276 NARRATIVEOFAN 



CHAP, lofs of the Umb, or even of life itfelf, is frequently the 



XXVI. fatal confequence. Some are infefled with feven or 

 b — >■ I— i ) 



eight of thefe worms at a time. 



Befides thefe dreadful calamities, peculiar to them- 

 felves, the negroes are fubje6l to every complaint com- 

 mon to the Europeans ; who, in their turn, are not ex- 

 empt in Guiana from the afflicting and dangerous dif- 

 tempers I have juft defcribed. 



It is therefore not to be wondered at if many of the 

 plantations are crouded with miferable objects, left under 

 the care of the drejfy negro or black furgeon only, whofe 

 whole fkill con lifts in adminiftering a dofe of falts, or 

 fpreading a plaifter. As to the numbers who are exco- 

 riated from their neck to their hee], by conftant whip^ 

 ping, they may cure themfelves, or do their work with- 

 out a fkin, if they think proper. 



Thus from accumulated miferies, fome naturally fuc- 

 ceeding from the climate and their poor diet, but more 

 from the inordinate cruelty of managers^ it muft follow 

 that numerous flaves become unfit for work, many from 

 weaknefs and depreffion of fpirits, and others from ex- 

 treme labour becoming old before their time. But for all 

 thefe evils, this plantation defpot finds an infallible re- 

 medy, which is no other than to put them to death at 

 once : the lofs does not afFe6t him but his mafter, and he 

 is proud of fhewing only fuch negroes as are able to do 

 their tafk,. airuring the owaer that they moftly died by 



the 



