558 
ACCOUNT OF THE ISLE OF FRANCE. 
shews evidently that it is hardly possible to be in a worse 
condition than they really are. 
The various methods resorted to of punishing slaves, dis- 
play an ingenuity of invention dreadfully misapplied; for 
instance, they chain two slaves together with an iron rod 
riveted round their necks, so that the one cannot move 
or walk without the consent of the ' other. Slaves are 
frequently met in the streets having a large iron collar 
round their necks, from which project out, at equal dis- 
tances, four pieces of iron rod about ten inches long, and 
through which are also riveted sharp iron spikes, which com- 
pletely disable the poor creature, who is doomed to wear it, 
from lying down to sleep, or even turning round his head. 
There are many other equally singular contrivances ; and it is 
perhaps from the number and frequency of such cruel pu- 
nishments, that the inhabitants have lost all sense of pro- 
priety and feeling. 
The middling and lower classes of inhabitants are in gene- 
ral industrious, and there are among them many excellent 
mechanics ; all tiie useful trades are carried on with spirit 
and success. The large iron foundery for casting cannon, 
&c. and the etxensive manufactory for all sorts of hardware, 
which belong to one person, would do credit to Birmingham 
or any other manufacturing town in England, not only for ex- 
tent, but also for the ingenuity and quality of the workman- 
ship. Ship building has been formerly carried on to consi- 
derable extent ; and no part of the world affords more faci- 
lity for that purpose. 
For these, and many other political reasons, the Isle of 
France becomes a place of considerable importance in time 
of war, especially to France, to whom it has belonged from 
the time the Dutch evacuated it in the year 1710. 
