Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/170

( 136 ) 2.In the earthing of canes, let the East Indian shovel be introduced, in the place of the hoe, where it is practicable.

When the cane is ready to earth up, says Mr. Botham, the space between the rows is ploughed deep, the cane tops tied up, and an instrument like a broad shovel, with teeth at the bottom, a spade handle, and two cords fixed to the body of the shovel, ending by a wooden handle for a purchase, is used by two persons to earth up the cane, the strongest holding the handle of the shovel, and pressing it into the ploughed earth, while the other on the opposite side of the plant, by a jerk of the cord, draws up to the plant all the earth that the plough had loosened. Two persons, says Mr. Botham, and he has been in the West as well as in the East Indies, with this instrument will earth up more canes in a day than ten negroes with their hoes according to the W. Indian method.

3.Let the commissions or premiums paid in some islands on the crops, be taken from the attorneys and overseers of estates, and let salaries or an augmentation of salary be substituted in their stead; or, let the premiums and commissions continue, but be paid so much per head for the increase of the slaves.

It is the common practice for attorneys, and often for overseers to have a commission on the crops (Cook, Davison, Fitzmaurice, Clappeson, and Coor). This has a manifest tendency to make them push the negroes beyond their strength. Accordingly we find, from Davison, that he has been with attorneys to visit the estates, and he has seen them do little else than inquire about the crops. He never heard them make any inquiries into the treatment or state of the slaves. Coor says, he has known attornies [sic] wink at overseers pressing the slaves to perform more work than human nature could bear.

4.Let