Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/164

( 130 ) the pretty women: their husbands, through discontent, ran away, and the labour falling heavier upon the rest, they became discontented, and their work was badly carried on: so that it cost him two years, before he could reestablish order. It was a pleasure to walk through his estate; for the slaves used to look upon him as a father.

It is of importance to cite this estate, because, in consequence of the above regulations, its gang increased; because when they were violated it went back; and because, when they were re-established, it was restored to its former state. These regulations also include all the regulations, except two, in consequence of which the slaves increased by births on the other estates mentioned in the preceding chapter, and therefore the citation of these, in particular, avoids a repetition, and saves time. The two regulations not included in these, are the following: — Mr. Giles asserts, that the purchasing of a few mules, on an estate which he managed, to carry the canes which the negroes had before this been accustomed to carry on their heads, so lightened their labour, as to occasion them to increase in population, whereas they had decreased before: and, on the estate cited by Lieut. Davison, the circumstance of Mr. Malcolm's going among his own negroes, hearing their complaints, and not suffering them to be punished without his knowledge, are reckoned among the causes that contributed to their increase.

Some general practices in the Colonies.

Let us now see what is the general practice in the colonies, and what alterations should be made in it, to insure [sic] an universal increase.

1.It is the opinion of Mr. Fitzmaurice, as observed in chap. 4, that the forcing the slaves to labour beyond their strength, is the means of bringing many of them to the grave. Mr. Baillie says, that many of their complaints arose from extreme fatigue, and that a little rest generally restored them, without any medicine being necessary. In general, says Forster, the planters have no idea of improvements to ease their slaves. It seemed