518 HISTORY 



ants."" The remnants of another cargo, most of whom were drowned at Harljor 

 Island, came in Xovember, 1837.'" Two more loads of ghastly looking Afri- 

 cans, numbering in all 1043, were brought in the spring of 1838. Both of 

 these vessels were of limited size. The Africans were cared for in the best 

 manner possible. The people to whom they could be indentured desired to 

 accept them as apprentices only for terms of a considerable number of years. 

 Some difficulty was experienced in the attempt to bind them out for short 

 terms. There were applications for all of them, however, and all were inden- 

 tured within a few weeks."''* 



The demand for indentured servants at Nassau was almost satisfied. The 

 eagerness to receive them abated. In the early summer of 1838 great difficulty 

 was experienced in disposing of the cargo of a Spanish slaver. Adults were 

 less easily indentured than children. The inhabitants would only accept them 

 on terms that were very favorable to themselves. If set free the newly arrived 

 Africans were not equal to the battle with their circumstances. They could 

 not understand the nature of agreements, and were unable if unaided to gain 

 a living. It was always best to place them in tutelage and under the care of 

 the special justices,, in order to prevent them from being imposed on by the 

 public. Those who Avere able to receive them as servants preferred to contract 

 for a term of seven or fourteen years. jMany would not take them for a shorter 

 term. It was more profitable to apprentices, as well as to the masters, to place 

 them out for the longer term. The masters endeavored to teach long term 

 apprentices to be useful and many of them became independent and prosperous 

 after a few years, whereas little interest was taken in teaching those who 

 would soon have to be released."'" During this summer, also, the failure of 

 C'olebrooke's settlements began to throw the negroes in them back on the hands 

 of the government. It became impracticable to place indentures for shorter 

 terms than four years."'" The necessity of the maintenance of any considerable 

 number of them was avoided by the vigilance of Lieutenant-Governor Cockburn 

 in finding new employment for these people. A few, however, did fall upon 

 the government for a time. 



After the cancellation of the praedial agreements the indenturing of this 

 class of Africans was also discontinued. This left some without employment. 



*^-Loc. cit.. No. 39. 

 •■" Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 38. 

 ■""'^ Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 75. 

 ""' Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 79. 

 ''"Loc. cit. 



