272 The Natural History 



the Negroes or Blacks, together with a Description of the 

 Indians, and the Laws and Customs now in force and use 

 amongst them. 



The NEGROES are sold on the Coast of Guinea, to Mer- 

 chants trading to those Parts, are brought from thence to 

 Carolina, Virginia, and other Provinces in the hands of the 

 English, are daily increasing in this Country, and generally 

 afford a good Price, viz. more or less according to their Good- 

 ness and Age, and are always sure Commodities for Gold 

 or Silver, most other things being purchased with their 

 Paper Money. Some of them are sold at sixteen, twenty five, 

 or twenty six Pounds sterl. each, and are looked upon as the 

 greatest Piches in these Parts. There are great Numbers 

 of them born here, which prove more industrious, honest, 

 and better Slaves than any brought from Guinea; this is 

 particularly owing to their Education amongst the Chris- 

 tians, which very much polishes and refines them from their 

 barbarous and stubborn Natures that they are most com- 

 monly endued with. I have frequently seen them whipt to 

 that degree, that large pieces of their Skin have been hanging 

 down their Backs ; yet I never observed one of them shed a 

 Tear, which plainly shews them to be a People of very harsh 

 and stubborn Dispositions. 



There are several Laws made against them in this Prov- 

 ince to keep them in Subjection, and particularly one, viz. 

 That if a Negroe cut or wound his Master or a Christian 

 with any unlawful Weapon, such as a ^Sword, Scymiter, or 

 even a Knife, and there is Blood-shed, if it is known amoi.gst 

 the Planters, they immediately meet and order him to be 

 hanged, which is always performed by another Negroe, and 

 generally the Planters bring most of their Negroes with them 



to 



