KROOMEN AND NEGROES. 37 



wives, they supporting him in dignified idleness 

 by their labour. 



The difference between the negroes generally 

 and the Kroomen appears to be, that the latter 

 may be stimulated to immediate exertion for the 

 sake of future gain, while the negroes can be ex- 

 cited only by existing necessity or fear. The ap- 

 pearance of the Kroomen is much superior to that 

 of any other race of negroes on the coast ; they are 

 generally tall and well-proportioned, their limbs 

 are muscular, their gait erect and firm. I was 

 informed that they are never taken as slaves, in 

 consequence of the unyielding spirit they have 

 always displayed ; and indeed there is a certain 

 air about them which proves that they were born 

 free and will still remain so. On board ship 

 they are punished when necessary by their head- 

 man, who flogs them most severely on its being 

 required by his captain ; but it is considered 

 dangerous to interfere with his office in this par- 

 ticular, as instances have been known of their 

 jumping overboard after being flogged by a white 

 man. Considering them altogether, they are de- 

 cidedly the most interesting race of people to be 

 found on the African coast, and if they were pro- 



