322 SAVING CLAUSE — THE SLAVE'S UNCONCERN. 



The only saving clause in the whole transaction 

 was, that, in case any of the slaves had a family, the 

 purchaser was compelled to buy them all together, 

 or not at all. 



Instead of having the gloomy faces and downcast 

 mien that one would naturally expect to see in 

 rational beings under such somber auspices, these 

 people, with the thoughtlessness, or recklessness, of 

 their race, were laughing and joking apparently with 

 heartfelt glee. The j^ounger portion engaged mean- 

 while in little love-passages ; and I was struck by 

 the coquettish archness with which the young women 

 naively avoided the too pressing advances of their 

 admirers, by gracefully shaking their beautifully- 

 formed heads, adorned with the glossiest of ebon 

 hair, and at the same time accompanying it with the 

 most roguish expression from their deep black eyes, 

 while merrily laughing and displaying their pearly 

 teeth. At such times, and on such occasions, the 

 beholder, albeit he may belong to a superior race, is 

 apt to forget his prejudices, and think that the poor 

 slave before him is susceptible of truly loving, and 

 of being loved, as well as the fair representatives of 

 bis own race. 



After purchasing as many as he wants, the planter 

 arranges his slaves in Indian file, proceeds to the 

 warehouses where he purchases his supplies, and each 

 member of the file poises some article or other on 

 his or her head ; and thus they march to the planta- 

 tion, where they are to remain until the expiration 

 of their servitude — never coming to the town, unless 

 accompanying their owner. 



These people are very expert in carrying burdens 



