t in the way of knowing much of the real opinions and
feelings of his slaves respecting him. The distance between him and
them was far too great to admit of such knowledge. His slaves were so
numerous, that he did not know them when he saw them. Nor, indeed, did
all his slaves know him. In this respect, he was inconveniently rich. It
is reported of him, that, while riding along the road one day, he met a
colored man, and addressed him in the usual way of speaking to colored
people on the public highways of the south: "Well, boy, who do you
belong to?" "To Col. Lloyd," replied the slave. "Well, does the colonel
treat you well?" "No, sir," was the ready reply. "What? does he work you
too hard?" "Yes, sir." "Well, don't he give enough to eat?" "Yes, sir,
he gives me enough, such as it is." The colonel, after ascertaining
where the slave belonged, rode on; the slave also went on about his
business, not dreaming that he had been conversing with his master. He
thought, said and heard nothing more of the matter, until two or three
weeks afterwards.{91} The poor man was then informed by his overseer,
that, for having found fault with his master, he was now to be sold to
a Georgia trader. He was immediately chained and handcuffed; and thus,
without a moment's warning he was snatched away, and forever sundered
from his family and friends, by a hand more unrelenting than that of
death. _This_ is the penalty of telling the simple truth, in answer to
a series of plain questions. It is partly in consequence of such facts,
that slaves, when inquired of as to their condition and the character of
their masters, almost invariably say they are contented, and that their
masters are kind. Slaveholders have been known to send spies among their
slaves, to ascertain, if possible, their views and feelings in regard to
their condition. The frequency of this had the effect to establish
among the slaves the maxim, that a still tongue makes a wise head. They
suppress the truth rather than take the consequence of telling it, and,
in so doing, they prove themselves a part of the human family. If they
have anything to say of their master, it is, generally, something in his
favor, especially when speaking to strangers. I was frequently asked,
while a slave, if I had a kind master, and I do not remember ever to
have given a negative reply. Nor did I, when pursuing this course,
consider myself as uttering what was utterly false; for I always
measured the k