^ *o„o- ^-(J, «!? ^^ ■*. 5^ .^^'^ -$*. : ,. they shall not work at all ; an extortionary price is asked of them for every thing they may wish to purchase, even their Bibles are sold to them at a large advance on the first purchase. Where are their apologists, if they are found wanting in the strict morals that Christians ought to practice ? Who kindly says for- give them when they err ? '* forgive them, this is the bitter fruit of slavery." Who has integrity sufficient to hold the balance when ihese poor people are to be weighed ? Yet their present state is blissful compared with slavery. Many of the farmers bring their produce twenty or thirty miles. Some have horses or poneys, but most of them bring their burdens on their heads. As I returned from St. Andrews mountain, where I had been sent for by a Mr. Rose, I was overtaken by a respectable looking man, on horseback ; we rode about ten miles in company. The sto- ry he told me of the wrongs he and his wife had endured while in slavery, are too horrible to narrate. My heart sickens when I think of it. He asked me many questions, such as where I came from? why 1 came to that Island ? where had I lived ? &c. — I told him I was sent for by one of the missionaries to help him in his school. Indeed, said he, our color need the instruction. I asked him why the colored people did not hire themselves ?--^we would be very glad to, he replied, but our money is taken from us so fast we cannot. Sometimes they say we must all bring 1 <£ ; to raise this, we have to sell at a loss, or to borrow, so that we have nothing left for ourselves, the macaroon hunters take all — this is a nickname they give the missionaries and the class-leaders — a cutting sarcasm this ! Arrived at a tav- ern aboutymile from Kingston, I bade the man adieu, and stopped for my guide. The inn-keeper kindly invited me in. He asked me several questions. I asked him as ma- ny. How do the people get along said I, since the eman- cipation ? The negroes, he replied, will have the Island in spite of the devil. Do not you see how they live, and how much they can bear? we cannot do so. This man was an Engiishman, with a large family of mulatto children. 11 In May, llie 18th, I attended the Baptbt missionary meet- ing in Queen St. Chapel. The house was crowded, Sev* «ral ministers spoke of the importance of sending the gos^ pel to Africa ; they complimented the congregation on their liberality the last year, when they gave one hundred pounds sterling; they hoped this year they would give five hun- dred pounds, as there were five thousand members at the present time. There was but one colored minister on the stand. It is generally th-e policy of these missionaries to have ihe sanction of colored ministers, to all their asses- ments and taxes. The colored people give more readily, and are less suspicious of imposition, if one from themselves recommends the measure. This the missionaries under- stand very well, and know how to take advantage of it. Wednesday, June 22d and 23d, the colored Baptists held their missionary meeting, the number of ministers, colored and mulattofis was 18, the colored magistrates were present* The resolutions that were offered were unanimously ac- cepted, and every thing was done in love and harmony. — After taking up a contribution, they concluded with song and prayer, and returned home, sayingjocosely, they would turn macaroon hunters.— Mack is the name of a small coin in circulatiou at Jamaica. I called^ on my return, at the market and counted the different stalls. For vegetables and poultry, 196, all numbered, and under cover ; besides 70 on the ground. These are all attended by colored women. The market is conveniejitly arranged, as they can close the gates and leave all safe. There are 19 stalls for fresh fish, 18 for pork, .30 for beef, 18 for turtle. These are all regular built markets, and all kept by colored men and wo- men. These are all in one place. Besides, others may be found, as with -us, all over the city. Thus it may be hoped, they are not the lying, stupid set of beings they have been called, but are enterprising and quick in their perceptions, determined to possess themselves, and to pos- sess property besides, and quite able to take care of them- selves. They wished to know why I was so inquisitive about them, I told them we have heard in America that you are lazy, and that emancipation has been no benefit to you ; I wish to inform myself of the truth respecting you, and give a true representation of you on my return. Arn I right ? More than two hundred people were around me lis- itening to what I said. They thanked me heartily, I gave ihsm som£ tracts, and told them if it so pleased God, I would come back to them, and bring them some more books, and try what could be done with some of the poor children to make them better. I then left them, and went to the East market, where there are thousands of all kinds and nations. The Jews and Spanish looked at me very black. The colored people gathered around me, I gave them little books and tracts, and told them I hoped to see them again. There are in this street upwards of a thousand, young women and children, living in sin of every kind. From thence, I went to the goal, where were 17 men, but no wo- men — in the house of correction were three hundred cuU prits. They are taken from there to work on plantations. Then I went to the admiral's house, where the emigrants find a shelter until they can find employment, then they work and pay for their passage. Many leave their homes and come to Jamaica, under the impression that they are to have their passage fre?, and, on reaching the Island, are to be faund until they can provide for them-^ selves. How the mistake originated, I am not able to say, but on arriving here, strangers, poor, and unacclimatcd, the debt for passage-money is hard and unexpected ; it is re- markable that wherever they come from, whether fresh from Africa, from the other Islands, from the South or from New England, they all feel deceived on this point. I called on many Americans and found them poor and dis- contented, rueing the day they left their country, where, notwithstanding many obstacles, their parents had lived and died, which they had helped to conquer with their toil and blood " Now shall their children stray abroad and starve in foreign lands." — I left America November 16th, 1840, in the ship Scion, Captain Mansfield, bound for Jamaica, freighted with ice and machinery for the silk factory. There were on board a number of handicraft-men and oth-' er passengers. We sailed on Monday afternoon, from Charlestown, Mass. It rained continually until Saturday. Sunday the 23d was a fine day. Mr. De Grass, a young colored clergyman, was invited to perform divine service, which he did with much propriety ; he spoke of the dangers we had escaped, and the importance of being prepared to meet our God, (he died of fever about three weeks after ar-» riving at Jamaica,) some who were able to attend came on deck and listened to him with respectj while Qthers seemed 13 to look on in derision ; these spent the afternoon and even- ing in card-playing. About twelve at night, a storm com- menced ; on Monday we were in great peril ; the storm con- tinued until Friday the 27lh. On that day a sail was seen at some distance making towards us, the captain judging her to be a piratical vessel, ordered the women and chil- dren below, and the men to prepare for action — the pirates were not inclined to hazardan engagement ; when they saw the deck filled with armed men they left us. Thus were we preserved from the storm and from the enemy. Sab- bath, 29th, divine service, our attention was directed to the goodness of God in sparing us. Monday,— and are we mortals still alive. Tuesday, — Thus far the Lord has led us on. Wednesday. — Thus far his power prolongs our days. Thursday — December 3d, to-day made Turks Island. Friday. — this day had a view of Hayti, its lofty mountains presented a sublime prospect. Saturday — a glanct we had of Cuba. Sunday — December 6th, at six o'clock in the evening, dropped anchor at Sf Anne harbor Jamaica. We blessed the Lord for his good- ness, in sparing us to seethe place of our destination; and here I will mention my object in visiting Jamaica. I hoped that 1 might aid (in some small degree) to raise up and en- courage the emancipated inhabitants, and teach the young children to read and work, to fear God and put their trust in their Savior. Mr. Whitmarsh and his friend c^ne on board and welcomed us. On Tuesday we went on shore to see the place and the people ; my intention had been to go directly to Kingston, but the people urged me so to stay with them that I thought it my duty to comply, and wrote to Mr. Ingraham to that effect. I went first to see the min-i ister, Mr. Abbot, thought, as he was out, I had better wait his return. The people promised to pay me for my ser- vices for them, or to send me to Kingston. When Mr. Ab- bot returned he made me an offer I readily accepted. — As I lodged in the house of one of the class-leaders, I attended her class a few times, when I learned the method, I stopped. She then commenced her authority, and gave me to under- stand if I did not comply, I should not have any pay from that society. I spoke to her of the necessity of being born of the spirit of God, before we became members of the church of Christ, and told her I was sorry to see the peo- ple blinded iii such a way. She was very angry with me, 2 14 and soon accomplished her end, by complaining of me to the minister, and I soon found I was to be dismissed, unless I would yield obedience to this class-leader. I told the min- ister that I did not come there to be guided by a poor fool- ish woman. He then told me that I had spoken something about the necessity of moral conduct in church members. I told him I had, and in my opinion I was sorry to see it so much neglected. He replied, that he hoped I would not express myself so except to him ; they have the gospel, he continued, andlet them come into the church. I do not ap- prove of women societies; those destroyed the world's con- vention ; the American women have too many of them. We talked one hour. He paid me for the time I had been there; I continued tilLTan. withihe same opinion that something must be done for the elevation of the childrenj and it is for that I labor. On the Sabbath the minister from the pulpit spoke unkindly of me. Ihis was in Janu- ary. I am sorry to say the meeting house is more like a play house, than & place of worship. The pulpit stands about the middle of the building, behind are about six hun- dred children that belong to the society ; there they are placed for Sabbath School, and there they remain until ser- vice is over, playing all the time. The house is crowded with the aged and the young, the most part of them bare- footed. L Some have on bonnets, but most of the women wear ^fc'-v hats such as our men wear. I gave several Bibles fway, not knowing that I was hurting the ministers- sale, the people buy them of him at a great advance. I gave up my school at St. Ann, and on the ISih of March departed for Kingston, but took the fever and was obliged to remain until the 7ih of April. The people of St. Ann fulfilled their promise which they made, to induce me to stop with them — on the 11th of April I arrived at Kingston^ and was conducted to the Mico institution, where Mr. In- graham directed me to find him ; he had lost his pulpit and his school, bat Mr Venning the teacher kindly received me. I stayed there longer than 1 expected ; the next morning he kindly sent one of the young men with me to the packet for my baggage. I then called on the American Consul, he told me he was very glad to see me for such a purpose as I had in view in visiting Jamaica, but he said it was a folly for the Americans to come to the Island to better their condition; he said they came to him everyday praying him to send them home. He likewise mentioned to me the 15 great mortality amongst the emigrants. This same day I saw Mr. one of our missionaries, who wished me to accompany him forty miles into the interior of the coun- try. This same day I saw Mr Henshaw. On Saturday the 17lh I received a letter from Fem Hill, in the county of St. Andrews, to come and assist Mr. Ross in one of the Mico schools ; they sent for me and I went to see them, but took no part in the school. I saw Mr. Henshaw there. The day he left Jamaica for the United States, I begged him to tell the colored people of America not to go to Jamaica, for they would find themselves deceived. After a week I returned to Kingston with my mind fully settled what to do. I spent three weeks at the Mico establishment, and three weeks with ra}'' colored friends from America. On the 21st of April, I called to see Mr. Horton, a minister. He was much surprised to see me, and had much to say about my color, and showed much commiseration for my misfortune at being so black. My personal narrative I have placed last in this pamphlet, as of least consequence. I flatter myself my voyage to Jamaica has not been in vain. A door of usefulness seems opened to me there, with a zeal- ous friend. And with the aid of the benevolent, I propose to establish at Kingston, or in the vicinity, an assylum for the orphan and the out-cast, where they may be without money and without price. To elfect this returned to this country to solicit aid, and trust I ask in vain. The colored people of these Unit are induced to remove to Jamaica, in consequence ot tne j flattering offers made to them, to induce them to emigrate. " | Since my return they have been inquisitive to learn fronl\iJP me something respecting the place, and the people I have •' been among. For these inquiries I have written this book, ; that they may have the advantage of what information I j have collected, and knowing the truth, they may no longer be deceived. NANCY PRINCE. 1 Note. On page 9, line 21, it is said that there are six adults preparing for teachers in the Mico institution ; it should have said 15 ; and that the whole number of teachers so prepared is 4S5— but the number is not really known. In this institution none are received ex#t ftiey^an read and write and bring good recommendationl^^' 'ijxei^ piety. A number have tinisn- ed, and are teachers in different parts of the Island. i »' « H A^& 79 ^^ . ♦TXT' ,0^ 'o. -o.. .-^ .. ♦• '.^'X ' *-^..^^ ;:^^\ v./ /;^&". %,♦* ; ■■J^'>-