474 JAMAICA. 



To tlielr other illaudable qualities, they add thofe of ingratitude, 

 and implacable anger. Not the milded treatment, the moll: con- 

 defcending indulgence, can make the fmalleft impreflion upon them, 

 conciliate their friendfhip, or divert their avidity for revenge, after 

 they have received what they think an injury; they are utterly inca- 

 pable of forgetting or forgiving ; the higheft marks of f^ivour pro- 

 duce in them no fenfe of obligation or gratitude. Prompted by thefe 

 qualifications, and this infernal difpofition, they are always foremoft 

 in plotting, and heading mutinies; and the fame caufes generating 

 the fame invariable effeds, there is no doubt but they will ever 

 fupport an uniformity of charadler, and be found, by repeated ex- 

 perience, the moft unruly, infolent, flubborn, and dilafFeded fet 

 of labourers, that can poflibly be introduced upon our plantations. 



Their language is copious, and more regular than any other of the 

 Negroe dialeds ; their mufic too is livelier, and their dances entirely 

 martial, in which they refemble the North Americans ; like them too 

 they defpife death (more through ftupidity than fortitude), and can 

 fmile in agony [c]. Their perfons are well made, and their features 

 very different from the reft of the African Negroes, being fmaller, 

 and more of the European turn. Their dances ferve to keep alive 

 that military fpirit, for which they are fo diftinguifhed j and the 

 figure confifts in throwing themfclvcs into all the pofitions and 

 attitudes, cuftomary to them in the heat of an engagement. Is it 

 not then a very injudicious and impolitic oblT:inacy in the planters, 

 who perfift, in defiance of reafon and experience, to admit thefe 

 dangerous fpirits among them? Nature does not inflruft the 

 farmer to yoke tigers in his team, or plough with hyienas ; fhe 

 gives him the gentle fteed, and patient ox : but it would be no lefs 

 abfurd far him to make ufe of wild beafts for thefe purpofes, than it 

 is for the planter fo vainly to attempt the taming of fuch favage 

 minds to peaceful indullry, and humble fubmifhon to his authority. 

 But, if he will perverfely continue to employ them, fome effcftual 

 regulations ought to be piovided, in order to break.tloat fpirit of con- 



[.] Baibarlans nUvays die '.vitliout regret : what attachment have they to Ufe ? Tliey feel not the 

 pleafures of fuciety, the tlco ot atTei'tion, or of nature; their facuhies are in fuch a perpetual ftate 

 , iaf -ir*f?.ncy, that the fpace be'-weeu their bii.th and de;uh isfcarcely percepriblc. 



Voltaire, Les Sauvages d'Europe. 



federacy. 



