Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/171

( 137 ) 4.Let the picking of grass neither be extra work, nor done in the intervals of rest; but let a grass-gang be selected for this purpose; or intirely [sic] abolish grass-picking, by laying out pasture land.

This regulation, as may be seen in Chap. IV. would tend wonderfully to lessen the labour and punishment, and, of course, promote the increase of the slaves.

5.Let the corn given to the negroes be ground for them.

This regulation would tend much to lessen their labour, as will be seen from the following account. When the women return home, says Davies, they have to grind their corn, by the strength of their arms rubbing it between two stones. They must rise with the earliest dawn to prepare their food, that they may be in the field in time, to escape punishment. Their circumstances, but particularly the grinding of their corn, tended to discourage marriage, the woman's life becoming harder then from being thus a slave to her husband. Forster also observes, that the grinding of their corn at night, by hand, was in crop-time a great hardship.

6.Let tasks of such parts of the work, as will admit them, be assigned to the slaves as practised in America.

In America, says Baillie, the overseer roused the slaves, and set them to work in the morning. They did not work for set hours, but by task work, generally a of land to each, when easily cultivated; when otherwise, the overseer sets the strongest to the hardest work, and vice versa: and indeed it was usual to lessen the piece of land considerably, when uncommonly foul. The negroes generally helped those who could not finish as soon as the rest, so that they left the field at once, pretty early in the afternoon, when their work ceased, and they were at perfect liberty for the rest of the day. Mr. Baillie adds, that the drivers seldom or never whipped the slaves through their day's work; because it was S