412 JAMAICA. 



tinder the fcourge. Every overfeer has not the patience, or talents, 

 to qualify him for this mode of governing, but all (hould endeavour 

 at it ; and, for this purpofe, it is neceflary for each of them to fludy 

 well the temper of every Creole Black under his particular command, 

 to learn fomewhat of their private hiftory, and never betray any fign 

 of heat or pafiion in his admonitions. 



The firft and chief requifite therefore is to know how to command 

 his own temper ; for, without having gained this advantage, he is 

 totally unfit to be a manager of other mens ; but having once gained 

 this point, he need not doubt of pafiing through a fuccefsful admi- 

 niflration. 



It is certain, that the Negroes, fo far from fuffering any inconveni- 

 ence, are found to labour with moft alacrity and eafe to theinfelves in 

 the very hotteft part of the day. The chillnefs of the morning air in 

 this ifland feems to cail a damp upon their fplrits, and renders them 

 for a time feeble and torpid ; one fees them creeping flowly out of 

 their huts, bundled up with thick cloathing, fhivering, and uneafy ; 

 but as the day advances, they grow more and more aftive and alert. 

 The opennefs of their pores gives a free tranfpiration to bad humours; 

 and they would enjoy robuft health, under^the hardefl: toils expedient 

 here, if they were lefs prone to debauch, and venereal excefs. They 

 love warmth in the night, and never fleep without a fire in their 

 hut; the watchmen too, in the open air, lay themfelves upon a board, 

 i''' by a rouzing fire, and fometimes fo near, as to fcorch their very fkins; 

 for it is to be obferved, that thefe no(5lurnal guards, like thofe of 

 London, after a comfortable repafl: in the evening, have no objedion 

 to amufe themfelves, for the remainder of the night, with a dog's 

 fleep. They account flioes and llockings very ufelefs incumbrances ; 

 and the foals of their feet, by conftant expofure, acquire the callofity 

 and firmnefs of a hoof j but fome, who are to take a journey over very 

 rocky roads, prepare themfelves with fandals, cut from an ox-hide, 

 which they bind on with thongs. They dread rain upon their bare 

 heads almoft as much as the native Africans ; perhaps, their woolly 

 fleece would abforb it in large quantity, and give them cold. When 

 they are caught in a fliower, it is very common to fee them pull off 

 fliirt and jacket, and fometimes their breeches or trowfers, all which 

 they wrap up in a bale, and place upon their heads. They are fond 



of 



