Volume II Part 22 (1/2)

”My people have become much more industrious since they were emanc.i.p.ated. I have been induced to extend the sugar cultivation over a number of acres more than have ever been cultivated before.”--_Mr.

Watkins, of Donovan's_.

”Fearing the consequences of emanc.i.p.ation, I reduced my cultivation in the year '34; but soon finding that my people would work as well as ever, I brought up the cultivation the next year to the customary extent, and this year ('36) I have added fifteen acres of new land.”--_S. Bourne, of Millar's_.

”Throughout the island the estates were never in a more advanced state than they now are. The failure in the crops is not in the slightest degree chargeable to a deficiency of labor. I have frequently adopted the job system for short periods; the results have always been gratifying--the negroes accomplished twice as much as when they worked for daily wages, because they made more money. On some days they would make three s.h.i.+llings--three times the ordinary wages.”--_Dr. Daniell_.

”They are as a body _more_ industrious than when slaves, for the obvious reason that they are _working for themselves_.”--_Ralph Higinbothom, U.S. Consul_.

”I have no hesitation in saying that on my estate cultivation is more forward than ever it has been at the same season. The failure of the crops is not in the least degree the fault of the laborers. They have done well.”--_Mr. Favey, of Lavicount's estate_.

”The most general apprehension prior to emanc.i.p.ation was, that the negroes would not work after they were made free--that they would be indolent, buy small parcels of land, and '_squat_' on them to the neglect of sugar cultivation. Time, however, has proved that there was no foundation for this apprehension. The estates were never in better order than they are at present. If you are interrogated on your return home concerning the cultivation of Antigua, you can say that every thing depends upon the _weather_. If we have _sufficient rain_, you may be certain that we shall realize abundant crops. If we have no rain, the crops _must inevitably_ fail. _But we always depend upon the laborers_.

On account of the stimulus to industry which wages afford, there is far less feigned sickness than there was during slavery. When slaves, the negroes were glad to find any excuse for deserting their labor, and they were incessantly feigning sickness. The sick-house was thronged with real and pretended invalids. After '34, it was wholly deserted. The negroes would not go near it; and, in truth, I have lately used it for a stable.”--_Hon. N. Nugent_.

”Though the laborers on both the estates under my management have been considerably reduced since freedom, yet the grounds have never been in a finer state of cultivation, than they are at present. When my work is backward, I give it out in jobs, and it is always done in half the usual time.”

”Emanc.i.p.ation has almost wholly put an end to the practice of _skulking_, or pretending to be sick. That was a thing which caused the planter a vast deal of trouble during slavery. Every Monday morning regularly, when I awoke, I found ten or a dozen, or perhaps twenty men and women, standing around my door, waiting for me to make my first appearance, and begging that I would let them off from work that day on account of sickness. It was seldom the case that one fourth of the applicants were really unwell; but every one would maintain that he was very sick, and as it was hard to contend with them about it, they were all sent off to the sick-house. Now this is entirely done away, and my sick-house is converted into a chapel for religious wors.h.i.+p.”--_James Howell, Esq._

”I find my people much more disposed to work than they formerly were.

The habit of feigning sickness to get rid of going to the field, is completely broken up. This practice was very common during slavery. It was often amusing to hear their complaints. One would come carrying an arm in one hand, and declaring that it had a mighty pain in it, and he could not use the hoe no way; another would make his appearance with both hands on his breast, and with a rueful look complain of a great pain in the stomach; a third came limping along, with a _dreadful rheumatiz_ in his knees; and so on for a dozen or more. It was vain to dispute with them, although it was often manifest that nothing earthly was ailing them. They would say, 'Ah! me ma.s.sa, you no tink how bad me feel--it's _deep in_, ma.s.sa.' But all this trouble is pa.s.sed. We have no sick-house now; no feigned sickness, and really much less actual illness than formerly. My people say, '_they have not time to be sick now_.' My cultivation has never been so far advanced at the same season, or in finer order than it is at the present time. I have been encouraged by the increasing industry of my people to bring several additional acres under cultivation.”--_Mr. Hatley, Fry's estate_.

”I get my work done better than formerly, and with incomparably more cheerfulness. My estate was never in a finer state of cultivation than it is now, though I employ _fewer_ laborers than during slavery. I have occasionally used job, or task work, and with great success. When I give out a job, it is accomplished in about half the time that it would have required by giving the customary wages. The people will do as much in one week at job work, as they will in two, working for a s.h.i.+lling a day.

I have known them, when they had a job to do, turn out before three o'clock in the morning, and work by moonlight.”--_D. Cranstoun, Esq._

”My people work very well for the ordinary wages; I have no fault to find with them in this respect.”--_Manager of Scotland's estate_.

_Extract from the Superintendent's Report to the Commander in Chief_.

SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, _June 6th_. 1836.

”During the last month I have visited the country in almost every direction, with the express object of paying a strict attention to all branches of agricultural operations at that period progressing.

The result of my observations is decidedly favorable, as regards proprietors and laborers. The manufacture of sugar has advanced as far as the long and continued want of rain will admit; the lands, generally, appear to be in a forward state of preparation for the ensuing crop, and the laborers seem to work with more steadiness and satisfaction to themselves and their employers, than they have manifested for some length of time past, and their work is much more correctly performed.

Complaints are, for the most part, adduced by the employers against the laborers, and princ.i.p.ally consist, (as. .h.i.therto,) of breaches of contract; but I am happy to observe, that a diminution of dissatisfaction on this head even, has taken place, as will be seen by the accompanying general return of offences reported.

Your honor's most obedient, humble servant,

_Richard S. Wickham, Superintendent of police_.”

NINTH PROPOSITION.--The negroes are _more easily managed_ as freemen than they were when slaves.

On this point as well as on every other connected with the system of slavery, public opinion in Antigua has undergone an entire revolution, since 1834. It was then a common maxim that the peculiar characteristics of the negro absolutely required a government of terror and brute force.

The Governor said, ”The negroes are as a race remarkable for _docility_; they are very easily controlled by kind influence. It is only necessary to gain their confidence, and you can sway them as you please.”

”Before emanc.i.p.ation took place, I dreaded the consequence of abolis.h.i.+ng the power of compelling labor, but I have since found by experience that forbearance and kindness are sufficient for all purposes of authority. I have seldom had any trouble in managing my people. They consider me their friend, and the expression of my wish is enough for them. Those planters who have retained their _harsh manner_ do not succeed under the new system. The people will not bear it.”--_Mr. J. Howell_.

”I find it remarkably easy to manage my people. I govern them entirely by mildness. In every instance in which managers have persisted in their habits of arbitrary command, they have failed. I have lately been obliged to discharge a manager from one of the estates under my direction, on account of his overbearing disposition. If I had not dismissed him, the people would have abandoned the estate _en ma.s.se_.”--_Dr. Daniell_.

”The management of an estate under the free system is a much lighter business than it used to be. We do not have the trouble to get the people to work, or to keep them in order.”--_Mr. Favey_.