Penfyhaniaf Philadelphia, 3^9 



having poifoned their mafters. Perhaps the 

 mild treatment they receive, keeps them 

 from doing it, or perhaps they fear that they 

 may be difcovered, and that in fuch 'a cafe, 

 the fevereft punifhments would be inflidted 

 on them. 



They never difeover what the polfort 

 Gonfifls of, and keep it fecret beyond eon*, 

 ception. It is probable that it is a very 

 common thing which may be got all th^ 

 world over, for wherever they are they can 

 always eafily procure it. Therefore it can^ 

 not be a plant, as feveral learned men 

 have thought; for that is not to be met 

 with every where. I have heard many ac- 

 counts here of Negroes who have been 

 killed by this poifon. 1 fhall only mention 

 one incident which happened during my 

 flay in this country. A man here had a 

 Negro who was exceedingly faithful to him, 

 and behaved fo well, that he would not 

 have given him for twenty other Negroes. 

 His mafter likewife fliewisd him a peculiar 

 kindnefs, and the Have's condud: equalled 

 that of the beft chriftian fervant j h« like- 

 wife converfed as little as poflible with the 

 other Negroes 5 on that account they hated 

 him to excefsj but as he was fearce ev^r in 

 company with them, they had no opportu- 

 nity of conveying the poifon to him, which 



they 



