With what intense severity of pain Hath the afflicted Muse, in Scotia, seen The miners rack'd, who toil for fatal lead? What cramps, what palsies shake their feeble limbs, 180 190 Who, on the margin of the rocky Drave, 210 When first your Blacks are novel to the hoe, Study their humours: some, soft-soothing words; Some, presents; and some, menaces subdue; And some I've known, so stubborn is their kind, Whom blows, alas! could win alone to toil. Yet, planter, let humanity prevail. Perhaps thy Negro, in his native land, Possest large fertile plains, and slaves, and herds : Perhaps, whene'er he deign'd to walk abroad, The richest silks, from where the Indus rolls, His limbs invested in their gorgeons pleats: Perhaps he wails his wife, his children, left To struggle with adversity: perhaps Fortune, in battle for his country fought, Gave him a captive to his deadliest foe: Perhaps, incautious, in his native fields, (On pleasurable scenes his mind intent) All as he wander'd; from the neighb'ring grove, Fell ambush dragg'd him to the hated main. Were they even sold for crimes; ye polish'd, say! Ye, to whom Learning opes her amplest page! Ye, whom the knowledge of a living God Should lead to virtue! Are ye free from crimes? Ah pity, then, these uninstructed swains; And still let Mercy soften the decrees Of rigid Justice, with her lenient hand. 220 230 Oh, did the tender Muse possess the power, Which monarchs have, and monarchs oft abuse: "T would be the fond ambition of her soul To quell tyrannic sway; knock off the chains Of heart-debasing slavery; give to man, Of every colour and of every clime, Freedom, which stamps him image of his God. Then laws, Oppression's scourge, fair Virtue's prop, Offspring of Wisdom! should impartial reign, 240 To knit the whole in well-accorded strife: Ver. 181....... rocky Drave.] A river in Hungary, on whose banks are found mines of quicksilver, | Servants, not slaves; of choice, and not compell'd; 250 Nor only is the dragon worm to dread: Fell, winged insects, which the visual ray Scarcely discerns, their sable feet and hands Oft penetrate; and, in the fleshy nest, Myriads of young produce; which soon destroy 260 The parts they breed in; if assiduous care, With art, extract not the prolific foe. 270 Or, shall she sing, and not debase her lay, The pest peculiar to the Æthiop kind, The yaw's infectious bane?-Th' infected far In huts, to leeward, lodge; or near the main. With heart'ning food, with turtle, and with couchs; The flowers of sulphur, and hard niccars burnt, The lurking evil from the blood expel, And throw it on the surface: there in spots, Which cause no pain, and scanty ichor yield, It chiefly breaks about the arms and hips, A virulent contagion !When no more Round knobby spots deform, but the disease Seems at a pause: then let the learned leach Give, in due dose, live-silver from the mine; Till copious spitting the whole taint exhaust.Nor thou repine, though half-way round the Sun This globe her annual progress shall absolve, Ere, clear'd, thy slave from all infection shine. 280 Nor then be confident; successive crops Of defœdations oft will spot the skin : These thou, with turpentine and guaiac pods, Reduc'd by coction to a wholesome draught, Total remove, and give the blood its balm. Say, as this malady but once infests Ver. 257....... winged insects.] These, by the English, are called chigoes or chigres. They chiefly perforate the toes, and sometimes the fingers; occasioning an itching, which some people think not unpleasing, and are at pains to get, by going to the copper-holes, or mill-round, where chigres most abound. They lay their nits in a bag, about the size of a small pea, and are partly contained therein themselves. This the Negroes extract without bursting, by means of a needle, and filling up the place with a little snuff; it soon heals, if the person has a good constitution. One species of them is supposed to be poisonous; but, I believe, unjustly. When they bury themselves near a tendon, especially if the person is in a bad habit of body, they occasion troublesome sores. The South Americans call them mignas. Ver. 268. ...... niccars.] The botanical name of this medicinal shrub is guilandina. The fruit resembles marbles, though not so round. Their shell is hard and smooth, and contains a farinaceous nut, of admirable use in seminal weaknesses. They are also given to throw out the yaws. The sons of Guinea, might not skill ingraft (Thus the small-pox are happily convey'd) This ailment early to thy Negro-train? 290 Yet, of the ills which torture Libya's sons, 300 The worm-grass proves; yet, even in hands of skill, 530 Parent of wealth! in vain coy Nature hoards Scale the cleft mountain, the loud torrent brave, 340 Her following close, her secret treasures find, In vain hath Nature pour'd vast seas between By thee white Albion, once a barbarous clime, -370 [round, They mope, love silence, every friend avoid; 380 Ver. 370....... snake-mark'd.] The Negro-conjurers, or Obia-men, as they are called, carry about them a staff, which is marked with frogs, snakes, &c. The Blacks imagine that its blow, if not mortal, will at least occasion long and troublesome disorders. A belief in magic is inseparable from human nature, but those nations are most addicted thereto, among whom learning, and of course philosophy, have least obtained. As in all other countries, so in Guinea, the conjurers, as they have more understanding, so are they almost always more wicked than the common herd of their de Ver. 309....... cow-itch.] See notes in Book II. Ver. 317. The mineral product of the Cornish mine.] Tin-filings are a better vermifuge than tin in powder. The western parts of Britain, and the neighbouring isles, have been famous for this useful metal from the remotest antiquity; for we find from Strabo, that the Phoenicians made frequent voyages to those parts (which they called Cassiterides from Kaccitov stannum) in quest of that commodity, which turned out so beneficial to them, that a pilot of that nation stranded his vessel, rather than show a Roman ship, that watched him, the way to those mines. For this public spirited action he was amply rewarded, says that accurate writer, upon his return to his country. The Romans,luded countrymen; and as the Negro-magicians however, soon made themselves masters of the secret, and shared with them in the profit of that Inerchandise. can do mischief, so they can also do good on a plantation, provided they are kept by the white people in proper subordination. 508 391 A lizard's skeleton; a serpent's head: 400 Who fearful haunt them at the midnight hour, 411 Call forth thy Negroes from their rushy couch: Howe'er insensate some may deem their slaves, 430 Not less inhuman, than unthrifty those, Ver. 410. broom-bush.] This small plant, which grows in every pasture, may, with propriety, be termed an American clock; for it begins every forenoon at eleven to open its yellow flowers, which about one are fully expanded, and at two closed. The jalap, or marvel of Peru, unfolds its petals between five and six in the evening, which shut again as soon as night comes on, to open again in the cool of the morning. This plant is called four o'clock by the natives, and bears either a yellow or purple-coloured flower. Ver. 415. solanum.] So some authors name the fire-weed, which grows every where, and is the datura of Linnæus; whose virtues Dr. Stork, at Vienna, has greatly extolled in a late publication. It bears a white monopetalous flower, which opens always about sun-set. Daily their wholesome viands must prepare: 440 Suffice not this; to every slave assign 450 For many a year, with wholesome pulse their board. 460 Ver. 449....... cassada.] To an ancient Caribbean, bemoaning the savage uncomfortable life of his countrymen, a deity clad in white apparel appeared, and told him, he would have come sooner to have taught him the ways of civil life, bad he been He then showed him sharpaddressed before. cutting stones to fell trees and build houses; and bade him cover them with the palm leaves. Then he broke his staff in three; which being planted, See Ogilvy's Amesoon after produced cassada. rica. Ver. 454. angola.] This is called pidgeonpea, and grows on a sturdy shrub, that will last for years. It is justly reckoned among the most The juice of the leaves, wholesome legumens. dropt into the eye, will remove incipient films. The botanic name is cytisus. Ver. 456. bonavist.] This is the Spanish name of a plant, which produces an excellent bean. It is a parasitical plant. There are five sorts of bonavist, the green, the white, the moon-shine, the small or common, and, lastly, the black and red. The flowers of all are white and papilionaceous; except the last, whose blossoms are purple. They Their pulse is commonly bear in six weeks. wholesome, though somewhat flatulent; especially those from the black and red. The pods are flattish, two or three inches long, and contain from three to five seeds in partitional cells. Ver. 457. ochra.] Or ockro. This shrub, which will last for years, produces a not les: agreeable, than wholesome pod. It bears all the year round. Being of a slimy and balsamic nature, it becomes a truly medicinal aliment in dysenteric complaints. It is of the malva species. It rises to about four or five feet high, bearing, on and near the summit, many yellow flowers; succeeded by There are as many cells filled with small green, conic, fleshy pods, channelled into several grooves. Ver. 459. potatos.] I cannot positively say, round seeds, as there are channels. whether these vines are of Indian original or not; but as in their fructification they differ from potatos at home, they probably are not European. They are sweet. There are four kinds, the red, the white, the loug, and round: the juice of each may be made into a pleasant cool drink; and, being distilled, yield an excellent spirit. 470 There too let eddas spring in order meet, 481 490 But let some ancient, faithful slave erect His sheltered mansion near; and with his dog, His loaded gun, and cutlass, guard the whole: Else Negro-fugitives, who skulk mid rocks And shrubby wilds, in bands will soon destroy Thy labourer's honest wealth; their loss and yours. Perhaps, of Indian gardens I could sing, Beyond what bloom'd on blest Phæacia's isle, Or eastern climes admir'd in days of yore: How Europe's foodful, culinary plants; How gay Pomona's ruby-tinctur'd births; And gawdy Flora's various-vested train; Might be instructed to unlearn their clime, And by due discipline adopt the Sun. The Muse might tell what culture will entice The ripen'd melon, to perfume each month; And with the anana load the fragrant board. The Muse might tell, what trees will best exclude ("Insuperable height of airiest shade") With their vast umbrage the noon's fervent ray. Thee, verdant mammey, first, her song should praise: 500 Ver. 461. Eddas.] See notes on Book I. The French call this plant tayove. It produces eatable roots every four months, for one year only. Ver. 462. Indian cale.] This green, which is a native of the new world, equals any of the greens in the old. Ver. 462. Caloloo.] Another species of Indian pot-herb, no less wholesome than the preceding. These, with mezamby, and the Jamaica prickleweed, yield to no esculent plants in Europe. This is an Indian name. Ver. 502. Mammey.] This is a lofty, shady, and beautiful tree. Its fruit is as large as the largest melon, and of an exquisite smell, greatly superior to it in point of taste. Within the fruit are contained one or two large stones, which when distilled, give to spirits a ratafia flavour, and therefore the French call them les apricots de St. Domingue: accordingly, the l'eau des noiaux, one of the best West Indian cordials, is made from them. The fruit, eaten raw, is of an aperient quality; and made into sweetmeats, &c. is truly exquisite. This tree, contrary to most others in the new world, Thee, the first natives of these ocean-isles, 520 Relieve the bowels from their lagging load. In quick succession; and, o'er many a rood, 530 shoots up to a pyramidal figure: the leaves are uncommonly green; and it produces fruit but once a year. The name is Indian. The English commonly call it mammey-sapota. There are two species of it, the sweet, and the tart. The botanical name is achras. Ver. 509. Tamarind.] See Book I. note to verse 625. Ver. 513. Cassia.] Both this tree and its mild purgative pulp are sufficiently knowu. Ver. 523. Palmeto.] This being the most beautiful of palms, nay, perhaps, superior to any other known tree in the world, has with propriety obtained the name of royal. The botanical name is palma maxima. It will shoot up perpendicularly to an hundred feet and more. The stem is perfectly circular; only towards the root, and immediately under the branches at top, it bulges out. The bark is smooth, and of an ash-brown colour, except at the top where it is green. It grows very fast, and the seed from whence it springs is not bigger than an acorn. In this, as in all the palmgenus, what the natives call cabbage is found; but it resembles in taste an almond, and is in fact the pith of the upper, or greenish part of the stem. But it would be the most unpardonable luxury to cut down so lovely a tree, for so mean a gratification; especially as the wild, or mountain cabbage tree, sufficiently supplies the table with that esculent. I never ride past the charming vista of royal palms on the Cayon estate of Daniel Mathew, esq. in St. Christopher, without being put in mind of the pillars of the temple of the Sun at Palmyra. This tree grows on the tops of hills, as well as in valleys; its hard cortical part makes very durable laths for houses. There is a smaller species not quite so beautiful 540 Nor should, though small, the anata not be sung: 550 Or fall o'er fein-clad cliffs, with foaming rage; 570 580 Its frequent clusters grow. And there, if thou Would'st make the sand yield salutary food, Let Indian millet rear its corny reed, Like arm'd battalions in array of war. But, round the upland huts, bananas plant; A wholesome nutriment bananas yield, And sun-burnt labour loves its breezy shade. Their graceful screen let kindred plantanes join, And with their broad vans shiver in the breeze; So flames design'd, or by imprudence caught, Shall spread no ruin to the neighbouring roof. Yet nor the sounding margin of the main, Nor gently sloping side of breezy hill, Nor streets, at distance due, imbower'd in trees; Will half the health, or half the pleasure yield, Unless some pitying Naiad deign to lave, With an unceasing stream, thy thirsty bounds. On festal days; or when their work is done; Permit thy slaves to lead the choral dance, To the wild banshaw's melancholy sound. Responsive to the sound, head, feet, and frame Move awkwardly harmonious; hand in hand Now lock'd, the gay troop circularly wheels, And frisks and capers with intemperate joy. Halts the vast circle, all clap hands and sing; While those distinguish'd for their heels and air, Bound in the centre, and fantastic twine. 591 Meanwhile some stripling, from the choral ring, Trips forth; and, not ungallantly, bestows On her who nimblest hath the greensward beat, And whose flush'd beauties have inthrall'd his soul, A silver token of his fond applause. Ver. 534. Anata.] Or anotto, or armotta; thence Anon they form in ranks; nor inexpert corruptly called Indian otter, by the English. The A thousand tuneful intricacies weave, tree is about the size of an ordinary apple-tree. Shaking their sable limbs; and oft a kiss The French call it rocou; and send the farina Steal from their partners; who, with neck reclin'd, home as a paint, &c. for which purpose the tree is And semblant scorn, resent the ravish'd bliss. 601 cultivated by them in their islands. The flower is But let not thou the drum their mirth inspire; pentapetalous, of a bluish and spoon-like appear-Nor vinous spirits: else, to madness fir'd, ance. The yellow filaments are tipped with pur-(What will not bacchanalian frenzy dare?) plish apices. The style proves the rudiment of the Fell acts of blood, and vengeance they pursue. succeeding pod, which is of a conic shape, an inch Compel by threats, or win by soothing arts, and a half long. This is divided into many cells, Thy slaves to wed their fellow slaves at home; which contain a great number of small seeds, co- So shall they not their vigorous prime destroy, vered with a red farina. By distant journeys, at untimely hours, When muffled Midnight decks her raven-hair 610 With the white plumage of the prickly vine. It much imports to build thy Negro-huts, Ver. 543. Granadilla.] This is the Spanish name, and is a species of the passiflora, or passion-flower, called by Linnæus musa. The seeds and pulp, through which the seeds are dispersed, are cooling, and grateful to the palate. This, as well as the water-lemon, bell-apple, or honeysuckle, as it is named, being parasitical plants, are easily formed into cooling arbours, than which nothing can be more grateful in warm climates. Both fruits are wholesome. The granadilla is commonly eat with sugar, on account of its tartness, and yet the pulp is viscid. Plumier calls it granadilla, latefolia, fructu maliformi. It grows best in shady places. The unripe fruit makes an excellent pickle. Ver. 563. Bay-grape.] Or sea-side grape, as it is more commonly called. This is a large, crooked, and shady tree, (the leaves being broad, thick, and almost circular) and succeeds best in sandy places. It bears large clusters of grapes once a year; which, when ripe, are not disagreeable. The stones, seeds, or acini, contained in them, are large in proportion; and, being reduced to a powder, are an excellent astringent. The bark of the tree has the same property. The grapes, steeped in water and fermented with sugar, make an agreeable wine. Ver. 567. Indian-millet.] Or maise. This is commonly called Guinea-corn, to distinguish it from the great or Indian-coru, that grows in the southern parts of North America. It soon shoots up to a great height, often twenty feet high, and will ratoon like the other; but its blades are not so nourishing to horses as those of the great corn, although its seeds are more so, and rather more agreeable to the taste. The Indians, Negroes, and poor white people, make many (not unsavoury) dishes with them. It is also called Turkey-wheat. The turpentine tree will also grow in the sand, and is most useful upon a plantation. Ver. 584. Banshawe.] This is a sort of rude guitar, invented by the Negroes. It produces a wild pleasing melancholy sound. Ver.. 611. prickly vine.] This beautiful white rosaceous flower is as large as the crown of one's hat, and only blows at midnight. The plant, which is prickly and attaches itself firmly to the sides of houses, trees, &c. produces a fruit, which some call wythe apple, and others with more pro |