240 



food, &c. to which the negroes were entitled, in 

 order that they might apply to it if they should have 

 any doubts as to their having received their full 

 proportion ; and my new rules seemed to add 

 greatly to the satisfaction of the negroes, who were 

 profuse in their expressions of gratitude. 



The festival concluded with a grander ball than 

 usual, as I sent for music from Savanna la Mar to 

 play country dances to them; and at twelve o'clock 

 at night they left me apparently much pleased, only 

 I heard some of them saying to each other, " When 

 shall we have such a day of pleasure again, since 

 massa goes to-morrow ? " 



March 31. (Sunday.) 



With their usual levity, the negroes were laugh- 

 ing and talking as gaily as ever till the very mo- 

 ment of my departure ; but when they saw my 

 curricle actually at the door to convey me away, 

 then their faces grew very long indeed. In parti- 

 cular, the women called me by every endearing 

 name they could think of. " My son ! my love ! 

 my husband! my father!" " You no my massa, 

 you my tata!" said one old woman (upon which 

 another wishing to go a step beyond her, added, 

 " Iss, massa, iss ! It was you"); ******* 

 and when I came down the steps to depart, they 

 crowded about me, kissing my feet, and clasping 

 my knees, so that it was with difficulty that I could 

 get into the carriage. And this was done with 



