s- young women, with bandanna and plaid cambric turbans, and superior in genteel appearance to any similar class. They didnt look like slaves.Adams says that some planters allow their hands a certain portion of the soil, for their own culture, and gave them stated times to work it; Some preferred to allow them out of the whole crop a percentage equal to such a distribution of land.Slaves had plenty of freedom. Adams says that it is the common law, however, with all who regard public opinion at the South, to allow their hands certain privileges and exemptions, such as long rest in the middle of the day, early dismission from the field at night, a half day occasionally, in addition to holidays.Historian Peter Kolchin says that Slaves at work were closely regulated, but away from work, they lived and loved, played and prayed, in a world largely unknown to their masters. (Kolchin 133)Nehamia Adams says that Some slaves are owners of banks and railroad shares. A slave women having had three hundred dollars stolen from her by a white man, her master was questioned in court as to the probability of her having had so much money. He said that he not infrequently had borrowed fifty and a hundred dollars from her, and added, that she was always very strict as to his promised time of payment.The slaves were treated extremely well, even when not useful anymore. Nehamia Adams says Every slave has inalienable claim in law upon his owner for support for the whole life. He can not be wholly neglected when he is old and decrepit. Adams saw a white headed Negro at the door of his cabin on a gentleman's estate, who had done no work for ten years. He enjoys all the privileges of plantation, garden, and orchard; is clothed and fed as carefully as though he were useful.Adams says At a place called Harriss Neck, Georgia, there is a servant who has been confined to his bed with rheumatism thirty years, and no invalid has more reason to be grateful f...
