niggering

It is said that young Daniel disliked this toil very much, and was among the earliest to devise "niggering," as it was called.

The New England Magazine, Volume 1, No. 5, Bay State Monthly, Volume 4, No. 5, May, 1886 Various

Thus, after felling the trees, instead of chopping them into lengths, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of piling them preparatory to burning, which would have cost him too much labour, he resorted to the practice of "niggering," as it is called; which is simply laying light pieces of round timber across the trunks of the trees, and setting fire to them at the point of contact, by which means the trees are slowly burned through.

Roughing It in the Bush 1852

Thus, after felling the trees, instead of chopping them into lengths, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of piling them preparatory to burning, which would have cost him too much labour, he resorted to the practice of "niggering," as it is called; which is simply laying light pieces of round timber across the trunks of the trees, and setting fire to them at the point of contact, by which means the trees are slowly burned through.

Roughing It in the Bush Susanna Moodie 1844

It was as dull as a hoe, and we were very weak, so that it was slow work "niggering off" -- (as the boys termed it) a cut of the log.

Andersonville John McElroy 1887

It was as dull as a hoe, and we were very weak, so that it was slow work "niggering off" -- (as the boys termed it) a cut of the log.

Andersonville — Volume 3 John McElroy 1887

'Is this nigger fishing, or is this fish niggering?'

The Poison Belt Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1913

'Is this nigger fishing, or is this fish niggering?'

The Poison Belt Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1913

But now you all talk of giving up, and say you've proved that there's no good in the place, what's the use of my niggering away by myself? "

The Peril Finders George Manville Fenn 1870