APRIL 5. (Sunday.)
Clearing their grounds by fire is a very expeditious proceeding,
consequently in much practice
among the negroes; but in
this tindery country it is extremely dangerous, and is forbidden
by the law. As I returned home to-day from church, I observed a large
smoke at no great distance, and Cubina told me,
he supposed that the negroes of the neighbouring estate of
Amity were clearing their grounds. " Then they are doing a
very wrong thing," said I; " I hope they will fire nothing else
but their grounds, for with so strong a breeze a great deal of
mischief might be done." However, in half an hour it proved
that the smoke in question arose from my own negro-grounds,
that the fire had spread itself, and I could see from my window
the flames and smoke pouring themselves upwards in large volumes,
while the crackling of the dry bushes and brush-wood
was something perfectly terrific. The alarm was instantly
given, and whites and blacks all hurried to the scene of action.
Luckily, the breeze set the contrary way from the plantations ;
a morass interposed itself between the blazing ground and one
of my best cane-pieces : the flames were suffered to burn till
they reached the brink of the water, and then the negroes managed to
extinguish them without much difficulty. Thus we
escaped without injury, but I own I was heartily frightened.
