BOOK rir. c II A p. III. 407 



By exhaufting the vigour of their only fuppcrters ; when a little pa- 

 tience, retrenchment of expences, and moderate uniform crops vv-ould 

 probably bring about what they wifli, without any lofs to their capi- 

 tal. Humanity operates here like virtue ; ft Is its own fure reward- 

 It is a planter's beft intereft to be humane ; and it is clearly moft con- 

 ducive to his honour and peace of mind. 



The great Chrillian precept " of doing unto others what we would 

 *■* that they fliould do unto us," fpeaks pathetically to every rational 

 breaft ; though few among us paufe perhaps to alk ourfelves this can- 

 did queftion : How fhould I wifh to be treated, if I was in a ftate of 

 fervitude, like thefe my fellow creatures ? Doubtlefs we would wifli, 

 that our mafter might be a Chriftian in praftice, as well as principle, 

 and render our condition as eafy as poffible, by a mild and compaf- 

 lionate ufage. Let every overfeer and planter then only adl the part 

 of that mafter,^ and not be feduced, by a fooliQi vanity, to plume 

 himfelf on his happier lot, or fancy that he is created to be the ty- 

 rant, not the friend, to mankind. I (hall not attempt to give a com- 

 plete defcription of all the cuftoms and manners of our Creole Ne- 

 groes, iince many of them are not worth recording ; and, in confe- 

 quence of their frequent intermixture with the native Africans, they 

 differ but little in many articles. 



In their tempers they are in general irafcible, conceited, proud, in- 

 dolent, lafcivious, credulous, and very artful. They are excellent 

 diffemblers, and fkilful flatterers. They poffefs good-nature, and 

 fometimes, but rarely, gratitude. Their memory foon lofes the traces 

 of favours conferred on them, but faithfully retains a fenfe of injurits; 

 this fenfe is fo poignant, that they have been known to difl'emble iheir 

 hatred for many years, until an opportunity has prefented of retali- 

 ating ; and, in taking their revenge, they fhew a treachery, cowaixiite,. 

 and deliberate malice, that almoft exceed credibility. A ftupid inlen- 

 fibility of danger often gives them the fpecious appearance ofdauntlefs 

 intrepidity ; though, when once thoroughly made fenfible of it, none 

 are more arrant cowards'. A blind anger, and brutal rage, with them 

 ftand frequently in place of manly valour. The impreifioai of fear,, 

 naturally accompanied with cunning and wariaels, make tbem always, 

 averfe to any other mode of engaging with an cneni}', than b^ am- 

 bufcades, and furprizcj and in all their boxing matches with one 



anotlicr,, 



