360 NEGROES OF ST. BENTO. 



those who might have been so inclined. In the 

 morning the Indian was set at liberty, and he 

 quietly went off to his work, not being much 

 the worse. 



I had great pleasure in witnessing the most 

 excellent arrangements of this plantation ; the 

 negroes are as happy as persons in a state of 

 slavery can be ; but although the tasks are, com- 

 paratively speaking, easy, and corporal punish- 

 ments are only resorted to for children, still 

 the great object at which they aim is to be free, 

 and to purchase the freedom of their children. * 

 One man, who was a fisherman by trade, had 

 obtained the manumission of his wife, though 

 lie was still a slave himself, with the intent that 

 if she should still have any more children, they 

 might be free ; and he purposed afterwards 

 purchasing his own freedom, and that of his 

 young ones. Several instances of the same be- 

 haviour arefrequentlyocwirring upon the estates 

 belonging to these and other friars. Thus 

 every one wishes to be a free agent ; and it is 

 this feeling alone which makes a St. Bento negro 

 do all in his power to be able to act for himself; 

 for very probably he may be obliged to labour 

 with more diligence to obtain his living as a free 



* Slaves are permitted to purchase their own freedom, on 

 tendering to the master the sum of money which he originally 

 gave for them. But I shall presently speak more at large of 

 /his law and of slavery, as it exists in Brazil. 



