Aprfi! ^iat t^ie B uS unef e Haves are particularly ffcridt and fcru- -pulous with refpeit to the adminiftration of juftice. Thofe flaves are a fort of Mahomedans, and nearly o f the fame complexion as the people o f Java, though they are taken upon other iflands in the Eaft-Indies. They are not moreover o f a humour to put up with harfh expreflions or abufive language, ftilllefs when they are not deferving of it, and not at all from a woman; looking .upon it as the greateft fliame, to fuffer themfelves to be difciplined by the weaker fex. Many a matter and miftrefs o f a family, who have happened to forget themfelves with refpedt to this point, have, when a proper opportunity has offered, been made to pay for this jniftake of theirs with their lives. Thefe lame flaves, on the other hand-, when they know that they are in the wrong, are faid to thank their matter for each ftroke he beftows upon them; at the fame time commending his rigour and juftice, nay even kiffing his fe e t ; a cir- cumftance o f which I myfelf have been an eye-witnefs. In fine, they are reported to be capable of bearing the moft cruel torments with wonderful fortitude, as though they were entirely devoid o f feeling. There have been iiiftahces, o f their not having uttered the leaft cry or complaint when impaled alive, or broken upon the wheel. But fhould a Bugunefe Have at any time happen to betray the leaft want of refolution in this point, his countrymen are faid to feel themfelves hurt by it, confidering it -as a reproach to the whole nation. The female flaves belonging to thefe people, are reported to be extremely conftant in love, as likewife to exadt the ftridteft fidelity from their lovers. In fhort, the bold and intrepid charadter o f this nation, is the caufe jjg f | i n l I'll»' 11 caufe that people at the Cape are not fond o f buying them-; and that the importation o f them is prohibited, though in fa£t it is fometimes pradtifed. The flaves from other parts, fuch as from Mofambique, Madagafcar, Malabar, 8tc. are in general not fo dangerdus to their unreafonable and tyrannical matters. On account of this great tamenefs- ihewn by them, they are more generally made to bow beneath the yoke; and the miftrefs o f a family may venture to give as free a fcope to all her whims and fancies as herhufband himfelf, with refpedt to thefe flaves. There is a law, indeed, exifting in the colonies, which prohibits matters from killing their flaves, or from flogging or otherwife chaftizing them with too great feverity; but how is a Have to go to law with his matter, who is, as it were, his fbvereign, and who, by the fame laws, has a right (or at leaft may by dint of bribes purchafe that right) to have him flogged at the public whipping-pott, not abfolutely to death, indeed, yet not far from i t ; and; this merely on the ftrength o f the matter’s own teftimony, and without any farther inquifition into the merits of the: cafe $ The matter has, befides, fo far his flave’s life in. his hands, that by rating and abufing him day after day, as likewife by proper family difcipline, as it is called, fuch as heavy Iron chains, hard work, and little meat, he may,, without controui, by little and little, though foon enough for his purpofe, worry the poor fellow out of his life, hi. confequence of this, the unhappy flaves, who are frequently endued with finer feelings and“ nobrer fentiments- o f humanity, thoiigh for the moft part actuated by ftronger pafAons than their matters,, often give themfelves up-totally tk» 1.776. ApriH- 'w'VX»# I
27f 72-2
To see the actual publication please follow the link above