chap, v.] WEST INDIES. ^ 4i 
it is to act as cooks for the rest. This meal com¬ 
monly consists of boiled yams, eddoes, okra, cala- 
lue and plantains, or as many of those vegetables 
as they can procure; seasoned with salt, and Ca¬ 
yenne pepper; and, in truth, it is an exceeding 
palatable and wholesome mess. By this time most 
of the absentees make their appearance, and are 
sometimes punished for their sluggishness by a few 
stripes of the driver’s whip. But I am happy to 
say, that of late years a very slight excuse is gene¬ 
rally admitted. The fact is, that when the mo n- 
ings are chili and foggy, as frequently happens even 
under the zone, the sensations of the negro cm 
distressful beyond the imagination of an inhabitant 
of frozen regions. Instead of deriving firmness 
and activity from the cold, he becomes inert, slug¬ 
gish and languid; and neither labour nor punish¬ 
ment will animate him to greater exertion, until he 
is revivified by the genial warmth of the sun. At 
breakfast they are seldom indulged with more than 
half or three quarters of an hour; and, having re¬ 
sumed their work, continue in the field until noon, 
when the bell calls them from labour. They are 
now allowed two hours of rest and refreshment; 
one of which is commonly spent 4n sleep. Their 
dinner is provided with the addition of salted 
or pickled fish, of which each negro receives a 
weekly allowance. Many of them, however, pre¬ 
ferring a plentiful supper to a meal at noon, pass 
the hours of recess, either in sleep, or in collecting 
iood for their pigs and poultry, of which they are 
permitted to keep as many as they please; or pcr- 
Vol. II. 
X X 
