| It had been observed, that during the day previous to the
night on which they rose, the negro boilers in the sugar house,
continued singing in their own language, and that they ended
every verse, by way of chorus, with the following two lines
in their broken english. |
Day, for he O |
Night a for we O |
This did not awaken any suspicion in the whites who attended
the boiling house; as the negroes are all musically inclined,
and make extempore songs, as Mr Parke truly observes, upon any
thing that strikes them either in a grave, or ludicrous light.
The burthen of their melancholly ditty therefore at that aweful
period, was suppos[e]d merely to express, that day, the
season of labour, was for the master; and that night
that of rest, for the slave.
The signal for slaughter was given by the head boilers blowing
out the lamp nearest to him. In an instant, the unfortunate
whites present were seiz'd and murder'd. This account was given
by one of the insurgents who surrender'd himself on the faith
of a proclamation issued some time after. Having made this bloody
beginning, they proceeded to the mansion house to finish the
second act of this tragedy. |
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