128 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



elude fewer negroes, and yet be more numerous than the paren- 

 tal individuals. In 1787, thje collective population of the British 

 islands in the West Indies, amounted to 50,000 whites, 10,000 

 free people of color, and 465,000 slaves. In 1805, it was 

 computed at 55,000 whites, 18,000 free people of color, and 

 510,000 slaves. In Jamaica especially, the free people of 

 color have increased during this interval from 4000 to 9000 ; 

 and the slaves from 256,000 to 280,000 persons ; it is true 

 there was an annual importation of nearly 4000 slaves. Nor 

 can any other proof be needed of a real increase of populous- 

 ness in the West Indies, than the vast augmentation of demand 

 and supply for every article of commercial interchange. This 

 is further corroborated by the circumstance that the number 

 of slaves retained for cultivation (for of the imported slaves, 

 many are re-exported to foreign settlements) is perpetually de- 

 creasing ; which, as the produce constantly reared has so 

 much increased, could not be, unless the numbers of the 

 Creole or home-born slaves were vastly greater than before. 



How necessary negro labourers are between the tropics ap- 

 pears from their habitual health and strength. The relative 

 mortality of the blacks and whites in the climate of the West 

 Indies, may be appretiated by comparing the Regimental 

 Returns from 1796 to 1802. 



