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208 



MULATTOS. 



been pointed out to him by the former possessors. 

 His habits of quietude and indolence have led 

 him to be easy and indifferent, and although 

 he may not provide for the maintenance of his 

 slaves with so much care as the European, still 

 they find more time to seek for food themselves. 

 That avaricious spirit which deliberately works 

 a man or a brute animal * until it is unfit for 

 farther service, without any regard to the well- 

 being of the creature, which is thus treated as a 

 mere machine, as if it was formed of wood or 

 iron, is however seldom to be met with in those 

 parts of the country which I visited. Instances 

 of cruelty occur, (as has been, and will yet be 

 seen,) but these proceed from individual depra- 

 vity, and not from systematic, cold-blooded, 

 calculating indifference to the means by which a 

 desired end is to be compassed. 



Notwithstanding the relationship of the mu- 

 lattos on one side to the black race, they consi- 

 der themselves superior to the mamalucos j they 

 lean to the whites, and from the light in which 

 the Indians are held, pride themselves upon 

 being totally unconnected with them. Still the 

 mulattos are conscious of their connection with 

 men who are in a state of slavery, and that many 

 persons even of their own colour are under these 

 degraded circumstances ; they have therefore 



* £>ttr wicked stage-coach and post-chaise system. 



