The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-10-17

9ouio ePo' contagious to good spring. s
as TO form small village, IN which t6er
IS commonly as much real enjoyment. am
iar less misery, than in the laboring elias
OF any country enjoy.
In consequence of the abundance am
cheapness OF provisions in our country. tbe,
are better LED then are, probably, the peas.
anIry OF any country. In the Westerr
states, ana that part of the Middle States
Whleh iles above the. tide water. The slovee
nave Hperal supply of animal food. If be-
ing furnished them once or twice f.av
Ia the country nearer the coast, the suDDIG
Is more scanty, but the difference is com.
pehsated ny the ease with which they ear
procure hsh, oysters, or crabs They eve
~ Where are allowed to rear poultry. and
can vary their diet by the savory flesh Of
squirrels, rabbits and opossuns, which they
are expert Ia catching, and the hunting Of
winch, on moonlight nights, constitutes enc
OF their faVorite amusements.
IN the article Of diet, the slaves Of tie
0Aited states must have the advantage
over those Of the West Indies: but the
great variety Of fruits ard esculent we've
tahies which tropical climates produce in
Such PERCUSSION, is more suited to the human
! appetite there than mere animal food In
cIothlhg, the difference between them is
not material. In both countries it is com
iortabie, though coarse, and in sufficient
quantities. But there is nothing in which
thelr condition has been more improved
than IN this. 1t is far more rare 10 see
Ihehl IN rags now than it formerly was. and
many VINO had shoes only in the winter
monlhs, now wear them all the wear. The
oTolhdfy ahoWance TO slaves on the estates.
by the owners in tho 4Go"sha,n States ;e
two SUITS year.
ADJUSTMENTS.
Here there is a wide difference in the
END OF recreation enjoyed by the slaves in
the United States and the West Indies. but
probably not much in the degree:
"The day on which the last of the canes are
cut down upon sugar plantation, flags are
displayed IN the field. and all is merriment A
quart OF sugar and Il quart of rum are allowed
to each negro on the occasion, TO hold what is
called CROP OYER, or harvest home In the
evening, they assemble in their masters or
manager house, and, as matter of course,
take possession of the largest room, bringing
with them fiddle and tambouriue Here ali
authority and all distinction Of color ceases
black and white, overseer and book keeper.
nhngie together in the dance About twenty
years age, 1t was common on occasions Of this
AnI, to see the different African tribe: fornlipg
each distinct party, singing and dancin,s to
! the gu1n6ay, after the rude manners Of fkeir
native Africa, but this custom is now extinct
/ Following the example ofthc white people, the
iiddie, Which they play pretty WELL is now Tie
leading instrument. They dance Scotch reels.
and some Of the better sort (who have been
house servants) country dances Here the
loud laugh, and the constant buzz Of singing
and talking, bespeak their enjoyment, and the
absence. OF all care about the present or future
iil-a3 49,: III .aos
Should rather say unYersa al Chffstfifffss Is But
OF late years have much gone out owing 10 an
idea impressed on the minds of the NEGROES
principally believe by the Missionaries that
the season ought rather to be devoted TO relir-
ious exercises. It is now considered more be-
coming to attend places of worship, or TO have
private religious part;.s among themselves
and, IN passing through q negro village on a
Christmas night, it, is more common TO hear
psalm singing, than the sound of merrment
The young people, however, still indulge in
some amusemcnts on this. occasion, one OF
which may be worth describing The young
girls OF plantation, or occasionally of two
nelgkborIng plantations loagucd, form what is
called . sett." They dress exactly III uni
form, with gowns of some neat pattern of print
ed cotton and take the name Of Blue Girls,
Yellow Girls, &c. according to the dress and
ribbon they have chosen. They have always
with them III their excursions, a fiddle, drum
and tambourlne, frequently boys playing f!es,a
Distinguishing flag which is waved on a pole,
and generally some f2ntastcal figure, or toy,
such as 4 castle or tower, surrounded with
mirrors matron attends, who possesses
some degree of authority, and is called Queen
of the Sett, and they have always one or tive
Joncanocmen smart youths, Enthusiastically dress
1 ed, and masked so not TO be known. Thus
equipped, and generally accompanied by some
/ friends, they proceed to the nelghborng plan
tation villages, and always visit the masters
Or managers house, into which they enter with
/ out ceremony, and where they are Joined by
the white people in a dance. Some refresh
ment is given TO them, and the Joncanoemen,
I after display of their buffoonery, commonly
put the white people under requistion for a
little money to pay the fiddler, &c party
of forty or fifty Young girls, thus attircd, with
their hair braided over their brows, beads round
their necks, and gold earrings, present very
Interesting and amusing sight, as they APP
proach 4 house dancing, with their music play
ing, and Joncanoemen capering and playing
tricks. They have generally fine voices, and
dancing in a room they require no instrument
tal music. One of their best singers commence
es TIC song, and unaccompaniod sings the first
part with words for the occasion, of course not
very poetca!, though frequently not unamus-
ing. The whole sett joins in the chorus as
they miugle in the dance, waving their hand
| korchieis over their heads. All is life and joy
uni certainly it is one Of tho most pleasing
sights that can be imagined"
There is nothing exactly correspondent
to this among the slaves of Maryland and
Virginia, or that savors SO strongly of then
African origin. Their amusements arc
: pretty much of the same character as those
! of the whites. These are dancing, music
, and hunting or fishing and some of the
occupations of husbandry are to them oc-
I customs of festivity and merriment. Ii
pulling fodder" that is stripping the In
: dian corn of its blades, and in gathering
the grain itself they join in rude songs
which are made by some iaeproo'Satore. 0
{ the company. But the favoritoc occasio
i, for these " corn songs" is at their Shuckaa'
+ matches, when as many of the negroes 9
Al .ol,r tn