312 'December 1748. 



poifon does not kill immediately, for fcmetimes 

 the fick perfon dies fome years after. But from 

 the moment he has the poifon he falls into a 

 confurnption, and enjoys few days of good health: 

 fuch a poor wretch often knows that he is poi- 

 foned, the moment he gets the poifon. The 

 Negroes commonly employ it on fuch of their 

 brethren as behave well, are beloved by their 

 matters, and feparate as it were from their coun- 

 trymen, or do not like to converfe with 'them. 

 They have likewife often other reafons for their 

 enmity ; but there are few examples of their 

 having poifoned their matters. Perhaps the mild 

 treatment they receive, keeps them from doing 

 it, or perhaps they fear that they may be dif- 

 covered, and that, in fuch a cafe, the fevereft 

 punimments would be inflided on them. 



THEY never difcover what the poifon confifts 

 of, and keep it fecret beyond conception. 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. There- 

 . fore it cannot be a plant, as feveral learned men 

 have thought \ for that is not to be mot with 

 every where. I have heard many accounts here 

 of Negroes who have been killed by this poifon. 

 I mall only mention one incident, which hap- 

 pened 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 fliewed him a peculiar kindnefs, 

 and the flave's conduct equalled that of the beft 

 Chriftian fervant j he likewife convcrfed as little 



as 



