MISSISSIPPI’S LAZY PEOPLE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2093, 6 December 1879, Page 2

MISSISSIPPI’S LAZY PEOPLE.

The “San Francisch Bulletin” correspondent writes : —The negroes arc in rags, shoeless, destitute, and, worse than all, not desirous of working. By their neglect education during slavery, always directed what to do by their owners and not thinking for themselves, it could not be expected that freedom would bring in its train intelligence and administrative ability. As a consequence their ignorance has destroyed the tacit of their labours for years past, and they have been the prey too often of unscrupulous men, who have amused

fortunes at the expense of the negroes who traded with them. The rise has been so great in crediting the negro that from 100 to 300 per cent has been asked and paid for advances of supplies. As a consequence the negroes seeing that they worked hard throughout the year and had nothing at the cud have become demoralised add suspicious of everybody and everything ; don’t wishjjto work, and would prefer to sit in the sun or fish all day than attempt to work. It is my firm opinion that under present circumstances, if any locality was surrendered to them for exclusive residence, without interference from the whites, it would not require five years’ time to bring the special community into assimilation with the African tribes. For ten days I have been offering steady work at .remunerative price for a dozen labourers, and I cannot secure them. I have wanted fences built and houses erected, and I counot find one,or even a company work. And I have to hunt up a white mau to take up the contract at 100 per cent higher than actual cost, or superintend the matter myself.