2 
148 A, BH. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 560 
change in the laws and administration, and the loss of income from 
tobacco, caused a great increase in maritime pursuits, and conse- 
quently in shipbuilding. During the 18th century the Bermudians 
engaged largely in the intercolonial commerce, and in the manufac- 
ture and exportation of salt from Turk’s Island, and they pursued 
the sea-turtle fishery as far south as Ascension Island, and there — 
traded with foreign vessels. During that period large numbers of 
vessels were built of Bermuda cedar, often 10 to 12 annually. This 
led to another period of deforesting. Probably most of the cedar 
used at that time was the second growth cedar that had grown up 
where the original growth had been cut down in the early period, 
to plant tobacco, for the Bermuda cedar, in good soil, grows fast 
enough to make good timber in thirty to forty years. 
j.—Slavery: Negroes; Indians; Whites. Abolition of Slavery in 
ISS4. 
Slavery prevailed in the Bermudas from 1616, or earlier, up to 
1834, when it was abolished. Owing to the comparatively small 
size of the estates, none of the planters held any considerable num- 
ber, and in general the slaves seem to have been well treated,* 
as compared with those in other colonies, though at times severe local 
laws were passed for their control. During most of the history they 
exceeded the whites in number. 
Their money value was not large and many bought their freedom, 
or were voluntarily freed by their owners, who were not always 
able to feed and clothe them properly. 
But for a long series of years, free colored persons were not 
allowed to remain on the islands beyond a specified timet (six 
months or a year). 
* Several instances are recorded where slaves captured on Bermuda vessels in 
time of war and taken to foreign countries voluntarily returned to their owners 
in Bermuda, when they might have had their liberty. In one such case eighty 
slaves taken on a Bermuda privateer, during the Revolutionary war, were taken 
to Boston and offered their liberty, but all except one, who died, returned to their 
owners. In 1828, two vessels manned by eleven slaves as sailors, arrived in 
Treland, and the slaves were officially offered their freedom and protection, but 
only three, who were mere boys, accepted freedom. 
+ The following law was enacted by the Company in 1662 : 
‘¢FWfor the preventing the mischiefe & danger which otherwise is like to 
happen by the multyplication of malattoes. Wee have Ordered that from 
henceforth if any malatto shall bee made free, such p’son doe within twelve 
months after depart the Islands.” In 1704, the time that free negroes could 
remain was made six months. 
