Unusual sobriety, apparent abstraction, sullenness and indifference--indeed, any mood out of the common way--afford ground for suspicion and inquiry.

Often relying on their superior position and wisdom, they hector and torture the slave into a confession, by affecting to know the truth of their accusations.

"You have got the devil in you," say they, "and we will whip him out of you." I have often been put thus to the torture, on bare suspicion.

This system has its disadvantages as well as their opposite.

The slave is sometimes whipped into the confession of offenses which he never committed.