Penfyfoania, Philadelphia. 399 



having poifoned their mailers. Perhaps the 

 mild treatment they receive, keeps them 

 from doing it, or perhaps they fear that they 

 may be difcovered, and that in fuch a cafe, 

 the fevereft punifhments would be inflicted 

 on them. 



They never difcover what the poifon 

 confifts of, and keep it fecret beyond con- 

 ception. It is probable that it is a very 

 common thing which may be got all the 

 world over, for wherever they are they can 

 always eafily procure it. Therefore it can- 

 not be a plant, as feveral learned men 

 have thought; for that is not to be met 

 with every where. I have heard many ac- 

 counts here of Negroes who have been 

 killed by this poifon. I fhall only mention 

 one incident which happened during my 

 ftay in this country. A man here had a 

 Negro who was exceedingly faithful to him, 

 and behaved fo well, that he would not 

 have given him for twenty other Negroes. 

 His matter likewife mewed him a peculiar 

 kindnefs, and the Have's conduct equalled 

 that of the belt chriftian fervant ; he like- 

 wife converfed as little as poffible with the 

 other Negroes ; on that account they hated 

 him to excefs, but as he was icarce ever in 

 company with them, they had no opportu- 

 nity of conveying the poifon to him, which 



they 



