IMPERFECT CULTIVATION. 245 



The actual tiller of the soil is, however, more independent, and 

 his employment less precarious, than that of a clerk, or even of a 

 mechanic, carpenter, mason, or otherwise ; for these latter are 

 entirely dependent on chance openings in their respective callings, 

 whereas, the former is always certain of obtaining employment 

 and remuneration proportionate to his exertions. 



"O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint !" 



These are causes which have hitherto acted, and still continue 

 to act, in fomenting a prejudice against THE SOLE BRANCH of 

 industry which we can follow here, and which is the only foun- 

 dation of our property. For commerce itself entirely depends on 

 agriculture ; and the consumption of imported articles of manu- 

 facture is in direct ratio with the prosperous or adverse condition 

 of the agriculturist. 



Both on account of the above-mentioned causes, and the com- 

 paratively recent settlement of the island, agriculture, as may be 

 expected, is in a very backward state. Not only are agricultural 

 operations difficult in lands newly cleared and full of stumps and 

 roots, but the classes connected with the soil are not guided by any 

 method, and the most primitive routine is the only guide of the 

 great majority of husbandmen. The emancipated are ignorant, 

 because they were always employed as mere mechanical agents, 

 and had besides no interest to induce them to become skilful. 

 The planters themselves are unskilled, because, during the time 

 of slavery, there was no necessity for the exercise of agricultural 

 skill ; and, since emancipation, they have been so constantly en- 

 gaged in struggling for their daily bread, as to have had but little 

 time to devote to its acquisition, either in theory or as a prac- 

 tical study. 



What I have stated concerning culture is, a fortiori, applicable 

 to manufacture. Improvement in the manufacture of sugar re- 

 quired expensive and complicated machinery, and means and skill 

 to work the same, and consequently, in both respects, a large outlay 

 of capital. On the other hand, the cacao planter could scarcely 

 eke out a livelihood, even with the utmost exertions : he dared 

 not improve his article, since he might not have found purchasers 

 on the spot ready to pay a higher price for a more costly article ; 

 nor would he run the risk of shipping any quantity on advance of 

 money, lest he should, at a future reckoning, be liable to a reim- 



