SLAVERY. 



287 



speaking, Creoles, who have been reared in the 

 family, or they are Africans who have been 

 purchased very young for a trifling sum of 

 money ; they are frequently considered as part 

 of the family, and share with the master the 

 food for which both are working. These slaves 

 appear on gala days well-dressed, and they have 

 a certain air of independence, which shows that 

 they think themselves to be something more in 

 the world than mere drudges. The difference 

 of the feeling of one of these men towards his 

 master, and that of the generality of the slaves 

 which are owned by great proprietors, is 

 very striking. The former will not suffer in his 

 presence a word to be spoken against his mas- 

 ter, whilst the latter cares not if he hears every 

 injurious epithet made use of. The slaves of 

 small proprietors are not so liable to imbibe 

 many of the faults to which those of wealthy 

 men are subject, and they possess more pride, — 

 a greater wish to act honourably, — a greater 

 dread of being upbraided for a fault. Upon 

 large estates the assemblage of so many persons 

 tends to depravation, and the wide distance 

 which there is between the slave and the mas- 

 ter tends to produce a greater feeling of in- 

 feriority ; but among the small proprietors the 

 difference of rank is infinitely less, owing, 

 among other causes, to the assistance which 



