The vicious custom of "advances" mentioned above has become a part of the system; it arose, I suppose, from the fact that the natives who shipped as whalemen received advance pay; and thus the plantation laborers demanded it too.

The laborers are commonly housed in detached cottages, and live with their families, the women forming an important, irregular laboring force at seasons when the work is hurried.

But they are not "contract" laborers, but paid by the day.

It has been found the best plan on most of the plantations to feed the people, and food is so cheap that it is supplied without stint.
This system has been vigorously, but, I believe, wrongly, attacked.

The recent census is an uncommonly barren document; but there is strong reason to believe that while there is a general decrease in the population, on the plantations there is but little if any decrease.