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chapter VIII: Of the negroes or slaves;

“Who are most brought out of Guinea in Africa to those parts, where they are sold like dogs, and no better esteem’d but for their work-sake, which they perform all the week, with the severest usages for the slightest fault, till saturday afternoon, when they are allowed to dress their own gardens or plantations, having nothing but what they can produce from thence to live upon; unless perhaps once or twice a year, their masters vouchsafe them, as a great favour, a little rotten salt-fish: or if a cow or horse die of itself, they get roastmeat: their lodging is a hard board, and their black skins their covering. These wretched miseries not seldom drive them to desperate attempts for the recovery of their liberty, endeavouring to escape, and, if like to be retaken, sometimes lay violent hands upon themselves; or if the hope of pardon bring them again alive into their master’s power, they will manifest their fortitude, or rather obstinacy, suffering the most exquiste tortures can be inflicted upon them, for a terror and example to others without shrinking.”