388 JAMAICA.. 



flate of this trade, the rivalflilp of the Europeans, the bad manage- 

 ment of fome factories, and the overbidding of others, have opened 

 the eyes of the craftj' natives to their intereft, and fuch a compe- 

 titiou being extremely favourable to their avarice, they have gra- 

 dually railed the price to 23/. and 24/. per head for able men and 

 women ; but, rating the price at 20 /, at medium, the annual profit 

 to the Africans is 800,000/. lierling, out of which their petty fove- 

 reigns on the coafi: draw a tribute, by way of capitation tax on all 

 that are exported, of not lefs than 70 or 80,000/.; the moft of 

 which, if not the whole, arifes from the extrufion of thofe, who, 

 agreeably to the primitive frame of their conftitution and ufages, 

 would but for this trade have been put to death, and lb loft to their 

 country, without any refulting benefit. The love of gain, which 

 enables them the better to gratify their pride, flcthi and debauched 

 inclinations, animates them in fupplying the trade as at prefent 

 condudtedj and although it may lead to fome adls of violence and 

 injuftice among them, yet it has leflened the number and atrocity 

 of thefe ads, and is attended with fuch pleafing confequences to 

 them, that it is probable they never will let it drop willingly. 

 The flaves in general are, 



1. Such as are captived in war. 



2. Such as are fold by their brutal parents, or hufbands. 



3. [Native flaves fold by their owners, generally for fome crime. 



4. Such as are free born, but condemned to forfeiture of freedom 

 for fome flagitious offence. 



Of the latter fort there is a great number; fince to their natural 

 vices is fuperadded, in fome provinces, a long lift ol conflrudlive 

 crimes, for which the puniftiment afljgned by their kings and great 

 men is, a fine or flavery. 



In fome places, offences of all forts, except treafon, are atonable 

 with money ; but, that being deficient, the penalty is flavery. In 

 others all crimes and offences, great and fmall, are punifhed with 

 flavery. 



An owner here has the abfolute dominion over his flaves, their 

 bodies, life, and goods, as the kings have over thofe of their vaffals. 

 He may kill or fell his flaves and their children at pleafure ; and 



parents 



