3U 



JOURNEY TO RECIFE* 



had entered into them, and they preferred re- 

 turning as they came to any abatement of their 

 first demand ; although this was 25 per cent. 

 higher than any person had ever been known to 

 give for daily labour. They dined, placed their 

 wallets upon their shoulders, and went their way. 

 One of my people said, as they disappeared, 

 ascending the hill, beyond the field, " They 

 had rather work for any one else for half the 

 money, than lower in their demands to you." 



I was removed from this neighbour's house, 

 after a few days, in a hammock ; but finding 

 that the disorder increased, I sent for the ma- 

 nager, an old man of colour, whose wife at- 

 tended upon me. By my desire, he collected a 

 sufficient number of bearers, as it was my wish 

 to be carried to Recife. About five o'clock in 

 the afternoon w T e set off; there were sixteen 

 men to bear the hammock by turns, and the 

 manager was likewise in company ; of these per- 

 sons only two were slaves. After we had passed 

 the wood, and had arrived upon a good road, 

 the bearers proceeded at a long walk approach- 

 ing to a run. Their wild chorus, which they 

 sung as they went along, — their mischief in 

 throwing stones at the dogs by the road side, 

 and in abuse, half joking, half wishing for an 

 opportunity of quarrelling, confident in their 

 numbers, and that as they were in the service 

 of a white man he would bring them out of any 



