284 HISTORY OF THE [book iv. 
ry; circumstances that soon efface the native origi¬ 
nal impression which distinguishes one nation from 
another in negroes newly imported, and create a si¬ 
militude of manners, and a uniformity of character 
throughout the whole body. 
Thus, notwithstanding what has been related of 
the firmness and courage of the natives of the Gold 
coast, it is certain, that the negroes in general in 
our islands (such of them at least as have been any 
length of time in a state of servitude) are of a dis¬ 
trustful and cowardly disposition. So degrading is 
the nature of slavery, that fortitude of mind is lost 
as free agency is restrained. To the sarnie cause, 
probably, must be imputed their propensity to con¬ 
ceal, or violate the truth; which is so general, that 
I think the vice of falsehood is one of the most 
prominent features in their character. If a negro 
is asked even an indifferent question by his master, 
he seldom gives an immediate reply; but, affecting 
not to understand what is said, compels a repetff 
tion of the question, that he may have time to con¬ 
sider, not what is the true answer, but what is the 
most politic one for him to give. The proneness 
observable in many of them to the vice of theft, 
has already been noticed; and I am afraid that evil 
communication makes it almost general. 
It is no easy matter, I confess, to discriminate 
those circumstances which are the result of proxi¬ 
mate causes, from those which are the effects of 
national customs and early habits in savage life; but 
