A Fragment of Berbice History. 69 



panying them. Dancing on estates was prohibited from 

 March, 1814, to the year 1815. 



This curtailing of the liberty of the slaves was forced 

 on the Government by the increasing discontent among 

 the black population, as a possible means of keeping 

 them more under control, and as a preventative against 

 combination. 



The number of whites in proportion to the general 

 population was small, so that in the event of a general 

 rising there would be but a few to oppose it ; and expe- 

 rience had taught them, in the years prior to 1768, that 

 the tender mercies of the bondsmen were cruel, and that 

 the latter had a natural tendency to wipe off old scores 

 with interest. 



About the year 1804 an ordinance was passed for- 

 bidding anyone to possess an estate unless a white 

 resident was kept. 



Notwithstanding all the precautions of the Govern- 

 ment, a premeditated rising took place on the east and 

 west sea coast ; but the authorities, having received intima- 

 tion of it, were prepared, and put it down with a high hand. 

 So many slaves were killed and executed in the process 

 that on October 6th, 18 14, an ordinance was passed 

 taxing the colony to raise funds to compensate the 

 owners for their loss.* 



As it was the duty of those in authority to preserve 

 the peace and put down rebellion, even at the expense 

 of the lives of the rioters, it was incumbent on them to 

 encourage the faithful and those that had supported 



* Mr. Darnell Davis states that compensation to owners for slaves, 

 executed for crimes, was abolished in Demerara in September, 1795. — 

 Timehri, Vol. II., Part 2, p. 352. 



