the ground thrown up in ridges of about a foot high.  Then similar ridges are formed crosswise, with the hoe, making regular squares of two-feet-sides over the field.  By raising the soil, a clear space of six inches square is left at the bottom.  In this space the plant is placed horizontally, and slightly covered with earth.  The ridges are left about it, for the purpose of conducting the rain to the roots, and also to retain the moisture.  When we came up to the large company, they paused a moment, and with a hearty salutation, which ran all along the line, bade us “good mornin’,” and immediately resumed their labor.  The men and women were intermingled; the latter kept pace with the former, wielding their hoes with energy and effect.  The manager addressed them for a few moments, telling them who we were, and the object of our visit.  He told them of the great number of slaves in America, and appealed to them to know whether they would not be sober, industrious, and diligent, so as to prove to American slaveholders the benefit of freeing all their slaves.  At the close of each sentence, they all responded, “Yes, massa,” or “God bless de massas,” and at the conclusion, they answered the appeal, with much feeling, “Yes, massa; please God massa, we will all do so.”  When we turned to leave, they wished to know what we thought of their industry.  We assured them that we were much pleased, for which they returned their “thankee, massa.”  They were working at a job.  The manager had given them a piece of ground “to hole,” engaging to pay them sixteen dollars when they had finished it.  He remarked that he had found it a good plan to give jobs.  He obtained more work in this way than he did by giving the ordinary wages, which is about eleven cents per day.  It looked very much like slavery to see the females working in the field; but the manager said they chose it generally “for the sake of the wages.”  Mr. B. returned with us to the house, leaving the gangs in the field, with only an aged negro in charge of the work, as superintendent. Such now is the name of the overseer.  The very terms, driver and overseer, are banished from Antigua; and the whip is buried beneath the soil of freedom.

[Footnote A:  In those cases where the plough is used at all.  It is not yet generally introduced throughout the West Indies.  Where the plough is not used, the whole process of holing is done with the hoe, and is extremely laborious]

When we reached the house we were introduced to Mr. Watkins, a colored planter, whom Mr. B. had invited to breakfast with us.  Mr. Watkins was very communicative, and from him and Mr. B., who was equally free, we obtained information on a great variety of points, which we reserve for the different heads to which they appropriately belong.

FITCH’S CREEK ESTATE.