Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/148

128. The coloured people are mostly located in towns, villages, and townships, in the region above described.

There seems to prevail among them a disposition to settle in villages and towns, especially those who have been porters in stores, warehouses, or waiters in private families; their object evidently being to obtain situations in their former occupations: failing, as many do, (which is not to be regretted), they do, in the latter case, what they should have done in the former, engage in agriculture. However, experience soon teaches them that they are in the wrong place, consequently a larger porportionproportion [sic] settles in agricultural districts than formerly. I may say, the majority are thus engaged, perhaps not in every case from choice but the force of circumstances, in either case, however, our object is accomplished. I am decidedly of opinion that in Canada, as in all countries, being settled with emigrants, agriculture is the occupation. Therefore we perpetually urge upon them the importance of thus becoming their own proprietors.—There seems to exist a peculiar fondness for each other, which is charcteristiccharacteristic [sic] of the coloured race; this influences them to settle together, thus forming large colonies or settlements as they are called. Land is purchased from Government, by individuals and companies, at one dollar and a quarter per acre. They divide it into sections, half sections, quarter sections, and even eights