NEN Gallery

Describing work on the plantations:

The First Gang...is called just before sunrise. The list is then called over, and the names of absentees noted; after which they commence their labour, and continue till 8 or 9 o'clock, when they breakfast on boiled yams and vegetables seasoned with salt and cayenne pepper. In the meantime, the absentees generally arrive, and are punished by a number of lashes. They then toil till noon. Two hours are allowed for dinner... composed of the same food as at breakfast, with meat or salted fish. At 2 o'clock they are again called to the field, where, refreshed, they show some signs of effort: although it is an undoubted fact that one British worker will perform 3 or 4 times as much work as a Negro. At sunset they return to their huts.

Renny, Jamaica (1807)