ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

2i6 S U M A T R A;
civil condition cannot be altered for the worfe. There is this advantage
alfo, that when a debtor abfconds, they have recourfe to his relations for
the amount of his debt, who, if unable to pay it, muft mengemng in his
room; whereas, when a flave makes his efcape, the law can give no
redrefs, and his value is loft to the owner. Thefe people, moreover,
are from habit, backward to ftrike, and the ftate of flavery unhappily
requires the frequent infliction of punifliment in that mode. A flave
cannot poflefs, independently, any property; ytt it rarely happens that
a mafter is found mean and fordid enough, to defpoil them of the fruits of
their induftry; and their liberty is generally granted them, when in a condition
to purchafe it, though they cannot demand it of right. It is nothing
uncommon for thofe belonging to the Europeans, to poflefs flaves of
their own, and to acquire confiderable fubftance. Their condition is here,
for the moft part, lefs unhappy than that of perfons in other fituations
of life. I am far from wifhing to diminifli from the horror that fhould
ever accompany the general idea of this ftate,, which I am convinced is
not necefiary among mankind; but I cannot help remarking, as an extraordinary
fact, that if there is one clafs of people eminently happy
above all others upon earth, it is the body of Caffres, or negro flaves
belonging to the India Company at Bencoohn. They are well clothed
and fed, and fupplied with a proper allowance of liquor;, their work is
by no means fevere ; the perfons appointed as their immediate overfeers,
are chofen, for their merit, from amongft themfelves; they have no
occafion of care or anxiety for the paft or future, and are naturally of
a lively and open temper. The contemplation of the effects which fuch
advantages produce, muft afford the higheft gratification to a benevolent
mind. They are feen perpetually laughing or ringing, and fince
the period they were firft carried thither, from different parts of Africa.
and Madagascary to the prefent hour, not fo much as-the rumor of diflurbance,
or difcontent has ever been known to proceed from them. They
hold the natives of the iftand in contempt, have a degree of antipathy
towards them, and enjoy any mifchief they can do them \ and thefe in
their, turn regar-d the Qaffres as devils half humanized*