106 



NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, tation Alkmaar^ the property of the above lady ; where 

 , ^^l^- the negro Haves are treated like children by the miftrefs, 

 to whom they all look up as to their common parent.— 

 Here were no groans to be heard, no fetters to be met 

 with, nor any marks of feverity to be feen — but all was 

 harmony and content. The fuperb houfe and other 

 offices of this charming eftate, where pleafure and hofpi- 

 tality ever reign, I have already reprefented in plate 

 N* X. ; while the fields and gardens, nay, even the negro 

 houfes, bore all the marks of perfedl peace and plenty. 



The cacao-trees are fupplied from nurferies for the 

 purpofe, like orchards in England, and planted very re- 

 gularly at ten or twelve feet diftance from each other, 

 where they grow to the height of our Englifli cherry- 

 trees. But thefe plantations muft be well flieltered, both 

 from the hard v/inds and fcorching fun, when young ; 

 the roots not entering deep into the ground to fuccour 

 them, nor can they at that time bear extraordinary heat ; 

 on which account the groves are filled up with caffava- 

 flirubs or plantain-trees for their fhelter, and which at 

 the fame time anfwer the purpofe of killing the weeds, 

 which grow fo luxuriantly in all the tropical climates ; — 

 by thefe attentions the trees will bear fruit before they 

 are three years old, when they afford two crops annually, 

 but they are in the higheft perfedion at the age of 

 twelve or fourteen. The leaf of the cacao-tree is above 

 eight inches long, and nearly three broad, thick- pointed, 

 ribbed like the laurel-time^ and of a bright green-colour. 



The 



