Page:A Chapter on Slavery.djvu/70

 From the above extracts, too, we learn what is the condition of that vast multitude; that, while the "domestic slaves," or those born in the master's house, have some privileges, all the rest, the captives taken in war, all that are purchased, all who become slaves through crime or even through insolvency, are absolutely at the disposal of their masters, to be treated with any degree of severity to which the caprice of their masters may subject them. And under masters in such a state of barbarism, we may believe that they must often cruelly suffer, — as, indeed, the writer expressly states to be the case. He describes to us the condition of the slaves among the Moorish tribes — the females the sport of the ill temper of their mistresses — pounding the corn and dressing the victuals under the combined heats of the burning sun, the sand, and the fire; treated with less indulgence even than the beasts of burthen, — compelled to bring water a long distance for the supply of the very horses, I rather than "give the latter the trouble" of going to the wells to drink: "with all this," the writer remarks, "they are badly fed, and oftentimes cruelly treated: the condition of these poor captives is deplorably wretched." We have seen with what I barbarous disregard they are treated when dead; the body of the poor slave-boy dragged by a leg and arm, and thrown into a pit. Those who could treat with such insulting unconcern the remains of their dead slaves, we may be sure could not have been very tender to them while living. We have, too, an account of the pursuit of a fugitive slave, hunted in the usual manner, with man and horse