Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-25
From my Bondage and my Freedom.
HOW THE SLAVES LIVE.
THEIR noAsrED COMFORT AND coxrExrnry

THEIR D0AsTED COMFORT AND CONFINEMENT.
It is the boast of Shareholders, that their slaves
ENJOY more Of the physical comforts Of life than
The pcasantry OF any country in the world. My
experience cOntradcts this. The men and the
women slaves on Col. Loyd's farm, received as
their monthly allowance of food, eight pounds OF
picked pork, or its equivalent in fish. The pork
was often tainted, and the fish was of the poor
est quality-herings, which would bring very
little if offered Tor sale in any northern market
W ith their pork or fish, they had one bushel Of
Indian meAl-unbolted-o which quite fifteen
per cent. fit only to feed pigs. With this
one pint Of salt was given; and this was the en-
ire monthly allowance Of Il full grown slave
working constantly in the open field, from morn
ing until night, every day in the month except
on sunday, and living fraction more than a
quarter OF pound OF meat per day, and less than
peck of corn-meal per week. There is no kind
Of work that man can do VIII ch required a bet
ter supply of food to prevent physical exhaustion
than the feld-work of slave. So much for the
slaves allowance of food now for his raiment
The yearly allowance Of clothing for the slaves
on this plantation, consisted Of two tow-linen
shirts-such linen IS the coarser crash towels
arc made of; one pair Of trowsers of The same ma
teriai, for summer and pair of trowsers and q
jacket Of wooen, most slazy put together, foi
winter; one pair Of yarn stockings, and one pair
Of shoes Of the cOarsest description The slaves
entire apparel could not have cost more than eight
dollars per year. The allowance Of food and
clothing for the little children, was committed tc
their mothers, or 10 the older slave women hav.
ing the care Of them, Ch ldren who were unable
to work in the field had neither shoes, stockings
jackets nor trowsers given them. Their clothing
consisted OF two coarse tOw.inen shirts-already Y
described-per year; and when these failed them
as they often did they went naked until the next
allowance day. Flocks of little children from
five to ten years old, might be seen on Col Lloyd's
plantation, as destitute of clothing as any little
heather on the west coast of Africa; and this moi
merely during the simmer months, but during
the Grosty weather of March. The little girls were
no better off than the boys; all were nearly in a
state of nudity.
As to beds to sleep on they were known to ront
OF The field hands; nothing but n coarse blanko
not so good those used in tho north to ooyel
horses was given them, and this only to the mer
and women The children stuck themselves il
holes and corners, about the quarters; often II
the corner of the huge chimneys with their fec
in the ashes to keep them warm. The want O
beds, however was not considered very grea
priyation. Time to sleep was of far greater i'm
portance, for when the days work is done, mos
of the slaves have their washing, mending anC
cooking to do; and, having few or none Of the
ordinary facilities for doing such things YER,
many Of their sleeping hours are consumed il
necessary preparations for the duties ofthe coming
day.
The sleeping aparIments-if they may be call
ed such-have little regard to comfort or decency
Old and young, male and female, married ant
single, drop down upon the common clay floor
each covering up with her or his blanket.-th
only protection they have from cold or exposure
The night, however, is shortened at both ends
The slaves work often as long as they can see
and are late in cooking and mending for the com
ing day; and, at the first gray streak Of morning
they are summoned to the field by the driver
horn.
More slaves are whipped for oversleeping thar
for any other fault. Neither ago nor sex find
any favor. The overseer stands at the quartz
door, armed with stick and cowskin, ready to whil
any who may be few minutes behind time.--
! When she horn is blown, there is rush for tn,
door, and the hindermost one is.sure to get blow
from the oyerseer. Young mothers who WORKED
in the field, were allowed an hour about ten ooloc
IN the morning, to go home to nurse their children
Sometimes they were compelled to take their chill
dren with them, and TO leave them in the corner
the fences to prevent loss Of time in nursing them
The oyerseer generally rides about the field o
horseback. A cowskin and hickory stick ar
his constant companions. The cowskin Is a kin
Of wnip seldom seen in the northern states. II i
made entirely Of untanned, but dried OK hide, an
IS about as hard rs piece Of we'll seasoned liz
nak u rs made If various F3ot, hut The usul
leirgth Is about three feet The mart held in IN