Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/162

( 128 ) women on the coast of Africa appeared to him as prolifick as any race of people he ever saw in any part of the world, and the climate of the West Indies to be not less favourable to them than their own. Hence he says, the stock of slaves might be kept up or increased without any importations from Africa. At first the deficiencies might be felt for a few, perhaps twenty years, but after a while, they would 'double their numbers, for he sees no physical cause to prevent a black man and woman being equally prolifick in the West Indies as in Africa.

There are others, who from their experience in the West Indies are of a similar opinion. Dr. Jackson cannot conceive, if slaves were well used, why they should not keep up their numbers. They are naturally prolifick, and the islands in general congenial to their constitutions.— It is the opinion of Mr. Coor, that, with kind and judicious treatment of the infants, the slaves in Jamaica would increase without any importations from Africa. Mr. Davies says the same thing for Barbadoes. Mr. Woodward is not apprehensive that the abolition of the slave-trade would ruin his West Indian property. He thinks it would be of advantage to Barbadoes. By using them well, and by good management, the stock of slaves would naturally increase without importation. And Mr. Giles believes, that, if they were properly treated, their increase would be general throughout the islands. C H A P.XII.