139 



There was a great dinner and ball for the whole 

 county given to-day at Montego Bay, to which I 

 was invited ; but I begged leave to decline this 

 and all other invitations, being determined to give 

 up my whole time to my negroes during my stay in 

 Jamaica. 



January 26. 

 Every morning my agent regales me with some 

 fresh instance of insubordination : he says nothing 

 plainly, but shakes his head, and evidently gives 

 me to understand, that the estate cannot be 

 governed properly without the cart-whip. It 

 seems that this morning, the women, one and all, 

 refused to carry away the trash (which is one of 

 the easiest tasks that can be set), and that without 

 the slightest pretence : in consequence, the mill 

 was obliged to be stopped ; and when the driver 

 on that station insisted on their doing their duty, 

 a little fierce young devil of a Miss Whaunica flew 

 at his throat, and endeavoured to strangle him : 

 the agent was obliged to be called in, and, at 

 length, this petticoat rebellion was subdued, and 

 every thing went on as usual. I have, in con- 

 sequence, assured the women, that since they will 

 not be managed by fair treatment, I must have 

 recourse to other measures ; and that, if any simi- 

 lar instance of misconduct should take place, I 

 was determined, on my return from Kingston, to 

 sell the most refractory, ship myself immediately 



