Page 16 of Master of Paradise
"Back scars is bad. They shows unwillin'workers-- troublemakers. We wants no ruptures, hemorrhoids, brokenfingers or toes. No males who's been cut-- they's houseslaves."
Nicholas realized cut meant castrated, and hewas appalled at the inhumanity.
In spite of Samuel's vivid description, Nickwas not fully prepared for the experience encountered at theBarracoon. They purposely waited until evening. That way, ifbusiness had been slow all day, a few hundred dollars could beknocked off the prices. Nicholas was a man who seldom hesitated. Heknew what he wanted and walked a direct path to it, but on thislate afternoon he purposely observed the other buyers beforerushing in to make his selections.
What he saw make his hackles rise. The wholedamned business of purchasing human flesh was abhorent and yet heknew he must ruthlessly hold his nose, so to speak, and follow thecustom. The slaves sat on benches in front of the sheds, until aprospective buyer showed an interest, then they soon lined up forinspection, almost eager to be chosen over their fellowmen.
Nicholas watched and listened as awell-heeled planter bargained for two field hands. At a gesturefrom the keeper, the six bucks lined up and stripped naked.
"Nice clean back, no stripes on this one,suh."
"Makes no difference to me. Sugar Plantation.My drivers have to use the whip."
"Yessir, sugarcane sure uses up a lot o'field hands," nodded the keeper in sympathy with the planter'sproblems.
"That's right. Cotton planters get fifteengood workin' years out of a buck. Sugarcane's different. They lastonly six, seven years." The planter picked out two slaves and theyknelt before him. He examined their privates then he threw his cropacross the compound and told each one to go fetch. He seemedsatisfied with his choice, and began to bargain in earnest.
Nicholas noted the asking price was fifteenhundred apiece, and he blanched as he thought how much it was goingto take to buy a dozen men. However, after a good deal ofdickering, a firm offer of eight hundred apiece was made andaccepted, and the two men disappeared inside the office to make outthe bills of sale.
Nick looked across the compound to the farside where most of the activity was going on. About two dozen blackwomen were being appraised and examined by half-a-dozen differentmen. There were no other buyers interested in looking at themales.
Nick asked Samuel which would be his choice.Samuel lost no time in lining up about twenty black men, andwalking with Nicholas down the row.
"Too old," he rejected the first man,although he didn't look as old as Samuel himself. He felt themuscles of the second man and nodded. He ran his hand down the backof the third, nodded, then shook his head at the fourth.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Mulatto."
"So?"
"They gits uppity ideas. Thinks they halfwhite."
"A mulattoishalf white. I like thelooks of him."
Samuel rolled his eyes and moved on. "Toothin in de belly. Might be worms." He said the next two might beall right, 'though they were on the slim side. The next man wasburly-chested with fists like hams and thighs that bulged visiblythrough thin britches. "Trouble,"said Samuel, passing him by.
"Christ, Samuel, I'm picking workers, not abloody Sunday school class."
The black man grinned at the remark andSamuel was visibly offended.
"What's your name?" Nick asked.
"Brute," said the man, then added, "short forBrutus."
Nicholas smiled.
The slave trader emerged from his office,pleased to see another buyer so late in the day.
"What kin ah do fer you, suh? All primestock. This one here got good bones fer a sapling."
"No. Too young for me. I have to clear landand put in a crop this spring."
The man nodded his understanding.
"I've already selected half-a-dozen."
"How many you needin' suh?"
