BOOK III. CHAP. III. 435 



The removal of Negroes from a dry to a damp fituation, from 

 a South fide to a North fide parifh, has often been fatal to many. 

 New Negroes, lent into the mountains Immediately after their im- 

 portation, efpecially during a wet feafon, are almoft fuie of being 

 affiifted with fevere colds, pleurifies, fluxes, and other diflempers, 

 which prove their bane. Even the Creoles do not bear thefe re- 

 movals from places where, perhaps, they have refided from the 

 time of their birth. And it is inconceivable what numbers have 

 periflied, in confequence of the law for recovery of debts ; which 

 permits Negroes to be levied on, and fold at vendue. By this 

 means, they are frequently torn from their native fpot, their deareft 

 connexions, and transferred into a fituation unadapted to their 

 health, labouring under difcontent, which co-operates with change 

 of place and circumflances to fhorten their lives. 



Some planters think it good policy to quarter their new Negroes 

 among the old fettled ones : but thefe hofls generally make their 

 guefls pay dear for their lodging and maintenance, forcing them to 

 be their " hewers of wood, and drawers of water ;" and, in fliort, 

 impofing on their ignorance without meafure or mercy, until they 

 fink under the opprefiion ; whillf the owner, a flranger to what 

 pafles, is furprifed to fee them continually on the decline, and gra- 

 dually confuming, without any fufpicion of the real caufe. 



The introduftion of too many recruits at once has fometimes 

 proved fatal to them. It is very evident, that a fmall number can 

 be much eafier and better provided for, lodged, fed, and taken care 

 of, than a multitude. The planter therefore, who buys only eight 

 or ten at a time, will in the end derive more advantage from them, 

 than the planter who buys thirty ; for, by the greater leifurc and 

 attention in his power to befi:ow upon them, he will greatly leflea 

 the ordinary chances againil: their life, and the fooner prepare them 

 for an efFe£lual courfe of labour. The comparifon, indeed, founded 

 upon fad and obfervation, is, that, at the end of three years, the 

 former may poflibly have loft one fifth, but the other will molt 

 probably have lofl one half, of their refpedlve numbers. 



The women do not breed here as in Africa ; for, in fliort, 

 it has never been the planter's care to proportion the number of 

 females to males: upon fome eflates there are five men to one. 



K k k 2 woman. 



