38 TRAVELS IN 
" to terminate the difpute, arbitrators are feat 
** for, and a decifion obtained. If the quef- 
tion be not much involved, a compromife 
is eafily made; but in many cafes it happens 
otherwife. Then commences a regular 
" fuit at law, and an eternal fubjed of va- 
" riance and hatred between the two parties^ 
*^ Another misfortune in fuch cafes is, that 
*^ the original proprietor is rarely at liberty to 
quit his farm, and to undertake the ma- 
" nagement of his own caufe, which alTured-' 
" ly he is the perfon to underftand beft. 
The trial, however, goes on, and the ad- 
" vocate, who has frequently never feen the 
fpot, acquits himfelf as well as he can, 
" The judge, who is equally in the dark, 
" gives fentence accordingly ; and thus your 
" Europeans, who think that no people have 
" underftanding and reafon but themfelves, 
" forget that they have not lefs a monopoly 
" of corruption and vice. The fimpleft diC- 
^' putes often terminate in the ruin of fami- 
" Ues, while nobody gains by them, except 
it be the judge, whofe trade thrives upon 
" this fpecies of nourifhment. The planters, 
" on the other hand, whofe condition re- 
mov^s them from the buftle, fubtlety, and 
p intrigue 
