Q. There is some talk about our ancestors having been pirates, I believe.  Now, will you state to us what the existing facilities for education are among the negroes?  —­A.  I can only speak as regards Arkansas.  Of course I do not know much of the other States.  In Arkansas we have in each county a school board.  These boards examine and employ teachers.  We are taxed for a school fund, from which these teachers are paid.

Q. What proportion of the colored children attend school, do you think?  —­A.  On my own property there are five schools, and I think the larger portion, I might say nearly all that are capable of going to school, do go to school.

     Q. How many children are there on your own property? 
     —­A.  I could scarcely form an idea.

     Q. There are five schools? 
     —­A.  There are five schools, and I should suppose from 300
     to 500 children.

     Q. Those are educated in public schools? 
     —­A.  Yes, sir.

     Q. I understand you to say that nearly all of them attend? 
     —­A.  Yes, sir.

Q. For how long a time each year is school kept open?  —­A.  The schools extend all the year except vacation, I think, which is about three months; but a number of the negroes will withdraw their children from school during cotton-picking season, to help them pick the crop.

Q. Between what ages do they actually attend school?  —­A.  From 6 to 19.  I know a great many of them who are going to school who are 17, 18, and 19, who can just begin to read and write a little.

Q. Do you find any inclination among the older negroes who are past school age to endeavor to read and write?  —­A.  Not very much, but they are anxious their children should, and appeal to them.  In almost every instance where a man has a child who can read and write, he will bring him along with him when he makes a contract.  They are very proud of their children being able to read and write.

Q. Are they satisfied, as a rule, with their simply becoming able to read and write, or do they like to have them make a little further progress in mathematics, geography, &c.?  —­A.  As a class they look to them simply to read and write.  They think when they have got that far they know everything; but then there are certain ones who have ambition, just as it is with our own race.  There are some men who have tastes for literature, and receive a better education than others do, but it is not the same proportion of the negro race of course that it is with our own.  There are instances where negroes are also anxious to obtain a collegiate education, and become school teachers.

     Q. I do not know that you are able to state to what extent
     they actually attend school in the hill districts? 
     —­A.  I am not.