370 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



kraals, or gipsey villages, of bush negroes, who were always 

 ready to harbour discontented slaves, and to conspire with 

 them for plundering and burning the plantations, and murder- 

 ing the persons, of the whites. This Creole peasantry is at 

 length reared. Innumerable negroes are now grown up in 

 the West Indies, who have never known the satisfaction of 

 sloth and independence, and who have no idea of any other 

 possible manner of subsistence, than that of working regularly 

 for the planter who issues their allowances. These home-born 

 negroes, when transplanted to the continent, do not desert into 

 the wilderness ; they prefer the regular task of moderate toil, 

 and the certain and comfortable maintenance it insures, to the 

 privations and hazards of the savage state. But the sooner this 

 Creole peasantry is transferred from the Carribbee islands to the 

 continent of Guyana the better. For the same number of la- 

 bourers can produce every commodity of the Carribbee islands 

 more cheaply and abundantly, and with less exertion on the 

 main land. While uncleared, the islands are rapidly depo- 

 pulated by contagious disorders ; and when cleared, become 

 barren from drought ; so that there is always a superfluous ex- 

 pense to incur for the waste of labourers, or for the deficiency 

 of crops. These islands, therefore, should in preference, be 

 ceded to France and Holland, if any thing must be restored ; 

 or by the artificial discouragement of their agriculture, be in- 

 duced to transfer to Guyana the mass of their population and 

 capital. 



