Slaves in the lowlands grew thanks to the constant new arrivals of slaves from Africa. Slaves in the Low Countries had a very high mortality rate due to disease, overwork, and inadequate care. Slaves in the Low Countries retained much of their African heritage because there were so many of them and new Africans were always arriving at the ports. In the 18th century, the Lowcountry had nearly 70 percent more black slaves than white slave owners. Charleston was the main port of entry for Africans into North America. The major crops in the lower area were rice and corn compared to the Chesapeake region. Slaves there developed their own broken languages ​​called Geechie and Gullah. Low Country showed a great deal of creolization. This is the first sign of distinct classes among slaves. Creoles remained in the same areas as whites because they were mixed race and had social and economic advantages over slaves found on plantations, but they were still constantly guarded by whites. Unlike slaves in the Chesapeake region, lowland slaves had some independence in their daily routines. Once their chores were finished, their time was free to do as they chose without supervision. Although slaves had this independence, whites still had a “Negro Watch” to impose curfews on blacks.