EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 271 



duced the flaves as landing from on board the Guinea CHAP, 

 fliips, and generally Ihocking inilances of debility and ^-^^l. 

 mifery : — 



" Their vlfage is blacker than a coal, they are not known in 

 " the ftreets, their Ikin cleaveth to their bones, it is withered, it is. 

 " become like a ftick." 



I have alfo obferved, that under the care of fome old ne- 

 groes, appointed for that purpofe, they foon become fat 

 and fleek, and learn the language of the colony : they 

 then are fent to work in the fields, to which they chear- 

 fully fubmit ; though I have feen fome inftances of 

 newly -imported negroes refufing to work, nor could 

 promifes, threats, rewards, nor even blows prevail ; but 

 thefe had been princes or people of the firft rank in their 

 native country, who by the cafualties of war had the mis- 

 fortune to become flaves, and whofe heroic fentiments 

 Itill preferred inftant death to the bafenefs and miferies 

 of fervitude. Upon thefe occalions I have feen the other 

 flaves fail upon their knees, and intreat the raafter to 

 permit them to do the work required, in addition to their 

 own tafks ; which being fometimes granted, they conti- 

 nued to fhew the fame refpeft for the captive prince 

 that he had been accuftomed to receive in his own coun- 

 try. I remember once to have had a remarkable good- 

 looking new negro to attend me, v^^liofe ancles and wrifts 

 being much galled by chains, I enquired tlie caufe. ^^My 

 father," faid he, " was a king, and treacheroufly mur- 



" dered 



