Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/161

 not to be able to have poultry. They were not allowed to keep sheep on any estate he knew. On some they might keep two or three goats, but very few allowed it. Some keep pigs and poultry, if able to buy any.

To this testimony it may be added, that all the witnesses, to whom the question has been proposed, agree in answering, that they never knew or heard of a field slave ever amassing such a sum as enabled him to purchase his own freedom.

With respect to the artificers, such as house-carpenters, coopers, and masons, and the drivers and head-slaves, who form the remaining part of the plantation slaves, they are described as having in general a more certain allowance of provisions, and as being better off.

Having now described the state of the plantation, it will be proper to say a few words on that of the in-and-out-door slaves. The in-door slaves, or domestics, are allowed by all the witnesses to be better clothed and less worked than the others, and invariably to look better. Some, however, complain of their being much pinched for food.

With respect to the out-door slaves, several persons, who have a few slaves, and little work, allow them to work out, and oblige them to bring home three or four bits a day. The situation of these is considered to be very hard, for they are often unable to find work, and to earn the stated sum, and yet, if they fail, they are severely punished. Mr. Clappeson has known them steal grass, and sell it, to make up the sum required.

In this description may be ranked such as follow the occupation of porters. These are allowed to work out, and at the end of the week obliged to bring home to their masters a certain weekly sum. Their situation is much aggravated by having no fixed rates. If, says Foster, on being offered too little for their work they remonstrate, they are often beaten, and receive nothing, and should they refuse the next call from the same person, they are summoned before a magistrate, and punished on the parade for the refusal, and he has known them so punished.

Having now described the labor, food, clothing, houses, property, and different kinds of employment of the plantation, as well as the situation of the in-and-out-door slaves, as far as the evidence will warrant, it may be proper to advert to their punishments; and, first, to those that are inflicted by the cowskin or the whip.

In the towns many people have their slaves flogged upon their own premises, in which case it is performed by a man, who is paid for it, and who goes round the town in quest of the delinquents. But those, says Mr. H. Ross, who do not choose to disturb their neighbors with the slave cries, send them to the wharves or gaol, where they are corrected also by persons paid. At other times they are whipped publicly round the town, and at others tied down, or made „o stand in some public place, and receive it there. When they are flogged on the wharves, to which they go for the convenience of the cranes and weights, they are described by H. Ross, Morley, Jeffreys, Towne, and Captain Scott, to have their arms tied to the hooks of the crane, and weights of fifty-six