J.B. Moreton Manners and Customs in The West India Islands

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towa.h10
WEST INDIA
CUSTOMS AND MANNERS :

CONTAINING
STRICTURES ON THE SOIL, CULTIVATION , PRODUCE,

TRADE , OFFICERS, AND INHABITANTS ;
WITH
THE METHOD OF ESTABLISHING AND CONDUCTING

A SUGAR PLANTATION .
TO WHICH IS ADDED ,
THE PRACTICE OF TRAINING NEW SLAVES.
BY
1
F. B. MORETON, ESQ.
A NEW EDITION .
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR I , PARSONS, PATERNOSTER ROW ;

W, RICHARDSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE ; H. GARDNER, STRAND ;
AND J. WALTER , PICCADILLY .
1793
',
UE
M ZIT
EU
TS HIS
TI
1
I N - D - E X.
Page
X ADVICE
Ague
at firſt ſetting out 9
s 22-26
Attornies
63, 69–78
Aberdeen Peaſantry 64
Adminiſtrators 69
Adventurers to Jamaica 91
Afſembly, members thereof 1οΙ
Africans
135
Attorney -General 184
Bathing, the good and bad effects thereof 23

Belly-ache, dry 27
Bull - tree
40
Braſilitto ib .
Book -keepers - 96
Cancer, Mr. and Mrs. 15
Climate, a deſcription thereof 1
Conſumpti
iv Ι1 Ν D Ε Χ.
Page
Conſumption 22, 27
Coffee -houſes 35
Cornwall 38
Cotton - ſilk , Cotton -tree ib .
Cædar 40
Citrons 41
Council, members thereof 62
Clerks in general 97- IOO
Creoles 104
Cudjo, King 133
Doctors 18
Dog -wood 402

Doves, various kinds 41
Drinking 166
Europeans, advice to them 24

Earthquakes 39
Executions 63
Engliſh Adventurers 60
Executor's ib.
Fonchial, in Madeira 13
Fire-flies, or glow -worms 16
Fevers 22-26
Fungee, an Overſeer 87
Grog ſhop -keepers 35

Governor 61
Guinea- graſs 42, 58
Glaſgow
Ι Ν D Ε Χ . :
Page
Glaſgow Peaſantry 18
Gaming 174
Howard's Tavern
35
Hurricanes
38
Jamaica 33 , 42
Jews
65
Juſtices of the Peace IOI
Judge, Chief 102
Kingſton 34
Lightning, dreadful 39
Locuſt - tree
40
Lignum -vitæ -tree ib.
Little - Confequence, the Cowſkin -hero 85
Madeira
I2
Muſquettos
17
Montego Bay 37
Mina River
38
Maftic -wood 40
Mahogany ib .
Mangrove ib.
Manchioneal
ib.
Managers, or Overſeers 45-9
Mill for grinding Canes 46
Merchants
64, 97
Markets
64
Mortgagees, their ſchemes
72
Mongrels 123
Mulattces
IN DE X.
Page
Mulatttoes 123
Meſtees ib .
40
Nightingales
Natives 60
Negroes 135
Oranges 41
Overſeers 79, 91
Officers of the Army 178
Port-Royal 16 , 37
Pens, or Farms 57
Parrots , Parroquets, &c. 40
Pork , excellent quality 41

Plantations 42
Pens for Cattle 43
21
Quacks
Quadroon Natives 123
Rains 23, 38
Rum 38
Rivers ib ,
Rattoon- Canes 45
Sea -ſickneſs, and ſea -voyage 9°

Sailors 15, 35
Spaniſh -Town, or St. Jago-Delavigo 36
Sugar 58
Slaves 38 , 135
Savanna -la -mar 38
Seaſons
IN DE X. vii .
Page
Seaſons
38
Soap - Tree 40
Still-Houſe
52
1
Sneaking-Caution, a Manager 81
1
Sambo, Mungrels 123
Sharpers 175
Trade-Winds IO
Taverns in Jamaica 35
Thunder in Jamaica, dreadful 39
Turkies, reſpecting them 95
Venerials 28-32
Vendues
65
White People 38
Woods
40
Whoredom 78, 122, 163
i MANNERS
19 A
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
IN THE
WEST INDIA ISLANDS.
MY DEAR FRIEND !
S to
AJamaica, and I preſumean entireftranger
to the nature of that climate and the people
thereof, 1 think it a duty incumbent on me to give
you ſome inſtructions and advice reſpecting both ;
I ſhall ſpeak from experience, for I was five years
in that iſland ; and ſhould what I fall offer, prove
any way inftrumental in promoting your happineſs,
I ſhall hereafter feel a ſecret fatisfaction for hav
ing employed a few vacant hours ſo well.
After your departue, you probably will be ſea
fick for a few days; I am ſorry that I never could
learn any cure for that nauſeous diſagreeable ma
lady but to eat and drink, and to walk the deck.
B as
10 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
as much as poſible; vomits and purgatives occae

ſionally, and properly adminiſtered , may be ſer
viceable. When you get to the warm latitudes and
trade winds, which blow from the N. E. and
E. N. E. you will feel yourſelf grow uncommonly
heavy and drowſy every day, which you muſt not
indulge : in fine fair weather it is healthy to riſe
early in the morning, and very pleaſant to walk
the deck , at leaſt I always found it fo ; to
behold the ſun , that grand and moſt reſplendent
luminary of heaven , emerging from the azure
horizon, gilding the ocean with a glittering
hue ; to view the beauteous dolphin giving chaſe
to myriads of flying.fiſh , promiſcuouſly riſing
and ſkimming the air like birds, to evade them ;
with ſharks, porpoiſes and bonnettas innume
rable all around, ſeeming to welcome each new
born day, are objects grateful to the eye,
pleaſing to the mind, and truly delightful! But
ſhould ſtorms prevail to anger the dreadful ocean,
and change the delightful ſcene from gladneſs
to horror, your mind will be impreſſed with ideas
of a different nature, the jarring elements will fill !
your ſoul with wonder and terror ! What a
beautiful and ſurpriſing ſtructure is a well built
ſhip ! Wherein we can ſwiftly and ſecurely travel
in defiance of the winds and waves, over the
moſt dreadful monſters of the deep, and viſit the
remoteſt quarters of the globe.
“ Eye natures walks, ſhoot folly as it flies,
“ And catch the manners living as they riſe.”
IC
7
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. it
It was always a moſt pleaſing ſatisfaction to

me when in one of thoſe Aoating habitations,
in the midſt of feeming danger, thinking mo
mently ſhe would overſet, to find her ſteadily re
turn to her original poſition, and force her way
through ſeas foaming with madneſs in almoſt
oppoſite direction to the winds : to ſink unhurt
between ſaline rolling hills, and riſe and glide
again triumphant over the furious tops of liquid
mountains . By night, too, the grand and awful
beauties of the deep are a luxury to the moſt
ruſtic mind ; but to the man who is contempla
tively inclined, they produce the moſt ſublime
ſenfations, and are ſources of extreme delight ;
the changes and variety of colours of the waters,
and the ſparkling particles like fire often attracted
my attention ; ſometimes I have been almoſt
induced to think I was failing through a flaming
phoſphorus. I ſhall here ſubmit an extract from
a poem which I wrote on my firſt voyage .
1 When Sol, each day, withdrew his beams of light,

And fable clouds brought on the gloomy night ;
Upon the deck how often have I trod,
Delighted -muſing on thy works, O God !
The curling waves, now glittering with white,
Again, the colour of the fable night ;
On one huge ſurge a purple hue I've ſeen ,
And on another an undulating green ;
ſome of a yellow , ſome a crimſon dye,
And ſome the colour of the azure ſky ;
Thoſe beauteous ſcenes did often entertain
My penſive thoughts, and charmed ev'ry vein.
B 2 As
As you probably, may call at Madiera, I will

give you an idea of that ſmall Inand by an extract
from my journal .
As ſoon as we came to anchor oppofite
Madeira, à ſmall African iſland, ſituated in
about 320, N. latitude and 160 , 50 W. lon
gitude, we got into the ſmall boat, thinking
to go on fhore without ceremony ; but before
we got half way, to our great aſtoniſhment, a
ſmart firing from the fort obliged us to return
to the ſhip ; ſometime after, a low, fat, ſwarthy
man, who could fpeak a little broken Engliſh ,
accompanied by two curious ill- looking fellows,
yellow , tall and meagre, with black ragged
coats and gold lace hats, ſmall fwords, & c . &c.
boarded us ; we were informed by the fat man,
(who was their linguiſt) that they were cuſtom
houſe officers, and that we ſhould have waited
till they boarded us, and got their fees, which
was a few pounds of ſalt beef, or pork ; in
Short, as ſoon as they had got a piece of
beef and a few glaſſes of port, they departed
well pleaſed ; in like manner they paid their
devoirs to each ſhip (the fleet conſiſted of one
hundred and eighty fail ). We then with dif
ficulty got alhore, the ſwell or ſurf at the
beech being always ſo ſtrong, that ſmall boats
would be daſhed to pieces if great care was
not taken to keep them a float fome diſtance
from the ſhore : people paſſing and repaſling,
are obliged to be carried on men's ſhoulders
to
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS . 13
to and from their boats ; ſeveral luſty yellow fel

lows ſtand naked from morning ' till night for
that purpoſe, and are well paid by the different
paſſengers. The chief produce for exportation
is wine of an excellent favour and quality
inſtead of turning four by heat like other wines,
this improves vaſtly in warm climates the older
it becomes, and is an excellent medicine, I
am informed , in intermitting fevers ; there are
as different qualities of this wine as there are
of rum or brandy : London particularly is the
beſt, and is fold for about forty pounds ſterling
per pipe. The capital is Fonchial, and con
tains about five hundred houſes; the -natives
are Portugueſe, and dreſs in the fame uniform
of their cuſtom -houſe officers; their charac
teriſtic is, that they are poor, proud, ſuper
ftitious and treacherous ; the fineſt of their
women, ſome hundreds of them, are cooped up
in convents ; what piry that fine young women
1
ſhould be compelled to whither out their days
in ſuch inglorious dens of folitude ? Deluded
to think their prayers cannot reach heaven if
not offered in goals : I was grieved to the
foul whenever I ſaw any of them peeping
through their horrid iron grates -- I ſuppoſe
it is a paſſage in St. Paul that induces them
to live this recluſe life, where he recommends
a'married life, but ſays, “ a ſingle life is better” .
If ſo, they are fadly deceived, for the ſenſe of
that caſe is plain from many other parts of the
'B 3 goſpel
* 14 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
goſpel, and is to the following purport : “ That

ſingle chriſtians during perſecution can paſs
through adverſe fortune better than thoſe who
have mates and children to provide for;" in
many parts of ſcripture a ſingle life is condemned,
and marriage ſtrongly recommended , particu
larly to " young women " . And ſurely it is a
violation of the Almighty's command not to
“ increaſe and multiply;" for thoſe who receive
life ſhould give life to others. I was hurt very
much whenever I ſaw any of their bald-pated
hypocritical guardians, called fryars: thoſe artful
dogs are numerous, and frequently parade the
ſtreets in proceſſion with an air of ſolemnity ;
the poor deluded nuns think thoſe rogues are all
ſaints, by,whom they are taught to believe that
ſuperſtition, ignorance and folly, are beaming vir
tues ; and no doubt but many of the poor beings,
as fleſh and blood, ſecluded from all other ſociety,
thinks it no fin to become dupes to the proſtitu
tion and luſt of thoſe libidinous ſcoundrels ; their
chapels are tolerably elegant, and adorned with
images of pure gold.
I was introduced to ſeveral of the Engliſh
merchants there, and treated with much hoſpita
lity and politeneſs ; they have delicious fruit, and
every luxury they can wiſh for. I took a ride to
the Engliſh Conſul's, which is a mile from town,
where he has an elegant rural ſeat ; the country is
beautifully variegated with vineyards, caſcades,
and limpid rivulets ,
On
1
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS , 15
On paſſing the tropic of Cancer, you will be

boarded by Mr. and Mrs. Cancer, in a very formal
manner, ( a venerable pair, infinitely older than
Methuſalem ) who conſtantly attend the latitude
of 23 ° 30 ' , ready to ſhave all paſſengers who have
never paſſed that way before; and though they are
not fond of rum or brandy, yet they are fond to
ſee ſtrong liquors given in generous portions to
the ſailors; and when they meet with griping low
life paſſengers, woe becide them ! They will not
only ſhave them with a ruſty iron hoop, but lather
them with pitch and tar, and duck them in the
ſea, till they had wiſhed that they never were
h born ; fo that it will be neceſſary to lay in five or
fix gallons of rum more than your ſea-ſtock for
that day, and to take about ten gallons more to
diſtribute occaſionally to the ſailors; it is the only
way to gain their affections; but obſerve, when
ever you wiſh to give a bottle amongſt them , let
it be done after ſome ſevere toil, or bad weather,
) having previouſly got the conſent of the captain,
or mate, leaſt they get drunk and neglect their
duty, and you ſhould be blamed . I love failors ;
they are generous, rough, uncouth beings ; do
not treat them with contempt or diſreſpect;
though ragged, poor and dirty, they may be good
feſh and blood ; yet do not make free with them ,
that is, to be chatcering to them, or aſking fooliſh
queſtions on deck, or elſewhere : keep them at a
proper diſtance, and they will reſpect and ſerve
BA
you ,
you, but behave familiar to them and they will

inſult and deſpiſe you .
On your arrival at Port-Royal , the negroes in
ſmall canoes, or bom-boats, coming along ſide the
ſhip with coffee, fruit, and vegetables , will attract
your attention ; but when you get up to Kingſ
town , if you had five more ſenſes, they would be
all engaged ; the compounded ſtench of damaged
beef, pork, herrings, butter, cheeſe, & c . &c . with 1
ſugar, rum and molaſſes, frying on the waves, to

gether with the intenſe heat, and the horrid ſcene
of poor Africans, male and female, buſy at their
labour with hardly rags ſufficient to ſecret their
nakedneſs, will affect you not a little. At night
you will think the air is on fire, occaſioned by a
fort of inſects called fire- fies, which ſparkle like
fire, a few of which, in the darkeſt room , give
ſuch light that you may read a book thereby,
You will aſo be ſurrounded by another kind of
inſects, about the ſize of midges, called muf
quittoes, buzzing in your ears their diſagreeable
tunes : they have long tubes or ſtings, which
they pierce through clothes or ſtockings till they
get to the blood ; the conſequence is, that where 1
ever they touch, the parts feſter, and are troubled

with ſuch extreme itching, that if the hands were
not tied, the wounded perſon could not avoid
ſcratching; and thoſe who don't take care of their
nails, ſoon have their legs inflamed with diſagree
able fores ; I have heard of many young men's
legs?
legs, through the venom of the muſquittoes, to

turn to mortifications, whereby they loſt their
lives.
Each night when I lay on mybed,

My wearied limbs to reſt,
Their humming ſongs kept me in dread,
And fore my mind oppreſs’d .
They wounded me in ev'ry part,
My face and body o’er,
My legs and thighs oft felt their ſmart,
And were exceſſive fore.
As Ireland when much oppreſs’d ,
With creatures full of ſtings,
Was by St. Patrick once bleſs’d,
Who baniſh'd pois'nous things ;
I often with’d he had gone there,
And ſhook his ſacred wand,
O’er all the iſle, and in the air,
And blefs'd both air and land.
”Till not a pois’nous fpiteful thing
Above the earth had rang'd,
And vile muſquittoes loſt its ſting,
And into midges chang’d.
The climate is intenſely hot and ſultry, day and

night, throughout almoſt all ſeaſons of the year,
and is certainly very unfriendly to European con
ftitutions, and would be more ſo were it not for
the ſea -breeze, which ſets in every morning about
nine or ten o'clock, increaſing as the ſun gathers
ſtrength, till he aſcends to his miridian altitude.
Europeans have blood richer and ſweeter than the
natives,
natives, and till it becomes deluted or weakened

by ſickneſs, frequent perſpirations; internally and
externally, and other evacuations, they ſeldom
enjoy a right ſtate of health . If you take care of
yourſelf in the beginning, you probably may pre
vent a fit of ſickneſs which otherwiſe may prove
fatal to you . I do not mean to adviſe you to
employ a doctor on every night mark of indiſpo
ſition ; I would wiſh you to be your own doctor
in ſimple caſes, and to ſtudy the nature of your
conſtitution ; for the generality of Weſt - India
doctors are not only very exorbitant in their
charges, but what is ſtill worſe, they are ignorant
pretending quacks, apothecaries boys, and ſuch
traſh , who having a ſmattering of Latin, hardly
enough to pronounce the names of the few medi
cines they uſe, commit murder and deſtruction
amongſt the human race of every denomination ;
real phyſicians are rarely to be met with, indeed ;
I never heard of any there, ſave only Meſſrs.
Grant and Broadbelt, the former of Kingſton,
and the latter of Spaniſh - town, whom you will
find to be ſkilful and worthy characters ; they
have protracted the days of thouſands. What
numbers of counterfeit, or fpurious creatures of
that profeſſion you will find diſperſed all over that
iſland ; every druggiſt's boy from Great-Britain
and Ireland , particularly from Glaſgow , Aber
deen , and Dublin, adminiſters poifonous pills and
ſtuff with as much conſequence as Millwood or
Mead. What pity, that man ſhould be ſo groſsly
impoſed
impoſed on, or that phyſic ſhould be thus abuſed

by ſuch vile pretenders .
“ This gift of God to ſatan does ordain,
“ Polluted ſinks a proſtitute for gain ;
“ Barbers, perfumers, and a thouſand more,
“ Start up phyſicians, all the forum o'er ;
“ The greedy prieſt (the charge of ſoul's a'toil)
“ Forgets his flock , and ploughs the phyſic foil.
“ The frowſy baker, and ſhoe clouting tribe,
“ Curriers and taylors cry— “ preſcribe, preſcribe. ”
“ All abdicate their lawful trades to follow
“ This injur'd ſcience, and commence Apollo.
“ To count them all would fail the poet's lungs,
“ ' It alks an hundred mouths, an hundred tongues ."
AIR. My Friend and Pitcher.

How happy is the doctor's fate
In that ſweet clime : he once gets footing,
Ador’d by all on each eſtate,
Enjoys his girl, and wants for nothing.
His pills and potions coft not much ,
Tho' all his ſkill is a mere bubble ,
He lives luxurious and gets rich,
And kills and cures with little trouble.
The following odd relation concerning myſelf,

will convince you further of the nature of quacks :
When I was a book- keeper in Clarendon , I was
amicted with a fever, till reduced to an inſenſible
keleton ; during which time Tartar Emetic at
tended me every day ; I ſwallowed all his nauſeous
preparations 'without ſervice, ( thank God I was
not poiſoned ); at laſt I was given over by the
quack
quack, and remained a helpleſs object of pity.

Emetic had acquainted the manager that I was
putrid, and would not live two hours, and directed
him to bury me the moment the breath was out
of me, as my diſorder wastaking ; upon which the
creeping ſcoundrel ordered a coffin to be made,
and a grave dug for me, and ſurreptitiouſly took
ſeven pounds out of my trunk, which hepaid for
linen for ſhrouding, and a dozen of Madeira wine
to get drunk at my funeral . When the meſſenger
returned , which was ſome hours after, my brother
book-keeper, who had ſome compaſſion for me,
brought a bottle of the wine into my room, and
made me take a glaſs of it, and in a little time after
gave me more, mixed with water, which cauſed
me to perfpire very freely, ſo that I became
cool and ſenſible, and retrieved in a few days
amazingly ; this affair confirmed the doctor's ſu
perficial ſkill, who ſhortly after died of a venereal
diſeaſe, but did not neglect to make me pay an
account of forty pounds, previous to his departure,
for Styx ; and the raſcal who had my coffin and
grave prepared, was for ſeveral months afterwards
laughed at by the neighbouring cowſkin heroes.
When fick and languid on my bed I lay,
In fainting fits the live long night and day,
By a vile quack, condemn'd at once to die,
“ He's paſt all cure”-a putrid lump was I !
A feeling friend, with thoughtleſs ſimple art,
Did wondrous health and ſtrength to me impart.
Quacks,
İN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS . 21
Quacks, in general, make as free with their con

ftitutions as other people, and get themſelves fre
quently drunk , which is very wrongs for they often
adminiſter medicine when they are deprived of
their ſenſes, and viſit their patients in ſuch con
ditions.
When a doctor ( as he is called ) gets the
quackery of two or three plantations, he is looked
upon as an Eſculapeus of the times by the mana
gers and overſeers, and gets the quackery of them
and their friends alſo , ſo that it never coſts him
any thing for board , waſhing and lodging, corn,
or graſs. The common charge for each negroe,
whether they are ſick or well, is five ſhillings
yearly , beſides the benefit of venereals, for which
he makes a ſeparate charge, ſo that he commonly
gets about one hundred, or one hundred and fifty
pounds for the attendance of the negroes and
and whites on each plantation yearly, and all tha
for about thirty ſhillings worth of medicine
When a quack has many plantations to attend
he viſits each weekly, and keeps a fmall bool
in the ſick houſe, in which he enters the dif
ferent receipts for the fick negroes, which the ma
nager or overſeer reads to fome old black mano
woman who attends them .
I ſhall here give an extract, which curioſie
tempted me one day to copy from one of the
books.
Juno - for the belly- ach , to take a doſe of rhubar
after it operates to drink lillipee and herrir
broth,
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
Dutcheſs for the lax, to eat plenty ofhomony.

Cruma and Sally Wagtail — for the pox, to repeat
the pills nightly, and continue the ointment
and injection.
Betſy - for obtructions in particular organs, to
caution her againſt eating of dirt, and having
connections with men at improper ſeaſons.
Mars for the weakneſs in his joints, to drink
plentifully of the decoction of lignumvita, and
take a few drops of balſam capivia cwice daily.
Old Hector and Sambo for the pains in their fto
machs, to eat plenty of homony and fungee ;
plantation eels and cane rabbits will not hurt
them .
Phaba — for the ſcalding, to uſe the injection, and
drink linſeed -tea.
South for the fever, to drink fage tea, and when
| the hot fit is off, to drink the bark.
Samuel- for his ſores, to bathe them in the decoc
tion of limes and cuſhue leaves."
Fevers, agues , dry belly-achs, conſumptions,

and almoſt innumerable other diſeaſes, are fre
1
quent and often fatal attendants, not only on Eu
ropeans, but Creoles alſo ; it often amazed me to
find how imperceptibly my fleſh melted, or ſtole
away from my ſkin and bones, till I became the
ghoſt of what I had been . To-day, as it were,
I was healthy and ſtout, and in a few weeks
after changed to a ſkeleton. I believe I may at
ribute all the ſickneſs I ever had to heats and
colds, immoderate exerciſe, and making too free
with
with my conftitution in other reſpects : I aſſure

you, it is not one in ten European conſtitution
could bear the hardſhips I have undergone : three
years ſucceſively I have been expoſed , all wea
thers, to the ſun's almoſt intolerable heat, and
heavy rains, in the months of January and Fe
bruáry ; when fainting beneath his meridian rays
for want of a cooling breeze, I frequently plunged
myſelf into a river or gully, though I never ex
perienced the bad effect of ſuch ill-timed bathing
afterwards. When I quitted the ſevere toils of a
planter's life, and lived regular in town , I found
the climate to agree tolerably well with me, and I
was as active as I am now , thank God ; therefore
ſtrenuouſly recommend it to you to avoid heats
and colds, rains, heavy fogs, mifts, or dews, as
niuch as poſſible, as well as getting your feet wet,
for they are the forerunners of almoſt innu
merable diſeaſes.
In wet weather, the air, though cool, is more
unhealthy than at other times ; alſo the water,
owing to its unſettled muddy ſtate; for all the
filth and dirt which is diſperſed over the country
is waſhed away, and circulates in every current,
for which reaſon filtering ſtones are uſed, which
not only purify, but cool the water amazingly.
There are many taſk -maſters, or employers, who
care not how much young men expoſe themſelves
to the weather ; but ſuch are cruel , uncharitable
brutes, puffed up with ignorance and empty pride,
who forget their own origin , and the mean and
baſe
.
baſe degrees by which they did afcend ; their

hearts are callous, for they never were tutored in
the ſchools of humanity. Should you enter into
buſineſs in the country , when you ſee an impenda
ing ſhower , haſten to your home , or to ſome hut ,
or place of thelter, till it is over ; and at working
hours , when thus obliged to Thun the weather, do
not keep loitering about the half or piazza , for it
may be diſpleaſing to your employer ; therefore
retire to your room and read ſome good book .
When you chance to get wet , which you ofteri
will , be careful to change your apparel as ſoon as
poſlible, for wet clothes.remaining on till they
dry will reſtrain perſpiration, and may bring on
an ague ; when your feet get wet , though you
be far from any houſe, take off your ſhoes
and ſtockings, waſh them and let them dry, and
then put them on again ; and if you wiſh to
enjoy the pleaſure and benefit of bathing , and
bracing your limbs in a cold -bath , chuſe a proper
clean place in a river that is free from aligators ,
and go into it very early in the morning , when
free from the prickly heat and every feveriſhi
ſymptom ; do not ſtay long in, wipe yourſelf dry
and dreſs quickly ; but by no means attempt tơ
tamper with your conftitution as I have done ,
by plunging into a cold -bath in the heat of
the day ; for I ſuppoſe thouſands and thouſands
have by that means cauſed their own deaths .
Though you be ever ſo warm and drowſy , do
nat attempt to ſleep where you will be expoſed to
the
IN THE West IndIA ISLANDS, 25
the nightair, or heavy dews, which too often prove

fatal to thoſe who wantonly ſport with their con
ftitutions to enjoy cool 'repoſe without canopies.
Avoid immoderate and athletic exerciſe, and
every thing that may tend to infiame or corrupt
your blood . Never drink cold water when you
find yourſelf in a heat ; warm beverage, weak
punch, or ſangre, is beſt, and will cool you ; and if
ſuch cannot be had , refrain from drink till you
are cool . Be always guarded in your manner of
living; let your food be as eaſy of digeſtion as
poffible; and load not your ſtomach with fat or
greaſy meats, left you be troubled with the cholic
or bile ; and be not fond of milk, or any thing that
A will curdle on your ſtomach . Eat no ſuppers,
and go to bed quite ſober every night, and you
will enjoy good health . Fruit, ſuch as pine
apples, ſtar apples, and melons, are grateful,
about ten or eleven o'clock in the forenoon .
Health chiefly depends on the habit of the body ;
if you find yourſelf coſtive, take a gentle purge,
for you ſhould have a ſtool once or twice
daily.
When your pulſe beat ſtrong and faſt, like the
ticking of a watch ; when you feel a beating or
reeling in your head ; a weakneſs in your eyes ;
pains in your neck, back , ſhoulders, or knees;
when your perſpiration ſmells ſtrong and dif
agreeable to yourſelf; or, when you do not per
{pire as free as uſual ; when you feel yourſelf grow
uncommonly heavy and drowſy ; when you have
с a dir ,
a difagreeable taſte in your mouth, and your

tongue gets white and foul ; when your appetite
declines, and when you have morning reachings,
theſe are all feverilh ſymptoms, and proceed from
the diſorder and foulneſs of the ſtomach ; a vomit
of tartar emetic, and a purge or two, timely and
properly adminiſtered , and afterwards a few dols :
of Peruvian bark, each infuſed in a wine glaſs of
water, and taken hourly, will effectually ſtop the
fever's further progreſs.
When the above ſymptoms are not attended to,
a fever inevitably muſt follow ; when a fever is
intermittant, and attended with an ague, it is
not thoughe dangerous ; the cure chiefly depends
upon emeties and purges, with plenty of bark
taken when the hot fit is over. Proper attendance
is eſſentially neceſſary ; for numbers, I am con
fident, die through neglect. A glaſs of beverage,
or fage -tea, may often be a cordial to the thirſty
lip of a languid wretch, who has been fweating
and frying feveral weeks upon a ſickly couch ;
when a perſon is confined to his bed, ſome careful,
diſcreet, black woman , ſhould be appointed to ac
tend him all day and night. Therefore let me re
queſt, that when you find yourſelf indiſpoſed as I
have mentioned , you will immediately check the
firſt ſymptom of a fever, leaſt it gets too for
midable , and putrifaction , which is very commong
takes place. It is always a ſure fign of getting
the better of a fever, when the lips bliſter and
break out .
An
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS : 27
An ague proceeds from obſtructed perſpira
tions, or whatever retards the motion of the
juices, and delays the circulation of the blood :
the ſigns are drowſineſs, heavineſs, coldneſs, and
thivering, and an involuntary motion of the jaws.
Of all the diſeaſes poor mortals are ſubje&t tog
dry belly-achs are attended with the moſt excru
tiating torture ; it is impoſſible to conceive the
extreme pain and agony the patient ſuffers in one
hour : nothing but the pains of hell can equal it.
Caſtor oil, which grows upon a ſhrub in the iſlands,
is the beſt medicine in this caſe , it ſometimes
eftectually cures . There is a hot bath near Spaniſh
Town which gives immediate eaſe ; indeed, any
hot bath, whilſt the patient remains in it, will give
eaſe in like manner.
A conſumption proceeds from whatever cora
rupts the blood, or obſtructs the circulation of the
veſſels, ſome impediment in the lungs, or from
long continued coughs, pleutiſies, intemperance ,
ill -cured venerials, or hard ſtudy ; or a conſump
tion may be hereditary . It is cured with great
difficulty even in its moſt ſimple ſtage ; but when
confirmed, hardly evers a hot climate is beſt for
thoſe who are of a conſumptive nature ; mercurial
purgatives are of eſſential ſervice, nor ſhould the
patient by any means be diffuaded from caking
them , it is alſo neceſſary to get blooded , pro
vided always (as they ſay in their acts of parlia
ment) that there is no bleeding at the noſe ; tea,
penada, ſagoe, jellies, fruit, with clear and plea
C2 fant
fant air, polite chearful company , muſic, riding

moderately , are alì conducive to health in con
fumptive caſes.
Notwithſtanding all the advice and caution I
ſhall hereafter give you, and in ſpite of all your
own fortitude and firmeſt reſolutions, reſpecting
unlawful amours, you will , no doubt ( as frail
felh and blood ) have connections with the tender
ſex . The climate excites deſire, and makes men
and women more amorous and laſcivious than in
colder regions ; the misfortunes often attending
the gratification of libidinous paſſions to exceſs,
prove ruinous to the health and welfare of many :
1
though the pleaſures are only momentary, the pain
may be long and laſting, and never will bear
ſerious reflection without ſome poignacy at heart ;
as a man cannot put his finger into the fire with
out ſcorching it, ſo he cannot have connections
with lewd women , and eſcape diſeaſes.
Venereals are diſorders of different kinds. A
fimple venereal, or c - p, is not thought to hurt
the conſtitution much, if properly cured , but may
be ſerviceable to thoſe who are groſs in fleſh , in
preventing fevers. Ac-p is cauſed from a com
munication of the ſame ſort of matter through
the veffels to the parts it corrodes ; it is ſomewhae
odd to me, that men are more liable than women
to contract the difeaſe, conſdering the difference
of the organs of generation in both ; the firſt
ſymptom of a comp is a prickling pain , and after
wards a ſcalding in making of water ; if the
maiter
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 29
matter is yellowiſh and flows plentifully, and the
fymptoms moderate, the patient may be cured in
eight or ten days ; nor ſhould he, through any inci .
tarion whatſoever, have to do with the ſex till pro
perly cured ; for ſhould he treſpaſs in this caſe, it
will every time exaſperate the diſeale, and retard
}
the cure, whereby he will injure his own frame by
taking a greater quantity of medicine than uſual
to remove it, and ſo introduce an avenue for
rhumatic pains ( what diffipated rakes call the
gout) to follow ſeveral years aftar, and attend him
to his laſt hours : nor ſhould he, if poſſible, enter
tain even one amorous thought the whole time,
nor do any thing to create deſire or cauſe
erections.
Ac-p is often attended with a cordee, which is
a convulſive contraction of the under part of the
penis, cauſed by the corroſive matter affecting
ſuch parts bending it crooked, and is felt in erec
tions which are involuntary and more frequent
than when natural ; it often occaſions a flux of
blood and matter, and is attended with great pain
when the patient is making water-O libidinous,
ungovernable paſions, to what do you reduce poor
mortals !
There are many ways of curing c -ps ; every
quack almoſt preſcribes differently ‫ف‬, and though
every one will pretend to cure it, not one in
twenty can do it radically. The following pre
ſcription, which I got from an eminent phyſician,
cured me and many others effectually,
C 3 R, Vin .
30
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
R. Vin, antimon, Zip. ſign. puke.

R. Sal . catte. amor. Zip. ſign . purge.
R. Pulv. Rhu . 2 calomel dfs.
S. bol . 2.
R. Extract faturn . dfs. ag. font.
Zv. calomel dfs. m. } injection.
R. Elect. Lenitive Zi . Nitre
purificate pulc. Z1 . m. } lign. electuary.
R. Ung. merc. Zi . ſign. mercurial oint,
The preceding preſcription is one vomit, two

boluſes, one phial of injection, an electuary and
a purge, all marked thus, and you are to be rigidly
ſtrict in taking them as follows:
The firſt night you are to take the vomit by
ſwallowing a table ſpoonful every ten minutes by
a watch until it operates, then to work it off
with large and repeated draughts of luke-warm
water, until you puke ſeven or eight times ; the
whole being over, and your ftomach at eaſe ,
drink ſome thin water gruel, which probably
will work you downwards ; next morning cake
the purge diſſolved in a cup of warm water, and
work it off with thin gruel or weak tea ; at night,
when going to bed , take one of the boluſes
next day, take every third hour about the ſize
of a nutmeg of the electuary, and continue in
like manner each day taking the ſame ( the day
you take a purge excepted ) ; at night repeat the
bolus, and the third day repeat the purge ; if in
fix days you do not find the running and infam,
mation
OF THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS . 31
mation much abated, repeat the boluſes and elec

tuary. You muſt not omit every day to bathe
and waſh the parts two or three times, and to
uſe the injections with a handy penis ſyrenge ; and
every night when going to bed to rub a ſmall
bic of the ointment to the but and under-part of
the penis .
In the courſe of this diſeaſe you are to avoid
very ſtudiouſly all greaſy food, ſuch as butter,
cheeſe, and fat ; all windy and Aatulent food, ſuch
as vegetables of all kinds, falc and ſmoked meats ,
fpirits, beer and ſpices, and to live as temperate
and low as poffible ; bread, penada, barley gruel ,
lintſeed tea, and ſuch like , ſhould be your only
nouriſhment for a few days ; you will find the
good effect of living ſparingly and abftemious;
for be affured, and remember it, that the beſt
medicine in the univerſe, adminiſtered by the
moft ſkilful phyſician, will not have the deſired
effect, if the patient lives intemperately whilſt
he is taking them ; I was informed by medical
gentlemen of judgment and veracity , chat half
the cure depends upon this .
Buboes, ſhankers, &c . &c. are the effects of
ill -cured venerials ; ſhould you at any time be
affected with theſe ſtages of the p-x, be very
ftudious to get yourſelf, if poffible, properly
cured ; it is then you will need the aſſiſtance of
fome ſkilfulphyGician : for ſhould it by tampering
and quackery, and long continuance, corrupt your
blood, even ſalivations may prove ineffectual; at
C4 leaſt
leaſt, only give you ſome temporary relief, fo

that your conſtitution will for ever be impaired ,
and your children, ſhould you have any, will
intail the infection.
Wild thoughtleſs youth, poor dupes to ſenſual love !

Think not of heaven , or hell, or God, above ;
To exceſs and vice, which they at home might fhun,
There day and night unguardedly they run,
Till fad diſorders and attendants vile,
Of pain and anguiſh, grievouſly they feel ;
Plung'd in diſeaſe, beyond all human cure,
“ Old, e'er of age, worn out e'er ſcarce mature . ”
Their puny offspring ſhare diſeaſe alſo ,
And the infection catch in embryo !
Thus far I have ſaid of diſeaſes peculiar to the

Weſt Indies, and of phyſic, though I know no.
thing of the latter but what I experienced from
obſervations on the treatment of myſelf and
others ; and if I had a little more experience,
which I hope I never ſhall, I ſhould think myſelf
intitled to the honorable appellation of a quack !
I ſhall now proceed to give you a ſhort diſ,
cription of the iſland of Jamaica, and of the
people thereof, their manners and cuſtoms.
“ Curſt be the lines, how ſmooth fo e'er they flow ,
$ That tend to make one honeſt man my foe ;
!
“ Give virtue ſcandal, innocence a fear,
“ Or from the ſoft ey'd virgin draw a tear ;
« A laſh like mine no honeſt man fhall dread,
“ But every dirty raſcal in his ſtead .”
POPE .
Jamaica
Jamaica is the richeſt of all the Britiſh Weſt

India iſlands, and is ſituated between 179 and 180
north latitude, and between 750 and 79° weſt
longitude ; it is about one hundred and fifty miles
long, and fixty broad, containing about 'ſix thou
ſand ſquare miles, and is about four thouſand five
hundred miles from England, and was diſcovered
in the year 1493 , by Chriſtopher Columbus,
a very enterpriſing and indefatigable gentleman ,
a native of Spain , who was famous for many
diſcoveries, and ill rewarded for all his ſervices
notwithſtanding. Jamaica was taken from the
Spaniards under the command of admiral Penn ,
in 1655. · This iſland is compoſed of buge and
lofty rocky mountains, hills , valleys and plains,
and is in three diviſions, viz Middleſex, Surry ,
and Cornwall ; theſe are ſubdivided into twenty
pariſhes, trees and ſhrubs of various kinds, wear
ing perpetual verdure , veil all the mountains
and craggy rocks, ſave only ſome ſmall ſpots here
and there, which are cleared for guinea graſs,
corn, and other proviſions; the ſmall hills, valleys
and plains, are calculated by nature for ſugar
plantations, pens and farms. There are about
farty towns and villages, amongſt which none are
worthy of note but Kingſton, Saint Jago de la
Vega, vulgarly called Spaniſh Town, Port Royal,
and Montego Bay, the reſt hardly deſerve the
name of villages, only ſmall places of ſhipping
around the inand .
Kingſton
Kingſton is about a mile long and the ſame in

breadth , containing about two thouſand houſes,
beſides negro huts ; the number of white inhabi
tants are about three thouſand, free people of 1
colour twelve hundred, and eight thouſand Naves;

the harbour is very commodious for a thouſand
ſhipping ; and as the thercarce ebbs or flows,
ſhips at all times foat, load and unload, along
ſide the wharfs ; the church , barrack, and theatre,
ſtand on a large airy plain, on that end of the
town called the Parade, leading to Spaniſh Town,
and Liquanea ; the church is a tolerable elegant
building ; it is a pity that the morals of the peo
ple are not corrected, ſo as to have it as much
frequented by the living as the dead .
The theatre is a little, mean , narrow, clore, fa
brick ; there is alſo another public building, called
Ranelagh Houſe, in which ladies and gentlemen
hold publick balls and aſſemblies; there are alſo
two free maſon lodges, to wit, Saint Andrew's
and Saint Patrick's ; both Scotch and Iriſh keep
up that ancient, honourable, and friendly fociety
monthly, and celebrate Saint Andrew's and Saint
Patrick's days yearly, by going in proceſſion to
church, and having fermons preached on the
occaſion, and afterwards dining all together, and
paſſing the evening in mirth and chearfulneſs.
In the morning early it is pleaſant to take a
walk to Putney Lodge, which lies at the eaſt end
of the town ; but it is dangerous to bathe in the
ſea, as many young men do, as there have been
ſeveral
OF THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS , 35
ſeveral inſtances of people being devoured by

ſharks at chat part of the town ; indeed it is very
unſafe to bathe in any part of the ſea in the Welt
Indies .
The houſes, though ſome are tolerable elegant,
built of brick or wood, are very irregular ; the
piazza's are in the ſame manner, ſo that a ſtranger
or drunken man , of a dark night, unleſs he walks
in the middle of the ſtreet, is liable to get his
bones broke ; the ſtreets are ſandy, and when ic
blows ſtrong the duſt rarifies ſo abundantly, chac
a perſon palling cannot ſee the houſes nor pal
ſengers, nor can he, but with much difficulty, pre
ſerve his eye- light. There are ſome good taverns,
coffee -houſes, and lodging houſes in Kingſton,
but none fo elegant, nor conducted with ſuch re
gularity, as the one Mark Howard kept, now
called the South Sea Houſe ; there are alſo an
incredible number of petty ones, called grog
ſhops, occupied by people of the vileſt characters,
( rogues and whores ) who, like fyrens, attract
and delude poor thoughtleſs failors ; in thoſe dens
of infamy they riot away their days and nights,
drinking new rum , grog, punch, or four porter,
ſo that they are deprived of their ſenſes, and kept
in a perpetual ſtate of intoxication ’ rill they ſpend
all their prize money or wages, and are after
wards plundered of their ſilver watches, buckles,
clothes, & c. and betrayed for ſinall premiuins
by their hoſts ; and in war time trapaned on
board men of war , or ſold, I may fay, to mal
ters
ERS AND CUSTOMS
36 MANN
ters of merchant men , who pay £ 4 , or ļos, for

every able failor they can procure to go home by
the run with them .
Every one of thoſe grog ſhop keepers keep a
horſe and kitterine, that is, a one horſe chaiſe,
and on ſundays drive about the town and country,
like ladies and gentlemen, ſuperbly decorated in
fineries ; the ſpoils of war, plundered from infar
tuated tars ; this is quite common ; nay, people
of every rank and denomination , to their ſhame,
devote the fabbaths to every kind of vice and dir
ſipation ; driving like madmen in kitterines, to
and from Spaniſh Town , round Kingſton , to
Rochfort, Liguanea, and the beautiful village
of Halfway Tree, feaſting, drinking, gambling,
or in the company of lewd mongrel women .
Sunday is the greateſt market day ; the negroes
from all parts of the country flock to town,
hundreds of them in a gang, carrying with them
the product of their grounds; for every negro
cultivates a ſmall lot of land for his own vſe,
which they fell to purchaſe hats, gowns, ſhirts,
trowſars, daucaſes or ſhifts, trinkets and paitry
baubles, to give a more ſable hue to their footy
complexions.
Spaniſh Town , before-mentioned, is the me
tropolis, and contains about nine hundred houſes,
and three thouſand inhabitants of all denomina
cions, and is about thirteen miles from Kingſton ;
the road is quite level, and the beſt in the iſland .
The king's houſe, in which the governor reſides,
and
OF THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS - 37
and where the aſſemblies are held, ſtands in the

middle of the town, is an elegant building ; op
poſite to which there is a pretty little ſquare
parade, railed round, where the guards are re
lieved every morning ; on the other ſide ofthe
parade, oppoſite the king's houſe, there is a row
of public buildings, where the ſupreme courts
of judicature are held quarterly, and where the
fecretary's office, collectors office, marſhal's of
fice, and all other offices of record are kept.
Port Royal was once the greateſt place of
trade in the Weſt Indies ; but by repeated cala
mities it is reduced to abouttwo hundred houſes;
it contains the royal navy dock yard for heaving
down ſhips ; is ten miles from Spaniſh Town,
and fix miles from Kingſton ; and as it ſtands on
a ſandy beach, ſurrounded by the ſea, the inha
bitants are obliged to get their freſh water from
Rochfort, or Kingſton ; there are wherries hourly
paffing and repaſſing, between theſe places ; the
uſual fare for a boat, if hired by one perſon, is a
dollar, but if there are many paſſengers only two
bitts for each .
Montego Bay, next to Kingſton for trade,
is about one hundred and twenty five miles dif
tant from Kingſton , and contains about fix
hundred houſes; the harbour is large and extend
ed, yet it is hazardous when the north winds blow
with any violence. The chief produce for ex
portation is ſugar and run ; there are other
commodities the product of Jamaica, ſuch as
coffee
ERS OMS
38 MANN AND CUST
coffee, cotton, cocoa, pimento, ginger, maho

gany, logwood, fuſtic and other dye woods. The
number of fugar plantations are computed to be
one thouſand fixty eight, and to make upon an
averageone hundred and ſix thouſand of Muſcovado
fugar,yearly, and fifty three thouſand puncheons
of ruin ; there are about two thouſand and twenty
pens or farms, and other ſettlements, two hundred
fifty nine thouſand ſaves, eighty thouſand one
hundred cattle, and twenty five thouſand white
people on the iſland :
There are more than one hundred rivers in
Jamaica, the moſt conſiderable of which are
Mina and Cobre ; when it rains heavy thoſe ſwell
to an amazing height ; the 2d of October 1780,
when the town of Savana-la- Mar, and the whoļe
county of Cornwall, were almoſt deſtroyed by an
hurricane and heavy rains, Mina rote about thirty
feet high in fome places ; this I was convinced
of after the flood abated, by obſerving part of a
negro hut and other wreck , ſtuck faſt in the
branches of a large ſilk - cotcon tree adjoining the
river. May and October are commonly the
rainy months, at which time the rains, (or feafons,
as they are called ) fet in , and violently fall for
ſeveral days ; fometimes in rapid torrents, com
pofing innumerable rivers and gullies, and in
ſome places laying many low plantations under
deluges of water, forcing the inhabitants, like
the Egyptians at the overflowing of the Nile, with
their Naves and live ſtock , to take thelter in the
mountains
OF THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 39
mountains until the waters abate ; theſe heavy

rains are commonly attended with dreadful thur
der and lightning, and fometimes hurricanes,
which blaſt the canes through the air like chaff,
tear up the largeſt trees by the roots, level the
ſtrongeft ftores and houfes to the ground , and
leave not only towns and plantations, but whole
pariſhes waſte, and hurry unprepared into eter
nity hundreds of our unhappy brethren of all
colours .--- Lord have mercy on their fouls ! Theſe
awful and tremendous diſpenſations of Providence
frequently happen , not only in Jarnaica, but all
over the Weſt Indies ; but when hurricanes are
attended with earthquakes, the vallies ſhake, and
the mountains nod . I myſelf once beheld them
trembling all round me, and their rocky ftupen
dous tops precipitating their rugged cliffs ; I ſaw
the fea riſe ſeveral feet beyond its uſual bounds,
and ſwallow up valuable ſtores and wharfs ; nay,
it has been remarked , that the earth opened her
greedy womb, ſwallowed up whole mountains,
filled up the courſe of rivers, and caufed rivers to
flow where the mountains ſtood. The 17th of
June, 1692 , Port-Royal was entirely ſwallowed up;
two thouſand lives were loſt, and ſhips now fail
over the old town, and anchor amongſt the ruins
of the houſes ; the fame day a plantation was re
moved more than a mile from its former ſituation ,
In conſequence of ſuch juft and infcrutable judg
ments of the creator, and judge of heaven and
earth, for their manifold fins and wickedneſs, an
an
act was immediately paiſed by the council and

aſſembly to have this ſignal viſitation in perpe
tual remembrance, ' to humble themſelves, and
endeavour to appeaſe God's wrath, by ſetting a
part every 27th day of June, for them and their
poſterity, as an anniverſary day of faſting and
humiliation .
The woods yield choice timber, fic for almoſt
all uſes; ſuch as locuſt, maſtic, bull- tree, dog
wood , braſilitto , mahogany and cedars, as huge
and lofty as -che cedars of Lebanon ; alſo lignum
vitæ, which yields that valuable medicine, gum
guiacum ; the ceiba, or Glk cotton - tree, out of
which canoes are made, ſome ſo large, that an
hundred men may fail in them . The beautiful
palmeto and the cabbage- tree, alſo the ſoap -tree,
the berries whereof have the ſame effect as ſoap
in waſhing. The mangrove, which grows in
marſhy places cloſe to the ſea, upon the roots of
which oyſters of a delicate and delicious flavour
grow ; the manchioneal tree, the wood of which,
though valuable and looks beautiful when poliſh
ed , and the fruit, though beautiful to the eye, are
rank poiſon ; ſo that if even the rain which re
mained any time on the leaves, falls on a perſon's
íkin, the parts bliſter immediately , and if a drop
chance to get into the eye, it deſtroys the fight for
ever .
Though I am naturally fond of mirth and

ſociety, yet I often like retirement, and have
often enjoyed the greateſt rapture of mind when
wrapped
wrapped in dear delightful folitude, amidſt the

rocky grottos of the inountains, I felt a pleaſing
ſatisfaction , traverſing with a gun the lonely and
unfrequented ſhades of the woods. 1
“ - Thefe deep folitudes and awful cells,

« Where heav'nly penſive contemplation dwells,
17
“ And ever-muſing melancholy reigns."
The trees are amazing high, appearing to touch
the cloud - capt towers, and are always vocal with
the muſic of variety of birds, particularly parrots,
paroquets, wood -peckers, and doves of various
kinds : the mournful cooing of the latter thrills
moſt charmingly through the ears. The woods
afford ſhelter for vaſt numbers of wild cattle and
ſwine, and ſome deer : I have ſometimes ſhot a
fat cattle of this kind, and frequently wild
hogs ; the latter are excellent when barbacued
maroon faſhion . The country is exceeding fer
tile, and produces abundance of fruit and vege
tables, ſuch as citrons, pomegranates, Seville and
China oranges, ſweet and ſour lemons, limes , ſhad
docks, cuſhues, grapes, granidilloes, pine- apples,
ftar-apples, roſe-apples, ſugar-apples, cuſtard
apples , neeſeberries, cherries, plumbs, tama
rinds, pears, canipes, cocoa-nuts, bananas, water
and mulk melons, water lemons, gauvas, papas,
pompions, &c. &c. and various kinds of
beans and peaſe , cabbage, lettuce, raddiſh, &c.
with Indian and Guinea corn , yams, plantains,
caſſavi, &c. &c .
D The
The paſtures, particularly the Guinea graſs, of

which I ſhall ſpeak more fully hereafter, are ex
cellent for fattening horſes and cattle. Travellers
have been as well pleaſed with the beef, mutton,
pork , and poultry of Jamaica, as with any they
got in Europe, particularly with the pork , which
is remarkable delicate in favour, and ſuperior to
any which can be procured elſewhere. The re
gulated prices of freſh proviſions are as follows :
Beef 7d. per lb. mutton gd. pork 5d. filh 5d.
a curkey or gooſe 135. or 14s. and a good fowl
3s. or 4s .
There are regular and plentiful markets held in
all the towns, particularly in Kingſtown , daily ;
the butchers Naughter ſometime before day ; and
about eight or nine o'clock the markets are all
over, and the proviſions either fold or carried
away .
The ſea and rivers abound with great variety of
excellent fiſh . In wet weather there are plenty
of duck and teale to be met with in every pond
and gulley, and in all ſeaſons, partridges, quails,
Guinea- hens, butter- birds, plovers and ſnipes.
Was I to treat largely of the cultivation of
the lands, eſtabliſhing of plantations and farms,
making ſugar and rum , &c. it would of itſelf
make a volume; but as that is not my plan, I ſhall
give you a ſketch of each . The piece of ground
intended for canes is firſt cleared of all ſhrubbery,
and lined, if level, from one end to the other, as
fttrait as poſible with a line and ſquare : the line
is
is marked at every ſeven or eight feet with a bit

of coloured rag , at every one of which a peg is
ſtuck in the ground ( a number of pegs about two
feet long are prepared for this purpoſe ). The
liners having marked the firſt row, fall back three
feet and a half, and line and mark another row as
they did the firſt, ſtill falling back three feet and
a half each time till they have lined the whole
piece ( two ſmart handy boys or girls are appoint
ed for liners, and two more to pick up the pegs
as faſt as the holes are dug) ; when part of the
field is thus lined, the negroes ſet in between the
pegs (each pair having an equal talk of feven or
eight feet), and dig the earth about eight or nine
inches deep till they form an even pretty bank
from one end to the other ; they then fall back to
the ſecond row, and ſo on , till the whole field is
worked into narrow ridges, and beautiful ſtrait
trenches, quite ſquare.
There is little or no difficulty in lining level
ground; but hills require ſome care and pains; for
the holes muſt be dug in ſuch a manner, that
after rains every part may retain an equal ſhare
of moiſture ; if the holes were ftrait up and
down , the canes would never come to perfection,
but would parch with drought. Suppoſe a hill of a
conical form , the liners begin at the top and line
it in a circular manner till they get to the baſe : a
planter who has any ſpirit of emulation, enjoys a
pleaſure in ſeeing cane holes properly lined and
dug. An acre contains about 3555 holes, three
D 2 feer
feet and a half ſquare, and if the ground is not

too dry and hard , forty negroes will dig an acre
in a day ; the uſual price paid for holing an
acre , by thoſe who are obliged, for want of
fufficient firength of their own, to hire jobbing
gangs, is fix or ſeven pounds.
If the land is newly broke up, or a good deep
brick mould foil, it will not require manure ; but
if otherwiſe, it muſt be improved; and this part of
planterſhip is very troubleſome; for procuring and
making manure requires vaſt labour and pains ;
there muſt be cattle penns contiguous to every
piece intended for holing, and a number of
negroes, cattle, and wanes, employed for ſe
veral weeks, carrying cane tops, graſs and vines
to them . The cattle and mules are ſhifted nightly
from penn to penn , till their dung and urine heat
and rot the traſh ; but the uncommon heat of
thoſe penns is often injurious to the feet and
limbs of the cattle, and give them diſtempers of
which many die. The ſmall weakly gang of
negroes carry the dung on boards or baſkets on
their heads, and ſpread it thinly in the holes .
Mountainous plantations require more cultiva
tion , manure and labour, than others .
The dung being ſpread in the holes, the canes
are laid flat upon the ſame, two in a row , and co
vered lightly with part of the bank. If reaſonable
rains happen , they will ſprout up in a few days
from every joint, ſomething like young graſs; in
about three or four weeks afterwards the negroes
weed
weed and mould them tenderly, and ſo on from

time to time until all the bank is level to their
roots ; after which they are weeded occaſionally
until they grow ſix or ſeven feet high ; they are
commonly ripe in about twelve months from the
time of planting .
After the firſt crop is taken off there ſprings
up a ſecond one, called rattoons, which often is
better than the firſt. If the eſtate is a poor ſoil,
there are ſeldom more than two crops of rattoons
taken off till the ground is holed and manured
again ; but if it be a deep fòil, it may yield good
rattoons for ten or fifteen years . As the canes
;
grow, they have joints or knots at every three or
four inches diſtance, at every one of which they
have long blades, ſomething like flaggers ; ftill,
as they grow towards maturity, thoſe blades
wicher and become burthenſome to the ſtalk , ſo
that they are obliged to be taken off, and this is
called traſhing.
When the canes are ripe, it is known by
the richneſs of their juice, or by cutting ſome of
them with a ſharp knife, and obſerving the grain :
if it appears. ſoft and moiſt, like a potatoe or
turnip, it is too green : but if dry, and white par
ticles appear, you may be ſure that the cane is
ripe ' ; any man , who is a planter, will know when
they are ripe by the appearance of the tops and
ſtalks.
It often happens, that through the neglect of

the manager, to his diſgrace, and that of the
D3 attorney
S S
NER TOM
46 MAN AND CUS
attorney for ſuffering it, wood for fire and other

neceſſaries are not prepared in time : there are
many preparations to be made for crop ; the cop
pers and ſtills may want repairing or ſetting ; the
mill and gutters, pumps and vats, or ciſterns,
may be in the ſame predicament. I ſay, when
all theſe, and many other matters, are not con
ſidered of and prepared in time, if the canes are
ripe, and dry weather enſues, they will turn red ,
or ( as they ſay) get burnt ; after which, though
they muſt be cut to clear the field , they are not
worth the expence of cutting.
Burnt canes make a ſort of dirty black ſugar
without any grain , ſomething like that which the
Indians extract from the maple- tree in Canada,
which is commonly reſerved for the uſe of the
ſick negroes , or converted into rum ; I ſaw many
fine crops ruined through ſuch neglect, and yet the
managers were ſupported better than many in
duſtrious experienced planters.
When canes are once burnt, I would recom
mend to every manager not to make any more
ſugar out of them , only what would ſerve for plan,
tation uſe, to convert the juice of the remainder,
without boiling it, into rum, which will yield a
greater proportion than otherwiſe.
I fear I ſhall be deficient in deſcribing the
mill which grinds, or rather ſqueezes the juice
out of the canes : Suffice it to ſay, that a large
ſhingled roof, of a conical form , about 30 feet
diameter, being ſupported by twelve or fixteen
ſtrong
ſtrong hard wood poſts, - fix or ſeven feet high ,

erected on an eminence consiguous to the boiling
houſe, beneath the centre of which roof three
iron rollers are fixed upright and quite cloſe
together ; each ' roller is about two feet in
diameter, and three feet and a half in length,
the rhind or ſhell about one inch and a quarter
thick ; theſe rollers being filled with hard wood ,
and coged all round , and ſupported on the
mill bed , about eighteen inches from the
ground , on ſmall pieces of metal about the ſize
and ſhape ofwhipping- tops, called capouſes; the
main or middle roller, being filled with a long
bull - tree, which extends to the utmoſt centre of
the roof, where it is ſteadied by an iron axle, and
having ſix or eight long ſhafts or arms morriced
therein , which extend to the circumference of the
roof ; the cattle or mules being chained to thoſe
arms, are drove round by little boys or girls,
which of courſe turns the main roller, and thereby
the other two alſo ; this is what is called a cattle
mill ; wind and water mills are all differently con
ſtructed. The canes being cut, and all the traſh
lopped off, are carried in wanes, or if the eſtate is
mountainous , on mules backs , to the mill, and
are put in ſmall quantities ( fix or ſeven at a
time) between the firſt and ſecond roller, and are
drawn in and flattened , ſo that the juice is preſſed
out and falls on the middle bed which is lined
with lead, from which a gutter, lined with lead,
conveys it to the boiling -houſe as faſt as they
D4 1
S S
ER TOM
NN D
CUS
58 MA AN
paſs through the firſt and ſecond rollers, they are

put in again on the other ſide, between the ſecond
and third rollers, ſo that the canes paſs twice
through the mill, after which they are carried and
ſpread about the works till they dry, and then
raked up and carried to a long large ſhade, called
a' traſh -houſe, where they are piled , as being
the only fuel for boiling the ſugar ; a prudent
manager will always endeavour to keep his traſh
houſes full, ſo that at the beginning of crop he
will have plenty of ſeaſoned traſh , and will not be
obliged to uſe that which is green .
In the boiling -houſe there are four or five cop
pers of different ſizes ſet cloſe together, about
eighteen inches from the floor ; the largeſt of
which is called the grand copper, and the firſt
that is filled with liquor ; as ſoon as it is
full, and tempered with a ſmall quantity of Briſtol
lime and lye - water, the black boiler cries out,
5. Fia ! gran - coppa !” i. e. Fire ! grand copper !
at which vociferation, a blazing fire is inſtantly
put to the grand copper, by the fire -man who at
tends outſide, (for all the fire-places are outſide,
at each of which a man attends ). As ſoon as the
liquor in the grand copper comes to a finmering,
the fire is damped, till all the dirt and traih which
gathers to the top is ſkimmed off with a flat cop
per ſkimmer, full of holes like a fieve ; after the
liquor is properly ſkimmed and clarified, it is
thrown with ladles into the ſecond copper, to
which fire is alſo put, and then ſhifted from that
to
to the third copper, and the grand copper filled

again ; in the fourth copper, called a rach , the
liquor is boiled into a thick fyrrup, and by turn
ing up the ladie, and obſerving the white grain on
the bottom thereof, the boilers know when it
is ſufficiently boiled , and fit to be taken off;
there are many gradations to be obſerved in
boiling of ſugar; ſuch as ſufficient boiling ; too
much boiling ; ſufficient temper ; too much tem
per ; too little temper ; rich canes ; poor canes ;
and burnt canes . When liquor gets too much
boiling, or too much temper, it hardens the mo
Jaſſes in the ſugar, and will be black in the coolers
and hogſheads ; nor will it cure properly ; i. e. the
molaſſes won't drain from it. When liquor has got
fufficient temper, it is known by holding up the
ladle ; if it drips fort it has got enough ; but
if long, like tar, too little. If liquor is not ſuf
ficiently tempered, the ſugar will waſte more into
molaſſes in the curing than common, and will
not have a courſe grain.
Some people may ſay, that any man may be a
planter ; and that bringing canes to perfection ,
boiling of ſugar, and diſtillation of rum, &c. & c .
are quite ſimple ; that any man may get know
ledge of theſe, without expoſing his conftitution
to the menial , coilſome, and painful drudgeries of
an overſeer's life, for three, four, or five years : He
may attempt it ,-- but how inſignificant and auk
ward muſt a man appear, who attempts or un
dertakes a buſineſs he knows nothing about ; he
may
may think , and ſay, “ My overſeers and drivers

will inſtruct me-- they will direct me, and I will
be the cowſkin hero ;” in this caſe he will find
himſelf miſerably miſtaken ; for they will ſecretly
laugh at him , and impofe upon him to his face ;
when a man is diffident of his abilities , he will act
timerouſly ; and when a ſubordinate perſon knows
the ignorance of him who ſhould direct and give
inſtructions to carry on buſineſs like clock -work,
he will take advantages ; and knowing his own
abilities and value , thinks himſelf entitled to reſt
and refreſhment; and very juſtly he is, to as much
or more than the ignorant man who is obligated
to him for inſtruction , and ſupported in a more
elevated ſtation ; and thereby the buſineſs is of
courſe neglected, and the proprietor in England ,
through the ignorance of his attorney , or his
good nature to ſupport one of his poor friends, is
materially injured . He that would wiſh to be a
planter , ſhould attend the field from morning
until night , obſerve the nature of different ſoils ,
line the ground , keep a journal for his own in
ſtruction , pay ſtrict attention to the cattle and
mules , learn to dreſs them when maimed , to cure
them when fick , and to pamper and keep them in
good order ; he ſhould obſerve the diſpoſitions
of the Naves , their abilities and ſtrength ; and
in crop time - ſtand at the coppers, and pack
whole hours daily and nightly , and take his
monthly ſpell in the diſtill-houſe ; but the gene
rality of managers think they have got a proper
knowledge
knowledge of all theſe, without ever handling

a line, ladle, or ſkimmer. Though I ſee many
a fine houſe built, I might juſt as well attempt,
with a few negroe maſons or carpenters , to build
an elegant ſtructure , ornamented and decorated
in a mechanical manner ; or, though I learned
the theory of navigation, I might juſt as well
attempt, without any practice at ſea, with a few
ignorant ſeamen , to conduct a ſhip through the
deep and pathleſs ocean to any port in any dif
tant clime.
The greateſt care and attention of the mana
ger and overſeers during crop are requiſite ; for
the whole produce of the year, which coſt ſuch
vaſt labour and expence, go through hands in
threeor four months; and good or badınanagement
then may affect the proprietor very much .
When I was one of the humble fraternity of
book- keepers, or, as they are called in the Wind
ward Inands , overſeers, or negroe- drivers , during
crop I never got more than three or four hours
ſleep out of the twenty -four: when it was my
weekly turn to go to bed nightly at eight or nine
o'clock, P. M. I was rouſed with the dreadful
alarm of uc ſpell's called maffa,” at high twelve,
and obliged to ſit up until eight or nine o'clock
next night ; or if it was my weekly turn to ſit up
until twelve at night, I was rouſed at five in the
morning
A reſpite
A reſpite very ſhort to ſleep or to wake,

And to play with a yellow , or a black ſnake *.
Taking off crop is a very laborious piece of

buſineſs, and yet it is very amazing how cheer
fully the negroes begin and go through with it ;
how, inſtead of getting weak and meagre, like
the cattle and mules, they like rats fatten upon
the canes, and ſops of liquor, and fyrrup, they
get about the works.
The diſtill- houſe is commonly annexed to the
boiling-houſe, or very contiguous to it, wherein
the ciſterns, or vats, for fermenting the ſkimmings
and molaſſes are placed . At the beginning of
crop great care ſhould be taken to have them all
ſcoured well with lime and hot water, to have
traſh burnt in them , and ſcalded and waſhed
quite clean. As ſoon as the vat which receives
the ſkimmings from the boiling -houſe (which are
conveyed by a gutter) is full, they are put into a
large cooler to cool , from thence let run into the
ciſterns, or vats ; the droſs which remains in the
cooler ſhould be given to the hogs, and the
cooler waſhed each time. If ſkimmings remain
ten or twelve hours unſet, they will turn ropy
and ſpoil, after which , if they are ſet, they will
prevent the other ſweets from yielding a due pro
portion of rum, and will ſet the diſtill-houſe foul,
by yielding bad lees ; for lees is a principal part
of the mixture ; and there is a material difference
* A name of girls of colour.
in
in that of good ſtrong fermented liquor, and that

of bad ; five gallons of ſkimmings is ſuppoſed to
be equal to one gallon of molaſſes; I always
found that fourteen gallons of ſweets in every
hundred gallons of the mixture yielded the beſt
proportion of rum, though ſome diſtillers uſe
more, and ſome leſs.
At the beginning of crop, probably there may
not be good lees remaining ſince the laſt year, in
which caſe there muſt be a greater quantity of
ſkimmings than uſual ſet ; if there are no molaſſes,
feventy per cent. of ſkimmings, and thirty per
cent . ofwater will anſwer; but if there are molaſſes,
fifty per cent. of ſkimmings, four per cent. mo
laffes, and forty -ſix per cent. of water will anſwer
very well ; the mixture always ſhould be no more
than luke warm when fet; either of thoſe mixtures
would ferment, and be fit to diſtill in ſeven or
eight days.
As ſoon as the firſt charge is run off, the lees
are let run into a ciſtern for that purpoſe, from
which they are pumped with a copper pump
into a large cooler ; when they cool and ſettle
they are then mixed with the ſweets, and ſerve
as yeſt or balm in haltening a fermentation .
Eight per cent. of molaſſes, thirty per cent. of
ſkimmings, thirty per cent. of lees, and thirty
two per cent. of water, will, if ſet pure and cool
as I have mentioned , ferment in a few hours ,
and be ready to diſtill in three or four days, and
will yield a good proportion of rum ; too much
care cannot be taken to have the ſkimmings and

lees pure and cool when fet ; the liquor ſhould
be ſkimmed three or four times daily, and the
vats or ciſterns, every time when emptied , ſhould
be waſhed well ; if the mixture when ſet is too
hot, it will ferment ſtrongly for about twenty
four hours, and fall flat ſuddenly, and will not
yield a due proportion of rum . An accident
may happen with the moſt careful diſtiller through
hurry, or neglect of negroes ; but when a mil
take or error is once comınitted, a perſon ſhould
be cautious to avoid a repetition of the like again ;
therefore obſerve, that when a charge of liquor has
been ſet too hot, or when ropy ſkimmings have
been ſet, or when any charge does not yield a
proper quantity of low wines , to throw the lees
of ſuch charges away, and to get the lee ciſtern
waſhed well ; for the lees of any bad charge, as
I have already mentioned, will, though ſet ever
ſo pure and cool, ſpoil any other mixture they
are put to ; this I have learned from experience.
I have always found that ciſterns funk in the floor,
rammed well round with tough clay, about five
feet ſquare, and five feet deep, anſwer better
than vats ; they ſhould be fixed in rows with
covers to them, built ſome diſtance afunder, ſo
that a man may walk between them , and fee that
they are ſcoured and waſhed properly each time,
and at one view fee how they all ferment; and it
will be an amuſement to him, when they are in a
ſeeming boiling fermentation, to take a ſkimmer
and
and ſkim off the traſh ; a good handy pump will

pour the contents of ſuch a ciſtern into a gutter,
and convey it to the ſtill in about twenty minutes.
Good liquor when properly fermented will blaze
like weak low wines on the head of the ſtill.
Having ſhewn the different proportions for
mixing of liquors, I ſhall next ſhew an eaſy and
exact method of calculating them without mea
ſuring the liquors ; if the vats or ciſterns are
equally round or ſquare at bottom and top,
lec the exact depth with a rod be taken, and that
divided into an hundred equal parts, and marked
ſo on the rod ; then if molaſſes be thrown into a
ciſtern until it is eight of thoſe parts deep, con
fequently, let it be ever ſo large, that is eight
per cent.; again, if ſkimmings be put in until it is
thirty - eight parts deep, that is thirty per cent. of
ſkimmings ; and if lees be put in till it is ſixty
eight parts deep, that will be thirty per cent, of
lees, and the reſt of water will be thirty- two
per cent.
Some diſtillers throw in the ſweets at diffe
rent times, and make ſuch mixtures that keep
working on fowly for fixteen , eighteen, or
twenty days ; but ſuch I am convinced know
nothing about diſtillation ; the generality of
adventurers in the planting line, who have any
hopes of preferment, think attention to the
diſtill -houſe a menial part of planterſhip ; and
when they become cowſkin heroes, or managers,
are
S OMS
NER
56 MAN AND CUST
are totally ignorant of inſtructing their overſeers

or negroes in ſo intereſting a branch .
The heads of the ſtills ſhould be well luted ;
for negroes are often negligent, and great part of
the ſpirits may evaporate ; the worms too ſhould
be kept as cool as poſſible ; a Now fire is the beſt :
for if the ſpirit is hurried , and runs hot, it will not
only waſte, but will have a diſagreeable flavor,
ſomething like low wines.
Jamaica rum is reputed the beſt that is made
in the Weſt- Indies, becauſe it is the ſtrongeſt, and
commonly links a bubble of twenty -four; the
rum in all the other Britiſh iNands might be made
equal to that of Jamaica, but it is the fault of the
planters in mixing the firſt runnings of the low
wines with the rum, till it only finks a bubble of
twenty -fix , twenty-ſeven, or twenty-eight. Thoſe
who wiſh to have pure good rum for their own
uſe, (ſuch as managers, becauſe they looſe nothing
by it) rectify even Jamaica rum, by putting two
puncheons in the ſtill, mixing it with water and
diſtilling it over again ; the middle part of the
runnings is beſt.
Rum improves vaſtly in favour, but weakens
in ſtrength , by air and frequent wreckings into
different veſſels. Porter caſks, porter, and the
dregs of porter, will improve rum ; alſo tea, and
temper lime, about two quarts of the latter to
each puncheon ; burnt Muſcovado ſugar will
colour it.
Here
Here let me obferve the vaſt expence which

attends eſtabliſhing a ſugar plantation, ſuppoſing
keeping only one hundred acres conſtantly under
canes. The mill, boiling, and curing -houſes,
and diſtill -houſe, with all the conveniencies be
longing to them, ſuch as coppers, ftills, vats,
ciſterns, reſervoirs, gutters and pumps, manager's
houſe, ſtores, &c. &c . will coſt about 8,000l .; one
hundred and forty Daves will coſt about 6cool.
more ; and if there is not the convenience of water
to the mill, and the plantation is far from the
ſhipping -place, there will be forty good mules,
and about one hundred oxen , always required on
the eſtate, which will coſt about 3000l. and will
require a good convenient graſs -penn to feed
them ; finding the Naves in food, and ſome ſort of
cloathing, and keeping up their number ſtill as
they die, as alſo that of cattle and mules, and
finding plantation implements, is attended with
no ſmall expence annually ; ſay 8,00l.: ſuppoſing
the plantation and penn to contain three hundred
acres, at 301. per acre, ( which is very cheap,) they
will amount to 9,000l , more ; all which ſums
amount to 26,000l . at the loweſt computation ;
(indeed, any ſort of good plantation with Naves
and ſtock , &c. will coſt 30 or 40,000l . ) ; which
ſum of 26,000l . at 8 per cent, intereſt is 20801.
which, added to the annual expence, is 28801.
Now, ſuppoſing the eſtate to be well managed,
and to make upon an average one hundred and
fixty hogſheads of good Muſcovado lugar yearly,
E and
RS MS
58 MANNE AND CUSTO
and eighty puncheons of rum , the ſugar to net

at 15l . ſterling per hogſhead, and the rum at 121 .
per puncheon , both will amount to 33601, fter
ling ; from which , deducting theannual expence,
the remainder is 4801. in favour of the planter;
which is by no means equal to the riſque he runs
of hurricanes , droughts , &c . &c. ; ſo that in my
humble opinion, a ſugar plantation ſhould be no
deſirable object for a man to ſeek after. Any man
with four or five thouſand pounds may get poffef
ſion of a plantation , Naves, &c . by compounding
to pay the remainder of the value in annual in
ftalments, and giving a mortgage by way of ſe
curity on the eſtate ; and after he has exhauſted all
his property thereon, it is taken from him or his
heirs in the end , and ſold to pay of debts : I ſay,
there is very little difficuty in getting poflefion of
an eſtate, but a great deal to keep it.
I ſhall next prove clearly, that a graſs-penn, or
farm , is a better property, and is attended with
leſs trouble and expence than a ſugar plantation.
Notmanyyears ago , graſs- pennswere conſidered as
deſpicable objects for enterprizing adventurers to
hunt after, nor would any man accept the manage
ment of one who had any hopes of preferment on
ſugar plantations, becauſe the ſalaries and accom
modationswereequally indifferent;fochacmanagers
of grafs penns were conſidered as friendleſs ; nor
would thoſe of ſugar plantations, or even the over
ſeers, aſſociate with them ; but latterly there has
been ſuch improvements all over the country in
the
thecultivation of Guinea graſs, and ſuch emolu

ments ariſing therefrom , that managers are as
much encouraged on penns as on ſugar planta
tions. Guinea graſs will grow on the moſt fandy
deſercs or mountains ; the method of planting it is
as follows:- The ground being prepared by clear.
ing it of Ihrubbery and graſs againſt the firſt of
May, and holed at every three or four feet diſtance,
as ſoon as the ſeaſons ſet in the graſs is taken and
planted, ſix or ſeven blades in a hole, and in ſome
weeks after cleared and moulded . When three or
four hundred acres of land is properly fenced
round and divided into different lots, the major
part of which is planted with Guinea graſs, and
when it is properly ſtocked , it will yield a clear
annual profit of 1000l. ſterling. Four hundred
acres of rough uncultivated land, at rol . per
acre ; two good Engliſh ſtallions, at 501. each ;
fifty breeding mares , at 20l. each ; twojack -affes,
at 201. each ; two bulls, at 151. each ; ſeventy
cows, at 151. each ; three hundred ſheep, at 20s.
each ; would be conſidered a good ſtock , and
annount to 65201 .; twenty negroes, at 40l, each ;
the manager's houſe and ſtores, ftables, ſhades,
and pents, ſuppoſe to coſt 2500l . all which added,
is 9820 ).; but fuppoſing the whole to coſt 12,000l.
which is not half the price of a ſugar plantation,
the intereſt of which is g60l . A cole will ſell for
30 , 40, 50, or bol. an ox for 201. a fat ſheep for
40s. and after the firſt four or five years, I ſhould
fuppofe a penn of this kind would annually have
E 2 forty
60 ' MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
forty colts, forty oxen, and one hundred ſheep at

leaſt to diſpoſe of, which would amount to more
than 2000 l . and would well reward the induſ
trious grazier. There are ſome fine penns in the
pariſh of St. Ann's, where many of the proprietors
reſide, and live content and happy . I ſhall con
clude this ſubject, and proceed to the natives ; and
though I may be ſevere in the following pages
againſt many, be aſſured, I will ſpeak from expe
rience, not from prejudice ; and that I will give
merit or vice the wreath or the rod .
All people are regarded according to their
appearance and inerit (ſave only country pre
judice) more than in Great- Britain and Ireland ,
where the poor are deſpiſed by the rich .
“ Talk not of anceſtors, nor of their ſtate ;

“ Tis perſonal virtue only makes us great."
And I ſhould think it ſtrange if it was ocher

wiſe, when I conſider how many great men there
are in thoſe torrid regions, ſucceſsful knaves, who
by cunning, fraud, and deceit, are elevated daily
from the dunghill to the ſenate, which I ſhall
hereafter ſpeak of; and it commonly happens that
ſuch are more reſpected than men of real merit,
whoſe noble ſouls ſcorn to practiſe baſe means to
enrich themſelves ; I muſt obſerve that all ranks
and denominations of people are more friendly ,
kindly, and hoſpitable, than in colder countries,
I believe warm climates expand the heart with
liberal
liberal and generous ideas; as there are not regular
taverns to be met with in the country , it is quite
cuſtomary for travelling people to call on each
other, though ſtrangers, for refreſhment for them
ſelves, ſervants, and horſes, and that too without
any ceremony or formality, and behave friendly
11
and police to each other.
The governor's revenues, including his ſalary
1 of 2000l . which he has from Great- Britain , is,
as I was informed , 10,000l. per annum. A late
governor, towards the concluſion of his reign,
rendered himſelf obnoxious to the people, and
was reprobated and laſhed at ſeverely in the
public papers for his public and private conduct ;
inſtead of putting the iſland in a proper ftate of
defence, he put it twice to a very great and unne
ceſſary expence, by enforcing martial law in
1779 and 1780 ; his proclamation of a “ glorious''
expedition intended againſt the Spaniſh main , to
be headed in perſon by himſelf, and thereby de
coying about fifteen hundred overſeers, clerks,
and book -keepers, to enter as volunteers ;
his mean manoeuvre, after he had collected
them all together, in remaining behind ; his com
bination with griping, pedling merchants, in
furniſhing the troops and volunteers, on this
expedition , with rotten cargoe, beef and
pork , and new rum, by which means they
1
died like rotten ſheep at St. Juan, and were

ſo fickly at the laſt, that they were not able to
bury each other; and thoſe lingering , ſaw their
E 3 fellow.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
fellow creatures, friends and acquantance, daily

devoured by the carion crows; ſo that out of fif
teen hundred volunteers, only eighteen or twenty
returned to tell the doleful tale ; the troops fared
almoſt as bad . Governor Campbell ſurpriſingly
gained the love and affection of the people ; he
put the iſland in a proper ſtate of defence, and is
a brave and judicious general.
The council is compoſed of ten men, ſome of
whom are, though poſſeſſed of eſtates, thouſands
worſe than nothing ; yet they cannot be arreſted ;
their bodies are ſacred ; there are ſeveral other
great gentlemen of this deſcription in the iſland,
who have their eftates well fenced round ; the ma
nagers, and overſeers, with ſome truſty negroes,
keep a conſtant look out, the gates are always
locked, ſo that no ſtranger or other perſon if not
well known will get admittance , the produce is
all ſhipped on Sundays ; the ſlaves, and other
ſtock, are only to be met with on Sundays. I
once had occaſion to wait on an honorable gen
tleman of this kind in St. James' parih ; the gate
being locked , I knocked ſeveral times ; but how
great was my ſurprize when a muſket ball came
whiſtling by my ears ; a negroe came running to
me, and ſaid , “ Maffa will ſhoot you ’tone dead
if you no go avey 'rectly.” Having a letter of
introduction to his maſter, I was ſhortly after re
ceived very politely ; he made ſeveral apologies
for his ' raſhneſs; that he took me to be a mar
fhal, &c. &c. He had an elegant houſe, and a
fine
fine parcel of creole ladies about him, and they

lived moſt luxuriouſly, in defiance of the law !
There is a law of the iſland favouring inſolvent
debtors, by which any perſon in the ſpace of
three months, by rendering all his property to his
creditors, may get from priſon ; in every pariſh
there is a deputy provoſt marſhal, each of whom
1
make pretty livings : I ſuppoſe the place of the
marſhal of Kingſtown is worth from two to three
thouſand pounds yearly.
It is ſomething ſurpriſing to think what fre
quent executions take place , the news papers
teem with little more than that of fales, vendues,
houſes and lands to be rented, runaway negroes,
and ſtrayed horſe's.
There are about ſeventy attornies at law, and
twenty barriſters in the iſland ; amongſt the latter,
the oratorial Mr. Lewis and facetious Mr. Brown
have diſtinguiſhed themſelves; tho' Mr. Brown
is not ſo fuent in ſpeech as Mr. Lewis, yet he
underſtands the law well, points out the ſubſtan
tial parts of his cauſes, and ſticks to them ; and
when he has a weak cauſe he handles it very in
geniouſly to divert the Jury, and foften the
rigour of their ſentence. Mr. Lewis was clerk
to the late Mr. Hebert ( a very capital merchant ) ,
and having taken a propenſity to the law, after
ſerving him four or five years very faithful
ly, he was fent at the expence of Mr. Hebert
to the Temple, where he was generouſly ſupport:
ed for three or four years ; if his genius had not
E4 been
64 MANNE
RS
AND CUSTO
MS
been ſo long cramped in a ſtore and compting

houſe, he certainly would be a prodigy of wit
and elocution .
There are ſome extenſive merchants in Kingſ
town , Spaniſh Town, Montego Bay, &c. a few
of whom are Engliſh and Iriſh , but ten times the
number of Scotch ; they all in general live ele
gantly ; it is not thought ſtrange for a peaſant's
ſon from Glaſgow , or Aberdeen, in the ſpace of
four or five years, to commence merchant, and
in a few years afterwards to make a pretty inde
pendence ; or if he enters into the planting line,
to ſucceed as well ; to get poffeffion of Naves, &c.
whilft many Engliſh and Iriſh young men ,
though ever ſo clever, are often hard fet
to procure themſelves the neceſſaries of life :
I cannot conceive what the difference can
be owing to, unleſs it be that the Scorch are more
enterpriſing, partial and friendly to each other
than other nations ; beſides, they are in general
well educated young men ; I never knew a raw
lad from that country, who had not a letter of
recommendation to his Excellency, or to ſome
Mac or other ; upon the delivery of which, he was
taken notice of, and immediately put into ſome
buſineſs, and in ſome time after, if he lived,
was either a military wood cock, merchant, or
cowſkin hero !
The markets are very precarious; I have known
ſalt proviſions to ſell at one hundred and fifty per
cent, profit one week , and the ſame fold again in
the
the courſe of a few weeks afterwards for leſs

than firſt coſt . Vendues are very hurtful to trade ;
there they are held daily, Sundays and Satur
days excepted, at which the Jews, a numerous
tricking tribe, are permitted to exerciſe their
talents, and are often “ a little roguiſh in money
matters."
On every fide, their pliant tongues

Roar out, “ who bids ; " the whole day long
They ſtretch and ſtrain their brazen lungs,
With " going, going -- there, its gone."
Theſe Chriſt- killing dogs exert every baſe ineans
to impoſe upon Chriſtians; even their children are
trained to villainy, keep pedling ſtands in the
ſtreets from morning until night, and are keen ,
cunning little ſharpers.
Ever ſince the murdering of God Almighty ,
they are remarkably fond of gold and ſilver, and
very expert at mixing baſe metals together, and
poliſhing and gilding the fame; theſe foreſkin
clipped ſcoundrels have clipped and ſweated
almoſt all the coin, ſo that every unmilled piece
of gold is weighed and wrapped in paper, with
the weight and value endorſed ; --- hear what
Jeremiah ſays of them :
" For every one, from the leaſt even unto the
“ greateſt, is given to covetouſneſs ; from the
" - prophet even unto
the prieſt, every one dealeth
falſly."
BC
66 MANNERS . AND CUSTOMS
Be always cautious how you purchaſe gold or

ſilver ware from them , leaſt they impoſe that
which was ſtolen , or baſe metal upon you ; and
take care how you deal in their ſtores, for they
delight in extortion ; and beware of impoſitions
at vendues, for one or more of them commonly
attend to foreſtall at public ſales; let your eyes, not
their tongues, direct your judgment. There are
ſeveral Jews all over the iſland, many rich mer
chants and planters.; the whole tribe aſſiſt each
other with money or credit ; ſo that in a very few
years the pooreſt wandering Jeruſalemite will ac
cumulate wealth ; they all live miſerably mean
upon planting, and ſome traſh of darnaged her
rings, and other ſaltfiſh, until theyget independent
in the world .
Although Jews are not permitted to reprenfent
in aſſembly, nor to hold any public offices under
government, yet they are ſuffered to give evi
dence among Chriſtians, which I think is a dan
gerous fyftem , as it is well known they pay no
regard to the Chriſtian faith. I was credibly in
formed that the legiſlature, not twenty years ago,
were about enacting a law to allow them no fur
ther privileges than mungrels ; and it is to be la
mented that it was not carried into execution,
for they are a vile race. When a diſhoneft per
ſon is involved in a law -ſuit likely to go againſt
him for want of a material evidence, he may for
a ſmall premium get a Jew to attend the courts ,
who
who being properly inſtructed , will ſwear to, and

prove affertions which he is totally ignorant of
to effect the acquital of the culprit in confor
mity with his engagement, ſo that he may
thereby the better with certainty ingroſs the
prize.
Jews are very remarkable ; there is ſomething
curiouſly ill - looking in their tawny features
I once failed from Charleſtown with a Jew ped
lar, and ſeveral other paſſengers ; a copy of the
Jews letter to his friend having fallen in my way.
I tranſlated it as follows :
Dear Moſes, this chance is moſt pleaſing to me,

To ſend the contents ofmymind unto thee ;
On board of the Neptune, a paffage I took,
With keen cunning notions of having good -look.
My ſlender adventure was prudently bought,
And ſuch as wou'd anſwer this market, I thought:
For tobacco, chinkapins, ſalt, pork, and rice,
I expected to get an extravagant price :
And buoy'd myſelf up , that I wou'd not repent ;
But to ſell them, at leaſt, at five hundred per cent.
The firſt of December, I think, was the day,
That I ſet off from Charleſtown for Cape Françoiſe,
In company with monſieurs Quaver and Quiver,
(Two men of fortune, moſt noble and clever) ;
Likewife Mr. Randum , a fooliſh young man ,
Monſieur Jaw , a brave count, but meagre and wan ;
Mrs. Abraham’s, a lady who ſeem'd very ſick,
And her hopeful ſweet offspring, maſter Allick.
But O ! thoſe vile Chriſtians henceforth I'll ſhun ;
I was early, and late, the butt of their fun ;
M
My * belt and my * girdle, and * leathern -horn ,

They mock'd with deriſion each even' and morn ;
My hair they compared to that of a hog,
Or the wool of a goat, or the beard of a dog ;
And ſaid that my mother, when pregnant of me,
Was fond of dry'd pork to a longing degree;
Which cruel aſperſion they only ſuppoſe,
Becauſe there's a mark of a pig on my noſe ;
I'm deem'd a Mulatto, a cheat, and a knave,
And threat'n'd to be fold for an African flave !
Now keen little Iſaac ! David, or Saul ;
Or, wiſe little Solomon, wiſeſt of all !
Again , he's a pedlar ! a Chriſt-killing Jew !
Nay, Random took pains to lible me too ;
Such barbarous redicule hurted me fore,
' Till we came to anchor, and I got a ſhore,
But how ſhall I alter the theme of my ſong,
To paint the fad ſcene, how matters go on :
My heart it does jump, like a bird in a cage,
And flutters about thro'my breaſt in a rage ;
My brain is confus'd, and my ſenſes are loſt,
To find all my ſchemes ſo woefully croft.
How am I confounded ! How hard is my fate !
My falt-pork , and ground-nuts, will hardly pay freight ;
My chinkapins, dry - fiſh , and herrings, I fear,
Won't bring me firſt-coft : O what brought me here !
All merchandize now is at ſuch a low rate,
That, alaſs ! I can't think which way for to cheat ;
However, my apples I ſold very well,
Becauſe I knew they were rotten as hell ;
A Frenchman juft bought them, “ a pig in a poke ,"
At five dollars a barrel isn't this a good joke ?
And now I have rented a ſtore from a Jew,
Who ſwears he'll affift me to cheat at vendue;
* When he prayed, he ſtripped his arın naked and girded it, and
wore a leathern horn on his forehead .
Where
Where , if I ſucceed, I will ſettle content,
"Till I muſter as much as I gambled and ſpent;
If not, to Jamaica I ſhortly will go ;
Where I'll meet a rich friend, Alexander Lindo.
My compliments to my ſweet couſins and nieces ;
I am yours and their ſervant, David Courtieces.
1
1
Executors, adminiſtrators, and attornies to

eſtates, often accumulate larger fortunes than the
heirs or proprietors ; their poor orphans are ſadly
cheated during their 'minority, their properties
involved, abuſed and reduced, or totally ſwallow
ed up by greedy guardians . Cruel foſterors !
There the executor, or adminiſtrator, poſſeſſes
himſelf at once of the European's property as his
own ; and , regardleſs of love, honor and gratitude,
forgets every tie of friendſhip, and pays not the
leaſt attention to the lalt requeſt of his neareſt
and deareft deceaſed friend, on the execution of
the important truſt repoſed in him ; but, on the
contrary , bleſſes the quack's poiſonous pills and
draughts, which hurried him a vay, and rejoices
more at his own fortunate ſtate than if he was
made the heir : He ſeldom makes remittances ;
and when from importunities, or other circum
ſtances, he is obliged to make any, they are but
trilling, and are commonly accompanied with
ſpecious and eaſy framed apologies, to ſcreen his
villainy ; ſuch as drought, hurricanes, bad debts,
death of ſlaves and catcle, &c. &c.
I have known many executors and adminiſtra
cors, inany attornies and guardians, ( ſeeming
honer
honeſt men ) who made no remittances at all,

though ſome of them had it in their power to
make large ones. The greedy vultures ! ava
ricious ſycophants ! diſhoneſtly revelled in exceſs
and debauchery, until the properties they were
intruſted with were totally ſquandered, or ſo in
volved, that they were not worth retrieving.
When a man is appointed'executor, he gets two
or three of his own friends to appraiſe the eſtate,
( previouſlyembezzling every article he poſſibly can
with ſecrecy ) and takes it at the valuation , and
makes no remittance until he is compelled by
law, by thoſe heirs who may be far away, and
may not hear of their friend's death for ſeveral
years ; or he brings it tu fale , after having taken
the chiefeſt and choiceſt of the effets at che va
luation, and purchaſes it, and then makes no
remittance at all for four or five years, ſo that
the crops, or intereſt of the money, pays for the
eltate ; I do aſſure you , that many mighty men
in councils and aſſemblies, all over the Weſt
Indies, have acquired all their greatneſs by ſuch
ignoble ſchemes.
“ Such mighty heroes that were pigmies born,
acTempt not my envy, but provoke my ſcorn ."
An attorney to an eſtate, or plantation, has
a weighty charge; if he was to act fair and honeſt,
he ſhould viſit the plantation frequently, pry into
every hole and corner of it, and ſurprize the ma
nager when he leaſt expected his coming, to fee
how
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS .
3
how hepaſſed the time, and cultivated the eſtate ;
whether it was loitered in riotous diſſipation, with
the neighbouring managers , or ſpent induf
triouſly attentive to his duty ; nor ſhould he bu
deceived by clean intervals , pleaſant walks,
or artificial work of any kind ; he ſhould walk
acroſs and through the cane pieces all over the
plantation , and ſee that they were properly
weeded , moulded , hoed and thraſhed ; for inana
gers are knowing , and artful, and when they
ſupinely paſs away time, they.commonly prepare
for the attorney's coming by traſhing the canes
ſeven or eight yards deep along the intervals,
and making other deceptions and preparations .
An attorney ſhould ſee that the work went re
gularly on in rotation ; that the ground was holed
in proper time and ſeaſon , and the canes planted
accordingly ; he ſhould be a parent to the whole
eſtate, Naves , cattle , mules , and other ſtock ; he
ſhould viſit the boiling-houſe frequently ; ſtand at
the tack whole hours , at times , to ſee how the
boilers went on, and when they went wrong di
rect them and ſet them right ; he ſhould not
ſupport managers without merit , to ſerve his
friends, or relations , but prefer the induſtrious
book - keepers or overſeers in his own employ
ment, whole merits and long painful ſervitude
deſerved it ; in ſhort, any man who preſumes
to be an attorney, ſhould have gone through all
the painful toils and drudgeries of an overſeer,
for three or four years , and be an experienced
planter,
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
planter, to be capable of doing juſtice ; formerly

there were a few honeft impartial attornies in
Jamaica, ſuch as Sheckle, Beckford, Winde, &c.
though originally indented ſervants, who could
not boaſt of families or connections, who acted
with ſtrict integrity, and kept the cowſkin herd of
managers under them atcentive early and late to
their duty .
A man by lending a ſmall ſum of money to a
planter in diſtreſs, may get the attorneyſhip of
his plantation, and a inortgage thereon by way of
ſecurity ; and it often happens in the end , that the
mortgagee poſſeſſes himſelf of the whole eſtate,
whilſt the mortgager reflects with horror on his
extravagance and folly.
It would be vaſtly better for a planter, when
diſtreſſed to anſwer any preſſing demands which
may be againſt him, to ſell his eſtate at once, or
a part of it, than to put it to nurſe (as I may
terin mortgaging) ; for it will be woefully foſtered
indeed, and he will repent, and curſe his fate,
when he will have only the name of an eſtate,
without the profits ; for though he be preſent,
and every day ſees his property going to deſtruc
tion, through the neglect of the manager, or
through that of the manager and attorney toge
ther, he cannot preſume to interfere with the
management ; nor can he by other means redreſs
this grievance until the mortgage, with intereſt,
and all coſts, are diſcharged. When a mortgagee
wiſhes to get an eſtate into his own poſſeſſion, he
diſcharges
diſchages the old manager, and appoints fome

indolent lazy fellow ( one of his own friends no
doubt) in his ſtead ; he gives a large falary, and
the eſtate is neglected ; and when it is at a low
ebb, the major part of the cane pieces converted
into wilds of cattle paſtures, a number of the
Naves, through hunger and ſeverity, forced to
run wild through the mountains and woods, and
the late proſperous and delightful plantation
quite ruined, agreeable to his wiſhes ; he ſwells
up an enormous ſum of debts, gets out an exe
cution, brings the plantation, llaves, &c. to ſale,
and purchaſes them himſelf, or compounds with
the unfortunate proprietor for a few joes, and
gets it by this, or ſome other baſe ſtratagem , into
his poffeffion. He then clandeſtinelyinvites all the
run-aways to return, and that they ſhall be for
given by their new maſter by which ſervile ftra.
tagem he gets an addition of ſo many ſaves to
his property
An attorney in Jamaica charges five per cent.
commiſſion on the net proceeds of the ſhipments
from every plantation which he has the care of ;
and this , though very high , is but a ſmall parc
of an attorney's emoluments. He is inveſted with
full power to act as he pleaſes; nor do the mana
gers correſpond with the proprietors in Europe
to check the attorney's proceedings ; for the
atrornies appoint both managers and overſeers,
and difcharge them at pleaſure.
F An
An attorney commonly ſupplies himſelf and

friends with horſes, cattle, ſheep, poultry, ſu
gar, rum , coffee, corn , &c . &c. from the plan
tacions, and accounts for them as his conſcience
directs.
An attorney borrows the cattle, mules, and
negroes occaſionally to work on his own eſtate,
and returns them at leiſure. Some attornies write
for larger quantities of ſtores than is neceſſary, and
convert the overplus to their own uſe; others
keep ſtores, and take every opportunity of ſup
plying the eſtates in their care with every article
at an hundred per cent. advance. As attornies
have the ſhipments of all the produce, they are
courted by the inerchants and maſters of vefſels
to freight their fhips and give them quick dir
patch ; they get valuable preſents. The follow
ing is the nature of a letter from a needy attorney
to the proprietor in London .
Spaniſh -Town, 20th June 1785 .

Dear Sir,
I was favoured with yours of the 6th of April,
and obſerve the contents . The preſent ſerves to
cover bill of lading for fixty hogſheads of Muf
covado ſugar from your Clarendon - hall eſtate,
per the Eliza, Captain Donally ; alſo, bill of la.
ding for fifteen hogſheads from my own eſtate,
which you will diſpoſe of, and credit me for the
net proceeds. I thought to have thipped forty
hogſheads, but the heavy rains have broke up
the
the roads in ſuch a manner, that I could not get
any more carted to the bay ; however, I hope
I ſhall be able to ſend you thirty hogſheads of
my own by the Clarendon, Captain Kennedy,
who will fail with the convoy from Bluefields
againſt the iſt Auguft; alſo forty hogſheads by
the ſame ſhip from Clarendon-hall eſtate. You
will pleaſe to order inſurance accordingly,
Mr. Sneakıng Caution , the manager, tells me,
that the cauſe of the ſugars being ſo dark, and
not having fo good a grain as I would with , has
been owing to the canes being too ripe, and burn
ing faſter than they could be taken off : the laſt
twenty hogſheads were fo very black, that I
thought it beſt for your intereſt to direct him to
convert them into rum, which will anſwer very
well, for cwo hogſheads will make one puncheon
of rum . You may be affured that no attention
of mine ſhall be wanting to your concerns in this
quarter ; Sneaking Caution was ſtrongly recom
mended to me by our mutual friend Doctor
Bolus, and he is a fine, active, induſtrious young
man . As to what you mention reſpecting the
crops, you will pleaſe to obſerve, that when Mr.
M'Donald was manager, and made ihree hundred
hogſheads yearly, he injured the flaves and cattle
materially, and cultivated and impoveriſhed the
plantation ſo that they never will retrieve again ;
and though we have made only an hundred hogſ
heads this year, I hope we ſhall make a better
crop next year ; you “ will pleaſe to obſerve, that
the long continuance of the draught laſt year,
F2
and the heavy and untimely rains this year, affected

the crop very much ; as to what you ſay reſpecting
your black people, though ſeveral of them have
died lately, it was not for want of attention ; for
Clyfterpipe, who is Doctor Bolus's brother, is
very attentive ; there are too many invalids on
the eſtate, who never would be of any ſervice to
you ; they are old deformed creatures , of the
Auranoutang ſpecies, who I do not ſuppoſe have
any ſouls, therefore, as they are an incumbrance
to the eſtate, I have ordered the manager to give
them no allowance ; as faſt as they die I ſhall fup
ply their places by new negroes which will anſwer
very well .
I have drawn a bill on you for two thouſand
pounds ſterling, at ninety days ſight, in favour of
Meffrs. ******, of London , which pleaſe to ac
cept ; I hope next crop to make you a remittance
equal thereto ; and that in two or three years I
ſhall be clear of debt, which I long for much ,
that I may once more return to dear old England .
I am thankful to you for your kind preſent of
Madeira, malmfy, porter, cheeſe, and hams; they
all came to hand in fine order ; the Madeira is ex
cellent ! Mr. Ahmuty writes me, that it is beſt
London particular ; you will lay me under an ad
ditional obligation to order that gentleman to
ſend me two pipes next year .
I am , with great regard ,
Dear Sir,
Your moſt humble ſervant,
TOM COLDWEATHER .
It
It is quite common for an attorney to keep a fa

vourite black or mulatta girl on every eſtate, which
the managers are obliged to pamper and indulge
like goddeſſes. Tom Coldweather, a gentleman in
Spaniſh - Town, was attorney for about forty plan
tations, and had thirty or forty doxys of this kind
in keeping: I ſuppoſe each flattered the debau
chee that they waited chaſte for his coming. The
vanity of female ſlaves is raiſed to an unbounded
degree to be choſen objects of their maſter, ( for
they call an attorney their maſter) on which ac
count they are often intolerable inſolent to ſubor
dinate white men : woe betide a poor overſeer if
1 he affronts one of them !
When an attorney viſits a plantation , he com
mónly invites a few diſipated gentlemen to ſpend
a few days with him ; he ſends wines and other
neceſſaries previouſly ; the only duty he does, is,
to take a ride in the cool of the morning or even
ing with the manager along the pleaſant walks or
intervals, or round fome of the cane pieces. In
the evening the manager is obliged to procure
fome of the fineſt young wenches for the gen
tlemen ; about fun fet they are ordered from the
field to wait upon their maſter and his friends ;
and though this is a pimp-like action, moſt mana
gers are guilty of ir. Theſe poor wretches waſh
themſelves in ſome river or pond , brace up their
breaſts, and meet at the great-houſe, where they
exerciſe themſelves with great dexterity, by.dan
cing in all the varied wriggles peculiar to their
F 3 ſer :
ſex; the gentlemen fit in the piazza with their

feet extended againſt the poſts, to keep them
from the cramp ; againſt bed time they are thus
properly drilled, and haſtened to the different
chainbers ; their black huſbands, or poor bockra
partners, being neglected, ſilently paſs thoſe
nights in diſagreeable Numbers, wrecked with
jealouſy and torture.
It is very amazing indeed to think how fur
priſingly nature operates through every pulſe and
vein of thoſe who are born and nurtured beneath
the torrid zone ; how far different their paſſions
and ſenſacions are from thoſe in colder regions ;
and even men from other countries, when they
get innured to the Weſt Indies, how imper
ceptably, like wax ſoftened by heat, they melt
into their manners and cuſtoms . In Europe,
Great Britain and Ireland I ſhould ſay, it would
render a gentleman of fortune odious in the
community to take half a dozen ladies of eaſy
virtue into keeping at once ; in thoſe countries
frigid lovers trifle away half their time in ſtiff
formalities and religious ceremonies, whilſt chil
dren of the ſun , foſtered and invigorated beneath
his cæleſtial rays, eternal votaries to the revels
of Bacchus and Venus, luxuriouſly and voluptu
ouſly ſpend their few days and nights in diffipa
tions dear delightful downy lap, whilſt African
manners and cuſtoms are native and congenial
to their hearts !
I ſhould
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS, 79
I ſhould have obſerved to you before, that he

who is chief in the ſuperintendency of a planta
tion in Jamaica, is called an Overſeer ; and in
the Windward INands, a Manager ; and the
Overſeer's Deputies are called Book-keepers ; and
1
in the Windward INands Overſeer's or Negro
Drivers ; however, when I have occaſion to ſpeak
of either in future, I ſhall call them overſeers
and book-keepers.
Overſeers all over Jamaica are generally Euro
peans, and get falaries from 100 to £ 300 ſter
ling per annum, and are accommodated with
comfortable houſes, furniture, &c. and Naves to
attend them ; they rear ( where they are induſtri
ouſly inclined ) abundance of ſheep, goats, lwine,
and poultry, for themſelves and their book
keepers ; beſides, the proprietors furniſh them
yearly with ſalt- beef, Port, butter, Aour, fplic
peaſe, barley, &c . and ſometimes with porter,
cheeſe, and hams ; the eſtates ſupply them with
vegetables, corn, ſugar, rum, coffee, and cho
colate; ſo that as to eating and drinking, over
ſeers and book- keepers live very well ; they all
meſs together ; nor is there ſuch diſtinction ob
ſerved among them as in the Weſt India Inands..
The meaneſt claſs of adventurers ſucceed beſt
in the planting line ; becauſe a man of education,
ſpirit, or genius, would think himſelf buried
alive, and would ſecretly repine and murmur at
his fate, to live among an illiberal narrow
minded ſet of cowſkin heroes ; it would be pain
F4 to
to him to expoſe his conftitution to the climate,

when his falary would barely pay for clothes,
much leſs the doctor's exorbitant bills ; nor
could ſuch a one go with alacrity through the
menial drudgeries of a book-keeper's life for
three, four, or five years ; for he who would
wiſh to be an overſeer muft ſerve his time ; dur
ing which painful period, if he does not humbly
cringe, fawn, Aatter, lie and diffemble, and
bear all the overſeer's inſults and reproaches
tamely without murmering, he need never ex
pect to ſucceed ; and tho' the overſeer be ever
ſo vile a ſcoundrel, he muſt not find fault with
him ; for ſhould a vindictive ſpirit, which com
monly rages in youth, tempt him to complain
to the proprietor or attorney, though the griev
ance and coinplaint are juſt, he may depend, as
ſure as he exiſts, that the whole fraternity of
cowſkin heroes will be againſt him, and ever
after will point him out as a dangerous perſon,
and it will be a vain attempt indeed for him to
perſevere in the planting line afterwards.
The buſineſs on a plantation is no way intri,
cate ; there are thouſands of circumſtances which
appearances only can teach ; an overſeer Thould
be active and induſtrious, of a ſteady, fober diſ
poſition, humane and charitable, ihrewd and
diſcerning in all his remarks and tranſactions
amongſt the flaves, as to their diſpoſitions,
health , ſtrength, food and raiment ; he ſhould
not only be a quack in phyſic, but ſhould have
fome
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 8.1
fome knowledge of every trade which concerns

a plantation, whereby he inight be capacle of
conducting buſineſs without rigid ſeverity.
Heavens ! how few are fic for ſo weighty a
charge !
Men , from their firſt entrance into the Weſt
Indies, are taught to practice ſeverities to the
Naves ; their minds are impreſſed by their brother
book-keepers, or others, with ſtrange and cruel
ideas of the nature of blacks, ſo that in time
their hearts become callous to all tender feelings
which ſoften and dignify our nature ; the moſt
inſignificant Connought ſavage bumpkin, or ſilly
Highland gauky , will ſoon learn to flog without
mercy to ſhew his authority ; but when ſuch get
elevated to the exalted ſphere of overſeer or
cowſkin hero, and get poffeffion of a few new
negroes, they become proud, inſolent, and
haughty ;-it is a very true adage_ " Set a bega
gar on horſeback, and he'll ride to the devil . ”--
The firſt and moſt effential qualifications ſuch
think neceffary, is to inſult, offend, and injure
their raw book-keepers, and to fog and torture
the Naves for the ſake of Aloging.
I was on many plantations, and am well ac
quainted with the nature of the cowſkin herd ;
and though I have known ſeveral worthy men
among them, I am ſorry to ſay that the major
part by far are mean , low-lived, ignorant
fellows. Sneaking Caution was an overſeer on
a fine plantation in the pariſh of Clarendon,
which
which had 270 Naves upon it , and though it

commonly produced 300 hogſheads of ſugar
when ſuperintended by a former overſeer, Sneak
ing Caution could never make it exceed 130
hogſheads yearly ; yet he was ſupported by the
attorney, and made a conſiderable property in
Naves . Sneaking Caution was a poor, ſtupid ,
filly, narrow-minded animal, of a timid jealous
diſpoſition ; when he perceived merit in any of
his book-keepers ( particularly if he could find
they had friends), he treacherouſly exerted every
baſe means to injure them, leaſt they ſhould ſup
plant him or get preferred ; but when he chanced
to meet an inſignificant puppy like himſelf, they
agreed well together. As Dryden ſays,
His hair and beard are of a diff'rent dye ;
Lame of one leg, diſtorted in one eye ;
Shew all theſe tokens of a rogue complete ,
If he be honeſt, he's a dev'liſh cheat.
He commonly ſet the negroes to work at wrong
Seaſons ‫ ;ز‬to dig cane holes in wet weather, and to
plant in drought ; and yet he always found excuſes
to palliate his bad conduct ; when the plants did
not thrive, or were burning, he ſtill exclaimed
againit the elements for not reverting the ſeaſons
to water and refreth his plants ; and when heavy
rains fell in proper ſeaſon, he was always dir
pleaſed ; the ground was ſo wet and heavy, that
it was very laboriqus to dig the cane holes, or the
belt of the canes were lodged , or the earth was
waſhed
Walhed away from the young plants ; thus the

capricious animal went on, conſtantly peſtering
the attorney with long and diſagreeable letters
and journals ; he commonly concluded his letter
with this cheering comfort : “ Notwithſtanding
« all the calamities this ill-fated plantation has
« ſuffered, I hope I will be able to make an hun
« dred hogſheads next crop . ” Sneaking Caution,
kept ſome of the beſt laves for domeſtics, to wit,
three houſe-maids, three fempſtreſſes, and two
ftout Wenches their apprentices, two waſher
women, two cooks, two women attending poul
try, and two ſtout wenches affiſting them, two
ſhepherds, cwo ſwine -herds, two fiſhermen , one
fowler, and one attending the warren and pidgeons;
here is a liſt of twenty-four Naves kept from
plantation duty every day in the year, to attend
a cowſkin hero and his two deputies, beſides
two boys to attend his horſes, makes the number
twenty-ſix. I think that fix Naves are ſufficient
to attend two or three men , and rather too many ;
he always appointed the ſtouteft Naves for watch
men, and the nighteſt occupations, whilſt the
weak and meagre only cultivated the plantation ;
beſides, he had not penetration fufficient to know
when Naves were ſtout and healthy, fick or weak
ly, poor or hungry, or whether they worked
cheerfully, or loitered their time, ſo that he fre
quently fogged them without faults, to thew his
authority ; by which cruel and unmerciful treat
ment, he forced many to ſeek ſhelter in the woods ;
there
there was commonly fourteen or ſixteen run away,

and four or five of the very beſt Naves in purſuit
of them .
He gave ſtrict orders to the watchmen to hide
every Nave which they might find breaking the
corn or canes ; i. e. to chop and murder them ,
and bury them ſecretly ; and when the ſkeleton
of a Nave, who had been “ done over " in this
manner , ( for breaking a cane, the root of which
he himſelf probably planted, ) was found, he made
an entry in the plantation book thus : “ Longville,
“ a worthleſs fuperanuated fave, died by eating
“ dirt ; or Eaſt, a diftempered worthleſs run away,
“ died of a dropfy .”
When the liſt of flaves with their occupations
and condicions was made out yearly , to be ſent
to their inafter in London , he was very particular
in annexing ſome degrading word to their names ;
ſuch as old, infirm , lame , diftempered, fickly ,
“ weakly, dropſical, fure legs , yaws, invalid ,
run -away . ” So that out of two hundred and
ſeventy, he hardly allowed fifty healthy and ſtout,
and all to ſcreen his bad management . He fel
dom muftered more than feventy in the field, fo
that he put the eſtate to an annual expence of
£ 200 or £, 300 for jobing gangs to allift to cul
tivate the eſtate .
1
Sneaking Caution took ſpecial care to plant

plenty of Indian corn to pamper his horfes, and
feed his faves which were hired on the eſtate ;
he always had excellent dinners and good accom
modations
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS . ES
modations for ftrangers; ſo that he was fre

quently ſurrounded by numbers of the neighbour
ing cowſkin gentry ; he was remarkably police and
attentive in getting them ſprightly bedfellows, for
he had a feraglio of fine wenches at command,
and was conſidered the moſt obliging, ſimple,
good natured, pimple fellow exiſting.
Little Conſequence, a journeyman weaver ,
had not been ſix months a book- keeper, until ,
through the influence of his brother, a pedagogue,
who got the parſonage of one of the beſt pariſhes
in the iſland, he was preferred to the manage
ment of a fine eſtate in the pariſh of Vere ; the
little ſhuttle - driver, being elevated from the
threadle to a cowſkin hero , purchaſed borfes, a
kiccerine, and fine clothes, and was ſoon honoured
with the appellation of the beau planter ;in ſhort,
he was the prince and emperor of coxcombs, and
was making a fortune rapidly, until an unlucky
circumſtance tranſpired , which blaſted and ruined
his reputation ever after. It appeared that Little
Conſequence was very induſtriouſly inclined , and
had an uncommon itch for that ſort of traffic call
ed higling, which induced him to diſpoſe of
part of the ſugars and rum privately, alſo, the
plantation ſtock and ſtores, until at length theſe
matters were detected , and poor Little Conſe
quence was diſbanded in diſgrace ! I am ſorry
to ſay that there are too many Sneaking- Cautions ,
and Little Conſequences, in Jamaica, and all
over the Weſt Indies .
An
An overſeer ſhould be allowed a generous fa

lary ; nor ſhould he be permitted to pamper horſes,
cattle, nor ſtock of any kind, to ſell or barter
for his own emolument ; nor ſhould he be intruſted
to diſpoſe of any of the eſtate's produce, leaſt he
fhould be tempted to act diſhoneſtly. I knew
many overſeers who accumulated very rapidly,
large properties by retailing rum and ſtock for
the uſe of the proprietors, and yet to ſupport
tolerable good characters, becauſe their villainy
was not detected .
I muſt not omit to mention a very wrong prac
tice of overſeers, moſt injurious to proprietors
in general ; that is, planting Indian corn , or peas,
amongſt the canes ; it is very evident to the mean
eſt capacity, that the richeſt ſoil will be impo
veriſhed more or leſs, according to the load of
vegetables it produces; for every plant extracts
its peculiar nouriſhment from the earth ; the
nurfe who ſuckles more than one babe at once
will exhauſt herſelf, nor can ſhe do them all
juſtice ; the fimilie between vegetables and ani
mals in this caſe is nearly the ſame; for if that
food on which two, or three, meagre animals
barely exiſt was given to one, it might be ſufe
ficiene to facten ic ; hence, if that foil on which
poor canes and ſpindly corn grow at once, was
allotted to canes or corn only, either might
Aouriſh luxuriouſly. It was a very ſhrewd and far
caſtical ſaying of a gentleman who had been many
years in England, and had left the attorneyſhip
of
of his eſtate to a cabbage-headed gentleman in

Kingſtown : On his return, finding Indian corn
Aouriſhing through the canes ( for corn has a lux
urious ſtalk , and has the advantage of canes in
quick vegitation ) the corn was freed from weeds
and carefully moulded, and the canes neglected .
Seeing his plantation in ſuch a ruined condition,
he with much compoſure of mind very tamely
addreſſed the overſeer, whoſe name was Fungee,
thus : “ Mr. Fungee, I find you are very induftri
ous ; you certainly have uncommon abilities, and
will make a fine crop of corn to pamper your
horſes, ſwine, and poultry ! but do not you think
them worthleſs canes rather hurtful to it ? Supa
pofe you would order the ſlaves to ſet in and hoe
them up. What ſay you, Mr. Fungee ? "
Poor Fungee was ſo confounded that he was
incapable to reply ; conſcious guilt glowed in his
face, and indicated the agitations of his avaricious
heart ; but how miſerably was this lofty cowſkin
5
hero fallen in two days afterwards, upon receiving
a letter directing him to give up charge of the plan
tation to the bearer, and to quit it immediately.
Now , the real fact was this : the cabbage
headed gentleman in Kingſtown was related to
Fungee, and had been always ſupplied with
mutton , pork, and poultrý, alſo corn in wane
loads for his horſes and negroes from the eſtate :
he was affected to be deprived of thoſe valuable
ſnacks, and to find his reputation, like a foot
ball, kicked about.
TC
高
It is very cuſtomary for overſeers to mix the

weak and fickly negroes in the ſame gang with
the ſtout and healthy, and to make them keep
yp their rows alike ; and when any of thoſe miſe
rable, and probably half -farved wretches lag ,
to infilt on their black deputies to cut and man
gle their ſhrivelled ſkins, and torture them from
morning 'till night, in like manner as if they were
mules or oxen ! inſtead of nouriſhing them with
proper food , and dividing them into different
gangs, proportioning the work to their abilities
and ſtrength . Such overſeers deſerve not the
name of men ; they are as bad as hangmen ; bar.
barous as hottentots, with favage fouls. Overſeers
endeavour to perſuade that it muſt be ſo, and
ſay that the Weſt Indies would be of no uſe if
ſeverity was not exerted ; and many maſters of
Naves entertain the ſame nocion , and have as little
pity and regard for them as for their oxen, as ic
is their intereſt to preſerve the lives of both and
to get as much labour as poſſible out of them .
Even creole children, as ſoon as they begin to
lifp, are taught to tyrannize over their domeſtics;
thus, cuſtom , the deſpotic ruler of reaſon , is
dead to the voice of humanity, and ſmothers
benevolence and charity.
The company and converſation of overſeers, in
general , is flat and inſipid to all but themlelves,
and ſeldom extends further than that of their vaſt
conſequence and authority over the flaves, their
uncommon abilities as planters, their amours
and
and gallantry with black and tawny wenches ; of
their inſulting tyrannic behaviour to their raw
book- keepers, or expoſing the blemiſhes of their
abſent neighbouring acquaintances ; or of corn
and cane pieces; and the ways and means they
ſeverally practice to deceive the attornies or pro
prietors ſuch commonly are the topical ſubjects
of the planting herd .
The life of an overſeer is by no means a life of
eaſe or content ; though he may at times indulge
himſelf in every vicious practice, yet; while he
fits an hour extraordinary after dinner with his
friends, he is uneaſy in his mind leaſt ſomething
is neglected, or he may be ſurprized by the
attorney.
And if men , whoſe bread depend on planter
fhip, enter into the connubial bond, it will injure
them, becauſe it is not pleaſing to gentlemen to
have families on their eſtates ; a woman re
quires attendance, and may incriere with the

managenient, ſo as to influence her huſband in the
government of the rod ; beſides, a lovely amiable
whitepartner would appear as an angel amongſt
naked rude blacks, and attract her huſband to
ſquander that time which Mould be devoted to
plantation duty in a more delightful manner; fo
that barchelors' fare beſt, on which account they
keep black or mongrel girls, and every grovelling
overſeer and book keeper is as faſhionably wicked
as his employer, as Davy ſays in the play. He
G goes
goes a wenching with as much eaſe and tran:

quility as if he was going to a ſermon . The fol
lowing ſong is applicable for a cowſkin hero.
AIR. Iriſh Hautboy.

Tho' * he may growland grumble,
The haughty imperious man ;
I'll be content and humble,
And I'll pleaſe him if I can.
Bleft with the charge of an eſtate,
And of a gang of negroes great ;
I am a planter, quite compleat,
A famous cowíkin hero !
From ſultry toil and labour,

I'm retir'd every day ;
Or I viſit my next neighbour,
And with his girl toy and play.
Sometimes I juſt take a ride,
Over the plantation wide ;
Or at home I ftruť and ſtride,
A famous cowſkin hero !
My book-keepers I humble,
Humble as the canine race ;
When they attempt to grumble,
I ſurely kick them out of place.
Thus live in eaſe, with health and gain ,
Whilſt they trudge thro' mud and rain ;
Expos'd to toil, diſeaſe and pain,
Whilft I'm a cowſkin hero !
* Alluding to the attorney:

My
My driver I've made crazy ,

The flaves under due command ;
He ſtill, when they are lazy,
Pays them with an iron hand .
Whether they are fick or well,
Or had a long hungry ſpell ;
Every crack ſhall fairly tell,
Whilft I'm a cowſkin hero !
了9
I plant fields of Indian corn,
Ay, and plains of Guinea graſs ;
Pamper horſes night and morn ,
And indulge my favourite lafs.
When ſol is blazing in the ſphere ,
I fit coolly with my fair ;
Or kiſs and play, ſo baniſh care,
A famous cowſkin hero.
Young men, before they leave their native and

peaceful habitations, form ſtrange ideas of the
Weſt Indies ; their minds are fed and inflamed by
fickly Hope's deluſive dreams, ſo that every ad
venturer is buoyed up with the chimerical notion
of acquiring abundance of wealth without much
difficulty, but not one in forty ſucceeds ; and
even thoſe who do, only ſhine away for a little
time, “ great in their crimes , " and go off in a
ſtink , like the ſnuff of a candle .
Some years ago the Weſt Indies ſuited poor
adventurers vaſtly better than at preſent; formerly
tranſports acquired large properties ; it was not
thought ſtrange for convicts after fix or feven
years bondage was over to enter into marriage
G2 with
S S
92 MANNER AND CUSTOM
with their maſter's daughters, and thereby get

poffeffion of Naves and cultivated plantations ;
and the offspring of thoſe ( ſcum of priſons) now
flouriſh . Of late, the Britiſh colonies in the Weſt
Indies are ſo over -run with the fons of peaſantry,
from different parts of Great-Britain and Ireland,
particularly from Scotland, the latter well edu
cated men in general, that it is very difficult for
poor men of any other nation to ſucced as they
do ; for the Scotch are partial and friendly to each
other, are keen and cunning, and inſinuate them
ſelves with wonderful dexterity into places and
penſions; yet there is no rule without an ex
ception ; I have known many candid, opena
hearted, impartial, and friendly Scotchmen ; ſo
that you muſt not deſpair of ſucceſs, for you will
have a chance as well as another. I ſhall now en
deavour to point out to you the different grada
tions, in both the planting and mercantile lines,
which young men commonly go through to
arrive at any degree of greatneſs.
When a green-horn , as he is properly called,
arrives, he enquires and delivers his letters of
recommendation , and is got into buſineſs, as I
obſerved to you before ; indeed, if he has no letter
nor friend, his own modeſt behaviour and appeara
ance will recommend him in the country, for
overſeers are glad to get green-horns, becauſe
they can impoſe hardſhips on them, and make
them ſubſerviant to their intereſts. Here I muſt
obſerve, that letters of recommendation , if they
arc
are to good men, may be of effential ſervice to
a ſtranger, by introducing him to reſpectable
connections ; and yet I would not have you de
pend much on the promiſes of great men . I was
warmly recommended to his Excellency gene
ral Darling, the honourable Richard Welch, and
others ; and though each took me by the hand,
and gave me dinners at times, and though I con
ducted myſelf as prudent as I poſſibly could, be
cauſe I did not fawn, cringe, and put up with
a little- minded cowſkin hero's abuſes, they did
nothing for me at laft,
The uſual ſalary for a book -keeper in the coun
try is £ 40 per annum, with board, waſhing and
lodging, the ſame as the overſeer ; in the wind
ward iſlands, book- keepers are not permitted to
meſs at overſeer's tables, for which reaſon they are
not ſo much reſpected as in Jamaica.
In the windward iſlands the ſalary is greater,
as they muſt board themſelves ; in thoſe iſlands
>
any man may get an overſeer's birth ( called a
management ) through intereſt ; in Jamaica it is
not ſo ; for I never knew an overſeer there who
did not ferve at leaſt two or three years, ( fave
only Little Conſequence before mentioned ).
When a young man gets into a good employ,
I mean where the attorney , without favour or
affection, makes it an eſtabliſhed rule to prefer
the oldeſt book-keepers in rotation , he ſhould
ftrive to pleaſe the overſeer, and remain in it as
long as poſſible ; if he continues three or four years
G3 on
on one plantation it will be a recommendation to

him ; and if the atcorney is a good man he will
take notice of him accordingly . Nothing can
be more hurtful than many movements ; “ a roll
ing ſtone gathers no mofs.” Should he and the
overſeer diſagree, though his friends ſupport him
and ſend him elſewhere, they will naturally con
clude that he is in ſome meaſure culpable ; be
fides, overſeers, being low-lived fellows, will, to
juſtify themſelves, tell falſe ſtories, which may
gain ſome credit ; ſo that every movement will
lefſen him in his friend's opinion, and retard his
ſteps to preferment. Ifa man has friends he ſhould
not boaſt of them , nor tell every perſon who
they are ; it is bad to tell an enemy your ſtrength
or weakneſs, for he will diviſe methods to attack
and encounter you accordingly.
Overſeers are commonly jealous when they
perceive that their book-keepers have friends, or
merit ; ſo you will pleaſe to obſerve this, to be
ſecret, and not to let any man know the bottom
of your heart. It is good to have friends, and
bad to be too troubleſome to them, but worſe to
need their aſſiſtance.
The firſt charge a book- keeper gets is that of
the ſheep, goats, ſwine, and poultry (called the
ſmall ſtock ) with the keys of the corn, and other
ftores; he muſt be very particular in getting up
early every morning to haſten to the field tº call
the liſt and return to feed the ſmall ſtock , and
to count them exactly ; he muſt keep an exact
account
account of the increaſe and decreaſe of each kind,
and muſt mark even the date on the eggs, ſo
that he may ſee the oldeſt fet firſt. He muſt
every morning enter in his book the number of
each kind that are with egg, leaſt the ſtock - houſe
woman deceives him ; and though you will think
all this a very menial part of duty , which I cer
tainly think it is the greateſt and moſt honour
able men in Jamaica were obliged to do it.
Turkies are the moſt difficult kind to raiſe ; at
firſt they require great care and attention, 'till
they get ſtrong and grow to perchers ; a ſmall
grain of bird - pepper, that grows in the country ,
given to each as ſoon as out of the ſhell , is ſer
viceable ; alſo , to turn them out early in the
morning in ſome ſhort green graſs paſture, and
to keep them under ſome ſhade in the heat of the
day. Guinea or India corn ground is the beſt
food ; and as they are ſubject to the yaws, a dif
temper very diſtructive amongt them , they ſhould
be rubbed every morning, when they have this in
fection , with roaſt limes and brine.
It is alſo neceſſary to examine the ſheep, goats,
and ſwine every morning, leaſt they have fores in
their feet, and be devoured by vermine. An
ointment made of half a pint of the ſpirits of tur
pentine, a pint of lamp oil, a dozen of eggs, and
as much temper lime as will, when beat up ,
make a conſiſtance as thick as parte, is excellent
for killing vermine, keeping off Aies, and heal
ing of fores, for ſmall ſtock, cattle and horſes.
G4 About
About eight o'clock the book -keeper goes to

breakfaſt, and afterwards gives out neceſſaries for
dinner, and haftens to the field 'till twelve, at
which time he returns-he dines about one
o'clock;-he ſits at the foot of the table oppoſite
the overſeer. When the bell is rung to order the
flaves out to work , the cowſkin hero drinks the
King, as a ſignal for the book -keeper to depart ;
he returns about five or fix o'clock to fee the ſtock
fed, and is kept conſtantly buſy about one thing
or another till paſt eight ; he then gets his ſupper,
and goes to reft his wearied limbs on a couch of
plaintain traſh, with Oznabrig or ſacking ſheets,
ſhielded with a pavilion of the ſame kind.
A book- keeper is obliged to fuperintend every
domeſtic tranſaction : when a ſheep or a hog is
killed , he muſt ſtand by and direct a negroe how
to falt it ; and as it is very difficult to preſerve
meat three or four days, the beſt method I ever
could learn, was to have a tub, ( half a puncheon )
with a falſe bottom full of holes, or a baſket, ſup
ported by a few bricks, with a few gallons of was
ter beneath ; the meat ſhould be falted well with
dry ſalt about two or three hours after it is killed,
and laid on the falſe bottom , or baſket, and preſ
fed well with ſome weight ; the next day it ſhould
be rubbed well again with ſalt, and packed as
before ; the cold water beneath, though it ſhould
not touch the beef, allifts to extract the juice.
NOTE, that if freſh beef, or meat of any kind, is
not ſalted in time, that is, the day it is killed, it
will
will not keep after ; and if meat, though ever ſo

well ſalced, lies in its brine, it will not keep.
A book-keeper muſt go round the corn field
and cane pieces, to ſee if any are broken or ſtole;
he muſt be here and there and every where ; in
deed the different parts of his duty are as various
and progreſſive as the days in the year.
He commonly gives his firſt year's ſalary for a
horſe; for though in the Windward INands gen
tlemen ride mules, it would be conſidered a dif
grace in Jamaica for the pooreſt man to ride one ;
his ſecond year's ſalary goes to the doctors, and
the third to the merchant and taylors ; in ſhort,
if he can keep tolerable clear of debt for four,
five, or ſix years, and humbly flatter, fawn,
cringe, lye, and diffemble, during the time, and
tamely bear the overſeer's inſults and reproaches
without murmuring, he will be recommended as
an active, clever, fine young man ; and, though
quite the reverſe, will get preferred.
After he arrives to the dignified ſtation of a
cowſkin hero, if he behaves ſtrictly honeft he ne.
ver will arrive to any great degree of conſequence.
Though he will be allowed no indulgence but
that of pampering a few horſes, and reſtricted to
a certain number, he may keep a favourite wench,
to keep a ſtock -houſe in her name, and to carry
on ſome pedling traffic in ſheep, pultry, &c.
As merchants in general are batchelors, they
dine at ordinaries ; their clerks are obliged to find
themſelves in board, waſhing, and ſometimes
lodging :
ERS MS
98 MANN AND CUSTO
lodging ; and though one gets a ſalary of 1501.

or 200l . ſterling per annum , he cannot ſave fix
pence , if he lives and appears in the manner
clerks generally do ; nay, it will be good eco
nomy if he keeps himfelf clear of debt ; clerks
dreſs more faſhionable and gay than overſeers or
book-keepers, and ſhift once or twice daily,
Board and lodging in a creditable houſe will coſt
about80l. ſterling : and as conſtant waſhing, and
the deſtructive method black women take of
beating and rubbing the clothes with ſtones and
ſtumps of graſs to ſave the expence of ſoap, wears
them amazing faſt, it will require yearly, if he
has not brought a good ſtock of ſhirts, neck
cloths, breeches, waiſtcoats, coats and ſtock
ings from home, about 301. : add to this 201 .
for two cloth coats , two hats , twelve pair of
ſhoes, hair- ribband and hair-dreſſing, and 12 1 .
for waſhing , -- all which are requiſite and cannot
well be diſpenſed without, and though a mode
rate computation , amount to 142 1. A large
ſum indeed, for the bare neceſſaries of life, with
out including an odd dollar, which of courſe will
be ſpent in taverns at times : for though a clerk
be ever ſo frugal, he cannot well avoid going in
to public places like others. Notwithſtanding
all this, clerks like to dreſs genteelly on Sundays ;
for every one, I believe, is buoyed up with the
notion that one time or another he will be a mer
chant; well knowing that almoſt every Weft- In
dia merchant was nothing better originally than
a clerk ,
a clerk, therefore they wear fine waiſtcoats and

florentine breeches, filk ſtockings, ſet buckles
&c. &c. keep or hire horſes and kitterines,
and drive about like their employers, or go buſ
kined like fox hunters, and keep favourite girls,
5
&c. &c. all which would require another 1421.
Now, as it appears from what I have ſaid, that
clerks ſave nothing, but rather involve them
ſelves in debt, you may aſk , “ how is it poſſible
that they can ever become merchants, or great
men ?” It may indeed ſurpriſe you, as it often
did me, to ſee brats of ſhop boys, and even ſome
who have been indentured from charity ſchools,
and ſuch dunghill traſh, ſpring up like muſh
rooms, to be intruſted with conſiderable proper
ties, and in the ſpace of four or five years to be
capital merchants ; there are a variety of ways
and means by which clerks aſcend. If a poor
young man ſerves a merchant three or four years
ſo as to gain his favour, he may get letters of
credit, and be put into buſineſs for himſelf ; or if
he be clever at buſineſs he may be taken into
partnerſhip, and in cime his friend and benefactor
may go to Europe for the benefit of his health,
whereby he is intruſted with the conducting of all
the buſineſs, and has a glorious opportunity of
becoming a great man on the ſpoils of his pa
tron ; or if a young man is ſober, keen, and active,
he may puſh himſelf into credit, get bargains at
vendue, keep a favourite wench, and make her
retail them at cent. per cento profit: or ſuch a
perſon
perſon may inſinuate himſelf into the favour of

the public, rent a ſtore and turn vendue maſter;
the five per cent. commiſſion on all goods he dif
poſes of is ſure and ſafe profit, and in time he
may make ſome money , get credit , and turn
merchant; indeed any huckfter or grog - ſhop
keeper with care, induſtry, and a little roguery ,
will make money faſt, and may commence a
merchant ; a young man who is fent out ſuper
cargo, if he conducts himſelf very prudently,
may gain the good will of his friends, and they
may fet him up in buſineſs; I knew many fuper
cargoes who were intruſted with conſiderable pro
perties forgot themſelves and lived more extrava
gant than men of fortune; had their merchandize
fold at vendue at the laſt at leſs than firſt coſt ;
and by bad management and diſſipation ruined
themſelves and friends.
From what I have ſaid , you will naturally
very
conclude, that though they are ſtyled merchants
in the Weſt Indies, they are only factors; and
here I muſt obſerve, that I have often wondered
>
how European merchants can poffibly give ſuch

large and long credits to thoſe factors, conſidering
the precariouſneſs of life, the uncertainty of pay:
ments, the diſtance of place, and the difficulties
and riſques they ſo frequently run, even at the
Jaft, of getting paid at all , by adopting either
mild , litegative, or coercive methods.
“ Look round, and fee what others do,
« Would you be rich and honeſt too . "
A's
As ſoon as a man gets poffeffion of ſome pro

perty, though it may be all on credit, or at beſt
three fourths of it, he is ſtimulated by cruel pride
and haughty ambition to ſignalize himſelf in ſome
public character, untill he is elevated, ſtep after
ſtep , as I ſhall now mention ; the firſt honour
conferred upon him is that of a juſtice of the
peace ; next he infinuates himſelf into the favour
of the few freeholders of the pariſh wherein his
involved or mortgaged property lies, and gecs
choſen a repreſentative of the aſſembly : I have
known the moſt illiterate, rude, aukward trader
men, ſuch as carpenters, bricklayers, mill- wrights,
tinkers, taylors, ſhavers or barbers, legiſlators
in the Weſt Indies.
The next manevre is to get himſelf choſen
one of the council or aſſiſtant judges ; in order to
accompliſh which , he artfully infinuates himſelf
into the favour of the commander in chief, or che
preſident, by giving a few good dinners, &c. & c.
1
When a man is appointed a juſtice of the
peace he ſhould have four volumes of Burns
Juſtice by him ; and if he be of a fiery arbitrary
nature , he ſhould endeavour to curb and inode
rate his paſſions, to ſteer clear of prejudice, and
to look upon all men to be as good as himſelf;
and never to be ſo weak or ſilly to think that all
the law is contained in Burns Juſtice, leaſt he
brings himſelf into trouble : Burns Juſtice is
only an index to part of the law : - " a little
learning is a dangerous thing. " I know a ma
giftrate
giſtrate who was put to vaſt expence at common

law for fending a poor man to goal for killing his
cat ; it appeared that the cat had frequently ſtole
the poor man's poultry , and one day he ſhot the
nine lived animal as it ran out of his fowl-houſe ;
ſo that magiſtrates ſhould be exceeding cautious
in their commitments, and of every kind of en
croachment on the liberty of the ſubject, leaft
they pay dear for it.
When a man gets into the aſſembly , or be
comes one of the council, he ſhould ſtudy the
laws of the iſland, and the proſperity of the peo
ple in general, and learn by ſpeaking to himſelf
in private, to argue with ſome degree of logic
and graceful oratory ; not to follow the precepts
of his caliloo, or pedling little minded brethren,
when they meet in aſſembly, chattering of canes
and corn pieces, of graſs penns and cattle, or of
beef and butter, rotten cheeſe, herrings, &c. &c.
ſuch converſation may fuit cowſkin heroes or
clerks, but it is highly improper in the kings
houſe .
Any man, though ignorant of the law, may
be appointed chief or alliſtant judge, which I
think is very improper, for none but old expe
rienced barriſters ſhould fill ſuch places . Should
you be elevated to a tribunal of juſtice, ſay little,
look grave and attentive, and you may paſs for a
man of ſenſe; but I would adviſe you, however,
to pay particular attention to the evidences, to
let common ſenſe direct you, and not to be
baffled
bamed by the quirks or chicanery of lawyers ; and

leaſt your memory may prove falſe to forget the
obligation you entered into, to write down and
get by wrote, or to paſte it over the place
you fit when adminiſtering juſtice, an oath, as
follows :
You do ſwear, that you will , according to

the beſt of your ſkill, conſcience, and
judgment, do equal right, law and juſtice,
to his Majeſty and all his ſubjects and
people, both rich and poor, without favour
or affection, hatred or malice, or having
regard to any perſon whatſoever that hath
any matter, cauſe or any thing at any
time depending before you.
So help you GOD.
This may prevent you from cenſure before God
and man ; for every ſubject, the meaneſt as well
as the greateſt, has an equal right to juſtice.
1 Juſtice. ſhould not be bought or ſold, nor ſhould
it be delayed from any man , for “ every man
has a natural unalienable right to look upon
himſelf equal to any man whatſoever." It is
not eſtates or titles that makes one man better
than another ; men only excelf in ſouls and ſen
timents ... When judges or magiſtrates ſhew fa
vour or affection , hatred or malice, to any par
ticular individual (even to the poor tar, who has
been barbarouſly treated on his voyage by the
remorſeleſs
remorſeleſs Guinea captain ) who applies to them

for juſtice, it is a violation of the law, and a
ſtrong proof of the depravity of the human
heart .
How odious muſt men appear who are choſen
out from among the reſt to diſtribute juſtice,
when they are capable of corruption ?-and I am
ſorry to be obliged to ſay that there are too many
of this kind , not only in Jamaica, but all over
the Weſt Indies.
" When the righteous are in authority , the
people rejoice ; but when the wicked beareth
rule , the people murmur.”
From all I have now faid , you may be aſſured ,
that if you do not behave yourſelf courteouſly ,
humble, and ſubmiſſive , and keep your tongue
as it were with a bit and bridle, and your mind
cloſe to yourſelf, you never will be a great man :
Shakeſpeare ſays moſt pointedly,
But it is a common proof,
ambition's ladder,
« That lowlineſs is young
Whereto the climber upward turns his face ;
But when he once attains the upmoſt round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, ſcorning the baſe degrees
By which he did aſcend.”
Thoſe who are born in the country are called
Creoles, the men in general, fave only thoſe who
drink ſtrong liquors to exceſs, are of a ſickly ,
pale, yellowiſh complexion, meagre, weak, andd
emaciate
emaciated to appearance ; their contrarious cha
racteriſtic is, that they are open- hearted, gene
rous, kind and hofpitable to exceſs ; proud,
vain, high - ſpirited and fighty to an extreme' ;
lazy, dull, and indolent, in all induſtrious,mat
ters ; and volatile as air where drinking, whoring,
gaming, or any kind of diſſipation invites ; ſo that
their hearts and fortunes ſeldom agree ; for they
are extremely extravagant, and know not the va
lue of money or effects. till they want them.
They are amazing fond of coſtly, tinſel frippery ;
abroad they appear ridiculouſly gay, and at home
flovenly and dirty ; and when deprived of the
advantage of an European education, are aſſum
ing and preſuming, negroefied, aukward , igno
rant guegaws ; their darling amuſements are con
fined to negroe huts and mulatto balls ; though
a Creole was languiſhing on his death bed , I be
lieve the ſound of the gumbay or violin would in
duce him to get up and dance till he killed himſelf,
They are very fond of all kinds of ſweetmeats
and ſweet liquors: cool drink or * mauby is a
delicious nectar to them in the morning : - I often
laughed heartily at hearing a Creole maſter or miſs
ſay, “ Do, momma, get me ſome mauby, mine
head 'no 'tand good.” It is quite uſual for a
Creole gentleman after dinner to ſend to the
field for one of his favourite wenches, who is in
Itantly hurried home and conveyed to his cham
* A fermented liquor, made of ſugar, water, and ginger,
and lignumvitæ .
HI ber,
ber, (or if he has a wife, to ſome other apart

ment) piping hot and drowned with perſpiration,
in which condition he enjoys the ſavoury object ;
after which he takes a nap for an hour or ſo , and
ſhe returns to labour till night : thus he takes
!
one almoſt daily in rotation, and roves with as
much eaſe and dignity as a plenipotentiary
through raptures of delight, and enjoys happi.
neſs as he likes it.
When pepper-pot and wine his blood alarms,

He takes a qualhiba unto his arms :
The melting object pleas'd, then takes her hoe,
And works and ſings ' till night “ Tajo, tajo.”
Creole men commonly keep black or mungrel
women till a day or two before they enter into
the ſerious bond of marriage; and though there
may be a family of different coloured children of
their intended ſpouſes ready made before them,
yet it does not hurt their delicacy ; in one fainily
I have ſeen white, meſtee, quadroon and mulatto
children, all brothers and ſiſters, playing toge
ther.
1 muſt not be too ſevere, for I have known a
few prudent ſenſible Creole men, who lived with
in bounds, and paid their debts honeſtly ; and
further I will ſay that they are as capable of im
provements in all the polite arts and ſciences as
other men ; if talents of this kind could make vo
latile fighty men ſedate and ſolid, no doubt but
they would all act and behave like other men ;
hence ,
hence I inuſt conclude that their uncommon le
vity is certainly owing to the climate, which has
a wonderful influence on the brains and hearts of
even Europeans. Creoles are witry at times, and
numbers can ſpeak and write ſenſibly though they
act incon Giſtant and fooliſhly ; which confirms
what Dryden ſays :
« Great wits to madneſs ſure are near ally'd,
" And thin partitions do their bounds divide."
Creole ladies who have been properly edu .
cated and poliſhed in England from their infancy
in polite ſchools, under the direction of parental
guardians, are, no doubt, as - prudent, chaſte,
and fine women as any in the world , ſave only
what difference of climate produces; for when
they return to their native regions, they cannot
keep long, (if Imay uſe the expreſfion ) : the cli
mate, I am confident, would affect European la
dies in the ſame manner ; ſo that if they have op
portunities with men, it is difficult, very difficult
indeed , for them not to tranſgreſs; even married
ladies, the tranſgreſſions of whom are in a great
meaſure owing to the neglect of their diffipated
huſbands, who waſte their vigour and ſubſtance
upon black or mungrel wenches, which certainly
is very provoking, and deprives poor wives of
their dues ; -yet I have known fome ladies who
had no cauſe at all to complain of their huſband's
infidelity, which, I muſt ſay, is a great rarity,
who behaved intolerable : one, in particular, was
H 2 married
married to a worthy gentleman who was doatingly

fond of her, by whom he had four or five prat
ling pledges of connubial bliſs ; he had a plenti
ful fortune, and was diſtinguiſhed for hoſpitality
and generoſity; nor did he ever ſuſpect her virtue,
till he accidentally found her in a ſituation which
I ſhall not mention, with a captain of a man of
war , who frequently viſited him as a particular
friend ; upon examining her trunks, all the let
ters which ſhe had received from her different
gallants were found ‫ ;ز‬for it appeared ſhe had not
only criminal connections with the marine hero,
but with merchants, planters, and clerks : the
letters were producedin court, with her own private
journal of all her intrigues and amours, and cri
ticiſm's on the different gentlemen : the cap
tain was proſecuted, and conſiderable damages
were obtained, which were appropriated to cha
ritable uſes ,
The good natured dupe, her huſband, was dif
tracted for ſome time, but recovered ; he took
the harmleſs little ones into his own protection,
and diſbanded their vile mother.
Young ladies who have been confined to the
narrow limits of Jamaica from their infancy, are
foft, innocent, ambitious, Airting play -things ;
and in a more particular manner, thoſe who are
retired in the country ; when they dreſs, they de
corate themſelves elegantly : abroad they appear
as neat as if they came out of band-boxes, lovely
and engaging at home, diametrically the re
verſe ,
verſe. If you ſurprize them, as I have often
done, you will be convinced of the truth of this
aſſertion, that Ovid, with all his métamorphoſes,
could not match ſuch transformations : inſtead of
the well -ſhaped , mild , angelic looking creature
you , beheld abroad, you will find , perhaps, a
clumſy , greaſy tomboy, or a paper-faced ſkeleton,
romping, or ſtretching and lolling, from ſofa to
ſofa, in a dirty confuſed hall, or piazza, with a
parcel of black wenches, learning and ſinging
obſcene and filthy ſongs, and dancing to the
tunes.
Creole miſſes, when ſcarcely teri,

Cock their eyesand long for men.
But ſtill as they arrive to riper age, they de

light more and more in the tender paſſions: when
they take a liking to men, though entire ſtrangers
to them, they feldom fail to ſhake off all manner
of modeſty and ſhame to gratify their extravagant
deſires :—though guarded and cooped up in their
chambers by their parents, or friends, they will
find ways and means to get to men ,-their eyes,
their looks, and fondling actions, all betray wan
tonneſs and love their little hearts are a ſort of
tinder, that catch fire from every ſpark who fat
ters their vanity, and whiſpers them ſoft non
fenſe :--they are pliable as wax, and melt like
butcer ; and though naturally delicate in their
H 3 texture,
I10 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
texture, they are fondeſt of ſtrong, ſtout-backed

men .
Both married and ſingle ladies are very dexte.
rous at preparing of pots, as they call them, for
their huſbands or lovers : a pót is a meſs made
of a ſmall piece of falt pork or beef Niced, with a
fowl diffected, fome ocras, yams , plaintains, ca
liloo, and plenty of fire -balls, or red pepper ; this
inflammable, glutinous preparation is favory,
and a great provocative ; they think it ſtrength
ens the back , and ſomething elſe too, but in my
opinion, though it ſtirs up the blood to force a
luftful deſire, it impairs the conſtitution : for na
ture when forced is impoveriſhed ; hence, it is no
way ſtrange that her children are weak and
fickly.
Notwithſtanding the little foibles of Creole wo
men, they have many good qualifications, and
are vaſtly better than the men , and much clean
lier in ſome reſpects than Britiſh or Iriſh women.
It is often the caſe for the little innocent country
mifles to make love to men, though ſtrangers,
by billetdoux or meſſages : I have been ſome
times honoured with importunities of this kind,
and did not reject their offers ; as much as I could
learn, the ſummit of their wiſhes was only to
pleaſe their inclinations,” (as they ſay in their
ſongs ). Their ideas of marriage and the ſolemn
engagement of the connubial tye, are rather ſu
perficial: and that may be well accounted for
from what I have already ſaid, as they feldom or
never
never go to church ; and though taught a ſmata

tering of reading and writing, are obligated to
negroe and mungrel wenches for the principal
part of their education, amongſt whom they ſee
nothing from their infancy but jilting, intrigues,
and ſcenes of obſcenity. Says the little wanton
miſs with Rocheſter,
Marriage! O hell and furies, name it not.".

Or, with Pope,
“ Not Cæſar's empreſs would I deign to prove,
« No--make me miſtreſs of the man I love."
+
A man who enters into the marriage bond with

a Creolé lady who has poor relations or friends,
though he gets ſome property with her, will re
pent his bargain , and will find himſelf diſagree
ably circumſtanced in various reſpects ; for it will
not be his wife and little progeny alone he will
have to provide for, but all the poor brothers
1
and lifters, uncles and aunts, couſins and half
couſins of his good - natured ſpouſe ; nor can he
without offending her prevent their hanging ons
nor will they endeavour to provide for themſelves,
or defcend to honeſt induſtry, whilſt they are ſupe
ported by him in idleneſs : -his better half tells
him, “ My dear, if you love me, you ſhould
love my relations and friends alſo s my dear, if
you wiſh to ſupport me and my little ones, you
hould ſupport them alſo :" hence it would be, 1
H4 16 As
ir2 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
“ As you married me, you ſhould marry them

alſo ; " the equations are all equal- fine Alge
bra !
When a little miſs makes a Nip, it is ſoon over
looked by her indulgent parents or fond friends ;
ſhe will love a man dearly for making her a mo
ther, till which time ſhe is a maid ; and the dear
little pledge of their ſtolen bliſs will be tenderly
nurſed ; but it commonly happens when they
wiſh to conceal their tricks, that they are ſent to
Europe for their education ; one of them ſeldom
remains any time in England, till fame ſounds
" a rich Weſt Indian heireſs.” She foon gets a
number of admirers, and at laſt ſome Engliſh
ſharper, Iriſh fortune- hunter, or Scotch gentle
man worth nothing, makes her an honeſt wo
man .
After Creole maſters and miles have been

fome years in England, and introduced into all
the faſhionable pleaſures and vices of London,
Bach, Briſtol, &c. and return to their native re
gions, every thing ſeems fat and inſipid to them :
they cannotbear to live peaceably and quiet on their
plantations -no, they muſt have ſuperb houſes
and grand retinues in town, far beyond their abi
lities ; and there again their reſtleſs paſſions are
at war : Miſs Jenny Gauva, nor maſter Billy
Pompion, cannot endure the ſultry heat of the
climate, nor the vulgar inſipid converſation and
diſagreeable company of Miſs Marice Firefly,
Miſs Kitty Barebones, Tommy Caliloo, or Jacky
Salamander,
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS , 113 .
Salamander, their once favourite companions ;

no, dear London for ever. Ranelagh, Vaux
hall, Sadler's Wells, and the theatres, are their
themes ; nay, even their poor faithful naves,
though once their youthful companions, whoſe
calibaſhes they often aſſiſted to drain when
full of high -ſeaſoned pepperpot, are become
filthy brutes or hottentots to them :-no, dear
England's white -headed , white-legged, ſwinging
ly polite and obliging footmen and waiters for
ever. But this great and affected nicety foon
wears off, till they return to their original creo
liſm .
“ Send a gooſe to Dover,

“ And a gooſe it will come over.”
Creole ſiſters living in the country, though

ſingle, have commonly each a number of ſheep,
goats, ſwine, and poultry , in this I muſt give
them ſome credit for their induſtry ; they are fond
of their litcle flocks, and enjoy a pleaſure in feed
ing them ; they call them by their different
names, and know each ſeparately by particular
marks or features ; even their chickens and duck.
lings are named by them.
I once lived contiguous to a few families of
theſe ſoft authors of delight, and ſpent many
happy vacant hoursamong them : their rural ha
bitacions were to me terreſtrial paradiſes-- but
one was an elyſium : when the ſcorching coils of
the
the day were over, I often eſcorted them along

lime or cane intervals, and ſometimes through
thickets of Guinea graſs fix or ſeven feet high, to
pluck ſtar apples, neeſeberries, oranges, &c. & c.
at the neighbouring gardens and orangeries; and
when the ſtarry mantled night overſpread her
fable canopy , and luna only guided our ſteps, we
frequently went to a river, where we all bathed
naked together, without reſtraint or formality:
In murmuring Mina oft and oft again ,
We brac'd our limbs and gambold in the ſtream.
I was well acquainted with a widow lady and

her two daughters, who lived in a lonely retired
part of the country ſurrounded by hills and
woods, where they had a plantation and about
one hundred and forty Naves ; the old lady, well
knowing from her own youthful experience how
brittle female ware was, anxiouſly wiſhed to diſ .
poſe of her daughters to advantage, and was re
markably attentive to every gentleman who fre
quented her houſe ; at a certain time ſhe invited
a number of gentlemen to a dinner, in hopes that
ſome of them would be ſmitten ; for five or fix
days preceding this great and grand entertain .
ment, every thing was hurry, boftle, and confu
fion : the houſe was waſhed inſide and outſide,
the floors and piazzas of fine cedar were rubbed
with wax, and Ihone like poliſhed mahogany;
the young ladies chamber was cleared of all
nafty
naſty trumpery, and expoſed to view. At laſt

the day appointed came ; the morn was woeful to
the ſheep and ſwine ! it was a woeful morn for the
poultry, young pigeons, and young rabbits ! and
a ſad and lamentable morn for the inhabitants of
the woods and waters ! 'ere it was quite light,
one of the beſt wethers, two innocent lambs, one
brawny barrow, two roaſting pigs, two turkies,
two geeſe, four ducks, four capons, two maiden
1
pullets ( as they call them ), twenty -four pigeons,

and fix rabbits, loſt their lives ! The rivers and
little rivulets were poiſoned with hogſheads of
lime ; barbarous act! cruel operation ! not only
drained of mullets, mudfiſh , crabs, lobſters,
ſhrimps, &c. but all the ſmall fry totally de
ſtroyed ! Six Naves were ſent out with guns ;
they made the woods and corn pieces reſound ;
doves of various kinds, partridge, quails, and
Guinea hens fell victims ; the harmleſs unwieldy
turtle, which had been pampered for months be
fore in a rub , now loſt its head, and was dreſſed
into different ſavoury diſhes ; alſo, the jewtiſh
and kingfiſh, with plenty of delicious oyſters,
freſh from the fea or ſalt river. There were ſe
veral cooks, and a number of pots and ſpirs en
gaged ; there were pyes, puddings , tarts, and
cuſtards upon
upon cuſtards in abundance, and the
ovens were ſeveral times little Ætnas. There were
a variety of ſweetmears, and the choiceſt fruit the
iſland produced ; alſo, wines , cordials, & c. &c.
The plate on a ſideboard bruſhed moſt bright,
no *
116 . MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
not ſullied with the pureſt water, made a glitter

ing appearance . At length the gentlemen croud
ed, and the tables were quickly overſpread with
an amazing number of diſhes, five times more
than ever I have ſeen at an Iriſh wedding.
Preſently Miſs Louiſa and Miſs Laura (as I
fhall call them) made their appearance ; they
were gaudy and elegantly dreſſed, and extremely
tight laced ; their cheeks had been artfully
ſcorched with red peppers, which gave them
beautiful bluſhes : they ſeemed all lovely, all di
vine ; nor did their female fable attendants,
which were dreſſed in white, as emblems of inno
cence, cut a deſpicable figure. 3
During dinner the gentlemen were as polite as

poſſible to the young ladies, each endeavouring
with all his might to inſinuate himſelf into their
good graces, by the eloquence of his eyes and
tongue. “ Pray, Miſs Louiſa, will you permit
me to help you to a bit of the turkey ; it is very
fine !” " Tank you, fir, wid all my haut.”
“ Pray miſs, what part do you like beſt ? ” “ Sir,
Iſe don't love turkey rump - Iſe love turkey
bubby.” Miſs Laura was taken notice of for
having no appetite ; though ſhe was preſſed by
the different gentlemen, ſhe could eat nothing
at length a military gentleman who fat next to
her, aſked her if ſhe was indiſpoſed , or what could
it be that affected her, that it made hinn very un
happy : Little miſs replied , “ O fir, Ife can't
tell.” Her mother then peremptorily demanded
to
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS .' 117
to know what was the matter with her ? --and

Laura replied, “ Me quite ſorry mamma, Iſe
went in a buſh to-day to do my and Yel.
low Legs come, and he knaum my , and
him puke ; o I'm quite ſorry for poor Yellow
Legs!” At which uncouth expreſſion ſome of
the company ſmiled , and I was in pain for poor
Laura, for ſhe was my favourite. The fact ap
peared to be this : ſhe had been that forenoon, as
uſual, in the cook- room, where ſhe ate a cala,
baſh full of ſubſtantial pepperpot ; it had a pur.
gative effect on her ; ſhe had a neceſſary call back
1
wards, and her favourite lap.dog, Yellow Legs,
followed her ; you may gueſs the reſt.
During dinner, they did not forget to repri
mand the maids ſeveral times, for not bruſhing
off the flies; which put me in mind of their
ſongs.
Quaſhibas, why you no bring buſh ;

• You no fee flie kackaw in a diſh ?”
After dinner there were different baſons with

water introduced ( according to cuſtom ) for every
perſon to waſh their hands ; but the military gen
tleman not being acquainted with the practice,
inſtead of waſhing his hands, drank off the con
} tents of his baſon , which
occaſioned ſome of the
gentlemen to ſmile, and the young ladies to laugh
heartily ; but this harmleſs miſtake and piece of
innocent mirth had like to terminate very ſeri
ouſly,
ouſly, for captain M.Kill - all (which was the of.

ficer's name) being pert and raw, proud and ige
norant, like many other military puppies, to
ſhew his courage, challenged and fought one of
the gentlemen next morning, and unfortunately
M‘Kill-all came off with a Night wound in the
Thoulder.
The old lady, who headed the table, contri
buted vaſtly in promoting mirth and chearful
neſs, by drinking “ Somebody," and giving a
knock at the ſame time on the table, ſaying,
“ Here ſhe goes.” She had ſimilar fentiments
at command ; which eaſy free politeneſs inſpired
the gentlemen with courage to take the liberty of
raviſhing her daughters of ſome ſweet kiffes.
After the gentlemen were all departed , miſs
Louila and miſs Laura took off their ſtays, and
put on their romping frocks, and aſked me to
take a walk with them , as uſual ; during the ex
curſion through a ſpacious and delightful garden ,
imbowered with fhaddock , cuſhue, cocoa- nut,
orange, and other fruit trees, we at length ſeated
ourſelves in a lonely and lovely arbour of grape
and granadillo vines, where delicious fruit were
pendant all round, whilſt the mocking birds
were warbling their melodious ſtrains ; miſs
Louiſa and miſs Laura ſung moſt charming
catches, which inſpired me with ideas different
from what I before entertained ; on our return
through a plantain walk, we went intentionally
aftray .
6 I long
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLAM 119
« I long to taſte beneath ſome plantain's ſhade,

66 The warm endearments of a willing maid ;
“ Whoſe tender years the nice gradation prove,
“ When infant fondneſs ripens into love ;
" There claſpt in tranſport to her beating breaſt,
“ Each ardentwiſh without reſtraint poffeft:
“ Raptures repeated on delight ſhould rife,
« Bloom o'er the cheeks, and languiſh in the eyes,
“ In man let great, let glorious actions blaze,
“ The art of pleaſing be the woman's praiſe ;
“ The wanton kiſs, the warm laſcivious move ,
66 Are female virtues” Creole woman's love !
Ne'er ſhall my heart forget the pleaſing days,

I gaily ſpent once in Jamaica dear !
Sweet fertile ifle, where genial friendly rays,
And verdure crown eternally the year !
Deareſt favourite of the torrid zone ,
Whom nature, bounteous, ſheds her bleſſings o'er,
Where chilling blaſts are never , never known,
And clothes for ornament are only wore !
For me, no more I'll feek thy tamarind ſhades,
Nor rove again through lime or orange grove ;
No more I'll wander with thy Creole maids,
Thro' lonely walks, to taſte the ſweets of love.
From what I have ſaid you will, I ſuppoſe,

conclude that I have been a vile profligate, and
that it is ungenerous in me to expoſe the foibles
in young ladies, by whom I was ſo much favour
ed. In anſwer thereto, I only write to you as a
friend ; and was you now in Jamaica, you might
never find out the families I allude to, for I have
concealed their names and places of abode : and
I ftill
MAN "
I 20 ANNERS AND CUSTOMS
I ſtill regard the young ladies, though I abhor

their manners and cuſtoms; I think it is to be
lainented that in ſuch a foriſhing iſland as Ja
maica, there are not proper ſeminaries for the
inſtruction of both ſexes, of thoſe whoſe parents
cannot afford them an European education ; choſe
ſeminaries ſhould be well ſupplied with Engliſh
maiters and mistreffes whoſe abilities and morals
would bear ſtrict ſcrutiny ; alſo, with men and
maid ſervants from England . The children
ſhould be put to ſchool at an early age ; nor
ſhould they have any intercourſe, if poſſible,
with any of the black or tawny race, to corrupt
their dialect and morals,
I think it is very neceſſary that every man
ſhould ſtudy the nature and diſpoſitions of dif
ferent women, as well as of men ; and he cannot
get a proper knowledge of the former without
fome Ginful experience, diſeaſe and expence : I
would recommend it, even to my ſon, to get in
troduced into a bawdy houſe at cimes, but to be
particular in his choice of the company who in
trodụced him, as to their friendſhip and integrity;
and if he got a few comfortable kickings, with
two or three ſmart touches of a faſhionable diſeaſe,
ſo that he got properly cured again, to make a
long and laſting impreſion on his mind, and
after trying the tempers and diſpoſitions of other
women , their ſtrength and weakneſs, &c. he
would be cool as ice to the ogling incitations of
jilting coquers, and the vile allureinents of dif
tempered
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS . 12f
tempered harlots, who with fictitious ſmiles and

aching hearts procure their exiſtances: he would
ſhun their dens of infamy, and deteft their horrid
keepers, wicked hags of hell ; and if his conſti
tution was not too far impaired, he might make
a prudenc loving huſband, a good father, and a
good maſter; he would know the value of a truly
virtuous woman better than the baſhful youth
who never went attray. “ Who can find a vir
tuous woman ? For her price is far above rubies."
Do not imagine from what I have ſaid, that
every Creole lady is ſo ſoft and ignorant as Miſs
Louiſa and Miſs Laura , I have mentioned be.
fore, that thoſe who are educated properly from
their infancy are as chaſte and well bred women
as any in the world ; I only point particularly at
thoſe who receive their education amongſt negroe
wenches, and imbibe great part of their dialect,
principles, manners and cuſtoms.
The company ofpolite ſenſible women is ſervices
able to young men ; I would wiſh you to get intro .
duced to ſuch as much as poſſible; for there is a
certain delicacy, a ſoftneſs and ſweetneſs of manners,
and brilliancy of wit and ſentiment, to be found
in women only, which poliſh and refine men :
By frequenting the company of polite women you
will ſhake off aukwardneſs and clowniſh rufticity .
Without women men would be mere brutes.
“ Can there in woman be ſuch glorious faith !
“ Sure all ill ſtories of the fex are falſe :
“ O, woman ! Lovely woman ! Nature made you
1 “ T.
I 22 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
“ To temper man ; without you we'd been brutes :

" .There's in you all we can believe of Heaven ,
“Amazing brightneſs, purity and truth,
“ Eternal joy and everlaſting love ! ”
Yet, I would not have you be one of thoſe
faſhionable monkies, conſtantly dangling after
the ſex, carrying the lap dog of one, and the
fan or Nippers of another - no, women like men
to appear and act like men , and not like baboons
or aſſes. One thing more I recommend to you;
if you wiſh to keep in favour with the fair, never
contradict them, but coincide with them in their
impertinences and little abſurdities; for flattery
in diſguiſe, artfully diſplayed, is an eſſential in
gredient; and though you be ever ſo ſeriouſly
inclined , when you get amongſt ladies throw all
care aſide, and be all attention ; there is a certain
affable and agreeable lively behaviour, and chit
chat nonſenſe, which you muſt practice; and al
ways have at command a few nice little humorous
wrapped up anecdotes, &c. It is a general rule
all over the world, amongſt the lovely ſex, from
the cinderbritch to the dutcheſs, that flattery and
trifing preſents in time and ſeaſon have a won
derful effect in ſoftening their hearts.
• Or wou'd you the frowns of a lady prevent,
“ She too has this palpable failing;
“ The perquiſite foftens her into conſent;
“ That reaſon with all is prevailing."
Having
Having thus far endeavoured to give you ſome
idea of Creole men and women , I ſhall next treat
of Mongrels ; a Mongrel is any thing that is ena
gendered or begotten between different kinds, and
reſembles neither in nothing but form ; ſuch as a
mule that is begot between an aſs and a mare ; or
in the human ſpecies, a Sambo, that is begot by
a Mulatto and a black : a Mulatto, that is begot
by a white and a black : a Meſtee, that is begoc
between a white and a Mulatto : a Quadroon, that
is begot between a white and a Meſtee, &c. & c .
A Sambo is of a ſooty dark brown colour, with
hair or coarſe wool, like that of a negroe, but
rather longer; a Mulatto is of a yellow fickly
colour, without the leaſt tincture of roſy bloom ;
a Meſtée is much fairer than a Mulatto, but of
a ſickly hue ; a Quadroon is as fair as ſome
whites, but rather delicate and ſickly inclined.
When Mongrels of different kinds copulate to.
gether, they beget Mongrels differing from
themſelves, of which there may be innumerable
gradations ; for in my opinion, Mongrels , though
thirty generations diſtant from blacks blood ,
cannot be real whites.
All Mongrels, male and female, have a vaſt
ſhare of pride and vanity , baſeneſs and ingrati
tude in their compoſitions : their delicacy and
ignorance being ſuch , that they deſpiſe and de
grade their parents and relations inclining to the
fable race ; the men , if born to eſtates or proper
I2 ties
ties ( as many are ), are much of the ſame nature

of the illiterate white Creole men ; not much in
ferior, but of courſe more negrofied; and when
they are not kept at a proper diſtance and under
due ſubjection , are often very infolent and im
pudent. When thoſe ſpurious cubs, having no
trades, ſquander what their infatuated parents be
queathed them, they turn out the moſt thieving
pilfering vagrants ; for never having practiſed
any induſtry, but beggared themſelves by their
profligacy and diſſipation , Creole falhion , they
are quite ignorant ever after of the ways and
means to earn their livelihoods induſtriouſly and
honeſtly . If a gentleman wilhed his Mongrel
ſon to do well , he ſhould do nothing more for
him than to give him a ſmattering of reading,
writing and arithmetic, to procure his freedom ,
and bind him at an early age to a trade, during
which time to ſtint him in both money and
cloaths, and to convince him that he might
never expect any other favours ; in ſuch caſe, he
might labour for a livelihood , and come to ſome
good. I knew a Mulutto man in Spaniſh - Town,
whoſe father did little more for him than to pro
cure his manumiffion, and bind him to a mill
wright ; and this very man in the year 1784.
when I was in Jamaica, was attorney for thirty
or forty plantacions, and ſuppoſed to be worth
4 or 500l . ſterling.
As for Mongrel women, though the daughters
of rich men , and though poffefſed of ſlaves and
eſtates.
eftates, they never think of niarriage; their deli

cacy is ſuch, for they are extremely proud, vain
and ignorant, that they deſpiſe men of their own
colour ; and though they have their amorous de
ſires abundantly gratified by them and black
men ſecretly, they will not avow theſe connec
tions. It would be conſidered an indeniable ſtain
in the character of a white man to enter into a
matrimonial bondage with one of them ; he
would be deſpiſed in the community, and exclu
ded from all ſociety on tliat account.
« All men ſhou'd wed with their fimilitude;
6 Like ſhou'd with like in love and years engage ."
When one of them gets a child as brown or

browner than herſelf, it is conſidered a very great
blemiſh in her character; on the contray, if it chan
'ces to be fairer, it is her greateſt pride and glory :
her friends and relations rejoice - the bantling is
handled and dandled -- the father is flattered and
praiſed " a man , for true ” --the mother is ca
reſſed - a joyful mother ! On which account fe .
males uſe every art to ſet themſelves off to the
beſt advantage, to make themſelves pleaſing and
engaging companions for white men ; and when
one of them is diſbanded by the man who had
her in keeping, (or as they ſay, ſhe had in keep
ing) the plumps up her breaſts like an innocent
virgin , or wanton baſhful bride, viſits balls and
plays, and ſtroles about until ſhe is picked
up by ſomebody elſe. They are very artful, 1
I 3 and
and diſpoſe of their ware to the greareſt advana

tage ; maidenheads are very inticing ; and though
their arms have been as common as the chairs of
barbers for years, they will impoſe themſelves
for maids ; for in theſe caſes they are more know
ing than whites . I have often met many fine
looking Mongrel girls, young and innocent to
appearance, as deceptious as any Covent Garden
country miſs,
Sume men are ſo weak and filly as to think
that black girls will not ſuit their purpoſes, and
bargain with the parents of Mongrels to hire
their daughters for the uſe of proſtitution. Nay ,
even Creole ladies , as I have ſaid before, will
hire their negroe wenches to white men for that
uſe. If you wiſh to get a fine young Mongrel,
you muſt ſolicit the favour of the miſtreſs, or
give five pounds to the black mother as well as
to the tawny daughter. They ſay in their ſong,
“ Come, carry me in a room ;
« Come, carry me in a room;
" And give them five pound piece,
Come, carry me in a room ;

“ Come, carry me in a room ;
“ And lay me on the bed .”
The black women uſe every means to draw

young men to their rookeries, in order to proſtie
tute their daughters ; I have been often compel
led by the mother to ſpend a whole night with
her
her gingerbread daughter.-- Thoſe gypſies have a

wonderful aſcendancy over men, and have injured
many, both powerful and ſubordinate ; the poor
Naves on a plantation are obliged to pay then as
much adoration as the Portugueſe do the Hoſteſs
or Virgin Mary ; for the government of the cow
fin depends in a great meaſure on their ſmiles
or frowns ; therefore I beg, whatever department i
of life may be your lot, that you will keep your
employer's boſom - gipſy modeſtly at a diſtance ;
that is, not to be free or familiar with her, and
not to be reſpectful or impudent to her, whereby
you will looſe your conſequence, and ſhe will in
ſult you ; and do not quarrel with her if pof
fible .'
Never ſtrive to ſeduce your friend or employ
er's kepe-miſtreſs, for it is mean, and will injure .
you with batchelors in general ; but if the haunts
you , ſo that you cannot well avoid her, do not
be a Joſeph : I was once plagued by a letcherous
tawny whore, who followed me in every private
room, ſinging bawdy catches, with wanton gef
tures, and luring and laſcivious invitations ; and
becauſe that I acted through principle, and had
nothing to do with her, the deceitful Mrs. Poti
pher, the vile incendiary, the damnable dæmon
of iniquity, artfully inſinuated all the baſe ſtrata
gems which her malicious heart could deviſe
againſt me ; by which means niy employer treated
me ſo ill, that I was obliged to diſcharge myſelf.
IA It
It was then I reſolv'd evermore to beware

Of provoking the brown, as well as the fair ;
But keep them my friends wherever I'd go :
For a gipſy when ſlighted 's a dangerous foe.
O then I adviſe you, be briſk with eachfair,

Nor reject a kind offer to graſp at a ſnare ;
Yet, pray never ſtrive to ſeduce theſoft race,
But, when they invite -- take care of your place.
In towns, Mongrels are commonly taught to
read and write , when their parents can afford it ;
and every one gets more education in the heels
than in the head, ( for, like the white Creoles,
they are amazing fond of dancing ) ; when one of
thein makes a ball, as they frequently do on Sa
turday nights, the invites a number of her female
acquaintance, alſo, ſuch merchants and clerks as
will honour her on the occaſion, ( none of her
.
• own coloured men are admitted ) ; ſhe engages a
bands of muſic , and prepares an elegant ſupper,
with ſweetmeats, wines, &c. &c. for which each
gentleman pays three or four dollars : lawyers,
merchants and clerks, &c. frequent ſuch affem
blies, and promiſcuouſly meet and joftle each
other : I have ſpent many merry nights at fuch
balls . When you are ſometime in the country,
get yourſelf introduced by ſome friendly ac
quaintance ; the affectation of theſe giphies will
diſpel care, and make you laugh heartily ; beſides,
you will have opportunities of ſeeing and getting
acquainted with ſome of the fineſt girls in the
ifandi
iſland : groups of lamb-like laffes, decorated moſt

curiouſly in filks, mullins and chintz, ornament
ed with ribbands, faſhes and coſtly trinkets,
ſhining to the greateſt advantage; there you may ,
if inclined for ſport, dance the daughters of the
moſt honourable gentlemen into love ; and when
the ball or rigadoon is over, eſcort her to your
houſe or lodging, and taſte all the wanton and
warm endearments ſhe can yield before morn
ing
Here I muſt give you ſome neceſſary cautions,
Jeaft you be premature in your amours ; as many
infatuated men, of pimping jealous diſpoſitions,
go to thoſe balls merely to watch their girls, and
to keep them chafte till they return. Be cau
tious and ſecret in your intrigues, leaſt you get
into diſagreeable and unneceſſary broils ; for,
“ he that is robbed, not wanting what is ſtolen,
let him not know it, and he is not robbed at all ; "
therefore, when you take a liking to one of them ,
enquire of herſelf, or of fome other perſon, whe
ther ſhe is engaged or not ; they will tell you can
didly, and direct you ſo that you may gratify
your deſires. Mongrel wenches from their youth
up are taught to be whores : you cannot affront
one of them more than to give any hint of her
being dull and unſkilled in the magical art ; but
ifyou wiſh to gain her favour, you muſt flatter
and tell her ſhe moves her body and limbs ſo en
gagingly, that you are confident ſhe muſt be very
expert
expert at a certain charming dance, and ſhe will

foon give you an opportunity of thewiog her abi
lities .
Indeed , it is very difficult, and almoſt impof
ſible for any young man, though ever ſo prudent,
to live amongſt them for any length of time,
without having unlawful connections with them :
they have too many alluring temptations to lead
men aſtray ; nay, was it poſſible that a man could
have ſufficient reſolution to abſtain from them,
they would exert every baſe means to torment
and inſult him, and at laft.conclude that he had
loft the uſe of his members, or was no man ; ſo ,
in order to avoid aſperſions of this kind, whenever
you go to their balls, be briſk , and chooſe out a
partner for the night.
All Mongrels, male and female, are more cruel
and ſevere than whites to their Naves ; nay, even
thoſe who are born Qaves, and continue ſo till
they arrive to the age of twenty -five or thirty
years, when by art or ſtratagem they procure
their freedom , like all other mean beings, when 1
raiſed from nothing to ſomething, they hate all

retroſpect, and, like the Caladonian , “ who no
profeffion knew or trade, conna recollect” their
primitive inſignificance : I have known many
gipſies, though ſubject from the age of eleven to
.thirty to the proſtitution and luſt of overſeers,
book -keepers, negroes, & c. to be taken into
keeping by gentlemen, who paid exorbitant hire
for their uſe, and in the end to gain ſuch aſcen .
dancy
dancy over their keepers , as to have their free

dom recorded , and to get pontefion of Naves and
estates and as ſoon as the'e African queens be
came miſtreiles, to filog and torture muſt cruelly ·
on all occaſions, their ſlaves and former compa
nions, to fhewitheir notority, as they fay : the
yellow ſnake fays to her poor black wench who
ſhe is learning to be a ftitcher, “ Yoú damn'd cor
pion ! You black vipa ! Iwill flog you libba out !
Put him in dere ! Put bim in dere ! Dat will nebba
do foa me, garl ! Wind him fo ! Work bim fo ! Hold
him fo ! Jig him fo ! Kackkar foa you ?
In Kingſtown and Spaniſh Town, particularly
the ſuburbs, there are many full rookeries of ·
theſe couch- wood amorous damſels -
: cake care
of your conſtitution, by avoiding their fires as
much as poſſible. However, as there are many
berter than others among the tawny ' race, if you
chance to meet an agreeable young woman , who
upon enquiry (do not credit her own words) you
will find was not mucli proſtituted, if you pleaſe
and humour her properly, ſhe will make and
mend all your clothes,, attend you when ſick, and .
when ſhe can afford it will affiſt you with any
thing in her power, for many of them are good
natured : and this I hope you will obſerve ;
though you make one of them your companion
by night, do not be ſeen in a public place by
day with her, nor do not accuftom yourſelf to be
haunting their huts by night, as many raw young
men do, for it will be taken notice of, and may
injure
injure your reputation. When a white man is in

clined to get a Mongrel or black girl for a night,
the uſual mode is to hire a boy or old woman to
procure one. Upon the whole, I think it is a great
weakneſs, and an infatuation bordering on phren
zy in men, to waſte their vigour and ſubſtance
upon harlots, whites, Mongrels, or blacks. A
virtuous women is a crown of glory, and her price
is far above rubies ; bur lewd women are foun .
tains of human frailties. In hiſtory we read that
the greateſt misfortunes have attended men
through the means of women ; and we ſee in
ftances daily of the baſe diſſimulating ſtratagems
of the ſex , by the numbers who are brought to
the gallows through their means. Solomon ſays
moſt beautifully,
“ Give not thy ſtrength unto women, nor thy
ways unto that which deſtroyeth kings. - For the
lips of a ſtrange woman drop as an honey - comb,
and her mouth is ſmoother than oil : but her end
is bitter as wormwood , ſharp as a two-edged
fword.Her feet go down to death, her ſteps
take hold on hell. - Luſt not after her beauty in
thine heart, neither let her take thee with her
eye-lids.Can a man take fire in his boſom , and
his clothes not be burned ?-Can one go upon
her coals, and his feet not be burned ?-For a
· whore is a deep ditch, and a ſtrange woman is a
narrow pit.”
From all I have ſaid , you may form fome idea
of the ſcenes of profigacy and diſtipation prac
tiſed
tiſed in Jamaica, and how much religion is abuſed .

when neglected even in the towns ; though there
are eighteen pariſhes, and twenty incumbents
paid ſalaries from government, excluſive of the
emoluments ariſing from chriſtenings and burials,
(as for marriages, I need not mention them they
are ſo few ) yet they ſeldom preach on Sundays,
and when they do, few go to hear them, for they
are the worſt preachers I ever heard ; and the
moſt abandoned finner cannot bear to hear the
holy ſcriptures read over like a ballad by profi
gate rakes and pedagogues, who never were de
figned for ſacerdotal functions; and who, inſtead
of fhewing good examples by endeavouring to
reform the vices of the times, they themſelves
practice every exceſs and debauchery. I was well
acquainted with five of thoſe reverend gentlemen,
who, though they were married to amiable la
dies, wantonly roved from Mongrel to Mongrel,
from black power to black flower, and had ſpu
rious progenies of different coloured children dif
perſed all over the iſland ; and when they get
drunk, which was almoſt nightly, they boaſted of
their amours, and gloriouſly exulted in their
wickedneſs . ,
There are many free black men and women all
over the iſland , ſome of whom have Naves and
plantations, and live very comfortable and hap
py. The moſt conſiderable number of free blacks
are king Cudjoe's ſubjects: I once had occaſion
to croſs the illand, and called at that ſable mo
narch's ;
narch's ; he lives in a ſnug little houſe, thatched

with wild pymento leaves, retired on a rugged
rocky mountain covered with huge trees, in the
pariſh of St. Mary ; where the wild romantic fitu
ation, and the croaking of ravens and crows,
added much to the folemnity of the ſcene.
I was ſaluted by two centinels who were fta ,
tioned at the door ; king Cudjo hearing me, came
out, and aſked me to alight, and take ſome re
freſhment; I thanked him , and as I was much
fatigued , embraced his offer.
I aſked him as many queſtions as I thought I
could modeſtly, without giving offence, reſpect
ing his ſituation : he told me that he lived very
happy, that he had about five thouſand black ſub .
jects, commanded by his brother, Captain Davy ;
that they cleared odd ſpots of woodland, planted
plenty of corn and other proviſions, raiſed ſinall
ſtock , killed wild cattle, ſwine, & c . " I have
brandy, rum and porter, ( ſaid he ) make free,
you are kindly welcome, I am always glad co en
tertain a ſtranger:" In ſhort, I dined heartily, and
was treated with much civility. I aſked him,
how he poſibly could get liquors or other fup
plies to ſuch a remote ftupendous wilderneſs ?
" O fir, ( replied he) his Majeſty in England ſends
them to me yearly ; we are very good friends : I
furniſhed him all this war with a thouſand of my
men .' I was alſo ſo inquiſitive as to interrogate
him concerning their freedom ; and he very can
didly
didly told me, that when the iſland was taken by

the Spaniards, his anceſtors would not ſurrender
themſelves, but reſolved to be free, or periſh ;
and held out ſo long in the woods, that having
killed ſeveral of the Engliſh , and tired the reſt,
a treaty of peace was concluded upon ; ſince
which time they have been loyal ſubjects. Dif.
ferent parties of them traverſe the iſland, and go
armed ; they take up runaway negroes and bring
them to their mafters, for every one of which
they are paid at a certain rate per mile.
When king Cudjo dies, his eldeſt ſon or Cap
tain Davy ſucceeds him . He had on a red coat,
red breeches, a gold - laced hat, ſhoes, and no
ſtockings; his wife had nothing on but an Ozna
brig frock .
Some writers, in ſupport of the African iniqui.
tous trade, have endeavoured to perſuade that
vaſt numbers of the negroes imported from that
coaſt partake of the brute creation ; under the
pretext that the ſpecies of the Oran -outang, or
wild man of the woods, frequently copulate with
the women . And to confirm this, ſays a very
ludicrous writer, « Not long ſince a cargo of
them arrived in Jamaica, whoſe hands had little
or no balls to the thumb, and whoſe nails were
more of the claw kind than otherwiſe . " This is a
moſt abſurd affertion a notorious falſehood : for I.
have ſeen thouſands and tens of thouſands of both
Africans and Creole negroes, not one of whom
came under this denomination , nor was there
the
the ſmalleſt analogy between them and ſuch mon.

fters. The ſame writer again obſerves very wan.
tonly, “ In this caſe the coloniſts in the Weſt
Indies are inſtrumental in humanizing the de
ſcendants of the offspring of even brutes . " I ſay
that the colonies in the Weſt Indies, for the ſake
of two luxuries which all the world might well
diſpenſe without, which are ſugar and rum, I
fay, that for the ſake of theſe and ſome other tri
fing articles of commerce, they are inſtrumental
in murdering about fifty thouſand human beings
yearly, “ God's own images, though cut on ebo
ny.” This is very obvious from the numbers im
ported into the Weſt Indies ; for if Naves were
treated well, there would be an increaſe inſtead
of a decreaſe ; nor would there be any encourage
ment at all for the African trade : this has been
confirmed by ſome few humanę maſters who re
fided on their eſtates. It is ſuppoſed that about
one hundred thouſand Naves are yearly exported
from Africa; ſeveral of theſe poor wretches, when
they get ſickly on the Guinea coaſt, are thrown
over-board alive to ſave inſurance; and from their
being ſtowed ſo cloſe together, about ſixteen
thouſand are computed to die during their voy
age ; about thirty thouſand more die in the
ſeaſoning; and the reſt wither out their exiſtance,
as I ſhall hereafter mention .
But to return to my ſubject: I will admit, with
Brooks's Natural Hiſtory, that there are vaft
numbers and various kinds of baboons refem
bling
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS .
،،
137
bling men in Africa, that they at times attack

and defeat armed men , that they are laſcivious
and fond of women , and that it may ſometimes
happen when an odd one of the latter gets aſtray
in the woods, that ſhe may be overpowered and
debauched by thoſe fatyrs; but I am well con
vinced from good authority, and my own know
ledge of the black ſex, that they have the greateſt
averſion to them ; hence I conceive it novel of
thoſe who ſtrive to perſuade that conception's ſo
frequent take place from embraces of this kind,
even admitting the organs of generation in the
human and brute creation to be the ſame, which
cannot be ; for though there may be ſome fimili
tudes, thoſe who have ſtudied the ſecrets of na
ture, point out valt difference ; beſides, it is well
known that blacks are in ftature as tall and
comely as whites, and as exquiſitely formed in
every reſpect ; and though ſome may be inore de
formed than others, it is cruel and illiberal to in
finuate the leaſt ſuggeſtion of their partaking of
the brute creation. How many white deformed ,
ſtupid , ignorant, indolent, lazy, idle ſavages, ba
boons and fatyrs in human form, are there in
Great Britain and Ireland ? who, in my humble
opinion, are as juſtly entitled to be dragged from
their parents and friends, from bogs, heath and
furs, ſhipped off, and doomed to eternal Navery,
as the unhappy ſons and daughters of Africa.
Others think themſelves juſtified in counte
nancing this abominable trade in human blood,
K becauſe
becauſe Navery is mentioned in ſeveral parts

of the Old Teſtament: 'by the laws of Mo
ſes the Iſraelites purchaſed ' naves from the hea
thens, they bartered and ſold each others prifon
ers of war as they now do in Africa. Were we
to practice the barbarities practiſed in days of
yore, inſtead of poor blacks our Naves now
would be French, Spaniards, Dutch, and Ame
ricans ; it is thoſe chriſtians would be obliged to
handle hoes, bills, and axes, and to cultivate our
colonies, and in retaliation their colonies would
be cultivated by Britons ; or were we to act like
Joſeph's treacherous brethren, when a brother
our fleſh and blood offended us, we would tum
ble him into a pit or well, or ſell him to any re
morſeleſs ſtranger ; or were we to imitate our
firſt father and mother, inſtead of gaudy dreſs,
breeches and petticoats, we ſhould wear only the
leaves of trees to hide our nakedneſs, and would
be in the ſame innocent ſtate as blacks were be
fore they were corrupted by our firſt chriſtian vi
ſitors to their coaſts ; for they were as harmleſs as
lambs till chriſtians, like ſerpents, beguiled them ;
when verſed in their damnable deceptious ſtrata.
gems, avarice, pride, and cruelty induced them
to form themſelves into petty kings, and then
encouraged by chriſtians to war with each other,
by whom they are ſupplied with inſtruments of
death , and ſpirituous liquors to inflame and ſet
them mad, to kill and kidnap, and ſell each
other, for theſe and ſome paulty trinkets.
There
There is not a word of Navery mentioned in
the goſpel; no, we are therein commanded to
live in brotherly love, and to do unto all men as
we would they ſhould do unto us. It is no way
ftrange to me that foreign nations / carry on this
trade without feeling or remorſe, when the people
themſelves are in a manner Naves in their deſpotic
governments to tyrants ; but ' that Britons,
throughout whoſe laws the very ſpirit of liberty
is infuſed , ſhould mingle in the horrid com
merce, is a matter of no ſmall amazement, Is
it becauſe the unhappy lot of a negroe is to be
born in a country to which the polite arts and ſci
ences have not yet extended, that he and his pof
terity ſhould be doomed to perpetual bondage ?
or is it becauſe the exceffive heat of the climate
turned his ſkin dark, that he ſhould be bought
and fold like an ox or a horſe, and not treated
ſo well ? -theſe are weak apologies for the Slave
Trade ; for Britons once bore the name of ſava .
ges, and enſlaved and ſold each other ; and as ic
pleaſed God, out of his great goodneſs, to en
lighten them , they ſhould have compaſſion for
their black fellow creatures ; and inſtead of taking
advantage of their weakneſs, and torturing them,
they ſhould exert every means to bring them
from their ſtate of darkneſs and barbariſm to light
and underſtanding. Experience teaches us chat
in proceſs of time our deſcendants, if they went
paked in hot climates, would change their co
lour ; this is evidently evinced by even thoſe who
K 2
are expoſed to the ſun in Madeira and Turk's

iſland,-the latter place is between Jamaica and
Hiſpaniola ; there are about thirty inhabitants of
the Bermudian race on this fandy barren iſland ;
their children run naked , and , as ſoon as they
are able, rake ſalt at the pond, and carry it to
the beach, where they pile it in heaps : it is their
only article of commerce.
I obſerved , with attention, the tawny fry buſy
at their labour : their hair was coarſe, ſhort, and
curly ; their ſkin as dark and brown as any Mu
latto, and they were as rude and almoſt as wild .
as ſavages ; ſo that no rational being would take
them to be the children of white parents ; then if
in one generation they change to Mulaţtoes, in
all human probability , in fifteen or twenty gene
rations to come the deſcendants would be black.
Blacks, I contend, are human felh and blood,
and have fouls and intellects as well as whites ;
and if their geniuſes were properly cultivated ,
would make as great improvements in all the po
lite arts and ſciences as whites; yes, moſt cer
tainly they would.
would . Good God ! when I think
how many millions of my fellow creatures have
been murdered ſince the beginning of this horrid
commerce , and how many more are ſtill groaning
in bondage and miſery, and no proſpect of a
change, my blood runs cold. Great Creator of
this terreſtrial ball ! ſurely thou didft not people
one, quarter of it to be ſaves to the other three ;
nor didſt thou cauſe the Weſt Indies to emerge
from
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS ,
from the waters to be theatres for rapine and

murder.- No-thoſe iſlands teem with bounte
ous nature and ſpontaneous plenty ; but barba
rous man , tyrant of the world, has changed the
delightful ſcenes to ſcenes of horror, chains and
torture , and unparalelled cruelty !
In Great Britain and Ireland the beasts of the
field are better protected by the laws than Naves
in the Weſt Indies : for if a horſe or a cow is wan
tonly killed, or deprived of the tail or horns, or
any way maliciouſly maimed, diligent enquiry.is
made, and if the offender be detected, he is brought
to trial and tranſported; and though a white man
or woman barbaroully and wantonly attacks a
Nave, even the property of another, and lops off
the ears, poſe, or teſticles of the fame, the only
puniſhment by the law, though the owner of the
injured Nave proſecutes molt vigoroully, is a fine,
perhaps 'not one fourth the value of the Nave :
to authenticate this aſſertion , I ſhall ſubmit the
firſt and ſecond clauſes of the Slave Ac in Ja
maica .
“ After the paſſing of this act, if any perſon
whatſoever ſhall wittingly, wantonly, or
bloody-mindedly kill any negroe or Nave,
ſuch perſon or perſons fo offending ſhall for
the firſt offence be guilty of felony, and
have the benefit ofthe clergy, and ſhall ſuf
fer as a further puniſhment, an impriſon
ment for ſuch time as the court, before whom
ſuch offender ſhall be tried , ſhall adjudge ;
K 3 not
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
not exceeding twelve months. That ſuch

perſon being convicted of felony for killing
a Nave, if ſuch Nave did belong to any other
perſon than the perſon convicted of ſuch fee
lony, ſuch perſon ſo convicted ſhall pay
the ſum of fixty pounds to the owner to
whom ſuch Nave did belong, to be recover
ed by action of debt. ”
The fifty -fourth clauſe of the Slave Act in the
Illand of St. Vincent is as follows : to wit ;
66 And be it further enacted by the authority
aforeſaid, that if any free perſon or perſons
whatſoever, ſhall * geld or diſmember any
Nave, ſuch perſon or perſons fo offending,
fhall and may be proſecuted by preſentment,
indictment or information, before the juſtices
of the peace in their ſeſſions, or the juſtices
of Oyer and Terminer, and general goal
delivery , and upon conviction of any ſuch
gelding or diſmembering , the offender or
offenders ſhall and may be fined any ſum
not exceeding fixty pounds current money,
or leſs than forty ; and ſhall be impriſoned
until ſuch fine ſhall be paid, and ſhall give
ſecurity for his or her good behaviour."
* It occurs to me that ſome one or more of the council
or aſſembly mut have been jealous of black wenches, and
compiled this clauſe merely for the purpoſe of gratifying
their revenge on black men ; and it is a cruel and ridiculous
clauſe,
Though
Though there is a clauſe in the Slave Ac , ſet

ting forth , That if any maſter or owner of a llave
gives more than thirty-nine ſtripes at one time
to his flave, he is liable to be indicted before the
juſtices of the peace in their ſeſſions, and upon
conviction to forfeit a finall penalty, this but
very little protects poor Naves from the ſeverity
of cruel and vindictive whites :. for as the evi
dence of a Nave will not be admitted againſt a
free perſon, a free perſon may fog in private his
own or any other perſon's Naves ; and ſuppoſing
he was inftigated by the devil to kill them, if a
free perſon was not preſent, he could not be in
jured ; and if a Nave who is wantonly cut and
mangled, battered and bruiſed by a white man,
attempts to ſave his eyes, his noſe, ears, &c. by
lifting up his hand in his own defence, he is in
ftantly brought to tryal before two or three cal
liloo juſtices, and immediately tucked up ; this
is, I appeal to all the world, a more cruel , un
juſt and barbarous law than any of thoſe of old ;
though the Gibeonites were Naves, kings could
not injure them with impunity : Saul had ſeven
of his ſons hung up in his preſence for murder
ing a few of them, though they were only
" hewers of wood, and drawers of water," like
poor Africans.
There was a law at Athens, ſetting forth, That
he who Aogged or ill treated another's Nave,
was to ſuffer ſevere corporal puniſhment; and in
ſome caſes was put to death .
K 4 В.
By a law of the Greeks, when a Nave was bar

barouſly tr ated by his maſter, he could inſiſt on
being ſold, and could chuſe another maſter :
there was a ſimilar law at Rome, ſo that ſaves in
thofe places had ſome protection; but how is it
in the Welt Indies ? There their lives and pro
perties are in the hands of their owners, nor can
a fave do any thing through a virtuous motive :
therefore, llavery is bad in various reſpects: it
is bad for the flave, becauſe he is compelled to
act contrary to his diſpoſition, to break the com
mandments, and to do every diabolical buſineſs
he is directed: it is bad for the maſter, becauſe
he has an unlimited 'power over his flave, and
inſenſibly forgets all moral virtues, and becomes
cruel, fierce and voluptuous.
· Good God ! how cruel and depraved the heart
of man ! I have known clergymen, on the moſt
frivolous occaſions, to order their flaves to be
flogged and tortured , contrary to all the texts in
the goſpel; and to fit in their piazza's looking
on, ſinging and laughing at the Arieks of an
guiſh forced by the laſhing and cutting of their
drivers .
When a ſhip arrives in the Weſt Indies from
the coaſt of Africa with a cargo of negroes
( three, four or five hundred, or perhaps more),
an advertiſement immediately appears in the
newſpapers, thac on a certain day will be ſold a
choice parcel of prime Naves ; and though they
may be a mixture of different countries , ſuch as
Mucco's
Mucco's , Coromanties, &c. they commonly ſet.

forth , that they are from the beſt country, the
Gold Coaſt, or Angola &c. for there is a vaſt
difference in the tempers and diſpoſitions of the
negroes, according to the coaſts they come froin .
Until the day of faſe they are kept on board
in the harbour ; during which time the maſter,
mate and doctor, ( for every ſhip has a quack , on
board ) uſe every art to ſet them off to the beſt
advantage ; the grey hairs and beards of the old
men and women are cut and ſhaved , and not
only their ſkins, but that of the whole cargo,
are rubbed with palm and other oils : ſo that a
perſon who is not a judge may purchaſe an old
Nave for a young one, a diſtempered boy or girl
for one healthy and ſtout. .About eight or nine
o'clock every morning they are muſtered on
deck, and are obliged to jump and dance and
roar loudly for half an hour, obedient to the
failors, who chaſtiſe thoſe who are ſick or lazy.
Several of thofe poor creatures, heart broken
at their fate, die daily ; and leaſt any report
ſhould circulate of the cargo's being ſickly, to
hurt the ſale, the dead bodies are concealed in
the hold until night, and given to the ſharks,
which devour them in a trice : when there are
many Guinea ſhips in the harbour, the fiſh
fare well .
On the day of ſale they are expoſed on board
as they came into the world, or at the merchants
ftore to whom they are conſigned : the planters,
overſeers,
overſeers &c. attend , and pick and chuſe them

in like manner as if ſheep or oxen ; and grabble,
graſp and joftle each other to get the beſt.
The terms of ſale are commonly ſix months cre
dit ; a prime fave will coſt about 43 or 441.
ſterling. New negroes foon learn to be as han
dy as Creoles, though Creoles think themſelves
ſuperior to them becauſe they have more ſavy,
or knowledge of the country.
The common mode of dicipline on a planta
tion is as follows: In the morning about half an
hour after four the bell is rung to order them
out to labour ; at the dawn of day the book.
keeper calls the lift, and every ſlave who is ab
fent is paid with a few ſtripes afterwards. As
ſoon as they come into the field, they deliver to
the cooks , each a ſmall earthen or metal pot and
calabaſh , with ſomething or other to prepare
for breakfaſt (there are commonly two or three
invalid women appointed for cooks, and to carry
water) . About nine o'clock, when called to
breakfaſt, they all fit in the field where their
different pots have been boiled, at which time
à curious variety of eatables are diſplayed : ve
getables of one kind or other reliſhed with
“ maſh maſh ,” or rotten herrings. In about ten
or fifteen minutes they are rouſed by the crack
of the drivers whip , and fall to work, and con
tinue until twelve ; at which time the bell is
rung ; they then diſperſe about the country to
pick or gather graſs and vines for the overſeers
horſes
147
horſes and ſwine ; about forty -five minutes after

one, the bell is rung to order them out ; and
every one who is not in the field preciſely at
two, gets a certain number of laſhes, by the di
rection of the book- keeper, who attends to call
the lift. Here I muſt obſerve, that it is very
imprudent for an overſeer to inveſt his book
keepers with power to order a negroe more than
one or two laſhes in the courſe of a day.
At night the negroes are obliged to pick up
graſs and vines in like manner as at noon,
and to aſſemble at the Overſeer's houſe ; about
cight o'clock the liſt is called, and he or ſhe
who has not brought a proper ſizeable bundle
gets a few ſtripes.
When any of them are diſappointed in pro
curing their bundle, they commonly abſent
themſelves to thun the rod , which is often
the caſe in dry weather, particularly on low
land plantations ; next day they fly to ſome of
the Overſeer's intimates, to beg for them ;
others, not ſo knowing, after they remain in
the canes for two or three days, fearful of
returning, leaſt they are paid with double ſe
verity, fly to the mountains, and ſeek ſhelter
in the caverns of rocks for months together.
By ſuch impoſitions, and harſh treatment of
Overſeers, maſters are deprived of the labour
of many fine flaves; and often too, when
moſt needed ; nay, and ſometimes looſe them
all together ; for being expoſed to the heavy
rains
rains and hunger, ſubjects them to lock-jaws

and other diſeaſes, and to occaſion ſpeedy and in
evitable death .
It fometimes but not frequently happens,
that thoſe unhappy wretches, in a ' ftate of
ftarvation, grow, deſperate at their fate, and
reſolve to redreſs their wrongs,' and gain their
freedom , or to periſh in the conteft ; they form
themſelves into ftrong parties, kill 'their taſk
maſters, and burn and deſtroy houſes and
canes ; and at the laſt, when they are too
clofely purſued ,' kill themſelves alſo; náy, it
frequently happens, when Naves are too cruelly
treated , after their ſupplicating the Deity in
the moſt humble and affecting manner, “ Oh !
good God in a top ?-O ! good God of ebrey.
world !-look down and pity your " poor black
negroe,” --that they hang themſelves, cut their
throats , or ftab themſelves. I ſhall mention
one inftance of a fierce and heroic ſpirit in
a rude uncultivated plave, for I was preſent
at the time.
Hector was head - cooper on a plantation in
the pariſh of Clarendon, and was remarked for
being a handy good workman ;; but not hay
ing made the number of puncheons according
to the talk the Overſeer had impoſed on him,
he was tied , hands and feet, to a ladder, and
flogged ſeverely : ſometime after, when he was
at work , the Overſeer came to mortify him,
ſaying, “ You black ſcoundrel, I'll cut your
backſide
2
backſide to pieces : if you don't;, make more

puncheons ; " the other replied , “Hecta don's
regard him life -- kill Hecta one time." “ Hecta
nebba will make puncheon for you, Obijhai"?
At which he took the axe in his left hand , and
with a ſtroke chopped off his right hand ! What
muſt the feelings and agitations of poor Hector's
heart have been to commit ſuch a deſperate act
on himſelf ? What a brave general, or valiant
admiral, might that man have made, had his in
tellects been properly cultivated from his youth,
and trained to the army or navy ?
“ Full many a gem of pureſt ray ſerene,
66 The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear :
« Full many'a flower is born to bluſh unſeen ,
“ And waſte its ſweetneſs on the deſert air. "
On Sundays they are obliged to work all day

in their grounds ; the book -keepers attend, and
thoſe who are abſent, without permiſſion, are
flogged on Monday morning : this is certainly
breaking the fourth commandment to all in
tents and purpoſes ; for it is not done out of
neceſſity, like taking an ox or a cow out of a
pit, but it is done through griping avarice. It
is well for the poor creatures that the days are
not ſo long as in Europe ; for if they were eigh
teen hours, I believe they would be obliged to
work twenty. Again , it is well for them that
the climate is warm , and that Nature is boun
tiful in producing fruit and vegetables, even on
the
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
igo
the uncultivated hills and deſerts. If one half
the year was wrapped in frozen , barren winter ,
like other countries, they would not be allowed
· blanketting fufficient to fhield them from the
cold ; nor would their maſters, or their remorſe
Jefs deputies, allow them a ſufficient quantity
of food. When there is a ſcarcity of proviſions
on a plantation , each negroe gets a weekly
allowance of corn or four, ( two or three quarts )
and five or fix herrings. Thoſe who live in
pairs together, as man and wife, are mutual
helpmates to each other : the men build their
huts, and aſſiſt to work their grounds ; the wo.
men prog for food , boil their pots at noon and
night, louſe their heads, extract chiggers from
their toes, and waſh their frocks and trowſers.
I ſhall here ſubmit the complaint of a negroe
man , whoſe helpmate had deferted him, to your
perufal :
How wretched 's my time been of late !
How ſevere and how bitter my woe !
I've no one to louſe my rough pate,
Nor the chigger to pick from my toe :
For Quaſhiba's gone to the town,
To fee fmarter beaumen than me ;
Tho' I often compelld her to own
How falſe and how fickle they be.
My fungee, alas ! is unboild,
Myhut is all cover'd with dirt ;
I've no one to nurſe my dear child,
Nor to waſh the falt fweat from my ſhirt !
Then
.
Then join, fable ſwains, to bemoan
The hardſhips of poor Cufty's lot ; CA
He ſighs the whole night all alone,
In the day he's deprived of his pot.
He's deprivd of his pot in the day,
And of love's fofter pleaſure at night ;
O ! ye youths who give ear to my lay,
Know , Cufty's quite loſt to delight!
QUASHIBA'S RETURN .
Lo ! Quaſhiba's coming this way,
See her arm, how gracefully it ſwings !
At her preſence all Nature ſeems gay ;
* To greether the nightingale fings !
My fungee I now ſhall get boild, ‫شد‬
No more I'll repine at my lot ;
For the who my ſorrows beguild
Is return'd with good things for my pót.
Then I thoughtleſsly bid her prepare
The herrings and green caliloo ;
I forgot, for a while, all my care ;
I forgot that ſhe had not been true.
But when we deliciouſly dined,
And were ſtretch'd in the tamarind ſhade,
With anguiſh it came to my mind
The price for the herrings ſhe paid.
And my heart-ſtrings were rent in twain ,
And my breaſt did with jealouſy burn ;
I bid the dear nymph to explain
What ſhe gave to Neptune in town .
6 T
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
152
« Dear Cufty,” ſhe gently replies,
“ Come, be neither ſurly or gruff;"
And wantonly rolling her eyes,
She ſaid, “ I did give him a
[ The reſt of the Paſtoral
was torn . ]
The women, when pregnant, work in the fields

till a few days before they lie-in ; ( for work, if
moderate, is ſerviceable to child- bearing women )
after they are brought-to -bed, the Overſeer ſends
each about a pound of ſalt beef, a little four, a
pint' of rum, and about a pound of ſugar, to
comfort them ; in aa few days after they are
obliged to turn out to cultivate the ground, and
take their pickinnies ( i. e. children ) on their
backs, to which they are tied with handkerchiefs ;
and when they are weary of their burthens, lay
them on ſheep -ſkins in the field . There is com
monly ſome invalid women appointed to take
care of the children, ito guard them from ſnakes
and other vermin ,
When working, though at the hardeſt labour,
they are commonly ſinging; and though their
ſongs have neither rhime nor meaſure, yet many
are witty and pathetic. I have often laughed
heartily, and have been as often ftruck with deep
melancholly at their ſongs:-for inſtance, when
ſinging of the Overſeer's barbarity to them :
Tirik
Tink dere is a God in a top ,
No uſe me ill, Obisſha !
*Me no horſe, me no mare, me'no mule ,
No uſe me ill, Obisſha.
Or, thus :
1
*
If me want for go in aEbo,
Me can't go there !
Since dem tief me from a Guinea ,
Me can't go there !
If me want for go ina * Congo ,

Me can't go there ! :
Since dem tief me from my tatta,
Mecan't go there !
If me want for go in a Kingſton ,

Me can't go there !
Since maffa go in a England ,
Me can't go there !
Some maſters and overſeers, of jealous, pimpa

ing diſpoſitions, fog, and otherwiſe ill treat their
black wenches, when they chance to get black
children . I have been often diverted, and
laughed heartily, when a raw, infatuated gaukey,
or a doating, debilitated debauchee has been diſ
appointed, after all his endearing fondneſs and
amorous exertions, with his ſoft, Nobber-chop
bundle, to get a black, inſtead of an olive
babe. I ſhall annex the ſong of a young woman
Countries in Africa,
who
‫وبا‬
.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
134
who was in this predicament : itis in the negroe
dialect, and is no leſs true than curious.
AIR. What care I for Mam or Dad.

Altho'a llave me is born and bred ,
My ſkin is black, not yellow :
I often fold my maidenhead
To many a handſome fellow .
My maſſa keep me once, for true,
And gave me clothes , wid buffes :
Fine muſlin coats, wid bitty, too ,
To gain my ſweet embraces .
When pickinniny him come black,
My maſſa ſtarve and fum me ;
He tear the coat from off my back,
And naked him did ſtrip me.
Him turn me out into the field ,
Wid hoe, the ground to clear -o ;
Me take pickinniny on my back,
And work him te -me weary.
Him, Obisſha, him de come one night,
And give me gown and buſſes;
Him get one pickinniny, white !
Almoſt aş white as miſlefs.
Then mifſefs fum me wid long ſwitch,
And ſay him da for maſſa ;
My maffa curſe her, “ lying bitch !?
And tell her, “ buſs my raffa !"
Me fum'd when me no condeſcende
Me fum'd too, if me do it ;
Me no have no one for ' tand my friend,
So me am forc'd to do it.
M
Me know no law , me know no ſin ,
Me is juſt what ebba them make me ;
This is the way dem bring mein ;
So God nor devil take me !
The virtue and chaſtity, as well as the lives

and properties of the women, are at the com
mand of the maſters and overſeers ; they are per
petually expoſed to the proſtitution of them and
their friends : it is pity that there is not ſome
law to protect them from abuſes fo tyrannic, cruel
and abominable. There was a law of the Lum.
bards, ſetting forth, That if a maſter debauched
his flave, ſhe was to be reſtored to her freedom
and, if the had a huſband, him alſo.
Notwithſtanding all their hardſhips, they are
fond of plays and merriment ; and if not pre
vented by whites, according to a law of the
iland, they will meet on Saturday -nights, hun
dreds of them in gangs, and dance and fing
till morning ; nay, ſometimes they continue their
balls without intermillion till Monday- morning.
I have often gone, out of curioſity, to ſuch
meetings, and was highly diverted : their muſic
is compoſed of any thing that makes a tinkling
found ; a hollow cane, or bamboo, with holes in
it, in imitation of a fife ; an herring -barrel,
or tub, with ſheep - ſkins ſubſtituted for the
heads, in imitation of a drum, called a gum
bay : but fometimes more « grandy balls, " as
they are called, are honoured with a tabret and
L2 visling
violin ; in which caſe, they are viſited by the

better ſort of the neighbouring plantation negroes,
and ſuppers and ſtrong liquors are prepared by
a few of the knowing-ones. They prepare a
number of pots, ſome of which are good and
ſavory; chiefly their ſwine, poultry, fale beef,
pork, herrings, and vegetables, 'with roaſted;
barbacued , and fricaſeed rats, & c. & c. ; all
which they divide into ſmall quantities, in ca. i
labalhes, ( bitts and half-bitts worth) on which
thoſe who are able to purchaſe regale them
ſelves. Their funerals and weddings are cele
brated in this manner : indeed , I think I never
ſaw any thing that ſo nearly reſembled the
amuſements, particularly the patrons held on
Sundays, by the vulgar peafantry on the moun.
tains in Ireland ; where, to the muſic of a rot
ten bagpipe, or crazy fiddle, they dance to “ tire
each other down ;" where they court, laugh,
and fing, at once ; and cry, pipe and play at
once ; and where they gormandize and guttle,
fight and quarrel at once !
When dancing, they form themſelves into a
circular poſition, adjoining ſome of their huts,
and continue all in motion, ſinging ſo loud,
that of a calm night they may be heard at about
two miles diſtance - thus :
Hipſaw ! my deaa ! you no do like a -me !

* You no jig like a -me ! you no twiſt like a -ame!
Hipſaw ! my deaa ! you no ſhake like a -me !
You no wind like a-me ! Go, yondaa !
Hipſaw !
Hipfaw ! my deaa ! you no jig like a -me!
You no work him like a-me ! you no ſweet him like
a -me !
1
Or, thus ::: 10

‫به‬ ‫کی که‬
Tajo, tajo, tajo ! tajo, my mackey maffa !
O ! laud, O ! tajo, tajo, tajo !
You work him, mackey maffa ! ,, ir " ‫وزر‬
You ſweet me, mackey maffa !
A little more; mymackey maſſa !
Tajo , tajo ,tajo ! my mackey maffa '! vis ,
1 .
O ! laud,O ! tajo, tajo, tajo !
I'll pleaſe my mackey maffa !
I'll jig to mackey maſſa!
? >; Liiga
rll ſweet my mackey maſſa !
?
Thus they go on ; ſo that it would be almoſt
impoffible for a ſtoic ' to " look ' on without
laughing. The droll capers, and wanton geſ
tres and attitudes -che languiſhing glances
and grimaces, fo conſequential and ſerious, of
thoſe fat-noſed damfels, timed to admiration
by their jetty beau partners , are truly curious :
It is very amazing to think with what agility
they twiſt and move their joints :-- I ſometimes
imagined they were on ſprings or hinges, from
the hips downwards ; whoever is moſt active and
expert at wriggling , is reputed the beſt dancer.
You will find amongſt them ' many beautiful
young creatures ; ſo that you cannot poſſibly
look on unmoved : they have too many alluring
: 13 tricks
tricks to ſeduce and lead men aſtray. Perſeus

was moved to war by the beauty of a black wo
man : the great Mark Antony, once lord of the
empire, could not withſtand Cleopatra's jetty
charms : whilft roſes and lillies fade, true black,
like the yew that never ſheds its leaves, is ſtill
the ſame.
Of ſcorching toil regardleſs all the day,

When freed from labour, cheerfully they play ;
And -oft afſemble on the graſſy plains,
Expor'd to dews, foul air, and drizzly rains,
With hearts elate, in crowds, each in a ring,
To dance their gumbay, and in chorus fing.
Such ſcenes, I'm ſure, in curious. maſquerade,
By Britiſh lords and nymphs were ne'er diſplay'd :
When ſcabby Mungo, with a carv'd backfide,
Is; Laura's partner, and ſweet Laura's pride :
Where Beſs and Hecate, with their chiggertoes,
Mimba, crabyarv'd, and Grace with canker'd noſe,
2
Twiſt, wind and wriggle with the mackey beaux.
Where Flora, Phillis, Silvia , Sall and Nell,
- In beauty's pomp their fable ſex excell :
: With fhifts and gowns, white hats, and trinckets too ,
Skins, ſoft as filk , engaging glofſy hue !
And cock-up bubbies, ripe for ſoft delight,
Twiſt, wind and turn, and turn and wind all night.
When wanton Jiggo, with “ ſide-long looks of love.",
To mutual'rapture do each other move ;
! With kind compliance, and with warm deſire,
In meltingpairs, they privately retire
To lonely ſhades, to fences or old walls,
To dance more pleaſing jigs than at their balls :
Whilt
Whilſt others lily to their huts advance,
And twin'd in love, repeat the charming dance.
On pork and pullets fome do highly feaſt,
Whilſt others, hungry, can't procure a taſte :
Some gobble yams, or pepper-pot, or peafe,
Or, rats and fungee, dreft'd their different ways.
Others, filled with grog, reel, fight and ſquabble,
Whilſt to the muſic fome obedient hobble.
If you for goddeſſes ſhou'd be inclin'd ,
There Juno's and Diana's you may find;
Or, if you chooſe one of a royal ſtrain,
A princeſs, queen, or ducheſs you may gain.
Their form of marriage is nothing more than
1 ) that the parents or friends of both parties meet
on theſe feſtival nights, and give conſent that
the amorous pair may be united as long as
they like each other : -ten to one, not fo cere
monious, make matches without any public
parade. Poor creatures ! they have no idea of
virtue or fidelity ; the men are as faſhionably
wicked as white noblemen , in carrying on in
trigues : ſome will have a dozen women in keep
ing at once ; and the women, in return, can
manage their's as Nily as a dutcheſs. Their
compliments of reſpect and friendſhip, when
ſpeaking of or to each other, is Uncle, Aunty,
Granny, Tatta, Momma, Siſta, Boda. Though ,
a white man was to give a black or mungrel,
1oool. yearly, I don't think ſhe could confine
herſelf entirely to him only : their natural ig.
L4 norance
norance is ſuch , that they ſee nothing moral

from their infancy, but whoring, and ſcenes of
the vileſt debauchery ;-- they are taught it at
their plays -- they are taught it by their maſters
and overſeers, as I have ſaid before.
You probably will ſay, I confute myſelf
that how can I ſpeak ſo inconſiſtent as to en
deavour to put blacks upon a footing with
whites ? In anſwer thereto, I ſay, that if the
moſt vircuous woman now in England had been
tutored like blacks, a flave in like manner, ſhe
would be as laſcivious and as common as any ;
and again , I ſay, if blacks were tutored from
their infancy in England, they would be as vir
tuous as white women .
Therefore, know, that their connections, like
all jilting whores, with men, is only to ſatisfy
their luſt, and to benefit by them. It is a very
miſtaken notion that leads men aftray ; all de
noininations of adventurers, as I have faid before,
thinking to make fortunes in a few years, and to
return and marry , and live contented and happy
in their native countries, take blacks or mungrels
into keeping, as neceſſary evils ; nay, ſome pur
chaſe their companions, naked and piping hot as
they are imported from Guinea, thinking that
it won't be any difficulty to part with them at
pleaſure : -- and ſuch I have known to be indulged
in the filken pavilions of eaſe and luxuriouſneſs;
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
fumptuouſly every day,” whilſt their relations
and
IN : THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS . 161
and ſhip -mates, hungry . and naked, groaned

ouț their wretched days, ſubject on all occaſions
to the rod, from the iron hand of ſtern op
preſſion and reſtleſs cruelty. Thoſe mighty men,
thinking to augment their ſtores, remain year
after year, till at laſt they get naturalized to
the country , and fond of their fpurious progeny ;
dear little ſaffron pledges of their youthful
ſport ! After many years induſtrious toil, care
deſs of their poor relations and friends, they
bequeath all their eſtates or properties to them .
As ſoon as the breach is out of a white man,
his favourite black or mongrel wench, affifted
by her female friends, who are always ready and
expert on ſuch occaſions, will , if not prevented
by ſome ſenſible ſharp white perſon , plunder
and make away with as much of the moveable,
properiy of the deceaſed as poſſible: ſuch as
calh , furniture, apparel &c. &c. +
Be careful of all keys committed to your care,
ſo that you do not looſe or.lay them careleſsly out
of your hands, leaſt the negroes get them , and
plunder the ſtores at night : poor creatures, they
are ſo ſtinted that it is almoſt impollible to
avoid thieving ; ſhould you looſe or miſay a
key, though you are blamed, get a new lock
immediately put on ; or ſhould you miſs any ar
ticles which have been taken clandeſtinely out
of the ſtore, if you enquire privately you may
for a ſmall bribe have the thief detected . Upon
the whole, never be ſevere to your black fellow
creatures ;
creatures ; conſider them human beings, and

treat them as ſuch : probably , if you or I fell
into the hands of the Algerines, we would be
as liable to all the galling ſmarts of flavery as
they are always act in a ſteady medium towards
them ; never tell them a lie, nor exact any thing
unreaſonable from them ; and be attentive to ſee
that all your directions are faithfully and punctu
ally executed.
When negroes fall into the hands of charitable
indulgent maſters who reſide on their own ef
tates ( which feldom happens ), who will fee
juſtice done to them on all occaſions, to pre
vent their overſeers and their remorſelefs depu
ties from cruel uſurpation ; who will feed and
clothe them generouſly, and when fick , nouriſh
and indulge them until they get well ; in ſuch
caſe they love and revere their maſters, and $
cheerfully and gladly exert themſelves on all
occaſions.
They bury each other promiſcuouſly in the
fields, and their near and dear relations at the
back of their huts, and ſometimes under their
beds ; they are extremely ſuperſtitious, and
firmly believe that the ghoſts of their dead
haunt the plantations for a long time after their
death : ſo poſitive are they in this belief that
they often , when carrying a corpſe to the grave,
though perhaps not fifty yards, lay it down fe.
veral times on the way, thinking that ſome evil
{pirit has put a wonderful weight into it, too
heavy
heavy to be carried by men ; ſo that they ſome
times take a whole night to carry and inter a
corpſe, ftraining themſelves, ſeemingly, as
much as a few failors at heaving up a beſt
bower.
One thing more : I particularly recommend
you to be guarded againſt contracting the di
feaſes peculiar to black women, i. e. yaws, ring-..
worm , cockcraws, clap, pox, &c . The yaws is
a horrid plague, as bad as any Egypt produced ;
which if a white man contracts he will be a
miſerable Lazarus for two or three years, and
will be ſhunned and deſpiſed by every white
man ; nay, he becomes infectious to his friends,
ſo that he will hardly get a negroe hut to receive
him, or a mouthful to keep life in him ; and
ſhould he ſurvive it will be an undeniable ſtain
in his character ever after; ſo that he might,
like Job, curſe the day wherein he was born :
it is contracted in the ſame manner as a clap,
or may be inoculated by a fly that hath newly
come from off the fores of the diſtempered
fave. It commonly breaks out at firſt under
the armpits, and about the privates ; and after
wards in naſty obnoxious white ulcers all over
the face, and every part of the body : from the
top of the head to the role of the foot; there.
fore, examine every girl well before you go in
mourning
To conclude my diſſertation on blacks, me
thinks it is a great pity that the ſenators of
Great
164 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS ;
Great Britain, out of all their patriotiſm and

love of liberty, have not yet thought of ſome
plan, at leaſt to put it into execution, for to
humanize and enlighten them ; · blacks in the
Britiſh colonies are Britiſh ſubjects : therefore
Britiſh ſubjects ſhould no more be Naves in her
colonies than in Britain ; for I contend, nor can
any man confute me, that every man under the
fun , whom God formed after his own image,
" has a natural and unalienable right to
liberty .”
The climate and ſoil of the different parts of
Africa, from whence negroes are tranſported , are
warm , genial and luxurious ; - ſo that nature is ex
ceeding bountiful in producing the ſame plants and
vegetables as in the Weſt Indies : even the ſugar
cane grows ſpontaneous in many parts ; confe
quently, if blacks were humanized , inftructed
in arts and ſciences, huſbandry and commerce,
and made ſenſible that the ſhedding of their
blood was at laſt become heinous in the eyes
of all Chriſtian nations, particularly Great
Britain, and that ſugar, rum, coffee, cocoa,
cotton, &c. were far more deſireable objects to
them than human gore, I preſume to think
that they would imperceptibly make rapid progrefs
in religion and the works of art ; and that in
a few years they would be capable of ſupplying
all Europe with thoſe commodities at vaſtly
cheaper rates than through the medium of ſa
very. But in order to carry this plan into exe
cution,
cution, and to perform ſo great and laudable a
revolution , -- to make the wilds of Africa rejoice,
“ the wilderneſs become a fruitful field , ” and
her ſons and daughters which are yet unborn
to laugh and ſing, it would be neceſſary for
all the Chriſtian nations in Europe and America
to enter into a treaty prohibiting the Nave trade;
next, to keep ſtrong bodies of troops in their
new ſettlements; to offer premiums and other
encouragements to clergymen and ſchool-maſters
of good morals to ſettle there ; each to be
paid according to the number of profelytes he
made and inſtructed in the Chriſtian religion
and language peculiar to each nation under
whoſe government they were. Alſo, to encou
rage Weſt India planters and overſeers to take
their naves which had been humanized in the
Weſt Indies with them , and to ſettle the firſt
ſugar works ; and to give good encouragement
to arcifts and mechanics to adventure and ſettle
amongſt them . Is it not reaſonable to think
1 that as Africa flouriſhed and underſold the Weſt
India products, that the Weſt Indies would de
cline, and Navery alſo, till totally, in proceſs of
time, emancipated . This is very evident ; for
in China, where ſugar is made by free Indians,
it is ſold cheaper than that made in the Weſt
Indies by Naves.
As I have blended the preceding obſervations
with a few conciſe remarks on the nature of
Creole, white, Mongrel, and black women,
with
with ſome neceſſary precautions to ſteer you

clear of their fyrenean allurements, rocks on
which too many are caſt away, permit me next
to ſay ſomething of two other cardinal vices,
drinking and gaming -- and then I ſhall con
clude with a page or two of found adviſe. 1
As every man, from his cradle, is prone to

fome darling vice or folly, we ſhould be always
guarded to check or controul the firſt ſign or
appearance of inordinate deſire ; -- to regulate
our paſſions, and reſtrain them in proper bounds .
Alas ! ſo weak is our nature, that if we once get
involved in the vortex of diffipation of any kind,
we may never be inſpired with grace to think
ſeriouſly on our follies, or to liſten with atten
tion to the wholeſome admonition of a friend ;
fo irreſiſtibly we may be drawn away, 'till irre
trievably funk in the quickſands of iniquity,
or ſhattered on the rocks of miſery and def
pair ! Bad cuſtoms are eaſily learned, but
painfully relinquiſhed : pamper not your body ;
nouriſh it as your nave, and revere it not as
your maſter !
It is amazing to think , how many fine young
men ruin themſelves by drinking to exceſs : bad
company, and bad examples, have deſtroyed
millions. I have known many who, at the age
of twenty-one years, would as ſoon cake a vómit
or a purge, as a pint of wine or a glaſs of
ſtrong grog ; and yet thoſe fober men were im
perceptibly
perceptibly corrupted , and in time ſeldom went
to bed ſober.
You will find that white people of all ranks
and denominations, in Jamaica and the other
Britiſh colonies, in general drink to exceſs,
wines, ſpirituous and malt liquors ; and wreck
and ſtrain their conftitutions, till they break at
lalt ; notwithſtanding, the climate is cenſured for
the murder of every man who poiſons himſelf,
It is wonderful, indeed, what ſtrange and un
accountable notions actuate the minds of men
to be hard drinkers ; thoſe who have not ſuf
ficient fortitude to bear patiently the diſpenſa
ţions of all-wiſe Providence, lull their reflection
with flow poiſon. “ Drinking is the drown
ing of cares, but not the curing of them .”
Some good-natured men, for the ſake of com
pany, are urged to their ruin ; and though fick
and ſqueamiſh every morning, they commonly
return like dogs to their vomits nightly : it
is an ill-bred, vulgar, and pernicious cuſtom of
thoſe who think they cannot make much of
their friends without preſſing them to ſwallow
more than they deſire. Weak, ignorant,
idle men, often unite with the number of
Bacchus's ſwine ; and yet, I knew many young
men of bright abilities , who drowned their
noble faculties almoſt nightly in bowls of in
ſanity, or drowſy oblivion .
Grog drinking, and ſmoaking ſegars, is a
baneful and obnoxious practice all over the
West
Weſt - Indies. It has been remarked, that if a

man makes grog his favourite drink, and mixes
it ever ſo weak at the beginning, he will make
it ſtronger and ſtronger by degrees, ' till in time
his throat becomes ſo callous, that he will ſwallow
ſtrong ſpirits as eaſy as new-milk.
Wine and ſtrong liquors taken to exceſs
corrupt and inflame the blood - emaciate the
whole frame, and dry up the courſe of nature :
wine deprives a man of reaſon , ſtrength and
manhood ; and inſpires him with wrong no
tions and falſe paſſions, which induces him to
commit crimes and offences which , when ſober,
- he would ſhudder at. “ O ! that man ſhould put
a devil into his belly to ſteal away his brains !"
No man can attend his buſineſs attentively or
ſeriouſly, who is fond of tippling ; - Every
inordinate cup is unbleſſed, and the ingredient
is a devil.”
A bacchanalian ſhould never be intruſted with
any property : for he who is not fit to protect
his own carcaſe, is not worthy of truſt. All
ſober men, and good women, abhor drunkards ;
for they are, moſt certainly, very unworthy mem
bers of any community, and dangerous com
panions in private or public life. How often
have towns and cities been deſtroyed - how often
have ſhips been burnt, or run down on the
deep and pathleſs ocean, through the careleſs
neſs or ſtupidity of drunkards ; -- the fixing of
à candie
IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. i6g
á candle in an improper place - neglecting a
watch-are often attended with dreadful and
fatal conſequences.
What an odious and ridiculous figure would
the Weſt India factor or ſupercargo appear,
when ſtaggering in a Tavern or Coffee-houſe,
or reeling through the ſtreets, was he ſurprized
by his guarantee ;-but how would the European
merchant exclaim , was he to find him in this
condition ratling at dice, “ in or out,” ſport
ing away his property at a hazard -table.
What a pernicious. enemy muſt that be,
which transform's man , God's own image, to
a level with the brute creation ? If a man
could but ſee his own ſtupid picture properly,
when intoxicated , he would hate himſelf : a
drunkard reels and ſtaggers through the ſtreets,
and is the ſcorn of every ſober man . Children
and drunken men reſemble each other in point
of ſecrecy ; -- they commonly ſpeak their mindo.
The drunkard, like the jackdaw in the fable,
blabbers every nonſenſe, and betrays himſelf
and friends.
“ Drunkenneſs reveals what ſoberneſs conceals .”

Wine and ſtrong liquors affect mien amazingly :
ſome attempt difficulties, hazards and enter-.
prizes, which when ſober they could not en
counter : wine makes the trembling coward
valliant, the ſtuttering fool loquacious, the
man of ſenſe an ideót, the impotent dotard for
M get
get his years and grow amorous . Wine makes

the religious man wicked, and the wicked-in
clined man a devil ! ſo that men, when drunk,
differ' as much in their temper as in their faces.
Some dance, others ſing or roar loudly, ſpout
or quarrel ; ſome are lulled to fleep, and ſnore
like hogs ; others become mad for girls - reel
ing bucks of fun ! and ſtagger to brothels,
or other dens of iniquity, where they not only
become dupes to diſtempered harlots, by con
tracting diſeaſes which may be long and laſting,
and looſe their money, watches, &c. but get
frequently. battered, bruiſed and kicked by their
bullies, in the frolic. " Whoredom and wine,
and new wine, take away the heart and ſoul and
reaſon of a man ."
No man can, with the ſmalleſt degree
of propriety, attempt to apologize and ex
peet pardon for the offences he committed
when intoxicated : tell me not, " I was drunk
- wine fets me mad and makes me quarrel
ſome - ſo that I beg you will forgive me for
the aſſault and battery I committed laſt night,
or for my abuſing you ſo groſsly with fuch
coarſe and virulent words. " A pretty joke !
if ſuch were admiſable every nefareous villain
would evade the gallows.
Alexander, in a drunken fit, murdered one
of his beſt officers, Clitus ; he was a great favou.
site, and a man of ſtrict integrity i notwithſtand
ing all the fame that conquering hero gained
by:
by his numerous armies and victorious battles,
this raſh and horrid deed leffened him in the
eyes of the world, and wrecked his own peace
of mind ever after. Solomon ſays, moſt beau
tifully, “ It is not for Kings, O ! Lemuel, it
is not for Kings to drink wine, ' nor for Princes
ſtrong drink.”
Gluttony is a kindred vice nearly allied to
drunkenneſs ; it unfits a man for action, and
changes him into a beaſt. No man ſhould eat
or drink as much as he could ſwallow;what
he could bear without rendering himſelf un- v
wieldy or affecting his head, would be fuffi
cient nouriſhment. The Epicurean's ſole dea
light is pampering his nafty carcaſe ; his belly
is his god ; to gratify the inſatiable cravings
of which, he ſacrifices all the duties of a man
and a Chriſtian,
“ For the drunkard and the glutton ſhall come to
poverty ,
« And drowſineſs ſhall clothe a man in rags. 1
1
The great men, as they are called, to their +
ſhame, guttle and guzzle to exceſs ;—thoſe lofty

ſwine - thoſe mighty great beaſts ! "great in their
crimes, and glorious in their ſhame," forget
their low origin, and make no allowance for
the frailties of others, but condemn them for
the very darling vices which they themſelves
prastice,
M 2 How
How mortiſying muſt it be to a fine young

woman in the bloom of virgin innocence, exqui
ſitely inticing,- eyes glowing with love and
fondneſs, roſy pouring lips, ſweeter far than
the precious balm of Hybla ; how provoking
muft it be to ſuch a charming creature, when
the finds herſelf woefully deceived , through
her own fond credulity, or parental authority,
buried alive with a drunken confort : After
having adorned her mind and body with every re
finement ſufficient to make a virtuous man happy,
after having reſtrained all her longing deſires, from
the age of cwelve to eighteen or twenty-to
find herſelf caſt away with one who adores
his throat and his belly more than all her
refulgent charms. It muſt be morrifying , in
deed , to her, poor thing ! After waiting the
live long day, with longing expectation of re
ceiving ſome matrimonial comfort at night
capable of yielding and receiving pure and
innocent bliſs ! -- eyes ſparkling with vigorous
paſſion , and ſmiling compliance, to ſee him
who fhould realize all her imaginary joys, and
that too with all the endearing fondneſs of a
good huſband , or amorous lover, ſtagger home,
ſo much debaſed that his limb's will hardly
do their office to bear him to his bed ! and
/ when fhe lies by his fide, how diſguſting muſt
he be to her ! he rolls, he tumbles, he coughs,
he ſpits ; whilft the ſtench , or favor of his
putrid lungs, more offenſive than ordure, is
poiſonous
1
poiſonous to her delicate ſenſations. Inſtead of
wari , rapturous kiſſes, the often receives, the
diſgorgings of his frail paunch on her lovely,
ſwelling boſom , exuberantly inticing - fair and
fmooth as ivory, wax, or alabaſter.
It is juſt as impoflible for an amiable wo
man to love a drunken huſband, as it is for
1
a drunken huſband to pleaſe an amiable wo
man : ſo that drunkards ſhould never marry ,
I am not at all ſurprized at women's infidelity
!
to their drunken conforts ; and I think it cruel,
narrow -minded and illiberal to cenſure them for
granting favors to ſober nyen . Bacchus is painted
5 with horns, an emblem of a beaſt, to ſignify
. that all his beaſtial - votaries fnould wear thein .
Silenus, the foſter - father of Bacchus, and king
and emperor of drunkards, is fuppoſed to be
always reeling drunk, riding upon an aſs, which
is the moſt croſs-grained , ſtubborn and ungo
vernable animal ; to fhew that drunken men
are ſupported and led by croſs - grained, Atub
born and ungovernable paſſions.
: Generous refreſhment is neceſſary for all men ;
particularly in warm climates, to ſuppore Nature,
1 which is commonly relaxed ; yet all kinds of
nouriſhment ſhould be taken moderately and
diſcretionally, according to a man's health, ex
erciſe, or labour : He who works, or walks
about from day - light until noon , expoſed to
the weather, will reliſh a glaſs of ſomething
ſtronger than the pure element, and it will re
M3 vive
vive and cheriſh him when faint and languid ;

nor do I think it would be ſafe for him to
drink cold water, eſpecially if he be in a heat ;
-but he who does nothing but amuſe himſelf in
a houſe or piazza, or writing in an office, ſhould
not, by any means, accuſtom himſelf to drink
any thing ſtronger than water before dinner ;
nor ſhould ſuch a perſon tipple at grog, or
other liquors, in the evening or at night, leaſt
he, in proceſs of time, becomes a fot. The
temperate man is always ready for action ; -he
goes to bed at regular hours ;- if he has a favou .
rite bofom companion, he can render himſelf
agreeable to hear ;-he gets up in the morning
at gun - fire, i. e. five o'clock, with a head
quite clear and ſound. How pleaſing muſt the
morning's lonely rural excurſion be to ſuch a
man ! the vernal beauty of the fields, the gran
dieur of the trees and ſhrubs, vocal with the me.
Jody of feathered ſongſters innumerable , fill his
mind with delightful ſenſations ! he joins the
warbling choriſters of Heaven, in grateful ſtrains
of adoration and thanks to his Creator, for
his unbounded goodneſs and loving kindneſs to
him and to all men ; and returns, with pleaſing
ſatisfaction , attentive to his buſineſs, and ſo
purſues a regular courſe of life,
All over the Weſt- Indies, gambling is prac
ticed to a great and ridiculous extreme, and
that too on Sabbath's : in every Tavern you'll
find card, billiard , backgammon, and various
other
other tables and ways and means of winning

and looſing money. Though I would not with
you to ſeclude yourſelf entirely from public,
recreations, or private amuſements, as they are
at times conducive to health , yet I ardently
adviſe you to frequent thoſe heart-knawing
places of uproar and riot but ſeldom ; and
never to play for money, leaſt you are bilked
by ſharpers ; and what is vaſtly dearer to you,
your reputation alſo . If a young man, at his
firſt ſetting out, has not more virtue and pru .
dence than his employer, God help him ! He
will cut but a poor figure in the Weſtern hot
world, and ſtand a bad chance of preferment.
Though great men , as they are ſtited, gamble
and revill to exceſs on the properties of others,
as they are not immediately under the eyes of
their creditors, yet they don't like to ſee their
clerks addicted to thoſe abominable vices, leaft
when they looſe their money they ſhould be
tempted to act diſhoneſtly. I muſt contend,
that it is impoſſible for men who are fond of
gambling to be honeſt, conſequently they muſt
be rogues ; the gamblers with to win, i. e. to
impoveriſh their friends or neighbours. He is a
rogue , in every ſenſe of the word ! for he not
only injures, or breaks himſelf or friends, but
violates three or four of God's commandments .
A man who has been ſucceſsful a few times at a
hazard - çable, cannot eaſily. relinquiſh gambling ;
M4 v lt
“ It grows with his growth, and ſtrengthens with

his ſtrength ."
Gamblers commonly exerciſe their right,
againſt their left hands, when in private ; and
it would take a large volume to particularize
( was I capable) one- tenth part of the various
ſchemes and tricks which gamblers practice to
deceive and cozen each other. So that thoſe
who are fond of gambling , or who don't prac
tice it merely for their amuſement, without baſe,
mercenary views, but through avaricious mo
tives, or for a livelihood, are the vileft of men,
i . e. harpers. Sharpers, in many places,
have an engaging addreſs, and are polite and
intelligent ;-- ſometimes they dreſs themſelves
like gentlemen of faſhion ; other times, like
country bumpkins, to ſuit the different compa
nies they mix with ; this commonly happens in
larze towns or cities, where they may frequent
different Taverns a long time before they are
detected ; for which purpoſe they have a good
ſtock of clothes . At cards and dice gan.blers
have, in my opinion , of all the games I ſaw ,
the largeſt field for cheating.
When gamblers are not in conjunction, they
purchaſe packs of cards, and prepare falſe dice,
which they manage with great dexterity or Neight
of hand .
They, in private, put private marks upon the
cards and ſeal them as before, which they deli
ver to the waiters of the tayerns they frequent,
or
or leave in ſome place which , when wanted , they

may be careleſsly introduced ; and though in
many places' waiters do not know their marks,
they are not ignorant of their intent, for they
commonly ger perquiſites for their ſecreſy and
activity.
But when ſharpers are numerous they form
themſelves into different parties, and have pri
vate ſignals ; theſe honourable gentry promiſcu
ouſly meet at gambling tables, ſee ning ſtrangers
to each other, where, if a man who is not
guarded againſt their villanous ſchemes enters
into play with them , and takes one of the ſcoun
drels for a partner, he is artfully drawn on by
deception's, few of honour and honeſty, the
winning a few ſmall betts, and other manavers,
to riſque in the end all he has by him , or
what he is worth, which of crurſe he loſes, and
goes home with an aching heart a beggar. I al
ſure you that numbers are daily ruined by ſuch
hypocritical villians.
In thole days it requires time and penetration
to diſtinguiſh a gambler or ſharper from a gen
tleman ; where you find a man who has no eſtate
or property nor profeſſion whereby he may earn
a livelihood induſtriouſly and honeſtly, and yet
appears "gay and haunts taverns and has an
arching for gaming ; or when you find a man
whom you do not know, or are but ſlightly
acquainted with , who at firſt or fecond meet
ing
ing behaves uncommonly polite and civil to

you, be guarded againſt him .
Gamblers and ſharpers are baneful to ſociety,
and injurious to any community ; in many pla
ces gambling is prohibited, and gamblers and
ſharpers ſeverely puniſhed by the laws.-- What
a pity that the Weſt Indies are choked up with
ſuch poiſonous weeds, --who,
“ Like pikes lank with hunger, who miſs of their
< ends ,
They bite their companions, and prey on their
o friends."? >
At a gambling table all people are on a foot

ing, without any diſtinction of perſons; there
the nobleman diveſts himſelf of all honour, and
levels with the vileft ſwinge buckler; there the
Chriſt-murdering Shylock has as much influence
as the brave general or valiant admiral .
Officers of the army are, to their diſgrace,
fond of gambling, therefore be cautious how
you form connections with ſuch : let your ſphere
of life be ever ſo low, think it no' honour to
be parading at taverns or elſewhere with mili
tary gentry, leaſt your friends think ſlenderly
of your principles and induſtry. Here I muſt
obſerve to you, that the modern military bucks,
particularly thoſe who are ſent abroad , dos in
general, take more pains to adorn their external ,
than their internal parts ; formerly the army was
conſidered
confidered a ſchool for politeneſs and good breed

ing, but latterly this academy is changed into
ſcenes of drinking, whoring, gaming, uproar
and riot.
Their dreſs and expence are commonly above
their income, in which caſe they are excellent
loungers, and behave with great freedom , fa
miliarity and impudence in the houſe of every
jolly fellow who gives them frequent dinners
and liquors, to get baſely drunk, ( for they think
they are not made welcome if the glaſs is not
pulhed about until they are deprived of their
reaſon ). This ſort of gentry , in almoſt every
company, expoſe their ignorance and thew their
pedantry, by boaſting of their great connections,
courage and gallantry : even thofe who may not
have a grain of merit in their groſs compofi
tions. " I have the Kings commiffion, Sir.”
ç Zounds, Sir, -Dare you preſume to ſpeak
to me?" - " I am a gentleman, Sir. " - And piſ.
tols is the next word, of courſe, and ſo on,
1
with every dafterly, ignorant, affrontful, litigi
ous brat, who knows almoſt as little of what
he fain would arrogate to himfelf as an ape or
a wild gooſe.
You muſt know that I have always been averſe
to duelling and duellers ; it is to be lamented,
if nothing but death will protect good peace
able men from inſults, in my opinion the prac
tice is not only cowardly, but baſe and pedantic,
and ſhould not be excuſed in any but bedlamites;
a man
180 MANNER'S AND CUSTOMS
a man of fenſe and good breeding never will

give offence; therefore when ſuch a man is at
tacked by an ill - bred man , he ſhould defend
himſelf in the mean time as well as he is able,
and look to the law afterwards for redr. ſs :
ſurely it would be madneſs and folly for any
man to riſque his life with a mad bull . Beſides,
what a vain miſtaken notion of every coxcomb,
and every jackanapes , when once he gets the
Kings commiſſion , to think himſelf ſuperior to
thoſe in the civil departments of life: it is well
known that the Kings commiſſions are every
day bought and ſold for tralh - for money is
only traſh .
It is alſo well known that many gentlemen
do through intereſt get their illegitimate brats,
who have been fathered on them, commiſſions,
and that there are many of this kind in the
army. It is alſo well known that the King does
not enquire into the character, family, or merits
of every young man who gets his commiſſion ;
therefore, in my opinion , and I am ſure I am
right, a commiſſion can no more entitle , ſuch to
the appellation of a gentleman, than a red coat
can make a coward valiant, or a pair of ſteel
ſpurs make a dunghill cock true game.
I do not know any word ſo much abuſed as that
of gentleman ; every groveling mechanic, every
griping pedlar, every illiterate clown, though
they know no more of politeneſs or good breed
ing than Hodge in the play, when they get
poffeflion
poffeflion of a little money or property, are

termed Eſquires, and Gentlemen .
A gentleman ſhould have a mind adorned
with all the fublimity of ſentiment human na
ture is capable of pofieſſing; his underſtanding
ſhould be found and clear ; he ſhould have an
impartial reaſon, a firm and intrepid heart, free
from every ſpecies of meanneſs, and overflowing
with gentleneſs, benevolence, brotherly love and
humanity ; he ſhould have an engaging and
graceful addreſs, and poffefs every bright ac
compliſhments to render him an ornament to
ſociety ; in fine, he ſhould have an extenſive
knowledge , and be a compoſition of every thing
amiable; a virtuous man who loved God, and
kept his commandinents.
I ſhall conclude my criticiſm on military gen
tlemen, with an extract or two from a poem
I was induced to write when in Quebec.
In ev'ry corps you'll always find,
Some worthy men, humane and kind ;
Poſſeſſing courage, honour, all 1
That we can great or noble call ;
And men of learning, ſcience, arts,
With judicious heads, and found hearts ;
Strangers to pride and vanity,
An honour to fociety.
From enfigns low , to gen'rals great,
Such men there are, but rare to meet ;
Yet numbers are, I'll teſtify,
Of diff'rent ſtamp in crimſon dye ;
The firſt of which mighty claſſes ,
Are vain , proud, imperious affes;
Bluſterin
182 . MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
Bluſtering bucks over -bearing,

Haughty, proud, and domineering;
Dependants vile. on Miniſtry;
Mean men of no integrity.
The ſecond fet which does compoſe
The hopeful choir of fcarlet beaux,
Are empty cyphers, mere ſcare -crows:
Whims of vanity, idle tools,
}
Pedantic fops, and filly fools ;
Loungers without any ſpirit,
Striplings without ſenſe or merit ;
The ſcum of pride and infolence,
And men of little conſequence.
The third , a worthleſs claſs you'll find,

Compoſid of dregs of all mankind ;
Puppies father'd upon others,
By their jilting artful mothers ;
No doubt to roblemen allied,
“ The daddy's picture," _ “ daddy's pride;
Now , almoſt every ſuch brat,
Wears a cockade and epaulet;
With ſcarlet coat, ſword and rattan ,
Lord! what a pretty gentleman !
As dunghills made of dirt and faggots
Breed a ſort of filthy maggots ;
When naked hateful to our eyes,
Give them but wings-- ſweet butterflies;
Such dunghill vermin, meanly born,
Vile objects of contempt and ſcorn ,
Are nothing better at the beſt,
Than catterpillers nicely dreſt ;
Like catterpillers, too, I think,
fe fervile bulkind-ranters ſtink .
|
Never,
Never, I beg and beſeech you, for your own

good, though you be ever ſo groſsly inſulted
with virulent words, let paſſion irritate you ſo
far as to lift your hand to attempt to give the
firſt blow to any man ; always receive the firſt ;
and if you are able, let the aggreffor be ever
ſo great or mighty, beat him to your own heart's
content : if you only lift your hand, and point
and ſhake it in a bullying threatening manner
at any perſon it is an aſſault. And this you will
pleaſe to remember, that if you are perſecuted
by the moſt nefarious ſcoundrel, nay, and that
he horſewhips and ſhoots you dead with
a murdering infamous tongue, if you give the
firſt blow, or ſhake your fiſt at him , you may
be aſſured that you are liable to be taken upon
a warrant, and if you don't give two ſufficient
ſecurities, te committed to a loathſom priſon,
among diſtempered negroes, there to remain
' till the Seffions, and then to be indicted and
arraigned at the bar, " That not having the
fear of God before your eyes, & c.” and you
will be found guilty of the aſſault ; and though
the provocation may mitigate your offence to
have ſome weight with the Juſtices to fine you
only ſix -pence, you will have all coſts to pay,
which will be about 20l. Currency. Here I
mult obſerve, as I have before in page 101 ,
that Juſtices are too partial ; but if Juſtice
ſhould ever take too much upon himſelf, ſo
as to afflict a puniſhment too ſevere for the of
fepce
184 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 5
fence you committed, they have not all the law

in their power ; twelve good honeſt freeholders,
at common law, who regard their oaths, if you
bring your action, will grant you redreſs.
Actorney Generals, in ſome of the Britiſh
Inands, are originally only Attorney's clerks,
who with a ſmartering of Latin , by ſome little
intereſt procure thoſe births ; and they are as
griping as the Bow - ſtreet Magiſtrates : Shake.
ſpeare ſays,
“ For though I will not practice to deceive,
" Yet to avoid deceit I mean to learn . "
By a ſtrict attention to any buſineſs you enter
into, you will in time attain a knowledge
thereof ; which ſhould be an ambition to you
to arrive at perfection :-but remember that you
muſt break the ſhell before you get at the kernel ;
and by a modeſt, reſpectful demeanor towards
your ſuperiors — an agreeable, good - natured, phi
lantropic or friendly behaviour towards your
equals ,- and a genteel, humane and charitable
diſpoſition towards your inferiors, you will gain
their friendihip, love and eſteem . Yet, avoid
extremes in every thing ; let your manners and
behaviour be adapted as near as you can to
the tempers and diſpoſitions of your ſuperiors
and acquaintance, provided their tempers and
morals are pure and uncorrupted ; -and though
modeſty is very amiable in a young man, with
all your modefly have a certain degree of manly
affurance, without arrogance or infoleat pride :
too much balhfulneſs or modeſty makes a man
appear
appear aukward even among ladies ; and too much
familiarity breeds contempt.
Pride and vanity commonly attend youth , and
are hateful to God and man ;-avoid every ſymp
tom of both : if you have merit, it will be dif
covered by others ; yet you muſt ſtrive to keep
yourſelf neat and clean ; and be not mimically in or
ridiculouſly out of the faſhion ; have your apparel
rather above than below your circumſtances, and
ſupport your dignity according to the ſtation you
may be in, and avoid profligate and low com
pany : ſit alone in a cellar or a garret, rather
than aſſociate with bad company ;-fuch as
diſſipate their vacant moments in taverns or
elſewhere, or with lewd mungrel women, are bad
company : - " He that walkech with wiſe men
will be wiſe, but a companion of fools will be
deſtroyed.”
And always pray to God to give you grace
to have reſolution ſufficient never to do any thing
in private that would put you to the bluſh if
made public ; endeavour always to make your
evening's diverſion bear the morning's réflection.
Shun the company and deſpiſe the friendſhip
of thoſe who are given to detraction, or who
on account of any private pique or quarrels
ftrive to injure thoſe with wbom they were
once on friendly and intimate terms, leaſt they
ſerve you ſo in turn ; and be not ready to ex
poſe the faults in another which you commit
N yourſelf,
yourſelf; and ſpeak cautiouſly either in praiſe

or diſpraiſe of men.
" When to the world you others faults make known,
« Ingeniouſly reflect upon your own .”
And again :
« Commend not, 'till a man is thoroughly known ;
« A raſcal prais’d, you make his faults your own .'
Remember that if you ſpeak ſcandalouſly of

any perſon, you may be as guilty of a lible as
if you committed your words to writing . You
probably may ſay, that I have wrote very
freely in the preceding pages, and think it is
a lible ; but you muſt know I have not def
cended to particulars and individuals, therefore
it is no lible.
It is very neceſſary to be polite and civil to
all people, and complaiſant even to your ene
mies : be now in forming connections with any ;
enquire privately into the characters and diſpo
fitions of people firit, leaſt you get acquainted
with ſuch as you can't readily ſhake off again
without offending them ; always endeavor to
get introduced into the moſt polite and reſpect
able companies .
Should you get invitations from people whom
you don't like, to partake of their amuſements,
have ſome apology ready to excuſe you without
giving offence ;-your buſineſs will not permit,
or
İN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 187
or you are engaged, &c. Should buſineſs call
you into a Grog - ſhop, or other houfe of ill
fame, as it often will to collect debts, be on
thorns ' till you get out again ; and whenever
you get into blackguard , vulgar company , fay
little, and enter into no converſation, teaſt you
get inſulted in the end. You muſt be guarded
in your words and actions, particularly amongſt
ſtrangers, and you muſt conſider every man a
ſtranger 'till you know him well. Leť no bad
example divert you from turning your time as
much as poffible to your own advantage ;
“ For age andwant fave while you may;
• No morning fun lafts a whole day.”
İndolence and idleneſs are the roots of all

Gvil
“ Go to theAnt; thou fluggard , conſider her ways,& c.”

Flatter no man , for it is very mean ; nor liften
with attention to deceitful flatterers, leaſt you
be caught in their treacherous ' ſnares. When
you are in polite, ſenſible company, obſerve their
addreſs and manners - forget their foibles, and
endeavour to imitate their virtues : you may de
pend that if you keep company with bad men;
you will be conſidered no better : men are known
by their company. However, in almoſt every
country you will ſee ſome good men ; the friend .
fhip of ſuch only is worth cultivating. I wiſh
N2 you
you may have merit to gain friends, and pru

dence to retain their friendſhip :-and , O ! -re
member if you ever meet a fincere friend,
Grapple him to your ſoul' with hooks of
ſteel."
Never tell in one company what you have
heard in another ; nor never make any man
merry at the expence of another's reputation ;
and be not a ſtory -carrier amongſt friends, for
buſy bodies or incendiaries often get their juſt
deſert, i. e. broken heads and kicked backſides.
And don't make a practice of low and ludia
crous repartees, or witticiſms of any kind, whil
pering in company, irronical ſpeers, or ſnivela
licg laughter at almoſt every ſentence you uiter,
for they are all ſure ſigns of ill breeding, trea
chery and deceit ; and be careful, if you wiſh
to make your own company agreeable to others,
(which you ſhould endeavour to do) not to en
groſs too much of the converſation to yourſelf ;
you will pleaſe others by allowing them to ſpeak
in turn, and ' by liſtening attentively to them .
And when you tell a joke or humorous ſtory, en
deavour to be the laſt who laughs at it. And
be not poſitive nor felf.opiniated ; conſider
that others may have a right to be as intilligent
as yourfelf. Though you will improve by con
verſation with ſenſible men or women, yet be
not fond of controverſy, or of entering into un
neceſſary arguments . If you meet in company
where quarrels or diſputes arriſe, thould you not
have
have any particular friend attacked , be, neuter,
and endeavour to make peace ; if you are aſked
who was the aggreſſor, or your opinion of the
matter, be now to ſpeak ; but if you can't how
nourably avoid it, let it be in a modeſt manner :
-ſay that it is a diſagreeable talk to you , and
that it is with much reluctance you interfere
amongſt friends ;-however, as you are called
upon, you will give your candid opinion, and ſay
that the matter appeared ſo or fo ; this may pre.
vent the diſputants from being offended with
you ; for conſequently you oppoſe one party or
other by giving your opinion.
“ Never judge between two friend, but fee
“ If thou can'ſt bring them friendly to agree.”
Be not fond of borrowing, or of lending, or
of becoming ſecurity for another, leaſt you not
only loſe the loan and friend, but get yourſelf into
a ſnare . “ Be not thou one of them that ſtrike
hands, or of them that are ſecurities for debts .'
And when you tranſact buſineſs for yourſelf,
be very particular who you - credit, and get
bonds or notes , as life is very precarious.
Do not be ready to contract debts more than
you will be capable of diſcharging punctually ;
for by involving yourſelf in debt, you leave
both your liberty and property at the diſpoſal
of your creditors ; nor can you, in my opinion,
unleſs you are a ſtranger to virtue and ſhame,
and cafe -hardened with aſſurance, walk the
ſtreets
ſtreets manfully when every moment you are

expecting a dun, or tip from a marſhals catch
pole.
Another thing I muſt adviſe you, is not to
be countrified, nor bigotted to religion : I was
once ſo filly as to be fonder of my countrymen
than of others, and enjoyed a ſecret pleaſure 1
when I had an opportunity of ſerving them ;

but though I had it not in my power to grant
favours' ſo freely, as Timon in the play had,
my friends often in the end behaved as un
grateful to me as his did to him ; I could men
tion many inſtances of their baſe ingratitude,
but it is folly to repeat grievances. Ingratitude
is a moſt heinous fin ;, if you wiſh to lible
or to ftigmatize your enemy, you cannot ſay
worſe than that he is ungrateful. Gratitude,
offspring of the generous merciful heart, thews
itſelf in a thouſand varied forms: the conſola ..
cion a good man feels at doing a generous action
or returning a favour is great. When you do
a charitable or generous action , conceal it from
every perſon as private as poſſible; let it be
done freely, not as if extorted, or oftentatiouſly ,
for thereby the value will be enhanced : and do
not, for a trifle, quarrel with an old friend, to
forget all the good turns he did you, which
is often the caſe amongſt men, for that is un
grateful.
" On adament our wrongs we all,1.engrave,
" But write our beneſts upon the wave. "
I would
I would wiſh you to write letters frequently,

in order to make letter-writing familiar to you ;
if you have no particular friend to whom you
can unboſom your mind, you may ſuppoſe one,
an imaginary friend , it will anſwer the ſame,
and you will thereby improve yourſelf: let the
ſtile be plain and eaſy , free from affectation and
ill - connected phraſes; when writing, always ſup
5 poſe the perſon preſent, as if you was ſpeaking
to him, thereby your fancy and paſſions will
be more ſtrongly excited ; it is a great recom
mendation to a young man to write a letter well,
to ſpeak ſmooth and harmonious upon paper,
( for there is a harmony in proſe as well as in
verſe ) .-- As Pope ſays,
“ Speed the foft intercourſe from ſoul to ſoul,
“ And waft a ſigh from Indies to the Pole.??
I would with you to have a ſmall collection
of well choſen books ; you never can be alone
while you have a good book about you. « Books
are fair virtues , advocates and friends," And
though religion is practiſed very little in the
Britiſh colonies, I beg, for God's ſake, you will
take ſome thought of your poor ſoul; commit
as little fin as poſſible: I know it is impoſſible
for us to avoid finning, but if we be always on
our guard, and beg fervently for God's grace
to give us reſolution to follow good example ,
we need not be too wicked ſinners. God is
gracious and good , and all merciful ; he formed
US.
192 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS , &c.
us of a frail nature . He knoweth whereof
we are made : he remembereth that we are bur
duft;" and he will, if we put our fole truſt
and confidence in his ' mercies, through the mė
rits of his bleſſed Son, forgive us our fins; ſo
that we ſhould not put our truſt in man, that
veering precarious animal; all men are treache
rous even to themſelves ; a man may be your
warm friend to day, and to-morrow a frivolous
matter may make him your enemy ; alas, ſo
weak is our nature ! Therefore, let no man
know the bottom of your heart; always con
verſe and act with your intimates as if you ex
pected, one time or other, they would be your
inveterate enemies .
“ Safe in thy breaſt cloſe lock up thy intents,

« For he who knows thy purpoſe beſt prevents . "
Truſt ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence
in a guide ; keep the doors of thy mouth- from her
that lieth in thy boſom . Micah vii. 5.
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J.B. Moreton Manners and Customs in The West India Islands

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J.B. Moreton Manners and Customs in The West India Islands

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CUSTOMS AND MANNERS :

STRICTURES ON THE SOIL, CULTIVATION , PRODUCE,

THE METHOD OF ESTABLISHING AND CONDUCTING

THE PRACTICE OF TRAINING NEW SLAVES.

PRINTED FOR I , PARSONS, PATERNOSTER ROW ;

Bathing, the good and bad effects thereof 23

Cudjo, King 133

Dog -wood 402

Europeans, advice to them 24

Grog ſhop -keepers 35

Guinea- graſs 42, 58

Parrots , Parroquets, &c. 40

Pork , excellent quality 41

Sea -ſickneſs, and ſea -voyage 9°

WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

as much as poſible; vomits and purgatives occae

It was always a moſt pleaſing ſatisfaction to

1 When Sol, each day, withdrew his beams of light,

As you probably, may call at Madiera, I will

to and from their boats ; ſeveral luſty yellow fel

goſpel, and is to the following purport : “ That

IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS , 15

On paſſing the tropic of Cancer, you will be

you, but behave familiar to them and they will

ſugar, rum and molaſſes, frying on the waves, to

ever they touch, the parts feſter, and are troubled

legs, through the venom of the muſquittoes, to

Each night when I lay on mybed,

The climate is intenſely hot and ſultry, day and

natives, and till it becomes deluted or weakened

impoſed on, or that phyſic ſhould be thus abuſed

AIR. My Friend and Pitcher.

The following odd relation concerning myſelf,

quack, and remained a helpleſs object of pity.

Quacks, in general, make as free with their con

Dutcheſs for the lax, to eat plenty ofhomony.

Fevers, agues , dry belly-achs, conſumptions,

with my conftitution in other reſpects : I aſſure

24 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

baſe degrees by which they did afcend ; their

the nightair, or heavy dews, which too often prove

a difagreeable taſte in your mouth, and your

fant air, polite chearful company , muſic, riding

R. Vin, antimon, Zip. ſign. puke.

The preceding preſcription is one vomit, two

mation much abated, repeat the boluſes and elec

leaſt, only give you ſome temporary relief, fo

Wild thoughtleſs youth, poor dupes to ſenſual love !

Thus far I have ſaid of diſeaſes peculiar to the

Jamaica is the richeſt of all the Britiſh Weſt

Kingſton is about a mile long and the ſame in

colour twelve hundred, and eight thouſand Naves;

ſeveral inſtances of people being devoured by

ters of merchant men , who pay £ 4 , or ļos, for

and where the aſſemblies are held, ſtands in the

coffee, cotton, cocoa, pimento, ginger, maho

mountains until the waters abate ; theſe heavy

act was immediately paiſed by the council and

Though I am naturally fond of mirth and

wrapped in dear delightful folitude, amidſt the

“ - Thefe deep folitudes and awful cells,