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Show 20 estates, of about equal size, (I believe,) and equal fertility; both, among the finest prope rties, for natural and local advantages, which I any where saw in Jamaica. One was in ditl1culty-thc other all prosperity. The first was the estate already alluded to, which had been deprived of so many hands, by vain attempts to compel the labor of freemen. There, if I am not mistah:en, I saw, as we passed by, the clear marks of that violence, by which the people had been expelled. The second, called "Dawl<in's Cayma nns," was under the enlightened attorncyship of Judge Bernard, who with l1is lady, and the respectable overseer, met us on the spot. On this property, the laborers were independent tenants. Their rent was settled, according to the money value of the tenements which they occupied, and they were allowed to take their labor to the best market they could find. As a matter of course, they took it to the !tome market ; and excellently were they working, on the property of their old master. The attorney, the overseer, and the laborers, all seemed equally satisfied-equally at their ease. H ere then was one property which would occasion a bad •·cpa>·t of Jamaica-another which would as surely give rise to a good •·rport. As it regards the properties themselves, both reports are true-and they are the respective results of two opposite modes of management. " At Dawkin's Caymanas, we had the pleasure of witnessing an interesting spectacle; for the laborers on the property, with their wives, sons and daugh- , 21 tcrs, were on that day, met at a picnic dinner. The table, of vast length, was spread under a wattled building erected for the purpose, and at the convenient hour of six in the evening, ( nfter the day's work was finished,) was loaded with all sorts of good fare-soup, fish, fowls, pigs, and joints of meat in abundance. About one hundred and fifty men and women, of the African race, attired with the greatest neatness, were assembled, in much harmony and order, to partal<e of the feast ; but no drink was provided, stronger than water. It was a sober, substantial, repast- the festival of peace and freedom. '.rhis dinner was to have taken place on New Year's day; but it so happened, that a Baptist Meeting House in another part of the island, had been destroyed by fire ; and at the suggestion of their minister, these honest people agreed to waive their dinner, and to subscribe their money, instead, to the rebuilding of the l\1eeting House. For this purpose, they raised a noble sum, (I believe considerably upwards of £ 100 sterling;) and now, in the third month of the year, finding that matters were working well with them, they thought it well to indulge themselves with their social dinner. By an unanimous vote, they commissioned me to present a message of their affectionate regards, to Thomas Clarkson, and Thomas Fowcll Buxton, the two men, to whom of all others, perhaps, they were the most indebted for their present enjoyment." pp. 91, 92. |