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SCENE I.
Enter several Planters.1st Planter.
Well Neighbours, Captain Driver has
brought us a fresh Supply—more
Slaves.
2d Plan.
Aye, and I'm sure we had
never more need of 'em.
3d Plan.
That's true indeed; and
I'm afraid we shall never have less.
4th Plan.
Yes, yes; we shall have enough of 'em
I warrant you, when they come to breed.
3d Plan.
Breed! it's a sign you're a new Comer;
Pox on 'em, a parcel of lazy, obstinate, untractable
Pagans;—half of 'em are so sulky when they first
come, that they won't eat their Victuals when it's set
drops down before he can make 'em eat, if they ha'nt
a mind to it.
2d Plan.
Beat! aye faith, he may beat those that
will eat, long enough before they will work: and what
with their starving themselves, and what with the
Discipline they require before they will put out their
Strength: they die as fast as rotten Sheep, plague on
'em! the poor industrious Planter loses the Money they
cost him, and his Ground runs to Ruin for want of
their Labour.
1st Plan.
Aye, in truth; a Christian Colony has a
hard time of it, that is forc'd to deal in this cursed
Heathen Commodity: here every time a Ship comes
in, my money goes for a great raw-boned negroe Fellow,
that has the Impudence to think he is my Fellow-creature,
with as much Right to Liberty as I have, and
so grows sullen and refuses to work; or for a young
Wench, who will howl Night and Day after a Brat or
a Lover forsooth, which nothing can drive out of her
Head but a Cat-o'nine-tails; and if Recourse is had
to that Remedy, 'tis ten to one but she takes the next
Opportunity to pick my Pocket by hanging herself.
4th Plan.
Nay, as far as I see yet, the Women are
worse than the Men: but 'Squire Blandford has got
one that they say is not of their complexion.
3d Plan.
So they say; but she's of the Breed, I'll
warrant her—she's one of the sulky ones—the Lieutenant-Governor
has taken a Fancy to her; and yet,
wou'd you believe it, she gives herself airs and will
scarce speak to him.
2d Plan.
I've heard of her; they call her Clemene.
1st Plan.
Clemene, with a Murrain to her; a pretty
Name indeed for a mongrel Succabus, which for ought
we know may be half Sister to the Devil.
4th Plan.
'Tis a Wonder however that his Honour
don't buy her.
3d Plan.
She was in a Lot that Mr. Blandford drew
for the Lord-Governor himself, who you know is expected
be sold without his Consent.
4th Plan.
In a Lot drawn for the Lord-Governor?—
I don't yet perfectly understand this Method of drawing Lots.
1st Plan.
No! why nothing is so easy; the Colony
agrees with the Buchaneer to bring a certain Number
of Slaves, at so much a Head; and when they come
in, we draw for them to prevent Disputes; for as
they're all of a Price, every one you know wou'd be
for picking out the best, and nobody wou'd consent to
take up with what others shou'd have—come along
with us to the Market, and you'll see how it is presently;
the Slaves are now coming on Shore.
[Exeunt.
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