432 JAMAICA. 



found expedient for the carrying on our plantations in thefe parts, 

 attribute this wafte to the too fevere labour and oppreffion they ard 

 forced to undergo. But this is an erroneous conjedure: the au- 

 thors, not having refided in thefe colonies, were not fufficicntly in- 

 formed, to attend to other caufes, which prove more deftrudive 

 than the fevered: toil ; nor to thofe which throw impediments in 

 the way of a regular propagation. 



It was computed formerly, that fix new Negroes were required 

 annually to every hundred, to keep up the flock in Bar-badoes. 

 The prefent import at Jamaica does not exceed, upon an average, 

 fix thonfand per annum ; which is about the rate of four to one 

 hundred. 



In the year 1761, when a draught of two thoufand Negroes was 

 made here, to be fent on the Havannah lervice, the whole number 

 of flaves in the illand, according to the account then taken, 

 was 146805 



I do not exadly know the number that returned from 

 that expedition. Several deferted, and fome were killed-; 

 but I iiippofe the non-returned, from the beft enquiry I 

 ■can make, amounted to about eight hundred'; which-, '-'"'i 

 being dedufted from the above total, there remained about - 146000 

 In 1768, by an account taken, there were found — — 1-66904 



So that the whole ftock was augmented, in feven years, 20904 



The import, at the average of 6000 per ann. [.v], was 42000 



From which dcduding the augmentation, • 20904 



There appears a dead lofs of - - ■■ ■ - 21096 



which is equal to about 3000 per anniim\ and, at35/. flerling per 

 head, makes 1050C0/. annual lofs in value ; a moft aftonifhing 

 film! Upon mofl of the old fettled eftates in this ifland, the number 

 of births and deaths every year is pretty equal, except any ma- 

 lignant diforder happens. The deaths, which conftitute the 



[a-] I bare put the average at 6000, though perhaps it is too fmall a number, confidcring the 

 brifknefs of the African trade during part of ihc time, and that a great many French Negroes 

 were brought in from the conquered iflands. The average for fome of the years in this fe-ries was 

 ■goco ; but others fell fliort. In the i)refent comi«Kation, tlie greater the average! is proved to 

 have bten, the higher rauft the lofs appear. But 1 have chofen rather to be under than over. 



major 



