him. In every voyage when the fhip was full they complained of heat and want of air. Confinement in this fituation fo injurious that has known them go down apparently in good health at night and found dead in the morning : On laft voyage opened a ftout man who fo died, found the contents of the thorax and abdomen healthy, con- cludes he died for want of frefh air ; thinks it poilible he might have died of an apoplexy, but thinks that was not the cafe in this inftance. (6iq) (626) The furgeon goes below the firft thing every morning, was never among them 10 minutes, but his ftiirt was wet as if dipt in water. The Alex- ander coming out of Bonny, got a-ground on the bar, was detained there 6 or 7 days, with a great fwell and heavy rain ; air ports obliged to be fhut and part of gratings on wcather-fide covered ; al- moft all the men flaves taken ill with the flux ^^ P. 590. ^^ft ^i"^^ ^'^ went down fo hot, he took ofl'hislliirt, more than 20 had fainted or were fainting, got feveral hauled on deck, 2 or 3 died, and moft of the reft, before they reached the W. Indies ; was down about 15 minutes, and made fo ill that could not gf t up without help, M'as taken of a dyfentery and difabled from doing duty the reft of th^ paffage. Africa. Falconbridge. 231 A place in every lliip for fick flaves, no accom- 1790. modations for them, lie on the bare planks, has Part II. (een frequently the prominent part of the bones of < — /— » the emaciated about diouldcr blade and knees, bare. If plaiiler or bandage applied they gene- rally remove them. Moil prevalent diforders in Negro-fhips are fevers and dylenteries ; confecjiiences of numbers being ill of the latter extremely noxious; cannot conceive any lituation {o dreadful and difgufting. In the Alexander, deck was covered with blood and mucus, rcfemblcd a (laughter - houle ; the ftench and foul air were intolerable, from being down a tliort time in the Alexander is peifwaded a night's confinement in tlat liiuation would have dcflroyed him (630) thinks as the tradefmcn (land many of thefe inconveniencics canno. be prevented. Never could recover a Have from a bad dylen- tery, thinks it cannot be done while the caufe re- mains, has known fome few flaves recover who P. 59'* feemcd not to reflect much on their fituation. Applies this obfervation to Ihip-board (625) prin- cipal caufes, a difeafed mind, fudden tranfitions from heat to cold, a putrid atmolphere, wallowing in their own exciemci.t, and being ihackled toge- ther ; men die in t-vice the number of women, who are not fliackled, believes no man would attempt to carry them wirhout Ihackling. Slaves ihackled together frequently quarri.1 ; believes in ail Have fliips ; In each appaitmcnt are 3 or 4 tubs, flaves at a diilance find it difficult to get over other flaves to them ; fomctimes if one wants, his com- panion rtfulcs to go; if relaxed, one exonerates, while dilputing over ihcir nciglibours, this caufes great diilurbante. In the Alexander, h^s known 2 or 3 iaftjnces of a dead and living flave found in the mc^rning Ihackled together. On laft vovag;;- purchaled iS male negroes, who were part of a carzo wiiich had role on the whites, killed 232 Africa. Falconbridge. 1790. killed all but 3 or 4, run the fjiip on fliorc ; mod Partll. were taken again. Has heard of infurreftions on K-or^ hoard the Vulture of Liverpool, and the Wafp of Brillol. Slave fhips arc fitted up with a view to prevent flaves jumping over- board, particularly at Bonny B thefe precautions there neceirary, ' Has known inftances of flaves jumping over- board. In the Alexander one forced his way thro* the netting when brought on board, and was drowned or devoured by the Iharks. Same voy- age, near 20 jumped overboard out of the Entcr- prize, Wiifon, as did a number out of a large Frenchman ; remembers mifiing a fick man in the Alexander, whom he faw over-night, mufl have got over-board. On laft voyage, a fine young woman brought on board, cried continually, re- fufcd her food, and wafled much in 3 or 4 days, was fent on (bore to Bonny for her recovery, foon P became chearful, but hearino; (he was to be fent "-'' again on board fliip, hung herfelf, as was informed by Billy Frazer. (She had not the venereal dif- eafe, would have known it if fhe had, 611) On firit voyage, h\v at Bonny, on board the Emilia, a woman chained on deck, who the chief mate faid was mad. On fecond voyage, had a woman on board whom they were forced to chain at certain times, in a lucid interval, was fold at Jamaica. Afcribes this infanity to their being torn from their connections and their country. While on the coaO, the irons of male fiaves examined as ihey come up in the morning, a laro;e chain is reeved throuo;h a ring; on the Ihac- kles of each, thro' ringbolts on deck and locked. They are made to jum.p in their irons ; this called dancing by Have-dealers, has been often P. eg 4. defired in every fliip to flog fuch as would not jump ; had generally a cat in his hand among the women : Africa. Falconbridge. 233 women ; the chief mate had alfo, he believes, a cat 1 790. among the men. Part II. Bcins; afked if in cafe of (hips flrikin^ or blow- ^-z— i ing up. Haves could be dif-engaged from fetters fo as to fvvim on fhore; fays every man looks firft to hh own fafcty. On fecond voyage, a fhip under imperial colours, Cape. Bell, was blown-up off river Galenas. Was informed by people of Galenas and cape Mount, moft of men flaves were drowned : had one woman on board their fiiip wlio had faved herfelf by fwimming, but much ]">urnt ; believes others were faved : Was informed the fliip was Englifh. Horfe-beans and rice principal food of flaves on Windward and Gold Coaft, at Bonny one meal of yams a dav, fometimes a little bread and beef. In the firll part of middle paflage each flave is P. 59^, allowed a pint and ^ of water daily, on approaching the iflands as much as they chufe ; has frequently known flaves call out for water in the night, owing to the heat of the rooms. Has heard flaves fing on board, the fubjedts always lamentations for lofs of country and friends. Had refufed flaves in every voyage, moft in the Alexander, 16 fold by auction, i or 2 as low as 5 dollars each ; was infornied by fome of the purchafcrs that they all died before they failed. The flaves in the Emilia and Alexander were fold by fcramble. The Emilia was darkened by tails, and covered round ; men flaves placed on main deck, women on quarterdeck. Purchafers p^^q^^ on Ihorc were informed by a gun when faic was opened. A great number with cards or tallies in their hands, infcribed with their names, came on board and rulhed thro' the barricado door with the ferocity of brutes ; fome had 3 or 4 handker- chiefs tied together to encircle thofe they thought fie tor their purpofe. At Grenada the women G g were i$4- Africa. Falconbridge, 1790. were fo terrified that fcvcral got out of the yard. Partll. and ran about the town as if mad. s^.-y^ In the (econd vovage, favv a fcramble on board the Trial, Macdonald, 40 or 50 Haves leaped into the Tea, believes were all taken up again. Were not divided in lots, but placed promlfcu- oufly ; the purchafers put cards or tallies about the necks of thofc they chute. The feparation of pa- rents from children, &c. verv little attended ro.— Frazer, however always advifed the planters never to part relations or friends. No precautions uled in the fcrambic to prevent it : flaves ufed to beg that fuch a friend or relation might be bought and fent with them. Has heard of a perfon's refufing to purchafe 3 man's wife, and was next day informed the man had hanged himfelf. P. 507, Did not always meet' with a ready market for {laves, particularly laft voyage ; ftopt fome time at Barbadoes, went thence to Tobago ; no demand there; thence to Grenada, and fold them on the Merchant's own terms for bills at very long dates. Bill for his own privilege (the Haves allowed the officeii. by the owners) was at 12 months. Was on iliore on all the W. India iflands he was at, except Tobago; ufed to think the general treatment of flaves very cruel. Saw a man in a goal at Jamaica, who had been fo feverely flogged as to have a fack of ftraw between his back and the board he lay on ; the lacerations were fliocking; ^ ^, did not inquire whether it was in confequence of a ■■' " legal fentence, or by his mafter's order Was told by the black gaol-keeper that the flaves he faw in prifon were runaways. (61 2) Saw great num- ■bers of flaves at Grenada ; hardly ever faw one ■whofe back had not fears. They often complain- ed to him (particularly the wharfingers) of being hard worked and poorly fed. Stamen Africa. Falconbridge. 13$ • Seamen in the African Slave Trade are treated 179^. with the greatell barbarity. Have no lodjjjing at all Fart II. except *in frigate-built fiiips, in which they may u.>^— .i creep under the forecaitle or af:-deck. There is a tarpauling over the booms ; always pvrfferrcd beino; in the rain to e;cccinfii; under it, on account of the noxious effluvia which continually rifes thro* the gratings. As foon as the ilaves were fold, the feamen re- p ^ ceived half that was due to them in currency. '^" In Frazer*s fliip they were well treated, allowed a dram in the morning, and grog in the evening; had vitfluals from his table when fick : he always inquired after them daily, allowed furgeon to give them wine when proper. Believes Frazer one of the bert men in the trade. Saw very different treatment in another ihip. Sailors were knocked with the firft thing that came to hand, for trifling or imaginary faults ; were tied up and flogged with the cat frequently. The boatfwain a quiet inoffenfive old man, having fome words with the mate was fevercly beat, had one or two teeth knocked out, faid he would jump overboard^ was tied to the rail of quarter-deck, and a pump-bolt put in his mouth as a gag; being untied was put under the aft-dcck and a centinel placed over him all night ; releafed next morning. Same voyage a black boy beat every day ; once after being beaten jumped thro' a cabin gun-port into the river, was picked up by a canoe ; witnefs gave him a fhirt, alkcd him if he did notexpeftto be devoared by the (harks ; faid he did, but that it was better to be killed at once than to be fo cruelly treated daily. Same voyage a man beaten feverely, never I heard the caufe. Heard one Sullivan a feaman grumbling, afked what he muttered about having ; been never ill ufed in the Ihip, Replied, '* If I am not, 1 cannot bear to fee my ihip-mates fo cruelly ufed," Same night the man who had been beaten G g 2 and 43^ Africa. Falconbridge. 1790. 2ind 10 others ran away in a long-boat, and Part II, intended going to Old Calabar, got into the wrong % — , — J river, were feized and dripped by the natives, and P. 599. marched to Old Calabar ; was informed that 2 or 3 died on the march, the remainder went on board the Lyon, Burrows : Had this information from one of them named Sermon, \rhom he faw in Briftol infirmary. The treatment was the fame during the whole voyage, Captain did not go again in this fliip or any other that he has heard of; does not know that he was Gifmifl;ed.(6i2) Made another fince with Frazer whofe behaviour was as before defcribed. Every man in the Alex- ander was beat except himfelf, the chief mate and Sullivan. Has mentioned the barbarous treatment of failors on board that iliip to Mr. Frazer, and many others in Briftol, and to Mr. Norris ofi' Liverpool. On laft voyage to Bonny, was told by the King and black men on Ihore, that the fteward of the. Vulture then in the river, had been cruelly treated, chained in a boat along fide the fliip, and found dead in the morning ; has had this account con- firmed by two failor-s named Ormond and Murray, at Liverpool, both belonging to the Vulture. P. 6oo, In the fecond voyage had 42 or 43 perfons alto- gether on board, buried 3. In the Alexander had 50 and buried 9. In the laft, had 44 or 45, and buried 3. Is an inaccuracy in his evidence in the Privy Council Report relative to the lofs of feamen. lii laft voyage ftopt at Mefurado, and aflail'd, cam.e on board, and faid moft of their crew were dead. Does not recollect the Ihip's name ; was told ftie belonged to Mr. Barber. Was a pupil 12 months in the Briftol Infirmary, a great many feamen were brought there ; greateft number of the difeafed were Guinea feamen, the others were generally for accideints. The Guinea f?amei> Africa. Falconbridge. 237 feamen generally went out better than they came 1 790. in, but thinks their health fo far deflroyed as never Part II. to be perfeftly reftored. v— v-*fc-» The produdions obferved on the coaft of Africa were cotton, wax, ivory, gold, a variety of woods, different kinds of fpices, wild cinnamon, all the Tropical fruits, the bell rice in the world, tobacco, and many other articles. The largert quantity of unmanufadlured cotton he faw 011 the coafl was about 4 or 5 pounds. (614) Rice is cultivated all over the country, has feen p y- it with his glafs, plantations of rice on very high ground, particularly at Cape Mount. In fecond voyage faw the people at work on a plantation belonging to a black man called Tucker, at Manna, between Cap^ iMount and tlie river Galenas. Never faw or heard of a driver there, they feemed to work with great willingncfs and fecming fatisfa6tion. Thcfe were all men, (605) never faw women at work in Africa out of doors (ibid.) This the only plantation he was on in Africa. (606) Tucker was born at Sherbro', fpoke exceeding good Englifli.f6o6) In fame voyage purchafcd about 40 or 50 tons of rice at Junk. This the largeft quantity he faw; believes might have loaded the fhip at Jur-k and Cape Mefurado ; the natives of thofe places faid they had plenty, does not fpeak with preci- fion as to the quantity, has no journal to produce of the fliip's tranfad:ions.(6i9) Never heard of any (6ia.) being loft in the furf ; believes it was not at a time when the furf was very high ; it was the rainy fea- fon ; has landed at Cape Coaft in a canoe belong- ing to the Caftle 3 puncheons of goods and a hogf- head of tobacco ; loft no bulky articles in attempt- ing to land them ; thinks he has feen as great a furf (619.) at St. Chriftopher's as he ever did on the coaft of Has *35 Africa. Falconbridge. 1790. Has bought feveral pieces of cotton cloth mad* Partll. by the natives at river Galenas and Bonny,' 608) «— % — the cotton grew in the country, has feme dyed by the natives with a beautiful and permanent blue. Never law the indigo or cotton grow in Africa,not having been far up the country. ('60S) Has feen many trinkets made in metal by the Africans on the coafl ; has been furprifed to fee fome of the work in iron, particularly fpears and cutlaffes. Is convinced their capacities are equal to thofe of Europeans. The natives of Windward and Gold Coafl much p ^ better tempered than thofe of Bonny ; their difpo- • "^3* fitions very good. Was landed fick at St. Thomas's, and would have died, but for the care of a black man there, to whom when better he offered money — which he refufed, faying, he had done no more than his duty. The Africans in general attached to their native coimtry ; areas much attached to their near rela- tions as the natives of other countries. At Cape Coafl Caflle, on chufmg 1 8 flaves he objedled to one who was meagre, obferved him to weep, which he endeavoured to conceal, on inqui- ry found it was becaufe he was to be parted from his brother, this induced witnefs to take him. Is perfuaded the natives would work if proper- ly encouraged by Europeans (613) they have no- tions of performing contrafts in a given time. The rice before mentioned was contracted for, and he thinks, part of the money paid, it was ready at the time, natives appear to have a turn for conducing trade. Believes, fome of the natives now employ- ed in the flave trade, if that were abolifhed would cultivate the foil. Billy Frazer before mentioned, faid at Bonny w'hen they had no trade they were forced to plant yams. Thinks the females more prolific than thofe of other countries; oat of 4 or 5 deliveries on fhip- board two had twins. Never Africa. Falconbridge. 239 Never faw any perfon in Africa when by their 1 790. treatment he knew to be llaves ; has been told by Partll. the perfons themfelves they were flaves. \.^y— j As to the caufe of quitting his employment as furgeon of a Guinea-man, anfwered, that in his I ft and 2nd voyages reflected little on the jiiftice of the trade. On the laft reflefted more, and tlie more he did the more he was co;;vinced that it is an unnatural, iniquitous and villainous t ade, and could not reconcile it to his conlcience. Could have continued his employment he be- lieves with Captain Frazer, was afterwards folici- tecj repeatedly to go to the gold coaft by Capi.un Thomfon. If Clarkfon applied for employment for him at Liverpool, it was without his knowledge (613) Was on the fhore many times at Augola, faw P. 60S. numbers of people at the river Ambris with beads and crucifixes about their necks, they appeared to be Roman Catholics; Mangova one of the King's Officers told hi. a they were priefts in the Country. Always underftood (hips cannot begin to trade P>oo5). without leave of the King, thinks if Kin^^ r.°fufed, that firing a gun intj or over the town would force a trade; dalhcs are given to keep the King in temper, trade might be carried on by Englifh and French without the King's confcnt if they chofe at all times in their power Co batter his town about his ears in Bonny River. Slaves atBonny purchafed with iron bars, brandy, india and mancheller cotton, cloths, guns, gun- powder, brafs pans beads, and other articles. Never faw or heard of gold dull at Bonny. If ftated otherwife in report of Privy Council, their miilake and not his. Gold an article of ex- change on gold coaft. The care and cleanlinefs of negroes generally at- p,6io» tended to by the mate>. In Frazer's Ihit s mates always Caufed the flaves rooms to be wafned and dried 240 Africa. Falconbridge. Partll. dried with fire pans. In many (hips this not per- lyqo. mitted; but they fcrape the filth off the deck : ufed u ' ^ to attend to the cleanlinefs of the negroes, has often vTaOied them with a fponge and warm water from bead to foot. Believes the mate is refponfible for the cleanlinefs of the men. The furgeon and his mate for that of the women. The cafe thus divi- ded in the fhips he was in. In the Alexander having a flnx himfelf during the whole middle paf- fage, cannot fay how the Haves were managed. From the number who had the flux on that voyage, the apartments very difagrecable, the difcharge being involuntary, impoffible to keep them com- fortable. Believes the apartments generally kept as clean as the nature of the diforder permits, un- lefs as often happens greatefl parts of the whites are ill. P. 61 1 . Conjedures fome flaves come from a diftance, all he has talked to by means of interpreters faid were flolen J does not recoiled any conf elTed they wert fold for crimes, apprehends if crhninals were not purchafed by the fhips they would be fee to work in their own country. P. 613. Europeans have always power to get what they pleafe done by holding out their commodities. Blacks at Bonny always v/ooded and watered the fiiips on being paid. Thinks the manners of the Africans may be changed by means of trade with" this country. Is going to try the experiment. P. 614. Does not underfland Portuguefe. Traders at . St .Thomas's all fpeak Englilh enough to be under- flood, converfed with the men who took notice of him there in corrupt Englifh. Has been on board a French African lliip at Bonny, officers faid a good quantity of wine given to the Haves every day, • when on board Englifli fliips, but not enough. Offered voluntarily to give the Rev. Mr. Clarkfon, at Briflol, all affiftance and information in his power. Knows not that Mr. C; has any church preferment. Africa. Falconbridge. 241 preferment, has employed hinil'elf in gaining in- 1790. to 11 tion aDoLit the fl.ive iriu'.c, went with him .'aitll. from Brillol to Liverpool in (1787) or (1788) < — -— » relieves his travelling cxpences we. e p/id by the P. 616. committc in I ondoii, is out of pocket, fotnt more than he received, was at Liverpool 8 or 9 weeks, returned trom thence to Britlol. hhs fince gene- rally refided v/ith his fuher in Rrillol. to whom is considerably in debt. His emoluments when he quilted the trade nca.ly the iame as when he en- tered into it, Captain Thomplon in i787otrered liini any thmg in rcafon to go with him. Cannot converfe in the African lan;z;aages ; the p 5.- knowledge he has obtahicd of their laws and cuf- * '* toms, has been from perfons em(doyed in the fhip as inierpretcr^, vNatermen, or pilots: At Bonny talked with the King, Blundel Foubie, a prin- cipal trader, down to the canoe boys. On wind- waid coall has talked wich iome of the firfl men. As Tucker anu Robin Gray, King of cape Mount, but not on the manner of making Haves, they not troubling thendelves on that head. Never pro- felVcd to know theliiftory of the windward coall ; believes the natives are little acquainted with any thing out of their own towns : Has been oficn on fliore on die windward coa't. Believes the King at Bonny never does any thing of cor.fecpicnce without confulting the parliament men; l^i"''->^^'S p ^^, not how far their power extends ; believes a book ' ^ which was produced is Capt. Frazer's journal or trade book. Cannot fpeak with certainty as to the quantity of the rice, or the time in which it was [hipped ; was always on board the fhip while the rice was taking in. There was no apparent difficulty in getting this quantity (630 Vth inks the time agreed wis 6 weeks, if wrong, not fo inten- tionally. Rice was brought along-fide in a canoe in bafket'^ ; has feen fmall quantifies brought on board in boxes or old liquor-cafes: Never v\eigh- Hh ed 242 Africa. Falconbridge. - 1 790. ed a bafket. When Frazer made the agreement Partll. with Jofe Will, heard the word tons mentioned *— /— ^ feveral times ; knows not whether 20 hundred weight was meant, underftood it fo, but does not pretend to be accurate, fpeaks from conjedure, (fee 631) Extradt from Capt. Frazer's journal, by which it appears that from Sept. 19 to 06t. n;, 1783, Jofe Will, King Will and Jof. Weft had feveral articles, to pay 240 baikets of rice in 40 days, and left a girl as fecurity. Tom Wilfon had fundries, p. 622.^^ pay 120 bafkets rice, left one of his people as pawn. Jofe Campbell had fundries, to pay 45 bafkets rice, left a boy in pawn. Robin Campbell had fimdries, to pay 140 crews rice, left a man in pawn. Robin Gray had fundries, to pay 120 crews rice. Sold fundries in barter for about 60 cwt. ricp and other articles ; total 405 bafkets, P. 623. 260 crews, and 60 cwt. rice, and that from No. 5 to 10. Received all the rice, &c. and difcharged the pawns ; but Frazer, put down all the rice he bought at Junk-witnefs to purchafe rice at dif- ferent places on the grain coaft, of which he be- lieves no account was taken. (631) Does not recollcft that the rice was damaged in its pafTage from the fhore to the fhip, or by the furf. Believes it was often wett«4 by the rain, •which is violent at times. Believes Allan and Campbell were Guinea-fac- tors, who fold the flaves in Jamaica, in the voy- age of 1783 and 4. An account of fales exhibited figned by thofe gentlemen, and inferted page 637, 638, 639, and 640. Never faw at any one time on the coaft in Africa a fufficient quantity of rice, cotton or indigo to load a vefTel of 200 tons ; but does not know what there may be inland ; was fcarce a mile from the fea. Remembers to have flept a-ftiore at Bonny once or twice. Never I Africa. Falconbridge. 243 Never knew Frazer refufe any likely good fe- 1790. male ilaves ; knows little of the African laws ; Partll. underftood from the natives that kidnapping was ' — . — » an avowed pradlice, i. e. a very common pradiice. P. 625. Believes all the captains on the trade would pur- chafe flaves, knowing them to be kidnapped. Has been at Grenada and Jamaica, and touched at St. Chriftopher's, but was not on fliore, (landing "'"^^^ off and on at St. Kitt's, law as he thought a great furf, boats feemed to have fome difficulty in get- ^ ting thro' it; thinks he has feen the furf on the '• windward coafl: of Africa as high as that in the road of Bafleterre. Never a Have flogged in the Britilh lilands ; faw one who had been feverely flogged ; did not cn- !• quire by whofe authority it was done. Never faw a foldier flogged, has feen a failor; p. 628^ never heard of a foldier dying in confequence of flogging. Has been informed flaves are flogged on the back in Grenada. Is going to induce the Africans to cultivate their country, and raife fuch articles as will fell in this country in exchange for our manufa<5lures — the plan not yet entirely fettled — has no fortune ex- pe(5ts to be paid by his employers. The Commit- tee for the abolition of the Slave Trade not con- cerned ; two or three members are fubfcribers. ^ .029- Slaves fo crouded in all his voyages as not to have more room to lie on than a man in his coflin, told the privy council that the lliip on the fecond voyage was not much crouded becaufe they ! had not the fame number as in the laft. Has not heard that the Europeans go up the j country to the places from whence the flaves are J brought, their information on the manner in which flaves are made is from the black traders and pur- P. 630. chafed negroes. Has every reafon to believe from the concurrent teftimony of others that the pradlice offiring villages for the purpofe of making flaves does really exiil, H h 2 On t44 Africa. Falconbridge. 1790. On board the Alexander the l^lack cook having Pa II. one day broken a plate had a fiHi-gig darted at him, • * — s^ — . wiiich would have den:royed him if he had not *■ '^3^' (looped or dropped down. The carpenter's mate having let his pitch-pot catch fire, he and the cook %vere both tied up, fliipp'd and ilog;i;'d, the cook with greatell feveri^y, and had fait water and Cavenne pepper rubbed on his back. A man who came on board in a convalefcent ilate, being fe- verely beaten f r he knows not what caufe, alked the witnefs for fomething*to rub his back with, was ordered by the captain not to give him any thing ; the man went and lay under the forecanie ; Vifited him often when he complained of his bruifes ; had a return of his flux, and died in 3 • j weeks from the time he was beaten ; his lall words* A P.0J2. i^vere, "I cannot punifh him (the captain' but God will" — The boiling over of rhe pitch pot at- tended with danger, was the faulr of the carpen- ter's mate, not of the cook, wlio deferved no pu- nifhrntnt for it. Attends by defire of the committee for the abo- lition of flave trade, it is at their option to ajve him ] any tng or not, but having attended on their bU" fmel cxpecfts toliave his expences paid. Witnefs examined — Captain Amhrosie Lace. J^-^JS* I^a" hcL'Ti in the African trade-, was at Old Calab-;r, in 17^7, captain of tne Kdgar. Nine Fnghrti ihips vvrie then theje, ail in the African Trade. To end a dilpute which had fubfifted fo^ie time between the people of the Old and New Town, both p;irties agreed to meet on Ihip-board. Whc: hid there, in 1748, there were no inhabi- tants at Old i • wn. Some time after difputes arofc be ween th^ ft: now called Old Town pcoj^ie and Nc ' 1 own pcoL-k. WtT( I 245 Africa, Lace. 1790. Were not invited on board inndloufly, to be made Partll. flaves. The ch:ef people of Old Town came on w^v/-^ board the Edgar-, the duke (chief man of Old Town) was to have met them. Came on board ac P. 624. haif paft 7 in the morning. About 8 witnefs was going to breakfatl with a man calling himfclf king of Old Town, 4 of whofe large canoes were along fide-, cannot tell where the others were-, was jult pouring out coFTee when he heard a firing-, king laid Imo, a brother of his, was firing. Went on deck with the king, and was told his gunner was killed. King went into his canoe, left his fon with witnefs on board. Firing laded 10 or 15 minutes, but cannot be certain. T he cances were th'i'n mod of them got a ftern of his (hip, within 300 or 400 yards. Had not time to make obfervations of the two parties-, wanted to defend himfelf; was no further molerted -, the canoes were gone. The fmall arms are always loaden i they were locked up i the cheft was broke open i key afterwards found in the gun- ner's pocket. None of his people concerned in the affray -, no guns, great or fmall, or even a piltol, fired P-^jS* from his foip -, nor, that he knows, from any oiher. The kmg killed no one on board his fhip, nor was the k.ng, that he knows, on board any other. No Haves were made on the occafion. Wen: to Old Calabar the beginning of July, failed fi; ft week in December-, cannot exaflly ftate when this happened, Nev' r heard the Englifli entered into this bufinefj with an improper view -, they reaped no benefit from it; it was a;:.tinii the trade. Knows of no conful- tation of the Englilh captains about this difference. Never Itopt to windward but twice. Rice crews hold from 2 to 3 g-^Uons ; differ in different parts of the coalt ; largeil he f w three g.dlons. Breakfalled w,th the .Rev. Mr. Clarklon and I'. 636. j4j-^ Rathboiie at Mr. Ciuffers's, Liverpool. Mr. Clarklon Africa, Lace* 246 Clarkfon afked him fome queftions about the pro- 1790. duce of Africa. The Calabar bufinefs was men- Partll. tioned. Told Mr. Chaffers (who afked him) he «— v-~# could not tell how many blacks were killed that day; that his fliip was fired into, his gunner killed, and that he did not know whether they did not mean to facrifice him. Gave no advice to any of the captains at that time. Knows not who killed his gunner ; it mud have been done from fome of the canoes at a diflance : thinks fom the New Town people, becaufe the Old Town people were along fide his Ihip. FINIS. vlv?,-;