The Three Counties under the Dutch. 31 
dressed and giggling women-favourites, whose black or 
coloured skin indicated that they themselves had but 
recently been emancipated, or perhaps that they were 
even still slaves, to choose a slave to attend on their own 
persons. After such a market, 
" a few of the most ill-looking only now remained, who were meagre, 
and of rough skin — not thoroughly black, but of a yellowish or dirty 
brown colour — of hungry, unhealthy aspect, feeble, of hideous coun- 
tenance, and in general appearance scarcely human. These remained 
to a future day, and would probably be sold, not to planters, but to the 
boat-women, tailors, hucksters, or some of the inferior mechanics or 
shop-keepers of the town, at prices somewhat lower than that demanded 
for the more robust and well-looking ; and alas, though least able to 
bear fatigue, these feeble beings would most likely be subjected to a 
far more heavy slavery than those of stronger frame, for it is commonly 
seen that the labour exacted by the poorer orders of the people from 
their few and weakly slaves is more severe than that required by the 
opulent planter from his regular and better appointed gang. 
Another writer says that the Dutch planter who wished to 
frighten his slave could find no more effectual way of 
doing this than by threatening to sell him to a freed negro- 
Very nearly all the labour of the colony was 
performed by the slaves. Of their agricultural labour 
I have already had occasion to speak and shall have yet 
further occasion. All domestic offices, too, were per- 
formed by slaves, and these not only of the necessary, 
but also of the luxurious, kind. The richer colonists even 
had slaves who stood behind them to beat off insects 
with sweet-smelling boughs of lime, and others were kept 
outside their doors at night, to be summoned, in case of 
need, to put an end to a troublesome mosquito, or to 
perform any similar service ; and when such a colonist 
rode out, slaves ran by him, accommodating their pace 
to that of his horse. On one occasion PlNCKARD ( met 
