Almighty, for placing us far away from such awful visitations.

The lodging which the Governor had assigned to Philips, was situated in a very handsome square, part of which had an arcade, with a long wooden gallery at top, but though the situation was the best in the town, it caused him to witness many afflicting sights, for it was here that those unfortunate negroes, who had been brought from the Coast of Africa in slave ships, were sold; they were principally young men from fifteen to twenty years of age, and often did the colour rush to his cheek, when he saw those who came to purchase them, examining their teeth, to judge of their health and age, forcing open their mouths as we do those of horses at a market. It was in the course of his further travels, that he even saw some mark their slaves with a hot iron, to know them again if they should escape. Are these men, he would say, who are thus obliged to submit to the will of a cruel master? they speak and talk like us, they stand on their feet as we do, and can be grateful to those who do them a kindness, and yet I see them treated like beasts of burden.They are human beings, and they deserve the name better than those who abuse them, who forget, that we are all the workmanship of God, that he is the Father of the whole human race, and that when the soul shall leave the body, it will be impossible to tell whether

the dust to which it must return, has belonged to a black or to a white man. It was a few days after these reflections, that he had occasion to go to a plantation at some short distance from the town, where he saw some bonfires kindled, it was the evening of a holyday, and the slaves were assembled round their fire dancing to the music of the Guitar, with the most light-hearted gaiety; let no one blame them, however that after days of painful labour, when a holy-day comes, they prefer this iunocent amusement. It is this disposition so kindly given by providence, which lessens the bitterness of a life of slavery.

It is easy to collect from what has been said, that at the time Philips was in this Colony, Spain to which it belongs, had not abolished the Slave Trade. Our fellow creatures, in no respect dif fering from us except in the colour of their bodies, were bought and sold like cattle, after having been torn from their own country; nor was this all they had to endure; divided amongst the different plantations, it was their business to toil at their cultivation, under the superintendance of an overseer, who, if he happened to be of an unfeeling disposition, used to punish their slightest faults, with unrelenting severity. Many have died under the lash, and some have been put to death in the most cruel manner. To this, however, there were exceptions, though it is deeply to be regretted, such exceptions were not numerous. The Negroes are in general, с

in this place, the orly fishermen, and are regus

ofession by their masters,, who make them pay, out of what they catch, a certain sum weekly. If they are expert and industrious they soon acquire money for them. selves, and some even become rich, but on the contrary, if they are indolent, they not only fail in their weekly payments, but are certain of being punished.

This custom is also common to many other trades, and by perseverance and sobriety, they are actually enabled to live happily. Thus for example, Philips found slaves at Surinam, who had bought slaves for their own use, some also had purchased their own freedom from their master, whilst others kept their money, preferring to continue the slave of an indulgent master, being, so long as they were not free, exempt from all duties and taxes. A particular instance of this kind, was a Negro named Joseph, a blacksmith, who was offered his freedom. which he positively declined, chusing rather to be the slave of a worthy master. This man had several slaves of his own, kept a decent house, with handsome furniture, plate, &c. and when visited by his humane master, used to entertain with Port and Claret: this however, was a rare instance.

It has been mentioned before, that Philips had often occasion to admire not only the fertility of the country, but the variety of curious plants

which itproduced. But it was on an excursion that he made from Cumana, that he saw the tree which yields a nourishing and delicious milk: it à called the Cow Tree, and he was assured, that the Negroes who were accustomed to drink plentifully of it, found it very wholesome; indeed he himself drank considerable quantities of it, in the evening, before he went to bed, and also the next morning, without feel. ing any ill consequences from it. It was very thick and ummy, which alone rendered it a little disagreeable. This tree grows in a barren and stony soil, its woody roots scarcely find room to strike, and for several months in the year, not a single shower moistens its foliage. Its branches appear dead, but when the trunk is pierced, there flows from it a sweet and nou: ish.. ing milk. It is at the rising of the Sun, that its liquor is most abundant. The blacks and natives, are then seen hastening from all quarters, with large bowls to receive the milk; some drink it under the tree itself, others carry it home to their children. How strenuously should man exert all his powers, and not pass his life in idleness, when nature is every where so actively and be neficently employed in supplying all his wants. In Africa we learn that Mungo Park, found the Shea or Butter Tree. There are also the Plan tain, the Sego and the Bread Fruit Trees, which furnish such abundance of food to the natives of the South Sea Islands. In other countries there

are certain Palm Trees, which furnish caps and other garments without seam-the fruits of others make drinking vessels, and domestic utensils. The Bamboo supplies not only ladders when its trunk is split, but also furnishes a hut with chairs and bed, and the Cocoa Tree not only gives food, but also wood for houses, for ships, cordage, and household vessels! How manifold are thy works O God!-in wisdom, as well as in goodness, hast thou made them all.

But the animal world, was not ess deserv. ing of admiration, than the vegetable. In the course of his journeyings through South America, Philips met with many animals which are never to be seen in Europe, except in Museums of Natural History where they are preserved; but there was none which he was more desirous of examining than the Eel, which has the power of giving a shock, like that from an electrifying machine, to any person who touches it. Seve ral had been brought to him at different times, but, though alive, they were so enfeebled, that when put into a tub of water, their power of communicating the shock was almost gone.— He was, therefore, recommended to make an excursion a short distance up the little river Manzanares, at the mouth of which Camana is built, where he would be able to procure them fresh out of the water. He set out accordingly ear in the morning, and was conducted by the Judians to a stream, which in time of drought forms