New Jerfey, Raccoon. 313 



as poffible with the other Negroes ; on that ac- 

 count they hated him' to excefs ; but as he was 

 fcarce ever in company with them, they had no 

 opportunity of conveying the poifon to him, 

 which they had often tried. However, on com- 

 ing to town during the fair (for he lived in the 

 country) fome other Negroes invited him to 

 drink with them. At firft he would not, but 

 they prefled him till he was obliged to comply. 

 As foon as he came into the room, the others 

 took a pot from the wall and pledged him, de- 

 firing him to drink likewife : he drank ; but 

 when he took the pot from his mouth, he faid, 

 what beer is this ? It is full of *#****. I pur- 

 pofely omit what he mentioned, for it feems un- 

 doubtedly to have been the name of the poifon 

 with which malicious Negroes do fo much harm, 

 and which is to be met with alrnoft every where. 

 It might be too much employed to wicked pur- 

 pofes, and it is therefore better that it remains 

 unknown. The other Negroes and Negro- wo- 

 men fell a laughing at the complaints of their 

 hated countryman, and danced and fung as if, 

 they had done an excellent adlion, and had at 

 laft obtained tbe point fo much wiflied for. The 

 innocent Negro went away immediately, and, 

 when he got home, faid, that the other Negroes 

 had certainly poiibned him : he then fell into a 

 confumption, .and no remedy could prevent his 

 death. 



Dec. 7th. IN the morning I undertook 

 again a little journey, to Raccoon, in New Jerfey* 



IT does not feem difficult to find out the rea- 

 fons, why the people multiply more here than in 

 Europe. As foon as a perfon is old enough, he 



may 



