5G0 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



change in the laws and administration, and the loss of income from 

 tobacco, caused a great increase in maritime pursuits, and conse- 

 quently in shipbuilding. During the 18th century the Bermudians 

 engaged largely in the intercolonial commerce, and in the manufac- 

 ture and exportation of salt from Turk's Island, and they pursued 

 the sea-turtle fishery as far south as Ascension Island, and there 

 traded with foreign vessels. During that period large numbers of 

 vessels were built of Bermuda cedar, often 10 to 12 annually. This 

 led to another period of deforesting. Probably most of the cedar 

 used at that time was the second growth cedar that had grown up 

 where the original growth had been cut down in the early period, 

 to plant tobacco, for the Bermuda cedar, in good soil, grows fast 

 enough to make good timber in thirty to forty years. 



/'. — Slavery : Negroes ; Indians ; Whites. Abolition of Slavery in 



183^. 



Slavery prevailed in the Bermudas from 1610, or earlier, up to 

 1834, when it was abolished. Owing to the comparatively small 

 size of the estates, none of the planters held any considerable num- 

 ber, and in general the slaves seem to have been well treated,* 

 as compared with those in other colonies, though at times severe local 

 laws were passed for their control. During most of the history they 

 exceeded the whites in number. 



Their money value was not large and many bought their freedom, 

 or were voluntarily freed by their owners, who were not always 

 able to feed and clothe them properly. 



But for a long series of years, free colored persons were not 

 allowed to remain on the islands beyond a specified timef (six 

 months or a year). 



* Several instances are recorded where slaves captured on Bermuda vessels in 

 time of war and taken to foreign countries voluntarily returned to their owners 

 in Bermuda, when they might have had their liberty. In one such case eighty 

 slaves taken on a Bermuda privateer, during the Revolutionary war, were taken 

 to Boston and offered their liberty, but all except one, who died, returned to their 

 owners. In 1828, two vessels manned by eleven slaves as sailors, arrived in 

 Ireland, and the slaves were officially offered their freedom and protection, but 

 only three, who were mere boys, accepted freedom. 



f The following law was enacted by the Company in 1662 : 

 " Ff or the preventing the mischief e & danger which otherwise -is like to 

 happen by the multyplication of malattoes. Wee have Ordered that from 

 henceforth if any malatto shall bee made free, such p'son doe within twelve 

 months after depart the Islands." In 1704, the time that free negroes could 

 remain was made six months. 



