203 



centipes was found squeezed to death under the 

 door of my bed-room this morning. As to the 

 cock-roaches, they are absolutely in legions ; every 

 evening my negro boys are set to hunt them, and 

 they kill them by dozens on the chairs and sofas, in 

 the covers of my books, and among the leaves in 

 my fruit-baskets. Yesterday I wanted to send 

 away a note in a great hurry, snatched up a wafer, 

 and was on the point of putting it into my mouth, 

 when I felt it move, and found it to be a cock- 

 roach, which had worked its way into the wafer- 

 box. 



March 4. (Monday.) 



Since my arrival in Jamaica, I am not conscious 

 of having omitted any means of satisfying my 

 negroes, and rendering them happy and secure 

 from oppression. I have suffered no person to be 

 punished, except the two female demons who 

 almost bit a girl's hands off (for which they re- 

 ceived a slight switching), and the most worthless 

 rascal on the estate, whom for manifold offences I 

 was compelled, for the sake of discipline, to allow 

 to pass two days in the bilboes. I have never re- 

 fused a favour that I could possibly grant. I have 

 listened patiently to all complaints. I have in- 

 creased the number of negro holidays, and have 

 given away money and presents of all kinds inces- 

 santly. Now for my reward. On Saturday morn- 

 ing there were no fewer than forty-five persons (not 

 including children) in the hospital ; which makes 



