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208 



SLAVERY* 



Slavery, however, in this less intolerable state 

 exists in only a few instances ; and although a 

 great many of the planters certainly do treat their 

 slaves with considerable regard and attention to 

 their comforts, still, upon none of the estates, ex- 

 cepting those of the religious communities which 

 have been mentioned, is the complete system of 

 rendering unnecessary a constant supply of new 

 labourers, made the primary obect ; — the end to 

 which all other considerations must give place. 



Next to the plantations which belong to the 

 convents, stand some of those of the rich Brazi- 

 lian owners, who go on quietly, if not systemati- 

 cally. Here the labour is not in general done 

 by piece-work, nor do the labourers provide for 

 their own subsistence ; and the slaves are sent to 

 the field at an earlier age than they ought, and 

 earlier than is practised upon the convent estates, 

 Some of the plantations, however, which are 

 owned by individuals, do give the Saturday of 

 each week for the slave to support himself. * Cor- 



dance about like one who was mad, and for some minutes 

 could answer no questions, nor could any directions be given 

 to him. 



* The Saturday of each week is not sufficient for the slave 

 to provide for his own subsistence, unless the labour of his 

 master is done by task-work, in which case he may manage 

 to finish this in due time, and to work a little each day upon 

 his own provision-grounds. He may indeed be able to live, 

 by assisting the Saturdays, through the labour of his Sundays 



