The Roman Guide to Slave Management (9 page)

  Don’t lend anyone money unless your master allows it.

  Insist on immediate repayment if your master does not permit a loan or its extension.

  Don’t lend anyone seed, fodder, barley, wine or oil.

  Be on friendly terms with two or three neighbouring estates so you can borrow people, goods and implements when you need them.

  Go through the accounts with the master regularly.

  Don’t use day labourers too much or for more than a day at a time.

  Don’t buy anything without your master’s approval.

  Don’t keep anything secret from your master.

  Don’t have any favourites among the slaves.

  Don’t consult diviners, fortune-tellers or astrologers.

  Don’t use seed corn sparingly – that way lies disaster.

  Make sure you understand how to do everything on the estate and if there are gaps in your knowledge fill them. You will then understand what the slaves themselves are thinking.

  Remember the slaves themselves will work more willingly for someone who understands their problems.

  Keep healthy and sleep well.