Antigua and the Antiguans Volume II Part 2

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

Negroes: Palliations, _but not excuses_, for former cruelties-A harsh planter-Crimes of slaves-The little negroes' dinner-hour- A character-Negroes' want of thought-Bartering their weekly provisions-Pilfering-The Rock Dungeon-A Tortolian slave-master- The murdered slave-Branding-Slave cargo-Remarks upon slavery-A good slave-master-A kind attorney-Negro grat.i.tude.

When I undertook this work, I laid down for myself one uniform rule, the propriety of which my readers must admit, which was, to adhere strictly to facts without fear or favour. I mourn to think that any one, much more a Briton, should have practised those cruel deeds which were perpetrated even in this island, in former days. I am well aware how much patience it requires to deal with negroes, and also how strong the force of example is. We all of us are liable to err; those pa.s.sions which it has pleased the Giver of all to ingraft in our bosoms, although not to be extirpated, as the disciples of Zeno would have us believe, require to be kept under strict restraint, or else how soon we may be led to commit acts we ourselves would be the first to condemn. Self-control is no easy matter; the wise man says-"He who ruleth his own spirit is greater than he who taketh a city."

Nothing will enable us to overcome ourselves but a deep feeling of religion. In those early times of slavery there was no settled place of worship-no sound of the "church-going" bell in Antigua; and men who might have left England with the best of feelings, from living in this manner, and having to deal with stubborn and aggravating characters, in time grew callous.

The flowers which deck this beautiful world require the suns and dews of heaven to support their fragile forms; the birds which charm us with their melody look up to their Maker's hand for their daily food; can it be supposed, then, that man, a weak and sinful creature, can walk uprightly without a daily intercourse with his G.o.d? No; let philosophers boast as they will, man's greatest strength is in his weakness; and it is from the spread of Christianity in these parts, and Christian pastors taking the place of those "blind leaders of the blind," who, in former days, presumed to preach the gospel here, that people are enabled to bear with the negroes, and not give way to such violent acts of resentment again them. As I remarked in the conclusion of the former chapter, I cannot, _dare not_ offer these remarks as an excuse for cruelty; but while I reprobate such conduct as I have been describing, I cannot help thinking how different the time was then to what it is now-how the bright day-spring has chased away the clouds of night.

But my melancholy subject is not yet ended; a few more acts remain to be exhibited before the curtain falls. There was some years ago an Antiguan planter who was of such a tyrannical disposition, that he was an object of dread to the whole negro population, until at length he made himself so hated by them, from his cruel punishment, that he fancied his life in danger, and therefore quitted the island, and remained absent for many years. It was customary for many persons at that time to send, or threaten to send, negroes who were refractory or lazy, to Mr. -- for punishment, and so dreaded was his name, that, in most cases, it procured good behaviour and declarations of amendment; for hard, indeed, was the fate of those who fell into his hands. It is said that Mr. -- has been known to order two drivers to stretch a slave, no matter whether male or female, upon the ground, and to flog them until he rode round his estate, (which was one of good extent,) and upon his return, if he did not think the gashes sufficiently open, he would make them continue their demoniac employment for a longer period. The operation of flogging was thus performed:-the unfortunate victims of their barbarity were stretched upon the earth their full-length, four men held them down, while one or more drivers, with their immense cart-whips, lacerated the flesh at every stroke. Sometimes after this violent discipline of the whip, more humane masters, if they can be termed so, have ordered their bleeding backs to be washed with pickle, in order to prevent mortification; but Mr. -- would not allow this to be done; he would not let them have any a.s.sistance; but chains have been put upon them, and they have been led back to their dungeon, and maggots have been known to breed in their flesh!

This is no tale of fiction, no "Castle of Udolpho," to horrify the mind with its ideal fancies; no, it is the plain, unvarnished tale of truth, of what our poor negroes once suffered in Christian countries from those who professed themselves Christian masters. I mean not to say that every slave-owner was a man of blood; G.o.d forbid they should have been, for then every breeze that blew would have been loaded with groans-every sun that rose would have witnessed mangled bodies. No; there were many, very many, in Antigua who treated their slaves with the utmost kindness, even in slavery's early days; but more particularly in this generation, when milder principles were inculcated, and milder punishments put into effect.

But, it may be inquired, what was the fault of negroes? Surely they must be crimes of great magnitude to call for so severe a use of the whip. In answer, we can only observe that these faults, or crimes, or errors, call them what you will, were various. For example: sometimes a mule or two strayed into a cane-field and cropped the young canes, or part of the herd of cattle broke away from the cattle-keepers when inattentive to them, and devoured, or trod down, a piece of yams. Some of the slaves ran away for a day or two, and others returned saucy answers, (which all negroes are very competent to do;) some were lazy, some did their work ill, and some again were behind the time in which they were required by law to commence their daily labour in the field; the list was called over by the overseer before they arrived, and they were reported "absent."

Another frequent crime was theft. In times of slavery, as already shewn, instead of giving money to the negroes as a recompence, every necessary was found them by their owners-their dress, their houses, their doctor, and their food. The common practice upon estates was, to distribute to the negroes dresses twice in the year, and their provisions once or twice in the week. This consisted (as mentioned in a former part of this work) of so many yards of cloth, shirting, flannel, and so many woollen caps, handkerchiefs, &c., for their wardrobes; and for their weekly provision so many pounds of yams, herrings, or mackerel, &c., for each grown person; and at Christmas time, a further supply of salt pork and wheat flour.

The little children had their own allowance, and upon those estates where the proprietor or manager cared for their welfare, an old woman was employed to boil it for them; and about noon they all marched up to the "great house" with their calabashes in their hands, which answered the purpose of plate and bason, to partake of the "savoury messes" not "which the _neat-handed_ Phillis dresses," for these pic'ni'es cook was anything but neat-handed or clean.

I have often been amused, upon visiting an estate belonging to Sir Geo. Thomas, Bart., where the attorney was a kind and humane master, at seeing these little people eat their dinners. There was a large paved court before the door, around which the little _blackies_ were seated, waiting in silence for their share. The old woman having seen them well arranged, returned for the pot, which was placed in the centre, and contained various ingredients, as yams, potatoes, corn-flour dumplings, herrings, with a good supply of water, &c., forming a kind of "_olla-podrida_." How many little black sparkling eyes were fixed upon that pot and its contents, while the old woman took the important office of distributing it into the numerous attending calabashes. When the information "All done, ma.s.sa," meaning that the pot was empty, was given, (for the master was present to see that these poor little children got their proper portion,) and Mr. --, with an arch smile, asked, "No more herring left?" and the negative given, they all rose, one by one, and fetched their own share, when, without any spoon but what Dame Nature gave them in their fingers, it quickly found its way to their mouths, without a drop being wasted; the calabashes turned down, shewed the important business was over, and the old woman and her charge departed to their accustomed pursuits.

Years have pa.s.sed since I witnessed those scenes, but I fancy I can see that old woman now. Age is not famous for loveliness, and I am sure none was there. She must have been in her youth very tall, but when I knew her, time had bent her form and grizzled her woolly hair. Her complexion was of a coal black, with a most sinister expression of countenance; her dull black eyes were never still; her face looked as if every moment added another wrinkle, while an immense pair of elephant legs completed the picture. She was very famous, I afterwards found out, for giving the children the liquid portion of the mess, and reserving the herrings for herself, which occasioned Mr. --'s question.

But to resume the sadder part of my picture, (for the digression I have been led into may be termed one of the "lights" of slavery,) slaves' crimes and slaves' punishments. Upon the "allowance days," as they were called, the negroes were very flush of provisions; and having no thoughts of a "rainy day," or, in other words, putting by a portion for the other days of the week, they sold them for anything that took their fancy. The consequence of this was, that for the rest of the week they were in a state of starvation, and unless any friend ministered to their wants, they very likely entered their master's provision grounds, and stole part of the productions. This, of course, was discovered in the morning, the culprits generally detected, and they received their punishment, varying in degrees of severity, according to the disposition of their masters. At one time this system of bartering the food given them by their owners for indifferent articles was so prevalent, that complaints were laid before the house of a.s.sembly; and in the year 1814, an act pa.s.sed which was intended as a preventive against this practice.

Another crime of slaves was to milk the cattle upon the estates, and sell the milk in town; and this again called for the use of the whip. Mola.s.ses and sugar were also stolen in great quant.i.ties, and sold to persons making ginger drink; sugar-cakes, as they are termed, which are composed of sugar, mola.s.ses, ginger, and cocoa-nut, boiled up together; and many other different sweets. Even persons who ought to have known better, encouraged slaves in stealing, by buying of them sugar for domestic purposes. This also called for the interposition of the law; and slaves so offending were to be whipped, and sent to work in the street-gang. I have mentioned the street-gang in a former chapter; but it may be well to remark, that the slaves comprising it were worked two and two together, by having an iron collar round their necks, and connected by a chain, not exactly the size and thickness of that formerly shewn in "Aldermanbury;"[7] but rather like those used upon the convicts in the different dockyards in England.

These were the most frequent offences of slaves. Those of a higher degree, such as murders, and running away for more than three months, were, as we have already seen, punished in a severer manner. Although the slave-owner had redress by the laws of the island, for all faults committed by his slaves, revolting as it is to think of, there were some masters who thought thirty-nine lashes[8] too mild a punishment for such crimes: they would rather take the law into their own hands, and flog their slaves by the hour. They liked to see mangled bodies,-to hear heart-rending groans, and have the supreme felicity of ordering them back to their dungeons, garnished, perhaps, with chains, as in the case of Mr. --. I have laid before my readers, or at least endeavoured to do so, slaves' crimes and slaves' punishments; and it is for them to say whether they deserved such severe discipline. In another part I shall have to enlarge upon the vices of negroes, and their perverseness of disposition; but it now remains for me to give one or two more instances of cruelty; and I will then banish from these pages the melancholy subject.

A gentleman of this island, as I have been made to understand, had a female _mustee_[9] slave belonging to him. This slave committed some misdemeanor, whether great or small I am unable to say; but at all events, her master had her locked up for the night in a place of horrors, called the "Rock Dungeon." The woman was in the last stage of pregnancy; in that place, removed from all a.s.sistance, she was confined during the night; and when the morning came, and that den of misery was opened, her poor baby was found to be devoured by the rats! This deed was done by one of our great men, an honourable too. It may be said, he could not foresee the catastrophe, and the woman might have given him great provocation, which no doubt she did; but still, would any humane master have shut up a female in such a condition in such a place?

By the advice of the magistrates, this woman and her remaining children were afterwards sold, as her master and herself could never agree. This is not the only instance in which his name has been brought before the public. Some strange reports were abroad of his shooting one of his negro boys; and of his killing another, and burying him in a pond. These circ.u.mstances were brought before the slavery committee of the House of Lords in 1832; and in an examination of a divine, the rector of the parish in which the gentleman resided, he was asked if he knew anything about them? The Rev. Mr. -- returned for answer-"Yes, I heard a report about them, but do not know if they were correct." And again-"I never heard of his killing a negro; but I heard of his burying a white matross in the sand; but that was only hearsay. I only heard of it from persons, perhaps, that were not his friends. With regard to shooting a negro, he went and gave himself up for that; and I believe he was acquitted, or the coroner's inquest brought in a verdict of 'accidental death.'

There was some sort of a trial; but I believe there was a great deal said about it, that probably he did not deserve,-I think so." This was the rector's opinion: whether the gentleman alluded to was guilty, is more than I can say; we can but hope he was not. The matter rests between himself and his G.o.d; but if he did act in this manner, if he was guilty of these deaths, conscience must at times give him some sharp twinges.[10]

I have in a former page referred to the trial of a planter for the murder of his slave. It did not occur in Antigua, I am happy to say; but as Antiguan barristers pleaded for and against the culprit, it may not be amiss to give a short account of it. The offender against justice was a member of the council at Tortola; and upon his estate in that island these horrible cruelties were perpetrated. I cannot go into the details of the case, which were most revolting in their circ.u.mstances; but will just give the heads. This man-this vampire he might be called-was found guilty, and executed upon the common gallows, for the murder of _one_ of his slaves, a poor African; but there were eight other indictments for murder ready made out against the same individual, whose cruelty of disposition was proverbial.

"Prosper," the name of the murdered man, was, as before remarked, a poor African, one who, to use the words of the counsel for the crown, "was murdered by the man, to promote whose interests the strength of his youth was exhausted;" and his crime was, eating one mango, which fell off a tree he was watching. For this one fault, the poor fellow was whipped, until not one piece of black skin was left upon him, from his hip to his hand; afterwards ironed, and thrown into a loathsome dungeon. The next day he was brought out and whipped again, because he had not six shillings to pay his master, (the sum demanded for the eaten mango, that would cost about three farthings sterling,) until nature was exhausted, and he fainted. But he awoke to consciousness and agony; the dungeon was again his refuge, and chained to two other objects of misery, he pa.s.sed that wretched night. Here he remained five days, suffering unspeakable tortures; but at the end of that time, these three miserable creatures contrived to make their escape. Poor "Prosper," however, was too near death to go far; he crawled into his own hut, which was near, and after lingering for a few days, expired,-a prey to the worms before the last sigh had left his lips. When discovered, his remains were so offensive, that a hole was dug at his hut door, he was shovelled in, a little dirt thrown over, and he was left to repose in his irons, until that great day, when master and slave must appear before one bar.[11] Who can read this account without a deep feeling of horror? What will my readers say when I further mention, that when this monster was brought up under a writ of habeas corpus, his lawyer, a barrister of Antigua, a.s.serted, that "it was no greater offence, in law, for an owner to kill his slave, than it would be to kill his dog!"

Another cruel act of proprietors in those days was to brand the negroes with their owner's initials. This was done with a red-hot iron, upon young and old, male and female. Indeed, altogether, the negroes were treated more like cattle than human beings.

Before the abolition of the slave-trade, cargoes of from 100 to 200, and upwards, used frequently to be brought to this island.

When landed, they were generally in a state of nudity, with the exception of strings of beads tied round them; and in this state they remained until purchased. Upon the arrival of these cargoes of "livestock," the merchants sometimes made an offer for the whole, and then retailed them out, should their offer be accepted. At other times, the master or supercargo of the vessel had them sold at public auction, or disposed of a part, and carried the remainder to another market. Those merchants who dealt princ.i.p.ally in this commodity used to provide themselves with a long room, for the reception of these poor creatures, where they were placed all together, like so many horses or mules -the floor being littered down with trash.[12] They were fed twice a-day with rice, horse-beans, or cornflour; and every morning and evening, they were placed in a rank, two and two together, and driven to a pond to water. When persons wanted negroes, they went to the slave-store, and had several brought out to look at-made them skip, jump, run, and dance, to see if they were strong, and their limbs in perfect order; and then, if approved of, their price was paid in "paltry gold," and they became the property of a new master, a being like themselves, only differing, perhaps, in the colour of their skin.

Montesquieu, an eminent French writer, speaking of the unlawfulness of thus entrapping and selling these poor Africans, says-"The strongest reason which can be given for using negroes like beasts of burden is their having black skins and flat noses." Our own immortal Cowper, when writing upon this subject, expresses himself in a similar manner:-

"He finds the fellow guilty of a skin Not colour'd like his own; and, having power T' enforce the wrong, for such a worthy cause Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey."

That men, fashioned by the hands of the same Creator, descended from the same common parent, could thus buy and sell their fellow-creatures just as they would a horse or a cow, seems almost incredible. Future generations will, no doubt, be inclined to discredit such a report, as the wild tale of some imaginary mind. Even in this day, in this island, it causes surprise to many to think they acted so; and the different paragraphs in an old Antigua newspaper, which now lies before me, would appear almost as strange to them as they do to me. Among the list of imports for the week, in this old paper, are "_seven negroes_, five casks of coffee, one bag of cotton, and an old copper kettle!" Thinking of slavery as I do, I could almost say, with the poet-

"No! dear as freedom is, and in my heart's Just estimation prized above all price, I had much rather be myself the slave, And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him."

I am aware that many people, speaking of the propriety of slavery, argue in this manner-"Has it not existed since the days of Noah? And did not the Almighty appear to sanction it then? Can it be more unlawful now?" I grant, that it has existed since those early days:-"A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren" was, I know, the curse of Canaan; but reasoners like these should study the laws which the All-wise made for the prevention of cruelty to the Hebrew slaves or servants. Let them compare what slavery is, or rather what it was, with the slavery of biblical history. "Rule not over him (the servant or slave) with _rigour_ but fear thy G.o.d;" and again-"Harden not thine heart, nor shut thine hand, for remember, he is thy _brother_."

These were the words of One who cannot err. In all ages of the world, man's pride has made him love to domineer over his fellows; and where it is allowed by law, there are many who would rather have slaves to do their orders, than be at the trouble of persuading their inferiors.

I am happy to say, I have never met with any ocular demonstration of the successive cruelties I have been describing. It has been my good fate to reside in Antigua when a milder spirit in general seemed to actuate men; or if, in some of their bosoms, the demon of persecution still kept his abode, shame prevented its making its appearance. I have, it is true, heard the sound of the driver's whip, when the gang have been working; but it seemed to be used as a kind of stimulant, like the crack of the carter's whip, when he drives his team, to urge on his horses.

I have seen a dungeon, but its only occupants were rats; I have met with stocks and shackles, but they were thrown about as useless lumber. Still, I have no doubt there have been cruelties perpetrated here since my residence; but, thank G.o.d, I never witnessed them. I have often heard the voice of childhood supplicating mercy; it has been in the town, among the lower cla.s.ses, who have been chastising their little servant. I have felt for the little creatures, as they begged for pardon; but pity was all I could give them. But now, the case is altered: slavery is no more-the whip is banished; and even the little children will scarcely take a blow. I was amused the other day, with a scene which took place before our dwelling: the actors, a mother and her child. The mother had a small cane in her hand, as if about to chastise her daughter, a child of about six years old, who begged very hard for forgiveness. "Do, mammy, don't lick me; me beg your pardon, ma'am. Oh! don't lick me, mammy; me no do so no more." The mother relented, and let go the child's hands, who, turning round immediately the fear of coercion was removed, stamped her little foot upon the ground, and, raising her tiny fist, exclaimed-"War you lick me for? Me free-me no b'longs to you!"

I visited some few estates in this island during the latter years of slavery, and I was happy to find that they were conducted under a mild system, and the slaves appeared happy and contented.

At one of these, the proprietor seemed to be very much beloved by his people; but he had an ear always open to their complaint; a hand ever ready to minister to their wants; and under the free system, his kindness as a slave-owner is not forgotten. This gentleman is a magistrate; and at the time I am speaking of, he had frequent complaints brought before him from the negroes of the adjoining estates, for all negroes are very litigious. I am sure he deserved credit for the patience with which he heard their tiresome stories; and so the negroes appeared to think too, for I have often heard them say to one another, when departing from the house, "Wen me free, me come lib with dis ma.s.sa; for if eber dere one good ma.s.sa in Antigua, he one."

An instance deserves to be recorded of another planter, with whom I have the honour to be acquainted; which proves there were slave-masters whose hearts were not of adamant; who could be kind to the poor creatures so entirely under their control; and that some marks of grat.i.tude and affection could be shewn by a _slave_. In 1831, the island was in a very unsettled state, from abolishing the Sunday markets, and not appointing another day for the negroes to bring their provisions into town to sell. Constant fires occurred on different estates; no sooner was one extinguished, than another was discovered. The militia was on duty night and day; and serious alarm was abroad for the safety of the island.

The gentleman alluded to was attorney for several estates; the one he resided upon was a very large property, belonging to Sir George Thomas, and possessed a gang of about 250 negroes. His militia duty called him to a distance, and he was obliged to leave his wife and children, surrounded by all the slaves: how far the spirit of mutiny and disaffection had crept in among them, he was unable to say.

Whilst these thoughts were pa.s.sing in his mind, and of course rendering him very uneasy, a few of the head slaves upon the plantation waited upon him. I cannot give the precise words they made use of, but they were to this effect: "Master, you have always been very kind to us, to our wives, and to our children; you have never given us harsh language, or cruel beatings; and while we did our work orderly and quietly, you have been most indulgent to us. Master, we thank you for it, we feel grateful, very grateful; and we here solemnly pledge ourselves to guard with our lives your wife, your children, and your property, as you have guarded us and ours." The attorney trusted the negroes; he left the estate; and he found them act as they had promised.

Oh, if anything can gild the dark picture of slavery, such instances as these will; and in these days of freedom, such men can lay their heads upon their pillows with ease, and bless G.o.d, that in the day of power, they were kept from exercising undue severity upon their defenceless slaves.

[7] The office of the Anti-slavery Society.

[8] By the Mosaic law, criminals were not to receive more than forty stripes at one time, and for one offence; but that there might be no fear of breaking the commandment, the Jews were in the habit of giving one _less_ than the allowed number. Their whips were made with three thongs, or tails, and with this instrument the criminals received thirteen stripes, making the number of blows thirty-nine. Now the implement used for whipping negroes was a _cat_, with _nine_ tails; and as thirty-nine lashes were given with it, the poor slaves received altogether 351 stripes at one time-a humane punishment, it must be allowed!

[9] See Chapter XLIII.

[10] From Anti-slavery Reports.

[11] It was customary in those days to bury negroes upon the estate to which they belonged, the burying-ground being generally near their houses.

[12] Dry leaves of the sugar-cane.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

Negroes: The a.s.sertion that negroes are careless of all domestic ties confuted by anecdotes-"Shadows" of negro character-Excuses for them-Conversion to Christianity-Belief of the Africans that after death they shall return to Africa- Instance of it-Africans and Creoles-Superst.i.tions-Obeah.

Since writing the preceding chapter, it has been represented to me, that I have painted slavery in too gloomy colours, particularly the parting of husband and wife, parent and children, by sale; that the negroes are an unfeeling race; that parental or connubial affections are seldom felt by them; or if experienced at all, it is but very partially. As a proof of this, it is said that in Africa husbands will sell their wives and children, brothers their sisters, mothers their daughters, for a mere trifle. I am aware that such has been the case, particularly in times of scarcity, when part of a family has been disposed of to provide food for the rest. The Capuchin friars, in their mission to Congo, mention, that one day hearing a man making a great outcry, and saying, "I have no wife, no child, no brother!

Miserable wretch that I am! I once had all these, but I sold them;" they asked him the reason for his acting so. "To purchase drink," was the reply; "and if I had them again, I should do the same." But this is a single circ.u.mstance; possibly, such an utter want of feeling would not be found in the rest of the tribe. Why _should_ not love pervade the breast of the black as well as the white? That it does do so, may be proved by many pathetic instances.

A master of slaves in Kingston, Jamaica, owned a negro who was the mother of two fine little boys. Being in want of cash, the master disposed of one. The poor mother, in the agony of maternal feeling at having her offspring thus turned from her, made a hideous lamentation; and for this crime, as it was termed, her owner commanded her to receive a severe flogging. She had still one, however, left, and she would sit for hours, holding it in her arms, and pouring upon its unconscious ear her tale of sorrow. But alas! the spoiler came again: her master wanted more money, and regardless of the heart-rending cries of the distracted mother, who begged him not to take her last, her best-beloved, the child was sold. This utter bereavement "turned her heart within her," and caused "the light of madness" to kindle in her eye.