27 0 N A R R A T I V E O F A N 



CHAP, /wallow their tongue^ which choaks them upon the foot, 



XXVI 



when they drop dead m the prefence of their mafters. 



. But when negroes are fenfible of having deferved correc- 

 tion, no people can be more humble, or bear their un- 

 happy fate with greater refignation. The fwallowing of 

 the tongue, which they only pradlife during the moments 

 of fevere difcipline, has of late been prevented in Suri-. 

 nam by the humane method of holding a fire-brand to 

 the vidlim's mouth, which anfwers the double purpofe of 

 burning his face, and diverting his attention from the exe- 

 cution of his fatal determination. Some have a pra6lice 

 of eating common earthy by which the ftomach pre- 

 vented from performing its ordinary fundtions, and thus 

 difpatch themfelves without any immediate pain, but 

 linger perhaps for a twelvemonth in the moft debilitated 

 and fhocking condition. Againft thefe ground-eaters 

 the fevereft punifhments are decreed by the laws, but 

 without much effe6l, as they are feldom dete6led in this 



. adl of defperation. 



After thefe general' remarks upon the mental and bo- 

 dily faculties of the African negroes, we fhall next pro- 

 ceed to view them in a ftate of bondage, under all the 

 oppreffion they are expofed to from the rod of barbarous 

 tyranny ; then, refcuing them from this horrid fcene, we 

 will next confider them as protedled by impartial juftice, 

 and foftered by the mild hand of tendernefs and huma- 

 nity. 



The reader may remember that I have already intro- 

 r» duced 



