Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/101

( 67 ) As farther proofs of the severity of these punishments by the whip or cowskin, the following facts may be adduced. Duncan and Falconbridge have known them so whipped that they could not lie down. Fitzmaurice has often known pregnant women so severely whipped as to have miscarried in consequence of it. Clappeson also knew a pregnant woman whipped and delivered on, the spot. Davison was once sent for to a woman slave, who miscarried from severe flogging, when both she and the child died. He knew also a new negro girl die of a mortification of her wounds two days after the whipping had taken place. A case similar to the last is also mentioned by Mr. Rees. Finding one day in his walks a woman lying down and groaning, he understood from her that she had been so severely whipped for running away, that she could hardly move from the place where she was. Her left side, where she had been most whipped, appeared in a mortifying state, and almost covered with worms. He relieved her, as she was hungry, and in a day or two afterwards going to visit her again, found she was dead and buried. To mention other instances: a planter flogged his driver to death, and even boasted of it to the person from whom Mr. Dalrymple had the account. Captain Hall also (of the navy) knows by an instance that fell under his eye, that a slave's death may be occasioned by severe punishment. Dr, Jackson thinks also severe whippings are sometimes the occasion of their death. He recollects a negro dying under the lash, or soon afterwards; and Captain Ross avers, that they often die in a few days after their severe punishments, for having but little food, and little care being taken to keep the sores clean after the whipping, their their [sic] death is often the consequence.

Extraordinary punishments of many kinds.

Having now collected what is said on the punishments by the whip and cowskin, it will be proper to mention those other modes with which the evidence presents us. These, however, are not easily subject to a division from the great variety of their kinds.

1.Captain Cook, speaking of the towns, says, he has been shocked to see a girl of sixteen or seventeen, I 2