17 9^' THE NEGR» beggar's PETITION. 65 



T^he Poor Negro Beggar^s Petition and Complaint, 



O Massa, poor negro ! God Almighty you blefs : 



Mafia, poor negro I in utmoft diltrefs. 



Much beating, much lafliing, poor Ncffak endtor'd ; 

 No toil, no fubmiflion, good ufage infur'd. 

 Provifions were bad ; our allowance was fmall ; 

 Hard work ; no relief for poor Noflak at all. 

 Sick, fick, and not able to Hand to the hoe ; 

 " Given up by the dodtor, to the launch he muft go," 

 Said my mafter, unfeeling, and fent me away. 

 Though I pleaded, intreated, — " O let me but fiay, 

 " O Maffa, no launch, me no dead, me no dead, 

 " No launch, me grow well again, Maffa," I faid. 

 He was deaf to my cries ; — fo dragg'd to the rock. 

 From the plank I was launched, — the terrible fhock ! 



1 got fall afleep, but awaking again, 

 Alas ! I awoke to much forrow and pain ; 



My legs they were broke, — all my body much bruif 'd; 



No hope ; even death to relieve me refus'd ; 



Dry bones of poor negroes were fcatter'd around; 



Like me they were launch'd ; but fweet death they had fcund ; 



Had efeaped, exulting, from flavery and pain ; 



Their fpirits high foaring had croff'd the wide main, 



To vifit the land of their fathers and brothers ; 



To falutc the lov'd fouls of their fiAers and mothers. 



O death ! why fo flow ? — but why fhould I complain. 



Since the launch has releaf'd me from collar and chain •? 



O Maffa, a bit on poor Noffak beftow, 



God Almighty yooi blefs, no diftrefs may you know. 



Here laid on a dunghill, poor Noffak muft lie ; 



No eye drops a tear ; no breaft heaves a figh ; 



But death ihall releafe me from forrow and oain ; 



Thei> my dear native home I'll reviiit again. 



» To tbe iron chain which they «eat conttantly, a half hundred ucight !j appended, to prevent 

 their luuning away dLrini; tlic nighl ; and the colUi has Icng fj<iLc« running uut lium il iH e»»ry 

 AirciUiun, tu prevent tlicir laying dt. wn their heads Lo reU, 



Vol. III. f I 



