Cap. VI. T/kCaribby-Iflands. 201 



Another fort of them are fold after they have been taken 

 Prifoners in War by fome petty neighbouring Prince 5 for it is 

 the cuftom of the Princes of thofe Parts to make frequent in- 

 curfions into the Territories of their Neighbours., purpofely for 

 the taking of Prifoners, whom they afterwards fell to the 

 Tortugwz,^ and other Nations with whom they drive that bar- 

 barous Trade : They receive in exchange for them Iron 

 (which is as precious with them as Gold), Wine, Aqua-vit£ i 

 Brandy, or fome poor Clothing : They make Slaves of the 

 women as well as the men, and they are fold one with another, 

 at a higher or lower rate, according to their youth, age, 

 ftrength, or weaknefs, handfomnefs, or deformity of body. 

 They who bring them over to the Iflands make a fecond fale 

 of them, at fifteen or fixteen hundred weight of Tobacco 

 every head, more or lefs, as the parties concern'd can agree. 



If thefe poor Slaves chance to fall into the hands of a good 

 Matter, one who will not treat them with too much feverity, 

 they prefer their prefent flavery before their former liberty, 

 the lofs whereof they never afterwards regret: And if they 

 are permitted to marry, they multiply extremely in thofe hot 

 Countries. 



They are all Negroes, and thofe who are of the brighteft 

 black are accounted the faireft : Moft of them are flat-nos'd, 

 and have thick lips, which goes among them for beauty 5 nay 

 there are fome affirm, that in their Country the Midwives do 

 purpofely crufli down their nofes, that they may be flat, affoon 

 as they come into the world : The hair of their heads is all 

 frizhd, fo that they can hardly makeufeof Combs-, but to 

 prevent the breeding of vermine, they rub their heads with 

 the oil of that (hrub which is called Palma-Chritfi : They are 

 very ftrong and hardy, but withal fo fearful and unwieldy in 

 the handling of Arms, that they are eafily reduc'd under iub- 

 je&ion. 



They are naturally fufceptible of all impreffions, and the 

 firft that are deriv'd into them among the Chriftians, after they 

 have renounc'd their Superftitions and Idolatry, they pertina- 

 ciously adhere unto 3 wherein they differ much from the In- 

 dians of America^who are as unconftant as Cameleons. Among 

 the French Inhabitants of the Caribbies there are fome Negroes 

 who punctually obferve abftinence all the time of Lent, and 

 all the other Fafring-days appointed by the Church, without 

 any remiffion of their ordinary and continual labour. 



They are commonly proud and infolent } and whereas the 

 Indians are defirous to be gently treated, and are apt to dye 

 out of pure grief, if they be put to more then ordinary hard- 

 (hip, thefe on the contrary are to be kept in awe by threats 

 and blows 3 for if a man grow too familiar with them, they 

 are prefently apt to make their advantages of it, and to abufe 



Dd that 



