Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/168

 almost naked, with their thighs and backs in a gore of blood, from flogging. He could mention various other capricious puuishments, if necessary.

Mr. Forster, examined on the same subject, says he has known a creole woman, in Antigua, drop hot sealing wax on a girl's back, after a flogging. He and many others saw a young woman of fortune and character flogging a negro man very severely with her own hands. Many similar instances he could relate if necessary. They are almost innumerable among the domestic slaves.

If it should be asked for what' offenses the different punishments now cited have taken place, the following answer may be given: The slaves appear to have been punished, as far as can be ascertained from the evidence under the head of ordina; T punishments, for not coming into the field in time, not picking a sufficient quantity of grass, not appearing willing to work, when in fact sick and not able, for staying too long on an errand, for not coming immediately when called, for not bringing home (the women) the full weekly sum enjoined by their owners, for running away, and for theft, to which they were often driven by hunger. Under the head of "extraordinary punishments," some appear to have suffered for running away, or for lifting up a hand against a white man, or for breaking a plate, or spilling a cup of tea, or to extort confession. Others, again, in the moments of sudden resentment, and one on a diabolical pretext, which the master held out to the world to conceal his own villainy, and which he knew to be false.

On the subject of capital offenses and punishments, a man and a woman slave are mentioned to have been hanged, the man for running away, and the woman for having secreted him. The Dean of Middleham saw two instances of slaves being gibbetted alive in chains, but he does not say for what, only that this is the punishment for enormous crimes: and Mr. Jeffreys, the only other person who speaks on this subject, says that he was in one of the islands, when some of the slaves murdered a white man, and destroyed some property on the estate. The execution of these he describes as follows:

He was present, he says, at the execution of seven negroes in Tobago, in the year 1774, whose right arms were chopped off: they were then dragged to seven stakes, and a fire, consisting of trash and dry wood, was lighted about them. They were there burnt to death. He does not remember hearing one of them murmur, complain, cry, or do any thing that indicated fear. One of them, in particular, named Chubb, was taken in the woods that morning, was tried about noon, and was thus executed with the rest in the evening. Mr. Jeffreys stood close by Chubb when his arm was cut off. He stretched his arm out, and laid it upon the block, pulled up the sleeve of his shirt with more coolness than he (Mr. Jeffreys) should have done, were he to have been bled. Ho afterwards would not suffer himself to be dragged to the stake, as the others had been, but got upon his feet and walked to it. As he was going to the stake, he turned about, and addressed himself to Mr. Jeffreys, who was standing within two or three yards of him, and said, "Buckra, you see me now, but to-morrow I shall be like that," kicking up the dust with his foot. (Here Mr.