191 



broke the mad woman's pate with it. But though 

 she could beat a hole in her head, she never could 

 beat out of it her having said that she wished 

 massa might never come back. And although 

 Philippa has recovered her senses, in her belief 

 of Mrs. Cook's disloyalty she continues firm ; and 

 they never meet without renewing the dispute. 



To-day being a play-day, the gaiety of the ne- 

 groes was promoted by a distribution of an additional 

 quantity of salt-fish (which forms a most acceptable 

 ingredient in their pepper-pots), and as much rum 

 and sugar as they chose to drink. But there was 

 also a dinner prepared at the house where the 

 " white people" reside, expressly for none but the 

 piccaninny -mothers ; that is, for the women who 

 had children living. I had taken care, when this 

 play-day was announced by the head driver, to 

 make him inform the negroes that they were in- 

 debted for it entirely to these mothers ; and to 

 show them the more respect, I went to them after 

 dinner myself, and drank their healths. The most 

 respectable blacks on the estate were also assem- 

 bled in the room; and I then told them that clothes 

 would wear out, and money would be spent, 

 and that I wished to give them something more 

 lasting than clothes or money. The law only allows 

 them, as a matter of right, every alternate Satur- 

 day for themselves, and holidays for three days at 

 Christmas, which, with all Sundays, forms their 

 whole legal time of relaxation. I therefore granted 



