38- ; STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



makes more of lils property; but the Diitcliraan leaves it a bet- 

 ter inheritance. All the land is so rich, that it requires little 

 or no attention after being planted, except weeding three or 

 four times within the year. Naturally, therefore, the more 

 ground is planted, the greater the produce. With the same 

 number of negroes a Dutchman has less land under cultivation 

 than an Englishman. 



1 he Dutch were formerly severe masters, and used to inflict 

 odious cruelties on their negroes. I am happy to have ob- 

 served that this cannot now be laid to tlieir charge. The 

 milder habits of the English planter have gradually taught a 

 better system. The indignation systematically shown by the 

 English authorities, and the fines occasionally levied, by for- 

 mal representation to the Fiscal of the division, have also been 

 conducive to bettering the situation of the Dutch negroes. Yet 

 even now it is felt as a terror to menace a negro with selling 

 him to a Dutchman. The Dutchman, however, has a like 

 terror in reserve, and threatens to sell his slave to a free negro. 

 The Africans are of all masters the worst to one another. 

 They were accustomed on their native coast to a harsher and 

 more abject slavery than they incur in Guyana. 



The English planters were frequently told that by following 

 up their mild measures, and discountenancing all severity to- 

 ward the labourer, they would in a short time bring the cole- 



