SUGAR-PLANTATIONS. 



1.57 



this is becoming more and more the case every 

 day. The estates which may be said to con- 

 stitute this class are those which are situated 

 near to the sea-coast, that is, from two to sixteen 

 miles from it ; which possess a considerable 

 portion of low land adapted to the planting of 

 the sugar-cane, — another of virgin wood, — 

 good pasture-land, (for nature must do every 

 thing,) and the possibility of being worked by 

 water. The rains are more regular near to the 

 coast than at a distance from it, and the facility 

 of conveying the produce of the estate down 

 some of the small streams or creeks to a market, 

 are the particular advantages which are derived 

 from the vicinity of the sea. The slaves are fed 

 with more ease, and less expense, and the quan- 

 tity of food which they themselves have the 

 means of obtaining from the sea and from \he 

 rivulets, enables them to be less dependent upon 

 the rations of the master than the slaves of the 

 Mata or districts between the coast and the 

 Sertam. In a country that is without roads, 

 upon which a wheeled carriage can be drawn 

 with any degree of regularity of pace or of 

 safety, the difficulty of removing the large chests 

 in which the sugar is packed, is a most serious 

 consideration, and this inconvenience alone de- 

 creases the value of lands, however productive 

 they may be, which are so situated. If a per- 

 son wishes to purchase property of this descrip- 



