Page:A Chapter on Slavery.djvu/47

 inequalities of-rank and condition are inevitable in every stage of civil society; but when this subordination is carried to so great a length as that the persons and services of one part of the community are entirely at the disposal of another part, it may then be denominated a state of slavery: and in this condition of life a great body of the inhabitants of Africa have continued from the most early period of their history, — with this aggravation, that their children are born to no other inheritance." The writer then proceeds to state some particulars concerning the numbers and condition of the slaves as follows: —

"The slaves in Africa are, I suppose, nearly in the proportion of three to one to the freemen. They claim no reward for their services except food and clothing, and are treated with kindness or severity according to the good or bad disposition of their masters. Custom, however, has established certain rules with regard to the treatment of slaves, which it is thought dishonorable to violate. Thus, the domestic slaves, or such as are born in a man's house, are treated with more lenity than those which are purchased with money. The authority of the master over the domestic slave extends only to reasonable correction; for the master cannot sell his domestic, without having brought him to a public trial before the chief men of the place. In time of famine, however, the master is permitted to sell one or more of his domestics, to purchase provisions for his family; and in case of the master's insolvency, the domestic slaves are sometimes seized upon by the creditors, and if the master cannot redeem them, they are sold for payment of his debts. These are the only