3 28 



the room who had come to the fair for the ex* 

 prefs purpofe of purcHafing flaves. Nay, even 

 children were brought to point the lucky finger, 

 and the boy or girl, thus chofen, was bought 

 by papa at the requeft of fuperftitious mama, 

 to give to young maffa or miffy ! 



The price of thefe poor degraded blacks 

 varied from 600 to 900 guilders, according to 

 their age and ftrength, or their appearance of 

 being healthy or otherwife. The boys and 

 girls were fold for 600 or 700 guilders — fome 

 of the men fetched as high as 900 — -and the 

 women were knocked cjown at about 800. 



In the courfe of the fale, a tall and robuft 

 negro, on being brought into the au&ion- 

 room, approached the table with a fine ne- 

 grefs hanging upon his arm. The man was 

 ordered to mount the chair. He obeyed, 

 though manifeftly with relu&ance. His bofom 

 heaved, and grief was in his eye. The wo- 

 man remained in the crowd. A certain price 

 was mentioned to fet the purchafe forward, 

 and the bidding commenced : but on the flave 

 being defired to exhibit the activity of his 

 limbs, and to difplay his perfon, he funk his 



