A “darky” doing agricultural work.
1835. At this time, when cotton brings a good price, a good “field hand” cannot be bought for less than eight hundred dollars, if a male; if a female, for six hundred.—J. H. Ingraham, ‘The South-West,’ ii. 244 (N.Y.).
1856. Able-bodied field-hands were hired out, in this vicinity, at the rate of one hundred dollars a year, and their board and clothing.—Olmsted, ‘Slave States,’ p. 46. (N.E.D.)
