Book L Lland of B AR B A D O S: Lz 
a fort of Pyrrhic, or a Martial Dance, in which their Bodies are ftrongly 
agitated by skipping, leaping, and turning round, 
Since I have made this Digreffion to treat of the Manners and Cuftoms 
of thefe Negroes, it may perhaps be expeéted, that I fhould confider the 
feveral Arguments for and againft making our Fellow-creatures Slaves. 
But, without engaging in a Controverfy foreign to my Defign ; If we 
agree with the Civilians of the moft polifhed and learned Nations, shavery con- 
they are of. Opinion, that the Power of making Slaves is, and hath aia 
been, a natural Confequence of Captivity in War. As to the Slavery of 
thefe African Negroes, this Hardfhip is not fo unfupportable to them ; for 
they are very little better than Slaves in their own Country. 
However, I will not prefume to determine how defenfible this Cuftom 
may be under a Chriftian Difpenfation ; but thus far may be faid, in 
favour of it, that by the beft Accounts we have from the Coaft of 
Guiney, antecedent to our. purchafing any Slaves, the feveral different 
Nations were fo very favage and barbarous, that they were at continual 
Wars with one another, and the greateft Mercy that was fhewn to the 
Conquered was to be put to fudden Death. Hence the Trees along the 
Sea-Coafts were daily to be feen horribly adorned with the Limbs and 
Heads of their vanquifhed Enemies. ’ 
Upon the Truth of this Suppofition, proved by repeated credible At- 
teftations, that thefe_4fricax Nations were, and are, fo inexorable to their 
Captives taken in War, will it not, with the fevereft Cafuift againft the 
Purchafe of Slaves, be of fomeWeight to confider, that if they are bought, 
and tranfported into Chriftian Settlements (without laying any Strefs upon 
taking away by this Means the Guilt of Murder from their Conquerors, 
or the Benefit that arifes to Mankind from their Labour), at leaft a few, 
among many Thoufands imported, may probably come to a better Know- 
lege of their Duty to God and Man. 
I barely mention this Argument, and leave it to ftand or fall by its own 
Weight : Though to bring thefe in general to the Knowlege of the Chri- 
ftian Religion, is undoubtedly a great and good Defign, in Intention 
laudable, and in Speculation eafy ; yet I believe, for Reafons too tedi- 
ous to be mentioned, that the Difficulties attending it are, and I am 
afraid ever. will be, unfurmountable. 
The only Happinefs, even in Temporals, that thefe poor Creatures meet 
with, is when they fall into the Hands of Mafters influenced by the Prin- 
ciples of Humanity, and the Fear of God: By thefe they are treated 
(though often their ill Behaviour deferves the contrary) with great Lenity. 
So true is the Saying of the Poet, in the moft literal Senfe : 
F ---Ingenuas 
over with a Goat’s or Sheep’s Skin.  Jfdore, in his Origines, defcribes the Symphonia to be hollow like 
a Drum, and covered with Leather, which was beaten, or played upon, with a Stick or Quill. 
From hence we may conclude, that the laft-mentioned Inftrument, in Ufe among our Negroes, hath a 
great Refemblance, if it is not the fame, with the Symphonia of the Antients ; for this W</f-Jndia Inftru- 
ment is always played upon with a Stick, or the Fingers. 
