FEBRUARY 21.
There are many pleasing and amusing parts of the character
of negroes, that it seems to me scarcely possible not to like
them. But when they are once disposed to evil, they seem tp
set no bounds to the indulgence of their bad passions. a poor
girl came into the hospital to-day, who had had some trifling
dispute with two of her companions ; on which the two friends
seized her together, and each fixing her teeth on one of the girl's
hands, bit her so severely, that we greatly fear her losing the use of
both of them. I happened also to ask, this morning, to whom a
skull had belonged, which I had observed fixed on a pole by the
road-side, when returning last from Montego Bay. I was told,
that about five years ago a Mr. Dunbar had given some discontent
to his negroes in the article of clothing them, although, in, other
respects, he was by no means a severe master. However, this
was sufficient to induce his head driver, who had been brought
up in his own house from infancy, to form a plot among his
slaves to assassinate him; and lie was assisted in this laudable
design by two young men from a neighbouring property, who
barely knew Mr. Dunbar by sight, had no enmity against him
whatever, and only joined in the conspiracy in compliment to
their worthy friend the driver. During several months a variety
of attempts were made for effecting their purpose ; but accident
defeated them ; till at length they were made certain of his intention to
dine out at some distance,
and of his being absolutely
obliged to return in the evening. An ambuscade was therefore
laid to intercept him ; and on his passing a clump of trees, the
assassins sprang upon him, the driver knocked him from his
horse, and in a few moments their clubs despatched him. No
one suspected the driver; but in the course of inquiry, his house
as well as the other was searched, and not only Mr. Dunbar's
watch was found concealed there, but with it one of his ears, which
the villain had carried away, from a negro belief that, as long as
the murderer possesses one of the ears of his victim, he will
never be haunted by his specter. The stranger-youths, two of
Dunbar's negroes, and the driver were tried, confessed the
crime, and were all executed; the head of the latter being fixed
upon a pole
in terrorem. But while the offenders were still in
prison, the overseer upon a neighbouring property had occasion
to find fault in the field with a woman belonging to a gang hired
to perform some particular work ; upon which she flew upon
him with the greatest fury, grasped him by the throat, cried to
her fellows—"Come here! come here! Let us Dunbar him!"
and through her strength and the suddenness of her attack had
nearly accomplished her purpose, before his own slaves could
come to his assistance. this woman was also executed.
This happened about five years ago, when the mountains were
in, a very rebellious state. Everything there is at present quiet.
But only last year a book-keeper belonging to the next estate to
me was found with his skull fractured in one of my own canepieces; nor
have any inquiries been
able to discover the murderer.
