‚ q jcr~-l/25/37	Ex—slave‘s opinion of slavery	50


	Every two weeks, rations of ~Sl, molasses and bscœ were given each slave family in sufficient quantity. The slaves prepared their own mea3s, bat were not allowed to leave the fields antil noon. A nursing mother, however, could leave between times.

	Large families were the aim ath pride of a slave owner, and. he guickly learned which of the slave women were breeders and which were not. A slave trader could ~ways sell a breöding woman‘ fortwicethe ~ owner got rid of those who jdldn‘t breed. First, however, he would wait until he had .aoouau-‘
I	of undesirablea
~ted a numbsi,~ including the aged and unruly.

•~—~-~~Phere was an old slave trader In Louisiana by the Mine of

:R1~~~ who always bought this type of slave and re-sold them. When ~: ready to sell, a s]p~ve o~er notified him by telegram. ~Then Riley

I arrived, the slaves were lined. up, undressed and. closely inspected.

~	Too many scars on the body meant a “bad slave‘1 and. no one would

\	be anxious to purchase him.

/‚-~----.-— Green related the story of his grand mother Betsy Willis. ‚Auy grandmother was ha 1f whi te ~ s moe the master o f the pl~tation ! on which st~ lived was her father.“ He wished. to sell her, and. when she was pladed. on the block he n#de the following statement: „ I wish to sell a slave who is also my daughter. Before anyone can purchase her, he must agree not to treat hei‘ as a slave bat as s free person. She is a good midwife and. can be of great service

to you.. Col. Dick Willis was there, az~ in front of everyone

signed the papers.

~	TLt• Willis plantation was very large and. rsq~uired many workers. ~hsre were 75 plow hands alone, exolading those who werersquix‘ed. to do the hoeing. Women as well as n worked in the fields. Isaiah Green Isolares that his mother could plow
2.