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bourers in every respect ; and in consequence, my 

 sum total is rather diminished than increased since 

 my last visit. I had been so positively assured 

 that the custom of plunging negro infants, imme- 

 diately upon their being born, into a tub of cold 

 water, infallibly preserved them from the danger of 

 tetanus, that, on leaving Jamaica, I had ordered this 

 practice to be adopted uniformly. The negro 

 mothers, however, took a prejudice against it into 

 their heads, and have been so obstinate in their 

 opposition, that it was thought unadvisable to at- 

 tempt the enforcing this regulation. From this 

 and other causes I have lost several infants ; but 

 I am told, that on other estates in the neighbour- 

 hood they have been still more unfortunate in 

 regard to their children; and one was named to me, 

 on which sixteen were carried off in the course of 

 three days. 



January 26. (Monday.) 

 The joy of the negroes on my return was quite 

 sufficiently vociferous, and they were allowed to- 

 day for a holiday. They set themselves to singing 

 and dancing yesterday, in order to lose no time ; 

 and to show their gratitude for the indulgence, not 

 one of the five pen-keepers chose to go to their 

 watch last night ; the consequence was, that the 

 cattle made their escape, and got into one of my 

 very best cane-pieces. The alarm was given ; 

 my own servants and some of the head people had 



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