352 



NOCTURNAL MEETINGS. 



of square, formed by the several buildings be- 

 longing to the estate. Tn front was the chapel ; 

 to the left was a large dwelling-house unfinished, 

 and the negro huts, a long row of small habi- 

 tations, having much the appearance of alms- 

 houses, without the neatness of places of this 

 description in England ; to the right was the 

 mill worked by water, and the warehouse or 

 barn in which the sugar undergoes the process 

 of claying ; and to the view of these buildings 

 may be added the pens for the cattle, the carts, 

 heaps of timber, and a small pond through 

 which the water runs to the mill. At the back 

 of the house was the large open field, the mill- 

 dam beyond, and cottages, mandioc lands and 

 trees along the valley, bordered on each side 

 by steep hills covered with thick woods. 



Oftentimes I have sat at night upon the 

 threshhold of the door, after all my people had 

 retired to their habitations ; they have supposed 

 that I was asleep ; then I have heard the whis- 

 perings in the negro huts, and have observed 

 some one leave his house, and steal away to 

 visit an acquaintance, residing at some distance ; 

 or there has been some feast or merry-making, 

 thus late at night, thus concealed. Neighbour- 

 ing negroes have been invited, and have crept 

 in during the evening unperceived. It is on 

 these occasions that plans for deceiving the 

 master are contrived j in these sweet unper- 



