SLAVERY. 



269 



poral punishments are resorted to contrary to the 

 custom of the St. Bento and Carmo estates, and 

 though great cruelties are not often committed*, 

 •still the mode of punishment produces much suf- 



and holidays, even if the labour of his master is not done by 

 piece-work ; but this is not just, for to the Sundays and 

 holidays he has a right as his own, even if his master sup- 

 ports him ; but slavery and justice seldom go hand in hand. 



* A planter with whom 1 was acquainted, was once seen 

 by a person who happened to call upon him, occupied with 

 three of his companions in flogging four negroes ; the men 

 were tied at a short distance from each other to four posts, 

 and as the operation continued, there was much laughing 

 and joking, for as they lashed their miserable victims, they 

 cried out, — " Here is to the health of such and such a per 

 son." It is some comfort to be able to say, that this wretch 

 has been ruined ; but his ruin has been caused by his treat- 

 ment of his slaves, which has occasioned the death of some, 

 and the escape of others from his power in a less melancholy 

 manner. 



Another man, on ordering a slave to work in the sugar- 

 mill, was answered, that he was sick and could not go, but 

 the master persisted. The negro went, saying, " You will 

 then kill your slave ;" and vexed with the treatment which 

 he received now, and had suffered on other occasions, he 

 placed his head near to one of the wheels, (for it was a water- 

 mill,) by which it was severed from his body. I could men- 

 tion many anecdotes of this description, indicative of indi- 

 vidual blackness of heart, such as have been related of all 

 nations who have had to do with slaves ; but few will suffice. 

 Neither of the stories which are above related, occurred in 

 the great and pre-eminent instance of depravity of which the 

 scene was the Mata, and which has been mentioned in a for- 

 mer part of this work ; in that case 55 slaves were consumed 

 in less than fifteen years. 



