148 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA *. 
which nankeen is made is of a particular kind, 
naturally of a yellowish colour. 
The large estates are managed by stewards 
and overseers, the proprietors just amusing 
themselves with seeing what is going forward. 
The work is done wholly by slaves, whose num¬ 
bers are in this part of the country more than 
double that of white persons.. The slaves on 
the large plantations are in general very well 
provided for, and treated with mildness. During 
three months, nearly, that I was in Virginia, 
but two or three -instances of ill treatment to¬ 
wards them came under my observation. Their 
quarters, the name whereby their habitations are 
called, are usually situated one or two hundred 
yards from the dwelling house, which gives the 
appearance of a village to the residence of every 
planter in Virginia; when the estate, however, 
is so large as to be divided into several farms, 
then separate quarters are attached to the house 
of the overseer on each farm. Adjoining their 
little habitations, the slaves commonly have small 
gardens and yards for poultry, which are all their 
own property ; they have ample time to attend 
to their own concerns, and their gardens are 
generally found well stocked, and their docks 
of poultry numerous. Besides the food they 
raise for themselves, they are allowed liberal 
rations of salted pork,and Indian corn. Many 
