354 



POWER OF THE PLANTERS. 



from their tenants in case of insult from a neigh- 

 bouring equal ; the dependance of the peasants, 

 and their wish to be under the peculiar protec- 

 tion of a person of wealth who is capable of 

 relieving them from any oppression, and of 

 speaking in their behalf to the Governor, or to 

 the chief judge ; all these circumstances com- 

 bined, tend to render the similarity very great. 

 I even felt the power which had unintentionally 

 fallen into my hands. I had collected a con- 

 siderable number of free workmen, and the 

 estate was respected for miles round. Many 

 of these fellows would have committed almost 

 any crime under the impression that my protec- 

 tion would screen them ; and if I had not turned 



sions, a young man of colour was stooping to arrange upon 

 the end of his walking-stick the meat which he had bought, 

 at the moment that a person of considerable power was 

 riding up. The man of importance, when he came near to 

 the young mulatto, struck him with a long cane with which 

 he rode, saying, " Why don't you take off your hat when a 

 white man appears." The blow was felt severely, and still 

 more severely answered. The man of colour drew his knife, 

 and quickly taming round, ran it hilt-deep into the groin of 

 him by whom he had been insulted ; and then with the 

 bloody knife in his hand, he ran off, vowing destruction upon 

 any one who touched him. The rich man had only time 

 before he died, to direct that the murderer should not be 

 pursued, owning that his own impetuous tyranny had de- 

 servedly produced this catastrophe. The young man returned 

 in a few weeks to his former home, and was not molested 

 by the relatives of him whom he had murdered, nor did the 

 law take cognizance of the deed. 



