340 
HISTORY OF THE [book iv. 
also, before their arrival, that they are to be em¬ 
ployed in tillage; and, knowing that they were 
bought with money, expect to be sold in the same 
manner. They display therefore, on being brought 
to market, very few signs of lamentation for their 
past or of apprehension for their future condition; 
but, wearied out with confinement at sea, com¬ 
monly express great eagerness to be sold; present¬ 
ing themselves, when the buyers are few, with 
chearfulness and alacrity for selection, and appearing 
mortified and disappointed when refused. If it 
happens, as it frequently does, when the purchasers 
have leisure and opportunity to inspect them indi¬ 
vidually, that some bodily defect or blemish is dis¬ 
covered in any of them, the majority seem highly 
diverted at the circumstance; manifesting, by loud 
and repeated bursts of laughter, that reflection 
constitutes no very predominant part of their cha¬ 
racter.* 
of superstition or false taste to the cruelty of the planters, and gravely 
assert, that they are the scars of horrible gashes inflicted by the bloody 
hand of tyranny in the wantonness of punishment. The reverend 
Mr. Clarkson catches very eageily at this idea, and asserts with great 
solemnity, that cc it is a matter of constant lamentation with disin- 
“ terested people, who out of curiosity attended the negro markets in 
“ Jamaica, that they are not able to turn their eyes on any group of 
“ negroes without beholding these inhuman marks of passion, despo- 
<l tism, and caprice!” 
* The prices of new negroes in the West Indies, at this time (1791 ) 
are nearly as follows :—An able man in his prime £.50 sterling ; a« 
able woman, £.49 sterling; a youth approaching to manhood, £.47 
sterling; a youQg girl, £-46 sterling; boys and girls from £.40 to 
y.45 sterling, exclusive of the colonial tax or duty on -importation* 
about twenty shillings more. 
