New-York tribune., 1908-12-20
NEGRO CULTURE IN JAMAICA

After twenty generations Of civilization the
Scots had not attained the status Of the ia
rnaican negro, as described by Sir Sidney Olivier
in his recent work. white Capital and Col
CURED Labour" The Governor General OF ia
rnaica tells how the islander in two generations
Of freedom mas acquired thousands OF small
farms is land owner and planter. overseer anu
bookkeeper, lawyer and doctor. There are many
negro cIergyrnen and sChoOlnasters, magistrates
of petty sessions and even chief magistrates OF
parishes There are thrift and self-respect-
Crimes of violence are extremely rare.
Robert Chambers. in his Domestic Annals
Of Scotland" says there were in the middle
Of the sixteenth century no good roads, no
posts no printing press except in Edinburgh
few schools a regular localized court Of law
but lately established. a most primitive conci-
tion of feudal serfdom and lordship- Few could
read and write, men carried weapons and used
them superstition and witchcraft abounded-
The HighIande-s were called 'Redshanks,' On
account Of their hairy, sunburned legs No
wagons or coaches we're known in the lano-
A story is told Of John Mackenzie, Of KintaL,
who made himself seem more barbarous than he
was for the benefit OF Queen Mary's courtiers-
He had a bull cooked whole IN a big pot, al
lowed the dogs to eat with the men, caused a
dense smoke in the manor hall by putting wet
alder on the fire. and, after eating. men ana
dogs lay down on the floor TO sleep together
Nevertheless Queen Mary took fancy 70 Mac
ksnzfe Bathing was not q too common practice
at this time: fingers were more popular than
forks and straw served for carpet and bed
Acts Of Parliament in 1868 provided against
vftcncrsrt and forbade the expectation OF cosa
as an injury 10 the land Legal procedure was
full Of barbartties, and torture was used to OBJ
tain confessions. The cashielaws, an iron boot
was fitted upon judicial victims and gradually
heated by fire Hanging was punishment for
minor offences. including Ieze majesty Prison
ers were banished 10 American plantations be-
fore trial at their own request"
Cattle lifting. border trays and clan feuds
were recognized as typical occupations OF the
Scotch No black people has been accused Of
so much theft. pilage and calculated murder.
The clans were always fighting, despite centu-
ries of ostensibIe adherence 10 Christianity
They seemed to be hopeIessly cruel and blood
thirsty In 1903. the Clan NIacgreg0r, ancestors
of Rob Roy. massacred 14j adherents Of the
Laird OF Luss. carried of hundreds Of cattle,
sheep. goats and horses. and burned everything
else in sight One Of the 1Iacgreg0rs slew many
prisoners with dirk
There were continual robberies and depreda-
tions. says Lovat and the law was pOwerIess-
Owners were forced to pay tribute or bLack-aail
to highland raiders in order to protect their
cattle. stolen property wes recovered by appu-
cation and fee to the nearest clan chieftain-
Incidents OF barbarisn not surpassed by any
thing charged to the negro are told by Sir
WaItes Scott in his Border Antiquities and his
introduction 10 the novel Of Rob Roy" The
clans carried their feuds within church doors
and weapons cIas5ed while cIergymen attempted
10 hold service. The abduction OF women from
brought no disgrace, at least TO the highland