Manuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South CarolinaAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
Manuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South Carolina
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
African Americans -- Fiction; Biographical fiction; Pereira, Manuel -- Fiction; South Carolina -- Fiction
These mills are worked all night, and the poor negroes, wishing to
follow an example which massa sets on a grand scale, save that they
have an excuse in the fatigue of labor, will delegate some shrewd one of
their number to proceed to a Dutch “corner-shop” in the suburbs, run the
gauntlet of the police, and get a bottle of whiskey, When interrogated,
they are always “going for a bottle of molasses.” They keep a keen watch
for the police, and their cunning modes of eluding their vigilance forms
many amusing anecdotes. They are bound to have a pass from master, or
some white man; but if they can reach the shop in safety, the Dutchman
will always furnish them with one to return. It not unfrequently happens
that the guard-men are much more ignorant than the slaves. The latter
knowing this, will endeavor to find their station and approach by it,
taking with them either an old pass or a forged one, which the
guard-man makes a wonderful piece of importance about examining and
countersigning, though he can neither read nor write. Thus Sambo passes
on to get his molasses, laughing in his sleeve to think how he “fool
ignorant buckra.” A change of guard often forms a trap for Sambo, when
he is lugged to the guard-house, kept all night, his master informed in
the morning, and requested to step up and pay a fine, or Sambo's
back catches thirty-nine, thus noting a depression of value upon the
property. Sometimes his master pays the municipal fine, and administers
a domestic castigation less lacerating bound into the city on the usual
errand of procuring a little of molasses. When he first discovered
Tommy, he started back a few paces, as if in fear; but on being told by
Tommy that he was lost, and wanted to find his way to the wharves, he
approached and recovering, confidence readily, volunteered to see him to
the corner of Broad street. So, taking him by the hand, they proceeded
together until they reached the termination of the Causeway, and were
about to enter Tradd street, when suddenly a guard-man sprang from
behind an old shed. The negro, recognising his white belt and tap-stick,
made the best of his time, and set off at full speed down a narrow lane.
The watchman proceeded close at his heels, springing his rattle at every
step, and pouring out a volley of vile imprecations. Tommy stood for a
few moments, but soon the cries of the negro and the beating of clubs
broke upon his ear; he became terrified, and ran at the top of his speed
in an opposite direction. Again he had lost his way, and seemed in a
worse dilemma than before; he was weary and frightened, and hearing so
many stories among the sailors about selling white children for slaves,
and knowing the imprisonment of Manuel, which he did not comprehend,
his feelings were excited to the highest degree. After running for a few
minutes, he stopped to see if he could recognize his position. The first
thing that caught his eye was the old jail, looming its sombre walls in
the gloomy contrast of night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account