4ro J A M A I C A. 



drunkennefs, that the better fort of Creole Blacks have either concelred 

 a difgufi: at a pradice that occafions fiich odious cffefts, or have re- 

 fnuned from it out of a kind of pride, as if they would appear fupe- 

 rior to, and more refpedlable than, fuch beaftly white wretches. Ba 

 this as it may, there is nothing furely can more degrade a man, than 

 this voluntary rejedlion of his rational faculties ; deprived of which, 

 he finks below the lowed rank of brutes. The Creole Blacks differ 

 'much from the Africans, not only in manners, but in beauty of 

 fliape, feature, and complexion. They hold the Africans in the ut- 

 moll: contempt, ftiling them, " fait- water Negroes," and " Guiney 

 •■' birds ;" but value tliemfelves on their own pedigree, which is reck- 

 oned the more honourable, the further it removes from an African, or 

 ti"anfmarine anceftor. On every well-governed plantation they eye 

 and refpeft their mafler as a father, and are extremely vain in refleft- 

 ing on the connexion between them. Their mafter's chai-a61:er and 

 repute cafts, they think, a kind of lecondary light upon themfelves, 

 as the moon derives her luftre from the fun ; and the importance he 

 acquires, in his ftation of life, adds, they imagine, to their own efti- 

 mation among their neighbour Negroes on the adjacent efiates. Their 

 attachment to the defcendants of old families, the anceftors of which 

 were the mailers and friends of their own progenitors, is remarkably 

 ttrong and afteftionate. This veneration appears hereditary, like clan- 

 fhips in the Scotch Highlands ; it is imbibed in their infancy, or 

 founded perhaps in the idea af the relation whkh fubfifted betweerj, 

 and connefted them in, the bond of fatherly love and authority on the 

 one fide, and a filial reverence and obedience on the other ; nor Is this 

 t'ffeft, however it arifes, unmixed with fomewhat of gratitude, for the 

 favours and indulgencles conferred on their predeceflTors ; fome fruits 

 of which they themfelves have probably enjoyed by devife ; for, even 

 among thefe flaves, as they are called, the black gi'andfather, or father, 

 direfts in what manner his money, his hogs, poultry, furniture, 

 cloaths, and other effefts and acquifitlons, fhalt defcend, or be difpofed 

 ef, after his deceafe. He nominates a fort of truftees, or executors, 

 from the neareft of kin, vvho difiiribute them among the legatees, 

 according to the will of the teftator, without any moleftation or 

 interruption, moft often without the enquiry, of their mafler ; though 

 fome of thefe Negroes l>ave been known to poflefs from 50/. to 200 A 



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