One day in the week was generally accorded them instead
of their food ; and such was the superiority of free over ser-
vile labor, let us say in passing, together with the fertility
of the soil, that the day's earnings sufficed to support the
slave a week.
This still suffices, it is said, and is precisely the reason
why the freedman does not work. Few wants, little labor.
He satisfies his needs, then reposes. To this I have noth-
ing to say, except that he does like the immense majority
of mankind. After all, the want is the motive and measure
of the labor.
But in the state of freedom the wants increase daily, and
to satisfy them comes increase of labor. This is what hap-
pens to the negro who has a taste for comfort, luxury, even
for dress ; he labors to enjoy, and at the same time to pay
for these. Meanwhile, the freedman participates in the
collective burdens ; he pays imposts and town dues, and
to pay, to spend, it is necessary to labor.
Is material proof demanded ?

It results from several documents.
We might compare the land-taxes, but the statistics are
not at our disposal.
Two elements remain : —

The tables of population and culture include the number
of cattle in the colonies. It is remarked that the num-
ber of mules, asses, and horses has decreased, because
they have been economized or have been replaced by ma-
chinery, while that of hogs and goats has increased ; now



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252 THE FEENCH COLONIES.
the hog and goat are the fortune of the small freeholder, on
the lowest round of the ladder.
