PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



73 



Negro. A gentleman obtained an order for the flagellation of one of his run- 

 away slaves, with two hundred lashes. On his name being called several times, 

 he appeared at the door of a dungeon, where the negroes seemed to be promis- 

 cuously confined together. A rope was put round his neck, and he was led to 

 a large post, in the adjoining yard ; around which his arms and feet were 

 bound, while a rope secured his body in like manner, and another, firmly fas- 

 tened round his thighs, rendered the movement of a single member wholly 

 impossible. The black degradado set to work very mechanically, and at every 

 stroke, which appeared to cut part of the flesh away, he gave a singular whistle. 

 The stripes were repeated always upon the same part, and the negro bore the 

 one hundred lashes he received at this time with the most determined resolution. 

 On receiving the first and second strokes he called out " Jesu,'' but afterwards 

 laid his head against the side of the post, not uttering a syllable, or asking for 

 mercy ; but what he suffered was strongly visible in the tremulous agitation of 

 the whole frame. The scene was deeply afflicting, and it was to be regretted 

 that the man who was capable of such fortitude should be in a condition that 

 subjected him to so painful and degrading an infliction. He received the 

 other one hundred lashes on the third day following, after which, a heavy iron 

 chain to his leg, and an iron rivetted round his neck, from which a trident stood 

 up above the head, by way of ornament, would be no pleasant appendages 

 with which to pursue his usual labour. 



There are men who profess to be catchers of runaway negroes, and frequently 

 detain and ill use them when they are proceeding upon their employment, keep 

 them confined during a night, conduct them home tied with ropes, and pretend 

 they have detected them running away, for which they demand certain charges 

 and a recompense. I was present when two of those fellows brought a poor 

 negro girl whom they had detained, and it was proved that they stopped her when 

 she was really in pursuit of her occupation. They failed in receiving the 

 recompense they so basely sought, but they ought to have been made a severe 

 example of. It is painful to observe, that if a negro is stopped, or forced away, 

 or in any manner ill-treated, nobody takes his part or believes his story. 



A great many persons live entirely in idleness, upon the earnings of one, 

 two, or three slaves, who are denominated " negros de ganho,'' and stroll about 

 the streets for employment : they are distinguished by a large basket which they 

 carry ; others of both sexes are employed in carrying water in tubs, from the 

 tbuntains, for the supply of the inhabitants ; the fountains are crowded all day, 

 and are attended by a couple of soldiers to preserve order. The streets after 



