Final answer:
The quote that best uses empirical evidence to showcase the merciless working conditions of the Indian laborers discusses the grueling and dangerous process of harvesting sugar cane, exposing them to threats like venomous snakes and potentially fatal injuries from machetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quotation that uses empirical evidence to support the central idea that the Indians' working conditions were merciless is "Sugar cane was densely planted, and undergrowth in the fields could hide snakes that bit workers. After fertilizing and weeding the cane, workers harvested it by cutting it close to the ground with machetes and then chopping it into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove from the fields. Machetes wielded in tired workers' sweaty hands often slashed legs and feet. Workers might bleed to death or die when wounds became infected. People who worked too slowly were beaten." This passage provides specific examples of the physical dangers and threats of violence that the individuals faced, illustrating the relentless and dangerous nature of their labor.