WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. IV.] 
311 
free condition have power to sell their children, 
but this power is but very seldom enforced. I ne¬ 
ver knew an instance of it but once, and then the 
father was so execrated by his neighbours, for the 
act of selling a son and daughter, that he shortly 
afterwards fell into a state of despondency and died. 
The family was of some distinction, and the soil 
and daughter were bought by a friendly captain, 
who I know afterwards gave freedom to one of 
them, and I believe he gave it to both. I never 
knew another instance of this kind, nor do I be¬ 
lieve there is one slave in a thousand procured in 
this way. Neither do I imagine there are many 
procured by wars or intestine broils. The truth is, 
the bulk of the people are born slaves to great 
men, reared as such, held as property, and as pro¬ 
perty sold. There are, indeed, many circumstances 
by which a free man may become a slave: such as 
being in debt, and not able to pay; and in some 
of such cases, if the debt be large, not only the 
debtor, but his family likewise, become the slaves 
of his creditors, and may be sold. Adultery is 
commonly punished in the same manner; both the 
offending parties being sold, and the purchase mo¬ 
ney paid to the injured husband. Obi, or pretend¬ 
ed witchcraft (in which all the negroes firmly be¬ 
lieve, and it is generally accompanied with the 
crime of poisoning) is another, and a very common 
offence, for which slavery is adjudged the lawful 
punishment; and it extends to all the family of the 
offender. Thpre are various other crimes which 
subject the offender and his children to be sold; 
and it is more than probable, that if there were no 
