235 



the ftrideft injunaions againft It, they cannot 

 always be prevented from the filthy habit of 

 depofiting their natural excretions upon the 

 jfpot where they fleep. 



The wool of their heads forms a thick 

 cover for vermin, of which they have, com- 

 monly, a fwarming abundance ; therefore to 

 prevent this, and to further the rules of clean- 

 linefs, all their heads had been fhaved : but 

 this, we were told, had deprived them of one 

 great fource of occupation and amufement ; 

 it being a fingular pleafure to them to fit down 

 in pairs, for hours together, to enjoy the 

 focial feaft of picking each other's heads, and 

 afterwards twifting and plaiting the wool into 

 a variety of forms. 



The pleafure we had experienced from 

 finding thefe poor blacks in a ftate of ap- 

 parent contentment, and, with refpedl tq the 

 reported cruelty, enjoying a degree of compa** 

 rative comfort, was fucceeded by feelings of 

 horror, on hearing the relation of an infur- 

 redion which had taken place, on board the 

 ihip, previous to their failing from the coaft of 



