The Three Counties under the Dutch. 37 
sailors from the privateer were drafted into one of the 
slave prize-boats, to help to carry it to Trinidad. 
" On the passage the Frenchmen talked much to the negroes about 
liberty, equality, and the rights of man, in all the common jargon of 
the revolution, holding out to them the high enjoyment of gaining their 
freedom, and assuring them that they would be carried from Trinidad 
to Guadeloupe, where they would be released from their slavery, become 
fellow citizens, and remain in future their own masters. But these 
poor blacks, having been treated with great kindness and humanity by 
their owners, and not having been bred in the modern Gallic school, 
could not be made to comprehend the fascinating doctrine of equality, 
and therefore perversely rejected the proffered French liberty ; and in- 
stead of rejoicing, as it was supposed they would, to accept their free- 
dom from the hands of these revolutionary republicans, they concerted 
a plan to rescue the boat and take it back to their masters ; in which 
attempt they met with complete success, but unhappily it was attended 
with that savage inhumanity which characterizes the Africans. A little 
before they came in sight of Trinidad they seized an opportunity of 
rising upon the Frenchmen, and, not satisfied with subduing -them, 
they murdered every one of them and threw the mangled bodies into 
the sea ; then, like faithful slaves, they put the boat about, and made the 
best of their way up the coast, returning much pleased to their owners 
and to their task of slavery," 
There is a sort of rude pathos in the end of this story. 
Asked why they had killed the Frenchmen, instead of 
bringing them on shore as prisoners, these strange slaves 
made answer, ■ Ah ! Massa, me fraid 'em tell lies upon 
us, and people always believe Buckra* man sooner as 
J Negro. . . so we tink it best for kill em all.' 
The slave, knowing nothing better, lived contented 
with his slavery. " I have lately amused myself," wrote 
PlNCKARD — 
" by taking frequent opportunities of engaging in conversations 
with different negroes, both men and women, with the view of ascer- 
taining what was the state of their intellects, and particularly what were 
* I.e. white man 
