356
JAMAICA.
last case, of twenty-four shillings sterling for each in fraction of the law. The agricultural slaves in Jamaica, were always maintained by cultivating provision grounds, and by the weekly distribution of an allowance of herrings or other salt fish ; and in the case of invalids, pregnant women, and mothers, of a small quantity of flour or oatmeal, rice, sugar, &c. Certain other arrangements, necessary to the welfare and even the subsistence of the negros, were sanctioned by general custom in the colo ny. Thus a watchman was provided for the provision grounds, in order to prevent the crops from being destroyed by the trespass of cattle, or plundered by idle and improvident slaves; and one of the women was employed as a field-cook and water carrier, to pre pare the breakfasts and dinners of the gangs in the field, in order that their mealtimes might be also inter vals of rest, and to carry water for them, to quench the thirst created by exhausting labor under a biirningsun. " The first act of the proprietors after the first of Au gust," observes Dr. M A D D E N , (who attentively watched the progress of events, during a period imme diately preceding and following the introduction of the Apprenticeship,) " was to take away all those allow ances and customary gratuities from the negros, which were not literally specified in the new law." It must be observed, that it was the local Abolition Act, that was deficient in these particulars, as all those allow ances were continued to the negros, by the spirit and even the letter of the Imperial Act, as above quoted. The Attorney General, DOWELL O ' R E I L L Y , who has discharged the difficult duties of his office, in trying times, honestly and firmly, at the expense of his pri vate interests, and with little support from the govern-