62
ANTIGUA.
Tobacco used to be its staples. The two former plants still grow wild in great abundance ; and, as well as many others, might probably be made profitable arti cles of commerce. Among these is a species of acacia, which bears a great quantity of seed-pods, containing large proportions of gallic acid and tannin. The natives make ink and a black dye of them ; and they have been exported to Europe, but for what purposes and with what results is unknown. Great inconveni ences result from the exclusive cultivation of the cane ; and but few of the planters, even since the compensa tion, are sufficiently independent to be able to turn! their attention to any other article. He alluded in very strong terms to the annoyances of the old slave' system to proprietors ; of which he gave us some strik ing illustrations. It is apparent that the Abolition Act emancipated both planters and negros. One of the former on one occasion expressed their connection with slave property by an allusion to the Siamese Twins—a ligament of unnatural inconveniences. This gentleman complained of the great ingratitude which some of his negros, who had been very kindly treated, had displayed in leaving him. On the other hand, some had been stimulated to more industrious habits. One of the most worthless women on the property, once always pretending sickness and inability to work, had become as industrious a laborer as any on the estate. He asked her on one occasion the reason of the change in her habits. She replied significantly, " me get no money then, massa." Speaking of the apparent in crease of crime, he told us that many not only minor offences but crimes were left to the summary judg ment of the master, and that many culprits went en tirely unpunished. I'he law took no cognizance of the