BOOK III. CHAP. III. 415 



to them reciprocal a6ts of friendfhlp, when they are in want. They 

 laugh at the idea of a marriage, which ties two perfons together indif- 

 folubly. Their notions of love are, that it is free and tranfitory. 



This is well known to their white gallants, for even the autho- 

 rity of a mader muft bend to the more abfolute empire of Cupid ; 

 nor is the fable beauty (except a very common hack) to be won, 

 without fome previous addrefs and courtfhip; in the progrefs of which 

 the powerful charms of gold muft generally lend their aid, to make 

 the moft paffionate fuitor fuccefs>ful j thefe belles allowing nothing 

 more of their perfons than their head, hands, and feet, to be at their 

 mafter's difpolal. Their propenfity to lazinefs is chiefly confpicuous 

 among the domeftic fervants, who are never more happy than when 

 they can find a commodious poft, pillar, or corner of a houfe, to loll 

 again ft, whilft they are taking a nap, I have even fcen them fall fafk 

 afleep, whilft attending at table, behind a gentleman's chair. Like fome 

 other animals, they are fond of caterwauling all night, and dozing all 

 the day. If they indulge in fleep at night, one muft fuppofe they are 

 very little difturbed with anxious thoughts. Their repofe is perfcftly^ 

 found; infomuch that fometimes they are rouzed with the utmoft 

 difficulty J the loudeft clap of thunder, or the report of a cannon at 

 their ear, would not wake them. On the plantations I have ieen 

 fome, but they are moftly Africans, fo exquifitely indolent, that they 

 have contraded very bad ulcers on their feet, by fuffering multitudes 

 of chiegos to neftle and generate there, rather than give themfelves the 

 trouble of picking them out. 



Although lome domeftics are very trufty fervants ; the greater num- - 

 ber are fo, merely becaufe they have no fit inducement to be other- 

 wife, or no means of bettering their condition. But when occafion 

 offers, of ferving themfelves by a roguifh fhift, adieu fidelity I You may 

 ■confide a fum of money to a Negroe's charge, and he will deliver 

 it punttually ; but, beware of leaving any ium cafually in his way, 

 for he would not be able to refift the temptation of ftealing it; his 

 fidelity, in. the former cafe, arifes from his defire to imprefs you with 

 the beft opinion poffible of his honeft dealing, in order that you may 

 afford him more convenient opportunities of pilfering from you, with- 

 out immediate deteilioa. It refledts no great honour on their dif-?. 

 pofition, that the freed Blacks and Mulattos are obferved to treat 



their 



