STUDY VII. 6î 



The Negros, in general, are confidered as the 

 moft unfortunate fpecies of Mankind on the face 

 of the Globe. In truth, it looks as if fome deftiny 

 had doomed them to llavery. The ancient curfe 

 pronounced by Noûb *, is by fome believed to be 

 flill actually in efFefl : " Curfed be Canaan ! a 

 *' fervant of fervants fhall he be unto his bre- 

 ** ihren." They themfelves confirm it by their 

 traditions. If we may give credit to a Dutch Au- 

 thor, of the name of Bojman, " the Negros of the 

 *' Guinea coaft allege, that GOD, having created 

 *' blacks and whites, propofed to them the power 

 *' of choofing between two things, namely, the 

 *' pofleffion of gold, and of the art of reading and 

 " writing ; and as GOD gave the power of the 

 *' firft choice to the blacks, they preferred gold ; 

 ** and they left learning to the whites, which was 

 " accordingly granted them. But that the Crea- 

 " TOR, provoked at the appetite for gold which 

 " they had manifefted, immediately pafled a de- 

 " crée, that the whites (hould have eternal domi- 

 '* nion over them, and that they (liould for ever 

 " be fubjeâ; to their white brethren as Haves -j-". 



I do 



* Genefis, chap. ix. ver. 25, 

 \ Bo/man s P^oyage to Guhiea, letter x. This decifion of mo- 

 dern Negros is highly to their honour. They feem to feel the 

 ineftimable value of knowledge. But could they have feen, in 

 Europe, ;he condition of moft men of literature, compai ed with 



that 



