THE DWELLING-HOUSE. 



351 



Much time had been lost, and the cane ought 

 to have been planted for the crop of the fol- 

 lowing year ; the negroes in my possession could 

 not perform what ought to be done in proper 

 time, and therefore I collected free labourers 

 for the purpose ; and in a short period between 

 thirty and forty men, some of whom brought 

 their families, removed on to the lands of the 

 plantation ; and most of them erected hovels of 

 palm-leaves, in which they dwelt ; but a few of 

 them were accommodated with huts of mud. 

 There were Indians, mulattos, free negroes, and 

 slaves working together ; a motley crew. 



I had now taken up my abode at the house 

 which was usually inhabited by the owner or 

 tenant ; this was a low, but long mud cottage, 

 covered with tiles, and white-washed within 

 and without ; it had bricked floors, but no 

 ceiling. There were two apartments of toler- 

 able dimensions, several small rooms, and a 

 kitchen. The chief entrance was from a sort 



night in this metamorphosed state, and ran about with the 

 violence of a mad dog, and that he attacked any one whom 

 he might chance to meet. The black man was perfectly 

 persuaded of the correctness of his own statement, when he 

 related having, with his brother-in-law and his sister, met 

 this uncommon beast, near to their own cottages. I suppose 

 it was some large dog which prowled about to satisfy his 

 hunger in the neighbourhood of these habitations ; but no,. 

 the man was persuaded that it was poor Miguel. 



