THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 517 



argued that the Bahama apprentices were the most intelligent and the furthest 

 advanced morally of those in any British West Indian colony.*" He labored 

 to prove that the negroes would be more favorably situated in the Bahamas 

 than in Trinidad, arguing that there was an increased demand for them as salt- 

 rakers and in loading vessels at good wages ; "^ that the environment was better 

 in the Bahamas than in Trinidad ; that the general comfort and respectability 

 of the Bahama negroes was superior to that of those in the neighboring British 

 colonies; that adult laborers were generally able to make a comfortable living 

 within two years after their introduction into the Bahamas; and that the 

 treatment they would receive here and the homes they would find, would make 

 them into loyal subjects of the King in return for the protection afEorded them. 

 The probable cost of settling them would have been inconsiderable, in his view, 

 in prospect of the return for the outlay.'"" Fortunately for the captives, Cole- 

 brooke was unable to induce the Colonial Department to adopt his program for 

 these settlements. 



Colebrooke had only to deal with those negroes which were brought into 

 the ports of the Bahamas from the neighboring water. But in 

 this way many captives were introduced into the Colony. In March, 

 1836, the slaver Vigilante, with a burden of 230 negroes, and in April 

 of the same year the Creole with 314, all in a deplorable condition, were brought 

 to Xassau."" The cargo of the former was in a dreadful state. Diseased and 

 wearied by the long voyage, many of them were blinded with ophthalmia. All 

 were half naked and they were huddled together in a vessel without a deck, 

 having to make their bed on the hedge poles which protected the yams, that 

 served for their means of subsistence. The latter cargo, made up largely of 

 children, was in nearly as bad condition. Under the orders of the Lieutenant- 

 Governor they were in each case landed as soon as possible, and cared for in such 

 manner as the meager hospitals and other places on the island could accom- 

 modate them.*" After the negroes had been restored to strength they 

 were indentured to the inhabitants, as had been done in the case of those brought 

 in before. The people seemed eager to obtain these docile newcomefs as serv- 



'^^ Colebrooke to Glenelg, No. 25 (1836). 



"'Loc. cit. 



«» Colebrooke to Glenelg, No. 39 (1836). 



"° Colebrooke to Glenelg, Nos. 28 and 31. 



'" Loc. cit., No. 43. An attempt was made to prosecute the ships' masters for 

 piracy on account of the atrocious conduct reported of them. The bills were 

 rejected by the grand jury on the ground that they had no jurisdiction over crimes 

 committed on the high seas. 



