BOOK III. CHAP. III. 433 



major part of the above annual balance, are of native Africans. 

 Hence therefore appears the miftake of the writers before-men- 

 tioned ; for it is well known, that thefe new Negroes are always 

 much indulged during the fivii two or three years after tlieir arrival, 

 being put to the gentlefl: work, that they may be gradually fea- 

 foned to the change of climate, and trained by a (low and cafy 

 progrefs to undergo the fame degree of labour as the reft. If then 

 all this care and preparation be neceffary, and not only neceflary, 

 butaftually attended to, it may be alked, by what means it comes 

 to pafs, that we obferve lo great a decreafe among them ? In reply 

 to this, feveral reafons may be given. 



Thefe Negroes are few of them exempt from a venereal taint ; 

 and very many have, at the time of their arrival, that dreadful 

 diforder, the y^ivs, lurking in their blood. It is faid (1 know not 

 with what truth), that the furgeoas on board the Guiney fliips ufc 

 methods to repel it, by a mixture of iron-ruft with gun-powder 

 and lime-juice, in order to remove all external fvmptoms of it be- 

 fore they are expofed to fale. There is fome reafon for believing 

 that fuch wicked frauds have been practifed ; becaufe it is no un- 

 common thing to fee a w'hole parcel of new Negroes, within a 

 few weeks after they are brought on a plantation, break out all to- 

 gether with this diforder, and efpecially if they have drunk the 

 cane-liquor in the boiling-houfe, which is very efficacious ia 

 throwing the venom out of the habit. 



The plantation furgeons have depended chiefly on mercurial 

 preparations for a cure ; but it is found, that fuch medicines break 

 and impoverifh their blood, and fubjedl them to catch violent colds, 

 which often ftrike the matter in upon tlie nobler parts, and bring 

 on the joint-evil. Sometimes they fall into dropfies, which gene- 

 rally prove mortal; for this diibrder requires a very nutritious diet; 

 and experience proves, that, when left to nature, and the ufe of 

 flour of brimftone, to keep the humour in a conftant elimination 

 towards the (kin, it gradually wears off in about three years. Mer- 

 curials interrupt this natural crifis, and, inftead of curing, generally 

 either fix the diforder more rootedly in the habit, or give rife to 

 others of the moft dangerous kind. 



Vol. II. K k k I have 



