PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Uuke University 
 
 Kare Dooks 
 
George Washington Flowers 
 Memorial Collection 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE 
 FAMILY OF 
 
 COLONEL FLOWERS 
 
 Kk 
 
Number IIL 
 
 ABRIDGMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MINUTES OF THi> EVIDENCE, 
 
 TAKEN BEFORE A 
 
 COMMI'rrEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE, 
 
 TO WHOM IT WAS REFERRED TO CONSIDER OF THE 
 
 SLAVE-TRADE, 
 
 1790. 
 
ABRIDGMENT 
 
 OF THE mP^ 
 
 MINUTES OF THE EVIDENCE, 
 
 TAKEN BEFORE A 
 
 Select Committee of the Whole House, 
 
 TO WHOM IT WAS REFERRED TO CONSIDER OF THE 
 
 SLAVE-TRADE, 1790. 
 Number III. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Captain Wilson. 
 
 Was between five and fix months in Africa, be- 1790. 
 tween Cape Blanco and the River Gambia, in 1783 Part II. 
 and 1784, as commander of the fhip Racchorfe, and »-'v*-» 
 refided chiefly at Goree, where he learnt how flaves^* ?• 
 were generally procured for the trade, as matter of"* 4» 
 publick notoriety, from frequent converfations with 
 many refpe6lable inhabitants, themfelves traders in 
 flaves, (p. 13.) who fpoke the French, Englifli, and 
 negro languages; and who were frequently at his 
 table. 
 
 Slaves are principally procured for the flave-tradc 
 by inteftine wars; kings breaking up villages; crimes, 
 or imputed crimes; and kidnapping. 
 
 Villages are broken up by the kmg's troops fur- 
 rounding [hem in the night, and feizing fuch of the 
 
 Numb. 3. A inhabitants 
 
 f^^Qj^Qr; 
 
2 Africa. Wilson. 
 
 1790. inhabitants as fuit their purpofe. This pradice moll 
 
 Part II. common when there is no war with another ftate. 
 *— -v-^ It is univerfally acknowledged, and he firmly be- 
 
 ^' S' lieves, that free perfons are fold for real or imputed 
 crim.es, for the benefit of their judges. 
 
 Soon after his arrival at Goree, the king of Damel 
 fent a free man to him for fale, and was to have the 
 price himfelf. A king's guard being afl^ed whether 
 the man was guilty of the crime imputed to him, 
 anfwered, that was of no confequence, or ever in- 
 quired into. Captain W. returned the man. 
 
 P» o. Kidnapping was acknowledged by all he converfed 
 
 with to be generally prevalent. It is the firft prin- 
 ciple of the natives, the principle of felf-preferva- 
 tion, fp. 17.) who never go unarmed while a flave- 
 veflcl is on the coafti and on being afl<.ed the reafon, 
 alledge their fears. A courier of Captain Lacy, his 
 predeceffor, though a Moor, aMuflulman, a free man, 
 a native of Senegal, fpoke the French language 
 fluently, and had difpatches in his pocket on his 
 Britannick Majefty's fervice, (for particulars fee the 
 
 P* ?• Mmutes) was kidnapped, fold to a French veflel, 
 and his releafe with difficulty obtained by the wit- 
 nefs. The French captain endangered the man's 
 life by his inhumanity. 
 
 P. 8. Never heard of flaves being bred for fale. 
 
 Never heard of the pradice of eating human flefh 
 in Africa, and is morally certain" that it did not exift 
 on the part of the coaft where he was. 
 
 Was informed, that the governments near Goree 
 were abfolute, but more or Itfs fo according to the 
 ftrength of the princes. King's dues feem to be 
 
 P. 9. vtrv regularly coiledcd in every village : they were 
 always paid by the fhip commanded by witnefs, and 
 he doubts not are required from others. Has heard 
 that when payment has been refufed, boats and men 
 have been feized, (p. 17.) 
 
 Fully believes Airicans to be equal to Furopeans 
 in capacity. Ihey have Various manufaciurcs, 
 chiefly for home confumption, They make cotton 
 
 cloths 
 
Africa. Wilson. 5 
 
 cloths beautifully fine, under every want of machi- 1790. 
 nery ; alfo very curious ornaments of gold, and Part II. 
 weapons, and tools of iron, which their experience ^^.^-vo 
 makes them prefer to thofe fent from hence, which P- 141 • 
 are made for them. On this account, unmanufac- 
 tured iron is preferred by them in their barter with 
 us. They have fevcral manufactures in cane and P. 10. 
 leather. They fupplied the fliips and Goree with 
 every thing they could raife, produce, or with Tift ty 
 catch, and entirely found them with provifions. 
 Perceived no indifpofition to labour or commerce in 
 the Africans. 
 
 According to his experience, the Africans are 
 grateful and affeftionate. They treated hun moft 
 kindly when many miles up their country, and un- 
 protefled, and numbers fhed tears on his departure. 
 
 The natives dare not explore Africa during the 
 continuance of the flave-trade, which fubjefts them to 
 the rifk of being kidnapped. 
 
 Has boarded (lave-fhips when a midfhipman — theP- 'i» 
 ^ench intolerable — fuch a llench proceeded from two 
 (he believes French) which anchored to windward of 
 his fliip, that he ordered them to leeward for fear of 
 infciflion, and alfo ordered that no part of their 
 crews (hould be futtered to board her. 
 
 Believes the flave-fliips are not a fource of fupplyP. 12, 
 to the Royal navy. He never would recruit his (hip 
 from them, even when (hort of his compliment, to 
 which he attributes not having loft a man wnile on 
 the coaft, out of a crew of about 100. The Guinea 
 failors, who offered themfelves to him, befides their 
 cadaverous looks, were the moft filthy vagabonds he 
 ever faw. Rather than take into his (hip feven men 
 who were wrecked in a Guinea man, he fed them on 
 fhore, and fent them home in fome tranfports. 
 
 When he prefided in a court at Goree, aMarabooP. 13, 
 fwore, with an energy which evinced the truth of his 
 evidence, that his brother, another Maraboo, had 
 been kidnapped in the ad of drinking, facred by 
 their religion, at the inftigation of a former gover- 
 
 A 2 nor^ 
 
 
 494SG 
 
4 Africa.^ Wilson. 
 
 1790. nor, who had taken a diflike to him: and two or 
 
 Part II. more flaves being ofFered for his releafc, declared 
 ♦-n^"*"* that he would not liberate him for any confideration. 
 This was a matter notorious at Goree. 
 
 The natives would enter a king's fhip on her 
 arrival off any part of the coafl:, and traverfe her 
 with as much cafe and confidence as if they had 
 been on fhore, but he never faw a canoe board a 
 flave-fhip, and concludes this arole from the reafon- 
 able fears of the Africans. 
 
 P. 14. The flaves employed by the Africans live with their 
 maftersj and are fo treated as fcarcely to be diflin- 
 guifhable from them. 
 
 Guinea lailors frequently applied to be taken by 
 witnefs, and do not feem attached to their fhips as 
 in other trades. 
 
 Has been in mod of the Weft India iflands, in 
 1762, 1781, and 1782. The new-imported flaves 
 appeared dejefted, and very different from thofe in 
 Africa. The country flaves appeared more dejeded, 
 and bore ftronger marks of flavery than the town 
 
 •P- 15* flaves, many of whom (the domeftic ones) were fat 
 and faucy. A great proportion of the flaves were 
 indelibly marked with the lafh. Has feen runaways 
 working in clogs and pothooks. Has relieved ne- 
 groes placed by the road-fide, in the moft abjed 
 ftate, and from inquiries on the fpot, fully believes, 
 that, being unfit for labour, they are turned off by 
 their mafters to fubfift on charity. It was generally 
 underftood, that where planters refided, the flaves 
 were better treated than when under overfeers. Heard 
 from refpedtablr merchants at Kingfton, that im- 
 porting flaves was preferable to breeding them, but 
 does not know tiie general opinion of the refident 
 planters. So far from the flaves appearing as happy as 
 
 P, 16. the lower orders in Britain, &c. he never faw any figns 
 of happinefs among the imported flaves, except at 
 their funerals, when they fliew extravagant joy from 
 a perfuafion that the deceafed is eicaped from flavery 
 
 to 
 
Africa. Wilson. ^ 
 
 to his native country. In Africa their funerals are 1790. 
 attended with the naoft mournful cries. Part II. 
 
 Has been great part of his life in America, and »— -\r^ 
 always thought the flaves better treated and clothed, 
 more domeftic and happv, marriages among them 
 more frequent, and fewer imported in proportion 
 than in the Weft India iflinds. 
 
 Has feen fome branded with letters, which he 
 thought were not made in Africa, but thefe were 
 not common. 
 
 Has U)ng entertained a moft decided opinion 
 againft the juftice and humanity of tiie flive-trade. 
 
 In 1762 he was a miltliipman, in 1781, 17S2, aP. 17. 
 firft lieutenant in the navy. Never refided on fhore 
 or lodged on afugar-plantation, but made his obfer- 
 vations wherever he occafionally vifited. Was fre-P, 18, 
 quently on fliore at fcveial plantations in 1781, i 782, 
 ■where he was a few days at Antigua, and five or Cix 
 months at Jamaica. 
 
 Witnefs examined Wadstrom. 
 
 Mr. Wadftrom is a native of Sweden, and the P. 18. 
 Chief Director of the Aifay Office there. Was in 
 Africa near 3 months, in i 787, 1788, (p. 37) with Dr. P. 19. 
 Spanrman, engaged by the King of Sweden to make 
 difcoveries. The department allotted to witnefs was 
 mineralogy, antiquities, and what regards the ftate 
 of mati. They had the protection of the Senegal P. 20. 
 Company, obtained through the French miniiltr, at 
 the requeft of the Swedifh AmbalFador, as appears 
 from let'.ers produced. 
 
 Witnefs vifitcd the coaft from Senegal almofl top. 21, 
 Gambia, thofe parts being then in the hands of the 
 French. Was on fho'e at different times feveral 
 days, and once or twice feven or eight days, and was 
 up the river Joal. He mavle it his bufinefs to obtain 
 information, and could always converfe with the 
 
 natives 
 
6 Africa. Wadstrom. 
 
 1790. natives by means of the Englifli, French, and Dutch 
 
 Part II. languages, which are generally fpoken by the chief 
 
 >-y^ negroes. He ofFered to produce a journal kept at 
 
 Jr. 22. j}^^ time, in which the fa6ls he fhould deliver in 
 
 evidence were noted down. 
 
 He thinks he knows perfectly how flaves are ob- 
 tained, between Senegal and Gambia, viz. by the ge- 
 neral pillage, robbery by individuals, ftratagem, or 
 deceit. 
 
 The general pillage is executed by the king's 
 troops, armed and on horfeback, who feize the un- 
 wary. Parties were fent out for this purpofe by 
 king Barbeffin almoft every day during the week. 
 He was at Joal, accompanying one of thofe embaf- 
 fies, which the French Governor ufed to fend every 
 year, with prefents to the black kings, to keep up the 
 P. 23. commerce. It is cuftomary for the king to make a 
 return for thefe prefents, by a gift of flaves j and 
 though unwilling to pillage, he was excited to it by 
 means of a conftant intoxication, kept up by the 
 French and Mulattoes of the embafly, who generally 
 agreed every morning on taking this method to effeft 
 their purpofe. When fober, he always exprefled a 
 reludlance to harrafs his people; thought it hard 
 that he fliould be obliged continually to do foj 
 complained that the inhabitants of Goree, continually 
 coming under pretence of trade, took occafion to 
 make himi infignificant prefents, which he neither 
 liked nor wilhed for : that they then came upon him 
 with long accounts, debts faid to be due, and pre- 
 tenfions without end: that the Governor of Goree 
 P, 24. living among them lifl:ened too readily to their tales 
 and complaints, and thought little of the fufFerings 
 of the negroes i and that he muft have been impofed 
 upon to fuffer his name to be ufed on fuch occafions. 
 This fpeech was interpreted on the fpot, and put in 
 a journal by witnefs, who alfo heard the king hold 
 the fame language on different days, and yet he after- 
 wards ordered the pillage to be executed. Witnefs 
 has no doubt but that he alfo pillages in other parts 
 
 of 
 
Africa. Wadstrom. 7 
 
 of his dominions, fince it is the cuftom of the Mu- 1790. 
 Jatto merchants (as both they and the French officers Part II. 
 de^-lare) when they want flaves, to go to the kings, «— v-«*i 
 and excite them to pillages, which are ufually prac- 
 tifed in all that part of the coaft. 
 
 King of Salliim praflifes the pillage. Witnefs 
 faw 27 flaves from Sallum, 23 of whom were wo- 
 men and children, thus taken. Was told by captains P. 25, 
 and merchants that this was the ufual pracftice. 
 
 Was told by merchants at Goree, that the king of 
 Damel pradifes the pillage. 
 
 Robbery, in which individuals feize on each other, P. 25, 
 was a general way of taking fingle flaves. Mentions?. 26, 
 a woman whom he faw in the Captiveries, and a 
 boy, who belonged to a French officer. The latter 
 was taken in the interior part above C.ipe Ronge by 
 ftealth from his parents, and declared that fuch rob- 
 beries are very frequent in his country. The former 
 was taken at Rutifque, from her huiband and chil- 
 dren. The cliildren are themfelves articles of mer- 
 chandize, if not fo far from the Ihore as to be inca- 
 pable of walking to it. Could ftate feveral inllances 
 of this robbery : very often faw negroes thus taken 
 brought to Goree. Ganna of Dacard was a noted 
 man-ft:ealer, and employed as fuch by the flave 
 merchants at Goree. Witnefs was very near being 
 in danger of being taken by this man to the king of 
 Damel, then at war with the French, who would 
 have demanded a high ranfom for his releafe ; he 
 having agreed to travel to Senegal with Ganna, buc 
 the great Maruboo of the village cautioned him to 
 beware, and on his return to Goree, he was congra- 
 tulated Oil his efcape by fevL^ra] of the inhabitants. 
 
 As inflances of fl:ratagem being a way of obtain- 
 ing flaves, witnefs mentions a negro whom he faw 
 broug'it fiom Dacard, whtre he was on a vifit. A 
 French merchant taking a fancy to him, perfuaded 
 the village to frize him. He was taken from hisP. ^7. 
 \vife, who wiflied to accompany him, but the mer- 
 chant liad not merchandize enough to buy both. 
 
 The 
 
S Africa.' Wadstrom. 
 
 1790. The village agreed with the merchant about his 
 Part II. price. Witnefs faw him at Goree on the day of his 
 »--v-««-' arrival, chained, and lying on the ground, exceed- 
 ingly diftrefTed. The king of Sallum prevailed on 
 a woman to come into his kingdom, and fell him 
 fome millet. On her arrival, he feized and fold her 
 to a French officer, with whom witnefs faw this 
 woman every day during his flay at Goree. 
 
 Was on the if'and of St. Louis in the Senegal, and 
 on the Continent near the river. 
 
 All the flaves fold at Senegal are brought down 
 the river, except thofe taken by the robbery of the 
 Moors in the neighbourhood, which is fometimes 
 condufled by large parties in what are called petty- 
 wars. Thefe wars are promoted by prefents given 
 to the Moorifh kings regularly every year by the 
 Senegal Company, to engage them to procure as 
 P. 28. many negroes as poffible, and to prevent gum-arabic 
 from being carried to the Englilh at Portandick. 
 "Witnefs heard this from the inhabitants and French 
 officers at Senegal, and from the Moors, even in the 
 prefence of the Diredlor of the Company. 
 
 King Dalmanny having been brought up as a 
 Grand MaraDoo, prohibited ftrong liquors, and alfo 
 the flave- trade, fo as not even to fuffisr the paffage 
 P. 29. of flaves through his dominions ; nor would he re- 
 ceive fome valuable prefents fent by the Company, 
 to induce him to alter his refolution. Witnefs was 
 Ihewn the prefents by the Diredor, on their return. 
 The king's dominions, including both fides of the 
 Senegal, his prohibition flopped the whole trade 
 with Galam, and prevented the Company from re- 
 ceiving 800 flaves, which they had purchafed there. 
 In order to obtain their compliment of flaves they 
 had recourfe to their ufual method on fimilar occa- 
 iions, bribing the Moors, and fupplying them with 
 arms and ammunition, to feize king Dalmanny's 
 fubjedls. By January 12th, 1788, when witnefs 
 arrived at Senegal, 50 were tiken, whom the king 
 4elired to ranfom, but they were already fcnt to 
 
 Cayenne. 
 
Africa. Wadstrom. 9 
 
 Cayenne. Some were brought in every day after- 1790. 
 Vy'aid.Sj and put in the Company's flave-hole, in a Pare II. 
 miferable (late, the greater part being very much -/"V-vv 
 wounded by fabres and balls. TheDire6lor condudled "• 3^» 
 the vvitnefs thither, with Dr. Spaarman, whom he 
 conkilted as a medical man in their behalf. Witnefs 
 jDarticularly remembers one, lying in his blood, 
 which flowed from a v/ound made by a ball in his 
 Ihoulder. 
 
 Mentions an inftance of a flave-taker beino; him- 
 felf taken. 
 
 Though the Company, for many reafons, feldom 
 purchafed Moors, being now prelTed for flaves, to 
 fulfill their agreement, according to their charter 
 with Government, they took all of whatever qua- 
 lity. This witnefs heard from theDiredor, and im- 
 mediately noted it down in his journal. 
 
 Was told by the French officers, that European?. 31. 
 fliips, particularly Dutch and Englifh, frequently 
 carry off natives, by treachery, from the coaft. 
 
 Was informed at Goree, by Captain Wignie, from 
 Rochclle, who was juft arrived from the Gambia, 
 that a little before his departure from that river, 
 three Englifh vefifels were cut off by the natives, 
 owing to the captiin of one of them, who had his 
 cargo, being tempted by a fair wind to fail away 
 with feveral of the free negroes, then drinking with 
 the crew. Soon afterwards the wind changed, and 
 he was driven back, feized, and killed, with all his 
 crew, and two other vellels. Witnefs has by acci- 
 dent met with the infurer of two of thefc veilels, ia 
 London, who confirmed the above fafts. 
 
 Witnefs has very often feen the merchants defraud 
 the negroes in their dealings with them. There are 
 many methods of deceiving the negroes in almoft 
 every article. 
 
 Thinks the negroes underftandings capable ofP. 32, 
 equal improvement with whites. 
 
 Thinks the Africans very honeft and hofpitable ; 
 
 often pilfed days and nights alone with them, with- 
 
 Numb. J. B out 
 
10 Africa. W a d s t r o m. 
 
 ^79^' out the lead fear, and was treated with all civility 
 rart 11. ^j^^j kindnefs ; he never was deceived by them. 
 '"^'y'''^ Is clearly convinced, that the negroes furpafs fuch 
 Europeans as he has known, in affedion, and are ca- 
 pable of being foon brought into the (late of focieiy 
 enjoyed by Europeans. 
 
 Has been furprifed at their induftry in manufac- 
 turing cotton, indigo, iron, foap, wood, pottery, 
 leather, and other articles. They work gold fo well, 
 that witnefs never faw better wrought trinkets and. 
 ornaments in Europe. They manufafture cloth and 
 leather with uncommon neatnefs. The latter they 
 tan and work into faddles, fandals, and a variety 
 P. 32. of ufeful and ornamental articles. The former they 
 P. 23. ^ye blue, yellow, brown and orange. The blue is 
 produced from indigo. The indigo grows abun- 
 dantly all over the country, fo as to fpoil their ground 
 for millet and rice plantations ; and equal, in the 
 opinion of merchants, &c. who have been in Ame- 
 rica, to the beft in Carolina. The yellow and brown 
 dyes are produced from vegetable productions no- 
 ticed by Dr. Spaarman. Witnefs has in his collec- 
 tion, a kind of bean ufed in dying, and carried in 
 quantities on camels to Morocco. The whole army 
 of the king of Damel, is clothed in cloth dyed 
 orange, and brown. They forge iron ver/ dexte- 
 roufly, on anvils of a remarkably hard and heavy 
 wood, when they cannot get ftone for the purpofe. 
 
 Witnefs offered to (hew fpecimens of the produc- 
 tions of Africa, raw and manufactured, which he had 
 brought with him. 
 P. 3;. The canoes are generally made by negroes near 
 the (hore; but wood of a fufEciently cl )ie texture 
 being feldom found there •, rhis is brought without 
 being hollowed, ^rom the interior parrs, being drawn 
 by a great number of negroes (for weeks togeihcr) 
 each village generally undertaking to drag ic to the 
 next, and receiving in return, partly European nier- 
 chandife, and partly fi(h and fait. Salr is preparrd 
 from fea-water by the negroes. The ropes ure made 
 
 of 
 
Africa. Wadstrom. if 
 
 of a kind of aloe, and when well made, are exceed- 1790. 
 ingly ftrong, this aloe grows abundantly on the Part II. 
 coaft. v/>/-^ 
 
 The Africans have an extraordinary genius for 
 commerce and induftry, fully equal to the fupply of 
 their wants. They would extend their cultivation P. jr, 
 and manufadlures, if in fome degree civilized (which 
 it would be eafy to efFcil, were not the flave trade 
 the only means of commerce ; and it would be 
 greatly promoted by European fcttlers not going thi- 
 ther as at prefent, with the fole view of making a 
 fortune (hortly, and then returning home) and if the 
 flave trade did not occupy the minds of the natives, 
 who are continually incited, and the merchants to 
 engage in it, and have no encouragement to culti- 
 vate their country. 
 
 Slaves are kept by the natives at Goree and Sene- 
 gal, but fcarcely any on the continent. They are 
 very well treated, and never fold, left there (hould be 
 an infurreftion among their fellow flaves. Even the 
 French officers at Goree and Senegal, generally ob- 
 ferve the rule of not felling them, very ftridlly. 
 
 The ifland of Goree is fupplied by free negroes 
 with provifions, from the continent. 
 
 Rice of an excellent quality, with a brownifh hLifk,p. ^^, 
 but very white kernel, is cultivated in great quan-p. -36, 
 tities, fouth of Sallum, as far as Gambia, and efpe- 
 cially at the River Caramanfaj but there is but lit- 
 tle north of Sallum. Witnefs has feen many fmall 
 vefTels and boats, loaded with it, for the fupply not 
 only of Goree and Senegal, but of the fliipping 
 there ; has famples of it. 
 
 Doflor Spaarman declared, he found a great part, 
 if not the whole, of the materia medica in Africa, 
 and drugs for various manufadluring ufes. 
 
 The flave trade makes it dangerous for the ne- 
 groes to pafs from one part of their country to ano- 
 ther, and is the chief hindrance to the improvement 
 of their cultivation, fince they never venture into 
 the fields, unlefs very well armed. 
 
 B 2 The 
 
12 Africa; Wadstrom. 
 
 1790. The negroes print their cotton cloths with wood- 
 Part li.enftamps; has patterns of cloths fo printed. 
 S^'V^-' He refided in all about three weeks on the conti- 
 nent. At Joal he was his greatefl diftance from the 
 fhore, about fix miles. When there, he went to 
 feveral villages, Dacard, Bain, &cc. When on fhore, 
 he vifited the interior, as far as he could in one or 
 two days Cas his time permitted) and at Dacard and 
 Bain he was quite alone for feveral days, and went 
 with the negroes five or fix miles up the country. 
 He was about a week at Senegal, and went fome- 
 times to the continent. 
 p^ ng. His evidence is the refult of obfervation and in- 
 formation on the fpot, except as to the names of the 
 vefTels and their captains, which were cut off in the 
 Gambia; particulars which he learnt in England. 
 
 Kidnapping is not allowed by the laws in Africa, 
 but it can fcarcely be difcovered by the kings, and 
 he never heard of an inftancc of its being puniflied -, 
 if difcovered it would be punifhed, he believes, and 
 particularly if fome European trader were prefent at 
 the trial. He was prefent at atrial for fome offence 
 at Joal, when the king was incited to condemn by 
 the Mulattoes of Goree, who wifhed to purchafe the 
 man when convidted; but the king acquitted him. 
 
 There are fome flaves by birth on the coaft, par- 
 ticularly at Sallum, but few higher up the coaft j and 
 on the continent oppofite Goree, very few. The 
 wealth of great men is not eftimated from the num- 
 ber of flaves they poffef,, but at Sallum from the 
 filver and European merchandize -, and higher up 
 the coaft, from the quantity of millet, and of their 
 P. 39. cattle, camels and horfes. The king of Solium ge- 
 nerally takes filver for his flaves, and generally kid- 
 naps his neighbours ; but higher up the coaft, the 
 kings kidnap their own fubjefts. 
 
 Was informed by the mulattoes at Goree, that 
 I2CO flaves were procured at Joal, but he believes 
 the real number is not fo great. He was informed 
 that more than looQ flaves were procured at Senegal. 
 
 The 
 
Africa. Wadstrom. 13 
 
 The manufadbures fpeclfied are cariicd on from 1700. 
 Senegal down to Goree. The negroes are particu- p„t t H. 
 larly ll-^ilful in Hnanufacluring iron and gold. Thcyv— y—.! 
 probably derived their arc, with regard to the latter, p^ og^ 
 from the Moors, but now are thenmelves the artills^p^ .q^ 
 witnefs feeing but one Moor work in that branch. 
 They are equal to any European gOidlniith in fiila- 
 gree, and even other articles, as buckles, except the 
 chafes, tongues, and anchors. The bell maiiufac- 
 ture of cotton cloths is at Sallum, which is probably 
 chiefly owing to the goodnefs of the cotton, this be- 
 coming better and better lower down tiie coaft. 
 "Wltnefs has famplcs manufa(5lured from tne principal 
 parts of the coall where he was. 
 
 The Maraboos in fome parts deal in (laves, but 
 generally not. They fupport theml'elves in the fame 
 way as other negroes. 
 
 The French excite not only petty wars, but man- P. 45. 
 flealing, in order to obtain flaves. Witnefs has heard 
 that the EngliQi and Dutch frequently do fo. The 
 Engliili pofTefl'ed the coaft he vifited, prt-viouHy top. aa^ 
 its belonging to the French. He never heard that 
 the pradices he has mentioned in his evidence, were 
 newly introduced. 
 
 As far as he knows, all the fabres on the coaft areF. 43. 
 from Europe. 
 
 Except working in gold, the Moors are known 
 for no induflry, except feizing on negroes, and col- 
 lecting gum arabtc. 
 
 At Joal the king has a certain intereft in the trade, 
 but no particular taxes ; king Darnel has fome taxes, 
 but no regular fyftem of taxation : what rhey receive 
 is in cattle and millet, which they fell in great quan- 
 tities at Goree. 
 
 Never heard of any inftance of the king's fending 
 out p irties to eiiforce the pavment of taxes in arrear. 
 
 At Sallum the trade in flaves is almoil entirely in 
 the hands of the king. At Sin the king has the 
 
 principal 
 
14 Africa, Wadstrom.' 
 
 1790. principal fhare, but fufFers his fubjefls to trade alfo. 
 Pare II. King Darnel has no prerogative in this trade. 
 ^^-'^~\^'^ Was told by two French captains, and French 
 *• 44« merchant, that the French Guinea fliips are provided 
 with poifon, with which they may deftroy their ne- 
 groes, if fubjefled to a calm, Ihort provifions, or 
 contagious ficlcnefs ; and captain Le Loup inftanced 
 a veflcl from Breft, the commander of which was 
 obliged to poifon his Qaves, in a paflage of two or 
 three months ; but 20 reaching the Cape out of a 
 cargo of 500. 
 
 Witnefs Examined — George Rooke. 
 
 P. 45. Was at Goree from May 6th to Auguft i6th, 
 
 1779- 
 Never faw the pillage executed by the king of 
 
 Darnel on his villages, or wounded people brought 
 from thence -, he always underltood that when he 
 wanted flaves for fale, he made war to procure them, 
 and does not know whether this war was of the na- 
 ture of a marauding expedition or not. 
 
 He knew that kidnapping took place in the neigh- 
 p .g bourhood of Goree. It was fpoken of as a common 
 praftice. It was reckoned difgraceful there, but 
 cannot fpeak as to the opinion on the continent. As 
 inftances of kidnapping, he remembers two or three 
 negroes being brought to Goree, but he could not 
 difcover by whom. At their requeft he immediately 
 fent them back. 
 P. 46, ^^ was propofed to him by three captains of Eng- 
 47, 48. li^ ^^ve fhips lying under the fort of Goree to kid- 
 nap 100 or 150 men, women, and children, the king 
 of Damel's fubjefts, (fome of whom were Maraboos) 
 who came to Goree in confequence of the friendly 
 intercourfe between him and Damel. He refufed, 
 and was much Ihocked by the propofition. They 
 
 faid 
 
Africa. Rooke 15 
 
 faid fuch things had been done by a former governor, 1790. 
 but the chief Maraboo at Rufifque did not recoiled Part II. 
 any fuch event. ^ *— >r«^ 
 
 As to the natives being fraudulently taken off, P. 46. 
 recolleds being informed by a Maraboo, that four or 
 five of the king of Damel's fubjeds were on board a 
 merch.iHt Ihip. He had them brought on fhore, and 
 fcnt to the king. The captain faid in excufe, that 
 they came on board drunk, and that he meant to 
 fend them afhore. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Robert Norris, Efq. 
 
 Says, that the evidence delivered by him before P. 50. 
 the Privy Council (m their Report to the Houfe of 
 Commons) is, he thinks, to the bed of his recollec- 
 tion, a correft account of the information he tlien 
 gave : cannot fpeak with precifion, but fuppofes that 
 the printed account of the evidence delivered by him 
 at the bar of the Houfe of Commons, on the Bill 
 for regulating the tranfportation of Slaves, is a cor- 
 rect ftatement of the information he then gave. 
 
 Had feveral interviews with the Rev. Mr. Clark P. 5i« 
 fon at Liverpool, latter part of 1787, who exprelTing 
 a wilh to have the llave-trade abolilhed, told him of 
 fome part of his plan i which was, to encourage by 
 bounties a trade with Africa for its natural produce ; 
 and to fubjed vefleis in the flave- trade to a licenfe 
 tax, from which to defray the faid bounty : alfo 
 fpoke of making a fettlement on the coaft, and thinks 
 that he (Mr. Norris) propofed Caramanfa river, as 
 a proper place : that flave fhips fhould be reftriclcd 
 from bringing home Well India produce was alfo 
 a part of Mr. Clarkfon's plan ; of which he has now 
 given the iubftance. Believe.^ he faid in reply, that 
 confining flave -fhips entirely to the flave - trade,P- 5-* 
 v/OLild give greater latitude to ihips trading in Afri- 
 can produce. Thinks he could not fuppofe the plan 
 
 propofed 
 
t6 No 
 
 R R I S. 
 
 1790. propofed, could abolifh the flave-trade, but encou- 
 Parc II. rage a trade in the produ6lions of the country. Mr, 
 0*^^ Clarklbn appeared to have two objects, viz. to con- 
 firm his good opinion of the trade for the natural 
 products of Africa, and to difcover the abufes in the 
 flave-trade. He difcovered an anxious folicitude to 
 effe(^ the abolition of the flave-trade, but Mr. N. 
 could not conceive that he could accompliih it, and 
 it was not an immediate but a gradual abolition 
 which he und.rftood him as aiming at j for he re- 
 colledls, that he (Mr. C.) wifhed him to get a parti- 
 cular friend (Mr. Falconbridge) recommended to the 
 command of a flave Ihip. 
 
 Underftood abolition of the flave-trade to be the 
 avowed object of Mr. C. but by a gradual operation. 
 Really does not recoiled; what he then thought the 
 propolitions from that gentleman would effeft *, pre- 
 fumes he thought they tended to a gradual abolition. 
 P. ^^. He gave his opinion of them at the time to Mr. C. 
 who is, he dares fay, more able than himfelf, at this 
 diilance of time, to recolleft what he ftated his im- 
 preflions to be ; but as well as he recolleds, it was, 
 that they tended to a gradual abolition ; and he gave 
 him every information that he poflefled frankly on 
 this fubje6l, Mr. C. will, he da'-es fay, do him the 
 juftice to fay, he heard him with temper ; and though 
 he could not think an immediate abolition pradi- 
 cable or politick, yet he withheld no advice on the 
 fubjedt from him. 
 
 He did exprefs his concurrence with Mr. C. in his 
 objed as Itaced of gradual abolition, and itill enter- 
 tains the fame opinion, that the flave-trade will gra- 
 dually come to the abolition he wiilied for. 
 
 As to the propofitions above alluded to, believes 
 he fuggefted one or them himfelf, and the others he 
 thougnt conducive to the end propoled. 
 
 He could approve of no abolition of the flave- 
 trade that was not compatible with the fituation of 
 the Weft India iflands j and when the neceiui-es of 
 planters there no longer required the a^d of labourers 
 
 from 
 
 ( 
 
N O R R I S. 17 
 
 from Africa, he has always reckoned that the trade 1790. 
 will ceafe of itfelf. Part II. 
 
 Is not cafuift enong-h to decide on the merits or *-'v*»-» 
 demerits of the flave-trade on any other ground, 
 than that of political and commercial necefiity. 
 
 Previous to the period referred to, he had formed P. 54. 
 his own private opinion ; which was, that the fubjedts 
 of that trade are in general more happily fituated in 
 the colonies, than at home j and when conduced with 
 propriety, thinks it confident with his notions of hu- 
 manity : conceived the necelTities of the Well India 
 iflands ought to prefcrihe the continuance of the 
 flave-trade; for, he confidered flavery as a conditio;! 
 of mankind in every age, and in every country ; and 
 whiht the neceiiitics of the Weft India iflands require 
 a fupply of African flaves (convinced that their ftate 
 there, is in general as happy as it was at home) and 
 whilft thofe necefiitics exill, he does not difcover that 
 the caufe of humanity is violated by continuing that 
 trade. 
 
 Did not think the nectflities of the Weft Indies 
 fhould prefcribe the extent to which the flave trade 
 fhould be carried on, as well as the continuance of 
 it; for, whilft the colonies of other ftates require a 
 fimilar fupply (which they would endeavour to get 
 for themfelves) as a commercial man he confiders we 
 iliould relinquifti an important fliare of our com- 
 merce, were we to regulate it by the necelTities of the 
 Britifli colonies alone. Declares, he does not recoi- 
 led whether any thing pafted in his intercourfe with 
 Mr. C. at Liverpool, about preventing our Ihips 
 from fupplying fettlements of foreign powers with 
 flaves ; but if there did, is perfuaded that Mr. C. 
 can inform the Committee, but lb far as his memory 
 ferves, believes they had no converfation on that 
 point. 
 
 Keally does not recollc^l:, whether Mr. C. made 
 at the time, any minutes of what paflfed in the con- 
 verfation. 
 
 Numb. 3. C As 
 
l8 N O R R I s, 
 
 1790. As to the neceflities of the colonies for flavcs, prc- 
 Part II. fumes his opinion then was the fame as now ; that the 
 
 «-^sr*»j iflands want a fiipply of 10 or 12,000 annually, and 
 P' S5' as to the time fuch fupply may be wanted, it was then 
 as impoflible for him to define it as now. As to the 
 flave trade being carried on for the purpofe only of 
 keeping up the (laves then in the iflands, he cannot 
 recoUedl his opinion, in a converfation that he has 
 almoft entirely forgotten •, but it is his opinion, that 
 along with what is wanted to keep up the ftock, an 
 additional ftrength of labourers is requifite to extend 
 the cultivation of the iflands. 
 
 Was informed by Mr. C. that he had been at Brif- 
 tol, to coUedl what he could, relative to the abufes 
 faid to have been committed in the flave-trade, with 
 a view of bringing thofe officers and mafl:ers tojufl:ice 
 who had treated their feamen harflily. 
 
 Underftood the objeft of his journey was, to re- 
 drefs the injuries faid to be fuftained by individuals, 
 and gave him credit for the attempt ; but does not 
 recollecb his mentioning any other objeft of his in- 
 quiry there than to difcover what violences had been 
 committed by the officers againfl: the feamen. 
 
 Underilood he had the fame objeft in view at 
 Liverpool, together with his plan for an eftablifli- 
 ment in Africa, and gradual abolition of the flave- 
 trade. 
 
 P. £6. Conceived the redrefs of the injuries fijffered by 
 feamen, to be his immediate obje6t, the other parts 
 of his plan he conceived to be a more diftant con- 
 fideration, as they could not be eftefted immediately. 
 Is not competent to anfwer what was his main 
 objeft. 
 
 The converfation before alluded to with Mr. C. 
 was at Liverpool in 1787, probably at his own houfe. 
 Vv^as not before acquainted with Mr. C. had fcen his 
 book on the Commerce of the Human Species. Mr. 
 C was introduced to him by a Mr Rathbone, a 
 merchant, as defirous of fome information refpcding 
 the African flave-trade, in which he (Mr. N.) had 
 
 been 
 
N O R R I S. 19 
 
 been long engaged: he replied that he would give 1790. 
 him what information he knew, and fliew him a ma- Part II. 
 nufcript refpeding Africa. «— v-^ 
 
 Does not rccolleft if it was then mentioned that"* 57* 
 Mr. C. was purfuing the object of an abolition of the 
 trade. Believes there was then no mention made of 
 the Society inftituted in London for that purpofe, ei- 
 ther by Mr. Rathbone or any other of the party. 
 Does not recoUeft, whether the interview, in which 
 the proportions for the gradual abolition of the 
 flave-trade were difcuffed, was by appointment or 
 not. 
 
 As to being fuppofed, from what he faid before, 
 to concur with Mr. C. in his defign and wifh for the 
 abolition of the flave-trade, or only to declare his 
 opinion that the propoficions if adopted would tend 
 to that effefl. Says, that Mr. C. being introduced 
 to him by a friend whom he refpeded, he wifhed to 
 treat him with courtefy. He found him ftrongly 
 imprcffed with the accomplilhing of a particular 
 objedt. Courtefy to a ftranger induced him to ac- 
 quiefce in, rather than difcufs the merits of the quef- 
 tion, and it was his opinion that the propofitions if 
 adopted, would tend to that effeifb. At that time he 
 had no idea of ever feeing Mr. C. again, nor could he 
 intereft himfelf either in the abolition of the flave- 
 trade, or the emancipation of the negroes in the 
 Weft Indies, which was alio one of his propofitions ; 
 but the redrefs of abufes of feamen was an objed that 
 he defired as earneftly as Mr. C. 
 
 He acquiefced as well from complaifance to aP. 5S. 
 ftranger, as from a convi<ftion which he Hill enter- 
 tains, that a day will come when the flave-trade will 
 ceafe. Could not but approve of Mr. C's. pailan- 
 thropy, though he doubts of the policy of reducing 
 his principles to pradtice ; if he was to point at any 
 thing reprehenfible in Mr. C's. condudl, it is the 
 abufmg a private converfation, in the manner he 
 fulpefls he has done, by making him ftanJ here to 
 fuftain an examination upon it nearly three years 
 
 C 2 after 
 
20 N R R 1 S. 
 
 179 T. after it pafledj he little expefted ever to have heard 
 
 Part II. any future mention of it. 
 
 »— -r^o Could not but condemn the meafure if carried on 
 with precipitation, as ruinous to the commerce of 
 this country, and to the cultivation of the iflands; 
 but at fame time courtefy to a fliranger, whom he 
 never expeded to fee again, prevented him from de- 
 bating the merits or demerits of the meafure. 
 
 As to whether he underftood Mr. C's. obje6l to be 
 precipitate and immediate, or gradual abolition, does 
 not recolledt the whole of his objefti their conver- 
 fations on the fubjefl were much too fhort for a full 
 explanation of fo important a meafure; but believes 
 a gradual abolition, to be precipitated by his plan, 
 
 ^' S9' was one objedl of his inquiries at Liverpool : he 
 gave Mr. C's. heart full credit for the philanthropic 
 mealure which he purfued, without weighing (in his 
 opinion) the political and commercial inconvenien- 
 cies annexed to it; and civility to a flranger induced 
 him to acquiefce in the meafure, rather than condemn 
 it. Does not recoiled that he ufed any arguments 
 with Mr. C. to dilTuade him from purfuing his objeft 
 of gradual abolition, for he found him to cherifh it 
 fo warmly, that any attempt would have been 
 fruitlefs. 
 
 Cannot recoiled when Mr.'C. left Liverpool, nor 
 after what interval he was appointed delegate, which 
 was in his abfence, and without his knowledge.-— 
 From his firft feeing Mr. C. to his appearing before 
 the Privy Council, might perhaps be fix months. 
 
 Does not recoiled the particular abufes in the 
 condud of the Have trade, the corredion of which 
 Mr. C. had in view, except as before intimated, too 
 much feverity faid to be pradifed by the officers, and 
 alfo the regulation of the price of flops, and the 
 cuftom of paying half the wages in the currency of 
 
 P. 60. the Weft Indies. He gave him all the information 
 on chat head that he poflefled. Differed from him 
 
 in 
 
N R R I S, 21 
 
 in opinion as to the frequency of ill treatment. Mr. 1790. 
 C. quoted more infliances than had ever come within Part II. 
 his knowledge. Never heard of many inftances in '-•v*^ 
 15 years experience. Some he has known. 
 
 Thinks one fingle inllance would juftify Mr. C's. 
 endeavours : conceives wanton feverity always merits 
 punilhment ; the inllances he has heard of not oc- 
 curring under his own eye, he cannot judge of the 
 provocation that might occafion them -, but if they 
 were, as reprefented, he fliould heartily embrace 
 Mr C's. fentiments refped:ing them. 
 
 Does not recolleft that he gave any opinion to 
 Mr. C. as to the general praftice of kidnapping in 
 Africa by natives, though he might have mentioned 
 it : for, a few months after, he ftated, in his evidence 
 before the Privy Council, that he fufpedted it was 
 pradifed in fome inftances between the unconne(fled 
 tribes of the Windward Coaft. 
 
 Does not recolle6t Hating his opinion to Mr. C. 
 npon the utility of the flave-trade confidered as the 
 fource of fupply to the marine of Great Britain; 
 but if he did, he probably coincided on that as on 
 other points to the opinions which that gentleman 
 entertained, rather than harrafs his feelings, by dif- 
 puting opinions which he cherifhed. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity of Cape Appolo- 
 nia, are fubje6t to nearly a fimilarly opprefTive 
 tyranny with the ftate of Dahomy. Thefe are the P. 61. 
 only two arbitrary governments which he has vifited; 
 the other dillritfts of the Gold Coaft have a milder 
 government. 
 
 Whether from the condition of the inhabitants of 
 Dahomy or Appolonia, any fair conclufions can be 
 drawn as to the people of Negroland in general, 
 obferves, that in drawing fair conclufions, they 
 fhould be taken from the particular countries, and 
 not by general comparifon. Thefe two countries 
 are not a ftandard by which to judge of the adjoin- 
 ing nations on the fea coaft, and he knows but little 
 of the interior country. 
 
 As 
 
22 N O R R I S. 
 
 1790. As to the weight of a bafket or crue of rice on the 
 Part II. Windward Coaft, — a bafket is an indefinite weight; 
 **nr^ when brought aboard in bafkets, it is meafured in a 
 crue, which is about 20 lb. 
 
 Has read the entries from Capt. Frafer's journal, 
 mentioned in the examination of Mr. Falconbridge, 
 before the former Selcft Committee on the Slave 
 Trade. — The date of the firft entry is 19th Sept. of 
 the laft loth of November. The amount of the total 
 rice mentioned in thefe two entries, is not quite iif 
 tons, not quite 6 tons of which appears to have been 
 gotten at Junk. The daily confumption of the 
 fhip's company, and of the few negroes on board, 
 during the period mentioned, was, he believes, not 
 P. 62. included in the quantity ftated in Captain Frafer's 
 journal. 
 
 Whether the abolition, for which Mr. Clarkfon 
 •wifhed, was an abolition to be accelerated by means 
 to be ufed for that purpofe, and not merely a dif- 
 continuance of the trade, from the circumftance of 
 the Weft India iflands ceafing to want any further 
 fupply, he cannot at this diftance of time take upon 
 him to fay ; nor does he recolleft more of it, (Mr. 
 C's. plan) than a gradual abolition of the flave-trade, 
 and the emancipation of the negroes now in the 
 iflands. 
 
 Might be led, from the perufal of Mr. C's. Eflay 
 on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, 
 and from his converfation, that he had in view the 
 accelerating of the abolition ; bur, with refpe6b to 
 the concurrence which he has ftated to have exprefled, 
 with Mr. C. in his objecfl, he calls his conduit in all 
 his communications with that gentleman, rather an 
 acquiefcence from deference to a ftranger of his 
 character and functions, than a concurrence with his 
 mcafures. 
 
 Even had he difapproved of that objefl, which he 
 fuppofed Mr. C. to be in purfuit of at the time, he 
 would have fuggefted means which, in his own 
 
 opinion. 
 
N R R I S. 23 
 
 Opinion, conduced to the attainment of it-, becaufe 1790. 
 Mr. C. could not reafonably fuppofe him totally Part II. 
 ignorant of the trade which he was inveftigating, «-^v-^^ 
 and if he had withheld every hint or communication, 
 he would have been charged with not treating a 
 ftranger, (introduced to him by a friend he refpefted) 
 with that civility and hofpitality which he willied to 
 do, during his vifit to Liverpool. Befides, one part 
 of Mr. C.'s plan met his mofl: fincere concurrence, 
 that of redrelTing the abufes faid to be praclifed to- 
 wards fcamen, and he found it impofTible to converfe 
 with him on the one fubjeft without being infenfibly P. 63. 
 led to the other. 
 
 He found Mr. C. fo zealous on the fubjecfl, that 
 his acquaintance with him would not juflify his pre- 
 fuming to reafon with him againft a fyftem ruinous to 
 the commerce of this country, and which he thought 
 at the time he could not pofllbly cffe6l. He con- 
 ceived it to be a fine fpun theory of humanity, and 
 could not bring himfclf to think, that men and 
 meafures were fo powerfully combined, as he has 
 fince found them, to promote his (Mr. C's.) views. 
 
 Cannot fay now, that he was of opinion that any 
 of thofe propofitions in which he concurred, and 
 which he apprehended to tend to accelerate the 
 abolition of the trade, would tend alfo to accelerate 
 that period at which the Weft India Iflands would 
 ceafe to require any further fupply of flaves. Does 
 not recoiled that at that time anyfuch confideration 
 occurred. 
 
 As to the period, he may be fuppofed to have 
 fixed in his mind for the abolition, when he ftated 
 that fuch an event would gradually take place, ic 
 would have been prefumption in him to have fixed 
 any, for in all his convtrfations with Mr. C. on a 
 fubjed, which he deemed equally imprudent and 
 impolitic, he hid fcarccly one fcrious confideration, 
 beyond being commonly civil to him. 
 
 The grounds upon which he entertained the opi- 
 nion, that the African (lave- trade will gradually come 
 
 to 
 
24 N O R R I S. 
 
 179T. to be abollfhed, are, the reftriflions already laid 
 
 Part ILupon the trade, and the meafures fo ably and unre- 
 
 '^-"'~V"^ mittingly purfiied in this country to efFe6t it. 
 
 P. 64. Whether, as a commercial man, he thinks it 
 
 would be for the intereft of this country to furnifh 
 
 the colonies of other powers with flaves, "after our 
 
 own have ceafed to need further fupply, this being 
 
 matter of opinion, fhould he live to fee the day 
 
 when the Britifh iQands have ceafed to require any 
 
 further fupply, he will be more competent to form 
 
 a judgment on the queflion than at prefent. 
 
 But he fancies there is not a politician or merchant 
 in this country but will admit that fuch a commerce 
 would be to the advantage of this country ; for it 
 would be fecuring to the mierchant that profit which 
 would otherwife center with other merchants and 
 manufaflurers that continued it. 
 
 Whether " The African flave- trade is carried on 
 " as much to the eafe and comfort of thofe that are 
 " the fubje«Sls of it, and alfo of thofe that conduft it, 
 *' as it is polTible for human ingenuity to devife :" 
 begs leave to objed to the queftion, becaufe it is a 
 quotation from a pamphlet, which he does not think it 
 incumbent on him to fupport before the committee. 
 P. 6^, Has no reafon to doubt, that all the fhips in that 
 account from Liverpool, which he delivered to the 
 committee, ftated to have been laid up in confequence 
 of the aft, commonly called the Slave-carrying Aft, 
 were aftually driven out of the trade by the opera- 
 tion of that law. 
 
 Has recently received an account of a late rapid 
 increafe in the French trade to and from the Coafl: 
 of Africa, which ftates, that there had failed, or 
 were fitting out, between ift June, 1789, and i8th 
 January, 1790, for the African trade, from Nantes 
 42 veffels; Rochelle I2j Bourdeaux 32; St. M aloes 
 4; Harfleur 8; Marfeilles 4j and from Havre 28 ; 
 in all 130 veffels, in feven months and an half, or 
 thereabouts. His informiation does not fpecify whe- 
 ther any of thefe veffels are employed in trade for 
 
 the 
 
L L A R K S O N. 25 
 
 the produclions of the country, in contradidion to 1790. 
 the Have-trade} which induces him to believe that Part II. 
 the flave-trade only is meant. <-->r^ 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Rev. Thomas Clarksom» 
 
 Went, in company with Mr. Rarhbone, of Liver p. 66. 
 pool, to Mr. Norris's houfe, but not finding him, was 
 introduced to him upon change, as the author of an 
 EiTay on *« the Slavery and Commerce of the Human 
 " Species;" and as coming to Liverpool for infor- 
 mation on the Have trade. Mr. N orris laid, he had 
 read his book with much fatisfadion, adding, as near 
 as he can recoiled, that it contained the truth. He 
 promifed him alio every information as to the objeft 
 of his journey, and appointed Sunday following, for 
 a meeting at his own houfe. 
 
 Was afterwards at his houfe 6 times ; and was wait- 
 ed upon alfo by Mr. Norris, 3 or 4. Each time they 
 had long converfations on the flave trade. On the 
 iirft: of thefe (Sunday) witnefs read a manufcript, in- 
 titled, " An account of the wars and cuftoms of the 
 " Dahomans," which Mr. Norris lent him. After- P. 67. 
 wards, on fame day, in fpeaking of produclions of 
 Africa, Mr. Norris dated them fuch, as they were 
 afterwards fet down, in confequence of his evidence 
 in the Privy Council report. Lie affirmed alfo, the 
 almofl univerfal way in which fuch became flaves, 
 as he had tranfported from the coaft, was this, That 
 ihey were kidnapped (by the natives, p. 68) either 
 as they were travelling on the roads, or filhing in 
 tlie creeks, or cultivating their little fpots, which 
 hiftory he had learnt from themfelves. In future 
 converfations alfo, as to this being an univerfal mode, 
 his reply was, " Undoubtedly, no perfon can deny 
 " it." 
 
 At a future time, Mr. Norris gave him fome black 
 
 pepper, brougiit witii Jiim from Whydah, as one 
 
 .Numb. 3. D argument 
 
i6 Clarkson. 
 
 1799 argument of the impolicy of the flave trade. Being 
 
 Part. Il.fhewn alfo copies of fome mufter-rolls of B-riftol 
 
 ^""'y^'-' Guineamen, which witnefs had colle6led, he faid, 
 
 he would find nearly the fame lofs of feamen in thofe 
 
 of Liverpool, as in thofe then (hewn him. 
 
 At another time, when informed by witnefs, that 
 he was on point of difcovering a murder by captain 
 Brown, on Peter Green, a feaman •, he allowed great 
 cruelties pra6lifed on feamen in flave trade. Called 
 afterwards on witnefs with a journal of a vovage in 
 that trade, to convince him he had not been deceiv- 
 ed in information coUeded on that point ; and to 
 confirm witnefs more, of his being of the fame mind 
 P. 68. with himfelf, invited him to his houfe, to communi- 
 cate on claufes for a bill, that would bring about 
 abolition of flave trade. Witnefs went, and after 
 fome converfation, Mr. N. dictated, and witnefs 
 wrote. He wrote the claufes with Mr. N's own pen 
 and ink, and in his own room. 
 
 "Witnefs had fuch confidence in Mr. N. as a man 
 of veracity, and a zealous friend to the abolition of 
 flave trade, that on making a fecond edition of his 
 work, " On the Slavery and Commerce of the Hu- 
 " man Species," he inferted the circumftance of 
 kidnapping, as well as that of the king of Dahomy 
 breaking up a village when he wanted Haves, as be- 
 fore communicated to him by Mr. Norris. As a 
 farther proof, when he waited upon Mr. Pitt, to ex- 
 prefs his hopes, that the committe of the Privy Coun- 
 cil (then about to examine into the flave trade) 
 would examine witnefles on both fides of the quef- 
 tion. He mentioned Mr. Norris having material 
 information on that fide of the queftion, which re- 
 lated to the abolition J repeating the fubftance of his 
 different converfations with him on the produce of 
 Africa; the new trade that could be eftabliflied 
 there j the lofs of feamen, and cruelties exercifed on 
 them in the flave trade •, mentioning, at the fame 
 time, the claufes which Mr. N. had given him for a 
 bill for its abolition. Was afraid, however, that 
 
 Mr. 
 
Clarkson. 27 
 
 Mr. N. on being written to only by an individual 1790. 
 like himfelf, would not come to London, connecledPart II, 
 as he was at Liverpool ; though he knew his heart ^-^v^ 
 to be engaged on that fide; wifhed therefore an or- P. 69, 
 der to be fent him by the committee, which would 
 take off the riik of difobliging conne(5lions there. 
 On being told by Mr. Pitt, that attendance to fuch 
 order could not be enforced, witnefs wrote himfelf 
 to Mr. N. at Liverpool, but was anfwered by Mr. 
 Rathbone, that he Mr. N. was then in London. 
 
 On this information, witnefs wiflied much to find 
 him out, to intreat him to perfevere in the fame line 
 of condu6t, as manifetted to him at Liverpool. 
 Found his addrcfs, but before he could fee him, was 
 told by the bifhop of London, very greatly to his 
 furprife, that Mr. Norris " had come up as a Liver- 
 pool delegate, in fupport of the Have trade." Wit- 
 nefs upon this, tells his lordfliip, and afterwards dates 
 in writing, how Mr. Norris had behaved, as above 
 ftated. Diftreffed at the time, and balancing be- 
 tween the thought of violating the rights of hofpita- 
 lity, by expofing Mr. Norris, and the duty due to 
 the caufe he had undertaken, he afl-jed his lordfliip 
 how to adl ; who advifing him to call perfonally on 
 Mr. N. to explain the reafons of his condudl, he 
 went, but not finding him at home, left his card. P. -^o. 
 Soon after Mr. N. waited upon witnefs, who was 
 out, and left the following letter, which the commit- 
 tee defired to be produced, and taken down. 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 " The letter, which you did me the honour to 
 *' addrefs to me at Liverpool, milled me there, and 
 ** reached me here only a few days ago; being 
 ** brought to me by a gentleman from thence, who 
 " was lb obliginor as to charg-e himfelf with the care 
 
 G> CD O 
 
 of it. It gave me the fincerefl: pleafure to receive 
 this teftimony of the regard of a gentleman, whom 
 I fliall ever refpeft and eftcem, and whole phi- 
 lanthropy claims the admiration of every perlon 
 D 2 *' whole 
 
 <( 
 
(C 
 (C 
 (C 
 IC 
 
 cc 
 
 it 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 28 C L A R K S O N, 
 
 1790. " vvhofe bofom contains a fpark of humanity. Upon 
 Part. IF." my return to my lodgings laft night, I was ho- 
 *-«n^^o '^ noured with your card, announcing your addrefs, 
 and refolved to wait upon you this morning; but 
 the arrival of a packet from the Weft Indies, 
 which called on its way at Charlefton, has brought 
 me letters from my connexions there, which 
 oblige me to relinquifh my intention, from avo- 
 cations which require my immediate attention 
 ** elfewherc; and as I am under an engagement to 
 " vifit a friend in the country to-morrow, and fliall 
 *' not return till Monday, I find I fhall not be able 
 " to enjoy the pleafure of waiting on you until fome 
 ** day early in the enfuing week. 
 
 " Since we parted laft, the fubjeft of our con- 
 
 verlation has frequently employed my thoughts ; 
 
 and the force of your arguments, and the juftice 
 
 and humanity of your fentiments, have imprefled 
 
 on my mind a due deference for your opinions ; 
 
 P. yi- " but we differ in fome points : from commercial 
 
 " and political confiderations, I am induced to 
 
 ** think, chat the benevolence of your plan cannot be 
 
 *' acceded to in toto. If you will be pleafed to turn 
 
 to my favourite author, the Abbe Raynal, vol. i. 
 
 p. 9, you will fee a ftrong argument againfb one 
 
 part of it ; and other objections occur to myfelf; 
 
 but I afTure you, that whatever my own private 
 
 opinions may be, I fhould gladly have declined 
 
 any publick interference in this bufinefs, could I 
 
 have refufed it with propriety. The prefent in- 
 
 vefligMtion will, 1 hope, tend to correal: whatever 
 
 " abuies exii'l in the African trade, as well as to im- 
 
 '^ prove the condition and fitiiation of that 'inhappy 
 
 part of our fellow-creatures, wliofe unfortunate 
 
 lot it is, perhaps, for fome Vv'ife, though infcruta- 
 
 ble purpofc of our Creator, to toil for their breth- 
 
 *' ren •, and every iuei, tending to fo defirable a pur- 
 
 *' pofe is, I truft, as dear to me as it C4n be to any 
 
 ^' periuu v/iiatevcf, 
 
 ♦f Your 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 
 cc 
 
C L A R K S O N." CLg 
 
 " Your kind remembrance of Mrs. Norris, claims 1790. 
 '* my warmeft thanks, and I am, with every fenti-Part II. 
 '* ment of refpeft and friendfhip, •"-nr^ 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " Your obliged and mod obedient fervant, 
 
 Salopian, 29th Feb. 17S8. " Robert Norris*" 
 
 P. S. " I am fo prcned for time, that I mud beg 
 *' you will excufe this ver\- incorredl; letter, which I 
 *' afTure you I have not Icifure to copy.'* 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Clarkfon, No. 10, Gerrard-Street, 
 
 Soho. 
 
 Witnefs fays, that he dated this condu<5l of Mr. N. 
 to Sir William Dolben, fo early as the time of his re- 
 gulating bill : as alfa 2 or 3 times to Mr. Cruden, to 
 fee if Mr. Cruden, who was prefent at the fird con- 
 verfation at Mr. Norris's houfe, and knew Mr. Nor- 
 ris's great pains to give him intelligence, perfeiftly 
 recoUefted it, and if fuch conducft did not appear 
 equally driking to him as to witnefs. Mr. Cruden's 
 reply to witnels, in the prefence of another perfon or 
 perlbns, was, " My opinion of Mr. Norris, whom IP. 7-* 
 " have known for years, is of the highed kind, but I 
 '' confefs his conduct to you at Liverpool, and fince 
 " as a Liverpool delegate, embarraffes me much." 
 
 Says, Mr. Norris could not but have known his 
 objeft at Liverpool to be abolition of flave trade, 
 even had he not heard it from himfelf. It was noto- 
 rious that witnefs went there with that view, he din- 
 ing daily in publick, and merchants pointing at him 
 as he palled the change, as a perfon of that defcrip- 
 tion. 
 
 Is lure the information he i.s now giving, is pre- 
 cifcly what he received from Mr. Norris; for as to 
 the two facts relative '' to kidnapping, and the king 
 
 '* of 
 
3P Clarkson. 
 
 1790. *' ofDahomy," before related, he put them down in 
 Pair II. a book, Toon after the converfation, he kept for that 
 ^--v-*^ purpofci and as totheclaufes given hiin by Mr. N. 
 for a bill for abolition, he put them down alfo, with 
 this difference, that he put down the latter with Mr. 
 Norris's own pen and ink, and own room j has thac 
 book to produce, if necell'ary. 
 
 The committee requefting the book to be pro- 
 duced, the following claufes were taken from it. 
 P. 73. I. " Make every (lave velTel take out a licence, 
 '* and let the fum paid for fuch licence, be at leaft 
 
 2. " Let no Have vefTel, under fevere penalties, 
 " be fuffered to take a tooth, a puncheon of palm 
 " oil, or any of its productions, from the coaft. 
 
 3. " Let no (lave veflcl be permitted to bring a 
 ** bale of cotton, a hogfhead of fogar, or even a paf- 
 *' fcnger, from the Weft Indies. 
 
 4. " /looo fine for a veffel that fupplies the 
 *' Spaniards and French. 
 
 5. ** Let every velTel that goes to Africa for the 
 ** natural productions of the country, receive a 
 ** bounty. ^^500 for bounty would be adequate to 
 " the wages of feamen, their provifions, and the 
 ** ftores ot a veficl of 200 tons, for 8 months •, ;^3oo 
 *' to be paid at outfet, /2C0 at her return. 
 
 6. " The Bananas ro be head quarters and firft 
 *' iettlemcnt -, they belonged to one Cleland, a mu- 
 *' lacto J perhaps his family, who remain, would 
 *' fell It. 
 
 7. " That the De Lofs Iflands be the fecond 
 *' from Sierra Leone to Cape Mount. To wind- 
 " ward of Sierra Leone there is a tra6t, where the 
 ** blacks are defcendants of the Portug^uefe ; thefe 
 ** people are indultrious at prefenr, more civilized 
 ** than the natives, good boatmen, craftfmen, &:c. 
 *' They are free, and not dependant on the Portu- 
 '* gnefe ; a fort of mulattoes, and v/ouid eafily be 
 
 . " brought over. 
 
 8. " The 
 
 1 
 
Cl ARSON. 31 
 
 8. " The River Caramanca, on the Windward, 1790. 
 *' or Gold Coaft, runs parallel to the lea, and would Pare II. 
 *« be a mod eligible ficuation, both in point of de- <— -v-^ 
 " fence and prod unions. 
 
 9. " Thefe regulations will deftroy the (lave P. 74, 
 *' trade in a few years." 
 
 Says, the claufe relative to a licence for flave (hips, 
 came from Mr. N. that relative to a bounty, from 
 himftlf ; though Mr. N. calculated the fums annex- 
 ed to it} that relative to hindering Have fhips from 
 taking off the produce of Africa, came from hicnfelf 
 alfo ; but that for hindering them from taking Weft 
 India produce, &c. from Mr. N. As to that rela- 
 tive to the trade carried on for the French and 
 Spaniards, cannot fay who propofed it; but Mr. N. 
 mentioned the fineof /^looo, faying, this branch of 
 it ought immediately to be abolilhed, as fupplying 
 foreigners at the expence of the Englifli marine. 
 The fettlemenrs alfo were mentioned by Mr. N. in 
 the order in which they Hand, though witnefs can- 
 not lay pofitively whether propofed as neccfiarv by 
 Mr. N. or himfelf. Mr. N. Iiowever, gave his ianc- 
 tion to the whole, for witnefs put down no claufe 
 not approved of by Mr. N. after converfation oi\ 
 the propriety of it. 
 
 Recollects Mr. Norris ilated the Have- trade to be 
 a lofing trade, in prefence of Meflis. Cruden and 
 Copeland, the latter of whom had been a llave- 
 merchant. 
 
 Was introduced to Mr. N. he fuppofes, in the P« 75* 
 beginning of Septemb. left him the end of October, 
 and in the February following was told that Mr. N. 
 had come up as a Liverpool Delegate. 
 
 Never aiked Mr. N. to procure a flave-fhip for 
 Mr. Falconbridge. Should have thought he would 
 have fuffered in Mr. N's. opinion from fuch a pro- 
 pofal. Befides, Mr. F. had previoufly declared 10 
 witnefs at Brillol, before a gentleman, that he had 
 left the trade from principle. Adds that the object 
 of Mr. P\ilconbridge's journey to I/ivcrpool, was to 
 
 aid 
 
32 Clarkson. 
 
 1790. aid him in procuring facfts for abolition of the Have 
 part II. trade : nor did he make fuch a propofal to any other 
 *--v*o perfon. Thinks it not improbable he might have 
 told Mr. N. that as the flave-trade could not imme- 
 diately be abolifhed, it was a pity that humane men 
 Ihould not be felefted to command flave-fhips in the 
 interim, but does not even recolledl this. 
 P. 76. Says there were very few meetings of himfelf and 
 Mr. N. at which Mr. F. was prefent. Does not re- 
 colle61: being at the Exchange with Mr. F. and 
 Mr. N. or of feeing Mr. F. at the Exchange at any 
 diftance, when with Mr. N. though this might have 
 happened. Was about fix weeks at Liverpool. 
 P. 77. Thinks, in his calls on Mr. N. found him at home 
 five or fix times J dined with him twice j. faw him in 
 a morning, when he fliewed him copies of the 
 Briftol mufter-rolls ; received from him another 
 morning, at his houfe, the pepper from Whydah : 
 faw him alio when he went to tell him of the pro- 
 bability of proving the murder of Green, by Capt. 
 Brown : a fixth time was, when he received from 
 him the claufes. 
 
 Was of opinion, that Mr. N. did not confider the 
 abolition as an extraordinary plan, but as one which 
 ought to be executed. His whole condu6l to him, 
 (Mr. C.) at Liverpool, made him believe fo. 
 
 Recollefts Mr. N. fhewed him fome papers, and 
 gave him one, viz. " An Invoice for a Cargo to 
 *' Whydah i" but none about the lofs of feamen. 
 Muft, however, do Mr. N. the juftice to fay, he has 
 heard him ilate the lofs of feamen in his own fhip to 
 be little or nothing. This, however, he did not 
 ftate, to fhew Mr. C. had been deceived, but that 
 there were lliips that went to the coaft without any 
 material lofs •, and Mr. C. confidered it as a proof 
 of Mr. N's. own humanity. 
 
 Underftood kidnapping, from Mr. N. to be the 
 general pradice, as far as he, Mr. N. could judge 
 from his own experience, except only Dahomy, for 
 that king was faid by him not to kidnap, but to. 
 
 feize 
 
Clarksoij. 33 
 
 feize on a village, when in want of flaves. Mr. N. 1790. 
 never difcriminated between kidnapping by hoftilePart II. 
 nations or by individuals. His words were, (which «-^v^*» 
 witnefs will never forget) " that on inquiry into the^- 7^« 
 hiftory of thofe whom he had taken from Africa in 
 his own veflcls, their almoft univerfal anfwer was, 
 that they were kidnapped either as they were tra- 
 velling, or fifhing, or cultivating their little fpots." 
 On returning from Mr. Norris's he put down thefe 
 words in his journal, produced yefterday. Says it P. 79. 
 is impofTible for him ever to have mifunderftood Mr. 
 N. on this particular; was never clearer of any thing 
 in his life. Says alfo, that though he inferred the 
 circumftance into the fecond edition of his " Effay on 
 the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species," 
 he did not infert it as the bafis upon which he built 
 the aflertion there, that kidnapping was a general 
 practice, but only to corroborate other circumltances 
 mentioned in the former edition of that book. 
 
 Does not recolleft that Mr. N. alluded to any 
 particular period, when he flated the (lave- trade to 
 be a lofmg one. 
 
 Never heard Mr. N. exprefs any approbation or 
 difapprobation of his, (vvitnefs's) meafures to redrefs 
 abul'es of Guinea feamen. Knows only Mr, N. 
 concurred with him, that fuch enormities were prac- 
 tifed, and the feamen were worfe ufed in that than 
 any other trade, which Mr. N. not only exprefTed at 
 his own houfe, but when he lent him the journal 
 before defcribed, (p. 67.) 
 
 As to any plan faid to have been communicated 
 by him to Mr. N. for freeing of the negroes, fays he 
 was never fo abfurd as to think of fuch a plan. His 
 fole objeft at Liverpool was to colle6t fads for the 
 abolition of the flave-trade. This diftindlion between 
 abolition and emancipation he fet out with as a firit 
 principle, and has preferved till now. 
 
 As to the fuppofition that Mr. N. could not beP. 80, 
 ferious in condemning a trade he had long purfued, 
 witnefs believes he fincerely meant the abolition of 
 
 Numb. 3, E the 
 
34 C L A R K S O N. 
 
 1790. tlie trade in many branches, as neither juftifiable on 
 Part II. the principles of humanity nor policy ; and witnefs's 
 
 \^^n-*j conduct, as explained yefterday, proves he thought 
 fo ; for he not only mentioned him to Mr. Pitt, as he 
 then ftated, as a proper evidence for abolition, but 
 even wrote him to come to London in that capacity. 
 On being afked the charadei of IVlr. Rathbone, 
 witnefs replied, that he was recof.nmended to him as 
 to a very worthy man, and found him fo ; and being 
 afked again, if civility to a ftranger, recommended 
 by Mr. Rathbone, might not prevent Mr. N. froni 
 controverting opinions, v/hich he, witnefs, warmly 
 efpoufed, replied, in his opinion, civility to a llranger, 
 ought not to prevent any man from telling the truth; 
 neither does he believe it did him, becaufe Mr. R. 
 repeatedly told witnefs Mr. N. condemned the trade. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Dr. Thomas Trotter, 
 A Surgeon in the Royal Navy. 
 
 P. 80, Was a voyage in the African flave-trade, from 
 Liverpool, in 1783, furgeon of the Brookes, Clement 
 Noble, mafter. Ten months on the coaft, from the 
 time they reached Cape Palmas, till the cargo was 
 
 Pt 81. completed at Anamaboe. Made many inquiries into 
 the mode of procuring (laves, of Haves themfelves, 
 of traders, and particularly of Accra, a trader at 
 Cape la How, who was a moil intelligent man, of 
 uncommon modefty and gentlenefs, and well known 
 as a man of great integrity. The information re- 
 ceived was, that the natives were fometimes (laves 
 from crimes, but the greater part of (laves were what 
 they called prifoners of war. Of their whole cargo 
 recolledls only three criminals, one fold for adultery, 
 and one for witchcraft, whofe whole family fhared 
 his fate. One of the firft faid he had been decoyed 
 by a woman, who told her hufband, and he was 
 
 fentenced 
 
Africa. Trotter. 35 
 
 fentenced to pay a (lave; but being poor, was fold 1790. 
 himfelf. Such flratagcms are frequent: the fourth Part II, 
 mate of the Brookes was fo decoyed, and obliged to «^v>^ 
 pay a flave, under threat of Hopping trade. 
 
 Of the family fold for witchcraft, confiding, he P. 82. 
 thinks, of the man, his mother, wife, and two 
 daughters ; the women fliewed the deepell: affliction, 
 the man a fullen melancholy : faid, that having 
 quarrelled with the Cabbofliecr of Salt-pan, he, in 
 revenge, had accufed him of witchcraft: he refufed 
 food : early next morning it was found he had at- 
 tempted to cut his throat ; the wound was fewed up, 
 but the following night he had not" only torn out 
 the futures, but had made a fimilar attempt on the 
 other fide: from the ragged edges of the wound, 
 and the blood upon his finger ends it appeared to 
 have been done with his nails, for though drift 
 fearch was made through all the rooms, no inftru- 
 ment was found. He declared he never would go 
 with white men, uttered incoherent fentences, and 
 looked wiflifully at the fl-cies. His hands were fe- 
 cured, but perfitling to refute all fuftenance, he died 
 of hunger in eight or ten days. 
 
 Has often aiked Accra, what he meant by pri- 
 foners of war. Found they were fuch as had been 
 carried off by a fet of marauders, who ravage the 
 country for that purpofe. The bufli-men making 
 war to make trade, (meaning it feemed to make 
 flaves) was a common way of fpeaking among the 
 traders. The praftice was alfo confirmed by the 
 flaves who Ihewed by geftures how the robbers had 
 come upon them j and in the Brookes, during the 
 palTage, fome of the boy (flaves) played a game, P. 83. 
 which they called flave-taking, or bufh-fighting ; 
 fliewing the different manoeuvres thereof in- leaping, 
 fallying, and retreating. Inquiries of this nature 
 put to the women, were anfwered only by violent 
 burfts of forrow. Upon afking Accra, what they 
 made of their flaves when the Englifli and French 
 
 E 2 were 
 
^6 Africa. Trotter, 
 
 1790. were at war, he fimply anfwered, " Suppofe fhip no 
 Part II." come, mafia, no take flave." 
 v-^v^j Had many boys and girls on board, who had no 
 relations in the fhip 5 many of them told him they 
 had been kidnapped in the neighbourhood of Ana- 
 maboe, particularly a girl of about 8 years, who faid 
 Ihe had been carried off from her mother, by the man 
 who fold her to the fhip. 
 
 Once faw fat Sam, their gold taker, fend his canoe 
 to take 3 fifhermen, employed in the offing, which 
 were immediately brought on board, and put in irons, 
 and about a week after, he was paid for them. Re- 
 members another man taken in the fame way from on 
 board a canoe along fide. Fat Sam very frequently 
 fent flaves on board in the night, which, from their 
 own information, he found, were every one of them 
 taken in the neighbourhood of Anamaboe : he re- 
 marked, that flaves fent off in the night, were not 
 paid for till they had been fome time on board, left, 
 he thinks, they Ihould be claimed ; for fome were 
 really reftored ; one in particular, a boy, was carried 
 . on fhore by fome near relations j which boy told 
 him, he had lived in the neighbourhood of Anama- 
 boe, and was kidnapped (p. 90.) 
 
 As to kidnapping by Europeans, has only heard 
 of it J but the mafler of the Brookes, urged his gold- 
 takers daily, to get him flaves by any means. 
 P. 84. Slaves in the paffage are fo crowded below, that 
 it is impoffible to walk through them, without tread- 
 ing on them J thofe who are out of irons, are locked 
 fpoonways (in the technical phrafe) to one another ; 
 it is the firft mate's duty to fee them ftowed in this 
 way every morning j thofe who do not get quickly 
 into their places, are compelled by the cat. In this 
 fituation, when the fhip had much motion, they were 
 often miferably bruifed. In the paffage, when the 
 fcuttles mufl be fhut, the gratings are not fufficienc 
 for airinf^ the rooms ; he never himfelf could breathe 
 freely, unlefs immediately under the hatchway, 
 J^ever faw ventilators ufed in thefe fhips ; a wind- 
 fail 
 
Africa. Trotter, 
 
 37 
 
 fail was often tried on the coaft, but he remembers 1790. 
 none ufcd in the paflage. Has {ctn the flaves draw- Part II, 
 ing their breath with all thofe laborious and anxious *-nr*^ 
 efforts for life, which is obferved in expiring animals, 
 fubjedted by experiment to foul air, or in the ex- 
 haufted receiver of an air pump ; has alfo feen them, 
 when the tarpawlings have inadvertently been thrown 
 over the gratings, attempting to heave them up, 
 crying out, " Kickeraboo, kickeraboo," i.e. '* We 
 ** are dying-," on removing the tarpawlings and 
 gratings, they would fly to the hatchway with all the 
 figns of terror, and dread of fuffocation ; many whom 
 he has (cen in a dying (late, have recovered, by be-p g^- 
 ing brought thither, or on the deck ; others were 
 irrecoverably loft, by fuffocation, having had no pre- 
 vious figns of indifpofition. 
 
 Slaves, on being brought on board, fhew figns of 
 extreme diftrefs and defpair, from a feeling of their 
 fituation, and regret at being torn from friends and 
 connexions -, many retain thofe imprefTions for a 
 longtime ; in proof of which, the flaves being often 
 heard in the night, making an howling mt^lancholy 
 noife, exprefllve of extreme angu'fli ; he repeatedly 
 ordered the woman, who had been his interpreter, to 
 inquire the caufe; fhe difcovered it to be owing to 
 their having dreamed they were in tiieir own coun- 
 try, and finding themfelvcs when a^vake, in the hold 
 ofaflavelhip. Thib cxquifice fenfibility was parti- 
 cularly obfervable among the women, manv of whom, 
 on fuch occafions, lie found in hyileric fits. 
 
 They failed after dark in the night, when the flaves P. 86. 
 were fecured below, to prevent their fhewing figns 
 of difcontent at leaving the coaft ; he thinks this the 
 reafon, becaufe every ihip that let'c the road while 
 the Brooks was there, left it in the night ; has heard 
 the cullom is general. 
 
 Tliinks they bougnt upwards of 600 flaves, and 
 loft about 70 in the voyage. 
 
 As to inlurrcttions among the flaves; a number 
 of the ftrongeft men in their Ihip had one night 
 
 fawcd 
 
38 Africa. — W. Indies. Trotter. 
 
 1790. fawed off their irons with an old knife, notched for 
 Part II. the purpofe, furnilhed by a woman from the cabin; 
 ^-•v*^ but were deteded by the information of another 
 flave. 
 
 A man jumped overboard at Anamabce, and was 
 drowned -, another, in the Middle Pafiage, who was 
 taken up; a woman was, for fome time, chained to 
 the mainmaft, after being taken up j being let loofe, 
 made a fecond attempt ; was taken up and died 
 under the floggings given her in confequence. 
 
 Believes the practice of dancing them is general 
 in the trade •, in the Brookes it was not uled till 
 exercife became abfokuely neceflary for their health ; 
 thofe in irons were ordered to ftand up, and make 
 what motions they could, leaving a paiTage for fuch 
 as were out of irons, to dance round the deck. Such 
 as did not relifh the exercife of dancing, were com- 
 pelled to it by the cat j but many ftill refufed, 
 though urged in this way to a fevere degree. 
 P. 87. Befides the inftance already given, of a flave fl:ar- 
 ving himfelf to death — remembers another. A wo- 
 man was repeatedly flogged, and victuals forced into 
 her mouth ; no means however could make her 
 fwailow, and fiie lived the 4 lafl: days in a fl:ate of 
 torpid infenfibility. 
 
 - The cargo was difpofed of in Jamaica, p.^ 94, by 
 what is called the fcramble. The buyers fl:and' 
 ready, when the fignal is given for opening the fale, 
 to rufli all at once upon the flaves, and affix their 
 tallies to thofe they wifli to have ; this unexpefted 
 manoeuvre, had an aftonifhing effed ; the flaves were 
 heard crying out for their friends, in language ex- 
 preflive of the deepefl: affli<5lion. Some hufl^ands and 
 wives were parted, and many other relations. 
 
 The feamen lay, in the Middle Pafl!age, under the 
 booms, according to cuftom, and, when the weather 
 was bad, were certainly expofed very much. 
 
 During the Middle Paflage, fome of the feamen 
 were molt cruelly flogged by the mailer, fo much {o, 
 that on one occaflon he law from the quarter deck, 
 
 fome 
 
Africa. Trotter. 39 
 
 fome of the Tailors comingaft from the forecaftle, to 1790. 
 refcue a man, upon which the mafter let him go, and Part II. 
 never afterwards punilhed any of them in that man- *-oro 
 ner. Same marter was carrying, in a former voyage, 
 12 paroquets to the Weft Indies; tliey died, and fuf- 
 pefting a failor of having killed them, ordered the 
 man to be hfhed to one of the topmafts for 12 days, 
 in which time he had no other food but one of thofe 
 birds, and a pint of water a day j though wonderful, 
 the man furvived this. He was a native of Phila- 
 delphia, and was difcharged in the Weft Indies. Has 
 heard the mafter who perpetrated this wanton barba- 
 ritv, relate it in a publick company, with triumph. 
 
 From what he has feen, he ftiould fuppofe the P. 88« 
 minds of Africans very capable of cultivation ; fome 
 part of his evidence fliews them fufceptible'of all the 
 ibcial virtues J has feen no bad habits, but among 
 thofe engaged in trade with white men •, of thofe, 
 Accra an exception. 
 
 Food of the (laves on the paflage was, rice, horfe- 
 beans, and unclean corn, with ufual condiments of 
 palm-oil, fait and pepper: the beans from England, 
 the rice was got to windward, and the Indian corn at 
 Anamaboe : they had abundance of cheefe : a quan- 
 tity of the Indian corn was fold in the Weft Indies. 
 At Anamaboe it was in fuch plenty, that many canoes 
 of it were fent away after their corn room was full. 
 The rice was a very wholefome food ; had a red 
 hufk, but white within. 
 
 Does not remember the furf was too hi^h, during 
 the wiiole time they were on the coaft, for canoes to 
 come off (nearly 10 months) except two or three 
 days. 
 
 The 3 fiftiermen, before-mentioned to have been P. 89. 
 feized, faid they were free men. Another cafe is 
 mentioned of a man taken out of a canoe along-fide : 
 both done with fo much indifference, that he thinks 
 the practice was frequent, of feizing and felling 
 free men. 
 
 As 
 
40 Africa. Trotter* 
 
 1790. As to the 3 fifhermen complaining of the illegality 
 
 Part II. of their capture j all communication is prevented 
 
 *-^^r-o between the (laves on board and the traders ; and 
 
 canoe-men who come to fell (laves -, hence it could 
 
 not be fuppofed that any of their connections were 
 
 P. 90. informed of their fituation. Traders are not allow- 
 ed to go forward after the barricado, and they can- 
 not, from its height, look over itj nor are they per- 
 mitted to look over the (hip's fide. 
 
 As to the cafe of the child reclaimed, before-men- 
 tioned, it is probable that the trader who fold him, 
 perhaps not being the kidnapper, had informed the 
 boy's relations. 
 
 B. 91. The man who attempted to cut his own throat, 
 had all the appearance of a fullen melancholy, but 
 was by no means infane j believes a degree of deli- 
 rium might come on before death; but when he 
 came on board, believes him to have been in his 
 perfeft fenfes. 
 
 P. 92. Cannot be pofitive as to the particular amount of 
 the mortality on board the Brookes. 
 
 P. 93. Engaged to go as furgeon in the Brookes, in the 
 fpring of 1783, at the clofe of the war. 
 
 P. 96. Is at prcfent furgeon to the Edgar M. W. Had 
 his medical education at the Univerfity of Edin- 
 burgh, and alfo his doftor's degree. 
 
 Many flaves died of the fcurvyj thinks only a 
 very quiet palTage faved half the cargo ; for between 
 2 and 300 were tainted with this difeafe on their ar- 
 rival at Antigua. Does not think their food was 
 fuch as would have produced this difeafe, indepen- 
 dent of other caufes, viz. their peculiar confine- 
 ment ; the contaminated atmofphere of the (hip, 
 with all thofe deprelTing pafTions, infeparable from 
 the ftate of a human being, torn from all that is to 
 be valued in life. 
 
 P, 98. "Was often thwarted (by the mailer) in his pre- 
 fcriptions for the fick, who in violent burfts of an- 
 ger, fwore they fell victims to his medicines: his 
 (the oiaiter's) contradiitions^ were particularly ob- 
 
 fervable 
 
Africa. Trotter. 41 
 
 fervable when the fcurvy broke out J he treated with 1790. 
 contempt the propofal of carrying out a great qnan-Part II. 
 tity of t'refli fruits i of which not a 20ch part of what v— >»r«^ 
 was neccliary, was in the fliip at leaving the coaft ; 
 the event juftified the propofal, for when a liberal 
 fupply of fruits was had at Antigua, the recovery of 
 (laves was rapid beyond example. 
 
 Among the flaves, were many related in different 
 degrees ; remembers two or three hufbands and 
 wives i one of thefe had a child, which he often car- 
 ried from the mother to the father, who always re- 
 ceived it With much affeJlion : it died on the paf- 
 fage. 
 
 Any intercourfe between hufbands and wives on 
 board, is carried on by the boys which run about, 
 and are allowed occafionally to go aft: other lela- 
 tions, of the fame lex, commonly wifhed to mcfs to-P. 99, 
 gether, and their affedlion to each other was cer- 
 tainly very confpicuous, particularly when difealed ; 
 in fome initances their feelings were fuch, as would 
 bear a comparifon with thofc of any civilized people. 
 
 Boys and girls, under the age of puberty, gene- 
 rally kept feparatc j boys with the men, girls with 
 the women. 
 
 Firfl heard the mafter relate the flory of his punifh- 
 ing the Philadelphia feaman (by having him tied to 
 the topmaft, and fed on a paroquet a day, as already 
 mentioned) on a Saturday night, when he had com- 
 pany, in the Road of Anamaboe; does not recolleft 
 who were prefent i the fad itfelf, as related, llruck 
 him fo forcibly, that he thought of nothing elfe atp. 100. 
 the time J he was fo fliocked, that he immediately 
 left the cabin, and told the llory to one of the maces ; 
 fhall never forget the imprcflion it left upon his 
 mind at the time, and he has fince mentioned it a- 
 mong his friends, as a piece of unparalleled cruelty 
 (p. 98.) 
 
 Numb. 3. F Witncfs 
 
[ 42 ] 
 
 r art 11, 
 
 *'''''^'*^ Witnefs examined — William Dove. 
 
 P. loo. . Mr. William Dove, of Plymouth, was 1769 on 
 the coafl: of Africa, from Sierra Leone down to Pic- 
 cipini Sifters on board the Lily, Captain Saltcraig, 
 from Liverpool. 
 
 P. 101. Refpefting the mode of getting flaves, he obferved 
 an inftance of a girl that was kidnapped being 
 brought on board by one Ben Johnfon, a black 
 trader, who had fcarcely left the fhip in his canoe 
 with the price of her, when another canoe with two 
 black men came in a hurry to the fhip, and inquired 
 concerning the girl. Having been allowed to fee 
 her, they hurried down to their canoe and haftily 
 paddled off. Overtaking Ben Johnfon, they brought 
 him back to the fhip, got him on the quarter deck, 
 and calling him ** teeffee" (which implies thief), to 
 the captain, offered him to fale. Ben Johnfon remonf- 
 trated, afking the captain, if he would buy him 
 grand trading man ; to which the captain anfwered, 
 if they would fell him he would buy him, be he 
 what he would, which he accordingly did, and put 
 him into irons immediately with another man. Was 
 led to think from that inflance, that flaves were kid- 
 napped, and as well as from having feen children 
 brought feparately on board, and men and women 
 without frelh wounds, or marks of old ones on them. 
 
 P. 102. They had on board between 30 and 40 children, 
 boys and girls, fome on their mothers breafts ; four 
 or five were born during the pafTage. 
 
 The flaves in his fhip were in general very well 
 treated, as well as any fhip on the coafl, two or three 
 inflances of great cruelty excepted. 
 
 Captain Saltcraig coming on board one evening 
 fomewhat intoxicated, fcolded the officers for not 
 manning the fides to receive him, then with a rope's 
 end beat many white people on deck -, he then 
 ftretched a rope acrofs, and ordering a negro, a 
 ftout fellow, out of irons, made him fland on one 
 
 fid^ 
 
Africa. Dove. 4j 
 
 fide of the rope, while he (lood on the other, and 1790. 
 fctting his foot to the black man's, fquared as if to Part II. 
 box him, faying, that he would learn him how to v— v^^ 
 fight, and fignified to the black fellow to make a 
 blow at him again, which, though at firft he knew 
 not how to do, at lad he did, and gave the captain a 
 terrible blow j the captain turned about, went to the 
 cabin, brought up a horfc-whip, and beat him moil 
 unmercifully, firfl: with the lalh, then with a full 
 fweep with the but end, till the black man evacuated 
 both by urine and excrement, infomuch that the 
 fhip's company thought he could not furvive it. 
 
 The other inftance ♦, the black men between decks 
 had drawn the ilaple of the fore lazaretto where the 
 horfe-beans were kept, and taken as witnefs fuppofes 
 through hunger, two or three gallons; at night theyP- ^03. 
 were overheard eating them ; five were feverely 
 whipped by the captain's order, two of the ringleaders 
 thumbfcrewed -, a punifhment fo fevere, that while 
 under it, the fv^eat ran down their faces, and they 
 trembled as under a violent ague fit. 
 
 The men flaves were fettered all the Middle Paflage 
 till in fight of Defida, a Wert India ifland, except a 
 few fick Haves who were let to walk the deck, and 
 taking great care to recover them. This confine- 
 ment may be neceifary from their great fuperiority 
 of numbers. Has known men fettered together quar- 
 rel in the night ; but this was put to rights by the 
 fecond mate or boatfwain's going down. 
 
 As to capacity among the negroes, he obferved 
 fome that leemed apt at taking any thing. Two 
 boys from a little oakum given to them, would very 
 dextcroufly work a curious fifhing-line, twifting it 
 only on their knees ; it was ufed often to catch cat 
 fiih ; there w^re others not fo apt. In the Welt 
 Indies he has Cccn them at different handicrafts, make 
 as good workmen as white people. 
 
 Was not on fhore in Africa to obferve their difpo-p, 104, 
 fition either to agriculture or trade, but in the WXl 
 Indies he has feen fome diligent and attentive to the 
 
 F 2 duties 
 
44 Africa, Dove. 
 
 1790. duties required of thenii others there are of a lazy 
 Part Il.caii, juft as our common people at home. He has 
 
 ^-n^**-* no doubt but that a trade might be cultivated with 
 them in Africa. Sierra Leone afforded rice to the 
 fhip; they took about two tons. Pine apples, plan- 
 tanes, bananas, and yams, were brought to them in 
 abundance; fome honey alfo, and a few bottles of 
 the juice of the fugar-cane. Both natives and the 
 fhip's boats brought them off, but chiefly the na- 
 tives. 
 
 The African rice is in quality equal to the Caro- 
 lina •, is thought to go farther ; it has a rednefs in 
 it, which, when the hufk is taken off, does not pene- 
 trate the grain, but lies as a little duft upon its 
 furface. 
 
 The tarpaulins are only put on in cafe of rain ; 
 whf^n taken off there is a fleam comes up between 
 the gratings, by which means the air is communi- 
 cated to them below, and has relieved them when 
 they have been panting for breath. 
 P. 105. Treatment of failors on board with him was in ge- 
 neral opprefTive, particularly in one or two inftances ; 
 the chief mate finding a leak in a barrel of tar, told 
 the captain, who called the boatfwain to account for 
 it ; the boatfwain faying it was not his fault, for that 
 tar would run in that warm climate ; the captain told 
 him he would make him prevent it, and then took 
 an end of a rope, and beat him in fo unmerciful a 
 manner, that he did not recover for fome weeks. 
 
 Another inflance ; John Coffee, affifliant furgeon 
 was taken ill of a diforder prevalent among the whites, 
 which firfl feizes them with a fleepy htavinefs and 
 difinclination to move. A fwelling of the legs foon 
 takes place, which makes it painful even to ftand or 
 walk; this the captain faid was idlenefs, and that if 
 they would exert themfelves, they would foon get 
 well, and to make them do fo, repeatedly beat them 
 with a rope's end. In this manner he treated Coffee, 
 and when at lafl he could not fland, infilling on it 
 that he would make him, he ordered one of the 
 
 hands 
 
Africa. Dove. 45 
 
 iiands to feize him up to thelhrouds, where, after a 1790. 
 few minutes in that pofition, Coffee begged him for Part II, 
 God's fake to fhoot him and put him out of pain -, to ^^'^v^*^ 
 which, in a moil brutifh manner the captain anfwercd, , 
 " No, no, do you think I'll be hanged for you ?" 
 Coffee repeatedly begged him either to let him down 
 or fhoot him, vet ilill he kept him there for near 
 three hours. When loofcd he lay down on his bed 
 upon the deck, and in about two hours he expired. 
 
 In the outward bound pafTage they were tolerably 
 well off in point of provifions : they had 41b. of 
 bread a week, i lb. of fait beef a day, with a pro- 
 portion of potatoes, wjiich being out when they ar- 
 rived on the coall, they felt it a little fharp, but 
 caught cat- fifli to fupply their place; this however 
 the captain forbid, and refilled alio to add half a P. 106. 
 pound of bread to the week's allowance. Once a 
 week they had flock-fifh, witi. only a little vinegar, 
 chiefly on the Middle Paffiige. On the moll part 
 of the outward bound paffage they had a breakfall 
 alfo of oatmeal boiled thick, called Burgou, which 
 was very comfortable. 
 
 From the year 1774 to 1783, he refided at Bofton 
 and New York. There are there many negro flaves 
 and free blacks; half the inhabitants may be black. 
 In general the flaves were treated very well there, as 
 are fervants iiere. There was not a fingle importa- 
 tion of flaves while he reflded in either of thofe 
 places. Thinks the numbers did not decreafe, and 
 trom the great multitude of black children running 
 about the ftreets, he infers that population was kept 
 up. He never faw nor heard of a driver in America. P. 107. 
 Negroes are not puniflied ordinarily there with whip- 
 ping ; beating was never found to anfwer the pur- 
 pole ; they are transferred to other mailers, fuch as 
 they like thanfelves, for they have liberty to choofe. 
 
 He was paid two months advance-money the 
 (hip's failing from Liverpool, which was r<ccou?)red 
 for in Welt India currency, on his arrival in Weft 
 • Indies. 
 
 Having 
 
4^ A J R I c A. Dove. 
 
 179^' Having foon left Liverpool, he does not know 
 Part II. whether captain Saltcraig was difcharged for his 
 drunkennefs and mifconduft. He was repeatedly 
 requefted by Mr. Rice, one of the owners, to remain 
 in the fervice and promifed promotion in it, but he 
 obieded becaufeof the ill treatment of the {hip's com- 
 pany, and not only fo, but becaufe he did not like 
 the traffick. He had an aflurance afterwards, from 
 Mr. Rice, that Saltcraig (liould be prevented in fu- 
 ture from ufing the fhip's company as before. Mr. 
 Dove had made a point of dating it to the owners 
 hirnfelf. 
 
 He does not know whether Piccinini, Sifters, and 
 Wappoa, are diftinct ftates, nor while there, did he 
 hear of any hoftility between them. 
 
 He never heard of families fold on account oi 
 witchcraft, nor heard of fuch a thing as witchcraft 
 •while on the coaft. 
 
 Upwards of half the fhip's crew were landmen. 
 
 He has often eaten horfe- beans, and thought them 
 an excellent mefs. 
 
 He went to Bofton as cooper of His Majefty's Ihip 
 Prclton, under Admiral Graves ; at New-York he 
 was cooper to the fame Ihip under Com. Hotham. 
 
 At Bofton white people cultivate the land as well 
 as negroes ; and they indifcriminately work together. 
 Both at Bofton and New- York he was appointed to 
 offices on fhore, where he accordinglv refided during 
 the whole war, till 1783, and that has afforded him 
 an opportunity of being fo particular in his obfer- 
 vations. 
 
 He thinks an Englifti conftitution equal to field- 
 labour at Bofton. He has not a doubt, that were 
 there a fufficient number of white people there, the 
 country could be cultivated without any negroes 
 at all. 
 
 Witnefs 
 
. - ■' ( 47 ) 
 
 ,^^;f!;i^0!^.&f^^*^.^^^^!^ .^"^^ J 790; 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Clement Noble. ^ -v- "^ 
 
 Has been nine voyages to Africa, two as a mate,P. ]io8. 
 and feven as a maftcr. 
 
 Recollfifls the voyage when Mr. Thomas Trotter P. 109. 
 was furgeon, they tailed 3d June, 1783, and arrived 
 at Liverpool in /Xuguft 1784. Had no previorus 
 knowledge of Doctor Trotter ; who was recommend- 
 ed by one of his friend*;, to one of the owners of the 
 fhip. Thought him often very remifs in his dutv, 
 and fpent a great deal too much time in drefs, which 
 he often reproved him for. 
 
 Veflel about 300 tons; bought 638 Haves ; loft 
 19 an the coaft, 33 on the pafTage, and 6 in Kingf- 
 ton harbour, in all 58. In preceding voyage, bought 
 666, buried 26 in whole. 
 
 In the voyage with Mr. Trotter, had 49 feamen, 
 one died in the fmall-pox ten days from Liverpool, 
 another fell overboard from a boat and was drowned, 
 another a natural death ; total lofs three, which he * 
 
 thinks might be the average of all his voyages. P, no. 
 
 Does not remember a dead man and a living ever 
 being found chained together, nor flaves fuffbcated 
 from the tarpaulins laid over the gratings through 
 inattention, which it is impolTible can happen, for 
 flaves are always ready enough to call to the people 
 on deck to put the tarpaulin either up or down as 
 they feel heat or cold. Rain is kept out of the 
 rooms by a tarpaulin or awning fpread 10 or 12 feet 
 above the deck from mail to maft, like the roof of 
 a houfe. 
 
 Has been 'often at Cape la Hou ; trade is there 
 chiefly carried on by the Dutch •, Englifli or French 
 fliips fl:op a day or two only, perhaps fometimes a 
 week. Believes flaves cannot be taken off^ the coaft, 
 that have not been fold under the laws of the coun- 
 try. Never knew an inftance. 
 
 Really 
 
48 Africa. Noble." 
 
 179a. Really does not believe flaves could be kidnapped 
 Part II. with impunity on the Gold coaft, 
 \y^\^*^^ Remembers a man flave on board his (hip at- 
 tempting to deftroy himfelf, and believes the man was 
 perfectly mad, is fure of it. Did not appear fo at 
 firft, or he fhould not have bought him ; it appear- 
 ed fome few days after •, he ftormed and made a 
 great noife, worked with his hands, &c. and Ihewed 
 every fign of being mad. Believes he generally re- 
 fufed fuftenance. Had no converfation with him, except 
 at times when he Teemed to be rather better than at 
 others. He gave no reafon at all for his violent 
 condu6t ; could feldom get him to fpeak (p. 113.) 
 
 Has known many flaves fall overboard by acci- 
 dent, but generally picked up. Remembers one 
 P. III. only in the voyage Dr. Trotter was with the (hip, 
 who was fubjedt to fits, and fell out of the fore chains 
 in a fit and was drowned j alio a woman who was 
 infane and very troublefome. believes (he did jump 
 overboard once or oftener. Ordered her to be con- 
 fined to prevent her from doing it again, but pu- 
 nifhed her no other way. Does not recoiled whe- 
 ther (he died or not. 
 
 Never had any flaves die on board in coofequence 
 of corredtion. 
 
 His officers and feamen were in general defirous to 
 fail again with him. 
 
 Remembers, in tke voyage Mr. Trotter was with 
 him, flogging a failor for abufing the flaves, and be- 
 ing infolent to himfelf. Believes it was the only time 
 a feaman was flogged in the voyage ; fame man came 
 home from Jamaica with the (hip, and behaved well, 
 and offered to go again with Mr. N. in preference to 
 any other (hip (p. 112 and 120.) 
 
 Does not know Mr. Trotter ever exprefTed himfelf 
 di(ratisfied with any occurrence on the voyage, and 
 has no reafon to think he would not have gone with 
 him, but the fhip was laid up (p. 116.) 
 P. 112. Does remember a voyage, when he had a number 
 of paroquets on board, it was in 1774, they were all 
 
 killed 
 
A F R I c A. — W. Indies. Noble. 
 
 49 
 
 killed in one night, by a black man of the fhip (not 1790. 
 a flave) who told Ibme of the people he would do as Part II, 
 much for him (Mr. N.) the next night; when afked v-'v*^ 
 if he laid fo, he faid, yes, with all the infolence in the 
 "world J he was ordered to be confined, and by advice 
 of the officers of the fliip, who judged it unfafe to 
 keep him below, he was fent to the mail head ; at 
 two days end he fent to fay he was forry for what he 
 had done, and hoped to be Itt come down -, he was 
 immediately ordered to be brought down and let out 
 of irons ; but for the remaining part of the voyage 
 he (Mr. N.) took care to have the cabin door made 
 fail in the night : the man was very turbulent, and 
 at Kingfton was caged almoil every night till he went 
 off the iOand : when fo confined he fent every morn- 
 ing to Mr. N. for money to relieve him: he never 
 blamed Mr. N. for lending him to the mail head, but 
 told many of the failors it was very fortunate he was 
 fo confined, otherwiib he was fure he would have 
 murdered Mr. N. for his relblutioa was fixed. 
 
 Does not recollefl he had ever any trouble with 
 his failors, employing attornies, or any thing of that 
 fort. 
 
 Did not often receive flaves in the night-, but every 
 now and then -, that the other captams fiiould not 
 lee them come on board, he judged was the caule, P. n^, 
 for the traders wiflied to keep on good terms with 
 all the captains. 
 
 He was nine months and eight days on the coaft. P. 1 14. 
 
 Does not remember receiving three men that were 
 fiflbing in the olBng, but has frequently fecn them 
 taken out of canoes and fold : they were (laves to be 
 fure. The greater part of thofe that paddle the ca- 
 noes, and go afifhing, are flaves. 
 
 Believes perfons in the condition of flaves on thep. n^, 
 coafl:, may be fold to the fliips, without being con- 
 vided of any crime : always underflood they had a 
 right by the laws of t!ie country to do what they 
 pleated With their own property. Never made any 
 inquiry whether the flaves brought for fale, were the 
 
 Numb. 3. G property 
 
50 Africa. — ^W. Indies; Noble. 
 
 1790. property of the fellers-, they being ufually brokers 
 
 Part II. only J never enquired how thefe brokers came by 
 
 ^-''''r'^ them, thinks there is no occafion ; always fuppofed, 
 
 and did not doubt, but they had a right to fell them. 
 
 Inftances of (laves falling overboard in Guinea 
 Ihips are not very frequent j it happens every now 
 and then. 
 
 Is not at prefent engaged in the African trade; 
 quitted the fea above four years fince. 
 P. 116. Some of the flaves appear dejefted when brought 
 on board, but in general foon mend of that, and are 
 in very good fpirits while on board. 
 
 Now and then met with fulky ones that would not 
 eat without force, then endeavoured to perfuade them, 
 and if that would not do, to force them to it. 
 
 Has been often below when the flaves were all in 
 their rooms : they had room enough to lie down, 
 and were as comfortable as could be expected on 
 board a fhip : could walk among them without tread- 
 ing upon them, it is done every night by the officers 
 P. 1 17. after they go to reft: all the fhips he has had, had 
 platforms. It was much hotter below at fome times, 
 than at others j that depends chiefly on the weather : 
 when calm it is fure to be very warm. Never found 
 any bad effedls from the air : the air cannot furely be 
 fo good as upon deck: it is rather foul and offcn- 
 five, but more fo in calm weather than at other times. 
 
 Refers in what he has faid of the fl:ate of the fliip 
 between decks, &c. to the voyage that Dr. Trotter 
 was with him. 
 
 Cannot fay with certainty how many flaves were 
 in the mens room in this voyage : from the number 
 on board thinks there muft have been fomething 
 fliort of 300 ; cannot fay the exa6t proportion of 
 males in the cargo, but fliould fuppofe about two- 
 thirds males, and one-third females. 
 
 Cannot recoiled number of boys ; in general they 
 reckon in their accounts, without diftinguifliing j 
 they had many of both boys and girls. 
 
 Does 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Noble. 51 
 
 Does not remember the length of the mens room, 1790. 
 the breadth about 26 feet: there were in the breadth 4 p^rc H. 
 rows of flaves on the deck, and one on each plat- ^.y^s^'s^ 
 form: flowed on their backs or fides as they chofeP. 118, 
 to lie : chief mate and boatfwain generally ftow 
 them in the mens room: never meafured, nor calcu- 
 lated what room they had •, they had always plenty 
 of room to lie down in, and had they had 3 times as 
 much they would all lieclofejammed together; they do 
 fo before the room is half full . the fpace in the middle 
 between the two rows of Haves varies accord! ns; to 
 the lengths of the flaves ; in fome places perhaps a 
 foot, in fome more, in fome lefs : fometimes when the 
 weather is cool they will lie as near the fide as they 
 can, and when it is warm crowd more under the grat- 
 ings. Cannot recolledt how they were diftributed as 
 to numbers ; are divided fo as not to throng one 
 room more than another : they were he believes dif- 
 tributed as the cargo ufually is on board of Guinea 
 fliips, where he underftood it the rule to diilribute 
 them equally fore and aft : there were men if owed 
 in the boys room adjoining to the mens ; which is ge- 
 nerally the cafe (p. 120.) 
 
 The flaves were fold in the Weft Indies after this 
 manner : the men are on the main, and the women 
 all on the quarter deck ; the buyers come in at the 
 gangway between, where they remain till the fale is 
 opened, when they rufli in fore and aft, and fuic 
 themfelvcs as they can, clapping their tallies on 
 whoever they mean to take. 
 
 Believes this is the common way of felling a cargo P. 119. 
 of flaves by fcramble in Jamaica j in other iflands it 
 differs. 
 
 Remembers the flaves being in great diftrefs, and 
 making grievous outcries on the fale by fcramble in 
 this particular voyage; the caufe of it is, becaufe 
 they are parting ; it is a general cry and a noife 
 throughout the whole fliip j but more particularly fo 
 with fome that think they are going to be parted 
 from their hufbands, wives, mothers, children, &c. 
 
 G 2 but 
 
52 Africa. — W. Indies. NoblIe. 
 
 '79"'' but the purchafers are always very particular in 
 rart 11. ^laking exchanges, fo that hufbands, wives, mothers, 
 '^''^'^'''"^ and children, and even acquaintances, fliall go to- 
 gether. Never knew it otherwife. 
 
 The men (laves take exercife during thepaffage; 
 a drum is beat, and they jump or dance to it, as 
 well as their fituation will admit-, the flout men are 
 all in irons, and a right leg and a left, and their 
 hands the fame : a chain fattens the greateft part of 
 them to the deck, a few days before leaving the 
 coaft, and a few days after •, then thofe chains are 
 taken away, and many of the flaves let out of irons ; 
 they are always very ready and very fond of dancing, 
 except a few fulky onesj but in general there arc 
 very few of them. As to the means ufcd to compel 
 thern to dance when fulky, the mailer or people that 
 are among them endeavour to perfuade them, and if 
 they will not, they let them do as they pleafe. 
 P. 120. He was fupplied with rice or corn by the natives 
 while on the coaft. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Isaac Parker, 
 
 P. 122. Ifaac Parker, Ship-keeper of the Melampus Frigate, 
 failed in 1764 from Liverpool to the River Gambia, 
 in the Black Joke, Captain Pollard, who treated the 
 flaves well, but who dying off St. Jago, was fuc- 
 ceeded by Capt. Marfhall, who did not behave fo 
 well to them, but pinched them in provifions and 
 water, while there was plenty in the fhip. One ex- 
 ception to Captain Pollard's good treatment was, a 
 child of nine months old which refufed to eat, for 
 ■which the captain took it up in his hand, and flogged 
 it with a cat, faying at the fame time, " Damn you, 
 I'll make you eat, or I'll kill you." 
 
 The fame child having fwelled feet, the captain 
 ordered them to be put into water, though the Ihip's 
 cook told him it was too hot. This brought off the 
 
 fkin 
 
Africa. Parker. 5<» 
 
 {kin and nails. He then ordered fweet oil and cloths, 1790. 
 which Ifaac Parker himfelf applied ro the feet ; and Part II. 
 as the child at mefs time again refufed to eat, the -^"v-^ 
 captain again took it up and flogged it, and tied a^- 123. 
 log of mango-wood 18 or 20 inches long, and of 12 
 or 131b. weight round its neck as a punifhment. 
 He repeated the flogging for four days together at p. 127. 
 mefs time; the laft time after floggina; he let it drop 
 out of his hand, with the fame exprefll ons as before, 
 and accordingly in about three quarters of an hour, 
 the child died. He then called its mother to heave 
 it overboard, and beat her for refufing. He, how- 
 ever, forced her to take it up, and go to the fhip's 
 fide, where holding her head on one fide to avoid 
 the fight, fhe dropped her child overboard, after 
 which Ihe cried for many hours. 
 
 The crew confided of 13 of whom only 5 furvived.P. 126. 
 
 In 1765, he failed again from Liverpool, in the 
 Latham, captain Colly, to Old Calabar, and there, 
 for want of provifions, left the Ihip, which, though 
 bound for the Welt Indies, lay windbound then upon 
 the bar. He went with the furgeon to buy Haves, 
 with the goods that were left, to Newtown, where 
 Dick Ebro, a king's fon, who knew of the ill treat- 
 ment given the crew by captain Colly, concealed 
 him (or three days in a room till the Ihip was gone. 
 He then came out, and employed himfelf in Filhing, 
 cleaning their arms, &c. and remained there for five 
 months. 
 
 When there, Dick Ebro' aflcing him to go to warP, 121. 
 with him, he complied, and accordingly havino- 
 fitted out and armed the canoes, they went up the 
 river, lying under the bulhes in the day when they 
 came near a village; and at night flying up to the 
 village, and taking hold of every one they could fee. 
 Thefe they handcuffed, brought down to the canoes, 
 and i'o proceeded up the river, till they got to the 
 amount of 45, with whom they returned to New- 
 town, where lending to the captains of the (hipping, 
 they divided them among the fliips. About a fort- 
 night 
 
'54 Africa. Parker. 
 
 night after they went again, and were out eight or 
 nine days, plundering other villages higher up the 
 river. They feized on much the fame number as 
 before, brought them to Newtown, gave the fame 
 notice, and difpofed of them as before among the 
 
 P. ijj.fhips. They took man, woman, and child as they 
 could catch them in the houfes, and except fucking 
 children, who went with their mothers, there was 
 no care taken to prevent the feparation of the chil- 
 dren from the parents when fold. When fold to the 
 Englifh merchants, they lamented, and cried that 
 they were taken away by force. 
 
 "• ^35- Dick Ebro' was certainly not at war with the peo- 
 ple up the river, nor had they made any attack up- 
 on him. Slaves were very flack in the back country, 
 at that time, and were wanted when he went on thefe 
 
 *' ^35* expeditions. He took no goods with him in the 
 canoes. He was not at war with any body, nor did 
 J. P. hear that there had been any war before his 
 coming there. The old town and new town of Ca- 
 labar were at peace with one another. 
 
 P' ^23' Dick Ebro* had many flaves of his own, whom he 
 employed in cutting wood and fifliing, &c. but he 
 treated them always very well. 
 
 P. 132. The Guinea captains fixing on a certain price, 
 agreed to lie under a ^50 bond, if any one of them 
 iliould give more for (laves than another ; in confe- 
 
 P. 1 33- quence of which, the natives did not readily bring 
 flaves on board, to fell at thofe prices ; upon which 
 the captains ufed to row guard at night, to take the 
 canoes as they paflfed the fliip, and fo flopping the 
 flaves from getting to their towns prevent the traders 
 from getting them. Thefe they took on board the 
 different fliips, and kept them till the traders agreed 
 to flave at the old price. 
 
 P. 13-^. He has known prefents made by the captains to 
 
 P. 135. the black traders to induce them to bring flaves. 
 Captain Colly in particular gave them fome pieces 
 of cannon, which he himfelf faw landed. 
 
 P. 134. Captain Colly did not behave fo well to the fliip's 
 
 crew 
 
Africa. Parker. 55 
 
 crew after his arrival on the coafl: as during the voy- 1790. 
 ase. He kept them on fhort provifions, giving them Pare II. 
 only fifh for four months, with nothing but palm oil ^''"V^-' 
 to it, and fometimes not that. He gave alfo 41b. of 
 bread by the week. The quantity of fiili, when 
 boiled, was not fufficient for a meal, and the reft of 
 the day they were forced to go without vidluals. 
 When up in the country, he took a yam from off 
 the coppers, for which the captain charged him a 
 ihilling againft his wages. 
 
 He has been more than once in the Weft Indies-, P. 134. 
 and in Jamaica, Barbadoes, Antigua, and the Gre- 
 nadas, has feen feamen fick, with fwelled feer, and 
 begging for want of food and employment ; and 
 thefe informed him that the ftiips they came from 
 were Guineamen. 
 
 He did not know, when he went out with captain P. 135, 
 Pollard, that any part of his wages was to be paid 
 in Weft India currency, and accordingly objected to P. 136. 
 receiving it in that manner when there; declaring to 
 capt. Marftiall, that " he would not go home with 
 the fliip if he did not give full pay-," upon which 
 the captain threw him and fome others of the crew 
 into prifon, where they lay two or three days, and 
 then agreed to go with him, on the captain's paying 
 their gaol fees. The governor, though applied to, 
 gave the failors no redrefs. 
 
 Since his return to England, in 1766, he has beenP. 131. 
 fome time in the coafting trade, and fome time in 
 his Majefty's fervice, and in 1768, entered the En- 
 deavour bark, in which he went round the world 
 with captain Cook, as boatfwain's mate. He ferved 
 after in the Monarch, captain Joftiua Rowley, and 
 is now by appointment of the mafter-attendant of 
 Plymouth dock, fliip-keeper of the Melampus. 
 
 The ilaves on board ftiijs very often refufe to eat ; 
 they take lick, and will not eat : blows make them 
 only more fulky, and in general they feem very me-P* ^3^- 
 lancholy and dejeded. P. i37- 
 
 Witnefs 
 
( S6 ) 
 
 Witnefs examined — Rev. John Newton, 
 
 Redor of St. Mary, Woolnoth. 
 
 1790. Made five voyages to Africa, the lad in 1754, as 
 Part ll.mafter of a flavc fhip. Lived afhore about a year 
 ^""^^"^ and a half, chiefly at the ifland of Plantanes, at the 
 • *37* naouth of the river Sherbro. 
 
 The Purrow, the legiQacive and executive power 
 there. A fort of free-mafonry, to which the obedi- 
 ence paid may be a mixture of fuperftitious charms, 
 and fubmifTion to government. 
 •P» 138. Always judged, that, with equal advantages, the 
 natives capacities would be equal to ours. Has 
 known many of real and decided capacity. The 
 Sherbro prople are in a degree civilized, often 
 friendly, and may be trulled where not previoufly 
 deceived by Europeans. Has lived in fafety among 
 them, when the only white man there. The bed 
 people he met with were on the R. Gaboon and at 
 C. Lopas. Thefe had then the lead intercourfe 
 with Europe. Believes they had then no flave- 
 P* 1 39* trade, and has heard them fpeak againft it. They 
 traded in ivory and wax. One great man faid, *' If 
 I was to be angry and fell my boy, how fliould I get 
 my boy back when my anger was gone ? " 
 
 Has known (hips and boats cue off", but never at 
 Gaboon or C. Lopas. Sometim.es at Sherbro, ufually 
 in retaliation. 
 
 Natives, having few wants, make fewer exertions; 
 
 but he does not think them naturally indolent. 
 
 P. 140. Many of them hired to work in our boats and fhips. 
 
 On the Windward Coaft, they cultivate the land, not 
 
 only to fupply themfelves, but the (hips with rice. 
 
 Polygamy being pradifed, the afft-'ilions mav pof- 
 fibly not be fo ftrong as in other countries; but he 
 never heard of a mother felling her children. 
 
 They 
 
Africa. Newton. 57 
 
 They are generally worfe in their conduct in pro- 1790. 
 portion to their acquaintance vvirh us. Paic II. 
 
 Believes the African trade very fatal to feamen, ^y'~\^-'^ 
 from expofure to weather, intemperance, and ill 
 treatment. Thinki. in a trade in African produce 
 they would not neccllarily be expofed to weather fo 
 much, and that the Have-trade is a great caufe of 
 their hard treatment. The real or fuppofcd neceflity 
 of treating the negroes rigoroufly, gradually be- 
 numbs the heart, and renders moil of thole engaged 
 in it too inditferent to their fellow creature's fuffer- 
 ings. He has fecn them when Tick, beaten for lazi- 
 nefs till they hive died under the blows. P. 141, 
 
 Once when on fhore, the traders fuddenly put him 
 into his long-boat, telling him that a fhip jufb 
 paffed, had carried off two pec pie. Had it been 
 known iii the town, he would have been detained. 
 Has known many other fuch inftances, but after 2^ 
 years cannot fpecify them. It was a general opinion, 
 founded on repeated and indifputable fa61:s,''that de- 
 predations of this fort were frequently committed by 
 the Europeans, (p. 147.) 
 
 Knows little of punifhments, except the felling 
 offenders for Haves. Believes many were fold for 
 flaves, whole punifliment othcrwile would have been 
 trifl'.ng. 
 
 Many confidered frauds as a neceffary branch ofp. 142. 
 the flave-trade. Has known them put falfe heads 
 into powder-caH^s, cut off two or three yards from 
 the middle of a piece of cloth, greatly aJulrerate 
 the brandy, and fometimes Ileal back articles de- 
 livered. 
 
 The men flaves aUvays fettered. He never put 
 them out of irons, till they law the land in the W. 
 Indies. Thinks the fliip would not otherwife have 
 been fafe. Two or three plots, in his fhip, were 
 timely difcovered. He was mate of a fiiip where 
 one white man and three or four negroes were killed, 
 in an infurreflion. 
 
 The Haves had more room in his Hiip, becaufe he 
 Numb. J. H never 
 
5^ Africa. N e w t o n. 
 
 1790. never compleated his pnrchafe-, but their fituation 
 Part II, in a full Ihip is uncomfortable indeed, being kept 
 ^"•^^'"^-'conftantly in irons, crowded in their lodging, and 
 often, in bad weather, alrnoft deftitute of air to 
 breathe J befides what they fuffer from the (hips 
 motion, in their irons, and the difficulty in the night 
 of getting to tncir tubs, which are fometimes 
 overfet. 
 P, 143. In plots or infurreftions, they fufFer moft generally 
 levere floggings, to which the mafters of fome Ihips 
 he has been on board of, added thumb-fcrews. A 
 captain told him repeatedly, that he had put negroes 
 to death, after an infurreftion, by different cruel 
 tortures. In many fhips the fuffcrings of the women 
 •were aggravated by the brutality of the crews. He 
 knew many women in Sherbro, whom he thought 
 modcft, but knows not how to compare their mo- 
 defty with that of women in other countries. 
 
 The flaves are fettered in pairs, not chained. He 
 has often, in the morning, feen one of the pair dead. 
 
 He has known pawns taken off the coaft by Euro- 
 pean traders. Individual Europeans were thought 
 well of by the natives, but they had no good opinion 
 of them upon the whole, and fometimes when charged 
 ■with a fraud or crime, would fay, " What, do you 
 think I am a white man ? " 
 
 Small flaves, from 8 to 16 years of age, ufed to 
 conflitute about i-4th of the cargo. 
 P, 144. He was at three flave fales in the Weft Indies, and 
 at one in South Carolina. Relations were feparated 
 as fhrep and lambs are feparated by the butcher. 
 
 His concern in the flave-trade was not profitable 
 to his employers. There were more lofing than 
 gainful voyages. The trade was generally confidered 
 as a fort of lottery. 
 
 He made three voyages as commander of a flave- 
 fhip. He firfl v»'ent on board a (lave-fhip as a fbre- 
 maft-man at Madeira, in 1745, having been dif- 
 charged from a man of war; but was made fleward 
 for about fix months. He was left by her when the 
 
 fhip 
 
Africa. Newton. 
 
 fhip failed with a perfon who was p.nz owner, on 
 the coall, where he lived perhaps 18 months, as a 
 fervant to white traders. He left the coalt in the 
 end of 1747, as paflcnger in a fliip which called at 
 Gaboon, and arrived in England 1748. He counts 
 all that time his firft voyige. In that time, they 
 traded to R. de Nuna, about 40 leagues northward 
 of S. Leone, but has no knowledge of the inter- 
 mediate country, and 20 leagues to the fouthward 
 of that river, in the R. Sherbro. 
 
 He once went three days journey inland, which hep. 146. 
 fuppofes might be fifty miles from the head of the 
 river or creek Caramanca. Believes he did not ftay 
 above two days^ He never went fo far at any other 
 time, feldom above 3, 4, or 5 miles from the coaft. 
 
 He has fometimes found all trade flopped, and the P. 147, 
 depredations of European traders have been alTigned 
 by the natives as the caufe, and he has, more than 
 once or twice, made up breaches of this kind be- 
 tween the (hips and the natives. 
 
 He believes fevcral captains of flave-fhips were 
 honell, humane men, but has good rcafon to think 
 they were not all fo. The taking off flaves by force 
 has been thought moft frequent in the lall voyages p. 148. 
 of captains. He has often heard mafters and officers 
 exprefs this opinion. Depredations and reprifals 
 made to get them were fo frequent, that the Euro- 
 peans and Africans were in a fpirit of mutual Jiftruft: 
 he does not mean that there were no depredations, 
 except in their lad voyage. Has known Liverpool 
 and Bridol Ihips materially injured from the condu6t 
 of fome fhips, from the fame ports, that had left 
 the coaft. It is a fa6l that fome captains have com- 
 mitted depredations in their lad voyage, wdio have 
 not been known to have done it before. 
 
 He was, for mod of his refidence, in an abje6iP, 149. 
 date of fervitude and ficknefs. He knew the natives 
 better, when a mader to the fame part. 
 
 He felt the trade very ineligible, but had no 
 fcruple of Its lawfulnefs while engaged in it. 
 
 H 2 Witnefs 
 
6o ( ^ ) 
 
 Witnefs examined, — James Morley, Gunner of the 
 Medway. 
 
 1790. Made 6 voyages to Africa, the firft in 1760, the 
 Part Il.laft in 1776: ever fince in the king's fervice. Let 
 '"^"V^the African trade from the ill ufage he himfelf re- 
 r. 149. ceived, and faw towards others. He continued in 
 r. 150. j-}^(^ trade from a piomife of promotion, and to main- 
 tain his famiW. In the firft fhip, being then 9 or 
 10 years of age, he was a fervant ; alfo in the fecond ; 
 in the third before the maft ; in the fourth gunner ; 
 in the fifth boatfvvain and mate-, in the fi^th mate. 
 
 Has been much on the coaft, and far up the 
 country. Has been, by compuiation, 3 or 400 miles 
 up tne river Nazareth, and about 200 miles up the 
 river Gaboon (abovd Parrot's Ifland, p. 164 ) 
 P. 151. ^^^s P^^'*^ hetw at Angola, A.r^nie, Cape Aoollonia, 
 Gap(^ Coaft, Anamaboe, and Old Calabar (at this laft, 
 3 voyages-— and at Commenda, Succundee, Dixcove, 
 Amuida, Brandenburgh, and many other places, 
 p. 3:_4.) 
 
 Atfica produces cotton, gold, rice, peppers, palm- 
 oil, tobacco, and dye woods. He never was ricing 
 on the coaft, but has bought fome of it off the river 
 Sifters, and different places on the Windward Coaft. 
 This rice was brought alongfide in canoes, without 
 any inquiry for it (in bail<.ets holding about 1 gal- 
 lons, p. 167.) 
 
 The natives were always willing to do any fer- 
 vices, for which they had a profpeil of being paid 
 immediately. He has had much intercourfe with 
 P. 152. them, and apprehends they would raife produce, if 
 made to fee that they could get as much by it as by 
 felluig flaves. They traffic only in provifions and 
 ivory at their markets j alfo for Qaves all through 
 the country. 
 
 They 
 
AfRicA — W.Indies. Morley. 6i 
 
 They treat their flaves with the greateft kindnefs, i79^* 
 more fo than our krvants or Haves in the VVeflParcII. 
 Indies, Thev do not care to fell canoe-boys and ♦-'•v-'^ 
 houfe-fervantSj who raife provifions, filh, get palm- P. 152. 
 oil, and palm-wine, make grafs and other cloths, 
 build houfes, go in the canoes, and do the houfe 
 bufinefs. Is convinced it is a common pra6tice for P. 15J. 
 them to let flaves to work, who are refufed by the 
 Europeans. In Old Calal^ar he f.iw a (lave that was 
 offered to his ihip, at work in the plantation. 
 
 He owns, with ihame, that he has made the natives 
 drunk, and has given an extra price for a good man 
 or woman. He has feen this done by others. Cap- 
 tain Hildebrand paid an extraordinary price for one 
 of the wives of a man whom lie had made drunk, and 
 who wifhed to redeem her next day, as did the perfon 
 he (Mr. M.) bought the man of; but neither of 
 them was given up. Suppofes they would have 
 given one-third more than their price to redeem 
 them (knew of no other inliance, p. 166.) 
 
 Molt of the flaves, as far as he faw, were obtained 
 by purchafe. He knew and faw only one taken by 
 fraud by the black traders. It was one that came 
 down to get fhcll-fifli, that he bought. Has been 
 told by the natives at Calabar, (but never faw it, p. 
 165.) that they took (laves in what they call war, 
 which he found was putting the villages in confu- 
 fion, and catching them as they could. A man on 
 board the fliip he was in, fhewed how he was taken 
 at night by furprife, and laid his wife and children?. 154. 
 were taken with him, but they were not in the fame 
 fhip. Had reafon to think, from the min's words, 
 that they took the whole village, thole that could 
 not get awav. 
 
 In Old Calabar, perfons are fold for flaves, for 
 adultery and theft. On pretence of adultery, he 
 remembers a woman fold. He learnt that this was 
 only a pretence from hir own mouth, for fhe fpake 
 good Knglidi, and from the refped with which her 
 kulband, king Ephraim, treated her, when he came 
 
 on 
 
6l Africa.— ^W. Indies. Mo r ley. 
 
 1790. onboard; whereas, in real cafes of adultery, they 
 
 Pare II. are very defperate. 
 
 *— "v*-* He has fcen children on board, without parents 
 or relations. 
 
 P. 155. Off Taboo, two men canae along-fide in a canoe. 
 One of them came up and fat on the netting, but 
 •would not come into the fhip, on which the captain 
 intoxicated him fo with brandy and laudanum, that 
 he fell in upon deck. (Does not know laudanum, 
 but the captain ordered him to pour in laudanum, 
 and he (Mr. M.) faw him pour out the liquid, which 
 was of a very dark brown, p. 165.) The captain 
 then ordered him to be put into the mens room, with 
 a centry over him. The man in the canoe, after 
 calling in vain for his companion, paddled off faft 
 towards the fhore. The captain fired feveral mufket 
 balls after him, which did not hit him. About 3 or 
 4 leagues farther down, 2 men came on board from 
 another canoe. While they were on boara, a drum 
 was kept beating near the man who had been feized, 
 to prevent his hearing them, or they him. 
 
 P. 156. When they came into Gaboon, in the Tom, cap- 
 tain Matthews; dcfired the mate to call himfelf 
 captain, while he hid himfelf. Twq of the chiefs 
 fons coming on board, told the mate that he lied, 
 and that he was not the captain : on this the captain 
 came up the fcuttle, laughing. The chiefs fons 
 afked him what he had done with their fons, and the 
 boys he had carried off, and told him in Englilh, that 
 if he came on fhore there to trade, they would have 
 his head. They then went into their canoe, and lefc 
 the veffcl, calling to him and making motions to the 
 fame purpofe. Is not pofitive as to any other in- 
 flance. 
 
 When at Furnandipo, in the Marcus tender-floop, 
 in the height of trading with the natives for provi- 
 fions, a man ftole a few ftrings of beads. Bifhop, 
 the mafter, ftriking him, the natives flew up to the 
 wood. Bifhop tired among them, and ordered the 
 
 boat's 
 
Africa. — ^W. Indies, Morley. 6;^ 
 
 boat's crew to do the fame. A great fhrieking was 179O. 
 heard, and they immediately all difappeared. The Part II. 
 boat's crew left the boat, and faw the track of blood »«--v-ni# 
 for many yards ; but they could never learn whether 
 any of them were killed. Does not remember that 
 any of the natives had offered violence to the boat's 
 crew. 
 
 From Old-Town, Calabar, to the Duke*s-Town, p, j^-- 
 is 4 or 5 miles, by the creek ; but by the mouth of 
 Crofs River, 16 or 18 miles, or more. New- Town 
 is a long way from the ihipping. Before the towns 
 parted, they always went by the creek. 
 
 When there has been a full purchafe, the (laves 
 arc clofely Itowed ; but, when a Ihort purchafe, and 
 they have had mortality, thev have more room. He 
 has been employed in a full (hip, in Rowing them as 
 clofe as he pofTibly could. In moft fhips he has been 
 in, the men were in irons all the paflage. In full P. 15S 
 fhips, he has (ten them in great perfpirations, efpe- 
 cially when rams obliged them to keep the gratings 
 long covered. He has wiped them, and feen them 
 wiped, in perfpirations lb violent, as to give reafoa 
 to think, it they havi been long kept fo clofe, futfo- 
 cation mufl: have enfued ; but this he never found. 
 He has feen them under great difficulty of breach- 
 ing. The women particularly, often get up on the 
 beams, where the gratings are raifed with bannifters, 
 about 4 feet above the combings, to give air, but 
 they are generally driven down, becaufc they take 
 the air from the reft. ♦ 
 
 He has known rice held in the mouths of fea- 
 firk Haves, until they were almoll ftrangled. He 
 has feen the furgeon's maces force the pannikin be- 
 tvi^een their reech, and throw the medicine over them, 
 fo that not half of it went into their mouths, the 
 poor wretches wallowing in their blood or excre- 
 ments, hardly having life, and this with blows of the 
 cat, d — ing tht m for fuiky black b . He de- 
 clares he has known the doflor's mate report a flave 
 dead, and have him thrown overboard, when he has 
 
 feen 
 
^4 Africa. — W. Indies. Mo r ley. 
 
 1790. feen him rtrup:gle in the watery no one could ima- 
 
 Part ll.gine why, only to get clear of the trouble. 
 «--v^ In his firft voyage, in the Eagle Galley, 700 were 
 taken on board ; believes above 250 were loft. In 
 
 P* J59'his fecond voyage, in the Amelia, about 200, or 
 more, were taken in, 1 8 or 20, more or lei's, were 
 loft. In his fourth voyage, in the Tom, about 550 
 or more taken in, 25, more or lefs, loft. In his fifth 
 voyage, in the Venus, between 250 and 300 taken in, 
 about 20 loft, but is not fure. 
 
 Some flaves fold on board, moft commonly on 
 iliore. He never favv them fold by fcramble, except 
 in his laft voyage, in the Whim. Refufe flaves are 
 
 P. 160. fold by vendue. He has i^ccn refufe flaves, that came 
 out of the fliip he was in, lying about in St. Kitt's, 
 in a very bad condition, and apparently deferted. 
 He has known the poorer people buy flaves at ven- 
 due, for a trifle, not thinking of the expence of cure ; 
 ■when they find the raifing of them will coft a good 
 deal, let them go about any where. He has been on 
 an inqueft at Jamaica, where, froin the appearance 
 of the body, the verdicl was, " Died for want." 
 Upon inquiry, the perfon kiipected to be the owner, 
 has denied that it was his flave. 
 
 Some feamen enter voluntarily, but knows others 
 are kept by landlords, till in debt, when they offer 
 them a Guineaman or gaol. One Sullivan, a land- 
 lord in Briftol, got 2 or 3 young fellows in debt, and 
 forced them, in his hearing, to go on board the Gui- 
 neaman he belonged to, or to gaol. He helped to 
 carry them on board himfelf ; cannot pofltively fay 
 this is a common pradice. 
 
 The feamen in the Guineaman he failed in, were 
 generally treated with great rigour, and many with 
 cruelty. Recollects many inftances. Matthews, the 
 chief mate in the Venus, would knock a man down 
 
 P. 161. for any frivolous thing, with a cat, a piece of wood, 
 or a cook's axe, with which he once cut a man down 
 the Ihoulder. In the Amelia, captain Dixon, the 
 men were tied up, and had 4 or 5 dozen lafues at a 
 
 time. 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Mo r ley. 65 
 
 time, and then rubbing them with pickle, he told 1790. 
 them, " They fhould not (link, for he would faltPart II. 
 them well." He has heard him tell them fo often. He ^-^^r^ 
 (Mr. Morley) when his cabin-boy, for accidentally- 
 breaking a glafs, was tied to the tiller by the hands, 
 flogged with a cat, and kept hanging fome time. He 
 has feen great fevcrity in all the Briftol vciTels he has 
 been in^ but capt. Butler, in the Whim, from Liver- 
 pool, neither treated the flaves nor the men fevere- 
 ly. He has known him fend the only bit of frefli 
 provifions he had from his table, to the fick flaves. 
 
 The feamens provifions were ufually fcanty. Have 
 no ihelter. Has feen them lie and die upon deck. 
 In all his firfl: 5 voyages, he has feen feamen flck and 
 ulcerated -, for it was all to a flckly part of the coafl: 
 that he went. They are generally treated ill. He 
 has known men afl^: to have their wounds or ulcers 
 drefled -, and has heard the doftor, with oaths, tell 
 them to take their duns; and drefs them. Never 
 knew the captain compel the dodor to do his duty ; 
 nor does he know that the do(flor made this aniwcr 
 in the captain's hearing. P. 162. 
 
 The feamen were paid in Weft India currency, in 
 every fliip he was in. There are more deferters 
 from Guineamen, than from any Weft Indiaman he 
 has been in. He has frequently feen Guinea feamen 
 lying about the wharfs, &c. in almoft all the iflands, 
 with ulcerated legs, and other diforders, almoft dead. 
 He has often relieved them. 
 
 In Jamaica, he faw a man hoifted up taught to a 
 crane on a wharf, with 3 or 4 fifty-fixes to his feet, 
 and flogged with a fliort whip, and the fls.in fwelled 
 up in great lumps: it was not broke, but bruiled. 
 The nea;ro flogo-er then flogq-ed him with ebony on 
 the fame parts, until the blood ran from moft ot his 
 back. He was told the flave's crime was running 
 away ; and that the ebony was ufed to let out the 
 bruiled blood. Another time, he fa^v a woman 
 cruelly flogged at Kingfton. He was told flie wasp. iSj* 
 to pay her miftrefs fo much a month, which flie had 
 Numb. 3. 1 not 
 
6^ Africa.— W. Indies. Morley. 
 
 1790. not done. He knows many fuch indances. In Ja- 
 
 Part Il.maica, he once (and only once) faw marking irons 
 
 ^'-v'**'' heated over the flame of rum, and applied to the 
 
 thick of the thigh of the flaves, as they came through 
 
 the barricado-door one by one. 
 
 Captain Briggs's chief mate, in Old Calabar river, 
 lying in ambufh to flop the natives coming down the 
 creek, purfued Oruk Robin John, who, jumping on 
 fhore, Ihot the mate through the head, 
 
 Mr. Walker, mafter of a floop, was on board the 
 Jolly Prince, captain Lambert, when the king of 
 Nazareth (tabbed the captain at his own table, took 
 the veflel, putting all the whites to death, except the 
 cook, a boy, and he believes one man. Captain 
 Punter, of the Prince of Wales brig, afking Walker 
 why the king of Nazareth took this ftep ? he faid, 
 " It was on account of the people that Matthews 
 " had carried off from Gaboon and Cape Lopas, the 
 'f voyage before." Walker efcaped, by knowing 
 P. 1 64. the language. The Jolly Prince belonged to the 
 fame owners as Matthews's fhip. 
 
 He was fometimes a week, fometimes 2 or 3 days, 
 on fhore at Gaboon. He faw a great quantity of 
 ivory there, which comes from inland, on the fhould- 
 ers or heads of the negroes. 
 
 By the water-fide about Gaboon, the country is 
 flat or marfhy in feme places, but the farther up the 
 river, the better the land. It runs fo high in the 
 back country, as to be feen a great way off. The 
 country was never overflowed while he was there, 
 and he never heard that it was. 
 P. 165, There are great quantities of cotton at Calabar and 
 Gaboon, but no rice that ever he faw. Never faw 
 any cotton exported from thence; but he has made 
 pillows of it. It is very fine, but very fliort in the 
 pod. 
 
 Sailors in the Weft Indies are called wharfingers, 
 by feafaring people in general, becaufe they have 
 ulcerated legs, and are nckly, lying about the wharfs 
 and private places. The failors call them fo where 
 
 there 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Morley. 67 
 
 there are wharfs ; but they call them beach homers, 1790. 
 and other cant names, where there are no wharfs. Part II. 
 
 Very particular in moft captains purchafing no ^^v^o 
 flaves but fuch as appeared to be in good health. 
 
 They had always an hofpital forward, before the 
 men's room. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Capt. Tho. Bolton Thompson, 
 Of the Royal Navy. 
 
 He was fecond lieutenant of the Grampus in 1784,?. 167. 
 1785, and 1786, and commanded the Nautilus in 
 1787, in carrying out the black poor to S. Leone, 
 where he was from May to September. 
 
 The principal produdls are cotton, indigo, tobacco, 
 fugar-cane'\. cam- wood, gums, cardamums, rice, 
 ivory, and gold- dull. 
 
 Were the natives inftrudled and encouraged, he 
 fuppofes they would cultivate thofe things. Several 
 natives at S. Leone, affifted the blacks he carried 
 out, in building their houfes, at a fmall expenfe. 
 
 The natives did not appear inferior in capacity toP. 16S, 
 other uncivilized people. On the contrary they ap- 
 peared pofrefled of great quicknefs and cunning. 
 Thofc of S. Leone appear harmlefs and inoffenfive. 
 
 He has heard that the word " panyar," which is 
 common on the coall, means kidnapping, or feizing 
 of men. 
 
 From the many complaints which he received from 
 them, he concludes that fcamen are far from being 
 well treated in the llave-fhips. One Bowden fwam 
 from the Fiflier, of Liverpool, captain Kendal, to 
 the Nautilus, amidfl: a number of fharks, to claim 
 his protection. Kendal wrote for the man, who 
 refufed to go, faying that his life would be endan- 
 gered. He therefore kept him in the Nautilus till P. 16^ 
 Ihe was paid off. He was a diligent^ willing, aclive 
 I 2 feaman. 
 
68 Africa. — W. Indies. Thompson". 
 
 1790. feaman. Several of the crew of the Brothers of 
 Part II. Liverpool, captain Clark, he thinks, fwam towards 
 
 ^--^r•*^ the Nautilus, pafTing by j two only reached her, the 
 reft, he believes, regained their own fhip. The 
 majority of the crew had, the day before, come on 
 
 P. 169. board the Nautilus, in a boat, to complain of ill 
 ufage : but he had returned them, with an officer to 
 inquire into and redrefs their complaints. This was 
 in July, 1787. He received many letters from fea- 
 men in flave-fhips, complaining of ill ufage, and 
 defiring him to protect them, or take them on board. 
 Is inclined to think the feamen in fhips trading in 
 produce are not fo ill ufed as thofe in flave-fliips. 
 Several of his own officers gave him the belt accounts 
 of the treatment in the Iris, a fhip trading in wood, 
 &c. and of the healthinefs and good order of the 
 
 P. 170. fhip. She was near him feveral weeks. 
 
 He fhould fuppofe the flave-trade is not a nurfery 
 for feamen, as thofe on board the flave-fhips appear 
 very fickly, from their being very much expofed to 
 the fun, rains, and dews, in fmall craft. Thinks a 
 trade in the produce of Africa would not be fo un- 
 healthy as the flave-trade. A crew may be kept as 
 healthy in thofe parts of Africa he has been in as in 
 any other tropical climate. Only one man was loft 
 in the Nautilus, while there, and that was from 
 neglecl. 
 
 Thinks more are crowded in a flave-fhip than can 
 be carried with a due regard to their heakh or com- 
 fort. His fhip was about 320 tons, and fhe had her 
 full peace compliment, 100 men. It would have 
 been impoffible to ftow 4 or 500 people in her, with 
 
 P. 1 7 1. a due regard to their health and comfort. It was as 
 much as- he could do to ftow his too men, with any 
 comfort; but, on his return, by the Weft Indies, 
 being ordered to take in 70 or 80 invalids for Eng- 
 land, the fhip was much crowded. 
 
 Thinks the S. Leone lettlers were landed at the 
 moft improper feafon, the beginning of the rains. 
 At Barbadoes he has ken feveral feamen begging, 
 
 apparently 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Thompson. 69 
 
 apparently very fickly and deftitute. He believes 1790. 
 mofl: of the Guinea feamen receive a great ihock to Part II. 
 their conflitutions. *— v-*"** 
 
 In the Weft Indies, he has very orcen feen the 
 negroes backs bear indelible marks of the whip. 
 
 Believes there are feveral fpecies of gum in and P. 172, 
 about S. Leone; but the prii!cip;il is gum copal. 
 Has always underftood there is a great demand for 
 gum copal here. 
 
 Each man has from 18 to 24 inches for his ham- P. i73» 
 mock, in a man of war, according to the room they 
 can fpare. 
 
 Believes about 380 free negroes were fent to Sierra 
 Leone. Many more were embarked, but fome got 
 afhore, and others died. Their behaviour was ge- 
 nerally very bad : moft of them were worthU-fs, 
 lawlefs, and drunken. Some of them, he believes, P. 174. 
 were mechanicks ; but moll of them vagrants who 
 infefted London. Thinks a colony may certainly be 
 eftabliflied there, by people of a different charadler, 
 under proper laws, with every profped of fuccefs, as 
 it is a very fine fertile country. The river is a good 
 port. 
 
 At lea little more than half a man of war's crew 
 are in their hammocks at a time, as they are generally 
 at watch and watch. Height between decks fronn 
 5 feet 4 or 5 inches, to 5 feet 10 inches. 
 
 He feldom or ever vifited a Gumeaman, as his 
 difguft always overcame his cunofiry. Certainly no P. I75» 
 comparifon can be formed between the fituation of 
 feamen in a man of war and (laves in a Guineaman. 
 
 Cardamum is in great plenty in Africa. He has 
 feen lome black pepper; red peppers of many fpecies 
 in abundance, and, he has been told, wild nutmegs. 
 The iQand of St. Thomas abounds in wild cinnamon, 
 (which he cannot dittinguifh from caQla) but he 
 never faw any on the continent, though he thinks it 
 equally calculated to produce it. Wild graprs, tho' 
 not very palatable, are in plenty at S. Leone, and 
 
 he 
 
yo Africa. Hills. 
 
 1790. he planted fome cuttings of Teneriffe vines, which 
 Part II. throve very well. 
 
 
 Witnefs examined — Captain John Hills, 
 
 Of the Royal Navy. 
 
 P. 176. Was at Goree and the Gambia as commander of 
 his Majefty's (loop Wafp, he thinks, in the end of 
 178 1 and beginning of 1782. (In all near 6 months 
 in Africa, p. 181.) 
 
 Knew at Dacard, Moriel, a high prieft, very in- 
 telligent. 
 
 He faw the natives, in an evening, often go out, 
 in war-drefles, as he found, to obtain flaves for the 
 king of Darnel, to be fold. Some pirates, , who had 
 obtained a flave improperly, brought him bound on 
 board the Zephyr, to fell him to him. On his re- 
 leafing him they defired he might flay till morning, 
 to be carried to governor Wall •, who would take 
 him. Next morning the man jumped out of the 
 canoe, and was refcued by the Dacard people. 
 
 He has feen them tied back to back in feveral 
 
 P. 177. huts. He was told by one perfon, that the king 
 
 was very poor, not having received his ufual prefents, 
 
 and that parties were fent to get flaves for him on 
 
 that account. 
 
 At Dacard, where the fhip watered, Capt. Ganna, 
 received the king's dues. This Ganna brought the 
 kidnapped man to him as aforefaid. Moriel, his 
 brother, a refpedable man, held this mode of feiz- 
 ing the natives, in high indignation. They were 
 both the king of Darnel's fubjeds, and chiefs of 
 villages. (Underftood Ganna was not a Maraboo, 
 p. 180.) 
 
 The natives all go armed : he imagines for fear of 
 being taken. 
 
 When in the river Gambia, wanting fervants on 
 
 board. 
 
Africa. Hills. 71 
 
 board, he exprefTed a wifli for fome volunteers. A 1790. 
 black pilot in the boat, called two boys who were Part If. 
 on Ihore, carrying bafkets of fhallots, and afked ^— v^ 
 captain H. if they would do, in which cafe he would P« ^7^* 
 take thenn off, and bring thenti to him : this he de- 
 clined. From the eafe with which he did it, con-* 
 eludes this was cuftomary. Black pilot faid the 
 merchantmen would not refufe fuch an offer. 
 
 He was advifed not to go afhore at Gambia, by 
 the merchants there, for fear of being taken by the 
 natives, who owed the Englifh a grudge, for fome 
 injuries. A man at Gambia, who called himfclf a 
 pcince's brother, had been carried to the W. Indies, 
 in an Englilh fhip, and was lent to Europe by the 
 governor. 
 
 A boy, whom he bought from the merchants, 
 had been carried in the night from his father's houfe, 
 where a flvirmilh had happened, in which, he believes, 
 he faid, both his parents, but he well remembers 
 one, were killed. The boy faid many were killed, 
 and fome taken. 
 
 Several natives fpoke very good French and Eng-P. 17a. 
 lifli. He had a letter from a man at Gambia very 
 well written in French. A man, whofe child was 
 to be buried, could not ftand the fhock, and re- 
 quefted to flay on board the Zephyr, till the cere- 
 mony was over, and he fhewed much grief and 
 emotion. 
 
 He was often applied to by the merchants (Eng- 
 lifh, p. 180) for help, owing to deaths and ficknefs 
 among their feamen. He did not lofe a man in his 
 own fhip. 
 
 Never faw the women working in the fields -, but 
 has often feen the men raifing provifions near Dacard. 
 Has feen them drefs their corn in a large hole, by 
 cutting it to pieces with fliarp inftruments on ftaves. 
 Has feen them working their common cloths in their 
 looms. 
 
 He apprehends the boys (aforefaid) were free peo-P. 180. 
 
 pie 
 
^2 Africa. Hills. 
 
 1790. pie from the pilot's mode of fpeaking, and from his 
 
 Part II. winking, irnpljing it was an illicit thing. 
 
 '«— v*** Was informed the perfon's brother who was 
 brought to him bound, was a great man in the vil- 
 lage he was taken from. He fhould apprehend no 
 crime was alledged againft him ; becaufe the next 
 day he returned to his own village. 
 
 They always paid the king of Darnel for wooding 
 and watering. There was a fixed price for every 
 boat landing. 
 
 P. 181. He attributes the healthinefs of his crew in Africa 
 to medical precautions, (which were ufed to guard 
 againft the noxious land-vapours, p. 181). Bark 
 and Madeira wine were always given the men when 
 they went on lliore, and returned on board. 
 
 The natives in Damel appear very lazy and idle. 
 In the Gambia, he had no opportunity of landing to 
 fee their induftry. He does not think they could be 
 very eafily induced by any encouragement, to ma- 
 nufacture their produce fo as to become articles of 
 trade. 
 
 He had on board the Zephyr, on an average, about 
 90 men, which was her compliment. She was about 
 200 tons. 
 
 Witnefs examined — George Baillie, Efq. 
 
 P. 182. Refided 25 years in South Carolina and Georgia. 
 Commenced merchant in Charlefton in 1756, (p. 
 193.) afterwards planter in 1767, (p. 194-) ^^^ ^s 
 Commiflary General of Georgia. Settled there in 
 1762, (p. 197.) 
 
 Many veflels arrived while he refided at Charlef- 
 ton and Savannah, with flaves from Africa. He law 
 many of the crews of thofe fliips who had fqualid 
 countenances, and ulcerated limbs. 
 
 Notice of the fale having been given fome days 
 
 before, the Qaves were ranged in a clofe yard, a 
 
 . great gun fired, and buyers rulhed violently in, and 
 
 feized 
 
W. Indies. — N. America. Baillie. 73 
 
 feized the bed looking flaves, afterwards picking and 1790. 
 culling them to their minds. They were immedi-Part 11. 
 ately purchafed and hurried out of the yard; fo that, <— •v-'Oi* 
 in a few hours, only the refufe flaves remained; 
 whofe health had fuftered, generally, as he conceived, 
 from crowding and confined air on board, and who 
 were afterwards fold at a great under-price. 
 
 In America, the overfeer roufed the flaves and fetP. iSji 
 them to work in the morning. They did not work 
 for fet hours, but by taflc-work, generally a rood of 
 land to each, when eafily cultivated j if otherwifc, 
 the overfcer let the flrongcft to the hardeft work, 
 and vice verfa ; and indeed it was ufual to lefl*en the 
 piece of land confiderably when uncommonly foul. 
 The negroes generally helped thofe who could not 
 finifli fo loon as the reft; fo that they left the field 
 at once, pretty early in the afternoon when their 
 work ceafed, and they were at perfe(5t liberty for 
 the reft of the day. They had no other time but 
 Sunday, and a few holidays at Chriftmas. Sunday 
 was intirely at their own difpofal. 
 
 Each man and woman flavc had weekly a peck of 
 Indian corn or clean rice, each about 141b. or a 
 burtiel of potatoes, near 4olb. and the children, in 
 proportion to their age. (A peck of Indian corn 
 about yid a peck of rice lod. a bufhel of potatoes 
 from 8d. to lod. p. 196.) Bcfides they had gene- P. 184, 
 rally as much ground as they chofe to cultivate, the 
 produce intirely at their own difpofal. 
 
 Each man received, at the beginning of winter, a 
 coat, waiftcoat, and breeches and boots of white 
 plains, alfo a milled worfted cap and a pair of ftrong 
 Ihoes. In fummer they commonly have an Ofnaburg's 
 fliirt and rrowfers. The women were clothed much 
 in the fame way, except the boots. The children had 
 each a long warm gown down to the heels. They 
 had aifo every fecond year, a warm duff^el blanket. 
 
 It was ulual to have overfeers to fuperinter:d every 
 plantation, and drivers under them. Generally fromP. 185^ 
 
 Numb. 3. K thirty- 
 
74 W. Indies. — N. America. Baillie. 
 
 1790. thirty-two to thirty-five workers were under one 
 
 Part ll.overfeer and one driver. 
 
 «— -Nr-o In America, he has feen marks on them, but not 
 very otten, and feldom when they had humane maf- 
 ters. The drivers feldom or never whip the flaves 
 through their day's workj becaufe it was impoflible 
 to know, till towards the clofe of the day, whether 
 a Have would or would not finilh his talk; and it 
 was thought time enough to punifh, when their 
 negle6t deferved it. He has very rarely feen them, 
 in America, with clogs on their legs 3 but never 
 with chains. 
 
 The rearing of children was very much attended 
 to in America. Pregnant women did no work for a 
 confiderable time before delivery. Coarfe child-bed 
 linen was provided, and fufficient care taken of them 
 when lying-in. The child was properly clothed, 
 
 P. 1 06,3^^1 taken care of. Believes they are raifed in as 
 great a proportion as children in Europe, when they 
 are in healthy fituations. Never heard of the teta- 
 nus in that country. 
 
 The chief produce was rice, indigo, and humber. 
 Lands intended for rice, if fwampy, are drained and 
 banked to keep water from lodging on them. When 
 perfectly dry, the rice is fown (about March 20th, 
 p. 195.) in itraight trenches, weeded as it grows, 
 and, when about three feet high, and quite clean, 
 the fluices are opened, and the water admitted about 
 June 20th, which ftands about a foot deep, till to- 
 wards the firft week in September, when it is ripe. 
 After the ground becomes a little dry, it is cut and 
 cocked up in the field. Having flood there fome 
 little time, it is Hacked, in the barn-yard, like corn 
 in Europe. It is thrafhed like European grain, win- 
 nowed, put through wooden mills, to take off the 
 external coat, and into mortars, worked by horfes 
 or water, to divefl it of the inner fldn. It is then 
 fifted, and put up for exportation. 
 
 P. 1 87. In Odober or November 1777, he went to Jamaica 
 and the Bahamas, having been forced from the con- 
 tinent 
 
W. Indies. — N. America. Baillie. 75 
 
 tinent by the difputes there. Was feveral months in 1790. 
 Jamaica, (viz. from about Dec. 177S to February orPart II. 
 March 1779, p. 198.) v.*-r^> 
 
 Having then had little to do in Jamaica, he went 
 from curiofity to various eftatcs, and to compare 
 their management with that of the continent. (He 
 croifed the ifland for the fame reafon, p 198.) He 
 mull confefs, he differed in opinion with feveral 
 planters in their way of working the flaves, as 
 thinking it rather ferved to deprefs their fpirits, and 
 their general appearance was, by no means, favour- 
 able. He obferved that they worked, almoft from 
 fun-rife to fun-fet, he might fay; (they had almoft 
 an hour for breakfaft, and nearly two hours for din- 
 ner, p. 200) and that they were conllantly followed 
 by drivers, who forced the weak to keep -jp with the 
 llrong, as far as poflible. Looking into the books 
 of an eflate (of Mr. Gray's, p. 199) under the di- 
 rection of a friend, (Mr. Hugh Polfon, who was 
 rather attorney, he believes, than manager, p. 199) 
 to his utter furprize, he faw that the negroes were 
 turned out on Sunday as regularly as on any other 
 day, to work in their own grounds : but it appeared 
 that the produce was appropriated to the negroes 
 fubfillence, and not to their emolument, unlefs per- 
 haps there was a furplus of food. How far thac 
 furplus was applied to their benefit, he is not per- 
 fedlly clear. 
 
 He thinks he could perceive a confiderable diffe-P. 188, 
 rence between the general appearance of the field 
 and the town flaves j becaufe the latter were much 
 better fed and clothed, and not worked fo hard. 
 Believes that might be the reafon. 
 
 The fituation of married men-flaves on the conti- 
 nent was generally very comfortable, as they had a 
 houfe and ground where they could raife many little 
 neceiTaries; and they took great pleafure in raifing 
 their children, for whom they feemed to have the 
 fincerefl attachment. He mull confefs, he did not 
 think the W, India flaves feemed to enjoy the f^me 
 
 K 2 comfort. 
 
^ W. Indies. — N. America. Baillie. 
 
 1790. comfort in that refpeft -, as he apprehended it was 
 Part. II. not fo much the wifh of planters there to increafe 
 
 ^•"v*^ flaves by births, as on the continent. 
 
 He has in companies in the Weft Indies (he does 
 not think they were very ferious neither — it is a very 
 invidious thing) heard them fay, that after giving a 
 certain price for a negro, if he worked a certain time, 
 there would be no great lofs fuftained by his death ; 
 but believes they are too humane to wifh a man to 
 die. Does not think, that on the continent, any 
 gentleman would have fuggefted fuch a matter. 
 (Thefe matters paflTed only in curfory converfation, 
 probably at a table. Does not fay this opinion was 
 general, by any means, p. 200.) 
 
 Except their not being fo much driven through the 
 day, believes punifhments, on the continent, as fevere 
 as in the Weft Indies. 
 
 P. 189. Planters in America refided almoft entirely on their 
 eftates; but, from what he could obferve, confider- 
 able Jamaica planters moftly lived in Europe. It 
 appeared to him, that the flaves of a refident pro- 
 prietor had a chance of better treatment. 
 
 Several of his flaves took every ftep in their power 
 to be taught to read. On Sundays many of them 
 went regularly to church (or meetings, p. 197.) 
 which he encouraged. In evenings they very often 
 had a kind of regular worfhip, among themfelves. 
 They bought fpelling- books, with their own money, 
 and with the help of other negroes that could read, 
 fome came to read tolerably. 
 
 When near a town, they regularly carried their 
 produce to market. Some mafters bought it of them j 
 or little vefTels bartered with them for their produce, 
 poultry, and pigs. 
 
 P. 190. Has known feveral town-negroes buy their free^ 
 dom ; but the country ones never did, or could 
 come at property enough to do it. Free negroes in 
 America may hold every kind of perlonal property ; 
 but, he thinks not land. Is not very clear. 
 
 It The 
 
W. Indies. — N. America. Baillie. y7 
 
 The negroes in fummer were much healthier than 1790.. 
 in winter. Part. II, 
 
 The field-negroes in Jamaica appeared worn down ^-"v^ 
 with extreme labour, and being conftantly prefTed 
 upon, through the day, by the drivers. 
 
 He thinks the climate ot Jamaica, in every refpeft, 
 much more favourable to negroes than that of 
 America, and hence they were lubjeft to fewer dif- 
 orders : is alio of opinion, that many of their com- 
 plaints arofe from extreme fatigue, and that reft ge- 
 nerally reftored them, without medicine. 
 
 The negroes on the continent, in winter, were ex- P. 191. 
 tremely fubjeft to pleurifies and peripneumonies, and 
 fometimes dyfentery. In fummer rarely fo compara- 
 tively. 
 
 Jamaica families had confiderably more domefticks 
 than thofe of Europe. 
 
 He thinks negroes perfectly capible of learning 
 any trade. Has known many, and lome of his own 
 (laves, who almoft without inltruCti' , became trood 
 common houfe carpenters and coopers. He bo jght 
 an African lad who, without inilruCiijn, but juft fee- 
 ing carpenters work, and ufing to )ls at times, be- 
 came fo good a carpenter, that he could frame and 
 build any common houle, and aif > build boats for 
 the eftate. He has kno vn many (ilverimiths, black- 
 finiths, taylors, and fhh)- carpenters. A mercantile 
 houfe, 01 his acquaintance, had a number of black 
 fii-p-carpencers and blackfirmhs, wi.h the fuper- 
 intendance of two or rhiee whi ts, ouilt fiiips of 400 
 tons, which were fent Vvith ricr to the Thames, and 
 fold for above jnool. 
 
 There might be lome few worrhlefs fellows among 
 the negroes -, but, upon the wnoie, they were always 
 very willing to work. 
 
 He lias leen many inftances of very affeftionate P. 192. 
 parents, and of Uieir being p offcifocl of every focial 
 idea. A Have of his, wi.ole U.n was drowned, did 
 not ret over his fp:rit3 for many umths. All his 
 flaves ihewed him a very firm attachuient, and were 
 
 fully 
 
7^ W. Indies. — N. America: Baillie; 
 
 1790. fully grateful for every favour. During the fiege of 
 Pare II. Savannah, he and another had rice eftates on Hutch- 
 ^-•'v*^ infon's iOand oppofite Savannah, where there was much 
 grain and forage, to proted which, the commander 
 ordered the (laves on the ifland to be armed, and 
 fent feveral whites to lead them on. A French 34 
 gun frigate anchored to batter the town, and landed 
 troops on the ifland, to deftroy the barns. His 
 flaves and others beat the French, who, he thinks, 
 never made another attempt. 
 
 Is perfeftly fitisfied that the cultivation of cotton 
 or coffee is much eafier than that of fugar, but that 
 of rice fully as laborious (p. 201.) 
 
 He bought a man about 25 years old, feemingly 
 very Heady. While the other flaves were cheerfully 
 *• 193' reaping, he fliewed him how manage the hook. He 
 difappeared for feveral days, and at laft he was dif- 
 covered hanging to a tree, about which the birds ho- 
 vered. As he had not been at all ill treated, and did 
 not fee the negroes at extremely hard work, he con- 
 ceived he committed fuicide, becaufe he would not 
 brook flavery. He was an imported African (p. 
 201.) 
 
 On almoft every American eftate there were great 
 numbers of very thriving children, who foon became 
 ufeful, and always made the beft flaves. 
 
 A child, foon after birth, was valued in America 
 at 5I. fl:erling. 
 
 Field-work on the continent was not held degrad- 
 ing to Mulattoes or free negroes, nor does he think 
 it would in Jamaica. Both certainly worked in the 
 field, for their own benefit, in America. Not pofi- 
 tive whether they did fo in Jamaica. 
 P. 194. f^e had various trafts of land, but planted from 
 120 to 130 acres of rice, chiefly on Hutchinfon's 
 ifland, where had between 200 and 300 acres of very 
 P. 195. valuable land, and about 40 working flaves. The 
 land could produce any thing, and, at times, he 
 planted Tperhaps 40 acres of) indigo, with Indian 
 corn, peafe, &c. for the negroes. 
 
 In 
 
W. Inides. — ^N. America. Baillie. 79 
 
 In Georgia, light frofts ufually fet in about 061. 1790. 
 25th, which generally checked vegetation. The Part II. 
 greateft feverity of winter feldom till Chriftmas; fpring *-nr^ 
 beo-an about iVIarch 20th, when grain was Town. (The 
 winter is about the fame length in S. Carolina as in 
 Georgia, p. 196.) 
 
 In winter, the negroes threflied and prepared the 
 rice, and a little before fpring, repaired the banks. 
 
 ;^. 1 10 Georgia currency, and 140 1. Jamaica cur- 
 rency rcfpectively equal to lool. fterling. 
 
 Before the American difputes, he never knew theP. 197. 
 lead fcarcity ; but afterwards, when people were 
 driven away, and much dillurbed in planting, there 
 was a confiderable fcarcity. 
 
 Mr. Whitfield had grants of land for a houfe and 
 a plantation. He ere6ted an orphan-houfe, with { 
 
 colleclions chiefly from England, bought flaves, 
 fettled a plantation, and, with the produce, fupportcd 
 the houfe. 
 
 Does not think his refidence in Jamaica was long p. 201." 
 enough to give him a complete idea of the fyftem. 
 He only fpeaks of fuch things as he faw. 
 
 He has heard, and partly knows, that theEbocsP. 202.' 
 are very high fpiritcd, and do not brook Qavery fo well 
 as feveral other Africans. 
 
 He faw a fmall yellow Indian corn, on feveral 
 eftates, and believes it was for the horfes, and perhaps 
 the negroes •, alfo fome very large plantane-waiks, he 
 believes for the flaves' ufe. 
 
 As it was cufl:omary in America, for free negroes P. 203, 
 and Mulattoes to get leave to plant on parts of 
 eftiates, or to rent a piece of land to plant, and as he 
 can conceive this might be the cafe in Jamaica, he 
 does not think fuch labour would be held deoradins:; 
 yet it was not common for thefe people to work 
 among field-flavcs. Is clear they do not in America, 
 but not fo pofitive refpeding Jamaica. 
 
 His refidence in Jamaica was not long : bufrmufl: 
 confefs he did not think the negroes there fo robull 
 and good-looking, as in general in America. He 
 
 does 
 
Bo W. Indies. — N. America. BAiLLit. 
 
 1790. does think himlelf fo far acquainted with negroes that 
 Part II. the working them by tafk is far preferable to the W. 
 »-'nr«««^ Indian nnode of working them conilantly. Really 
 believes the iuperiority in appearance juft mentioned, 
 may be partly afcribed this different mode of work- 
 ing. 
 P. 204. In the upper parts of Georgia and S. Carolina, 
 where grain or Indian corn was cultivated by the 
 plough, white men fometimes hired themfelvcs as 
 fervants. 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Sir George Young, 
 
 P. 205. A captain in the navy. Has been 4 voyages to 
 Africa, in 1767 and 1768 — 1771 and 1772. From 
 Cape Blanco to Cape Lopas, including every Eng- 
 lifh fettlement, and fome Dutch. 
 
 His opinion (from information of natives and fet- 
 lers) of the general modes of obtaining flaves on the 
 Coaft of Africa, was, that rhe greater part were pri- 
 foners of war ; part for crimes real or imputed ; kid- 
 napping ; but the term there is panyer; and a fourth 
 mode was, the inhabitants of one village feizing 
 thofe of another weaker village, and felling them to 
 the fhips. 
 
 When at Annamaboe, at Mr. Bruce's, a very great 
 merchant there, Mr. B. had 2 hoftages, kings fons, 
 
 P. 206. for payment for arms, and all kinds of military ftores, 
 which he had fupplied to the 2 kings, who were at 
 war with each other, to procure flaves for at leaft 6 
 or 7 fhips, then lying in the road j prifoners on both 
 fides were brought down to Mr. B. and fent to the 
 fhips. 
 
 Believes, from two inftances, that kidnapping was 
 frequently pradlifed. One, that of a beautiful infant 
 boy, 'Which, after trying to fell at all the different 
 trading fhips, they came along fide his (the Phoenix) 
 aikd threatened to tofs it overboard, if no one would 
 
 buy 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Young. Si 
 
 buy it, faying, they had panyar'd it with many other 1790. 
 people, but could not fell it, though they had fold Pare II, 
 the others •, he purchaied it for a quarter caik of v--r*^ 
 wine. 
 
 The fecond was, a captain of one of the Liverpool 
 fliips had got, as a temporary miftrefs, a girl iron 
 king Tom, of Sierra Leone, and inftead of returning 
 her on fhore at leaving the coalt, as is ufually done, 
 he took her away with him. Of this, the king com- 
 plained to him (Sir G. Young) very heavily, and 
 begged him to apply to his brother George (mean- 
 ing our king) to get her reftored to hiin. This, king 
 Tom called buchra, or white man's panyarlng. 
 
 The term panyaring, feemed to be a word gene- 
 rally ufed all along the coall where he was, not only 
 among theEnglifh, but the Portuguefc and Dutch. 
 
 Has always heard, thai the fovereign or chief of a 
 diftrid, generally derives a certain profit from the 
 fale of flaves. 
 
 Has heard many inflances of depredations on the?. 207. 
 Coaft of Africa, by European traders. For one ; 
 going into the river St. Andrew, and making a pre- 
 ient as ufual to the king, of a cafe of gin, was oblig- 
 ed to drink a dram out of each, of 12 bottles; upon 
 afking the reafon, the king faid it was ufual for tra- 
 ders (but did not fay whether black or wiiite) to 
 make ufe of poifon ; but that he fhould not have 
 obliged him to drink, if he had known the ihip had 
 been a man of war, as he knew a man of war had no 
 defign of panyaring. 
 
 The natives all down the coaft, were fearful of ap- 
 proaching the ihip, till convinced of its being a man 
 of war, when they readily came on board. 
 
 Many negroes he met with, feemed to pofTcfs as 
 ftrong natural ieni'i; as any fet of people whatever ; 
 their temper appeared to be very good-natured and 
 civil, unlefs wheie they fufpet^lcd fome injury; are 
 however naturally vindictive, and revenge the injury 
 done. 
 Numb. 3. L He 
 
82 Africa. — W. Indies, Young. 
 
 1790. He verily believes, that the natives would culti- 
 Part Il.vate the foil for natural produ6lions, provided they 
 »-'^v-*-» had no other means of obtaining European commo- 
 P. 2o8.dities. He recollecSts fome circumftances in proof 
 of their induftry. A number of people from the 
 BuUam fhore, came over to Sierra Leone, and offer- 
 ed their fervices to work, at a very low price ; he 
 accepted of a few (who worked very weli) and might 
 have had thoufandsofthe fame defcription. Further 
 is of opinion, from obfervacion, that Africa is capa- 
 ble of producing every thing of the Eaft or Weft 
 Indies, in equal perfevftion, with equal cultivation. 
 Of fpices, he met with two forts of cardamoms, black 
 P. 209. pepper, fame as in the Eaft Indies; the bird pepper; 
 Chili pepper, or Cayenne •, alfo a fpecies of ginger. 
 Brought to England feveral plants of the cinnamon 
 tree, from the ifland of St. Thomas, where it is in 
 great abundance. 
 
 Has been feveral times on board a Have fhip ; they 
 were all in a ftate of cleanlinefs ; as clean indeed as 
 their fituation, with the number of men confined on 
 board, would admit of. He attempted to go down 
 the fore hatchway of one of them, but was deterred 
 by the ftench, which was intolerable, though there 
 was then only 300 on board, and waited for 200 
 more. The men Haves were all chained, which he 
 confidered as a necelTary precaution, as there was 
 not quite 20 feamen on board at the time. 
 
 The African Have trade, not a nurfery, rather a 
 grave for feamen. Thofe of them which he faw 
 on board the (lave (hips, complained of ill treatment, 
 bad feeding, and cruel ufage ; all of them wanted to 
 enter on board his (hip. He aflced fome of them 
 the reafon why they were fo treated, they anfwered, 
 it was the praftice of the owners and mafters of the 
 vefTels to treat them fo, that they might run away 
 in the Wefb Indies, and fo forfeit their wages* It 
 was likewife the cuftom for the feamen of every fhip 
 in fight, to come by their boats on board his fhipj 
 • moll of them quite naked, and threatening to turn 
 
 pirates. 
 
Africa. — W. Indies.' Young. 83 
 
 pirates, if the king's (hip would not take them •, this 1790. 
 they laid openly, and is perfuaded, if he had had a Part II. 
 fhip of the line to have manned, he could have done *— -v-*-* 
 it in a very fhort time, for they would all have left P. 210. 
 Hiips. Though he took particular notice, he could 
 never fee a boy on board any of thefe (hips ; in every 
 other trade, there are always boys on board. 
 
 Has heard many in (lances of failors efcaping to 
 the woods ; feveral he has received on board his Ihip 
 from the woods, where they had no fubliftance. 
 
 Has {"^en a great deal of very fine timber; in his 
 opinion, ufeful for fhip and houfe-building, as well 
 as fui niturc j likewife dying woods of great variety ; 
 fome of the wood he brought home, and turned into 
 furniture. He is in po(re(rion offpecimens of ebony, 
 iron-wood, and other forts, all very hard. When at 
 Sierra Leone, he faw a velfel belonging to Mr, Pin- 
 tard, built upon the rocks, of the woods of Sierra 
 Leone. 
 
 Has been a great deal in the Weft Indies j at Bar- 
 badoes, Antigua, St. Kitt's, Dominica, Grenada, 
 Guadaioupe, Martinique, Port Rico, and laftly at 
 Jamaica, from the years 1761, to 1763, Has been 
 fince there fcveral times in a man of war, and fome- 
 times a palfenger in a merchant fliip. 
 
 Was twice in the Phoenix, at Barbadoes, Antigua, 
 St. Kitt's, Dominica and Jamaica, in 1767, and 
 1768. 
 
 Farming, and the management of land, has in P. 211. 
 England been his amufement and pleafure, ever fince 
 the laft peace. When in the Weft Indies, has re- 
 marked to the gentlemen there, the great want of 
 the plough and fpade ; and confidered the hoe as an 
 implement much more laborious. 
 
 Never faw, or heard of ta(k-vvork praftifed in any 
 of the Weft India iflands. 
 
 Has rem.irked very bad efFedls from the abfence 
 of the propnc-tors, and the eftace and ftaves being left 
 under the direcl.on of minagers, which greatly lef- 
 lens the value of Weft Indian cltaies j he will take 
 
 L 2 upon 
 
84 Africa. — W. Indiet. Young, 
 
 1790. upon him to fav, to the ainoiint of at leaft one-fifth 
 P^ii II. part of the whole ; for the overfeers or managers, in 
 ^--v-o a little time, always became rich, and frequently 
 more fo than their mafters. It is alfo injurious to 
 the Have, becaufe he was madeto woik harder, than 
 he is fure the owner would have allowed ; their pro- 
 villons were not fo good ; generally fait provifion, 
 fometimes dried fifh, or {linking fait meat, which 
 their mafters, he is fure, would not have allowed ; 
 for he has the honour to be acquainted with fome of 
 them. He was informed by the merchants of King- 
 lion, that it was not an uncommon pratlice for the 
 overfeers to buy fickly flaves at half price, or lefs, 
 and charge them to their mafters as prime healthy 
 flaves; thofe frequently died, as it is faid in thefea- 
 foning, which he confiders as a farce altogether. 
 
 Underftood, that purchafing African flaves was 
 much the cheapeft mode of keeping up the numbers ; 
 for, that the mother of a bred flave was taken from 
 the field labour for 3 years; which labour was of 
 more value than the coft of a prime flave, or new 
 negro. 
 P. 212. The negroes work in gangs, and in regular rows, 
 with hoes, with which they kept regular time in 
 their work, the whole gang together, fo that the weak 
 were obliged to keep up with the more robuft. For 
 there v/ere black drivers over them, with a whip cal- 
 led a cowfkin, with which he fuppofes, if they had 
 not kept up, they would have been punifhed. 
 
 Has been a great deal in the Eaft Indies; never 
 faw or heard of any labourers working in the field, 
 under the whip of a driver there, or in America. 
 
 Recollefts a particular inftance of the high fpirit 
 of tiie negroes, which occurred at Accra. The go- 
 vernour had bought a flave (of a country, the natives 
 of which, v'hen enflaved, are always known to kill 
 themfelves) and was complaining to commodore 
 Collingwood and him, that he had been cheated by 
 the merchants, of whom he bought him ; that he was 
 a very fine fellow; alking whether they would not 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Young; 8^ 
 
 go and fee him, for that he had mortally wounded ^790. 
 himfelf lad night i when carried to him, they up Part 11, 
 braided hnn with his rafh condutt, by the interpre- ^--v^-' 
 ter, and his replv was, that no man of his country 
 could live as a flave, but that he was very well in- 
 clined to ferve the commodore in the man of war, 
 but not as a (lave; he died the next night. 
 
 The negro women on the coaft of Africa, appear- 
 ed to him as prolific, as any race of people he ever 
 faw in any part of the world ; the climate of the 
 Weft Indies not lefs favourable to them than their 
 own. p. a, J. 
 
 Was about 6 months on the coaft of Africa each 
 time. The crew of the ftiip he commanded, amount- 
 ed to 100, of which loft 2, who were fickly when they 
 went out, and i bov by an accident. 
 
 The ftock of flavcs might be kept up, or increaf- 
 cd, without importations from Africa. At firft in- 
 deed, the deficiencies would be felt for a few, per- 
 haps 20 years •, bat after a while, they would double 
 their numbers, as he fees no phyfical caufe to pre- 
 vent a black man and woman being equally prolific 
 in the Weft Indies, as in Africa. 
 
 The land of Africa is moftly cultivated by the 
 men ; the wom.-*n fomecimes let fire to the grafs, but 
 that is very little ; the men turn up the ground witli 
 pointed fticks, having no European implements there 
 that he faw. 
 
 In the Weft Indies, he refided longer on fliore at 
 a time in Jamaica, than any other illand ; once fo 
 long as 6 weeks : never above a week on ihore at 
 any other ifland. At Jamaica, lived for above 3 
 weeks at Mr. Prevoft's, Id Harbour; and Mr. P. 214. 
 Thomas's, Sixteen Mile Walk, about 3 weeks more ; 
 both fuo;ar eftates. 
 
 In the arguments which he held with the planters, 
 refpeding the fuperiority of the plough and fpade 
 over the hoe, was never able to make a profelyte. 
 
 Under the prefent fyftem, the flave trade is necef- 
 fary to the cultivation of the Weft Indies; but if 
 
 the 
 
t6 Africa. — W. Indies. Young. 
 
 1790. the breeding of the negroes were promoted there, it 
 Pare II. would be unnecellary. His reafons for thinking that 
 V'v**' due attention is not paid by the planters to the 
 rearing of children, are, that when he was upon tiie 
 above-mentioned, and I'ome other eflates, he found 
 no encouragement given the blacks to marry; that 
 they cohabited promifcuoufly, and that the women 
 generally mifcarried, as he was told by Mr. Prevofl 
 and Mr. Thomas, from their hard field labour ; and 
 that it was a rare thing for a negrefs employed in 
 field labour, to have a live child. 
 
 At the ifland of Cuba, after the capture of the Ha- 
 vanna, he affociated with the Spaniih planters, and 
 found they made it a ferious point to marry their ne- 
 groes, wherever they could, to make them Chriftians, 
 and to keep them regularly together : they had them 
 chriftened, and gave them little rewards, and accord- 
 ing to the number of children they produced and 
 reared J and the men ufed to boaft of their being 
 Chriftians, and wear a crofs about their necks ; 
 though he inquired all he could, he remarked nothing 
 of the kind done in Jamaica. 
 p. 215. The planters reafons againft the ufe of the plough 
 were, the hardnefs of the ground, the negroes igno- 
 rance, and that it had ever been the pradice to make 
 ufe of the hoe; fuch was the fubftaiice of their argu- 
 ment, which he thinks was faying nothing. 
 
 It feemed to be the univerfal fyftem, to fupply 
 their eftates with African negroes, rather than be at 
 the trouble of breeding. 
 
 Conceives thofe parts of Dominica, and the other 
 iflands ceded by France (by the peace of 1763) yet 
 in woods and uncleared, cannot be cleared, without 
 the purchafe of negroes from fome part or other. 
 
 The cultivation of the Weft India iflands, to the 
 extent of which they are capable, certainly will in- 
 creafe the trade and navigation of Great Britain : was 
 P. 2 1 6. informed there is a great deal of land fit for cultiva- 
 tion ftill uncleared in Jamaica, 
 
 Does 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Young. ^7 
 
 Does not think, that the lofs offeanDen by the un- i^9^. 
 favourable circumftances of the (lave trade, can be ^-^'^ 
 put in connpetition with the increafed number of fea- 
 men that muft be confequent upon the increafed cul* 
 tivation of the iflands •, but at the fame time he muft 
 obferve, that the lofs of feamen in the African flave 
 trade, as now carried on, is annually greater than the 
 increafe in the Weft India trade. 
 
 From the obfervations he was able to make at Mr. 
 Prevoft's eftate, he could not difcover any diftin6lion 
 made between the weak and ftrong; but they were 
 in gangs moll certainly. 
 
 Where, in the Privy Council Report, he is ftated 
 to have faid, that he could not get the men to work P. 217. 
 for him, he meant, of foine p:irticular parts of the 
 coaft, not in general. And where, in the lame re- 
 port, he is ftated to have faid, that the field labours 
 are ufually performed by women, as to what part of 
 the coaft he meant to refer that alTertion, fays to no 
 part whatever j for he never faw the women do any 
 thing but carry the corn home, and fet fire to the 
 ftubble of laft year. 
 
 Is of opinion, that by fliewing the natives of Afri- 
 ca how to cultivate the land, it would call for the 
 labour often times the number that are now tranf- 
 ported to the Weft Indies as flaves ; and require a 
 greater quantity of Ihipping and feamen in the com- 
 merce, for the natural productions of that country, 
 without any greater inconvenience in point of health 
 to the feam.en, than in the prefent Weft India trade. 
 
 And believes, if the Have trade v/ere aboliflicd, 
 and every proper regulatio-n adopted, to encourage 
 the breeding of negroes in the Weft Indies, the ftock 
 of negroes would gradually increafe, fo as to be ade- 
 quate to the clearing and cultivation of all the 
 iflands, to the full extent of which they are capable. 
 
 The regulations which lie conceives to be ftill 
 wanting, are, that marriage fliould be encouraged ; 
 that the man and woman fhould have a hut to them- 
 fclvcs ; that the woman fliould be taken wholly from 
 
 field 
 
S8 Africa. — W. Indies. Young. 
 
 1790. field labour, and only put to fuch as (he is capable 
 
 Part II. of, as a woman bearing children. The rrjan fhould 
 
 ^•"nn*-) be allowed one day in a week to work for himfelf 
 
 I and family -, a reward fhould be given co the woman, 
 
 who had, and fhould rear, the greateft number of 
 
 children. Under thefe regulations, he conceives, in 
 
 the courfe of 20 years, their prefent numbers may be 
 
 doubled, and the trade in flaves from Africa, totally 
 
 unnecefTary, 
 
 P. 218. Is not competent to judge, how many additional 
 
 negroes are now wanted, to clear and cultivate the 
 
 prefent uncleared lands in the Britilh iflands. Does 
 
 not know the fpecific number of negroes in each of 
 
 thefe iflands j nor the fpecific quantity of lands now 
 
 uncleared and uncultivated ; has not been in the 
 
 Weft Indies fince 1772. 
 
 The principle upon which he fixes the period of 
 20 years, for the purpofe above mentioned, is, the 
 circumltance of the Americans doubling their num- 
 bers in lefs than 20 years. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Anthony Pantaleo How, Efq. 
 
 P. '219. Was in Africa in 1785 and 1786, chiefly on the 
 Gold Coaft, in the Grampus man of war, employed 
 by government as a botanift. When at Secundee, 
 fome order came from Cape Coafl: Caftle -, the fame 
 
 P. 220. afternoon feveral parties went out armed, and return- 
 ed the fame night with a quantity of flaves, which 
 were put into the repofitory of the fadory. Next 
 morning faw people who came to fee the prifoners, 
 and requcfled Mr. Marfh the refident to releafe fome 
 of their children and relations. Some were releafed, 
 partfentoflto C. Coall Caftle. Had every reafon to 
 believe they were obtaiiicd unfairly, as they came 
 at an unfeafonable time of the night, and from their 
 parents and iriends crying, and begging their releafe. 
 Had been told as much from Mr. Marfli, who faid, 
 
 he 
 
Africa. How, Efq. 87 
 
 ^id not mind how they got them, for he purchalcd them 1790. 
 fairly Cannot tell whether this pradlice fublKted be- Part II. 
 fore i but when he has gone into the woods, has met ^^V^^ 
 JO or 40 natives, who iled always at his ajjpearance 
 although they were armed. Mr. iVlarih faid, they 
 were afraid oi his taking them prifoners. 
 
 Concludes the llavc- trade obllructs induflry and 
 civilization of the Africans. Has been at almoil all 
 Englilh lettlements, and tound the culture always in 
 a higher degree there where was lefs flave-trade, uid 
 vice verfa. Had been about 50 miles inland from Se- 
 cundee, and about 15 or 16 trom Apolonia, and found 
 the. inland every where well cultivated, and nardlyP. 221, 
 any whereon the (hore. Mod cultivation at Wmnc- 
 bah, Accra, and Gorce. Beautiful cotton and jn- 
 digo plantations at Goree. :-aw no European com- 
 modities in the intcriour parts-, is fure no European 
 fpirics were to be had there. The inhabitants there 
 remarkably induilrious, alio holpitable a d oblii^ing. 
 A village ot' feveral hundred houfes on the La^e of 
 Appoionia, whence in the rainy feafon they fupply 
 the lea coail with vegetables, grain, palm- wine, &c. 
 Thinks they have but little capacity in regard to uia- 
 nufacfures, but quick in learning languages. No 
 manufactures among them except at Goree, where 
 they weave cloth, and have almolt aboiiihed the 
 flave-trade m the part now belongino- to the French. 
 
 Abreaifof Cape le Hou, feverai canoes came along p. 222# 
 fide of the Grampus, delired her colours might be 
 hoiiled. Findini:^; her an Enghlh man of war, they 
 came on board witlv ut helitation, which oihcrwife 
 they would not have done (lee p. 225.) Reafon al- 
 ledged, that an Engliih Guinea trader, a fortnight 
 before, had taken off Ix canoes vvich men who came 
 to trade with provilions. The next day about 10 
 leagues off, leveral canoes approached, but finding 
 it was a man of war, retreated. On coming co Ap- 
 po! nia were told by Mr. Buchanan, the re:ident 
 there, that a Guineaman (belonging o one Gnftiths, 
 a notorious kidnapper) was in that latitude, the cap- 
 Numb. 3. M tain 
 
SS Africa.' How, Efq. 
 
 1790. tain brought on fliorc, tied to a tree, and flogged for 
 
 Part II. four days, in revenge for a depredation which another 
 
 ^-'^v-*^ had committed : thus accounting for the retreat of 
 
 the canoes on finding the Grampus a fhip of war, and 
 
 fearing retaliation of the punifhment. 
 
 Four children of the captives brought in to Se- 
 cundee, fcnt in the fame canoe vv'ith himfelf to C. 
 Coaft Caftle. 
 
 The flaves kept in the Faftories chained day and 
 night, and driven to the fea fide twice a day to be 
 waftied. In the fa6tory faw different kinds of iron 
 P. 223. chains, alfo an infbrurnent of wood, which Mr. Marfh 
 informed him was thruft into a man's mouth, to pre- 
 vent him from crying out when tranfported at night 
 along the country. From their mild behaviour to 
 their attendants, in the inland country, concludes 
 they had no domeftick flaves •, on the fea fide this 
 behaviour very different. 
 
 The natural produ6lions of Africa confifl: of cot- 
 ton in abundance, indigo of a fine quality, various 
 dye roots and woods, yams, fweet potatoes, rice, 
 millet, puHe, oranges, limes, bananas, plantanes, 
 cocoa-nuts, palm-trees, yielding wine and oil, black 
 pepper, grains of paradife, cinnamon, cardamoms, 
 affafoetida, cabinet-woods, and timber-trees. Of the 
 latter, a fpecies of the Ficktonia grandis, confidered 
 P. 224. as the mofl: eligible for fl:iip-building, the worm nei- 
 ther touching nor the iron corrodmg it; grows in 
 plenty at Appolonia, Secundee, and wherever he had I 
 been. Has fpecimens of moil. Has no doubt but 
 fpices in general, and all other tropical productions 
 might be cultivated with fuccefs there. The foil 
 and climate adapted to produce the fandal wood. 
 Has feen indigo at Appolonia in its raw ftate, and 
 P. 225. alio manufactured, but not manufacturing. Alfo J 
 cotton growing in great abundance, but knows not " 
 that any or eitiier of thefe two articles were exported. 
 Was on the coait fliortly after the rains, when the 
 indigo began to decay, in November, December, and 
 January* At places, at Appolonia and Winnebah, 
 
 the 
 
Africa. Howe, Efq. 89 
 
 the furf runs high in thefe months. It is eafy to 1790. 
 land a ton or two of goods; only performed by tlieParc II, 
 inhabitants in cmies built on purpofe : though at ^— -/-*«-* 
 Appolonia thcfe pretty frequently overfet, fckiom any 
 thing is loft in the lurf. 
 
 Cinnamon plants at St. Thomas, at the fea fide,P. 226. 
 about 20 feet high ; from whaL he heard grew inland 
 to a higher fize ; thofe on the fea fide he confidered 
 only as Ibrubs. He faw a number of them, and 
 from the appearance of the bark brought down, con- 
 cludes tlierc mu^t be a great quantity inland. The 
 cinnaLnon and c fTia tree of different genera -, the one 
 bei.i:!':;s ro t'le clafs L.aurus, the other the Calfia-, their 
 ge.'.cra no; quite eilablifhed. Of the laurus, the 
 lear ohlo'i;.:. neived, fhming, fimple. Of the cafTla, 
 the leaves are bipcnnate; different from the laurus, 
 and I. or .like the mimofa or fenfitive plant. Is notp^ 227, 
 pofiriv r '!: it is the fame cinnamon which grows in 
 India. the bark, leaves, and whole ftruclure of 
 
 th irte, :.he fame as thofe brought from thence to 
 Kew gardens. Had never been at Ceylon, but had 
 fccn tne tree both at Bombay and Cambay in private 
 gardens, brought as prefents from Ceylon. The 
 Alrican cafTia not unlike that he had feen in Eaft 
 Indies. 
 
 The foil on the Gold coaft, within reach of the 
 furf, every where fandy (Goree iflands alfo fandy) in 
 the rell of the fettlements he had been at, a heavy 
 loom or clay : every where fertile. As far as eight 
 or ten miles inland, various woods produced, ufed 
 in dying, fcveral of which are exported. 
 
 At Winnebah and Accra rocky j alfo about Ap- 
 polonia within three miles of the coall, but the in- 
 lands io or 12 miles from the fhore, very well culti- 
 vated with rice, yams, Iweet potatoes, indigo, and 
 cotton ; are fertile, and plentifully watered. 
 
 Within 5 miles up the country from Sccundee, it is 
 mountainous and uncultivated; the roads thereforep, 2:5." 
 very bad ; in parts about five feet broad, but where 
 the country is cuhivaitd, in feme pans they are cut 
 M 2 through 
 
$0 Africa. H o w e^ Ffq. 
 
 1790 throngh the woods from 15 to 20 feet broad, Un- 
 ■Part ll.dcrftood from MefTrs. Buchanan and Marfh, that 
 *--v-*«-' r'le produce was brought down in the rainy feafon in 
 canoes. 
 
 knows of no navigable rivers on the Gold 
 Coaft, except one at Accia, only navigable tor fmall 
 boats and canoes. The Lake at Appolonia runs in- 
 la'':a about 20 miles. Has feen the produce, as far 
 as the Lake extends at Appolonia, brought in fmall 
 cances, rowed by a fingle woman, but never faw them 
 carry any thing in a bafl-cet. 
 
 Griffiths, the notorious kidnapper, was a white man 
 an-i flave-trader, between Cape Le Hou and Appo- 
 lonia. Underllood from Captain Thompfon (who 
 offered him a reward of lool. if he could catch him) 
 that he was a native of bnglandj but had no know- 
 P. 229, ledge of him himftlf. Knows neither name of fhip 
 or captain, who was flogged for tour days by the na- 
 tives, but underftood ihe was an Englifh flave-trader 
 from Liverpool. Witnefs is a Polander, le^t Africa 
 15th February, 1786. Afterwards went with Capt. 
 Thomprcn in the N.uitilus, commilfioned by this go- 
 vernment on a private expedition. After his return, 
 ftaidieveral months inLondon, and was again commif- 
 fioned to go to the inland countries of the E. Lidies, 
 from w^hence he returned 19th of Auguft laft, and 
 has been in England ever fince. 
 
 Slave-trade on Gold Ccaft mofl:ly carried on in 
 neighbourhood of Cape Le Hou, Secundee, Com- 
 menda, and Anamaboe. Has a quantity of indigo 
 given him by the chief of the village, near Appolonia, 
 who told him it was manutaftured there, but had 
 never himfelf feen it manufacturing. Never under- 
 ftood manuraclured indigo was imported into that 
 country as an article of trade. 
 
 Witnefs 
 
[ 91 ] 
 
 Part II. 
 Witnefs examined, — Mr. Nimian Jefferys. v^^-v*^ 
 
 Mr. Ninian JefFcrys, mafler in the Royal Navy, 
 fuperinttnding fhips in ordinary at Portfmouth, was 
 at Jamaica in 1773, Tobaga 1774, Jamaica 1775, 
 Grenada 1776, Tortola i-y<^, Barbadoes and St. Lu-P» 231. 
 cia (in the navy) 1782, Antigua and St. Kitt's 1783, 
 and at Jamaica a few days in 1784. In Jamaica in 
 1773 and 75, and at Tobago 'n 1774, had feveral 
 opportunities, being employed a*^ lecond mate in land- 
 ing goods and taking off fugars from the iflands, 
 chiefly at Tobago. Obferved the field-negroes at 
 work with one or two white men looking atter them, 
 and a black man or two, called drivers, conffantly 
 cracking the whip over them, and lomctimes lalhing 
 them, which he thought very opprcffive ; fometimes 
 a white man v\ hipping them. Had trequent oppor- 
 tunities of obferving the piantation-flaves in his vifits 
 to Jamaica. The greater part ot them had marks of 
 the whip, particularly the back. Says, they muft 
 have been the effecl: of feverer punifhments than he 
 ever faw inflided in a man of war, which laft are not 
 in the leail to be compared with them. Saw wheals p^ lii, 
 on their backs which no time can erafe, never any of 
 the kind at a man of war's gangway. Has feen flaves 
 with their ears cut off, and underftood it was done by 
 or by order of their mailers, though never faw it 
 done ; alio fome with one of their hands cut off, which 
 he underftood was for lifting it agamft or ftriking a 
 white man (believes by the lawsot theiiland, p. 239.) 
 Has feen negroes fick or paft their labour, apparently 
 neglected and deltitute. At fobago, more than 
 once, at an outhoufe in a very mifcrable fituation. In 
 Jamaica, and about Kinglton, has frequently feen 
 negroes apparently pall tiieir labour, and in a dif- 
 eafed condition lying in the llreets and roads. Ob- 
 ferved a verv great difference between the domeftick 
 and piantation-flaves ; confidcred the former as a 
 
 nviifance 
 
ip2 W. Indies. J e f f e r y s.' 
 
 1790. nuifance from their numbers, as generally over well 
 Part II. fed, and fancy ; the plantation (laves, as a poor de- 
 *-nr^ prelTed p^rt of the human race. Has frequently 
 feen women with fucking infants working with the 
 reft of the gang. Their lodging were little huts, 
 I*' 233. -vsrith clayed walls, and the roof covered with cane 
 tralli. Does not recoiled any bedding. The black 
 tradefmen, fifhermen, boatmen, free negroes, and 
 mulattoes, feemed in general to be in a much better 
 condition than the plantation negroes. Appeared 
 to him that no comparifon could be formed betv/een 
 the fituation of the labouring poor of this country 
 and the plantation flavesj who are treated in many 
 refpects like cattle. Has feen (laves branded with 
 initials. Has ever underftood the picking of grafs 
 to be oppre(rive, as encroaching on the hours of reft ; 
 and the moft common caufe of their defertion is ill 
 treatment. Has feen them at work with logs of 
 wood fattened to their legs •, in the ftocks ; alfo with 
 an iron collar round their necks, with a perpendicu- 
 lar hook on each fide projecting from the upper part 
 of the head, and underftood for running away. 
 
 In converfations refpefting the moft defirable qua- 
 lifications of managers or overfeers, always under- 
 ftood he was confidered. the beft manager who fent 
 home the moft fugar. At thcfe converfations, white 
 perfons from the eftates have been prefent, but does 
 not recoUeft whether they were the managers. 
 
 Always confidered the negroes as good mothers; 
 as to their feelings and capacities, he never confi- 
 dered them, being young when among them. Knew 
 an aftonifliing inftance of high fpirit and greatnefs 
 of mind : was prefent at the execution of 7 flaves in 
 Tobago in 1774, whofe right arms were chopped 
 off; they were then dragged to feven ftakes, and a 
 fire of tralh and dry wood being lighted about them, 
 they were burnt to death. Does not recoiled hear- 
 ing one of them murmur, or their doing any thing 
 which indicated fear. One of them, named Chubb, 
 had been taken that morning, and was executed in 
 
 the 
 
W. Indies. J e r f e r y s. of 
 
 the evening. Witnefs flood clofe by him when his jyoQ, 
 arm was cut of; he ilretched it out on the block, p^^^ jj^ 
 and pulled up his fleeve with more coolnefs than he^.^'V's^ 
 (the witnefs) fliould have done to be let blood ; 
 •would not be dragged, but walking to the ftake, 
 turned about and addrefllng himielf to the witnefs, 
 faid " Buchra, you fee me now, but to morrow I fliallp, jjc, 
 be like that," kicking up the dull with his foot. 
 Two other negroes were prefent at this execution, 
 and (hewed no marks of difmay. One of thcfe, 
 named Sampfon, was hung alive in chains the next 
 morning, and fo lived (to the bed of witnefs's recol- 
 le^lion) (even days ; believes the other was fent to 
 the mines in South America. A ftronger inllance of 
 human fortitude he never faw. 
 
 Obferved a much greater number of children a-p^ 276, 
 mong the domcflir. or free negroes, in proportion, 
 than fimong the field negroes. 
 
 Saw numbers of feamen, who came on fhore from 
 thcGuineafhips in theW. Indies, in and about Kingl- 
 ton, in a very diftrefled flate, ulcerated, apparently 
 in want, and lying about on the wharfs, known by 
 the name of wharfingers ; has leen them in a dving 
 flate. Believes not ulual for king's Ihips to take fuchp, 237, 
 feamen on board, cfpccially in time of peace •, left 
 they fliould bring contagious dillempers with thtrm. 
 Believes they were not able to do the duty of a mer- 
 chantman. Never faw inftances of feamen difcharged 
 from other trades lying about in a fimilar firuation. 
 Thinks the flave trade is by no means a nurfery for 
 feamen, and that the Weft India trade is not in any 
 degree fo deftru6tive to the health and lives of the 
 feamen, though not ib much a nurfery as other trades. 
 
 "Was about four months in Jamaica, in 1773 : wasp ^^9 
 then aged about 19 years. Refided on board the fhip 
 he belonged to ; was on three or four plantations •, 
 but not more than a day and a night at a time. Was 
 about 4 months in 1774 at Tobago, chiefly refiding 
 on board fhip, though fome time at a friend's houfe 
 in the country, not a fugar plantation. Was at Ja- 
 maica, 
 
54^ W. Indies. Jeffervs.^ 
 
 1790. maica, as fecund mate, about four months in 1775* 
 
 Part Il.refiding moftly on fljip-board, and fomet.mes a day 
 
 •-nr**-' or two together on fhore at Kingfton where the iliip 
 
 loaded. Was not then, at above two or three fugar 
 
 plantations, nor above a night or two at a time. 
 
 Received fugars at water-fide. 
 
 P, 239. What he faid refpeding the mode of working ne- 
 groes, relates to I'obago only, where the- greater part 
 of the plantation negroes were marked with the whip. 
 Travelled through a great part of Tobago, never 
 continuing but two or three nights on one eftate, be- 
 fides that of his friend, which was not a fugar eftate. 
 Believes the fie'd flaves to be more ufeful to the 
 owner than the domeltic ones. Cannot account for 
 fo many of the latter being kept, and better fed. 
 The converfation on the qualifications of a manager 
 were held at Kingfton, and on board the fhip he be- 
 longed to ; and the dodrine beforementioned, fap- 
 ported by gentlemen about Kingllon, and white men 
 from the eftates, who he did not conceive to be 
 planters. 
 
 P. 240. The crimes for which the men were burnt at To- 
 bago in 1774, were murder, anddeftroying the pro- 
 perty on the- eftate. 
 
 There may be an hofpital at Kingfton in Jamaica, 
 for the reception of failors and tranfient poor, but he 
 never faw it. 
 
 P. 242. Had been near a week at a time on Little Cour- 
 land eftate, the proprietor, or chief genileman where- 
 of was Stuart Macvie, Efq. -, and frequently fpent a 
 night in the boiling-houfe of different eilates, waiting 
 for fugar being carted down. Saw no punifhments 
 infiicfted at Mr. Macvie's. Does not particularly 
 know, but believes about 200 negroes on that eftate. 
 Recollects no regular puniftiments •, except of thofe 
 men who fuffered death, as he believes, by the \en- 
 tence of the law. It was in Kingfton mari<.et, in 
 
 P. 243. Jamaica, where he faw negroes with their ears cut off, 
 and under llood it was done by their mafters, or their 
 orders. In the year 1704, witnels had not frequent 
 opportunities of making obiervatiunb in that ihand. 
 
 Cannot 
 
W. Indie sT Jefferys, 97 
 
 Cannot fpeak from his own perfonal knowledge as 1790. 
 to the condiid of planters and their flaves in the Pare If. 
 other iflands mentioned. The negroes over whichi 
 Mr. Macvie prefided, feemed in a much more com- 
 fortable (late than any he had feen in the W. Indies. 
 He feemed a father to his Haves. Had fetu negroes P. 244. 
 whipped on the wharfs in Jamaica on Monday morn- 
 ings. The mode was to make faft their hands to 
 the hook of a crane, and their feet to a weight or 
 two. The crane was then hove up to ftretch their 
 hands, and prevent them from moving, while flog- 
 ged by a black man. Their backs afterwards prickled 
 with a fmall bufli. Does not recoiled the number 
 of lathes, or know whether thcl'e punifhments were 
 inflifted by judicial fcntence, or the private order of 
 the mafter. In Jamaica, has feen one or two of the 
 diftrefled feamen called wharfingers carried by the 
 blacks to a burying-place near Spring Path, the 
 blacks themfclves telling him " It was poor Buchra 
 *' man." Believes the blacks performed this office 
 of their own accord. P. 245, 
 
 At Tobago has known the furf to.run fo high for 
 two or three days together, that they could not land 
 or take off goods. 
 
 The indrument with which negroes are whipped, 
 is generally called a cow-fkin •, a piece of cow or 
 bullock's hide twifted or plaited together, which, 
 when dry, becomes exceeding hard. 
 
 He recollected feeing once a failor in a man of war 
 receive three dozen with the boatfwain's cat, at the 
 gangvvay, and only once being on deck when a man 
 was flogged from fliip to fhip, his hands and feet 
 are tied to prevent his moving. In this inftance he 
 fainted, but cannot defcribe other particulars. Be- 
 lieves all hands are turned upon deck to fee the pu- 
 niftiment as the man comes alongfide. His back?- 246, 
 receives it. 
 
 Always underftood that the ufual punifliment of 
 negroes on the wharfs at Kingfton on Mond.iy mor- 
 ning, were for crimes of the preceding week. lNcvct 
 
 Numb. 3, N undcrllood 
 
i^S W. Indies. J e f f e r y s." 
 
 1790. nnderftood it was by order of the magiftrates, but by- 
 Part Il.direclion of their mafters or miftreflcs. Never faw ne- 
 'groes piiniflied on plantations in Jamaica. Heard 
 there is at Kingfton a jumper, a man who punillies 
 the negroes, and is paid tor it, but of no fuch perfon 
 on the ellates. Knows not by whom this jumper is 
 employed, but only that he was employed to whip 
 
 the negroes. 
 
 irtH L-r>^-y;^»^'-- :^-n\mrtL-wrrtm^ 
 
 Witnefs Examined — Rev. Thomas Gwynn Rees. 
 
 P. 247. Went to the W. Indies as Chaplain in the Princefs 
 Amelia. Arrived at Barbadoes end of 1782. Made 
 obfervations on the fituation of flav'es, in confequence 
 of being informed in England how they were treated. 
 Elad opportunities by going alhor^ almofl: daily, anc^ 
 vifiting fuch plantations as v/ere v^^ithin four or fiv6 
 miles of Bridge-Town. The negroes appeateti gene- 
 rally to be in a very bad (late. It ftruck him with 
 the impreffion that they were not in general well fed. 
 The clothing of the (laves was a fmall rag to cover 
 their nakednefs. Some had breeches or trowfers. 
 
 P. 248. Their lodging, in fmall huts covered with cane leaves 
 to appearance. Their furliiture confilied of (lools 
 or benches. Saw no beds or bedding in the lioufes 
 he was in. They flept on a kind of board raifed a 
 little from the ground, and fome on the ground. Sa\y" 
 three or four gangs or more at different times, work- 
 ing on the plantations. The firfh he faw, were work- 
 ing with hoes or mattocks in their hands, with a ne- 
 , gro driver after them with a whip, all in a row making 
 Imall holes to put corn in. A driver attended each 
 gang, whom he obferved more than once to ufe his 
 v/hip on the negroes at v/ork. One of the women 
 appeared pregnant, and rather behind the reft. He 
 called to her to come on, and going back, ftruck her 
 with the whip up towards the Ihoulders. Saw three 
 working with iron collars in one gang, and one with 
 a piece of chain to his leg, Ail<:ed a pregnant flave 
 
 whether 
 
W. Indies. R e e s. 99 
 
 v/Kether fhe was forced to work like the refl-, and Hie 179c. 
 laid, Yes. Saw fucking infants in baikeis on the Part II. 
 ground, jufl: by where the women were at wo: k, and one v-^^^v—^ 
 of the hitter fuckling her infant. Recollefts in a fu- !*• 249.- 
 g.ir mill a young girl between 20 and 30 years old, 
 chained to a large block, within reichofthe mill, 
 which flic fed with fugar cane. She faid fhe was to 
 be chained there a twelvemonth, of which two months 
 had elapfed, for running away trom her mafter, who 
 had ufed her badly, and that fhe was obliged to fleep 
 where Hie was, on the ground, having very little but 
 cane juice to fuftain her ; which was confirmed by a 
 fiave prefcnt. Says that about half a mile from Bridge- 
 Town, he heard the groans of a perfon at a fmall 
 diftance. On inquiring of her, flie told him that fhe 
 had been flogged for running away, to fuch a degree 
 that fhe could hardly move. Saw the marks. Her 
 left fule appeared to be in a mortifying flate, almoft 
 covered with worms. On her laying flie could cat if 
 fhe had vi6tuals, he lent for fome to the town. On his 
 return in a few hours, faw her again. Repeating his 
 vifit a day or two afterwards, was informed fhe was 
 dead, and carried away to be buried. The obferva- p. 230, 
 tion made by him and Mr. Vivian, the purfer of the 
 Princefs Amelia, (then in his company) was, whoever 
 inflided that punilhment would have done a kindnefs 
 to have killed her. 
 
 Suppofes they remained on the flatlon a fortnight o ^, 
 or three weeks afterwards. On fhore every day, but ' " 
 did not hear of any public inquiry refpeifting the 
 tranladion. In faying that he faw 3 or 4 gangs or 
 more at different times, he meant that number every 
 time he went on fliore. A great many more in tha 
 whole. 
 
 Often faw negroes returning from their work with 
 bunJles of Sirals 1 one of then'i faid it was for his 
 Mailer's cattle, and that, it he did not procure it, 
 he fliould be tiogged ; thinks picking grafs mud 
 mike a confiderable addition to their labour, and to 
 the length of time they were employed, as in the parts 
 
 N a he 
 
100 W. Indies. R e e s. 
 
 1790. he faw grafs did not appear to be in plenty. The 
 
 Part II. whipping the negroes while at work, by the driver, 
 ^--v**^ wa^ a common praftice. Thinks it iinpofTible to 
 
 -r. 252. walk in the Itreets or roads about Bridge Town with- 
 out Teeing Ibme of the negroes, apparently in great 
 diftrels, feme with the leprofy, fome enfeeoled thro* 
 age, and others who have loft their limbs, begging. 
 
 Obferved very frequently the marks of former fe- 
 vere whippings on the backs of the plantation flaves. 
 Has often feen feamea flogged on board a man of war, 
 particularly in running the gauntlet, which is a vio- 
 lent flogging ; but did not obftrve marks of equal 
 feverity on their bodies. Obferved ma ks of former 
 floggings on leamens backs, but th^ wounds did not 
 appear io deep, nor the wheals fo high above the fkin, 
 nor were the fears fo long as on the flaves. 
 
 Has feen the negro-dance, obferved a diff'erence ;n 
 the dancers, fome better dreflfed than others j was in- 
 formed the well-dreflfed were domeflic fervants, and"> 
 the others field flaves. In different companies, the 
 well-dreflTed appeared better in their countenancesi 
 and in fpirits. 
 
 ■*• • ^53' The negroes appeared to be as reafonable as any o- 
 ther beings whatever (confldering their education). 
 Thinks no companfon can be drawn between the ftate 
 of plantation flaves, and that of the labouring poor 
 in England. 
 
 Was between two and three months at St. Lucia, 
 where the condition of plantation flaves feemed much 
 the lame as in Barbadoes. 
 
 "• 254* Had no idea from what he heard in England before 
 he left it, that the fl:ate of flaves in the W. Indies, was 
 fo bad as he found it to be. 
 
 Remembers a converfation at Mr. Prettyjohn's, on 
 the difference between breeding and buying flaves, in 
 which having aflced if they had not enough born with- 
 out fending to Africa for them, and if population was 
 encouraged i Mr. P, anlwered, they could not encou- 
 rage it more than they did, as it was not worth while. 
 
 Does 
 
W. Indies. R e e s; loi 
 
 Does not recollect his mentioning any particular means 1790. 
 that had been uied to encourage population. Part II. 
 
 Was at Barbadoes about five or fix weeks. Don't «— >no 
 recoiled the names of the proprietors of any fugar 
 eilatcs in Barbadoes. Slept once or twice on iliore, a- 
 bout four miles from Bridge-Town, but don't re- 
 member the name of the planter : thinks it was on a 
 fugar eftate : a boiling houfe on it. Suppofes he wasP, 255, 
 not on 20 fugar eftates. Knows not how many of them 
 within four or five miles of Bridge-Town ; nor how 
 the lands in its vicinity are divided-, the chief he faw 
 were in corn and cane plots, and very little potatoes 
 or caflada. Made very little inquiry refpeding the 
 food of plantation-flaves. Was told by one of them 
 that it was chiefly of corn and cane juice. Refpeiting 
 their clothing, huts, and manner of fleeping, his 
 knowledge was got from his ovy^n obfervation. In- 
 tended to be better informed by Mr. Prettyjohn, but 
 their fudden departure prevented it. Mr. P. he thinks 
 is both merchant and planter, and that he was gene- 
 rally at Bridge-Town while they were there. Dined p. 256. 
 twice or thrice, or oftner with him. * The firft time 
 with Admiral Hughes a week or nine days after their 
 arrival. 
 
 Had converfation with him about ploughing the 
 ground for corn -, he faid it had been tried, but would 
 not anfwer. Did not talk to him of ufing the plough 
 in the cultivation of fugar, thinking it imprafticable, 
 ihe canes being put down in holes. Mr. P. appeared 
 to be an ingenuous fenfible man, whole opinion would 
 be taken as foon as any body's. Was no otherwife 
 acquainted with the Rev. Dr. Wharton, than by pro- 
 bably having dined with him at a public-houfe. 
 
 Never alked the name of the proprietor of the plan- 
 tation on which he law a woman chained to a block,"* '^51* 
 feeding the mill, as it might have prejudiced him a- 
 gainlt one who in other refpecSls might be valuable. 
 Thinks if it would deter others from fimilar ufage, 
 the perpetrator of faid cruelty ought to be publifhed 
 to the world. Did not mention it to Mr. Prettyjohn 
 
 but 
 
102 W. Indies. Rees. 
 
 1790. but on board the Ibip. Three or four of them were 
 
 Part II. together when it happened. 
 *-^v*^ Does not recollect to whom the woman faid fhe be- 
 
 F. 17^' longed, whom he found to have been fo punifhed. She 
 was found from half a mile to a milefromBr d^e-Town. 
 Thinks he did not tell Mr.Prettyjohn of it, and whether 
 to others, docs not recolleft. The reafon he did not pro- 
 mote her receivino; that medical affillance which feem- 
 ed neceflary, was a hope that her mafter would foon 
 take care of her, and they did not care to interfere a- 
 
 Jr. 258, j^Q^,- }^is flaves. Witnefs refides at iichefter in So- 
 merfetfhire, and is not a beneficed clergyman, Anced 
 if he has heard of perfons fuffering in England for 
 the death of a fervant by cruel ufage, and has obfer- 
 ved in Great-Britkin, miferably difeafed white perfons 
 lying about, apparently neglected, with fores and ul- 
 cers expofed to naked view-, begging relief, and a nui- 
 fance to the public: anfwers, he has. Never faw a 
 flave punifhed on a plantation in the W. Indies, but 
 by 2 or 3 licks of the driver. Ail the poor in Eng- 
 land have a parifli to go to, which is obliged to m.ain- 
 tain them when incapable of work. Their parifh fur- 
 niflies medicine when they are fick, and their labour 
 
 "• ^59 'keeps them from ftarving. The ufual wages pr. week 
 where witnefs refides, of labouring men, is generally 
 6s. but lefs in winter. Is of opinion that a labouring 
 man with a wife and 2 or 3 children and their afTif^ 
 tance, although unaffifted by the parilh, can fupport 
 himfelf with the necellaries of life. 
 
 Thinks it was in January when he faw the woman 
 chained to a block in the mill, and that they were cut- 
 
 P. 260. ting canes in Barbadoes when he was there. Afked whe- 
 ther, when the woman faid fhe was to continue feeding 
 the mill a twelve month, witnefs thought Ihe muit be 
 mirtaken, as fhe could not have canes all the year to 
 feed it; anfwers, he thought (ht mufb. 
 
 Holes for corn made with the hoe, fmall and not 
 very deep. Thinks not much difference between that 
 labour, and reaping corn in England. The pregnant 
 woman before-mentioned, had a hoe in her hand : 
 
 thinks 
 
W. I :t D I E s. R E E s. 103 
 
 thinks he was told, fhe was making holes for corn. 1790. 
 Has feen pregnant women reaping corn in Wales, but Part 11". 
 thinks not in hngland. ^---v^j 
 
 1 hinks ic would have been more for the fafety ofl*. -61, 
 the woman he found in the fituation betore-dckribed 
 to have communicated it to the owner or ov rfeer of 
 the efbate flie belonged to, but as a ilranger, did not 
 choofe to interfere. Did not know how far otf flie 
 lived ; nor, as many mud: have feen her, whether her 
 malter was not informed of it. 
 
 Mod of the negroes had a little rag to cover their 
 nakednefs ; fome, breeches or trowlers. Could fee 
 evident marks of whipping on their backs, and on the 
 breech of thofe who had only rags to cover them. 
 The women have fliort coats. 
 
 His being fuddenly called away, prevented his ob-p. 262. 
 taining that accurate information of the condition and 
 treatment of flaves svhich h..* intended. Should have 
 made more inquiry, thinking that thofe he faw who 
 had been punifned, might have been guilty of worfe 
 crimes than they acknowledged thcmfeves to have 
 committed. 1 hinks that two or three that he cafually 
 alked whether they ever went to church, anfwered. 
 No, or very feldom. Does not recolleft to have ever 
 had or heard any^ converfation about any attempts 
 jnade by the mailers to promote their religious im- 
 provement. Remembers alking a driver how he could 
 llrike a pcrfon fo hard as he did, and that the anlwer 
 imported, if he did not beat him, lie would network. 
 Does not recol!e61: the particular objeftions to theufe 
 of the plough in the culture of corn, but thought 
 there was not grafs enough on the the idand to main- 
 tain the cattle, as thofe he faw were generally very 
 poor. Has known the plough ufed in a foil wherein p^ 262. 
 there was abundance of large Hones, and an extreme- 
 ly uneven fur face. As at Srapletonj Wiuterborn, 
 Long- Brady, &c; in Dorfetfhire, where there are flints-, 
 and at Newport in Wales, where are Hones under 
 ground, and the plough can fcarce go its length with- 
 ought meeting one. Never faw labourers in Britain 
 
 working 
 
104 W. Indies. Rees* 
 
 1790. working under the whip of a driver, but has feen 
 
 Part II. them beat for not working;. 
 
 *-'"v-*.^ Thinks that of green provender, they give the cane 
 tops, as well as grafs to the cattle. Knows not whe- 
 ther cattle are fed with potatoe vines, and Indian and 
 Guinea corn. Were ufed to give Guinea corn leaves 
 to cattle on board. Suppofes he was on fhore a fcore 
 
 P. 264, of times at Barbadoes. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Mr. Thomas Woolrich. 
 
 Was in the Weft Indies from 1753 to 1773; but 
 in the interim took two or three trips to England, 
 and two to North America; was in a mercantile line 
 chiefly in Tortola j but alfo, occafionally at Barba- 
 does, Antigua, and St. Kitts. On his firft arrival 
 at Tortola, faw much feverity ufed upon negroe 
 flaves, though their fituation was more tolerable 
 than afterwards. At that time their number not beins 
 near fo great, they v/ere allowed fufficient provifion 
 ground, which fome years afterv/ards being abridged, 
 had a tendency to a want of food for their fupport; 
 P. 265, as the ifland was more and more cleared, more was 
 converted into cane land j the number of negroes 
 increafed, their grounds were more divided, or were 
 given them in fmallerlotsj as the number increafed 
 their punifhments became more fevcre. Had many 
 opportunities of feeing field-flaves at v/ork. Lived 
 fix or feven years in the houfe of a principal planter. 
 On lefTening the (laves provifion ground, food was 
 very feldom imported from abroad ; there was no 
 certainty or dependence on it. 
 
 Had heard planters comparing the number of 
 negroes at prior dates, with the then number, and 
 they fignified their increafe by births without impor- 
 tation ; there was reckoned a general increafe upon 
 the whole, through the iiland. At that time the 
 planters were altogether in good credit with the 
 
 merchants J 
 
"W". Indies. W o o r. r i c h. 105 
 
 merchants •, none known to be involved in d^brs to 1790. 
 the merchants in the illand or in England. Ee-.i^pHr^ (f. 
 a merchant he had many opportunities of knowing --v-«^ 
 their ficuarions; their payments were very puncliia',^* 20v5. 
 had great opportunities of knowing the produce ot 
 moll eftates -, their expences moderate at that time; 
 feldom under the necefTicy of purchafin^ pro/ifiocs 
 for their flaves. The planters he thinks then wh(jliy 
 refided on their own plantations in that iiland. 1 iie 
 chief articles of produce then were Sugar, Co ton, 
 and Rum. But Cotton-plantinp^ diminifning, as 
 that of Sugar increafed, not near (o much Cotton was 
 made the latter part of his time there. Plant ng of 
 Sugars is more laborious to the (lives i in fo.ne in- 
 ftances it proved more profitable to tnc owners, but 
 in general otherwifc. About three or four years 
 after his arrival there, fome Guinea fliips came down 
 with cargoes of flaves ; the planters in general 
 bought: this induced many to turn out cotton and 
 plant canes, which is more laborious. Many of the 
 new negroes often die in feafoning, and Guinea fhips 
 coming down time after time, L\\e planters bou^iit 
 to fupply their places. This continuing, many P. 267, 
 planters got much involved in debt by purchafmg 
 flaves on credit, and were obliged to mortgage the.r 
 cfl:ates and flavis to merchants in England. Has 
 never knovn a planter who thus mortgaged pay 
 off the debt. Some in confequer.ce have been oblii^rd 
 to have them fold by au6lion much undervalue, and 
 the Englilh merchant has fufFered in his debt. Has 
 known lome o\ thefe eftates fold, where the owners 
 have become overfcers upon them. During tlie lat- 
 ter part of his flay in Tortola, many field-negroes 
 had fmall lots to plant provifion upon, whv-re it 
 could be afforded, but fuppofes it was not general. 
 Some planters allowed them Saiurday atcernoons, 
 except in crop, to raifc provifions; many aifo who 
 had land woiked it on Sundays, obliged thereto by 
 the owner or ovcriVer. Very difficult to judge of the 
 Numb. 3. O incrcafe 
 
io6 W. Indies. Woolrich. 
 
 1790. increafe of negroes, by births, in Tortola, in the 
 Pare II. latter f)eriod of his flay there j but in that period they 
 *-^v^ did not increafe in the proportion they did on his firit 
 arrival, when fewer in number, and more moderate- 
 ly ufed. Droughts are common in all thofe iflands; 
 fometimes great and long; and a caufe of fcarcity 
 whereby the negroes fufFer greatly, near to a famine ; 
 and flaves have pined away and died, as food could 
 P. 268. not be procured. Never faw a gang of negroes that 
 appeared to him any thing like fufficiently fed •, their 
 appearance fufficiently proves their fituation. A fight 
 of a few gangs of the field-negroes would convince 
 more fully than his defcription by any number of words. 
 Slaves frequently run away from their mafiers. It is to 
 be attributed to fevere ufage for trivial faults. With 
 refpedt to their emaciated appearance, fpeaks as 
 to every other illand he had been in : has feen it more 
 in Antigua than in Tortola. During the whole of his 
 {lay at 1 ortola, the clothing of the field negroes was 
 very trifling j the men, generally a pair of trowfers; 
 the women, a peticoat, made of coarfe Ofnaburghs, 
 given them once a year in general by their owners; 
 Ibme do not give fo m.uch. Apprehends the field-ne- 
 groes in general do not cofl their mailers half a crown 
 per head per annum in clothing. Their houfes are 
 fmall fquare huts, built with poles, and thatched at the 
 top and fides with a kind of Bamboo -, built by the 
 negroes for themfelves : the field-negroes lie on the 
 ground, in the middle of the huts, with a fmall fire 
 generally before them; have no bedding; fome ob- 
 tain a board or mat to lie on before the fire; a ftw 
 of the head negroes have cabbins of boards, raifed 
 from the floor, but no bedding, except fome who 
 P. 269. have a coarfe blanket. The ufual punifliments of 
 plantation-flaves according to the nature of their 
 crimes; of a runaway, it is exceeding fevere; four 
 negroes to take hold of each arm and leg, and lay^ 
 him on the ground, when the chief whipper lays 
 upon their bare back 40, 50, 60, or more lafhes, 
 juft at the pleafure of the owner or overi'eer. Has 
 
 feen 
 
W. Indies. Woolrich. 107 
 
 feen negroes whipped, when the firft ftroke has made 1790. 
 the blood fpout out immediately. There are other Part TI. 
 ways of correftion very barbarous ; fuch as letting ^— -v^^ 
 upon a picket, which is {landing on one foot upon a 
 lliarp Itick; alfo the thumb-fcrews, which give in- 
 tolerable pain. It is very common to fee marks of 
 whippings on the pcrfons of the flaves, fome with 
 their backs an undiitinguiflied mafs of lumps, holes, 
 and furrows, by frequent whippings; mod of the 
 field-negroes are marked by the whip; all that he 
 had fcen, work under the whip, which the drivers 
 carry for their corredion, and of which they are con- 
 tinually in dread. It is made generally of plaited 
 cowikin, with thick ftrong lafhes; a formidable in- 
 ftrument in one of the ovcrfeers hands, who would 
 take the llcin off a horfe's back with one of them -, 
 has {ecn them lay its marks into a deal board. 
 Knows not of any proteiflion flaves had from the ill P. 270. 
 ufage of their mailt^rs. A negro ran away from a 
 planter with whom he was well acquainted ; the 
 overfeer having orders to take him dead or alive, a 
 while after found him in one of his huts, faft aileep, 
 in the day time, and fliot him through tlie body. 
 The negro jumping up, laid, " What, you kill me 
 *' aflecp," and dropt dead immediately. The over- 
 feer took off his head and carried it to his owner. 
 Knew another inltance in the fame ifland : a planter 
 offended with his waiting man, a mulatto, Hepped 
 fuddcnly to his gun, on which the man ran off", but 
 his mafter Ihot hiin through the head with a fingle 
 ball. Mentioned another inftance, a manager of an 
 effate in Tortola, whole owner did not refide on the 
 illand, fitting at dinner, in fudden refentment, ran 
 his cook, a negroe woman, through the body, and 
 flie died immediatcjy. The negroes were called in 
 to take her away and bury her. All the white peo- 
 ple in tlie ifl-.-ind were acquainted with thefe facts, 
 which happened w!ien he was in it, and which none 
 doubted : neither of thefe offenders were ever called 
 to an account, nor were they at all lliunned or con- 
 
 O 2 fidered 
 
So8 W. Indies. Woolrich. 
 
 1700. n<1frcd in difgrace. Had fcveral times il en Oaves 
 
 Parr TI..v'.iK:ing in the hclds, in chains; the moil (Irikmg 
 
 ♦---v-^ iiiilrificc cf it was in Antigua, where a confuierable 
 
 ga;-.g were working in one chain. Had Teen another 
 
 p/.r..^ or two Ccirrv.ng down fugars from tlie moun- 
 
 t.i.r. us parrs of tliac iflind, upon their heads in tubs, 
 
 P. 271. baf^ers or bags, heav laden. Their appearance was 
 fh ); kint», from the fcantinefs of cioaching, their ap- 
 parent great wint of food, and oi:her inllances of 
 iei/ere ufage. It was noticed by fome gentlemen 
 who alfo faw them, and feemed to exprefs themfelves 
 in terms denoting refentment at fuch fevcrity ; but it 
 is too common. 
 
 In ail the iQands, fo far as he has feen, it is ufual 
 to turn the field negroes out to their work as foon as 
 t;^c ight well appears, and they are not dil'charged 
 fron their drivers or overfeers until the clofe of the 
 ev/rnmg, or dark. They have time to eat their food 
 in the morning, and alfo at noon; but their ufual 
 hours, or other particulars of rell", he cannot fpeak 
 to. When dir:harged from field labour, they have 
 g-neraliy to pull grafs for their mailer's horfes and 
 Cattle. B' the time this is done, it is dark. If 
 picking giais be reckoned as a part of their day 
 lai?ou:-, it lengthens the day i if as an addition to it, 
 it is a gteat hardfhip. When grafs is plenty, it is 
 no harder woik I'lan field labour, but in droughts it 
 is fcarcei and if taey fail in theii quantity, they are 
 often puniflied. Are compelled to do this bufinefs 
 
 P. 272. ;is duly as any pirt ^:>f the day's labour. Thinks 
 thit pregnane women (field flaves) had fome little 
 indulgences, but it is cuftomary for them to work 
 in the ricld, till near their time. The whip occa- 
 f] onaliy ufed upon them, but not fo feverely as on 
 ti.e nitn, that he ever obferved. 
 
 The *' feafoning of negroes," not any difeafe or 
 diftemper. Always underllood the new negroes 
 deaths to be occafioned by being put to hard labour 
 iooii alter bein^^ landed, and from the fcarcity of 
 lood, and want of almoft every other neceffary. 
 
 Knew 
 
W. Indies. Woolrich. 109 
 
 Knew many inftances of this feafoning being ex- 1790. 
 tremcly faral to (laves. Some planters, who pur- Pare II. 
 chafed new negroes, told him they have loll one- «^v-o 
 third of the number, or more, in the firfl: year of 
 the feafoning. Never fav/ a cargo of flaves, but 
 what had fick or refufe negroes, more or Icfs, which P. 273. 
 fold at a lower price; probably for cotton planters, 
 an eafier bufinefs than that of the cane. 
 
 Negro flaves, attached to a plantation, befides 
 field Haves, are hoiife carpenters, coopers, and ma- 
 fons. The treatment of thefe generally better than 
 of field flaves, they have more certain allowance of 
 provifions. Many of the female domeilics are in a 
 pretty good ficuation : their labour is more mode- 
 rate, and they have more food and cloathing. Heard 
 but of few mftances of fuicide among the Creole 
 flaves ; but of a good many among Africans. The 
 principal inftance : A planter purchafed fix men flaves 
 out of a Guinea fliip, and put them on a fnall ifland 
 to plant cotton. They had a white man with them 
 as overfeer, who left them of a Saturday night. 
 There were no white inhabitants on the ifland. On P. 274, 
 the Monday following the overfeer returned, when he 
 found all the fix hanging ntar together in the woods. 
 Had often inquired of the molt fenfiblc negroes 
 what could be the caiife ^f fuch adtions, and the 
 anfwer was, *' That they would rather die, than live 
 in the fituation they were in." 
 
 Not able to fay particularly what a tradefman flave 
 and a field flave could earn for themfelves. Many 
 field flaves have it not in their power to earn any 
 thing exclufive of tiieir mafter's work. Some few 
 raile fowls, and fome few pigs, and fell them : but 
 their number is very few. The black tradefmen in 
 Tortola have very feldom any jobs to do on a Sunday, 
 v/hich is the only day allowed for themfelves. The 
 intelleCb of the negroes are various, as among other 
 people. Some that are brought up amonglt the 
 white people, of as go^d abilities as are common 
 amongtt mankind, confidering their fituation, and 
 
 want 
 
110 W.Indies. Woolrich. 
 
 1790. want of education. Had obferved the young negroes 
 Part II learn trades as readily as whites. Many are ingenioas 
 ^•■^''"V''^-' workmen. Knows of no exceptions to their pofTeli- 
 ing the focial affedlions as rtrongly as whites, more 
 particularly the Creoles. Apprehends their natural 
 afFeftion for their children and relatives, is as srreat 
 ^» 275,as elfewhere. No kind of relio;ion amonft the neo;roes 
 or Tortola. The Creoles have a certain belief in a 
 Supreme Being. The Africans, at firfl: coming, 
 fpeak no language but their own ; but he never knew 
 one that could exprels himfelf, but allowed of a 
 Supreme Being. If the word of a flave is difputed, 
 he Vv'ill frequently lift up his hands, and fay, God 
 above knows what they affert to be true. After the 
 arrival of African negroes in Tortola, they are ge- 
 nerally kept a few days before they are put to field 
 Jabour. Never knew any who were not put to labour 
 a week after they were purchafed. Knew but one 
 or two planters who branded their flaves. Never 
 faw the operation. 
 
 Droughts generally affe<5l all kinds of vegetation, 
 and hurt the provifions. Some kinds are lefs injured 
 by them than others, and it is faid yams leafl. 
 
 The lower orders of people in this country cannot 
 be compared with the general condition of flaves. 
 The fituacion of thefe is very lamentable, (would 
 not wifh to ufe any v/ord to exao-crerace) but it can- 
 • 270. not be defcribed to the full to the undcrftanding of 
 thofe who have never ("itw it. Never knew any 
 planter or owner of a gang of flaves that ufed them 
 as v.'ell as either a good or bad mafler ufes his fer- 
 vants in England. Hard labour, with the want of 
 neceflaries of life, wages, or cloathing, are fufficient 
 to make their condition much harder than the lowefl 
 degree of fervants in England. Certainly the maf- 
 ter's interefl to treat his flaves well, as the contrary 
 never fails to bring lofs and embarralFment on their 
 owners. Believes it is from want of wifdom that 
 they are treated ill. Apprehends the mailers of 
 flaves become morofe and cruel by being ufed to that 
 
 kind 
 
W.Indies. Woolrich. in 
 
 kind of bufinefs, and that It confiderably hurts the 1790. 
 morals of the white people. Part II. 
 
 Since he left Tortola, by means of correfpondence, »— -v^«/ 
 or feeing fome perfon from the ifland, (which is ge- 
 nerally every year) he has been informed of its Irate 
 from year to year, to the prefent time. The lall 
 information reprefented the planters to be in very 
 dillreffed circumftances. Divers of their eilates, 
 mortgaged in England, had been fold at public 
 vendue, upon very low terms, becaufe few were able 
 to pay for them ; and the general credit fo low with 
 the planters, that but few could obtain the neceffariesp. 277. 
 they want from the (lores -kept there, by reafon of 
 the debts to Englilh merchants. It has been his 
 opininion for many years, that the unnecefTliry pur- 
 chafing of African flaves, has been the main caufe 
 of their embarralfments, and the accumulation of 
 their debts. Many new negroes dying foon after 
 imported, the planters arc induced to buy again upon 
 credit, by which their debts have been increafed 
 with the Englilh merchants. 
 
 Has alkcd many African flaves how they were 
 brought into that fituation — amongfl: others a wait- 
 ing boy he had, who told him, that he and his filler 
 being catched together in the field, tending fome 
 corn, were both carried away. Men flaves had told 
 him they were furprized, arid made prlfoners of by 
 the enemy, in the night, in their own houfes or vil- 
 lage : others, that they were prifoners of war. 
 
 Amongd different planters there are different ufages 
 of their flaves. Some feed and treat them better than 
 others. Fully believes the circun^illances of the 
 owners have a great effecfl in that cafe. The flaves 
 of thofe who are much in debt, are generally more 
 feverely and worfe treated, than flaves of fuch as are 
 in eafy circumilances. 
 
 The planter, with whom he refided 6 or 7 years, 
 was named John Pickering, whofe houfe was on his 
 plantation, and he had none in town. Lodged there p. 278^ 
 
 that 
 
iia W.Indies. Woolrica. 
 
 1790. that fpace of time, but was never fo long at one timtf 
 
 Part II. in Tortola, but a longer fpace at two different 
 
 v-O^"^^ periods. 
 
 The lands in Tortola, which ufed to be planted in 
 cotton, could not have been cultivated for fugar in 
 fo Hiort a time, without the importation of fiaves 
 
 P. 2 80. from Africa. Apprehends the planting of fugar 
 would require a larger body of negroes than the 
 cotton planters generally have. There never has 
 been any cotton planted in thofe parts of the ifland 
 where the fugar-cane is planted. As to comparing 
 the planting of cotton and fugar by equal quantities 
 of land, is not a judge of the difference of labour. 
 Cotton is planted upon the pooreft parts, upon 
 rocky and lleep places, miOftly where canes are not 
 planted. No regular plantations of cotton but upon 
 keys and rocky hills. When he firft went there, he 
 thinks more than one-half was in its native woods. 
 The bed parts were in the hands of different pro- 
 prietors, who cleared fmall parts of it from year to 
 year, whereby they enlarged their fugar plantations, 
 and made new ones. 
 
 P. 281. During the whole of his refidence in Tortola, a 
 court of juftice was held the firft Monday in three 
 or four months of the year, by the governor and fix 
 magillrates, but no alTembly : though the ifland was 
 not under the fame fettled adminiftration of juftice 
 that prevailed in the other iflands, juftice was admi- 
 niftered in as good and regular order, as in any of 
 the others before mentioned. 
 
 The wood lands, by clearing of which the fugar 
 eftates were increafcd from 10 or 12 to 50 or 60, 
 could not have been in fo fhort a time if there had 
 
 P. 282. been no importation. Is very certain the event has 
 been greatly to tne lofs and embarraffment of the 
 planters, owing to the bad management and hard 
 iifage of the flaves ; and that y-Sths of the planters 
 would have been in much better circumftances, if 
 they had not bought any negroes during the time of 
 
 his- 
 
W. Indies* Woolrich. iij 
 
 his refidence there, but had ufed thofe they had with 1790. 
 humanity and care. Part II. 
 
 Water brackifli and fcarce in Tortola. ^.yY-^-^ 
 
 Never refided on any other fugar plantation than 
 J. Picivering's. Thinks a pair of trowfers and a 
 Ihirt are quite fufficient cloathing for a working P. 285, 
 negro in the field j and that a petticoat and jacket 
 for a woman is an equivalent. Cannot fay that a 
 fliirt is abfolutely necelfary, but it appears beneficial, 
 and is what they would chufe. Has never known 
 thofe who had one on, to pull it off, when at work 
 in the field. 
 
 When he fettled in the Road Town, his family 
 confifted of a clerk and two apprentices in his (lore, 
 and occafionally three, four, or five black domeflics. 
 Sometimes fowls or vegetables were to be bought 
 from the negroes, but very rarely. The fupply of 
 thefe articles in the ftores was very fmall. Generally 
 ufed faked beef and pork. Sometimes dried peafe 
 from America. Frefli meat dear and fcarce through 
 the illand. Beef and mutton, killed by the planters, 
 at times to be bought. A good fupply of fifli at 
 times, and always at a reafonable price. 
 
 Heard of a great number of wrecks of fhips upon 
 the ifland or reefs of Annigado, but was never there: 
 alfo that a Spanifh fliip was wrecked a year a two P. 286. 
 before he went to Tortola, and that before his arrival 
 lieutenant-general Fleming, the commander in chief 
 of the Leeward Iflands, came down from St. Kitts, 
 to demand and fecure for the right owners, the 
 money faved from that wreck. Was told that fome 
 delivered to him what they got of it, and that others 
 delivered none, but never heard of any being brought 
 to juftice upon that account. 
 
 Has been two or three times in Barbadoes, but 
 never above two weeks at a time s and then did not 
 refide on any fugar plantation. 
 
 Has been four, five, or fix times at Antigua : 
 believes the longeft was three or four weeks, but did 
 not refide on any fugar eftate there. 
 
 Numb. 3. P Had 
 
114 W. Indies. Woolrich." 
 
 1790. Had been only once, a very Ihort time, in St, 
 
 Pare II. Kites, and not on any fugar eftate. 
 
 --^"^v^^ Kept one horfe, while refident in the Road Town 
 
 P. 2 87. at Tortola. The grafs for him was bought from 
 negroes who fometimes brought it to the road for 
 fale, in the evening. It was their own property, 
 and generally paid for with tobacco, fait herrings, or 
 coarfe linens. In crop time their horfes were fed 
 from cane tops, which were had for fetching. Ap- 
 prehends fuch of the other merchants in Road Town 
 as had no ellates of their own, fupplied their horfes 
 in the fame way. Computes the grafs bought for his 
 horfe every night when the negroes came, to have 
 coft two bits, or about iid. fterling, but with- 
 out oats thinks two bits worth would have been 
 infufRcient. Grafs picking in the evening on plan- 
 tations, continues in crop time and all the year. 
 
 P. 2o8. Never faw any cane tops carried home for planter's 
 horfes or flock j the draft mules at the mill live 
 entirely upon them during crop time. They are a 
 nourilhing food for mules, who altogether live on 
 them ; and for horfes alfo. Does not know whether 
 horned cattle, fheep, and goats, eat them or not. 
 Negroes in a plantation who have a hog to feed, 
 have what quantity they plcafe to take for that pur- 
 pofe. The pork fed on them reckoned the bed. 
 They had generally, he thinks, the fkimmings of 
 the boiling of fugar. Cannot fay if that Ikimming 
 is allowed or not by their mafters •, thinks fome prime 
 negroes would not be debarred of it, as it fcemed not 
 to be fit for any other ufe. Knows of no negro be- 
 ing flogged for feeding his hogs with it. J. Pickering 
 had a diftillery for rum on his plantation. Appre- 
 hends the fkimmings of the fugar-coppers are not a 
 main ingredient ufed in the diltil-houfes, fot fetting 
 of liquor in the cafks for making of rum. Molaffes 
 is the main and principal ingredient; but thinks 
 fliimmings are alfo always ufed with the molaffes 
 for fetting caflvs for diflilling. 
 
 P. 289. He traded at Tortola, in mofl kinds of manufac- 
 tured 
 
W. Indies. Woolrich. 115 
 
 tured goods; alfo in Irifli provifions ; fotnecimcs in 1790* 
 American cargoes of flour, bread, and other articles; Pare II. 
 but no corn. Has ford Ofnaburghs, checks, and •— ^ro 
 other coarle linens, &c. to the negroes. Has fre- 
 quently imported and fold fait herrings from Ireland ; 
 never any cod or mackrel, that he recolle6ts; fold 
 the faked herrings to the planters ; for the flaves in 
 crop time were generally employed at hard work the 
 whole 6 days of the week. They are a perifhable 
 commodity, and he thinks will not keep good a 
 whole year in that ifland. Knows no inftance of great 
 fcarcity of Irifh fait provifions, fince he kept a llore 
 in the road. There was a fcarcity of flour and bread, 
 but not much to diflrefs the wh'.te people There 
 was never, to his knowledge, any certain fupply of 
 provifions, fuitablc for the negroes, at all times of 
 the year. There was, more frequently, no neceflfary P. 290, 
 food for them to be bought at the merchant's fliores. 
 Never had any concern in planting, or as proprietor 
 of any plantation at Tortola, or elfewhere. Never 
 had more than 4 or 5 flaves at one time. One of 
 them came to England with him, the others were left 
 at the fl:ore with a partner. During his flay in Tor- 
 tola, there was no complaint that white people could 
 not obtain legal redrefs for injuries they might have 
 received. 1 he inhabitants were fenfible there was 
 not in the ifland a fufficient authority to bring capi- 
 tal offenders to trial and punifliment, without a fpe- 
 cial commillion from the governor general. While 
 he was there, a murder was committed by one white 
 perfon upon another. The murderer was tried, in P. 291, 
 confcquence of a commifllon from the governor ge- 
 neral, by a jury, who acquitted him. Redrefs was to 
 be had on complaints of fmaller offences, from the 
 governor and council. White mechanics or tradef- 
 men purfued their occupations in Tortola, through- 
 out the day, as in other countries. Did not ferveon 
 the jury ; is one of the people called Q^iakers. In 
 fpeaking of Tortola, he alfo included the Virgin 
 Iflands. 
 
 ? 2 Witnefs 
 
( ii6 ) 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Henry Hew Dalrymple, Efq. 
 
 1790. Was lieutenant in the 75th regiment, in garrifon 
 Part II. at Goree, and on various parts of the coaft, from May 
 ^"^"^^"^ to the end of September, 1779. Made it his bufinefs 
 P. 291. to inquire as to the mode of obtaining (laves j had 
 P. 292. his information from French mulattoes and natives, 
 particularly the Maraboo of Dacard, a fenfible and 
 intelligent man. Inhabitants of Goree refpe6lable. 
 He was weekly on the continent, with a view of 
 knowing the fituation of the country, and modes of 
 procuring flaves, becaufe he held flaves himfelf in the 
 Weft Indies, and wifhed to afceitain that matter be- 
 yond doubt. In confequence, was informed that the 
 great droves (called caffiilas, or caravans) of flaves 
 brought from inland, by way of Galam, to Sene- 
 gal and Gambia, were prifoners of war. Thofe fold 
 to vefTels at Goree, and near it, were procured either 
 P. 293. by the grand pillage, the lefler pillage, or by rob- 
 bery of individuals. The grand pillage is executed 
 by the king's foldiers, from 3 or 400, to 2 or 3000, 
 who attack and fet fire to a village, and feize the 
 inhabitants as they can. The fmaller parties gene- 
 rally lie in wait about the villages, and take off all 
 they can furprize; which is alfo done by individuals, 
 who do not belong to the king, but are private rob- 
 bers. Thefe fell their prey on the coaft, where it is 
 well known no queftions, as to the means of obtain- 
 ing it, are afked. 
 
 It feemed to be univerfally believed on the coaft, 
 that their wars are undertaken for the purpofe of 
 procuring flaves. Whenever he afked the negroes 
 in the Weft Indies (who had been brought in thofe 
 cafEUas, or droves) how they had been made prifon- 
 ers, they generally told him, had been thus taken by 
 furprize, either at night in their villages, ftraggling 
 from their huts (particularly the women) or when 
 
 cultivating 
 
Africa. — W. Indies.' Dalrymple. 117 
 
 cultivating their fields. He does not fay no wars 1790. 
 arife in Africa, but from a defire of making flaves 3 Part II, 
 but that this, from anfwers received, appeared to be *--v^*i' 
 the general caufe. Every body on the coaft reported 
 that thefe wars were feldom of more than 8 or 10 
 days continuance ; that feldom, in the moft decifive 
 aftions, the number of prifoners or killed, amounted 
 to more than 20 or 30, and that it is principally on 
 the coafb marauding expeditions are found. Kidnap- P. 294, 
 ping is fo notorious, that he never heard any perfon, 
 French or native, deny it there. Two men, while 
 he was at Goree, offered a perfon, a meflVnger from 
 Senegal to Rufifco, for fale, to the garrifon. They 
 did not deny he was a free man, but rarher boalled 
 of what they had done, in making themfelvcs mailers 
 of him. Witnefs indifpofed, withdrew. On a fub- 
 fequent day, defircd to explain the former part of 
 his evidence, having been foill when he delivered it: 
 faid, that as to the marauding expeditions, informa-P. 295. 
 tion from flaves in the Weft Indies, tended to con- 
 vince him, they were procured in that manner in the 
 interior of Africa alfo. Many were brc.ight to Goree 
 while he was there, but feldom more than 3 or 4 to- 
 gether, and oftner only one. He underftood it com- 
 mon for European traders to advance goods to chiefs, 
 to induce them to feize on their fubjeds, or neigh- 
 bours. Not one of the mulatto traders at Goree, 
 ever thought of denying it. Thefe depredations are 
 alfo pra6tifcd by the Moors; faw many flaves in Af- 
 rica, who told him they were taken by them ; 3 of 
 thefe, one of them a woman, cried very much, and 
 feemed to be in great diftrels; the two others more 
 reconciled to their fate. All crimes in the parts ofp, 29^, 
 Africa he was in, were puniilied with flavery. At 
 Goree, where moft inhabitants are mulattoes, flaves 
 are common ; but on the continent there are but 
 few, and thefe are treated fo well, eating and work- 
 ing with their mafters, that they are not diftinguifli- 
 able from free men. Never faw any whip or inftru- 
 ment of torture ufed there 3 nor did he believe, on 
 
 inquiry. 
 
ii8 Africa. — W. Indies. Dalrymple. 
 
 1790. inquiry, that flavcs there were ufcd with feverity. 
 
 Part II. They believe in witchcraft. 
 
 '-'V-'*-' Frauds are often praftifed on the natives, by Eu- 
 ropean merchants. He has heard mulatto mer- 
 chants, and European captains, boaft of it. 
 
 While at Goree, a fhip attempted to fail out of the 
 bay with a number of negroes, without paying for 
 them J and this was the reafon given for their orders 
 to fire on her, and bring her to. From what he faw 
 and heard, he has no doubt but the thing is com- 
 mon. 
 
 P. 297. The produfbions of the part of Africa he was in, 
 are cotton of 3 kinds, indigo, dyes of different kinds, 
 Ipices, fugar canes, tobacco, millet of 2 kinds, ebony, 
 and different kinds of cabinet wood. The fugar 
 canes were thought, by judges, to be fuperior to any 
 produced in the Weft Indies. The cotton grows 
 fpdntaneouny almoft every where, though fometimes 
 cultivated; is of a remarkable fine ftaple, and as he 
 was told by Mr. Ofwald, an African merchant, is 
 efteemed, by the Englifli merchants, far fuperior to 
 any that comes from the Weft Indies. The indigo 
 is likewife of a better quality than what grows in our 
 iQandsj it is*teckoned equal to that of Guatimala. 
 He has referved fpecimens of thefe articles. They 
 have befide, at Goree, a root which dyes a beautiful 
 fcarlet, and its leaves a bright yellow or orange. The 
 foil and climate feem both extremely favourable for 
 the growth of fpices. Cardamoms are found in 
 great perfection near Cape Verd. 
 
 As far as he could judge, in natural capacity the 
 negroes are equal to any people whatever : and in 
 temper and difpofition (of which, froiri being con- 
 ftantly among them, he had, he believes, as many 
 opportunities of judging, as any Englifliman on the 
 coaft) they appeared to be humane, hofpitable, and 
 well difpoled. The country well cultivated, and 
 from the general difpofition of the natives to labour, 
 he is convinced, that had they a proper market for 
 their produce, they would be as induftrious as any 
 
 Europeans* 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Dalrymple. 119 
 
 Europeans. He remarked, that where there was 1790. 
 little or no trade for Qaves, they were moft induftri-Part II. 
 ous. They manufafture cotton cloths, almolt equal «-->rw 
 in the workmanfhip, to thofe of Europe ; they work 
 in gold, filver and iron, rennarkably neat-, alfo inP. 298. 
 wood, and make faddles, bow-cafes, fcabbards, gris- 
 gris, and other things of leather, with great neat- 
 iiefs. 
 
 Was much and often in the country among the 
 natives; and having learned (from La Brue and o- 
 ther writers) that it was a common pra6lice for their 
 kings to feize their fubjeds and fell them as flaves 
 for European goods, he vvifhcd to know whether the 
 report was founded in faft. 
 
 When he was on board the Atalanta floop of war, 
 they fell in with a (hip from Gambia, the crew of 
 which had all died but the captain, whofe name was 
 Heatly, and the mate. On going aboard he found 
 the captain lying on deck upon a mattrefs, and the 
 mate appeared in bad health. 
 
 He was on his paffage to the W. Indies in a flave P. 299. 
 veflel two months, during which the (laves were ex- ■ 
 
 ceedingly unhappy, made many attempts to rife: j 
 
 not fucceeding, they begged to be perr«-itted to throw 
 themfelves overboard, and perpetually regretted 
 their own country. 
 
 He was three times in the W. Indies^ in 1773, at 
 Grenada fix months i in 1779 and .780, at Antigua, 
 Barbadoes, Tobago, St. Lucia, and St. Chriftophers; 
 and in 1788 and 1789, at Grenada, Coriacou, St. 
 Vincents, and Tobago. 
 
 General treatment of the negroes was very cruel. 
 He lived neat the market place of St. George's, at 
 Grenada, where negroes were flogged every day by 
 the particular orders of their maflers j they were tied |l 
 
 down upon the ground, every ftroke brought blood, 
 and very often took out a piece of the flclli. Saw 
 them often in chains, thus marked. A French 
 planter fent for a furgeon to cut off the leg of a 
 negroe, who had run away. On the furgeon's re- 
 
 fufing 
 
I20 Africa. — W. Indies, Dalrymple. 
 
 1790. fufing to do it, the planter took an iron bar and broke 
 
 Part II. the leg in pieces, and then the furgeon cut it off, 
 
 ^-'v**-' This planter did many fuch ads of cruelty, and all 
 
 with impunity. It did not appear to be the public 
 
 P. 200.op''iJon t^li^t any puniihment was due to him, for tho* 
 it was generally known, he was equally well receiv- 
 ed in fociety afterwards as before. 
 
 Walked into the country at Grenada, almofl: daily. 
 Many of the field-negroes bore the marks of the 
 whip on their bodies, and fcveral worked in the fields 
 in chains. Whip is made of a thong of cow's hide, 
 about half an inch in breadth, with large knots on 
 it in feveral places. The day after his arrival at An- 
 tigua, he faw three or four old negroes, reduced to 
 fkin and bone, digging in the dunghills, in the 
 ftreets, for food : and was told by themfelves and 
 others, that they had been turned off by their owners, 
 who could not afford to keep them. This he under- 
 
 P» S*-*'* flood was no uncommon pra6lice. As he was per- 
 petually removing from place to place with the fleet 
 and army, in 1779, and 1780, he had then but lit- 
 tle opportunity of feeing the treatment of the negroes 
 in the plantations: In Grenada, the plantation flaves 
 generally worked (out of crop-time) from day-light 
 to dark. On fome plantations he has known them 
 called out long before day-light ; they generally have 
 an hour allowed them for breakfaft, and two for din- 
 ner. When laft at Grenada, he lived in the country, 
 about 15 or 16 months; and obferved that flaves 
 are generally fent to pick grafs after the field-labour, 
 which continues till fun-let is over. A certain 
 quantity is required, and if they do not produce it 
 they are punifhed ; though it is often very Icarce and 
 brought from a great diftance. In crop-time they are 
 obliged to work as long as they can, which is as long 
 as they can keep awake or ftand on their legs. Some- 
 times they fall afleep through excefs of fatigue when 
 their arms are caught in the mill and torn off. He 
 
 P. 302. faw feveral who had lofl their arms in that way. 
 Except one or two holidays a year, he did not 
 
 underftand 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Dalrymple. 121 
 
 iinderdand tliey had any time allotted them for their 170 
 own amufement or repolc : for on Sundays ihey ^^- p^xn ii. 
 boLir more thin on any other days of the week; it -■->,"-.> 
 being then that they exert theinfelves in procuring P. 3.2. 
 fupplies of food for their own fultenance, and tliere- 
 fore are not attended by the driver. At other times 
 every gang is attended by one or more, who make 
 frequent ufe of the wl^.ip, Vv^ithont diftinilion of fcx. 
 He believes, that in general, their food is neither 
 fufficient in quantity nor good in qua'itv; though 
 the domeftic are better fed than the field-negroes. 
 On the fortifications, where their labour is of t!ic fe- 
 vered kind, they had only {even pounds of bread and 
 four of falt-fifli per week. Tliey carried bricks, 
 lime, and large planks, from the iliore to Richmond 
 Hill, about a mile and an half, and were oftea 
 fcarcely abb to move under their burthens. 
 
 Is not pofitive i'^thefe flaves were paid for by go-P. oq^, 
 veanmcnt or by the ifland. 
 
 Believes it depends entirely on difpofltion and 
 ability of mailers whether they are well or ill fed. 
 In Grenada they were differently fed at difFerent 
 times. He dined at the houfe of a gentleman, who 
 faid his grafs field had been plundered the night be- 
 fore, by certain negroes, fome of whom he could have 
 taken and puniQied, but refrained, becaufe he knew P. 304, 
 their allowance fo fmall that without robbing they 
 could not have exifbed j but only fpeaks to this par- 
 ticular infbance. The place was near town, where 
 grals fells at a great price. It was the general opi- 
 nion, that it was more profitable to import flaves 
 and work them out, than to breed them. Believes 
 they are not confidered as proteflcd by law; for ne- 
 groes were often treated cruelly, and even murder 
 had been committed, not only with impunity, but 
 without its being fuppofcd the perpetrators could be 
 puniihcd on that account. At Grenada, in the town 
 ot St. George, a mafon, named Chainbers, killed a 
 negroe, in the middle of the day (he thinks in tiie 
 church yard) and no notice v/as taken of it. The 
 
 Numb. 3. Q^ prefent 
 
122 Africa. — W.Indies. Dalrymple. 
 
 1790. prefent chief judge of Grenada (who has permitted 
 Part II. him to ule his name on this occafion) alFured him it 
 ^^■"V^ was true. Another inftance was of a planter who 
 flogged his driver to death, and even boafted of it to 
 the perfon from whom witncfs had the account. 
 (Does not exadlly know the time this happened, 
 but it was before the year 177?, when he heard 
 P. 305. of it from the Chief Juftice, p. 316.) Another 
 was that of the French planter who broke his 
 negroe's leg in order to prevail on the furgeon to 
 cut it off. And in June lafl:, he faw a negrefs 
 brought to St. George's to have her finger cut off: 
 ihe had committed a fault, and ran away to avoid 
 punifhment; but being taken, her mafter fufpended 
 her by the hands, flogged and cut her cruelly on the 
 backjbellyjbreafl-and thighs,and then left her fufpend- 
 ed till her fingers mortified : in this fl:ate witnefs faw 
 her at Dr. Gilpin's, but no notice was taken of the 
 fa6l, though it happened months after the new acl 
 for the proteilion of flaves was paffed. Another 
 negrefs who, though a young woman^, had no teeth, 
 informed him that her miftrefs, had with her own 
 hands pulled them out, and given her a fevere flog- 
 ging befldes, the marks of which flie then bore. 
 This relation was confirmed by feveral town's people 
 of whom he inquired concerning it. 
 
 He was in Grenada, 1788, when the aft was paf- 
 fed, entitled, " An Aft for the better proteftion and 
 *' promoting the increafe and population of flaves." 
 P. 306. The principal objeftion, and which he repeatedly 
 heard, to its pafling was, that it might make the 
 flaves believe, that the authority of their mafters was 
 leflTened : but otherwife, many thought it would be 
 of little ufe, as it was a law made by themfelves, 
 againft themfelves, and to be executed by them- 
 felves: they obferved befldes, that fuch laws were 
 unneceffary for the proteftion of negroes who were 
 treated well; and that others had fo many opportu- 
 nities of evading the law, (the evidence of negroes 
 not being admitted) that it would be of no ufe. 
 
 The 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Dalrvm^le. 123 
 
 The members of the legidature were not all plan- 
 ters. Some of them were flave merchants and (lore 
 keepers, in the town of St. George. At the time 
 of paflmg Cud act, the propofal in the Biitifh parlia- 
 ment for the abolition of the flave trade was a mat- 
 ter of senef:il difciifTion in the ifland : and he be- 
 lieves was a principal reafon for palling it. For 
 report faid, that the agent for the ifland had men- 
 tioned in a letter, that unlefs they made laws 
 themlelves for the protecfiion of flaves, the Britifli 
 parliament would. This letter he never faw, tho* 
 he fought it; and as a proprietor in the ifland 
 thought he had a right to read the agent's k^uers. 
 He, however, often heard it urged as an argument 
 that the acl fliould pals. He believes it will prove 
 ineflt:6tual : becaufe, as no negro evidence is ad-i^« 3*-^7' 
 mitted, thofe who abufe them will ftiil do it with 
 impunity-, and people who live on terms of inti- 
 macy, would diflike the idea of becoming fpies and 
 informers againft each other. 
 
 Believes the chaftity of the wives of flaves is not 
 protctled by law : and has never heard that there 
 was any punifiiment for its violation. Thatfometimes 
 female flaves are offered by the mailers to their vifi- 
 tors ; and has known compulfion ufed to oblige 
 fuch to fubmit to prollitution. 
 
 Does not fay, that flaves never become pofiefllrd 
 of much proptrty J but he never knew an inilancej 
 nor can he conceive how they can have time for it. 
 Neither did he ever know of field flaves having ex- 
 penfive fcalls. A negro woman, who became unfit- P. S^^* 
 ted for labour by difeafe, was turned off by the 
 trullees of his father's ellate. She fubfiiled by cha- 
 rity in the town of St. George. 
 
 The tetanus, or locked jaw, was formerly very 
 fatal to negro children ; but there are now means 
 of treating the motiicrs and children, which render 
 it lefs fo. 
 
 Field flaves did not appear to him cheerful or 
 Q^ 2 happy. 
 
124 Africa. — "W. Ixdies. Dai, rymple, 
 
 1790, happy. There arc frtrquint inflances of llavcs def- 
 
 Par. Il.tipying rhfmfflvfs. 
 
 t-'-Y'-^ Has 11 landed ellate in Grenada, but it is not cul- 
 tivared. Part of it has lieen. 
 
 P. jop. Mis perfonal obfcrvations on the coaft of Africa 
 extend to j:)art of the kinj^do.n of Cajore, which 
 is oppofite Goree, to the country north and fouth 
 for feme leagues ; and to about eight or ten miles 
 inlap.d fronn the fhore. Within that diftance indigo 
 is manufactured fit for life ; and cloths dyed with it. 
 Nev^er faw the procefs. The manufadlures he men- 
 tioned in gold, filver, iron, and other macerials, are 
 
 P. ? JO. the v-'ork of both negroes and iVIoors. He faw but 
 few IVIoors in the country about Cape Verd, and thofe 
 were {grangers ; and none at Goree, or in any other 
 parts where he had been. He thinks, as the negroes 
 are remarkably indullrious, they might, with proper 
 encoi-ragement, be brought to cultivate the different 
 productions of that part of the coaft to a much great- 
 er extent than they do at piefent: for where there 
 was a demand for anv article or produce, he obferv- 
 ed they were remarkably induftrious. 
 
 In 1773, went to Grenada on a vifit to his father. 
 Pie was then 22 years of age ; and Mr. Leyburne 
 then governor of the ifland. He then ftaid 6 months, 
 moftl) in town -, but was fometimes in the country, 
 p J, when he made frequent vints to different planta- 
 tions •, but in both town and country faw many in- 
 ftances of cruel treatment. Some of the punifhments 
 inflicted might be by order of the magillratesj but 
 many, he was informed, were ordered by the maf- 
 ters : and he knows, that by the laws of the ifland, 
 tiicy have fuch a power •, for there is an a6l, pafifed 
 Oct. 18. T784, for regulating the fees of the clerk 
 of the market, and authorifing him to take i8d. for 
 every fia\ e he fhall flog, whether it be ordered by 
 P. 3i2.tlie magiftrate or owner. Thefe were generally be- 
 longing to people in town. 
 
 Does not remember the name of the French 
 planter, who treated his negroes i'o barbaroufiy, nor 
 precifely the year; but was informed of it by feve- 
 
 ralj 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Dalrymple. 125 
 
 ral } and believes many Grenada genclemen now in I79^- 
 England iiave lieard the ftory. Has {ttn this man Part If. 
 in the belt fociety of the illand ofLcner than once, ^^ — ^'"^ 
 after the ftory was generally known. Ic was fpoken 
 of as a thing notorious, and believed. Does not 
 know whether or not Inch atrocious ads are confi- 
 fidered by the better fort of [-eojJe as worthy of 
 invelVigation or punidimenr. Would wilbni^lv be- p^ 111* 
 lieve they are, by fuch, difapproved of; but never 
 heard that there had been any attempt to punilh 
 this offender. 
 
 He went, in the flave fhip menrioned, to the ifland 
 of Antigua-, was there about three weeks, in the 
 year 1779 : from thence to Barbadoes : was there a 
 fortnight or three weeks, and thence to St. Kift's ; 
 where lie ftaid about the fame time. In thefe idands 
 he was moftly in the towns. 
 
 His own affairs drew him to Grenada, 1788. At 
 the death of his father he inherited his (laves; but 
 the ellate being in pofreirion of the mortgagee, he 
 can ^ive no account of the manner of providing for 
 his own Oaves ; but he underilands the planters in p. oja, 
 Grenada allow their flaves fait provifions and flour, 
 which are brought from England and America. 
 Many of them dillribute thefe, exclufive of the 
 ground provifions, regularly every week, fome of 
 them daily: and at times corn of various forrs ei- 
 ther in grain or meal ; but many others do not. 
 
 The inhabitants of the towns in Grenada are fur- 
 nifhed with grafs and other green provender for their 
 horfes, bv plantation flaves in the neighbourhood, 
 who, he believes, foinetimes receive to their own 
 ufe the money or other commodities they get in re- 
 turn : but that is fouietimes fold for the account of p^ -^j^ 
 their matters. The planters do not commonly dif- 
 pofe of their grafs ; but fometimes fell milk and 
 greens. He is uncertain whether they cultivate 
 grafs to fell, or for their cattle. 
 
 He frequently converfcd with the prefent chief 
 juftice of Grenada, who told him the fait already 
 
 mentioned. 
 
126 Africa.*— W. Indies. Dalrymple. 
 
 1790. mentioned, in his own houn.' ; and thinks he faid it 
 
 Part II. was committed in the year 1768. 
 ^--v**.* Being aOved if he, or any other perfon, ever in- 
 
 !*• J^^'Tormed the chief jultice of the cruel treatment re- 
 ceived by the negro girl whom he faw at Dr. Gil- 
 pin's, faid, he inquired after fome time whether any 
 notice had been taken of it, and did not find there 
 had. He did not himfelf inform the chief juitice, 
 nor docs he know whether or not he was informed 
 of it. At the time it happened, he was preparing 
 to leave the ifland, and believed as it was known to 
 io many people, that the chief juftice muft have 
 been informed of it by fomebody ; but h*: did not 
 know that it pafied unnoticed, till he was juft fetting 
 
 P. Qn.^"*- ^^^ Europe, after which he never faw the chief 
 juftice. 
 
 Recolledls a claufe, or claufes, in the law, for the 
 proteftion of flaves, whereby three perfons, free- 
 holders in each parifh, are appointed guardians for 
 carrying it into execution; and their teftimony de- 
 clared to be competent in all cafes neccffary there- 
 to : but is of opinion, that while a flave's evidence 
 is not admitted in a court of law, they can be of 
 very little or no fervice to him. Slaves, hovv'ever, 
 would not be without remedy in every inftance: 
 but thinks fuch as are difpofed to treat their negroes 
 ill, may find ways of evading thefe laws. Laws for 
 the proteftion of the negroes, and feeding them, had 
 been before pafi"ed ; but it was found necefTary, not- 
 wiihftanding, to make a new a6t. That dated loth 
 Dec. 1766, for the allowance of provifion grounds 
 to flaves, directs the appointment of four freeholders 
 by the jullices of each parifh, to infpccl the grounds, 
 and fee that there was a fufficieat quantity of provi- 
 fions : yet the preamble to the iall aft feems to im- 
 ply that this former one had no: been fufficiently 
 attended to. 
 
 He believes it common for plantation flaves in 
 
 Grenada, to bring to market, and particularly on 
 
 • JiS.SundivSj various articles of fruic and vegetables, 
 
 poultry. 
 
Africa — W. Indies, Dalrymple. 127 
 
 poultry, pork, kids, and goats, their own property, ^790, 
 and railed by themfelves. Part. IT. 
 
 Suppofes it cofl: him two fhilings a day each to *— ^r>i^ 
 maintain his horfes in grafs and other green provender, 
 and that grafs is more lets picked the year round : that 
 the provifions of the flaves on the fortifications at 
 Grenada were only the allowance made by govern- 
 ment, of 71b. of bread and 4 of fak fifli per week 
 each, without any ground provifions from mailers; 
 but of this is not certain. The rations neceflary for 
 their fupport in this fervice, he appreliends, were af- 
 certained by the commander in chief-, and the quan- 
 tity of their labour by managers and overfeers, no 
 European officer being lb competent to judge of ci-P. 319* 
 ther as the W. Indians themfelves. A white or a 
 black man was lent by the owner with his flaves, to 
 take care of them ; and fu[)pofes a perfon was fee 
 over the whole by the commander in chief to fee that 
 they did their duty. Does not remember any foldiers 
 were employed to work on the fortifications ; or 
 whether the excefs of labour, in carrying burthens as 
 before mentioned, was to be afcribed to the perfon 
 appointed on tht:- part of the king, or thofe lent to 
 take care of the flaves by the planters. He believes P. 320, 
 there is an atft of alTcmbly, conftituting a joint com- 
 mittee of the council and aflembly, to lee to this fer- 
 vice of the flaves and their food : but that never- 
 thelels thofe employed by the committee can ill treat 
 the flaves in many refpeil.s without its coming to 
 their knowledge. 
 
 Says he might have put his eflate under cultivation 
 by getting (laves from the houfc Backhoufe and 
 Tarleton in Grenada-, but knowing when in Africa, 
 how happy the negroes were there, and the unjufti- 
 fiable means of enflaving them, their cruel ufage on 
 fliip-board and in the Wefl: Indies, he could not, P, -^21, 
 confiftent with his ideas of right, purchafe any flaves, 
 efpecially as he did not intend to remain on the 
 plantation himfelf. 
 
 He 
 
128 — Africa — W. Indies. Dalrymple. 
 
 I- TO. He has feen many difeafed and difabled feamen In 
 
 Part. ir. the town of St. George, and on inquiry found they 
 »-'»v'«*^ had belonged to Guinea fhips which had left them 
 there. 
 
 Could not fay it was likely any planter would be 
 defirous oi interfering very a6tivelv, to remedy the 
 fmaller abuf s pra6liled by white people on tlieir ne- 
 groes J nor what Mr. Bruce's method was of curing 
 the tetanus ; but Mr. B. affured him, from the time 
 he adopted it (which he thinks was two yt-ars before) 
 he had lolt none, or but one or two children. He 
 thinks one part of his method was, to give the wo- 
 men immediately before the labour, a large airy 
 room. 
 
 Does not pretend to fay that all flaves in Gre- 
 nada are ill ufed, but believes that bad ufage is too 
 general. 5ome he knew who treated their fiaves 
 uell. 
 
 ?• 3^^» As to happy (late of negroes in their own coun- 
 try, he can fpeak pofitively only of that part of the 
 coaft where has been, which might be rather iefs than 
 40 miles extent. 
 
 His plantation he purchafed from Mr. Townfend, 
 the treafurer of Grenada, who was trullee of his fa- 
 ther's eftate. It lies in the parifh of St. David, and 
 about feven or eight miles from George's Town. It 
 
 P. 32'^. was cultivated in cocoa and provifions, and confifts 
 of about 250 acres. At prefcnt it is uncultivated, 
 and no fiaves belong to it. 
 
 On inquiry of chief juftice, he mentioned one in- 
 ftance of a white man beirg brought to trial, and 
 hanged for the murder of a flave ; but faid, he be- 
 lieved if this murderer had been a man of good cha- 
 ra(5ler, or had had friends or money to pay for the 
 Have, he would not have been bi ought to trial. He 
 was of a very bad charadler, and had been obliged to 
 leave Barbadces on that account. At Grenada he had 
 been a bailiff's follower, and from his rigour in exe- 
 
 P. 324.cuting his office, and bad charader, was particularly 
 
 obnoxious 
 
 
Africa — W. Indies. Dalrymple. 129 
 
 obnoxious to the inhabitants of the town of St. 1790. 
 George. Part II. 
 
 . He had been at St. Vincent's and Calliaqua, and «— -r^.* 
 had converfed with the Yellow Caribs, but not with 
 the Black ; the latter he fuppofes a mixture of the 
 Yellow Caribbs and fome negroes caft away on the 
 ifland. The Caribbs had no otiier clothing than a 
 clout or girdle about the middle, and no fhoes ; but 
 all, as tar as he can recolledl:, were armed with ciit- 
 lafles. The black Caribbs attended the market ofp. 22c, 
 Kingfton with tobacco and other articles, which the 
 women carried. The fugar eftates which he faw un- 
 der cultivation in St. V^incent's were chiefly border- 
 ing on the fea coaft. 
 
 The white man who was hanged for murder he 
 thinks was named Bachus Prefton. 
 
 Witnefs Examined — T?ev. Rob. Bouchi:r Nicholls, 
 Dean of Middleham, in Yorkfliire, 
 
 Was born in Barbadoes ; refided there fome years p. 226, 
 in his youth, and two after he was of age, from r/68 
 to 1770, when in holy orders. While there was en- 
 abled to judge ot the fituation both of field and houfe 
 flaves : for his uncle, with whom he lived four years, 
 had a fugar eft ate. Several others whom he vifited 
 were concerned in eftates ; and in his laft refidence 
 there, he himfelf refided on a very large eftate, and 
 obferved the management both of that and furround- 
 ing eftates. The fituation of flaves with rtfpe6t to 
 food and treatment, he thinks cannot be comprehend- 
 ed under any one general defcription, fome being well 
 fed and taken care of both in ficknefs and health, and 
 others much negle6led and fcverely treated. The 
 latter fo imprefled his mind, that he faid to a perfcn 
 largely concerned in the management of flavts, *This 
 people will find a Mofes-,' which perfon lately remind- 
 ed him of the words. Never read the laws of Bar-p^ ^^- 
 badoes, but undcrftood flaves were not protected by 
 
 INumb. 3. K themi 
 
I30 
 
 W. Indies. Nicholls. 
 
 1790. them •, that murders by owners werepunifhed by fine. 
 Part 11. But if not by owner, then he received the value of the 
 «-''%n*^ negro from the murderer, and the fine was paid into 
 the exchequer, at the fuit of the Attorney-General. 
 He never underftood that where negroes were ftinted. 
 or ill ufed, legal redrefs had ever been applied for, or 
 could be obtained; what legal provifion for it there 
 is, cannot fay. Knew often, where the mailer's regard 
 joChis own intereft did not prevail, with refpeft to u- 
 fmg his flaves well, and giving fufficient food, &c, 
 P. 328.Among the reft, that of one IM'Mahon, whofe feverity 
 was generally mentioned, (and always with deteftati- 
 on, p. 338.) had deftroyed more negroes, than the 
 value of the additional crops, produced by their 
 extra labour. So that though in eight years he 
 paid off^ a confiderable debt, he v/as faid to have def- 
 troyed more negroes than the amount of it. Alfo re- 
 coUedts where flaves were reduced to a general ftate 
 of debility and difcontent, from a want of necefTaries 
 while they were urged to their accuftomed labour : 
 fo that he heard it obferved that the manao;er of a 
 particular eftate, " for a long cane would produce a 
 dead negro.'* On the otiier hand, he could mention 
 many inftanccs, where humanity, and a regard to in- 
 tereft joined in providing well for them -, particularly 
 that of Dr. Mapp, whole eftate was in the moft flou- 
 rilhing condition, both in refpeft to the number of 
 negroes by natural increafe, and the fuccefs of his 
 plantation. 
 
 The treatment of flaves appeared to depend wholly 
 on the perfons who had the management oi them. Sir 
 Hanfon Berney's eftate was managed by his brother, 
 humanely and judicioufiy ; he believes without any 
 punifhment, and that the eftate was productive. Has 
 often heard a relation of his who had the care of feve- 
 ral large eftates, declare, that he would willingly fub- 
 mit to have the power of punifhment taken from 
 him, if he might allow fufScient rewards for good 
 behaviour and labour. One eftate in particular he 
 conducted for two years j during which, (though the 
 
 Witnefs 
 
W. I N D r E S. N I C H O L L S, I3I 
 
 Witnefs vifited him almoft daily) no inftance of pu- 1790. 
 nifhment had occurred. And yet he declared, when Part II. 
 he took the management of that eltate iip'?n him, «— v-^ 
 though there was hardly a place on the backs of the 
 labouring negroes free from the mark of the lafh, it 
 had not been fuccefsful to the owner in point of crops. 
 
 Says, efFeds of owners embarrailed fituation on P. ^•29, 
 flaves, is pufhing them beyond their ftrength, and lea- 
 ving them without their ufual allowance of provifi- 
 ons, or any thing as a fubftitute, for a week or two * 
 this was confirmed to him by the manager of a gen- 
 tleman fo circumftanced. This man iger alfo told 
 him that the fame perfon, as well as feveral others, 
 either abridged or withheld in crop time, the Hated 
 allowance given at other times. 
 
 Ufual initruments of punifliing negroes were the 
 thong-whip, chains on the legs, irons on the neck, 
 and confinement in the dungeon. In cafes of enor- 
 mous crimes, they were gibbetted alive in chains : 
 but he never faw but two inftances of the latter. The 
 puniflinent of whipping is fevere, cutting deep into 
 the flefli, and leaving marks which are vifible a long 
 time; fometimes to old age. The flaves always work P. 330. 
 under a driver, with a thong whip plaited. 
 
 The rights of marriage as among the negroes, he 
 believes, are not protected in the fmalleft degree, ei- 
 ther by law or cuftom ; but the chaftity of the wo- 
 men intirely liable to invafion by the manager, or 
 other white perfons. 
 
 Natural capacity and difpofition of negroes, appre- 
 hends to be juiL the fame as thofe of the whites. He 
 grounds his opinion on many indances. One of a 
 negro woman purchafed from a flave fliip, and given 
 to him by his father. She appeared at firlt as dull 
 and fuUen as any negro he ever faw •, but on inftruc- 
 tion, became quite the reverie, and of her own accord 
 defired to be made a Chriflian. 
 
 She afterwards was his domeftic fervant, and by 
 her fidelity to her hufband, and her good behaviour in 
 all refpetls, manifeited a good underltanding, and the 
 
 K 2 belb 
 
1^2 W. Indies. Nicholls. 
 
 1790. befl difpofition. He obferved in many negroes in the 
 Part il. northern provinces of America, the fame improve- 
 *-nro ment where equal care was taken. He remembers a 
 Phillis Wheatley in Bofton, an African flave, who in 
 lefs than three years, learned ihe Englifh language, 
 and wrote elegant Englifh verfe, which has been pub- 
 lifhed. 
 
 He has feen other inftances of their ingenuity in 
 arts and letters. Among others, an elegant chair, 
 which a negro of Jamaica carved with a knife only. 
 
 Their difpofition is in general affe£tionate where 
 well treated, which he thinks would eafily lead to 
 piety, if they were in the way of improvement. 
 
 Several in Barbadoes, who had attended the church, 
 exprefTed to him a wifh to become Chriftians. Many 
 are fo in the Northern provinces of America ; but 
 knows not of many in Barbadoes, who were inftrufted 
 or baptized. 
 
 They were generally regarded by perfons of prin- 
 ciple and education among the whites, as unfortunate 
 men entitled to compafTion and good treatment ; but 
 the bulk of the whites confidered them as beings of 
 an inferior fpecies. 
 .*• 33^' His father had a boy who faid he was the fon of a 
 prince in Africa, and taken away forcibly. He af- 
 terwards knew a negro woman, who alledged that her 
 father was a king in Africa, and as fhe could find 
 none her equals in Barbadoes, flie would neither eat 
 nor converie with any of the other negroes. This her 
 miftrefs declared had been the cafe for 20 years. 
 
 Apprehends the flaves frequently robbed the pro- 
 vifion grounds of the neighbouring plantations: to 
 prevent which, armed watchmen are therefore fet ; 
 and he has heard of negroes brought home wounded. 
 P. 232. Some perfons allow their negroes all Sunday, befides 
 5 or 6 holidays in the year, and fometimes a Saturday 
 afternoon, during the time ot holing. Others allow- 
 ed lels vacation, requiring, on Sundays, meat for the 
 cattle, to be gathered twice in the day ; and often in 
 
 the 
 
W. Indies. Nicholls. 133 
 
 the crop, continue the boiling of the fugar till hte ^79^- 
 on Saturday night. Vmi II. 
 
 In one inftatice recolleds it to have been protracft- ^-^^V*^ 
 ed till fun-rife, on Sunday morning; and the care 
 afterwards of fetting up the liigar jars, muft require 
 feveral hours. The flaves had commonly no other 
 day than Sunday, (except as above) tocukivace their 
 own grounds. 
 
 The criterion of a manager's merit in general, he 
 apprehends to be the production of large crops. 
 
 The quantum of ground allowed the field negroes 
 for raifing provifions, does not admit their frequently 
 poficirmg any confidcrable property. It is not likely 
 they can fpare much of the produce for fale. Some- 
 times they poffefs a pig and two or three fowls; and 
 if they have alfo a few plantain trees, thefe may be 
 a means of fupplying them with knives, iron pots, 
 and fuch other conveniencies, as the mafter docs not 
 allow. 
 
 Cannot pofitively fay they never have expenfive 
 treats, but the utmoft he ever heard of was, that 
 fometimes, when a negro married, he has provided a 
 pig for his frien-ls. Never underllood that the dances 
 were attended with treats; and believes if their en- 
 tertainments had been expenfive, he iTiould have 
 heard of them. The principal feafts thev ever give, 
 as he underilands, are after the funerals of their 
 friends, when they fcatter fome provifions on the 
 grave, and eat the reft themfelves, with a view of 
 holding a communion with the deceaf:'d. 
 • He does not recoiled any inftanccs of the Creole?, j??, 
 negroes deftroying themfelves, but remembers five 
 or fix fuch inftances of African negroes, immediately 
 after they were purchafed. 
 
 He knew very few free negroes. One of them 
 was wife to a Mulatto flave, on Sir Hanfon B.Tney's 
 eftate. She was very induftrious in the care of her 
 family, and in raifing poultry to fell, with the profits 
 of which (he pai.l for the fchoolini^ and cloathmgr of 
 her children, which flie was encouraged to do, as 
 
 knowing 
 
134 W. Indies. Ni c c h o l s.' 
 
 1790. knowing they would be free. They were baptized. 
 Part II. and the whole family fo orderly, that he never heard 
 any mifbehaviour attributed to them. The hufband 
 ferved in feveral capacities on the eftate, was very 
 Ikilful in the care of the fick, and remarkably 
 honeft. Having met with reward and indulgence, 
 by his own and his wife's induHry, it was faid he 
 amaifed lool. fterling, which he offered for his free- 
 dom; but it was refufed, his mafter not being willing 
 to part with him at any price. What relates to his 
 own and wife's behaviour, the witnefs knew from his 
 own obfervation. 
 
 The only other inftance of a free negro, in his 
 knowledge, was of a Joe Rachell, in Bridge Town. 
 He was a merchant, had large and extenfive con- 
 cerns, and was fo much efteemed for his honefty, 
 that he was commonly admitted to the company and 
 converfation of merchants and planters. 
 
 The fituation of domeftic (laves, was not by any 
 means as comfortable as that of the correfpondent 
 rank of people in this country, though preferable to 
 that of field negroes. The indulgence given domef- 
 ticks here, is withheld from the flaves, and thefe are 
 liable to corporal punifliment. In the country do- 
 meftic flaves are commonly corre6ted by the driver, 
 and in town a man was employed, who went from 
 houfe to houfe for that purpofe, who was called 
 the Jumper. Neither does he think the ftate of field 
 flaves will bear any comparifon with that of the la- 
 bouring poor in this country; becaufe of the feverity 
 of the heats, which are little varied by the feafons, 
 becaufe the intermiffions from labour are lefs fre- 
 quent, and the food lefs fubftantial than in England; 
 and becaufe they are perpetually fubje6t not only to 
 arbitrary punifliment from the chief overfeer, but 
 from the book-keepers and drivers, who follow them 
 conftantly at their work with the lafh, correal them 
 before an excufe can be heard, and often vent their 
 own refentments upon them, under the plea of pu- 
 
 nifliing them for negligence. 
 
 The 
 
W. Indies. Nicholls. 135 
 
 The white people called Tenants, who ferve in the 1790. 
 militia for a imall allotment of land, commonly Part 11. 
 work in their grounds with the negroes, if they have v^'^/'n-/ 
 any ; or if not, cultivate them by their own labour. 
 Thefe ufually raife provifions, but not canes. Many- 
 whites in Barbadoes exercife handicraft trades; fuch 
 as carpenters, joiners, malons, copper-fmiths, black- 
 fmiths, fhoemakers, &c. and alio Ibme of the poorer 
 whites fpin cotton for the lamps in the boiling 
 houfes. Whites are alfo employed in the coafting 
 veflels, and as fiilicrmen. 
 
 In refpeft to ftocks of flaves, kept up by the births P. 335* 
 only, underftood from Dr. Mapp's fon, that the 
 ftock on the eftate to vvhicn he had jult fuccecded, 
 had increafed fo much, that there was a redundance 
 fufficient, nearly, to flock another eftate. Another 
 inftance which came within his own obfervation, was 
 of flaves, the property of the Rev. Mr. Carter, who 
 increafed confidcrably ; they cultivated his glebe, 
 and he annually planted canes, which were manu- 
 faflured into fugar at an adjoining eitate. His own 
 brother informed him, that his negroes had doubled 
 their number by natural increafe in twenty years ; 
 and he believed they were generally employed in 
 common field bufinefs, as other negroes. He had 
 heard of feveral others of his acquaintance, who had 
 kept up their ftocks by the natural increafe, without 
 purchafe. In converfation with judicious planters, 
 he underftood it to be their opinion, that the rear- 
 ing of flaves on the eftates, depended much on the 
 managers. 
 
 Remembers to have feen two Guinea failors, who 
 were lame, begging in the country, at the houfe of 
 a perfon who had relieved many fuch, by extracfting 
 the Guinea^worm, and healing fores contraded in 
 that fervice. 
 
 Cannot fay what difi^erence a long refidence of the 
 blacks in the iflands might occafion, as to their hap- 
 pinefs, as he did not himfelf make a long refidence ; 
 he however remembers both to have ken and heard, 
 
 that 
 
136 W.Indies. Nicholls. 
 
 1790. that thofe newly imported, were often dejeded, 
 
 part II. emaciated, and incapable of work, fo as even to 
 ^-^-v-"^ refifl: all attempts to confole and adminifter nourilh- 
 ment to them. 
 
 !*• 3j6. Never faw the a6t of branding; has feen marks, 
 but does not remember how they arofe, nor whether 
 they were made in Africa, on board fhip, or elle- 
 where. Were not many. 
 
 Never heard of any nation of negroes prone to 
 fuicide in their own country. Befides the five men- 
 tioned, who dedroyed themfelves the day after they 
 were purchafed, he remembers to have heard of a 
 flave who deftroyed himfelf, fometime after he Was 
 purchafed, fuppofed from dejedlion, and certainly 
 not from ill treatment. 
 
 "• 337' Does not know by what law the pecuniary pu- 
 nifliments, annexed to the murder of a flave, are im- 
 pofed. He fuppofes it to be by an ad of the ifland, 
 becaufe the laws of this country infiiifl a different 
 punifhment for murder. When a law is paflfed in 
 the ifland, he apprehends it is immediately fent to be 
 prefented to the King in council, and is valid unlefs 
 negatived within three years, without any diftindl ap- 
 probation of the law being expreffed. 
 
 P. 22Q. While in Barbadoes, many particulars mentioned 
 by him, which fell not within his own perfonal know- 
 ledge, he had from his father and brother, who re- 
 lided near him. They at different times had the care 
 of flaves, to the amount of between icoo and 2000, 
 and knew the ftate of the whole ifland j fome par- 
 ticulars had been communicated to him by letters, 
 and mofl:of the information fince, he had from a per- 
 fon then in England. Has converled and correfpond- 
 ed with another gentleman of fomediitinction, a pro- 
 prietor of eflates and flaves in Barbadoes, and has been 
 in both countries, within the laft 10 years, but ab- 
 ITent from Barbadoes about five years. Has under- 
 flood from himfelf and fome difinterefl:ed perfons, 
 that the management on his plantation fitice his ab- 
 
 fence. 
 
W. Indies. Nicholls." 137 
 
 fence, has not been prejudicial to the flaves in point 1790. 
 of treatment and provifion in the fmallefl degree. Pare 11. 
 
 He lived much with his father and uncle who were ^'^^"^ 
 humane men; recoUedls but one inftance of correc- "• 339 
 tion of a negro by either of them, and that was tor 
 breaking open a llore, and Healing a pipe of wine, 
 for this he thinks the culprit received 24 ladies. 
 
 During his lall refidence on the ifland, he avoided 
 feeing the punifliment of flaves, yet recolleds feeing 
 them with irons upon the feet and neck, and once 
 to have heard a tremendous punifliment adminifiered, 
 which he did not fee -, it was for running away, and 
 confifted of 60 lafhes on the breech with a thick whip. 
 A p rfon in the fei vice of the owner, who ordered that 
 conedion, told him that the flave was compelled 
 to run away by harih treatment ; and another who 
 faw the punilliment, that the wliip had made incifions 
 large enough for the finger to be laid in. 
 
 The Have was afterwards fent to the dungeon. 
 This he thinks the fevereft chaftifement he can re- 
 collet. 
 
 Corre6lion with the whip was generally on theP* 340» 
 back, on all parts of which, it was common to lee 
 very large wheals (the remains oflalhes). On fud- 
 den provocation believes the blows to be on the 
 back; in tormal punifliments on the breech. 
 
 Does not remember an inllanceof property acquired 
 by any negro Qave, beyond that of Tom Ferryman, 
 the mulatto already mentioneil. Believes they have 
 indulgencies, but to what extent is uncertain. On 
 further recolleclion remembers another flave, of the 
 fame Sir Hanion Bcrney, who was employed to carry 
 the rum ot the eltate to market and fell it, and to 
 make bargains for fmall fupplies, wi*h the traders in 
 town ; for which he had fome indulgence allowed 
 him, and lived comfortably upon it ; but whrther 
 he had acquired any property or not, t!ie witnefs is 
 uncertain. This man he believes had alio a free 
 .woman for his wife. 
 
 Numb. ^ S Speaks 
 
138 W. Indies. Nicholls. 
 
 1790. Speaks only to what he knew; and does not fup- 
 Part Il.pofe that his want of a more extenfive knowledge of 
 ^--v*^ the fubjefl, is to criminate other gentlemen, many of 
 whom poffcfTed principles of honour and humanity, 
 though he could not fee a derail of their eftates. 
 P. 341. Cannot however think himfelf entitled to fay what 
 encouragement was generally given to negroes of the 
 above defcription ; or, from the fentiment then form- 
 ed, and ever fmce pofTefTed (fetting afide on one hand 
 particular inftances of great fevcrity^, and on the 
 other hand particular inftances of great humanity) 
 that treatment altogether humane and proper, was 
 the lot of fuch as he had either obferved or heard of. 
 Has repeatedly feen negroes, at the negro-marker, 
 in Bridge-Town, on Sundays, felling feveral different 
 articles of vegetables, and poultry, fometimes pig- 
 meat; but of other meat but little, as they never keep 
 the larger cattle. Goats are much difcouraged, and 
 the pigs neceffarily confined, left they fbould injure 
 the canes. Whatever returns the negoes obtain, he 
 believes are allowed to themfelves. 
 
 He refides between his two livings at Middleham 
 in Yorkftiire, and Stony Stanton in Leicefterfliire. 
 One farmer of Leicefterftiire informed him, that he 
 gave lol. a year and board to his waggoner. Ano- 
 ther, that he gave 9I. a year and board to his day- 
 P. 342. labourer. In Stony Stanton parifti, a day-labourer 
 in agriculture had 6s. per week, and a load of coals 
 brought 17 miles from the pits free of expenfe. In 
 all other maters he found himfelf, except in harveft 
 time, when he was allowed provifions. In Yorkftiire 
 he believes labour is rather dearer. About Middle- 
 ham he gave i4d. a day for labour in the garden, 
 from between feven and eight in the morning to five 
 in the afternoon. 
 
 In Leicefterfliire the average wages of labouring 
 men in the farming bufmefs, who find themfelves, 
 and contrad to ferve the year through, he under- 
 ftands is 6s. per week. The food of luch he cannot 
 fpecify, but as it is a cheefe country, fuppofes that 
 
 cheefe 
 
W. Indies. Niciiolls. 339 
 
 cheefe enters largely into their diet, with wheaten and 1790. 
 rve, and fometimes barley bread. They ufe fomePartll. 
 but not much oatmeal, and frefli butcher's meat on ♦■^v^' 
 Sundays, of which they commonly make broth; alio 
 beans in fummer; bread with hog's lard inftead of 
 butter; meal fried with lard, diced apples, and fmall 
 pieces of bacon, if they have any, and potatoes. 
 This is a general delcription of the fare of fuch 
 labourers. 
 
 Befides the 6s. wages, fuch a labourer has fome-P. 345, 
 times aids from his wife's fpinning, knitting, and 
 other work, by which they earn from 3d to 6d. per 
 day ; alio from corn- gleanings, which are fometimes 
 confiderable ; befides the relief which he obtains dur- 
 ing harveft, in more fubftantial living. Some of 
 them have a little bit of garden ground, others hire 
 land and keep a cow, or have the priviledge of a 
 common. In Stony Stanton the bulk of the labouring 
 inhabitants areemployedin themanufafturingof lock- 
 ing. From the means thus ftatt d they generally are 
 enabled to furnilh themfelves and families, with ne- 
 ceiTary food, and defray the expenfe of houfe rent, 
 clothing, medical alTillance, and other incidental 
 charges. He inftances a widow left with two chil-P. 344. 
 dren, who never had fo much after her widowhood, 
 and yet maintained, and brought them up to be in- 
 dullrious members of the community, and parents 
 of families, without afTutance from the parish : and 
 another day-labourer, who had uinformly lived with 
 comrort,andbrought up an ul'eful family. Several other 
 inllances are adduced to flicw, that a ibber man with 
 an indullrious family, is capable of maintaining them, 
 as a day-labourer only. In Yorkfliire prizes have 
 been given away to fome fuch, who have brought up 
 large families, with no other afililance than their own 
 labour. In the inftance above mentioned of the wo- 
 man and children, the woman Ipun worfted, and af- 
 iured the witnefs, who attended her when dying, 
 that in order to keep her nimiiy from the parilli, flie 
 lat up to fpin through riie whole of two or three 
 
 S 2 flio-hni 
 
14^ W. Indies. Nicholls. 
 
 1790. nights in theweck. In the other inftance of the day- 
 Part II. labourer, his wite was dead at the time mentioned, 
 *--v-«o but he brought up two fons in the flocking trade, 
 one of which living with him earns 9s. per week ; 
 the daughter is indufbrious, and appears very decent. 
 In vifiting the father when fick, fhe was fometimes 
 fpinning, at others knitting, or nurfing her father. 
 *• 346. So far as he obferved, where the fldves in B.irba- 
 does were under judicious and humane inafters, they 
 were well fed, clothed, lodged, taken care of in fick- 
 nefs, and treated with moderation and lenity. He 
 confiders liberty as the firfl comfort of life, as well 
 as an unalienable right; that the v/ant of it leffens 
 the comforts of life, and is a fource of continual re- 
 gret, by cutting off the hope of bettering one's con- 
 dition, as in the cafe of Tom Ferryman, before-men- 
 tioned, &c. To fhew that this is not mere fpecula- 
 tion, he could give indances in England, of agricul- 
 tural labourers, rifing into fituations that enabled 
 them to marry with a fortune of ^^500, and provide 
 well for, and educate their children, at grammar and 
 boarding fchoois. 
 P. 347. Does not believe, that negroes are not fo fufcep- 
 tible of the fentiment of liberty, as the free peafants 
 in England : for the feveral rebellions engaged in by 
 the nr^groes, and efpecially the 2 great rebellions, 
 mentioned by Long, in his Hiflory of Jamaica, fuf- 
 ficiently prove the contrary. 
 
 He conceives diet and accommodations of the la- 
 bouring peafantry here, more fubflantial than that 
 of the negroes, and is confirmed in that opinion, by 
 tht large fize, health, and long life, of many of them 
 in Yorklhire, particularly at Wefb Whitton, where, 
 out of about 500 ifihabitants, there is a large pro- 
 portion of peafantry, anfwering the above defcrip- 
 tion in all points ; and in the parifh of Bolton, adjoin- 
 in 2:, there is fcarcely a day labourer, who does not 
 keep a cow. Does not fay this reprefentation holds 
 imiveriaily, but thinks it unfair in forming acompa- 
 rilbn, between Che negroes in the Weft Indies, and 
 
 peafantry 
 
W. Indies. Nicholls. 141 
 
 peafantry of Britain, to take a part of the one which i79^* 
 is b(^ft treated, to compare with the whole of the ^''^"V"^*^ 
 latter, among which, though tliere are many in com- 
 fortable circumftances, yet there are many others 
 extremely diftrcllVd for the fubfillence of themfelves 
 and families. Ikit if he was to judge from his own p. n^S. 
 obfervation (fecting afide liberty on the one hand, 
 and cruelty on the other) he fliould prefer the con- 
 dition of a peafantin England, believing it, if even 
 with equal labour, to be much preferable. 
 
 Stated allowance of food to negroes in Barbadoes, 
 under what is called good management, was, 9 pints 
 of Guinea, or India corn, and i pound, if or 2 pound 
 of fait fifli, or from 4 to 6 herrings per week. This 
 •was the Ipecles of provifion in moll inllances, that 
 fell within his obfervation throughout the year. 
 There was fometimes a variation, by allowing yams 
 or eddoes, or pidgeon peas, the growth of the iOand, 
 in lieu of the coin : but does not recoUecl that oat- 
 meal, meal of wheat, or rye, were ever offered as a 
 iubftitute : nor that there was a fufficient growth of 
 calTida, to anfwcr that purpofe. Bifcuit, flour and 
 oatmeal, have been allowed in ficknefs, and particu- 
 larly in fluxes; but rarely in health. On fome 
 elbites the weekly allowance was equal to i 2 pints 
 of corn, and 6 herrings, to field negroes ; but to wo- 
 men not working in trie field, and children, it was 
 much Ihort; and aHo to thofe paft labour. Some 
 humane maflers have continued the ufual allowance 
 to negroes pall labour, and this was noted as very 
 humane. 
 
 The above-mentioned articles of food, vary in the P. -740, 
 degree of nurricion they afford ; Guinea and India 
 corn are Icfs nutritious than wheat or barley. When 
 India corn happens to be heated in the hold of the 
 fliip, it creates difordcrs. Eddoes are the mofc nutri- 
 tious and wholefome article of food in the iflands : 
 yams are lefs fo. Potatoes and pidgeon peas are 
 wholefome, but the lac-cer have a very thick coat. 
 Salted herrings, with other fak fifli, often fulfer by 
 
 the 
 
f 
 
 142 W. Indies. Nicholls. 
 
 1/90. the voyage, and are often in a broken, iinwholefome 
 Part II. (late. Salt beef and pork are feidom given, but 
 »i*^/^N^ when other provifions fail, or as a great indul- 
 gence, in fmall quantities; fometimes in a bad, and 
 Sometimes a good (late, as they happen to come to 
 market. He never knew them given as a part of 
 the ftated allowance. 
 
 The negroes frequent the Sunday nnarkets in 
 Bridge Town, with pidgeon peas, Guinea corn, ed- 
 does, potatoes, and whatever other native provifions 
 of tiie ifland they can fpare, which they fell, or com- 
 mute for other fpecies of provifions. The huckfters 
 often give them, at a difadvantage to the negroes, 
 iniall loaves of wheaten bread for corn ; for inftance, 
 a Imall half-penny loaf for a pint of Guinea corn j 
 and fometimes they fell their provifions to obtain 
 rum, and other matters, which they think necefTary 
 to their convenience. This exchange is often made 
 when the negro, tired of his labour, has not time or 
 inclination, to grind the corn, or fetch water, and 
 procure fuel to boil it for ufe. 
 P» 354* It ftruck him, to fpeak generally, that negro mo- 
 thers commonly went into the field too early after 
 their delivery, taking their children, while yet very 
 tender, with them j that the milk of the mother be- 
 came feverifli with labour, and the heat of the fun 
 too powerful for the child, which was commonly ex- 
 poled in a baflcet, and in rainy Vv'eather unflieltered. 
 He underftood that this was lb generally the practice, 
 that fome humane gentlemen, refident in England 
 many years fince, gave directions to their overfeers, 
 to obfcrve a contrary practice. 
 
 He never heard that M'Mahon, already mention- 
 ed, ever fuiTered any other ill confequence from his 
 feverity to his negroes, than the lofs confequent 
 thereon. 
 ^- 355' Again, not having any right to their children, is 
 a difcomforc necefiarily refulting from the conllitu- 
 tion of human nature; and efpecially as thofe child- 
 ren, if females, may be fubjeiied to the brutal lulls 
 
 of 
 
W. Indies. Nicolls. 143 
 
 of their fuperiors, without remedy from law. The 1790. 
 being obliged to labour at the will of another-, the Parr l[. 
 being unprotedled by laws, and enduring punilTinient <— sr«o 
 at the caprice of another, are certainly inconvenien- P. 3^6, 
 cies, which necelTarily arife out of flavery itfelf, and 
 prevent a fair comparifon being made between a 
 Have and a free man. 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Henry Ellison, Gunner of 
 the Refinance Man of War. 
 
 He thinks his firft voyage was in 1759, to Gam-P. 361. 
 bia ; was in the flave trade till about 1770 j was 
 prefled in 17 71 -, was 3 voyages to Gambia, i to 
 Benin, i to Old Calabar, 2 to New Calabar, and i 
 to Ifle de Los. 
 
 A native, called captain Lemma, came on board 
 their (hip to receive his cuftoms ; he faw a canoe in 
 Ihore, with 3 people in it (an old man, a young man, 
 and a woman) he ordered one of his canoes to take 
 this canoe, which they did, and brought the people 
 on board, and Mr. Wilfon's chief mate bought the 
 young man and woman, the other being too old, 
 was refufed. Lemma ordered the old man into the 
 canoe, his head was chopped off, and immediately 
 thrown overboard. Lemma had many war canoes; 
 fome had 6 or 8 fwivels; he brought about 10 when 
 he received his cuftoms •, he feemed to be feared by 
 the reft of the natives. Mr. E. did not fee a canoe P. 3^^- 
 out on the river while he was there, except this, and 
 if they had known he had been out, they would not 
 have come. He difcovered by figns, that the old 
 man killed, was the 2 negroes father, and that they 
 were brought there by force; could not conceive 
 Lemma had any right to fell them, they were not his 
 fubjefts. Lemma ftaid about 10 days near theirP, ^Sj* 
 Ihip ; he was on board every day to get his cuftoms, 
 and eat and drink. 
 
 He 
 
144 Africa. — W. Indies. Ellison." 
 
 1790. He never remembers any flaves brought on board 
 Pare II. with marks of wounds. Does not remember any 
 '-"v*^ other inflance of flaves being obtained by fraud or 
 force. 
 
 He has known many boys and girls, in every fliip 
 he has been in, without parents and near relations. 
 Pie fpeaks the Mandingoa, and has often converfed 
 with flaves that fpoke it, who all laid they had been 
 ftolen and fold. 
 
 He has often known flaves brou2;ht on board in 
 the night in the Gambia; fuppofes they were afraid 
 to be feen in the day ; he has aflifted in fetching 
 P. 364. canoe boys on board in the night. It is common, 
 when their mafters want goods, or for trifling of- 
 fences, thefe boys are brought on board. We fetch 
 them in our own boats from their mafl:ers houfes, 
 when afleep in the night, for fear they fliould efcape -, 
 fuppofes they could not know they were to be fold, 
 or they would have made their efcape ; he has known 
 their mailer call them out of the canoe to bring him 
 fomething, and when on board, immediately put in 
 irons. 
 
 He never faw thefe canoe-boys ill treated ; has 
 feen them eating and drinking in the fame houfe 
 with their mafters, and fometimes with them.. 
 
 He knew 2 flaves taken from Furnandipo while 
 there, by the Dobfon's boat of Liverpool, and car- 
 ried to Old Calabar, wheie the {h\p lay. He went for 
 yams a few days after, and fired, as a fignal to the 
 natives, to bring them ; feeing fome of them peep 
 through the bufhes, wondered why they v/ould not 
 come to the boat -, he fwam on fliore, fome came 
 round him ; an old man made figns a fliip's boat had 
 ftole a man and woman -, he was foon furrounded by 
 numbers, who prefented darts to him, flgnifying, 
 they would kill him if the man and woman were not 
 brought back. The people in the boat fired fome 
 F. 355.fiiot, when they all ran into the woods ; they left a 
 goat and fome yams, which they put into the boat, 
 and ftaid to fee if they would return, but they did 
 
 not. 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Ellisoit* 145 
 
 not. He went to Calabar and told his captain they 1790. 
 could get no yams, from two people being dole ; p^Vt 11. 
 captain Briggs told the captain of the Dobfon, there «—y—«' 
 would be no more trade if he did not deliver up the 
 people, which he did j when the natives faw them, 
 they loaded the boat with yams, goats, fowls, honey 
 and palm winej they would take nothing for them. 
 They had the man and woman delivered to them, 
 whom they carried away in their arms. 
 
 The Dobfon did not flay above eight, ten, or P. j^^, 
 twelve days. 1 hat was the lall trip her boat was to 
 make when they carried otf the two (laves. 
 
 When they were laying at Yanamaroo in Gambia, 
 flaves were brought down. The traders raifed the 
 price. Captains would not give ic, but thought to 
 compel them by firing upon the town. They fired 
 red hot fhot from the fliip, and let feveral houles on 
 fire. All the Ihips, feven or eight, fired. 
 
 They often took children and relations as pawns 
 for goods. They carried off two in the Briton, 
 captain Wilfon, who were much dejeded. All the P. ^66, 
 flaves he faw brought on board were very much de- 
 jedted. He never faw the women otherwife than 
 inodeft and decent. 
 
 He has fecn both men and women work in the 
 fields. 
 
 He has feen flaves faint away in fliips from heat 
 and ftench. 
 
 They were always much crouded. Had two tier 
 of people on one deck. One on platform. They 
 were much crouded in the Nightingale, a fmall 
 ( fnow, about 170 tons. Purchafed 270 flaves. Thirty 
 boys mefl^cd and flept in long-boat ail the Middle 
 Paflage. No room below. 
 
 The Briton, 230 or 2^6 tons. Much crouded. P. 367, 
 Purchafed 375 flaves. 
 
 Thinks only buried 6 or 7 in the Nightingale, 
 were remarkably healthy. They buried near 200 in 
 the Briton. Lad man brought on board had the 
 fmall-pox. Dodor told Mr. Wiifon it was the 
 
 Numb. 3. T fmall-pox. 
 
146 Africa. — W.Indies. Ellison. 
 
 1790. fmall-pox, who would not believe it, but faid he 
 Part II. would keep him, as he was a fine man. It foon 
 ^*"v*^ broke out amongft the flaves. He has feen the plat- 
 form one continued fcab. Hauled up 8 or 10 (laves 
 dead of a morning. The flefh and flcin peeled off 
 their wrifts when taken hold of, being intirely 
 mortified. 
 
 They buried in the Nightingale's fecond voyage 
 about 150, chiefly of fevers and flux. They had 
 2jO when they left the coafl. 
 P, 368, Men flaves generally fettered on board veflfcls he 
 failed in, being two and two fliackled together. 
 When brought on deck, a chain is reeved through a 
 ring on the Ihackle on their legs, ai;d locked abaft 
 the barricado. They are chained on both fides the 
 deck. They are made dance every day ; fometimes 
 are willing to dance, fometimes compelled by the 
 cat. 
 
 Has known in the Middle Paflage, in rains, flaves 
 confined below for fome time. He has frequently 
 feen them faint through heat, the fl:eam coming 
 through the gratings like a furnace. Has been 
 obliged to get on deck, lefl: they would die in the 
 rooms. 
 
 Never faw wind fails ufed in any veflTcl. Never 
 faw flaves treated ill in any fliips but the Briton and 
 Nightingale. 
 
 Has known Mr. Wilfon order eight or ten up at 
 a time, for making a little noife in the night, tie 
 them up to the booms, flog them feverely with a 
 wire cat, and afterwards clap the thumb-fcrews upon 
 them, leaving them in that fl:ate till morning. He 
 has feen their thumbs mortify, fevers enfue, and 
 death. 
 
 The women making a little noife over head while 
 the captain was dining, he came out, and with a 
 wire cat began to flog away among them : 6 jumped 
 overboard, 5 of which were drowned. The other 
 he ordered to be ducked at the crotchet-yard-arm : 
 
 Ihe 
 
Africa. — W.Indies. Ellison. 147 
 
 fhe was led up and down a dozen times, he believes. 1790. 
 She died, he thinks, next day. Part II. 
 
 The Nightingale was lying in New Calabar river, v.,^^v-n»/ 
 when the Haves rofe on board the Africa. They P. 369. 
 were quelled, and about eight or ten picked out as 
 the ringleaders, for punifhment : they were tied to a 
 fpare mad, and the people of the Africa, with the 
 boat's crew of the Nightingale, took fpell and fpell 
 at flogging them, till they all were tired; yet they 
 were fo Itubborn they never cried out. Captain 
 Carter came on board, and ordered fome cooks 
 tormentors and tongs to be made red hot, and with 
 his own hands burnt their bare breech in a moft 
 dreadful manner. 
 
 Slaves often refufe their victuals ; when they do, 
 they are flogged till they eat. 
 
 Women are whipped or beaten, but not fo very 
 often as men. In the Nightingale, on the pafl'age, 
 a woman difobliged the fecond mate one day, who 
 gave her a cut or two with a fmall cat he had in his 
 hand : flie flew at him with great rage, but he puflied 
 her from him, giving her three or four fmart ftrokes 
 with the cat. Finding Ihe could not have her revenge 
 of him, file fprung two or three feet on the deck, and 
 dropped down dead. Was thrown overboard about 
 halt an hour after, and torn to pieces by the fliarks. 
 
 The chief mate and boatfwain have charge of the 
 men; the iecond mate and gunner, if there is one, 
 ol: the women ; each having conflantly a cat in their 
 hand. 
 
 Slaves, at the time of their dancing, always fingP. ^70. 
 to fome tune or other in their own way; has often 
 heard them fin^j- mournful tunes in the nijrht. 
 
 Befides the inllance given of Haves rifing, they 
 attempted it in the Upton, but it came to no heaJ, 
 (a few, though women, had got out of irons). 
 
 As to the iituation of feamen in diflerent fliips he 
 has been in, rel'pe^ting food, lodging, and general 
 treatment: — The allowance was fmall in all the 
 ihips, efpecially in the Middle PaA'agej were always 
 
 T 2 at 
 
148 Africa. — W. Indies; Ellison. 
 
 1790. at allowance outward and homeward. In the Middle 
 Pare II. Paflage, were obliged to fetch a gun-barrel from the 
 c-v-*-/ top-maft-head when they wanted to drink, and to 
 carry it back without permitting another to ufe it 
 at the time: has often been drier before he came 
 down again, than when he firft wentupj but durft 
 not bring the barrel down a fecond time till fome 
 other had ufed it : the fick fo long as they were able 
 were obliged to do fo j remembers one who had 
 bad ulcerated legs, when he had got half way up, 
 the main fhrouds, was fo weak he could get no fur- 
 ther; he and another went and helped him down 
 again, and begged of the dodor to give him a little 
 decoclion, which at firft he refufed, but afterwards 
 gave him a fmall pannikin full. The man died in 
 a diy or two after, (p. 372.) 
 
 Never was in a fhip in which the feamen had a 
 place to put their heads in below, but were obliged 
 to lie upon deck in all weathers. 
 P. 37^' The feamen he faw worfe ufed, were thofe in the 
 Briton and in the Nightingale: they had nothing 
 elfe but bad treatment in thofe two fhips from the 
 firft of the voyage to the laft. (p. 371.) 
 
 On board the Briton was a boy whom Wilfon the 
 chief- mate was always a beating. One morning ;n the 
 pafiage out, he had not got the tea kettle boiled in 
 time tor his breakfaft ; when it was brought, he tolcj 
 him he would leverely flog him after breai-cfalt •, for 
 P --j^fear, the boy went into the lee fore chains : when W. 
 came from the cabin, and called for Paddy, (the 
 name he went by, being an irifti boy) he would not 
 come, but remained in the fore chains ; on which W, 
 went forward, and attempted to haul him in ; when 
 "the boy jumped overboard, and was drowned. 
 
 Another time, on the middle paffige, Wilfon or- 
 dered one James Allilon, (a man he had been conti- 
 nually beating for every trifle) to go into the wo- 
 men's room to fcrape it; he faid he was not abl^-, tor 
 he was very unwell-, but W. obliged him to go down^ 
 he did not however begin to fcrape j which W. ob- 
 
 ferving. 
 
Africa.— -W. Indies. Ellison. 149 
 
 ferving, afked why he did not work, and was anfwer- I79°- 
 ed as Dcfore, that he was not able, on which he threw Part lU 
 a handfpike at him, whch (truck him in the breall, ^--v"^ 
 and he dropt down to a-pearance dead ; he recovered 
 a little, but died next day. 
 
 In the Nightingale, on the pafTage, the gunner was 
 on the barricado with a mulkec, as a centry, while 
 the fiaves were going down -, happening to look aft, 
 he was alked by captain why he did not look for- 
 ward at the flaves, faid, ♦* That he could willingly 
 turn the mu(kt:t, and blow his brains out:" but did 
 not think the captain heard him. When the flaves 
 were down, the captain cauled him to be tied up, and 
 flogged very feverely. He died in two or three days 
 after. 
 
 As to the feamen leaving their fliips, on the coaft 
 of Africa ; the boatfwain and five of the crew of the 
 Phoenix of Brillol, Cap. Bifhop, made their efcape in 
 the yawl, but were taken up by the natives. When 
 the captain heard it, he o-^dered them to be kept a- 
 fho.e, at Forge, a fmall town at the mouth of Cala- 
 bar nv'rr, chamed by the necks, legs, and hands, and 
 to have each a plantain a day only. The boatfwain, P. 37^* 
 who had been a Ihip-mate of the witnefs's, and a ve- 
 ry good lisaman, died raving mad in his chains; the 
 other five alio died in their chains. 
 
 As to the the motives which induce feamen to en- 
 ter on bt)ard Guinea Ihips, believes they are compel- 
 led by want ; by getting in debt to their landlords, 
 when they mufl; go on board a Guineaman,or to gaol. 
 (p. 375). Landlords are fure of getting paid by the 
 advance moi^y the failor has to receive on enterinor 
 into the Guinea cmplo , if no other way. (p. 377.) 
 
 As to his opmion, which is moll advantageous to 
 the country, to become a failor or go to gaol — to be- 
 come a iatlor, he ihould fuppofe. \^p. 377. 
 
 Has been in many W. India iflands, Barbadoes and 
 Jamaica in particular ; where he has often ieen Gui- 
 nea lailors lying on the wharfs, and under the cranes 
 ^Imoit at the point of death, with large ulcers upon 
 
 their 
 
150 Africa. — W. Indies. Ellison. 
 
 1790. their Ieg5 and feet, and in a (larving flate: and he 
 
 part II. has often carried them provifions from his fliip. Has 
 
 •"•v"*^ alfo feen the negroes carrying them when dead to 
 
 Spring Path, and burying them. Believes they had, 
 
 all whom he faw, left their fhips from bad ufage, 
 
 without wages. It is commonly the cafe. Many 
 
 told him they got no pay, but were glad to get afhore. 
 
 He knew them to have belonged to Gnineamen, be- 
 
 P. 373.caure he knew, and had failed with fome of them, and 
 
 .others told him fo. Never faw any belonging to other 
 
 fliips than Guineamen in that Hate. 
 
 Was almoft daily on (liore, for eighteen months, 
 at Kingfton, where he has feen fix or feven Qaves 
 ^vhipped of a morning, by a man they called Johnny 
 Jumper; their backs much cut, and the blood run- 
 ning down. Saw alfo a woman at Dominica hung 
 vp by the v/rifts, on a ftage (ereded to punifli ne- 
 groes on) her feet two feet from the itage, and thus 
 feverely flogged with a cow-fl<.in, by her miftrefs's 
 order, it was laid, for running away. 
 
 As to appearance of field and town-flaves, the 
 lafl: are always better drefifcd, and look better; the 
 other look very poor and were always badly clothed : 
 , much marked with'the whip. 
 
 They often bring down lugar and rum from the 
 country to be fhipped ; when aboard they would beg 
 and pray for a bit of bifcuit and beef, which they 
 are very thankful for, (p. 374). 
 
 On Sundays they generally bring fome little trifle 
 or other from the countrv to fell, fuch as oranges, 
 pianuanes, &c. to the value of half a bit, a bit, or 
 ivv'o bits each; does not remember ever feeing them 
 have any pigs or kids to fell. As to their being fo 
 well protected by laws, as to be able to fell thefe ar- 
 ticles unmolefted and for their own ufe •, does not 
 think there is any law for them •, has feen their things 
 taken by the failors and then beat for afking their 
 money •, they would run crying through the ftreet, 
 and even follov^ them down to the boats, but they got 
 jicither the things nor their money (p. 375). 
 
 Has 
 
Africa. — W. I.vdies. Ellison. 151 
 
 Has been many voyages to Virginia and Mary- 1790. 
 land, and has often gone through the tobacco plan- Part 11. 
 tations while the (laves were at work. >^-v-*j 
 
 Looked much better than thofe in the W. Indies ; P* 374* 
 were much better clothed, and not fo hard worked, 
 having feidom fcen a driver over them with his whip j 
 they generally work by thcmfelves; has feen them 
 at their vidtuals often, in their houfes, and they 
 Teemed to have plenty. 
 
 Has fcen the flaves on board when fold in the W P. 375, 
 Indies, very much diftrelTcd at the profpecl of fepa- 
 ration. 
 
 Was fifteen or fixteen years old when he went firfb 
 to Africa; his firll voyages were to Gambia. Talked 
 the Mundingo tongue pretty well ; underltood but 
 little of the other negro languages; does not recoi- 
 led: how old he wa^when told by the Oaves that they 
 were all ftolen, but they commonly told him fo in 
 every voyage he has been, in the beft manner they 
 could make themfelves underftood. His higheftP. 376. 
 birth on board a Guineaman was that of gunner. 
 
 Has been in the kind's fervice fince 1771 ; firfl 
 ftation there, quarter gunner : has been gunner in 
 the Refinance fince June 1784 (p. 377.) 
 
 The canoes on the coaft of Africa are rowed by 
 flaves. Mailers often fell their canoe boys. Such 
 canoe boys as have been fold, he believed to have 
 been flaves to thofe who fold them. Captain Lemma 
 lived a good way up Benin River: the people whom 
 he fcized in the canoes, lived at a little filliing town 
 at the mouth of the river, fubjeift he believes to the 
 to the king of Benin: he was very much feared by 
 the natives of that part: cannot fay whether he was 
 at war with the king of Benin from his taking away 
 his fubjeCls. 
 
 Lemma was generally confidered as a pirate, 
 
 (P- 377)- . 
 
 The natives know very well, that if pawns are 
 not redeemed before the fliip fails, they will be car- 
 ried off. 
 
 WItncfs 
 
[ 152 ] 
 
 Part II. 
 **'^'**' Witnefs examined — John Marshall. 
 
 !*• 377- Has made about 19 vovages, chiefly to the Gold 
 Coaft. Never knew Africans go to war, to procure 
 flaves to the (hips. On the contrary, when wars 
 have happened, it has been of the utmoft prejudice 
 to the (hipping. 
 
 P. 378. Was at Annamaboe, when the king of Afhantee 
 made war againft the Fantees, which fo totally ftopt 
 the trade, that he lay fixteen months there, before 
 he was fully flaved. The A(hantees failed of con- 
 quering the Fantee country. The Fantees, on the 
 contrary, took many Afliantees prifoners; moft of 
 "whom would have been fold, and fome put to death, 
 but for Mr. Brew, who propofed to the king of A- 
 ihantee the redemption of thofe prifoners, which he 
 gladly acceded to. Thinks kidnapping impofTible. 
 Is certain the governors of forts could not with im- 
 punity feize and fell the natives j they are them- 
 felves too much in their power to attempt it: never 
 knew governors give any fuch orders. Knows it is 
 imprafticable. 
 
 P. '^"'Q. Has been frequently at Cape la Hou ; never 
 knew or heard of natives carried from thence frau- 
 dulently. Natives come on board as freely as a 
 boat would board a fliip in the Thames. 
 
 On the Gold Coaft the cultivation is very tri- 
 fling : that for corn (which is very rude) is fuch, 
 that there is no certainty of fupply there j in the 
 Bight of Guinea, at Bonny, the only cultivation he 
 knew was of yams. Is certain, that in Africa they 
 know nothing of the manufadture of indigo, for 
 both indigo and blue arc carried from Europe, for 
 the ufe of the gentlemen in the forts : and you can- 
 not pleafe a female better than by giving her a lit- 
 tle of either, with which they paint themfelves. 
 
 Never failed in the night from Africa i it is the 
 cuftom to fail in the morning, to have the land- 
 winds ; 
 
Africa. Marshal!. I53 
 
 Winds: from Bonny it is infipofTible to fail in the 1790. 
 night, the river is too dangerous. Part II. 
 
 He is not at prefent concerned in the African > ,-^ 
 
 trade, either as captain or merchant. 
 
 He took on board t!;e Elizabeth, one of the fhipsP. 3S0. 
 which he commanded, 546 flaves ; was peculiarly 
 unfortunate in the lofs of (laves and crew; had at 
 one period fmall-pox, mcafles, flux and fever on 
 board; whereby he loft 158 flaves; a greater lofs 
 than in any 6 of his voyages together. Loft alfo 2 2 p. j8i. 
 out of 52 feamen ; 45 of which Englifli, and 7 Spa- 
 niards. The latter lofs was chiefly owing to intem- 
 perance ; they were not to be controuled. 
 
 Is confident the king of Afhantee's motives for 
 war upon the Fantees, was to conquer their coun- 
 try, as he has often heard from the king's brother 
 and nephew, who were hoftages with Mr. Brew j 
 could not fuppofe he had any view to flaves in making 
 war on the Fantees, having no means of conveying 
 them to the fea but through their country. 
 
 Slaves fold to the Europeans, come under the fol- 
 lowing defcription •, fome are born flaves, a few taken 
 in war, others forfeit their liberty by crimes, and 
 many fold for witchcraft; by fuch means flaves are 
 obtained in general, at leaft, the natives fay fo, for 
 in his various voyages he has often converfed withP. 382. 
 them on the fubjetft. Of the flaves bought on the 
 Gold Coaft, one third may be inhabitants of the 
 coaft, the reft are Afliantees and Duncoes, who both 
 fpeak the Fantee language. 
 
 Believes, the pcrfons fold for witchcraft, undergo 
 a previous trial, though it is fecreced from the Eu- 
 ropeans. 
 
 In his voyages in the Alfred, he had very few 
 boys and girls: in purchaflng flaves they generally 
 go by height, and he made a point (it was indeed 
 his orders) not to buy any under 4 feet 4 inches: 
 on his laft voyage he was allowed to buy them as low 
 as feet : fuppofes he might have had from 40 to 
 60 of that defcription. 
 
 Numb. 3. U Where 
 
154 Africa. Marshall. 
 
 1790. Where our fetclements or forts are, they are tole- 
 Part II. rably civilized, from their intercourfe with the Eu- 
 '-nr*-' ropeans, at other towns they are not fo much fo. 
 Their natural abilities he thinks much inferior to the 
 people of other countries j and believes they know 
 nothing of morality. 
 P. 383. Having faid that kidnapping by the natives is im- 
 poffible: his reafon for it is, becaufe it could not be 
 done fecretly, nor with impunity. It muft be found 
 out, either in conveying them to the water fide to be 
 fhipped, or certainly after they were put on board j 
 from the free intercourfe the traders have with the 
 fhips, it is impoffible for a perfon fo taken to be 
 concealed long : he fpeaks here pofitively, as he ne- 
 ver knew an ihftance of the kind. And fhould fuch 
 a thing be done by the firfl: perfon in the country, 
 reftitution, in his opinion, is the lead punifhment 
 which would follow -, does not believe perfons are 
 ever unjuftly accufed with a view to be fold. 
 
 Believes that flaves are fometimes fold by their 
 
 owners through the neceflities of the owner. That 
 
 P. 384. they have a right to do fo, he apprehends, becaufe 
 
 he has known it publickly done. One of the traders 
 
 with his fhip, fold him two of his houfhold flaves^ 
 
 The crimes which fubjed convidls to be fold, he 
 believes, are principally, theft, incontinence, and 
 others perhaps, which he cannot fpeak to. 
 
 He was never faather than three miles up the 
 country on the Gold Coaft. 
 
 Inhabitants did not appear to decreafe in numbers 
 that this fhould be the cafe, notwithftanding the 
 large drains continually made by the European tra- 
 ders, he can account for no other way than by the 
 prevalence of polygamy. 
 
 Believes the treatment of feamen in the flave trade 
 to be as in other voyages : as there are men of dif- 
 ferent difpofitions in the African trade, as well as 
 others, their treatment will vary accordingly. 
 
 Having faid, " That they know nothing about 
 *' the manufadure of indigo in Africa," he referred 
 particularly to the Gold coaft. 
 
 Has 
 
Africa; Marshall, 155 
 
 Has purchafed rice on the Windward Coaft, and lyoc^. 
 corn on the Gold Coaft; but the lupply at either Part II. 
 place was fo uncertain, that he never depended much i..«-^r<o 
 upon it, but generally carried moft of his provifionsP. 3S5. 
 from England. 
 
 Believes, Europeans never inquire the right per- 
 fons have to difpofe of flaves i as it is taken for 
 granted they have the right. 
 
 Mr. George Millar, Gunner of His Majefty's 
 Ship Pegafe. 
 
 Has been in Africa; his laft voyage to Old Cala-P. 385. 
 bar in 1767, in the fhip Canterbury, Capt. Parke. 
 
 Says, a quarrel happened between the people of 
 Old and New Town, which prevented the fhips lying 
 in Calabar River from being (laved. Believes in 
 June 1767, Capt. Parke came one evening to witnefs, 
 and told him that the two towns fo quarrelling would 
 meet on board the different fhips, and ordered him to 
 hand up fome fwords. 
 
 Next day feveral canoes, as Parke had before ad- 
 vertifed him, came from both of the towns on board 
 the Canterbury, witnefs*s own fliip, qnd one of the 
 perfons fo coming on board, brought a letter, which 
 he gave Parke, immediately on the receipt of which 
 he, P. took a hanger, and attacked one of the Old 
 Town people then on board, cutting him immedi- 
 ately on the head, arms, &c. The man fled, ran 
 down the fteps leading to the cabin, and P. ftill fol- 
 lowing him with the hanger, darted into the boys 
 room. Witnefs is fure this circumftance can never 
 be effaced from his memory. From this room he P. 386, 
 was, however, brought up by means of a rope, when 
 P. renewed his attack as before on the man, who, 
 making for the entering port, leaped overboard. 
 
 This being concluded, P. lett his own fliip to go 
 
 on board fome of the other fhips then lying in the 
 
 U 2 river. 
 
s^6 Africa. Millar? 
 
 g 90. river. Soon after he was gone, a boy belonging to 
 tare Il.witnefs's fhip, came and informed witnefs, that he 
 i-'v^ had difcovered a man concealed behind the medicine 
 cheft. Witnefs went and found the man. He was 
 the perfon before mentioned to have brought a letter 
 on board. On being difcovered by witnefs he begged 
 for mercy, intrcating that he might not be delivered 
 up to the people of New Town. He was brought 
 on the quarter deck, where were fome of the New 
 Town people, who would ha\&c killed him had they 
 not been prevented. The man was then ironed and 
 conduced into the room of the men flavcs. 
 
 Soon after the captain returned, and brought with 
 him a New Town trader, named Willy Honefty. On 
 coming on board he was informed of what had hap- 
 pened in his abfence ; believes, in the hearing gf 
 Willy Honefty, who immediately exclaimed, " Cap- 
 " tain, if you will give me that man to cut cutty 
 *' head, I will give you the beft man in my canoe, 
 " and you fhall be (laved the firft fliip.'* The cap- 
 tain upon this looked into Willy Honefty's canoe, 
 picked his man, and delivered the other in his ftead, 
 when his head was immediately ftruck off in wit- 
 nefs^s fight. 
 
 Believes fome other cruelties hefides this particular 
 aft was done, becaufe he faw blood on the {larboard 
 fide of the mizen maft, though he does not recollect 
 feeing any bodies from whence the blood might come; 
 and others in the other fliips, becaufe he heard fe- 
 veral mufkets or piftols fired from them at the fame 
 time. This affair might laft ten minutes. Remem- 
 bers a four pounder fired at a canoe, but knows nqt 
 if any damage was done. 
 p. 3S7. In the voyage a fickly flave got through the ne- 
 ceflary, and in fwimming bore herfelf higher upon 
 the water than he had ever (e^n any perfon : the cir- 
 cumflance being told the captain, he faid, " Damn 
 " her, let her go, flie is not worth picking up," or 
 fomething to that purpofe. 
 
 Recolleds 
 
Africa. Millar. 157 
 
 Recollefts a woman flave being brought on board, 179^. 
 who retufed any fullenance, neither would (he fpeak ;Parc II. 
 fhe was then ordered the thumb-fcrews, and fulpended ^>./^'">^ 
 in the mizen rigging, and every attempt made with 
 the cat and thofe initruments they have generally on 
 board ; but all to no purpofe. She died three or four 
 days afterwards. He was told by feme of the women 
 Haves, that fhe faid the night before fhe died, Ihe 
 was going to her friends. P. jS5. 
 
 The death of 180 in the voyage above mentioned 
 was moftly by the flux, brought on he believes by 
 their being fo much crowded in the Ihip : he had 
 himfelf the care of iht men Haves, and when flowed, 
 there was not room to put down the point of a ftick. 
 The fliip might be between 500 and 600 tons. The 
 apartments tor the flaves were very difagreeable, it 
 could not be otherwife, being fo much crowded ; but 
 they were kept as clean as pofiible. The men were 
 generally fettered. The flaves appeared generally 
 dejeded when brought on board. 
 
 They were frequently made to dance, or jump up 
 and down in their irons •, if unwilling, they were fre- 
 quently compelled to do it by the cat. 
 
 Recolleds no initances of frauds pradifed on the 
 natives. 
 
 The fcamen, in the African fliips in which heP' 3^9* 
 failed, were very well treated. 
 
 End cf No. 3. — P;.rc II. 1790. 
 
Number IV. 
 
 ABRIDG MENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MINUTES OF THE EVIDENXE, 
 
 TAKEN BEFORE A 
 
 IL 
 
 COMMirTEE OF rilE IF HOLE HOUSE, 
 
 TO WHOM IT WAS REFERRED TO CONSIDER OF THE 
 
 SLAVE-TRADE, 
 1791. 
 
ABRID GHENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MINUTES OF THE EVIDENCE, 
 
 TAKEN^ BEFORE A 
 
 Select Committee of the Whole House, 
 
 TO WHOM IT WAS REFERRED TO CONSIDER OF THE 
 
 SLAVE-TRADE, 1790. 
 Number IV. 
 
 Witnefs Examined, — Richard Storey. 
 
 Mr. Richard Storey, lieutenant in the Royal Nav/,p, j, 
 having been from 1766 to 1770, on every part of the 
 coaft from S. Leone to the river Sabon, declares. 
 That flaves are generally obtained by merauding par- 
 ties, from one village to another in the n:o;ht. He 
 has alfo known canoes come from a diftance and carry 
 off numbers in the night. P, a^ 
 
 In 1769, Captain Paterfon, of a Liverpool Ihip, 
 lying off Brillol Town, f( t two villages at variance, 
 and bought prifoners, (near a dozen) from both 
 fides. While refident at Briftol Town, on the W. 
 Coaft, for three months, he was in many villages, but 
 did not hear of any pe- Tons being carried ofFj on other 
 parts of the coaft he has. 
 
 Has gone into the interiour country between the P. 5, 
 Baflau and the river Setters; and all the nations there 
 go armed from the fear of merauding parties : there 
 Numb. 4. A were 
 
i Africa; Storey. 
 
 1791. v;ere no wild beads to alarm them; and the people 
 
 ^-nr*-/ there have informed him, that they have obtained 
 their flaves by war ; thefe merauding parties are con- 
 fid ered by them as war. 
 
 He was twice in danger from thefe parties him- 
 felf. In 1767 he was put into a trading long-boat 
 of the fhip ; about this time a merauding party from 
 Grand Setters had come in canoes and attacked 
 Grand Cora in the night, and taken off 12 or 
 
 P. 6. 14 of the inhabitants; foon after which, having in 
 his boat a native of Grand Sefters, the people of 
 Grand Cora came to the boat in the river Sefters, 
 and told the mate they had a ilave to fell, on which 
 he went afhore with them, leaving only Mr. Storey, 
 a boy, and the black man in the boat. In about 
 four hours after, a canoe came on board the boat, 
 with the four men that the mate had gone with, fay- 
 ing, the mate was in another canoe in fight •, and 
 taking him off his guard, two of them feized him, 
 while the other two got the black man overboard. 
 Mr. Storey freed himfelf, and drove the two men 
 overboard : the mate lay all this time on fhore 
 tied neck and heels, which confinement was occa- 
 fioned by his refufing either to give up the native 
 of Grand Sefters, or pay them the price of a flave in 
 goods. This black man had before told of this ex- 
 pedition of his countrymen againft Grand Cora, and 
 
 P. 7. often declared himfelf afraid to go on ftiore for that 
 reafon ; he never gave it to be underftood that there 
 was a war at the time between Grand Sefters and 
 Grand Cora ; the only reafon he afligned for the ex- 
 pedition was, that his own countrymen were poor. 
 It was impoflible that there coi Id be any exifting 
 wars between thefe two people, as they are 20 leagues 
 afunder; and thofe of Grand Cora, not having canoes 
 to carry more than two or three men, never go to 
 fea but to fifh : the canoes of Grand Sefters carry 
 12 or 14 men, and with thefe go merauding among 
 their neighbours. He has feen them at fea out of 
 fight of land in the day, and taking the opportunity 
 ' of night to land wheie they pleafed. 
 
 It 
 
W.Indies. StoreV. ^ 
 
 It is his opinion that the natives are often fraudu- lynj, 
 lently caried off by the Europeans : he has been told i^^^y^ 
 by them, that they have loll their friends at different 
 times, and fuppofed them taken by European Ihips 
 going along the coail. He has himfelf taken up ca- 
 noes, which were challenged by the natives, who fup- 
 pofed the men in theni had been taken off the day 
 before by a Dutchman. 
 
 That the natives retaliate fuch injuries is proved 
 from the following fafts : When lying to an anchor 
 in his boat between the river Setters and Settra Crue, 
 a Dutch fhip running down the coaft fent her long- 
 boat to where he was, to buy vegetables, &c. When 
 come to an anchor, a number of canoes came about P. 8. 
 the two boats, and one of the head men of the place 
 wiflied him to go away, as they waited to take the 
 Dutch boat and kill the crew. As a reafon, they 
 told him that a Dutch fliip fome days before had 
 taken four men belonging to the place. 
 
 Afterwards, in 1768, being driven by contrary 
 winds, in a coafting fliip in which he was a paffengcr 
 into the river Angra, as there appeared a profpe(5l of 
 trade, they ilaid there. The fecond day, two canoes 
 with 12 or 14 men each came on board with two men 
 bound, to fell. Having agreed for one of them he 
 went down for irons to put him into-, but in coming 
 up again was feized, with the mailer of the boat and 
 another white man, whofe throats were immediately 
 cut. He got clear of thofe who feized him, but 
 could not get upon deck. Half an hour after, be- 
 ing covered with wounds, and weak with the lofs of 
 blood, he propofed to give up both boat and cargo if 
 fuffered to go to Gaboon, to which they agreed, and 
 then helping him up on deck they dripped him 
 naked, put him into a canoe, and took him on fliore 
 to their town. The reafon they gave for this was, 
 i!hat a (hip from Liverpool (name forgotten, the 
 captain's name Lambert) had fome time before taken 
 1 canoe full of their townfmen and carried her away. 
 He heard the fame thing afterwards at Gaboon. 
 
 A 2 He 
 
4 Africa; Storey. 
 
 17 91. He has been at Old Calabar, where flaves are 
 '"-''V*-' brought down the river in war canoes, carrying up- 
 wards of 50 men armed, and a three 01 four pounder 
 in the bow, 
 P. 9. Captain Jeremiah Smith, in the London, in 1766, 
 having a dilpute with the natives of Newtown Old 
 Calabar concerning the ftatcd price which he was to 
 give for flaves, for feveral days flopped every canoe 
 coming down the creek from Newtown, and alfo 
 fired feveral guns indilcriminately over the woods 
 into the town till he brought them to his own terms. 
 He looks upon the natives of the Windward Coafl 
 to be in general a hofpitable friendly people, always 
 "willing to fell what they have, and alfo to give the beft 
 provifions the country affords. The, men in general 
 are very aftive and induftrious, and chiefly employed 
 in fifliing, and trade with the Europeans j the wo- 
 men chiefly in cultivating rice and other vegetables. 
 Old men alfo taken by merauding parties, and not 
 faleable, they are put into their plantations; and to 
 this emplo; ment he believes that flaves refufed by 
 the Europeans as too old for fervice are commonly 
 defliined, having feen many fuch at this work. 
 
 On the Rice Coafl:, great quanities of rice are fold 
 to the Europeans, the natives in parties of eight or 
 ten bring it from the interiour country, three or four 
 P. 10. days journey •, he has known them take back fait 
 and other European goods in return, and has every 
 reafon to believe, that if there was nobody to pur- 
 chafe flaves, they would turn themfelves to cultivate 
 their ground, and raife rice, &c. to purchafe Eu- 
 ropean goods. The quality of Africari rice is far 
 fuperiour to that of Carolina, bearing one-fourth 
 more water. 
 
 The natives carry on their heads from 40 to 60 lb; 
 has heard trom them they go more than a month's 
 journey inland with various articles from the coafl:;. 
 and has feen parties of more than 20 together mei 
 and women employed in carrying them. 
 
 Id 
 
Africa. Storey. 
 
 In every thing they deal in, Europeans defraud 
 the natives, adulterate fpirits with water, and then 
 heat it with pepper, and ^uch guns have been Told 
 to them, that he has Icen many witd their barrels 
 burft and thrown away ; he has alfo ieen feveral na- 
 tives without fingers and thumbs, blown off, as they 
 faid, by the burlting of thefe guns. 
 
 He has been in ti.e Welt Indes, and his there at P. ii, 
 St. Chri(h)pher's, and part of Grenada, Ieen furfs as 
 high, and higher than in Africa. At Madras in the 
 Eaft Ind-es much higher, for a longer time than on 
 the Windward Coaft, where there is no place (except 
 where fometimes tor a day or two the furf is too 
 high,) boats are not continually loading in mod 
 places in Africa, fome rocks or points of land break 
 the furf, which is not the cafe in the clear and open 
 coaft of Coromandel. Goods are landed every where 
 along the coaft -, has fcen them fomeiimcs wet, but ne- 
 ver loft. They do not ufe the fame expedients here 
 for loading and unloading boats that arc ufed in 
 the Weft indies. 
 
 In his firft voyage to Old Calabar the flaves at- 
 tempted to rife, but did not fuccccd. In the year 
 1769, a Liverpool fliip between Cape Mount and 
 Melurade, had every pcrfon killed by an infurredion, 
 except one boy. 
 
 In the fli:ps he failed in, the men flaves were al-P. I2# 
 ways kept in irons during the Middle PafTage. 
 
 In the Rcgus, firft ihip he had failed in, provifions 
 were plenty. In the iecond, the Tyger of White- 
 haven, the fearnen in ten days after iailing were put 
 to an allowance of 4 lb. of bread per week, and 
 half a pound of beef or pork per day, which was the 
 whole fare for nine months •, he has but little com- 
 plaint to make of ill ufage againft the (hips in which 
 he failed. 
 
 Think the Have trade very unhealthy in the rivers, 
 but not on the open coaft; they buried 14 out of 
 32 the firft voyage in Calabar river ; and in the 
 Tyger in nine months, five or fix out of 28. In tiiree 
 
 voyages 
 
6 Africa. Storey, 
 
 1791. voyages to Virginia they buried one man-, in five 
 •-"V"^ Baltic voyages not one ; in one to the fouthern whale 
 fifhery none ; and in two Mediterranean none. Of 
 the three Virginia voyages, the firll was 11 months j 
 the other two about feven months each. The num- 
 ber of men in each 16. The fouthern whale fifliing 
 voyage was of 1 1 months. 
 
 P. 13. In the Tyger the bread was tolerable, the beef and 
 pork fo falted that in boiling they flirunk to half 
 this weight. Having once in this veffel, when hand- 
 ing rice to the flaves taken a handful for his own 
 vife, he was unmercifully beaten with a rope ; he has 
 known others who had done the fame thing through 
 hunger, treated for it in the fame manner. 
 
 As an inftance of fimilar ill treatment in other 
 flave fhips, he fays, that lying in the Tyger at Baffau, 
 he heard the lailors of three different fhips complain 
 heavily of their provifion, as being bad, and infuf- 
 ficient in quantity; thefe were, the Lancalhire Witch, 
 Captain Coil ; the Lilly, Captain Scragham ; and 
 the Violet, Browne, notorious all for bad provifions 
 
 P. 14. and ill ufage ; he has {Qcn the failors of each un- 
 mercifully beaten for the moft trifling offences ; 
 knocked down with handfpikes, or any other thing 
 that came in the Captain's or officers way that took 
 offence at the men. One man he faw in the Lanca- 
 fhire Witch confined for fome trifle, with an iron 
 collar on his right leg and arm fhackled, and then 
 chained to a ring-bolt on the deck, where he remain- 
 ed a confiderable time in this condition without any 
 other allowance but bread and water. 
 
 Witnefs Examined, — James Towme. 
 
 P. 15. Mr. James Towne, carpenter of His Majefly's 
 (hip Syren, made a voyage 1760 to the Ifles de Los 
 on board the Peggy, Captain Cuthbert Davis, about 
 140 or 150 tonsi and another in 1767 to Grand 
 
 Cape 
 
Africa. Storey. • 
 
 Cape Mount, in the Sally, Captain George Evans, 1791. 
 above 200 tons. The firft voyage he ie:^uined be- *-nrNi 
 tween ieven and eight months on the coalt, then a 
 boy J the fecond as carpenter, ftaid more than fix 
 months. He was moftly on iliore three months to- 
 gether in the firll voyage •, in the lecond, for five or 
 fix weeks at a time. Repeated ill treatment was the 
 occafion of his being fo long on fhore, for having 
 gone in the trading Ihallop, he run away j he went 
 into the back country among the inhabitants for fome 
 time to conceal himfelf, and was up the rivers and 
 inland together, upwards of between 300 and 400 
 miles. 
 
 The natural produflions of Africa are rice and 
 yams in abundance, plantanes, bananas, and all 
 other tropical fruits; plenty of camwood and ele- 
 phants teeth ; fome tobacco, cultivated by natives 
 who had been in England, but not yet flviljuUy 
 cured. Great quantities of lugar-cane, long pepper ; 
 a bark like cinnamon •, cotton in abundance, and of- 
 ten beautifully manufd<5lured into cloth •, a fine blue 
 dye ; beautiful woods for cabinet-makers ; wax, 
 ivory, palm-oil, palm-wine, and Indian corn. 
 
 The natives are hofpitable and kind, and capable 
 of learning quicker than white men. They differ as 
 our own people in chara<5ler, thofe on the coaft learn 
 to be roguifli •, inland they are innocent. The in- 
 tercourfe with Europeans has improved them in 
 roguery, to plunder and fteal, and pick up one ano- 
 ther to fell. 
 
 Slaves in Africa were never ill ufed by their own p. 16. 
 people, but when bought by white traders they were 
 ufed rather worfe there than when on board. 
 
 He has leen both men and women cultivating the 
 ]a[kls, but not often the women. 
 
 >A'hen a fhip arrives (he makes prefents to the 
 traders, to encourage them to bring any perfon down 
 to fell as a (lave, and they often pledge their own re- 
 lations till they procure the Q'aves wanted. The 
 black kings have told him, that they go to war on 
 
 purpofe 
 
S Africa. Towne. 
 
 1791. purpofe to get flaves, and he has feen the prifoners, 
 *-"v*^ (the men bound, the women and children loofe) de- 
 livered up to the white traders, or driven in gangs 
 of two or three hundred for fale to the water fide. 
 He has known them go in gangs merauding and 
 catching all they could. In the Galenas river he 
 knew an inftance of tour blacks who took a man that 
 had been to fell one or more flaves, plundered and 
 Uripped him naked, and brought him to the trading 
 Ihallop and fold him. Tlie people on board did not 
 iinderlland his language, nor imagine why he fecmed 
 fo caft down as thev a!l are, but king Battou coming 
 on board and knowing the man, inquired the caufe 
 of his being there as a flave j he related the circum- 
 llance •, a guard of grumettas, with fome of Towne's 
 * people, were fent after the blacks to take them, but 
 did not fucceed. 1 hey could not make the man cat, 
 not even by flogging ; they then put him irons, and 
 in a little time he died. He believes the flaves fome- 
 times become fo for crimes, as murder, theft, and adul- 
 tery; the the lafl:, if properly proved, is often pu- 
 nilhed with death. 
 P. 17. He has repeatedly heard both from the accufed 
 and accufers themfelves, and he believes it common 
 on the coaft, to impute crimes falfely for the fake of 
 having ;he accufed perfon fold. One infl;ance of a 
 ■woman fold by her huflaand for adultery, and whom 
 he himfelf brought off to the boat, and from her la- 
 mentations, and by her declaration, that flie knew 
 not what (he was accufed of, he thinks he has reafon 
 for imagining the crime imputed falfely. Mr, Mur- 
 ray, formerly of Bance ifland, Mr. Wood, his partner; 
 Mr, Jenkins and Mr Power, being to the windward of 
 Bance Ifla d, all told him that it was not an uncom- 
 mon thing to bring on palavers to make flaves, atd 
 he believes it trom the information of the flaves af- 
 terwards when brought down the country and put on 
 board the fliips. 
 
 Slaves are brought from the country very difl:ant 
 from the coaft. The king of Barra has informed 
 
 him, 
 
Africa. T o w n e. 9 
 
 liim, that on the arrival of a flnip he has gone 300 1791. 
 or 400 miles up the country with his guard, and v--v-.Ni# 
 driven down 200 or 3 o Haves to the fca fide. Frcrn 
 Marraba, king of the Mundingoes, he has heard that 
 they had marched them out of the country more 
 than yco miles, that they had gone wood ranging to 
 pick up every one they met with, whom they itrip- 
 ])ed naked, and if men, bound •, but if women, 
 brought down loofe •, this he had from themlclves, 
 and alfo that they often went to war with the Ballam 
 nation on purpofe to get flaves. They boafted that 
 they ihould foon have a fine parcel for the Ihallops, 
 and the fuccefs often anfwered. 
 
 He was once prefent with part of the crew at an P. 18- 
 expedition undertaken by the whites for the purpofe of 
 feizing negroes, and joined by other boats to receive 
 thofe they could catch. To prevent all alarm, they 
 bound their mouths with oakum and handkerchiefs ; 
 one woman fhrieked, and the men turned out in de- 
 fence. He had then five tied in the boat, and the 
 other boats were in readinefs to take in what more 
 they could get •, all his parcy were armed, and the 
 men of the town purfued ihem with firft a fcatter^ngj 
 and at length a general fire, and ffveral of the men 
 belonging to the boats, he has reafon to believe, 
 were killed, wounded, or taken, as he never heard 
 of them afterwards. He was wounded himfelf. 
 What became of the other boats, he knows not, for 
 he knew nothing of the expedition, until ordered to 
 take command of the boat, which though then he 
 thought it a fport, he was afterwards forry for having 
 done. The flaves he had taken, were fold at 
 Charlefton, South Carolma. The natives had not 
 previoufly committed any hoftilities againlf any of 
 the (hips, whofe boats were concerned in this tranf- 
 adion J they owed goods to the captain, for which 
 he refolved to obtain llaves at any rate. He has had 
 feveral fliipmates, who have themfclves cold him, 
 they have been concerned in fimilar tranfadlions, and 
 Numb. 4. B have 
 
^10 Africa. T o w n e. 
 
 I 
 
 1791. have made a boaft of it, and who have been wound- 
 ^*^v^ ed alio. 
 
 The Europeans endeavour to cheat the natives ; 
 they adulterate their liquors, and in buying and fel- 
 ling ufe different weights, to which they give the 
 fame appearance, by cafing a ftone and a piece of 
 P. 19. lead alike in brafs ; he kept fuch himfclf, and ufed 
 them in dealing for wax, teeth, &c. by order of his 
 commanding officer, whom he has alfo repeatedly 
 feen do it himfelf. 
 
 The natives brought to the coaft appear not to 
 come on board willingly *, on the contrary, they come 
 down with a guard, and are forced into the boats. 
 
 When on board, they are always fettered with leg 
 fliackles and handcuffs, two and two, right and left. 
 They lie in a crowded and cramped ftate, having 
 neither their length nor breadth, in a fpace by no 
 means fufficient for their health; and fuch is their 
 fuffocated ftate below, that he has known them go 
 down well, and in the morning be brought up dead. 
 "When they come on deck, they are all in a dew fweat, 
 from the tarpawlings being laid over the gratings in 
 bad weather. The height between decks in the 
 Peggy (tonnage 140 or 150, fee p. 15 at the top) 
 was about 4 feet, and in the Sally, 4 feet 4 or 5. 
 The Peggy took on board about 230 negroes ; the 
 boys room only had a platform : between 50 and 60 
 P. 20. of the cargo died. There were 25 feamen, he does 
 not recoUefl above 6 or 7 dying. 
 
 The Sally (better than 200 tons, p. 15, at top) had 
 platforms in boys and womens rooms, and the aft part 
 of mens. The cargo was nearly 400, of whom about 
 60 died. The crew confifted of 40 men, of whom 
 above 30 died. They were forced to get men from 
 other fliips on the coaft j out of 6 mates, not i lived. 
 
 Something better than a pint of water, after they 
 are fed, ferved at twice, was the daily allowance of a 
 flave; and after being fed in the afternoon, the boat- 
 fwain taking one, and the mate the other fide of the 
 deck, they are made to dance, and flogged with a 
 
 cat 
 
Africa. T o w n e; i i 
 
 cat if they do not. In fine weather they are brought 1791. 
 on deck between eight and nine in the morning, and ^-nc-^^i* 
 put down again at four, there to remain until next 
 day. He has known them refufe their food in con- P. 21. 
 fequence of being confined ; ill treated, to induce 
 them to eat; thev are flogged, and put into irons 
 feparatelv' ; both their hands handcuffed, both legs 
 (hackled, a collar round their neck, with a chain, 
 and often the thumb-fcrew applied, to take the ilub- 
 bornnefs out of them. This was his tafk, and fome- 
 times, from their ill treatment, tliey attempted to 
 jump overboard j at others, have gone mad, and 
 died in that fituation. They often fall fick, fome- 
 times owing to their crowded Itate, but moftly to 
 grief, for being carried away from their country and 
 friends, which being very well acquainted with their 
 language, he knows from frequent inquiries into the 
 circumftances of their grievous complaints. He has 
 known them attempt to rife on board, and on in- 
 quiry into the caufe, has been afked what bufinefs we 
 had to carry them from their country -, they had wives 
 and children they wanted to be with. To check 
 them, they are put fingly into irons and flogged. 
 He has known women with infants on board, two P. 21. 
 particularly, who, when their infants died, grieved P. 22, 
 after them, and died themfelves. Guinea captains 
 feldom buy women with children. Has heard the 
 flaves fmging, but their fongs were lamentations. A 
 flave kidnapped or fold, contrary to the cultom. of 
 the country, to the fhips, cannot complain to the 
 black traders on board, for thefe traders never fee 
 the main deck, nor even fpeak to the women abaft, 
 left thev mio;ht make fignals to rife. When canoes 
 come to the fliip, no flave on the main deck can 
 look over the fhip*s fide -, two officers fl:and with 
 cats to prevent them, and this prevents their leeking 
 releafe. A barricado of great llrength, cuts ofl^ all 
 intercourfe between perfons on the main deck and 
 thofe in the after part of the ffiipi the women and 
 the men thus cannot i'ee one another, 
 
 B 2 When 
 
Africa, T o w n e, 
 
 When fick, in the veflels he failed in, the negroes 
 were put forward, which was confidered the fhip's 
 holpital J and though fometimes medicines are given, 
 and rometimes forced down, they are in general but 
 indifferently attended, fo that they often die in their 
 own filth. They are feldom long Tick before they 
 die. Never faw one fea Pick. Small attention, con- 
 finement below, and the fituation of being flaves, he 
 fuppofes the caufe of this rapid death of the fick-. 
 He looks on their dying as partly due to want of at- 
 tention j in one inftance there "was no furgeon on 
 board. 
 
 P. 24. Mr. Towne has been in the Weft Indies; at Bar- 
 badoes for near a year, in 1779 and 1780J in An- 
 tigua for about 15 months, in 1780 and 1781; for 
 2, months at St. Kitt's, in 1781 ; and a little while 
 in Jamaica, in 1782 He was in many plantations 
 at Barbadoes^ particularly Mr. Gibfon's and Mr. 
 Bifhop'sj on Mr. Tyrrel's and Sir John Laforey's, 
 at Antigua, and on fhore at St. Kites and Jamaica, 
 Slaves are fold in the Weft Indies fometimes by 
 vendue, fometimes in lotsj thofe of the velfels ia 
 whiqn he was, were fold to the beft bidder, and fome- 
 times in lots; he never heard of any care taken to 
 prevent the ieparation of relations and friends. Re- 
 fufe flaves are fuch as are fickly from any caufe j 
 they are often kept on board to fatten them for fale, 
 but if they do not recover, they are fold then to any 
 body, fome even fo low as a guinea. 
 
 P, 25. The flaves in the Weft Indies work from four ia 
 the morning, till very late in the evening; if they 
 comf but a moment after their time, they are flog- 
 ged with whips by the drivers, to whom they muft 
 come ready ftripped for their punifliment, to fave 
 time. Some, though lame, are obliged to work; if 
 they complain, they are called lazy, and flogged by 
 the driver. Has feen flaves laid down and ftretched 
 put to four ftakes in the ground, and fo receiving 40 
 or 50 lafhes. He has feen them fwang up to a crane, 
 with weights at their feet to ftretch them, fo as to 
 
 enlargQ 
 
Africa. T o w n e. 1 j 
 
 enlarge the wounds of the whip; men and wonnen 1791. 
 alike. After flogging, they bring ebony fwicches, v-nr*^ 
 full of thorns, and with thefe flog thenn again, to 
 let out the bruifed blood. To encreafe the feverity, 
 they ufe a manner of whipping, which they call 
 crofllng. They then pickle them, to keep flies from 
 blowing, and maggots from breeding in their 
 wounds. A jumper who goes from houfe to houfe 
 for employment, inflids thefe punilhments at Bridge- 
 town, Barbadoes, and St. John's, Antigua. In the 
 plantations, a black called the boatfwain of the plan- 
 tation inflidbs them, under the manager's diredlion. 
 The marks of former whippings he has alfo obferv-P. l6m 
 ed in a large proportion of the plantation flaves ; 
 there are in general fcarce any without a number of 
 them. They are nearly as large as a man's finger 
 above the (kin. 
 
 Mr. Bifliop told him, that in his plantation, at 
 Speight's Town, in Barbadoes, they had not bought 
 a Guinea negro for upwards of 40 years, and that 
 by good ufage there were a great many more now 
 there than then. Mr. Bifliop told him, the encreafe 
 was due to more having been born, than had died 
 on his elbue. Knows of no encouragement given 
 to the marriage of flaves. 
 
 Seamen are procured at Liverpool for the flave 
 fliips, by merchants clerks, who intoxicate them in 
 publick houfes, and fo get them on board. The 
 publicans alio get them in their debt, and if they re- 
 fufe a Guineaman, fend them to gaol; the GuineaP. ^7« 
 captains are then informed, that if they want men, 
 they may have fo many, for paying thefe debts ; and 
 if then they agree to go, they are fent on board, and 
 never fufi:ered to come out of the fliip again ; if not, 
 they remain in a gaol on a very fcanty allowance; 
 has known many mllances himfelf. 
 
 On board the velTcls in which he failed, feamen 
 were treated with the greatefl; inhumanity, in the 
 Peggy, captain Davis; for infl:ance, they vvere fo foon 
 j^swhen round the rock of Liverpool, brought to an 
 
 allowance 
 
Africa. To 
 
 W N E. 
 
 allowance of four pound of bread per week ; their 
 chefts were ftaved and burnt, and themfelves turned 
 out from lying below. If any murmured, they were 
 inhumanely beaten with any thing that came in the 
 way, or flogged, both legs put in irons, and chained 
 abaft to the pumps, and tliere made to work points 
 and gaikets. The captain, as he pafled by, repeat- 
 edly kicked them, and if offended at any thing they 
 faid, immediately called for a flick to beat them, and 
 put their necks in an iron collar, with a chain. On 
 the coaft of Guinea, if not releafed before their arri- 
 val, they were made to row in boats back and for^ 
 ward, or any duty, in all their irons, and the chain 
 locked to the boat, and at night, when returned to 
 the Ihip, they were locked faft to the open deck, ex- 
 pofed to the heavy rain and dews, without any thing 
 to lie on, or cover them. This wis a common prac- 
 tice, but he adds, that not any of them died in this 
 fituation. 
 P. 2S» On board the Sally alfo, where the ill treatment 
 was general, one of the feamen had both his legs in 
 irons, a collar on his neck, and was chained to the 
 boat for three months, and when he complained, was 
 often beaten moft inhumanly, by both the captain 
 and other officers. He grew at length too weak to 
 fit and row. He was then taken on board the fhip, 
 and made to pick oakum, with only three pound of 
 bread per week, and one-half pound of fait beef per 
 day ; his legs remained in irons, but the collar was 
 taken off" the latter part of the time. One evening, 
 on the Middle Paffage, coming aft to beg for fome- 
 thing to eat, or he fliould die, the captain inhuman- 
 ly beat him, and then ordered him to go forward and 
 die and be damned ; the man died that night. 
 
 One Edward Hilton alfo, being out in the boat 
 watering, complained of being long without meat or 
 drink, on which the boatfwain beat and cut his head 
 with the tiller. When he came on board all bloody, 
 and was telling his ftory to IVlr. Towne, the mate 
 (by the captain's order) with the furgeon and boat- 
 fwain. 
 
Africa. T o w n e, 15 
 
 fwain, came forward, and beat him with canes (which 179T. 
 they call ferving out grog) the furgeon's cane flruck «-'^r"*-» 
 his eye, which mortified, and was totally loll. His 
 legs, when unable to (land, were then put in irons, 
 and next morning he was lent in his irons, on the 
 fame duty in the boat, to which he was locked with 
 a chain, until he was unable to remain any longer; 
 he was then taken on board, and Hill in irons, laid 
 forwards, and by the furgeon's advice, his allowance 
 was flopped. H.lton lying before the mall almoft 
 dead, and Mr. Towne having received orders to go 
 in the fhillop to Jack River, v.'hen under weigh, the 
 commander of the fliallop was ordered to bring to, 
 to take Hilton in, and to leave him on fiiore any 
 where -, he died early next morning. Two brothers,?. 29. 
 William and John Walker, were equally ill ufed. 
 
 The general provifions of the crew were three 
 pound of bread per week, and halt a pound of fak 
 beef per day. Water they had from the gun barrel, 
 lalhed to the topmaft crofs-trces, which every one 
 was to take down for himfelf ; he was himfelf punifli- 
 ed for giving the barrel to another halfway up. 
 
 Captain Colly, on board the Hare Snow, (as he 
 heard from the people of the fhip at different times) 
 killed his carpenter, carpenter's mate, cook, and 
 another man, and when the crew complained of thefe 
 murders in Virginia, they were not redreffed, but 
 fent on boird, or threatened with the cowikin, 39 
 laflies, the general punifliment of Guinea feamen, 
 who are fuppofed to offend. He has feen many 
 fliips, and always found the fame treatment as in his 
 own. 
 
 Captain Scrogham, of the Lilly Snow, inffead of 
 complying with the requeft of a fick man, who came 
 att for lomething to eat, ordered him to be imme- 
 diately ftripped, and feized to the main fiirouds, 
 with his feet clear of the deck ; he then flripped 
 him himfelf to the fliirt, and flogged him fevcral 
 times with a cat, the man flill hanging by his hands j p. jo, 
 when tired, he called on his ofucers to flog, but thty 
 
 rcfufed. 
 
1^ Africa, Towne. 
 
 1791. refufed, on which he made the men flaves come off 
 ^'''v*^ the main deck, and flog him until he was dead. 
 The Ihip was then along-fide the wharf of Charle- 
 llon. South Carolina, where fome of the crew com- 
 ing on fhore with the furgeon and mate, who was the 
 captain's brother, reported the murder ; the corpfe 
 being brought on fhore next morning, Mr. Towne 
 and many others, Hopped and examined it, and had 
 a coroner's inquefl;, which brought in a verdifl of 
 wilful murder, through the evidence of the furgeon 
 and the captain's own brother. Lord Charles Mon- 
 tague, the Governor, fent officers on board to take, 
 and confine the captain in gaol, which was accord- 
 ingly done, but for want of evidence he was after- 
 wards acquitted. 
 
 He has {ctn failors apparently difeafed and dif- 
 abled, wandering about in the Weft Indies, with fore 
 legs, which is common in Guineamen, emaciated ; 
 he has known them turned afhore by the captains, 
 and lie upon the beach and the wharfs, where many 
 have died, as he has feen. They are called whar- 
 fingers ; none chufe to employ them for their wretch- 
 ed appearance, and thus they are left deftitute of 
 fupport. He was himfelf thus left on fhore, with- 
 out money or friends, at Charlefton, South Carolina, 
 with two others, who died. That thefe failors came 
 from the flave fliips he knows, from having inquir- 
 ed i but without inquiry, they are eafy to know, from 
 the abje<5t ftate of their appearance. 
 P, 31. He has repeatedly known Guinea failors jump 
 overboard, and even from Ihips he belonged to, on 
 the Guinea coaft, where Iharks abounded. Some 
 have fucceeded in getting away, but on the offer of 
 a large reward, which was afterwards charged againfl 
 their wages, have been brought back by the natives, 
 and immediately puhifhed inhumanly with irons, 
 collar and chain, and locked as before to the boat, 
 to row on the duties of the (hip during the captain's 
 pleafure, with a very fcanty allowance s he has never 
 
 known 
 
Africa, Towne, 17 
 
 known Tailors jump overboard from any other than i 79?. 
 Guinea Ihips. v-x^^-^o 
 
 From the ill treatment he has feen, and the lofs 
 of fuch numbers on board, both thefliips he belong- 
 ed to, and was acquainted with, it is not his opinion 
 that the African trade is a nurlery for Teamen. • He 
 knows that the treatment of lailors in the Weft India 
 trade, is not fimilar to that in the African ; they are 
 not fo hard worked ; they live and lie well, and are 
 always taken great care of by the captains. 
 
 He afTigns as a reafon, for (laving and burning the P. 32, 
 feamens chells, that it was done to clear the fhips 
 for flaves ; their contents, which were wearing ap- 
 parel, if no bag was found to put them in, were of- 
 ten thrown overboard. The feamen's bedding, as 
 well as their chelts, was thrown upon the deck, and 
 none fuffered to lie below but the captain and the 
 mate; if caught below to lleep, they were feverely 
 puniihcd. This was the cafe of the fhips he failed 
 in, both during the outward and Middle Paffage. 
 
 The reafon of his being left on fhore at Charlefton 
 was, the fear of returning to captain Evans, after 
 having been refufed to be taken on board by a king's 
 fliip, to which he, and the two others, had applied 
 for in vain; redrefs of grievances againft captain 
 Evans. 
 
 Being afl<ed whether he meant to aflert, that what 
 he has laid concerning Weft India punilhments, 
 was the general practice, or only, that he has himfelf 
 feen the circumftances he has related, he anfwers. 
 That he only meant to fpeak to fuch things as he 
 was an cye-witnefs to, a number of times. 
 
 Wicnefs examined — Mr. Claxtov. 
 
 Mr. Claxton failed in the Garland, Capt. Eorbes, 
 
 for Africa in 178S, as furgeon's mate, and there ori 
 
 Numb. 4, C the 
 
i8 Africa. Claxton. 
 
 the Bonnv Coaft commenced furoreon to the Youns 
 'Hero brig, Capt. Molyneux. 
 
 They had 250 Oaves, of whom 132 died, chiefly 
 of the flux ; fo crowded that they could only lie on 
 their fides, if they did otherwife, it created quarrels 
 among them : they flowed fo clofe, that he could not 
 go among them with his Ihoes without danger of 
 hurting them. This crowded flate aggravated their 
 fuff'erings when ill, and tended to increafe the dif- 
 order. It was impofllble to treat them with the ne- 
 ceflary accommodations. The fteerage and boys 
 room infufficient to receive the fick, fo greatly did 
 the diforder prevail, they were therefore obliged to 
 place together thofe that were and thofe that were 
 not difeafed, and in confequence the difeafe and 
 mortality fpread more and more. The captain 
 treated them with more tendernefs than he has heard 
 was ufual, but the men were not humane. Some of 
 the moft difeafed were obliged to be kept on deck, 
 with a fail fpread for them to lie on : this, in a little 
 time, became nearly covered with blood and mucus, 
 !*• 34« which involuntarily iflTued from them, and therefore 
 the failors, who had the difagreeable tafk of cleaning 
 the fail, grew angry with the flaves, and ufed to beat 
 them inhumanly with their hands, or with a cat. The 
 flaves in confequence grew fearful of committing this 
 involuntary aftion, and when they perceived they 
 had done it, would immediately creep to ihe tubs, 
 and there (it {training with fuch violence as to pro- 
 duce a prolapfus ani, which could not be cured. The 
 fame punifhments were inflifted for the fame caufe on 
 thofe who were not quite fo ill. 
 
 Slaves, whofe flux was accompanied with fcurvy, 
 and fuch cedematous fwellings of the legs as made 
 it pain to move at all, were made to dance, as they 
 call it, and whipped with a cat if they were re- 
 lu6lant. 
 
 The flaves both when ill and well, were frequently 
 forced to cat againfl their inclinations. Were whip- 
 ped 
 
Africa. C l a x t o n, 19 
 
 ped with a cat if they refufed. They ufed other 1791. 
 means dill worfe, and too naufeous to mention. w-nr^rf 
 
 The parts on which their (hackles are fallened are 
 often excoriated by the violent exercife they are 
 forced to take, and of this they made many grievous 
 complaints to him. 
 
 That flaves, when firfl: brought on board, are com- 
 monly dejedled, he fliews by an inftance of nine 
 purchafed on his paflage from Bonny to the Ifle of 
 Bimbe, who were all very much deje(51:ed : one girl 
 in paricular, clung to the neck of her feller, and 
 though only ten or twelve years old, could not be 
 comforted. She continued three or four days in 
 that fituation. The whole cargo appeared more or 
 lefs afflided on leaving their country. 
 
 Some had fuch an averfion to leaving their native P. 35, 
 places, that they threw themfelves overboard, on an 
 idea, that they fhould get back to their own country. 
 The captain, in order to obviate this idea, cut off 
 the heads of thofe who died, intimating to them, 
 that if determined to go, they muft return withouc 
 their heads. The Oaves were accordingly brought 
 up to witnefs the operation, one man excepted, who 
 was at length, againll his will, forced up, feeing, 
 when on deck, the carpenter (landing with his hatchec 
 up ready to ftrike off the head,with a violent exertion, 
 he got loofe, and flying to the place where the nettings 
 had been unloofed, in order to empty the tubs, ne 
 darted himfelf overboard. The (hip brought to, 
 and a man was placed on the main chain to catch 
 him, which he perceiving, dived under water, 
 and rifing again at a diftance from the ihip, made 
 figns, which words cannot defcribe, expreffive of 
 his happinefs in efcaping. He then went down, 
 and was feen no more. A ftridl watch over them 
 "was how kept, yet (till they found means to elude 
 all precaution. One of the tubs being fet near where 
 the nettings were lafhed to the bulk-head, fome of 
 the (laves who had premeditated an efcape, under p, ^S, 
 pretence of eafing themfelves, contrived, while fitting 
 
 C 2 oa . 
 
20 Africa. C l a x t o n; 
 
 1791. on the tubs, to unloofe the lalhing, fo that two 
 *^"v*»^ actually threw themfelves overboard, and were loft. 
 A third was caught when three parts over. 
 
 Once imagined an infurreftion was intended. — 
 (See particulars.) 
 
 They fing, but not for their aiTiufeiTieat. The capt. 
 ordered them to fing, and they fang fongs of forrow. 
 Their fickncfs, fear of being beaten, their hunger, 
 and the memory of their country, &c. are the ufual 
 fubjeclsj he could even mention their words. — They 
 generally fpeak the fam.r language, but there was 
 one man who fpoke a language unknown to all the 
 reft, A'hich made his condition very lamentable. He 
 never took exercife but when compelled. His fitua- 
 tion (he believes) produced a ftace of infanity, and 
 he died mad. 
 P. oy. The Haves had not a fufficient quantity of food, 
 owing to [he extraordinary length of the pafTage, 
 which was fifceen weeks. At firft they did not like 
 their food, and would not cat, but when ufed to it, 
 they would have eaten near twice as much as allowed 
 them. 
 
 ■ A confiderable number of Oaves died in the early 
 part of the voyage. After eight weeks at fea, they 
 had only got three days fail from the place they had 
 fet out from. On examination, they did not find 
 five weeks provifion on board. Two nations being 
 at war, they could not procure food from either. 
 A Dutch Ihip fupplied them with a little bread, and 
 fufBcient water. The food, notwithftanding the 
 mortality, was fo little, that if ten days more at fea, 
 they Ihould, as the captain and others laid, have 
 made the flaves walk the plank, that is, throw them- 
 felves overboard, or have eaten thofe flaves that died. 
 Fell in with the Hero, Wilfon, which had loft, he 
 thinks, 360 flaves by death, he is certain more- than 
 half of her cargo: learnt this fiom the furgeon. 
 They had died moftly of the fmall-pox. Surgeon 
 alfo told him, that when removed from one place to 
 another, they left markb of their fkin and blood 
 
 upon 
 
Africa; Claxton. 21 
 
 upon the deck, and that it was the moft horrid fight 1791. 
 he had ever feen. »^/"V"v> 
 
 They had on board about fifty b ivs and girls, butP. 38, 
 without parents or other relations j there was one 
 inftance of two fillers. 
 
 At Rumbie the natives apprehenfive that they vvere 
 soins to war with them. Did not come otF the 
 coaft for fome time. Two canoes at length ventured, 
 and inquired if they were come to war or trade: 
 being told to trade, with apparent caution they at- 
 tempted to come on board, and afked the captain if 
 he had not two tongues. Captain allured them he 
 would not hurt them, on which one of them ven- 
 tured on board, declaring if the captain killed him, 
 thofe in the canoes would kill the fhip's crew. The 
 reft followed, and convinced that traue was the (hip's 
 objeft, defired that two might llay to examine the 
 goods ; at the fame time requiring two hoftages, 
 which was complied with. He knew another inllance 
 of the fame kind. 
 
 Whilft lying off the Batteau iflands he heard ofP. 39. 
 fome Europeans being cut off a little before by the 
 natives, and this from a perfon clofe by at the time, 
 fo as to convince him of its trutii. The terror of 
 the natives on feeing the vffiVl, left they fhould de- 
 ftroy the irtand, afforded a proof of the fact. They 
 were in arms all night, which obliged the crew alfo 
 to arm. 
 
 The natives have a particular pleafure in bartering 
 what thev have for pAiropean goods of any kind. 
 
 Tiie fluves were fold in the Weft Indies in an in- 
 fe6bious ftate, and fome that he believes were going 
 to die, and accordingly out of 14 of this defcription 
 only 4 lived. He apprized the feller's agent of their 
 danger, and his anfwer was, it would be beft to dif- 
 pofe of them immediately ; but fuch as afforded 
 hopes of recovery, he defired to have purchafed for 
 himfelf, which was done. 
 
 Witnefs 
 
[ 22 ] 
 
 Witnefs examined — Lieutenant Simpson, 
 
 Mr. John Simpfon, lieutenant of marines, went 
 out in his Majefty's Ihip the Adventure, and was on 
 the coaft chiefly from Settra Crue to Accra, in 1788 
 and 1789. From what he faw, he believes the flave 
 trade is the occafion of wars among the natives. 
 From thofe of the windward coaft he underftood 
 that the villages were ahvays at war, and the black 
 traders and others gave as a reafon for it, that the 
 kings wanted flaves. If a trading canoe along-fide 
 the (hip faw a larger canoe coming from a village 
 they were at war with, they inftantly fled, fometimes 
 without receiving the value of their goods. On 
 inquiry, he learned their reafon to be, that if taken 
 they would have be^n made flaves. 
 
 At C. Coaft Caftle, and other parts of the Gold 
 Coaft, he heard repeatedly from the black traders 
 the flave-trade made wars and palavers. Mr. Quakoo, 
 chaplain at C. Coaft Caftle, informed him, that wars 
 were made in the interior parts for that fole purpofe. 
 
 There are two crimes which feemed made on pur- 
 pofe to procure flaves, adultery and the removal of 
 fetiches. As to adultery, he was warned againft 
 connedting himfelf with any woman not pointed out 
 to him, for that the kings kept feveral who were 
 fent out to allure the unwary, and that if found to 
 be connected with thefe, he would be feized, and 
 P. 41. made to pay the price of a man-flave. As to fetiches, 
 confifting of pieces of wood, old pitchers, kettles, 
 &c. laid in the path- ways, he was warned to avoid 
 difplacing them, for if he (hould, the natives, who 
 were on the watch, would feize him, and as before, 
 exadl the price of a man-flave. Thefe baits are laid 
 equally for natives as Europeans, but the former are 
 better acquainted with the law, and confequently 
 more circumfped. 
 
 That 
 
Africa. — W.Indies; Simpson. f2j 
 
 That the Europeans fometimes fraudulently carry i79^- 
 off the natives on that part of the Windward Coaii ^--'v*** 
 where there is no Englifh fadlory, he believes. The 
 repeated inquiries and difinclinacion of the natives 
 to come on board the Ihip, till convinced fhe was 
 not a flavc-fliip but a man of war, confirmed his 
 opinion. When they were fatisfied, they came on 
 board readily, and in numbers. 
 
 The natives fometimes retaliate on the Europeans 
 for fuch injuries. From Albion flave fliip, at Scttra 
 Crue, learnt, that two chiefs being at variance, one 
 of them feizing five of the other's party, had fold 
 them to the Albion, for which that party ieized three 
 of the Albion's feamen, and would not releafe them 
 without the flaves were returned. 
 
 Believes if the fiave-trade were abolifhed, theP. 42. 
 indolence of the natives is not fuch as to prevent a 
 commerce with them in their native produce-, for to 
 his repeated inquiries what they would do were it 
 abolilhed, the black traders anfwered, they did not 
 care, they fliould foon find Ibmc other trade to 
 live by. 
 
 Convinced the treatment of feamen on board 
 Guinea fliips is very bad. When at Fort Apollonia, 
 the Adventurer's boat was hailed by fome feamen of 
 the Fly Guineaman, begging to be taken in the man 
 of war, for their treatment made their lives miferable. 
 The boat was accordingly fent to the Fly by captain 
 Parry, and one or two men brought on board. The 
 Albion at another time, unable to avoid the Adven- 
 ture, (which fhe tried to do) fpoke to her, and the 
 captain brought a feaman on board, whom he wiflied 
 to leave, complaining he was riotous and diforderly. 
 The man, ui every inllance, proved the reverfe, and 
 froni hrnn he leirned that he had been half ftarved and 
 cruelly beaten, both by captain and furgeon, who 
 negledtrd the feamen, faying he was only paid for 
 attending the flaves. Alio learned their allowance 
 V'as incrcafcd, and their treatment better, when in 
 fight of a man of vvarj which was confirmed to him 
 
 by 
 
24 
 
 A F R I c A. — W. Indies. Simpson* 
 
 1791. by another man from a flave fhip, who had been left 
 <--Nr^ behind with a Ihockingly ulcerated leg, and recited 
 various inftances of ill treatment he' had received. 
 The Adventure's boat having been fent to Anamaboo 
 P* 43* to the Spy Giiineaman, returned with three men con- 
 cealed under her fail, who fled from the Have fhip, 
 where they complained their treatment had made 
 their lives miferable, beaten and half ftarved. Be- 
 fides thefe there were other inftances not remem- 
 bered. 
 
 He never heard any complaints from Weft India- 
 men, or other merchant fliips : on the contrary, they 
 wifhed to avoid a man of war; whereas if the Adven- 
 ture had taken all who complained and offered them- 
 felves from the Guineamen, it mud have greatly 
 diftreffed the trade. 
 
 Has been in Barbadoes and Jamaica. When firft 
 at Bridgetown, his impreflion as to the treatment of 
 flaves by their general appearance was trivial, they 
 were natives, houlhold fervants, arid their labour 
 very light j but was imprelTed with the utmoft horror 
 on feeing the field flaves, fome working in irons, 
 under the lafh of an inhuman negro driver, and their 
 backs in general lacerated by his blov/s. He never faw 
 a gang without one or two of thefe tormentors, fnap- 
 ping their whips, and threatening to make themi 
 feel them. 
 
 When at Cape Coaft he faw flaves brought from 
 the interior country, who were bought, he believes, 
 by the then Governor, Mr. Norris. He examined 
 them, and they appeared much concerned at coming 
 F»44' into the hands of Europeans. Dcje6lion and defpair 
 were ftrongly painted on their countenances. When 
 at Bridgetown, he faw in the poor-houfe 18 or 20 
 feamen, from different flave fliips. They related va- 
 rious inflances of the barbarities of their late com- 
 manders, who had left them behind without any 
 means of getting home. They feemed very much 
 emaciated, and fome of them ulcerated and in a 
 condition in which they faid neither Well Indiamen 
 
 nor 
 
W. I N D I E s. Harrison; ' 25 
 
 nor men of war would receive them. They had not 1791. 
 only been beaten but nearly ftarved. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Doctor Harrison, M. D. 
 
 He was above 10 years in Jamaica, from 1755 ^^ 
 1765, and in America from 1765 to 1778 : in the^* 44« 
 medical line in both. 
 
 He had every pofiible opportunity of knowing the 
 fituation of the flaves, feeing them in ficknefs, in 
 health, and often puniflied. Has been on feveral 
 fugar works in different parts of Jamaica, at all 
 feafons, for two or three weeks, fometimes only a P. 4^, 
 few days. 
 
 The field flaves have land enough for their fupport, 
 had they time to cultivate it. They had no other 
 food allowed on the eftates he was on, except fait 
 provifions at Chriftmas. New negroes were allowed 
 a year's provifions, that is, till they had cultivated 
 their land. They had only holidays and Sundays to 
 work it, which was not fufficient, for they mull work 
 their grounds after dark. Saturday afternoon was 
 not allowed them on any eftate he knew. They 
 looked much better than one could expe6t confider- 
 j ing their fevere treatment, but, in general very in- 
 [ different. Believes on all cfhatcs flaves often plunder 
 other's provifion grounds for fupport. In the firft 
 inllance he knew of this, a flave was cut nearly all 
 to pieces for it; but after he knew the eftates better, P. 4(j» 
 he heard and knew it to be frequent. 
 
 Not the leart attention is paid to the religious 
 inltrudion of the flaves. 
 
 They were very badly lodged, and had no clothes 
 but what they get by their own extra labour, except 
 I at Chriftmas, 2 frocks and 2 pair Ofnaburgh trowfers 
 for the men, and 2 coats and 2 fhifts for the women, 
 [ and fome had 2 handkerchiefs for the head. In 
 i general, their mafters give them no bedding at all. 
 I Numb. 4. D Some 
 
i6 W. Indies. HarrisokJ 
 
 1 7 91. Some new negroes have a few blankets, but noC 
 **^>^"*^ generally. 
 
 They were not married, nor encouraged to bring 
 up families ♦, the univerfal opinion being, that it was 
 better and cheaper to buy than to breed. Humane 
 overfeers allowedr tromplaining pregnant womt-n to 
 retire from work; but he has feen them labouring 
 in the field, when they feemed to have but a few 
 •weeks to go. They were generally worked as long 
 as they were able. 
 p Does not think proper attention war. paid to the 
 
 • ^f' children. Thinks the labour he faw pregnant women 
 doing, muft, at fome times, have injured them. 
 
 Old flaves, pad labour, if they had no friends to 
 give them neceffaries, muft have wanted every thing. 
 Has feen a number of thofe objects on different 
 cftates. 
 
 They ufally work from fun-rife to fun-fet; fome- 
 times 13 or 14 hours, including 2 hours for dinner. 
 In crop they work night and. day, without ceffation. 
 
 Grafs-picking, when he faw it, was always extra 
 •work, and, on fome eftates, was a cruel hardiliip. 
 
 He has always feen the driver with a whip in his 
 hand, and fometimes exercifing it feverely. 
 
 The plantation puniihments are fevere whippings, 
 chaining them by the neck and leg, putting heavy 
 iron boots on their legs, and iron pothooks on their 
 necks, and putting them in the flocks. He has 
 often feen thefe punifhments inflidled with what he 
 * • 4o« thought capricious or feverity. On an eftate, at 
 Liguanea, he faw the overfeer whip feveral old, 
 decrepid women very feverely, only for not picking 
 cotton enough. Has often fccn negroes in chains, 
 half famifhed, and fcarcely able to walk, compelled 
 to go into the field. 
 
 At Kingfton the negroes were flogged in the gaol, 
 round the town, and on the wharfs. He thought 
 the whippings in gaol-, and round the town, too 
 fevere to be inflifted on any of the human fpecies. 
 He attended a man, who had been flogged in gaol, 
 
 five 
 
W. Indies, Harrison. 47 
 
 five or fix weeks before he was well. It was by his 1791. 
 mafter'b order, for not coming when he was called. ^-nr*rf 
 He could lay two or three fingers in the wounds 
 from the whip. Knows of many fimilar inllances. 
 The gaol and wharf whippings were by order of 
 the mafters or miftrefies, fometimes by the magif- 
 trati-, but generally the magiftrate orders whipping 
 round the town. The punifliments of foldiers (which 
 he has very often witnelfed) were generally mild, 
 compared to the whipping of flaves in gaol or round 
 the town. 
 
 Never knew flaves had any legal protection. The 
 only protedlion they had, was from their mafters 
 againli any indifferent perfon. Formed this opinion 
 from a mulciiude of unrcdrefTed violences. Among 
 others, a negro was flogg d to deaih, by order of her 
 miftrefs, who ftood by to fee the punifhment. The 
 negro died a few days after. — A negro man was put 
 01 the picket fu long as to caule a mortificauon of 
 his foot and hand, on fufpicion of robbing his mafter, 
 a publick officer, of a fum of money, which it after- 
 terwards appeared, the mafter had taken himlclf. 
 Yet ihe mailer was privy to the puniflimenr, and the 
 flave had no compenfation. He was punilhed by 
 order of the mafter, who d d not then chufe to make 
 it known that he himfeif had made uieof the money. 
 Neither the miftrefs nor mafter were profecuted for P. 49, 
 thele a6ls. 
 
 A gentleman offended at a negro, named Monday, 
 for mimicking him, bought him. After buying 
 him, he ordered him to be flogged •, the confequence 
 was, that Monday cut his own throat. 
 
 He thinks the abilities of the negroes equal to our P. 50. 
 own, and their dilpofltions much the fame. The 
 free negroes are as induilrious as the whites, and he 
 thinks flavery caufes the unwillingnefs of the others. 
 In general, flaves are not fo good mechanicks as 
 whites, which he attributes to the fame caufe. Many 
 iree negroes are very good mechanicks. 
 
 D 2 ll& 
 
ii W. Indies. Harrisow, 
 
 17 91. He has often heard flaves lament their unfortu- 
 *^^)n-* nate fituation. A negro man once afked him, whe- 
 ther the old gentlemen of the country had not much 
 to anfwer for, for not teaching them Chriftianity, 
 and for treating them fo cruelly as they did, not 
 allowing them to obtain their own freedom when 
 they merited it. 
 
 A negro boy of his, detefted flavery fo much, that 
 he retuled all fupport, which brought on a dropfy 
 that killed him. Another negro^ who had been a 
 great man in his own country, refufed to work fon 
 any white man, and being therefore punifhed by 
 the overfeer, defired him to tell his mafter, that he 
 would be a Have to no man His mafter ordered 
 him to be removed to another eftate. His hands 
 were tied behind him, and in going over a bridge he 
 jumped into the w.iter, and appeared no more. Thefe 
 arc two fafts of Dr. Harrilbn's own knowledge, put 
 of a great many which he ca not now recoUeft. 
 P, 51. A Have of his told him fhe had been kidnapped, 
 by being put in a bag. A man who was kidnapped 
 told him he was a great many months in travelling 
 to the fea, that there was a trafhck for flaves to fell 
 to the whites, even beyond his country, and that 
 kidnapping was common there. 
 
 Sales of the flaves of diftreffed proprietors were 
 frequent over all the ifland, when families were of- 
 ten feparated. He bought a negro woman and child 
 out of compaffion, that fhe might not be taken from 
 her hufband. When negroes are feized for debt, 
 the marfhal takes them as he can find them, which 
 generally leaves a part of the family on the eftate : 
 though when he chances to feize a whole family, 
 he has knov;n them put all up in one lot j but gene- 
 rally part only of a family was fo feized. 
 
 He has heard feveral overfeers fay, the plough 
 
 would five a great deal of negro-labour, and lament 
 
 it was not uicd. 
 
 P. 52. General op mi on, favoured thofe overfeers who made 
 
 jnoft fugar, with little or no refpc(ft to lenity ; but he 
 
 knew 
 
W. Indies. Harrison. 29 
 
 knew one overfeer, remarkable for humanity, who 1791. 
 made more fugar with fewer hands than others did v-nr^ 
 with more. In his opinion, were flaves more en- 
 couraged and more humanely treated, they would do 
 much more work. 
 
 Slaves were certainly worfe treated when their 
 mafters were embarrafled ; for their dillreifes ob- 
 liged them to work their flaves beyond their ftrength, 
 to make fugars to pay their debts. 
 
 The planter's refidence was of the greatefl: ad- 
 vantage to his flaves. They were always the bet- 
 ter uled for it in every reipedl. It was the ge- 
 neral opinion, that the conduft of attornies was often 
 inconfillent with the interefl: of non-refidents, and 
 in many cafes very injurious to them. 
 
 It is well known there, that negro women have 
 no fecurity againll violation, unlels their mailers 
 choofe to protecft them. 
 
 He never thought free negroes fufficiently pro- 
 tefled againft injuries from whites ; becaufe their 
 oaths were not allowed, except in cafes of debt. 
 
 In theoutfls-irts of Kingfl:on, he has always feen fe-P, 53, 
 veral emaciated and dileafed failors, who were left on 
 fhore by mafters of Guineamen. 
 
 The Jamaica flaves were generally treated very ill, 
 and only individuals treated them well. In South 
 Carolina, the flaves were in general treated very well, 
 and only individuals treated them ill. In S. Caro- 
 lina, they were well fed, well clothed, lefs worked, 
 and never feverely whipped. In Jamaica they were 
 badly fed, indifl^erentiy clothed, hard worked, and 
 feverely whipped. In S. Carolina, the negroes la- 
 boured by talk-work, which was often finilhed by 
 three or four P. M. which enabled them to work 
 their grounds, and to hunt and tifti for themfclves. 
 He never law a driver with a whip, for generally 
 there was no occafion for it, as they worked by talk. 
 
 In Doctor Harrifon's opinion, as a medical man, 
 the climate of Jamaica is more favourable to the in- 
 creafe of flaves tha^^ that of Carolina, notwichltand- 
 
 injT 
 
 o 
 
JO W. Indies. H a r r i s o pt.^ 
 
 1791. ing which difadvantage, Carolina increafed in flaves, 
 while thofe in Jamaica decreafed. Sufficient atten- 
 tion was not paid to the rearing of negro children 
 even in Carolina, becaiife they were of opinion it was 
 cheaper to buy new negroes than to rear children. 
 
 Witnefs Examined, Doflor Jackson, Phyficlan, 
 
 Stockton-upon-Tees. 
 
 F, 54, Went to Jamaica in 1774, refided there four years, 
 chiefly at Savannah-la-Mar, where he praftifed me- 
 dicine J his profelilon led him daily, eight, ten, or 
 more miles into the country -, has occafionally been, 
 for a fhort time, at moil: parts of the ifland. 
 
 On his arrival found the condition of negroes hard, 
 and their treatment cruel. 
 
 Firft thing that (hocked him was, a Creole lady (of 
 fome confequence) fuperintending the punifhment of 
 her flaves, male and female; ordering the number of 
 lafhes, and with her own hands flogging the negro 
 driver, if he did not punifli properly. 
 
 Though this the only inflance he faw, believes it 
 not uncommon for women of rank thus to fuper- 
 inrend punirtiments of their flaves (p. 55) : they 
 were not worfe received in focitty for it j it might be 
 faid, " fuch a one is a termagant," but flbe was not 
 for that lefs rcfpefted ; it was indeed thought ne- 
 ceflary for an indultrious wife to be rigid in the pu- 
 nifliment of her flaves. 
 
 The punifliment feemed to him very fevere, blood 
 flowed at every fl:rokc, and if the allotted quantum 
 could not, without danger to life, be given at once, 
 the negro v/as put inio the fliocks for fome days, and 
 when a little recruited, received the reil of his 
 flogging. 
 
 As to mode of punifliing, in fome cafes theofi^ender 
 was tied and flood upright j in others more fevere, 
 was ftretched between four fl:akes, fo tight that he 
 
 could 
 
W. Indies, Jackson. '^i 
 
 Could not fhrink or move -, the whip, like what our 17 91. 
 waggoners life, was thrown at the diftance of three ^-^v** 
 or four paces, which of courfe greatly increafed the 
 weight of the 1 allies : for women too far advanced in 
 pregnancy to be ftretched flat on the ground, a hole 
 was dug in the earth to receive their bellies ; this 
 laft he never faw, but is as certain of it, as one can 
 be, of a f<3(5l he has not feen. 
 
 Thinks fevere whippings fometimes occafion flave's 
 death : recolledts a negro dying under the lafli, or 
 very foon after •, it was generally faid the negro was 
 killed by it; no attempt to bring the perfon to^* 5"» 
 juftice : people faid it was an unfortunate thing; 
 were furprized the man was not more cautious, as it 
 was not the firft thing of the kind that had happened 
 to him ; but chiefly dwelt upon the proprietor's lofs. 
 
 Has feen flaves with a leg cut off, for running 
 away, he was told : law there allows owners to do 
 fo. Has heard of negroes caftrated for trefpafs on 
 overfeer's black miftrefs, of which ad no account 
 was taken. 
 
 Never knew a negro complain to a magiftrate of 
 his maft:er : it was underfl:ood he could not have 
 legal redrefs, or if fo, negroes were ignorant of it. 
 
 In general, no attention paid to the religious in- 
 ftru(5tion of flaves. In the diltricl where he lived, 
 the church was never opened but for a company of 
 Ibldiers quartered there; nor to introduce marriage 
 among them. Negro men cohabited where they 
 pleafed. White men had unreHrained intercourfeP. 57. 
 with plantation females. 
 
 Negrot-s were generally efteemed a fpecies ofin- 
 feriour beings, whom the right of purchafe gave 
 the owner a power of uflng at his will. 
 
 After much knowledge of them, he could not per- 
 ceive them at all inferiour to unlettered white men 
 in capacity. As to dilpofition, they poflefs manv 
 amiable qualities. They are charitable to all in dif- 
 trefs; parents ftrongly attached to their children-, 
 and many have given ftrongcft proofs of gratitude 
 
 and 
 
■ga W. Indies, Jack so il, 
 
 1791. and attachment to their maflers. To mention on<* 
 *-'v-^ inftance of this; during the American war, in the 
 action at the Cow Pan, a negro who was attached to 
 him, had efcaped with the fugitives of the army to 
 a diftance of two or three miles •, when, hearing from 
 fome foldiers that his mafter had been feen unhorfed, 
 he returned to the field to fearch for him, and fell 
 into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 They often complain they are an opprelTed people; 
 that they fufFer in this world, but exped: happinefs in 
 the next, whilft they denounce the vengeance of 
 God on the white men their oppreflbrs : if you fpeak 
 to them of future punifhments they fay, " Why 
 *' (hould a poor negro be punilhed : he does no 
 '* wrong ; fiery cauldrons, and fuch things, are re- 
 " ferved for white people, as punifhments for the op- 
 *' prefTion of flaves." 
 P. c8. Were flaves well ufed he cannot conceive why they 
 fhould not keep up their numbers : they are naturally 
 prolifick, and the iQands are in general congenial to 
 their conftitutions. 
 
 The buying fyftem was generally preferred. Sup- 
 pofes, they are frequently loft, from mothers being 
 forced to work while nurfes, as at other times, and fo 
 becoming indifferent to rearing their children j not 
 that they want parental affedion, but hard ufage, 
 and the idea of rearing children fubjedt to cruel treat- 
 ment, leads them to wiih their offspring rnay fail. 
 Has heard them wifh them dead, or that they had 
 never been born, rather than be forced to fee them 
 daily punifhed : hence alfo they are fuppofed to pro- 
 cure abortion, to which motive may be added, a fear 
 in fuch as are handfome, to diminiih their charms in 
 the eyes of white men. 
 
 Slaves whofe owners are in embarralTed circum- 
 ftances are ill clothed, hard worked, and poorly fed. 
 P. rg. In general, he confiders the hard fhip of negro field 
 labour to be more in the mode, than in the quantity 
 done. A whice man in England would, doubtlefs, 
 though not fupenour in llrcngth, do with eafe the 
 
 work 
 
W. Indies. Jackson. 33 
 
 work of three negroes in the Weft Indies; becaufe 1791. 
 the flave feeing no end to his labour, ftands over the »— v^** 
 work, and only throws the Iioe to avoid the lafh, he^- 59* 
 appears to work without acflually working. 
 
 A planter's intereft well underftood, would doubt- 
 lefs prevent his wearing out his flaves by excefTive 
 labour ; but, there are few in circumftances to at- 
 tend to this : they look to the immediate returns of 
 the feafon only ; the other is a view too ditlant for 
 the moft of them. 
 
 The flaves of refident owners are generally better 
 fatisfied than thofe of abfentces. 
 
 The criterion of a manager's merit feemed to be the 
 increafing the number of hhds of fugar-, keeping up 
 the ftock of flaves by breeding, was not the thing 
 principally looked to. 
 
 Managers have almoft always flaves of their own. 
 
 Field flaves have land given them, fufficient if in P. 60. 
 good culture, for their fubflllence, and lomcthing 
 over to carry to market. Many are allowed to keep 
 a breeding; low, or ibme poultry j in general they 
 have no other property. 
 
 As a medical man, is of opinion that white arti- 
 ficers may, and aftually do, work at their trade in 
 the Well Indies; that Europeans are, with proper 
 caution, equal to the ordinary field labour, without 
 any material injury to health; he knows from per- 
 fonal experience, they may fafely walk 20, 30, or 
 more miles a day. 
 
 The mortality among the troops may be afcribed 
 more to want of difcipline, encampments on un- 
 healthy fpots, immoderate ufe of fpirituous liquors, 
 and perhaps defedfs in the medical department, than 
 to climate. 
 
 Dd not perceive any great defeft in the medical 
 treatment of flaves, every eftate being provided with 
 a medical perfon who vifits the negro h)lpital at p. 61. 
 dated times in the week, and in extraordinary cafes 
 gives im nediate attendance when called. 
 
 Numb. 4. E The 
 
^4 ^V. Indies. Jackson. 
 
 1791. The manager vifiting the Tick along with the fur- 
 '-'v*^ geon, from his firft entering as a book-keeper, be- 
 comes equal to the treatment of flight complaints : in 
 general there is a flave on each eftate who can let 
 "blood, and do other common things. 
 
 Superanuated flaves who have no relations, are, 
 he believes, often placed at the corner of a corn field, 
 and have a few plantanes weekly to keep them from 
 dying with hunger; fuch of them as he has feen, 
 were, dirty and emaciated to the laft degree. 
 
 What flaves have occafion to carry, they bear on 
 their heads, and can carry great weight in this way. 
 Runaways are brought back by the Maroon?. 
 P. 62. Has been in America: joined his regiment (71ft) 
 in 1778, at York Ifland, accompanied it to Savannah ; 
 traverfed all the fouthern provinces with the army to 
 York-Town, Virginia •, on its furrender, paflTcd 
 through Maryland, Pennfylvania, and Jerfey, to 
 Kew-York. The negroes of America appeared to 
 great advantage compared with thofe of Jamaica ; 
 their ideas were more expanded, and their bodily 
 exertions greater. 
 
 Thrice more domefticks are kept in Jamaica than 
 would be in England for the fame work. 
 
 Witnefs Examined, — Capt. Robert Ross." 
 
 P. 63. Captain Robert Rofs was from 1762 to 1786 in 
 Jamaica. For three yoars and a half he was book- 
 keeper then on Mr. Dawkm's eftate ; he was in fuc- 
 cefllon overfeer on Mr. Morant's, Lord Dudley's, 
 Dr. Rols's, and Mr. M^Lellan's ; he then com- 
 manded a company of rangers for fix years ; fettled 
 a property of his own in ijys * refided on it from 
 178 I to 1786, when he came home. 
 
 Firft im^ refllon on feeing the treatment of flaves 
 
 was, that they were crueily treated, and that they 
 
 - ■ might 
 
W. Indies. Ross; 35 
 
 might do their mailers work with lefs feverity, and 1791. 
 without the whip. v-^v*** 
 
 Has Teen a negro woman flogged with ebony 
 bufhes, (o that the Ikin of her back was taken off 
 down to her heels •, (he was then turned round and 
 flogged from her breafl: down to her waift, and in 
 confequence he favv her afterwards walking upon all- 
 four, and unable to get up. He alfo faw a negro man 
 tied up by the wriflis, naked, picketted and flogged 
 with two whips J driver flopped for fome minutes 
 and then began again. The punifliment might la(t 
 an hour and a half, and was not by order of a ma- 
 gifl:rate, but privately by the overfeer. At Kingfl:on 
 faw a negro flogged by his mafl;er with a two inch 
 rope, from his neck to the waifl:band, fo that his 
 back and body rofe in lumps as big as a man's fin- 
 ger. He has feen feveral fo feverely flogged as to 
 be difabled from working for days, and even weeks 
 after. 
 
 Was acquainted with a mafl:er who cut ofl^ the P. 64. 
 ears of a flave running away, and acknowledged the 
 fadl; to him. Saw the flave both before and after ; 
 and feveral others he has alfo feen with one ear cut 
 off. He has' known often feverity of punifliment, 
 with bad care afterwards, occafion the death of ne- 
 groes. 
 
 Law limits number of laflies to be given in private 
 punifliment to 39, but has known negroes receive 
 200 at a time by order of overfeers, where the law 
 would only give 39. Never knew an overfeer pu- 
 niflied for infliding them. 
 
 Is fure they were infli(5led by overfeers for crimes 
 which the law upon conviction would not have pu- 
 niflied with death. 
 
 It is underfl:ood if a flave applied to a magiflirate 
 he could get redrefs for exceflive punifliment, or wan- 
 ton cruelty on the part of his mafler or other white 
 perfon. In towns he has frequently known them 
 apply, but not in the country, 
 
 E 2 General 
 
36 W. Indies. Ross. 
 
 General mode of punifliing (laves in the towns is 
 by fending them to wharfs or workhoufes, where they 
 are punifhed at the will of their owners. In towns 
 where the magiftrate was nigh at hand, underftands 
 they gave redrefs to the flaves who applied as before 
 for it. 
 
 For fome years he refided near the town, but not 
 in any of them, and in that period he has known 
 many inftances of feverity. Numbers carried to the 
 wharfs at various times. 
 
 Inftances of extreme feverity already ftated were all 
 at that time pra6tifed in the country. Generality of 
 the field-negroes in every place were more or lefs 
 marked with the whip. 
 
 Has known many negroes on their firft arrival, finding 
 themfelves to be flaves, deftroy themfelvesj and fome 
 alfo on feeing their fellow- creatures pimifhed. They 
 often run away too for fear of the whip, and of be- 
 ing flogged for negled; of duty. The overfeers are 
 frequently turned out of place for overwhipping, 
 when complaint is made to the mafter or magiftrate, 
 and therefore the overfeers are now more lenient in 
 their punifliments than formerly. 
 
 Overfeers alfp are more attentive now to keeping 
 up the ftock of flaves by breeding than formerly. 
 P» 66, Except Lord Dudley's eftate, he knows of none 
 which were not obliged to buy flaves. 
 
 There has been a confiderable increafe of flaves 
 on the eftate of Meffrs. Muir and Atkinfon, and on 
 Mr. Malcolm's eftate, where the overfeers have 
 taken great care of the flaves both old and young, 
 and ftudied conftantly to promote their mafter's inte- 
 reft. Thefe the only inftances of the kind he knows. 
 
 A negro can have no redrefs for punifhment from 
 a magiftrate. What induced him to fay that a flave 
 could obtain legal redrefs was, that a negro who was 
 flogged at the wharf at Kingfton, and afterwards was 
 ' {o beaten about the head, that his eye was knocked 
 out, and lay upon his cheek, faid that he would go 
 ihewhiseye to Mr. French, who kept a negro wench, 
 
 and 
 
W. Indies. Ross. 37 
 
 and had therefore a great attachment to flaves j but 1791. 
 as to having redrefs trom Mr. French as a magiitrate, v-nr^ 
 he never iinderltood he had any. 
 
 Docs not know if the perfon who beat out the 
 flave's eye was his owner or only one hired by him. 
 A dozen white perfons were prefent at the time. 
 Does not know that the man was ever called to an P. 67. 
 account for it. 
 
 There is a law in Jamaica forbidding owners at 
 one time and for one crimf, to give more than 39 
 lafhes to a Have, and if fuffic ient evidence were pro- 
 duced he has no doubt that the trantgrelTor might be 
 called to an account by a magillrate, but the evi- 
 dence of a negro is not good againft a white man. 
 
 He has feen overfeers give al)Ove 200 laflies, and 
 afterwards floor flaves about the head and flioulders 
 
 o 
 
 with a cow fkin •, he never heard of one being called 
 to account for it before a magiflrate. 
 
 He faw Mr. John Shackle a magiflrate in Jamaica 
 flog a negro three times in one day -, at breakfaft: 
 time-, dinner time; and at flx in the evening. The 
 negro was in the flocks between the floo-o-ings. No 
 
 ... . 00 O 
 
 publick notice was taken ot it. 
 
 As to perfons commonly reputed to have mur- 
 dered negroes 
 
 * ****** 
 
 * ♦**♦** 
 
 * * • « * * At 
 
 he had hanged a negro on a poft clofe to his houfe, p gg 
 
 and in three years deitroyed 40 out of 60 by feverity. 
 
 * » * * * « ^jt 
 
 * ****«* 
 
 * ****** 
 
 He has known flaves feverely puniflicd, then put 
 into the fl:ocks, a cattle chain of 60 lb. or 70 lb. 
 weight put on them, and a large collar about their 
 necks, and a weight of 56 lb. fattened to the chain 
 when they were drove afield. They orten die in a tew 
 days of their fevere punilhments, for having but little 
 
 food. 
 
jS W. I N D I E S. Ross. 
 
 1791. food, and little care, to keep the fores clear after the 
 ^-or^** whipping, their death is often the coniequence. 
 
 Has known negroes flogged as unwilling to work, 
 who were in fad fick and unable to work, they could 
 not work for many weeks after, and the caufe was 
 often want of food. 
 
 Where there are many negroes the work muft be 
 P. 6(). lighter, but it depends on the lenity of overfeers. 
 
 Bought 59 African negroes, but was never forced 
 to buy any one he did not like, with a view of not 
 fcparating relatives. 
 
 Witnefs Examined, — Mr. Henry Coor, of Settle, 
 Yorkfhire, Gent. 
 
 P. 69. Was in Jamaica 15 years, ending 1774, as a mill- 
 wright, chiefly in Weftmoreland, but did bufmefs in 
 three other pariflies. 
 
 After he had been near 18 months there, he had 
 16 or 20 flaves under his direction. Had about 20 
 of his own, whom he made mill-wrights and car- 
 
 P. 70, penters, among Mr. Beckford's negroes. After they 
 learnt their bufinefs, he became partner with one 
 David Thomas, who fuperintended his Mr. (Coor's) 
 flaves, with a few of his own. 
 
 Had great opportunities of obferving field-ne- 
 groes' treatment : was on feveral efl:ates daily, and 
 had people confl:antly working there. Generally 
 breakfafted, and often dined with overfeers, and faw 
 all their aftions as much as any man poflibly could. 
 Overfeers fetting flaves to work, in the morning, 
 was moiily attended with loud peels of whipping. 
 Qbferved when overfeers came early to the field, 
 flaves who came afterwards were fure of whipping 
 over the clothes. Breeches for the men, and petticoats 
 for the women, generally of coarfe linen. In this 
 cafe, a few fteps before they join the gang, they 
 throw down the hoe, clap both hands on their heads, 
 
 and 
 
W. Indies. Ross. 39 
 
 and patiently take 10 to 15, or 20 ladies: but thofe 1791. 
 who could not (land without fhrinking, were lure to *— -v^^^ 
 be ftretched on the ground, or held by four of their 
 fellows, till they had received their compliment. 
 This flight whipping, as it is generally called, is car- 
 ried on, more or lefs, all day. In a gang of about loo, 
 are generally four or five black diivers, with each a 
 whip; and in moll fields, one or two white drivers who 
 have only flicks to lean on, while they (land along 
 the line, and dire6l the black drivers to touch up thofe 
 they think remifs. About eight o'clock the over- 
 feer goes to breakfafl, and if he has any criminals at 
 home, he orders a black driver to follow him ; for 
 it is then ulual to take fuch out of the flocks, and flog 
 them before the overfeer's houfe. The method se- 
 
 o 
 
 nerally is this : the delinquent is flripped and tied on 
 a ladder, his legs to the fides, and his arms above 
 his head, and, Ibmetimes a rope is tied round his 
 middle. The driver whips him on the bare fkin, and 
 if the overfeer thinks he does not lay it on hard 
 enough, he fometiraes knocks him down, with his 
 own hand, or makes him change places with the de- 
 linquent, and be feverely whipped. Has known 
 many receive on the ladder, from 100 to 150 lafhes, 
 and Ibme two cool hundreds, as they are generally 
 called. Has known many returned to confinement, 
 and, in i, 2, or three days, brought to the ladder, 
 and receive the fame complement, or thereabouts, 
 as before. Fhey feldom take them off the ladder, 
 until all the 1km, from the hams to the fmall of the 
 back, appears only raw flefh and blood, and then 
 they walh the parts with fait pickle. This appeared 
 to him, from the convulfions it occafioned, more 
 cruel than the whipping-, but was done to prevent 
 naortification. Has known many, after fuch whip- 
 ping, fcnt to the field, under a guard, and worked 
 all day, with no fi)od but what th^-ir friends might 
 give them, out of their own poor pittance. He has 
 known them returned to the flocks at night, and 
 worked next day, fuccelTively. This cruel whip- 
 
40 W. Indies. Coor. 
 
 1791. ping, hard working, and ftarving, has, to his know- 
 ^■"^^r-*^ ledge, made niany commit fuicide. Remembers 14 
 flaves, who, from bad treatment, rebelled on a Sun- 
 day, ran into the woods, and all cut their throats to- 
 gether. He could relate feveral other inftances, 
 (p. 74.) He has been often a juryman in fuch cafes, 
 and remtm.bers no other verdid given thar. " Felo 
 " de fe," and except once, never knew it oppofed, 
 and that was a flave on William's Field eftate, who 
 was whipped by order of the overfeer, and after- 
 wards beaten by him moft inhumanly with a ftaff 
 over his head. The negro told him he had broke 
 his arm, which he held up to ward off the blow ; 
 P. 72. yet he kept on beating him, till the man fprang off", 
 and next morning was found hanging to a tree. An 
 eye-witnefs derlared, in evidence, he believed the 
 negro's arm was broke, and that this cruel treatment 
 made him kill himfelf. A doftor agreed the arm 
 was much fwelled, but could not fay it was broke. 
 After a long canvas, the verdi6t was, as ufual, felf 
 murder. The Gold Coaft negroes, when driven to 
 defpair, by harfh ufage, always cut their throats ; 
 and thofe of the moft inland country, moftly hang 
 themfelves. 
 
 Once, when dining with an overfeer, an old wo- 
 man, who had run away a few days, was brought 
 home, with her hands tied behind. After dinner, 
 the overfeer, with a clerk, named Bakewell, took the 
 woman, thus tied, to the hot houfe, a place for the 
 fick, and where the ftocks are in one of the rooms. 
 Mr. Coor went to work in the mill about 100 yards 
 off", and hearing a moft diftrefsful cry from that 
 houfe, he afked his men, who, and what it was, they 
 faid they thought it was old Quafheba. About 5 
 o'clock the noife ceafed, and about the time he was 
 leaving work, Bakewell came to him, apparently in 
 great fpirits, and faid, " Well, Mr. Coor, old Qua- 
 " fheba is dead. We took her to the ftocks room ; 
 *' the overfeer threw a rope over the beam j I was 
 *' jack ketch, and hauled her up, till her feet was 
 
 " off" 
 
W. I N D I E S. C O R* 
 
 41 
 
 *' ofF the ground. The overfeer locked the door, l^-pr. 
 *' and took the key with him, until I now returned ^— v*o 
 *' with a flave into the (locks, and found her dead/'P* 73«i 
 Mr. C. faid, " You have killed her ; 1 heard her 
 *' cry all the afternoon." He anfwered, *' D — n 
 ** her for an old b — h, (he was good for nothincr, 
 *^ what fignifies killing fuch an old woman as her.'* 
 Mr. C. faid, " Bakewell, you fhock me," and left 
 him. The next morning, his men told him, they 
 had helped to bury her ; fo here it refted, till ano- 
 ther affair brought it on the carpet The poultry 
 keeper, a girl about 11 or 12 years of age, brought 
 the overfeer a young duck that had died, to clear 
 herfelf of having killed itj that not fatisfying him, 
 he beat her very feverely himfelf, and then forced 
 her to eat up the duck guts, feathers and all, threat- 
 ening her with 5 times as much beating, if fhe did 
 not. The girl thinking more would kill her, tore 
 and eat every bit of it. In the evening fhe com- 
 plained to her mother, who went, at night, and com- 
 plained to Mr. Beckford's attorney, of that and other 
 cruelties of the overfeer; and for one, the Itory of 
 old Qualheba, referring for proof of all, to Mr. 
 Coor, who was all the time on the eftate. The at- 
 torney fent for him, Mr. C. to wait on him next 
 morning, which he did, and told him old QLiafh.-ba'sP. yj, 
 ftory, as related. He was very angry at him, alking 
 him how he could fee his mailer's flaves murdered 
 fo, without telling him (the attorney) of it. He 
 faid it was not his bufinefs to tell him, but fuch 
 cruelties were fo common on the eftates, that he had 
 thought no more of it. The overfeer fuffered no le- 
 gal punifhment. The attorney appeared very angry 
 with him, at the time, but all was fettled, and he 
 went on as ufual for about half a year, when he 
 was difmifled, Mr. C. cannot exa(5lly fay for what. 
 
 He thought the treatment by the overfeers inp, ja, 
 general, very fevere. He did not think this fcve- 
 rity necelTary, for many fubftantial reafons he could 
 Numb. 4, F give. 
 
4i W. I N D I E s. C o o r; 
 
 1791. g'v^* ^^ proved it himfelf from ocular demon-' 
 
 *— v*^ ftration. 
 
 P. 87. One George White, kept up fo fharp a difcipline 
 over a gang of flaves, which fell under his (Coor's) 
 care afterwards, that he generally flogged them very 
 feverely for the fmalleft faults, fo that he reduced 
 them both in their perfons and faculties. They were 
 never without fores, from his cruelty. The flog- 
 gings quite difabled them from ufing the little lei- 
 fure they had in working their grounds, which was 
 their chief fupport. Hence they became poor both 
 in body and property, and fubjett to theft, which he 
 moflily attributed to want ; for their fores from beat- 
 ing made them unwilling to fl:ir, when at leifure. 
 "When thefe flaves came under him (Mr. Coor) he 
 ufed them kindly, excufed fmall faults, promifed re- 
 wards for good behaviour i fuch as allowing them 
 time to work their grounds. His firfl care was to 
 fee them make a good ufe of this time ; but after he 
 found their grounds thriving, he had little more to 
 do, and in a few months, from a poor, fcabbed, ill- 
 looking, difpirited gang, they became fat, fleek, 
 lively, and worked as chearfully as ever he faw work- 
 men in England ; and he could have done more work 
 with them, in one-third lefs time, than White could 
 have done with all the force of the whip. Good 
 treatment changed their very morals : he could have 
 trufl:ed them with any thing. Being a lieutenant, he 
 was once ordered out after outlaws, by the colonel, 
 who gave him leave to chufe a ferjeant's guard of the 
 white militia; he told the colonel, if he pleafed he 
 (Mr. Coor) would arm his flaves for that duty, 
 which he did, and found as much fidelity in them, 
 as he could have expefled in Engliflimen. They 
 pitched their tents round his, faying, they would all 
 
 P. 88. die, fooner than he fliould be hurt. Thofe flaves 
 were under his care 13I years, during which he never 
 flogged one of them. They would have been more 
 afliamed of a fmall tap, with a fupple jack from his 
 hand, than of 100 lalhes from their former maflrer. 
 
 They 
 
W. Indies. C o o r. 43 
 
 They were grateful in the higheft degree. On Sun- i79^« 
 day, they often would bring him a fowl, as a prcfent, *— "v^* 
 and never killed a hog, but they faved fome choice 
 part for him. He could mention a variety of other 
 inftances of their gratitude and afFe(5lion to him. 
 
 An eftate, at which he did bufinefs at times, in his 
 neighbourhood, belonging to a Mr. Dunn, was a 
 fmall one when he firfl: went there, not from want of 
 land, but of negroes. It then made about 50 hhds. 
 of fugar. He worked his (laves moderately, and his 
 wife took great care of the Tick, lying-in women and P. 88. 
 children, who feemed to fwarm on this eftate, and 
 he never heard any complaint of the locked jaw there. 
 To rvlr. C's knowledge, in a few years, this eftate 
 doubled its produce, and before he, Mr. C. left Ja- 
 maica, he iiad fettled another thriving eftate, under 
 his eldeft fon, which then made about 60 hhds. and 
 all, to the beft of his knowledge, had arifen out of 
 the fmall ftock of flaves before-mentioned, except 
 fix new negroes bought. He could not but haveP. 89. 
 known it, had more been bought. A neighbour- 
 ing eftate to this, whole fituation was far fuperior for 
 health and eafe in getting provifions, yet perpetually 
 decreafed in ilaves, owing, in his, and other peoples 
 opinions, to inhuman treatment. The owner, who 
 managed it himfelf, very often, to Mr. C's know- 
 ledge, bought 20, 30, or 40 new flaves at a lot, and, 
 in about 10 or 11 years, the eftate was very much 
 reduced, both in produce and negroes -, fo that from 
 good circumftances, his credit was in that time re- 
 duced to a very low ebb, which, he verily believes, 
 arofe from ill-treating his flaves. It would be to no 
 purpofe to tell the particulars. Some inftances of 
 his capricious cruelties are too bad to relate. 
 
 He has always thought the rearing of children well 
 worth the planter's notice ; but fo inattentive did he 
 always find them to it, that he has heard overfeers 
 fay, they would far rather the children ftiould die 
 than live; nor did he ever fee any proper prepara- 
 tion for the reception of them. The fides of the 
 
 F 2 huts 
 
'44 W.Indies. C o o r. 
 
 17 9T. huts they are born in, are no more defence agalnfl 
 '—v'*^ the cold night dannps, than one of our pafture hedges. 
 Bedding they have none, but a board or bafs mat. 
 When the child is born, the midwife afks the over- 
 feer for fomething for the woman i a bottle of rum, 
 P. QO. ^^^ 2 or 3 pound of fait beef, which does well 
 enough, for they feldom fail to recover. But they 
 never put the infant to the mother's breaft, till 8 
 days be over, for which time a woman out of the 
 field nujfes it, who probably has a child 2, 3, or 4 
 months old. Here he fubmics to medical men, 
 what effeft the milk of a woman, hardly wrought 
 and poorly fed, under a vertical fun, would have on 
 a tender infant. They moftly die convulfed, gene- 
 rally about the 8th day. This want of care is more 
 lamentable, not only from humanity, but intercft, for 
 if they furvive the 8th day, they moftly do well, and 
 he very feldom remembered any dying, from the 8th 
 day to the 8th year. What convinces him farther it 
 is for want of care, is, becaufe, where they have warm 
 houfes, kind treatment, and the child fet to the mo- 
 ther's breaft, he very feldom knew any die ; and it 
 was neither labour nor expence to raife them, after 
 the fatal 8th day was over. It is his firm opinion, 
 that with kind and judicious treatment of the infants, 
 the Haves in Jamaica will increafe, without any im- 
 portations from. Africa. 
 
 It was more overfeers objed to work flaves out, 
 and truft for African fupplies, than work them mo- 
 derately, and keep them up by breeding j for he has 
 heard many fay, " I have made my employer 20, 30, 
 *' or 4-- more hhds. per year than my predecefibrs, 
 " and though I have killed 30 or 40 negroes per 
 ** year more, yet the produce has been more than 
 ^^ adequate to the lofs." 
 P. 91. The Haves can exped no redrefs, but from the at- 
 torney. Many of them have commiffions on the 
 produce, and, if they give ear to the flaves com- 
 plaints, the overfeer will tell them he will leave the 
 eftate. Jf he makes great crops, Mr. C. has often 
 
 obfcrved 
 
W. I N D I E S. C O O R. 4J 
 
 obferved the attorney wink at his prelTing the flaves 1791. 
 to perform more work than human nature could bear. ♦-'■v'«-» 
 
 Mod of the field flaves are marked with the whip, 
 not only Africans, but Creoles. Has known many 
 very well difpofed Creole negroes, that have had 
 wheals from their hams up to the fmall of their 
 backs ; but this is nothing thought of, as it is fo 
 common. 
 
 It is natural to think that flaves will fuffer from 
 their mafter's bring in debt ; for they are generally 
 hard worked, and ill clothed and fed. He could 
 mention, as inllances, 2 or 3 neighbouring efl:ates. 
 
 Domefticks are very often treated ill, without re- 
 drefs, from their mafter's caprice. He has heard 
 many fay, they would rather be under the field hard- 
 fhip, than in the houfe. He boarded about 6 months P. 91, 
 ■with a doflor, who ufed his field-flaves ill, but he 
 daily faw how his domefticks were treated. He 
 made no more of knocking down his waiting-boy, 
 than if he had been a piece of wood, for what Mr. C. 
 thought no fault at all. Two houfe-wenches were 
 treated the iame way. One of them having broken 
 a plate, or fpilt a cup of tea, he nailed her ear to a 
 poft. Mr. C. remonftrated in vain. They went to 
 bed and left her there -, in the morning flie was gone, 
 having torn the head of the nail through her ear. 
 She was foon brought back, and when he came to 
 breakfaft, he found ihe had been very feverely whip- 
 ped by the do6lor, who, in his fury, dipt both her 
 ears off'clofe to her head, with a pair of large fcif- 
 fars, and ftie was fct to pick feeds out of cotton, a- 
 mong 3 or 4 more, emaciated by his cruelties, until 
 they were fit for nothing elfe. This girl never ap- 
 plied for legal redrefs. The negroes generally 
 thought they could have no redrefs, but from their 
 mailers or attornies. He believes no more notice 
 was taken of the deed, than if he had cut off his dog's 
 ears. Thinks fome magiftrates could hardly mifs 
 knowing it ; for fevcral vifited at the dodlors. The 
 girl waited at uble with her ears off. 
 
 He 
 
4^ W. Indies. Coor, 
 
 1791. He never knew a field (lave have more than a 
 *-nr«*» breeding fow and a few poultry, and thinks it impof- . 
 fible for fuch to get any property. Never knew 
 even tradefmen polfefs any thing, though they have 
 more opportunities of accumulating than a field- 
 flave. 
 
 P. 93. Slaves were forced to carry from their grounds, 
 whatever they could fpare from the bread of their 
 family, to buy fait provifions for all the week. One 
 negro would carry about 4 bits worth, more or lefs, 
 according to the varying market price, which they 
 lay out in eatables or clothes j for, in general, they 
 had only 5 yards of cloth, worth about leven-pence, 
 or feven-pence half-penny per yard. 
 
 Slaves were fed many ways, but themofl: common 
 was, depending on their little grounds. The poor- 
 er, who never had fpirits or ability to cultivate them, 
 depended on fome one of the plantation flaves, for 
 whom they worked all the little time they were al- 
 lowed. Does not fpeak of new negroes ; for they 
 are generally diftributed to the plantation Haves, who 
 have the beft grounds, under whom they work all 
 the little time they are excufed from their mailer's 
 bufinefs. They have land, which overfeers think 
 they (hould bring into fome order, while under the 
 faid negroes ; but too often, from quarrels with the 
 mailer Haves, they are turned out of doors before 
 their grounds are in perfection, and .obliged to Ileal 
 
 P. 94. or beg. Thinks this the greateft reafon why there . 
 are io many bad flaves. Slaves land, wherever he 
 has been, is quite fufficient j but they have not time 
 to work it. 
 
 Dead mules, horfes, cows, Sec. were all burnt, 
 under infpediion of a white man. Had they been 
 buried, the negroes would have dug them up in the 
 night, to eat them through hunger. It was gene- 
 rally faid to be done, to prevent the negroes from 
 eating them, left it Ihould breed diforders. 
 
 On Shrewfbury eftate, the overfeer fent for a flave, 
 and in talking with him, he haflily ftruck him on 
 
 the 
 
W. I N D I E S. C O O R. 47 
 
 the head with a fmall hanger, and gave him two 1791. 
 ftabs about the waift. The flave faid, *' Overfeer, v-.'^n«»/ 
 " you have killed me." He pufhed him out of the 
 
 i piazza. The (lave went home and died that night. 
 
 ' He was buried, and no more faid about it. Mr. C's 
 houfe was on this eftate, near the overfeer's houfe. 
 About 6 months after, the overfeer moved thence, 
 to Anchovie-Bottom eftate, why, Mr. C. cannot tell ; 
 but knows it was not for this. This was about 
 1770. He was called a very valuable overfeer, as 
 lie worked the (laves hard, and made great crops of 
 lugar. It was generally believed he had killed 2 
 more at Anchovie-Bottom ; as a proof of this, — ic 
 being whifpered, among the neighbours, that thefe 
 two made three Qaves he had killed, and it being 
 looked upon then, that the killing of three flaves 
 was capital, he thought proper to go privately away, 
 and Mr. C. never heard more of him. A. Mr. Foot, 
 (an inferior attorney under Mr. Herring) Mr. C. is p. g^^ 
 clear, knew the particulars of the firft-mentioned 
 murder, having often talked with him on that, and 
 many fimilar fubjefts; but knows not, if Mr. Foot 
 told it to Mr. Herring. He never heard of the lead 
 attempt to bring the overfeer to juftice^ but has 
 heard Mr. Foot fay, he was a very good overfeer, 
 
 but a d d wicked dog when drunk. Mr. C. is 
 
 pretty clear he was drunk when he did that deed. 
 
 The (laves allowed food, in Jamaica, was moftljr 
 herrings. He has known about 2 barrels among 
 100, 150, or 160 flaves, at a time; about once a 
 month or fix weeks ; and he is clear, that every 
 common man's fiiare, was very feldom above 7 or 8 
 herrings. The (leld-negroes had no other allow- 
 ance ; and fometimes he has feen herrings fo rotten, 
 as to have been meafured out, all maflied up like a 
 porridge. 
 
 He bought 6 boys and 2 girls from a Guinea fhip. 
 He took a flave with him to interpret, and who 
 afls:ed the flaves he bought, if they had had the yaws. 
 They all told him they had, their {kin being then 
 
 very 
 
48 W. Indies, C o o r; 
 
 1791. very clean and black ; but in 6 weeks or two months^ 
 ^^nr-^ they all broke out violently with the yaws. They 
 then fpoke a little Englilh, and he alked them, if 
 they had not the yaws in their country. They faid 
 yes i but when they came near buccra country, the 
 P. ^6, buccra on board rubbed them with fomething that 
 made their fls.in clean. He has known feveral Gui- 
 neamen in port 2 or 3 weeks, before declaring fale, 
 or allowing any inhabitant to go on board (which 
 they never allow, until they have declared fale) and 
 it was always reported, that this delay was to get the 
 flaves in proper trim for fale. 
 
 Jobbing gangs were increafing much when he left 
 Jamaica. Every overfeer or white man, who had 
 money or credit, bought new negroes to job them 
 out. He could have had ^^14 per cent, for his 
 money, in that way, and have had it infuredj but 
 mafters that work them themfelves in that way, make 
 much more. 
 
 Epidemicks are much more fatal to poor and ill 
 fed, than to well fed, hearty flaves. But one fatal 
 epidemick (a flux) prevailed while he was there. It 
 attacked all ranks of whites and blacks-, and it was 
 generally poor, ill fed negroes, that died of it. Few 
 v/ell fed negroes died of it, and not one white 
 perfon. 
 
 On fome eftates, the negroes provifion grounds 
 are clofe at hand -, on others tolerably near ; but he 
 knows feveral, where they were 4 or five miles off. 
 
 Always obferved negroes, who had grounds in to- 
 lerable order, work with great pleafurej but thofe 
 who were turned into them only covered with woods 
 and bufhes, had very ill heart to begin upon them, 
 and generally were obliged to fpend that time they 
 ftiould have laid out upon their grounds, in working 
 under fome other negro, for prefent fupport, 
 P» 97* Has often known the different offices of overfeer, 
 dodor and attorney, on an eftate, filled by the fame 
 perfon. 
 
 Runaway 
 
W. Indies. Coor. 
 
 Runaway Qaves never take refuge among the Ma- 
 roons ; for thefe are a check on them. They have 
 £2 per head for taking them, and a lliilling for every 
 mile they bring them. 
 
 On one eftate, moil of the flaves were chriilened 
 and inftrudled by a pcrfon fent from Europe, and 
 they were always the belt difpoled flaves in that 
 neighbourhood j but on no other eftates did he ever 
 hear fuch a thing named. Of a number of flaves 
 taken from Guadaloupe, one family was bought by 
 a neighbour of his, and the dodor told him, the 
 father of that family had prayers in his houfe night 
 and morning. He does not remember the eftate, 
 where the flaves were inftructed, buying any new 
 flaves, and they were always very Itrong handed. 
 He was very well acquainted with the whole gang, 
 as he took care of their mills, Sec. for moll of the 
 time he was there. 
 
 Promifcuous intercourfe was very common, both 
 among the flaves, and between the white men and 
 negro women. There was no reftridion. It was the 
 greatefl: difgrace for a white man, not to cohabit 
 With Ibme woman or other. No attempts were made 
 to induce the men flaves to rellrid themfelves to one 
 woman. It was not confidered any way diladvan- 
 tageous to an ellate, for the men to have 1, 2, 3, or 
 4 wives, according as they could maintain them withp, p8« 
 the produce of their little fpots of ground. The 
 negroes wives were not at all fecure from the at- 
 tempts of the ovcrieer or book-keepers J for though 
 a man might know of his wife havmg lain with the 
 overfeer or bo(^k-keeper, he dared not relent it, 
 either to her or to them, for if he did, he would 
 be lure of a very fmart flogging for it, though pro- 
 bably on fome other pretext. 
 
 In Bodon, Rhude-Ifland, New- York, New-Jer- 
 feys, and Pennfylvania, the flaves are treated much 
 like farmers fervants in England, and he law them 
 carry on their mailers buflncfs juft in the fame way.^ 
 "Where a mafter had 3, 4, or more flaves, one ot 
 
 Numb. 4. G them 
 
'5^ W. Indies. Coor. 
 
 179 1, them was moftly a leading man. He has often con- 
 ^-'v-'*/ verfed with fuch head man on farming, ploughing, 
 &c. and always found him very intelligent. 
 
 Thinks a great deal of his evidence has tended to 
 fhevv, that the behaviour of the negroes generally 
 corref[)ond with their treatment. 
 
 At his firft going to the iQand, a common flogging 
 would put hun in a tremble, fo that he did not feel 
 right for the reft of the day; but by degres it be- 
 came fo habitual, that he thought no more of fee- 
 ing a black man's head cut off, than he fliould now 
 think of a butcher cutting off the head of a calf. 
 
 Witnefs examined — John Giles, 
 
 Near Hay, Brecknockfhire, — Farmer. 
 
 P. 74. Was in Montferrat from 1757 to 1762-, in Grand- 
 terre 1763; in Grenada 1764, and part 1765; in N. 
 America reft of 1765; in St. Croix from 1766 to 
 1772 i in England 1773-, in St. Croix 1774 to 1778. 
 
 His firft impreffion in the Weft Indies was, that 
 flaves were cruelly treated, feverely puniftied for 
 trifling offences, and not fufficiently fed. 
 P. 75" He arrived in crop timej there was then no food 
 allowed, except a furnace of horfe-beans or potatoes 
 daily boiled for the weaker part of the gang. Out 
 of crop, the allowance was from four to fix pints of 
 horfe-beans, rice, or Indian corn, and four to fix 
 herrings weekly, to each flave. 
 
 A great deal of land allowed them, but no time 
 to cultivate it, except Sunday; when they were alfo 
 obliged to pick large bundles of grals, morning and 
 night i many too. watched the works in rotation ; 
 no other day was allowed in lieu of the time loft to 
 them on thefe occafions. 
 
 Picking of grafs is ever a great hardfhip, particu- 
 larly in dry feafons : they are iorced to do it on week 
 
 days. 
 
W. Indies. J. Giles. 51 
 
 days, in the time allowed for dinner, and after 1791. 
 fun-fet. v^v*** 
 
 Has often known (laves Ileal from hunger. 
 
 Knows of no care taken to inftrucl (laves, or in- 
 duce them to marry. 
 
 Their capacity is good, and their difpofition better 
 than might be expedled from perfons fo untutored. 
 
 Severe treatment is no ways necellary. On two 
 ellates where he lived, the increafe of the (laves, un- 
 der a milder treatment, exceeded decreafe by one per 
 cent. There was alio more work done, as they didp, jC, 
 not run away as on other eftates, where tieated ill. 
 
 The (laves were very inhumanly treated on the 
 cftate he lived on in Montferrat : the field gang was 
 not aiTorted as to ftrength, the weak Haves being 
 forced to work as much as the (trong. ji 
 
 Recolle(5ts feveral fhocking inftances of punifhment | 
 
 there ; in particular, the driver, at day-break, once 
 informed the overfeer, that one, of 4 or 5 negroes, 
 chained, in a dungeon, would not rife : he accom- 
 panied overfeer to the dungeon, who fet the others 
 that were in^ the chain to drag him out, and not 
 rifing when out, he ordered a bundle of cane trafh 
 to be put round him, and fet fire to. As he Hill 
 did not rile, he had a fmall foldering iron heated, 
 and thrufl between his teeth. As the man did not 
 yet rife, he had the chain taken off, and fent him to 
 the hofpital, where he languifhed (bme days, and died. 
 Though the owner refided on the eltate, never heard 
 that he condemned this condu6t, which if he had, 
 he, (Mr. G.) mull have knew it. He could, if ne- 
 ceflary, relate feveral other inllances. The overfeer, 
 fo far from being punilhed, or called to account for 
 this aflion, was always in great favour with his 
 maders. Slaves often ran away, and when retaken P. yj; 
 were punilhed by fevere whippings, by chains, by 
 very hard work, and often not releafed from the 
 chain till, being fo emaciated, they were in danger 
 of dying. The deaths exceeded the births more than 
 two to one. The eftate did not profper, the gentle- 
 G 2 man 
 
1 
 
 52 W. Indies. J. G i l e s. 
 
 179 1, man was almoft ruined by it. The mortality was 
 v-nno chiefly among the grown field flaves, by their being 
 hard worked, cruelly punifhed, and fparingly fed. 
 
 Thinks the flaves were often io fatigued by the 
 labour of the week, as fcarcely to be capable of 
 working their own ground on Sunday. 
 
 The marks of the whip were to be feen on almofl 
 all the weaker part of the gang, from forcing them 
 to keep up with the reft. 
 
 Pregnant women punifhed, but not very feverely. 
 
 When flaves were fo old as to be paft labour, their 
 P. 78. owners did not feed them. 
 
 Negroes might be managed with comparative eafe, 
 were their temper and difpofition attended to. The 
 bufmefs might then be done in a better manner, and 
 without fuch frequent flogging. 
 
 Never heard that flaves had any proteftion from ill 
 ufuage from owners, or thofe under them. 
 
 Never knew one planrer interfere with the treat- 
 ment of the flaves of another. 
 
 Never heard any thing of the locked jaw. They 
 had children die Ibmetimes ; but neither overfeer nor 
 do(5tor interfered ; they were left to old women, the 
 midwives. 
 
 The treatment in Grenada was exactly fimilar to 
 that in Montferrat ; he faw no difference. 
 
 The merit of a manager was eftimated by the 
 quantity of crops produced on the efl:ate. 
 
 A manager of Grenada told him of a great cruelty 
 he had committed. Several negroes and mules had 
 died on the eftate; an old woman was fufpedled of 
 having poifoned them. He, (Mr. G.) aflced the 
 manager if they had not given her up to the law, 
 who laid no, they had taken a fhorter method with 
 her. They made a bit of a thatched hut, put her 
 into it, with fome combuftibles, and burnt her to 
 death. The manager was not difcharged for this : 
 thinks he told him it was done by the owner's defire. 
 It was not told him as a fecret. 
 
 Never 
 
 P. 79. 
 
W. Indies. J. G i l e s. 53 
 
 Never heard of any care taken at African fales to 17 91. 
 prevent the feparation of relations. ' *.^v-^ 
 
 Never tcncw pains taken to improve mode of cul P. 80, 
 tivation, or implements of hufbaiidry, except in that 
 of cutting cane tops bv a machine. L^iough might 
 be applied with great effcdl in thefe two iflands in 
 eafing the labour of (laves. 
 
 Slaves in St. Croix were better ufed than in either 
 of the two Britifh illands, but not fo well as they 
 ought, were the planters atrcntive to their interefl; 
 and if "properly treated, believes their increale would 
 be general throughout the iQands. 
 
 Never heard that the flavcs had any protedlion 
 there. 
 
 Planters there refide on their eftates, and do not 
 live fo extravagantly as in tlie Englilh iflands. 
 
 Recollects an inftance of the efleds of treatment of 
 flaves. Where he was manager, the flaves were 
 forced to be up at two in the morning, at a time 
 when canes were cutting, on 80 acres of a rifmg 
 ground, which, from a want of mules, they were 
 alfo obliged to carry half a mile upon their heads. 
 This year the flaves decreafed. Pie prevailed on the 
 owner to buy fix mules more againll next crop j that 
 and the following year the flaves increafed one per 
 cent. Was perfedly convinced t;)at the decreafe and 
 increafe fpoke to, was in coniequence of the difference 
 of labour. 
 
 Never heard talk of the Code Noir while in Grande 
 Terre : it it had been i.iual ior Haves to be any way 
 relieved by it, they would have fought redrefs for 
 the very levcre ufage of a man who was his partner 
 in a diltillery : the commanders, to whom he was 
 very obnoxious, would certainly have taken cogni- 
 zance of his condud to hiS llaves, had it been ufual 
 to do fo. 
 
 Thinks one half of the domeftics of the planters 
 of Montferrat and Grenada iiniieceifiry. 
 
 The Chief J udge at Montlerrac was tiie Honourable 
 
 John 
 
54 ^' Indies. Matthew Terry. 
 
 I79I* John Dyer. Grenada, while he was there, was under 
 military law. 
 
 The judges were planters — not, he believes, bred 
 to the law — removable at the King's pleal'ure. 
 
 P. 8 
 
 Witnefs examined — Matthew Terry, 
 
 Of Alkrig, Yorkfliire, Land Surveyor. 
 
 P. 82. Was four years in Dominique as book-keeper and 
 overfeer, one at Tobago as a land-furveyor, in the 
 King's fervice, and feven in Grenada, endmg in 
 178 1, as a colony furveyor. 
 
 His trade gave him full opportunity of obferving 
 the treatment of flavcs. They appeared in general 
 to be uled with great feverity ; believes they gene- 
 rally underftood that the law reftrided the number 
 of lafhes to 39; but this was not in the leaft ob- 
 fervcd ; has feen it broken repeatedly ; never knew 
 any redrefs obtained. It was ufual to rub their 
 backs with brine after fevere punifhments. 
 
 In his time one Thochard, a French planter, in 
 Grenada, was generally fuppofed to treat his flaves 
 very cruelly, and for trivial offences to cut off their 
 ears and legs, and otherwife mutilate them. Heard 
 of no attempt to punifh him. Saw upon his eftate 
 two men-llaves with wooden legs. 
 
 The greatefl property he ever knew a field (lave 
 polfefs was two pigs, and a little poultry. The flave 
 has not the means of getting much property, (p. 85). 
 
 Little or no attention was paid to the breeding 
 of flaves ; child-bearing, and confequent lofs of 
 labour, was matter of regret to planters-, little or 
 no difference in the punifhments of pregnant females 
 and others. The planters appeared to prefer in- 
 creafing their crop to increafing their flaves, (p. 85) 
 to depend upon African fupplies, and defirous to 
 have as many males as pofTible. 
 
 Very 
 
W. Indies. Matthew Terry. ^^ 
 
 Very confiderable lofTes were common among the 1791. 
 newly imported Africans. One- third die within the '-*-v*%i» 
 firft year. Of a lot of fix, bought by himfelf, two 
 died within the firft year, and at the end of five 
 years two only furvived. P. Sr, 
 
 Suicide is common, particularly among the Ebos. 
 Never heard of an inftance of it among Creole flaves. 
 The latter are more induftrious, being inured to ic 
 from their infancy. 
 
 Seldom run away, Infurredions are confined to 
 Africans. 
 
 Never knew a flave buy his freedom. 
 
 No allowance of grain or flour given to any butP- S6, 
 new negroes. Has known a bunch of plantancs 
 (fufficient for a week's allovi^ance) given to each 
 negro once or twice a year. 
 
 Many managers polfefs flaves of their own. 
 
 Land furveying is exceedingly laborious in the 
 Weft Indies; he purfued it for 7 years without in- 
 jury to his health: has often feen mill-wrights at 
 work in the {^^n^ whofe health did not fuff^er. 1 here 
 are alfo white blackfmiths and coopers there, but the 
 latter only dired negroes working under them. 
 
 Witnefs examined- Capt. Hall, of the Royal 
 
 Navy. 
 Was at Barbadoes and the Leeward iflands from P. 99. 
 1769 to 1773, and from 1780 to 1782 at thofe places, 
 . and at Jamaica and St. Domingo. 
 h The treatment of negroes on the B iflands appear- 
 ed to him tolerable in the towns; on the plantations 
 rather inhuman. Punifliments infl.(5bed were very 
 Ihocking to perfons not ufed to fee them : much 
 more fo than on board a man of war. The fit-Id 
 flaves he has ki:n (a great many) were generally 
 marked with the whip. 
 
 In cafes of ill treatment by their mafl:ers, it was 
 generally undeiHood, they could noC obtain redrefs ; 
 
 againft 
 
£6 W. Indies. Capt. Hall. 
 
 179^' againd others, their rnafter afTifled them. That this 
 ^"^^"^ fevcre fytlcm was not neceffkry, nor for the mafter's 
 • ^^^'intereft, he is confident, from the good effecfls he 
 has feen refulc from a lenient treatment in the French 
 iflands: for inftance, the Marquis de Rouvray was 
 particularly attentive to population, and the good 
 treatment of his flaves at St. Domingo : they were 
 never hard prcflcd in their work : he fufFered no 
 improper intercourfe between the males and females, 
 every man had his own wife, and no white was fuf- 
 fered to disjoin that union : the parties were punilh- 
 ed for fcparating without caufe. 
 
 Hofpitals were built for the fick and pregnant; 
 the latter, when far advanced, were taken in there, 
 and employed in trifling work to the time of deli- 
 very. Here they might remain feparated from their 
 hufbands, and excufed from field labour, till the 
 child could be fupported without the mother's help-, 
 or when their Itrength would permit, return with the 
 child to their hufbands, and take the chance of work. 
 In confeqnence, the Marquis had not for fome years 
 occafion to buy negroes. Having, however, left his 
 eftate to the care of a nephew, upon his return, after 
 an abfence of two years, inllead of the. happinefs 
 that reigned when he left it, he found nothing but 
 mifery and difcontentj the whites had feized upon 
 the pretty women j their hufbands through difcontent 
 ran away-, and the labour falling heavier upon the 
 reft, they became difcontented, and their work 
 badly carried on ; fo chat it coft him two years be- 
 P. loi.fore he could re-eftablifh order. It was a pleafure 
 to walk through this eftate, for the flaves ufed to 
 look up to him as a father. 
 
 In the Britifh ifl.inds breeding not thought defira- 
 ble : they rather thought it a misforcune to have 
 pregnant women, or even young flaves. They 
 efteemed the chaige ot rearing a child to maturity, 
 more troublefome, and greater, than buying a Have 
 fit for work; and it was not uncommon for them to 
 give away a child of two years old, as you would a 
 
 puppy 
 
W. Indies. Capt. Hall; 57 
 
 puppy from a litter. Has heard an overfeer, of fome 179^. 
 confequence, exprefs this opinion. It was, in fa6l, v-or^ 
 his fyftem to prevent population, as far as in his 
 power } and he underftood this to be a general 
 fyliem. 
 
 So little care was taken of infants, that mothers 
 deemed it a misfortune to have children. After the 
 month, they were fent to field labour, with their 
 child upon their back, and fo little time afforded 
 them to attend to its wants, that he has feen a wo- 
 man feated to give fuck to her child, roufed from 
 that fituation by a fevere blow from the cart whip. 
 
 Domeftic flaves, from their general good treat- 
 ment, were underftood to increafe. 
 
 Believes, that flaves fufFered from the owner's 
 abfence, becaufe it was the bufinefs of the overfeer, 
 for his own credit, to make as much fugar as polTi- 
 blej to do this, he muft work the flaves to the ut- 
 molt : It being no concern of his whether they died 
 or not. 
 
 Knows, from an inftance which fell under his 
 eye, that the flave's death may be occafioned by 
 fevere punifliment, and the mailer not be called to 
 legal account. 
 
 As to the Have- trade being a nurfery for feamen, 
 he conceives it to be quite the reverfe. 
 
 In taking men out of mercliant-lhips for the 
 King's fervice, he has from the crew of a Guinea- 
 man, 70, been able to felect only 30, who could be 
 thought fit to ferve in any fhip of war, and when 
 thofe were furveycd, he was reprimanded for bring- 
 ing fuch men into the fervice, who were more likely 
 to breed diftempers, than be of ui'ti ; and this was 
 at a time when they were (o much wanted, that 
 almoll any thing would have been taken, viz. in 
 1782, when they had not men to man the prizes 
 taken on the 12th of April. The inftance related 
 was not a particular cafe, he found it generally fo ; 
 having had many opportunities between 1769 and 
 
 Numb. 4. H 1773 
 
W. Indies. Capt. Hall. 
 
 1773 of feeing rhe great dlftreffes of crews of Guinea 
 fhips, when in the Wefl Indies. 
 
 Has great reafon to believe, that in no trade are 
 feamen lb badly treated ; from their always flying to 
 men of war for redrefs, and whenever they come 
 within reach; whereas men from Weft Indies or 
 other trades leldom apply to a (hip of war. 
 
 As to peculiar modes of punifhment adopted in 
 Guineamen, he once faw a man chained by the neck 
 in the main-top of a flave-fhip, when palling under 
 the ftern of his Majefty's Ihip the Crefcent, in 
 Kingfton-bay, St. Vincents; and was told by part 
 of the crew, taken out of the fhip at their own re- 
 queft, that the man had been there 120 days. 
 
 Is clearly of opinion, that white men might do 
 the lighter field work, without injury to their health, 
 as feamen go through very heavy work there unhurt. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Capt. Giles, of the 
 19th Regiment of Foot. 
 
 P. 103. Was in Barbodoes, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Ja- 
 maica, from June 1782 to April 1790, except about 
 15 months in England. 
 
 Thought the treatment of flaves generally fevere. 
 Field flaves in general marked with the whip. 
 P. 104. Punilhment by whipping (though fewer laflies 
 given) more fevere and cruel than that of the army, 
 becaufe of the fize of the whip. 
 
 Had once an opportunity of obferving the treat- 
 ment of a jobbing gang, which he thought beyond 
 what human nature could fupport for any length of 
 time, becaufe their allowance of food, (which he 
 daily faw) was not equal to fupport them, and this 
 he underilood to be generally the cafe. This gang 
 had the fame refpite at noon as plantation negroes, 
 but as fome of them would eat their week's allow- 
 ance in 3 or 4 days, they were obliged to carry wood 
 
 an(4 
 
W. Indies. Capt. Giles. 59 
 
 and water, between twelve and two o'clock, for the 1791. 
 foldiers, for which they were paid in provifions. »— ■v*«i' 
 Has underftood it to be calculated, that a jobbing 
 gang, lading for feven years, would bring a profit 
 to the owner. 
 
 He had no opportunity of feeing that fuperanu- 
 ated flaves were not properly taken care of by their 
 owners 
 
 Can fpeak to the inefficiency of laws to protefbP, 105, 
 flaves againlt the ill ufage of their mailers or other 
 white perfons. Was told oy a planter, that he once 
 heard one of his own negroes was killed by his 
 overft-er. He h.id the body taken up, and there was 
 found upon it lomc chains or fetters (p. 106.) but 
 the overfeer could not be puniflied for want of a 
 white evidence. 
 
 A free woman, and her two children, were claimed 
 by a perfoii in Jamaica, as his property, who confined 
 them, lii orler to fell them to the Spaniards. He, 
 (Capt. G.) heard of the circumllance, and interfered, 
 knowing the perfon could have no claim either to 
 the woman or ner children. She, with her hufband, 
 had joined the royal army in Sourh Carolina: he 
 worked in one of the public departments as a car- 
 penter, and a driver, and flie laboured upon the 
 lines at the quarter-houfe camp. 
 
 After two trials at the Surry affizes, Kingfton, the 
 woman and her children were liberated; which muft 
 have been the cafe at the firft, had black evidence 
 been admitted; of which he could have produced 
 people bred upon the fame eftate, and neighbour- 
 hood, who alfo had free tickets from the Governor, 
 Sir A. C. 
 
 Without his inteference believes this woman and 
 children mull have been fold as fiaves, becaufe none on 
 the ifland i'o well knew the circumllances as himfelf. 
 Another cafe, previous to this, was that of a woman 
 claimed by a perfon in Jamaica, who, fupported by 
 Major Nefbit, of the 19th regiment, was alfo refcucd 
 from (lavery, after a trial at the Surry afiizes. 
 
 H 2 Once 
 
Co W. I N D I E S, J. T E R R r. 
 
 179T. Once faw, in Jamaica, a negro mafon with a wooden 
 leg, at work : upon afking the white people who fu- 
 perintended the work, how he had loft his leg, was 
 anfwered, that it was for no good, for the fellow 
 ufed to run away for months at a time. 
 
 The (lives fituation and treatment will vary ac- 
 cording to the difpofition and circumftances of the 
 owner; for on one or two eftates in the neighbour- 
 hood of his ftation, the flaves were well treated j 
 they appeared much happier than on feveral others 
 adjoining; (confcquently he imagines better fed.) 
 Thinks none of thefe ftole to fupply their wants, as 
 was frequently the cafe with oiher gangs in the 
 neighoourhood. 
 
 Saw the negroes go weekly to market, a diftance 
 of 14 or 15 miles. 
 
 Witnefs examined — John Terry, of Afkrig, 
 Yorkftiire. 
 
 P. 107. Was in Grenada from 1776 to 1790. Firft 7 or 
 8 years an overfeer, then a manager. 
 
 Thought the flaves treatment very bad ; it hurt 
 him much at firft ; in time became rtiore inured 
 to it. 
 
 Has known flaves punifhed by managers feverely 
 for trifling faults; durft not complain to owner, for 
 fear of worfc treatment ; has known them puniflied 
 for fo doing by owner, and fent back, though their 
 P. 108. complaint was juft. Field flaves ufually bear marks 
 of the whip. Never heard that a flave complained 
 to a magiftrate of his owner, manager, overfeer, or 
 attorney. 
 
 Has known the fame perfon both attorney, ma- 
 nager, and doiflor, on one eftate. 
 
 Never knew a planter or manager interfere with 
 another's treatment of his flaves. 
 
 Has 
 
W. Indies; J. T e r r y. 6i 
 
 Has known eftates, where flaves were worfe fed 1791. 
 and clothed than on others j in confequence, were ^-'OT*^ 
 great thieves ; eat alfo putrid carcafes. Food is the 
 general objeft of theft among flaves, and at the 
 hazard of their lives. 
 
 Picking of grafs a confiderable addition to their 
 labour. Done at dinner-time, and af er fun-frt. F. 109. 
 
 An overfeer, on the cflate where he was, (Mr. 
 Coghlan) threw a flave into the boiling cane juice, 
 who died in four days. He was not punilhed other- 
 wife than by replacing the flave, and being difmiffed 
 the fervice. Was told of this by the owner's fon, 
 the carpenter, and many flaves on the eftate. Has 
 heard it often. 
 
 Has known entertainments given among negroes; 
 fome of which might cofl a thirty-fix Ihilling piece, 
 but fuch were very rare, (p. 1 10.) 
 
 A field flave in favourable circumfliances, (he docs 
 not mean the commonality) may earn about fix bits 
 a week : he has known them fo poor as not to be 
 able to buy poultry. Never heard of a field negro 
 buying his freedom, (p. no.) 
 
 Slaves were not allowed to keep flieep on any P. IIO. 
 eftate he knew. On fome they might keep two or 
 three goats, but. very few allowed it. Some keep a 
 few pigs, and poultry, if able to buy any. 
 
 While a manager, he never received any direc- 
 tions about attention to pregnant women or children. 
 Has heard managers fay, it was cheaper to buy 
 African flaves than to breed: that they wiflied the 
 children to die, for they loft much of the mother's 
 work during their infancy. 
 
 The belt recommendation of a manager was, that 
 he m.i'.]e the moll fugar. 
 
 On the ellates he knew, the fexes were about 
 equal. 
 
 u{ iiTiported Africans, women have the befl: chance P. 1 1 1. 
 for life. 
 
 On the eftates he knew, more men died than 
 women. 
 
 Never 
 
62 W. Indies. J. Terry; 
 
 1791. Never knew any children die of the locked-jaw. 
 ^-'v*^ Free negroes were generally as well-behaved as 
 others in the fame rank of focicty. Thofe who had 
 learnt a trade, worked as journeymen with white 
 mafters : thofe who had not, went a fifhing, by which 
 they earned more than by field work. 
 
 The driver's whip is a fevere inftrument, and will 
 bring blood through the breeches. Twenty llripes 
 feverely laid on the bare breech, may unfit a man 
 for work for two or three days. 
 
 The opinion in Grenada, upon pafTing the laft 
 flave a6l there, was, that it never would have the 
 intended eff^ect. 
 P. 112. Did not obferve it make any difference, exc'ept in 
 the half-days in the week. 
 
 The clergymen of the parifh where he refided 
 never performed the duty the adt impofed on them. 
 
 Never heard of any complaints againft them for 
 non-performance of it. 
 
 "Witnefs examined — John Bowman, 
 Clerk to a Ship-Builder of Whitehaven. 
 
 P. 112. Was in the African employ, from 1765 to 1776, 
 moftly on the Windward Coaft, as third, fecond, 
 and chief mate. Sent up the country as a trading 
 mate to buy flaves, ivory, and cam-wood; adidance 
 of 20 to 40 or 50 miles, in the rivers ScalTus, S. 
 Leone, Junk, withm the rocks of Grand Buflau, and 
 Little Cape Mount River. 
 
 Was eight months as a factor at the head of S. 
 Leone-, and 17 to 18 months at that of the R. Scaffus. 
 Traded in a boat at Junk, Grand Ballau, and Little 
 Cape Mount Rivers. 
 
 P. 113. Having fettled at the head of Scaffus with 10 
 flaves money, he informed the King, and others, 
 that he was come to refide as a trader, his orders 
 
 being: 
 
A F R I c A^ Bowman. 6^ 
 
 being to fupply them with powder and ball, and igj, 
 encourage thcni to go to war. They anfwered theys,.^~vv^ 
 would go to war in two or three days : by that time 
 they came to the factory, faid they were going to 
 war, and wanted powder, ball, rum, and tobacco. 
 They were dreflcd in fome kind of Ikins, with large 
 caps, and tlieir fiices painted white, to make them 
 look dreadful. They afked for a drink of rum, 
 which when given them, they went off to the num- 
 ber of 25 or 30. After fix or feven days fome ofP. 114- 
 them returned with two women, and a girl, 6 or 7 
 years old. 
 
 They faid they had got thefe in a fmall town which 
 they furprifed in the night, that others had got off, but 
 they expected the reft of the party would bring them 
 in, in 2 or 3 days. When thefe arrived, they brought 
 with them two men whom he knew, and had traded 
 with. Upon qucllioning them, difcovered the wo- 
 men he had bought, to be their wives. Both men 
 and women informed him that the war- men had taken 
 them while afleep. 
 
 The war-men ufed to go out once or twice in 8 "• ^^S* 
 or 10 days, while he was at Scafius ; it was their 
 condant way of getting flaves, he believed, becaufe 
 they always came to the factory before fetting out, 
 and demanded powder, ball, gunflints, and fmall 
 Ihot ; alio rum, tobacco, and a few other articles. 
 When fupplied, they blew the horn, made the war 
 cry, and fet oft'. If they met with no flaves, they 
 would bring him fome ivory, cam-wood, &c. Some- 
 times he accompanied them a mile or fo, and once 
 joined the party, anxious to know by what means 
 they obtained the (laves. Having travelled ail day, 
 they came to a fmall river, when he was told they 
 had but a little way further to go; after croffing 
 which, they delayed till dark. "When they had got 
 over, (about the middle of the night) he was afraid 
 to go further, and alked the king's fon to leave him 
 a guard of 4 men. In half an hour he heard the war 
 ciy, by which he underftood they had reached a 
 
 towni 
 
64 Africa, Bowman; 
 
 179T. town; in about half an hour more they returned, 
 ^-■^'^/~^ bringing 25 to 30 men, women, and children, ibme 
 P. 110. at the bread. At this time he faw the town in 
 flames. When they had re-crofled the river, it was 
 juft day-light, and they reached Scaflus about mid- 
 day. The prifoners were carried to different parts 
 of the town. They are ufually brought in with 
 firings around their necks, and fome have their hands 
 tied acrofs. Never faw any flaves there who had 
 been convifted of crimes. 
 
 Has been called up in the night to fee fires, and 
 told by the town's people, that it was war carry- 
 ing on. 
 
 Whatever rivers he has traded in, he has ufually 
 pafiTed burnt and deferted villages, and learned from 
 the natives in the boat with him, that war had been 
 there, and the natives taken and carried to the (hips. 
 He has alfo feen fuch upon the coail : while trad- 
 ing at Grand BufTau, he went alhore with four black 
 ■*•• ^^7* traders to the town a mile off". In the way, there 
 was a town deferted, only 2 or 3 houfes (landing, 
 which feemed to have been a large one from two fine 
 plantations of rice. A little further on, they came 
 to another village in much the fame ftate. Was told 
 the firft town was taken by war, there being many 
 fliips then lying at BufTiiu : the people of the other 
 had moved higher up in the country, for fear of 
 the white men. In pading along to the traders 
 town faw feveral deferted, deftroyed, they faid, by 
 war, and the people taken out and fold. 
 
 Slaves were obtained in the fame manner in thofe 
 rivers where he traded on the Windward Coafb. 
 
 The inhabitants of all thefe places fubfift on rice, 
 yams, caffada, fowls, deer, fifh, and an animal 
 called tomboer. They raife more rice, &c. than 
 they confume, and difpofe of the furplus to fuch 
 (hips as may be lying in the rivers, fending it down'i 
 in large canoes. While at Sca(rus, he gave frequent 
 P. 1 1 8. orders for goods from S. Leone, which he defired- 
 might be fcnc up by thefe periocas, having found the- 
 
 men 
 
Africa. Bowman. 65 
 
 men good and honeft. Provifions of every kind 179T. 
 were abundant in the town. Has k-cn countrymen »-.-v*^ 
 carrying balkets of 40 or 501b. weight of rice, be- 
 iides fowls, eggs, &c. which he has bought in ex- 
 change for tobacco and beads. 
 
 The natives appeared to be induftrious, and dil- 
 pofed to trade in their native produce. Belicvjs 
 they would have cultivated more ground, if a greater 
 fupply had been wanted by the fhipping. When 
 aflced, they have faid they would like to trade with 
 good white men in their own produce, and would 
 foon make more plantations of rice. 
 
 When under Captain Strangewavs, the fliip then P. 119. 
 lying in the river S. Leone, at White-man's bay, 
 ready to fail, he was ordered down from the fadoi y, 
 (all the fliip's company being then dead but- five) 
 and the captain, who lent him -on fliore to invite 
 two traders on board. They came, and were fliewn 
 into the cabin. Meantime people were employed in 
 fetting the iails, it being almoft night, and the land 
 breeze making down the river. When they had 
 weighed anchor, and got out to fca, the witnefs was 
 called down by the captain, who, pointing to the 
 fail cafe, defired him to look into it, and fee what a 
 fine prize he had got. To his furprife, he faw 1\ ing 
 fad allcep the two men who had come on board with 
 him, the captain having made them drunk, anvi con- 
 cealed them there. Wiien they awoke, they were fent 
 upon deck, ironed, and put forward among the other 
 flaves. On arrival at Antigua, they were lold. 
 
 The natives were afraid to come along-fide of a P. 120. 
 vefiel when under fail. 
 
 Frauds were pradiied by Europeans in the articles 
 they traded in with the natives; fuch as in rum, by 
 mixing it ; in powder kegs, feemingly large, but hold- 
 ing only a little ; in falle fttelyards and weights. 
 
 The natives, wliere he rended, were friendly and 
 hofpitable-, jult and pundual in their dealings. 
 
 When he began to fetile at the river Scafius, there 
 were only four or five houfes there, and about 25 
 
 Numb. 4. I ' people. 
 
Africa. Bowman. 
 
 people, fo that he was doubtful if he could do it to 
 advantage : but informing the king, that a white 
 man was come to trade with them, was told that 
 ftrangers would come and fettle there. In the courfe 
 of a few days, feveral people came and built houfes, 
 and the town increafed fait, (p. 121.) So that there 
 might be 40 to 50 houfes, and 120 to 130 inhabitants 
 when he left it. 
 P. 121. Has been in Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada, Sr. Vin- 
 cent's, Dominique, and Barbadoes, in moft of which 
 he has feen Guinea feamen lying about in an ulce- 
 rated abje6l ftate, without means of fupport. 
 
 Witnefs examined, — John Douglas, Boatfwain of 
 the RufTel Man of War. 
 
 P. I2r. Sailed to Africa in 1771, in the Warwick-Caflle 
 flave Ihip. Only one voyage in the trade; becaufe 
 he could not bear with the filthinefs and difag-ree- 
 ablenefs of the voyage. 
 
 Seamen were well ufed in his fhip •, not fufFered to 
 lodge between decks when the (laves were on board. 
 
 P. 1 22. Loft 7 out of 53. Had plenty of provifions. 
 
 Had reafon to believe that the crews of other (hips 
 on the coaft, were neither fo well fed, nor treated ; 
 becaufe boats from the Gregfon, and others, which 
 he cannot mention, came often aboard, and the fea- 
 men begged much for provifions. 
 
 As to the ways in which flaves are procured: 
 when afhore at Bonny Point, he faw a young wo- 
 man come out of the wood to the water-fide to bathe ; 
 loon after, two men came from the wood, feized, 
 bound and beat her, for making refiftance, and 
 bringing her to him, defired him to put her on board, 
 which he did ; the captain's orders were, when any 
 body brought down (laves, inftantlv to put them off 
 to the ihip. 
 
 When 
 
Africa. — W. Indies. Douglas. 67 
 
 When a fliip arrives at Bonny, the king fends his 1791. 
 war canoes up the rivers, where they furprize all they ^--^r««J 
 can lay hold of. They had a young man on board, 
 who was thus captured, with his father, mother, and 
 three fifters. The young man afterwards in Jamaica 
 having learnt Englilh, told him the ftory, and faid ic 
 was a common pra6lice. 
 
 War canoes always armed. P. 123. 
 
 Slaves fent in the king's canoes, came openly in 
 the day, others in the evening, with one or two 
 bound, lying in the boat's bottom, covered with 
 mats. 
 
 Near Cape Coaft, the natives make fmoke as a fig- 
 nal for trade ; they faw the fmoke and flood in fhore, 
 which brought off many canoes : pipes, tobacco, and 
 brandy, were got on deck, to entice them on board ; 
 the gratings were unlaid, the flave-room cleared, and 
 every preparation made to feize them; two only 
 could be prevailed on to come up the fhip's fide, 
 who ftood in the main chains, but on the I'eamens 
 approaching them, they jumped off, and the canoes 
 all made for fliore. 
 
 The Gregfon's people, while at Bonny, informed 
 them, that in running down the coaft, they had kid- 
 napped 3'2. He faw (laves on board that fhip whei 
 Ihe came in ; and it is not cuftomary for velfels bound 
 to Bonny, to ftop and trade by the way. 
 
 Does not think flaves are much fubjeft to fea- 
 fickncfs. 
 
 Has been in the Weft Indies in the king's and 
 merchants fervice, from 1766 to 1782. 
 
 Has frequently feen Guinea ieamen lying or wan- 
 dering about the ftreecs and wharfs, moftly in Ja- 
 maica, in a difeafed and miferable condition : they 
 were called wharfingers; it was on the north-fide of 
 the ifland he has i'<^Gn the moft ; many of whom were 
 not capable of walking to Kingfton for relief, 
 
 Recolle6ls to have feen 3 funerals of Guinea flaves 
 in the Weft Indies, at which they fing and are mer- 
 
 I 2 ryj 
 
68 "W. Indies. Tottenham. 
 
 179T. ry; and naming the deceafcd, they fay, he is going 
 ^-'v — ' home to Guinea. 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Major General Tottenham. 
 
 P. 12/5. Wrnc out to the Weft Indies in 1779, with four 
 rcgiir.ents uuder his command. Was about 20 
 montiis in Barbaaoes, and fometime at St. Lucia, 
 St. Kite's, and St. Euftatius. 
 
 Thinks the (laves in Barbadoes were treated with 
 the greateft cruelty. Cannot judge of the other 
 iflands, from his (bort ftay thtre. 
 
 All the punilliments he favv were remarkably fe- 
 vere. Was at a planter's houfe, when the jumper 
 
 * came. Heard him afi< the mafter, if he had any 
 
 commands for him. He laid, no. Jumper then 
 aflced the m-fhrefs, who replied, yes. She direfled 
 hiin to take out two very decent women, who attend- 
 ed at table, and to give each of them a dozen. Ge- 
 reral T. expoftulated with her, but in vain. They 
 were taken out to the publick parade, and he had 
 the curioiity to go with them. The jumper carried 
 a long whip, like our waggoners. He ordered one 
 of the women to turn her back, and to take up her 
 clothes entirely, and he gave her a dozen on the 
 
 P. 126. breech. Every ftroke brought fieih from her. She 
 behaved with aftonilliing fortitude. After the punilh- 
 ment, Ihe, according to cuftom, curtefied and thank- 
 ed him. The other had the iame punifhment, and 
 behaved in the fame Vv'ay. About 3 weeks before 
 the hurricane, he faw a youth, about 19, walking in 
 the ftreets, in a moll deplorable fuuation, intirely 
 naked, and an iron collar about his neck, with five 
 long, projecting fpikes. His body, before and be- 
 hind his breech, belly and thighs, were almolt cut 
 to pieces, and with running fores all over them, and 
 you might put your fingers in fome of the wheals. 
 He could not fit dov/n, owing to his breech being in 
 
 a ftate 
 
Africa. Tottenham. 69 
 
 a {late of mortification ; and it was impofllble for 1791, 
 him to lie (iown, from the projedion of the prongs. v--v**rf 
 The boy came to the general, and alked relief. He 
 was Ihocked at his appearance, and afked him what 
 he had done to fuifer fuch punifliment, and who in- 
 flicted it. He faid it was his mailer, who lived a- 
 bout 2 miles from town •, and that, as he could not 
 work, he would give him nothing to eat. 
 
 There were very few (laves that did not bear the 
 marks of the whip. If feverely laid on, they retain 
 the marks many years. There is no comparifon at 
 all, between plantation and regimental punilhments, 
 the former being fo much more fevere. Military 
 only cut the fkin, the others cut out the flefh. 
 
 The field negroes were treated more like brutes, 
 than the human fpecies. The houfe negroes are 
 clotiied and better fed. 
 
 Slaves in general appeared very ill fed. Was in- 
 formed, each Have for 24 hours had a pint of grain, 
 which he boiled ; and fometimes half a rotten her- 
 ring, when to be had. When unfit for the whites, 
 they were bought up by the planters for the flaves. 
 
 There was no care taken of flaves fuperanuated P. 127. 
 and pall labour. They are turned adrift, and 
 obliged to live by plunder. He has fcen them him- 
 felf. An old woman, paft labour, told him fhe was 
 fet adrift by her mailer, to fliift for herfelf. He faw 
 her about 3 days after, lying dead in the fame place. 
 
 No atcention at all feemed to be paid to keeping 
 up the ftock by breeding. On the contrary, he be- 
 lieves many difcouraged it. He faw but a very 
 finall proportion of children. 
 
 He has fecn the women at work with the hoe, 
 and their naked infants lying on the ground, cioie 
 by them. 
 
 In 1780, a Dutch Guineaman was taken, and 
 brought to Barbadoes. He thinks they had about 
 270 llavcs. He attended moll of their fales, and ob- 
 lerved a number of the fick flaves in an adjoining 
 yard. Thok that were not very ill, were put into 
 
 huts. 
 
W. Indies. Tottenham. 
 
 huts, and thofe that were worfe, were left in the yard 
 to die, for nobody gave them any thing to eat or 
 drink. Some of them lived 3 days in that ftate. 
 
 The free-negroes feemed very induftrious. The 
 greateft misfortune of all negroes is, that they are 
 left in darknefs. He obfcrved a vafl difference be- 
 tween the negroes at St. Lucia and any others, ow- 
 ing to the attention of the prielts, who inftruded 
 them in religion and morality. 
 P. 128. He has fcen a great many Englifh feamen in great 
 diftrefs, in Barbadoes ; for the captains often fee 
 them aihore to fhift for themfelves. He cannot fay 
 from what fhips they came •, but only from mer- 
 chantmen. In St. Lucia, while in our hands, he faw 
 feveral Englifh feamen lying in the fame ftate. 
 
 There v/as no fort of pains taken to prevent pro- 
 mifcuous intercourfe, not even with domefhicks, 
 waiting on their miftrelTes. 
 
 is very pofitive the imprefTion on his mind, of the 
 treatment of flaves, was made at the time, and on 
 the fpot ; for he repeatedly told the people of Bridge- 
 town, that he hoped to live to fee the unfortunate 
 fituation of thofe poor wretches, taken up by fome 
 member of parliament} that, fhould fuch an event 
 take place, he fnould look upon it as his duty to of- 
 fer a voluntary declaration of what he knew of the 
 matter. 
 
 He thinks a prefent abolition of the flave trade, 
 would be attended with very fcrious confequences j 
 but, if thoie unfortunate beings were not left to the 
 tyranny of their cruel mafters, but were inftru6led in 
 morality, and their increafe encouraged, and they 
 were rewarded for good behaviour, he thinks that, 
 at a future period, the llavc trade would die away 
 ofitfelf. 
 
 Witnefs 
 
[ 71 ] 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Robert Forster, of Heble- 
 thwaite, Yorkfhire. 
 
 Was in every Britifh iQand, except Jamaica, in all <79^- 
 
 about 6 years, ending 177B. The firfl: 4 years ap- *"'''"''*"^ 
 prentice in a (lore in St. John's, Antigua ; the reft * ^'^' 
 of the time a niidfhipman and fecond mafter, and 
 pilot of the king's brig, Endeavour. 
 
 He lived among the town flaves, and often went 
 to collect debts, and vlfit managers in the country. 
 When in the king's fhij), he fpent much time among 
 them, having known them before. 
 
 The general imprelTion on his mind was, that 
 flaves were feverely treated, and in a low, deprefled 
 flate. 
 
 In Antigua, the common allowance was, 7 pints 
 of corn, or horfe-beans, for able negroes, with about 
 3 or 4 herrings weekly; occafionallv a little fair, 
 lometimes rum, but not very common. Their work 
 is hard. The bell calls them to it at day-break, and 
 they work till fun-let; have 2 hours at noon-, but 
 in cheir hours of reft, grafs is expe6v:ed. They are 
 treated never as fellow-creatures, but merely as pro- 
 perry, and are feverely puniftied for flight offences. 
 
 They are allowed a few yards fquare of ground ; 
 but only Sundays to cultivate it, except a few, who 
 had Saturday afternoon. 
 
 The plough might be advanrageouQy ufed, and P. 130. 
 though perhaps not wholly to fupercede the hoe, yet 
 might eafe the negroes of many difficult parts of 
 their manual labour. The grinding of their corn at 
 night, by hand, was, in crop, a great hardfliip : they 
 might be much relieved by fome trifling mechaniUn 
 applied in the fugar-mill, and in many other cafes. 
 In general, they feem to have no idea of improve- 
 ments to eafe their flaves. Underftood it a general 
 opinion, that if negroes were not conftantly kept an 
 hard labour, they would become unruly. 
 
 The 
 
"W", Indies. Forster.' 
 
 The inftrument of punlfliment cuts their flefh, and 
 leaves indelible marks. 
 
 No attention at all was paid to marriage. It did 
 not appear to him, that they attended as much to 
 the rearing of children, as we do to the rearing of 
 
 P. igo.calves. He has known exceptions. A widow Sher- 
 
 P. i^i-vington was left in debt, with 5 or 6 negroes, who, 
 by kind treatment, increafed, in 15 or 10 years, to 
 15, or more. He knows feveralfuch inftances. As 
 to ellates, on the whole of Col. Farley's plantations, 
 they had no need of new negroes. He has heard 
 him fay, there was a confiderable increafe on one 
 particularly. A Mr. Tho. Gravener's negroes alfo 
 increafed. He knew captain Thomafon, of Sea- 
 cov.'-bay, Tortola, who has wanted no new negroes 
 for many years. 
 
 Little or no attention was paid to inftrucling flaves 
 in religion. He believes none at all by the eftab- 
 lifhed clergy. Where inftruftion has been attempt- 
 ed, as it has on feveral Antigua eflates, by Moravian 
 miffionaries, the advantage was evident in their man- 
 ners and behaviour. 
 
 P. 13 T. Thole were not thought the mod fiourifhing 
 ellates, which bought the mod new negroes. It 
 was exaflly the revcrfe. 
 
 He never knew, or heard, of a field-negro buying 
 his freedom. 
 
 Domeilicks have much lefs work than field-ne- 
 groes ; but their fituation, in fome rcfpecls, is per- 
 haps harder; for, being under the hand of caprici- 
 ous, paflionate mafters and miftrelfes, they are often 
 punilLed, not only corporally, but with numberlefs 
 teazing and mortifications ; nor are they fo regularl y 
 fed. He never knew them allowed above one-half 
 bit a day j and he believes fome are often driven to 
 
 P. 132. theft or proftitution, by want. The women domef- 
 ticks are expefted to drefs neatly, and, having no 
 clothes from their owners, they mud ufe indireft 
 means to get them. They arc not often whipped 
 publickiy ; but their private whippings are very fe- 
 
 vere. 
 
W. Indies, Forster. fj 
 
 vere, and he has known a Creole woman drop hot 1791. 
 fealing-wax on a wench's back, after a flogo-ino-. 
 He, and many others, law a young woman of for- 
 tune and charadler, flog a negro man very feverely 
 with her own hands. Many fimilar inllances he 
 could relate, if neceflary ; they are almofl: innume- 
 rable. He has been fpeaking chiefly of town do- 
 meft:icks. 
 
 Slaves have no legal proteflion at all againft their 
 mafliers, for any injury Ihort of murder. A little be- 
 fore he arrived in Antigua, one Patrick, a huckfter, 
 whom he knew, murdered a woman Have, with cir- 
 cumftances of the molt attrocious and favage barba- 
 rity. He was tried, convi6ted, and fined. He was 
 univerfaily blamed, but was dealt with as ufual. 
 Slaves have no mode of getting redrefs from daily 
 injuries of whites, nor their owners ; and even fome- 
 times their owners cannot get redrefs for them. A P« 
 negro woman was drowned by fome feamen of the 
 Favourite (loop of war. A negro man was knocked 
 on the head and drowned, for dealing a piece of 
 beef, alongfide a merchantman, at St. John's. Thefe 
 fadts were well known, but no inquiry made. 
 
 He has known negroes, but not many, turned 
 adrift by their owners, when pafl: labour. 
 
 Negroes are liable to be taken for their maflrer's 
 debts, and are confined in a clofe, difagreeable dun- 
 geon, till fold. No regard paid, that he remem- 
 bers, to felling families together. Saw a family of 
 mulattoes and blacks fold at vendue, and fent to dif- 
 ferent iflands. They difcovered great forrow at be- 
 ing feparated. 
 
 African negroes (hewed the moft extravagant joy 
 at their friends funerals, from believing the dcceafed 
 gone back to their country. 
 
 He has feen many of thofe deplorable objeifbs, 
 Guinea feamen, particularly on the beach at Rofeau, 
 Dominique. When the Endeavour was at Grenada, 
 there were 7 Guinea feamen, exceedingly emaciated 
 and full of fores, who complained much of their 
 Numb. 4. K ill 
 
74 W. Indies. Forster. 
 
 1791. ill ufage in the voyage. In a few months, they re- 
 '-""v-'O covered fo much, as fcarcely to be known for the 
 P. 134' fame men. Captains of men of war fometimes take 
 them, to recover their wages, but generally do not 
 keep them, for fear of infe6lion. Such feamen in 
 Antigua, are called wharfingers, and in Dominique, 
 fcow- bankers. 
 
 He lived at Lancafter, when flave-fliips were fitted 
 out there. From their ill treatment, and the fmall 
 numbers that returned, the young men were dif- 
 couraged from entering on that fervice, and they 
 were obliged to take fome fhips to Liverpool to man 
 them. 
 
 The lives of a prodigious number of negroes were 
 carelefsly and impolitically facrificed in clearing the 
 lee fide of Dominique, for fugar eftates. He recol- 
 Iccls one planter there who bought 30 new negroes, 
 and loft them all within the year. 
 P. 135. Negro porters, who pay their owners a weekly 
 fum, having no fixed rates, endure great impofitions 
 and hardlhips. If, on being offered too little for 
 their work, they remonftrate, they are very often 
 beaten, and receive nothing : and Ihould they refufe 
 the next call, from the fame perfon, they are liable 
 to be fummoned before a magiftrate, and punifhed 
 on the parade, for refufal, and he has known them fo 
 puniihed. Negroes that bring grafs to town to fell, 
 have often their grafs taken away, without pay, and 
 fometimes with a beating. The indignities the ne- 
 groes receive in markets, from white failors and 
 others, are frequent, vexatious, and fevere. 
 
 Witnefs Examined, — Capt. John Samuel Smith, of 
 the Royal Navy. 
 
 Was in the Weft Indies in 1772, 1777, and 1778, 
 for above a year altogether. 
 
 Had feveral opportunities of obferving the treat- 
 ment 
 
W. Indies. Capt. J. S. Smith: 7^ 
 
 ment of plantation- flaves, from meeting with an old '791. 
 fchoolfellow, a manager, who introduced him to ^--v-^ 
 many other managers. 
 
 Firft impreflion was that flaves were treated more 
 like beads than the human ipecies. The mode of pu- 
 nifhment generally was, a negro ftretched on his belly, 
 on the ground, a man at each hand and leg •, the pu- 
 nifhment inflifted by a negro with a long whip, ta- 
 pering from the fize of one's thumb, to a fmall 
 lafh. At every flroke a piece of flefli was drawn 
 out, and that with much unconcern to the director 
 of the punilhment. 
 
 Grafs picking and theft, the mod frequent caufes 
 of punifhment. Some were punillied for not getting 
 fo much grafs as others, and that at a time when he 
 thought it impolfible for them to get half the quan- 
 tity, having been on the fpot. The grafs is gene- 
 rally picked after their day's work. His idea is, 
 they feldom leave work till fun-fet, let the diftance 
 be what it may j and they are obliged to pick grafs 
 all the way home. 
 
 The plantation-flaves were very generally marked?* I37» 
 with the whip. The only inftance to the contrary 
 is what he (hall fpeak to on a Grenada eftate. 
 
 It by no means appeared to him, or to be gene- 
 rally underftood, that flaves could get legal redrefs 
 for ill ulage by their mafters, or other whites. A 
 flave who paid his mafter for leave to work for 
 himfelf, and kept a Ihop and flaves under him, was 
 employed on a job, by a gentleman of property -, on 
 being difpleafed with the man, he fent for him and 
 puniflied him publickly, and the flave had no re- 
 drels. This he has no doubt often happens. He 
 has heard of many inftances of the like. 
 
 Has heard ot many cafes of flaves fuffering from 
 their maft:er's bad circumfl:ances, and has heard it 
 often obferved, " If you want to know a proprietor's 
 circumftances, look at his flaves." 
 
 Thinks a planter's refidence a neceflliry check on 
 
 managers, and it was generally unlterltood fo. Has 
 
 K 2 feen 
 
<y^ W. Indies. Capt. J. S. Smith.' 
 
 1 791. feen managers particularly attentive to their own 
 
 i--v*^ flock and (laves, which he thinks they could not 
 have done had the owner been there. This differ- 
 ence of ufage muft doubtlefs caufe much jealoufy to 
 the field-flaves. Has often (ten more food given 
 to managers flaves ; and it is commonly obferved, 
 that it is eafy to know the manager's (laves from the 
 owner's, from their better appearanctf. Has reafon 
 
 P. 1 3 8. to believe managers often favour their own (laves, 
 in labour, and other particulars, efpecially in grafs 
 picking, as he has often feen ; and he has no doubt 
 but the grafs is generally appropriated to the mana- 
 ger more than the owner. Managers never employ 
 their own flaves for this purpofe. The keeping 
 Hock is generally a part of the manager's income, 
 and he has no doubt it is fed at the proprietor's ex- 
 penfe. 
 
 Planters never appeared careful to keep up their 
 flaves by breeding. Has ken inftances which con- 
 vinced him that managers attended more to the in- 
 creafe of their own flaves. The managers feemed 
 generally profperous, and that often when the owners 
 feemed to be going behind hand. 
 
 It never appeared to him that any attempts were 
 made to check promifcuous intercourle, and to intro- 
 duce regular domeftick habits. He has often known 
 where people from the fhips vifited managers, and had 
 opportunities given by them of fele6ling women for 
 their private ends: nor were the wives of negroes fe- 
 cure from the whites on the eftates. He has known 
 complaints made of the overfeer having infringed in 
 that particular, againil the woman's will, without 
 redrefs. 
 
 P. 139. ^^^ ^^^" many flaves negleftcd, who were aged 
 and pall labour. On obferving to the inhabitants 
 the ftateof fuchobjefts, he has been told, that build- 
 ing hofpitals for them would be endlefs^ as flaves 
 would bring complaints on themfelves to leave the 
 eflate. 
 
 It 
 
W. Indies. Capt. J. S. Smith. •77 
 
 It was underftood a common pra6Lice, and he 1701. 
 himfelf has known inllances v)r women, in refpeitable K0^y<^ 
 ftations, (landing by to iee their Qaves puniihed. 
 
 Always confidcred negroes as keen, lenfiole, wrll- 
 dilpofed people, when their habits uere not vitiated 
 by cruel ulage. 
 
 Never thought it necefTarN to treat them fo fevere- 
 ly, having leen an inltance where che reverie ufage 
 produced a good effect, and which he otten men- 
 tioned to managers whom he aw ailing differently. 
 Was anfwered it might be praCtiTed in particular 
 cafes, but it would be impoffible to gee the woik 
 done, were it general. The ma ia;^er, m that one 
 initance, told him that more work was done than 
 on eilates where the treatment was otherwiie. He P. 140. 
 does not remember alkmg it the pairing of the flaves 
 was attended to on rhat cftate j but he faw religion 
 the firft object of the manager, which he thought 
 had a very good effe6t. ' 
 
 Believes Qaves, if ufed ill, dare not complain to aa 
 attorn' y except in attrocious cafes. Firmly believes, 
 the opinion of the llaves is, that the attorney and 
 manager are one and the fame, with refpedl to under- 
 ftandingeach other. 
 
 Never faw balls or dances among field-flaves ; but 
 often among houfe-fiaves. 
 
 On the wnole, tt by no means appeared to him, 
 that the ftate of flaves could bear any comparifon 
 with that of peafancs here. He always confidered 
 them as tre^.ted and fpokcn of as cattle. 
 
 Has often been empl yed to board Guineamen to 
 imprefs men ; and though he fuppofes he may have 
 boarded near 20 veffeis, at fines, he never could get 
 more than two men, wh'> turned out fuch inhuman 
 fellows, that th- y were forced to difmiis them, though 
 good feamen. But the chief reafon .^r his not getting 
 men was, the fear of infeclion, having feen many of 
 them ulcerated very much, and otlierwiie difordered; 
 and though often fol. cited by them, and told, that 
 if he did not receive them, they would be lent afhore 
 
 and 
 
W. Indies. Capt. J. S. Smith. 
 
 and left behind. To be applied to, by feamen, in 
 any other trade, to be taken out of their own fhips 
 into His Majefty's, is fo uncommon as feldom or 
 never to happen. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Mr. William Duncan. 
 
 P. 141. Was in Antigua from Jan. 1785 to July 1789, 
 as clerk in a ftore fix or eight months ; as overfeer 
 for about two years and a half j the reft of the time, 
 kept ftore for himfelf. 
 
 Firft impreffion was, that flaves looked very poor- 
 ly and ill treated. 
 
 The ufual allowance of plantation-flaves is a gal- 
 lon of Indian corn or horfe beans weekly, with fome- 
 times two herrings-, at other times, 241b. of yams 
 and a little fait. 
 
 The negroes, on the eftate he was on, which were 
 162, had only fix or feven acres among them, of but 
 indifferent land. They had Sunday to work it, and 
 fometimes Saturday afternoon, out of crop. 
 
 Negroes appear in the beft condition rather to- 
 wards the end of crop. At other times, look ill fed. 
 He ftiould fuppofe they are driven >by hunger to 
 theft. They ufually fteal provifions, at the riftc of 
 being cut and beat by the watchmen. 
 P. 142. Thinks about fourteen pence fterling the utmoft: 
 fum which an induftrious field-negro can earn for 
 himfelf in a week. He never knew fuch have any 
 confiderable property, nor heard of a field-Have buy- 
 ing his freedom. 
 
 Very feldom knew entertainments given by the 
 negroes. Thinks about fix dollars might be the 
 utmoft coft of fuch as he has feen. 
 
 Thinks provifions allowed by mafters, and that 
 which flaves raife in their own grounds, are, in gene- 
 ral, infufficient to fupport them and their families 
 
 properly 
 
W. Indies. Duncan. 79 
 
 properly and comfortably. He has often heard them i79^' 
 complain for want of food. '-'v^ 
 
 He thought the plantation-Haves cruelly treated, 
 and not fufficiently attended to. 
 
 The pregnant women, on the eftate where he lived, P. 143, 
 did little work after they were four months gone with 
 child i came out at eight o'clock and went home by 
 four ; if wet came not out at all. At times the wo- 
 men work a little, and their children are left with 
 old women, in the field. They are allowed to fuckle 
 them. On a neighbouring ellate, the ufage of preg- 
 nant women was the fame : cannot fay as to others. 
 
 He looks on the work generally required of fitld- 
 flaves as laborious, according to their ftrength to 
 perfoim it. 
 
 Sometimes flaves have 39 laflies, fometimes they 
 are confined with chains and collars ; and fometimes 
 with iron boots on their ancles. Their whippings 
 are fevcre, Ibmctimes wantonly infli(5ted, and, at other 
 times, difproportionate to the off^ences. Many ne- 
 groes bear about them the m.trks of the whip. He 
 has feen a negro fo cut, that he could not lie on his 
 back or fit down. 
 
 He knew of no protedlion which (laves had againfl: 
 ill ufage Irom their owners, or managers, or over- 
 feers. The owner was liable to be puniftied for 
 murdering his flave. He knew a white man, in in- P. 144. 
 difi^erent circumftances, who was fined lool. cur- 
 rency, and imprifoned 12 months, for murdering his 
 negro boy. 
 
 Relates an inflance of a flave unjuftly beaten by 
 an intoxicated manager. Though laid up in confe- 
 quence of it fome months, he got no redrefs. 
 
 He has known the fame man dodtor and attorney, 
 and manager and attorney. 
 
 The opinion was, that a Creole negro, by the time 
 he was fit to work, cod more than one from Africa. 
 
 T. he treatment on the eilate he lived on was better 
 than common. The efi'edc was that they increaled. 
 Aifo the flaves on Sir G. Thomas's Belfall eit^ie> and 
 
 Carlllie's, 
 
So W. Indies. Duncan". 
 
 1 791. Carlide's, and feveral others he cannot name, in- 
 
 «— ■V"*-' crcafed, or kept up their numbers, without addition 
 
 "• i45*by purchafe. 
 
 C3n a neighbouring eftate, the treatment was worfe 
 than uiual, and ihe effed was, the flaves decrealed. 
 
 He thinks the fexes nearly equal, but he believes, 
 mod males. 
 
 The capacities and difpofitions of negroes are much 
 like rhofe of the whites. 
 
 They received religious inftrudlion chiefly from 
 Mrthodift preachers. The iOand clergy were not fo 
 attentive as the Methodifts. The negroes fo in- 
 flru(5ted were improved in their morals and behavi- 
 our, ^uch paid more attention to marriage. He 
 has often known negroes defire to have their chil- 
 dren baptized. The clergy ufually took a dollar from 
 them for baptifm. 
 P. 146. He has known families fent to different iflands, 
 from fales by execution, or otherwife. 
 
 He has feen fome free negroes very well behaved, 
 and very induftrious. They are ufually tradefmen 
 and huckfters. He never knew them work in tne 
 field. They would think it a difgrace to work with 
 a flave. They can earn more by thofe employments 
 than by field-work. 
 
 He has often heard the flaves fay, they were kid- 
 napped; particularly a woman who waited on him, 
 faid that when going on an errand, Ihe was carried off 
 in a bag and fold. 
 
 He fees no realon why the plough'might not be 
 ufed, efpecially to loofen ftilFland, whicii would cer- 
 tainly fave much labour. 
 
 Witnefs 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 Witnefs examined — Captain Thomas Llovd, 
 Of the Royal Navy. 
 
 Was in the Weft Indies in 1779. Commanded 1791. 
 the Glafgow, and was burnt out of her in Montego'— v— -J 
 bay, Jamaica. ^« I47' 
 
 His firft imprefTion was, that the flaves were very 
 generally confidered as black cattle, and very often 
 treated like poll-horfes. 
 
 Relates inltance of a man and woman (lave exe- 
 cuted at Sc. Ann's bay, in fight of his fhip's com- 
 pany. The former for running away, the latter for 
 Tecreting him. 
 
 At Mrs. Winne's, of Mammee bay, faw a woman 
 flave with one hand only, and afked Mrs. W. how 
 fhe loft it. She faid it had been cut off. She had a 
 female (lave to whom Ihe trufted her linen and other 
 valuable effcd:s, from fufpedling her indented white 
 fervant had abufed that confidence. She directed P. 143. 
 her Have never to ifiiie out linen, without her orders. 
 The white woman wanted a pair of ilieets, and at- 
 tempted forcibly to take them. A fcuffle enfued, 
 and fix weeks after the fuppofed offence, the white 
 woman fwore the flave had ftruck her, and fhe had 
 her right hand cut of?, Mrs. W. having in vain 
 endeavoured to fufpend the amputation. She fpoke 
 of this as an inhuman a6l, and a great injury to her 
 property. 
 
 He was told by a perfon of veracity, whom He 
 wifhes not to name, that it was the pra<ftice of 
 a certain planter, whofe name he does not now 
 recoUecfl, to frame pretences for the execution of his 
 worn out flaves, in order to get the ifland allowance : 
 and it was fuppofed he had dealt largely in that way. 
 
 Captain Cornwallis told him, while he was there, 
 that, at a dinner with fome of the principal planters, 
 the converfation turning on the profit and lofs of 
 
 Numb. 4. L fugar 
 
Si W. Indies. Capt. Lloyd. 
 
 1 791. fugar eftates, one of them faid, that in crop he 
 «— -v-^o worked his negroes 20 hours out of the 24. Another 
 faid, many of them mud have died. He granted 
 that, but, on the whole, it anfwered. 
 
 He has feen, about the ftreets and roads, many 
 old, miferable objeds, and was told many of them 
 had their freedom given them, when no longer able 
 to work. The molt wretched objedl he ever faw was 
 at Port Royal. 
 
 He had reafon to believe, that negroes might "be 
 induced to work properly, without feverity. A Mr, 
 Greenland had but a few, who looked well and happy. 
 Captain L. afked him the reafon. He faid, he never 
 punifhed them, and he did not find but he was as 
 well off as others who purfued a different condu6t. 
 P. 149. He has heard fenfible people afcribe the decreafe 
 of flaves, on feveral eftates, to the feverity of their 
 treatment. 
 
 Many indances of the ill treatment of the flaves, 
 have been told him by his brother officers, upon the 
 llation J but why they keep back their evidence he 
 cannot tell. He has heard of military combinations 
 to obtain juftice, and to refift opprelTion •, but this is 
 the firft inftance he ever heard of alToeiations for the 
 fuppreffion of truths. 
 
 Witncfs examined — Lieutenant Baker Davison, 
 
 Of the late 79th Regiment. 
 
 P. 150. Was in Jamaica, from the middle of 177 1 to the 
 end of 1783, except a few months on the Spanifli 
 main. (Pradifed furgery in Jamaica, many years, 
 before the French war, p. 154.) 
 
 Had many opportunities of feeing the treatment 
 both of field and town flaves. Was quartered in 
 many parts of the iflandi refided fome time at a 
 
 planter's 
 
W. Indies. Davison." 83 
 
 planter's houfe, given him and his family for a 1791. 
 barrack. v/^v-^-^ 
 
 The firft general imprelTion on his mind was thatP, 15T. 
 the flaves were very cruelly treated, by being mod 
 unmercifully flogged by their owner's order. Such 
 punilhments never were reftridled to 39 lafhes. 
 Underilands there was fuch a law, but never knew 
 it abided by, where punifliment was really meant. 
 
 Sometimes owners in town would have them 
 flogged at home, or fend them to gaol, to be pu- 
 nilhed, or have them tied up to a crane on the wharfs. 
 He has very often feen thofe punilhments inflid:ed, 
 at all times of the day. In houles and on the wharfs 
 flaves are always punilhed by order of the owners, 
 and often in gaol. 
 
 They appeared much more fevere than regimental 
 punifliments. He remembers a new negro girl 
 flogged by her miftrefs's order, and who died of a 
 mortification from the wounds two days after. 
 
 In tov/ns the flaves are generally flogged with aP. 152. 
 cowikin, and on eltates with a long whip. 
 
 On eltates they are faftened to four fl:akes driven 
 into the ground, and whipped. He has often (ecn 
 regular punifliments in the field, for negleft of work, 
 and other oft^ences committed on the fpot. 
 
 He has often feen owners fend their flaves to be 
 whipped in gaol ; and has very often feen them 
 brought home by perfonr. belonging to the gaol. 
 The precife number of fl:ripes to be given in gaol 
 was not ordered. The owners generally told them 
 to flog them well, according to the crime. 
 
 He knew many cruelties; but none followed by 
 death, except that mentioned. The clergyman's 
 wife at Fort Royal, was remarkably cruel. She ufed 
 to drop hot feahng- wax on her negroes, after flogging 
 thciH. He was lent for, as furgeon, to one of them., 
 whole brealt was terribly burnt with fealing-wax, 
 A woman next door to him was often flogging her 
 negroes lb cruelly, that he has frequently gone in 
 and infllted on her deiifl:ing; and, at lail, he com- 
 
 L 2 plained 
 
1 
 
 W. Indies. Davison. 
 
 1 791. plained of her to a magiflrate, who told him he had 
 
 '^-"'"V"^ nothing to do with it. 
 
 ^' ^53' He is very fure the flave's treatment depends 
 v/holly on the owner's difpofition ; as Tome were very 
 cruel, and others not fo. 
 
 He has very often remonftrated to owners and 
 managers on fe verity, efpecially to the clergyman's 
 wife, and the clergyman himfelf, who faid they 
 would not do without feverity, and even being half 
 ftarved, which he often knev/ was the cafe at his 
 own houfe. He has often talked to them on their 
 flaves being ill from feverity and hunger. He par- 
 ticularly remonftrated to the woman mentioned 
 (whofe negro died) when he has feen the negro at 
 work, kneeling, on her bare knees, on the pebbles, 
 a punifiiment very common in houfes there. 
 
 He believes the Haves generally underftood they 
 had a right to legal redrefs, for feverity, as he has 
 often had complaints, when quartered up the coun- 
 try, from different eftates. He never knew fuch 
 redrefs obtained, from negroes themfelves complain- 
 ing. When ill ufed by others, the owners take care 
 to get redrefs. 
 
 P» 154' He faw a flave both of whofe noftrils had been flit, 
 
 by her miftrefs's order, from jealoufy. No attempt 
 
 V was made to punifh this woman, as flie was of fome 
 
 confequence, being the wife of the engineer of the 
 
 ifland. 
 
 It was very common for women, in refpeflable 
 fituations, to ftand by, at the punifhment of their 
 flaves. 
 
 He thinks pregnant women were not, in general, 
 properly attended to, having been fent for to feveral 
 eftates, where the mother fcarcely had any deaths to 
 cover her, nor any baby-cloaths, and was in want of 
 every kind of proper nourifliment. 
 
 He has feen feveral pregnant women flogged on 
 eftates, and a hole made in the ground to receive 
 their belly. He was once fent for to a woman who 
 
 had' 
 
W. I N L I E s. Davison, 85 
 
 had mifcarried from fevcre flogging, when both child 1791. 
 and herfelf died. «--v*«i* 
 
 ' The jaw-fail was fatal to negro infants, in many 
 cafes which fell under his notice, owing, he believes, 
 to want of proper necelTaries, bad houies, and vari- 
 ous other caufcs. It is impoffibje to account entirely 
 for it. He is fure it was not equally fatal to white 
 children; as in the different regiments he was in, 
 they had a great many children born, but he never P. 155. 
 knew one of them die with it. 
 
 Thinlvs, in general, the (laves were very badly 
 fed. 
 
 It appeared to him, that when mailers were in 
 debt, the flave's food was reduced; as the flaves of 
 feveral very poor planters near him, ufed, in the 
 night, to rob him of every kind of provifions. 
 There were feveral eftaccs where he knew the flaves 
 were better fed, and who never troubled them. 
 
 He is fure the flaves were not univerfally allowed 
 Saturday afternoon, to work their grounds, as he 
 never knew it j and, had it been common, he mufl: 
 have known it. 
 
 He has known the flaves, on the cfl:ate where he 
 lived, feveral times obliged to work, even on Sun- 
 days, for their mafter. His houfe was very near the 
 works. 
 
 He has often known them work all night at the 
 boiling-houfe and mill. 
 
 The taylor, who worked for him the whole time 
 he was in Jamaica, bought his own freedom; andP. 156. 
 when he left the ifland, had fome (laves of his own. 
 He never knew a field-flave buy his freedom. 
 
 Has known flaves, (generally Africans) deflroy 
 themfelves, particularly one at Port Royal, who 
 having been punifhed over-night, wa^ found hanu-ing 
 in his hut in the morning. He was an African who 
 had not been long bought. He never knew a Creole 
 kill himfelf. 
 
 Is fure old negroes, paft labour, were nor, in, 
 general, fufficiently attended to. He knew two old 
 
 men. 
 
1 
 
 86 W. Indies. D a v i s o jt; 
 
 1791. men, belonging to a woman in Port Royal, who 
 *-*vo fubfifted by begging. 
 
 The negroes wives were not fecure from the 
 whites ; for he has known different book-keepers, 
 juft come to the eftate, take their wives from them. 
 Believes this was very often a caufe of difcontent to 
 the flaves. (If there be a law againft this, he never 
 knew it inforced. It is common for whites on eftates 
 to chufe negro women for themfeives or friends, 
 p. 181.) 
 
 Both houfe and field flaves were generally marked 
 with the whip. 
 
 A great many inflances have fallen within his no- 
 tice, which proved feverity unnecefTary. He had al- 
 ways 5 or 6 flaves, whom he never found it necef- 
 fary to punifli, as he iifed them well. A Mr. Mal- 
 colm, who hdd a large eftate, would not allow a ne- 
 gro to be puniflied, withour his knowledge. In an 
 infurreclion, Mr. D. expreff;?d his furprife, that he 
 would Icive his wife and family on the eftate, when 
 
 ■^* ^57* he was b! or 10 miles off. Mr. M. faid, he was fure 
 his negroes wo'il J behave as well m his abfence, as in 
 his prefence. Mr. D. has been often at his houfe, 
 and has known h- n m >ft days go among his negroes, 
 and hear their compliinrs. He told him that he 
 had not bought a new negro for 10 or j 2 years. That 
 they never ran away, and tiiat his eftate and negroes 
 had confi lerablv increafcd in that time. Has often 
 heard him fay, he had as much work done a^ others, 
 and that his negroes always worked willingly. 1$ 
 fure he encouraged thrir pairing, as he gave them 
 every neccff^ry, and k':*pt their houfc-s m good re- 
 pair. He knew dn eftate where the negroes were all 
 Creoles. Is fure they were treated better than com-* 
 mon. 
 
 Free negroes were generally tradefmen, and very 
 induftrious. 
 
 Saw a mother and her daughter feparated at a fale 
 
 P» 1 79* by vendue. A negro woman had been fold by her 
 miftrefs to a Jew, to be lent off the ifland i but Mr. 
 
 D. bought; 
 
W. Indies. Davison. 
 
 D. bought her from the Jew. She had 2 cnildren, 
 ■whom her miftrcfs kept from her, and whom ihe of- 
 ten begged him to buy, which he could nf)t conve- 
 niently do. He bought a new negro, who found his 
 brother, and brought him to the fort to Mr. D. Mr. 
 Chambers, owner of the brother, begged Mr. D. to 
 part with his, as the brother was a very valuable 
 boiler. This Mr. D. reluctantly complied with, for 
 his was equally valuable. 
 
 The Maroon negroes in Jamaica, increafed moft P. 180. 
 certainly. He has often been in all their towns, and 
 always law great numbers of children. Their num- 
 bers were confidcrably more when he left, than when 
 he went to, the ifland. He is lure they did not in- 
 corporate run-aways among them, as they had a re- 
 ward and mile-money, for bringing them to the 
 gaols. 
 
 Is fure whites, if temperate, could, without ma- 
 terial injury, do any kind of out-of-door work. It 
 is well known, that the Ihip-wrights and other 
 tradefmen, in the king's-yard, Port-Royal, often 
 work all day long, and he never knew them un- 
 healthier than people in general. White artificers 
 certainly do work at their trades, in the Weil Indies, 
 without materially hurting their health. 
 
 He believes thumb-lcrews are very often ufed in 
 the Well Indies, having leen feveral negro girls an 
 work with the needle, iirprefence of their miilrefies, 
 with a thumb-fcrew on their left thumb, and he has 
 feen the blood gufh out from the end of them. 
 
 Domeilicks certainly are particularly fubject to 
 their owner's caprice. He has often known their 
 miftrefs fend them to be punilhed, without tellmg 
 them for what. He has been frequently lent for, 
 to the clergyman's flaves before-mentioned, after 
 they have been fcverely flogged, and othcrwife ill 
 treated, lb that he conceived their lives in great 
 danger: particularly to one woman who had beenp, iZi. 
 tied up all night, by her hands, and abufed with 
 cayenne pepper, in a way too horrid and indecent to 
 
 mention 
 
88 W. Indies. Davison. 
 
 1791. mention. He lived next door to a waflier-woman, 
 '-'v-'o at Port Royal, who was almoll continually flogging 
 her negroes. He has often gone in and remonftrated 
 againft her cruelty, where he has leen the negro wo- 
 men chained to the waQiing tubs, almoft naked, with 
 their thighs and backs in a gore of blood, from flog- 
 ging. He could mention various other capricious 
 punifnments, if neceflTary. 
 
 He isfure means are ufed, in Guineamen, to fup- 
 prefs the flaves difeafes (which afterwards break out 
 flill more violently, or bring on other diforders) ef- 
 pecially fluxes, as he made it his bufinefs to a.{k. the 
 lurgeons, who candidly told him their mode of treat- 
 ment on board. He made this inquiry, on his wife's 
 father having bought a good number of flaves out of 
 a Guineaman, leveral of whom broke out in violent 
 fluxes. 
 
 He has known new negroes put into the field 2 or 
 3 days after being bought. They fometimes remain 
 on board in the harbour, 2, or 3 weeks before fale. 
 
 Has feen a great many ulcerated failors lying 
 P. iSi.^^^^^i i" mofl: parts of the ifland, efpecially at King- 
 fton. They chiefly belonged to Guineamen, for he 
 particularly aflced them. 
 
 Has often heard planters fay, fuch an overfeer had 
 improved the efl:ate, by large crops : but never 
 heard any fuch thing mentio.ned, in connexion, as 
 his care of the negroes, or* keeping them up by 
 bi-eeding. 
 
 He has often gone on the eftates of abfentees, 
 with attornies, and came away with them, and faw 
 very little attention paid, except aflcing the overfeer 
 when the fugars would be ready for market. He 
 never heard any inquiries made into the negroes ftate 
 and treatment. 
 
 Has frequently heard owners of flaves fay, that a 
 Creole, when fit to work, cofl:s more than a new 
 negro. 
 
 The attorney and overfeer are not always dillinft 
 perfons. He has known feveral that were both at- 
 torney 
 
Wi Indies. Davison. Sg 
 
 torney and overfecr. He knew feveral in Spanifh 1791. 
 Town, from 20 to 40 miles off the eftates they were ^--v*** 
 attornies for. Attornies are often diredly interefted 
 in increafing the crops, as he always underftood they P. 183, 
 have a per centageon them. 
 
 Overfeers very often have flaves of their own : he 
 has known them have jobbing gangs. Has known 
 the abfcnt mafter's houfe- (laves fcnt into the field, 
 . and the overfeer's put in their room. 
 
 Many more domeftics are kept in Weft India fa- 
 milies than in fimilar Englifli ones. Has known 
 from 12 to 2p in a houfe, where half as many would 
 do very well. 
 
 Domeftics certainly increafe, from being better fed 
 and treated, and lefs worked. 
 
 Female flaves are very commonly let out, by their 
 owners, for proftitution. 
 
 Slaves fell vegetables at market, on their owner's 
 account •, as feveral mountain eftates chiefly depend 
 on felling vegetables. 
 
 On many eftates he is fure proper medical care was 
 not taken of the negrrocs 1 as the furgeon often lives 
 far from the eftates, and vifits them, when he 
 thinks proper. 
 
 lie brought a Guinea woman to England, who P. 184,^ 
 wiftied much to be fent to her own country. It is 
 common for fick negroes to fay, with much pleafure, 
 they are going to die, and are going home from this 
 Buccra country. 
 
 Has often known flaves 12 months in gaol, from 
 their mafter's debts. 
 
 Believes owners are very commonly involved with 
 Guinea merchants ; for they often ftay on the eftates, 
 all the week, except Sundays, with their gates always 
 locked. Bayers of new negroes, if planters, are 
 credited, from one crop to another •, if not planters, 
 from 6 to 1 2 months. 
 
 He has very often feen refufe- negroes, fold at 
 vendue, in a wretched fituation, and very cheap. 
 Several make a trade of it. 
 
 Numb. 4. M There 
 
W. Indies. Davison. 
 
 There was a captain to every Maroon town, and 
 a fuperintendant over the whole, to keep up order. 
 P. 185. f^e thinks runaways could not be harboured, in the 
 Maroon towns, without coming to the captain's 
 knowledge, who always lives very near the towns. 
 He is appointed, by the governor, as guardian of the 
 treaty with the Maroons. He is always a white man. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Drewry Otley, Efq. 
 
 His Majefiy's Chief Juftice on the Ifland of 
 
 St. Vincent. 
 
 P. 158. Refided in the W. Indies fince 1776, chiefly in St. 
 Vincent. Has vifited Antigua, Tobago, St. Kitts, 
 Grenada, and St. Lucia: was in England about ten 
 months of the time. , 
 
 Is of the council of St. Vincent's, appointed in 
 1784, and chief juftice in 1787. 
 
 Managed his own eftates there till made chief 
 juftice i when, often abfent on public bufinefs, he 
 employed a manager, whofe conduct he conftantly 
 fuperintended. 
 
 As to the laws refpeding (laves ; the old flave 
 afts, which were the general laws throughout the 
 iflands and which in many ftill continue unrepealed, 
 have appeared to him in many cafes unjuft and in- 
 human, as to the perfonal fecurity of flaves ; which 
 appears only to be provided for, in cafes of murders, 
 difmemberment, and mutilation. And as the evidence 
 of flaves is never admitted againft whites, the diffi- 
 P, I59.^"^^y ^^ legally eftablifliing fafts is fo great, that 
 white men are in a manner put: beyond the reach of 
 the law : however, fuppofmg the proof full, the mur- 
 der of a flave in fome iflands is only punifliable by a 
 larger fine, and difmemberment and mutilation by a 
 fmaller. Some of the atfls are filent on the murder 
 of a flave, and it has been fuppofed, in thofe iflands, 
 that it was punifliable by the common law of Eng- 
 land : 
 
W. Indies, O t t l e y. 91 
 
 land : however, on confidering the latter part of the 179 1. 
 fecond claufe in the St. Vincent (lave act, which is v-^v-^ 
 alfo introduced in Ibme of the flave afls of the otiier 
 iflands, is of opinion, that by inference from that 
 claufe, the murder of a flave is not punilhable by 
 common law as a capital offence. 
 
 There is no law for fecuring the flave's property, 
 againll his mafter, nor againlt ftrangers, unlefs the 
 mafter brings an action. 
 
 There are lav/s in mod of the iflands obliging 
 mafters to provide food and clothing for their flavcs ; 
 but does not think them in general efficient, from the 
 difficulty of bringing proof of the breach of the law. 
 
 Some claufes in the St. Vincent's flave aS: appear 
 to be oppreffive and impolitic ; particularly that 
 which obliges the whites, under a penalty, to fearch 
 once a fortnight, the negroe houfcs on the eflate, for 
 runaways or Itolen goods •, that which prevents flaves 
 from hiring themfelves of their mafters to work on 
 their own account ; thofe which lay certain reftric- 
 tion on free negroes, and deprive them in fome cafes 
 of trial by jury -, the claufe which throws obftacles in 
 the way of flaves buying their freedom ; and fome 
 others which he does not juft now recolleft. 
 
 In his ani'wers, he confines himfelf to St. Vincent's 
 where named; where no ifland is named, his obferva- 
 tions extend to all where the old flave a(5ls are yet in 
 force. 
 
 The omiffions in the old laws are fo numerous that P. 160. 
 it is difficult to afcertain them ; he will therefore fpeak 
 to fuch alterations and provifions as appear nccellary 
 for the protection of flaves. 
 
 He would recommend the paffing a flave act in 
 every ifland, repealing thofe now in force, and ella- 
 blifhing regulations upon the principle of the late 
 Grenada ad, to obviate the difficulty of bring- 
 ing evidence againft whites : councils of protection 
 or guardians, fhould be named to lee that the provi- 
 fions made for the benefit of flaves are enforced : they 
 fhould be empowered to infpeft provifion grounds, 
 
 M 2 lick 
 
gi W. Indies. O t t l e y. 
 
 1791. fick houfes, clothing, negro-houfes, and the general 
 
 *i*-v-«-' condition of flaves ; and upon juft grounds of fufpi- 
 
 cion, to have power to examine whites, or other free 
 
 perfons, on oath, and to profecute offenders, where 
 
 neceflary. 
 
 Thinks, if the guardians do their duty, and aft 
 with impartiality, that the fubftitute for the evidence 
 of flaves, (provided by the Grenada adt) affords as 
 great a degree of protection and fecurity as perfons in 
 a flate of flavery can enjoy. 
 
 Can devife no means, likely to be adopted, for ad- 
 mitting the evidence of flaves, in their prefent ftate 
 of ignorance. 
 P. 161. The laws lately pafied in Jamaica, Grenada, and 
 Dominica, (as contained in the Privy Council report) 
 have fupplied moft of the omifTions now noticed-, but 
 the Grenada law feems befl calculated to have full 
 cffea. 
 
 The punifliments to be inflicted by the St. Vincent's 
 flave a6t, muft be by order of juffices of the peace : 
 recollefts no provifions there, which limit the degree, 
 or afcertain the nature, of the punifhment which a 
 mafler or manager may infiid:. 
 
 The general modes of punifhment he has obferved 
 on Welt India eftates, were, whipping, the itocks, 
 chains, iron collars j the latter not frequent, nor 
 long worn, becaufe deemed hurtful to the flaves 
 health. 
 
 As to whipping in a cruel manner and difpropor- 
 tionate to the offence, overfeers ftriking flaves 
 wantonly, fubtra6ting from his allowance, taking a- 
 way the provifions he has raifed, or other arbitrary 
 and cruel treatment independent of punifhment for 
 P. 1 62. offences, much depends on the temper and dilpofition 
 of mafters or managers. On all the eftates he has 
 known, where the mafter or manager refided, over- 
 feers were forbidden to ftrike any flave, and were li- 
 able to be turned off if they did. Sometimes they do 
 it, but does not think it common* 
 
 Thq 
 
W. Indies. O t t l e y. ^2 
 
 The treatment of (laves, fo far as he has obferved, 1791. 
 is in general humane. ^-^nt^ 
 
 Inftances of cruelty do and vv'.ll occur, but does 
 not tliink them coninion. Certainly thinks them 
 exceptions to general ufage. 
 
 As to inftances of notorious cruelty in the iflands 
 going unpuniflied, never knew but one cafe where a 
 man was punilhed by law in St. Vincent's for cruelty 
 to a flnve, and that was very lately. His heard of 
 other cafes of cruelty notorious, which have gone 
 unpuniflied. 
 
 Jn St. Vincent's, induflrious field flaves are gene- 
 rally pofiefled of fome property. So far as he can 
 guefs, an induftrious but ordinary field flave may 
 acquire to the amount of 61. or 8 1. (lerling per ann. 
 Of 200 flaves on an eftate, not more than one-third p^ ig^. 
 can be reckoned Held flaves ; fome of whom will be 
 young and indifferent to property, others lazy. He 
 fliould fuppofe 12 to 18 might acquire to the amount 
 mentioned. Has heard of field flaves acquiring to 
 a greater amount, but in general they are careful to 
 conceal their property from their mafters. They 
 acquire it by raifing hogs, goats, poultry, and by the 
 culture of their grounds, of which they have in ge- 
 neral more than they can cultivate, and as good land 
 for the purpofe as any on the eftate. Out of crop 
 they have half of Saturday, or one day in a fort- 
 night. Thinks the latter better for the flave, as he 
 can go frefli to his work, and has more time to com- 
 plete any particular job. 
 
 In St. Vincent's flaves are never married according 
 to the rites of the Church, but they are very often 
 attached to one woman. 
 
 Knows of no law to prevent a white from de-P. 164. 
 bauching the wife of a flave : but does not recollect 
 any cafe of the kind. 
 
 As the females, who are not married, do not feem 
 to prize chaftity much, he fhould fuppofe the men 
 licentious with regard to women. 
 
 Slaves, 
 
94 W. Indies. Ottley. 
 
 1791. Slaves, when paft the time of youth, often live 
 «— v*o faithfully as man and wife. 
 
 The men are in general fo addided to the ufe of 
 fpirituous liquors, that they will get drunk as oft as 
 they can. 
 
 Has heard young fem.ales ftudy to procure abor- 
 tions, but never knew a cafe : they are fo fond of 
 dancing, that he does not think pregnancy, unlefs 
 far advanced, would prevent their going a great way 
 for it. Dances are common, but (laves from diflant 
 eflates are forbidden. 
 
 The flaves are in general very harmlefs and peace- 
 able. Never knew a cafe, even where they have 
 been faid to be ill treated, of their attempting to 
 injure their mafter's property from refentmentj tho' 
 were they fo inclined, they have many opportuni- 
 r. 165. ties, particularly in crop time. They difcover a 
 benevolent difpofition, and a general good will. On 
 every diftrefsful emergency, fuch as fire, which often 
 happens, he has always obferved negroes from the 
 neighbouring pUntations, uncalled, even in the 
 pight, ready and a6live to their utmoft exertion in 
 relieving the misfortune of the moment. Recolle6Vs 
 an inflance which occurred in 1785 : A fire fuddenly 
 broke out among his canes, at a place the moft dis- 
 tant from where his own flaves were working. Thofe 
 of Sir William Young, who were at work near the 
 fpot, voluntarily run to the place, and with much 
 trouble and fome rifque extinguifhed the flames, 
 which might otherwife have deftroyed 50 or 60 
 hogilieads of fugar ; nor did they afk any reward 5 
 but of courfe fome recompence was fent them. 
 
 Thofe feafoned to the illands appear to be of a 
 chearful temper ; and are fo, when well ufed -, which 
 may be known by their returning merry and fing- 
 ing, from their work. 
 
 Thinks, on eftates well handed with feafoned 
 negroes, and which have a regular fucceffion of chil- 
 dren to fupply thofe who fall off by age, the numbers 
 might be kept up, and probably increafe without 
 
 importation^ 
 
 1 
 
W. Indies. Ottley. 95 
 
 importation. In many inftances, eftates, humanely 1791. 
 managed, and with a fuitable proportion of the fexes, >w^~V'>^ 
 aftually have, and do increafe their numbers without 
 importation, (p. 167.) 
 
 Is acquainted with the Caribs of St. Vincent's, p, 155, 
 They are moftly of the negro race, faid to bedefcen- 
 ded from fuch as efcaped from a flave fhip, wrecked 
 upon the coaft. 
 
 Believes they do not incorporate runaways, who 
 would be eafily diftinguiflied from the Caribs, who 
 have a peculiar flattening in the forehead, produced 
 in infancy; they have a reward too for bringing in run- 
 aways ; and there is befides a flrong antipathy be- 
 tween them and the flaves (p. 169). Their number is 
 faid to be 3000, fo that they muft certainly have in- 
 creafed, and believes they are ftill on the increafe : 
 they are fond of fpirituous liquors (p. 169). 
 
 As flaves can never live lb much at their eafe as 
 the Caribs do, and muft be more expofed while at 
 •work, they will be fubjedt to difeafcs, to which the 
 Caribs and free negroes are not •, they will therefore 
 probably not increafe fo much, though they may in- 
 creafe. 
 
 W. India eftates are in general deeply mortgaged: p. jgy, 
 in proportion to the weight of debt on them, they 
 will in many inftances be worked with greater exer- 
 tion of labour, and under difadvantages of credit pre- 
 judicial to the fupplies for comfort, or even fub- 
 fiftence of the Oaves, in many cafes. 
 
 He fhould neceflTarily conclude, that where flaves 
 are not fupplied equally with the neceflaries and 
 comforts of life, they will of courfe be proportionally 
 defecftive in increafe. 
 
 The proprietors of eftates prefled by their credi- 
 tors would, he fears, be induced to work their gangs 
 beyond their ftrength, were they cut off from frelh 
 fupplies of flaves, and thus a fudden and total aboli- 
 tion eventually prove opprefilve to many flaves in 
 the Weft Indies, 
 
 Believes, 
 
96 W. Indies. O t t l e v. 
 
 1791. Believes, the queftion of the flave-trade depending 
 »-nr»*i' in the Britifh Parliament, may have directed the at- 
 tention of the colonial legiflatures, to the reform of 
 the laws in favour of flaves •, and while the queftion 
 P. 168. continues pending, believes they will be difpofed 
 to adopt any pradlicable regulations which may be 
 recommended to them ; but does not think they 
 would attend to fuch recommendation with the fame 
 good temper and fatisfaftion were the queftion de- 
 cided, and the flave-trade ftopt. 
 
 Does not think any effectual reform of the fiave 
 laws could be made without the co-operation of the 
 colonies^ as by the conftitution of their governments, 
 their legiQative bodies muft pafs the laws, and the 
 magiftrates and others in the iflands enforce them. 
 
 His letter to Sir William Young, contained in the 
 Privy Council Report, was written in hafte, and 
 merely for Sir William's private information. 
 
 As the laws now ftand in many of the iflands, do- 
 meftick flaves muft be peculiarly fubjedt to their 
 mafters caprice-, and their fituation can lefs be eflfe6l- 
 ed by regulations of law, than even that of field 
 flaves, becaufe the conduct of mafters to domefticks 
 P. 169.1$ not fo open to the obfervation of the world. 
 
 As to fuppofmg private punifliments to be reftric- 
 ted to a certain number of laflies, and mafters and 
 overfeers fliould exceed the limitation, or fplitting 
 one crime into many, give the limited number for 
 each ; can devife no mode of bringing fuch mafter 
 or other to juftice, while the evidence of a flave con- 
 tinues inadmifiible. 
 
 Believes there are 400 or 500 whites in all, ex- 
 cluflve of the military, in St. Vincent's •, perhaps 150 
 more in the flnall iflands now conneded with it •, and 
 imagines the flaves on thofe iflands, which are not 
 many, are included in the number of St. Vincent's 
 flaves. 
 
 Never knew a free negro hire himfelf to fleld la- 
 bour, to hire as mechanicks is common. 
 
 The 
 
W. Indies. Ottley. 97 
 
 The flock of flaves on his eftate when he firft went 1790. 
 out have conllantly increakd ■, but the new negroes v.— ^~j 
 he has bought fince 1784, have, in fpite of all pofTibleP. 170. 
 attention to them, decreafed at lead one in eight. 
 Mr. Robley told him, that on his eftate Sandy Point, 
 in Tobago, there has been a conftant confiderable 
 increafe by births, though the fituation does not 
 feem healthy. In St. Vincent's, upon Sir William 
 Youns's eftate, Calliag-ua, there has been for fome 
 years paft a conftant increafe by births; the lame on 
 Mr. Haffey's eftate, and he believes alfo upon Mr. 
 Winn's ; and likewife upon Mr. Collins's and a Mr. 
 Morgan's eftates. 
 
 If proper attention was paid to the religious in- 
 ftruflion of flaves, he is convinced it would be of the 
 greateft advantage to the planters. Within thefe 
 three or four years, fome Methodift miftionaries, 
 have had accefs to many eftates in St. Vincent's, for 
 that purpofe. Has heard that in Antigua the flaves 
 have been greatly improved in their morals by the 
 inftruftions of the Moravians ; inlomuch, that the 
 aftual value of fuch flaves, confidered as objefls of 
 commerce, has been raifed. An increafe of popula- 
 tion from the births, would be an undoubted con- 
 fequence of the moral improvement of flaves (p. 
 
 I74-) 
 
 Does not think, that even on thofe eftates where 
 he has known the ftock kept up and increafed by 
 births, fuch attention has been paid to the fubjedl as 
 he would judge proper (p. 174.) 
 
 As to whites efcaping punifliment in atrocious 
 cafes, from negro evidence being invalid, recollefts, 
 that in Odober 1789, a flave in Tobago was faid, 
 and univcrlally believed, to have been ftabbed by a 
 white (thinks the manager of the eftate) in the pre-p^ j«j^ 
 fence of many other flaves. The man died on the 
 fpot, and the white was tried, but, for want of luch 
 evidence as Weft Indian courts of law require, was 
 acquitted. Another cafe occurred in St. Vincent's j 
 a white, was ftrongly fufpe^ted of having fliot his 
 
 Numb. 4. N brother- 
 
W. Indies, Ottlev. 
 
 brother-in-law, the fad was faid by two or three 
 flaves to have been done in their prefence ; and, } 
 the coroner's inqueft (he thinks) confirmed this fuf- 
 picion, by a verdict of wilful murder, againft this 
 white. At a court where he (Mr. Octley) prefided, 
 the caufe was tried, and although there fcarcely re- 
 mained a doubt with the jury of the man's guilt, he 
 was neverthelefs acquitted, for want of Tufficient 
 evidence. 
 
 Thinks, that (laves in general are better treated, 
 and more fatisfied with their condition, where the 
 owner refides. 
 
 Where ground provifions are fcarce, and the owner's 
 embarraifments prevent his getting fupplies of im- 
 ported provifions, his negroes mull certainly fuffer. 
 In 1779, he has heard, many perfons fulTered in An- 
 tigua from this circumftance. 
 P. 172. Has always he.ird that in St. Kitt's the chief de- 
 pendance is on imported provifions, and it muft be 
 often fo in Antigua, from the droughts to which 
 they are fubjeft. 
 
 Where planters, as has often happened, take in 
 more cane land than thev can properly cultivate, the 
 labour of the negroes will be increafed, and the land 
 v/ill not be productive. 
 
 Never knew a field flave buy his freedom. Never 
 heard of aft of iViicide among creoies. 
 
 As to infurredions, whether mofi to be apprehend- 
 ed from African or Creole flaves, there never was 
 an infurreftion in St. Vincent's; but thofe which 
 happened in Tobago, he has heard, originated with 
 the Africans. 
 
 The circumftance of being forcibly torn from 
 their families and friends, will frequently have the 
 effe6l to fhorten the lives of imported flaves ; parti- 
 cularly the aged : thofe who deftroy themfelvcs are 
 always found to be adults. 
 P. 173. The climate of St. Viiicent's, when firft fettled, 
 being covered with wood, was very fatal . to Eu- 
 ropeans i but now it fcems as healthy as any other 
 
 of 
 
W. Indies." Ottley. 99 
 
 of the iflands ; and it has been remarked, that no 1791. 
 L:;reater mortality has occurred among the trjops, for s-.-v^*j» 
 tiiefe five or fix years part, than is common in Eng- 
 land. The Europeans who are refidcnt, from cx- 
 pofuie during the hours of labour, are frequently fcib- 
 je6l to difeafes. 
 
 By the ccurt afl, fiaves may be feized for the 
 owner's debt, but not till his goods, chattels, and 
 produce are found iniufficicnt. Slaves by the laws 
 of St. Vincent's are in general confidered as of the 
 nature of real eftate, and fo defcend to the heir, and 
 widov/3 are dowable from them •, but where the per- 
 fonal ertate is infufficient, executors may inventory 
 fiaves, and apply them to the difcharge of the terta- 
 tor's debts. But to prevent eftares being deprived of 
 fiaves, there is a particular law in St. Vincent's, al- 
 lowing the executors to advance money at 6 per cent, 
 intereft, taking fecui ity on the fiaves. 
 
 In cafe of actual fcrzure, the marfli;\l is equally 
 refponfible for Oaves, as for other property. 
 
 As to fej.aiation of families, by fuch fiiles, the p. 17^, 
 law has provided, that a woman and her infant child 
 fiiall always be fold together. Does not rccolleit 
 any other provifion. 
 
 Is of opinion, that the reforms in the treatment of 
 fiaves hinted in the preceding part of his evidence, 
 would be tor the mutual advantage of owner and 
 fiave. 
 
 With refpedl to the intcrerts of *the owner and 
 managers being lometimes at variance, it is in ge- 
 neral the manager's intereil" to make large crops, to 
 fupport his charaifler as a planter; and perfons often 
 judging from eflcLls, he may feel himfclf under a 
 kind of necefilty of working the fiaves harder than 
 he wiflies, to keep up to the pioduce of former years. 
 
 Never lolt more than two or three children on his 
 ertates by the tetaniis, but many by worms between 
 three and fix years, which feems the moft fatal dil- 
 order 10 children in tiie Well Indies, white as well 
 as negro. 
 
 N 2 Want 
 
ICO \V. Indies. Ottley. 
 
 1791. Want of food and other ill treatment he lliould 
 *— v^-» fuppofe to be one great caufe of flaves running away : 
 ■P* J 75' indeed he has heard of a cafe, where about 10 negroes, 
 who had been long abfent, on the death of a mafter 
 efteemed very fevere, voluntarily returned to the 
 eftate : however, has known negroes run away with- 
 out any provocation. 
 
 Upon aiking his African negroes how they became 
 flaves, fome v*'ho were imported young, faid, they were 
 kidnapped •, others, that they had been fold for 
 crimes, or prifoners of war. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Reverend Mr. Stuart. 
 
 P. 175. Has been at Guadaloupe, Dominique, St. Croix, 
 St. Eufiatius, St. Kitts, (at the laft about a year) 
 and Nevis. Went to the Well Indies about the be- 
 
 P. 1 77' ginning of 1778, and left them in 1779 for America, 
 
 ■'• • ^75- which he left atChriflmas 1782. Has had a twenty 
 years acquaintance with the condition of flaves in the 
 different ftates of N. America. 
 
 He is warranted in declaring that the negroes are 
 an oppreffed and much injured race, in no better 
 eftimation than labouring cattle ^ and every delcrip- 
 tion of their treatment he has met with, falls thorc 
 
 P. 1 76. of their real (late. He read Mr. Ramfay's, in ma- 
 nufcript, at St. Kitts, and comparing it on the fpot 
 with the treatment of the flaves, thought it too 
 favourable. 
 
 Though there are as humane people in the Weft 
 Indies as elfewhere, they are from the nature of 
 flavery led into cruel meafures. The punilhments 
 there often fcemed too fevere. Has fcen many ne- 
 groes working in ciiains both in America and Weft 
 Indies. Has often known runaways put in a dun- 
 geon at night, and once faw about fourteen, fome of 
 whom were in chains, put into a dungeon, apparent- 
 
 ly 
 
W. Indies. Stuart. loi 
 
 ly much too fmall for them. Next morning he faw 1791. 
 one of them taken out dead. 
 
 Shives in America feem more hearty and robuftP. 177, 
 than thofe in the Weft Indies, owing, he fuppoks, 
 to their being better fed. Their allowance was a 
 quart of Indian corn, peafe, or rice, each day, and 
 a licde fait. 
 
 It was generally believed the Carolina flaves in- 
 creafed without importation. 
 
 He was told at St. Croix, that the flaves, inftru6led 
 by the Moravians, were better behaved than the 
 others. 
 
 The blacks are not inferior to the whites in abili- 
 ties or diipofition. Thev have as much generofity, 
 fidelity, gratitude, underftanding, and ingenuity; 
 capable of receiving religious inftruclion, and im- 
 provement of every kind. Has found his black 
 fervants in nothing inferior to his white ones, and is 
 fure that education and opportunity alone make a 
 difference between the two defcriptions. 
 
 Nothing had been done to alleviate the fituation 
 of the negroes, in general, in the period of Mr. 
 Stuarts's refidence in America and the W. Indies. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Captain Scott. 
 
 Captain Alexander Scott, of the Royal navy, was P. i^y. 
 on the coaft of Africa from Senegal to Cape Coaft, P. lyS, 
 in the Merlin, 1769, during the rainy feafon. Out 
 of 90 men they buried there 8, of whom only 4 died 
 of the diforders of the country. The furfs there are 
 not an utter inpediment to landing and (hipping 
 goods. He has himfelf landed from his own boat 
 at Dixcove, Commenda, and Cape Coaft, and tlie 
 boars without him, alio at Succonda. He has been 
 in the W. Indies longer than on the Coaft of Africa, 
 and has of courfe i'ccn greater lurfs there than on the 
 
 CO.ift. 
 
 From 
 
102 Africa. Scott. 
 
 1791. From a tranfaflion which happened the fecond d^y 
 *-'v*«-' after his arrival in the Weft Indies, he thought th.e 
 negroes very cruelly ufed. He fiiw a white man 
 purfue a negro into the water, bring him out, and 
 take him to the wharf, where he had him hung up 
 to a crane by his hands, which were tied together, 
 and weights tied to his i'cet. "" -hc-n thus hoifted up, 
 but fo as (till to touch the ground, another negto 
 P. 179. was ordered to whip him with a prickly bufh. He 
 walked away from the difagreeable fight. The next 
 day he faw the fame negro lying on the beach, and 
 •with the afiiftance of another taking the prickles out 
 of his breech, fcemingly fwelled and bloody. The 
 negro ailigned as a reafon for the whipping, that 
 the wharfinger thought he had ftaid too long on an 
 errand. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Rev. Mr. Davies. 
 
 P. 1 B5. Kefided at Barbadoes fourteen years; the three lad, 
 learning the management of a fugar- eftace -, left it 
 twenty-one years ago. 
 
 It was not underitood that flaveshad a right to le- 
 gal red:efs when ill ufed by mailers. 
 P. 186. -^^ to field -flaves being well, or fparingly fed, it is 
 difficult to judge from appearance only •, before crop 
 many feemed very emaciated, in crop they looked 
 well. Has (cen their allowance dealt out ; a grown 
 negroe had nine pints of corn and about one pound 
 of fak-fifli per week: ibme principal (laves had as far 
 as tv/elve pints; but the grain of the Weft Indies is 
 much lighter than wheat. 
 
 Never knew neld-ilaves acquire confiderable pro- 
 perty-, they had a few houfe-necefTanes, and were 
 allowed to keep a pig, or a goat, and poultry. 
 
 As to its being a ferious obje6l with planters, to 
 keep up the ftock of flaves by breeding; it was fo 
 much otherwife, as to be generally thought a necef- 
 
 fary 
 
W.Indies. Davie s." 103 
 
 fary part of plantation expenfe to buy a lot of new itqi. 
 flaves every fix or icven years. Thinks the caufe why w^-v>^ 
 the number of Haves are not kept up by births is, that 
 females are over worked, in turning dung, carrying 
 it out in bafkets of 60 to 70 pound weight on their 
 heads, and that for about eight hours a day, in the 
 feafon. On their return home, they have to grind 
 their corn by the (Irengch of their arms, rubbing it 
 between two ftones : they muft rile with the earlielt 
 dawn to prepare their food, that they may be in the 
 field in time to efcape punifhment. Their circum- 
 llances (particularly the grinding corn) tended to dil- 
 courage marriage, the woman's life becoming harder 
 then, f:-om being thus a Qave to her hu(band (p. 187). 
 
 Pregnant women, and fuch as had children, are 
 allowed to come into "the field a litile later than the 
 reft. 
 
 With very good ufage, if the females are to the 
 males as three to four, the ftock may be kept up by 
 births-, as it was on Kendal plantation belonging; to 
 Jo!"hua Steele, efq. though the proportion was as Wo 
 to three (p. i88j. 
 
 Though people in general feemed to confider flaves 
 as their moft valuable property •, yet their attention to 
 them (from a fenle or intereft'^ appeared infufficient, 
 becaule a great number of recruits was neceflary. 
 
 To produce large quantities of fugar at a f.nali ex- 
 penfe, was the chief criterion of a manag-i's merit; 
 though owners fometimes difeharged their managers 
 for too much feverity. 
 
 Is of opinion they cultivated too much cane land, P. 1S7. 
 and too little provifions, as many were oblio^ed to Du/ 
 American corn : thinks having lefs cane land wouid 
 produce^ better trearment to the liaves, and be ulti- 
 mately for the mailer's benefit. 
 
 The dependance on imported flaves certainly con- 
 tributed to embarrafs planters. 
 
 As to the practicability of keeping u^ the Hock of 
 flaves by births, provided it Jiad bee .1 -an ubjed- of 
 knous attention to the planters i cannot lay he attended 
 
 to 
 
104 W. Indies. Davie s. 
 
 1791. to it when on the idand, but it does appear to him 
 **-v*^ now (from the fafts which then fell under his notice 
 p. 188.) that by general good ufage of the (laves, 
 and a milder treatment of females in particular, 
 by the ufe of cattle and inftruments of hufbandry, e- 
 fpecialJy the plough, their numbers might be kept 
 up, perhaps increafe. Knew a few eftates which kept 
 up their numbers without importation. 
 P. 188. is of opinion flaves were in general too fparingly 
 fed, whether the mafter was embarralTed or not. 
 
 Underftood from common report, that there were 
 few eftates that were not more or lefs embarraffed, 
 from debt to the Eupopean merchant, or from join- 
 tures, or fortunes to brothers and fifters. 
 
 On afls.ing African negroes how they became flaves, 
 was anfwered they had been kidnapped. 
 
 Thinks their feelings much the fame as Europeans. 
 "When removed from their habitations and Ipots of 
 ground, they have been known to pine away. 
 
 i\s to the pra6tice of flaves conftanrly working 
 
 under a driver, does not recoiled a Angle exception. 
 
 P. 189. The whip is committed to the hands of apprentice 
 
 boys, as well as to men, who often punifli the flaves 
 
 for very flight faults, arbitrarily. 
 
 I 
 
 Witnefs Examined — Mr. Mark Cook. 
 
 P. 189. ^^' Mark Cook arrived in Jamaica in 1774, and 
 left it, 1790-, was three years in planting buflnefs : 
 refl: of the time as clerk and fchoolmafter with dif- 
 ferent gentlemen there. 
 
 His firft impreflion of flaves treatment fliockingj 
 for he lived clofe by a cane-piece, where they worked, 
 and conftantly heard the whip going. Slaves ufed 
 cruelly, hardly looked on better than beafts, and 
 often lifc'd worfe. 
 
 Have not fufncient food nor time to cultivate 
 their grounds. Hah known both Africans and Creoles 
 
 eat 
 
W. I N D 1 E S, M. C O O K. 105 
 
 eat putrid carcafes, is convinced through want, would 1791. 
 not have done it if they had had other fufRcient food : ^-/'-v-v,/ 
 when they have time and opportunity, are veryP, joo. 
 cleanly in their food — ;are very fond of vvafhing 
 themfelvcs. 
 
 Are but indifferently clothed : one half of them al- 
 moft naked in the field; this not from choice but 
 ■want ; are fond of clothes when they can get any ; alfo 
 badly lodged; if overfeers can get their work done, 
 they do not attend to fuch matters. 
 
 Their ufual punifliments very fevere, more fo than 
 necefTary to procure the work to be done properly: 
 much more of it might be done, were they better 
 fed and lefs whipped. 
 
 Common to dung cane pieces by moon-light, and 
 to oblige them to pick grafs afcer their day's work : 
 this a great hardfhip. Negroe's grounds generally p. iqi. 
 about two miles from the works; common to exaft 
 grafs picking for overfeer's cattle; feldom efcape 
 punifhment if they negle6l it. (p. 191.) 
 
 In crop-time they work in general about 18 hours 
 out of 24 : are often hurt through mere fatigue and 
 want of lleep : knew a girl lofe her hand by the mill 
 while feeding it ; for overcome by fleep, Ihe dropped 
 againll the rollers. Has heard of fcveral inftances 
 of the kind. 
 
 Has known negroes own grounds taken from them 
 to be put in canes for mafter's ufe, and wood land 
 given them in exchange — a great hardfhip, and cer- 
 tainly the caufe of great dilTatisfacSlion among them. 
 
 Thinks they are in general much neglected in 
 ficknefs. There are dodlors on eftaces, but they 
 feldom attend. Has known negroes, ordered to 
 work by doctor when incapable of doing it, drop in 
 the field, and obliged to be brought back again. 
 
 Much the fame work is expe(5led from pregnant 
 women as others; has feen them holing within a few 
 hours of delivery; has known 39 laflies given them P. 192, 
 at this time; has heard many of them wifli never to 
 
 Numb. 4 O have 
 
io6 \V. I N D I E S. M. C O K. 
 
 1791. have children to undergo the hardfhips they them- 
 c-vO Telves have been fubjed: to. 
 
 Superannuated {lives have no allowance, and only 
 what they can get annong their relations ; has (ten 
 them wandering about the beach, left to take care of 
 themfelves. 
 
 Defert frequently, owing to hunger and fear of 
 flogging when threatened : when brought in are ge- 
 nerally feverely flogged, and fometimes have an iron 
 boot put on one or both legs, and a chain or collar 
 round their neck. The chain is locked, the collar 
 faftened on by a rivet. When the collar is with 3 
 projedions, it is impofllble for them to lie down to 
 lleep; even with 2 they mufl: lie uneafily. Has feen 
 collars with 4 proje6lions. Never knew any injury 
 from the chain and collar, but feverely galling their 
 necks ; has, however, known a negro lofe his leg 
 from wearing the boot. 
 ■^ • ^93- A man and his wife, if indullrious, and have their 
 due time allowed them, may earn 3 or 4 bits per 
 week, at the utmofl. Never heard of a field negro 
 buying his own freedom. 
 
 Domeftic negroes are often feverely punilhed, but 
 rot fo often as field flaves : has known many inftan- 
 ces : knew a lady, who had both her men and women 
 domeftics laid down and flogged every Monday 
 morning for different flight ofi^ences, which happened 
 in the previous week. 
 
 Knows of no legal protedion flaves have [againfl 
 injuries from their mailers. 
 
 Has known a field flave receive 200 laflies by 
 order of the overfeer, and a domefl:ic 50, by order 
 of his mifl:refs. 
 P. 194. Once knew a runaway flave brought in, with part 
 of a turkey with him, which he had fl:olen. His 
 mafl:er immediately made two negroes hold him 
 down, and with a hammer and a punch knocked out 
 two of his upper and two of his under teeth. Really 
 thinks negro had fl:olen from hunger, as he was no- 
 thing butfliin and bones. Mafl:er was not reckoned 
 
 cruel. 
 
W. Indies. M. C o o k. 107 
 
 cruel. Witnefs lived with him three years, and re- 1791, 
 members no other cruelty committed by W\m. ■ , ^-.^f 
 
 Never knew any complaint made to a magiftrate, 
 or punifliment inflicted on owner or overfeer in any 
 of the cafes mentioned, or in any other cafe whatfo- 
 ever, for ill ufing a negro. 
 
 Has known negroes often puniflied for complain- 
 ing to the owner or attorney againll their overfen s. 
 
 Chaftity of negro women is not at all fecure 
 againll overfeers : if ovcrfcer fends for a girl for 
 fuch a purpofe, flie muft come or be flogged. Has 
 known them threatened and flogged for refuflng. 
 Knew a Mulatto girl run away, in confequence of 
 being threatened on that account. She was the wife 
 of one of her own colour. Her hufl^and and chil- 
 dren ran away at the fame time. 
 
 Has known both Mulattoes and Quadroons con- P. 195. 
 fined in irons 6 or 7 years, at the fole will of their 
 owner. When they came out, (which was on the 
 death of their miftrefs) their limbs were fo diftorted 
 they could not walk. Was informed of it by one 
 who lived two years on the eftate, and had feen them 
 often, and with whom he lived afterwards in the 
 fame employ. 
 
 Greatefl; recommendation of an overfeer is the 
 magnitude of the crop he makes, without regard to 
 working the negroes hard; muft work them hard to 
 make large crops. 
 
 SoQie overfeers are paid fo much upon every hogf- 
 head of fugar, and puncheon ot rum. Others have 
 n ftated annual falary. 
 
 Perfons fometimes officiate on eft:ates both as 
 attorneys and overfeers at fame time. Has known 
 attorneys refide 40 or 50 miles from the eftates they 
 were to fuperincend, 
 
 A gentleman, on whofe eftate he lived, bought P. '196. 
 25 negroes in one "lot, and at two years end had only 
 8 or 10 left. A great many Arrican negroes die m 
 the firft three years after importation. 
 
 lias heard African negroes exprefi their priife of 
 
 Q z their 
 
io8 W. Indies. M. C o o k. 
 
 1791. their own country, and grief at leaving it. Never 
 v*nr«-» knew one but wifhed to go back again. Was told 
 by one, when afking him the mode of his capture, 
 that they undermined the houfe in which he and fa- 
 mily lived, and came in upon them in the night, and 
 took them all away. 
 
 Knew a negro man v/ho hanged himfelf, alfo 3, 
 woman. On the fame property a man had jfliot him- 
 felf before witnefs came to it. Has heard of many 
 other inftances of the kind ; all Africans. Great 
 rejoicings made by African negroes at the funerals 
 of each other, from a belief that the deceafed are 
 gone to their own country again. 
 
 Capacity of fome negroes is very great : as to dif- 
 poficion, they fcem ftubborn at firft coming, but 
 grow better in time. " In both thefe points they do 
 not differ much from lower white people, when they 
 have been fometime in the country. 
 *• I97« Knows two eftates where, he believes, negroes 
 increafed by births, which he afcribes to good ufage 
 and their not being worked too hard. 
 
 Maroon negroes, believes, are increafing very fafb. 
 
 Domeftic ufed in general much better than field 
 flaves ; thinks they ufually increafe, but not fo fad 
 as field flaves, when well ufed. 
 
 Cultivation of cotton, coffee, and pimento, much 
 more eafy than that of fugar; and flaves there look 
 better and increafe fafter than thofe on fugar eflares. 
 
 Jobbing gangs are ufed in general better than 
 field flaves, if they work under their own mafters; 
 but if under the overfeer of the eflate, much worfe. 
 
 Slaves of a perfon embarraffed are worfe clothed 
 and fed on that account; thinks in general they ar€ 
 vi'td better, when their owner lives on the eftate 
 himfelf. 
 
 Knows of no regulation to prevent feparation of 
 
 families, when flaves are fold by writs of venditioni, 
 
 P. 198. or from African fhips. Slaves fubjed to imprifon- 
 
 mcnt when fcized for mailer's debts. Has known 
 
 them 
 
W. Indies. M. C o o k. IC9 
 
 them lie long in gaol, and then fold, if the debt 179 1. 
 not paid. »--v-'*«^ 
 
 Is of opinion white mechanics can do equally as 
 much labour in Jamaica, if under Iheltcr, as in 
 England out of doois, at proper hours. 
 
 Believes there are now more drough s in Jamaica 
 than formerly, on account ot fo muc'i land having 
 been cleared. Has heard many elderly natives fay, 
 they never formerly wanted fealonable wcither. 
 
 Has ieen many Guinea failors lying about Uif towns, 
 and travelling \n the country full of ulcers ; feemed 
 very milerabie people : a very great prDportion of 
 thofe in Kingdon hofpital are Guincamen. 
 
 Fewellates but what have runaway negroes. When 
 the number is fufficient to make it worth while, 
 book-keepers from the different crtates, .11 mrd with 
 amulkec and a eouteau, hunt after them m the woods. 
 They fire at them at times, but not with a view of P. 199, 
 killing them. Never knew any killed on fuch oc- 
 cafions. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Captain Cook. 
 
 Captain Cook, of the 89th regiment, was in Bar-p. igo, 
 badoes, St. Luc.a, Sr. Kitt's, &c. in 1780 and 1781. 
 Thought the negroes in the towns were treated with 
 very great fevcrity. He laW a woman named Rachel 
 Lawder beat a female ilave mod unmercifully; having 
 bruifcd her head almoft to a jelly with the heel of her 
 fhoe, flie threw her with great torce on the feat of a 
 child's neccilary, and then tried to (lamp her head 
 through the hole, and vvould have murdered her if 
 not prevented by two officers. The girl's crime was 
 the not brmging money enough from on board fliip, 
 where fhe was fent by her miltrefs for the purpofe of 
 proititution. 
 
 A domeftick flave, an excellent fervant, and in ge- 
 neral well refpedled by the ofBccrs on whom he at- 
 tended 
 
no W. Indies. Capt. Cook. 
 
 1791. tended at mefs, having made a miftake on an errand for 
 •-->r*-» feme cards, his miltrefs, a perfon of rerpeftable con- 
 dition, calling him by name laid. Go to the jumper (to 
 P. 200. whom file paid 2,0s. a year to flog her negroes) give 
 my fervice to him, and tell him to give you 27 
 lalhes, with which the poor creature was obliged to 
 comply. The company was difplealed, and the of- 
 ficers left the houfe. 
 
 Two young ladies of fortune, fillers, one of whom 
 was difpleafed at the pregnancy of a female flave 
 belonging to the other, by the fon of the iurgeon at- 
 tending theeftate, proceeded to fome very derogatory 
 acts of cruelty. With their own garters they tied 
 the young woman neck and heels, and then beat her 
 almoft to death with the heels of their Ilioes: one of 
 her eyes continued a long while atter in danger of 
 being loft. They afterwards continued to ufe her 
 ill, confining and degrading her. Captain Cook 
 came in during the beating, and was an eye witnefs 
 of it himfelf. 
 
 Neither in thefe nor any fimilar inftances (and he 
 could mention others) did the Have obtain any legal 
 redrefs, nor does he know of any redrefs from law for 
 the worft injuries, nor even of punifhment for the 
 murder of flaves. Two flaves were murdered and 
 thrown into the road during his ftay, yet no legal in- 
 quiry took place that he ever heard of. This ex- 
 cited his frequent inquiries from perfons of all ranks 
 and defcriptions, and the univerfal anfwer was, that 
 they did not choofe to make examples of white men 
 there, fearing it might be attended with dangerous 
 confequences. 
 
 He never knew an inftance of any endeavour to 
 conceal cruelties of this kind. Being on a vifit to 
 General Frear at an eftate of his in Barbadoes, and 
 riding one morning with the General and two other 
 oiTicers, they faw near a houfe upon a dunghill, a 
 naked negro nearly fufpended by ftrings from his 
 P. 201. elbows backwards, to the bough of a tree, with his 
 feet barely refting upon the ground, and an iron 
 
 weight 
 
W. Indies. Capt. Cook. in 
 
 "weight round his neck, at lead, to appearance, of 1791. 
 141b. weight: and thus without one creature near *-«-v-^ 
 him, or apparently near the houfe, was this wretch 
 left expokd to the noon-day fun. Returning a few 
 hours after they found him in the fame ilate, and 
 would have releafed him but for the advice of Ge- 
 neral Frear, who had an eftate in the neighbourhood. 
 The gentlemen through difguft fhortened their vifit, 
 and returned the next morning. 
 
 The inferior white people, however, have a general 
 imprefTion, that they are punidiable by law if they 
 inflift more than 39 laflies at one time on a negro. 
 
 This law may be evaded by fplitting a crime into 
 many, and by intervals, dividing the times; and of 
 this where flaves are puniflied at home, there are 
 daily inltances. Returning home one evening late with 
 Major Fitch of the 90th regiment, they heard mod 
 dreadtul cries, and on approaching the fquare at 
 Bridge- row n, found they proceeded from the jioufe of 
 a man that fold liquor, and heard the repeated lalhes 
 of a whip on a creature whom they conceived to be 
 dying. On their requeuing admilfion, the cruelty 
 feemed to be wantonly increafed, which fo provoked 
 them that they broke open the door, and found a nepro 
 girl of about 19 chained to the floor, almoft expiring- 
 with agony and lofs of blood. The man takino- re- 
 fuge behind his compter from their indignation, and P« -0^« 
 thinking himfelffree from the law, immediately cried 
 out with exultation, that he had only given her ^9 
 ladies at a time, and that only three times fince the 
 beginning of the night. He then threatened them 
 for breaking his door, and interfering between him 
 and his Have, whom he would flog to death for all 
 any one, and have given her the fourth 39 lallies be- 
 fore morning, which mull have killed her as flie 
 feemed then to be dying. 
 
 When mailers were embarrafll-d their Qaves al- 
 ways fufi^ered in clothes and food ; they often fuf- 
 fcred in the fame manner from the rapacity of ma- 
 nagers in the abfence of their mailers. 
 
 The 
 
112 W. Indies. Capt. Cook* 
 
 179 T. The (laves on large eftates, the managers being 
 «*nr-o in general more refpedtable men, leemed happier than 
 thofe on the imaller. 
 
 Female fiaves in the towns are very frequently let 
 out for proflitution, or at lead on paying a weekly 
 fum to their ov/ners, have l^ave to go on board the 
 ihips of war for that purpofe. This is common with 
 the inferiour people, and frequent even among the 
 bettcfr fort. He has known a girl feverely punifhed 
 by her owner for returning without the full wages 
 ot her prollitution. 
 
 On fome eftates of the better kind, care was taken 
 of thofe whom age or infirmity had rendered no 
 longer ferviceable, and eafy offices were afTigned 
 P. 203. them, fo that fome have grown extremely old, and 
 been ufcful to the laft : but among the inferiour, and 
 fometmies among the moft opulent, the reverfe is the 
 cafe ; they have been difinifled to poverty and diftrefs: 
 and he does not believe that there is any law to pre- 
 vent owners from turning fuch fiaves upon the pub- 
 lick, to ftarve and die in the ftreets. 
 
 He has no doubt, and he fpeaks from many in- 
 Itances, that white people by habits of temperance, 
 and regularity of hours, might bring themfelves to 
 go through nearly as much labour and fatigue in the 
 Weft Indies as any people whatever. 
 
 It does not appear to him that the abfence of the 
 owner is in general hurtful to the flave, but that it 
 has fometimes been much fo, on one eftate in particu- 
 lar, where the manager made a larger fortune than 
 his mafter. 
 
 In general among the white people, and particu- 
 larly the women, even of the better families, they be- 
 lieve, and endeavour to propagate an opinion, that 
 the negroes are an inferiour fpecies of being. 
 
 The clearing of Barbadoes has been thought pre- 
 judicial to the fertility of the ifland, the trees for- 
 merly having attra(5ted Ihowers that do not now fall 
 fo frequently as before. 
 
 He 
 
W.Indies. Capt. Cook. iij 
 
 He has known both mulattoes and African ne- 1791. 
 groes purchafe their freedom, but never a field (lave. *— ^^ — » 
 
 When refidcnt at Barbadoes, two inftances of ne- f*- -"^4' 
 gro fuicide occurred. A (lave who had fled from 
 home for fome crime he had committed, was loft for 
 feveral weeks. Being accidentally met by a man 
 whofe bufinefs it is to take. up runaway negroes, and 
 two alTiftants with him •, the negro too much inti- 
 midated to fly, cried out to them, " I will not be ta- 
 ken alive ; you and I have lived many years together, 
 and why lliould we hurt each other." So, brandifli- 
 ing his hanger, he faid, "Keep off, " and immedi- 
 ately ftabbed himfelf. In the other inftance, a Have 
 jumped into a well to avoid punilhment for a mur- 
 der he had committed through jealoufy. 
 
 When up in the country, he heard it faid by the 
 manager of an eftate, that an old man, whofe ofHce 
 it had long been to flog the negroes, could (Irike 
 with a whip of 7 feet long or longer, fo exacftlv, as 
 to lodge the point of the lafli jult wichin the flelh, 
 where it would remain, till picked out with his fin- 
 ger and thumb. The manager offered to (liew the 
 experiment, and tendered wagers that he fucceeded 
 once in three times, which were of courfe declined. 
 Negroes, when flogged in the country, are laid on 
 their belly, with a negro at each hand and foot to 
 raife them from the ground. In towns, they ftand 
 bare in the open ftreets, and expofe their pofteriors 
 to the jumper. He has been fliocked to fee in the 
 ftreets of Bridge-Town, a girl of 16 or 17, a domef- 
 tic flave, running on her ordinary bufinel's, with an P. 205. 
 iron collar, having two hooks projecting feveral in- 
 ches both before and behind. 
 
 Witncfs Examined — Mr. William Fitzmaurice. 
 
 k 
 
 Was in Jamaica from June, 177 1, to March, 1786 p. 20. 
 As overfeer the laft ten years, the foniaer time book- 
 Numb. 4. P keeper. 
 
114 W. Indies. Fitzmaurice. 
 
 I79I' keeper, except the firft fix months, when he was 
 '-"v"^ clerk to a ftore in Kingflon. 
 
 In towns flaves were ufually flogged on the wharfs, 
 (where they were fent, becaufe the place was public, 
 and for the conveniency of the crane and weights, 
 p, 206.) They are ftript, tied up to the crane, with 
 one or two fifty-fixes to their feet, and a handkerchief 
 round them for decency, and flogged with 39 laflies. 
 probably more. Others were fent to the work houfes 
 and flogged every morning, or every monday morn- 
 ing, according to the mafter's difpofition. The pu* 
 nifliment was generally fo fevere, as to cut them and 
 bring blood, fo as to make their frocks, if immedi- 
 ately put on, appear as ftiff" as buckram. He never 
 knew it inflifted by a magifl:rate's order. 
 
 Pregnant women were very often flogged as def- 
 cribed, and frequently mifcarried from fevere whip- 
 pings. 
 P. 206, This mode of punifhment continued the fame du- 
 ring all his flay in the ifland. 
 
 Negroes provifion-grounds were always difl;ant 
 from their houfes, fometimes three miles ofi^j and 
 fometimes where it was with great difficulty they 
 got at them. 
 
 The flaves of involved mafters were always pinch- 
 ed in provifions, at florms or hurricanes. 
 
 Slaves provifion-grounds, if near the cane-pieces, 
 and the owner wiflies to enlarge his efl:ate, are always 
 taken from them, and put into canes. Other grounds 
 are given them, and perhaps a day weekly allowed 
 them to bring it to perfection. This is often atten- 
 ded with the greatefl: deflirudion to the negroes, who 
 go about new grounds or to new houfes with great 
 reluftance. He has changed negroes to a far health- 
 ier fituation, and loft many from the efl'cfb of the 
 change on their fpirits. 
 
 Some negro houfes are pretty dry, but mofl: of 
 them are open to the weather, being wattled without 
 plafler. They fleep on a board on the ground, near 
 the fire, and after it goes out, they fufFer from cold 
 
 and 
 
W. Indies. Fitzmaurice. 115 
 
 and damp. This caufes many diforders, efpecially 1791. 
 to lying-in-women, who lofe more children by this^^~V^^ 
 than any other caule, as they generally die of the 
 locked jaw. 
 
 Weakly-handed eftates, which are far the moftP. 207. 
 numerous, form their negroes in crop, into two 
 fpells, which generally change at 12 at noon, and 12 
 at night. The boilers, and others about the works, 
 cut canes from (hell-blow, half paft one, till dark ; 
 when they carry cane-top, or grafs to the cattle- 
 penns, and then may reft till 12 at night, when they 
 relieve the fpell in the boiling-houfe, by which they 
 themfelves were relieved at 12 in the dav. On all 
 eftates, the boiling goes on night and day, except 
 funday. But well-handed ellatcs have three fpells, 
 and intermifTions accordingly. 
 
 After crop, they form two gangs, if tolerably well P. 217. 
 handed. The fhell blows for turning out at 4 or 5 
 o'clock, or earlier. It depends on the overfcer. 
 They work till 10: have a quarter or perhaps half 
 an hour for breakfaftj work till one, when (hell 
 blows for dinner : if a rainy feafon, to take adv^an- 
 tage of it, they work till the rain falls, which is two 
 o'clock, perhaps later. He now fpeaks of the feafon- 
 able parts of the ifland. They have about an hour 
 and half for dinner, and half an hour to get into the 
 field, fo as that the lad (hall get there exiftly at the 
 end of two hours -, if not they are generally flogged. 
 They often run to their grounds, which may be dif- 
 tant, to get provifions for fupper. Hence lofs of 
 time, and frequent flogging. From dinner they 
 work till dark, v/hen they tra(h cattlc-pcnns, or carry 
 home grafs. Then the book keeper calls the lift. , 
 When they get home, it may be about 8 o'clock. 
 This exadion is grievous, as the willing ones uiuft 
 wait till the lazy are brought up; and it caufes whip- 
 ping to thofe who neglect it. Some eftates do not 
 exaft this dutv, but moft do. 
 
 Various works are confidered as detached jobbs 
 from the field-work, as hoeing intervals, which they 
 
 P z caa 
 
ii6 
 
 1791. 
 
 W. Indies. 
 
 Fl T z mauriceT 
 
 p. 219. 
 
 can do before day ; alfo moulding the cattle-pens, 
 chopping up dung, making mortar, and other prepa- 
 rations for tradefmen. Thefe are called before-day 
 jobbs, which muft be done, fo as not to hinder the 
 general work. 
 
 He never knew but one inllance of work being 
 done by taflc. He hired 60 negroes, all American; 
 from a Mr. Douglas, and they had a tafk every 
 morning meafured out to them by Mr. D. or his o- 
 verfeer, and which they finiflied by i or 2 o'clock, 
 and had the reft of the day to themfelves. The dri- 
 ver carried no whip, and only went occafionally to 
 fee that the work was properly done. The plantation 
 negroes, on the adjoining land, would not finifh till 
 dark (even with the driver) the fame quantity of 
 work. From this he thinks, talks (of work that 
 admit of it) would be to the eafe of the negroes. 
 
 From the negroes working, as they commonly do, 
 in rows, with the driver after them with his whip, it 
 almoft neceflarily follows that the weak wiU be hard 
 pulhed to make them keep up with the ftrong. He 
 is forry to fay, that from this caufe, many negroes 
 are hurried to the grave -, as the able, even if placed 
 with the weakly to bring them up, will leave thenfi 
 behind, and then the weakly are generally feverely 
 flogged up by the driver, confidered as worthlefs, 
 and perhaps kept all noon to bring up their rows. 
 
 It is the overfeer and book-keeper's duty to attend 
 particularly to the negro-grounds. The lazy, or thofe 
 who give trouble by afl-iing for food, are collected 
 by the driver every Sunday morning, and on the days 
 for working their grounds, (allowed every other 
 week as the overfeer chofe) and kept to work in a 
 gang, in clearing provifion-ground, or putting in 
 order thofe they have. 
 
 Negroes often go 18 or 10 miles to the Sunday 
 marker, as he particularly knew the laft four years 
 he was in Jamaica. Thefe journies are very hurtful 
 to the Negroes, and it is almoft impoffible to pre- 
 vent them. 
 
 He 
 
W.Indies. Fitzmaurice. 117 
 
 He never heard of a common ficld-flave buying 1791- 
 his freedom. Has known negroes who had faved a "-"'"V"*^ 
 little money; generally head-carpenters, &c, endea- 
 vour to do it. Some mafters have fold them theirP. 220. 
 freedom, when or the border of becoming invalids, 
 and where the eftate was not mortgaged. On the 
 laft eftate on which he lived, a very old, yet valuable 
 man, who was head cattle-man, alked him to fpeak 
 to the attorney to get him his freedom j but the ef- 
 tate being mortgaged it could not be done. (Afri- 
 cans who have been many years tradefmen or head- 
 men, may probably buy their freedom when old, p. 
 232). 
 
 Very ofcen, efpecially in the towns, the poorer 
 whites and Jews let their negroes work out, and 
 pay them a certain weekly fum. Many who have 
 no trades, are pufhed very hard to do this, and often 
 fkulk into the country, rob on eftates, are chopped 
 or maimed by watchmen, or lent to gaol as run- 
 aways. Handlbme women are obliged to bring 
 home more money than ordinary, it being expelled 
 they will be kept by whites or free perfons. This is 
 much the practice in Kingfton and Spanifli town, 
 where he was a good deal. Old negroes paft labour, 
 efpecially thole of Jews, are defired to provide for 
 themfelves, and he is forry to fay often fuffer by 
 hunger, or rough treatment, when caught ftealing 
 on the eftates. 
 
 On fome eftates, v^here the proprietor lives, the 
 do(5lor may attend twice a week, which is generally 
 expected; but where the proprietor is abfent, and the P. 221. 
 attorney 30, 50, or 100 miles oft, the negroes often 
 fuffer very feverely indeed, for want of medical care. 
 The doctors are often young and inexperienced, 
 which is generally attended with very fatal effects and 
 certain ruin to the owner, as he knows rrom experi- 
 ence. The ordinary care of the fick depends on the 
 hot-houfe (hcfpital) man or woman, who bleed, drefs 
 fores, and give medicine, as direfted by the doctor or 
 overfeer. Kefident planters allow the hot-houfe per- 
 
 fon 
 
ii8 W. Indies. Fitzmaurice. 
 
 1791. fon a little wine, by the doftor's order ; but, on ab- 
 w-vro fv-^ntees eitates, the overfeer, even if lb humane as to 
 give it out of his own pocket, is perhaps diftant from 
 town, and has no wine. Attornies, g-merally do not 
 give it, alledging it would not be allov/ed in their 
 accounts : they always told him fo, when he wrote 
 for wine for the fick. He knows fome, whofe eftates 
 are in their own poireffion, who fend out wine from 
 hence; but this is not general. After long droughts, 
 negroes are apt to get fluxes, by eating green vegeta- 
 bles, or bad flour, efpecially the former. 
 
 He lived with proprietors who wifhed to encou- 
 P. 222. rage propagation ; but they are often obliged to pufli 
 them, for good crops. He lived with others who 
 deflred to pufh them, and with whom the lols of a few 
 negroes or fl:ock was nothing compared to large crops, 
 to fatisfy their creditors. 
 
 Negroes particularly fuff^er in the hands of mort- 
 gagees. In general people in debt pufli conftantly to 
 get out of it, and to raife their credit to buy negroes, 
 which he has known them buy, when, probably, they 
 could not get credit for any other commodity. There 
 is a cuftom, in Jamaica, of obtaining negroes on bond 
 and judgment. 
 
 Some years ago, it was an old faying, in St, 
 Thomas in the Vale (or Sixteen-Mile- Walk) that 
 if a negroe lived 7 years, he paid for himfelf. The 
 work was fo hard there that it was proverbial, " A 
 *' Sixteen-Mile- Walk book-keeper, and a Clarendon 
 mule, are the two hardefl animals in the country." 
 Several proprietors told him, they confidered a child 
 born and reared on the eftate to be a dear negro, and 
 overkers generally diflike breeding, as interfering with 
 the work of the women. He has known other pro- 
 prietors take pleafure in feeing the women breed. 
 Many infants die of the locked jaw, within the 14th 
 day, which he believes, from his lafl: fix years ex- 
 perience, is chiefly owing to cold and uncleanlinefs. 
 The lying-in women generally have large fires in 
 their rooms, which being often broken, let in the 
 
 cold 
 
W. Indies. Fitzmaurice. 
 
 cold, and when the fire goes out a fevere chill fol- 
 lows, by which the infant luffers. A great many die 
 of yaws which require great cleanlinefs. When over-P* 
 feer, he has been directed to attend to the rearing of 
 children j but fpeaking generally, from his own 
 knowledge, infants had not the requifite care. Be- 
 lieves the ftock of Oaves could not be kept up or in- 
 creafed on the prefent i'yilem ; it would take fome 
 time to bring about. He means the eafing the negroes, 
 ■which he thinks might be done, by ufing the plough 
 on every eilatc, and, where it can run, putting in the 
 canes after it. 
 
 On Raimefberry eftate, in Clarendon, the negroes 
 increafed fo fail, that a gang of them was drawn off 
 to fettle a new eilate called Yarmouth, which he had 
 the care of, but the fettlemcnt Was difcontinued, 
 from the change of the attorney. On Orange in 
 St. James's no negroes were bought, for at leail 15 
 years, and they increafed ; as alio on Eden in the 
 fame parifli. He lived on both thefe eltates. Negroes 
 worked moderately may be increafed. He has known 
 eilates where the negroes were worked leverely hard, 
 they increafed and decreafed nearly equal. 
 
 Nothing is more common, than negroes fufferingP. 22 f. 
 by change of management j as new overfeers, as well 
 as inexperienced overfeers, pufh the negroes to make 
 greater crops than their predecelTors. 
 
 A gentleman had two eftates in Clarendon, one of 
 ■which Mr. F. managed. He had too few negroes for 
 both, but enough for one. He was alio much in 
 debt, and h's negroes fulTerins: from bein*}; over- 
 wrought. He put both gangs on one eltate, which 
 were amply fufficient, is now making 400 hogiheads 
 of fugar, and is a clear man. Botn eilates did not 
 before make 150 hogfheads. Moll of the time he 
 was his own overfeer. Mr. F. never knew he 
 bought any negroes fince then, which is about 13 
 years ago. But cannot fpeak of this as a fad. 
 
 In St. Thomas in the Vale, on the eftate of a gen- 
 tleman lately deceafed, by over-pulhing, moft of the 
 
 negroes 
 
I20 W. Indies. Fit !z\fAu rice. 
 
 1791. negroes were deltroyed, while he was in England. 
 *-v^ On his return, his eftates were almoft without negroes 
 and thofe that lived were taken by writs of Vendi- 
 tioni, and judgments againft him to a large amount. 
 Mr. F. bought, at a fale, 50 odd, to cover a debt 
 for a houfe in Kingfton. Two of his eftates were 
 thrown up v/hen Mr. F. left the iQand, the other 
 three are in the -hands of mortgagees. Another eftatel 
 within three miles of Montego bay, was making from 
 P. 225.180 to 200 hogiheads, with an adequate ftrength, 
 when it was put in poffefTion of mortgagees. In 
 twelve years it was reduced to 10 hogflieads. The 
 flaves were deftroyed, by making an unneceflary 
 canal in fwamps. It was brought to fale in 1788, 
 bought by the mortgagee, and is now brought up to 
 its former crops. The proprietor of the eftate was 
 moft of the time in England. The overfeer of it 
 made io,oool. and retired. 
 
 "When overfeer on an eftate in St. John's, the eftate 
 being fhort handed, Mr. F. mentioned to the pro- 
 prietor that he would not take off the croj3. with the 
 negroes and cattle. He told Mr. F. td "drive them 
 without mercy, as the lofs of a few negroes and ftock 
 was no objedl compared to fending home his crop in 
 time. Mr. F. left him about the end of crop, be- 
 becaufe he would not fee 100 lafties given to a do- 
 meftic, not immediately under his diredion, and who 
 he did not think deferved this puniftiment. 
 
 He has known the plough ufed on many eftates 
 with advantage, as it eafes the negroes, and pulve- 
 rizes the foil. (But fome foils do not require pul- 
 verizing, p. 226.) Dove-Hall, in St. Thomas in the 
 Vale, plows 40 or 50 acres every fall. He has known 
 Mr. Edwards only put in canes after the plough with- 
 out holing, except on an eftate Mr. Pmnock is attorney 
 for, and which made great returns. The chief ob- 
 ftacle to the plough is, that managers have not time 
 to adopt it, looking for immediate labour, and often 
 there is no: a blackfmith within 15 miles to repair it. 
 
 He 
 
W. Indies. F i t z m a u r i c e. 121 
 
 He has often attempted plowing and has been obliged, i-tqi. 
 by thefe obftacles, to leave it off". ^x'-V^n-/ 
 
 In fome cafes, the Doctor's vifits are a confidera- 
 ble check on the overfeers feverity, where the pro- 
 prietor lives on the cftate. But when the attorney 
 lives perhaps 20, 30, 40, or even 100 miles off, then 
 it is the intereft of the overfeer and do6tor, not to find 
 fault with each other. 
 
 He is forry to fay, he never knew recourfe had to 
 legal redrefs for wanton cruelty to (laves. Has 
 known people, a Mr. Rufhie in particular, whom he 
 had occafion to fee, almoll daily, commit cruelties 
 which brought negroes to their end. He caught him, 
 one day, in the adt of hanging a negroe. On his re- 
 monftrating, Rufhie ordered him off his eftate- He 
 rode away and informed his employer, who was a 
 magiftrate and who defired him to go and inquire the 
 next morning, before R. was up, whether the negro 
 was dead. This Mr. F. did ; and on privately ally- 
 ing a white man, he defired Mr. F. to go into the 
 curing- houfc, when he favv the negro lying dead on 
 a board. He returned and told what he had fcen to 
 his employer, who was very much fliocked ; but Mr. 
 F. heard nothing more of it. It was well known this 
 man killed many of his negroes, and that fo faft, as 
 to force him to fell his eftate. Cafes of this kind, 
 he cannot fav, are frequent j but feverity, and hard 
 work certainly caufe a conftant decreafe of the able 
 negroes. No attempt was made to^ bring Rufhie toP. 227. 
 punilhment. His charader was generally known, 
 and much defpifed by the neighbouring proprietors. 
 He thinks, his employer defired him to make the 
 above inquiry more from curiofity than an intention 
 to inforce the law againfl Rufhie, with whom he was 
 on decent terms. He and his employer often viliced 
 him, and always found his negroes laid up with 
 cruelties, and thofe that could work chained to the 
 coppers, or, in gangs linked in the field. Other 
 cruelties he pradlifed, were too indecent to be men- 
 tioned. He often found Rufhie dropping hot leid 
 
 Numb. 4. Q^ on 
 
122 \V. Indies, Fitzm aurice.^ 
 
 1791. on his negroes, but took no notice of it; as he 
 «*--v-^ wifhed nobody to lee him acting thofe cruelties. 
 He did not interfere; becaufe he got his bread from 
 employers, and did not wilh to be didiked, or called 
 ofBcious, p. 231). Other a61:s of cruelty are often 
 praftifed, according to the difpoficion or vicioufnefs 
 of the mafter or overfeer. An overfeer he knew 
 well, (and who, as before faid, brought down an 
 eftate, by the countenance of the mortgage-in-pof- 
 feffion, from iSo to 10 hogiheads) was charged with 
 gelding a negro on the eftate, for riding out his 
 horfes at night, and he believes juftly ; as afterwards 
 Mr. F. knew he gelt a negro of his own : on which 
 the troop of horfe he was captain of, and in which 
 Mr. F. ferved, objected to do duty with him. 
 P. 228. f^e cannot fajj. field flaves, in general, appeared to 
 him marked with the whip. Where there are cruel 
 nianagers, and large crops exaded, the effects are 
 vifible on the negroes. 
 
 Negroes are often driven by feverity to run away. 
 They go to their mafters or attornies, if within reach ; 
 but when the attorney lives perhaps 70 or 100 miles 
 off, they prefer going into the woods, being generally 
 taken up as runaways before the journey's end. 
 Planters who employ diftant attornies, are fure to 
 fuffer by it. Runaways, when caught, are whipped 
 and confined, or if the manager is humane, perhaps 
 forgiven ; but they are generally punifhed to deter 
 others. 
 
 He never faw mutilation a6tually inflitfted ; but on 
 an eftate where he was book-keeper., there was a 
 negro, whofe mafter had had his leg cut off, and had 
 made him a blackfmith. The mafter faid he had, 
 by fo doing, made him his moft valuable negro; as 
 he did all the iron-work of the three eftates, and, 
 before that, he was always running away. 
 
 It was generally underftood that whipping was 
 limited to 39 lafhes : but it is often evaded by put- 
 ing the negio into the ftocks, and giving him 39 
 more, for the fame offence, next day, Hafty and 
 
 vicious 
 
 1 
 
W. Indies. Fitzmaurice. 
 
 vicious people would give perhaps lOO lafhes, and 
 if the negro died from it, (which however he never 
 knew) where the owner or attorney lived not near 
 enough, they efcaped unpuniflied. 
 
 Has known too many fuicides, among new negroes P. 229, 
 efpecially, both by hanging themfelves and by dirt- 
 eating, which they knew to be fatal. He loft, one 
 year, 12 new negroes by it, though he fed them 
 well. On his remonftrating, they conftantly told 
 him, they preferred dyuig to living. A great pro- 
 portion of the new negroes that go on fugar eftates, 
 die in this way. ^ 
 
 They are always talking of their being taken 
 away, and kidnaj:)ped, from their country, and of 
 the hardlhip of flavery. 
 
 Nothing is more common than perfons buving 
 new negroes, before they have fufficient provifion* 
 grounds, and other accommodations for them : and 
 the mailers finding it very difficult to buy provifions, 
 the negroes feel hunger, before they can ellablifh 
 grounds, and Ibil and feafons are often againft their 
 raifing provifions. Hence fuch negroes are often 
 loft. New negroes in towns, are better oft', being 
 generally employed in the houfe, and fed weekly. 
 
 A nian may be attorney for from i to 20 eftates, 
 according to his intereft. He knows feveral w!ioP. 230, 
 are attornies for a great number, in various parts of 
 the ifland, perhaps at the diftance of 10, 30, 60, or 
 So miles, or more, as it happened. 
 
 Some overl'eers have premiums for all they make, 
 above a certain number of hogftieads ; but this is 
 not the common mode. Attornies have falaries or 
 commiffions. Believes attornies on moft mortgaged 
 eftates, draw commiffions on the net crops, as well, 
 as on what they buy on the iQand for the ufe of the 
 eftates J and they accumulate great riches. 
 
 Some overfeers have negroes, others have not j 
 but generally they convert their falaries into negroes. 
 Jf allowed to work them on the eftates where they- 
 
 Q^2 themfelves 
 
W. Indies. Fitzmaurice, 
 
 themfelves live, it caufes a jealoufy between the 
 manager's and the plantation negroes.. 
 
 Thinks, on an average at leaft one-third of the 
 new negroes imported into the ifland, die in the firft 
 three years, and three men die to one woman as he 
 has experienced. The men take every thmg un- 
 pleafant to heart, and often kill themfelves. The 
 women have many prote6lions the men have not, as 
 being taken as wives by the plantation negroes, or 
 being made domeftics. 
 P, 231. In the laft four years he was in Jamaica, he bought 
 95 new negroes ; at the end of that time, he fold 52, 
 all that were alive, and thofe not feafoned. Had he 
 kept them till feafoned, he fhould have loft more, 
 and for this very reafon he fold them. 
 
 The lower whites too often looked on the negroes 
 as inferior beings, and often beat them, unlefs 
 checked by the attornies or overfeers. 
 
 He only knew one attempt made to give the ne- 
 groes religious indrudlion, and that was by a pro- 
 prietor in Liguanea, who encouraged one or two 
 American negroes, who profefled to be capable to 
 give his negroes fome religious notions. But the 
 neighbours confidered this as dangerous, by aflem- 
 P, 232.bling too many negroes, who might be mutinous. 
 The aforefaid gang of 80 American negroes, after 
 work, went to prayers ; they were a valuable gang, 
 and worked tafl<-work for him about nine months. 
 
 The cane land is generally as fit for cotton, coffee, 
 or other articles. 
 
 Though domeflics may not be the befl flaves, 
 they appear fo, as the houfe foon makes a vifible 
 change on them. 
 
 He has been at twenty fales by fcramble, at leafl:. 
 No particular care was taken to prevent the fepara- 
 tion of relations, except fucking children, or thofe 
 under three or four years. 
 
 Sales by venditioni are very frequent, where levies 
 are made. He has known ihem three months or 
 
 longer 
 
W. Indies. Fitzm auric e. 125 
 
 longer in prifon, before fale. But this depends on 1791- 
 occafional circumftances. 
 
 Refufe flaves are fold according to their appear- 
 ance, fome as low as three dollars. They are gene- 
 rally bought by the Jews in towns, at vendue or ac 
 private fale. 
 
 He has always, as overfeer, given in to the vcf- 
 tries, the annual returns of flaves, (lock, &c. and, 
 as veftry-man, (in 17 '^6, in St. Thomas, in the 
 Vale, where he pofTefled land and negroes) has re- 
 ceived fuch returns, in which it was not ufual to 
 diftinguifli the fexes. 
 
 Has very frequently feen Guinea failors wandering 
 about the ifland, in an abje6l ftate. 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Mr. Thomas Clappeson. 
 
 Was at Jamaica in 1762 and 1763; from 1768 to P. 207, 
 1778, and 1786 to 1789. The general opinion he 
 formed, was, that the Qaves were feverely treated, 
 and in a miferable ftate. 
 
 Thinks that, in general, the food which they can 
 obtain, is infufficient. 
 
 For the firfl 2 years, he was in the feafaring line, P. 20S, 
 the reft of the time whariinger and pilot. 
 
 Had opportunities of feeing many negroes from 
 the eftates ; fuch as he aflced, as to their feeding, 
 generally faid (particularly in droughts, when provi- 
 lions were fcarce) " Hungry da kill me." 
 
 Very commonly fuffer both in quality and quan- 
 tity of food, from the embarrafTments of their maf- 
 ters : has known feveral who had not credit for pro- 
 vifions J others who bought, for cheapnefs, damaged 
 corn, &c. when better was to be had ; which he has 
 himfelf fold, and which the flaves complained of, 
 when they came to fetch it from the wharf; a neigh- 
 bour told hirn his hogs would not eat it. 
 
 Knew 
 
126 W. Indies. Clappeson". 
 
 179T. Knew a perfon near him, reputed worth ^^50,000 
 »-*v*o lofc 10 or 12 flaves for want of food, when it was to 
 
 be had. 
 P. 209. Slaves generally fleal provifnns, foap, candles, &c. 
 which they fomrtinnes (teal to fell. 
 
 They are generally ill clothed ; never knew any 
 go naked from clioice. 
 
 The punifliments appeared in general fevere, to 
 the fearof wliich he ciiiefly attributes the frequent 
 defertions. 
 
 Knew a pregnant vi^oman whipped, and delivered 
 on the fpot. 
 
 Has heard of very great feverities to runaways; has 
 feen them vi'ear iron collars on their necks, and pot- 
 hooks, with 3 prongs, both rivetted j the prongs pro- 
 je6ting 2 feet ; thinks the wearer cannot eahly lye 
 down. 
 
 Never heard of flaves obtaining any redrefs for in- 
 juries, bv maftcrs or overfeers. 
 P. 210. '^11 oveilfei t(;lcl him, he had often picketed the 
 flav'i^s to extort conftffion. 
 
 Knew a cooper give his flave 200 lafhes, for fteal- 
 ing a lircle rice fro. 11 him. He allowed his flaves a 
 herring a da-^-, and a bit a week. 
 
 Ir.f wb.irfinger whom he fucceeded in 1786, al- 
 lowrcl his negrof'S a herring a day only. 
 
 Knew, in i"89, a m.an who had an old decrepid 
 "Woman flave, to whom he would allow nothing. He 
 remonltra ed with nim on it, in vain. 
 
 Siaves a;e often imprifoned on writs of venditioni ; 
 at che faie of fuch, never heard of any attention to 
 a\oid fc parating families. 
 
 The general recommendation of an overfeer is, 
 P. 2ii.good fugars and large quantities; has known an 
 overfeer paid a guinea per liogfhead, befides his fa- 
 lary, for ail he could m^ke beyond a certaiii quan- 
 tity. 
 
 Has known feveral perfons attorney and overfeer 
 on the fame ellate. 
 
 Slaves 
 
W. Indies. Clappeson. 
 
 Slaves are fuppofed better ofF where the owner re- 
 fidcs ; has heard it always fuppofed, that the better 
 they are treated, the more it is for the owner's in- 
 terell. 
 
 It is common for perfons who have a few (laves, 
 and but little work, to oblige them to earn 3 or 4 
 bits a day, and punifh them very feverely if they fail 
 to bring home fuch fum ; has known them fieal grafs 
 and fell it to do this : knew a man compel his old 
 negro, wanting a leg, to pay him 4 bits a day. 
 
 African negroes are capable of being made me- 
 chanics. 
 
 They deftroy themfelves fometimes, from various p, 212, 
 caufes ; fear of puniflimcnt, jealoufy, &lc. it is a 
 very prevailing opinion with them, that at death they 
 return to their own country. 
 
 Has often heard of their being kidnapped in Af- 
 rica : he had a Qave who had been a negro-catcher 
 in his own country. 
 
 Has {cen feveral Qave fales onboard, all by fcram- 
 ble. In 1789, law a fale by fcramble in a butcher's 
 flaughter-houfe on the beach. Never heard of any 
 precautions at fcrambles, to prevent the feparation 
 of relations or friends Thinks whites, if temperate, 
 are able to labour in Jamaica •, he never worked 
 harder than he has done there; no people work 
 harder than our failors do there. 
 
 Has heard, that clearing the lands, has, near the 
 fea coaft, caufcd more drought. 
 
 In his returns to the veftry of the number of (laves, 
 he never ufed to diftinguifli the fexes. 
 
 The free negroes in general behaved well, they P. 2.13. 
 were fi(hermcn and tradefmen. 
 
 Has heard of feveral people buying more (laves 
 than they could pa\ for. 
 
 Has heard often feamen fay, that in Guinea (hips, 
 the crews are ill treated, to make them dcfert -, has 
 always underltood, that they did not want to cany 
 home as many feamen as they took out -, that they 
 
 eot 
 
128 W. Indies. Clappeson-. 
 
 got rid of what they could in the Weft Indies^ to 
 fave their wages. 
 
 Was in Jamaica when the aflcmbly pafled the 
 confolidated law J he has often heard it was pafled 
 becaufe of the ftir about the flave trade in England. 
 Never heard that any regard was paid to it, flaves 
 being ftill treated as before. Never heard of any 
 profccution for fuch difregard : recoUefts an inftance 
 of difregard to it, which came under his eye. The 
 owner of an old and decrepid female flave, would 
 allow her neither victuals nor clothins;; advifed a 
 fon of the woman to complain to a magiftrate, who 
 would perhaps order her to be taken care of j be- 
 lieves he was deterred from fear of punifliment, as 
 that owner treated his flaves very harlhly in general. 
 
 Witnefs examined — William Beverley, Efq. 
 A Student of Lincoln's Inn. 
 
 P. 215, Was born in Virginia, and lived there the firft 16 
 years of his life, returned in 1786, and refided above 
 . two years in different' parts of America. 
 
 The negroes in Virginia always kept up their num- 
 bers, and generally increafcd. His father's more 
 than doubled their numbers. In 1761 he had about 
 200, and in 1788, he paid taxes on above 540, of 
 ■whom not above 20 or 30 had been added by pur- 
 chafe. 
 P. 216. Slaves there had no legal redrefs, for ill ufage by 
 their mafters. In other cafes they had, on proving 
 the fa6t by two white witnefTes. 
 
 In fummer, negroes were generally healthier than 
 in winter, when they always complained of the cold, 
 though it did not hurt their health, when well clothed. 
 The difeafes moft fatal there are agues and fevers, in 
 fummer, to which negroes are lefs fubje<5l than 
 whites. 
 
 They 
 
America. fe 
 
 £ V E R L E Yi 
 
 *rhcy were g-^nerally pnniflied with much feveri- 
 ty ; but that depends greatly on the owner's difpo^ 
 fition. 
 
 Each (lave had a bufhel of Indian corn meal week- 
 ly : befjds this allowance, they ulually had ground 
 to cultivate for their own ufe; but this depended a 
 good deal on the mailer. They were all allowed to 
 raife poultry. 
 
 He never heard of any attempts to give the flaves 
 religicus or moral inrtrutflion. 
 
 Has heard of fome flaves working by taflc ; but, in 
 general, it was not pradifed. 
 
 Never knew a flave dellroy himfelf. 
 
 The flaves of dillant proprietors were o^ten trea'-ed, P. 2J2»" 
 by the overfeers, much mo''e feverely, than thole un- 
 der the mailer's eye. This difereic treataicnt was 
 obfervable in the appearance ot the fla .es. 
 
 Was told in America, that when the abol't'on of 
 the flave-trade was firft agita ed in 1774, many 
 doubted the practicability of kecpng up the numSers 
 by births; and the peifons fo d u Jting have fince 
 exprcfl^ed to him a conviction that their fears wtre 
 groundlefs. The flave-trade was aboiilhed in Ame-* 
 rica in 1774. 
 
 \Vitnefs examined — Mr. George Woodward. 
 
 Mr. George Woodward is both an owner and P. 23?* 
 mortgagee of W. India property, in B.irbadoes ; 
 where he refided in 1782 and 17S3, and was alfoP. 234. 
 in 1777. 
 
 Both in town and country he thought the domef- 
 tics very numerous. There fcemed to be more 
 females than males in the ifland. While refident, 
 he never heard any complaint of the want of negroes 
 to carry on plantation or other bufinefs. He does 
 not recoiled the fale of a fingle cargo of flaves while 
 
 Numb. 4, R there. 
 
130 -W. Indies. G. Woodward. 
 
 1791. there. The labour of flaves the year round he 
 
 Ci »■ -f thinks cannot be reckoned eafy. 
 
 It is pofnble in a great degree to relieve the la- 
 bour of flaves by the plough. He has ufed it him- 
 felf : the firfl he ever faw, he took over himfclf, and 
 he is fure it tilled the ground better than the hoe 
 did. One plough, two men, and four horfes, will 
 do as much work as thirty negroes, and better. 
 The labour of holding the plough is much eafier 
 than holing. It did not require much negro labour 
 to prepare the ground for the cane after the plough. 
 
 P. 235. There is not much difficulty of ploughing to the 
 depth of fix inches, which is the rule, and a fuffi- 
 cient depth for the cane. The plough may be made 
 to plough the ftrongefl: clay land that is. 
 
 The negroes are capable of learning the manage- 
 ment of the plough. He thinks that the largeft 
 part of the cane land and ginger land of Barbadoes 
 may be ploughed to the advantage of the proprietor, 
 and faving of negroes labour. The negroes are not 
 averfe to the plough : he has feen them both hold 
 and drive it. He did not find the cattle injured 
 by the labour. He is acquainted with the ufe of the 
 plough in England, he farms land of his own. Capt, 
 Lee took out fome ploughs about 3 years ago. 
 
 He is not apprehenfive that the abolition of the 
 flave trade will injure his W. India property. He 
 thinks it would be of advantage to the ifland of 
 
 P. 236. Barbadoes. By ufing them well, and by good ma- 
 nagement, the ftock of flaves would naturally in- 
 creafe, without importation. 
 
 WItnefs examined — Mr. Joseph Woodward. 
 
 Mr. Jofeph Woodward has been in Barbadoes in 
 1788, 1789 and 1790. He has there feen the plough 
 in ufe by Mr. Henry Trotman, jun. He believes 
 he has ufed it many years. 
 
 Mr. 
 
W. Indies. J. Woodward. 
 
 Mr. Trotman informed him that he thought til- 
 lage by the plough both better and cheaper than the 
 labour of negroes with the hoe. The foil that 
 he ploughed was not the beft, it was rather rocky. 
 Mr. Trotman told him, that the plough then an- 
 fwered his purpofe, and in time would become 
 general, when people became acquainted with its 
 utility. 
 
 He once at Bridgetown faw a negro lying on the 
 ■wharf, fo very much debilitated that he could notP. 237.' 
 iland, and heard from him, that his owner would 
 not take him in. He appeared about 60 years old. 
 
 He has known free negroes hire themfelves to 
 ftow fugars in the fliips hold ; he has known them 
 fo employed on board his own fhip. He knows no 
 labour either of blacks or whites more fevere than 
 this is. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Mr. James Kiernan. 
 
 Was in Africa in 1775, 1776, 1777, and 1778, top. 237, 
 learn the nature of the trade, to cany it on. 
 
 The trade for (laves in the R. Senegal, where he 
 refided, was chiefly with the Moors, on the nor- 
 thern banks, who got them very often by war, and 
 not feldom by kidnapjiing •, i. e. lying in wait near 
 a village, where there was no open war, and feizing 
 whom they could. 
 
 Has olten heard of villages, and feeji the remains?. 238, 
 of fuch, broken up by making the people (laves. 
 
 Has always heard kidnapping fpoken of there as 
 notorious; and has i'cen proofs of it by perfons fo 
 taken being ranfomed ; when, very often, the white 
 trader alks more than the value of the (lave, to give 
 him up : never heard of a white trader, before buy- 
 ing a flave, inquire into the right of the feller. 
 
 R 2 Never 
 
W. Indies. Kiernan, 
 
 Never knew any perfon fold for witchcraft; a 
 bfiief in it exifis iirongly on that part of the coaft. 
 
 The firfl year, by far the greateft number of 
 fl^iVfs we-e offered to fale, from an open war then 
 fubfilling between the Moors and negroes : to which 
 P« ^39' the Moors have always a ftrong inducement, moft 
 of the European goods they obtain, being got in 
 exchange for flavcs. Hence defolation and wafte : 
 in a few years, they extirpated large fettlements on 
 the northern banks of the Senegal, and in time they 
 •Were expected to root out all the black nations be- 
 tween the Senegal and Gambia. The Moors nei- 
 ther follow nor encourage agriculture. 
 
 Believes, that to be fold to Europeans, is confir 
 dered by all negroes from inland, as well as on the 
 coaft, as a punifhment only fhort of death. 
 
 The mhabitancs of the ifland of St. Louis, are 
 eftimated at about 5000, who are fupplied with cat- 
 tle by the Moors, and with corn by the blacks 
 only. 
 
 Ships bound to the W. Indies were fupplied by 
 the blackb with large quantities of corn, which the 
 flaves preRrred to any other food. 
 
 The blacks on the fouth banks of the Senegal 
 ralfe cotton, indigo, and tobacco, fufficient for their 
 vfe. 
 
 Knows the negroes manufacture cotton, leather, 
 and metals, for thc-y fupply Senegal with clothing, 
 articles of leather, and ornaments of gold and filver; 
 they dye fome of their cottons very finely, bjues 
 and fcarlets i believes their confumption of cotton 
 cloths is very confiJerable. 
 
 Never knew the natives backward in fupplying 
 any co.ifiderable demand for provifions, when pro- 
 perly encouraged. 
 
 Never kiew the natives encouraged by Europeans 
 to raife for fal-- other produce than provilions. 
 
 Perfons of property there, have a great num.ber of 
 pcrfpns under the denomiaation of flaves, whonrj 
 
 they 
 
E. and W. Indies, Both am. 133 
 
 they treat as Europeans would people of their own 17 91, 
 family. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Henry Botham, Efq. 
 
 Went to the W. Indies 1770, and, in about two P. 241- 
 years, vifited all the iflands, B'-nglifh and French, 
 and was employed by government in Grenada, to 
 afcertam the difference of property there between 
 the old and new fubjeds. 
 
 He was not long a planter in the W. Indies. He 
 diredlcd M^Mfrs. Bofanquet and tatio's fugar eftate 
 there, in their partner's abfeiice; but he carried on 
 fugar works many years at Bencoolen, in the Eafl: 
 Indes. 
 
 He has examined the account, in the P. Council's 
 Report, of the mode of cultivating fugar in the Eafl 
 Ind ts, and it is the fime which he delivered in. 
 He drew it up from having long confidered the fub- 
 jrcl, and, fince he delivered it to the P. Council, 
 fees no reafon to make any alteration in ic. 
 
 '1 he following is an Abridgment of the fiid ac- 
 count : 
 
 " Mr. Botham on the Mode of cultivating a 
 " Sugar Plantation in the Eaft Indies, &c." 
 
 Having been 1 years in the Englifli and French 
 W. India iflands, and fince conducted fugar eftates 
 in the E. Indies j it may be defirable to know thatP. 242,' 
 fugar, better and cheaper than that in our iflands, 
 and alfo arrack, are produced in the E. Indies, by 
 the labour of free people. China, Bengal, and the 
 coad of Malabar, produce quantities of fugar and 
 fpirits ; but, as the moll confiderable fugar eftates 
 are near Batavia, I Ihall explain the improved mode 
 ofcondudling thofe eilates. The proprietor is ge- 
 nerally a rich Dutchman, who has built on it fub- 
 llantial works. He rents the eftate (fay of 300 or 
 more acies) to a Chiaefe, who lives on and fuperin- 
 
 lends 
 
E. and W. Indies. B o t h a m. 
 
 tends it, and who re-lets it to free men, in parcels 
 of 50 or 60, on condition that they fhall plant it in 
 canes for fo much for every pecul, 133? lb. of fu- 
 gar produced. The fuperintendant colleds people 
 from the adjacent villages to take off his crop. One 
 fet of tafk-men, with their carts and buffaloes, cut 
 the canes, carry them to the mill and grind them, 
 A fecond fet boil them. A third clay and bafkec 
 them for market, at fo much per pecul. 
 
 Thus the renter knows with certainty what every 
 pecul will coft him. He has no unneceffary ex- 
 pence, for when crop is over, the tafk-men go home, 
 and, for 7 months in the year, there only remain on 
 the eftate the cane planters, preparing the next crop. 
 By dividing the labour, it is cheaper and better done, 
 P, 243. Only clayed fugars are made at Batavia, which are 
 equal to the befl from the W. Indies, and fold at 
 iSs. per pecul. The Shabander exa6ts a dollar per 
 pecul on all fugar exported. The price of common 
 labour is from ^d to icd per day. But the talkmen 
 gain confiderabiy more, not only from extra work, 
 but from being conlidered artifts in their feveral 
 branches. They do not make fpirits on the fugar 
 eftates ; the molaffes and fl^immings are fent for fale 
 to Batavia, where one diftillery may buy the produce 
 of TOO eftates. Here is a vaft laving in making 
 fpirits, not as in the VV. Indies, a diftillery for each 
 eftate : arrack is fold at Batavia at about 8d. per 
 gallon ; the proof of the fpirit is about 5 -tenths. 
 
 After fpending two years in the Weft Indies, I 
 returned to the Eafc in 1776, and in the laft war 
 conduced fugar works at Bencoolen, in Sumatra, 
 on nearly the fame principles as the Dutch; I con- 
 fined my expences to what they had done, allowing 
 for the unavoidable charges, on a new and fole un- 
 dertaking. 
 
 The cane is cultivated to the utmoft perfection 
 at Batavia i the hoe, almoft the fole implement of 
 the Weft, is there fcarcely ufcd ; the lands are well 
 ploughed by a light plough with a fingle buffalo -, a 
 
 drill 
 
E. and \V. 1 n d i e s. B o t h a m. 13 
 
 drill is then ploughed, and a perfon with two baf- 1791. 
 kets filled with cane plants, fufpended to a (lick acrofs '-or^ 
 his fhouldeis, drops into the furrow plants alternately 
 from each bafl<:et, covering them at the fame time 
 with earth with his feet. Young canes are kept often 
 ploughed as a weeding, and the hoe is ufed to weed 
 round the plant when very young j but of this there P. 244, 
 is little need if the land has been fufficiently plough- 
 ed. When the cane is ready to earth up, the fpace 
 between the rows, is ploughed deep, the cane-tops 
 tied up, and with an inftrument like a fhovel, with 
 teeth at the bottom, a fpade-handle, and two cords 
 fixed to the body ot the lliovel, ending by a wooden 
 handle for a purchafe, is ufed by two perfons to earth 
 up the cane, the ftrongeft holding the handle of the 
 fhovel, preffing it into the ploughed earth, while the 
 other on the oppofite fide of the plant, by a jirk of 
 the cord, draws up to the plant, all the earth that 
 the plough had loofened. Two perfons with this in- 
 ftrument, will earth up more canes in the day than 
 10 negroes with hoes. The canes in India are much 
 higher earthed than in the Weil Indies ; in moift 
 foils, they, with little labour, earth them as high as 
 the knee, at once making a dry bed for the cane, and 
 a drain for the water. 
 
 The improvement in making the cane into fugar, 
 at Batavia, keeps pace with that in its culture : eva- 
 poration being in proportion to the furface, their 
 boilers have as much of it as pofTible. The cane juice 
 is tempered and boiled to a fyrup ; it is then thrown 
 into vats, which hold one boiling, there fprinkled 
 with water, to fubfide its foul parts-, after (landing 
 fix hours, is let off by 3 pegs of different heights, 
 into a copper with one fire ; it is there tempered a* 
 gain, and reduced to fugar, by a gentle fire-, it gra- 
 nulates, and the bailer dipping a wand into the 
 copper, ftrikes it on the fide, then drops the fugar 
 remaining on it, into a cup of water, fcrapes it up 
 with his thumb-nail, and can judge to a nicety of 
 the fugar's being properly boiled. The vats I men- 
 tioned 
 
136 E. and W. I N D I E s, B 1 h a m; 
 
 1790. tioned are placed all at the left end of a fet of copf- 
 
 *-''^^'*-^ pers. After running off for boiling all tiiat is clt-ary 
 
 ^* '45- the reft is ftrained on the O'jtfide of the boiling- 
 
 houfe J what is fine is put into the copper for fugar^ 
 
 the lees kept for diftilling. 
 
 Claying of fugar is as in the W. Indies. The 
 cane tralh is not, as in our iflands, carried into Iheds, 
 where it lofcs much of its ftreno;ih before it is ufed -, 
 but is laid out immediately to dry, then made into 
 faggots, fet up in cocks, and ufed immediately when 
 dry ; hence its force of fire is much greater, and the 
 carrying it to and from the trafh-houfe is faved. 
 
 The culture of the cane in the Weft Indies is in 
 its infancy. Many alterations are to be made, ex- 
 penfes, and human labour lelTened j the hoe, now 
 ufed to turn up foils of different texture, is of one 
 conftru6lion, cheap and very light; fo that the ne- 
 gro, without any help from its weight, digs up the 
 earth, (and, the cane roots, on replanting) by the 
 fevereft exertion. In the Eaft we plough up the 
 cane roots. 
 
 Having experienced the difference of labourers 
 for profit, and labourers from force, I can affert, that 
 the favings by the former are very confiderable. 
 
 The Weft India planter, for his own intereft, 
 fliould give more labour to beaft, and lefs to man ; 
 a larger portion of his eftate ought to be in pafture* 
 When prafticable, canes fhould be carried to the 
 mill, and cane tops and grafs to the ftock, in wag- 
 gons i the cuftom of making a hard-worked negro 
 get a bundle of grafs twice a day abolifhed j and in 
 P. 246.}]^ort a total change take place of the miferable 
 management in our Weft India iflands. By this 
 means following, as near as poffible, the Eaft India 
 mode, confolidating the diftilleries, I do fuppofe 
 our fugar iflands might be better worked than they 
 now are, by two-thirds, or indeed one-half of the 
 prefent force Let it be confidered, how much labour 
 is loft by the perfons overfeeing the forced labourer, 
 which is faved when he works for his own profit. I 
 
 have 
 
E. and W. Indies. Botha m. 137 
 
 have llaced, with the flridefl: veracity, a plain matter 1791. 
 of fact — that fugar ellates can be worked cheaper by ^-*v*^ 
 free perfons than Haves. 
 
 Whether the flave-trade can be abolifhed, and the 
 blacks freed, is for the confideration of Parliament, 
 In my judgment, thefc defifable purpofes, may be 
 efFed:ed without materially injuring the Wefl: India 
 planter. He has but to improve his culture, lefTcn 
 human labour, and the progeny of the prefent blacks 
 will anfwer every purpoie of working Weft India 
 eftates. [See this account at large in the Privy 
 Council's Report, at the end of Part III.] 
 
 The flaves in the French iflands appeared to be 
 better cloathed, better fed, and better behaved, than 
 in the Britilh : and tiieir being well fed is chiefly 
 owing to the French planter putting a great pro- 
 portion ot iiis ellare in provifions. 
 
 Whether it might or might not be ultimately for 
 the intereft of the Britifli planter, and the benefit of 
 his (laves, if he were to allot to provifions, more of 
 the land now deftined to fugar, is a queltion that 
 can only be decideii bv experiment in the different 
 iflands, as the fame anfwer to it would not fuit each. 
 In iflands that feldom fail in rains, it is no doubt for 
 the planter's intereft, to lacrifice a part of the ground 
 allotted for fugar, to provifions ; as thefe feed his 
 negroes better than any dry or other provifions im- 
 ported : but in iflands fubject to droughts, he does P. 247. 
 not think the planter can without materially lelfen- 
 ing his crop of fugar, give up any portion of ground 
 to provifions. 
 
 In 1764, when the Eaft India Company's ppflTcf- 
 fions in Sumatra were returned to them by the French, 
 they were mfbrmed by their fervants at Bencoolen, 
 that the public works, and other labours of their 
 fettlement, could not be carried on v^ithout a large 
 fupply of flaves i the Company therefore lent flave- 
 fhips to Africa and Madagafcar, and tranfported to 
 Bencoolen nearly icoo flaves, in much the fame 
 proportion of men, women, and children, as are 
 
 Numb. 4. S carried, 
 
1^8 E. and W. Indies. Botham. 
 
 1791. carried from Africa to the Weft Indies, that is more 
 men, than women and children. Thefe flaves, on 
 the firft years of their arrival, from the unheal- 
 thinefs of the climate, and other caufes, decreafed : 
 but when they had been at Bencoolen a few 
 years, where they were well fed, humanely treated, 
 and had very little work, they began annually to 
 increafe j notwithftanding, from the little attention 
 that was paid to their way of life, both men and 
 women lived in the moil abandoned way. The 
 wonder was, that they did increafe, as the young 
 female flaves were common proftitutes to the foldiers 
 and failors. 
 
 P. 247. 
 
 "Witnefs examined — John Savage, Efq. 
 
 Refided in Carolina from 1729 to 1775. Was not 
 a planter, but was repeatedly on many plantations 
 as a vifitant for a day or two at a time, and knew the 
 ftate of negroes there. 
 
 Underftood labour was performed by talk in moll 
 P. 248. operations on eftates. 
 
 Negroes increafed greatly where well clothed and 
 fed ; is doubtful if they inci:eafed where clothed and 
 fed badly. Heard where maflers were harlh, they 
 could not raife children, or but a few. 
 
 Where mailers were prudent, and kept themfelves 
 out of debt, negroes were hearty and fbrong : hence 
 they got more work out of them than thofe who did 
 not ufe them fo well, and thefe were they who made 
 fortunes by planting. 
 
 A friend of his, Gabriel Manigault, Efq. informed 
 him, that in 1737 he had on his eflate 86 negroes, of 
 whom 12 or 14 were fuperannuated. The latter he 
 replaced by others. with no more addition than 
 this, they had increafed to 270 about a year or two 
 before witnefs left the country. Mr. Manigault's 
 eftate (by purchafe) coniifted of about 18000 or 
 19000 acres,. 6000 of which were fettled, and 12000 
 
 or 
 
America. Savage.— Claphaj^. 139 
 
 or 13000 not (o ; for the latter he had taxes and quit I79i' 
 rents to pay for many years till his fon came of age, »-''''\^^^ 
 to whom he then gave them. Notwithftanding this 
 charge on the unimproved land, he always made in- 
 tereft of his purchafe-money. Mr. M. was a man 
 of humanity, and gave his flaves fufficient clothes, 
 food, and accommodations. 
 
 In the year 1739 there was a duty laid on the im- 
 portatation of flaves to Carolina, which amounted to 
 a prohibition, and which continued to 1744. The 
 purchafe of new negroes having involved the plan- 
 ters greatly in debt, was the reafon why the legif- 
 lature laid it. 
 
 Witnefs Examined — John Clapham, Efq, 
 
 Was upwards of 20 years in Maryland. Negroes P« 249, 
 kept up their numbers there by propagation, and in- 
 creafed, fo that the overplus in fome inftances were 
 Ihipped to the W. Indies. Has known loo fales, 
 where proprietors have had too many for their ufe 
 in confequence of increafe by propagation; yet they 
 were not thought to be well treated, though better 
 than to the Ibuthward, and the climate wasfubjcft to 
 great and fudden variety of heat and cold. 
 
 Attempts were not frequent in Maryland to give 
 religious inflrud:ion to negroes. 
 
 Witnefs Examined — Robert Crew, Efq. 
 
 Is a native of Virginia, and refided there till 
 178:?. Knew the ftate of the plantation Haves there. 
 
 Had fufficient clothing, and as much Indian meal P. 250. 
 as they could ufe, and were in general fupplied daily 
 with flefh, fifli, or fomething elfe added to their meal 
 or bread. 
 
 Overfeers on large efl:ates fuperintended flaves, but 
 S 2 without 
 
I40 America. Crew. 
 
 1 791. without a whip, as a mader on a fmall eftate, or a 
 
 *-'''>r*^ bailiff" would in this country. 
 
 Negroes in Virginia increafed rapidly without im- 
 portation, fo much fo, that it was a general opinion, 
 that it was profitable to hold flaves on this account, 
 cxclufive of the profits of their labour. 
 
 Treatment was different on different eftates. Where 
 the mafter was involved and did not fuperintend his 
 own eftate, his overfeers were diredled to make the 
 greatefl: poffible quantities of tobacco, to fupply his 
 preffing neceffities. Here the flaves were ill ufed, 
 worked exceffively hard, and were not fufiiciently 
 fed. Where the proprietor was in good circum- . 
 fiances and could purfue his own intereft, they were 
 not fo hard worked, and had better fupplies of food 
 and clothino;. 
 
 o 
 
 p. 251. This kvere fyftem in fome, though he thinks ne- 
 ver fo fevere in any circumftances (with a few ex- 
 ceptions) as to caufe a decreafe in their numbers, and 
 indeed fmall profits of tobacco plantations could not 
 afford frefh fupplies, yet had the effect certainly of 
 preventing their increaffng fo faft as they otherwife 
 would. *^uch a fyftem was deemed unprofitable. 
 
 Spent a few months at Barbadoes and St. Croix. 
 Was ftruck with the difference of the treatment of 
 flaves there and in Virginia. A driver with a whip 
 flood over them while at work : they were nearly 
 without clothino;. Thefe were the obvious differ- 
 ences. No kn*" wledge of particulais. Thinks Lhe 
 life of the whip formed a difference in their treatment 
 confiderably to the difadvantage of Weft Indian 
 flaves. 
 
 Thinks the culture of tobacco nearly as laborious 
 
 as that of fugar; and the climate of Virginia is not 
 
 fo favourable as that of the Weft Indies, to African 
 
 .conftitutions, on account of the fevere cold of the 
 
 winter. 
 
 Importation of African flaves into Virginia, has 
 been generally difcontinued fince 1772. 
 
 Witnefs 
 
 1 ! 
 
[ 141 ] 
 
 Witnefs examined, — Hercules Ross, Efq. 
 
 Refided chieflv in Jamaica, from 176 1, to 1782, 1791. 
 and occafionally in Hifpaniola. <— -v-o 
 
 Had occafion to be in every parifli of the idandjf*. 252. 
 and to be acquainted with the (lace and tieatment of 
 flaves, which depends on circumftances : under a man 
 of humanity, and where the numbers were equal 
 to the work, they lived happy; it was difficult under 
 one of a different defcription. 
 
 It was not underftood they had legal redrefs againfi: 
 owners or ovcrleers for ill ulage ; nor againft others, 
 iinlefs the owner or manager ftood forward to prdted: 
 them. 
 
 He had the mortification of feeing innumerableP. 257* 
 punifliments inflicted, man,y with feverity, and he 
 fears, lome unjuilly. An uncommon one now occurs, 
 though it was long ago, at Savanna la Mar. Hear- 
 ing, from an inclofure, the cries of fome poor wretch 
 under torture, he looked through, and faw a young 
 female fufpended by the wnfls to a tree, fwinging to 
 and fro ; her toes could barely touch the ground, and 
 her body exceedingly agitated. The fight rather 
 confounded nun, as there was no whipping, and the 
 mailer juft by, feemuigly motionlefs ; but on look- 
 ing more attentively, fa^v in his hand a Ilick of fire, 
 which he held fo as occafionally to touch her about 
 her private parts as fhe fwung. He continued this 
 torture with unmoved countenance, until the witnefs 
 calling on him to defift, throwing fiones at h'm over 
 the fence, flopped it. Thinks it right to fay, that 
 on mentioning it on the bay, it was heard with uni- 
 verial deteltation : ti.e perpt^trator was not a man of 
 charafler: he was not brougfit to legal punifliment. 
 Does not know that the law then extended to thep^ 2 '•4. 
 pundhing w!iites for fuch afts. 
 
 Slaves HI Kingfton, when flogged, were tied up by 
 the wriftsj if on the wharfs to the crane-hock, with 
 
 weights 
 
142 W.Indies. H.Ross. 
 
 1791. weights to their feet, and the crane wound up To as 
 '•''^"'^ to extend them greatly ; the whip was a cow-fl^in at 
 firft, and then ebony buflies, to take off the bruifed 
 blood. A gaol was alfo a place of corredlion : in 
 fadl, every man's premifes was a place of punifhment, 
 if he chofe ; but the wharfs and gaol were ufed by 
 fuch as did not choofe to difturb the neighbours with 
 the flaves cries ; but it was underfbood that any 
 owner had a right to order fuch punilhments, with- 
 out a magiflrate. 
 
 In his refidence in Jamaica, it became more clear- 
 ed and improved, and of courfe healthier : the ftile 
 of living, and manners of the whites, gradually im- 
 proved, and extended a favourable influence to the 
 ftate of the (laves. 
 ". ^55* Negroes are as capable of labour in the Weft In- 
 dies, as other people in climates congenial to them : 
 that they are better adapted than whites to that cli- 
 mate, is certain. Negroes on board fhips, fed on 
 animal food as the whites, are capable of great exer- 
 tions. In the laft war, on the expedition to St. 
 Juan's, government ordered a number of negroes to 
 be colleded, to cafe the military; they were chiefly 
 culprits, many taken from gaols, whom the owners 
 ■were glad to part with; though exhaufted by con- 
 finement and low diet when fhipped, they returned 
 almofl: to a man, in health, and much improved in 
 looks (having had rations with the reft) while the 
 whites, on that fervice, fufFered great ficknefs and 
 deaths. Something fimilar was the cafe with a 
 greater body of negroes fent from Jamaica, to the 
 liege of the Havannah. 
 
 As to flaves fuffering from the bad circumftances 
 of owners, unable to buy provifions, in fome in- 
 ftances it may be the cafe, when from ftorms or other 
 cafulties, ground provifions are injured. 
 
 Slaves may be feized and fold for their owners 
 debts : whereby near relations are often feparated. 
 In Kingfton and Spanifli town, they are confined in 
 gaols till fold to the higheft bidders j fome of whom 
 
 may 
 
W. Indies. Ross. 143 
 
 may be foreigners, and carry a part off the iOand : a 1791. 
 hardfhip which often happens, and to which Creoles ' , j 
 as well as Africans are fubjed. P. 2 ^~. 
 
 Has often been at fales of Guinea cargoes. On 
 the day advertifed by the agent, buyers attend a- 
 board j at a given hour the fale is declared open, 
 when each exerts himfelf to get firft among the flaves 
 to have a good choice, and the whole of the healthy 
 and likely ones, are often fold that day. There ufed 
 to be in Kingflon many people who bought on fpecu- 
 lation thofe left after the fird day's fale, to carry them 
 to the country, and retail them, or to fhip them off". 
 Has often i'ccn the very refufe landed and fent to 
 vendue mailers in a very wretched (tate ; fometimes 
 in the agonies of death, has known them expire in the 
 piazza of the vendue mailer. Has {ten them fold 
 even as low as a dollar. 
 
 Thinks the Have trade has been productive of great 
 deftru6lion to the human race, both blacks and 
 whites i of which he could furnifli many inftances : 
 one marked with peculiar circumftances of horror, 
 was this. 
 
 About 20 years ago, a fhip, with about 400 (laves 
 (truck on a fhoal, half a league from the MorantKeys, 
 (3 fmall fandy illands, 1 1 leagues S. S. E. from Ja- 
 maica) the officers and crew took to the boats with 
 arms and provifions, and landed. At day light it was 
 found that the flaves had got out of their irons, and 
 were forming rafts, on which they placed the women 
 and children, the men fwimming by the fide, whillt 
 they drifted towards the little ifland where the crew 
 had landed j who led the flaves fliould confume their 
 provifions, came to the refolution to fire upon them, 
 and actually killed from 3 to 400. Of the cargo, 
 33 or 34 only were faved, which he faw fold at ven- 
 due at Kingfton. The fliip, he thinks, was confign- 
 cd to a Mr. Hugh Wallace, of St. Elizabeth's parifli. 
 
 As it is faid to be common when fliips are wreck- p^ 2.-0. 
 cd, for the crew to break up the fpirit room and get 
 drunk, he is inclined to think the crew of the Gui- 
 
 neaman 
 
W. Indies.' Ross. 
 
 neaman muft have been drunk to have adopted fo 
 horrid a refolution, without firft difpatching a boat 
 to Jamaica (5 or 6 hours fail) for afllftance. But 
 this is only conjeclure, from a perfuafion that if they 
 had a6led with common difcretion, there was no ne- 
 cefljty for deftroying any of the flaves. 
 
 Guinea fhips, leaving their feamen behind, was fo 
 common as to have been a great nuifance and ex- 
 penfe to the people at Kinglton, and occafioned a 
 law, obliging the mafters of all Ihips to givefecurity 
 againft leaving any difabled feamen behind, or pro- 
 vide for the charge of taking care of them. It was 
 not uncommon for Guinea mafters to fend on fhore 
 a few hours before they failed, their lame, ulcerated, 
 or fick feamen, leaving them to perifh. As to the 
 Guinea trade being a nurfery for feamen, he has ever 
 P. 260. confidered it the reverfe. 
 
 As to any compaftion between the ftate of Weft: 
 India flaves and the peafantry of Great Britain, 
 whatever others may think, he conftders it as an infult 
 to common fenfe : the peafantry in this country are 
 obliged to labour it is true; but there is no market 
 for the fale of human beings, where men of all cha- 
 racters may become buyers, and by the laws hold an 
 abfolute right in the perfon purchafed. It is impoftl- 
 ble to conceive a man fo degenerate, as not to prefer 
 the fcantieft morfel with freedom and independance, 
 to the luxury enjoyed by the wealthieft flave on earth. 
 A peafant here however poor, cannot be imprilbned 
 for his mafter's debts ; nor purchafed without a legal 
 difcuffion : he beholds his growing family with plea- 
 fure, his induftry often enables him to give them fucli 
 an education, as advances them in life, and puts it in 
 their power to comfort his old age: the flave who has 
 refledtion, views his offspring with very different reel- 
 ings i knowing them doomed to eternal flavery, and 
 ignorant of the chara6ler of thofe to whom they may 
 hereafter belong. 
 
 His reftdence in Jamaica for above twenty years of 
 P. 261. the prime of his life, mult have given him as perfed 
 
 a know- 
 
W. lit DIES. Ross. 145 
 
 a knowledge of the ftate of flaves there, as it is pof- 1791. 
 fible to acquire. As to the information which may "■"^"Y'"^. 
 have been got by thofe holding high commands there 
 he cannot ipeak decidedly; but if it is meant to know, 
 ■whether fuch on occafional vifits toeftates, were like- 
 ly to obtain a thorough knowledge of the treatment 
 of Haves, he thinks they could not. 
 
 He has often accompanied Governors and Admirals 
 on their tours there; when, the ellates vilited (be- 
 longing generally to perfons of diftinction) might be 
 fuppolcd under the beft management; befides that 
 all pofiible care would be taken to keep every dif- 
 gufting objedl from view, and on no account, by the 
 exercife of the whip or other punilhments, harrow up 
 the feelings -of itrangers of fuch diftincftion. 
 
 As to his opinion of the probable effects of the P. 261, 
 abolition of the flave trade, he is at feme lofs to ex- 
 prefs himfelf ; he thinks however, that as it would 
 tend to prevent making new fettlements in the iflands, 
 the produce of fugar not keeping pace with the in- 
 creafing demand for it, the price mufb rife and of 
 courfe the prefent eilates became more valuable: the 
 value of the flaves would alfo be increafed and it 
 would become more the owners intereft to attend to 
 their health and population. 
 
 Finally, as the refult of his obfervations and moft 
 ferious reflecftion, he hefitates not to fay, that the trade 
 for flaves ought to be aboliflied not only as contrary 
 to found policy, but to the laws of God and nature; 
 and were it pofTible by the prefent inquiry to convey p^ ^^2, 
 ajuft knowledge of the extenfive miiery it occafions, 
 every kingdom of Europe muft unite in calling on 
 their legiflatures to abolifli the inhuman traffic. 
 This is not a hally, nor a new fentiment, formed on 
 the prefent difcuflion, which has in no refpeft in- 
 fluenced his judgment. The fame opinion he publicly 
 delivered feventec-n years ago, in Kingflon, in a lo- 
 ciety formed of the firil charaders of the place, on 
 debating the following quertion (propofed he thinks, 
 by the late Mr. Thomas Hibbcrt, who had been 40 
 
 Numb. 4. T or 
 
146 W. Indies. Ross. 
 
 1791. or 50 years the moft eminent Guinea fadlor there J 
 u-v^^ (c Whether the trade to Africa for flaves, was con- 
 «* fiftent with found policy, the laws of nature and 
 " morality." The difcufTion occupied feveral meet- 
 ings, and at lad it was determined by a majority, that 
 the trade to Africa for flaves was neither con- 
 fiftent with found policy, the laws of nature, nor 
 morality. 
 
 The chief ground on which the advocates for the 
 flave trade refted their opinion (he thinks) was, that 
 God had formed fome of the human race, inferior to 
 others, in intelledt; and that negroes appeared to 
 have been intended for flaves, or, to that purpofe. 
 
 Has been in fome of the foreign Weftlndiaiflands, 
 in N. America, and St. Domingo. The ftate of flaves 
 feemed fimilar to that in Jamaica ; in America he 
 had but little opportunity for obfervation: but upon 
 the whole, they appeared decenter in their manners ; 
 more domefl.icated, and to have fome notions of 
 religion. 
 
 The 
 
( 147 ) 
 
 The following Evidence is printed at full length, 
 there not being tin:ie to abridge it. 
 
 Witnefs examined — Thomas Irving, Efq. 
 
 Does not your official fituation afford you a gene- 1791, 
 ral view of the commerce of the Britilh empire, and 
 of the relation of its feveral branches to each other, 
 and particularly to Great Britain ? 
 
 The office of Infpeftor General of Imports and 
 Exports, committed to my management, exhibits a 
 flate of the importations into, and cxportations from. 
 Great Britain, and the Britifli Colonies and Iflands in 
 America and the Weft Indies, and of all the revenues 
 arifingfrom our commerce. Accounts are tranfmltted. 
 to the office, from the feveral ports of Great Britain 
 and the colonies, of every article imported into, or 
 exported from, fuch ports, diftinguifhing our trade 
 with each refpe6live country, together (in as far as 
 relates to our Colonies) with the number of vefTels, 
 their tonnage, and number of men employed in the 
 trade, I am alfo annually furnilhed (extra-officially 
 for a fpecial purpofe) by the Regiftcr General of 
 Shipping, with a fimilar account of the number of 
 vefTels, their tonnage, and number of men, both 
 Britiih and Foreign, which enter and clear in the 
 ports of Great Britain. In a word, the Infpedor 
 General's office, as it at prefent ftands, exhibits a 
 complete view of the commerce, navigation, and 
 commercial revenues of the Britiih empire, Ireland 
 excepted. I am the more particular in explaining 
 the nature of the office, in order that it may appear 
 from what fources I draw any information which I 
 may have occafion to offisr to the Committee, in the 
 courfe of the fubfequent examination. 
 
 Did you ever execute any other office, which af- 
 forded you the means of acquiring a knowledge of 
 T 2 the 
 
148 W. Indies.— America. Irving. 
 
 1791. the trade of the Britiih Colonies in America and the 
 Weft Indies? 
 
 In the year 1767 I was appointed Infpedlor General 
 of the imports and exports of North America, and 
 Regifter of Shipping, which offices I continued to 
 execute until the year 1774, when I was appointed 
 Receiver General of South Carolina, and a Member 
 of the Council. 
 
 This office of Infpeflor General and Regifter of 
 Shipping in North America furniftied me with the 
 means of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the 
 trade and navigation carried on between the conti- 
 nental Colonies and the Britifti Weft India Iflands, 
 and the books and papers of that office are ftill in 
 my polTeffion. 
 
 Have the Britifh Weft India iftands, in their pre- 
 fent ftate, the means of furniftiing the fupply of 
 fugar and rum that is requifite for the confumption 
 of Great Britain and her immediate dependencies ? 
 
 The Britifh Weft India ifiands produce annually a 
 greater quantity of fugar and rum than is requifite 
 for the confumption of Great Britain, her immediate 
 dependencies, and the kingdom of Ireland. In tefti- 
 mony of this fa6t I beg leave to lay before the Com- 
 mittee the paper which I now hold in my hand, 
 containing an account of the quantity of Britifh 
 plantation fugar imported into, and exported from. 
 Great Britain, in the years 1772, 1773, i774j and. 
 1775, and in the years 1787, 1788, 1789, and 1790. 
 I have fele6led thofe years as exhibiting the faireft 
 flate of the produce of the fugar colonies; for in 
 the year 1776, our trade began to meet with many 
 interruptions from the war which was then become 
 general on the continent of America: and I am of 
 opinion, that the ifiands did not recover the ffiock 
 which they had fuftained by capture, and other con- 
 fequences of war, fooner than about the year 1787. 
 
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W. Indies. — America. Irving. 149 
 
 Do you think that the extentlon of the Weft India I79i« 
 plantations beyond the degree that is requifite for ' 
 lupplying Great Britain, and her immediate depen- 
 dencies with the principal articles of Weft India 
 produce, would materially promote the intereft of 
 the Britifti empire ? 
 
 This queftion is of a very extenfive nature, and is 
 involved in a variety of objedbs and confiderations, 
 commercial and political, which I am afraid 1 am 
 incompetent to offer an opinion uponj more efpeci- 
 ally in the prefent debilitated ftate of my health, 
 having only lately recovered from a dangerous illnefs. 
 
 The Committee informed Mr. Irving, that they 
 did not wifh that he ftiould, in anfwering 
 this, or any other queftion, make exertions 
 to the prejudice of his health, and that he 
 would therefore confine himfelf to fuch fadls 
 and opinions as ftiall readily occur to him. 
 
 The Witnefs then proceeded as follows : 
 
 The extenfion of the culture of the Britifli W.India 
 iflands, beyond that degree that is requifite for fup- 
 plying Great Britain and her immediate dependencies 
 with the principal articles of Weft India produce, 
 does not appear to me likely to promote the intereft 
 of the Britilh empire-, anJ in fupport of this opinion, 
 I beg leave to offer the following reafons : 
 
 The Weft India iflands have been fettled upon a 
 fyftem very different from the Bricidi Continental 
 Colonics (now a part of the States of America). I 
 allude to the colonies which are cultivated chiefly by 
 flaves ; namely, the tobacco, and rice, and indigo 
 colonies. The fettlement of thefe colonies was un- 
 dertaken upon fmall capitals, and the increafe of 
 their wealth arofe almoft wholly out of the growing 
 profits of the indnftry of the proprietors ; whereas 
 our iflands in the Weft Indies have, agreeable to the 
 fyftem hitherto purfued, been fettiea and extended 
 
 by 
 
W.Indies. — America. Irving^ 
 
 by means of large capitals drawn from the mother 
 country. The Ceded Iflands were almoft entirely 
 fettled with the Bi itifh capitals j and in the ifland of 
 Jamaica large fums of money have from time to time 
 been borrowed from this country upon mortgage, 
 in order to extend the cultivation of that iQand, 
 Thus a capital to a great amount, which might have 
 been employed in carrying on and extending the 
 manufaftures, the commerce, and agriculture of 
 Great Britain, has been transferred from hence to 
 the inoft vulnerable part of the empire; and there 
 inverted in purfuits which do not appear to me to 
 have been produ6live of a profit to the proprietor, 
 or of advantages to the public, in any degree ade- 
 quate to the precarious fituation in which fuch pro- 
 perty (lands, from the contingencies of climate, the 
 fate of war, &c. For although the planter rcfident 
 on the fpot will moft likely abide by his property 
 whatever change of government he may be fubjeiled 
 to, yet the lofs of an ifland by capture is a complete 
 lofs of fo much capital to the empire. Notwith- 
 ftanding our general fuperiority at fea, the precarious 
 tenure on which we hold our colonial poffefTions was 
 fufficiently evinced in the courfe of laft war. Thir- 
 teen great provinces feparated themfelves for ever 
 from the empire, whereby property to the amount of 
 many millions was loft to the inhabitants of Great 
 Britain, and her adherents. The provinces of Eaft 
 and Weft Florida, and the ifland of Tobago, were 
 ceded to Spain and France; and the iflands of St. 
 Kitts, Nevis, Montlerrat, St. Vincents, Dominica, 
 and Grenada, were all captured, but reftored at the 
 peace. 
 
 But befides the reafons already offered — the impo- 
 licy of extending the cultivation of the Weft India 
 iflands beyond the degree ftaced in the queftion, is 
 in my humble opinion ftrongly marked by fome 
 further confiderations. 
 
 Notwithftanding whatever may be the difference 
 between the Britifti and Foreign fugars at prefent, or 
 
 for 
 
Numb. 4: U An 
 

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W. Indies.-^America. Irving. 15J 
 
 for thefe two or three years paft, fince the difturb- 1791. 
 ances in France began to convulfe her colonies; yet 
 if we take a comparative view of the difference 
 between the price of Britifh and Foreign fugars, even 
 in a period the moft favourable to the Britifh iflands, 
 namely, before laft war, when they received a com- 
 plete fupply of lumber and provifions from the con- 
 tinent of America, it will be found that the French 
 fugars were fold by the planters from 20 to 30 per 
 cent, cheaper than the Britilh fugars could be pur- 
 chafed in our iflands. This fad: I (late from the in- 
 formation which I received time after time from the 
 merchants and others concerned in the trade between 
 America and the Weft Indies, when 1 executed the 
 office of Infpedor General of the Imports and Ex- 
 ports of North America; and I was the more mi- 
 nute in my inquiries, as the acquiring information 
 of the prices of the feveral commodities imported 
 into and exported from America formed a part of 
 my duty, in order to enable me to eftabiifh a table 
 of the rates of value for the office. But as a further 
 tellimony of the Foreign fugars being materially 
 cheaper than the Britifli, I take the liberty of pre- 
 fenting an account of the quantity of Britifli and 
 Foreign fugars, diftinguifhing each, imported into 
 our colonies in North America, in the years 1769, 
 1770, 177 1, and 1772. The Committee will perceive 
 by this account, that the difference between the 
 quantity of Britilh, and of Foreign fugars imported, 
 was not very confiderable, notwithftanding that the 
 Foreign fugars were clandeftinely obtained in the 
 French iflands by our traders, which enhanced the 
 price in proportion to the rifqLie, and were alfo fub- 
 je(fl to a duty of 5 s. per cwt. on importation into 
 America : nor were our traders by any means under 
 the neceffity of taking thefe foreign fugars in ex- 
 change for merchandize; for they were chiefly pur- 
 chafed with calh which they received for their lumber 
 and provifions fold in our iflands. I am the more 
 particular in Hating the difference of the prices be- 
 U 2 twcen 
 
154 \y. Indies. — America. Irving. 
 
 179T. tween the Britifh and Foreign fugars, becaufe I con-? 
 ceive it is a maxim thoroughly eftablifhed in national 
 commerce, that it is unwife to piiflh forward by means 
 of monopolies, reftriftive regulations, or bounties, 
 any branch of commerce or manufaflures, which 
 cannot be carried on, after a fair trial, within 15 per 
 cent, of the prices of other rival countries : and 1 am 
 of opinion that this obfervation will ftriftly apply 
 even to thofr branches of commerce from which the 
 nation is fuppofed to derive the greaceft political 
 adv;intages from the fmalleft capital employed, 
 H'mely, our fifheries. 
 
 '1 he money expended upon Weft India eflates is in 
 general far from yielding a profitable return, and in this 
 opinion I am fupporttd by the tellimony of fome of 
 the beft informrd gentlemen conne6led v/ith the Wefh 
 Indies, particulary the agent for Jamaica, who flates, 
 in his examination before the Privy Council, that the 
 planters throughout that iQand do not make more 
 than four per tent, upon their capital j and the agent 
 ot Barbadoes gave it as his opinion, " 1 hat after 
 f payment of expenfes and plantation loffes, even a 
 good crop does not leave the owner more, or fo 
 much as fix per cent, the intereft of the iQand, on 
 ]his capital." Befides the return to the proprietor^ 
 the publick certainly derives a confiderable profit 
 from the freight of the fugars, and the commiflion 
 paid to the merchants of this kingdom. This latter 
 circumftance 1 perceive is upon all occafions flrongly 
 prgcd by gentlemen connected with the Weft Indies ; 
 but the fame national profit and political advantages 
 appear to me to apply lefs or more to every other 
 blench of our foreign commerce, and in many in- 
 ilances to our inteinal manutadures. Indeed, the 
 teftimony of the Weft India gentlemen, which ftates, 
 that the capital inverted in the Weft India eftates is 
 far from yielding a profitable return, is ftrongly con- 
 firmed by the account which I now beg leave to lay 
 before the committee. By this account it appears 
 jthat the principal article cultivated in the Weft Indies 
 
 has^ 
 
 ^ 
 
An ACCOUNT of the Quantity of Sugars, being Britilh Plantation Produce, imported into Great Britain in the following 
 
 Years ; dilbnguifhing each Year, and each Ifland from whence imported. 
 
 
 1772. 
 
 •773- 
 
 
 1774- 
 
 '775- 1 
 
 ; '7«7- 
 
 1/88. 
 
 1789. 
 
 1790. 
 
 
 Cuts. < 
 
 ]is lb-, 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 V^. lb. 
 
 Cwts. ([rs. Ibb 
 
 Cwts. ( 
 
 n. 
 
 Ibb 
 
 Cwts. qi'S. lbs 
 
 Cwts 
 
 qrs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 Cwts. qrs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 Cwts. qis. lbs. 
 
 Antigua - - 
 
 115,364 
 
 I 23 
 
 83,965 
 
 1 20 
 
 235,8.5 1 23 
 
 255,861 
 
 1 
 
 26 
 
 254 575 ' 'S 
 
 181,813 
 
 2 
 
 — 
 
 144,204 — 
 
 II 
 
 65,022 1 26 
 
 Anguilla - - 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1,298 
 
 — 
 
 - 
 
 2,129 2 16 
 
 3,728 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3- 2 
 
 12 
 
 2,150 2 18 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 141,341 
 
 » 3 
 
 110,91 I 
 
 2 4 
 
 139,564 I 3 
 
 70,181 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 130,242 — 16 
 
 110,955 
 
 
 
 >9 
 
 97,3X9 2 
 
 27 
 
 113,038 3 21 
 
 Dominica 
 
 10,370 
 
 2 b 
 
 26,705 
 
 • s 
 
 53,4.64 2 1^ 
 
 40,683 
 
 1 
 
 21 
 
 1 55,665 I 21 
 
 47, 10 
 
 I 
 
 24 
 
 34.:-o9 3 
 
 5 
 
 50,036 23 
 
 Grenada - - 
 
 198,362 
 
 2 5 
 
 202,679 
 
 
 185, ^42 10 
 
 199,824 
 
 I 
 
 23 
 
 172,880 — 9 
 
 193.7^3 
 
 
 
 25 
 
 164.33^ 3 
 
 9 
 
 191,625 I 6 
 
 Jamaica - - 
 
 874,560 
 
 I 20 
 
 1,057,958 
 
 — 23 
 
 9+7.073 ' > 
 
 995.387 
 
 2 
 
 i8 
 
 824,706 2 15 
 
 1,124,017 
 
 
 
 44 
 
 1,236,603 I 
 
 27 
 
 1,183,519 2 7 
 
 St. Kitt's 
 
 220,716 
 
 2 14 
 
 I 10,657 
 
 3 3 
 
 2 12, 2L7 —15 
 
 206,049 
 
 3 
 
 17 
 
 231,397 2 12 
 
 187,379 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 89.755 I 
 
 23 
 
 113379 1 16 
 
 Nevis - - - 
 
 63,125 
 
 I 26 
 
 30,369 
 
 1 20 
 
 68,408 9 
 
 50,488 
 
 — 
 
 10 
 
 ; 72.475 ' 'J 
 
 30,050 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 28,151 3 
 
 — 
 
 35.467 3 I 
 
 Montferrat 
 
 58,008 
 
 2 — 
 
 33.776 
 
 — 21 
 
 47.590 3 9 
 
 39,327 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 1 35. ^^49 3 '0 
 
 25,113 
 
 
 
 '3 
 
 25,089 2 
 
 16 
 
 19,186 3 24 
 
 St. Vincent • 
 
 55,909 
 
 I 18 
 
 61,084 
 
 — 18 
 
 65.«77 — '7 
 
 54.07 « 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 64,449 I 27 
 
 76.735 
 
 2 
 
 24 
 
 8i,2b3 — 
 
 18 
 
 76,747 2 1 
 
 Tortola - - 
 
 34,660 
 
 — 3 
 
 30,126 
 
 3 24 
 
 33.962 3 4 
 
 38,665 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 78,749 I 6 
 
 84.513 
 
 3 
 
 22 
 
 33.704 — 
 
 23 
 
 29.850 1 14 
 
 Tobago - - 
 
 13,625 
 
 2 21 
 
 H.«53 
 
 3 '7 
 
 27,045 2 24 
 
 5o,3«S 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 "■'* — 
 
 ~~ 
 
 — 
 
 
 1,935,223 2 
 
 21 
 
 — — 
 
 Total - 
 
 1,786,045 
 
 — 1 
 
 1,762,387 
 
 3 15 
 
 2,015,911 1 15 
 
 2,002,224 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 1,926,121 — 3 
 
 2,065,700 
 
 — 
 
 12 
 
 1,882,005 — 17 
 
 Average of th 
 
 e Annual Pro- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 duce of the firft Period. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cwts. qrs. lb. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i,89i,64z 
 
 I — 
 
 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Average of the Annual Pro- 
 duce of the laft: Period. 
 
 Cwts. qrs. lb. 
 1,952,262 — — 
 
 Increafe in the laft Period. 
 
 Cwts. qrs. lb. 
 
 60,620 — — equal to 
 about 4,040 Hogftieads. 
 
 [To face page 154..] 
 
W. Indies — America. Irving, 
 
 has, in point of quantity, been in a great meafure fta- 
 tionary for thefe twenty years, and yet there is no 
 part of the empire in which property Hands in a more 
 favoured footing. Prohibitory laws were early made 
 tending to force the confumption of \A efl: India pro- 
 duce upon the inhabitants of Great Britain, and the 
 other fubie6l's of the empire, whereby the proprietors 
 of the iflands obtained .'and (till retain) a complete 
 monopoly of our markets at a very confiderable ex- 
 pcnfe to t'le Britilh conlumer, as appears by the dif- 
 ference of the prices between the Britifli and the fo- 
 reign iflands. 
 
 In our colonies in America, in order to encourage 
 our iflands, the ufe of foreign rum is abfolutely pro- 
 hibited, foreign coffee is fubjecft to a duty of two 
 pounds nineteen Ihillings per cwt. whilil Britifli is 
 chargeable with a duty ot feven fliillings-, and foreign 
 fugars, ag 1 have already mentioned, pay a dury on 
 importation into the continent of five Ihillings per 
 cwt. and into this kingdom one pound feven fliillings 
 and twopence, which is fourteen fliillings and tenpence 
 per cwt. more than the Britifli fugars. The whole 
 duties impofed upon Britifli fugars are drawn back 
 npjn exportation, and refined lugars are entitled to 
 a bounty, when exported, of twenty-fix fliillings per 
 cwt. which exceeds the duty colledted upon the raw 
 material three or four fliillings. In order to give 
 the planters a more extenfive market for the fale of 
 their prcduce, fugars were, by the I2th of Geo. IJ. 
 taken out of the lill of enumerated commodities, and 
 the exportation ot them permitted to all parts fouth 
 of Cape Finiflerre, in Europe. 
 
 1 he evidence upon the part of the Wefl: India 
 planters, before the Lommittee of Privy Council, fl:ate 
 many natural advantages which the foreign iflands 
 pofl!efs, as real'ons why our iflands will never be able 
 to enter into a competition in point of price with 
 the foreign plantations. 
 
 For th)fe, and the reafons which I have had the 
 honour upon this occafion of fubmitting to the Com- 
 mittee, 
 
15^ W, Indies. — America, Irving. 
 
 1791. mittee, I am of opinion, that however juft and pro- 
 per it may be to encourage our own iflands to the 
 extent of fupplying ourfelves, and thereby doing 
 thatjuftice to the proprietors of eftates thc-re which 
 they confider themfelves entitled to •, yet the extenfion 
 of the cultivation of thofe iflands beyond that degree 
 that is requifite for fupplying Great Britain and her 
 immediate dependencies, with the princ:pal articles 
 of their produce, is by no means likely to promote 
 the interefts of the empire-, becaufe from the great 
 difparity of price between the Britilli and Foreign 
 fugars, the former cannot be made an objc-tl of ex- 
 port by any other means than by that dedrudtive 
 fyflem of policy which has been too much adopted 
 in fome other branches of our commerce, namely, 
 the granting of bounties out of the Exchequer, in 
 order to enable the Britifn exporter to (land the 
 competition of prices in the foreign market. It is 
 a dangerous principle to force commerce and manu- 
 faftures like fruit raifed on a hot bed. In fuch 
 cafes, the capital and the induftry of the individual 
 are too often drawn from objedls of profit, to purfuits 
 ■which can only be carried on by the aid of the na- 
 tional purfe. 
 
 Do you think, that by a proper attention to the 
 breeding of flaves in the Britilh Weft India iflands, 
 fuch a number of flaves may be obtained and kept 
 ■up, without the aid of importation from Africa, as 
 will be fufficient to raife the Weft India produce that 
 is requifite for the fupply of Great Britain and her 
 immediate dependencies ? 
 
 I have long been of opinion, that by proper atten- 
 tion to the breeding of flaves, the ftock might be 
 kept up in the Britifli Weft India iflands, without the 
 aid of importation from Africa. I beg leave, how- 
 ever, to be underftood, that this meafure is not like- 
 ly, in my judgment, to be efl'eded by putting an 
 immediate ftop to the importations, but by adopting 
 
 fuch 
 
W.Indies — America; Irving. 157 
 
 fuch a fyllcm of policy as will gradually do away 1791. 
 the nfceffity for importation. 
 
 i:'rior to the late war, the provifions for feeding the 
 flaves were chiefly imported from North America, the 
 attention of the planters being almoft wholly diredted 
 to what is called the crop, namely, fugars, &c. and as 
 thefe provifi ms were bought at a confiderable expenfe, 
 the planters did not conhder it their intcreft to encou- 
 rage the breeding of flaves at the expenfe of feeding 
 them ten or twelve years before they were capable, 
 by the produce of their labour in the cane walks, to 
 fupport themfelves. Hence grown flaves, whofe 
 labour can be brought into immediate efi'edt, were, 
 and flill continue to be, imported from the coaft; of 
 Africa ; and of thcfe a greater proportion of males 
 than females. 
 
 If a difi^erent fyfl:em of policy were adopted with 
 refpe(5l to the cultivation of the plantations in the 
 Weft Indies, and which fyftem 1 have many reafons 
 for thinking uould be attended with advantage to 
 the planters themfelves : 1 am pcrfuaded a fufficient 
 number of flaves might be bred at leafl: to keep up 
 the prefcnt flock; I allude to the cultivating of a 
 proportion of land fufficient to lupply the negroes 
 with provifions, in which the little flaves, from feven 
 years old and upwards, might be ufeful. In that 
 part of America where I was rcfident, and which was 
 cultivated as much by negroes as the Wefl: Indies, 
 the breeding of flaves was confidered fo advantageous, 
 that the planter generally valued a child on the day 
 of its birth at five pounds. The prevailing opinion, 
 to the befl: of my recolleftion, in South Carolina, at 
 that time was, that the increafed population of flaves 
 by birth w:is irom two to ten per cent, and yet the 
 climate of Carolina, particularly of the rice planta- 
 tions, is, I beiieve, more holtile to the human con- 
 ftitution than any part of the Weft Indies. 
 
 In order gridually to check the importation of 
 negroes from the coaft of Africa, I would fubmit that 
 a flight duty, in the firft inftance, Ihould be laid upon 
 
 all 
 
158 'W.Indies — America. Irving. 
 
 1791. all (laves imported; the duty impofed on males td 
 u-v— J be confide; ably higher than upon females; or per- 
 haps that the latter (hould for a time be imported 
 free ; and that the rate of this duty fhould be pro- 
 grelTively incrcafed as the means fhould be provided 
 of fupplying the deficiency which this check would 
 give to the importation. And in order to encourage 
 the raifmg of plantation born .laves, and cultivating 
 provifions for their fuppoit, which latter circumftancc 
 1 confider to be materially conne6led with the breed- 
 ing of the negroes, I would propoft^ that the produce 
 of the duties collected upon (laves imported from the 
 coaft of Africa (hould be applied as bounties for 
 promoting the above purpofes. The raifing of pro- 
 vifions in fome of the illands, would, no doubt, be 
 lefs advantageous than others ; but I am of opinion, 
 that the cultivation of a fufficient quantity for the 
 life of the flaves would be profitable and politick. 
 Anterior to the late war, the negroes in the Weft Indies 
 depended in a great degree tor their fupply of food 
 on the continent of America. When the diiturbances 
 broke out, this Iburce of fupply was at once cut off, 
 and the importations from Europe, through captures 
 at fea and other caufes, were rendered very precari- 
 ous. The planters, thus impelled by neceflity, were 
 obliged to deviate from their former fyllem, and to 
 turn their attention more towards raifing provifion 
 upon their own eftates. The good effedts of this 
 plan has been fo forcibly felt, that the importation 
 of Indian corn, which may emphatically be ftiled the 
 bread of lire, with refpeft to the food of the flaves, 
 is reduced from about 600,000 bufhels, the quan- 
 tity annually imported before the war, to fomewhat 
 under 300,000 bulhels, the medium importation of the 
 laft three years ; and peafe, &c. in a fimilar propor- 
 tion. In a political fenfe, 1 conceive that no coun- 
 try capable of producing corn to feed itfelf, ou^ht 
 to be dependent upon any other for any article which 
 •it cannot do without, even for a day. 
 
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W.Indies. — America. Irving. 1:9 
 
 If the Britidi Weft India iflands fhould in future 1791. 
 raife a quantity of provifions fufficient to feed the 
 flaves, in what manner do you think the planters 
 would be enabled to difpofe of that part of their 
 rum and molafles, which is at prefent fuppofed to be 
 applied to the purchafing of provifions ? 
 
 Before I reply to this quertion, I beg leave to lay- 
 before the Corninittee an account of the quantity of 
 rum and molafics exported from the Bntifh Weft 
 India iflands, to all parts, for the three years pre- 
 ceding the 5th of January, '790, which is the lateft 
 period to which the account can be made up. 
 
 The quantity of provifions fuitable for feeding of 
 the flaves raifed in the Britilh Colonies in North 
 America is very inconfiderable, and the barrelled 
 mackrel and other fifh exported from thofe Colonies 
 to the Weft Indies, would almoft in anv event be 
 in demand, more efpecially as it is now fufficiently 
 proved, that the produce of the Britilli Herring 
 Fifhery is far from being equal to the demand of our 
 iflpnds. The Continental Colonies would, therefore, 
 be very little affeded by any change of fyftem in 
 raifing provifions for the negroes in the Weft Indies; 
 and fo far from its being probable that the demand 
 for rum in thefe Colonies is likely to be lelTened in 
 future, I am of opinion that the confumption will 
 increafe in proportion to the growing population of 
 the country. 
 
 By the account which I have juft now laid before 
 the Committee, it appears that upon a medium of 
 three years, about 1,500,000 gallons of rum have 
 been taken off by the fubjeds of the United States; 
 which rum, including the freight; as it can be only 
 imported in Britifti bottoms, may be valued at about 
 3$. 3d. ftcrling per gallon in America •, the total value 
 at that rate would be j^. 243, 750. This fum is by no 
 means more than equal to the purchafing of lumber, 
 flour, and other articles which have little or no con- 
 nexion with the food of the flaves. In a long exa- 
 mination which I underwent before the Lords of the 
 X 2 Commiuee 
 
i6o W. Indies. — America. Irving* 
 
 1791. Committee of Privy Council, in the year 17S4; 
 relating to the opening an intercourfe between the 
 States of America and the Britifh Weft Indies, I had 
 occafion to look very minutely into the nature and 
 value of the articles which the Weft Indies receive 
 from the States, and into thofe which the States take 
 in return from the iflands, and it then appeared to 
 me, (and nothing has fmce occurred to alter my 
 opinion) that the Weft India planters will always find 
 a fufficient demand for their rum. 
 
 The quantity of melaffes exported from our Iflands 
 is too inconfiderable to merit notice. 
 
 If a fufficiency of flaves for the culture of the 
 Britifli Weft India fettlements fliould be raifed 
 within thofe fettlements, do you think that the di- 
 minution of Britifli exports to Africa, which may 
 be the confequence of fuch a change, would be 
 materially prejudicial to the manufaduring interefts 
 of Great Britain ? 
 
 I feel more diffidence in anfwering this queftion 
 than any of the preceding, as nothing is more diffi- 
 cult to forefee than the confequences that may arife 
 from any alteration of fyftem in a trade long eftab- 
 liflied. Calling, however, a retrofpeflive eye to the 
 effedt which the changes in other branches of our 
 commerce have undergone in the courfe of public 
 events, and comparing the probable confequences 
 which may take place in the cafe in queftion, by 
 thofe which experience has afforded an opportunity 
 of determining upon, I fliall fubmit fuch ideas as 
 occur to my weak judgment, as to the tendency that 
 a probable diminution of the Britifli exports to the 
 Coaft of Africa, in confequence of the change pro- 
 pofed, is likely to have on the manufafbunng in- 
 terefts of this kingdom. 
 
 The medium value of the Britifli manufaflures 
 exported to Africa, chiefly for the purpofe of pur- 
 chaflng flaves, amounts to about ^.400,000 a year, 
 agreeable to the races of value in the Infpeftor Ge- 
 neral's 
 
W.Indies. — America.^ Irving. i6i 
 
 neral's books j but I mention with regret, that from 1791. 
 the loofe manner in which the entries of free goods ' — /— ' 
 are made in the Cuflom-houfe, the Infpedlor Gene- 
 ral's value of fuch goods is not abfolutely to be re- 
 lied upon, and therefore the value of the exports to 
 Africa may have been lefs or more ; however, the 
 Committee will pleafe to obferve, that in the 
 ;^.400,ooo, I include the value of the goods ex- 
 changed for gold dull, ivory, cam and redwood, 
 gum, drugs, &c. imported from Africa, either di- 
 re(5lly into Great Britain, or through the circuitous 
 pafTage of the Weft Indies, 
 
 An immediate ftop being put to our exports to 
 Africa, would doubtlefs be felt in a very confiderable 
 degree by thofe artificers, who are at prefent em- 
 ployed in manufa(fburing goods for that branch of 
 our export trade; becaufe they would find the chan- 
 nels through which their induftry pafTed to a market 
 Ihut up before they had time to turn their attention, 
 labour, and capital to other purfuits. It was not lefs 
 with a view to this objeft, than to the confequences 
 which the planters in the Weft Indies might ex- 
 perience by their being at once deprived of their 
 ufual fupply of flavcs, that I took the liberty of 
 fuggefting the crude ideas offered in my anfwer to 
 the preceding queftion. 
 
 In cafes of war breaking out, and being of long 
 continuance with countries with which we had been 
 in habits of carrying on commercial intercourfe, tem- 
 porary inconveniences are doubtlefs experienced, but 
 not to the extent which theoretical reafoning would 
 induce us to imagine. The enterprife of our mer- 
 chants foon difcovers frefh means of vending the pro- 
 duce of the labour of our manufadlurers. 1 he fupe- 
 rior capital, ingenuity, induftry, and integrity of the 
 Britifh artificer, will ever command a market for the 
 produce of his induftry. The late revolution in 
 America, afibrds ftriking proofs of the juftice of this 
 obfervation. With the independence of thefe ftates, 
 it was very generally apprehended, that Great Britain 
 
 would 
 
i62 W. Indies. — America. Irving. 
 
 1791. would alfo lofe the benefit of their commerce •, but 
 experience has proved the fallacy of that opinion. 
 The exports of our native manufaftures to that part 
 of the world, inftead of being lefTened fince the fe- 
 paration of the two countries^ are increafed •, and as a 
 proof of the delufion of the idea, that the employ- 
 ment of the capital of this country has for fome time 
 pad been at its ne plus ultra, I beg leave to inform 
 the Committee, that the value of Britifh manufac- 
 tures exported from this country of late, exceeds that 
 of the moft flourifhing period before the late war, 
 when the laws of trade confined thofe colonies, which 
 now cotrnritute the American States, in their fupply 
 of merchandize to Great Britain, the fum of upwards 
 of ^^2,500,000 annually ; and that our fliipping has 
 alfo increafed between two and three hundred thou- 
 fand tons, over that which the empire polTeffcrd when 
 the American States formed a part of its dominions. 
 Nor has this great increafe of trade and navigation 
 arifen from any fpecial or temporary caufe, for it 
 will appear by the books of my office, that the value 
 of our exports has been gradually increafmg every 
 year fince the late war. 
 
 For the fafts and reafons which I have thus fet 
 forth, I am under no apprehenfions that a gradual 
 check to the importation of (laves would materially 
 affed: the manufaduring interefts of this country. 
 
 Do you not know the price of fugars has doubled 
 in Great Britain within the lad eighteen years ? 
 
 I believe the price of fugars in Great Britain is 
 very confiderably increafed within the laft eighteen 
 years ; but to what amount I am not prepared to give 
 an anfwer. A confiderable addition has been made 
 within that period, to the rate of duties upon fugars, 
 which will confequently increafe the price; and I 
 am inclined to think, that the prices at prefent, and 
 for two or three years patt, have been materially af- 
 feded, as I have already obferved, by the difturbances 
 in the French illands. 
 
 Do 
 
W. Indies — America. Irving. 
 
 Do you not think, if a more ample fupply of fu- 
 gar were fent from the Weft Indies to Great Britain, 
 that the price in the home market would decreafe ? 
 
 I have already informed the Committee, that the 
 Britiih "Weft India iQands, in their prefent fituation, 
 raife a quantity of fugar more than adequate to the 
 confumption of the whole Britiih empire. If the 
 quantity of fugars in the Britifti Weft India iflands 
 were confiderably increafcd, fuch increafe might pro- 
 bably have fome effed in lowering the prices to the 
 Britifh confumer; but the natural confequence mufl: 
 be a diminution in the price to the Weft India plant- 
 er, which would tend greatly to difcourage him in 
 the extenfion of his plantation. 
 
 Do you not believe, that the confumption of fu- 
 gar, and confequently the revenue arifing from that 
 article, would increafe very confiderably if the prices 
 were lower ? 
 
 I conceive I have already anfwered thisqueftion. 
 
 ^ Should a?iy errors have crept hito the foregoirig 
 Work^ it is hoped they 'will he candidly at- 
 tributed to their true caufe — the want oj" 
 time to correal the prefs. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
REMARKS 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 EVIDENCE 
 
 GIVEN BY 
 
 THOMAS IRVING, Efq. 
 
 INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE EXPORTS AND 
 IMPORTS OF GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 SELECT COMMITTEE 
 
 APPOINTED TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION OF 
 WITNESSES ON THE 
 
 SLAVE-TRADE. 
 
 r> 
 
 LONDON, PRINTED IN THE YEAR I79I 
 •-1 
 
Pv E M A R K S 
 
 ON THE 
 
 EVIDENCE 
 
 O F 
 
 THOMAS IRVING, Esq^ 
 
 '' I ""HE opinions of Mr. Irving, on the fubjed of the 
 "*" Slave-Trade, are introduced by his own explana- 
 tion of the nature of his office of Infpedlor-General of 
 Imports and Exports, and of the advantages which it 
 furnifhes in point of commercial information. The in- 
 tent of this is evidently to imprefs the Committee and the 
 public at large, with deference to the authority of this 
 evidence, as the moft complete and clear that can be ob- 
 tained relative to the matters in queftion. 
 
 The books of the Cuflom-Houfe, as kept in the office 
 of the Infpedlor-General, do indeed fu-^ply a great body 
 of information; nor can their accuracy, where the cafe 
 admits it, be queftioned; and the facts, which may be 
 be thence ftated, are abfolutely neceflary to a comprehen- 
 five view of the various branches of Britifh commerce, 
 and of the relative value of each. 
 
 A z But, 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 But, on many, and thofe very material, points of com- 
 mercial fcience, the books of the Cuftom-Hcufe throw 
 no light. They afford no explanation of facls as depending 
 upon the caufes which produce them; and even upon the 
 very important fubjedl of our export-trade, from the 
 mode in which the entries are made, they leave us much 
 in the dark. Of their deficiency, in the latter refpeil, 
 Mr. Irving appears fenfible; and he gives the clcareft 
 proof of the fa6l when he ftates (page 273) the medium - 
 value of Britifh manufactures, exported to Africa, at 
 about 400,000/. per annum ; an amount inferior to the 
 annual fales of half a dozen of our principal manufactures 
 folely employed for that trade. 
 
 Mr. Irving is a very ingenious and induftrious man ; 
 but, on fpeculative (jueflions, not clearly deducible froni 
 official faCls, his opinions ftand on no better ground 
 than thofe of any other intelligent man j and, inafmuch 
 as he may be led to rely exclufively on the fources of in- 
 formation that are moft familiar to him, his conclufions 
 here are particularly to be diftrufted. 
 
 The ftatement v/hich he has given of the quantity of 
 fugar imported from each of the iflands, for a feries of 
 years, at two different periods, is one of the cafes in 
 which his authority may be afTumed as correal j and it 
 thence appears that the average total import, from 1787 
 to 1790 inclufive, exceeds that from 1772 to 1775 inclu- 
 sive by no more than 60,620 cwt. of fugar. From this 
 fa6l, without enquiry into its caufes and circumllances, 
 he draws important Inferences; the whole of which how- 
 ever muft vanifli if it be confidered that the firft was a 
 
 period 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 period free from hurricanes or any material difafter to 
 the Wert- Indies j and that the latter period has been par- 
 ticularly marked by a failure of crops in the leeward 
 iflands, and by its being fubfequent to a fucceflion of 
 dreadful hurricanes and other accidents, from which ma- 
 ny parts of Jamaica have not yet recovered. 
 
 The progrefs of culture in Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vin- 
 cent's, Dominica, and Tortola, fmce the laft war, can 
 be quart ioned by no man of corredt information. Thefe 
 iflands, in the latter of the periods ftated by Mr. Irving, 
 exceeded their average produce, in the former period, by 
 more than 160,000 cwt. while the iflands of St. Kitts, 
 Nevis, Monlferratt, Antigua, and Barbadoes, whofc 
 culture may be confidered as ftationary, fell rtiort more 
 than 100,000 cwt. of their former average produce. If 
 the laft-named iflands had only equalled their former crops, 
 the average increafe from all the iflands (leaving out An- 
 guilla and Tobago entirely) would have exceeded 260,000 
 cwt. or 20,000 hhds of fugar; and, calculating tliat a de- 
 ficiency, profportionate to that in the ftationary iflands, 
 happened alfo in thofe that are improving, the increafe 
 would have been much greater. Indeed no man, who is 
 properly acquainted with the fituation of the iflands, can 
 doubt, that, with fuch favourable feafons for two years 
 together as occurred in 1774 and 1775, their produce 
 would furpafs that of thofe years by no lefs an amount 
 than i-5th of the whole quantity. 
 
 The increafe of cultivation in our Colonies (which is 
 ftill capable of being much extended), has doubtlefs been 
 encouraged by many provifions of the Britifh Legiflature, 
 
 A 3 fpme 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 fome of which Mr. Irving enumerates; but as their mono- 
 poly in our markets is given in return for a like mono- 
 poly of their trade, and as the bounty that vi'as formerly 
 granted upon refined fugar exported (but which is now in 
 efFeiSl greatly reduced), is not equal to what the French 
 have given upon the fame article, it does not appear 
 that the encouragement, in any inftance, has been at an 
 undue expence to the nation, or obtained by an impolitic 
 facrifice. Little or no ufe has been made of the A£l of 
 12 Geo. II. cap. 30, which allows fugars, under certain 
 reftriilions, to be fent from our Colonies to foreign parts ; 
 nor will it ever probably be reforted to, fo long as the inti- 
 mate dependance of the Colonics on this country, ftrength- 
 ened by the debt they owe, continues to exift. 
 
 That deb^, formed by the advance of a part of the 
 Eritifh capita], and which, in Mr. Irving's opinion, has 
 been unwifely encouraged in the cafe of pofiefTions fitu- 
 ated like the Weft-India Iflands, it is to be obferved al- 
 ready exifts and cannot be recalled. Britifh fubje^ls have 
 embarked in this immenfe concern under the repeated 
 and exprefs encouragement of a long fyftem of legiflation, 
 which the Britifh government cannot in good faith, or in 
 policy, fuddenly relinquifh. On the contrary, it is bound 
 to adopt fuch meafures as may render the capital, thus a<l- 
 vanced, both fecure and productive. 
 
 Some explanation, refpecSting the principal fources of 
 the capital vefted in colonial fettlements, will be fufficient 
 to prevent the opinion of Mr. Irving on this fubjeii being 
 adopted without referve. It would be a great miftakp, 
 for example, to fuppofe that an amount of capital equal 
 to the whole value of the Britifh Weft-India iflands, has 
 
 beeft 
 
( 7 ) 
 been advanced to thefc iflands by Great Britain. On the 
 contrary, very fmall fums have been called for in the fet- 
 tlement of many cclonial eftates ; oeconomy, jojned to 
 perfonal labor and judgement, having done the chief. Nor 
 has, in general, the principal part of the money lent, by 
 Britifh merchants, been previoufly acquired in other quar- 
 ters ; ha' ing Chiefly originated fiom the gains of merchants 
 and others out of the Weft-India trade itfelf, in the way of 
 commiffions, high intereft of money, &c. and having, in 
 moft cafes, been the fruit of an accumulation from fmall 
 beginnings. Much likewife of the value put upon Weft- 
 India eftates confifts in their lands j the whole prefent 
 worth of which has never been paid for, in a multitude 
 of inftancesj having gradually increafed by time up to its 
 prefent value, while in the pofleflion of its prefent holders 
 or their anceftors, and being matter of eftimate rather 
 than purchafe. On the other hand, the wealth produced 
 to manufaiSlurerSj merchants, and others, in confequence 
 of their connections with the Sugar-Colonies, joined to the 
 money fpent by Britifli planters refident in Great Britain, 
 have given new vigor to many branches of induftry at 
 home, and in other parts of the Eritifh Empire. Nor is 
 it eafy to fay what part of our concerns at home have 
 languiftied for want of the capital lent to Britifti colonifts, 
 fmce capital appears always to be fufficiently ready for 
 feafible t>bje£ts at home, when they ofFer pro}>er encou- 
 ragement ; the beft proofs of which are the low intereft of 
 money in this country on good fecurity, in time of peace ; 
 and the large fums which are continually vefted in foreign 
 undertakings for want of home objetSts. Befjdcs, fince 
 it is true, that little additional capital is requifite for our 
 
 A 4 prefent 
 
( 8 ) 
 piefent colonics, beyoiid what they now pofTefs, and fincc 
 the capital which is already there cannot be withdrawn, 
 the obje£lion (as has been obferved) comes too late to 
 be ufeful ; and nothing more remains for thofe who pofTefs 
 money, and think it can be better employed at home than 
 
 abroad, but to employ it at home in future. In this 
 
 view of things, time only ^as been loft, and nothing be- 
 fides i and, in the interim, we have acquired our immenfe 
 
 colony poflefTions. If wars have intervened, the colo- 
 
 nifts difclaim all {hare in the caufes of them ; and, con- 
 fid ering what has been the prevailing temper of the na- 
 tions of Europe, it is pretty clear that motives to war 
 would never have been wanting, had the Britifh Empire 
 never been pofleffed of Sugar-Colonies. 
 
 Mr. Irving with difficulty admits the pslky of encou- 
 raging our Sugar Iflands, even to the extent of fupplying 
 our ho;fie markets with their produ61ions j for he ftates, 
 p. 269, the " juftice to the proprietors of eftates there, 
 ." which they conjider themfehes as entitled to," as forming 
 the fole ground of fuch encouragement ; and he decidedly 
 gives it as his opinion, that " an extenfion of their culti- 
 «* ration, beyond what is requifite for fupplying Great 
 " Britain and her immediate dependencies, is by no means 
 " likely to promote tke interefts of the empire." 
 
 Admitting for a moment, this extraordinary alTertion 
 to be well founded, how can the legiflature at this day, 
 confiftently with " that jujiice to which the Colonies and their 
 creditors here conjider thenifelves eyxtitled^^ impofe a fudden 
 check upon their fpirit and induftry, and bar their pro- 
 grefs in a line of cultivation in which they have embarked 
 
 their 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 their fortunes, and to which they have enured their ta- 
 lents, under the exprefs encouragement of every govern- 
 ment, as well as every adminiftration that has exifted in 
 this country fince the Colonies were fettled? — But, upon 
 whom is this check to operate ? — It mufl either affed the 
 continuance of cultivation on lands that now yield a fteady 
 income to their proprietors, or prevent the commence- 
 ment and extenfion of cultivation on lands purchafcd at a 
 great expencc, whofc fole value depends on their culti- 
 vation. No defcription of Colonifts can be found, who 
 would not be injured and opprcfled by fuch a reftridion, 
 which is beyond example in the hiftory of any civilized 
 ration. 
 
 If we doubt the policy of fupplying ourfelves with the 
 produce of the Weft-ImUcs through our own fubjeiflf, 
 let us fuppofc for a moment, fince fome nation mufl have 
 poflefTion of the iflands, that the French, in addition to 
 their own, were to become the proprietors of our iflands j 
 and that wliile they had a monopoly of the Sugar Trade, 
 with every concomitant advantage of commerce and na- 
 vigation, we were to feck to benefit ourfelves by a trans- 
 fer of the capital, we have at prefent embarked in that 
 trade, to fome other. After paying to France the hard 
 money requifite for our annual neceflary confumption of 
 Weft-India produce, including fuch taxes (to their own 
 benefit) as they fhall think proper to leave it burthened 
 with ; fliould we not find it difficult, with the remainder 
 of our new capital, to create a fource of political 
 and commercial profit, fufficient to counter-balance the 
 large acceflion of power and wealth that would thus ac- 
 crue to our rival ? 
 
 It 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 It is a maxim of Sir Jofiah Child, that " it is the in* 
 *' iereft of all trading nations principally to encourage 
 ** navigation, and to promote efpecially thofe trades which 
 " employ moft fhipping." 
 
 This advantage cannot he difputed to the trade of our 
 Weft-India Colonies. They build no fhips and poiTefs 
 no failors, and their produce employs annually about 
 240,000 tons of fhipping, and upv/ards of 20,000 feamen. 
 — The importance of this acceffion of maritime ftrength, 
 will abundantly appiear from the follo\Ving confiderations : 
 Firft, if vi^e lofe it and the French obtain itj the mifchief 
 to us upon the balance of things will become double. 
 Secondly, if our maritime flrength fhould ever fall below 
 a certain amount, we fhall not have enough left to de- 
 fend the fources on vv^hich the remainder of it depends^ 
 or to conneil with the mother country the various other 
 colonies and fettlements which we pofTefs abroad, (par- 
 ticularly the Eaft-Indies,) or even to preferve our New- 
 foundland and other foreign fijheries, to fay nothing of 
 Ireland. Thirdly, our infular fituation at home is only 
 of advantage in proportion as we have a navy to guard 
 our coafts againft other powers pofTefledof maritime re- 
 fources. This fa6t is fufficiently proved from the hiftory 
 of this ifland, which was for ages fubjeit to Conqueft from 
 the Romans, Saxons, and Danes, when by means, of fu- 
 perior navies they were able to keep us in conftant alarm, 
 to choofe the place of attack, and, in cafe of repulfe in one 
 fpot, to retreat with fafety and make their attempt in an- 
 other with more fuccefs. Since thofe unhappy days, by 
 peculiar attention to our navy, and to the commerce on 
 
 which 
 
( tl ) 
 
 which it depends, we have not only been in a fituation to 
 defeat the memorable Spaniih armaJa, and to protect cur- 
 felves and our trade from all infulr, even in the cafe of 
 fcvcral powerful nations united againft us ; but have been 
 enabled to acquire and preferve large foreign dominions 
 and colonies and commerce in e\'ery quarter of the world. 
 The Britifh empire is a vafl body compofed cf a multitude 
 of fragments, of wiiich our marine is the gfrJc-ral cement, 
 Deftroy tliis cement, the empire is deftroyed j and its lafl 
 '" citadel, namely, this ifland itfeU", is no longer fafe. For 
 Britain to be fafe, flie muft be miftrefs of the feas ; and 
 her power on the feas depends only upon preferving and 
 multiplying her foreign trade, which will at the fame time 
 add to her wealth, another of the great means for fupporf- 
 ing wars in modernt ages. — In fhort, a maritime and 
 commercial iy^tvii \% never to be purfued by halves. What 
 is wifely adopted muft be vigoroufly fupported, other- 
 wife what might have proved a fource of ftrength, may 
 become the means of weaknefs ; and the fole confequence 
 of half mcafurcs may be to render thofe who adopt them, ' 
 a richer and artipkr prey to ftronger maritime foes. 
 
 The Weft-India Colonies interfere with us in no one 
 manufacture ; they are employed in raifing what we can- 
 not raife, yet cannot do without ; they form, as it may 
 be called, a neceffary fupplement to the general induftry 
 of the empire. Mr. Irving fays very truly, that if we 
 lofe them by capture, we lofe a great capital ; and he 
 might have added, that if we lofe them in any fenfe, we 
 lofe a great miarket. 
 
 The expence of their defeiKe in time of war, as well as 
 6f their peace eftablifhment, is a charge common to us^ 
 with our neighbours in Europe. Contingencies of this 
 
 fort 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 foit between rival nations are always mutual, and always 
 proportionate; and, therefore cancel each other in the 
 political balance. 
 
 Mr. Irving, even in a commercial view, cannot be cor- 
 redl in his aflertion, that beyond the wants of our home 
 confumption, it is not expedient for the intcrefts of the em- 
 pire to encourage the cultivationof ourWelt India Colonies; 
 fince it muft at lead be allowed, that they afford, among 
 many ether advantages, one that is very confiderable ; 
 namely, the means of balancing our trade with the other 
 nations of Europe. When the A61 of 6 George II. cap, 
 13, (which dates in the preamble that, " The welfare and 
 " profperity of the Sugar Colonies are of the greateft 
 " importance to the trader navigation, and Jlrength of 
 "this kingdom,") was pending in the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, it was fupported by powerful authorities to this 
 effe(St. Mr. Barnard faid, " We ought never to make 
 " laws for encouraging or enabling our fubjeds to fell the 
 " produce or manufa61:ure of their country at a high price, 
 ** but we ought to contrive all ways and means for ena- 
 " bling them to fell cheap; for, in all matters relating to 
 '' trade, vje ought chicjiy to confider the foreign exportation." 
 Mr. Oglethorp faid, " Every man, who knows anything 
 '■' of the trade and commerce of this nation, knows how 
 " much the whole depends on our Colonies in the Weft- 
 " Indies. Every man may fee, by the accounts that have 
 "been laid before us, what vaft quantities of goods are 
 " every year brought from thence ; by the re-exportation 
 " of which we balance our trade with almeft every nation 
 *' in Europe ; and I believe I may fay, that it \i owing to 
 *' this only, that the general balance of trade has always 
 '' continued fo much in our favour*"— 'Vide "Chandler's 
 
 Debates^ 
 
( 13 ) 
 l)ebates, vol. 7. Thefe opinions of our wife anceflors 
 are greatly at varianre with thofeof Mr. Irving, who can- 
 not, it is to be prefumed, fuppofe that an abolition of the 
 Slave-Trade will either diininifh the price of Weft- India 
 produce, or increafe its re-export to foreign markets, 
 
 Mr. Irving allows that in 1775 we expoitedy to foreign 
 parts, 89,325 cwt. of raw fugar. This was upon a bare 
 drawback of the duty, and therefore with advantage to th% 
 revenue, and for this quantity we muft have received from 
 foreigners upwards of 100,000 1. — In the laft year, not- 
 withftanding our high prices, we exported to foreign parts 
 15,011 cwt. of raw fugar, and 105,892 cwt. of refined. 
 The value of this muft have been nearly 400,0001. and 
 this fum was obtained from foreigners, at the expence 
 of a drawback on refined fugars of about 17,0001. tranf- 
 ferred from the Treafury to Britifti Manufa<flurers. — 
 How then are the comparative prices of Britifh and 
 French fugar (which Mr. Irving ftates to be in favour 
 of the latter), applicable to the queftion? The Britifli 
 Colonift afks for no bounties, for no privileges, but fuch as 
 foreign nations grant to their Colonies, or fuch as his pe- 
 culiar burthen of taxes renders indifpenfably juft and necef- 
 fary. With fuch advantages alone he will, if permitted, 
 continue to extend his cultivation, and carry the furplus 
 of his produce beyond our confumption to a foreign 
 market. 
 
 The ralue of the produce of our Sug ir Colonies (which 
 fs about feven millions fterling per annum) entirely refts 
 in the mother country. 7'he Weft-Ind'a Planters and Mer- 
 chants, in one of their late Memorials to adminiftration, ^ 
 ftate very properly, that * the produce of our Colonies . 
 f muft be confidered as ftr'nding on the fame footing wi h 
 
H ) 
 
 « tk.3 produce of the mother- country ; and, by all the 
 ' fugar that is thus railed by our own fubjc6ls and con- 
 ' fumed at home, whatever may be the price it bears,' the 
 
 * couniry is neither made the richer nor the poorer on that 
 
 * account.' — But, v/hatever is exported abroad, and paid 
 ■^ for by foreigners, is fo much clear gain to the nation ; 
 " and, though obtained with an appearance of a trifling 
 *■ facrifice of revenue, yet it afFords the fureft means of in- 
 
 * creafirig that Revenue, by fwelling the national weahh. 
 
 * That the fum received from foreigners on an average 
 ' for feveril years paft, for refined (jjgar exported, cannot 
 'amount to lefs than 300,000 I. per annnm ; the mere 
 ^ mercantile profit upon which exceeds the expence of 
 ' that bounty, by which it is obtained.' 
 
 ' - Mr, Irving might with propfiety hiave diilinguiflied be- 
 tween the return -which the Weft-India Iflands make to 
 their proprietors, and that which they make to the Britifh 
 nation. The income which the nation derives from them 
 confifts of their whole produce; and the income of the 
 proprietor, only of a very fmall proportion of that produce 
 left him, after paying for duties, freight?, commiffionSj 
 manufadures, and the intereft of the BritiHi debt. 
 
 The real occafion of the doubts, which are entertained 
 by Mr. Irving and various others refpefting the bene- 
 fits attendant upon colonies, lies in the feparation of 
 America having taken place without any apparent injury, 
 having yet followed to the profperity of Great Britain. 
 Eut, without entering into invidious remarks upon the 
 North- American trade or North-American colonies, it is 
 necefTary to obferve, that, fince the commencement of 
 the American war, feveral great events have occurred 
 which have dimlwjked or counterbalanced the natural effeiSls 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 of the American revolution upon this country .-While the 
 French and Dutch governments and trade have *expcrien- 
 ced ifenfible decline during this interval, (to fay nothing 
 of the confufion which has fubfift.d in other parts of 
 Europe) the trade of Great Britain, on the other hand^ 
 has acquired a variety of new refourccs. Thcfe have ari- 
 fen, among other caufes, from the late improvements in 
 the fteam- engine, the cotton machinery, the new pottery- 
 ware, and our iron-manufa6lures; the opening of new 
 fiftieries; the decreafe of contrab,and in feveral of its 
 branches ; the rapid progrefs of Ire'and ; the additional 
 monopoly in the Eaft^ the late highly-favourable, rates of 
 exchange; an almoft exclufive enjoyment of public cre- 
 dit, compared with the other nations of Europe; the in- 
 creafe of our colony- markets, owing to their increafing 
 population; new foreign markets, opened by time and by 
 the growing reputation of our countrymen, in old and 
 new branches of work and of produce; the feveral late 
 changes of falhion in Eurppc, beneficial to ourfelves in 
 the way of trade or oeconomy ; and the extended demand 
 for our colony-articles in foreign parts. In fhort, new 
 confumptions of our articles on the part of foreigners, 
 and new exclufions of their articles from our confumption, 
 have had a double operation in the balance of trade in our 
 favor. Nor are to throw out of the account, that confide- 
 rable remains of the North-American trade ftill fubfift.— r- 
 Whoever, therefore, fhall aflert that Great Britain has 
 fuffered nothing IjjT jhelofs of America, alTerts what is in 
 itfelf a matter of doubt } fmce our prefent profperity, great 
 ^s it is, does not prove that it might not be greater. 
 
 But, 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 But, were the aflertion admitted, it argues nothing with 
 rerpe£l to the Sugar-Colonies; the merits of which are 
 wholly of a different nature, and, from the difperfion of 
 the iflands, may be preferved to the mother country, with 
 the leaft degree of gcod management, for ages, and made 
 a fource of ftrength and wealth. 
 
 In juftification of his opinion, that a confiderable adaf- 
 tion fhould be made to the allotments of land, for the 
 purpofe of raifmg negro-provifions in all the iflands, Mr. 
 Irving afferts, that the Weft-India Planters will always 
 find a fufficient demand for their rum, fhould they lofe 
 the market they now obtain by exchanging it for pro- 
 vifions from foreign parts. Although not yet difpoflefTed 
 of that market, Mr. Irving may learn, that the Colonifts 
 find the utmoft difficulty in procuring a vent for the 
 whole quantity of rum which they raife ; and, that in the 
 two years preceding the Lift, it did not pay the cxpence 
 of making it and fending it home. 
 
 Admitting what Mr. Irving fays in one part of his 
 evidence, of the means of encouraging the breeding of 
 flaves in the iflands, to be very juft and proper ; yet, on the 
 fubjedl of his evidence in general, it is to be prefumed, 
 that a perfon of his commercial intelligence would not 
 have recommended any fteps towards an abolition of the 
 Slave-Trade, had he not erred in his previous reafoning j 
 and had he been aware that, to encourage an extenfion of 
 the cultivation of our Weft-India Iflandsv is not only an 
 adl of juftice due to the proprietors 'therein, but alfo the 
 fure means of encreafing (as the legiflature has avowed) 
 the trade^ the navigation, and the Jlnngth^ of the Britijh 
 Empire. 
 
 London, April 15, 1791.