SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, kc. 199 



A merchant, in the commencement of 1799, knowing 

 that he should require a large parcel of cotton to ship, of 

 the ensuing crop, made engagements with a planter of 

 Mahaica, to give him two thousand five hundred pounds 

 for the crop of his estate, taking upon himself the risk 

 of its being more or less. The average production for the 

 last two or three years, did not exceed twenty thousand 

 weight, which made it evidently a risk for the purchaser. 

 However, the goodness of the season, soon recompensed 

 him, and before two months of the crop time was expired, 

 a larger quantity of cotton was picked than was necessary 

 to pay the purchase money. By considerable attention and 

 assiduity in hiring and giving rewards to the negroes for 

 their exertions, and by complimenting the manager with half 

 a pipe of wine, a larger crop was made than the most sanguine 

 expectation could have suggested. It amounted to sixty 

 thousand weight, and gave a profit to the purchaser of six 

 thousand pounds sterling. This fortunate hit, with others of 

 a similar sort, which extended themselves throughout the co- 

 lonies, gave an additional zest to cotton planting, many of the 

 planters of that article were enabled to pay oft' their encum- 

 brances, and retired to live in England on the produce of their 

 estates. Hence it is said, that one good crop in five, makes 

 a cotton planter's fortune. These circumstances, combined, 

 certainly tended to increase the cultivation of cotton, and 



