82 Timehri. 



to meet a worse fate. He became the slave of an ignorant master, 

 whom impulse and passion governed, who was unfit and untrained to 

 mastership, — himself. 



We cannot blame the liberated African. He came perhaps of a 

 slave-stock whose roots were deep in time ; it was a first and intoxicating 

 taste of freedom. A month or two put by a few dollars to buy a bit of 

 abandoned land near some river or creek ; and the African became 

 a " squatter." It was the life he had been accustomed to in Africa, and 

 it was of all things most natural that as soon as he could he should have 

 reverted to it. 



The early post-Emancipation planter cried : — " An Immigrant ! 

 My Kingdom for an Immigrant ! " 



The later planter added " — under indenture." 



Ordinance 22 of 1850 provided for indenture, — one year to start 

 with, plus a second year with the same or another employer. Ordinance 

 2 of 1856 pushed the principle further : immigrants under 14 years of age 

 to be indentured to 18, while those above 14 were to serve three years. 



The African Immigrant — taught, housed, led into the elementary 

 paths of life — then made a better showing ; but much harm had already 

 been done. 



V. 



As a field labourer, what was thought of the African ? 

 Clearly enough there was a prejudice against him at first. 

 The " Eoyal Gazette " said : — " We want no more of the 

 barbarous African. He is as much below the Madeiran as the Madeiran 

 is below the European." 

 But this passed. 



Under indenture, the African proved his value to the full as a field 

 labourer. 



First, among witnesses, is the Governor. 



The following excerpts are taken from despatches to Downing 

 Street : — 



" All of the African immigrants are in good health and are 

 a valuable addition to the labour of the colony." 



Sir Henry Light, Aug. 21, 1841. 

 " It is evident the natives of Africa are the most fitted for 

 this country. Little or no sickness has occjrred amongst those 

 lately arrived while great sickness and on some estates great 

 mortality has occurred amongst the Portuguese from Madeira." 



lb. Oct. 7, 1841. 

 " The Africans are certainly the most useful description of 

 labourers that can be imported." 



lb. Jan. 6, 1842. 

 The " Royal Gazette," too, which set out to curse returned to bless. 



