THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 475 



feelings against the magistrates rose higher, and the three magistrates were on 

 the point of resigning their commissions. Lieutenant-Governor Balfour se- 

 cured from the Colonial Department approval for this conduct, as in line with 

 the policy which it was desirable to follow in the slave colonies/"^ On other 

 Out-islands occurred instances of mutinous conduct on the part of slaves, owing 

 to the negligence of their masters, or overseers, in providing them with the 

 requisite rations and clothes. At Exuma and Eleuthera gangs of slaves re- 

 fused to work for this reason, but no serious consequences resulted.^"* If these 

 cases occurred at this time, when it was known that there was a Chief Magistrate 

 in the Colony, who was intent on punishing offenders against justice to the 

 slaves, it is not unlikely that such a state of things existed during the years 

 before his coming. Although these cases may not have been of frequent oc- 

 currence, still it is evident that the slave system of this Colony admitted of 

 flagrant abuses from ill-tempered or harsh masters, and that there were here 

 men who would take advantage of the opportunity, left open to them, to treat 

 human beings with lack of consideration, and with unmistakable cruelty. The 

 attitude of the public mind towards Governor Smyth gives strong evidence of 

 the tolerance of public sentiment in the Bahamas towards the slave owner 

 who chose to leave conscience behind in dealing with his slaves. It must have 

 been as tolerant before Sir James Smyth came as it was afterwards. Indeed, 

 if we accept the testimony of the slaveholders themselves, when they said that 

 the barbarous practices, inveighed against by this Governor, were rapidly being 

 discontinued by the force of public sentiment,"^ we must conclude that con- 

 ditions were better in this respect than they had been formerly. However few, 

 or many, the cases of this kind of treatment may have been, it is safe to say, 

 that, in the case of John Wildgoos, the members of the House of Assembly, 

 who may be taken to represent fairly the public opinion, were not willing to 

 investigate the abusive conduct of a fellow member, and to put the account of 



"'H. v., 1833, pp. 105-106. Balfour to Stanley, No. 32. For the approval see 

 Ds., S. St., 1833, No. 27. 



"* Balfour to Stanley, No. 41. The Lieutenant-Governor sent a squad of soldiers 

 to Eleuthera to quiet the disorder. At Exuma, however, the difficulty among Lord 

 Rolle's slaves was caused by the failure of the " literate manager " to allow to " illit- 

 erate slaves " what was due them. On that ground the government declined to 

 interfere. 



An instance of the most revolting cruelty occurred at Watlings Island in July 

 1833. A slave was tied hands and feet to a beam, another slave was placed across 

 the suspended body, and, while in that posture, a merciless flogging was adminis- 

 tered. Death resulted from the cruelty, hoc. cit.. No. 23. 



'""H. v., 1831, p. 95. 



