Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/97

( 63 ) pursue a negro into the water, bring him out, and take him to the wharf, where he had him hung up to a crane by the hands, which were tied together, and weights tied to his feet. When thus hoisted up, but so as still to touch the ground, another negro was ordered to whip him with a prickly bush. He walked away from the disagreeable sight. The next day he saw the same negro lying on the beach, and, with the assistance of another, taking the prickles out of his breech, seemingly swelled and bloody. The negro assigned as a reason for the whipping, the wharfinger thought he had staid [sic] too long on an errand.

Respecting the whippings in gaol and round the town, Dr. Harrison thought them too severe to be inflicted on any of the human species. He attended a man, who had been flogged in gaol, who was ill in consequence five or six weeks. It was by his master's order for not coming when he was called. He could lay two or three fingers in the wounds made by the whip.

On the other mode General Tottenham observes, that he was at a planter's house when the Jumper came. He heard him ask the master, if he had any commands for him. The Master replied, No. The Jumper then asked the Mistress, who replied, Yes. She directed him to take out two very decent women, who attended at table, and to give each of them a dozen lashes. General Tottenham expostulated with her, but in vain. They were taken out to the publick parade, and he had the curiosity to go with them. The Jumper carried a long whip like our waggoners [sic]. He ordered one of the women to turn her back, and to take up her clothes entirely, and he gave her a dozen on the breech. Every stroke brought flesh from her. She behaved with astonishing fortitude. After the punishment, she, according to custom, curtesied [sic] and thanked him: the other had the same punishment, and behaved in the same way.

The punishments in the country by means of the whip and cow-skin appear to differ, except in one