The Htflory of Book II. 



As for the French who are carried over out of France into 

 America, to ferve there, they commonly deliver obligatory 

 ads to their Matters, which is done before publick Notaries 3 

 by which writings they oblige themfelves to ferve them du- 

 ring the fpace of three years, conditionally to receive from 

 themfo many pounds of Tobacco, according to the agree- 

 ment they have made during that term. Thefe French Ser- 

 vants, by reafon of the three years fervice they are engag'd 

 to, are commonly called" the ihirty-fix-months-men, according 

 to the Language of the Iflands. There are fome fo fimple as 

 to imagine, that if they be not obliged to their Maftersin wri- 

 ting before their departure out of France, they are fo much 

 the lefs oblig d when they are brought into the Iflands 3 but 

 they are extremely miftaken $ for when they are brought be- 

 fore a Covernour to complain that they were carried aboard 

 againft their wills, or to plead that they are not oblig'd by 

 writing, they are condemn 'd for the fpace of three years to 

 ferve either him who hath paid for their pafTage, pr fuch other 

 as it (hall pleafe the Matter to appoint. If the Matter hath 

 promis'd his Servant no more then the ordinary recompence 

 of the Iflands, he is oblig 1 d to give him for his three years fer- 

 vice but three hundred weight of Tobacco, which is no great 

 matter to find himfelf in linnen and cloaths 5 for the Matter is 

 riot engag'd to fupply him with any thing but food : But he 

 who before his departure out of France promifes to give three 

 hundred weight of Tobacco to him whom he receives into his 

 fervice, is oblig'd exactly to pay it, nay though he had pro- 

 mis'd him a thoufand : It is therefore the Servants beft courfe 

 to make his bargain fure before he comes out of his Coun- 

 try. 



As concerning the Slaves, and fuch as are to be perpetual 

 Servants, who are commonly employ 'd in thefe Iflands, they 

 are originally Africans, ana they are brought over thither 

 from the Country about Cap vert, the Kingdom of Angola, 

 and other Sea-ports which are on the Coafts of that part of 

 the worlds where they are bought and fold after the fame 

 manner as Cattle in other places. 



Of thefe 3 fome are reduc'd to a neceffity of felling, them- 

 felves, and entring into a perpetual flavery, they and their 

 children, to avoid ftarving , for in the years of fterility, 

 which happen very frequently, efpecially when the Grafs- 

 hoppers, which like clouds fpread themfelves over the whole 

 Country, have confum'd all the fruits of the earth, they are 

 brought to fuch a remedilefs extremity, that they will fubmit 

 to the mo ft rigorous conditions in the world, provided they 

 may be kept Irom ftarving. When they are reduc'd to thofe 

 exigencies, the Father makes no difficulty to fell his children 

 for bread 5 and the children forfake Father and Mother with- 

 out any regret. Another 



