The West indies in 1837

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BARBADOS.

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stances, they are neglected. If there is an Infant School in the neighbourhood, they resort to it several hours before the instruction commences^ simply be­ cause they know not where else to pass the time ; as their parents lock their doors when they go to the field, and the children are not allowed to be about the estates. The mortality amongst them has been very great since 1834. The boon of freedom granted, as if in mockery to their helpless infants, has proved a source of misery and bitter persecution to the negro mothers. In some cases where the planters have changed the allowances of the negros for half an acre of ground, and the alternate Fridays, the latter have suffered great distress, in consequence of being left without the means of support till their land was brought into cultivation. 3rd.—We visited this morning the infant school, under the care of Brother KLOSE, the Moravian mis­ sionary at Sharon. There were from sixty to seventy children present, of two to eight years of age. Two only of the older ones were apprentices, and their pa­ rents paid a consideration to their masters, for the privilege of sending them. A few of the children evinced a fair proficiency in reading, spelling, and the multiplication tables. Some of them wrote on slates. Speaking of the destitute whites, of whom there is a large number in the island. Brother KLOSE mentioned an instance of a lady, whose property was entirely destroyed by the hurricane of 1831,* and who was taken in and supported by one of her former slaves, who had previously purchased her freedom. From Sharon we proceeded to Government House. * S e e Appendix E. Sec. vi. N


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