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384 JAMAICA. 



CHAT. II. 



GuiNEY Slaves. 



f^fT^HE part of the African continent whence tlie Negroe flaves 

 _1^ are tranfported, begins at the river Senaga, and terminates at 

 the river Quanza, in Angola; comprehending a fiiore of little lefs 

 than 2000 leagues in extent, and including the feveral divilions 

 before enumerated. 



It is computed, tliat, for thefe hundred years pafl, not lefs than 

 40,000 have been fliipped from thence every year upon an ave- 

 rage ; which, if true, makes the whole amount not lefs than four 

 millions. 



It is a matter of furprize to fome, that fo large and continual a 

 drain has not depopulated this country. But, independent of the 

 prodigious extent of Afric, there are many folid reafons given why 

 this depopulation has not, and cannot happen. The ftatc of flavery 

 in ufe here does not hinder depopulation, as it doubtlefs would in 

 a civiHzed part of the world, where liberty is highly prized. A 

 man or woman of fenfibility, that fenfibility encreafed by reflexion, 

 and perhaps ftudy, would, under the yoke of flavery, be deaf to 

 all the calls of inclination, and refufe giving being to wretches 

 doomed to inherit the mifery their parents feel in fo exquifite a 

 manner. The idea of Jlavery is totally different in Afric. Ex- 

 c'lufive of the entire abfence of keen fenfations, the flaves of a fa- 

 mily are confidered as no mean part of it; fcarce any of them are 

 fold, except for very great crimes. The owners are full as careful 

 of bringing them up as their own children. For in the number of 

 their flaves conlift their wealth, their pride, and dignity ; and 

 therefore they fLevv an attention to preferve and multiply them, 

 fimilar to that of an European merchant, in the care and improve- 

 ment of his money. 



Slaves likewife, v/ho have any abilities, are allowed to make the 

 moft of them ; by which means they grow rich, and able to pur- 

 chafe flaves for themfelves; in this, it is fiid, (I know not with 

 what truth) they meet with no interruption, provided they ac- 

 knowledge their fubfervience from time to time, and pay a tribute, 



or 



