421 , 



are many reasons for it : they bear the 

 heat of the sun much better than any 

 white man, and are more dextrous with 

 the hoe, and at all planting business. In 

 pulling corn, I observed the black men 

 to be much more expert than any white 

 man, and so in every thing appertaining 

 to planting ; and there is no certainty of 

 the white men in America. Therefore 

 little can be done without slaves. Nor is it 

 at all uncommon for persons with whom 

 you are in the greatest intimacy, to 

 offer wages, before your fiice, to induce 

 white men who are working with you to 

 go to them, which makes them very 

 saucy. I experienced that at Orange-hill : 

 a gentleman came to see us set potatoes ; 

 and he observed the man that was plough- 

 ing to plough to his liking ; he asked him 

 in my presence, to engage with him, offer- 

 ing him higher wages: and I was obliged to 

 advance his wages from six shillings to seven 

 shillings and sixpence per day, or he would 

 leave me. And all the white men I employ- 



