■ 



SLAVERY. 



2G7 



the profits of whose labour are entirely his own ; 

 but he is himself obliged to attend to the busi- 

 ness of the plantation, and to see that the work of 

 his masters is properly executed. This man has 

 offered his two Africans in exchange for himself 

 to the monks; but they tell him that the Jaguaribe 

 estate could not be properly managed without 

 his assistance ; and, though much against his in- 

 clination, he continues in slavery. This is one 

 of the strongest instances of man's desire to act 

 for himself; Nicolau enjoys the entire direction 

 of the estate, and every comfort which a man of 

 his description can possibly wish for ; when he 

 moves from home, he is as well mounted as the 

 generality of the rich planters ; he is permitted 

 to be seated in the presence of his masters, and 

 indeed is allowed all the privileges of free men ; 

 and yet the consciousness of being under the con- 

 trol of another always occupies his mind, and 

 leads him to desire the possession of those privi- 

 leges as a right, which he at present only enjoys 

 by sufferance. * 



* An old slave, who had been invariably well treated, for 

 lie had never deserved punishment, was asked by his master 

 if he wished to be free; he smiled, but said nothing ; the 

 question being repeated, he answered that of course he 

 wished to be free ; the master then told him that his deed of 

 manumission should be drawn out that same day ; upon this 

 being said, the slave shook his head, saying, " Why do you 

 ■say such things to laugh at your old black man." However, 

 as soon as he was persuaded that it was true, he began to 



