Page:Remarks upon the Situation of Negroes in Jamaica.pdf/41

 Saturday, one would naturally think, from policy, as well as humanity, that the new negroes ought to be more than entitled to this indulgence. It muſt ſurely be attended with mortification to them to behold their fellows-labourers in the ſame plantations ranging over the face of the mountains to chuſe a ſpot for preſent cultivation, or to abandon that at pleaſure, to ſelect another that his inclination may prefer; while they are obliged to work under the hoe, and feel not that day of independency which the others enjoy. But this is not all—a portion of ground with bearing proviſions is given to them, from which they are expected to ſubſiſt, before they are become ſufficiently acquainted with its nature to aſcertain either its uſe or value: The conſequence is, in the end, defeated; what siis [sic] ready for the pot they indiſcriminately gather; and heedleſs of the morrow, conſume, or deſtroy in one day, what was expected, with labour and foreſight, to laſt a year; and ſo ſoon as they ſhall have gleaned it to the laſt bunch of plantains, or the ultimate root, (which it would be a miracle if the thieves have ſpared) they then neglect its further