254 NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, bably this venerable perfon fpent her youth in hard 



XXVI 



_ _ '_, labour, like other flaves ; which, though a negro can 

 bear much better in a tropical climate than a native of 

 Europe, yet cannot be natural, either on the coaft of 

 Guinea or Guiana, where, without toil, the neceffaries 

 of life are produced, and vegetation flourifhes fponta- 

 neoufly for ever. 



In the conftitution of the^negroes I have Hill obferved 

 this fingularity, that while they bear the fatigue of 

 labour in the hotteft days, they can alfo bear the cold 

 and damp better than an European, at leaft better than I 

 could ; fleeping all night on the wet grafs, perfectly 

 naked, without any injury to their health, while I have 

 been glad, efpecially early in the morning, to have a fire 

 lit under my hammock, and while the 'marines for want 

 of it lay in a fliiver. They alfo bear hunger and thirft, 

 and pain or licknefs, with the greateft patience and refo- 

 lution. 



I have formerly mentioned the names of more than 

 a dozen of negro tribes : all thefe know each other by 

 the different marks and incifions made on their bodies 

 — for inflance, the Coromantyn negroes, who are moil 

 eiteemed, cut three or four long gafhes on each of their 

 cheeks, as reprefented in the face of the armed free negro 

 or ranger, in plate VII. 



The Loango negroes, who are reckoned the worfl, dif- 

 tinguifh themfelves by pundluring or marking the fkin 

 of their fides, arms, and thighs with fquare elevated 

 figures, fomething like dice. (See plate LXVIII.) Thefe 



alfo 



