The West indies in 1837

Page 327

JAMAICA.

311

pie on it, who are a jobbing gang and are at present working at Williams-field twelve miles from their homes. They had complained that they were destitute of food and clothing, and had scarcely a shelter over their heads, and two Special Magistrates, CIIAMBKRLAiNJE and W A D D I N G T O N , who were directed to inquire into their case, had ordered that they should have time allowed them to build themselves new houses and make new provision grounds, and in the mean-time be supported by their owner. We saw several of the people at their huts. It would be difficult to conceive any thing worse than their condition, and impossible to describe its wretchedness. Both their appearance and that of their dwellings were truly miserable. They have only two or three habitable houses among them, in each of which several families are obliged to shelter themselves. They are nearly destitute of clothing, and having no provision ground, have con­ sequently no food. Their grounds had been en­ tirely destroyed by cattle while they were absent by the week together at their work, and the only watch­ man, who had been allowed them, was a crippled young man, whom we saw, and who was not only unfit for that service, but incapable even of attending to his own wants. The proprietor on being asked to day by the Magistrate whether they had been supported agree­ ably to his directions, replied that they did not require it as " t h e y had plenty of friends and neighbours who would assist thein," meaning the negros on neigh­ boring properties. We may add, that this individual is a local magistrate. During our stay in this part of the island we con­ versed with a number of the negros from different estates in the Manchineal and Plaintain Garden River


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