268 The Natural History 



as they have fullfill'd the Obligation of their Indentures, 

 and are become Free-men, their Masters are obliged on their 

 parts to give each Man Servant a new Suit of Cloaths, a Gun, 

 Powder, Shot, Ball and ten Bushels of Indian Corn, and by 

 the Laws of the Country, they are entitled to fifty Acres of 

 Land, which they seldom take up, but dispose of for Trifles, 

 this quantity of Land being too small for large Stocks of 

 Cattle (which most Planters here are possessed of) or to 

 make Pitch and Tar on, which is another Staple of this 

 Country, so that an Instance of this !N'ature is not to be met 

 with in this Province. 



Thus they appear after they have served their time and 

 have obtained their freedom, having no other visible For- 

 tune to depend upon or support them except their Industry. 

 The Question then may be reasonably asked, how it is possi- 

 ble for them to live, or make Fortunes from such small and 

 despicable beginnings ? Concerning which Objection, I shall 

 thus endeavour to satisfie the Header. 



Those that are thus made Free-men, their former JMasters 

 generally give a Character of them, according to their good 

 or bad behaviour during their Apprentiship, and those that 

 have acted with prudence, care, and good conduct, whilst 

 they were Servants never are at a loss to meet with the best 

 usage from their Masters, who recommend them to other 

 planters (if they have no Imployment for them) to be their 

 Stewards, or overseers of their Plantations (several of the 

 Planters of this Country having many) wherein are gener- 

 ally great Stocks of Cattle, Horses, and Swine. 



The overseer being thus employed, his business is to mar\ 

 all the Calves, Foles, and young Pigs, with the Planters 

 Mark or Brand, every Planter having his Brand or Mark 

 recorded in proper Books, kept for that purpose in each Pre- 

 cinct 



