of a Practical turn (as most of his countrymen are, and, indeed,
Edinborough in Scotland is about the most Practical town that ever I was
in), pointed out that we were all very Tired, and needed Refreshment
and Repose; that the task of Torturing Negroes gave much trouble and
consumed more time ("Aiblins it's douce wark," quoth the Scotch
gentleman); that all the wood about was sopped with wet (and a "Dry
Roast's best," said the Scotch Gentleman); and finally, that the thing
could be much better done at home, where we had proper Engines and
Instruments for inflicting Exquisite Agony, and proper Slaves to
administer the same. So that for the nonce, and for our own Convenience,
we were Merciful, and promised to defer making necessary Inquisition, by
means of Cowhide, Tamarind-bush, and Fire-cane, until our return to the
Rendezvous.

I should tell you that I got a Hurt in my hand from a kind of short
Chopper or Tommyhawk that one of the Savages carried. 'Twas fortunately
my left hand, and seeming but a mere scratch, I thought little or
nothing about it. But at the end of the second day it began to swell and
swell to a most alarming size and tumorous discoloration, the
inflammation extending right up my arm, even to my shoulder. Then it
was agreed on all sides that the blade of the Tommyhawk with which I had
been stricken must have been anointed with some subtle and deadly
Poison, of the which not only the Maroons but the common Household and
Town Negroes have many, preparing them themselves, and obstinately
refusing, whether by hope of Reward or fear of punishment, to reveal the
secret of their components to the Whites. I had to rest at the nearest
Plantation to our battle-field; and the Planter--who had been a captain
in the Chevalier de St. George's service (the old one), that had come
out here, after the troubles of 1715, a Banished man, but had since been
pardoned, and had taken to Planting, and grown Rich--was kind enough to
permit me to be taken into his house and laid in one of his own
Guest-chambers, where I was not only tended by his own Domestics, but
was sometimes favoured with the Attention and sympathy of his angelic
Wife, a young woman of most charming countenance and lively manners,
most cheerful, pious, and Humane, taking great care of her slaves,
physicking them frequently, reading to them little books written by
persons of the Nonconforming persuasion,--a kind of doctrine that I
never could abide,--and nev