Slaves, Free Men, Citizens - CIFAS

48 A Planter's Daywithout exception. me instruments of torture on theseoccasions are long hempen whips, that cut round at everylash, and crack like pistol-shot; during which they alternatelyrepeat, "Dmkee, maseran (lhnk you, master).Inb-hhesWupandbmwithhisowmr,afEecting not so much as to hear their cries, till they ares&ciently mangled, when they are untied, and orderedto return to their work, without so much as a dressing.This ceremony being over, the dressy negro .(a blacksurgeon) comes to make his report; who beiig dismissedwith a hearty curse, for allowing any slaves to be sick,next makes her appearance a superannuated matron, withall the young negro children of the estate, over whom sheis governess; these, Wig clean washed in the river, claptheir hands, and cheer in chorus, when they are sent awayto breakfast on a large planer of rice and plantains; andthe levee ends with a low bow from the overseer, as it&&w*His worship now sauntem out in his morning dress,which consists of a pair of the hest Holland trowsem,white silk stockings, and red or yellow Morocco slippers;the neck of his shirt open, and nothing over it, a 1-flowing night-gown of the finest India chintz excepted. Onhis head is a cotton night-cap, as thin as a cobweb, andover that an enormous beaver hat, that protects his meagrevisage from the sun, which is already the colour of mahogany,while his whole carcass seldom weighs above eightor ten stone, being generally exhausted by the climateand dissipation. To give a more complete idea of this finegentleman, I . . . present him to the reader with a pipin his mouth, which almost every where accompanies him,and receiving a glass of Madeira wine and water, from afemale quaderoon slave, to refresh him during his walk.Having loitered about his estate, or s omew ridden onhorseback to his fields, to view his increasing stores, berctuma about eight o'clock, when, if he goes abroad, bedreasa, but if not, remains just as he is. Should the firsttake place, having only exchanged his trowsen for a pairof th linen or silk breeches, be dts down, and holdingJohn G. Stedmm 49mto~fwt&the*r,Ueahomwgtob&aa w p ~ ~ o n h i s s ~ ~ p d & w , f i & h e dbuckles, while another drwsa his hair, hia wig, or 8havcab c & a n d a M b f w h h k q d t h e m m@toea. Having now &ftcd, be puts on a tJh coat andwaistcoat, all whim when under an umbrella, d e d bya black boy, he is conducted to his barge, which is in waitingfor him with six or eight oars, well provided with fruit,wine, water, and tobacco, by hia overseer, who no soonerb~him~thanhemumestheco-dwi&all the usual insolence of office. But should thia phce notmean to stir from his estate, he goes to breakfast about teno'clock, for which a table is spread in the large hdl, pvided with a bacon ham, hung-beef, fowls, or pigeombroiled; plantains and sweet cassavas roasted; bread, butter,cheese, &c. with which he drinkn strong beer, and a glasof Madeira, Rhenish, or Mozell wine, while the cringingoverseer sits at the farther end, keeping his proper distance,both being served by the most beautiful slaves that canbe selected;-and this is called breakiag the poor gentleman's fast.After this he takes a book, playa at chess or b~Xards,entertains himael with music, &c. till the heat of the dayforax him to IWWD into his cotton hammock to enpy hismeridian nap, which he could no more dispense with thana Spaniard with his siesta, and in which he rocks to andfro, like a performer on the slack-rope, till he fah asleep,without either bed or covering; and during which time heis famed by a couple of his black attendants, to keep himcool, &c.About three o'clock he awakea by natural instinct, whenhaving washed and perfumed himself, he sits down todinner, attended as at breakfast by his deputy governorand sable pa- where nothing is wanting that the worldcan afF0n-I in a western climate, of meat, fowls, venison,fish, vegetables, fruits, &c. and the most exquisite wincaare often squandered in profusion; after this a cap ofstrong coffee and a liqueur !hi& the repast. At six o'clockk is again waited on by his overseer, attended M in tbe