TRAVELS IN 
5 io 
This is their common plantation, and the 
whole town plant in one vaft field together ; but 
yet the part or (hare of every individual family or 
habitation, is feparated from the next adjoining, 
by a narrow ftrip, or verge of grafs, or any other 
natural or artificial boundary. 
In the fpring, the ground being already pre- 
pared, on one and the fame day, early in the 
morning, the whole town is fummoned, by the 
found of a conch (hell, from the mouth of the 
overfeer, to meet at the public fquare, whither 
the people repair with their hoes and axes ; and 
from thence proceed to their plantation, where 
they begin to plant, not every one in his own 
little diftrid, afligned and laid out, but the whole 
community united begins on one certain part of 
the field, where they plant on until finilhed ; and 
when their riling crops are ready for drefiing and 
cleanfing, they proceed after the fame order, and 
fo on day after day, until the crop is laid by for 
ripening. After the feaft of the bulk is over, and 
all the grain is ripe, the whole town again affem- 
ble, and every man carries off the fruits of his 
labour, from the part firft allotted to him, which 
he depofits in his own granary ; which is indivi- 
dually his own. But previous to their carrying 
off their crops from the field, there is a large crib 
or granary, erected in the plantation, which is 
called the king’s crib ; and to this each family 
carries and depofits a certain quantity, according 
to his ability or inclination, or none at all if he fo 
choofes : this in appearance feems a tribute or 
revenue to the mico ; but in fadt is defigned for 
another purpofe, i. e. that of a public treafury, 
fupplied by a few and voluntary contributions, 
and to which every citizen has the right of free 
