Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/88

( 54 ) placed with the weakly to bring them up, will leave them behind, and then the weakly are generally flogged up by the driver. This, however, is the mode of their labour. As to the time of it, they begin, as before said, at day-light, and continue, with two intermissions, (one for half an hour in the morning, and the other for two hours at noon) till sun-set.

The above description, however, does not include the whole of their operations for the day, for it is expected that they shall range about and pick grass for the cattle. It is clear, from the different evidences, that the custom of grass-picking varies, as to the time in which it is to be done, on different estates, for on some it is to be done within the intervals of rest said to be allowed at noon, and on others after the labour of the day. It is complained of, however, in either case, as a great grievance, inasmuch as it lengthens the time of work; as also because, particularly in droughts, it is very difficult to find grass at all, and because if they do not bring it in sufficient quantities, they are punished. Grass-picking, says Capt. Smith, is one of the most frequent causes of punishment. He has seen some flogged for not getting so great a quantity of it as others, and that at a time, when he has thought it impossible they could have gotten half the quantity, having been upon the spot.

Hard case of the Women slaves.

It is impossible to pass over in silence the almost total want of indulgence which the women slaves frequently experience during the operations in the field. It is asserted by Dalrymple, that the drivers in using their whip never distinguish sex. As to pregnant women, and such as had children, Mr. Davies believes they were allowed to come into the field a little later than the rest. They did little work after they were four months gone with child, in the experience of Mr. Duncan. Dr. Harrison also has known some overseers allow complaining pregnant women to retire from work, but he has seen them labouring in the field, when they seemed to have but a few months to go: they were generally worked as long as able. Much the same work, says Mr. Cook, was