SLAVERY. 



265 



Those who are diligent fail not to obtain their 

 freedom by purchase. The provision-grounds 

 are never interfered with by the monks, and 

 wl^en a negro dies or obtains his freedom, he is 

 permitted to bequeath his plot of land to any of 

 his companions whom he may please to favour in 

 this manner. The superannuated slaves are 

 carefully provided with food and clothing.* 



None of the monks reside upon the Jaguaribe 

 estate, but one of them comes from Olinda almost 

 every Sunday and holiday to say mass. Upon 

 the other Benedictine estates there are resident 

 monks. The slaves treat their masters with 

 great familiarity ; they only pay respect to the 

 abbot, whom they regard as the representative of 

 the Saint. The conduct of the younger mem- 

 bers of the communities of regular clergy is well 

 known not to be by any means correct ; the 

 vows of celibacy are not strictly adhered to. This 

 circumstance decreases the respect with which 

 these men might otherwise be treated upon their 



* One of these old men, who was yet however sufficiently 

 hearty to be often in a state of intoxication, and would walk 

 to a considerable distance to obtain liquor, made a practice 

 of coming to see me for this purpose. He would tell me, that 

 he and his companions were not slaves to the monks, but to 

 St. Bento himself, and that consequently the monks were 

 only the representatives of their master for the due admi- 

 nistration of the Saint's property in this world. I enquired 

 of some others of the slaves, aod found that this was the 

 general opinion among them. 



