h the Dutch
carried on from the island of Curacao.[44]

The history of the slave trade to Jamaica from 1660 to 1672 does not
present the varied number of problems which arose during the same time
in Barbadoes. Jamaica was as yet more sparsely settled than Barbadoes
and therefore unable to take as large a number of Negroes.
Nevertheless, even before 1660, there was a need for servants in
Jamaica,[45] and there, as in Barbadoes, the Dutch had furnished the
planters with Negroes. When a Dutch ship laden with 180 slaves
appeared at the island in June, 1661, Colonel d'Oyley, the governor,
who was desirous of making a personal profit out of the sales, was
strongly in favor of permitting the vessel to land its Negroes. The
Jamaica council, however, realized that the Navigation Act made the
Negro trade with the Dutch illegal, and therefore it refused to accede
to the governor's desire. This action so enraged the governor that on
his own responsibility he purchased the whole cargo of slaves, some of
which he sold to a Quaker in the island, while the others he disposed
of at considerable profit to a Spaniard.[46] Again, in February, 1662,
d'Oyley bought a number of Negroes from another Dutchman. When one of
the king's ships attempted to seize the Dutch vessel for infringing
the Navigation Act, the governor even contrived to get it safely away
from the island.[47]

When Colonel Modyford became governor of Jamaica in 1664, he was
instructed to do all that he possibly could to encourage the trade
which the Royal Company was endeavoring to set on foot in the West
Indies.[48] In the instructions mention was also made of Modyford's
previous interest in managing the affairs of the Royal Company in
Barbadoes for which company, it was said, he undoubtedly retained
great affection. Shortly thereafter he issued a proclamation
promising extensive freedom of commerce except in the Negro trade
which was in the hands of the Royal Company.[49]

Although Modyford's proclamation indicated a continued interest in the
company's trade, he gave his first consideration to the welfare of the
colony. This appears from a list of the island's needs which he
submitted to the king, May 10, 1664, in which he asked among other
things that the Royal Company be obliged to furnish annually whatever
Negroes were necessary, and that the poorer planters be accorded easy
terms in paying for them. Furthermore he requested that indentured
servants be sent from Engl