328 .■ f A M A I C A. 



Very indigent men may indeed, with more colour of propriety, 

 urge fuch an argument in their defence; but the owner of a large 

 fortune pofiefles what is a vifible demonftration, to prove the 

 fallacy of his pretence. Such a man is doubtlefs as able to maintain 

 a wife, as a miftrefs of all the vices reigning here; none are fo fla- 

 grant as this of concubinage with white women, or cohabiting with 

 Negrefles and Mulattas, free or fiaves. In confequence of this 

 pra6tice we have not only more fpinfters in comparifon to the num- 

 ber of women among the natives (whofe brothers or male relations 

 poflefs the greateft part of their father's patrimony) in this fmall 

 community, than in moft other parts of his majefly's dominions, 

 proportionably inhabited ; but alfo, a vaft addition of fpurious 

 offsprings of different complexions : in a place where, by cuftom, fo 

 little rcftraint is laid on the paffions, the Europeans, who at home 

 have always been ufed to greater purity and ffridnefs of manners, 

 are too eafily led afide to give a loofe to every kind of fenfual delight: 

 on this account feme black or yellow quafJieba is fought for, by whom 

 a tawney breed is produced. Many are the men, of every rank, 

 quality, and degree here, who would much rather riot in thefe 

 goatifli embraces, thaii fliare the pure and lawful blifs derived from 

 matrimonial, mutual love. Modefty, in this refpedl, has but very 

 little footing here. He who fliould prefume to (hew any difpleafure 

 againft iuch a thing as fimple fornication, would for his pains be ac- 

 counted a funple blockhead ; fince not one in twenty can be perfuaded, 

 that there is either fin ; or fhame in cohabiting with his flave. 

 Of thefe men, by far the greateft part never marry after they have 

 acquired a fortune ; but uflier into the world a tarnifhed train of 

 beings, among whom, at their deceafe, they generally divide their 

 fubftancc^ It is^ not a- little curious, to confider the ftrange 

 manner' in; which fome of them are educated. Inftead of being 

 tiiughtany mechanic art, whereby they might become ufeful to the 

 iflaud, and enabled to fupport themfelves; young Fiifcusy in whom 

 the father fondly imagines he fees the refle(£led dawn of paternal 

 genius, and Mlfs Fulvia, who mamma protefts has a moft delicate 

 ear for mufic and French, are both of them fent early to England, 

 to cultivate and improve the valuable talents which nature is fuppofed 

 to have fo wantonly beftowed, and the parents, blind with folly, 



think 



