Every Saturday night the slaves receive their allowance of provisions, which must last them till the next Saturday night.  “Potatoe time,” as it is called, begins about the middle of July.  The slave may measure for himself, the overseer being present, half a bushel of sweet potatoes, and heap the measure as long as they will lie on; I have, however, seen the overseer, if he think the negro is getting too many, kick the measure; and if any fall off tell him he has got his measure.  No salt is furnished them to eat with their potatoes.  When rice or corn is given, they give them a little salt; sometimes half a pint of molasses is given, but not often.  The quantity of rice, which is of the small, broken, unsaleable kind, is one peck.  When corn is given them, their allowance is the same, and if they get it ground, (Mr. Swan had a mill on his plantation,) they must give one quart for grinding, thus reducing their weekly allowance to seven quarts.  When fish (mullet) were plenty, they were allowed, in addition, one fish.  As to meat, they seldom had any.  I do not think they had an allowance of meat oftener than once in two or three months, and then the quantity was very small.  When they went into the field to work, they took some of the meal or rice and a pot with them; the pots were given to an old woman, who placed two poles parallel, set the pots on them, and kindled a fire underneath for cooking; she took salt with her and seasoned the messes as she thought proper.  When their breakfast was ready, which was generally about ten or eleven o’clock, they were called from labor, ate, and returned to work; in the afternoon, dinner was prepared in the same way.  They had but two meals a day while in the field; if they wanted more, they cooked for themselves after they returned to their quarters at night.  At the time of killing hogs on the plantation, the pluck, entrails, and blood were given to the slaves.

When I first went upon Mr. Swan’s plantation, I saw a slave in shackles or fetters, which were fastened around each ankle and firmly riveted, connected together by a chain.  To the middle of this chain he had fastened a string, so as in a manner to suspend them and keep them from galling his ankles.  This slave, whose name was Frank, was an intelligent, good looking man, and a very good mechanic.  There was nothing vicious in his character, but he was one of those high-spirited and daring men, that whips, chains, fetters, and all the means of cruelty in the power of slavery, could not subdue.  Mr. S. had employed a Mr. Beckwith to repair a boat, and told him Frank was a good mechanic, and he might have his services.  Frank was sent for, his shackles still on.  Mr. Beckwith set him to work making trundels, &c.  I was employed in putting up a building, and after Mr. Beckwith had done with Frank, he was sent for to assist me.  Mr. Swan sent him to a blacksmith’s shop and had his shackles cut off with a cold chisel.  Frank was afterwards sold to a cotton planter.