He _wingle_ (tease) us, and _wingle_ us; de book-keeper curse us and treaten us; de constable he scold us, and call hard names, and dey all strive to make we mad, so we say someting wrong, and den dey take we to de magistrate for insolence." Such was the final consequence of complaining to the magistrate.

We asked them why they did not complain, when they had a good magistrate who would do them justice.

Their answer revealed a new fact.

They were afraid to complain to a magistrate, who they knew was their friend, _because their masters told them that the magistrate would soon be changed, and another would come who would flog them; and that for every time they dared to complain to the GOOD magistrate, they would be flogged when the BAD one came_.

They said their masters had explained it all to them long ago.
We inquired of them particularly what course they intended to take when they should become free.