of North Carolina. 273 



to behold their fellow iX^e^roe suffer, to deter them from the 

 like vile Practice. This Law may seem to be too harsh 

 amongst us, to put a Man to death for Blood-shed only, yet 

 if the severest Laws were not strictly put in execution against 

 these People, they would soon overcome the Christians in 

 this and most of the other Provinces in the Hands of the 

 English. 



jSTotwithstanding the many severe Laws in force against 

 them, yet they sometimes rise and Eebel against their Mas- 

 ters and Planters, and do a great deal of mischief, being 

 both treacherous and cruel in their ]^atures, so that mild 

 Laws would be of no use against them when any favourable 

 Opportunity offered of executing their barbarities upon the 

 Christians, as hath been too well experienced in Virginia, 

 and other Places, where they have rebelled and destroyed 

 many Families. 



When thev have been sTiiltv of these barbarous and dis- 

 obedient Proceedings, they generally fly to the Woods, but 

 as soon as the Indians have ^N'otice from the Christians of 

 their being there, they disperse them; killing some, others 

 flying for Mercy to the Christians (whom they have injured) 

 rather than fall into the others Hands, who have a natural 

 aversion to the Blacks, and put them to death with the most 

 exquisite Tortures they can invent, whenever they catch 

 them. 



When any of these Negroes are put to death by the Laws of 

 the Country, the Planters suffer little or nothing by it, for 

 the Province is obliged to pay the full value they judge 

 them worth to the Owner; this is the common Custom or 

 Law in this Province, to prevent the Planters being ruined 

 by the loss of their Slaves, whom they have purchased at so 

 dear a rate ; neither is this too burthensom, for I never knew 

 but one put to death here for wounding, and after attempting 



18 Mm to 



