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+Project Gutenberg's Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume II (of 2), by Anonymous
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume II (of 2)
+       A full account of the colony and its inhabitants from the
+       time of the Caribs to the present day
+
+Author: Anonymous
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2012 [EBook #38789]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANTIGUAAND THE ANTIGUANS, VOL II ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Paul Flo Williams
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                            ANTIGUA
+                       AND THE ANTIGUANS:
+
+
+
+                       A FULL ACCOUNT OF
+                 THE COLONY AND ITS INHABITANTS
+                  FROM THE TIME OF THE CARIBS
+                      TO THE PRESENT DAY,
+            Interspersed with Anecdotes and Legends.
+
+                             ALSO,
+
+              AN IMPARTIAL VIEW OF SLAVERY AND THE
+                      FREE LABOUR SYSTEMS;
+                 THE STATISTICS OF THE ISLAND,
+      AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
+
+          "Sworn to no party, of no sect am I."--Pope.
+
+                        IN TWO VOLUMES.
+                            VOL. II.
+
+                             LONDON
+              SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.
+                             1844.
+
+
+
+
+                            CONTENTS
+                               OF
+                       THE SECOND VOLUME.
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+  Caribs: Domestic state--Treatment of their women--Children--
+  Their early tuition--Superstitious cruelties--Hatred of the
+  Arrowawks--Female children--Occupation of the men--Canoes--Bows
+  and arrows--Cottages--Cooking utensils--Native cloth--Food--
+  Fishing--Decoy fish--Spirituous liquors--Personal appearance--
+  Amusements--The Carib house--Extermination of the Caribs from
+  Antigua--Remarks upon their history
+
+                          CHAPTER XXX.
+
+  Negroes: Their introduction into the New World--Bartholomew Las
+  Casas--His intercessions in favour of the Indians--Cardinal
+  Ximenes--Origin of the slave trade--Its adoption by the English
+  government--Character of slavery--Mental degeneracy--Instances
+  of superior faculties among the Negro race--Juan Parega--
+  Phillis Wheatley--Ignatius Sancho--His letter to the Rev. L.
+  Sterne--Slavery in its early days--Punishment of the negroes in
+  1736
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+  Negroes: Palliations, _but not excuses_, for former cruelties--
+  A harsh planter--Crimes of slaves--The little negroes'
+  dinner-hour--A character--Negroes' want of thought--Bartering
+  their weekly provisions--Pilfering--The Rock Dungeon--A
+  Tortolian slave-master--The murdered slave--Branding--Slave
+  cargo--Remarks upon slavery--A good slave-master--A kind
+  attorney--Negro gratitude
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+  Negroes: The assertion that negroes are careless of all
+  domestic ties confuted by anecdotes--"Shadows" of negro
+  character--Excuses for them--Conversion to Christianity--Belief
+  of the Africans that after death they shall return to Africa--
+  Instance of it--Africans and Creoles--Superstitions--Obeah
+
+                        CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+  Negroes: Superstition--Trials by ordeal--Flower-fence--Bible
+  and key--A way to recover stolen property--Charm to prevent a
+  scolding tongue--Jumbies--A night's adventure--The soldier's
+  last jump--Jumbies calls--Betsey, the nurse--The haunted house
+  --A cure--The drowning boys--The murdered woman--The jumby's
+  revenge
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+  Seeming paradoxes explained--Negro suspicion--Instances of it--
+  Stealing--Its various characters--Leasing--The dead canaries--
+  Broken promises--Idleness--Negro wages--Their present lot--
+  Domestics
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+  Negroes: "Shadows" continued--The crime of murder--Instances of
+  it--Hon. Sam. Martin--Giles Blizard--Adam Ogilvie
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+  Negroes: The crime of poisoning--Instance of it--Murder of Mr.
+  Brown--Love and jealousy--The end of unlawful love--Infanticide
+  --Incendiarism--A late instance of it--Polygamy--Disregard of
+  marriage vows
+
+                        CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+  Negroes: A little change for the better--"Shadows nursed by
+  night retire"--Respect to age--Filial affection--Generosity--
+  Their kindness to the poorer class of whites--Cleanliness--the
+  opposite vice--Behaviour at church--A black exhorter--Reading
+  and writing--An anecdote
+
+                        CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+  Negroes: Their amusements--Natural ear for music--Singing--
+  Dancing--Subscription routs--Christmas balls--The ball-room
+  decorations--Ball dresses--Gentlemen's appearance--Ladies'--
+  Politeness--Supper, and the supper-table--The morning after a
+  ball--Cards of invitation--The "good night."
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+  Negroes: Fondness for "Nancy stories"--Negro loquacity--Their
+  signification of the word "cursing"--Markets--Confusion of
+  tongues--Weddings--The drive to church--Wedding banquet--
+  Blushing brides--Funerals--"Wake nights"--Funeral procession--
+  Christening--High-sounding names
+
+                          CHAPTER XL.
+
+  Negroes: Further sentences upon "dress"--Sunday transformations
+  --The black cook and his metamorphosis--Christmas waits--Negro
+  houses--The mode of building upon estates--Town negro houses--
+  Architecture--The mode of moving houses
+
+                          CHAPTER XLI.
+
+  Negroes: Occupations--Agricultural labourers--Black sailors--
+  Their excessive gormandizing--The hungry captain's
+  disappointment--Black cooks--"Melted butter"--A receipt for a
+  cookery book--The obtrusive fish--Grooms and "house boys"--An
+  old planter's opinion--Concluding remarks
+
+                         CHAPTER XLII.
+
+  Negroes: Employment of the women--Washing--A scene at the pond
+  --Conversations--The sea-side--"Water frolic"--Hucksters--
+  "Damaged flour"--Female porters--Masculine appearance of some
+  of the females--Indelicacy--Their mode of carrying burdens
+
+                         CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+  Negroes: Exterior appearance--Difference of expression--White
+  negroes (Albinos)--Description of one--Black and white negroes
+  --Negroes' "bulls and blunders"--Exchange is no robbery, or the
+  lost specimens--Negro politeness--Negro tongue--Inebriation--
+  Concluding remarks
+
+                         CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+  Remarks upon free system--State of affairs before emancipation
+  --Trials and casualties--Improved price of land--Sugar estate
+  during slavery--Benefits of emancipation in the moral state of
+  the colony--Benefits arising to the planter--Pretended illness
+  among the negroes--Propositions in their favour--Decrease of
+  crime--Hopes indulged--"The first of August."
+
+                          CHAPTER XLV.
+
+  A chapter on colour--Gradual removes from the negroes--Middle
+  classes--Personal appearance--Devotions at their mirrors--Style
+  of dress--Chapel belles--Passion for dress--Home and home
+  scenes--The young men--Extreme officiousness--Higher classes of
+  colour--Coloured Hebes--The chapel tea-party--Gastronomy and
+  speeches--Wesleyan bazaar, and lunch-table--Gastronomic relics
+
+                         CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+  Prejudice--Its former and present character--An act of
+  resentment--The "Prejudice Bell"--Exclusion of persons of
+  colour from offices of trust and polished society--The dawn of
+  better days--The assertions of some authors contradicted--
+  Domestic character of the coloured gentry--Hospitality--A day
+  at a coloured gentleman's country-house--Dwellings--Marriages--
+  Great suppression of illicit connexions within these last few
+  years--Funerals--A scene of riot in former days--Provincialisms
+
+                         CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+  Grades among the _pure in blood_--Aristocrats--The tribe
+  _fungi_--An overseer's duty--Managers and attorneys--Pickings
+  and gleanings--Managers' wives and managing ladies--
+  Aristocratic shops--"My daughters"--Education--"Field days" of
+  the militia--The Antiguan aide-de-camp
+
+                        CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+  The pure in blood--Aristocrats of the higher order--Law,
+  physic, and divinity--Merchants and planters--Proprietors'
+  dwellings--A day at a country-seat--Gastronomy--Beef--"Mary
+  Swift"--Mutton--Pork--Turtle and City aldermen--Christmas
+
+                         CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+  The pure in blood--Places of amusement--The theatre--"Romeo
+  Coates"--Jugglers and rope-dancers--Maroon parties--Shooting
+  season--The Creole beauties--Dress--"The lords of the creation"
+  --Fops and foppery--Business hours--Scene at the Antigua
+  post-office--Auction sales--Militia doings--The gallant dragoon
+  --Guard-nights
+
+                           CHAPTER L.
+
+  Zoology--Rabbits--Rats--Horned cattle--Horses--Mules--Asses--
+  Sheep--Goats--Domestic animals--Whales--Thrasher--Grampus--
+  Porpoise--Shark--Anecdote of the Young Creole--Death of the
+  sailor-boy--Remora--Pilot fish--Dolphins--Jew fish--Stingray--
+  Corramou--Beautiful colours displayed in fish--Parrot fish
+
+                          CHAPTER LI.
+
+  Zoology: Orb-fish--Echinus, known to the ancients--Hippocampus
+  --Trumpet-fish--Toad-fish--Sea-blubber, and galley-fish--
+  Sea-polypus--Cat-fish--Crabs, oysters, &c.--Turtle--Land-crab--
+  Soldier-crab--Lizards--Guana--Wood-slave--Scorpions--Centipede
+  --Snakes--Tarantula--Cockroach--Caterpillars and butterflies--
+  Ants--Bats--Aquatic birds--Land birds--Humming bird--Anecdote
+
+                          CHAPTER LII.
+
+  Botany
+
+                         CHAPTER LIII.
+
+  Government--Governor-in-Chief--Council--Assembly--Government
+  officers--Judicial officers--Ecclesiastical establishments--
+  Schools--Fortifications and military defences--Revenue--Exports
+  and imports--Population returns
+
+  Supplemental Chapter
+
+                           APPENDIX.
+
+  No. 1.--Copy of the First Commission which was ever granted for
+  the Government of Barbados and the Leeward Islands
+
+  No. 2.--Genealogy Of the Warner Family
+
+  No. 3.--Memorial of the Winthorpe Family
+
+  No. 4.--Genealogy of the Byam Family
+
+  No. 5.--Copy of the Grant of Land to Col. Philip Warner, after
+  the Restoration of Antigua to the English Crown, in 1667
+  ---- Copy of the Grant of Land to Col. Philip Warner, restored
+  to him after his acquittal upon the charge of murdering his
+  half-brother, the Indian Warner, in 1676
+
+  No. 6.--A Remonstrance of the inhabitants of the island of
+  Antigua why they soe very earnestly craved authority and
+  commission from his Excellency, William Stapleton, Captain
+  General and Governor in chief in and over all his Majesties
+  Leward Cariba Islands in America. To kill and destroy the
+  Indians inhabiting in ye Island of Dominica and likewise for ye
+  craveing ayde from the neighbouring Islands under his
+  Excellency's command which was promised us
+
+  No. 7.--Genealogy of the Williams Family
+
+  Nos. 8. and 9.--Genealogy of the Codrington Family
+
+  No. 10.--Genealogy of the Mathew Family
+
+  No. 11.--List of the Members of the House of Assembly at the
+  time of the death of Governor Parke, copied from the Original
+  Returns
+
+  No. 12.--Last Will and Testament of Governor Parke
+
+  No. 13.--Account of the Mackinnon Family
+
+  No. 14.--Papers relative to the Negro Insurrection of 1736
+
+  No. 15.--Genealogy of the Thomas Family
+
+  No. 16.--Genealogy of the Carlisles and Lavingtons
+
+  No. 17.--Genealogy of Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy
+
+  No. 18.--Genealogy of the Willoughby Family
+
+  No. 19.--Genealogy of the Martin Family, of Green Castle
+
+  No. 20.--Genealogy of the Freeman Family
+
+                   ANTIGUA AND THE ANTIGUANS,
+                              ETC.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+
+  Caribs: Domestic state--Treatment of their women--Children--
+  Their early tuition--Superstitious cruelties--Hatred of the
+  Arrowawks--Female children--Occupation of the men--Canoes--Bows
+  and arrows--Cottages--Cooking utensils--Native cloth--Food--
+  Fishing--Decoy fish--Spirituous liquors--Personal appearance--
+  Amusements--The Carib house--Extermination of the Caribs from
+  Antigua--Remarks upon their history.
+
+From a view of the religion of the Caribs, which we have
+endeavoured to give some account of in the last chapter, we will
+proceed to notice their domestic ties. Alas! we have a very sad
+picture here. The ineffable sympathies of the soul, the pure
+friendship, the chaste pleasures of the connubial state, were
+never known, or at least never appreciated by them. Proud of
+excelling in strength and courage, the chief marks of priority
+among this rude and savage people, the Caribs treated their women
+in every respect as beings of a far inferior nature--to despise
+and degrade them by every possible means was esteemed as a manly
+virtue. Although given as a reward to successful combatants,
+their wives were looked upon as no better than captives; every
+species of drudgery fell to their share; while their husbands
+passed the day in sleep, unless engaged in war, or in absolute
+want of a new weapon. When the men engaged in fishing, the women
+were obliged to attend to carry the tackle and bring home the
+fruits of their sport; but after cooking it, they were not
+allowed to partake of it with their husbands, or even to eat in
+their presence. In the island of Cuba at this day this custom is
+still extant, for a late traveller remarks, "In some of the first
+houses the men sit down to dinner while their wives wait behind
+their chairs." But to return to the Carib women. All their
+services were received without gratitude or even complacency--no
+cheering word or kind look (and how women appreciate those little
+endearments none but a woman can tell) mitigated their incessant
+toil or lightened their heavy burdens. They were not allowed to
+approach their husbands but with the most abject homage, to look
+up to them as exalted beings, to obey their every wish, and that
+without uttering a word of complaint or giving a single look of
+discontent--all this was expected of the Carib woman. Wearily
+must their days have passed, without a hope in this world, and
+scarcely one in the other--trouble and sorrow must indeed have
+been their lot!
+
+Having considered the Carib's appreciation of the nearest and
+dearest tie in this world, we will proceed to take a view of his
+behaviour to his offspring. Perhaps there is not a stronger
+passion implanted by nature in the breast than that of parental
+love; even in the brute creation, there is a wonderful degree of
+instinct in the care of their young. The most stupid and
+sluggish, the most fearful and timid animals, become active and
+desperate in defence of their infant progeny, and will suffer any
+cruelty rather than permit their precious charge to be hurt or
+destroyed. If then this feeling exists so strongly in the breasts
+of animals devoid of reason, how much more should this be the
+case with man, raised as he is far above all terrestrial beings,
+endowed with a rational and comprehensive mind, and capable of
+enjoying the delights which flow from reciprocal affections! But
+in many instances we have to blush for our fellow creatures, and
+while we admire the instinct and parental feelings of brutes,
+deplore the inferiority of our own race.
+
+The passions of savages, while they last, are more violent and
+enthusiastic than those of men who are placed in civilized
+society, and consequently under some degree of restraint. Thus it
+was with the Caribs during the infancy of their male children; no
+duty, however irksome, or ceremony, however severe, which was
+fondly hoped would tend to make them formidable warriors, was
+regretted or postponed. The father freely lost his own blood to
+sprinkle his male child as soon as it was born, in the hopes that
+he might be endowed with a portion of his own courage.[1] As the
+child grew, he was taught all the arts requisite for his savage
+life--to draw the bow, wield the club, make and manage his canoe,
+swim skilfully, catch fish, and prepare the poison to dip his
+arrows in; he was also instructed in lessons of patience and
+fortitude, inspired with courage to attack his foes by having the
+deeds of his fathers related to him, and familiarized to look
+upon death and danger with contempt.
+
+So far the Carib performed the part of a good parent; but
+superstition exerted her gloomy powers, and the cruelties
+inflicted on the young Carib by the being from whom he derived
+his existence, exhibits a mournful and sanguinary picture,
+capable of harrowing up the deepest feelings of the soul. The
+dawn of manhood was the hour in which these trials were to be
+endured; and at this time the young warrior changed his infant
+name for one of greater importance and more significant in
+expression. With regard to their female children, but little
+fatherly attention was paid them; their education devolved upon
+their mothers, who taught them to cull the cotton and weave the
+cloth, and, in a word, instructed them in all the duties
+necessary to the comfort of their future lords and tyrants. If
+very handsome, they were reserved to grace the triumph of some
+successful warrior, while those of less beauty were allotted to
+men of inferior worth.
+
+The principal occupation of the Carib, the one, as before
+remarked, which absorbed the greatest portion of his time and
+attention, was war. The study of his life was to render himself
+an adept in those arts which would enable him to capture a
+greater number of his enemies, and spread desolation wherever he
+went. When not thus engaged, his days were passed in listless
+apathy. Enveloped in his mantle, and stretched upon his _hemack_
+beneath the shade of some luxuriant tree, he enjoyed the breeze
+of his native isle without alloy; and unless the calls of hunger
+aroused him, or his weapon or canoe required repair, he seldom or
+ever stirred. But when the war-cry arose, when an expedition
+against the Arrowawks was intended, or when his countrymen
+invited him "to seize his war-club," and avenge the death of some
+friend, whose bones lay whitening on another shore, he started
+from his repose, and grasped his spear; while the fire emanating
+from his dark eyes, his black hair streaming in the blast, his
+strong form vibrating from the intensity of his ardour, conspired
+to render him what he wished to be--the formidable-looking
+warrior.
+
+But although the Carib was generally during peace fond of
+indolence, yet when he chose to exert his powers, his arts and
+manufactures displayed a degree of ingenuity surpassing what
+could have been expected from his tools. His canoe was formed of
+the trunk of large trees, principally that of the ceibar, or silk
+cotton, as being more substantial, and of larger bulk. His bow
+and arrows were fabricated with a degree of nicety almost
+unequalled; some of them inlaid with pieces of tortoiseshell, or
+the bones of fish finely polished. His cottage was also built
+with some degree of taste, and neatly thatched with plaited
+cocoa-nut leaves; and was situated in some of the loveliest
+spots. They also possessed the art of fabricating vessels for
+cookery, and other domestic uses, from the clay of the island,
+which is still in use in Antigua, the negroes making pots for
+boiling their victuals, _yubbas_, (or frying-pans,) water-jars,
+and several other utensils. Of this clay it is said excellent
+bricks might be made; and there are several waste spots of land
+belonging to government, which might be turned into extensive
+brickfields: the bricks used in the island are all imported.
+
+But to return to our subject: while the men were thus employed,
+the women were far from idle: they wove the cloth from the cotton
+and bark of trees, and stained it of various colours. Of this
+cloth, which was very substantial, they made their beds, which
+were suspended from posts by the two ends, and obtained the name
+of _hemacks_, from being made by the southern islanders of the
+rind of a tree of that name. Columbus was so pleased with them,
+that he took the pattern, and used them for the bedding of his
+crew. They are still used at the present day under the
+appellation of _hammocks_. Of the leaves of the cocoa-nut and
+palmetto they also made baskets; while the fibres were twisted
+into ropes. The negroes also follow them in this particular,
+making rope, and also baskets, which they call "_catacous._"
+
+The Caribs have often been likened to the ancient Jews in some of
+their customs; but they did not follow that peculiar people in
+abstaining from blood, as they frequently drank that of the
+Arrowawks in their inhuman festivals. It is true, they refrained
+from eating many kinds of flesh, which were generally reckoned
+luxuries by others; but "if it was from religious motives, we are
+nowhere sufficiently informed," as Goldsmith justly observes.
+Their greatest treat, however, was human flesh, which they
+devoured with avidity whenever they could procure it. The
+Arrowawks, or inhabitants of Cuba, and the adjacent islands, as
+before remarked, were their principal prey. Sometimes they ate
+this horrible food raw; at other times they roasted or boiled it;
+but the fat was all preserved for the use of their children, both
+as food, and to anoint their bodies, in hopes of rendering them
+hardy and valiant; and for this reason they were also frequently
+immersed in a _bath of blood_.
+
+Another of their viands, and indeed the principal part of their
+food, was fish. These they caught in nets, composed of the
+twisted fibres of the cocoa-nut; or else speared them at night as
+they rose to the surface of the water to breathe. A similar
+practice is still pursued in Scotland; and the dexterity consists
+in throwing a spear at the salmon as it springs from the water. A
+fuller account would be inconsistent with my present work; but I
+refer my readers to Sir W. Scott's well known novel of "Guy
+Mannering," where it is accurately and vividly described. To
+resume our subject:--Columbus mentions seeing some fishermen
+making use of very curious assistants in securing their finny
+prey, namely, decoy fish. These were a species of small fish,
+which abounded in these seas, called "reves." Fastening a string
+round their tails, they were lowered into the water, and, made
+cunning by the hand which fed them, these tiny ensnarers
+encountered their brethren of the deep; and winding about them,
+all were drawn up together.
+
+In looking over the accounts of different countries, everyone
+must be struck with the propensity man has of indulging in
+spirituous liquors. While the inhabitants of fruitful and sunny
+districts imbibe the luscious juice of the grape, the
+Kamtschadale ranges his barren and inhospitable clime in search
+of a species of grass, from which to obtain a supply of fermented
+drink. The Tartar, in his wild state, roaming from pasture to
+pasture, placing his whole wealth in his horses and cattle,
+silently enjoys the intoxicating qualities of his brandy procured
+from the milk of his mares, and sighs not for the richest cup
+ever quaffed by the lip of mortals. So likewise the Carib was not
+without his stimulants--his festive board was not without its
+cup. From the bark of the palm and cocoa-nut tree, they procured
+a liquor clear as crystal, which they allowed to ferment, and of
+which they were very fond; but their principal drink was mobby,
+made from the sweet potatoe, (a native of this island,) which
+they also drank in a fermented state. But still drunkenness was
+not one of their crimes; it was reserved for their conquerors to
+teach them that vice. We are told of an old Carib addressing a
+planter in the following manner--"Our people are become almost as
+bad as yours. We are so much altered since you came among us,
+that we hardly know ourselves; and we think it is owing to so
+melancholy a change that the hurricanes are more frequent than
+they were formerly. It is an evil spirit who has done all this;
+who has taken our best lands from us, and given us up to the
+dominion of the Christians." Alas! poor Caribs, it was an evil
+spirit which had come among you--the evil spirit of lawless and
+unchristian _men_. Why was your country invaded and your rights
+trampled on? Why were your wives and children torn from you?--and
+you yourselves condemned to death?--yea, worse than death--to
+vile and endless slavery, till time, the end of all things,
+consigned you to your silent graves?--are questions which will
+arise, but whose answer can only be given in these words--"What
+is, is best."
+
+To resume our description of these ancient possessors of Antigua
+--these warlike Caribs. Vanity is a passion which to a greater or
+lesser degree pervades the breast of almost every mortal, and the
+savage in his native wilds feels the force of it in the same
+manner, although, perhaps, not to the same _extent_, as the giddy
+fair who whirls round the vortex of dissipation within the
+purlieus of May Fair. When first discovered by the Spaniards, the
+Caribs were habited in different fashions; some appeared in
+complete dresses of native cloth, stained of a dark red; others
+had only a cotton girdle rolled round their loins; while others,
+again, were arrayed in "Nature's garb." But although this plain
+and scanty dress forbid much fancy or variety, they were far from
+unadorned. Their hair was arranged in a thousand fantastic
+shapes; some had it braided with small pieces of gold, shells or
+shining stones; others decorated it with the teeth and bones of
+their enemies; and some, again, placed large bunches of parrots'
+feathers upon the top of the head. Nor were all their decorations
+confined to their head-dresses; they stained their bodies with
+various colours, and in a variety of figures, and, as before
+alluded to, caused themselves much pain in thus ornamenting their
+persons, by their great propensity for altering their natural
+features. It does not appear if this was intended to heighten
+their beauty, and render them captivating in the eyes of the
+"nice-judging fair," or if to make them more hideous in the sight
+of their enemies; but most probably it was for the latter
+purpose, although it has been said "that women always like the
+monsters!"
+
+Their amusement, which has also been before observed, was war;
+nothing else seemed to please or interest them, it was "their
+gain, their glory, their delight!" They had their dances, but
+they were rather a serious ceremony than indulged in as a
+pastime. Their principal assemblies were held before starting
+upon a warlike expedition, when a leader or chief was elected
+with the barbarities before described; or upon the return of a
+victorious warrior, when these ceremonies concluded with a dance.
+
+In the foregoing review, the character of the red Caribs, the
+aborigines of Antigua, has been described; but in different
+islands were found different tribes. Guadaloupe was inhabited by
+a race of Amazons, who, upon the first appearance of Columbus,
+rushed out of a wood, armed with bows and arrows, and attacked
+the crew with such determined fury, that he was obliged to open a
+fire upon them before they would disperse; that they were also
+cannibals was evident from the relics of their disgusting feasts
+found in their huts. Some of the other islands were inhabited by
+a similar race; but the people of Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, and
+Porto Rico were decidedly of a different family--mild, temperate,
+and indolent, they were a certain prey to the ferocious
+cannibals.
+
+The Caribs of Antigua were first conquered by the Spaniards in
+1521, and after trying to make them work as slaves without
+effect, they were finally driven from off the island. As in the
+other islands, fire and sword came among them, and the ancient
+people of the soil are no more. Their manners and customs, their
+hopes and fears, their enjoyments and distresses, are almost
+buried in oblivion, only now and then, here and there, we find a
+few traces of them in the wide page of history. There are,
+however, vestiges of their dwellings still to be met with in
+different parts of the island, one of which I had the curiosity
+to enter. It appeared to have consisted of two distinct
+buildings, the materials of which were composed of the stone
+which is common in all parts of the island, cemented with a rough
+kind of mortar. The one nearest the north is about fifty feet
+long and twenty-five broad; in the middle is a circular hollow;
+small square window-places are on all sides, and the door-place
+fronts the west. I stood before that open door, and memory
+carried me back to "by-gone" ages. The sun had set, but his
+golden beams still lingered in the west, and tinged the clouds
+with a thousand beautiful colours. Not a single living creature
+was in sight, but one poor solitary ground-dove, who sat by the
+ruined walls and uttered her plaintive notes. The negroes are of
+an opinion that this bird is the harbinger of death; be that as
+it may, her melancholy cry on such a spot called up many an
+image. Who might not have stood upon the very place where I was
+standing and watched that glorious sun while he set? The
+formidable-looking Carib, his meek, degraded, uncomplaining wife;
+his miserable, wretched victim, the unhappy Arrowawk! All might
+have once stood there and gazed upon that very scene. And those
+crumbling walls! what tales might not they have told! how many
+scenes of bloodshed might not they have witnessed! how many
+harsh, discordant notes of revelry, from the wild beings who once
+inhabited them, might not they have echoed to! how many piercing
+shrieks for mercy from those poor wretched creatures, immolated
+upon that family altar for the darkling ceremonies of
+superstition, or for the daily meal, might not they have heard!
+
+The other adjoining building has the appearance of a square
+tower, and must, in its day, have been a place of some strength;
+it is considerably higher than the one before described. I felt
+inclined to believe it was built by the buccaneers, who, many
+years ago, made these islands their place of resort. In the
+island of St. Thomas is still standing a kind of castle, built by
+that renowned and formidable captain of pirates, "Blackbeard."[2]
+However, all Antiguans agree in calling the building mentioned
+the "Carib's House."
+
+To a contemplative mind, how many emotions arise upon taking a
+review of history. We see whole nations swept away from the
+surface of the globe, and others springing up to form the
+connecting link in the grand chain of nature. We see the
+stupendous powers of the Omnipotent, at whose beck myriads start
+into life--at whose frown they vanish away like chaff before the
+wind. We are inclined to ask, Where now is mighty Rome, the
+empress of the world? Lost in the abyss of her own power and
+greatness. Greece, too, with all her brave sons--her
+disinterested patriots--her wise and just lawgivers--where are
+they? All, all are fled, their very existence almost forgotten;
+and as a favourite traveller remarks, "Greece remembers her sons
+no more." He whose reckless ambition sighed for worlds to
+conquer, is himself conquered by the strong hand of death. The
+prince and peasant, the rich and poor, the bond and free, alike
+fall beneath those all-powerful shafts.
+
+   "The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
+    And all that beauty, all that wealth ere gave.
+    Must wait alike the inevitable hour;
+    The paths of glory lead but to the grave."
+
+While surveying these things, the mind is lost in the boundless
+depths of imagination. We are led to reflect upon the transitory
+state of existence we pass in this nether world; and the truth
+flashes upon us, that however great we may be in our own
+estimation--however great in our own conceit, we are but in
+reality as the bubble on the water, the ephemera of a summer's
+day. Reader! didst thou ever examine the interior of an ant-hill?
+didst thou ever notice how its busy little inmates are hurrying
+to and fro, intent upon their different occupations? Some are
+occupied in excavating the ground to prepare store-houses for the
+preservation of their grain in the winter--some in removing the
+dirt from the streets that nothing may obstruct the progress of
+their various business--some in plastering the earth with a kind
+of clay, which they carefully prepare, that it may not fall in
+and destroy their populous city, while others again are preparing
+cells for the reception of their eggs.
+
+Thus we see all is bustle, all is activity; like mortals, some
+are laying up wealth they are fated never to enjoy, or planning
+schemes of grandeur which will never come to pass. The
+ploughshare passes over, and where are those busy troops? Eurus
+blows his blast in the fierceness of his anger, and the whole
+colony is scattered, the swarming multitude is no more. Thus it
+is with man: placed by his Creator in so beautiful a world,
+endowed, perhaps, with health, and riches, and honours,
+surrounded by a circle of friends and flatterers, enjoying all
+the pomps and luxuries of this life, he drinks deeply of the
+intoxicating cup of Circe, and forgets that he is but a child of
+clay, "a stranger and a sojourner as all his fathers were."
+
+I have been led into these reflections from the fact, that the
+people whose history I have been narrating are entirely
+exterminated from Antigua and the adjoining islands; that of all
+those swarming hosts who were gathered upon the beach to resist
+the landing of the Spaniards, who first visited this island, not
+one of their descendants is left. And now, in concluding this
+chapter, all that remains for me to do is, to crave the pardon
+and indulgence of my readers for so often leaving "Antigua and
+the Antiguans," and wandering in another pathway; but according
+to an old saying, "Our thoughts are not always under our own
+control;" or, as it is said in more modern language, "Woman is an
+Eolian harp, the strings of which are moved by every wind that
+blows."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[1] This was done, by allowing one of his veins to be opened for
+the purpose.
+
+[2] The real name of this pirate was Edward Toutch, a native of
+Spanish Town, in Jamaica. Of all pirates, this man was the most
+ferocious; the deeds he committed being more like those of a
+demon than a man. He was at length attacked by a lieutenant of an
+English man-of-war, off the coast of Virginia, and taken
+prisoner. He was afterwards executed, and his head stuck upon a
+pole erected upon that coast, as a warning to other lawless
+rovers.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XXX.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Their introduction into the New World--Bartholomew Las
+  Casas--His intercessions in favour of the Indians--Cardinal
+  Ximenes--Origin of the slave trade--Its adoption by the English
+  government--Character of slavery--Mental degeneracy--Instances
+  of superior faculties among the Negro race--Juan Parega--
+  Phillis Wheatley--Ignatius Sancho--His letter to the Rev. L.
+  Sterne--Slavery in its early days--Punishment of the negroes in
+  1736.
+
+In furtherance of my plan, of commencing from the earliest period
+the history of this small but important colony, it also devolves
+upon me to give some account of the first introduction of negroes
+into this quarter of the globe, particularly as they form so
+large a bulk of the population of Antigua.
+
+The negroes, as perhaps many of my readers may be aware, were
+first introduced generally into the West Indies, as labourers, in
+1515, although some few had been sent there a short time before.
+Bartholomew Las Casas, an eminent Spanish divine, was one of
+those who proposed this measure, and spent both time and money in
+its completion. Las Casas was born at Seville, in the year 1474;
+and at the age of nineteen, accompanied his father to the West
+Indies.
+
+At this period, Rodrigo Albuquerque, the confidential minister of
+Ferdinand V. of Spain, had succeeded Don Diego, the son of
+Christopher Columbus, in the government of Hispaniola, which the
+Spaniards still considered as their principal colony. Albuquerque
+was a man of violent passions, and rapacious in the acquisition
+of wealth; and under his government the poor Indians led but a
+miserable life; and with hard labour and ill-treatment they were
+almost exterminated. The cruel and arbitrary proceedings adopted
+towards them excited compassion in the minds of all who had the
+least particle of commiseration in their natures. The
+missionaries had early expressed their abhorrence of the system
+of parting the Indians among the settlers, by which means they
+became the slaves of their conquerors. The Dominicans, in
+particular, had strongly protested against the "_repartimientos_"
+(or sharing) as it was termed; and not content with remonstrating
+in private, made the pulpit the theatre of action, and denounced
+curses upon the heads of those who followed that plan.
+
+Bartholomew Las Casas early became a convert to their opinions
+upon this head. He not only gave up all the Indians which had
+fallen to his share, but tried all means in his power to persuade
+his countrymen to do so likewise. He remonstrated with
+Albuquerque upon the unlawfulness of his conduct; but he found
+that tyrant too much engrossed with the sordid love of acquiring
+gold for his remonstrances to be of any effect. When Las Casas
+found this to be the case, he determined to depart for Spain, and
+lay his complaint at the feet of Ferdinand.
+
+After a protracted voyage of many weeks, Las Casas arrived safe
+at Cadiz, and quickly obtained an interview with his sovereign,
+whom he found to be in a very languishing state of health.
+Ferdinand listened with deep attention to Las Casas'
+representation of the sufferings endured by the unfortunate
+natives of the West Indies; and expressed deep compunction for
+his guilt in having authorized this measure of sharing, which had
+brought destruction upon so many innocent people; and finally, he
+promised to take into consideration the means of redressing the
+grievances he had occasioned. Death, however, put an end to all
+his resolves; and Charles V. of Germany, who succeeded him, being
+then in Austria, appointed the celebrated Cardinal Ximenes his
+regent.
+
+Las Casas was not wearied with his undertaking, or disheartened
+with his disappointment; he obtained an interview with the
+regent, and argued his cause with so much feeling and eloquence,
+that Ximenes appointed a commission of monks from St. Jerome to
+go to the West Indies and make every inquiry into the situation
+of the wretched inhabitants, directing Las Casas to accompany
+them, with the title of "Protector of the Indians." Upon their
+arrival, the monks proceeded with caution to investigate the
+matter; and after some time spent in this way, gave it as their
+opinion, that the Spaniards must either give up their American
+conquests, or be satisfied with very little gain, unless the
+system of slavery was tolerated; at the same time, expressing
+their determination to try all endeavours in their power to
+secure to the Indians a milder and a better treatment.
+
+All but Las Casas were satisfied with these proceedings, but he
+argued for total exemption; and so strenuously did he urge his
+plea, that the planters' anger was aroused, and he was obliged to
+retire into a convent to preserve his life. But Las Casas was not
+the man to give up a favourite project for a trifle. Finding how
+ill he succeeded in the New World, he determined once more to
+sail for Spain, and employ every means and exert every energy to
+accomplish his plans, and never to give up his labours until
+death or the accomplishment of his wishes ended them.
+
+By the time he arrived at home, the Cardinal Ximenes had resigned
+the regency, and Charles had assumed the reins of government, and
+to this monarch Las Casas carried his complaints. The emperor
+listened to him, and appointed another commission of monks to
+inquire into the business; but Las Casas knew the opposition this
+measure would meet with, and the little good it would effect; he
+therefore set his wits to work to find out some other expedient,
+and at last thought of introducing other labourers into the West
+Indies in lieu of the Indians.
+
+The use the Portuguese made of their African discoveries was to
+ensnare the inhabitants and sell them as slaves; and Las Casas
+thought that if these wretched people could be transported in
+numbers to America, they would, from their stronger constitutions
+and hardy frames, answer better than the natives themselves. This
+plan was laid before the council in Spain, and although strongly
+resisted by Cardinal Ximenes, who saw the impropriety of
+condemning an innocent nation to perpetual slavery to save
+another, the measure was carried by a majority of voices, and
+Charles granted to a favourite courtier a patent, empowering him
+to purchase slaves in Africa, and ship them to the West Indies.
+
+This patent was purchased by some Genoese merchants, who
+immediately put it into execution, and thus that detestable
+traffic, the "slave trade," was introduced by men calling
+themselves _Christians_, and professing to follow the doctrines
+of their divine Master, while they deliberately set at nought his
+great precept--"Do unto others as you would have others do unto
+you." It is not within the plan of the present work to inquire
+how much the situation of the Indians was improved by this
+arrangement, but will merely observe, that while Las Casas spent
+his time, his money, and his health, in trying to benefit his
+favourite people, he forgot all other classes, and completely
+shut the door of mercy upon the unoffending Africans; and for no
+other cause than it had pleased their Creator to bestow upon them
+greater strength than upon the natives of the West, they were
+torn from their country, their friends, and home, and, to
+"increase a stranger's treasures," consigned to hopeless misery.
+
+To the Portuguese and Genoese the slave-trade exclusively
+belonged for many years; at length, the Dutch, seeing the
+gainfulness of it, engaged in it; and in 1564, during the reign
+of Queen Elizabeth, Sir John, then Mr. Hawkins, introduced this
+bloodstained commerce (for so it may justly be termed) into the
+English trade, and thus tarnished the bright name he had acquired
+by his many naval victories.
+
+Oh, that England, so famous for her spirit of liberty, should
+have ever imbrued her hands in this inhuman traffic!--that she,
+the "empress of the waves," should have lent her power to crush
+these unfortunate beings!--that that nation by whom the sweets of
+domestic ties are so peculiarly felt and appreciated, should have
+been among the first to rend husband from wife, the babe from its
+mother, the daughter from her old parent, and condemn them to
+
+   "Plough the winter's wave, and reap despair!"
+
+that Britons, free-born Britons, such advocates for liberty!
+should have acted thus for so many years, even when the dark
+clouds of ignorance had been dispersed, and "knowledge to their
+eyes" had unfolded "her ample page," is almost beyond credence.
+But, alas! it proves how much "the clink of Mammon's box" charms
+the ear and deadens the nobler feelings of the soul. In 1592, two
+years before he died, Sir John Hawkins was so impressed with
+horror at what he had done in introducing the slave-trade to the
+notice of his countrymen, who had eagerly pursued it, that he
+built a hospital at Rochester, to atone, in some measure, for his
+violation of the laws of humanity.
+
+Draco's laws were said to be written with a pen of iron, in
+letters of blood; and surely, so also have the annals of slavery
+been described. "Disguise thyself as thou wilt," says Sterne,
+"still, slavery--still thou art a bitter draught!" And, bitter as
+it is, our poor West Indian slaves have, in former years, drained
+the cup to the very dregs. But, thank God, the cry--"Am I not a
+man and a brother!" has been heard and acknowledged. The names of
+Sharpe, Wilberforce, and Fox, with many others, are engraved deep
+in the hearts of all true lovers of humanity, for their strenuous
+endeavours, year after year, in procuring the abolition of this
+infernal traffic; and universal gratitude is due to Buxton,
+Lushington, and their right worthy fellow-labourers of the
+present day, for their share in effecting the final measure of
+emancipation. And in this place, I must beg to proffer my thanks
+to the many kind hearts which beat in Antigua, _slave-owners_ as
+they were, for their joint exertions with our English
+philanthropists in bringing this glorious freedom about; and for
+their cheerful acquiescence, when accomplished, in giving their
+slaves immediate freedom. They asked for no apprenticeship--they
+would not even accept it; but they trusted to their negroes, and
+set them free at once. Yet England did not behave to the
+Antiguans as she ought to have done. Instead of rewarding them
+for their disinterested conduct, by allotting to them a larger
+share of the compensation-money, their portion was _smaller_ than
+that of any of the other islands. The excuse for this was, that
+slaves were _less_ valued in Antigua. But what caused them to be
+less valuable? Did our English government ask that question? Do
+our friends "at home" know the answer? The Antiguans had become
+sensible of the inhumanity of dealing in human flesh; and
+although they were obliged to employ their slaves to till their
+fields, it was very few persons who thought of purchasing
+negroes. This was the reason, and not because her slaves were
+worse than those of other islands, or less competent for
+labour.[3]
+
+Slavery is not only revolting for the cruelties it has
+occasioned, but it is debasing to the mind. How few, _very few
+slaves_, have we heard of, who have shewn any intellectual
+qualifications, or made any improvements in machinery or
+agriculture! Nor need we be surprised at this; for had a slave
+proposed anything of the kind, his master would have probably
+considered it as a suggestion of indolence, or a desire to save
+himself from toil at the expense of others.
+
+Some authors have asserted, that negroes are an unimprovable
+race, incapable of receiving instruction, or having sufficient
+reason to discern right from wrong. But I am not at all inclined
+to assent to such a doctrine, but attribute the fact, that
+greater talents have not been shewn by them, as before remarked,
+to the degradation of slavery. Indeed, we have had some few
+instances of _considerable_ display of abilities among this sable
+people; one or two instances of which it may not be amiss to
+introduce.
+
+One of these _clever negroes_ was a slave, named Juan de Parega,
+who was sent from the West Indies as a present to Diego
+Valasquez, the celebrated Spanish painter, about the year 1600.
+Juan was very fond of painting, and his own natural talents
+enabled him to study it with great effect. This he did, however,
+secretly, for fear of giving offence to his master, who, he
+thought, might be angry with a slave for disgracing the art.
+Philip the Fourth of Spain was a great admirer of the fine arts,
+and a frequent visitor at Valasquez's study, where, if he met any
+pictures with their faces to the wall,[4] he was sure to request
+they might be turned. One day, when the monarch came to the
+house, during the absence of Valasquez, and before he proceeded
+to the study, Juan took one of his own pictures, hung it up in a
+prominent situation, with the painted side turned to the wall,
+and with trembling heart awaited the result. Philip's step was
+heard upon the stair--his finger was upon the lock--poor Juan's
+emotion almost stifled him!--the door opened, and his majesty
+entered. His quick eye immediately alighted upon the new picture,
+which he ordered Juan to turn. This was done; and after examining
+it for some time, Philip pronounced it beautiful! The gratified
+slave, his eyes beaming with delight, while he trembled at the
+thoughts of his audacity, fell upon his knees before his
+sovereign, acknowledged it to be his work, and prayed him to
+intercede with his master for him, that his presumption might be
+pardoned. Philip raised him from his knees, commended his
+talents, and; upon seeing Valasquez, told him he ought to free
+such a man. This was done; but Juan would never quit his kind
+master: he remained with him, studying and improving under his
+tuition, until eventually he became one of the first
+portrait-painters of his day.
+
+Another instance we have in Phillis Wheatley; she was purchased
+by Mrs. F. Wheatley in Boston slave-market, (America,) when she
+was about seven or eight years old. Shewing great natural
+talents, her mistress had her taught reading, writing, &c. As she
+grew up to womanhood, she attracted the notice of many literary
+characters, who supplied her with books and directed her studies.
+When about fourteen years of age, she attempted compositions both
+in prose and verse; and between that and nineteen, all her works
+were published.[5]
+
+While upon this subject, we must not forget Ignatius Sancho.
+Ignatius was born on board a slave-ship a few days after it had
+left Guinea, in 1729. The severities his mother met with put an
+end to her existence a short time after her arrival in the West
+Indies; and his father took it so much to heart that he committed
+suicide. This plainly proves that negroes are not so utterly
+devoid of natural affections as some would have us believe--
+
+   "Skins may differ, but affection
+    Dwells in black and white the same."
+
+But to return to our hero. After some years, he was brought to
+England, through the kindness of the Duke of Montague, and
+obtained means of instruction. He wrote a great many letters,
+which were deemed worthy of being published; and a large
+subscription was raised. They were reckoned very well written;
+one of them, upon slavery, may not prove uninteresting to many of
+my readers. It was addressed to the Rev. L. Sterne, 1776.
+
+"Rev. Sir,--It would be an insult to your humanity (or perhaps
+look like it) to apologize for the liberty I am taking. The first
+part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family
+who judged ignorance to be the best and only security for
+obedience; a little reading and writing I got by unwearied
+application. The latter part of my life has been, through God's
+blessing, truly fortunate, having spent it in the service of one
+of the best and greatest families in the kingdom: My chief
+pleasure has been books--philanthropy I adore. How much, very
+much, good sir, am I (among millions) indebted to you for the
+character of your amiable Uncle Toby. I declare I would walk ten
+miles in the dog-days to shake hands with the honest Corporal.
+Your sermons have touched me to the heart, and, I hope, have
+amended it, which brings me to the point.
+
+"In your tenth discourse is this very affecting passage:--
+'Consider how great a part of our species, in all ages down to
+this, have been trod under the feet of cruel and capricious
+tyrants, who would neither hear their cries nor pity their
+distress. Consider slavery, what it is--how bitter a draught, and
+how many millions are made to drink of it!'
+
+"Of all my favourite authors, not one has drawn a tear in favour
+of my miserable black brethren excepting yourself and the humane
+author of 'Sir George Ellison.' I think you will forgive me--I am
+sure you will applaud me--for beseeching you to give one
+half-hour to slavery as at this day practised in our West Indian
+colonies. That subject handled in your striking manner, would
+ease the yoke perhaps of many; but if only one--gracious God!
+what a feast to a benevolent heart. And I am sure you are an
+Epicurean in acts of charity; you, who are universally read, and
+as universally admired, you cannot fail.
+
+"Dear Sir, think in me you behold the uplifted hands of thousands
+of my brethren Moors. Grief, you pathetically observe, is
+eloquent. Figure to yourself their attitudes; hear their
+supplicating addresses; alas! you cannot refuse--humanity must
+comply. In which hope I beg permission to subscribe myself,
+
+                                             "Rev. Sir, &c. &c."
+
+This is the letter; all must know Sterne's beautiful piece on
+"Slavery," which it produced. At one time, Ignatius Sancho had an
+idea of going upon the stage, and actually offered himself to Mr.
+Garrick, to perform the character of Othello and Oronooko; but an
+irreparable defect in his articulation prevented him from putting
+his designs into execution. Ignatius died from a complication of
+disorders in the year 1780, aged fifty-one; he was much esteemed
+by his friends in England.
+
+These examples before us, and others which might be added, prove
+that the negroes are not always the unintelligent beings they
+have been supposed; and I do hope, that now so much has been done
+for them, they will alter their character, and strive to suppress
+those vices which their life of servitude has produced among
+them. They are no longer treated as beasts of burden, but taught
+to consider themselves as men; they make it a constant boast, "Me
+free, me no b'longs to you!" I hope they may shew they deserve
+their freedom by their good conduct; then we may hope for better
+days; we may see virtues springing up among them; emanations of
+genius may arise and surprise the whole world.
+
+I wish them well--I feel interested about them--I desire their
+good--and I am sorry, _very sorry_, that in the course of these
+remarks I may have so much to say about them. But when I have to
+touch upon the dark part of their character, for "lights and
+shadows" _must_ be depicted, I beseech you, my kind readers, to
+remember how short has been their life of freedom; how few have
+been their advantages, comparatively speaking; and above all,
+remember evil is not to be returned for evil, but rather good.
+
+There are many worthy industrious characters among this class of
+persons in Antigua; not famous, it is true, for any great display
+of abilities, or of superior talents, like Juan Parega, or our
+friend Sancho, but men of sound mind, well-behaved, and clever in
+producing little articles of native manufacture. A fancy sale was
+held in this island in January, 1837, and among the contributions
+was a miniature sugar-mill, with all its vanes &c. complete,
+capable of grinding the canes when peeled. This pretty little
+article was the work and gift of one who, in 1834, was a slave
+belonging to the Hon. Bertie E. Jarvis. It was purchased by two
+American gentlemen, friends of liberty, who were residing for a
+short time in Antigua, to see how the free system worked, and who
+carried it with them to America, to shew what a free negro could
+do. Had slavery still existed, that man would never have exerted
+his talents with such success, for either he would not have had
+the time allowed, or he would not have had the spirit.
+
+In this remark, I mean no disrespect to his late owner; far from
+it, for I have ever heard that the Hon. B. E. Jarvis ranked among
+those worthy characters, many, very many of whom I glory to say
+were to be found in Antigua, who, while they knew their slaves
+were their goods, their _chattels_, scorned to use unnecessary
+punishments, but treated them kindly, listened to their wants,
+and protected them when in need.
+
+Truly grateful ought we to be that, in British colonies at least,
+slavery is no more; for it was a dark spot in the fair character
+of Britain, which no reasoning, however subtle, could hide.
+Interested persons might boast of the legal regulations for the
+protection of slaves; but in truth, those laws were either
+insufficient or not rigidly enforced; some way or the other, the
+laws which were made for the protection of the slave, generally
+turned out to the benefit of the master.
+
+At the trial of a planter for the murder of his slave, one of the
+persons summoned as a juror begged to be excused from acting,
+giving as his reason "that he thought such a trial would be
+hurtful to the West Indian Islands, as it would make the slaves
+saucy!" What! then a man was to lacerate, to _kill_ his poor
+slave, under circumstances of the most barbarous cruelty, and yet
+not to be brought to justice, not to be punished as he justly
+deserved--and for why? Oh! blush to hear it, my readers--_because
+it would make the slaves saucy!_ Happy am I to state, that this
+_conscientious_ juryman lived not in Antigua--that this horrible
+murder was not committed there.
+
+I mean not to insinuate that this was the general opinion of
+residents in the West Indies; far from it; this was a solitary
+case. Murder is a crime generally detested; man must become an
+incarnate demon, or one from whom all reason has fled, before he
+can perpetrate such an act: and whoever may be the victim, all
+classes are anxious to bring the murderer to justice. But, and I
+feel confident I am not going beyond the truth, in many
+instances, crimes of less magnitude, where loss of life and limb
+has not ensued, have been passed over, or if noticed, and the
+form of trial complied with, Astræa has not equally balanced her
+scales, and the negro has not been righted _because he was only a
+negro_.
+
+Oh! I have heard and read of deeds of blood which would chill the
+very soul--deeds which in other days have been practised in
+Antigua, noted as she was for the mildness of her slave laws.
+Those infernal instruments of torture have been used, even
+invented, by man in his most debased state--"the detestable,
+ever-to-be-detested cart-whip," the heavy chain, the dark
+loathsome dungeon, the thumb-screw, and the barbarous
+"mouth-piece," as it was termed, which was a plate of iron
+pressing upon the tongue, while bars of iron enclosed the head,
+and a padlock, fastened behind the victim's neck, prevented their
+agonizing cries from reaching mortal ears. But the Infinite from
+his bright throne saw and pitied these poor wretched sons of Ham,
+and sent men of milder mood--men whose hearts were touched with
+their miseries, whose ears were open to their cries--to labour
+and exert themselves in their behalf, and at last obtain their
+liberty.
+
+Sometimes iron rings were fastened round their legs, which their
+kind and humane masters jocularly termed, "negro-boots;" at other
+times massy iron collars were fixed round their necks, to which
+was attached galling chains; and fearful these might give _too
+little pain_, or occasion _too little inconvenience_,
+half-hundred weights were hung to them. It used to be a method of
+punishment, it is said, in former times, when owners did not mind
+losing the value of a negro or two, to take an empty hogshead,
+and after driving plenty of nails into it, making the points to
+protrude in the inside, to put a slave or two into it, and
+heading it up, roll them down a steep hill; and thus leave them
+to expire. Some masters, when their slaves were _very ill_, or
+_very old_, and could be of no further service, used to bury them
+alive; and it is said, that upon being put into their graves,
+they have been heard to say, "Pray, massa, no bury me, me no dead
+yet; do, massa, let dem take me out;" and the master, with a
+curse upon his lips, has replied that he had plenty of money to
+buy more; he did not want an old, half-dead negro.
+
+Gibbeting alive was another mode of punishment formerly in use;
+and when adopted, the sufferers have been known to live more than
+a week. That any one could deliberately condemn a fellow-creature
+to such intolerable anguish seems almost impossible; yet that
+such has been the case in Antigua, is remembered by some alive; I
+have heard of one instance in which a white man was the sufferer.
+I should not have noticed it in this place, was it not that it
+proves how much cruelty was practised even in those days. All
+will allow, or at least ought to do, that when a criminal suffers
+the extreme penalty of the law, it is done for the sake of
+example, not revenge; and consequently, the mildest and quickest
+kind of death should be practised. The circumstance alluded to,
+was as follows. A white man, known as Captain White, the owner of
+a small vessel, had for some length of time committed piracy upon
+the high seas; but at last was taken, and brought into Antigua.
+He was condemned to die, and that death to be by gibbeting. A
+gibbet was accordingly prepared; the wretched man was carried to
+a bay, near where St. James's Fort is now erected, and there, in
+the face of heaven, _he was hung up in chains, alive!_ with a
+loaf of bread and a calabash of water almost within his reach;
+but which, like the waters of Tartarus to him of old, only mocked
+him with their approach, as the wind blew them backwards and
+forwards. The man lived nine days in this situation; and in the
+extremity of his hunger, actually ate the flesh from off his
+shoulders. The place where he was executed is well known to many
+in Antigua as White's Bay, and a few years ago, the remains of
+the gibbet was to be met with. How ought we to bless God, that we
+lived not in those days; that our feelings are now not outraged
+by any of those dreadful exhibitions: certainly, his crime
+(piracy) was a dreadful one, but who cannot but feel for his
+after-sufferings?
+
+The following letter from a white inhabitant throws a further
+light upon the insurrection of the negroes, in 1736, which we
+have noticed in the "Legend of the Ravine;" and points out the
+particular punishment awarded to many of the actors in that
+tragedy:--
+
+                                       Antigua, Jan. 15th, 1736.
+
+  "Dear Friend,
+
+"We are in a great deal of trouble in this island; the burning of
+negroes, hanging them up on gibbets alive, racking them upon the
+wheel, &c., takes up all our time; that from the 20th of October
+to this day, there have been destroyed _sixty-one_ intelligent
+negroes, most of them tradesmen, as carpenters, coopers, and
+masons.
+
+"I am almost dead with watching and working, as are many more.
+They were going to destroy all the white inhabitants of the
+island. 'Count,' the king of the negroes, 'Tomboy,' his general,
+and 'Hercules,' his lieutenant-general, who were all racked upon
+the wheel, died with obstinacy. Mr. Archibald Hamilton's 'Harry,'
+after he was condemned, stuck himself with a knife, in eighteen
+different places, four of which were mortal. Colonel Martin's
+'Jemmy,' who was hung up alive from noon to eleven o'clock at
+night, was then taken down to give information. Colonel Morgan's
+'Ned,' after he had been hung up seven days and seven nights,
+that his hands grew too small for his hand-cuffs, he got them out
+and raised himself, and fell down from a gibbet fifteen feet
+high; he was revived with cordials and broths, in hopes to bring
+him to confess, but he would not, and was hung up again, and in a
+day and a night expired. Mr. Yeaman's 'Quashy Coonah' jumped out
+of the fire half burnt, but was thrown in again; and Mr. Lyon's
+'Fine,' jumped out of the fire, and promised to confess all, but
+it took no effect. In short, our island is in a poor, miserable
+condition, and I wish I could get any employment in England to
+do."
+
+I mean not to sicken my readers by too minute details of what
+slavery was in its dark and fearful days; but it is proper that a
+few instances should be given, that the young in particular may
+rejoice they live in a day when "liberty, that thrice-sweet and
+gracious goddess," has so ample a domain; and while they delight
+in the freedom of British negroes, drop a tear of pity to the
+fate of those unfortunates who are torn every year from all the
+endearing ties of country, friends, and home, that they may
+obtain for their unfeeling masters a little more of the "honey of
+Hybla," which is so sweet, that even peace of mind is too often
+sacrificed for it.
+
+The examples which I have already given may be said to have
+happened many years ago; but still, for long after that, the life
+of a slave was looked upon as of very little value, provided the
+master was reimbursed for the cash they cost. If brought before a
+magistrate one day, they were, perhaps, condemned and executed
+the day after; and should a condemned criminal accost a passer-by
+in these words--"Ah! buddy you no no me now; but p'raps you
+will," and such salutation be heard by the sentinel, that person,
+if even a stranger, and guiltless, perhaps, of all offence, was
+taken up on suspicion of having some dealing with the captive,
+and in some instances suffered death with him. The intrigues
+which were carried on between negroes in those days, rendered it,
+it is said, expedient to adopt these harsh measures.
+
+I have heard it asserted, that the reason slaves first came to be
+tried by jury, in 1785, was this:--A black man was brought up
+before two magistrates, on suspicion of having committed some
+heinous crime; and after hearing the case, the culprit was
+condemned and executed. A week or two elapsed, and something
+transpired to lead to a suspicion that he was not the guilty
+party. Through the exertion of a Mr. Gunthorpe, the case was
+tried again; and the result was, that the man was pronounced
+innocent. After that it was ordained, that no slave should be
+condemned to _death_, without being first brought before a jury,
+consisting of six persons.
+
+For the particulars of this case, I am indebted to an old man
+well known in Antigua. He bears the burthen of eighty-six years,
+and is still as active and strong as many a one only half that
+age. I heard him speak very highly of our late gracious majesty
+William IV., who, when he was in the navy, visited Antigua for
+some time. "Prince Henry was a good young gentleman, God bless
+his memory!" cried the old man. "I used to wait upon him, and
+have often heard him speak of what good he would do, should he
+ever come to the throne. He has spared many a black person a good
+flogging. And when we all heard he was king, every one said--God
+bless him!" Old Mascall, for that is his name, can tell many a
+tale of other days, and no doubt has seen many shocking sights in
+the course of his long life. I heard him tell of another
+gentleman, who used to treat his slaves in a most barbarous
+manner, giving them commonly fifty lashes at one time, and then
+calling for a lighted candle, drop melted sealing-wax upon the
+gashes. His cook used to be chained to a "fifty -six," (a weight
+of fifty-six pounds,) with a chain long enough to enable him to
+walk from the kitchen to the house; and his washer used also to
+be chained in like manner to her wash-tub, in which situation, my
+informant told me, one woman dropped down dead, with her chains
+around her.[6] With regard to this piece of cruelty, all that I
+can say, but which on no account do I offer as an excuse, is,
+that the negroes are very stubborn, and given to prevarication.
+They have so often represented themselves ill, when such has not
+been the case, that they might avoid their day's labour, that
+when really suffering from sickness, they have seldom met with
+any sympathy.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[3] Although the slave-trade had been abolished, yet it was still
+customary for the island slaves to change owners as a horse
+would; but the Antiguans becoming sensible of such inhuman
+practice, few purchasers could be found, consequently negroes
+were of less value in the way of traffic. As regards their
+labour, however, they were of equal value to their masters in
+Antigua, as the slaves of other colonies.
+
+[4] A sign that they were new subjects.
+
+[5] See Chambers' Edinburgh Journal.
+
+[6] Old Mascall's information may be doubted by some, but it
+certainly agrees with the authenticated cruelties which were
+practised in former years, the details of which have been omitted
+from want of space.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Palliations, _but not excuses_, for former cruelties--
+  A harsh planter--Crimes of slaves--The little negroes'
+  dinner-hour--A character--Negroes' want of thought--Bartering
+  their weekly provisions--Pilfering--The Rock Dungeon--A
+  Tortolian slave-master--The murdered slave--Branding--Slave
+  cargo--Remarks upon slavery--A good slave-master--A kind
+  attorney--Negro gratitude.
+
+When I undertook this work, I laid down for myself one uniform
+rule, the propriety of which my readers must admit, which was, to
+adhere strictly to facts without fear or favour. I mourn to think
+that any one, much more a Briton, should have practised those
+cruel deeds which were perpetrated even in this island, in former
+days. I am well aware how much patience it requires to deal with
+negroes, and also how strong the force of example is. We all of
+us are liable to err; those passions which it has pleased the
+Giver of all to ingraft in our bosoms, although not to be
+extirpated, as the disciples of Zeno would have us believe,
+require to be kept under strict restraint, or else how soon we
+may be led to commit acts we ourselves would be the first to
+condemn. Self-control is no easy matter; the wise man says--"He
+who ruleth his own spirit is greater than he who taketh a city."
+Nothing will enable us to overcome ourselves but a deep feeling
+of religion. In those early times of slavery there was no settled
+place of worship--no sound of the "church-going" bell in Antigua;
+and men who might have left England with the best of feelings,
+from living in this manner, and having to deal with stubborn and
+aggravating characters, in time grew callous.
+
+The flowers which deck this beautiful world require the suns and
+dews of heaven to support their fragile forms; the birds which
+charm us with their melody look up to their Maker's hand for
+their daily food; can it be supposed, then, that man, a weak and
+sinful creature, can walk uprightly without a daily intercourse
+with his God? No; let philosophers boast as they will, man's
+greatest strength is in his weakness; and it is from the spread
+of Christianity in these parts, and Christian pastors taking the
+place of those "blind leaders of the blind," who, in former days,
+presumed to preach the gospel here, that people are enabled to
+bear with the negroes, and not give way to such violent acts of
+resentment again them. As I remarked in the conclusion of the
+former chapter, I cannot, _dare not_ offer these remarks as an
+excuse for cruelty; but while I reprobate such conduct as I have
+been describing, I cannot help thinking how different the time
+was then to what it is now--how the bright day-spring has chased
+away the clouds of night.
+
+But my melancholy subject is not yet ended; a few more acts
+remain to be exhibited before the curtain falls. There was some
+years ago an Antiguan planter who was of such a tyrannical
+disposition, that he was an object of dread to the whole negro
+population, until at length he made himself so hated by them,
+from his cruel punishment, that he fancied his life in danger,
+and therefore quitted the island, and remained absent for many
+years. It was customary for many persons at that time to send, or
+threaten to send, negroes who were refractory or lazy, to Mr.
+---- for punishment, and so dreaded was his name, that, in most
+cases, it procured good behaviour and declarations of amendment;
+for hard, indeed, was the fate of those who fell into his hands.
+It is said that Mr. ---- has been known to order two drivers to
+stretch a slave, no matter whether male or female, upon the
+ground, and to flog them until he rode round his estate, (which
+was one of good extent,) and upon his return, if he did not think
+the gashes sufficiently open, he would make them continue their
+demoniac employment for a longer period. The operation of
+flogging was thus performed:--the unfortunate victims of their
+barbarity were stretched upon the earth their full-length, four
+men held them down, while one or more drivers, with their immense
+cart-whips, lacerated the flesh at every stroke. Sometimes after
+this violent discipline of the whip, more humane masters, if they
+can be termed so, have ordered their bleeding backs to be washed
+with pickle, in order to prevent mortification; but Mr. ----
+would not allow this to be done; he would not let them have any
+assistance; but chains have been put upon them, and they have
+been led back to their dungeon, and maggots have been known to
+breed in their flesh!
+
+This is no tale of fiction, no "Castle of Udolpho," to horrify
+the mind with its ideal fancies; no, it is the plain, unvarnished
+tale of truth, of what our poor negroes once suffered in
+Christian countries from those who professed themselves Christian
+masters. I mean not to say that every slave-owner was a man of
+blood; God forbid they should have been, for then every breeze
+that blew would have been loaded with groans--every sun that rose
+would have witnessed mangled bodies. No; there were many, very
+many, in Antigua who treated their slaves with the utmost
+kindness, even in slavery's early days; but more particularly in
+this generation, when milder principles were inculcated, and
+milder punishments put into effect.
+
+But, it may be inquired, what was the fault of negroes? Surely
+they must be crimes of great magnitude to call for so severe a
+use of the whip. In answer, we can only observe that these
+faults, or crimes, or errors, call them what you will, were
+various. For example: sometimes a mule or two strayed into a
+cane-field and cropped the young canes, or part of the herd of
+cattle broke away from the cattle-keepers when inattentive to
+them, and devoured, or trod down, a piece of yams. Some of the
+slaves ran away for a day or two, and others returned saucy
+answers, (which all negroes are very competent to do;) some were
+lazy, some did their work ill, and some again were behind the
+time in which they were required by law to commence their daily
+labour in the field; the list was called over by the overseer
+before they arrived, and they were reported "absent."
+
+Another frequent crime was theft. In times of slavery, as already
+shewn, instead of giving money to the negroes as a recompence,
+every necessary was found them by their owners--their dress,
+their houses, their doctor, and their food. The common practice
+upon estates was, to distribute to the negroes dresses twice in
+the year, and their provisions once or twice in the week. This
+consisted (as mentioned in a former part of this work) of so many
+yards of cloth, shirting, flannel, and so many woollen caps,
+handkerchiefs, &c., for their wardrobes; and for their weekly
+provision so many pounds of yams, herrings, or mackerel, &c., for
+each grown person; and at Christmas time, a further supply of
+salt pork and wheat flour.
+
+The little children had their own allowance, and upon those
+estates where the proprietor or manager cared for their welfare,
+an old woman was employed to boil it for them; and about noon
+they all marched up to the "great house" with their calabashes in
+their hands, which answered the purpose of plate and bason, to
+partake of the "savoury messes" not "which the _neat-handed_
+Phillis dresses," for these pic'ni'es cook was anything but
+neat-handed or clean.
+
+I have often been amused, upon visiting an estate belonging to
+Sir Geo. Thomas, Bart., where the attorney was a kind and humane
+master, at seeing these little people eat their dinners. There
+was a large paved court before the door, around which the little
+_blackies_ were seated, waiting in silence for their share. The
+old woman having seen them well arranged, returned for the pot,
+which was placed in the centre, and contained various
+ingredients, as yams, potatoes, corn-flour dumplings, herrings,
+with a good supply of water, &c., forming a kind of
+"_olla-podrida_." How many little black sparkling eyes were fixed
+upon that pot and its contents, while the old woman took the
+important office of distributing it into the numerous attending
+calabashes. When the information "All done, massa," meaning that
+the pot was empty, was given, (for the master was present to see
+that these poor little children got their proper portion,) and
+Mr. ----, with an arch smile, asked, "No more herring left?" and
+the negative given, they all rose, one by one, and fetched their
+own share, when, without any spoon but what Dame Nature gave them
+in their fingers, it quickly found its way to their mouths,
+without a drop being wasted; the calabashes turned down, shewed
+the important business was over, and the old woman and her charge
+departed to their accustomed pursuits.
+
+Years have passed since I witnessed those scenes, but I fancy I
+can see that old woman now. Age is not famous for loveliness, and
+I am sure none was there. She must have been in her youth very
+tall, but when I knew her, time had bent her form and grizzled
+her woolly hair. Her complexion was of a coal black, with a most
+sinister expression of countenance; her dull black eyes were
+never still; her face looked as if every moment added another
+wrinkle, while an immense pair of elephant legs completed the
+picture. She was very famous, I afterwards found out, for giving
+the children the liquid portion of the mess, and reserving the
+herrings for herself, which occasioned Mr. ----'s question.
+
+But to resume the sadder part of my picture, (for the digression
+I have been led into may be termed one of the "lights" of
+slavery,) slaves' crimes and slaves' punishments. Upon the
+"allowance days," as they were called, the negroes were very
+flush of provisions; and having no thoughts of a "rainy day," or,
+in other words, putting by a portion for the other days of the
+week, they sold them for anything that took their fancy. The
+consequence of this was, that for the rest of the week they were
+in a state of starvation, and unless any friend ministered to
+their wants, they very likely entered their master's provision
+grounds, and stole part of the productions. This, of course, was
+discovered in the morning, the culprits generally detected, and
+they received their punishment, varying in degrees of severity,
+according to the disposition of their masters. At one time this
+system of bartering the food given them by their owners for
+indifferent articles was so prevalent, that complaints were laid
+before the house of assembly; and in the year 1814, an act passed
+which was intended as a preventive against this practice.
+
+Another crime of slaves was to milk the cattle upon the estates,
+and sell the milk in town; and this again called for the use of
+the whip. Molasses and sugar were also stolen in great
+quantities, and sold to persons making ginger drink; sugar-cakes,
+as they are termed, which are composed of sugar, molasses,
+ginger, and cocoa-nut, boiled up together; and many other
+different sweets. Even persons who ought to have known better,
+encouraged slaves in stealing, by buying of them sugar for
+domestic purposes. This also called for the interposition of the
+law; and slaves so offending were to be whipped, and sent to work
+in the street-gang. I have mentioned the street-gang in a former
+chapter; but it may be well to remark, that the slaves comprising
+it were worked two and two together, by having an iron collar
+round their necks, and connected by a chain, not exactly the size
+and thickness of that formerly shewn in "Aldermanbury;"[7] but
+rather like those used upon the convicts in the different
+dockyards in England.
+
+These were the most frequent offences of slaves. Those of a
+higher degree, such as murders, and running away for more than
+three months, were, as we have already seen, punished in a
+severer manner. Although the slave-owner had redress by the laws
+of the island, for all faults committed by his slaves, revolting
+as it is to think of, there were some masters who thought
+thirty-nine lashes[8] too mild a punishment for such crimes: they
+would rather take the law into their own hands, and flog their
+slaves by the hour. They liked to see mangled bodies,--to hear
+heart-rending groans, and have the supreme felicity of ordering
+them back to their dungeons, garnished, perhaps, with chains, as
+in the case of Mr. ----. I have laid before my readers, or at
+least endeavoured to do so, slaves' crimes and slaves'
+punishments; and it is for them to say whether they deserved such
+severe discipline. In another part I shall have to enlarge upon
+the vices of negroes, and their perverseness of disposition; but
+it now remains for me to give one or two more instances of
+cruelty; and I will then banish from these pages the melancholy
+subject.
+
+A gentleman of this island, as I have been made to understand,
+had a female _mustee_[9] slave belonging to him. This slave
+committed some misdemeanor, whether great or small I am unable to
+say; but at all events, her master had her locked up for the
+night in a place of horrors, called the "Rock Dungeon." The woman
+was in the last stage of pregnancy; in that place, removed from
+all assistance, she was confined during the night; and when the
+morning came, and that den of misery was opened, her poor baby
+was found to be devoured by the rats! This deed was done by one
+of our great men, an honourable too. It may be said, he could not
+foresee the catastrophe, and the woman might have given him great
+provocation, which no doubt she did; but still, would any humane
+master have shut up a female in such a condition in such a place?
+By the advice of the magistrates, this woman and her remaining
+children were afterwards sold, as her master and herself could
+never agree. This is not the only instance in which his name has
+been brought before the public. Some strange reports were abroad
+of his shooting one of his negro boys; and of his killing
+another, and burying him in a pond. These circumstances were
+brought before the slavery committee of the House of Lords in
+1832; and in an examination of a divine, the rector of the parish
+in which the gentleman resided, he was asked if he knew anything
+about them? The Rev. Mr. ---- returned for answer--"Yes, I heard
+a report about them, but do not know if they were correct." And
+again--"I never heard of his killing a negro; but I heard of his
+burying a white matross in the sand; but that was only hearsay. I
+only heard of it from persons, perhaps, that were not his
+friends. With regard to shooting a negro, he went and gave
+himself up for that; and I believe he was acquitted, or the
+coroner's inquest brought in a verdict of 'accidental death.'
+There was some sort of a trial; but I believe there was a great
+deal said about it, that probably he did not deserve,--I think
+so." This was the rector's opinion: whether the gentleman alluded
+to was guilty, is more than I can say; we can but hope he was
+not. The matter rests between himself and his God; but if he did
+act in this manner, if he was guilty of these deaths, conscience
+must at times give him some sharp twinges.[10]
+
+I have in a former page referred to the trial of a planter for
+the murder of his slave. It did not occur in Antigua, I am happy
+to say; but as Antiguan barristers pleaded for and against the
+culprit, it may not be amiss to give a short account of it. The
+offender against justice was a member of the council at Tortola;
+and upon his estate in that island these horrible cruelties were
+perpetrated. I cannot go into the details of the case, which were
+most revolting in their circumstances; but will just give the
+heads. This man--this vampire he might be called--was found
+guilty, and executed upon the common gallows, for the murder of
+_one_ of his slaves, a poor African; but there were eight other
+indictments for murder ready made out against the same
+individual, whose cruelty of disposition was proverbial.
+
+"Prosper," the name of the murdered man, was, as before remarked,
+a poor African, one who, to use the words of the counsel for the
+crown, "was murdered by the man, to promote whose interests the
+strength of his youth was exhausted;" and his crime was, eating
+one mango, which fell off a tree he was watching. For this one
+fault, the poor fellow was whipped, until not one piece of black
+skin was left upon him, from his hip to his hand; afterwards
+ironed, and thrown into a loathsome dungeon. The next day he was
+brought out and whipped again, because he had not six shillings
+to pay his master, (the sum demanded for the eaten mango, that
+would cost about three farthings sterling,) until nature was
+exhausted, and he fainted. But he awoke to consciousness and
+agony; the dungeon was again his refuge, and chained to two other
+objects of misery, he passed that wretched night. Here he
+remained five days, suffering unspeakable tortures; but at the
+end of that time, these three miserable creatures contrived to
+make their escape. Poor "Prosper," however, was too near death to
+go far; he crawled into his own hut, which was near, and after
+lingering for a few days, expired,--a prey to the worms before
+the last sigh had left his lips. When discovered, his remains
+were so offensive, that a hole was dug at his hut door, he was
+shovelled in, a little dirt thrown over, and he was left to
+repose in his irons, until that great day, when master and slave
+must appear before one bar.[11] Who can read this account without
+a deep feeling of horror? What will my readers say when I further
+mention, that when this monster was brought up under a writ of
+habeas corpus, his lawyer, a barrister of Antigua, asserted, that
+"it was no greater offence, in law, for an owner to kill his
+slave, than it would be to kill his dog!"
+
+Another cruel act of proprietors in those days was to brand the
+negroes with their owner's initials. This was done with a red-hot
+iron, upon young and old, male and female. Indeed, altogether,
+the negroes were treated more like cattle than human beings.
+Before the abolition of the slave-trade, cargoes of from 100 to
+200, and upwards, used frequently to be brought to this island.
+When landed, they were generally in a state of nudity, with the
+exception of strings of beads tied round them; and in this state
+they remained until purchased. Upon the arrival of these cargoes
+of "livestock," the merchants sometimes made an offer for the
+whole, and then retailed them out, should their offer be
+accepted. At other times, the master or supercargo of the vessel
+had them sold at public auction, or disposed of a part, and
+carried the remainder to another market. Those merchants who
+dealt principally in this commodity used to provide themselves
+with a long room, for the reception of these poor creatures,
+where they were placed all together, like so many horses or mules
+--the floor being littered down with trash.[12] They were fed
+twice a-day with rice, horse-beans, or cornflour; and every
+morning and evening, they were placed in a rank, two and two
+together, and driven to a pond to water. When persons wanted
+negroes, they went to the slave-store, and had several brought
+out to look at--made them skip, jump, run, and dance, to see if
+they were strong, and their limbs in perfect order; and then, if
+approved of, their price was paid in "paltry gold," and they
+became the property of a new master, a being like themselves,
+only differing, perhaps, in the colour of their skin.
+
+Montesquieu, an eminent French writer, speaking of the
+unlawfulness of thus entrapping and selling these poor Africans,
+says--"The strongest reason which can be given for using negroes
+like beasts of burden is their having black skins and flat
+noses." Our own immortal Cowper, when writing upon this subject,
+expresses himself in a similar manner:--
+
+   "He finds the fellow guilty of a skin
+    Not colour'd like his own; and, having power
+    T' enforce the wrong, for such a worthy cause
+    Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey."
+
+That men, fashioned by the hands of the same Creator, descended
+from the same common parent, could thus buy and sell their
+fellow-creatures just as they would a horse or a cow, seems
+almost incredible. Future generations will, no doubt, be inclined
+to discredit such a report, as the wild tale of some imaginary
+mind. Even in this day, in this island, it causes surprise to
+many to think they acted so; and the different paragraphs in an
+old Antigua newspaper, which now lies before me, would appear
+almost as strange to them as they do to me. Among the list of
+imports for the week, in this old paper, are "_seven negroes_,
+five casks of coffee, one bag of cotton, and an old copper
+kettle!" Thinking of slavery as I do, I could almost say, with
+the poet--
+
+   "No! dear as freedom is, and in my heart's
+    Just estimation prized above all price,
+    I had much rather be myself the slave,
+    And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him."
+
+I am aware that many people, speaking of the propriety of
+slavery, argue in this manner--"Has it not existed since the days
+of Noah? And did not the Almighty appear to sanction it then? Can
+it be more unlawful now?" I grant, that it has existed since
+those early days:--"A servant of servants shall he be unto his
+brethren" was, I know, the curse of Canaan; but reasoners like
+these should study the laws which the All-wise made for the
+prevention of cruelty to the Hebrew slaves or servants. Let them
+compare what slavery is, or rather what it was, with the slavery
+of biblical history. "Rule not over him (the servant or slave)
+with _rigour_ but fear thy God;" and again--"Harden not thine
+heart, nor shut thine hand, for remember, he is thy _brother_."
+These were the words of One who cannot err. In all ages of the
+world, man's pride has made him love to domineer over his
+fellows; and where it is allowed by law, there are many who would
+rather have slaves to do their orders, than be at the trouble of
+persuading their inferiors.
+
+I am happy to say, I have never met with any ocular demonstration
+of the successive cruelties I have been describing. It has been
+my good fate to reside in Antigua when a milder spirit in general
+seemed to actuate men; or if, in some of their bosoms, the demon
+of persecution still kept his abode, shame prevented its making
+its appearance. I have, it is true, heard the sound of the
+driver's whip, when the gang have been working; but it seemed to
+be used as a kind of stimulant, like the crack of the carter's
+whip, when he drives his team, to urge on his horses.
+
+I have seen a dungeon, but its only occupants were rats; I have
+met with stocks and shackles, but they were thrown about as
+useless lumber. Still, I have no doubt there have been cruelties
+perpetrated here since my residence; but, thank God, I never
+witnessed them. I have often heard the voice of childhood
+supplicating mercy; it has been in the town, among the lower
+classes, who have been chastising their little servant. I have
+felt for the little creatures, as they begged for pardon; but
+pity was all I could give them. But now, the case is altered:
+slavery is no more--the whip is banished; and even the little
+children will scarcely take a blow. I was amused the other day,
+with a scene which took place before our dwelling: the actors, a
+mother and her child. The mother had a small cane in her hand, as
+if about to chastise her daughter, a child of about six years
+old, who begged very hard for forgiveness. "Do, mammy, don't lick
+me; me beg your pardon, ma'am. Oh! don't lick me, mammy; me no do
+so no more." The mother relented, and let go the child's hands,
+who, turning round immediately the fear of coercion was removed,
+stamped her little foot upon the ground, and, raising her tiny
+fist, exclaimed--"War you lick me for? Me free--me no b'longs to
+you!"
+
+I visited some few estates in this island during the latter years
+of slavery, and I was happy to find that they were conducted
+under a mild system, and the slaves appeared happy and contented.
+At one of these, the proprietor seemed to be very much beloved by
+his people; but he had an ear always open to their complaint; a
+hand ever ready to minister to their wants; and under the free
+system, his kindness as a slave-owner is not forgotten. This
+gentleman is a magistrate; and at the time I am speaking of, he
+had frequent complaints brought before him from the negroes of
+the adjoining estates, for all negroes are very litigious. I am
+sure he deserved credit for the patience with which he heard
+their tiresome stories; and so the negroes appeared to think too,
+for I have often heard them say to one another, when departing
+from the house, "Wen me free, me come lib with dis massa; for if
+eber dere one good massa in Antigua, he one."
+
+An instance deserves to be recorded of another planter, with whom
+I have the honour to be acquainted; which proves there were
+slave-masters whose hearts were not of adamant; who could be kind
+to the poor creatures so entirely under their control; and that
+some marks of gratitude and affection could be shewn by a
+_slave_. In 1831, the island was in a very unsettled state, from
+abolishing the Sunday markets, and not appointing another day for
+the negroes to bring their provisions into town to sell. Constant
+fires occurred on different estates; no sooner was one
+extinguished, than another was discovered. The militia was on
+duty night and day; and serious alarm was abroad for the safety
+of the island.
+
+The gentleman alluded to was attorney for several estates; the
+one he resided upon was a very large property, belonging to Sir
+George Thomas, and possessed a gang of about 250 negroes. His
+militia duty called him to a distance, and he was obliged to
+leave his wife and children, surrounded by all the slaves: how
+far the spirit of mutiny and disaffection had crept in among
+them, he was unable to say.
+
+Whilst these thoughts were passing in his mind, and of course
+rendering him very uneasy, a few of the head slaves upon the
+plantation waited upon him. I cannot give the precise words they
+made use of, but they were to this effect: "Master, you have
+always been very kind to us, to our wives, and to our children;
+you have never given us harsh language, or cruel beatings; and
+while we did our work orderly and quietly, you have been most
+indulgent to us. Master, we thank you for it, we feel grateful,
+very grateful; and we here solemnly pledge ourselves to guard
+with our lives your wife, your children, and your property, as
+you have guarded us and ours." The attorney trusted the negroes;
+he left the estate; and he found them act as they had promised.
+Oh, if anything can gild the dark picture of slavery, such
+instances as these will; and in these days of freedom, such men
+can lay their heads upon their pillows with ease, and bless God,
+that in the day of power, they were kept from exercising undue
+severity upon their defenceless slaves.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[7] The office of the Anti-slavery Society.
+
+[8] By the Mosaic law, criminals were not to receive more than
+forty stripes at one time, and for one offence; but that there
+might be no fear of breaking the commandment, the Jews were in
+the habit of giving one _less_ than the allowed number. Their
+whips were made with three thongs, or tails, and with this
+instrument the criminals received thirteen stripes, making the
+number of blows thirty-nine. Now the implement used for whipping
+negroes was a _cat_, with _nine_ tails; and as thirty-nine lashes
+were given with it, the poor slaves received altogether 351
+stripes at one time--a humane punishment, it must be allowed!
+
+[9] See Chapter XLIII.
+
+[10] From Anti-slavery Reports.
+
+[11] It was customary in those days to bury negroes upon the
+estate to which they belonged, the burying-ground being generally
+near their houses.
+
+[12] Dry leaves of the sugar-cane.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: The assertion that negroes are careless of all
+  domestic ties confuted by anecdotes--"Shadows" of negro
+  character--Excuses for them--Conversion to Christianity--Belief
+  of the Africans that after death they shall return to Africa--
+  Instance of it--Africans and Creoles--Superstitions--Obeah.
+
+Since writing the preceding chapter, it has been represented to
+me, that I have painted slavery in too gloomy colours,
+particularly the parting of husband and wife, parent and
+children, by sale; that the negroes are an unfeeling race; that
+parental or connubial affections are seldom felt by them; or if
+experienced at all, it is but very partially. As a proof of this,
+it is said that in Africa husbands will sell their wives and
+children, brothers their sisters, mothers their daughters, for a
+mere trifle. I am aware that such has been the case, particularly
+in times of scarcity, when part of a family has been disposed of
+to provide food for the rest. The Capuchin friars, in their
+mission to Congo, mention, that one day hearing a man making a
+great outcry, and saying, "I have no wife, no child, no brother!
+Miserable wretch that I am! I once had all these, but I sold
+them;" they asked him the reason for his acting so. "To purchase
+drink," was the reply; "and if I had them again, I should do the
+same." But this is a single circumstance; possibly, such an utter
+want of feeling would not be found in the rest of the tribe. Why
+_should_ not love pervade the breast of the black as well as the
+white? That it does do so, may be proved by many pathetic
+instances.
+
+A master of slaves in Kingston, Jamaica, owned a negro who was
+the mother of two fine little boys. Being in want of cash, the
+master disposed of one. The poor mother, in the agony of maternal
+feeling at having her offspring thus turned from her, made a
+hideous lamentation; and for this crime, as it was termed, her
+owner commanded her to receive a severe flogging. She had still
+one, however, left, and she would sit for hours, holding it in
+her arms, and pouring upon its unconscious ear her tale of
+sorrow. But alas! the spoiler came again: her master wanted more
+money, and regardless of the heart-rending cries of the
+distracted mother, who begged him not to take her last, her
+best-beloved, the child was sold. This utter bereavement "turned
+her heart within her," and caused "the light of madness" to
+kindle in her eye.
+
+A short time ago, I was speaking to an old woman whom I knew when
+she was a slave upon McKinnon's estate; and among other
+questions, I asked her, "Juncho," (her name,) "are you happier
+now than when you was a slave--are you better off now than you
+was then? or would you be satisfied to return to slavery, and
+become once more the property of your old master?" "Missis,"
+returned the poor old creature, "me no going to tell 'tory, me
+'peak de truth; me no better off now den me war den, nor no so
+well self; for den me hab house and garden, an me could raise
+'tock, (meaning poultry, &c.,) an plant yam, an pittates,
+(potatoes,) an green, an ebery ting else; and now me free, me hab
+notting." "And where is your house now?" I asked, to hear what
+she would say. "Why, wen August com, massa call me, and he say,
+Me no want you to lib here no more; you no good to work, you must
+go, me want your house to gib to one oder somebody dats 'trong;
+no ole like you; and you garden me want. So you know, missis, me
+forced to go; so me come to town wid me daughter, and me lib wid
+she, for me can do but lilly work now." "Then you would rather be
+a slave again?" "Oh, no, missis, me no want to be slabe gen, me
+sure. God made me free--God put it in buckra heart to set me
+free, an me bless God for it; me no want to be slabe gen." "But I
+understood you, that you were better off in the time of slavery--
+that you had many comforts then that you cannot obtain now, and
+yet you tell me you do not want to be a slave again--tell me the
+reason." "Well, missis, it true me better off den dan me am now,
+for since me free, me no get much; sometimes me no eat bread all
+day, for me daughter hab so many pic'nees (children) she no able
+to gib me much; but den me no me free; me no God gib me free, and
+slabery is one bad something sometimes." I went on to ask her
+what she meant by a "bad something," for I was anxious to know
+what the negroes thought of slavery and freedom. "S'pose, den,"
+said Juncho, "s'pose you hab one pic'nee, dat pic'nee sick; well,
+he put in de sick house; me 'bliged to go field, me want to go
+see me sick pic'nee, but me no must go, me hab to work till
+ebening 'praps; wen work done, me go see me poor sick pic'nee,
+but me must no 'top wid he. Me hab make haste go; den me pic'nee
+say, 'Mammy, 'top wid me, no go, mammy:' but me forced to go and
+leabe me poor pic'nee. Den 'gen, missis, 'praps me pic'nee do
+something bad, something he no ought to do, and massa take he and
+tie he two hands up to one tree, else he make two men 'tretch he
+upon de ground, an den de driber lick he so, an me cry to see him
+lick so, and me pic'nee bawl, but me no dare say, 'Don't do so,
+massa; let him go,' but me hab to go way and lebe he dere; so you
+see, missis, dat make me say me no lub slabery. Now wen me noung,
+me hab to work hard, hab dig cane hole, weed cane, pick grass, do
+ebery ting; but now me ole, and no able to work, dey take away me
+house, 'cause me no b'longs to dem, but den me no me free, and me
+bless God me am free." This was Juncho's tale: it proves negroes
+do feel for their relations when in trouble, or suffering from
+illness; but with regard to her being turned out of her house
+after freedom, I think is not quite correct, for I never heard of
+an Antiguan planter doing so. Perhaps all of her children who
+could be of any service to the estate, by working upon the
+property, quitted it, and the manager might have told her, that
+if they did not return, she must leave too.
+
+Another instance, which illustrates the doctrine that negroes do
+feel affection towards each other, is related by one who used to
+frequent the slave markets. One day, going his rounds, he saw two
+fine intelligent-looking youths, with their arms clasped tightly
+round each other, and being pleased with their appearance, he
+went up, and asked the price of the eldest of the two. After some
+talk, the bargain was completed, and the negro became the
+property of his new master.
+
+While this business was going on between the buyer and seller,
+the youths looked on with the deepest feeling of attention
+depicted upon their sable faces. When the younger perceived that
+his companion was about to be led away from him, he clung to him
+with almost supernatural strength. Suddenly he released his hold,
+sprang up, for he had thrown himself down upon his knees,
+commenced jumping with all his might, dancing, and putting
+himself into a thousand different attitudes, to shew his strength
+and the pliancy of his limbs, in hopes the purchaser would take
+him also. All, however, was of no avail, and his sorrowing friend
+in affliction was about to be led away; when the poor fellow, as
+if to try the last resort, flew up to the gentleman, threw his
+arms around him, and with the most expressive looks of agony,
+seemed to beseech his pity. Nature has not made every one
+insensible to the voice of woe; he saw and felt for the boy's
+grief, and he lightened the bands of slavery by buying them both.
+
+Another anecdote is related by a resident of Nevis, who had
+occasion to purchase some slaves, and accordingly, upon the
+arrival of a Guinea ship with a cargo of negroes, he went to
+inspect them. As they appeared strong and active, Mr. ---- made a
+bargain for a certain number. After the lapse of some months,
+finding that he wanted an increase of hands to carry on the work
+of the estate, and another cargo having arrived, he visited the
+capital, and purchased a further supply of negroes, which were
+also conducted to his plantation. Upon their arrival, the former
+lot came forward to welcome the new comers; and amongst the
+number a young negress, who, when she had looked upon a female of
+about the same age as herself, suddenly started, her lips
+quivered with emotion, her eyes glistened, and then, as if fully
+assured, she started forward, and threw her arms around the neck
+of the girl who had attracted her attention, and who had been
+similarly affected, and burst into a flood of tears. Tenderly and
+fervently did these children of nature embrace each other, long
+did their mutual tears flow, until, when they had partly regained
+their composure, their master asked if they had known each other
+in Africa. In a voice of joy which vibrated upon every heart, the
+one who had first arrived, and who had acquired a little English,
+replied--"Oh, massa, she me own dear sissy!"
+
+In many instances the character of the negroes is very bad--
+sullen, obstinate, and revengeful, given to lying, stealing, and
+deceit. Still I do not so much attribute this to their pristine
+state, as I do to the way in which they have formerly been
+treated. The Africans, torn from their native country and all
+their former connexions, made to work beneath a broiling sun
+harder than they were ever accustomed to do, beaten for the
+slightest fault, and scorned as the meanest reptile, could form,
+it is to be supposed, no very favourable opinion of their
+masters. Memory would at times transport them home; again, in
+fancy, would they roam their native wilds, or with their
+well-known companions rouse the tawny lion from his lair, or
+chase the fleet-footed antelope. Once more would the song be
+heard, once more, in imagination, would they join the festive
+dance beneath the spreading branches of some noble mimosa; but in
+the midst of this joyous scene, the voice of the overseer would
+be heard, or the crack of the driver's whip dissolve their airy
+castles, and they would return to despondency and despair.
+
+Ignorant of the God that made them, and of the mild doctrines of
+Christianity, no wonder the dark spirit of revenge took
+possession of their breasts. The feelings of the parents were
+naturally enough inculcated into the minds of their children, and
+this, strengthened, perhaps, by harsh treatment from their
+owners, has conspired to render the negro character, in great
+measure, what I am sorry to say it is.
+
+But we ought now to look for brighter days: a great deal has been
+done for the negroes, much even before emancipation; schools have
+been erected in all parts of the island, and instruction
+proffered, both to young and old. The labours of the Moravian and
+Wesleyan missionaries have, without doubt, done a great deal of
+good to society at large by teaching the divine truths to the
+black population, and striving to make them learn the important
+fact that they have something else to look for besides the
+gratification of the present moment. As an episcopalian myself, I
+feel sorry that the church of England should have been less
+forward some years ago in their labour of love. True it is there
+has been, from the time these missionaries first came to the
+island, up to the present, a great number of churches and
+parsons. But of these, few, I am sorry to say, practised the pure
+doctrine they pretended to preach; indeed, many openly denied by
+their lives what they taught with their lips: their motto was--
+"Do as I say, not as I act;" which conduct, although it ought not
+to make religion less respected, has, in a great measure, a
+tendency to that effect among all classes. "For how," would many
+exclaim, "could they enforce the seventh commandment when they
+wilfully broke it?--or teach a proper respect to the ordinances
+of God, when (as some have been known to do) they have left a
+card-table to read the service at church, and then returned to
+finish their game?" But those days have passed away: Antigua now
+possesses another race of clergymen very different to those
+alluded to; men of pious lives, and of ardent desire to further
+the cause of Christianity. The rector of St. John's, the Rev. R.
+Holberton, is an evangelical preacher, and has proved a great
+acquisition to the island. This gentleman is one who does not
+preach for the sake of the _loaves and fishes_ alone, but strives
+to do his duty as an humble follower of his divine Master. To his
+talents as an orator, he adds the more sterling quality of
+earnest zeal in his vocation, evinced by the bright example he
+sets, of joining practice to precept. His discourses are not in
+that flowery style which, working upon the feelings and
+imagination, produces but a transitory impression; he rather
+strives to speak to the heart than please the ear. Like a skilful
+surgeon, he probes the wound he hopes to heal, and then offers
+the "balm of Gilead," and binds it up with the essence of love. I
+once more beg pardon of my readers for my digressions; but I
+could not let the opportunity pass, without noticing the great
+difference between the former race of clergymen and those of the
+present day; I will now return to my more immediate subject--the
+outlines of the negro character.
+
+Before their conversion to Christianity, the Africans firmly
+believed that after death they would return to Africa, and there
+enjoy uninterrupted felicity. Under this idea, suicide was very
+frequent among them, particularly when they fell to the share of
+an austere and cruel master. But now this imagination is almost
+lost sight of: they are taught so to live, that, after death,
+they may inherit a better land than Africa: still I have met with
+some of the old people who seemed to entertain the opinion.
+
+A short time previous to emancipation, I remember talking with a
+negro who fostered this belief. He was rather a remarkable
+personage: when in the prime of manhood, he must have possessed
+great strength, if we may judge from height and breadth. His
+cheeks, arms, and back of his hands, were deeply tattooed with
+different devices; his complexion was of a clear black, and his
+countenance very intelligent; nor had he that remarkable flatness
+of nose and thickness of lips by which the natives of Guinea are
+so particularly distinguished. He told me he had been "long
+'nough" in the West Indies, (which phrase I found, by inquiry,
+extended to about four and twenty years,) and that he was a
+prince in his own country--brother, I think I understood him, to
+the King of Benguela, or something he pronounced very much like
+it; that, during a war with a neighbouring tribe, he was taken
+prisoner, sold to some merchants at Calabar, from whom he was
+purchased, with several others, by the captain of a slaver, and
+brought to the West Indies. Several persons whom he knew were on
+board the same vessel, but that they all died, with the exception
+of one woman. I afterwards saw this female, who confirmed him in
+the report of being a great man among his countrymen, where, she
+said, she could not speak to him, from her inferior station in
+life. Poor fellow; aged, (for I suppose he must have been about
+seventy,) infirm, and miserable--brought from comparative
+affluence to poverty, from governing others, to be himself a
+slave;--the tear of pity would not be restrained.
+
+The circumstances under which I became acquainted with him
+excited also my sympathy. The estate had been, for a long time,
+robbed of its ground provisions, and to discover, if possible,
+the offenders, the owner had given orders not to distribute to
+the negroes their usual share of salt food, until the guilty
+parties confessed their crime. This poor old man came up to the
+"great house"[13] one morning to beg the owner's lady to
+intercede with "his massa" for him, that he might have some
+herrings to eat with his potatoes; "For," said he, "me ole now,
+missis--me want something to 'trengthen me; do, missis, beg massa
+gib me lilly salt provision." His tremulous voice, as it broke
+upon my ear, called my attention to him, and thus caused the
+introduction.
+
+Seeing that I pitied him, he continued, "But now me ole, me soon
+go hom--me no 'top much longer to trouble me massa!" I asked him
+what he meant, and where was his home. "To me own country--to
+Africa!" he replied, the "light of other days" beaming, for a
+moment, in his eyes.--"What! now you are so _old_? You have less
+chance of returning there than you ever had."--"Oh! missis, you
+no sabby, (understand.) Me mean me die soon, an' den me go home--
+den me happy, den me hab no mo' work, no sick no mo', no hungry
+no mo'; me ole bone no ache den, but me get 'trong den an' happy
+too!" Poor fellow! before this he must have gone "home;" a better
+home than even Africa I hope he may have found it, for
+
+   "Though earth has full many a beautiful spot,
+    As a poet or painter may shew;
+    Yet more lovely and beautiful, holy and bright,
+    To the hopes of the heart, and the spirit's delight,
+    Is the land that no mortal may know."
+
+There are not many Africans now in Antigua who were brought there
+as slaves, they having principally died off, but there are a
+great many who have been captured in slavers, and brought here by
+some of her majesty's ships, who have been made free, after
+serving an apprenticeship of some years. These persons are termed
+by the Creole negroes _Willeyforce nagers_, (Wilberforce,) and
+between them are constant bickerings--the Creole blacks looking
+upon themselves as so far superior. Whenever they meet and enter
+into conversation, it generally terminates in a quarrel; and at
+such times, the actions they make with their hands, and the
+clamour of their tongues, would almost lead you to imagine murder
+was intended. The African has generally the advantage over the
+Creole in garrulity; but when this is perceived by the other
+party, he exerts all his energies, "works up each corporal agent
+to the terrible feat," elevates his voice to the pitch of a
+bagpipe, throws aloft his arms, and, with fire-flashing eyes and
+quivering lips, exclaims--"You, _you Willeyforce nager, you!_"
+This is decisive; the African is stunned; and, with crest-fallen
+brow, goes his way, and leaves the ground to the victor.
+
+I am now about to enter upon my "shadows" of negro character; and
+as I have not screened the master, neither can I gloss over the
+faults of the servant, or slave. The most predominant trait in
+their character is superstition; indeed, there never was a race
+so universally inclined to this weakness. What is called _Obeah_,
+has existed since the first introduction of negroes into these
+islands; it is one of those dark and fearful practices which they
+brought with them from Africa, where the devil is still openly
+worshipped, and temples built to his honour. Few English people
+can have any idea of the dreadful extent to which the practice of
+Obeah was carried in the West Indies, in former days. It led the
+unhappy followers of it on, from one crime to another, until the
+gallows was too often their end. Many, and many a one, has sunk
+into a premature grave, from the awful dread of Obeah hanging
+over them. These Obeah men and women are supposed to have entered
+into a league with the spirit of darkness, and by his aid are
+enabled to bring hidden things to light, and do many other
+marvellous actions; and to offend one of these person was, they
+thought, to seal their doom.
+
+At one time, poisoning was so frequent a crime among these
+followers of Obeah, that in the year 1809, it required the strong
+arm of the law to subdue it. The old people are acquainted with
+many of the wild plants indigenous in the country; and they often
+recommend them as specifics in certain diseases. They also appear
+equally familiar with those plants which yield poison. When
+irritated with denials of what they wished for, or suffering from
+jealousy, or any other strong passion, instances have been known
+of the negroes applying to these Obeah people, and, for a small
+sum, receiving from them one of their deadly draughts, so
+prepared as to render death either almost immediate, or, as was
+most common, lingering.
+
+I heard of an instance of this nature occurring in Antigua during
+my stay there. I cannot take upon myself to vouch for its
+authenticity, as it does not appear there were sufficient grounds
+of complaint against the suspected parties, to warrant their
+apprehension; I will, however, give the report then current in
+the island. An English gentleman, a native of Huntingdonshire,
+resided upon a property about eight miles from the capital, of
+which he was the manager. Upon one occasion, he had the favour
+asked him, by a female belonging to the estate, to give her a
+bason of milk; which request, from some reason or the other, was
+refused. The matter passed off, and no more was thought about it
+by the manager. A short time afterwards, he received an anonymous
+scrawl, warning him to be careful of what he ate or drank. This
+production was treated, as most anonymous ones ought to be, with
+contempt. Another note was received, and met with no more
+attention than the former. At length, sorrow came within his
+door; his son, a boy of about fourteen, strong and full of life
+and joy, suddenly fell ill, death claimed his prey, and he was
+consigned to an early tomb. This melancholy duty was but just
+performed, when his sister, a laughter-loving girl of twelve
+years, fell a victim to that all-conquering monster; and but a
+few more revolving suns, and the younger sister also departed for
+"that bourne from whence no traveller returns." Whether any _post
+mortem_ examination of the bodies took place I am unable to say,
+but report attributed their deaths to the milk they used being
+poisoned.
+
+This terrible crime does not, it is true, rage to the extent it
+once did; but even in these days of freedom, Obeah men and women
+are still to be met with, and many negroes consult them when they
+have lost anything, are suffering from protracted pain, or when
+they wish to injure any one they may have quarrelled with. One of
+the Antiguan magistrates related to me the following
+circumstance, which had recently occurred. A man who had formerly
+lived with him as groom, but who for some time past had suffered
+severely from an ulcerated leg, brought a complaint before him,
+against another of his sex. It appeared the defendant was one who
+practised Obeah, to increase his worldly store; and the other
+poor fellow, ignorant, and depressed in spirit from the almost
+incurable state of his leg, was induced to apply to him for
+advice. The Obeah man agreed to cure him, provided he received
+ten dollars for his pains. This the infirm man was unable to do,
+but said he had a surtout and a pair of black trousers at home,
+and if he would take them in place of the money, he would go and
+fetch them. The offer was accepted by the conjuror, the surtout
+and trousers were put into his hands, and the ceremony commenced.
+The diseased man was ordered to seat himself upon the ground,
+while Mr. Conjuror took a calabash of some liquid, and poured it
+upon his head, rubbed it very hard, and then putting his mouth to
+that part called the "crown of the head," sucked it for some
+time, and producing a tooth, said he had extracted it by those
+means, and that his leg would soon get well. Some weeks having
+elapsed, and the limb still continuing in the same state, the man
+began to think he had been imposed upon, and consequently brought
+the case before the magistrate, in hopes of getting his surtout
+and trousers returned.
+
+The negroes, with but few exceptions, firmly believe the Obeah
+people can insert different articles, such as pieces of glass
+bottles, old rags, nails, stones, &c., into the flesh of those
+they dislike, and that the afflicted are obliged to get one of
+the same craft to relieve them.
+
+I once heard a servant of mine relating a circumstance to a group
+of sable listeners, which illustrates this subject. His wife had
+lost a gown for sometime, and could not account for its strange
+disappearance. Soon after she experienced very odd sensations,
+but was unable to say what was the matter with her. In her
+distress she applied to the negro doctress upon the estate, but
+could receive no relief from her, until at length one of her
+friends advised her to consult an old Obeah woman who resided
+near, and to her she accordingly went. As soon as this Obeah
+woman saw her, she informed her she had "enemies," and it was
+from their machinations all her illness proceeded; but that if
+she would come to her again on a certain day, she would consult
+"Obeah" about it, and, by his assistance, conjure the evil things
+out of her, provided she brought "all the money she could
+procure." At the appointed time the woman attended, and after
+many mysterious rites had been performed, the necromancer
+proceeded apparently to draw out of the sufferer's arms and legs,
+pieces of the gown she had lost, various sized pieces of glass,
+parts of an old shoe, and many other similar articles. This was
+related with the utmost seriousness of countenance, and no doubt
+firmly believed in by the reciter. One of the party asked if his
+wife derived any benefit. "Why," said John, "she say she do, but
+me no no; me no see she look much better; hab to pay plenty money
+tho'; Obeah no like it if yo no gib much."
+
+Another practice of these Obeah people is to dig a hole before
+the door of a house where the resident is obnoxious to them, and
+in it place their favourite commodities--old rags and pieces of
+glass bottle. If the person for whose injury these articles are
+intended, unconsciously passes over, their health decays, or else
+they will never be better off in the world than they were at that
+day. This the negroes also firmly believe; and so true is the old
+proverb, "Fancy kills and fancy cures," that many, knowing such
+charm has been practised upon them, have taken it to heart, and
+in a short time died.
+
+It has ever been customary, and in these days of freedom it is
+not discontinued, to give the negroes upon the different estates,
+a plot of ground to plant provisions in, independent of their
+wages. The "negro-ground," as it is called, is frequently
+situated at some distance from their houses, and consequently,
+when its different productions are ripe, it is extremely liable
+to be robbed. To prevent this as far as possible, it is customary
+to go to an Obeah person, and, for a certain sum, obtain from
+them a bottle, partly filled with some mysterious mixture,[14] or
+else a piece of charmed wood, which they hang up in their grounds
+over against where their provisions are growing. This generally
+has the desired effect, for daring indeed must be that person who
+would steal those articles under the protection of Obeah.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[13] Proprietor's residence.
+
+[14] I have been lately favoured with the sight of an "Obeah
+bottle," which was picked up a few weeks ago by J. Fairclough,
+Esq., a gentleman of Antigua, at his residence, the grounds of
+which are washed by the sea. The bottle has evidently been
+immersed in the water for some period, from the number of
+barnacles formed upon it, as also from the appearance of the
+cork. Its principal contents are two large nails, a bent pin, a
+few minute shells, and a conglomeration of substances of which I
+can give no correct statement. It is filled with a dark liquid,
+which stains the bottle, and gives the idea of something deadly;
+but it may only arise from the action of acids upon the iron
+nails.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Superstition--Trials by ordeal--Flower-fence--Bible
+  and key--A way to recover stolen property--Charm to prevent a
+  scolding tongue--Jumbies--A night's adventure--The soldier's
+  last jump--Jumbies calls--Betsey, the nurse--The haunted house
+  --A cure--The drowning boys--The murdered woman--The jumby's
+  revenge.
+
+In the former chapter I endeavoured to give some description of
+the doctrine of Obeah. There are also several mysterious rites
+current among the negroes on which they rely to find out a thief.
+One of these trials by ordeal is thus performed: they procure
+some of the leaves of the "flower-fence," or "Barbados' pride,"
+(called by the negroes "doodle doo,") and lay them in a heap, in
+some peculiar manner, with a black dog (not a quadruped, but a
+small copper coin of about three farthings sterling, current in
+this island a few years ago) in the middle. They do not tie this
+bundle together, but by the manner in which it is placed they are
+enabled to raise it to the neck of the suspected person without
+its falling to pieces. The accused is then to say, (holding the
+bundle under their throat at the same time,) "Doodle doo, doodle
+doo, if me tief de four dog, (or what- ever it may be that is
+missing,) me wish me tongue may loll out of me mout." If nothing
+takes place, the person is innocent, and the charm is tried upon
+another, until the guilty one's turn comes, when immediately
+their tongue hangs out of their mouth against their will.
+
+Another trial by ordeal (which, I believe, has formerly been
+practised in England, and has probably been taught them by the
+whites) is thus performed:--A door-key is placed between the
+leaves of the Bible, upon the 18th and 19th verses of the 50th
+Psalm, and the book is then bound tightly round so that the key
+cannot fall out; care must be taken at the same time that the key
+is sufficiently large, that after being placed upon the verses
+mentioned, part of the handle or bole may be left out. Two
+persons, the accused and accuser, balance the bound book by
+placing the first finger of the right hand under the bole of the
+key, and in this situation make use of the following incantation,
+(as I suppose I must call it:) "By St. Peter, by St. Paul, you
+tief me hog," (or whatever else it may be that is stolen;) the
+accused answers, "By St. Peter, by St. Paul, me no tief you hog;"
+this is repeated thrice by both parties. If the accused is
+guilty, the key immediately turns, but if not, the charm is tried
+upon all who are suspected, until the event takes place. What St.
+Peter or St. Paul have to do with this, I could never learn, but
+to me it seems very shocking to make a conjuring book of the
+Bible. In respect to this part of superstition, the negroes are
+like the natives of the east, who never lose anything without
+trying some charm, either by balls of wax, grains of rice, or
+something similar.[15] There is another curious way by which the
+negroes endeavour to recover their stolen property. For example:
+If they lose a fowl or a pig, or indeed any other article, and
+they suspect it is stolen by their neighbours, they walk up and
+down the street, calling out, "Let go me fowl--let go me fowl! If
+you no let go me fowl, me tro grabe durtty upon you. Let go me
+fowl, me say!" If the person who stole the fowl hears this
+denunciation, he immediately looses it, in terror of the
+consequences; but if the threat is not attended to, the owner of
+the lost biped takes a dog (the same copper coin I have before
+mentioned) and an egg, and proceeds to a burial-ground. Here they
+look out for the grave of one of their friends, and depositing
+the dog and the egg, make use of an incantation, and taking up a
+little of the soft mould off the grave, depart. This mould, or
+_grabe durtty_, as they term it, they sprinkle all about in those
+streets where they think the suspected parties are more likely to
+walk, believing, that if the thief passes over it, it immediately
+causes his body to swell, and no medicine can give relief--death
+alone can end their misery. So terrible to the negroes is the
+denunciation, "Me tro grabe durtty upon you," that if possible,
+they will restore the goods pilfered to the last particle.
+
+They have several other charms, all of which they deem
+infallible. When they fancy they are under the power of Obeah,
+they procure a snake, kill and skin it; when the skin is
+thoroughly dried, they bind it round their leg, and feel easier
+in mind, supposing the one charm will counteract the other.
+Again, if sent out of an errand, and they loiter about, to
+prevent any scolding from their employers, they pick a blade of a
+peculiar species of grass, and place it under their tongue, which
+they believe has the power of preventing any angry words. This
+also is done when they wish to escape punishment or detection.
+
+I am aware that it is not the negroes alone who are given to
+superstition--to using charms and observing omens; the Greeks and
+Romans were famous for this practice; and in my own country,
+among the lower classes, most of the old women have a cramp-bone
+in their pockets, to drive away pains; the tip of a tongue, or a
+stone with a hole in it, for luck; and a horseshoe nailed to the
+door, to prevent the entrance of witches. Our seamen, too, are
+strict disciples of superstition, and rear her many an altar. I
+once heard a captain of a merchantman who trades to Antigua,
+speaking of this subject, and laughing at the generality of
+sailors for paying attention to this or that omen. "I don't
+believe in anything of the kind," said he. "What can a dolphin,
+or a Mother Cary's chicken, (the stormy petrel,) have to do with
+a gale of wind? It's nonsense,--altogether nonsense. Of course,
+though, it would be only a madman _who would whistle in a storm_
+or sail on a Friday, if they could possibly help it!" I wished to
+ask what poor Friday[16] had done, or if Eolus disliked
+whistling.
+
+All superstitious people, in every part of the world, are prone
+to believe in the existence of imaginary beings; and while the
+English have their ghosts, the Scotch their brownies, and the
+Irish their banshees, the negroes have their jumby.[17] These
+creatures, like all of their class, love to frequent churchyards,
+lonely roads, and the margin of ponds. They are represented by
+the believers in this creed to be very revengeful and malicious;
+strangling children, knocking down people, frightening old women
+into fits, and indeed, doing all the mischief they can. I have
+heard that "Spring Gardens," the part of the town we reside in,
+is a favourite spot for their ambulations; but I cannot say I
+have as yet formed any acquaintance with these _fleshless_
+beings. Many are the tales related of their exploits,--tales more
+terrible than that of the poor ghost in "Hamlet," whose "lightest
+word would harrow up the soul." But as I have too much love for
+my readers, to wish to "freeze their blood," and all those other
+dreadful threats his ghostship promised his hopeful son, I will
+merely relate a few little incidents about these night-loving
+people.
+
+A servant who once lived with us had occasion to go a few miles
+into the country after dark. Upon his return the next day, he
+gave the following most frightful account of his night's
+adventure. He said, that after getting a little way out of the
+town, a string of jumbies met him, dressed all in white, who held
+up their bony fingers at him in a menacing manner. He was very
+much alarmed, he said, but determined to proceed as fast as he
+could, without looking behind him; for if by any chance he had
+happened to turn his head, they would have immediately strangled
+him. Finding they could not get this advantage over him, they
+went behind him, and "whispered soft and low"--"James! James!"
+Although not over-pleased at this salutation, he thought it best
+to bear it in silence, and hurry on as fast as he could.
+
+At length he came to a pond, known by the name of "Tom Long's
+Pond," which is always reckoned a favourite resort for jumbies--a
+kind of Vauxhall of theirs, I suppose. Here he met with another
+troop, who joined their comrades in tormenting him, until our
+poor benighted traveller hardly knew what to do. Fear overcame
+him, the perspiration streamed from off his brow, and his
+excessive emotion caused "each particular hair to stand on end,
+like quills upon the fretful porcupine." In this awful situation,
+he remembered, that if he dispossessed himself of his upper
+garment, turned it before the jumbies' faces, and then put it on
+again, wrong side out, they could not hurt him. He tried this
+remedy; and as soon as his dress was altered, his unpleasant
+companions gave a loud scream, fled from him in every direction,
+and left him to prosecute his walk in silence and solitude.
+
+This is James's version of the circumstance. I, who was an
+unknown, but attentive listener, could not help asking (so
+wishful was I of gaining information upon this _important_
+subject) if there was any great merit in turning his coat. "Oh,
+yes!" was the reply; "jumbies can never hurt you, if you can only
+have strength to turn your jacket." So, it appears, that whatever
+may be the character of jumbies in other respects, they shew
+their good sense in disliking _turncoats_.
+
+During the first few weeks of my residence in this island, I was
+staying upon an estate a few miles from the capital. Having for
+some length of time seen nothing but the "sky above and the sea
+below," it may be imagined how happy I was once more to tread
+_terra firma_; and I lost no time in exploring this, to me, new
+world. In these rambles, I was attended by my servant, a
+rosy-cheeked English girl, who gave utterance to her surprise at
+tropical scenes and tropical customs, in like sentences to these:
+"Lawk, ma'am!" "Well, I never!" "Lawk-a-daisy-me!" One day we
+wandered far and wide; and after many devious routes, my
+attention was at last attracted by the appearance of a cluster of
+trees. I am very fond of these ornaments of the vegetable world;
+I love to watch the play of the sunbeams upon their leaves--to
+listen to the melody of the gentle gale, as it whispers among
+them; and when in this "far, far west," they greeted my eye with
+their verdant foliage, I was anxious to make their acquaintance.
+Upon a nearer approach, I found they formed a complete fringe to
+a kind of rivulet; they were mangroves, and very beautiful they
+looked. We walked by the side of them for some distance, and at
+length came upon the high-road, which crosses the rivulet. Here
+we fell in with a few larger trees, of a different species; and
+near to them was a spring of water. A soothing silence reigned
+around, occasionally broken by the murmuring of the breeze, the
+buzzing of those pigmies of the feathered race--the
+humming-birds, or the coo of the ground-doves, those constant
+frequenters of all sylvan spots. Now and then, the faint hum of
+human voices broke upon the ear, as the slaves were returning
+from the cane-fields, it being near the close of the day.
+
+Altogether, I was quite pleased with the spot, and hardly knew
+how to leave it. As I was returning to the house, with "pensive
+steps and slow," I overtook the driver, one of the head slaves
+upon the property. With the native politeness which many negroes
+possess, he pulled off his hat, with "How d'ye, missis?" his
+black sparkling eyes, his white teeth glistening through his
+thick lips, his ebon complexion, and his large straw hat,
+rendered him quite a novelty to me. I remarked to him, what a
+pretty spot the spring was situated in, and thought it must be
+very serviceable to the estate. "Yes, missis," rejoined he; "it
+one pretty 'pring 'nough; but me no like to go dere much at
+night." I asked the reason; it brought the following tale:--"Some
+time aback, one soger buckra run away from de barracks. He was
+gone long time, till at last sombody go tell upon he where he go
+hide. De soger cappen send two oder sogers to go look for he, an
+bring he to town; bery well, dey find he, an was going to fetch
+he back to town, when, just as he get to dis 'pring, 'fore de
+oder sogers no war he go do, he jump, bram! right into de 'pring;
+an by de time dey manage to get he out, he go dead; so eber since
+dat time, jumbies come see soger's jumby, an dey 'top here an
+make dance; so we no lub to come here much self."
+
+A similar circumstance has been related to me by the attorney of
+the estate. A negro belonging to the property, who for several
+months had given way to idle, dissolute habits, at length so far
+forgot himself as to become a runaway. After being absent for
+some time, intelligence was brought to the attorney that he had
+been seen skulking about the capital; and accordingly, other
+negroes were despatched to endeavour to find him and bring him
+back to the estate. Their undertaking proved successful, the
+runaway was secured, and the party set out upon their journey
+home. Upon the road the man remarked--"He wished he could die,
+for he had no cause to run away, and he should be ashamed to meet
+his friends, for he knew not what excuse to make," and proceeded
+in this strain until gaining the "spring," at the entrance of the
+estate; he gave a sudden start, and before his companions were
+aware of his intentions, he had leaped into the water. By the
+time assistance could be procured, the man was dead; and his
+friends had the melancholy office of burying his swollen corpse.
+
+The negroes have an idea, that if a jumby calls them, and they
+return an answer, they will very soon die. I have often called a
+servant by name at night, and could get no answer, when I was
+well aware they must have heard me; and upon asking them the
+reason have had the following reply given me--"Me no no, missis,
+it was you; me tink it one jumby calling me."
+
+If a child is born with a caul it is preserved with religious
+veneration. My milk-woman came to see me one day with her two
+little babies; the little creatures had each a small black bag
+tied round their necks with a piece of black ribbon. I asked the
+mother what this was for; she said they were both born with
+cauls, and that if it was not always kept near them, the jumbies
+would strangle them the first time they were left alone; nor was
+this all, for if they did not wear it upon their persons, they
+would see the jumby (or spirit) of every one that died.
+
+I mourned to think how superstition prevailed in these parts,
+what then was my surprise upon soon after taking up an English
+newspaper of late date, to see the, following advertisement:--"A
+child's caul to be disposed of, _a well-known preventive against
+drowning, &c. Price, ten guineas._ Address, post-paid, to A. B.
+C., to the care of Mr. Evans, Hyde Park newspaper-office, 42,
+Edgware Road!"
+
+Had I not seen and read this myself, I could not have believed
+it. While we write and talk of the superstition of the negroes,
+although we mourn that its influence should extend so far, yet
+there is greater allowance to be made for them from want of
+education; but that such an enlightened people as the English
+should put such an advertisement in a public paper is almost
+incredible. A certain preventive against drowning!--why,
+superstition in her gala days could not have furnished a more
+striking instance of her power! That any rational creature should
+believe such an assurance is astonishing. I firmly hope, for the
+honour of my country people, that the _ten guinea_ advertisement
+remains unanswered.
+
+I had an old nurse living with me a few years ago, an African,
+but who had been brought to this island as a slave when she was
+about ten years of age. She is a firm believer in jumbles, and is
+one of those privileged people who, it is said, can talk to these
+gloomy beings, and, by some potent charm known only to
+themselves, hinder them from playing any mischievous trick. For
+this reason she was frequently called upon to use her art, when
+the jumbies troubled any of the little negroes. When this was the
+case, she went into a room by herself, and entered into a
+conversation with the invisibles, and by some means or the other,
+succeeded in drawing them away. No one else, who has not a
+similar power, dares to remain by; for they believe if they did,
+the jumbies would blow upon them, and throw them into a fit, or
+else cause their immediate death. Betsey, for that is her name,
+like most of her class, is very fond of talking to herself, and
+one day I remember hearing the following soliloquy. It was about
+some lady in the island who wore false hair and false teeth:--
+"Eh, eh! you eber hear such a ting as that tho', dat missis hab
+one sombody's hair, all curly curly, so tie it on he head, an say
+he b'longs to he; an den dat no all self, for he hab one
+sombody's teeth too! Eh, eh! me wonder how he like, me no go do
+so, war for? s'pose jumby cum an say, gib me me hair, gib me me
+teeth, war me go do den; jumby no like people com take der tings
+away." I ought here perhaps to remark, that when negroes are
+talking, they seldom use but one of the genders, and that the
+masculine, in direct opposition to Lindley Murray.
+
+It is also a very prevalent opinion among the negroes that if
+they beg one of their dying friends to "trouble" any one they
+dislike, (that is, for his spirit or jumby to appear to him,) the
+jumby, which they expect to rise on the third day from death,
+will do their bidding, and that the person so haunted can never
+take rest until he himself dies. Their opinion respecting the
+immortality of the soul is, as far as I can understand it, this--
+that if a person die one day and is buried the next, during the
+succeeding night, the spirit, or as they term, it the "jumby,"
+rises, and either goes to heaven, or, if during life they have
+committed any crime, or met with a violent death, wanders about
+the earth, until by prayers, fumigations, or something of the
+kind, it is laid to rest.[18]
+
+When a jumby haunts a house, they get a coal-pot, upon which they
+place a quantity of pepper, salt, _nuno_, (the wild basil,) part
+of a horse's hoof, and a little brimstone. This coal-pot is set
+in the middle of the house, with the back and front doors open,
+and is allowed to burn until after midnight; at the same time,
+they stick over the doors and windows, and in the corners of the
+house, bunches of "milk-bush," another wild plant. This ceremony
+always takes place during the night, but they allow the bush to
+remain until it withers. Whilst these articles are burning, the
+friends who are assembled in the "haunted house," and the
+residents themselves, are employed in "cursing the jumby,"
+telling it to "go where he com from," "that if he one good
+somebody he would hab been at rest," &c.; and just as the clock
+strikes twelve at midnight, the windows are opened, and a
+quantity of water thrown out to wet the "jumby" and send it away,
+for as long as the coal-pot continues burning, they believe the
+jumby cannot pass through the house, but is still lurking about
+the yard watching for an opportunity of getting in.[19] Strange
+as this may read, it is firmly believed in, and actually
+practised up to the present time, not only by negroes, but by
+many of the better sort of people.
+
+When a negro wishes a jumby to hurt his enemies, he makes use of
+various charms to effect his purpose; one of which the following
+anecdote will illustrate. About two years ago, two black boys
+went to a pond at the head of the town, to water a horse. The one
+that was riding the animal carried it far into the pond, and by
+some mishap or the other, fell off. His friend viewed him
+struggling in the water; he saw him sink, and rise to the
+surface,--again he disappeared; and although the spectator of
+this melancholy scene was but a very little fellow, he leaped in
+to his assistance. But oh! the frenzied grasp of death! well may
+it be said, "What pain it is to drown!" or, in the words of the
+homely proverb, "A drowning man will catch at a straw,"--the
+dying boy saw the hand stretched to his aid; and grasping the
+proffered palm, both sank to rise no more. Some person residing
+near the pond gave the alarm, and by means of drags, the bodies
+were recovered.
+
+A relation of one of these poor boys had an ill-feeling towards
+an acquaintance, with whom she had quarrelled, and she thought
+this a good opportunity of injuring her enemy. Under pretence of
+plaiting this woman's hair, (towards whom the ill-feeling
+existed,) she contrived to cut off a good portion of it, which
+she placed in the hand of the boy, just before the coffin was
+screwed down, at the same time pronouncing the word "remember."
+The consequence of this was, (as my negro informant related it,)
+"de pic'nee jumby trouble he so, (meaning, I suppose, the
+relation's adversary,) dat he no no war for do, till at last he
+go out of he head, an' he neber been no good since."
+
+If any one is murdered, and the murderer is not discovered, the
+jumby of the victim cannot rest, but is continually roaming about
+the spot where the bloody deed was committed, or else tormenting
+the perpetrator of the crime, until they are obliged to confess
+the fault. I have heard an old woman talk of a murder, which was
+committed some time ago, where the spirit of the murdered woman
+pointed out to her friends the person of her destroyer. It
+occurred upon an estate called "Jonas's," and as "brother
+Jonathan" lately said of a most improbable tale, "is
+extraordinary, if true." A female slave upon the property was
+suddenly taken ill, and before medical aid could be procured, she
+died. There was strong suspicion that she met her death by
+swallowing some deleterious drug; but who tendered the "poisoned
+chalice," none could tell. The next day the body was to be
+consigned to the tomb. It was customary at that period to bury
+the slaves about the negro houses, and porters carried the coffin
+upon their shoulders to the grave. At the time appointed the
+company assembled; the porters took up the coffin, and the
+procession formed. But, lo! instead of going to the grave, the
+men commenced walking very fast in an opposite direction; the
+walk increased to a run; the company in amaze called after them
+to know the meaning; "It's the jumby in the coffin," was the
+reply of the porters. On, on they went, up to the "buff," (as the
+negroes call the proprietor's house,) down again,--round the
+negro houses, here and everywhere, the jumby carried them.
+
+The two white overseers upon the estate came to inquire into this
+mysterious proceeding. Upon being told the circumstance, they
+laughed at it, and said it was the porters' nonsense; that if
+they would put the coffin down, they (the overseers) would take
+it up and prove it was no jumby running them. This proposition
+was joyfully agreed to, and the coffin shifted to the shoulders
+of the overseers. Once more the procession formed, and they
+started for the grave; but this time it was worse than ever; the
+jumby obliged the white men to run with their burden, until they
+nearly fainted with fatigue, and caused them most lustily to call
+out for the former bearers to relieve them.
+
+Again the porters commenced their melancholy office of carrying
+to the grave a corpse that would not be buried. The same ground
+was again passed over, but no effort of theirs could lead them to
+gain the intended place of burial. At length, forced on by the
+jumby, they made up to a negro house, the door of which was shut;
+and before they could ask for admittance, the coffin was impelled
+through it, breaking it into pieces, and was dashing forwards
+against the face of a man, the only inmate, who, frightened and
+horrified at the encounter, was endeavouring to effect his
+escape. This at length he accomplished, but not before he bore
+upon his head and face the marks of a jumby's revenge. The open
+door gained, he fled as if ten thousand demons were hanging upon
+his steps, while the corpse, satisfied at having pointed out its
+murderer, bowed itself upon the bearers' shoulders, and then
+allowed them to carry it quietly to its last resting-place.
+
+Time flew on, and no tidings of the murderer were heard, until
+about six months had elapsed, when a party of negroes went into a
+copse to cut wood. They had almost penetrated through its tangled
+mazes, when they thought they saw something lying under the
+brushwood; and upon a nearer approach, discovered it to be the
+man who had fled from the attack of the jumby. He was in a dying
+condition, and according to the old women who related the
+circumstance, "He face 'top most like one buckra, all _whitey
+whitey_, from de jumby licking he so;" a great compliment to us
+whites! But to return to our story. The negroes picked him up,
+and carried him home, where he lived long enough to confess, that
+a quarrel having arisen between himself and the deceased woman,
+he procured "something" from an Obeah man, which he put into some
+soup, and which caused her death.
+
+Like everything else, my story has an end; and now let me ask my
+readers what they think of it? I am sure they will join with me
+in deploring that superstition has still so many votaries. Oh!
+that her reign was at an end! Yet there are some negroes who are
+getting over the dread of these things. An old woman remarked one
+day, "Missis, me hear of jumby, but me neber see dem; me can't go
+say dere non ob dem, but me say, if one sombody do good, God will
+neber let dem hurt you; an we ought to pray, dat wen we go dead,
+He will gib us some place ob rest."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[15] The manner in which these East Indian charms are tried is as
+follows:--When a trial by wax is agreed upon, a number of persons
+write their names upon scraps of paper, including those of the
+parties who may be suspected. These scraps are enclosed in balls
+of wax, and are thrown into a bason of water; those which float
+at the top are opened, and whatever name is written therein is
+believed to be the thief. When an ordeal of rice is tried, a few
+grains of that article are placed upon the tongue of the supposed
+culprit: if the party is innocent, the rice, when chewed, mixes
+with the saliva, and is expectorated of a milky consistence; but
+if, on the contrary, guilty, no power can moisten it, but it
+comes out a dry powder. I should not feel at all surprised at
+seeing this last charm turn out true, for of course the natives
+firmly believe the truth of it, and the guilty one's conscience
+must upbraid him, and his emotion probably parch his mouth. With
+regard to the _wax trial_, I cannot so readily account for it.
+Mr. Forbes, in his "Oriental Memoirs," mentions seeing both of
+these charms, as well as many others, (being nine in number,)
+tried; some of which are sanctioned by the British authorities.
+He goes on further to state, that in _all cases_ where he was
+present, they came true. I could not take upon myself to
+discredit what this clever and ingenious writer says; much, very
+much may be attributed to the effect of a strong imagination,
+which most Eastern nations possess.
+
+[16] The dislike to this day is supposed to arise from the
+Crucifixion.
+
+[17] The term "jumby" is applied to all supernatural beings.
+
+[18] A similar idea to this still exists in the Department Indre,
+France. The inhabitants believe that after death the soul of the
+deceased flies about the apartment where the dissolution took
+place, seeking some cranny by which to escape to heaven. For this
+reason, as soon as any one is supposed to be near death, the
+friends of the dying person take care to remove every vessel that
+contains liquid, fearing the soul may fall in, and thus be lost.
+In Scotland, something of the sort seems to be believed in among
+the lower classes; for when a person is in the last agonies, the
+doors of the house are set open, that the soul may find no
+impediment in the way of its escape. The ancient Jews, according
+to Dr. Lightfoot, were of an opinion that the soul of the
+deceased hovered about its former tenement until after the lapse
+of three days, when it sought the regions of bliss or misery.
+
+[19] This ceremony is performed nightly until the house is so
+thoroughly fumigated that the "jumby" quits in despair.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+
+
+  Seeming paradoxes explained--Negro suspicion--Instances of it--
+  Stealing--Its various characters--Leasing--The dead canaries--
+  Broken promises--Idleness--Negro wages--Their present lot--
+  Domestics.
+
+In continuing my "shadows" of negro character, methinks I hear my
+good readers cry out, "Why, here is nothing but paradoxes. In a
+former chapter the negroes were all and everything, but now it
+appears the tables are turning, and, Proteus-like, assume another
+shape." Stop a little, my kind friends; a word or two in my own
+defence, if you please. What may appear paradoxical at first,
+upon further research may not prove so; the sky we admire for its
+beautiful cerulean tint is not in _reality_ blue. I have before
+remarked, that I should have to give the "shadows," as well as
+the "lights" of negro character. I am sorry to be obliged to do
+so, for I wish them well; but as, in describing the early days of
+slavery, I have not screened the master, so must I now give the
+real outlines of the negro. I ever did, and ever shall detest the
+name of slavery, and glad do I feel that it is done away with, at
+least in British colonies, if only for the honour of my dear
+native isle; and while I have to write of negro vices, I again
+repeat, that they do not so much result from the natural bias of
+their character, as from the effects of the bonds they have so
+long worn, which, degrading them in their own eyes, have
+conspired to render them what they are. Time can only correct
+their errors: let us, then, not despair, but hope for the best.
+Surely we ought to see some amendment in the rising generation,
+and we shall do so, I feel assured, if their old relations do not
+poison their minds, by telling them, because they are taught to
+read and write, it will be a degradation for them to work in a
+cane-field.
+
+In the latter part of the preceding chapter, an account was given
+of their various superstitions; the next strong trait in their
+character is suspicion. They can seldom be brought to think you
+have an eye to their interest in any new arrangement you may make
+with them in their domestic concerns. If you address them with
+kindness, they suspect you have some motive for so doing,
+prejudicial to their welfare. Should you inquire after their
+living, the quantity of live-stock they keep, or any other little
+domestic comfort, or, indeed, ask them where they live, or who
+they work for, the same thoughts possess their mind.
+
+It is strange, too, that they will hardly ever sell any of their
+poultry or meat, or, indeed, anything else they may have to
+dispose of, to the proprietor or manager residing upon the same
+estate as themselves. No! they prefer bringing it miles, perhaps,
+to town, and probably getting less for it, than if they had
+disposed of it to their masters. If asked to do so, they commonly
+find some excuse; it is too old or too young, or too fat or too
+lean, or they cannot catch it, or else they want it for
+themselves. This singular practice arises from suspicion; they
+are fearful of letting their masters know what their resources
+are, and what they do with their property. For this reason, they
+prefer going to a dark shop to purchase what they want. They do
+not like to be recognised by any one while thus employed; nor for
+any one to know how much money they lay out, or what they buy.
+There are some retail shops, or _stores_, as they are called in
+the West Indian idiom, which are scarcely six feet high, and
+which of course are very dark and uncomfortable; yet, as
+unpleasant as these stores or shops may look to the eye, they are
+for that very reason frequented by the negroes. I am, in this
+part of my subject, more particularly speaking of the state of
+affairs before emancipation, but I believe this mistrust of their
+employers still continues. In former days, so fearful were the
+slaves of letting their masters know how much money they
+possessed, that it was a common practice of theirs to bury it;
+and often death overtook them before they could tell their
+relations in what spot they had deposited it, and consequently it
+was lost. If "Daddy Whelan," the notorious "treasure-seeker," in
+Mrs. Hall's interesting tale of the "Crock of Gold," was here, he
+might be more fortunate than in his own country.
+
+In receiving money they are equally suspicious; I have had
+opportunities of seeing this under the free system. It is
+customary upon estates to pay the labourers on the Friday, or
+early on the Saturday morning, and it is curious to see how they
+count and re-count their money, fearing the paymaster may have
+cheated them. In one or two instances brought beneath my own eye,
+a negro has returned his wages, with--"No right, massa, money no
+'nough;" it has been counted again, the pay-book referred to,
+when instead of being _too little_, it has proved to be _too
+much_; the surplus deducted, and the right sum handed to the
+negro, he grumbles again, because he brought it back.
+
+Another, and I am also sorry to say, very prevailing trait in the
+character of my black brethren is, stealing. This they appear to
+think no crime, so long as they are not found out; and when by
+any unforeseen occurrence they are, it is not for the criminality
+of the act they mourn, but for fear they may not have another so
+good an opportunity of repeating their exploit. In many
+instances, they are so adroit in purloining articles, that they
+are almost competent to give advice and instruction to the
+"light-fingered gentry" of "London and its vicinity." It seems
+impossible to break them of this habit of pilfering, so strong is
+it engrafted in them; people are never safe from their
+depredations. Upon estates they steal the sugar, molasses,
+cane-juice, (to make into vinegar, which they sell for a
+penny-halfpenny sterling a bottle;) cut down the canes, as soon
+as, or even before, they get ripe; milk the cattle; pick the
+cocoa-nuts; and, in a word, take all they can get.
+
+The merchants suffer from their depredations in various ways.
+They not only take up goods they never intend to pay for, but
+they steal whatever they can lay their hands upon. Nothing comes
+amiss to them; and be you as clever and cunning as you may, they
+will be sure to outwit you, in one way or the other. Should you
+be the owner of a small craft, which you man with a few black
+sailors, and which you employ in trading between the different
+islands, you are sure to lose something in every voyage. Your
+rope and canvas is gone--_nobody_ knows how; a cask of salt-fish
+is opened and robbed of its contents--_nobody_ touched it. If dry
+goods form your cargo, pieces of shirting, bales of cotton, or
+something of the kind, generally take their departure--_nobody_
+saw them.
+
+If you employ a carpenter, your nails and lumber are sure to
+commit suicide or something of the sort, I suppose, for they are
+gone, and _nobody_ used them. A mason steals your lime; a cooper
+steals your staves and hoops; a painter steals your oil, your
+turpentine, and paint; and domestic servants steal all they can.
+Some negroes employ themselves in walking about from store to
+store, selecting various dresses, handkerchiefs, ribbons,
+gentlemen's coats and vests, or any similar article, which they
+carry, they say, to shew Mrs. this or Mr. that; but, somehow or
+other, these persons are generally very much afflicted with that
+malady, want of memory, and they forget to return the goods in
+question. The shopkeepers have suffered so much from this
+infirmity, that now they will not deliver anything to be looked
+at, unless the messenger brings a written order. But this
+resolution does not at all intimidate these clever thieves; they
+get a scrap of paper written in a lady's or gentleman's name, and
+unless some errors in orthography, or a particular specimen of
+bad writing, leads to a suspicion of their authenticity, they
+often succeed in getting a "pretty considerable deal of goods,"
+as the Americans say.
+
+Others, again, go to a store and ask to be shewn some
+shingles;[20] they take two or three as a sample, and if approved
+of, they are to return for so many bundles. About ten yards
+further, they meet with another store, and here they procure
+another sample; and so they go on, until, in time, enough is
+obtained to patch their houses. In the same manner, they get
+samples of tea, peas, rice, coffee, &c., which saves them having
+the very disagreeable necessity of paying for what they use.
+
+Some of the country negroes fall upon another plan of levying
+contributions upon the public. They make love to a pig or a fowl,
+or some other article belonging to their neighbours, but which
+they will not steal upon any account; accordingly they entice or
+carry them to a convenient distance, and leave them there. After
+a little time has elapsed, they return by the same road, and as
+soon as they perceive the articles, whatever they may be,
+(although left there by themselves,) they exclaim, "Eh! eh! me
+lucky true to-day, me find dis fowl; well, me want it 'nough, me
+sure!" In this manner, they endeavour to stifle the "still small
+voice within us," while, should they be accused of this, they
+immediately cry out, "Well, me neber know if one somebody find
+one someting he call tief for it!"
+
+I should have enlarged upon the thefts of our domestic servants,
+but really, upon thinking over it, the task appears too arduous.
+I might write and write and never finish,--it would, in truth, be
+"a story without an end;" for this system of stealing is so
+indelibly implanted in some of their minds, that no measures you
+can try will break them of it. You may use the greatest leniency
+towards them, argue with them in the kindest manner, point out to
+them the sinfulness of their ways, it makes no impression upon
+them--they only wait until you retire, or are off your guard, and
+the same theft will be repeated. Nor are coercive measures of
+more avail; you may take them before a magistrate, who will
+commit them to the house of correction; when the period of their
+punishment is expired, and they are again at liberty, they return
+to their illegal habits with redoubled avidity, as if to make up
+for lost time. I do not say this is the case with all; a few
+weeks spent in confinement has often the effect of restoring to
+society a reformed member. To thieving we must add lying, and in
+this accomplishment many of them are so well skilled, that
+Ferdinand Mendez Pinto must have hid his diminished head. It is
+really wonderful to hear to what extent they will carry their
+lying; for example, if you miss anything and inquire after it,
+they will deny peremptorily they ever saw it, when, at the same
+time, they know full well where it is, but do not want the
+trouble of fetching it. They will rather tell a story at any time
+than be forced to use the least exertion. While I am writing, I
+hear complaints of this. A servant of ours has just drawn a
+lucifer match, and knowing how careless all negroes are of
+throwing about fire, the question has been asked her, "Where did
+you put the match after using it?"--"Upon the table," was the
+reply.--"Are you sure of that, and that it was extinguished
+before you left it?"--"Yes, sir."--"Susan, go and look; I cannot
+believe her, I am sorry to say." Susan returns with the box of
+lucifers; the match, _still burning_, has been replaced in the
+box, and the lid put on, to the imminent hazard of setting the
+house on fire, had it not been fortunately discovered. My
+attention being drawn by this colloquy, I ask, "Grace, how can
+you use yourself to tell such stories?--are you not a
+Sunday-school scholar?"--"I forgot, ma'am." They never own they
+do tell a story; they always forget, or else they boldly stick to
+their first assertion, let the contrary be as plain as it may.
+
+Another bad practice of theirs is, that if they have committed
+any error which might be remedied, or neglected to do anything
+which might afterwards be performed, they will never let you
+know, until it is too late. I had a very beautiful pair of
+canaries, who greeted me every morning with the sweetest of
+songs. I loved the little creatures--"for the bird that we nurse
+is the bird that we love;" and in this far distant land, away
+from all my kith and kin, with the exception of one for whom we
+are taught to forsake all other earthly ties, they were my
+constant companions. Months rolled on, and the fervour of a
+tropical sun fevered my blood, and parched my lips. I sighed for
+the pure breeze of my own dear land; and as my little birds
+warbled their sweet, clear song, memory carried me back to those
+pleasant fields, where, in my early days, I gathered the fragrant
+hawthorn, and listened to each "wood-note wild." But, alas! a
+wide, wide ocean rolled between me and them, which may be very
+easily crossed in imagination, but not so in reality; and
+consequently, I had to content myself with leaving the crowded
+town, and trying the country air. I left my little birds to the
+care of a domestic, with particular injunctions to give them
+daily fresh seed and water. From time to time, when I saw her, I
+inquired after her little charge; they were quite well, was
+always the answer, until at length, when I returned, I found my
+poor little favourites dead--dead from starvation; and when I
+spoke about it, and asked why such stories were told me, all the
+satisfaction I got was--"I forgot dem."
+
+It has been remarked, in black workmen, that if they promise to
+come and complete a particular job on a certain day, and they
+conclude with "Please God, me come,"[21] they seldom keep to
+their word, for if they can procure another job which they think
+will pay them better, they consider it of no importance
+disappointing their first employer. In the same manner, they will
+engage to build a house, or indeed any other work, for a certain
+sum; if, after going partly through it, and drawing all the money
+they can, they find it will not pay them as well as they at first
+supposed, instead of representing it to the parties, and resting
+upon their generosity to enlarge the sum, or else putting up with
+the result, they immediately leave it, and you may get it done
+the best way you can. So, again, upon estates, a party of negroes
+will undertake to plant or hole a piece of canes for so much: if
+they find it will pay them very well, they keep on; but if, on
+the contrary, they think they have not made so good a bargain as
+they imagined, they shoulder their hoes, and away they start.
+This habit of not speaking the truth is so proverbial, that it
+gives rise to the vulgar adage--"a negro lies like a horse
+trotting." I have heard of a white emigrant from Anguilla saying,
+"that he would never again believe a negro, until he saw hair
+growing within the palm of his hand," so notorious is this
+propensity.
+
+Idleness is another fault in many negroes: everything that is
+done by them is done lazily. If working upon an estate, as long
+as the master's eye is upon them, they get on pretty well; but as
+soon as he retires, down go their hoes. I should think this, in
+great measure, must be attributed to their having been so long
+used to working under a driver; for although they are free in
+body, they are far from free in mind. I am sure they ought not to
+do this; for, badly as they used to be treated some ninety or a
+hundred years ago, since they have been free, and, indeed, for
+many years before, only that they bore the name of slaves, they
+have had nothing to complain of. I am, and ever have been, a
+stanch advocate of anti-slavery doctrines; and, consequently,
+this assertion coming from me may be considered of some weight.
+It is said, that immediately after their emancipation, the wages
+of the negroes were rather low; but that, I am sure, cannot be
+said now. The common rate of wages is a shilling sterling per
+day; but then they often work "task-work," as they call it, and
+in that case frequently get from three to four shillings. Indeed,
+their earnings depend entirely upon their own exertions; for the
+estates upon which they work will always find employment for
+them.
+
+Besides this actual sum, it must be remembered, that they enjoy
+various privileges, which our English labourers can never hope
+for. The negroes have their houses found them, a spot of ground
+to plant provisions in, a doctor and medicine when they are ill,
+and a certain quantity of molasses and rum when doing certain
+work. Besides all this, they have the liberty of picking what
+wood they please, of keeping what stock they like, provided they
+keep their pigs, sheep, and goats, confined or tied up, that they
+may not injure the young canes, which injunction they regularly
+break. Then, again, they pick the grass, sheep and goat meat,
+growing upon the property, which they bring into the capital of
+an evening, and generally sell for three bits, another shilling
+sterling. And not only this; but as West Indian property is but
+seldom enclosed, they think it but fair to gather what fruit they
+choose from the several trees growing about the estates, and
+which they also bring into town, and sell in the market. Would
+that many of our poor English peasantry were as well off as the
+negroes now are, instead of suffering, as they often do, from
+cold and hunger. What Englishman would let them help themselves
+to the produce of their orchards! I have often before remarked
+how much I detest the name of slavery--there is something so
+revolting in the idea of men selling and buying their
+fellow-creatures; but I cannot hear the West Indian negroes
+_pitied_ for their hard lot, when I know that in _these days_ it
+is so much the contrary, without trying to put my English friends
+in possession of the real state of things.
+
+It is observable, that but few negroes are to be met with who do
+not possess some money; and, in dress, they deny themselves
+nothing that pleases them, or, as they say, "fills their eye."
+Many, since emancipation, have purchased many spots of land,
+built houses, and appear to have many comforts, and almost every
+head negro keeps his pony or his horse, while others run their
+stanhopes. As I have already observed at the beginning of this
+chapter, many may think I am writing paradoxes; but such is not
+the case, and any one intimate with West Indian affairs will
+confirm my statements. The fact is, great changes have taken
+place in this island as well as everywhere else; in former days,
+when those dreadful acts of cruelty which I have recorded used to
+be practised, religion was held in very slight regard. That the
+negroes are a very provoking race all must allow who have any
+dealings with them; and men with strong passions, uninfluenced by
+Christian feelings, possessed of wealth, and having their slaves
+entirely under their control, were apt to give way to resentment
+against them when in error, and commit those deeds at which their
+descendants blush.
+
+But now the case is very different; the negro has been freed, and
+his rights as a man acknowledged. Still his interests are so
+inseparably connected with those of his employers, that the
+subversion of the one must end in the ruin of the other. What
+would any one think, who has the interest of these important
+colonies at heart, of the introduction of slave-made sugar into
+England at any rate of duty, and leaving the West Indian planter
+(after having cheerfully acquiesced in emancipation) to bear the
+burden of this high rate of wages. Although no one can deny that
+most of the Antiguan planters have benefited by emancipation, in
+the way of cultivating their estates, yet free labour, generally
+speaking, and from what has fallen beneath my own observation,
+cannot cope with slavery. No! it is the whip, and the whip alone,
+which can give to England the cheap sugar she is promised. Who,
+then, would not rather give a penny a pound more for their sugar,
+than, after having freed the British negro, eat that which is
+seasoned with the tears and groans of foreign slaves.
+
+It is among the domestic servants that negro idleness is most
+severely felt, for there are ways of making the others work,
+although the whip is banished, by checking their pay. In the case
+of our house-servants, however, it is not so easy; they seem to
+have no wish to please their employers. If left to themselves,
+they care not how the day passes, so long as they get through it;
+one English servant will do twice the work two Creoles will.
+Probably this arises in great measure from the practice of having
+so many servants to do the work that two or three at furthest
+ought to do. I have frequently seen six or seven domestics
+lounging upon the floor of an anteroom, amusing themselves with
+stringing "jumby-beads," as a pretty little red and black seed is
+called, sucking sugar-canes, or telling _nancy stories_,[22] or
+else singing one of their favourite songs; perfectly at their
+ease, it is immaterial to them whether their daily business is
+completed or not. If their mistress calls, it is often unheeded;
+or else it is, "Bro' James call see Agnes to tell aunty Jenny
+missis call he," (Anglicised, "Brother James, call sister Agnes
+to tell aunt Jenny," &c.) Thus they loiter away the day; whilst
+their _missis_, after in vain endeavouring to be heard, or at
+least attended to, resigns her fair form to the couch, and that
+listlessness which many Creole ladies like to indulge in during
+the heat of the day.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[20] Used instead of tiles for the tops of houses.
+
+[21] A by-word with the negroes when making appointments.
+
+[22] Tales of _diablerie_.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: "Shadows" continued--The crime of murder--Instances of
+  it--Hon. Sam. Martin--Giles Blizard--Adam Ogilvie.
+
+The next crime I have to mention, in this continuation of dark
+tints, is murder. This dreadful act, however, I am happy to say,
+is not very common now; in these days they seldom embrue their
+hands in human blood; but in former years, years of moral
+darkness, the negroes used frequently to suffer death for the
+Obeah practice of poisoning, or in some other way taking the
+lives of their fellow-creatures, particularly those who had
+authority over them, and who, in the exercise of that authority,
+made use of harsh measures. Perhaps it may not be uninteresting
+to some of my readers to narrate a few instances of the most
+remarkable murders which have been committed in Antigua; for,
+strange as it may appear, almost every one likes to hear of deeds
+of blood.
+
+In 1701, a dreadful murder occurred, the details of which are as
+follows:--The speaker of the house of assembly, the Hon. Samuel
+Martin, the owner of that beautiful and romantic property "Green
+Castle," had for some reason or the other refused his slaves
+their usual Christmas holiday, and compelled them to work
+throughout the day. This infraction upon what they considered
+their right so exasperated his negroes, that on the 25th of
+December, 1701, they with one accord rose upon their master,
+determined to take sure revenge. Accordingly, at the dead hour of
+the night, they broke open the doors of his mansion, and rushing
+to the chamber of Major Martin, fell upon him, and actually
+hacked him to death, with the hoes they had been using in the
+cultivation of his sugar-canes.
+
+Shocked at the dreadful fate of her husband, and fearing the same
+terrible death from the infuriated slaves, should they discover
+her, Mrs. Martin fled from the scene of horror, and with her
+frightened children, sought safety within the precincts of a
+neighbouring cane-field. Here she remained throughout the
+remainder of that awful night; until when the morning came, and
+the bright sun arose and chased away the clouds of darkness, she
+summoned courage to leave her place of concealment, and throw
+herself and children upon the protection of her friends. The body
+of the unfortunate Major Martin (after an inquest had been held
+upon it) was interred in the churchyard of St. John's; and the
+chief actors in the tragical affair were afterwards brought to
+condign punishment. Mrs. Martin lived for many years after this
+sad event, and married for her second husband Governor Byam,
+(vide Appendix, Byam Lineage.) The father of Major Martin was the
+first of the name who emigrated to the West Indies, and the
+ancestor of the present Sir Henry Martin, who traces his descent
+from thence.[23]
+
+About seventy years ago, a gentleman of the name of Giles Blizard
+owned an estate in that part of Antigua called Pope's Head, which
+estate at the present day is added to another, and the whole is
+in possession of the Hon. Bertie E. Jarvis. Giles Blizard was a
+true planter of the olden time. He resided in an old roomy
+mansion upon his estate, where wealth and meanness were strongly
+contrasted,--where the silver flagons and costly salvers
+glittered amid the coarse earthenware of England, like a proud
+and high-born beauty, who by some strange chance has been mixed
+with the common herd,--where the polished surface of the mahogany
+furniture mocked the unwashed walls and darkened roof of the
+apartments, whose protruding beams afforded safe protection to
+innumerable hordes of insects. Surrounded by his numerous slaves,
+the old gentleman exercised the power of a prince, and gave no
+bad idea of the Saxon Thane, or more haughty feudal baron.
+Everything in his dwelling was conducted upon a scale of heavy
+munificence; his table groaned beneath the weight of its various
+viands; but there was no order, no delicacy observed in the
+arrangement of them. Like the generality of Antiguan planters, he
+was hospitable in the extreme; his doors were ever open, and
+every visiter was sure of a hearty welcome. A stranger would have
+been surprised at having wines of the choicest vintage handed to
+him by a bare-footed butler, or his every movement attended to by
+a host of half-naked negroes; but such was the domestic
+arrangement of the old Antiguan mansions. Giles Blizard was
+supposed to be exceedingly rich, and to keep by him a noble
+portion of hard cash, which in _those golden days_ was generally
+in the form of doubloons and joes.[24] He was fond of boasting of
+his ample share of this world's wealth; and this exciting the
+rapacity of two of his slaves, prompted them to murder him, that
+they might become possessed of his store. A convenient
+opportunity for perpetrating this foul deed had long been waited
+for, and was at length obtained.
+
+At the close of a gloomy day, in the last month of the year, the
+old gentleman seated himself upon a sofa, and prepared to take
+his evening nap, attended only by a black boy of the name of
+Diamond. The evening was tempestuous; and between the pauses of
+the storm, the inmates of the apartment listened once or twice,
+as they thought they heard approaching footsteps; but the wind
+shook the ill secured shutters with such violence as to drown all
+other sounds, until at length they supposed that it was nothing
+but fancy, or the hollow moaning of the blast.
+
+Giles Blizard was at that period of life when to many the
+pleasures and luxuries of this world seem sweeter from the
+certainty that they are drawing near their close, for often, very
+often, is it that--
+
+   "Aged men, full loth and slow,
+    The vanities of life forego;
+    And count their youthful follies o'er,
+    Till mem'ry lends her light no more."
+
+Thoughts similar to these might float through the brain of the
+old gentleman, for Giles Blizard was a lover of conviviality, and
+many a festive scene had those old walls witnessed; but the hands
+of an antique clock, painted in various devices, pointed to the
+hour of midnight, and once more adjusting his head, the planter
+sank to sleep.
+
+The two slaves, the intended murderers, who, through a crack in
+the shutter, had been watching the movement of their master and
+his youthful attendant, perceiving by his unaltered position and
+deep breathing that he slept, and having full proof of the
+other's being in that oblivious state from the sound of his nasal
+organs, quietly took off the shutter, and entered the apartment,
+armed with a blunderbuss. Placing their hands upon the shoulders
+of the old gentleman, and holding the deadly weapon to his ear,
+they demanded where he kept his cash. In vain their victim prayed
+for mercy--in vain solicited the boon of one short hour to
+collect his scattered thoughts; the murderers were not to be
+turned from their fell purpose; the finger was pressed upon the
+fatal trigger, and the deed was done; the soul of Giles Blizard
+winged its way to the vast shores of eternity, and the sofa where
+he laid him down in full confidence of safety was covered with
+his brains, and blood, and silver hairs.
+
+Shocking as it is to humanity to relate, one of the criminals was
+the natural son of the old man, who, although he was not the
+actual murderer, was the instigator of the dreadful act; for
+when, at his master's earnest prayer for mercy, the black man
+seemed to relent, Geoffry (the name of Mr. Blizard's coloured
+son) told him to do it at once, and make sure of it, or else he
+would himself. After the perpetration of this atrocious crime,
+the murderers placed the blunderbuss upon a table, close to the
+side of their victim, with a glass of brandy and water near it,
+supposing that, when discovered, it would be surmised that it was
+an act of self-destruction; but murder is an offence "that's
+rank, it smells to heaven," and, in most instances, the slayer is
+discovered. The boy, who really slept upon the entrance of the
+men, was awakened by the noise; but perceiving the blunderbuss,
+and hearing the conversation which ensued between his master and
+his murderers, he became alarmed, and, to ensure his own safety,
+counterfeited sleep. Upon the morrow's dawn he hastened to relate
+the circumstance, and by these means the offenders were brought
+to justice. They were carried before a magistrate, and condemned
+to suffer death by decapitation on the following day, which was
+Christmas-day; but Mr. Rose, the then marshal, got it postponed
+until the day after, thinking that a greater number of spectators
+would be present, to whom it would act as a warning. The culprits
+were taken down to a spot where such scenes were generally
+performed, and which still goes by the name of Gallows Bay, and
+there, after being blindfolded, they were bound to the upright
+post of the gallows, their right hands first struck off, and then
+their heads. The heads, after being dipped in pitch, were stuck
+upon spikes, and the hands nailed under them, while their bodies
+were carried down to the water's edge, and there burned in a
+lime-kiln. This, I think, was the last time decapitation was
+practised in Antigua, although in former years that mode of
+execution was very frequent; it may be said, perhaps, that it is
+more dreadful to the sight than pain to the culprit, for a
+skilful executioner at one stroke would sever the head from the
+body; but I must say I am very happy that now no whitened skull
+or distorted features are likely to meet my sight in an evening
+walk.
+
+The next most remarkable murder committed in Antigua was one in
+which a young man of good extraction was the unfortunate victim.
+About the year 1800, Mr. Adam Ogilvie, son to Sir John Ogilvie,
+arrived in Antigua, to take charge of his father's property in
+that island. Young Ogilvie was in the spring of life, for he had
+not numbered more than twenty years, and all things glittered
+around him, and presented to his eye a fair and pleasing
+prospect. But, alas! for man "nought ministers delight but what
+the glowing passions can engage;" drawn by that alluring goddess,
+Pleasure, who hides beneath a smiling mask her haggard and
+distorted visage, Mr. Ogilvie was led into a train of debauchery,
+and, among other excesses, formed an illicit connexion with a
+female named Molly belonging to the property. To this female
+might justly be applied the hackneyed sentence, "Frailty, thy
+name is woman!" for during this intercourse with her master, she
+proved _enceinte_ by one of the servants, a boy of the name of
+"Martin;" and fearing a disclosure of her infamy, and not willing
+to give up her favoured suitor, she, in conjunction with him and
+two other slaves upon the property, planned the murder of her
+unfortunate master. During the residence of Mr. Ogilvie upon the
+estate, he thought proper to have some of the negroes punished
+for various offences committed by them, among whom were the
+accomplices of Martin and Molly, and this was one cause of their
+so readily joining them in their diabolical scheme.
+
+On the night chosen for the execution of their design, Mr.
+Ogilvie retired early to-bed, and soon tasted that sweet restorer
+--balmy sleep. His murderers, after waiting a sufficient time to
+assure themselves of the fact, proceeded in a body to his
+apartment, attended by the wicked, heartless Molly, bearing a
+candle and lanthorn in her hand, for the purpose of giving light
+to the men while in performance of their demoniacal office of
+strangling Mr. Ogilvie. Upon gaining the bedside of their
+sleeping victim, who, unconscious of his fate, perhaps some
+
+   "Fantastic measure trod o'er fairy fields,"
+
+or else dreamt of health, long life and honours, all alas! fated
+to exist but in the brain--the murderous party sprang upon him,
+and as a refinement in cruelty, awoke him, and with many
+imprecations, informed him that for his ill conduct, they were
+come for the purpose of taking his life. Death is common to all;
+but then to die by violent hands in the midst of health and
+vigour; to be so rudely awakened from an earthly slumber, so soon
+to be consigned to that last long sleep, which all must do,
+
+   "When we have shuffled off this mortal coil;"
+
+how hard to bear! What "tempest to the soul!" Oh! how that victim
+begged! how promised to be all they wished, would they but give
+him that one boon--life, which, when once taken, can never be
+restored. All was of no avail! To each agonized entreaty, no
+answer was returned, but a firmer grasp upon his throat. Mr.
+Ogilvie had ever been in the practice of sleeping with loaded
+pistols under his pillow, and in this moment of danger, one of
+his first cares was to possess himself of those weapons. But here
+again Molly stepped in as his evil genius; for to carry fully
+into effect her murderous intentions, she had, during the
+preceding day, contrived to take out the flints. The tragedy
+hastened to a close; disappointed in his hopes of defence, and
+pinioned by his murderers, Mr. Ogilvie's struggles became fainter
+and fainter--his sighs burst thicker from his lips--the blood
+gushed in torrents to his head and face, as his deadly enemies
+pressed more tightly the heaving throat--his blood-shot eyes
+started from their sockets--and with one sharp pang, one choking
+frenzied cry, his spirit winged its flight to another sphere, and
+his body sank on the pillow a blackened corpse.
+
+The dreadful deed completed, no feeling of contrition, no twinge
+of conscience haunted the murderers; but taking the key of the
+cellar, they hastened to convey to the chamber of the dead, a
+bottle of wine, and another of shrub. After enjoying themselves
+with a portion of these liquors, they placed the remainder upon
+the bed, at the feet of their inanimate victim, thinking that as
+Mr. Ogilvie had lately given way to excessive inebriety, an
+indulgence in that vice would be considered as the cause of his
+death, when the body should be discovered.
+
+Long did the overseer upon the property wait the following
+morning for the appearance of his employer; anxiously did he
+watch the door, as hour after hour rolled away; but the door
+still remained closed, and his patience becoming exhausted, and
+fearful of some misfortune, he at length determined to burst it
+open. This effected, the dreadful truth quickly forced itself
+upon his conviction; there lay Mr. Ogilvie stiff and cold, who
+only the day before exulted in all the glow and strength of
+youth. As no information could be obtained from either of the
+servants, as to whether Mr. Ogilvie had complained of
+indisposition during the night, it was thought necessary to call
+a coroner's inquest to sit upon the body; and consequently,
+Martin, on account of his being the deceased's most constant
+attendant, was despatched to convey the necessary information to
+the coroner.
+
+Mr. Ogilvie's estate was situated at the extreme west end of the
+island, and at that period, the person who exercised the office
+of coroner resided at the extreme east end. Martin, who knew too
+well the cause of his unfortunate master's death, found his
+interest lay in retarding, rather than urging on his journey, and
+from this cause, the coroner did not reach Mr. Ogilvie's
+residence until the following day, when the body was found to be
+in such a decomposed state, that the coroner's jury could form no
+correct opinion as to the cause of his death, and therefore
+returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God."[25]
+
+So far all was well with Martin and his associates; no hand
+pointed to them, no eye watched their movements. Suspicion was at
+rest; and no "foul whisperings" were abroad which would tend to
+urge further inquiry into the tragic event. In this manner, three
+years rolled away; but murder will out; sooner or later, such
+deeds are published in the broad front of heaven. Like the savage
+tiger, who, having once tasted human blood, longs for more,
+Martin and his accomplices, finding how well they got through
+their first murder, resolved to attempt the life of the manager,
+Mr. David Simon.
+
+Mr. Simon had been living upon another estate belonging to the
+Ogilvie family and for some time before had been suffering from
+severe indisposition. When in a convalescent state, he was
+invited by Dr. Ogilvie (who had taken charge of the estates,
+after the demise of Mr. Adam Ogilvie) to spend some time with
+him, for change of air. The room appropriated for his reception
+was the one in which Mr. Adam Ogilvie met his fate: and here it
+was that Martin and his party determined to strangle him, as they
+had formerly done their master. Night, "sable goddess," from her
+ebon throne, "stretched her leaden sceptre o'er a slumbering
+world," and Mr. Simon retired to rest; but before he courted the
+embrace of sleep, his thoughts dwelt upon that kind Power who had
+so graciously supported him throughout a severe fit of illness,
+and at length brought him to that state of convalescence when he
+could again enjoy those things which make life sweet. Whilst
+ruminating upon these subjects, his attention was drawn to a
+slight rustle in his apartment, and listening more intently, he
+heard a whispering voice exclaim, "Hold him!" His first plan was
+to spring from his bed, but in the act of doing so, he was
+grappled by one or two of his assassins. Fearful was the struggle
+which ensued--the one striving for his life, the others for their
+safety, which they well knew would be lost did their intended
+victim escape. At length, wonderfully renewed with a sufficient
+degree of strength, Mr. Simon was enabled to jump to the back of
+the bed, which fortunately happened to be distant two or three
+feet from the partition--a place not calculated for the murderers
+following up their attack. Here, keeping his assassins at bay,
+Mr. Simon redoubled his cries of murder, which at length were
+fortunately heard by Dr. Ogilvie, who occupied a distant chamber,
+and who quickly coming to his assistance, the culprits became
+alarmed, and endeavoured to make their escape by the windows.
+This they finally succeeded in doing, but not before Martin (the
+individual who, it will be remembered, was sent to call the
+coroner on the occasion of Mr. Ogilvie's untimely death) was
+fully recognised by the manager and Dr. Ogilvie. The next
+morning, it was discovered that Martin and his accomplices had
+absconded, upon which, search was made, and in the course of a
+short time, they were apprehended and brought up for trial.
+Molly, the faithless paramour of Mr. Ogilvie, turned king's
+evidence; and in the course of her examination, admitted the
+facts of that gentleman's murder, and her own share in that
+shocking deed. It may be necessary to observe, that when the
+murder of Mr. Ogilvie was determined, the ranger upon the estate,
+a man of the name of Jacob, was fully sensible of their
+intentions, although he would not aid them in the completion; he
+was therefore found guilty as an accessary before the fact, and
+with Martin and the others, condemned and executed; his body hung
+in chains upon the property as a warning to others. Molly and her
+child are still alive, and reside upon the estate where she
+played so shameful a part; whether a prey to remorse, I am unable
+to say; but we hope she has truly repented, and sought pardon
+where it is only to be found--at the throne of Heaven.
+
+The family annals of Sir John Ogilvie present little but a series
+of disasters. Out of nine sons, two died prematurely in the East
+Indies, one was killed in Egypt, another fell in the capture of
+Martinique, while, as we have already seen, young Adam was
+murdered in Antigua.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[23] For the genealogy of the Martin family, see Appendix.
+
+[24] A gold coin, of about the value of 3l. 4s.. sterling. The
+joe was a gold coin worth about 36s.. sterling.
+
+[25] Decomposition takes place so soon in this warm country, that
+interment is necessary within twenty-four hours after
+dissolution.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: The crime of poisoning--Instance of it--Murder of Mr.
+  Brown--Love and jealousy--The end of unlawful love--Infanticide
+  --Incendiarism--A late instance of it--Polygamy--Disregard of
+  marriage vows.
+
+After having given a short sketch of the murder of Mr. Blizard
+and Mr. Ogilvie by their slaves, it was my intention to have
+entered more fully into the cases of poisoning which in days gone
+by have occurred in this country. But in looking over the
+dreadful catalogue of such crimes, I find them so frequent, and
+the manner in which they were carried into effect so similar,
+that one instance will suffice.
+
+About twenty years ago, a woman of the name of Betsey, belonging
+to a highly respectable family, had a dispute with her mistress.
+With the feeling of revenge burning at her heart, she carried her
+complaint to a friend, who advised her to consult an Obeah man,
+and get him to give her _something_. Not having an opportunity of
+going herself, or else not wishful of being known, she sent an
+old woman of the name of Jenny, an _attachée_ of the yard, to
+obtain the deadly potion, the mysterious _something_, as the
+negroes generally termed it. The old woman accordingly visited an
+Obeah man of the name of John, who gave her a liquid which was to
+be administered to her mistress in some of her nourishment, and
+which he said would kill her in one minute. This obtained by
+Betsey, who, like most of her tribe, was the slave of her
+passions, she resolved to lose no time in carrying her plan of
+revenge into execution; accordingly, she handed it to the butler,
+with whom, it appears, she had formed a _liaison_, and who was
+concerned with her in her plot, with injunctions to put it into
+whatever liquid her mistress might order. By some means or the
+other, a suspicion that all was not right was raised; certain
+circumstances were inquired into, and the result was that Betsey
+and her accomplices were tried and executed. Old Jenny, the
+messenger employed in their dealings with the Obeah man, was
+sentenced to work in the street-gang for a certain period. From
+her statement at her trial, that the Obeah man, John, told her
+the draught would kill her mistress in "one minute," she ever
+after obtained that cognomen from the negroes about the streets.
+
+In the year 1820-30, another murder was committed, the details of
+which are as follows:--A person of the name of Brown was living
+as overseer upon an estate called Big Deurs, now in possession of
+Messrs. Manning and Anderdon. The negroes upon this property had
+been for a long time in the habit of pilfering, and in many
+instances Mr. Brown had discovered the offenders, which caused
+him to be disliked, and determined one among them, more
+heartless, perhaps, than the rest, to undertake his destruction.
+On Christmas day, Mr. Brown rode to La Roche's, a neighbouring
+estate, and upon his return in the evening, between the hours of
+six and seven, he met with his untimely death.
+
+The slave to whom Mr. Brown had rendered himself particularly
+obnoxious was named Cambridge, and this man had long lain in wait
+for an opportunity of completing his crime, and for the purpose
+had sharpened an old copper skimmer, (used in boiling sugar,)
+which he thought would prove an effective weapon.
+
+Mr. Brown, like too many other white men in this island, carried
+on an amour with a woman belonging to the property, named
+Christiana, and it was the first intention of Cambridge to murder
+her as well as the overseer, supposing it was through her
+communications that so many discoveries of thefts had been made.
+On the Christmas day, Cambridge dressed himself in his best suit,
+and proceeded with many of his fellow slaves to the Methodist
+chapel at Parham, intending upon his return home to waylay and
+murder the woman, who had also visited the same place of worship.
+In pursuance of his plan, he hurried out of chapel immediately
+after service, and took up his stand in a part of the road which
+he knew Christiana must pass. After waiting in vain for a long
+time, a group of negroes at length hastened by, when Cambridge,
+whose stock of patience was exhausted, joined them, and asked if
+they knew where Christiana was? In answer to his query, they
+informed him she had visited a neighbouring estate, and after
+remaining there for a short time had proceeded home by another
+path. Thus thwarted in his views of obtaining revenge, his
+designs upon Mr. Brown gained double hold of him; and hastening
+home, he disrobed himself, put on his working-dress, and first
+telling his wife, "_That he had lost one opportunity, but he
+would take good care he did not lose the next_," quitted the
+house, taking the old copper skimmer with him.
+
+It was a beautiful evening; the moon shone in all her splendour,
+and every star that twinkled in the heavens glittered around that
+murderer's step. Oh, that such dreadful thoughts should have
+possessed that man's mind in the midst of such a lovely scene
+upon the evening of that very day when angels proclaimed "Good
+will towards man!" But, alas!--
+
+   "Nor grateful evening mild, nor silent night,
+    ---------------- nor walk by moon,
+    Or glittering starlight,"
+
+had any effect upon his hardened heart--
+
+   "His soul was dark within;
+    He lived but in the sound
+    Of shamelessness and sin."
+
+Many a minute stole away, and Cambridge (who had concealed
+himself in a cane-piece, bordering the road his intended victim
+must necessarily pass) kept his fatal stand. Not a sound was
+heard, save the evening breeze as it whispered among the long
+leaves of the sugar-cane, or the occasional croaking of some
+night reptile. At length, the tread of a horse's foot was heard,
+and warned the murderer to be upon his guard. Unconscious of the
+dreadful fate hanging over him, Mr. Brown rode slowly on,
+accompanied by a black boy, when, as he was passing between two
+cane-pieces, just where the canes grew thick and high, with one
+bound the murderer was upon him. A heavy blow from the sharpened
+skimmer upon his head, stunned him; and ere a prayer could rise
+to his lips, his soul flew to meet his God, and his murderer was
+left standing alone, with the stain of human blood upon him.[26]
+
+The boy who accompanied his unfortunate master was the nephew of
+the culprit; but as he was unperceived by Cambridge, he was
+enabled to make his escape into the cane-field, where he remained
+an unknown observer of the dreadful event. As soon as the
+murderer had quitted the spot, the boy hastened to the overseer's
+house (not far distant) and related to the inmates the fate of
+his master, and the name of his destroyer. An immediate alarm was
+given, and, guided by the boy, they quickly reached the scene of
+murder, where they discovered the unfortunate overseer, bereft of
+life, and presenting an appearance too horrible for description.
+They then proceeded in quest of Cambridge, whom they found at his
+hut, with his blood-stained garments still upon him, and in the
+act of washing his unhallowed hands.
+
+After a coroner's inquest upon the body, and a verdict (according
+to the circumstances of the case) returned, Cambridge was
+conveyed to the capital, where he took his trial for murder. He
+was found guilty, and condemned to suffer death by hanging; and
+to make the punishment more impressive to others, he was ordered
+to be carried to Osborn's Pasture, in the vicinity of the spot
+where the murder was committed, and there to be hung and
+gibbeted.
+
+Long did his whitened bones glisten in the moonbeams; and as the
+wind shook the chains which held the body, many a little negro
+who had strayed that way in search of guavas, fled from the spot,
+for fear of the "dead man's jumby."
+
+About ten years ago, murder again stained the annals of Antigua.
+The slayer was one of the softer sex, and jealousy prompted her
+to the act. She broke into the house where her rival lived, and
+in her passion at finding her husband an inmate of the dwelling,
+stabbed her who had destroyed her peace. The husband escaped by
+the window; and after the perpetration of the deed, the murderess
+obtained the assistance of some of her friends, and between them
+they dragged the body of the murdered woman to the beach, and
+threw it into the sea. Weights were attached to the feet of the
+corpse to make it sink; but they were either insufficient, or
+they became detached, and the body floated. A negro belonging to
+a neighbouring estate, who was out searching for stray cattle,
+discovered it among some mangrove trees, and gave the alarm, the
+deed was traced to the woman, and she was condemned to follow her
+victim to the "tribunal of the Just."
+
+Since then, this offence has rarely been repeated; but some
+instances there have been since my residence in this country,
+where the demon Revenge has sealed and stamped them for his own,
+and instigated them to perpetrate crimes at which the soul
+revolts. A circumstance of this kind occurred in the year 1840. A
+black man, of the name of Joseph Gould, formerly belonging to the
+Rev. Mr. Gilbert, the descendant of the founder of Methodism in
+Antigua, was living in an unlawful state with a coloured girl, of
+whom he became jealous, and in consequence resolved to end her
+existence. The unfortunate woman was murdered in a very brutal
+manner, by means of a thick stick, which completely shattered the
+head, and scattered the brains; her fingers and part of her ears
+were then cut off, to secure the rings and earrings which she was
+too fond of wearing, and the body then flung into a cane-piece.
+
+The dreadful effluvia first attracted notice; and after some
+search, the body was found. A woman came forward and related some
+circumstances which occurred upon the last evening the
+unfortunate girl was seen alive, which led to the apprehension of
+Gould. He was brought to trial,--the evidence was all
+circumstantial,--and after a patient investigation of the case,
+he was sentenced to transportation for life. It appears, however,
+that no opportunity has occurred of putting the sentence into
+effect, as he still remains an inmate of the gaol, where it is
+said he suffers the stings of a guilty conscience, which conjures
+up the shade of the murdered girl before him, soon as "evening
+gray" sets in. This is the last case of particular note which has
+stained the domestic pages of this pretty little island; and I do
+hope, that now education is so liberally tendered, the minds of
+all classes may become enlightened, and this horrible crime
+become extinct.
+
+Infanticide has also been too often perpetrated in Antigua,
+particularly since emancipation; although, it is true, it does
+not prevail to the extent it does in that "emporium of the world"
+--London. It is one of those unnatural offences which shews too
+clearly our fallen state. "Can a woman forget her sucking child?"
+is asked by the inspired Book; and then, as if the sad reality of
+what human nature is capable of is remembered, it is added, yes,
+"She may forget!" And, alas! those words have indeed proved true:
+the mother has indeed forgotten to have compassion upon the
+helpless little being which has derived its existence from
+herself.
+
+In the days of slavery, the negroes were not allowed by law to
+marry; the union between them in most cases lasting only so long
+as agreeable to themselves. From this cause, it was frequent to
+find a family of eight or nine children, who all owned, perhaps,
+different fathers. This the woman considered no disgrace, and
+consequently had no incentive to disguise the fact by destroying
+the child. The case, however, is now different with many. Since
+schools have been established in this country for the benefit of
+the negroes, it has been the constant aim of the parents, in most
+cases, to avail themselves of the privilege, by sending their
+children to receive instruction. So far all is well; I am a great
+advocate for the spread of education among the lower classes, and
+think not, with some, that the withholding knowledge from them is
+the only security for obedience. "If ignorance is bliss, 'tis
+folly to be wise," says one, whose name stands high in the rolls
+of literary fame; and those who would wish to debar the poor from
+receiving the instruction tendered at the different free-schools
+&c. are apt to take this sentence as their motto, without
+answering the question it undoubtedly implies, "where _is_
+ignorance bliss?" It is good when the labourer feels his want of
+learning, and strives to obtain for his children the boon which
+has been denied his own youth. But the great evil which is likely
+to ensue in this island, from this liberal gift of education,
+until the negroes become more wise, is in this--when they send
+their children, particularly their daughters, to a school where
+they are taught to read and write, &c., they fancy that any kind
+of servitude will be a degradation to them; and consequently
+every means in their power are tried to bring them up as
+_ladies_, that is, to sit in the house all day, although, for a
+remuneration, they will condescend to do a certain portion of
+needlework for any one who may require it; or else to get them
+appointed teacher in some of the infant schools upon the several
+estates. These "young ladies" of course lay aside the ancient
+fashion of tying their heads with many-coloured handkerchiefs,
+and wear bonnets instead; and that everything may appear in a
+proper light, whatever follies or errors they may commit, they
+endeavour to screen as far as lies in their power. It is
+principally among this class of persons, then, that the crime of
+infanticide is to be found: to preserve their own character in
+the eyes of the world, they add to their former error the heavier
+guilt of murder; and without one pang of remorse, expose to the
+hungry dogs the little innocent they ought to have guarded with
+double care, as they had already deeply injured it by denying it
+a father's protection. Several instances of this kind have lately
+occurred within a short period; but the subject is so revolting
+to the sensitive mind, that we will banish any further mention of
+it from these pages.
+
+In the list of higher offences, incendiarism must be noticed,
+which has been frequently practised by the negroes to carry out
+their plans of revenge. Before emancipation, as well as at the
+present period, the horizon has been frequently illuminated with
+the glare of an incendiary fire. We have already seen, in the
+year 1831, how much the negroes resented the abolition of their
+Sunday markets, by scattering abroad that devastating element;
+and within a few weeks ago, a case of arson occurred in the
+capital, which might have proved very fatal in its consequence.
+
+A highly respectable inhabitant of Antigua, had, with his family,
+retired for the night, perfectly unconscious of harm. Who would
+not think himself safe within the precincts of his own home?--
+where but in that fortress would we look for rest? Alas! that
+human depravity should rage to such an extent that, even in our
+own domestic circle, revenge, that deadly "upas," should spring
+up, to destroy, with its poisonous exhalation, that great
+blessing, family peace! A few words between the servants of the
+establishment and their employer led, it is supposed, to the
+event, which, had it not been fortunately discovered, might have
+hurried a whole family into eternity by one of the most dreadful
+deaths.
+
+On the night in question, a female inmate of his house was unable
+to sleep, and after tossing about for some time with a degree of
+feverish irritation, her sense of smelling was considerably
+annoyed by what appeared to be the smouldering of burning cloth.
+Awaking the rest of the family, she communicated to them her
+alarm, and on proceeding to the staircase to ascertain the cause,
+it was found to be completely enveloped in smoke. Making their
+way down with precipitation, a sofa was discovered to be in
+flames, which, with some difficulty, was extinguished, and once
+more the family prepared to seek their respective chambers. As,
+however, they proceeded to the staircase for that purpose, a
+lambent line of light was perceived to issue from a small closet
+under the stairs, and upon opening the door, it was found to be
+in a blaze, and small billets of wood, coals, and other
+combustibles, heaped together amid the pile of table-linen,
+silver, &c., which the place contained. A reward of one hundred
+pounds sterling has been offered by the owner for the purpose of
+discovering the offender, but nothing has been elicited which
+could lead to the apprehension of the miscreant, who, for the
+gratification of an evil passion, would have so heartlessly
+injured those who never offended. It appears strange that the
+legislature should have taken no notice of this wilful deed
+(which might once more have spread the horrors of a conflagration
+throughout the town) by increasing the reward offered; it must
+have been a great oversight on their part, as their own safety
+might depend upon it; for if the perpetrators of the deed remain
+unknown, and consequently unpunished, who can say where the evil
+may end?
+
+From taking a short glance at incendiarism, the next point to be
+considered is polygamy--and here, again, we see the demoralizing
+effects of slavery. It has been before remarked that there was no
+legal marriage rite for slaves, such unions being merely
+transitory. It is true by what has been called the "Melioration
+Act," rewards were held out to such slaves who should preserve
+their fidelity in such contracts; and those persons who had the
+management of negroes were forbidden to encourage immorality
+among the women by their own example. But, alas for Antigua! when
+were these regulations put in force? No European can imagine to
+what extent such vices were carried in former days, vices which
+will still be painfully felt by society for many, many years to
+come--at any rate, until this generation shall have passed away;
+and, even then, the plague-spot will, perhaps, shew its taint.
+When the light of day began to dawn upon this benighted part of
+the globe by the introduction of Christianity among the negroes,
+they were encouraged by the Moravians and Methodists to choose a
+partner from among the other sex, and, in the face of the
+congregation, vow to each other fidelity and love. Although, of
+course, such marriages were not held binding by law, it was hoped
+that it would in some measure check the increase of immorality;
+and, in some instances, it might have done so, but the greater
+part violated those vows without compunction, or held them only
+until a fresh object gained their attention. It has been
+frequently known for a man thus married to maintain his wife and
+his mistress in the same house, which arrangement occasioned
+frequent domestic broils; and in such cases, the man, being
+applied to as umpire, has settled the dispute by remarking to his
+mistress, "That she must not quarrel with her companion, who was
+_his wife_, and that if she did, he would turn her away;" and
+then, addressing the aggrieved wife, tell her, for her
+consolation, "That she must not mind, because she was his _wife
+already!_"
+
+After the negroes were freed from the thrall of slavery in 1834,
+and the same privileges open to them as to the rest of the
+British subjects, it was their pride to be married at the
+established church. In many instances, they had been already
+joined by the Moravian or Methodist preachers, but wishing to get
+rid of their partners, who had borne with them the brunt of
+slavery, they privately paid their addresses to some of the young
+ladies already mentioned, carried them to the altar, and there
+married in direct opposition to their former vows, which were as
+binding and sacred in the eyes of God as if his grace the
+Archbishop of Canterbury had pronounced the nuptial benediction.
+Among such an immense number of negroes, it is almost impossible
+to discover the offenders in this respect against common decency,
+although the clergymen are generally indefatigable in their
+exertions to discover the truth. Still, vigilant as they are,
+they have been deceived; and instances are known, where parties
+have been twice married, even in the episcopal church. In some
+cases, a wedding-party have assembled within the sacred walls,
+the intended bride and bridegroom waiting at the altar until the
+lips of the presiding minister shall have made them one; when, as
+that solemn charge has been given, "If either of you know any
+impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together in
+matrimony, ye do now confess it," those important words, "I do,"
+have been suddenly heard, and (as in most cases) a female has
+come forward declaring that herself and the guilty beau had been
+long ago married at the chapel. When such circumstances have
+occurred, and the clergyman refused to re-marry them, it has been
+no unfrequent practice for the parties to embark on board a small
+vessel, and proceeding to Monserrat, or some other island, there
+to procure the completion of their unhallowed purpose.
+
+Another evil to be deplored is, that even when parties are
+lawfully joined in the bands of wedlock, they pay such little
+regard to the solemnity of the act. The smart dresses, (for which
+often they commit an unlawful deed,) the plentiful breakfast, or
+lunch, the gilded cake, and the driving about in borrowed gigs,
+is much more thought of by them than the serious, the important
+promise of loving one another in sickness and in health, and,
+forsaking all others, cleave only unto them who, by the
+ordinances of God and man, are made one flesh. From this want of
+regard to the serious part of the ceremony, great mischief
+ensues. As soon as the novelty has worn off, the husband forgets
+the wife he ought to cherish, and the wife forgets his honour
+which she is bound to protect. The old leaven cleaves about them,
+and throwing off all shame, they follow the bad example of their
+parents, (who indeed are less faulty than themselves, not having
+had such means of instruction;) and by these means, give to the
+country, instead of an honest peasantry, a race of idle
+illegitimate children. I would by no means take upon myself to
+state, that of the many weddings which weekly take place among
+this "sober-hued" people, none remember to keep their
+marriage-vows unstained; on the contrary, no doubt many find it
+what it should be--a state "ordained for the mutual society,
+help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both
+in prosperity and adversity."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[26] The negroes say that no grass has ever grown in the spot
+where the blood dropped since the time of the murder.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: A little change for the better--"Shadows nursed by
+  night retire"--Respect to age--Filial affection--Generosity--
+  Their kindness to the poorer class of whites--Cleanliness--the
+  opposite vice--Behaviour at church--A black exhorter--Reading
+  and writing--An anecdote.
+
+I am happy to find that at length I have got over the most
+prominent vices of the negroes. I must say I have a great love
+for my species, of whatever shade they may be, and I would at any
+time rather have to paint their virtues than their vices. But,
+alas for human nature! the latter are by far the most numerous,
+or else "men's _evil_ manners live in _brass_, their _virtues_ we
+write in _water_." To relieve ourselves for a little from the
+dreadful deeds of blood which have so lately engaged our
+attention, let us turn from the "shadows," and try to pick out of
+the negro character something a little pleasanter--something
+which, if we are forbidden to term virtues, we may, at least,
+give them the appellation of good qualities.
+
+In pursuance of our plan, I think we may mention filial
+affection, and the respect they pay it. It is but seldom that a
+child will behave ill to its parent; on the contrary, they
+generally do for them whatever lies in their power. Age, too, is
+particularly venerated; and the noisy little negroes at their
+sport will stop while one of their old people are passing, with
+"How d'ye, marm?" and "How d'ye, me pic'nee?" is the courteous
+reply. Generosity may also be mentioned among the "lights" of
+their character. When they see one of their own class in
+distress, they generally relieve them to the extent of their
+ability, and to their sorrows turn a listening ear. When any of
+their friends or relatives die, they commonly have some little
+offering to make to assist in defraying the expenses of the
+funeral. Sometimes they will carry a bottle of wine or porter--
+sometimes bread and cheese, or a few biscuits, &c.; but however
+small the article is, it is always gratefully received, for this
+feasting at a funeral is as necessary to their idea of etiquette
+as giving the corpse a shroud or a coffin.
+
+Nor do negroes always confine their generosity to their own
+colour, of which I can give a striking example. It is true, it
+does not much concern either "Antigua" or "the Antiguans," but I
+have already apologized for wandering out of my path, and this
+comes so _apropos_, that I cannot refrain from mentioning it. In
+the course of my peregrinations through different parts of the
+world, it has been my fate to meet with many deplorable objects--
+the half-starved diseased negroes--the dirty emaciated North
+American Indians, and their miserable squaws, (as they term their
+wives,) suffering from the effects of the alcohol they purchase
+from their white brethren at the expense of their domestic joys--
+the ragged, quarrelsome "wild Irish," "the finest _pisantry_ in
+the world," in their own estimation--the deformed and almost
+naked beggars of England; but in all my travels I never saw so
+truly wretched a class, taking them altogether, as the poor white
+inhabitants of Barbados. I never shall forget the appearance they
+presented to my eyes upon my first visit to "Little England," as
+the Barbadians in their pride call their pleasant little island.
+From the intense heat of the sun, and their constant exposure to
+its rays, their complexions are changed from a natural white to a
+fiery red. The women allow their long hair to float all down
+their backs, and be blown about by every zephyr. This may sound
+very pretty in poetry, but it is anything but pretty in _real
+life_, particularly when we take into consideration the colour
+and state of these locks; the fervent kisses of the "great
+luminary" has changed them into the appearance of dirty flax,
+while their disordered and matted condition brings the idea
+forcibly to your mind, that they have seldom, if ever, undergone
+the ordeal of "brush and comb." With respect to their persons,
+they are, generally, almost in a state of nudity, or their dress
+is put on in such a manner that it leaves you with that
+impression; no shoes or stockings envelope their feet, while
+their meagre, attenuated forms altogether produce an effect which
+no pen can accurately describe.
+
+The men look even worse than the women, for to their squalid
+appearance they add the air of a "Regent-street lounger." Their
+castors stand in great want of "Rowland's Macassar," as well as
+Dr. Winn's "true anticardiam," which engages to make _old_
+articles look like _new_; the original size has gradually
+diminished until it is almost insufficient to cover their
+pericranium, while the form beats in distortion those to be daily
+seen in the shop-windows of "Lloyd." This _elegant_ article of
+dress is placed upon _one side_ of the head, while on the other
+protrudes a huge mass of disordered hair. With regard to the
+other articles of clothing, they bear anything but the marks of
+taste, their coats being generally "out at elbows," and partly
+devoid of collars, their trousers reaching about half down their
+legs, and the use of shoes and stockings dispensed with; a short
+stick denominated a "two _foot_ two" swings from their hands, and
+then the costume is complete. Their houses are as dirty as their
+persons, and from their incurable habits of idleness, starvation
+is often their fate. To these poor unfortunates, the Barbadian
+negroes are known to step forth as their guardian angels; they
+will work for them, feed them, clothe them, and often shelter
+them from the weather, and all this is done without the slightest
+wish or prospect of receiving remuneration; their generosity in
+some instances knows no bounds, and they will attend to their
+every want with the kindness and affection of a parent. Although
+we have no such miserable objects in Antigua, still I am
+persuaded that, were it the case, the negroes of this island
+would not be behind their Barbadian brethren in these acts of
+charity; for whenever any European sailors get out of employ, and
+wander about the streets in a state of misery, (although brought
+on by their own misdemeanour in most instances,) the Antiguan
+negroes extend to them their bounty, taking them to their houses
+and giving them food, and not unfrequently small sums of money.
+
+Next to generosity, cleanliness (in most instances) may be ranked
+among their good qualities. Those who have any regard to
+appearance make frequent use of water, which, in this climate, is
+particularly conducive to good health; and they are careful to
+make their children follow their example in this particular. In
+their houses they are also very cleanly, and their culinary
+articles are kept with the greatest care. They are very fond of
+sending presents of eatables to their acquaintance, (such as
+portions of their breakfast or dinner, &c., particularly
+house-servants;) and when this is the case, they always pay some
+regard to appearance. A clean white towel is wrapt round it,
+whatever the viands may be; and if soup forms a part, it is sure
+to be sent in a smart-coloured cup, with a cover. Sundays are the
+principal days on which such presents are sent; and an observer
+may often catch the little messengers peeping into the utensil
+which contains the savoury mess, or tasting it, by inserting one
+or more of their fingers, at the hazard of receiving a flogging,
+should the tidings reach the donor's ears.
+
+It must, however, be allowed, that all negroes are not celebrated
+for their purity of habits; on the contrary, there are many
+exceptions among the indolent, and these present an appearance
+painful to behold. Among the men, all the money they can procure
+is spent upon that plague of the West Indies, "new rum;"
+consequently, what they wear is of no importance to them. They
+are, indeed, in a state bordering upon nakedness; and the filthy
+manner in which they keep their persons renders them disgusting
+in the extreme. A small insect, which is called a _chegoe_, or,
+as the negroes express it, "jigger," gets into their feet; and if
+not extracted in time, makes its nest and breeds in the flesh.
+The dirty and indolent beings I am now describing allow these
+insects to breed so fast, and remain until they attain to such a
+size, that it is impossible for them to be taken out; and the
+consequence is, they feed upon the flesh, until the feet are in
+such a state, that they are often obliged to suffer amputation as
+far as the knee. Again--the dirt which they allow to remain upon
+them for so long a time, produces various horrible complaints,
+which, in the end, also call for the knife of the surgeon. This
+latter class of persons meet with the abhorrence of all their
+tribe, who never fail to express their contempt whenever they
+meet; and was it not for the humane conduct of the Rev. R.
+Holberton, (whose name must often occur in "Antigua and the
+Antiguans,") by seeking them out, and getting them admitted into
+the lazaretto, (which owes its origin to his exertions,) many
+must expire in the open roads.
+
+But to return to the good qualities of the negroes. Another thing
+worthy of remark is, the quiet and decorous manner in which they
+behave in a place of worship. Upon my first arrival in this
+country, I was particularly pleased with the conduct of the black
+congregation at the episcopal church. Not the least noise was to
+be heard--only the voice of the preacher, and the deep, and
+apparently heartfelt responses of the people; and during the
+sermon, the dropping of a pin upon the floor could have been
+heard, so silent and motionless were they. At particular parts of
+the service, all were kneeling, with the _appearance_ of the
+deepest humility. Nearly all the negroes belong to one sect or
+the other, and keep the outward ordinances of religion with
+exactness. They all talk of the goodness of God, of their own
+unworthiness, and their hopes of salvation, &c.; but, alas! among
+many of them, these are words _only_, as far as their general
+conduct leads us to conclude. There are others, however, who
+appear to have benefited by the instructions of their pastors,
+conducting themselves in a praiseworthy manner, thus giving
+encouragement to the missionaries,[27] who must feel richly
+rewarded for their exertions in behalf of this benighted class,
+and for being made, under the hand of the Almighty, the honoured
+instruments of snatching them as so many "brands from the
+burning."
+
+Among the higher order of negroes who have joined respective
+sects are many who at times officiate as _parsons_ when those of
+the "cloth" are absent. They bury the dead, (that is, when such
+event takes place in the country,) read prayers to the sick, or
+pray extemporaneously, (which is most frequent,) and sometimes
+preach in the country chapels. I have heard an anecdote related
+of one of these kind of parsons, who used to be very fond of
+giving an oration at the grave; or, to shew forth his skill in
+reading to the astonished multitude, favoured them with a portion
+from some of his favourite authors. On one occasion, when a
+minister was about to inter a friend of this black preacher, he
+asked permission to read an exhortation after the funeral service
+was performed. This request was immediately granted; and,
+accordingly, he proceeded to his house, which was near the place
+of burial, for his books. It took him some time to collect them
+together, so extensive was his library; at length this important
+exploit was effected, and he left his house, armed with folios,
+quartos, and octavos, and proceeded to the grave. To his great
+surprise, upon his arrival, he found the funeral over, the
+minister gone, and the mourners dispersed; so, like poor Dominie
+Sampson, he had to shoulder his volumes and return also.
+
+Perhaps it may afford matter of surprise to some of my readers to
+hear that the negroes of former days could read or write; but
+although slave-owners in general opposed the system of opening
+the book of knowledge to their slaves, it is to the honour of
+Antigua that she has been the most forward in pursuing a contrary
+line of conduct, and allowing her negroes the privilege of being
+taught those necessary qualifications. I am again referring to
+those dark days of slavery when the negroes were looked upon as
+little better than cattle; but in this part of my subject, I
+cannot help remarking what a difference a few years has made with
+regard to the instruction of the blacks. In former days, as above
+alluded to, the negroes were purposely kept in ignorance both of
+spiritual and worldly knowledge; all attempts to inform them were
+decidedly against the wishes of the proprietors, (I am now
+speaking of the West Indies generally,) who thought it one step
+towards insurrection. From this state of darkness and bad policy
+Antigua was about the first to awake; her efforts were at first
+but very slow, and her plans but half formed. But now the case is
+very different: schools abound in all parts of the island, both
+for young people and adults; there is not a negro who cannot
+obtain instruction if he wishes, and among the young there are
+none but the very worthless who cannot read. In the statistical
+part of this work will be found the number of schools, what sects
+they belong to, and also the number of children; but besides
+these, there are a great many private schools where the little
+black boys and girls who attend are taught reading, writing, and
+arithmetic. The Wesleyans were the first who instituted these
+schools; they were followed by the Moravians; and upon the
+appointment of a bishop to this diocese, the church followed
+their example.
+
+Among the children who are instructed in these various schools,
+many of them can read fluently, write a good hand, and cast up an
+account with correctness; but with regard to those who gained
+their learning at an earlier date, very much cannot be said for
+their chirography. I have seen some of their writing, however,
+which is very passable, while others, again, presented the
+appearance of complete hieroglyphics, and which I should as soon
+think of interpreting as the characters on the tomb of "Cheops,"
+or a Chinese manuscript. An anecdote is related of a person whose
+name was Mac Namara; he was considered a superior kind of man for
+his line, but was not much of a penman, his writing being chiefly
+confined to the signing his own name. One day, his signature was
+required in some haste, and taking the pen in hand, he commenced
+"Macnamamamama," till at length, turning to some person who stood
+near him, "Brother," says he, "tell me when me done; here, don't
+you think it looks long enough?." It was his custom, it appears,
+when signing his name, to look more to the _length_ than the
+spelling, but being rather flurried on this day, he exceeded his
+usual limit.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[27] I include under this term the very zealous and worthy
+preachers of the Wesleyan sect, and the kind-hearted Moravians,
+as well as the established clergy.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Their amusements--Natural ear for music--Singing--
+  Dancing--Subscription routs--Christmas balls--The ball-room
+  decorations--Ball dresses--Gentlemen's appearance--Ladies'--
+  Politeness--Supper, and the supper-table--The morning after a
+  ball--Cards of invitation--The "good night."
+
+We have now to mention the amusements of the negroes, and their
+conduct in their hours of recreation. The blacks have a
+remarkable ear for music, and consequently are particularly fond
+of singing. Indeed, they can hardly do anything without "forming
+their voice to melody." The sailors, when heaving an anchor, have
+a peculiar song which they sing in chorus, pulling the cable at
+the same time. When moving their houses, (which it is customary
+to do in this part of the world,[28]) another ditty is requisite;
+and even if you get them to lift any article which obliges them
+to use a little exertion, a song must accompany the action. Most
+of these songs are extempore, and are sung to some favourite
+tune, the poetry being generally a species of parody, or else a
+ludicrous composition upon some person who may have attracted
+their attention, either by a peculiarity in dress or manners; and
+it is surprising how soon the whole tribe learn it. Some negroes
+have a clear, sweet, and powerful voice, while others again
+resemble the screech of a pair of bagpipes, or give the idea of a
+parrot warbling an Italian air. The black boys are nearly all
+good whistlers, and some of them will go through, with
+correctness, many of our best airs, with variations. They are
+also great psalm-singers, the streets often resounding with this
+peculiar species of harmony.
+
+Next to singing, their favourite pastime is, to "trip the light
+fantastic toe," and at this sport they are indefatigable. These
+dancing parties are differently conducted; at some are danced
+quadrilles! (I am not aware if the gallopades and Mazurka have
+found their way into these _coteries_ at present, but as all
+negroes are great sticklers for fashion, I suppose they have,) at
+others only country dances and reels are introduced; while the
+Africans are content with their own native dance, and their music
+of the _Bangoe_ and _Tum-tum_. Christmas is the principal season
+for these assemblies, although there are subscription balls held
+once or twice a week in some of the small houses at the back of
+the town. These meetings may be very agreeable to the negroes,
+but they are anything but agreeable to those unfortunates who may
+chance to inhabit houses in the vicinity. Little or no sleep will
+visit their eyes upon those nights dedicated to gay Terpsichore,
+and they may be led to misquote Shakspeare, and say, "_Dancing_
+murders sleep." The music generally consists of a squeaking
+fiddle, a tamborine, (upon which they have a peculiar way of
+performing,) and a triangle, played without any regard to time or
+melody. The worst characters frequent these houses, and the
+refreshments are always levied by contributions upon the public.
+
+Some of the Christmas balls (or as it is the fashion now to term
+them, "quadrille parties") are, however, conducted upon a very
+grand scale. The ball-room is decorated with branches of the
+cocoa-nut, interspersed with the many beautiful flowers which, in
+these sunny climes, grow in such wild profusion, while boughs of
+the Pimento (or "Christmas bush," as it is generally called in
+this country) and the orange tree, loaded with its tempting
+fruit, impart a pleasing fragrance throughout the apartment.
+Around the walls, brackets of deal are nailed to support the
+innumerable tapers which serve to light up this "temple of
+mirth," and throw a radiance upon the countenances of the ebon
+beaux and belles. The orchestra generally occupies one end of the
+apartment; and the company is arranged, in two lines, the ladies
+upon one side, and the gentlemen upon the other. The glittering
+throng at "Almacks" cannot outvie in dress with the _glittering
+throng_ at an Antiguan negro ball. Fashion exerts her power, and
+seldom finds more devoted votaries than among these dark damsels
+and their loving swains.
+
+The dress of the gentlemen consists of a blue, brown, or purple
+coat, (not _quite_ equal in make to one of Stultz,) with velvet
+collar, and shining brass buttons; pantaloons, which would rival
+in whiteness the snows of great St. Bernard; a many coloured
+vest, a very smart cravat, silk stockings, and well-polished
+pumps or fancy boots, with tassels, &c., in the most approved
+fashion. In the folds of the cravat are deposited one or two
+brooches, (not quite equalling in splendour and dimensions the
+celebrated "brooch of Lorn," but no doubt thought by the wearers
+to be very tasteful;) a glittering brass chain, which after
+performing countless figures and evolutions around the neck, is
+deposited with its accompanying quizzing-glass (set in the same
+_precious_ metal) in the waistcoat pocket; sundry brass rings
+upon the fingers; a box to contain that fashionable dust, called
+by mortals--snuff, ornamented with a _correct_ likeness of "Her
+Majesty Queen Victoria," or "Prince Albert," with cheeks of the
+colour of red ochre, and eyes "like two full moons;" these,
+together with a voluminous silk handkerchief, plentifully
+besprinkled with _new rum_, sold under the approved name of "_Eau
+de Cologne_," and then the costume is complete.
+
+Smart as these beaux are, the fair sex make a much greater
+display. Their favourite colours are pink, blue, and bright
+yellow, and of these their dresses are generally composed; but
+the manner in which these several shades are arranged defies all
+description. For example--a dress of white gauze or net, over a
+yellow slip, is profusely decorated with quillings of blue
+ribbon, interspersed with red flowers; or perhaps a blue dress is
+ornamented with green trimmings. Of course these dresses are made
+in the height of the fashion, very long skirts with flounces, and
+tight sleeves, with lace ruffles, and streamers of varied tints,
+while the long kid or lace gloves, are drawn up the arm to the
+exact point at which such articles are worn. Among the bijouterie
+displayed upon these _gala_ nights, may be distinguished a
+diversity of brass bracelets, two or three encircling the same
+arm; numberless rings, in which the "lively diamond," the ruby's
+"deepening glow," the sapphire's "solid ether," the "purple
+amethyst," the yellow topaz, and the green emerald, are
+wonderfully imitated in coloured _glass_; these _choice gems_ are
+liberally bestowed upon every finger, and I am not quite sure
+that the _thumb_ is exempted. Splendid brass chains also encircle
+their (not) _swan-like_ necks, long pendants gleam from their
+ears, and very pink silk stockings, with red, blue, or yellow
+shoes, are called in, to astonish with their brilliancy of hue,
+the eyes of their attendant youths. But notwithstanding all this
+finery, it is upon the adornment of their heads that these ladies
+lavish the most time and pains. This may surprise some, when they
+consider how devoid the negroes are of that great natural
+ornament which Rowland, by the aid of his incomparable
+"Macassar," so kindly and bountifully offers to dispense; but
+still it is no less true, for what Dame Nature denies, art
+bestows in the shape of a false set of curls, or a complete
+_toupée_. These ringlets are cleverly fastened on by bands of
+different coloured cotton-velvet, and the back of the head is
+covered with wreaths of flowers and bunches of ribbons. Those
+whose natural hair is long enough, wear it in what they term
+"French curls;" but they never fail to have a sufficient quantity
+of flowers intermixed with them.
+
+The gentlemen are particularly polite to the ladies, attending to
+their little wants with the greatest assiduity, and watching
+their every movement, to anticipate, if possible, their wishes.
+The ladies are also quite graceful in their manners, and forget
+not to practise those pretty little airs of affectation which
+some of their white sisters so ably perform.
+
+When the tuning of instruments is over, and the musicians, by
+stamping their feet and drawing up their persons to their full
+height, give notice that they are ready, and have full confidence
+in their own powers of drawing from wood and catgut "a concord of
+sweet sounds," the ball commences. A gentleman advances with
+smirk and bow--"Oh, Miss, will you dance wid me?" "I'se must be
+excuse, Mr. Charles Edward, 'cause I'se got to dance wid Mr.
+Albert" "Oh, Miss, den me be too late." Another lady is therefore
+sought and won--"Wid much pleasure, Mr. Charles Edward." At the
+end of the set, refreshments are handed about, and again the
+gentlemen vie with each other in shewing forth their gallantry--
+"Miss, will you hab a glass of drink?" "I'se feel much obliged to
+you, sir, if you please." The "drink" is composed of ginger,
+water, molasses, and "Christmas bush," drank in a fermented
+state.
+
+While the dancing is going on in one room, another apartment,
+(or, if the house contains not such a desideratum,) a
+neighbouring domicile is being prepared for the supper. Here,
+again, their taste is shewn in the arrangement of the flowers &c.
+with which the table is decorated, and in the disposal of the
+many viands which are prepared for the occasion. They generally
+employ a gentleman's servant to superintend, so that this is
+often performed in the first style. Among the multitudinous
+supply of eatables may be found baked mutton, legs of pork,
+turkeys, ducks, fowls, and guinea-birds; hams, tongues,
+salt-beef, and cheese; cakes, tarts, and fruits, flanked by no
+inconsiderable quantities of yams, sweet potatoes, _Irish_
+potatoes, (as the Creoles always term them, whether they come
+from England, Ireland, Scotland, France, or America,) boiled
+rice, and bread. Nor must it be supposed these _solids_ want the
+accompaniment of liquids--rum, brandy, wines, and brown stout,
+are as liberally provided, and as liberally partaken of.
+
+Perhaps it may be asked, how do the negroes obtain these
+different articles specified,--where find the _cash_ to meet
+these heavy demands? In the first place, it must be taken into
+consideration, that nearly all the negroes who reside in the
+country, upon the different estates, keep a great deal of stock;
+they have their patch of ground, in which they raise vegetables;
+and living as they do nearly all the rest of the year upon less
+expensive dishes, they have money enough by them to procure the
+above luxuries. Then again, it must be remarked, that it is not
+_one_ family which gives these routs, but almost in every
+instance it is a joint concern. The company pay a proportion, by
+the gentlemen procuring tickets to admit themselves and ladies
+for half-a-dollar, about 2s. 3d. sterling, which of itself
+affords sufficient means to provide all those sumptuous viands
+and costly liquids with which they regale themselves when
+fatigued with dancing. The competition for opening the ball is
+generally very great, and from one to five dollars is demanded
+for that honour; but such has been the contest at times that a
+doubloon, or 3l. 4s. sterling, has been offered for obtaining the
+enviable post; and this of course further adds to their
+resources.
+
+When these grand balls are held in the country, the servants feel
+no reluctance in riding their masters' horses to and from the
+place of entertainment; and consequently it is nothing uncommon
+for great complaints to be made the next morning by different
+gentlemen, when they visit their stables. "Why, Thomas, what's
+the matter with this horse? how jaded he looks," says the gent,
+addressing his groom; "I hope it's not ill!" "Me no no, massa; me
+quite sick meself, dat de trute," replies one of the _beaux_ of
+the preceding night. "And this one," continues his master, "his
+legs are quite swollen, and he's all over mud; I hope you have
+not been riding them last night, sirrah! I know you are full of
+tricks!" "Eh, eh! massa, me no say, me quite sick; war for me go
+ride de poor dumb brute for, dat's all?"
+
+While this dialogue passes in the stable between the injured
+master and his faulty groom, respecting the state of "de poor
+dumb brute," who, had he the power of speech, could, like
+Hamlet's ghost, "a tale unfold," a similar conversation takes
+place in the house between the mistress and her confidential(!)
+domestic. "Celestina, what is the matter with you this morning?
+you don't seem to know what you are doing,--are you ill?" "No,
+ma'am." "Then what do you look so heavy and dull about?" "Me no
+able to sleep last night, missis," is the answer of the fatigued
+belle.
+
+When the family meet around the breakfast table, "My dear," says
+the lady, addressing her _cara sposa_, "do you know where John
+(the butler) is gone?" "No, my dear," returns her better half,
+sipping his mocha; "is he not in the house?" "No; he has not been
+seen since last night." "Very strange," rejoins the gentleman. "I
+must make inquiries about it as soon as I have looked over the
+'Weekly Register;' the fellow gets too bad." At this moment the
+door opens, and John enters, his head tied up in a handkerchief
+and a quantity of plantain leaves;[29] his countenance, deprived
+of its naturally deep black, displays a sickly-looking hue; his
+heavy blood-shot eyes, turning from one member of the family to
+the other, as if to inquire what they had been saying about him,
+and presenting altogether a most rueful appearance. "Why, John,"
+cries his master, elevating his eyebrows, and wiping his
+spectacles, to be certain it is really the lost butler,--"Why,
+John, where have you been, and what have you been doing with
+yourself?" "Quite sick, massa," returns poor John, in a very
+doleful tone; "hab feber all last night, neber sleep 'tall a
+'tall; head really hurt me; 'bleive me go get _hager_," &c. The
+real fact of the case, John was one of the party the night
+before, who had paid their devoirs too zealously to the "rosy
+god," "jolly Bacchus," and the consequence was, headache and all
+its accompanying et-ceteras, without the benefit of "soda water"
+or "Morison's pills of health."
+
+When these "grand balls" are in contemplation, great is the
+flurry and fluster of the conductors; cards of invitation are
+issued about eight or ten days before; glasses, lamps, dishes,
+&c., are borrowed from managers or overseers upon the estate
+where the rout is given, or if in town, from any "buckra" who
+they may live with; flowers are begged, or gardens robbed; and
+many other necessary deeds achieved. I have several of these
+"cards of invite" lying before me, and for the edification of my
+readers, I will transcribe one or two of them _verbatim_:--"Mr.
+James Hammilton Compliments to Mr. James, and invite him to a
+Quadrille party on Tuesday next week, with lady;" addressed, "Mr.
+James Hammilton to Mr. James, Spring Gardens." This is written
+upon paper, which had once been white, but, alas! too many
+touches have tarnished its fair character. The next which comes
+to hand is traced upon that particular kind of green paper which
+we commonly see wrapped round quills in the stationers' shop
+windows, in far-famed London, and is expressed as follows:--"Mr.
+James will be happy of Mr. Brown and Lady Company on Saturday the
+2nd Quarter of the Moon. Price 4s. 6d. Lower Form."[30] The
+direction to this last-named note is, I think, very unique--
+
+                          "Mr. Brown,
+                            "Town!"
+
+meaning, of course, that the gentleman resided in St. John's, the
+capital of Antigua.
+
+Having given two specimens of their written invitations, perhaps
+some of my readers may call out, "Enough!" but there is still one
+before me, which looks so very dashing that I cannot pass it by
+with any propriety. It is written upon a _red_ card, (placed in a
+_blue_ envelope,) in the following manner:--
+
+"Mr. Edward and Sam will happy of Mr. Hues Company on the 25th
+instant, &c. Quadrilles in Bishopsgate Street.
+
+                                                   "G. Priddeys,
+                                          "G. Silises. Stewards.
+
+(Direction) "Mr. Hues, Esq."
+
+The ball generally breaks up between four and five, and then
+there is great cloaking-up with the ladies, the gentlemen lending
+all the assistance. "'Tanky, Mr. _Theopolus_, you're bery kind,
+I'se sure." "Miss, anything dat _lays_ in my power for a lady
+like you." "Oh, sir! you're very purlite." "Miss Eleanora, does
+dis shawl 'blongs to you?" "I'se 'bleive it do, Mr. Frederick."
+"Well, I do declare, I thought so, 'cause it's handsome, like its
+owner," &c. &c. The _Good nights_ are then repeated, and the
+ladies move off, accompanied by their _beaux_, and the late gay
+ball-room is left to the smell of expiring tallow-candles, and
+lamp-oil; drooping flowers, and broken bottles; sleeping
+musicians, and half-starved dogs, who creep in with the hopes of
+picking up a stray bone or two; until the bright sun arises, and
+bids the inmates bestir themselves to clear away the relics of
+their midnight orgies.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[28] For mode of moving houses, see page 132.
+
+[29] A negro's specific for the head-ache.
+
+[30] I am not quite certain what is meant by this expression; but
+suppose it relates to the arrangement of the forms, or benches.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Fondness for "Nancy stories"--Negro loquacity--Their
+  signification of the word "cursing"--Markets--Confusion of
+  tongues--Weddings--The drive to church--Wedding banquet--
+  Blushing brides--Funerals--"Wake nights"--Funeral procession--
+  Christening--High-sounding names.
+
+After dancing, I think the next favourite pastime of the negroes,
+particularly among the younger ones, is to collect together upon
+a fine moonlight night, and talk "Nancy stories," (which, as
+before remarked, generally consist of tales of _diablerie_,) and
+the far-famed "Scheherazade" of the "Arabian Nights" could
+scarcely invent more marvellous ones. Some tell of a wondrous
+bird, (equalling in magnitude Sinbad's roc,[31]) which in other
+days appeared, and completely covered Antigua for some time,
+obliging the good people to "light candle all de day, so dat dey
+neber no when night come self;" others tell of men turning into
+monkeys, (no uncommon thing now-a-days;) some of demons, and
+their deeds; and others, again, of golden houses, and streets of
+silver, flying dragons, and talking birds. These "Nancy stories"
+are generally given in a species of recitativo; but the
+conclusion to them all is the same--"I was dere, an see it well
+done, and I get a glass of wine for me pains!" The relater of
+these tales is held in great repute, and to obtain instruction in
+the art, many a little negro will give their dinners, and go
+hungry to-bed.
+
+The negroes are indefatigable talkers, at all times, and in all
+seasons. Whether in joy or grief, they ever find full employment
+for that little member, the tongue. If none of their acquaintance
+are near at hand to enter into conversation with, they talk to
+themselves, maintaining different characters, and answering their
+own questions. I have often thought two persons were conversing,
+but upon inquiry, have found it to be only one. One peculiarity
+of expression among the negroes is, that if you have to find
+fault with them, and you express your dislike of what they have
+been doing in the mildest terms, they immediately say you have
+been _cursing_ them. When speaking, their tongues are very
+vociferous, and prove extremely disagreeable to a stranger. Upon
+my first arrival in this island, I was one day seated in a back
+apartment, and wandering with Milton through the blissful shades
+of Paradise, when I was aroused by hearing one of our domestics
+speaking in a most clamorous manner. I bore it patiently for some
+time, until finding it appeared to have no _terminus_, I
+exclaimed--"My good Sarah, I should feel particularly obliged if
+you would not speak _quite_ so loud." How was I surprised, a few
+moments after, to hear the same servant calling, in a still
+louder tone, to one of her companions--"Sissy, (_Ang._, sister,)
+war for you 'peak so loud? Me 'bleive you no hear how missis
+_curse_ me just now for doing dat 'ting!"
+
+But the market is the place, where the chattering is the loudest
+and longest; it is a complete Babel--a scene of confusion almost
+unimaginable. Black, brown, and yellow--indeed, almost every tint
+which "sober autumn" wears--may be met with in the crowds of men
+and women, boys and girls, who frequent the busy spot. The women
+scream--men shout--the boys and girls, clad _à la nature_, laugh
+--the little pic'nees, (as the negroes call their babies,)
+clinging round their mothers' hips, squall. In this warm country,
+where meat is obliged to be dressed soon after it is killed, most
+of the stock is brought to market alive; so to this tumult of
+human voices is added the cry of goats, squeaking of pigs,
+cackling of poultry, &c. To increase the noise, the venders call
+out the different articles they have for sale:--"Want any corn
+_poon?_" (_Ang._, pudding)--"Want any green corn _duckana,
+ladies?_" (a similar production)--"Want any _yam_ and
+_pitaters?_" (potatoes)--"Here's your peas and pork!" Another
+party cries--"Bargain, ladies! Bargain here!"--"Here's your
+'trong cloth! Here's your nice handkerchief! tie your head smart
+as eber! Here aw you see de last an de bery best, aw you cum buy
+um--only a bit and a half," (about 6d. sterling.) One cries out--
+"Pine tarts and pickled peppers!" while another vociferates--
+"Nice fat chickens, ladies, and castor oil!" rather heterogeneous
+articles, it must be allowed.
+
+Evening brings no silence with it; for then the _cries_ increase.
+"Candles here, ladies! Candles here! hard, like stones--burn like
+wax, (in plain English, _soft as butter_,) two for a half-a-bit!"
+(2¼d. sterling.) "Here your nice crackers! (small American
+biscuits,) seven for a dog! Here your fine coffee! Cigars here!
+Cigars here! only cum see, make you buy! Here your nice cakes!--
+Fish! fish!! fish!!! just come out of the sea, ladies! ladies!
+make haste, an buy dem!"--"Sugar-cakes here! Bread here! Salt
+fish here! Cum an look, only cum an see!"--"Goat-meat here,
+ladies! Sheep-meat! Vine here! (the vine of the sweet potato,
+used for fattening stock.)" "Want any grass? Want any wood? Want
+any pies? Sweet _oranger_ here! Ripe pear, really nice!" besides
+a thousand other announcements, fill the air, and deafen the
+hearers. Talk of _London cries!_ oh! they are mere _whispers_ to
+the _West Indian ones!_ The "dustman's bell," or the "watchman's
+rattle," would, I verily believe, pass unnoticed amid their
+stormy tongues.
+
+At the principal market, which is held upon a Saturday, (the
+Sunday markets having been abolished, by orders of the
+legislature, in 1831,) all kinds of articles may be met with.
+Beef, mutton, pork, and goat's flesh; live pigs, sheep, goats,
+and lambs; ducks, fowls, turkeys, geese, and guinea-birds;
+potatoes, yams, eddoes, peas, &c.; and fruits of every
+description, including the luscious pine-apple, the cooling
+melon, the fragrant guava, and the delicious "jelly cocoa-nut."
+The market is also plentifully supplied with varieties of fish;
+some of which are very delicious fare. Besides these enumerated
+articles, hot soups, boiled horse-beans, boiled peas, and Indian
+corn, "fungy and pepperpot," (a standing Creole dish,) "fried
+fish and dumplings," souse, pigs' heads, and black puddings, with
+all kinds of cakes, bread, "drink," spruce-beer, Dyer drink,
+(made from a peculiar bark,) and different varieties of
+sugar-cakes, are exhibited, to allure the eye, and charm the
+taste of the sable beauties who attend this mart. Many other
+wares are also sold in this place of bustle, which, according to
+the Antigua black bellman, would be "to _tedus_ to _'numerate_."
+
+It was formerly the custom to ring a market-bell at six in the
+morning, and the same hour in the evening, and also to have a
+clerk of the market, whose duty it was to see that the street
+where the market is held was properly swept, and that the people
+dispersed upon the ringing of the bell. For his services he
+received the sum of 200l. currency per annum; but the legislature
+at last thought it a waste of the public money, and within these
+few years the office has been disannulled. There is no
+markethouse at present, the principal market being held in a long
+street running from the court-house to one of the gates of the
+churchyard. It was under consideration of the house of assembly,
+some time ago, to erect a covered market, but the proposition was
+overruled.
+
+From a visit to the market, we will take another turn, and
+accompany the bridal party in their attendance at the altar. In
+former days, during the existence of slavery, the ceremony of
+marriage was but seldom performed, consequently the nuptial
+feasts were "few and far between." The case, however, is now very
+different; for, since the "glorious 1st of August," (1834,)
+weddings are very frequent, and many a grand fête is given in
+honour of the "saffron-crowned god." The first step upon this
+eventful occasion is, of course, to get the bans of marriage
+published--or, as they term it, "to hab dere name call out"--
+unless they can afford to purchase a licence, which is the case
+with some. Then comes the purchasing of that "small and holy
+round," the wedding ring, the bridal dresses, and the wedding
+breakfast. When all these preliminaries are arranged with
+satisfaction to themselves, the next grand point is to borrow,
+from different gentlemen, horses, gigs, and phaetons. Not being
+their own property, and not often having the _chance_ of shewing
+off their knowledge of the "whip," no mercy is shewn to the
+unfortunate animal they that day guide. To give _éclat_ to the
+wedding-day by astonishing the inhabitants of the town, the
+gentlemen drive as violently as they can up one street, down
+another, turn the corners like wildfire, and then, after running
+over a chicken or two, or disturbing the ruminations of a few
+quiet ducks, deposit their female companion at the church doors,
+and start away, in the same random manner, to fetch another fair
+dame from her homage at a sixpenny "looking-glass." It is
+impossible to describe the noise and confusion which ensues on
+mornings when such deeds are done,--Virgil's chariot-race was
+nothing to the speed with which these aspiring youths urge on the
+foaming steeds. The consequence of this is, that the horse is
+very often returned to his owner broken-kneed, or else killed
+upon the spot, by the shaft of another gig penetrating its chest;
+and the carriage left minus a shaft or a wheel.
+
+At length the company assemble in the church, the clergyman
+arrives, and the ceremony begins. The "blushing bride" has
+frequently to snuff up the fumes of her "eau de Cologne," to
+support her trembling frame in that moment of excitement, and
+many a rent is made in the white kid gloves, as such articles are
+drawn off to sign the marriage X, when, as it frequently happens,
+the art of writing has been dispensed with in their education.
+The ceremony over, the party again enter the different vehicles,
+and after driving in the manner before described, re-assemble at
+the house where the nuptial banquet has been prepared. This is
+conducted in similar style to the "ball supper," already
+mentioned; great mirth and jollity prevail at it; the health of
+the bride and bridegroom is drunk in "full goblets;" many a loyal
+and willing toast, no doubt, given, and then the company
+separate. I must not forget to mention that a wedding-cake of
+approved dimensions, and splendidly arrayed in gold and silver
+leaf is placed in the centre of the table, and calls for many a
+sidelong glance from those damsels who, as yet, are doomed to
+remain in single blessedness. Sometimes these wedding breakfasts,
+or whatever else they choose to term them, are held in the
+country; at other times, the company remain in town, and the
+bride and bridegroom retire there by themselves to spend a part
+of the "honeymoon," and then return to the capital to receive the
+complimentary congratulations of their friends, and make their
+appearance at church in their wedding attire.
+
+The dress of the gentlemen upon this eventful occasion is similar
+to that worn by them at their balls: brass chains and rings are
+rubbed up with chalk in order to restore their pristine
+brightness; silk stockings, dyed with the flowers of the Hybiscus
+to the colour of a pigeon's legs; and shops and stores ransacked,
+to procure waistcoats and stocks of the brightest dyes. The bride
+is generally arrayed in white: if they can raise sufficient
+_cash_, white silk, satin, or figured "challis" is the material;
+but if the funds are rather _low_, white muslin suffices them.
+The bonnets are either white satin, or tuscans trimmed with white
+ribbon, and wreaths of white flowers are fashionably arranged on
+the left side. Veils are sometimes worn upon these occasions, (to
+hide their "_blushes_,") and "parasols and sandals," and then the
+lady's dressed. The morning after the wedding, the "bride's cake"
+is sent round to their numerous acquaintance; and then they
+return to their usual business and their dishabille, until the
+sound of the "Sabbath bell" bids them open their chests of
+cedar-wood,[32] and put on their gala-dress. It may be remarked
+that the greater part of these "_blushing brides_," these
+"nervous fine ladies," have been living several years in a state
+of concubinage with different persons, and are perhaps the
+mothers of several children; but still marriage is a state which
+"calls up all our hopes and fears," and the black buckras[33] (as
+these dashing black people are called in this country) think the
+ceremony would be incomplete did they not shew forth some
+emotion, or call up from their source some of those
+
+   "---------------------- drops that fall,
+    When the young bride goes from her father's hall."
+
+We now come to take a view of their burials. I have in a former
+chapter made some mention of these ceremonies; but still there is
+a great deal to be said, for be it known, a negro funeral is a
+matter of no small importance.
+
+When the intelligence reaches them that one of their friends has
+departed to another world, many of them immediately flock to the
+residence of the defunct, and are very ready to assist in the
+melancholy but necessary offices which are required to be
+performed. The first consideration of the relatives is to procure
+a coffin, a decent shroud, and a suit of apparel to inter the
+corpse in. The coffin is made of deal boards, _not over thick_,
+and is covered with black or white cotton cloth, according to the
+age or state of the individual; those persons who cannot afford
+to purchase cotton for this purpose have the coffin painted black
+or white. Among the higher class of negroes the shroud is made of
+white mull muslin, but those of less means purchase cotton
+cambric, while the _very poor ones_ are enveloped in a sheet. If
+the deceased has a pretty good stock of clothes, the best amongst
+them are selected for the occasion. Should it be a man who is
+dead, he is arrayed in his "Sunday clothes," with the exception
+of coat, shoes, and hat; but if it is a female, her best white
+dress is used, a cap trimmed with white ribbon is placed upon her
+head, a white band round her waist, silk stockings, and white
+gloves. The warmth of the climate necessarily obliges the
+interment to take place soon after dissolution; for example, if a
+person dies one day, he is buried the next. The intervening night
+is called by the negroes "wake night;" and about seven or eight
+in the evening a great number of persons of both sexes meet at
+the house of death to assist in keeping the "wake." This is
+understood to mean, the singing of psalms and hymns over the
+corpse; but, in most cases, while the females are so employed in
+one part of the house, the young men are laughing, talking, or
+playing off practical jokes upon some one whom they deem not
+quite so wise as themselves. It sounds very melancholy, should
+you chance to be awake at the solemn hour of midnight, to hear
+these persons chanting forth their sacred lays, and as the breeze
+sweeps its strain to and from your ear, memory "starts up
+alarmed, and o'er life's narrow verge looks down" upon a
+"fathomless abyss." But in the midst of these thoughts the
+heartless laugh breaks upon your ear, like the voice of some
+scoffing demon; and "so dies in human hearts the thoughts of
+death," for "all men think all men mortal _but themselves!_"
+
+About five o'clock in the morning, coffee, bread, biscuits, and
+cheese, are handed round, and then the company depart, until such
+hour as the funeral is arranged to take place. Some of the
+nearest friends or relations, however, remain all the time, and
+of course partake of the different meals provided; for there is
+one thing worthy of note in these negro-funerals--grief never
+spoils their appetites. If the person dies in the country, it is
+sometimes the practice to bring them into town during the night;
+at other times, the funeral takes place in whatever part of the
+island they may chance to reside in. The company assemble to a
+town-funeral about four o'clock, and (a multiplicity of chairs
+having been borrowed from the neighbours for the occasion) seat
+themselves, the women in the house, and the men on the shady side
+of the street; but as for thinking of _death_, and its important
+consequences, it is as far from them as if they were at a ball or
+a play. They laugh, they joke, they make bargains, and they
+discuss the news of the day, and think no more of the inanimate
+corpse within, than if it had been a waxen figure, or an ideal
+form. I am sorry to add, that it is not the negroes alone who
+exhibit this utter thoughtlessness of heart upon these melancholy
+occurrences, as I shall have further to mention when I come to
+speak of the superior grades of society. But to resume our
+subject: about the time the company are assembled, and the
+bearers arrayed in white or black cotton scarfs and hat-bands,
+according to the age of the deceased, the hearse arrives; for, it
+is to be remarked, it is but seldom that a funeral takes place in
+Antigua without the attendance of one of those "carriages for the
+dead." The hearses are rather differently constructed from those
+used in England, having more the appearance of a van painted
+black. There is a top to them in a kind of half-pyramidal form,
+mounted by a few brown-black or dirty white feathers; the body of
+the hearse is partly railed round, so that the coffin can be
+seen, and a door opens behind. They are drawn by two sorry
+horses, one perhaps white and the other brown; or, as is often
+the case, one a horse about twelve hands high, its companion a
+Canadian poney, rough and shaggy as one of the Shetland breed.
+Another observable fact is, that these animals are generally as
+opposite in tempers as they are in appearance, so that while one
+is wishful of going to the east, the other has an incontrollable
+desire of proceeding in the opposite direction. This, as may be
+supposed, leads to a violent contention between them and the
+driver keeps the company standing in the streets and often
+endangers even the safety of the vehicle. A stranger could not
+fail to notice all these particularities, and also the indecent
+manner in which the hearse is driven to the house where the
+corpse is, and upon its return from the place of interment--
+namely, as fast as the two horses can possibly be urged.
+
+Another matter of surprise to a stranger is to see the prodigious
+number of persons which attend these funerals, often consisting
+of from four to five hundred, and very seldom less than from two
+to three. These persons are arranged as follows:--The nearest
+members of the family walk immediately after the hearse; if the
+deceased is a man, then follow a number of that sex, then a
+number of women, after them men again, and so on until the
+procession is complete. On the contrary, should the corpse be
+that of a female, the women precede the men; the train is
+sometimes so long, that it reaches the entire length of a street.
+Of course it is not to be supposed that all this multitude is
+habited in black; from the short time which intervenes between
+the demise and the interment, even the family are unable to
+procure mourning, unless, as it sometimes happens, they may
+chance to have those sable garments by them; the consequence of
+this is, that the procession presents a most motley group. Some
+of the followers are indeed habited in black; some in white, with
+a little black ribbon and a coloured bonnet; but the greater part
+appear in the various hues of the rainbow. As before remarked, at
+these funerals almost all their friends give something, if it is
+but a bottle of wine, or a small quantity of tobacco, and so
+universal is this practice, that I knew a servant who refused to
+attend the funeral of his father, because he had not money enough
+to give. It used to be the custom in former times, to hand round
+to the company cake, wine, rum and water, porter and "drink," but
+this is now dispensed with; the greater part of the assemblage
+follow the corpse to the place of burial, and then disperse. When
+a funeral takes place in the country, however, a grand dinner is
+generally provided for the company after the ceremony is over;
+and on these occasions all is mirth and joy, and the cup and the
+glass is so often replenished, that many of the party return home
+in a state of intoxication. It is among the Moravian
+congregations the largest funeral processions are seen, the
+reason of which is as follows:--As is the case in the established
+church, and with the Methodists, the Moravians have formed a
+society among their own people, in which every member throws in a
+certain sum monthly, and when attacked by illness a doctor is
+found them and so much per week allowed until they recover. When
+any of these members of the Moravian society die, it is incumbent
+upon the rest to follow the deceased to the grave, or if they
+fail in so doing, a fine of 2s. currency is imposed upon them;
+the consequence is, that, as few like to pay this penalty, they
+endeavour upon all occasions to be present.
+
+A christening sometimes gives rise to another entertainment,
+although, of course, not so grand as a wedding or a ball; fruit,
+cakes, and wine forming the principal repast. The baby is very
+smartly dressed in a long white robe, smart cap or bonnet, and is
+carried in the arms of one who acts for the day as an attendant,
+with a parasol held over it to screen it from the sun's rays,
+although at other times it is exposed to every change of
+temperature with scarcely anything to cover it. In former times,
+the negroes were generally known by the names of "Sambo,"
+"Pompey," "Quashy," "Quasheba," &c., &c., but those days have
+long ago passed. The "march of intellect" has marched into the
+West Indies, and we now have "Arabella Christiana," "Adeline
+Floretta," "Rosalind Monimia," &c., for the girls; and "Augustus
+Henry," "Alonzo Frederick," "Octavius Edward," and similar
+_high-sounding_ names for the boys. "What's in a name?" is a
+query. I think a great deal; but really it is perfectly
+ridiculous to hear such aristocratic appellations applied to your
+servants. The parents are not always satisfied with even two
+names, but are unconscionable enough to add a _third_. To hear
+them accosted by these lengthy names brings to recollection "Miss
+Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs," whom Goldsmith has
+immortalized.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[31] A large bird mentioned in the travels of Sinbad the Sailor,
+a tale in the "Arabian Nights."
+
+[32] A chest made of cedar, for the purpose of containing their
+wearing apparel, is looked upon by the negroes as quite
+indispensable; and consequently, there are but few among them who
+do not lay by part of their earnings, that they may be enabled to
+procure one.
+
+[33] It may be necessary to remark, that the word _buckra_, in
+the negro tongue, signifies "a white person;" but as the smart
+people I have been describing imitate in everything _fairer
+brethren_, they are ironically termed "black buckras."
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XL.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Further sentences upon "dress"--Sunday transformations
+  --The black cook and his metamorphosis--Christmas waits--Negro
+  houses--The mode of building upon estates--Town negro houses--
+  Architecture--The mode of moving houses.
+
+I have in so many places made reference to the style of dress
+adopted by the negroes, that to bring it under a particular head
+may be deemed superfluous. And yet I cannot let it pass without
+saying something more upon this subject.
+
+I must own I was very much surprised, on first arriving in
+Antigua, at the style of dress adopted by these people. That the
+negroes were very fond of adorning themselves I was well aware,
+but I thought it consisted in a display of what we should term
+_trumpery_, such as the worn-out garments of their superiors
+which had once been smart; but I was soon undeceived. It was
+during the jovial season of Christmas I first made my appearance
+in this island, a time of all others devoted by the negroes to
+the purpose of exhibiting the contents of their wardrobes.
+Christmas-day, and the two succeeding days, are, in this country,
+exclusively termed "Christmas;" and poor indeed must be the negro
+who does not sport a new dress upon that occasion, even if they
+have to wear nothing but rags for the rest of the year. Those of
+the _fair sex_ who can afford it, generally purchase three
+dresses; one to wear each day, and formed of various materials,
+such as silks, (figured and plain,) satins, mousseline de laines,
+challis, crapes of different names and textures, or handsome
+white muslin robes variously embroidered. The fashion now in
+vogue among these _ladies_ is, to have the skirt of their dresses
+dropping on the ground for about a quarter of a yard in length,
+the bottom terminated by two rows of flounces, _demi-bishop_
+sleeves, and pointed corsages. But the great novelty is in the
+arrangement of the different tints, most of them thinking they
+are not sufficiently well-dressed if they leave out any of the
+prismatic colours. The bonnets are worn just at the back of their
+heads, and often present a singular appearance. A negress lately
+presented herself to my notice, whose dress deserves particular
+attention. Her daily business is to work in the cane-field, and
+for some time past I had been used to see her bringing grass for
+the use of our horses in a state approximating to nudity. Upon
+the Sunday she honoured me with a call the case was, however,
+very different. Her dress of figured white muslin was profusely
+ornamented with pink ribbon and fringe of the same gay tint, her
+silk stockings were "ditto to match," and her shoes yellow, with
+white sandals. But her bonnet struck me as most particular; it
+was formed of that material called "Tuscan," lined with green,
+trimmed with pink, and further decorated with a prodigy among
+flowers, a blue rose with silver leaves!
+
+Another very favourite article of dress amongst these black
+belles, is what they term "a Victoria cloak," which is nothing
+more or less than a square of coarse net, tamboured, in the
+commonest manner, in large flowers; but which, like everything
+else of the present day, is named after the queen. I am sure, did
+her majesty but know how her name is applied to all kinds of
+articles, from a steam-coach in England, to a lap-dog here, she
+must think herself greatly honoured! I have already spoken of
+their splendid jewellery, and therefore it only remains for me to
+mention, that elaborately worked collars, with three rows of
+cotton lace round them, fancy reticules, coloured boots and
+shoes, and parasols, are to be found composing a part of their
+attire. The latter mentioned articles are unfurled, and twirled
+about by the young ladies with peculiar grace; but those who are
+less modish in their manners generally close them, and carry them
+over the right shoulder, with the end sticking up like the point
+of a bayonet. A few years ago, the negroes were accustomed to tie
+their heads with Madras handkerchiefs of the brightest dyes, or
+else wear large leghorn or silk hats, covered with flowers and
+ribands; but since emancipation, bonnets are most generally worn,
+particularly among the young, although some still prefer the use
+of the hat.
+
+The gentlemen negroes present also a most _dandified_ appearance.
+Surtouts or coats of different colour, with velvet collars,
+splendid waistcoats, white or coloured trousers, with very
+high-heeled boots, are most in vogue. It is customary with these
+beaux, when they order a pair of boots, to give particular
+injunctions to the cordwainer, to make them in such a manner that
+they may "stamp and creak well," when they wear them. To these
+specified articles of dress, must be added broad-brimmed hats,
+silk umbrellas, (if they can get them, if not, cotton suffices;
+but a negro never thinks himself well arrayed without this
+article,) and pocket handkerchiefs, one end making its appearance
+from the coat pocket. The persons who dress in this manner are
+generally coblers, tinkers, carpenters, bricklayers, and
+servants. It is almost impossible to know your own domestics, so
+great are their metamorphoses.
+
+In the ship which conveyed us hither, was a black man, who
+officiated as cook. Our first place of destination, after leaving
+England, was British America, where we arrived in the beginning
+of a very severe winter. Sincerely did I pity this poor man, for
+his scant and tattered clothing was no protection from the
+pitiless blast, and excessive cold of that hyperborean clime.
+Being a native of so warm a country as the West Indies, and
+having never before experienced the rigours of winter, it was
+with some difficulty he could bear up against this (to him)
+accumulation of ills. His custom was to remain in the steerage of
+the ship, and when any of his messmates tried to arouse him, and
+invite him to visit the deck, his only answer was, "I brought all
+my fingers and toes from Antigua, and please God, I must try and
+carry them back again." After remaining in America for some time,
+(suffering _hot aches_, and I know not what beside,) until the
+ship had discharged her cargo of _interesting_ emigrants, and
+re-loaded with that necessary article "lumber," (_alias_ timber,)
+we took our departure, with many a favour of "King Frost's"
+hanging about our vessel, in the shape of huge blocks of ice. A
+pretty fair wind soon carried us into warmer latitudes, and I
+used frequently to remark, how delighted that _poor half-clothed_
+man must be. "Oh! oh!" was the answer, "that poor half-clothed
+man, as you call him, is a very respectable and dashing fellow, I
+do assure you, in his own country." I thought this assertion
+bordering upon the burlesque, but I made no reply, wisely
+remembering the old saying, "Time will shew all things."
+
+At length, after encountering, as every other mortal must, calms
+as well as storms, one bright morning brought us to the shores of
+fair Antigua. This, as I have before remarked, was during the
+season of Christmas, the time for fun and dress among the
+negroes. The morning after we landed, I early shook off "tired
+nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," and hurried over the
+duties of the toilet in order that I might look about me, and see
+what kind of _bipeds_ I had fallen in with. I had not long left
+my apartment when I saw a very dashing-looking gentleman enter
+the back gate, and approach the door near which I was standing,
+admiring the bright sun and blue sky of this December morning. It
+certainly struck me as rather surprising, that a gentleman of his
+appearance should enter by that part of the house usually
+appropriated to the servants, but I supposed it was one of "the
+customs" of the country. Not wishing to be in that disagreeable
+situation of having to introduce myself, I retired into an inner
+apartment; but ere long I learnt, to my great surprise, that the
+"_exquisite_," whose appearance caused my sudden departure, was
+no less a personage than the black cook from on board the ship.
+
+Christmas is also the season here, as in England, for roast-beef,
+plum-pudding, and plum-cake; most of the negroes endeavour to get
+_one_ of these articles, should they not be able to procure them
+all; but if their pockets are too low to do this, they purchase a
+few raisins to treat their friends with. "Christmas day" is
+ushered in with the sound of fiddles and drums; parties of
+negroes going round the town about four o'clock in the morning,
+playing upon these instruments for the purpose of breaking
+people's rest, (for I am sure it cannot amuse;) and then they
+have the assurance to call at the different houses during the day
+for payment. At the conclusion of this serenade, or _waits_, or
+whatever else they choose to term it, the musicians generally
+raise their voices to the highest pitch, and call out, "Good
+morning to you, massa; good morning to you, missis; good morning
+to you, ladies and gentlemen _all!_" a flourish is then given
+with fiddle and drum, and they march off to disturb another quiet
+household.
+
+The next point to be considered is the dwellings of the negroes.
+The generality of negro houses upon estates contain two
+apartments, and are built of stone, cemented by a rough mortar.
+The roofs are composed of _trash_ (the dry leaves of the
+sugar-cane), loosely piled on, which gives them an untidy
+appearance. Some of the industrious people, however, greatly add
+to the look of the interior, by neatly ceiling them with the
+split boughs of the cocoa-nut, formed into a kind of basket-work.
+The best huts have the hall, or sitting-room, paved with bricks,
+or a kind of smooth cement, and the sleeping-apartment boarded.
+Among the articles of furniture may be found sofas, sideboards of
+manchineel, (or some other species of native wood,) mahogany and
+deal tables, and a large cedar chest. Besides these articles,
+some of them possess decanters, tumblers, wine-glasses, and a
+large bowl to make their punch in, with plates and dishes,
+tea-cups, and various other kinds of gaudy crockeryware. These
+are the residences of the head negroes; the next kind have their
+stone-houses unceiled, and only the bare earth for their floor;
+they contain but little furniture, two or three chairs of the
+country make, a deal table, and a wooden box or two being their
+principal stock. Some estates have fallen into a plan of building
+their negro-houses entirely of wood, as it has been found that
+the negroes prefer hiring themselves where such dwellings have
+been provided for them.
+
+Since emancipation, many proprietors have disposed of part of
+their uncultivated lands to the negroes, which are divided into
+lots, measuring 30 feet one way, and 40 the other, at 30 dollars,
+or 6l. sterling per lot. Upon these spots of ground, the
+purchasers have erected houses, some of them very neatly
+finished, and containing two rooms, a hall, and chamber; and here
+they reside, supporting themselves by working upon different
+estates, (where they obtain higher wages than the resident
+labourers, on account of not being provided with houses or negro
+grounds;) huckstering, or else working their own land. In some
+parts of the island, whole villages are formed in this manner;
+and from the similarity of the dwellings, and their several
+little patches of ground, laid out in rows of different luxuriant
+edibles, present, altogether, a very pleasing appearance. Some of
+the poorer negroes build their houses in the following manner. A
+sufficient number of stakes are firmly driven into the ground at
+regular distances; these are interwoven with the branches of the
+"black cherry," (a native wood,) stript of their leaves, and the
+interstices filled up with clay. The roofs are composed of a
+species of coarse grass (called by the negroes, "hurricane
+grass," on account of its wild growth,) fastened on with the bark
+of the "soursop tree." I cannot speak much for the apparent
+comfort of these last-mentioned dwellings; there is one thing,
+however, to be considered, warmth is not necessary in this
+climate, yet, I should think, the heavy rains which fall at times
+must penetrate them, and render their clayey floors still more
+unpleasant. The fire with which the negroes cook their victuals
+is always made in the open air, unless they fence in a small
+portion of ground, and loosely throw a bundle of dry cane-leaves
+on the top, in which case it frequently answers for stable and
+kitchen.
+
+Those negroes who reside in the capital invariably have their
+houses built of wood; they seldom consist of more than one room,
+in which a whole family, of perhaps six or eight persons, eat,
+sleep, and live; and from whence issue, upon a Sunday, those
+_ladies_ and _gentlemen_ who equal in splendour of dress the
+habitants of princely halls. The form of architecture is very
+simple; four sides, of equal length, breadth, and height, are
+first erected, and the whole surmounted by what is called a
+_pitched_ roof, which also consists of four uniform sides,
+meeting at the top in a pyramidical form. For further protection
+from the weather, this roof is covered thickly over with
+"shingles," (flat pieces of board, manufactured in America, for
+that purpose, from the wood of the cypress, or cedar,) which are
+put on in the same manner as slates. Some of these dwellings have
+doors facing to each of the cardinal points, besides a window or
+two; so that, when agreeable, they can have a free circulation of
+air. When I speak of windows, it must not be understood I mean
+such as contain any portion of glass; but simply what Dr. Johnson
+calls them, "an opening in a house for light and air." These
+houses are generally left destitute of any outward colouring,
+except what they acquire from exposure to the weather, but when
+paint is made use of, the favourite tints are yellow for the
+sides, and red for the roof and doors. As I have before hinted,
+many of these small houses are built by pilfering a board or a
+plank at a time, or now and then a few shingles. It often
+happens, that dwellings which are erected upon this plan, take
+some time before they are completed. To assure myself of this
+assertion, I need only raise my eyes from my paper, and one of
+these _contributory_ edifices greets my view. It was commenced
+before I came to the island; and after remaining here for about
+two years, and returning to England for near the same period,
+upon my second visit to Antigua, I found the house not quite
+finished. I could not help observing this house during its tardy
+erection; a stroke or two of the hammer now and then broke upon
+the silent ear of night, and in the morning it might be perceived
+that another board had been added to the side, or a few more
+shingles nailed upon the roof. It most frequently happens, that
+the possessors of these small tenements have no land of their
+own, but pay a small ground-rent for the space occupied by their
+habitations. When they are wishful of removing to another part of
+the town, like the snail, they carry their houses with them,
+which, from the manner of construction, is no difficult matter.
+These buildings are always raised a little way from the ground,
+and have a step or two at the principal entrance. Sometimes the
+space between the ground and the house is entirely filled up with
+loose bricks or stones; others have only an empty barrel, or a
+few stones piled up at each corner, just sufficient to support
+the fabric.
+
+When a removal is agreed upon, their first care is to hire a few
+porters, and an accompaniment of trucks. These "four-wheeled"
+carriages are firmly fastened together, and placed under the
+house, the slight foundation pulled away, and strong ropes being
+attached to the first truck, the porters (with the assistance of
+other men, women, and children) commence pulling with all their
+might, and the house moves off to the song and chorus adapted to
+the occasion. To preserve its equilibrium, two men march on each
+side of the house with long poles, which they place against the
+side; one of these commences the song, (which is of their own
+composition,) and the whole tribe join in the chorus of "Pull
+away, my hearties," or similar phrases. In former times, when the
+negroes had only the Sunday allowed them to perform any of their
+own work, that day was used to execute these removals; but the
+noise it occasioned during the period of Divine service was such,
+that the legislature found it necessary to prohibit this practice
+at the same time they abolished the Sunday markets.
+
+It is particularly disagreeable to be in the vicinity of these
+houses when their owners take it into their heads to remove them.
+The negroes are always noisy; but when such deeds are in
+contemplation, they are more so than ever; the songs they sing,
+the quarrels they have, and the language they use, would tire the
+patience of the most stoical. Sometimes a sudden crash is heard,
+and the whole edifice comes tumbling to the ground; this leads to
+another "wordy war,"--the goddess Discord again waves aloft her
+arm,--the whole neighbourhood is in commotion,--and poor I (who,
+alas! am a most _unwilling_, but compulsory listener) cannot help
+exclaiming--"Oh! that I were in dear old England, where at least
+the houses are not moved."
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XLI.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Occupations--Agricultural labourers--Black sailors--
+  Their excessive gormandizing--The hungry captain's
+  disappointment--Black cooks--"Melted butter"--A receipt for a
+  cookery book--The obtrusive fish--Grooms and "house boys"--An
+  old planter's opinion--Concluding remarks.
+
+After mentioning the recreations, dress, and general habits of
+the negroes, it may be necessary to give some account of their
+principal occupations. By far the greater part of the black
+population, as will be seen in the statistical portion of this
+work, are employed in the cultivation of the sugar-cane, which,
+although very laborious, pays them better than any other work.
+When engaged in this pursuit, the hours of labour are as follows:
+--the bell rings at six o'clock in the morning, and the negroes
+proceed to the field, and remain there until nine, when the bell
+again rings, and they go to their breakfast; an hour being
+allowed for that purpose, they enter the field at ten, and remain
+until twelve, when they leave for their dinners; at two they
+resume their labours, which continue until six, when their daily
+work is finished. It must be remarked, that during the short
+days, they scarcely reach the field until near eight; and just as
+the sun begins to sink, they confidently assert it is after six,
+and refuse to work any longer, let the hour be what it may.
+During the time of slavery, such women as were nursing did not
+commence working until seven o'clock; but in these days of
+freedom, they do not resume the hoe until their children are nine
+or ten months old. Some of the negroes gain a very plentiful
+subsistence, by buying a horse and cart, and carting manure to
+the different estates; others again will agree with a planter to
+do a certain portion of work; they procure other labourers, and
+when the work is finished, they divide the profits; but let them
+do whatever they will, they contrive to make such bargains, that
+they never fail in obtaining a _good supply_ of that necessary
+evil--money.
+
+Besides agricultural labourers, there are a great many artisans,
+fishermen, and sailors. With regard to these last, I cannot say
+whether they are very _firm_ in times of _danger_; but from
+ocular demonstration, I can assert, that when the sky and sea
+looks fair, they are very careless, although, from July to
+October, the West Indian seas are very liable to sudden squalls.
+These black sailors generally confine themselves to the
+navigation of the Caribbean Sea, making voyages in small vessels
+to the different islands. Very few of them know all the points of
+the compass, some of them not any--their manner of steering being
+more after the manner of the ancients. They see the sun when he
+rises, and they know that is the east; they observe him when he
+sets, and that, they are aware, is the west. Their mode of
+proceeding when upon these voyages is, to keep within sight of
+land as much as they can; and in most parts, the channels between
+the different islands are so narrow, that this is not difficult;
+but to make a bold stretch across, so as to lose all landmarks,
+they seldom or never think of. The greatest peculiarity among
+these black sailors is their extreme voracity--never were there
+greater eaters. In my frequent voyages in these small vessels to
+the other islands, I have had numberless opportunities of
+observing this; for from the confinement of the cabins, and the
+great heat of the climate, the deck is the only supportable part
+of the vessel, and there it is the sailors partake of their
+dinners. Such piggins of _fungy_, with accompaniments of rice or
+potatoes, salt fish, or beef, as I have then seen consumed, and
+in such a short period, is really marvellous! Even when at the
+helm, they are occupied in eating biscuit, of which they
+generally manage to have their pockets full.
+
+Upon one occasion, I was coming from St. Kitts to Antigua, on
+board one of these small craft. The second day from our leaving,
+the sailors caught a very large sucking-fish, (_remora_,) which
+was scarcely pulled upon the deck, before they commenced the
+operation of cooking it. The "captain," as he termed himself, was
+that day unfortunately tormented by a violent headache; and after
+seeing their prize safely deposited in a huge kettle of water,
+laid himself down to sleep, in hopes of getting rid of his
+unwelcome visitant. "Soft slumber" sealed his eye for many an
+hour; but when at length he awoke, his first demand was for some
+of the tempting dish, whose early stage of cookery he had so ably
+inspected. "All eat," was the consoling reply to a hungry man. It
+was certainly provoking, and so he seemed to think; for he put
+himself into a violent passion immediately. "War for you eat aw
+dat fish for, eh? fish big so to. War for you go do so? You aw
+too much greedy--you aw reg'lar nagers." And with much growling
+and grumbling, he was obliged to solace his unappeasable appetite
+with a hard biscuit, instead of his favourite fare.
+
+This _penchant_ for eating among the negro sailors is universally
+known. I have heard it remarked, by a gentleman of Antigua, (in
+answer to some query upon the subject,)--"Oh! have nothing to do
+with small vessels; or, if you _have_, on no account provision
+them, but rather pay them so much a week to find themselves; for
+those black sailors are never satisfied--they will be eating
+eleven hours in the day, and on the twelfth they are, or rather
+_pretend_ to be, hungry. This, I am sure, is the fault of their
+mothers during infancy; for their common cry to them is--'Eat, me
+pic'nee, eat; fill youself, an den go sleep;' so that the custom
+grows upon them to that degree, that when they become men, they
+cannot break themselves of it." So much for the remark; those who
+are acquainted with the subject will, I think, readily assent to
+the truth of it.
+
+In times of slavery, it was customary, among some owners or
+managers of slaves, to allow such negroes as were not employed in
+the cane-field the privilege of hiring themselves out to
+strangers, providing they regularly paid to their masters a
+certain sum weekly from the wages they received. Many of them
+acquired a good sum by this permission; while others, again,
+although they earned high wages, had to pay so large a proportion
+to their proprietors, that they were not so well off in pecuniary
+matters as those negroes who remained upon the property. Still,
+they were comparatively more their own masters; and so dear to
+every breast is freedom, that they preferred doing so, and
+gaining less.
+
+Another large body of negroes are to be met with as domestic
+servants. That there are some good servants among them none can
+deny; but I am sorry to say, they are seldom met with. In
+general, the men make better domestics than the females. Some of
+those who hire themselves as cooks are very clever in their
+profession, and will dress turtle in various delectable forms,
+equal, if not superior, to the vaunted cooks at "Cornhill," or
+the celebrated "M. de Barre" (late cook to Louis XVIII.) himself.
+This is to be the more wondered at, as they have not half the
+conveniences in the culinary departments as their brother cooks
+on the other side of the water; on the contrary, many an
+invention has to issue from their teeming brain, before they can
+arrange these matters to their satisfaction. But one precaution
+must be carefully observed, in order to insure success: in
+cookery, they must be left entirely to their own discretion--no
+improvement proposed; for either they are obstinately bent on
+following their own plan, and will not adopt any other, or else
+they do not fully understand their instructions; and what was
+intended as an improvement will result in failure.
+
+It is the practice in Antiguan cookery, when "melted butter" is
+used, merely to oil it, and send it to table in that state, which
+to many strangers proves disagreeable. Soon after my arrival in
+this country, I begged the cook to adopt some other plan,
+explaining at the same time, to the best of my abilities, how it
+was commonly done in England. The next day, at dinner, there was
+something "in such a" _very_ "questionable shape" upon the table,
+that I was fain to summon Mr. Cook from his tenement, to ask what
+it might be. "Melted butter, missis," quoth the knight of pots
+and kettles. "_Melted butter!_--impossible! it has more the
+appearance of pudding, boiled like the French cook's, without a
+cloth." "Eh, eh, missis, war for you go call him pudding? you no
+tell me put flower in de butter--it _dat_ make him 'top so!" I
+was confounded. After my learned dissertation upon melted butter
+the day before, (which, by-the-bye, I borrowed from the worthy
+Dr. Kitchener himself,) to be served in this manner was too bad;
+however, it taught me never for the future to interfere with his
+department.
+
+They have some peculiarities in dressing different meats in
+Antigua which I have never heard of being practised in other
+countries, although it must be owned my knowledge in such matters
+is very limited, not having devoted much of my time to studying
+the "Cook's Oracle;" indeed, (the truth must be spoken,) I am
+better pleased to form an acquaintance with ragouts, or any other
+dainties, when they are upon the table, than I am to inspect
+their various formations, or become versed in their different
+modes of cookery. But as some of my readers may, with Peter
+Pindar, be fond of peeping into pots and pans, I will, for their
+benefit, try to elucidate kitchen mysteries for once in my life,
+and expound to them the method of _doving_ meat, as the Antiguan
+cooks term such process. The first point to be achieved is, of
+course, to procure the meat, and then to see that the "igneous
+element," as Mr. Dryden learnedly calls fire, has attained a
+sufficient degree of heat. These preliminary matters being
+adjusted, an iron pot is made thoroughly hot, the meat placed in
+it without the aid of water, and the utensil carefully covered
+over. In this fiery durance it is allowed to remain until one
+side becomes of an approved brown; it is then turned to another,
+until at length it arrives at that state of superexcellence,
+that, like "Sancho Panza's cow's heel," it has only to cry "Come
+eat me, come eat me!"
+
+The greatest fault to be found with these kitchen gentry, these
+black cooks of Antigua, is, that while from various meats and
+spices they are compounding ambrosial food for their masters,
+they forget the rules of equity, and, like the lordly lion of the
+forest, keep the largest share for themselves. This is done with
+impunity by all the class; they dread not even the "strong arm of
+the law," nor exempt the lawyers themselves from this exaction,
+if report speaks true. When discovered in these petty thefts,
+they use the greatest art to make you believe it is a mistake, a
+slip of (not the tongue, but) the fingers, and, consequently, not
+their fault; or else, that "_somebody_" did the deed, and laid
+the blame at their door.
+
+A gentleman proprietor of this island had a servant living with
+him who was famed for practising this particular species of
+depredation, quite an adept in the art, and who at the same time
+possessed a tongue well versed in the doctrine of excuses. Many
+and oft have been the occasions when this sable offender has
+appropriated to his own share the eatables which ought to have
+graced his master's table, and yet escaped without reproof. But
+one day, (for so the Fates had willed it,) being pressed for
+time, "Lemon" was obliged to transfer to his _pocket_, instead of
+a place of more approved security, a fish he had adroitly managed
+to purloin, and hurry into the dining-room, (in his double
+capacity of cook and footman,) with the remainder properly dished
+up. "Truth," says the old proverb, "will pop out its head;" and
+although the stubborn fish did not exactly do that, it made
+amends by popping out its _tail_, and proved to the master's eye
+the undeniable fact of his servant's deviation. Unconscious that
+his silent but no less true accuser had betrayed him, the faulty
+cook kept his stand, until, at length, his master, pointing at
+the same time to the purloined luxury, inquired, "Lemon, what is
+that you have in your pocket?" His blushes, if he knew how to
+blush, were effectually concealed by the blackness of his skin,
+while, with the counterfeit surprise of innocence, he replied to
+this question by asking another: "Pocket, massa? war pocket?" And
+then, turning his eye to that particular part of his garment, and
+perceiving in a moment that the presence of the obtruding fish
+could not be denied, with ready cunning, he continued, "You see
+dat, massa? you see dat, missis? you eber see how 'de ebil'
+(witchcraft) follow me! Ebil come quite in me pocket, come put
+fish dere, so make you aw tink me go tief it!" Oh, worthy Lemon!
+oh, noble son of Ham! hadst thou lived in the days when Jupiter
+and his train peopled bright Olympus, undoubtedly thou wouldst
+have been turned into a constellation as a reward for thy
+ingenuity!
+
+Among the grooms and "house-boys" (as the Antiguans call their
+domestic men-servants) there are also some to be met with who
+have a fair character for general good behaviour, but they are
+rare instances--seldom found. The greater part of the grooms are
+too fond of galloping their masters' horses, (a practice common
+with most negroes, who will ride almost as soon as they can
+walk;) and with respect to the latter-mentioned class, indolence
+and prevarication form (as we have already seen) too often the
+predominant traits in their character.
+
+Another peculiarity among this tribe is the freedom with which
+they address their employers. This has even increased, if
+anything, since emancipation; for now they are free, they appear
+to think themselves upon an equality with the highest in the
+land. They condescend, it is true, to take your money, but at the
+same time seem to think it a degradation to do your work. If it
+is necessary to find fault with any part of their conduct, they
+generally return a saucy answer, or else make this rejoinder--
+"Bery well, as we can't agree, we best part; me no care to hire
+meself out again;" and immediately collecting their different
+articles together, (including, perhaps, some belonging to their
+master or mistress, of course by mistake!) away they go, and the
+only plan you can adopt is, to procure another domestic in their
+place, who, perhaps, acts even worse.
+
+I would not wish to be thought unreasonably prepossessed in
+favour of my own country-people, but, conscientiously speaking, I
+have never met with one black domestic who acts with the same
+degree of propriety as most of the English servants do. If you
+keep them at their proper distance, they become dissatisfied, and
+complain of your being harsh to them; if, on the contrary, you
+shew them any degree of attention, and try to make their
+situation as comfortable as possible, they then assume too much,
+and entirely forget the difference of rank. Try to serve them,
+and it is ten chances to one you make them your enemy; do them
+ninety-nine favours, and refuse the hundredth, and you are
+reviled and blamed as if you had injured them.
+
+An old English gentleman, who had spent the greater part of his
+life in Antigua, and who has several hundreds of these people
+under his control, used to say, that "the worse you behave to a
+negro, the better he behaves to you." This is a doctrine,
+however, which I do not admit, let the negro character be as
+defective as it may.
+
+Oh! slavery, slavery! when will all the train of evils thou hast
+originated cease? when will thy pestilential influence be
+abolished in these beautiful, but (I must add it) crime-stained
+islands? Another and another generation will have to pass away
+ere prejudice is no more--ere suspicion is lulled to sleep,
+before the servant will learn to look up to his master as his
+protector, and the master view without distrust the services of
+his domestic, and find in him an humble friend.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XLII.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Employment of the women--Washing--A scene at the pond
+  --Conversations--The sea-side--"Water frolic"--Hucksters--
+  "Damaged flour"--Female porters--Masculine appearance of some
+  of the females--Indelicacy--Their mode of carrying burdens.
+
+Having given a short sketch of the manner in which the generality
+of the negro-men employ their time, it will be proper also to
+mention the occupation of the females. Many of these still follow
+the employment to which they have been habituated from their
+youth, the cultivation of the sugar-cane. But others, although
+used to it in their days of slavery, now they have become free,
+look upon it as degrading; and therefore, quitting the estates to
+which they formerly belonged, and all the privileges incident to
+their country-life, they hire a small house in some of the alleys
+or outskirts of the capital, and there take up their abode. Among
+this class of women, washing and huckstering are the principal
+employments; and it is from the profits arising from these means
+that they are enabled to bring up their daughters in comparative
+idleness, and send them forth on Sundays dressed in the
+ridiculous style I have already described.
+
+It may not be deemed superfluous to remark how differently
+_washing_ is conducted in Antigua to the mode pursued in England.
+There, among the good housewives who preside over such ablutions,
+it generally occasions gloom and discontent, particularly if the
+weather proves foul when the _water frolic_ takes place; in that
+case (as the song says)--
+
+   "The very kittens on the hearth,
+    They dare not even play;
+    But away they jump, with many a thump,
+    Upon a washing day."
+
+But in this country, where blue skies and sun-shiny days
+predominate, the case is quite the reverse.
+
+Groups of washerwomen may be seen in the morning with large
+bundles of clothes upon their heads, their half-naked "pic'nees"
+clinging round their hips, and similarly accoutred little urchins
+running by their side, wending their way to some of the ponds
+near the outskirts of the town. When arrived at the place
+favourable for such sports or occupations, their bundles are
+first put down, their youngest children placed upon the ground
+with one of larger growth to watch over it, their own dress
+properly arranged, and then the business of the day commences.
+
+The clothes are thrown into the pond, and allowed to remain there
+until completely saturated with water; they are then taken out,
+placed upon large stones, (which are generally to be found about
+such spots,) and holding a piece of wood (in shape like a
+cricket-bat, which they call a beetle) in their hands, they
+commence pounding the articles with all their might, utterly
+regardless of loss of buttons, causing large rents, or any other
+_et cetera_ which may chance to happen. When they think the
+clothes are sufficiently _washed_, (if that term can be applied
+to this operation,) they are again steeped in the pond, rinsed
+out, and then spread along the ground, to imbibe the heat of the
+glaring sun.
+
+All the time the labour of the hands is going on, the tongue is
+by no means idle. The news of the island is discussed; dress,
+dances, and religion, descanted on; and the songs upon
+individuals (already alluded to) composed. One party of staid
+matrons commence a conversation. "You no go prayers last night;
+bery well; massa miss yo--why yo no go? Don't you 'member what
+godmodder (as they call their leaders in the Moravian society)
+say 'bout aunty Nanny, 'cause she no go get her speak last
+time?[34] Well! sure the Lor' he one good Lor', (what you keep
+bawling so for, you cross pic'nee, eh?--me no gee you one cane to
+suck, you good-for-noting you!" addressed by way of parenthesis
+to a little crawling _black-a-moor_, who, unable to gain its
+mother's attention by more pleasing means, is compelled to raise
+its 'importunate call;') yes, me dear sister, de Lor' one good
+Lor', and massa parson talk all good talk." Another party of
+giddy, laughing girls, chatter away in a different strain. "I
+say, Ange', (Angelina,) you see dem _challis_ se (sister) Eleanor
+hab selling last week? Well, I buy one, only it no make yet,
+'cause I no get money 'nough to buy de black lace to trim it.
+I'se wants to hab it make like dat buckra lady's frock, she as
+come from England the oder day."--"No, me no seed em; me buy one
+robe dress Christmas gone. But did you hear 'bout se
+Margate?"--"No; war 'bout she?"--"Eh! eh! you no hear. Why, last
+night she war coming home past were de old play-house used to
+'tan, when just as she get close de wall, dere she see one big
+ole jumby man--ugly so! most kill her, she so frighten. Bery
+well! she try to run, but he old jumby knock her down, fall to
+lick (_flog_) her in such a manner dat she hab feber all last
+night."--"Eh! eh! poor Margate! you b'lieve me, me no tink me
+dare go by de ole play-house at night den."
+
+With conversations such as these they endeavour to lighten their
+labours; and during the time the clothes are drying, some form
+themselves into parties, and dance on the greensward to the music
+of their own voices; others nurse their little children, or boil
+their lunch (gipsy fashion;) while the more idle ones stretch
+themselves upon the grass, and sleep away the hours until the
+cleansed garments are perfectly dry, when they collect their
+different articles, and march off to their respective dwellings
+in the same manner as they came.[35]
+
+As remarked at the commencement of this chapter, among those
+black women resident in the capital, are to be found an immense
+number of hucksters; indeed, in every street, at every corner,
+they are to be met with. These persons deal in different
+articles; some in cloth of various fabrics, threads, tapes,
+laces, &c.; some in salt-fish, corn-meal, (the flour from the
+Indian corn,) rice, &c.; and others in fruits, vegetables, soap
+and candles. Some of these hucksters occupy small shops of about
+fourteen feet square, (which, by the bye, in most cases they are
+obliged to use as their sleeping, dining, and dressing room as
+well,) where they vend their different wares; while others
+frequent the markets, or walk about the town or country with
+their goods. These people purchase their goods from the retailers
+upon a larger scale, or else buy them at an auction sale, of
+which there are sometimes three or four in a day, at the
+different merchant's stores.
+
+There is one peculiarity attending these small dealers, which is
+worthy of note--this is, the great love they have for buying
+"damaged flour," supposing they will be sure to get a bargain.
+Upon this account, it is common among some merchants, when they
+are about to dispose of this commodity by public auction, to term
+it "damaged," when perhaps the only appearance of such mischance
+is, that the barrel is a little dirty. It has been often known
+for one of these sullied barrels to bring a larger amount than a
+better article, simply because it was put up as damaged.
+
+Many of these women do nothing else but walk about to the
+different sales all day, in hopes of meeting with bargains,
+leaving the management of their shop (if they have one) to their
+children. When an article is put up, they bid in pounds and
+shillings, of which they have no conception; the consequence of
+which is, that when they retire from the sale, and get some
+friend to add it up in _dollars_ and _bitts_, (current coins,--
+the _dollar_ 4s. sterling, the _bitt_ 4½d.,) they become alarmed
+at the amount of their purchases; and as there is no auction duty
+to be paid by them, they will not return for the articles, and
+consequently the merchant is obliged to bear the loss.
+
+Some of the females work as porters, hire themselves to mix
+mortar for bricklayers, or even dig wells, (or springs as they
+are termed in this country,) and clean out ponds. Many of the
+negro women, particularly those who live in the country, and are
+employed in agriculture, are so very masculine in their voice,
+manners, and appearance, that it is at times a matter of doubt to
+say to which sex they belong. This may be attributed to the
+general system of treatment during slavery: they were required to
+work the same as the men; and when punishment was thought
+necessary, no regard was paid to their feelings, but their
+persons were equally exposed as those of the other sex. Of
+course, these proceedings in time rendered them callous, and in
+the end, divested them of all those principles of modesty which
+are so great an ornament to the feminine character, whether in a
+high or low condition of life. The manner in which they were
+accustomed to dress during their ordinary employments tended in
+great measure to have this effect. A petticoat of coarse
+linseywoolsey, or blue check, with a short jacket of similar
+materials, constituted the chief part of their covering; and even
+this was put on so carelessly, that frequently the upper part of
+their persons was left quite bare. While employed in their daily
+avocations, it is customary to tie up their garments almost--if
+not quite--as high as their knees; and even when walking about
+the streets of the capital, if it is rather wet weather, the same
+degree of indelicacy is practised. All these causes combined,
+tend to lessen the women in the eyes of strangers; although the
+Creoles appear to see no indecorum in their style of dress, or
+manners.
+
+Most negroes appear to be possessed of great strength, and will
+carry immense loads, the women as well as the men. The head is
+the part appropriated by the negroes to bear their burdens. They
+carry tables, heavy boxes, boards, barrels, and similar articles,
+in this manner; and if they want to convey a cup or a bottle, it
+is placed in the same exalted situation. The very little
+children, of perhaps not more than three or four years old, will
+also place a calabash of water, or a bottle of rum, upon their
+heads, and trip along without holding it in the slightest manner.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[34] A religious ordinance among the Moravians.
+
+[35] In Barbados, the negroes make a little difference in their
+mode of washing. Going down to the sea-side, they make use of the
+sea-water, and then spreading them upon the sand, sprinkle them
+occasionally with the briny fluid. When (during a short visit to
+that island) I saw them thus employed, it recalled forcibly to my
+mind the description of the Princess "Nausicaa" in "Pope's
+Homer's Odyssey," who at the command of Pallas went to wash the
+robes of state in the "mazy waters."
+
+   "Then emulous the royal robes they lave,
+    And plunge the vestures in the cleansing wave;
+    (The vestures cleansed o'erspread the shelly sand,
+    Their snowy lustre whitens all the strand.)"
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+
+
+  Negroes: Exterior appearance--Difference of expression--White
+  negroes (Albinos)--Description of one--Black and white negroes
+  --Negroes' "bulls and blunders"--Exchange is no robbery, or the
+  lost specimens--Negro politeness--Negro tongue--Inebriation--
+  Concluding remarks
+
+It is now necessary to make some mention of the exterior
+appearance of this large bulk of the population of Antigua, the
+blacks. As most persons are aware, the distinguishing features of
+the negro tribe are thick lips and flat noses, to which
+peculiarities may be added, their black and woolly hair; but that
+there are no exceptions to be met with is an incorrect statement.
+Even among the Africans themselves, some intelligent countenances
+and expressive features are to be found, while many of the
+Antiguan _Creole negroes_ are what may be termed very
+good-looking. High and well-formed foreheads, black and sparkling
+eyes, aquiline noses, and lips with only a slight pout, are not
+uncommon. I would not, however, presume to assert that these
+pleasing outlines predominate; on the contrary, a great many of
+the negroes are very ill-favoured, approximating to what may be
+called hideous; and this is heightened when, in contrast to their
+ebon skins, is presented the snowy hair of old age, or when
+suffering from that dreadful disease, the _elephantiasis_. Many,
+again, are exactly like an ape, only, perhaps, they have not so
+much animation in their countenances; while others, from their
+thick, sullen-looking features, their over-hanging eyebrows,
+white, gleaming tusks, and faces more than half covered with
+hair, give no bad picture of "Master Bruin."
+
+It has been remarked by many persons, that they could not
+distinguish one black person from another. A short time spent
+among them shews you, however, that this is not the case, there
+being, in reality, as much difference in personal appearance as
+there is between the natives of England, although, from their
+dusky hue, it is not so perceptible at first sight. This
+dissimilarity consists, not only in features, but also in
+complexion. Some of the negroes are black as "the ebon throne of
+night," or the drear raven's wing, others present a kind of
+"reddening gloom;" while many have that wan, _spectral_
+appearance, that you may fancy them suffering in the early stage
+of the _black jaundice_.
+
+There have been instances in this island of Albinos being born
+among the negroes; one, in particular, of the appropriate name of
+"Wonder," belonging to an estate called "Mayers," astonished all
+who beheld him. He was said to be as repelling in temper as he
+was in person. One of these prodigies of nature was introduced to
+me during my stay in the West Indies, and so extraordinary was
+his appearance, that I cannot refrain from giving a short
+description of him. In person he was rather tall and slender; his
+complexion was of the colour of chalk and water, and no tinge of
+carnation was to be found either in his lips, cheeks, or gums.
+His hair, which, like that of all negroes, was short and woolly,
+was perfectly white, as also his eyebrows and eyelashes; these
+last were very long and thick, and completely shaded his eyes. Of
+this member, the iris was of a very light grey, while what is
+called the white of the eye, or more properly, the _albuginea_,
+presented a yellow tinge; and, from the manner in which he
+screened his eyes with his arm when looking up, he must have
+possessed a defective vision. Although he was not absolutely
+ugly, yet his appearance was such as to cause an involuntary
+repugnance. The person who introduced this strange creature to my
+notice acquainted me that he was of a very crabbed temper; but at
+this I was not afterwards at all surprised, for wherever he went,
+he was a matter of wonder and dislike, and every little negro
+called after him as he passed along, "You see dat white nager?--
+well, me no like to be one white nager, me sure!"
+
+It is said that these "Albinos," or "Dendos," as the negroes call
+them, cannot see during the middle of the day, but that at night
+their vision is so particularly clear, that they can see to pick
+up the smallest object.[36]
+
+There have also been instances of a negro being born _black and
+white_ in Antigua; his parents were both black people, as were
+the progenitors of "Wonder," whom I have already mentioned. Dame
+Nature does play strange freaks at times; and surely when she
+formed these white and "black and white" negroes, she must have
+been in one of her most sportive humours.
+
+Many of the negroes have very good figures; but the assertion of
+some authors, that there is scarcely ever a deformed person to be
+met with among them, is as untrue as it is ridiculous. I profess
+not to be a connoisseur in anatomical beauty, or to know the just
+criterion as to what the human shape ought to be, but with regard
+to this people, very many of them are anything but perfect in
+their organization. One very perceptible defect is, their bodies
+being longer in proportion than their legs; and in many
+instances, these last-named members have a strong inclination to
+_turn in_, or _turn out_;--in plain English, to be
+_bandy-legged_. This latter blemish may, perhaps, be attributed
+to the manner in which the women carry their children during
+infancy: leaning upon one side, they place the child upon the
+protruding hip, with its little legs clinging around their body,
+which posture, in time, causes those limbs to _bow_ out. This
+plan of carrying children is not only commonly practised with
+their own offspring, but when engaged as nurses in respectable
+families they use their little charge to the same awkward custom,
+so that if you lift a Creole child, it immediately clings round
+you in the manner described.
+
+The negroes, like the Irish, are famed for their "bulls and
+blunders," in illustration of which, many an anecdote is related.
+
+During the period that Sir James Leith was residing in Antigua,
+as governor of the Leeward Islands, he was very indefatigable in
+his geological researches, for which Antigua affords an ample
+field. Upon one occasion, his excellency had been labouring very
+hard to collect from the bosom of "Mother Earth" specimens which
+only a geologist can properly appreciate; and with a well-filled
+bag of them, entrusted to the care of a negro servant, he left
+the scene of his toils to refresh his animal spirits with some of
+the _good things_ of this life. To ensure the safety of his
+favourite specimens, the negro was despatched with them to "Dows
+Hill," (the place where the governor then resided,) with strict
+injunctions to make the best of his way, and carefully deposit
+his load in his excellency's study until they could be properly
+arranged.
+
+After receiving his orders, and well poising his load upon his
+back, the man started upon his journey. The weather was very
+sultry, and the way was very long; the bag was very heavy, and
+poor _blacky_ was very tired. Still he plodded on "his weary
+way," stopping only now and then to dash the flowing perspiration
+from his brow, and had arrived within a mile of his home, when he
+was suddenly joined by a friend. "Eh, buddy! (brother) why you
+loaded true! War you got in that great big bag?" "'Tornes,
+(stones,) me friend." "'Tornes! why war you go do wid dem all,
+eh?" "Me no no. Massa gubbunor gib me dem to _fetch_ home, but me
+no no war he go do wid dem; me no dem well heaby though." "Well,
+if eber me hear de like! for one somebody to go haul all dem
+'tornes sich a long way, when dere plenty ob dem all 'bout 'Dows
+Hill.' I tell you war me go do if deys gib me dem to carry, me go
+heabe dem ebery bit away, an when me get to de 'Hill,' fill me
+bag wid some of dem big 'tornes as stop all 'bout dere--sure one
+'torne as good as anoder." "'Tank'e, me friend, me neber think ob
+dat me sure; but if you just help me down wid dem, me soon do war
+you tell me."
+
+No sooner said than done; the splendid specimens were thrown away
+without compunction, and the negro, who found it much easier to
+march with an empty bag than with his former load, sped on his
+way joyfully. At the bottom of "Dows Hill" he stopped, and once
+more replenished his bag with the rough stones, which liberally
+bestrewed the pathway, choosing the largest for the purpose.
+These he safely conveyed to his master's study, carefully shut
+the door, and left them. The surprise and consternation of the
+governor when, upon inspecting, as he thought, his hard-earned
+specimens, he found only a heap of useless rubbish--the
+interrogations he addressed to his servant, and the ludicrous
+answers of the negro,--are matters for the imagination to dwell
+upon.
+
+It is customary with many store-keepers in this island to wash
+the outside of their stores or shops, yellow, or some other
+colour. Should this take the fancy of a negro as he passes, he
+immediately exclaims--"Ah, me like dat, massa's 'tore really look
+gran; he whitewash he yellow, an make he stop quite good, de
+trute!"
+
+With regard to the negro tongue, much cannot be said for its
+purity; the Creole negroes speak a dialect bad enough, but the
+Africans' is almost unintelligible. There is one peculiarity in
+their mode of speech very remarkable--the making use of only one
+gender. For example:--if they speak of a female, or any inanimate
+object, they invariably say _he_; thus, if a woman is speaking of
+her sister, she says, "_he_, my sissy;" or of something that
+particularly attracts their notice, they exclaim--"_he_ one
+handsome house," or "_he_ one gran' carriage."
+
+They have also particular ways to designate persons of all ages
+among themselves; their old women they call "grandy," those of a
+middle age "aunté," while the younger women are nominated "see,"
+or "sissy." In the same manner, the old men go by the title of
+"daddy," the middle-aged "uncle," and the young men "buddy." In
+conversation they seldom pronounce the "s," "th," or "y;" thus,
+if they want to say "story," it is "'tory," or "the," it is "de,"
+"young," it is "noung."
+
+They are particularly polite whenever they meet, addressing each
+other as "Sir," and "Ma'am." Many a dialogue have I heard pass
+between the gossips on their way from the Moravian Chapel,
+sufficient to excite the risible faculties of a stoic. "How d'ye,
+ma'am?" said a dirty-looking man just now, to a woman of a
+similar grade; "how you do?--I'se hope you well to-day." "Well, I
+tankee, sir--how you do?" "Oh, so so, ma'am, it one long time
+since me see you; war you no come up our side?" "Oh, my dear sir,
+me no forget you togedder, but me pic'nee been quite sick."[37]
+"Me sorry to hear dat, but me hopes he soon get well; me just
+been to see de new gubbernor land." "Yes, me here he cum, but me
+not able to go; war kind of a gentleman is he?" "Oh, one
+noble-looking buckra, an he lady on gran lady; it do you heart
+good to see he; me dont tink we eber hab gubbenor like he afore."
+"War he named?" "Gubbernor Sir Charles _Gustus Fitzoy_." "Eh, eh,
+one big name true." "Well, good morning, sir." "Good morning,
+ma'am," and so they separated.
+
+To a stranger, the negro tongue is as difficult to _write_ as it
+is to _speak_. In the different conversations given in that
+dialect, indulgence must be craved from my kind readers, both
+English and Creole, if they are not correctly written, observing
+at the same time that I write them as it seems proper to me, and
+in such a manner as they may be understood by those who read, not
+always the case when garnished by so many accentual marks.
+Perhaps sufficient examples of their mode of talking has been
+given, and that by adding more, the reader may be tired, and
+myself involved in a maze; I will therefore conclude this subject
+by remarking, that it requires more than a moderate stock of
+patience to deal with them, for they talk so long, so loud, and
+so fast, that if not blest with that virtue to an eminent degree,
+you will be sure to lose your temper without avail.
+
+In my lengthened descriptions of the negro tribe, among the
+darker shades of their character inebriation has not been
+mentioned, as it is not a general vice among them. Still it
+cannot be altogether passed over, for alas! too many have to
+deplore the consequences of excessive drinking. In a country
+where his actual wants are sooner supplied than in a colder
+clime, the labourer has a larger portion to spend upon that
+deleterious poison, _new rum_. A few sticks, collected by himself
+or his wife, serves to cook his daily meal, a mat forms his
+couch, while a coarse garment of cloth is the dress of his
+children, and their little feet seldom know the confinement of a
+shoe. Their smart dresses (if they have any) are reserved for a
+Sunday, or any particular occasion; but the generality of negroes
+who are addicted to the vice of drunkenness, seldom pay any
+regard to their personal appearance.
+
+Their excuse for indulging in this habit of drinking is, that
+after working all day they require something to strengthen them
+and allay their thirst. But the question is, will ardent spirits
+do this? or will they not rather, from their heating qualities,
+augment the craving? Now, most negroes have a sweet tooth, and a
+beverage composed of sugar and water would tend to alleviate
+their thirst, and at the same time nourish and enrich their
+blood.
+
+It is very much to be wished that managers and owners of estates
+would try and enforce on the minds of their labourers the
+pernicious effects of dram-drinking; for a steady, well-ordered
+peasantry is a blessing to a country. True it is, the negroes
+have a stubborn temper; and yet there are very many to be found
+among them who seem willing to follow good advice; in that case,
+the "rum-shops" might be forsaken in time, and their frequenters
+become, instead of the refuse, the ornament of the class to which
+they belong. The time has at length arrived when this despised
+and benighted race are treated as rational creatures; when--
+
+   "Spite of the shade, at length confess'd a man;
+    Nor longer whipp'd, because he is not white."
+
+If a society was formed in Antigua, similar to the
+"horticultural," or agricultural societies in England, only
+extending it to articles of manufacture, it would be the means,
+perhaps, of exciting in the minds of the lower classes a worthy
+spirit of emulation, and by employing them during their leisure
+hours, draw them from their bad associates, and conduct them, by
+gentle and persuasive measures, into the paths of virtue.
+
+The humanity and generosity of the Antiguans is proved by many
+charitable institutions; perhaps, then, this remark may be deemed
+an imposition upon their goodness; but such is not the case; this
+society might be established at very small expense. Twice in the
+year, the negroes might be encouraged to bring their little
+productions to an appointed place; and the best made, or best
+cultivated articles, obtain a prize. The prizes, of course, would
+be but small, but surely there are some among this large body of
+persons who would esteem them, not for their value, but for the
+honour it conferred upon them. It would be well if some of the
+philanthropists of the present day would take it into
+consideration whether such a society would be advisable or not.
+If even but a few individuals were converted from idleness to
+industrious habits, the purpose of the institution would be in a
+great measure answered, the country benefited, and, in course of
+time, others might be led to follow their example.
+
+Ambition is a principle inherent in man; in all ages, in all
+classes, in all shades, it more or less abounds, and when
+tempered with reason, becomes, perhaps, more of a virtue than a
+vice. While the negro was used as a beast of burden, a creature
+without feeling or soul, his mind became degraded, and he could
+not exercise his natural powers. But now he is become free, bear
+with his ignorance for awhile, and endeavour by every means to
+enlighten it. Treat him as a being endowed with the same
+capabilities as ourselves; lay before him a just view of life;
+point out to his notice the difference between a man under the
+control of reason and one who follows the dictates of his own
+impetuous will; shew him what industry and perseverance will
+accomplish, and, in all probability, there will be some who will
+lean to the side of virtue, and feel ambitious to become good
+citizens, and worthy members of society. Nor would this be all
+the good effected; being virtuous themselves, they would of
+course desire their children to be so; and consequently, try all
+possible means to procure them good instruction, and endeavour to
+bring them up in the paths of rectitude. This is the only way to
+banish the taint of slavery from the land, and exempt the rising
+generation from those vices which have for so many years been
+prevalent, and caused the man of sensibility to blush for his
+country.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[36] Wager, in his "Account of the Isthmus of Darien," published
+1699, when speaking of these Albinos, says,--"They are not a
+distinct race by themselves; but now and then one is born of a
+copper-coloured father and mother." In the night they skip about
+"like wild bucks, and run as fast by moonlight, even in the gloom
+and shade of the woods, as other Indians do by day; being as
+nimble as they, though not so strong."
+
+[37] In creole language, the term "sick" is applied to all
+ailments.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+
+
+  Remarks upon free system--State of affairs before emancipation
+  --Trials and casualties--Improved price of land--Sugar estate
+  during slavery--Benefits of emancipation in the moral state of
+  the colony--Benefits arising to the planter--Pretended illness
+  among the negroes--Propositions in their favour--Decrease of
+  crime--Hopes indulged--"The first of August."
+
+After dwelling so long upon the gloomy subject of slavery, it is
+pleasing to turn to the more cheering prospects of the country
+under a system of perfect freedom.
+
+It must be allowed that, for a few years previous to
+emancipation, the Antiguan planters were in a state of great
+perturbation. They plainly perceived, from the state of affairs,
+that the thraldom of slavery must be broken--that Britain would
+no longer allow her children to traffic openly in flesh and
+blood; and, finally, that they must, whether with a good grace or
+sullen deportment, give up their right to slaves. Still the
+change from slavery to freedom was a great revolution, a mighty
+crisis; and urgent and inevitable as it was, who could tell what
+would be its results. From this cause, property in Antigua
+diminished, for some few years, greatly in value; and many
+estates might have been then purchased for a comparative trifle.
+
+But this depression did not continue long, for no sooner was the
+deed done, and the chain which bound the negro to his fellow-man
+irrecoverably snapped asunder, than it was found, even by the
+most sceptical, that free-labour was decidedly more advantageous
+to the planter than the old system of slavery. That, in fact, an
+estate could be worked for less by free labour than it could when
+so many slaves--including old and young, weak and strong--were
+obliged to be maintained by the proprietors. Indeed, the truth of
+this assertion was discovered even before the negroes were free;
+for no sooner did the planters feel that no effort of theirs
+could prevent emancipation from taking place, than they commenced
+to calculate seriously the probable result of the change, and, to
+their surprise, found, upon mature deliberation, that their
+expenses would be diminished, and their comforts increased, by
+the abolition of slavery.[38]
+
+The lapse of eight years has proved this to be true; and there is
+now scarcely one person, if any, in the island of Antigua, who
+would wish to become again a slaveholder.
+
+Since the period of emancipation, (1834,) Antigua has suffered
+from many casualties. There were the severe hurricane, and the
+long and harassing droughts of 1835. In 1836, and part of the
+following year, the drought returned with increased severity, and
+blasted, in great measure, the crops. In 1840, the planters had
+again to contend with a season of dry weather, and yet, under all
+these disastrous circumstances, the free system has gloriously
+worked its way; and by producing larger average crops, (as well
+as other advantages, both as regards exports and imports,) has
+claimed from all a tribute of praise.
+
+Although there are some few persons who deny that free labour is
+less expensive than slavery, yet the general voice pronounces it
+to be a system beneficial to the country. It has been proved to
+demonstration that estates which, under the old system, were
+clogged with debts they never could have paid off, have, since
+emancipation, not only cleared themselves, but put a handsome
+income into the pockets of the proprietors. Land has also
+increased greatly in value. Sugar plantations that would scarcely
+find a purchaser before emancipation, will now command from
+10,000l. sterling, while many estates that were abandoned in days
+of slavery; are now once more in a state of cultivation; and the
+sugar-cane flourishes in verdant beauty, where for so many years
+nothing was to be seen but rank and tangled weeds, or scanty
+herbage.
+
+In days of slavery it required an immense capital to establish a
+sugar plantation, as well as a large annual expenditure to carry
+on the affairs of the estate when established. Perhaps a sugar
+estate had a gang of two hundred slaves upon it, yet out of this
+large number possibly there might not be more than sixty or
+seventy efficient negroes, the surplus being composed of helpless
+old men and women, children and infants, and emaciated and
+cureless invalids. Still the law obliged the owner to feed,
+clothe, house, and procure medical attendance for the entire
+number; and little as their allowance was, yet, in dry seasons in
+particular, when the crops of yams and other island provisions
+failed, the maintenance of so many persons was attended with
+great expense, while at the same time, perhaps, not more than
+one-third the number were of any use in agricultural employments.
+
+Under the free system, this tie upon the planter is entirely
+annulled; for he now employs but a sufficient number of labourers
+to carry on the estate-work, and the negroes support themselves,
+as well as their old people and children, out of their weekly
+earnings and the privileges which they still enjoy upon the
+properties where they are domiciled.
+
+But this diminishment of expense in the cultivation of the
+sugar-cane is not the only benefit which emancipation has brought
+to the colony. Setting aside religious principles--which
+evidently point out the _sinfulness_ of slavery, as it is known
+among modern nations--there were many, very many circumstances,
+which tended to render the system obnoxious in the highest
+degree.
+
+I have already spoken of the immorality practised in the West
+Indies. It is a topic most harrowing to the feelings, and one
+that a sensitive mind cannot descant upon. What was the origin of
+that awful state of society? _Slavery!_ Illicit love was not only
+countenanced, but actually encouraged upon estates between the
+white masters and their black slaves, in order that the gang of
+slaves might be enlarged by such unholy means! In these brighter
+days of freedom there is, at least, not this inducement to
+licentiousness in its most hideous form, and consequently, that
+degraded state of morals which marked the annals of former years,
+has, in great measure, disappeared.
+
+Again, slavery occasioned the _planter_ immense trouble and
+perplexities in managing his slaves; it engendered continual
+heart-burnings and jealousies; it soured his temper, rendered him
+callous, deadened those feelings of humanity which the Spirit of
+Love has implanted in our breasts, and, however kind and
+benevolent he might be in his domestic circle, a few months spent
+in managing slaves, and he forgot to exercise his self-control,
+and gave way to bursts of passions which, in his calmer moments,
+he perhaps bitterly repented of.
+
+Nor was this all: slavery engendered suspicion. There was not a
+single slave-holder or slave-manager who, one time or the other,
+was not made the prey to apprehensions, and had his brain filled
+with thoughts of rebellions and insurrections. Emancipation has
+entirely banished this hydra-like train of evils, and paved the
+way for more enlightened and happier times. It has also put an
+end, in great measure, to pretended illness among the negroes.
+During slavery, this was a practice universal. No sooner did
+Monday morning arrive than the manager's door was thronged with
+self-elected invalids, and more diseases were then complained of
+than even Dr. Buchan would have us believe "flesh and blood are
+heir to." Some made their appearance with their heads tied up in
+a bundle of banana-leaves--a negro prognosticator of a severe
+head-ache; others were suffering from pains in the knees and
+ankles, and consequently, such parts of their frame were duly
+enveloped in sundry particles of old cloth or dried snake-skins;
+while some, again, with woe-begone countenances, expressed "dat
+dey felt bad all ober dem." In vain the poor manager protested
+their pulse was good, the tongues in a healthy state--the negroes
+only groaned the more, gave a longer detail of their aches and
+pains, or else, in a very doleful voice, exclaimed--"Massa no
+b'leive he, (pointing to their tongues and wrists,) he no worth
+b'leiving, for he no 'peak true!" and so the end of the confab
+was, that the slaves in question were put upon the sick-list.
+
+But now the case is generally different. The negroes work for
+_money_; they know if they feign illness for a week, they will be
+the losers at the end of the month; and as they are very quick in
+discovering where their own interest lies, they stick to the hoe
+for the sake of the dollars.
+
+Still, however, pretended illness is not entirely extinct,--there
+are some of the labourers who practise it in these days of
+freedom, as of erst they did in slavery. In illustration of this
+remark, it is a customary plan upon sugar plantations, that if
+any of the people quit their work for a certain period, they,
+after that time, are required to pay rent for the cottages, with
+which, as stationary labourers, they are provided. This is done
+in order to ensure their labour, and prevent them from working
+upon other estates, where they may receive higher wages as
+strangers.[39]
+
+In order, then, to gain this increase of wages, without having to
+pay rent for his house, the negro calls up some pseudo complaint,
+and very early in the morning, presents himself before the
+manager, with the usual bandages, and the notification that he is
+"quite sick." The manager feels grieved at this intelligence, for
+he had contemplated doing a particular quantity of work that
+week, and required all the labourers he could procure; but as the
+negro represents himself so very ill, and he cannot deny the
+statement, he is obliged to remain content. No sooner, however,
+has the indisposed negro gained his hut, than he throws off all
+symptoms of illness, and choosing his best hoe, he secretly
+starts away to some other estate, where he is sure to obtain the
+additional wages; while his proper master supposes he is
+reclining upon his bed, a prey to ill-health.
+
+It must be remarked, that although the free labourer acts at
+times in this disingenuous manner, it is a general opinion that
+they work better, and in a more cheerful manner than they did in
+days of slavery, when a driver stood over them with his long and
+heavy whip, to chastise their least cessation from labour. It
+cannot be supposed that I am perfectly cognizant of the real
+truth of this statement. I must, therefore, along with my own
+observations, take the opinions and arguments of planters, and
+other persons connected with agricultural employments, as the
+basis of my remarks.
+
+The facts brought forward in support of this affirmation are
+these:--That upon some estates the extent of acres in a state of
+cultivation is greater than before the abolition of slavery,--
+other properties make a larger annual crop with one-third the
+number of labourers,--and that although many efficient negroes
+have emigrated to other islands, estates that were dismantled
+have been re-cultivated. In _job-work_, as it is termed, the
+negroes accomplish twice as much work as when employed by the
+day; the simple reason of which is, that they gain a larger sum
+of money by such arrangements. It is a fact that has fallen under
+my own observation, that when a piece of land is holed[41] by
+_task-work_, the negroes will rise by one or two o'clock during
+moonlight, go to the field, and accomplish the usual day's work
+(300 cane-holes) by five or six in the morning; and after resting
+for a short time, are prepared to take another task, which they
+also complete, and have some hours left, in which to till their
+own little spot of provision-ground. When the excessive heat of
+the climate is taken into consideration, as well as the labour it
+requires to dig one _cane-hole_, the work of a negro who can open
+_six hundred_ in one day, can be better estimated by those who
+are more acquainted with such matters than myself.
+
+Another proposition in favour of the free system is said to be
+the greater docility of the negroes now they are emancipated. Of
+this circumstance I am not able to give _personal_ information.
+To me they appear as aggravating as ever: equally suspicious,
+quarrelsome, and uncivil. Still there are many and great excuses
+to be made for them, when we consider how short has been their
+life of freedom!--how untutored their minds are!--how debased has
+been their state!--the very beast that eats the grass of the
+field has, in times past, been equally esteemed with the negro!
+
+Many planters, as well as other intelligent individuals, have
+affirmed to the truth of the statement, "that negroes are more
+easily managed as free men, than they were as slaves;" and
+certainly such persons ought to be better judges than myself,
+whose intercourse with the negro population is, of course, more
+restricted.
+
+Crime is also said to have decreased--that is, in offences of the
+higher character. We seldom or ever hear of a murder, or arson;
+but petty faults, such as small thefts, breaking canes, breaches
+of contract, and insolence to their employers, swell at times
+into a large amount. Still it must be remembered, such is not a
+proof that misdemeanours are more frequent in freedom than they
+used to be during slavery. The reason that these minor violations
+of the law appear to have increased is, that under the present
+system all defaulters are brought before a magistrate, and their
+offences thus published in the eyes of the world; whereas, in
+days of slavery, their owner was their judge and corrector, the
+whip their punishment, and they received their corporeal
+chastisement without any notice of the event reaching the ears of
+any stranger.
+
+It is true, as I have already remarked more than once, the
+negroes are a class of individuals very difficult and tiresome to
+deal with; the greatest patience is requisite in order to bear
+with their strange and harassing dispositions. It is now ten
+years since I first came among them; and although great part of
+that time has been spent in England, I have lived long enough in
+Antigua to know what negroes are. I have studied their characters
+in every point, and well as I would wish to speak of them, truth
+obliges me to confess I have found them to be very far from
+perfect. Still I glory in emancipation, for I looked upon slavery
+as a foul and hideous monster, which ought to be exterminated
+from every corner of the world; and consequently, I would not
+have the bright star of liberty robbed of one of its rays by any
+remarks of mine. I yet hope to see the negroes improved in their
+mental, as they already are in their temporal affairs. I trust
+that, as years roll round, their ill qualities will be
+ameliorated, and their virtues increased; that they, as well as
+their employers, may learn and practise that golden maxim, "Bear
+and forbear;" and that eventually the Antiguan peasantry may be
+held up to the other colonies as bright examples of humble worth,
+adorning the sphere of life in which they move.
+
+It is my fervent wish that the negroes may learn properly to
+estimate their state as a _free people_, and instead of using
+their liberty as a cloak for insolence and impertinence, they may
+fulfil the several duties which are required of them with
+becoming diligence, and finally meet their reward.
+
+In summing up this chapter upon free labour, it may be deemed
+necessary for me to mention some few particulars of the 1st of
+August, 1834, that eventful day, when about thirty thousand human
+beings were released from the trammels of slavery, and entered
+upon a new state of existence as free men!
+
+Before the abolition of slavery, it had been supposed by many of
+the inhabitants of Antigua, that the negroes, at such an
+important era of their lives--the transition from slavery to
+freedom, would be led into great and serious excesses, or, at
+least, that they would pass the first days of freedom in dance
+and song, in riotous feastings and drunken carousals. But when
+the time arrived, far different was the result. Instead of that
+day being the scene of wild revelry and disorderly jollity, the
+negroes passed it as a "Sabbath of Sabbaths," a solemn feast,
+
+   "One bright day of gladness and of rest."
+
+The churches and chapels throughout the island were thronged to
+overflowing; and those persons who were unable to procure seats
+within the sacred walls, crowded around the open doors and
+windows with eager looks of joy. All the shops and stores in the
+island were closed--
+
+   "The roar of trade had ceased, and on the air
+    Came holy songs, and solemn sounds of prayer."
+
+From every valley and dingle and from every height came trooping
+joyous groups. Old men and women, whose woolly locks were
+silvered by the hand of time--young men and maidens--the robust
+and the weak--the parent and the child--all rejoicing that the
+day had at length come when the iron yoke of slavery was removed
+from their shoulders, and they, like their masters, could boast
+that they were free!
+
+The 1st of August fell upon a Friday, and after enjoying
+themselves upon the following day with their friends, and joining
+in the ordinances of God upon the Sabbath, the greater part of
+the negroes returned to their agricultural and other employments
+on the Monday morning with the utmost decorum and good temper.
+Defective as the negro character may be, their behaviour at that
+eventful period of their lives must elicit praise from the lips
+of all, and prove a lasting theme of gratification to the friends
+of liberty.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[38] My readers must clearly understand, that in my remarks upon
+free labour, I confine myself exclusively to Antigua. In Jamaica,
+Trinidad, and some of the other islands, great complaints are
+made upon the working of the free system. Many estates are almost
+out of cultivation in Jamaica, and serious fears are entertained
+for the future prosperity of the island. To enter into any
+disquisition respecting where the fault lies in that colony,
+comes not within the focus of the present work; but no doubt, if
+the cause be minutely and candidly inquired into, it will be
+found that blame is to be attached to _both parties_.
+
+[39] It may be necessary to explain what is meant by _strangers_,
+as well as the reason they receive higher wages. The average rate
+of wages is eightpence sterling, per day,[40] with the additional
+privilege of a cottage, a plot of ground in which to plant
+provisions, and medical attendance. Some estates which are short
+handed, endeavour to procure labourers from other plantations,
+and as they have not to provide them with anything but their
+actual wages, they are enabled to give these strangers (as they
+are termed, to distinguish them from the resident labourers) a
+few pence more per day.
+
+[40] Since the late awful earthquake, 8th Feb. 1843, wages have
+increased greatly. The sum of 4s. currency, per diem, is now the
+usual rate; but some estates have to give from 6s. to 8s.
+currency, for the daily work of negroes, when grinding or cutting
+canes.
+
+[41] The process of opening the ground for planting the cane.
+This is most laborious work; it is performed with a heavy hoe,
+and the holes are from three to four feet square, and about a
+foot deep.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XLV.
+
+
+
+  A chapter on colour--Gradual removes from the negroes--Middle
+  classes--Personal appearance--Devotions at their mirrors--Style
+  of dress--Chapel belles--Passion for dress--Home and home
+  scenes--The young men--Extreme officiousness--Higher classes of
+  colour--Coloured Hebes--The chapel tea-party--Gastronomy and
+  speeches--Wesleyan bazaar, and lunch-table--Gastronomic relics.
+
+In commencing this "chapter on colour," it may, perhaps, be
+deemed _unnecessary_ for me to mention, that there are as many
+gradations in _tint_ as there are in _rank;_ but as some of my
+readers may not be perfectly aware of the fact, I prefer to be
+branded with the title of a "multiplier of words," rather than
+omit any subject on which I may be able to afford information.
+
+The several removes from a black are as follows:--The _mongrel_,
+the offspring of a black and mulatto; the _mulatto_, the
+offspring of a black and a white; the _mustee_, the offspring of
+a mulatto and a white; the _fustee_, the offspring of a mustee
+and a white; and the _dustee_, the offspring of a fustee and a
+white.[42] This last gradation is the connecting link between the
+degraded children of Ham, and the descendants of his more
+honoured brethren. It is to be noted, however, that the _mulatto_
+is not _always_ fairer than the _mongrel_, or the _mustee_ than
+the mulatto; and children of the same parents often exhibit as
+much, if not more, difference of complexion, as those of
+Europeans.[43]
+
+Perhaps it may be considered almost an impertinence in me to
+remark--the fact is so well known both in England and the West
+Indies--that, among this numerous body of her majesty's subjects,
+there are some of the highest respectability. Every West Indian
+island has its _élite_, and Antigua is not behind the rest. Many,
+very many, could be mentioned, who are superior in every way--
+well-read, strong-minded, with excellent natural talents, and
+unexceptionable, both in public and private life. It would afford
+me pleasure to name them; but I refrain from doing so, knowing
+that their applause will be sooner gained by remaining silent,
+and therefore will skim over the more general character of the
+class, noting, in the first place, some peculiar traits in their
+personal appearance.
+
+The chief peculiarities in the coloured race are, the extreme
+pliancy of limbs, attenuation of person, large black eyes, and a
+profusion of black curling hair. The men are generally _under_
+than above the middle size, but in most instances, possessed of
+good figures.
+
+The females are also small and slender, and are noted for an
+ambling gait, combined in many of them with an extreme
+affectation of manners. Many of them, unknowingly, are warm
+admirers of Lord Chesterfield's "Advice," and practise the "airs
+and graces" before a looking-glass with an intenseness and
+indefatigability which, no doubt, that _great philosopher_ would
+fully appreciate.
+
+We hear of the beautiful Narcissus being so enamoured of his own
+lovely features, when reflected in the clear waters, that he
+pined into a jonquil. Now, I cannot take upon myself to state
+this is exactly the case with the West Indian brunettes; but they
+do certainly "lingering look," until a pretty considerable stock
+of patience would be exhausted.
+
+Their toilets are laborious in the extreme; and they might
+exclaim, with Lady Mary W. Montague's "Flavia,"--
+
+   "------------ I oft have sate,
+    While hours unheeded pass'd, in deep debate
+    How curls should fall, or where a braid to place;
+    If blue or scarlet best became my face!"
+
+Sundays, marriages, and funerals, are the occasions appointed for
+making the greatest display. At other periods, a long
+dressing-gown, or "wrapper," as it is termed in Antigua, with a
+many-coloured cotton kerchief around their shoulders, and their
+heads perhaps enveloped in a similar article, and _slip-shod_
+shoes, constitute their attire. But when "high-days and holidays"
+come, and an _étalage_ is contemplated, one or two of their
+friends are generally called in to officiate as tire-women, and
+it must be allowed, their place is then no _sinecure_.
+
+The style of dress adopted by ladies of this rank, when abroad,
+is very superb! Silks and satins of the most approved colours,
+challis and mousseline-de-laines of the gayest patterns,
+mantelets, and "Victoria cloaks," bonnets covered with flowers,
+silk stockings, parasols of the most fashionable dimensions,
+gloves of the softest dyes, shoes and boots of every shade,
+reticules, with tassels and all complete, and pocket
+handkerchiefs, ornamented with lace in the manner dictated by the
+changeful goddess, added to a rather exuberant display of
+_bijouterie_, whose gold is deeply alloyed, and whose gems owe
+their brightest rays to the aid of different coloured _foils_,
+serve to increase the charms of the olive-tinged creole beauties.
+
+Those of this class who frequent the chapel, and term themselves
+Methodists, make some slight difference in their apparel. Their
+bonnets, for example, are divested of flowers on the _outside_,
+for which they make amends by various twinings and
+_counter_-twinings of glossy ribbon and cotton lace, and filling
+their caps--I beg pardon, I mean their _brides_--but I am such an
+indifferent votary of fashion, that I am ever forgetting her
+technical terms--their _brides_, then, with such a profusion of
+flowers, which be they of Amaranthine birth I know not, but I am
+very sure, they are like nothing earthly--that their eyes, nose,
+and mouth, just peep forth like sentinels from some guarded
+fortress. Others, more scrupulous I suppose, discard the use of
+flowers altogether, and in their room call to their aid snowy
+_blondes_, and bows and puffs of choicest ribands. Jewellery is
+also interdicted, although a few of the smarter of the "chapel
+belles" contrive to smuggle a ring or two, a mock-cameo brooch,
+or a treble-gilt chain, into their outward adornments. Fashion
+is, however, worshipped by all. Their bonnets must be of the
+proper size, their collars and capes of the proper shape, their
+dresses of the proper length and breadth, and their waists
+reduced to the proper circumference.
+
+But the _sleeves_ of their dresses are the parts appropriated to
+the display of their most exquisite skill. _One_ poor human brain
+could never invent the puffings, plaitings, and gatherings;
+quiltings, flutings, and bandings, which are lavished upon that
+peculiar portion of their dress; to devise them must be an
+arduous task, to construct them an herculean labour. The
+arrangement of their hair is also a work of no trifling nature,
+and takes up no small portion of their time; and the dealers in
+oils and pomades derive no small profit from such articles, which
+are indispensable in making their masses of black locks repose in
+their proper position.
+
+But, jesting apart, it is really the very pinnacle of absurdity,
+to see the rage to which dress is carried, by this class of
+persons in particular, when their style of living and rank in
+society are taken into consideration. Their mothers are of that
+class who have been already described when speaking of the
+negroes, but who, it must be mentioned, disdain that term. Others
+again are mongrels or mulattos; themselves the offspring of those
+illicit alliances for which the West Indies, in their days of
+darkness, have been so disgracefully noted. These mothers have
+had, in almost every instance, the entire management of their
+children. Perfectly uneducated themselves, they of course see no
+charms in knowledge, and except the simple act of being able to
+spell through an easy lesson, or scrawl their own names, these
+unfortunate girls are brought up with no higher ambition than the
+wearing smart clothes, utterly unbefitting their station, and
+spending their lives in brushing and dressing their hair, or
+rubbing their teeth with a roll of tobacco. While their mothers,
+who keep a small shop, sell in the market, or huckster about the
+town to gain a subsistence, think they have performed the part of
+a good parent, by procuring for their daughters clothing which
+every well-thinking person must mourn to see them arrayed in.
+
+Their houses are, in many instances, the domiciles I have also
+already described in the negro chapters, where, amid all these
+smart habiliments, the young persons whom you may see walking out
+with the air and dress of a _duchess_, herd together, eat the
+coarsest fare, perhaps never know the luxury of a table-cloth;
+and where the whole family, including male and female of every
+age, take their nightly repose together. Some of these young
+females are more industrious, and take in needlework of different
+kinds; but the amount of their earnings is lavished upon that
+all-absorbing object--dress. This, however, is the only species
+of work they will condescend to perform, for as to going out to
+service, they scorn the very idea.
+
+The young men are equally scrupulous in adorning their persons;
+although, in many instances, very negligent in improving their
+minds. Their dress, which has been already described when
+speaking of the _black beaux_, they procure by following the
+several trades of tailors, shoemakers, joiners,[44] &c., and
+sometimes, I am sorry to say, by less honest means. They are far
+behind the females in appearance; for the latter, let them be
+ever so uneducated, have a certain gracefulness of manners,
+which, as long as they keep their mouths shut, tends to gloss
+over their ignorance. I have had opportunities of noticing this
+in public places of resort; the missionary bazaars, for example.
+The females sit or stand quietly in groups, and offend not the
+eye or ear by their coarseness of mien; but, on the contrary, the
+men have that dissolute, vulgar, cavalier manner, so
+characteristic of low, over-dressed vanity, that, were it in
+England, we should be led to keep a steady eye upon our pockets
+and watches, and feel ourselves safe only at a distance. Even in
+the West Indies, where the "swell mob" does not exist, a kind of
+unpleasantness of feeling steals over one upon their near
+approach, heightened, or rather produced, by their boldness and
+vulgar, officious conduct. They appear to know no difference of
+rank, but, in their obtruded remarks, forget their plebeian
+origin. This is more apparent in their behaviour to the higher
+classes of their own colour, whom they approach with the utmost
+familiarity, and unless they are speedily and properly
+discountenanced, prove as troublesome as the impertinent little
+_gad-flies_ do to a quiet herd of cattle, when standing musing in
+some marshy pool.[45]
+
+The higher class of coloured persons, which embraces a large
+portion of the community, I have already slightly glanced at; but
+still my work would indeed be incomplete did I not more fully
+endeavour to portray their worth and superiority. These are men,
+who, if not educated in England, have received the best
+instruction the West Indies could afford, aided by their own
+strenuous endeavours for information. Hospitable in the highest
+degree, with a hand ever open to grasp in friendship that of the
+strangers whom fate or the winds may lead to their pretty little
+island; living in an easy elegance of style--the possessors of
+warm and generous thoughts--the doers of high and noble actions--
+patriots in the full sense of the term, their services ever at
+the command of their country; of agreeable conversation and
+polished manners; these are the characteristics of many of our
+Antiguan coloured gentlemen. Their wives and daughters are, in
+several instances, as unexceptionable as themselves, and perform
+their social duties in the same pleasing manner.
+
+Within the last few years, the young people have been more
+generally educated in England, and many of them exhibit superior
+talents, and have attained to no mean proficiency in the fine
+arts. Their manners, too, are, with but few exceptions, very
+graceful; their voices soft and mellifluous; and although,
+perhaps, rather more silent than in the present age is expected
+of women, what they do say is generally to the purpose.
+
+Among these young daughters of a glowing clime, many very
+beautiful girls are to be met with. With a sufficiency of
+_embonpoint_ to prevent the appearance of any "right angles" in
+their frame, they possess a sylph-like movement and an elastic
+step; while the large, black liquid eyes, the glossy jet hair,
+the long eye-lashes, and the soft olive tinge of their
+complexions, relieved by rosy lips and dazzling white teeth,
+would form no bad model for one of Mahomet's _houris_.
+
+Our sweet little queen has, unwittingly, done much to improve
+their beauty, in wearing her own fair hair in the simple style
+she does. As true and loyal subjects, the Creole girls can do
+nought but follow the example of their royal mistress; and the
+massy bunches of curls, which tended to give their features a
+degree of thickness really not their own, and caused them to look
+more sallow by the contrast, have given place to the more
+elegant, Madonna-like bands and braids.
+
+The place of all others where the greatest display of coloured
+beaux and belles are to be found is at the tea-parties given at
+the Methodist chapel for charitable purposes.
+
+It being a beautiful moonlight evening upon the last occasion of
+the kind, we determined to avail ourselves of it, and attend the
+party whose gastronomic performance was to commence at seven
+o'clock. Upon gaining the outer wall of the chapel, we found the
+gate guarded by a few of the "new police," and the porter
+appointed to receive the tickets of admission, for which the sum
+of 2s. 6d. sterling was demanded.
+
+Passing across the court-yard, we stopped for a few moments at an
+open window, to view the interior. The entertainment was held in
+the school-room, a large apartment, forming the ground-floor of
+the chapel; the walls of which were hung round with various
+pictorial embellishments, seen to advantage by the aid of the
+numerous lamps. We entered at that auspicious moment when nearly
+the whole of the company were assembled, and before the actual
+business of the evening commenced. The effect was really very
+picturesque, and the scene would have been worthy the painter's
+pencil. The whole of the interior, with the exception of a space
+all round the apartment, reserved for a promenade, was laid out
+with tables, placed breadthwise, surrounded by well-dressed
+groups, and covered with all those delicate "cates and
+confections," generally introduced at that social meal, which
+Cowper has celebrated.
+
+The heat of the climate rendering it necessary to have all the
+windows thrown open, renders the use of large glass shades also
+necessary to prevent the tapers from being extinguished by the
+fresh land-breeze. On every table a pair of silver candlesticks
+supported the delicate sperm or wax candles, the clear light of
+which, heightened by their glittering screens, threw an air of
+cheerfulness on all. Many elegant little vases, filled with
+choice and fragrant flowers, were placed at stated distances,
+interspersed with baskets and plates of the most luscious fruits,
+while, at each end of the table, with their tea equipages of
+silver and china placed before them, was seated a lady-member of
+the chapel, whose zeal prompted her to prepare all this pretty
+display, for the benefit of the society. Every pillar of the
+apartment supported its appropriated lamps, which, reflected in
+the bright eyes of the assembled girls, shewed their brown faces
+to more advantage.
+
+In about the centre of the apartment, elevated a foot or two from
+the floor, was placed the seraphine, at which a young lady
+(sister to the wife of one of the missionaries) presided, with
+quiet grace and great skill; and around this instrument were
+gathered the missionaries themselves. The business of the evening
+commenced by singing a "grace;" upon the conclusion of which,
+tea-spoons rattled, tea-cups danced from hand to hand, and every
+one appeared resolved to prove, _par experience_, the goodness of
+the plenteous fare placed before them. As for myself, I had full
+work for my eyes, and postponed the exercise of my masticatory
+powers until another opportunity.
+
+Now, be it known to my English readers, that _tea_ is a beverage
+West Indians seldom, if ever, indulge in; except those of the
+higher classes. When, then, such a mixed party of coloured
+persons meet together for the express purpose of partaking of
+that cup "which cheers, but not inebriates," it is done by the
+lower classes merely for the sake of fashion, or to shew off
+their gala dress. Accordingly, some most ludicrous caricatures
+might have been taken, had Cruikshank or Phiz been of the party
+instead of myself. Some of this class sipped their tea with the
+same apparent relish they would have partaken of so much
+decoction of senna, or any other similar luxury the pretty new
+"druggist's shop," lately established in St. John's, under the
+auspices of a son of "mighty Scotia," so neatly dispenses.
+Others, with many a rueful look, talked of the _delights_ of
+tea-parties, and of their own fondness for that fragrant herb,
+while they beat a tattoo upon their tea-cups; and some, again,
+with noble determination of purpose, stirred their smoking cup
+until a little cool, and then gulped down the whole quantum, much
+in the same way, and with the same happy countenances, as a
+_débutant_ generally swallows his first glass of water from some
+of our English chalybeate springs.
+
+The "young men" of the class already noticed, appeared to have
+been engaged the preceding forenoon in studying attitudes, for,
+collected in groups, they stood leaning against the pillars,
+distorting their forms and faces, and striving, I suppose, to
+emulate the statues of the "Apollo Belvidere," or the "Farnesian
+Hercules."
+
+Everything in this world has its end, and consequently the time
+at length arrived when the repast--to which all appeared to do
+justice, and consumed such huge pyramids of cake as was
+marvellous in my eyes--was over, and at a signal from one of the
+preachers, they all knelt down to prayer; but while thus engaged,
+I could hear the repressed jingle of many a silver spoon, which
+some more careful dame was placing in security in her box or bag.
+
+After the prayer, a few hymns were played and sung; during which
+period, I took the opportunity of walking with my companion
+around the space already mentioned, in order to obtain a full
+view of the assembled guests; and then followed some speeches by
+the missionaries and one or two of the leading members, which
+afforded much interest to the assembled group.
+
+One old gentleman--a very excellent man, by the way, but rather
+too much given to prosing when in the pulpit--spoke in favour of
+tea-meetings and of the chapel debt, (to pay off which, these
+entertainments were given, as one means of raising money.)
+Another preacher gave us a long rambling anecdote of a
+bowie-knife; paid high compliments to the ladies, which were
+received by a grin of applause; said how much better it was to
+have these agreeable parties, and thus raise money, instead of
+the old way of trudging about from house to house, begging the
+inmates to put down their names for certain sums, and attributing
+the happy change to the fertile genius of the "tender sex;" and
+concluded by remarking, that in the course of a week or two there
+would be a bazaar held at the court-house, for the purpose of
+raising more cash to liquidate the chapel debt, at which he
+understood there was to be a _solid lunch-table_ spread, besides
+one for confectionary; and although he liked tea very well, he
+liked lunch a great deal better.
+
+After Mr. ------ had concluded, a mild, quiet-looking man rose,
+who spoke of social intercourse, referred to Job's sons and
+daughters; talked of heaven and heavenly enjoyments; and then,
+after a few more speeches, more compliments to the ladies, a few
+more hymns, and a concluding prayer, came the cloaking, shawling,
+and bonneting, and we returned home, altogether pleased with our
+visit, and leaving the lady-givers of the repast packing away
+their silver urns and tea-pots, and all their other "goods and
+chattels," with a clatter and clamour that would have awakened
+the "seven sleepers."
+
+Having been so well pleased with our visit to the tea-party, we
+resolved to attend at the Wesleyan Bazaar held at the
+court-house; and accordingly, on the day appointed, we drove to
+that handsome building, whose walls have seen many a smiling
+face, and echoed the sighs of many a heart--so mutable is
+everything in this world, sorrow ever treading upon the steps of
+joy!
+
+The day was very warm; and upon entering the crowded apartment,
+the smell of the various viands from the predicted _lunch-table_
+completely overcame me for a few seconds; but recovering myself,
+after a short sojourn in one of the wings of the building, I
+ventured to return and look about me. The upper rooms of the
+court-house, where the council and assembly hold their meetings,
+had been appropriated to the occasion; the council-chamber (after
+having one of the temporary partitions taken down, thus including
+the lobby) was cleared of its chairs and tables; and in their
+place, fitted up with stalls, placed around the sides of the
+apartment, at which some of the chapel-ladies presided.
+
+Here several little fancy articles were exhibited for sale, at
+the usual high prices; the best of which were, a pretty little
+baby-house, illustrative of the style of architecture most used
+in Antigua, and which was made from the long arrow (or sheath) of
+the sugar-cane, and a "pedlar woman" of old England in her red
+cloak, black bonnet, and basket on her arm, containing her
+numerous diversified wares, and hung round with other miniature
+symbols of her trade--the make and gift (with many other elegant
+trifles) of the accomplished daughters of a lady of Upper
+Holloway, England.
+
+The other apartment, where the house of assembly hold their
+conclaves, was appropriated for the eating part of the amusement;
+and a very good amusement some of the company seemed to think it,
+if I may judge from appearances. On one long table was displayed
+a cold collation, consisting of savoury dishes, suited to the
+tastes of all, and where, for the charge of 1s. sterling, any one
+might fare most sumptuously. Those who preferred it, partook of
+sandwiches, for which the moderate charge of 2¼d. sterling was
+demanded; and upon my entrance, my eyes were first attracted by
+seeing a huge widow-Barnaby-looking woman, devouring them with a
+voracity I certainly did not expect to witness in that place. The
+other table displayed confections of various beautiful forms and
+kinds, interspersed with fruits and flowers; and where the
+younger people also seemed to find full employment.
+
+Here again I could not help observing the low appearance of many
+of the "young men," who, with hats placed on one side of their
+heads, and immense quantities of black hair smoothed to a
+half-straight fashion by the assistance of a plentiful supply of
+lard pomatum, and their thumbs stuck most (_un_)gracefully in
+their waistcoat pockets, were pacing the room and shewing off
+their smart apparel. I afterwards understood that many of these
+over-dressed specimens of mortality contrived to enter the room
+without paying the "quarter dollar" (1s. sterling) entrance
+money, by fascinating, I suppose, the door-keeper, who was too
+_simple-hearted_ to denounce these peacock-like persons of
+conduct a sober-robed owl would scorn to be guilty of.
+
+At length the appetites of all seemed to be appeased,--their
+motives for coming (to see and be seen) fully answered,--their
+appropriated sum of money expended,--and themselves loaded with
+pincushions and _scent-bags_, babies' caps, and reticules, they
+began to disperse, and we ourselves took our departure, leaving
+some of the matrons, who had _an eye to business_, very eagerly
+making bargains for sundry portions of beef and ham, tongues,
+poultry, and cold mutton, jellies and cheese-cakes, and other
+gastronomic relics.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[42] This is the creole way of terming these different castes:
+the Spanish call them _mulattos_, _tercerones_, _quarterons_, and
+_quinterones_. There are also some intermediate names for the
+issue of unions between the negroes and coloured people, as
+sambos, &c.; but the general term for persons of colour is,
+quadroons.
+
+[43] In illustration of this it may be remarked, that there are
+families where some of the brothers or sisters are fair enough to
+be taken for English people; while the rest are scarcely
+distinguishable from negroes in colour.
+
+[44] In these remarks, the author begs to say, she means no
+disparagement to the other professors of these several trades.
+She is well aware that Antigua boasts a most respectable class of
+tradesmen--white, black, and coloured--who are an honour to the
+colony in which they reside.
+
+[45] A great portion of this class of persons are the offspring
+of those illicit alliances already alluded to in the times of
+slavery, and who did not receive their freedom until after the
+general emancipation in 1834, or within a short time previous to
+that event, when they became so depreciated in value, that their
+owners were satisfied to dispose of them at a trifling
+remuneration.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+
+
+  Prejudice--Its former and present character--An act of
+  resentment--The "Prejudice Bell"--Exclusion of persons of
+  colour from offices of trust and polished society--The dawn of
+  better days--The assertions of some authors contradicted--
+  Domestic character of the coloured gentry--Hospitality--A day
+  at a coloured gentleman's country-house--Dwellings--Marriages--
+  Great suppression of illicit connexions within these last few
+  years--Funerals--A scene of riot in former days--
+  Provincialisms.
+
+Before continuing my sketches of colour, it is necessary to say
+something about _prejudice_. I mentioned in a former chapter,
+that possibly it would be better to bury such a subject in the
+gulf of oblivion; but upon mature consideration, I think it
+advisable to portray a few of its many instances as well in times
+past, as now.
+
+A candid mind cannot but allow the illiberality, not to call it
+by a harsher name, of despising or underrating persons, because
+it has pleased their Creator to give them less fair skins. Yet
+that these feelings have existed from time immemorial to the
+present day is a well-known fact; and the West Indies in
+particular has been the place where Prejudice has erected her
+stronghold.
+
+Although, as before remarked, the negroes were only considered as
+beasts of burden, their polished and urbane white masters had no
+objection to making them the partners of their illicit
+intercourse; and then, casting aside all natural affections,
+doomed their unoffending children, the issue of such unions, to a
+state of degradation.
+
+In former years, the cruelty of such an act was not, perhaps, so
+keenly felt by them. Without any knowledge of religion or share
+of education, they grew up devoid of the finer feelings. The
+girls, as they approached womanhood, became themselves the
+mistresses of white men, or, in the West Indian term,
+_housekeepers_, while the males were content to drag on their
+existence much in the same way as a tolerated spaniel, which at
+one moment is noticed by a gracious nod, and allowed to lick the
+feet of its master, while at the next it is kicked out of the
+apartment, or spurned from the pathway.
+
+As time wore on, and knowledge slowly progressed, the fathers of
+these poor children were led to send them to some place of
+instruction, where, besides acquiring the mere rudiments of
+reading and writing, they became grounded in plain, but solid
+learning. Having thus passed through the early stages of life,
+the males followed mercantile or agricultural pursuits; and as,
+perhaps, wealth poured in upon them, and they felt in their own
+bosoms their superiority to many of the white inhabitants, their
+eyes became more and more opened, and they more and more felt
+their degraded state.
+
+They were debarred from holding any office of trust--were not
+allowed to act as jurors--and were prevented from serving in the
+militia, until the year 1793, when, as a great concession, or
+else because the "great folks" thought it for the public good,
+they were allowed to serve as pioneers, or drag the heavy
+artillery. The very churchyard was denied them, and their mortal
+remains were deposited by the roadside, where only the suicide or
+the murderer found a grave; while, should a white man be seen to
+take one of them, even the most respectable among the class, by
+the hand, in the way of social intimacy, that white man would be
+scouted from all ranks of society for his indecorous behaviour.
+
+In 1798, Mr. Gilbert, (a relation to the Mr. Gilbert, the founder
+of Methodism in Antigua,) for many years the superintendent of
+his majesty's dockyard at English Harbour, was united in the
+bands of wedlock to a highly respectable and accomplished
+coloured lady of Antigua. The _iniquity!_ of this action, as they
+deemed it, was resented by his brother whites; himself and his
+lady were openly insulted; and some wag of the island, who, with
+the brains of a calf, fancied himself an Ulysses in wisdom, gave
+to the world an example of his would-be wit, by painting Mr.
+Gilbert's office-door half _black_ and half _white_.[46]
+
+Not only were the coloured people refused interment in the
+churchyard, but so fearful were the whites of profanation, that
+the very _bell_ which tolled out _their demise_ was prohibited
+from being used to perform that service for those degraded ones
+through whose veins flowed the least drop of Afric's tarnished
+blood. Accordingly, a smaller bell (which still hangs in the
+belfry) was obtained from an estate in the island, called "Golden
+Grove," and which was regularly kept for the sole use of persons
+of colour, until within these last few years, when their rights
+as fellow-creatures have been allowed, and those mean and pitiful
+distinctions of caste, in great measure, done away with.
+
+The first coloured person who was buried in the churchyard at St.
+John's was a merchant's clerk, (whose own blood was tainted, it
+is said, but who passed as a white man,) the favourite of his
+master. The merchant ordered the funeral to proceed to the
+churchyard, and upon the clergyman making his appearance, and no
+doubt expressing his surprise at such an unprecedented
+circumstance, he (the merchant) insisted upon his performing the
+burial service, and dared him to prevent the interment taking
+place. The rector thought it prudent to comply, and accordingly
+the coloured man reposed by the side of some white person, who
+(following the idea of Pollock in his "Course of Time") will,
+indeed, feel surprised at the last day, when each one takes again
+his own body, to find how long his ashes have been polluted by
+mingling in one common dust with him who perhaps was the
+offspring of one of his own despised negroes.[47]
+
+How the coloured people bore all these accumulated indignities,
+which were heaped upon them for so many years, would astonish any
+sensitive mind; nor if they had joined the negroes in one common
+cause against their tyrants would it have produced much surprise.
+But they did bear it, and with magnanimity, until time and
+circumstance worked the cure, and delivered them from that
+thraldom of the mind more galling than any servitude of the body.
+
+It was not only the soreness of spirit which this state of
+affairs inflicted upon the coloured man, but as Prejudice was the
+offspring of Slavery, it was consequently the ground-work of that
+horrible system of licentiousness which rendered Antigua among
+the other West India Islands famous, or rather _infamous_, for so
+many years. The coloured women participated in the _prejudice_ of
+their masters, and as they became the mothers of female children,
+they reared them up in the same spirit, and inculcated into their
+minds that it was more honourable and praiseworthy to inhabit the
+harem of a white man, than to be the lawful wife of a man of
+colour. This conduct was, of course, the grave of all domestic
+peace, the destroyer of connubial love; and by its dire, its
+_demoniacal_ influences, caused the fairest island in the world
+to become, in a moral point of view, a dreary marsh, exhaling the
+poisonous miasma.
+
+Brighter days have, however, at length dawned; the unhallowed
+custom of concubinage has greatly decreased; and, indeed, except
+among some of the old white planters or merchants, who have
+retained the sins of their youth, and some of the low coloured
+people, such alliances are generally reprobated.
+
+The assertion, however, that prejudice is entirely done away
+with, is incorrect. It still exists, and that, perhaps, very
+strongly; but policy forbids, in great measure, its outward show.
+It is true, that white and coloured gentlemen walk, and talk, and
+dine together--drink sangaree at one another's houses, sit in the
+same juror's box, and are invited, _sans distinction_, at
+"Government House;" yet, at the same time, there is a lurking
+dislike to them on account of colour, which ever steps in as a
+barrier to social intercourse. It is said, that the white ladies
+are the strongest upholders of prejudice; but that their refusal
+to mix with this class of persons is not occasioned from any
+shade of colour, but on account of their general illegitimacy.
+This, however, is not the sole cause; for there are illegitimate
+white people, whom they are in the constant habit of meeting
+without any aversion; while, at the same time, many of the people
+of colour, particularly the younger ones, are the offspring of
+parents who have been legally united within the sacred walls of
+the temple of God, and whose intellectual attainments fit them
+for any society.
+
+It has also been said, that the coloured classes are not of a
+sufficient respectability to move among the white inhabitants;
+and some few years ago, the question was asked, (in excuse for
+excluding them from society,) by one who then filled the highest
+station in Antigua--"Would you wish to ask your tailor or your
+shoemaker to dine with you?" To this query a most unequivocal
+negative might have been given. Differences of rank ought to be
+observed; and no one can be blamed for preserving a certain
+degree of _etiquette_ in the arrangement of their parties. But,
+at the same time--"Are all coloured people tailors and
+shoemakers?" "No!" as before remarked, among them are some of the
+most respectable merchants and planters; and the whites
+themselves, with but few exceptions, follow no higher
+occupations.
+
+Let the lower class of coloured people know and keep their proper
+distance, the same as the lower classes do in the mother country;
+but allow the upper ones to hold that place in society which
+their worth, respectability, wealth, and general deportment,
+entitles them to.
+
+I have already spoken of the extreme familiarity of some of the
+low persons of colour, who rest all their pretensions to
+gentility upon their smart clothes, or their ability to keep a
+horse or a horse and gig. It could not be expected or wished that
+such persons should be received into good society, any more than
+the low and ignorant of my own countrymen. There is also another
+class of coloured people which, although, perhaps, equally
+talented and prosperous, from the nature of the business they
+follow, are excluded from the tables of the great. Such
+distinctions as these are but equitable, and consequently, cannot
+be called prejudice; but to debar the whole caste from polished
+society on account of _colour_, is an illiberality unworthy of
+the "age we live in."
+
+From a glance at prejudice, and its attendant evils, I will
+proceed in my remarks upon the domestic character of the coloured
+Creoles. I have already spoken of their hospitality, which is a
+virtue apparently indigenous in the island; for white, brown, and
+black, rich and poor, seem, as far as lies in their power,
+equally open to its influence. The country, as any part of the
+island beyond the precincts of the capital is termed, is divided
+into small towns, (described in the previous pages;) a few
+settlements, which have sprung up since emancipation, and
+sugar-estates, or grazing-farms, which, with their "great
+houses," managers' and overseers' dwellings, and negro huts, form
+themselves complete villages. There are no hotels or places of
+public entertainment, where the _sun_-worn traveller can obtain
+"rest and refuge;" but if only acquainted by name, you can take
+the liberty of driving to any of these country residences, where
+you are sure of meeting with a polite and cordial reception.
+
+Most of these dwellings are very pleasantly situated, generally
+upon a gentle slope, and every breeze that blows finds a ready
+entrance at the open windows. Some of them are built in the
+cottage style, with only one floor, elevated a few feet from the
+ground; just affording sufficient room for a snug and cool
+cellar, where the good inmates store their generous wines. These
+houses contain a spacious hall, (the principal room in a West
+Indian house, occupying about two-thirds of the whole dwelling,
+and where meals are taken,) a parlour, or drawing-room, generally
+opening with folding-doors into the first-named apartment, a
+small morning room, four or five bedrooms, and the remainder of
+the building is divided into butler's pantry, larders, and a kind
+of lobby, where the numerous domestics assemble, and when not
+actually engaged in waiting at table, or ministering to their own
+ungovernable appetites, stretch themselves along the floor in all
+the luxuriance of idleness. The kitchens are detached from the
+house, for the purpose of evading the heat and smoke from the
+wood fires; and contiguous to them are a long line of "negro
+rooms," (as they term the apartments in this country intended for
+the use of the domestics,) stables, and coach-houses,
+interspersed with "stock" houses for poultry, and pens for the
+accommodation of those unseemly animals vulgarly called hogs.
+
+These country residences are seldom devoid of company, who, in
+parties of three or four, leave the confinement of the town for
+the advantage of the purer air. The days are spent much after the
+same fashion. Between the hours of five and six in the morning, a
+tap comes at your chamber-door, and a black-visaged smiling
+damsel enters with shoeless feet, and grinning lips shewing their
+two rows of ivory, and with the accustomed "mornin', missis,"
+presents you with a cup of delicious coffee. The morning's
+costume arranged with due precision, you quit your chamber, and
+passing through the "hall," where two or three black servant boys
+are spreading the snowy damask, and otherwise preparing for the
+plentiful breakfast, you gain the drawing-room. Stepping through
+its open windows or doors, you find yourself in a covered
+gallery, amid, perhaps, a group of children and their nurses,
+busily employed in various little infantile amusements. Upon the
+appearance of "the lady" these, however, are immediately
+postponed, as each miniature man or woman comes forward with
+native courtesy and outstretched hand, and offers the usual
+compliments.
+
+A grateful breeze greets your cheek with its bland whisperings;
+and the early sunbeams, devoid of their intense meridian heat,
+glisten on the dew-besprinkled leaves, or dance in the ripples of
+the neighbouring ponds. If the property should be a sugar estate,
+and it is the season of harvest when you visit it, many a jocund
+laugh comes from the mill-door, where, under direction of the
+manager or overseer, the sails are unfurled and given to the
+wind; and with shout and creak, and cracking of whip, the sober
+oxen are dragging home cartloads of golden sugar-canes. Thus the
+time wears on;--at one moment watching the busy group at the
+mill-door, at another holding converse with the lovely skies, or
+following with dazzled glance, the rapid flittings of the
+honey-seeking fly-bird;[48] and anon poring over the pages of
+some spirit-stirring volume, or in occasional snatches of
+conversation with the hospitable hostess.
+
+At length the master of the domain, in his snow-white dress, and
+broad-brimmed hat, returns from his morning ride around the
+property, and the other guests assemble; and as the bell rings
+for nine o'clock,[49] a black boy, with napkin on his arm,
+announces "_breck-fus_ (breakfast) ready, ma'am," and a general
+movement takes place. The lady of the house, in her simple
+morning dress, presides at the head of her well-stocked table
+with a quiet gracefulness of manners, and amid a little racy talk
+and pleasant jest the meal proceeds. Tea and coffee, the light
+roll-like bread, roasted yams or potatoes, cutlets, ham, tongue,
+eggs, _caveached_ fish,[50] and potted meats, are among the lists
+of excellences found at a West Indian breakfast, while fresh
+butter, (which is reckoned a rarity, and is very troublesome to
+procure, being churned in a bottle, by continually shaking it,
+and which is served up without the addition of any salt,) and
+tempting fruits, fresh gathered from the tree, with the purple
+bloom upon them, form the lighter delicacies of the repast.
+
+The meal over, and finger-glasses handed round, the company quit
+the table, and assemble in the drawing-room in order to pass the
+morning. The gentlemen leave, on various cares intent--some ride
+to town, to pursue their customary avocations, while the master
+inspects the labours of his people, settles some magistracy
+business, or visits some other estates under his management. The
+ladies in the meantime settle themselves to various little
+womanly employments. There is the piano, the paint-box, and the
+embroidery-frame; a selection of periodicals, new works, (most of
+the genteel people are subscribers to the "Library Society,") or
+a _porte-feuille_ of prints to look over; lively conversations of
+"home and home scenes," (all West Indians call England home,)
+promenades in the galleries or verandahs, or romps with the
+children to while away the hours.
+
+About two o'clock the lunch-table is spread, when some of the
+gentlemen find time to be present, and more good things are
+partaken of. Pepper punch is brewed for "the lords of the
+creation;" Hock and Seltzer water introduced, and the delicious
+lemonade, made from the limes that moment gathered; and sparkling
+water from the peculiar porous jars, which keep it as cool as if
+drawn from the bottom of some gelid grot.
+
+The flies are very troublesome in Antigua, particularly at those
+moments when meals are going forward, flying into the plates and
+dishes, and almost upon the very portions of food you are
+conveying to your mouth; indeed, in one instance, I observed one
+of these intruding little insects actually fly into a gentleman's
+mouth upon his opening it to utter some witty saying. To guard
+against these disagreeable associates in your repast, it is
+customary to have a black boy stand behind your chair, with a
+large green bough in his hand, with which he brushes backwards
+and forwards, in order to drive the intruders away. If the bough
+made use of be gathered from any aromatic shrub, it is
+particularly agreeable, as it throws a pleasing fragrance around,
+at the same time it raises a gentle breeze.
+
+After lunch, your former amusements are resumed, until the sun
+loses a little of its intensity, when bonnets and shawls are
+called into requisition, and you stroll to the "boiling-house" to
+see the preparation of sugar-boiling going on, and taste the
+"sling," (the name given to the sugar when in its liquid state,)
+canter over the short turf on the back of some "Bucephalus," or
+wander through scenes of sylvan beauty, until the time arrives
+when it is necessary to repair to the house to dress for dinner.
+
+Seven o'clock is the usual time appointed for "this momentous
+meal," a time better fitted for this warm climate than an earlier
+hour. The dinner generally consists of fish and soup, with the
+accompanying Champagne, followed by flesh and fowl, and concluded
+by pastry, game, (when in season,) butter, cheese, and
+shell-fish. Madeira and Sauterne are the wines generally used at
+dinner; and port, claret, cherry-brandy, and other liqueurs, with
+luscious Malmsey, are introduced with the dessert, which of
+course embraces the choicest of the West Indian fruits. Most of
+the higher families possess a good stock of silver and glass, and
+the table linen would please the most fastidious.
+
+The gentlemen do not sit long at their wine, but join the ladies
+in the drawing-room, where tea and coffee soon make their
+appearance, and the evening is spent in music and conversation
+until the ornamental clock points to a late hour, when, family
+prayers over, you retire to your chamber, and under cover of a
+single sheet, repose in quietness, unless disturbed by an
+officious mosquito, which, _sans ceremonie_, has entered by a
+peep-hole in the "net" which surrounds the bed.
+
+The houses of the coloured gentry are neatly and tastefully
+furnished. The hall contains its complement of dining-tables,
+side-boards, with their glittering burdens, butler's trays and
+stands, chairs, and sofas; wall-shades, hand-shades,
+suspension-lamps, and china tables--sometimes a book-case and
+writing-table, and a few prints in gilt frames. The drawing-room
+has its couches, lounging-chairs, and ottomans; its pianofortes,
+chiffoniers, and "what-nots;" loo and sofa tables; and all its
+little fancy embellishments of ornamental china, albums, and
+or-molu clocks. The floors are generally covered with oil-cloths
+of various patterns, which are found to answer better in this
+warm climate than carpeting; but the days when _mahogany floors_
+were rubbed with _orange juice_ are long since passed, if they
+ever existed. I have never seen floors of more costly materials
+than "pitch pine," which certainly takes a good polish if rubbed,
+but which in that case are very disagreeable to walk over.
+
+The marriages of the coloured people are more private than they
+used to be formerly--that is, among the genteel classes; the
+common people still drive about in borrowed gigs and phaetons,
+after the fashion already spoken of in the negro chapters. Some
+years ago, it was customary to marry by special licence, the
+ceremony being performed in the evening at their own dwellings.
+This practice has become extinct, and they are now married in
+their parish church. The favourite wedding-dress is blonde and
+white satin.
+
+A great reformation has also taken place in their funerals. In
+former days, a wake used to be held by all classes on the night
+the demise took place; and on the following day, (the day of the
+funeral,) immense quanties of "dyer bread" and "biscuit cakes"
+(species of pastry) were made, enveloped in white paper, sealed
+with black wax, and handed round to the assembled guests, who
+often amounted to two or three hundred. Mulled wines, Port and
+Madeira sangaree, "mixed porter," (specified quantums of porter,
+water, sugar, and spice,) and different kinds of spirituous
+liquors, were also provided, sufficient to satisfy the thirst of
+Baron Munchausen's whale. If accounts be true, many of these
+funeral guests paid such particular attention to these several
+preparations from the vine and the hop, that they became greatly
+elated thereby, and not unfrequently left the _house of mourning_
+in a state of inebriety.
+
+Every article of furniture in the house was covered with white,
+and many other fatiguing ceremonies observed; but these have long
+ago fallen into disuse, only the chamber of death shewing its
+white drapery. The corpse, if a male, is attired in his usual
+dress, with the exception of coat and shoes; over which is placed
+what is termed a _scarf_, made of the finest white muslin or
+lawn, crimped round the edges, and fastened round the waist by a
+broad band. The ends of this scarf are brought in folds to the
+feet, and terminated with bows and rosettes of the same material.
+A cambric muslin shroud, also crimped in a deep border, is first
+placed in the coffin; which, before the last sad office of
+screwing down the lid takes place, is carefully covered over the
+corpse, and shuts out from the glance of friends, the features
+which they have so often gazed on with pleasure. If the deceased
+is a female, an elegant white dress is chosen, with a white satin
+band around the waist, white silk gloves and stockings, and a
+blonde cap ornamented with white satin.
+
+If the deceased were unmarried, the coffin is covered with fine
+white broad cloth, and elaborately ornamented with silver lace,
+nails, plates, and "little angels," (as the negroes term them;)
+if married, it is covered with black cloth and black ornaments.
+Crape hat-bands and scarfs are now given to the bearers, and
+hat-bands to the intimate acquaintance only, for if the deceased
+is much respected, three or four hundred persons of all colours
+attend the funeral. In the arrangement of the procession, (which
+is always a walking one,) an eye is kept to prejudice. Formerly
+all coloured persons had coloured bearers, then came a change;
+and two white and four coloured men officiated in those
+characters; then it came to be three white and three coloured,
+and in a late instance, four white and two coloured persons
+formed the complement.[51]
+
+The common coloured people still keep "a wake" upon the death of
+their friends; and on such occasions, while one part of the
+company are engaged in singing psalms, the others are filling the
+women's hats with water, putting pepper into wine, pulling off
+their shoes, and playing other vulgar practical jokes, most
+irreverent and disgusting at such a season.
+
+The Antiguans have a peculiar mode of calling articles by
+particular names:--thus, potatoes are invariably called _Irish
+potatoes_, come they from what part of the world they may; the
+common Prussian-blue pea, and wheat-flour, are always termed
+_English_ peas, and _English_ flour, although such articles may
+come from France or America; ducks are English ducks; _negus_ is
+denominated _sangaree_, and spirits and water, _swizzle_.
+
+This practice is illustrated by the following anecdote, related
+of a West Indian, who upon arriving for the first time at a
+London hotel, rang the bell for the waiter. Upon that necessary
+appendage to such an establishment making his appearance, the
+West Indian saluted him in the following Creole manner: "Boy!
+d'ye hear? give me a glass of _sangaree;_ and let me have for
+dinner English ducks and Irish potatoes."
+
+The waiter, not used to this specification of articles, was
+astounded; he passed his fingers musingly through his lanky
+locks, looked up to the ceiling, and down to his Warrenized
+shoes, minutely inspected the movement of a fly upon the gilded
+mirror, in hopes, no doubt, of deriving information from it,
+smoothed the _un_rumpled table-cover, and then being still
+utterly unable to comprehend the order, exclaimed, in a very
+lamentable tone, "I ham werry sorry, sir, but we have not got no
+ducks or potatoes but the _common ones_, and has for the _other
+thing_ you _hordered_, we have none in the house just now."
+
+There are several other peculiar modes of dialect observable
+among the Creoles. For instance: If an order is given to open or
+shut a window, it is, "Heave up that glass sash," or, "Haul down
+that glass sash;" when speaking of east and west, they invariably
+say _windward_ and _leeward;_ to throw a stone, is to _fire_ a
+stone; if a person is fortunate enough to procure a good
+situation, it is immediately said, "He has got a _capital
+berth;_" and their men-servants, of every age, are always termed
+_boys_.[52]
+
+Soon after my arrival in this island, I happened to be present,
+one evening, when a gentleman was deploring an accident which had
+lately occurred. With my mind running upon "wounds and bruises,"
+I inquired into the circumstances. "Why, that good-for-nothing
+_boy_ of mine," was the rejoinder, "went to the pond this
+morning, and on bis way back, he _knocked down my horse_." I was
+certainly surprised at such an herculean feat, and began to think
+of Maximin, the Roman emperor, who, with one blow of his fist,
+could knock out a horse's tooth, or break its leg with a kick;
+but my wonder was considerably increased upon the entrance of the
+_boy_ in question, for instead of his exhibiting any appearance
+of great strength, I found him to be, in reality, a decrepit old
+man. How this pilgrim of sixty summers could knock down an animal
+of such vast strength as a horse, I could not imagine--the
+mystery was more and more intricate--but at length, an
+elucidation was afforded, and I found out that instead of _the
+boy_ knocking down the animal, the animal had knocked down him;
+or, in other words, the horse had fallen down with the poor old
+man upon his back.
+
+My sketches of colour are completed. True it is, there are many
+other little peculiarities which might be noticed; but for the
+present I will bid the coloured classes "farewell," and turning
+over the page, mention a few of the "traits and trials" of the
+white inhabitants.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[46] This was not the only indignity offered. Mr. Gilbert was at
+that period the notary public, and when the news of his intended
+marriage got abroad, "the acting governor of Antigua wrote to the
+acting general governor of the Leeward Islands, resident at St.
+Christopher's, representing that _he_ (Mr. G.) had so basely
+degraded himself as to be unworthy of that office." The
+governor-general thought so too; so the public whipper was sent
+to demand his notarial commission, and some unknown patriot
+removed the painted board, placed over his office, bearing the
+words, "John Gilbert, Notary Public," and threw it into the sea.
+Mr. Gilbert also held a commission in the militia; but so
+horrified were the officers of the corps to which he belonged,
+that one of them, in the name of the rest, waited upon Mr.
+Gilbert with the pleasing intelligence, "that they were
+determined to have no intercourse with him, and would apply for a
+court-martial to try him, _for acting in a manner inconsistent
+with his rank and station, and the character of an officer, if he
+proceeded with this marriage._" For peace' sake, Mr. Gilbert
+resigned his commission. When, according to "the universal
+practice in these islands," he applied for his marriage licence,
+he was refused; the "bans were therefore published in the
+church." It is almost needless to remark, that had he made the
+lady the object of an illicit intercourse, his conduct would have
+been thought nothing but proper by the white inhabitants of
+Antigua in those days!
+
+[47] This circumstance occurred at a period when the clergymen
+officiating in Antigua were not of that exemplary character which
+distinguishes the generality of the present divines.
+
+[48] The humming bird, or colibri.
+
+[49] A bell is rang, a conch shell blown, or an old copper struck
+with a piece of stick, to notify the hour when the negroes leave
+their work, for the purpose of getting their morning meal; and
+this is the usual hour for partaking of that repast among all
+classes.
+
+[50] Fish stewed with vinegar, limes, mace, pepper, onions, &c.,
+and eaten cold.
+
+[51] How often trifling matters like these speak a mighty change
+in the "spirit of the times!"
+
+[52] Although these _provincialisms_ happen to occur in this
+chapter, it is necessary to remark, that they are made use of by
+Creoles of every colour.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+
+
+  Grades among the _pure in blood_--Aristocrats--The tribe
+  _fungi_--An overseer's duty--Managers and attorneys--Pickings
+  and gleanings--Managers' wives and managing ladies--
+  Aristocratic shops--"My daughters"--Education--"Field days" of
+  the militia--The Antiguan aide-de-camp.
+
+As in commencing my chapter on colour, I deemed it necessary to
+mention the different grades and gradations among that
+olive-tinted race; so in writing upon the white population of
+Antigua, it will be first proper to remark, that there are two
+_distinct classes_ to be found among them: the one born in the
+island, (but of course of European extraction,) and consequently
+termed Creoles;[53] the other, persons of both sexes, who have
+emigrated from England in search of wealth, or whose domestic
+ties, or government appointments, have caused them to leave the
+land of their birth, and made them, for a time at least,
+residents in this bonny little island.[54]
+
+In these two classes, then, are to be found all the descendants
+of the fair-haired Saxons, from the president of the island, down
+to the low, ignorant, but proud, pauper--proud of his untarnished
+blood! who, in Antiguan vulgarism, is known by the appellation of
+"bottom-foot buckra." Of this last-mentioned class much may be
+said. Many and various are their "traits" of character, and
+arduous their "trials" to enable them to "keep up appearances."
+But perhaps it may appear more orthodox to scan over the
+peculiarities and "manners and customs" of the "tip-tops" first.
+
+The head of Antiguan society is of course her majesty's
+representative--"His Excellency the Governor." Then comes the
+"President of the Island," who, in absence of the
+commander-in-chief, exercises his duties, and takes his place in
+society. After the president, the members of the council and
+house of assembly rank next among the grandees, all of whom, no
+doubt, are--
+
+   "Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors."
+
+Then comes the "bench and the bar,"--the occupiers of pulpits,
+and the followers of Galen,--government officers, and the
+officers of her majesty's customs,--a few gallant sons of Mars
+from some of England's "wooden walls," who in cruising about
+these seas, pay Antigua an occasional visit,--officers from the
+stationed regiments,--and a long line of merchants, attorneys,
+managers, and nondescripts--and there the line is drawn. "These
+several gentry," with their wives and daughters, aunts, sisters,
+and cousins, constitute the first class among the white
+population, or more properly speaking, form the aristocracy of
+Antigua.
+
+But it must be observed, these aristocrats, although forming one
+body, mixing in the same society, and equally looking upon
+themselves as _exclusives_, may yet be divided into two distinct
+classes--the one springing from a good old stock, the other
+comprehending the _self-elected_ ones. I shall confine myself
+more particularly in this chapter to the latter class, as being
+better exemplifiers of the "ups and downs of life."
+
+Now although the tribe _fungi_, of which the mushroom is a
+member, luxuriates better in a damp climate, than in one so
+excessively hot; yet some species of them may be met with in all
+parts of the world. I have often seen their long slender stalks,
+and pallid-looking caps extending the limits of the _vegetable
+world_ in Antigua; and therefore it does not surprise me to find
+so many of the mushroom family among the animal creation in that
+part of the globe, obtruding their tall heads, even in the
+aristocratic circles of the community. Like their brethren among
+the vegetables, some of them grow upon the ground, and "derive
+their nourishment from the soil," while others "spring up on
+various substances, presented by nature or art."
+
+The first of these two varieties of mushrooms are to be met with
+among the descendants of those poor white persons, who in former
+years came to Antigua to act, in the literal sense of the word,
+as "servants of servants," but whose offspring, by dint of petty
+traffickings and small gatherings, amassed a sufficient sum of
+money to make them forget their origin, and contemning their
+natural parents, look for some "Jupiter Ammon" to stand
+progenitor for them in their stead. The latter class are the wild
+branches of some sapless tree, who, with scarce a change of
+raiment in their wallets, or the clink of a coin in their purse,
+were shipped off to the West Indies to be killed or cured--reap
+dollars like thistles, or starve in the attempt.
+
+By the "good luck," as it is termed, which sometimes attends such
+needy adventurers upon their arrival in this country, they
+obtained, perhaps, employment as overseers upon the different
+estates, (I am now speaking of the manner in which such affairs
+were conducted some years before emancipation, when the
+proprietors were obliged, by law, to maintain so many white
+servants to so many slaves,) where they were quickly installed
+into their duty. This consisted in calling over the names of the
+negroes before daylight of a morning, seeing them properly
+whipped, when such chastisement was deemed necessary, or perhaps
+whipping them, as the case might be; inspecting the labours of
+the gang of negroes in the field, who were cutting canes or
+preparing the land for planting; flying from thence to the
+mill-door, where some awkward "boatswain" had let the
+mill-tackling get wrong, (for which crime he was coolly ordered a
+dozen or two,) or, perchance, if it were a "cattle-mill" instead
+of a "windmill," a gang of mules had turned restive, or one
+unfortunate over-driven animal had dropped down dead, or else
+three or four of the wooden cogs of the mill were broken, and the
+cattle were obliged to be taken out until it should be mended.
+Then he had to visit the "rum-still," and overlook the process of
+distillation, taking down, upon a dirty piece of paper, the
+number of gallons of "high-wines," "rum," and "low-wines." From
+the "still" he marched to the "boiling-house," to inspect the
+making of sugar; and from thence to the "curing-house," to see
+the sugar "potted," (that is, packed in hogsheads, tierces, or
+barrels.) Then there were staves to be given out to the coopers,
+and boards to the carpenter, besides dispensing medicines to the
+sick slaves, and cane-tops to the hungry mules. And then, when
+all these multitudinous occupations were performed, and the
+different store-houses well secured, he proceeded to the "great
+house," and, after scrubbing his face with brown soap and a jack
+towel, smoothing, if possible, his straggling, sun-burnt locks,
+and exchanging his dirty white jacket for one of broad-cloth, or
+a coat whose cuffs and collar bore ample marks of time, he made
+his appearance in the dining-room or hall, where a high stool or
+an education chair was placed for him near his master, at whose
+old jokes and worn-out tales he felt obliged to laugh, while he
+indulged in such luxuries as fowls' necks and odd ends of
+pudding, washed down by a single glass of wine.
+
+His labours were now over for the night, unless it were the sugar
+harvest, and then he was expected to return to the boiling-house,
+where, amid clouds of densest steam, he remained until twelve or
+one in the morning, and then, as the last copper was cooled down,
+he marched off the tired negroes, and, having well locked the
+door, quitted the furnace-like heat of the building to wend his
+weary way home in the cold night air.
+
+During former days of slavery, it has often been the practice to
+carry on the boiling of sugar throughout the whole night. Upon
+such occasions, the poor overseer had to keep his place in the
+boiling-house, to see that the slaves attended to their duty.
+There is an anecdote told of a West Indian overseer which proves
+him to have been rather clever in the art of dissimulation. He
+was a man of reserved manners and of extreme taciturnity, seldom
+speaking to the negroes, unless, indeed, giving them a stroke or
+two from a rattan which, from custom, he carried in his hand, can
+be termed _speaking;_ but he was a favourite with his employer,
+who thought him _watchful_ as well as careful--two very necessary
+virtues in days of slavery. From some cause or the other, he had
+lost the sight of one of his eyes, but which disaster, from a
+latent spark of pride, he was very desirous of concealing. While
+in the "boiling-house" during the day, quietly seated in his
+cherry-tree chair, and narrowly watching the movements of the
+negroes, it was his custom to place his hand over the affected
+organ. But as evening came on, and "tired nature" craved repose,
+he altered his plan of operation, and covering his other eye, he
+allowed his rayless orb to glare "horribly stern" upon the
+toiling slaves, who, unconscious of his visual defect, and noting
+his movements, by which one of his eyes was ever apparently fixed
+upon them, exclaimed--"Eh! eh! war dis?--buckra oberseer cleber
+true; he make one yeye (eye) sleep while toder keep watch!"
+
+To return to our overseer's duty. Perhaps some of my readers may
+be inclined to think this kind of life described not the most
+enviable, and their "good luck" in meeting with such a situation
+very illusory. Like, however, the solitary waste in the Eastern
+story of "Abdallah," this life of drudgery leads to riches. A few
+years over, and if the overseer is "smart" in his business, he
+gets promoted to "manager," marries, perhaps, his former master's
+daughter, or some other fair one, starts his horse and gig,
+purchases a dozen or two of wine, and a decent suit of clothes;
+and what with his salary, and the pickings and gleanings procured
+from off the property, he begins to make a show, and ventures to
+give a dinner-party to the "great people."
+
+Another year or so, and if the island is blessed with fine and
+copious rains, and the estate makes a good crop in consequence,
+the proprietor in England experiences great delight, and by the
+return packet, despatches a commission, promoting our _ci-devant_
+overseer to the situation of attorney as well as manager. Now, in
+truth, he begins to raise his head, like other mushrooms after a
+shower of rain, and thinks himself a man of family. His gig is
+replaced by a rattling, shaking, tumble-down carriage, drawn by a
+pair of spavined horses, and further graced by a shoeless
+coachman, his head surmounted by a pitiful beaver, encircled by a
+gold or silver band, his only other article of livery consisting
+of a scarlet waistcoat, made perhaps from some cast-off militia
+uniform. A little meagre black boy, whose habiliments are upon a
+similar scale to the coachman's, serves the office of footman,
+and attends upon "the ladies" in their morning drive, with a
+grace and grimace most admirably seconded by the monkeys in the
+zoological gardens of London. Nor is the starting of this
+equipage all that marks the change; Mr. Attorney becomes more
+egotistical every day--his cellar receives a stock of champagne,
+(_or perry_,) and he cries, "Taste my wine--it is excellent, I do
+assure you. I cannot drink bad wine; I have never been used to
+it!" His larder becomes replenished with richer fare. "Try this
+turtle-soup," says he; "you'll find it superb--my cook is
+celebrated for his skill. I can tolerate nothing that is
+indifferent at _my table_." He procures a commission in the
+militia, and sets up for the house of assembly; and being
+elected, takes his place among that august body with a vast deal
+of dignity. He makes no long speeches, 'tis true; but, instead,
+shakes his head with an overpowering gravity, and insinuates, "I
+think the more," taking good care, however, to chime in with the
+strongest party.
+
+His family becomes of some importance; his sons are intended for
+the bar, or the church; and one is destined to step into his own
+shoes. He next looks out for some poor damsel, who, to save
+herself from actual starvation, agrees to wear out her strength,
+and prostrate her talents in endeavouring to inculcate into the
+minds of his daughters the elementary branches of education for a
+sum your washerwoman would scorn to take.
+
+Thus, as we have seen, the overseer rises to manager, the manager
+to attorney, and, like the worthless grub, when it puts on the
+butterfly's painted wings, and, soaring on the bland and
+beautiful zephyr, scorns his former race, who yet remain
+grovelling in the dust, and fancies itself of a higher creation;
+so the attorney, as he gains the pinnacle of his ambition,
+forgets his former lowly state and penniless pockets, and, with
+haughty brow and over weening pride, proclaims himself an
+aristocrat. How very fast mushrooms do spring up!
+
+But it may be asked, "What salary does an attorney receive to
+enable him to keep up all this state of grandeur? surely it must
+be something handsome?" In answer, it must be remarked, that such
+affairs are not conducted in the West Indies as they are in
+England. This is the country for a poor man to make a display in
+--here he may run his carriage without fearing a visit from a
+tax-gatherer; or dress up his servant in livery without having to
+pay 1l. 4s. per annum. His wine costs him about 2s. sterling per
+bottle; claret, 1s.; and "real Cognac" can be obtained for 2s.
+6d. Before emancipation, the attorney and manager employed as
+many of the slaves as suited them, in the capacity of domestic
+servants, which slaves were of course fed from the estate
+provision; then the attorney has one or two horses allowed him,
+and if he purchases any more from his private funds, the estate
+finds them in corn and grass; he keeps a flock of sheep, for
+which the property also stands caterer; and now and then his
+employer may forward him a hogshead of porter, or a pipe of
+Madeira, besides other little presents, consisting of barrels of
+beef, or pork, or any other little matters. Thus, in the end, his
+pomp and grandeur is kept up at a very moderate charge to his own
+pockets.
+
+It cannot be supposed that I intend to assert, that the
+aristocracy of Antigua is wholly composed of the _fungi_ tribe,
+or that all her planters are of the upstartish class it has
+pleased me to describe. Far from it; an attentive perusal of
+these pages will prove, on the contrary, that there are to be
+found among them families, whose genealogical tree bears many a
+goodly shoot--through whose veins runs a stream of England's
+richest blood: the names of Warner, Williams, Byam, Martin,
+Ottleys, with many others, have long stood pre-eminent in the
+annals of Antigua; while their descendants have kept up their
+high station in the society of the island.
+
+But to return to the mushroom gentry. While they are travelling
+the high-road to preferment and honour, their wives are
+proceeding with railway speed in the paths of affectation and
+conceit. From the more useful occupations of washing their own
+clothes, and mending their own stockings, they now play the part
+of "my lady," and pass their time in lolling upon a sofa, with an
+open book before them, ready to take up should "company" arrive;
+or with wondering ears, listen to their daughters bungling
+through one of Mozart's waltzes, or stammering over a French
+fable.
+
+Yet it is but proper to observe, all the "ladies" of this class
+of aristocrats do not spend their time in this indolent manner.
+No--far from it. Many of them have an eye to business amid all
+their grandeur, and keep, in a little tenement adapted to the
+purpose, a good stock of salt pork and salt fish; mackerels,
+herrings, and "alewives;"[55] corn-flour, tobacco, and candles;
+besides various articles of finery and coarse cloths, which they
+dispense to the negroes upon the neighbouring estates, at the
+very moderate profit of about 50 per cent.! Nor is this the
+sum-total of their industry; their yard is well supplied with
+poultry, their gardens with vegetables, if they lack flowers; and
+many a goodly-sized swine enriches their pigsties. When these
+last-mentioned quadrupeds have exchanged their Saxon for their
+Norman names, as "Wamba" observes, the lady of the house, on
+"notable thoughts intent," packs up their delicate "sides and
+quarters," and conveys them, or has them conveyed, to a snug
+corner of the carriage about to convey her honourable husband to
+the capital, to meet in "conclave grave" his noble compeers.
+After setting down their master at the door of the court-house,
+"Mr. John," the coachman, or "Mr. Thomas," the footman, draws
+these choice viands from their retreat; and while the owner of
+the defunct pigs is busy in making laws, or settling the affairs
+of nations, his servants are disposing of them to the best
+bidder, or laying in a store of bread in their stead. In the same
+manner, corn-fed mutton, poultry, eggs, and fresh butter, find
+their way to St. John's market; and, by the magician-like wand of
+commerce, return to our manager's managing lady, in the form of
+wine, tea, or loaf-sugar.
+
+Of course, when these "ladies of distinction" draw on their
+mitts, and make their appearance in the drawing-room, the _shop_
+is banished from thoughts and conversation; and if not
+literature, at least topics of scandal, rank, and lineage, are
+discussed in its place. Some great-great-grandfather, who, from
+some freak of royalty has been dubbed knight, or else some
+imaginary kinsman, is called up from their long-forgotten tomb,
+to stand as a kind of foundation to their present greatness.
+
+Their daughters are carefully instructed in all the various modes
+of setting forth their own charms, and of publishing their own
+exalted rank, by expressing their contempt for all beneath them.
+The scornful toss of the head, the disdainful curve of the
+upper-lip, the affected heave of the shoulders, the insolent
+stare, and the air of proud condescension, is studied with far
+more intenseness than their grammars or geographies. Meet them
+where you will, in the place of worship or the "public show,"
+their manners are equally haughty; and their boasted pretension
+to superiority is even expressed in the very bending of their
+knees, when in acts of supposed adoration.
+
+The more juvenile part of the community are, of course, debarred
+by their youth from keeping up with proper dignity their rank in
+life; but in the very nursery, the lessons of pride and
+affectation are engrafted, soon to become strong and flourishing
+shoots.
+
+The days of extreme ignorance are certainly passed; the days when
+the young white Creole was left entirely to the care of their
+black, or low-coloured nurses, who imagined they could not better
+discharge their duty than by giving them their own way. The days
+when girls of fourteen could find no other amusement than, seated
+upon the floor, amid their negro attendants, to pass their time
+in eating "sling," or sucking sugar-canes, while their listless
+mothers lay stretched upon their couch, leaving their children to
+learn their alphabet as best they could. In later years, as
+before remarked, a poor English girl is generally procured to
+instruct them in the early branches of knowledge, curl their
+hair, and teach them their "steps," until the period arrives when
+their parents deem it necessary to send them to England, and
+place them at some suburban seminary. Here they are taught to
+sketch a landscape, complete a butterfly in Poonah painting, play
+some of the fashionable airs, with variations, upon a piano,
+speak Anglicised French, dance a quadrille, and perhaps embroider
+a footstool. Their education is then supposed to be completed,
+and they are re-shipped to the West Indies, to astonish "papa and
+mamma," play their part upon the theatre of life, and swell the
+ranks of the female _coterie_.
+
+In the days when the militia was in being in Antigua, the ladies
+of these self-elected aristocrats, were very fond of alluding to
+the martial rank of their relatives, particularly in their visits
+to England--talking of "my husband, the colonel," "Capt. X------,
+my papa," or "Lieut. Z------, my brother." The gentlemen, many of
+them, were also very proud of wearing their uniform upon
+"field-day," which occurred once a month, and no doubt felt
+themselves, as they buckled on their glittering swords, like
+"Hudibras, grow valorous." The governor, as commander of the
+force, was allowed by the militia laws an honorary staff, which
+consisted of six officers, who bore the local rank of
+lieutenant-colonels.
+
+An anecdote is related of a gentleman of Antigua, who formed one
+of this _cortège_, and who was no little pleased with his high
+rank, and garnished shoulders. Business or pleasure called him to
+England, and he carried "home" with him his growing daughters to
+gather instruction, and his smart aide-de-camp's dress to reap
+applause. Arrived in London, and the fatigues of the voyage over,
+our aide-de-camp arrayed himself in his gay uniform, and hiring a
+carriage, drove with his daughters to a fashionable seminary. His
+card was sent in "Lieutenant-colonel ------" and the lady of the
+establishment met him with all possible grace, and bowed and
+courtesied to his inquiries with elegant obsequiousness. No
+references were of course asked for--no entrance money demanded:
+his gay apparel was a sufficient passport, and the gentle
+"_maitresse d'ecole_" only thought herself too happy in acquiring
+the patronage of an officer of such high rank.
+
+Time sped on, and the recess was at hand--the young ladies
+remained with their instructress during its period--the
+scholastic duties were again resumed, and another six months
+passed away. The various items swelled to a vast amount, yet no
+remittance came--no aide-de-camp made his appearance. A faintish
+tremour played around the lady's heart, and, unwillingly, she
+began to think of moneyless "soldiers of fortune." Letters were
+despatched to put the tardy sire in remembrance of his daughters'
+improvements in their various studies, and urge for a
+remuneration. But alas! like "sleep," at the call of our fourth
+"Henry," it came not; and in the end, the lady was only too happy
+to get rid of her fair charges without receiving any payment,
+resolving, however, in her mind, never to trust again a West
+Indian _aide-de-camp_.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[53] It is an erroneous opinion held by some English people, that
+only coloured persons are called _Creoles;_ the word being, in
+its proper sense, applied to all who are born in the West Indies.
+
+[54] These two classes are of coarse subdivided into many others,
+according to their different stages in society.
+
+[55] A description of salted fish, brought from America.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+
+
+  The pure in blood--Aristocrats of the higher order--Law,
+  physic, and divinity--Merchants and planters--Proprietors'
+  dwellings--A day at a country-seat--Gastronomy--Beef--"Mary
+  Swift"--Mutton--Pork--Turtle and City aldermen--Christmas.
+
+Having, in the preceding chapter, glanced at the "rise and
+progress" of the _mushroom_ part of the aristocracy, it may be
+deemed requisite for me to enlarge upon the merits of those
+members of that body who, to present high bearing, add the claim
+of good descent. And yet I know not what to say more than I have
+done already in many parts of these pages, that they are fully
+entitled to the respect they so universally meet with. For among
+them are to be found men of superior knowledge, and distinguished
+by the possession of all the cardinal virtues; men in whom
+dignity of station is blended with kindliness of heart, and who,
+amid the blessings wherewith Providence has blessed them, have an
+open purse, and an outstretched hand, ever ready to administer to
+the wants of their less fortunate brethren; men of agreeable
+manners and pleasing conversation, and whose intercourse with the
+polite circle in other parts of the world has corrected any
+little errors they might have imbibed from their West Indian mode
+of life, and divested them of that narrow-minded spirit so much
+to be deplored.
+
+In this class of individuals are to be found the Creole
+proprietor, as well as those who may have purchased estates
+within these last few years, and, in consequence, emigrated from
+England, clergymen, barristers, and physicians, merchants and
+planters, the offspring of the soil itself, or wanderers from the
+several countries of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
+
+I have already spoken of the worth of many of the clergymen; men
+who practise what they preach, and who, in their private as well
+as public life, shew forth, by the fruit they bear, that they are
+branches of the _true vine_. The barristers are generally
+considered men of distinguished abilities, and some of them plead
+with powerful eloquence. They also act as solicitors and
+attorneys; but they honour the profession too much to speculate
+in cargoes of horses or corn-meal, as some of their brothers of
+the profession are said to do in an island not seventy miles from
+Antigua. In that colony there is at the present day a firm,
+consisting of three parties, who, to their numerous duties of
+pleading before the bar, add the more primeval occupation of
+agriculturists, the partners taking it by turns to play the
+planter for the space of three years,[56] and so leaving Coke,
+Blackstone, and similar other worthies, study instead the art of
+_planting canes_ and _boiling sugar_. How far their professional
+knowledge retains its vigour in the interim their several clients
+can best tell; I suppose they refrain from tasting the waters of
+Lethe, but pay daily orisons at the shrine of Mnemosyne. It must
+not be supposed that all the barristers of the island in question
+engage in such diversified occupations; many of them pay as much
+respect to their profession as their brethren of Antigua do, and
+among them are to be found some very clever men. One in
+particular is possessed of very superior qualifications, and his
+eloquent pleading would gain attention and merit applause even
+within the ancient walls of Westminster. His name is also known
+in the literary world, and his "Commentaries" upon the laws of
+his native island have no doubt often materially benefited his
+brother barristers. It is, of course, a work that would not call
+for general attention, from its local nature; but if once taken
+up, the author employs so many pleasing bands with which to bind
+his bundle of _law leaves_ together, that the reader is
+irresistibly led to peruse it to the end.
+
+To return to Antigua. Perhaps the most eminent member of the
+Antiguan bar is a Mr. James Scotland, who, although he does not
+often indulge in that flowery style of oratory which some of his
+brethren of the long robe do, speaks with powerful emphasis, and
+is grounded in all the mazy doctrines of the law. Mr. S. is a
+scion of a goodly stock. His ancestors emigrated from the mother
+country, and became settlers in Antigua, in which island they
+filled official situations at an early period, and where they
+have ever maintained a high character for philanthropy and
+liberal principles, even in days of prejudicial darkness. Such a
+line of conduct has often drawn down persecution upon the members
+of this family; but at length they have met with the reward of
+their unflinching perseverance in seeing that large portion of
+the Antiguan community whose interests they have ever supported,
+enjoying the privileges of British subjects, without regard to
+complexional prejudice.
+
+The merchants are in most instances unexceptionable characters;
+the planters rank high in agricultural knowledge and
+respectability; and the physicians are, I believe, generally
+noted for their eminent skill. It must be remarked that in this
+last-named profession there are no gradations, all the medical
+men ranking as M.D., whether they have attained that degree or
+not; and so far is this custom carried by the illiterate, that
+the very black or coloured boys, who are generally employed to
+handle the pestle, also go by the title of "doctor;" nor is it an
+uncommon circumstance for these illegitimate sons of Galen to be
+called in to visit patients and perform those particular branches
+of surgery, phlebotomy and extracting of teeth. The first
+physician in Antigua is a Dr. F., a man of versatile and
+brilliant talents--an able logician, well versed in polite
+literature, of energetic manner, and, what is above all,
+possessed of deep, heart-felt philanthropy, based upon that
+golden maxim, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto
+you."
+
+Some of the proprietors' dwellings, situated upon their several
+estates, in the most cultivated parts of the island, are mansions
+which would not disgrace the parks of our English country
+gentlemen. They, in most instances, are built upon gently
+swelling eminences, spots of extreme beauty; and the contrast
+they display between their dazzling white walls, and the deep
+verdure of their surrounding groves, over-canopied by a sky of
+intense blue, strikes pleasingly upon the eye; while the interior
+is fitted up in a style worthy the taste of the occupiers.
+
+The approach to many of these edifices is by stately avenues of
+cedars, whose bright laurel-like leaves set off to advantage the
+bunches of delicate trumpet-shaped flowers. Others, again, have
+the carriage-road bordered by noble rows of cocoa-nuts or
+palmettos, whose long graceful branches bend to the breeze, which
+makes pleasing melody as it sighs among them. Their country-seats
+embrace prospects of inexpressible loveliness. Nothing of what is
+generally termed the sublime, it is true--no frowning precipices
+or gigantic mountains, whose hoary heads are ever hid in the
+clouds--no impetuous cataracts rushing down the face of wild and
+blackened rocks, and hiding at length their angry waters in some
+dreadful abyss; the scene is of a more quiet nature, one where
+there is such a rich harmony of colouring, such a blending of
+earth, and sea, and sky, (for from almost all parts of the island
+the ocean can be seen,) that as the eye gazes thereon, a pleasing
+calm comes over the beholder, and every discordant passion sinks
+to rest.[57]
+
+In these mansions, a system of open but elegant hospitality is
+kept up; and like gentlemen's country-seats in England, they are
+seldom devoid of puissant knights and lovely damsels. The day
+passes as most days do in the country. Ample respect is paid to
+the well-stocked breakfast table, where every West Indian luxury
+abounds; and then the gentlemen separate to pursue their
+respective avocations; ride round their estates, and mark the
+progress of their canes, or as it is said, to hear them grow;
+visit the capital, to perform their legislative duties, pay their
+respects to his excellency the governor, or scan over accounts
+with their agents. The ladies, in the meantime, amuse themselves
+with various feminine and elegant employments; sometimes
+accompanying their soft voices upon the piano, or on well-strung
+harps, playing over those melting ditties which once brought
+tears into the eyes of the "gentle shepherd," or the matchless
+ploughman of Ayrshire. Others frequent the library, where the
+works of our best writers may be met with; but the
+spirit-stirring volumes of a Gore, a James, or incomparable
+"Boz," are much more eagerly sought after, than a Boyle, a Locke,
+or a Newton; but few of our West Indian ladies study philosophy
+or metaphysics; a novel, a poem, a book of plays, or modern
+travels, are the highest steps they take in literature.
+
+At length comes the hour of luncheon, when other delicacies are
+produced, and duly indulged in; and then the duties of the toilet
+have to be attended to--a stray ringlet or a captivating dimple
+taken to task--a smile, a look, or an attitude studied, until the
+time arrives when a drive in the carriage, or a stroll through
+some pleasant vale, is practicable. After enjoying these
+exercises for some time, the dressing-room is once more sought,
+and beauty receives every assistance that art can give her, in
+direct opposition to the advice of the author of the "Seasons."
+
+About seven, the whole party assemble around the dinner-table,
+where luxurious fare and choice wines receive additional _gusto_
+from a profusion of handsome plate, rich glass, snowy
+table-linen, and a well-lighted apartment. I cannot in this
+place, pass over the head of all West Indian confectionary, a
+_floating island_, without further mention. Could I give an
+authentic recipe for the making of it, my patriotic spirit would
+lead me immediately to do so; but as that is not in my power, I
+can only say it is compounded of cream, sugar, guava jelly, and
+citron, and is of all sweets the very sweetest. Despite what
+Baron Munchausen says to the contrary, I could, were all floating
+islands like it, willingly live upon them; and consequently, his
+strenuous exertions in driving stakes through them, to render
+them stationary, as of erst he says he did St. Christopher's,
+would meet with no thanks from me.
+
+Dr. Johnson has remarked that the hour of dinner is the most
+important of the twenty-four; be it so; like all other important,
+as well as unimportant matters, time at length brings it to a
+close. The drawing-room is once more sought, and in lively
+conversation, or listening to soft strains of music, which our
+lamented _Mrs. Hemans_ has so beautifully eulogized, the evening
+passes away, or is closed in with a sprightly quadrille.
+
+All West Indians of the higher rank keep a good table; indeed,
+the custom has become proverbial. Not only does the island
+contribute its fish, flesh, and fowl, but France and England pay
+a tribute in the shape of potted meats and soup. The native beef,
+it must be allowed, is horrible--lean, tough, and sinewy, it
+requires all your masticatory powers to demolish it, and proves
+not a bad illustration of the conundrum, "_If_ tough beef-steaks
+could speak, what English poet would they name?" "Chaw-sir,"
+(Chaucer.) Some West Indians, however, have asserted that they do
+not like English beef, it is so "fat and tender!" so much for
+custom. But the indifferent quality of the Creole beef is easily
+accounted for, when the state of the animal before it is killed
+is considered. The cattle bred upon the island, although very
+small, are used instead of horses in agricultural labour, and are
+of consequence of great value to the planter. They therefore
+seldom think of killing them while it is possible for them to be
+put to the plough, or worked in the cart; but when the planter
+finds that they are utterly unfit for work, and that death will
+soon put an end to their toil, or when a cow has become so old
+and emaciated as to be unable to rear her calves, they make a
+virtue of necessity, and give them up to the care of one of the
+old men or women, who feed them about the estate for a few weeks,
+and occasionally give them a little corn-meal to fatten them, and
+then sell them to the butcher.
+
+I have seen some of these _antediluvian_ creatures, if I may be
+allowed to use that term, coming into the capital, particularly
+about Christmas, lame and blind, faltering at every step they
+made, that it has been a matter of surprise to me how they were
+able to reach the shambles; but, poor creatures! there they
+arrive, sooner or later, are quickly despatched, and, about seven
+o'clock the next morning, you may hear the bellman hallooing out
+--"Oyes! oyes! a fine fat ox, bery fat, indeed, to be had at the
+shambles of Mary Swift," of famed renown! who, in person, amply
+makes up in longitude what she loses in latitude. I cannot help
+remarking, in this place, how much more humane the mode of
+killing these animals, practised in Antigua, appears than that
+customary in England. Here are no horrible slaughter-houses,
+still reeking with the blood of those slain before, to harass the
+poor animal's sense of smelling, and call for the assistance of
+those cruel ropes to pull it in; neither is the dire mallet used,
+which often requires so many strokes before life is extinct. A
+little grass is scattered down beneath the shade of some
+spreading tree, to which the creature is tied, and as it bends
+its head, the butcher, with a sharp knife, separates the spinal
+marrow between the horns, and death is instant.
+
+The mutton introduced at the table of the gentry is
+super-excellent--small, tender, and not too fat; something like
+the Welsh mutton so justly esteemed by the opulent in England. It
+is generally fed upon the Indian-corn, and gentlemen kill for
+their own use. That procured at the shambles is generally very
+indifferent, and not unfrequently goat mutton. Pork is another
+viand admitted at times to enlarge the table-store. It is
+considered by some to be the first meat in the West Indies; this,
+however, I cannot accede to; the warmth of the climate is against
+it, and makes it appear unseasonable. Goldsmith, in his "Manners
+and Customs," mentions that pigs in the West Indies were always
+fed upon sugar-canes. I have made inquiries upon this _important_
+subject, and from the answers received, and my own observations,
+am inclined to think that the family of grunters are forced to be
+content with less luscious fare. Upon estates, when grinding,
+they may, perhaps, get a share of what is termed the _mill-bed_,
+but that is all the production of the cane they are allowed to
+participate in, unless they march into a cane-field of their own
+accord, and stand a chance of getting shot or stuck for their
+pains, for a watchman is ever looking out for such intruders, to
+whom he plays the executioner's part, and, after decollating,
+takes, by right of law, the head for his own share.
+
+Poultry is also a standing dish at a West Indian dinner. Before
+emancipation, all kinds of feathered stock were very plentiful,
+and very cheap; fowls could be purchased for from 6d. to 8s.
+each, and turkeys, geese, guinea-birds, and ducks, in the same
+proportion; but now it is different, the negroes requiring higher
+prices for them. Most country gentlemen have, however, a
+poultry-yard attached to their residence, and thus escape the
+necessity of having to send, perhaps, half over the island before
+their want can be supplied.
+
+Rabbits and pigeons are occasionally added to the luxuries of the
+Creole banquet; and venison finds its way from the neighbouring
+island of Barbuda. Several very excellent kinds of fish, the
+produce both of sea and fresh water, and shell-fish, allure the
+eye of the epicure; and last, _not least_, the delicious turtle,
+which at certain seasons is vended weekly at 9d. sterling per
+pound! with all its rich green fat, its white and yellow eggs!
+What would a city alderman say to this? would not his imagination
+revel in all the delights of _calipash_ and _calipee_, and _real_
+turtle soup? not made of beef and calf's head, with a few pieces
+of turtle floating in it, to _stand its god-father_, as a late
+gastronomic writer so aptly describes such soup as may be
+obtained at the "London Tavern," or Cornhill, although that is
+reckoned very excellent in its way. We are very soon to have the
+steam ships running, or rather galloping, between England and
+these islands; and I really think it would well repay that very
+honourable body the "lord mayor, the sheriffs, and aldermen of
+London," to take a trip, if it was only to partake of turtle in
+perfection, and quaff a glass of Madeira, mellowed beneath this
+burning sun.
+
+Although hospitality is ever practised in Antigua, Christmas is
+the season of the year when conviviality is at its height. Then
+relatives meet together from all parts of the island,--then
+friendly compacts are renewed, and family differences happily
+adjusted, and sweet Concord, with beaming smile, wreaths once
+more her golden chain. Although no glittering green mistletoe,
+that "holy bough," hangs pendant from the ceiling, and calls the
+attention of flashing eyes to its mystic berries, the fragrant
+pimento adorns the halls of the rich, as well as the cottages of
+the poor, while the laugh and song and
+
+   "Mirth-moving jest,"
+
+throw around their pleasing witcheries. The tables groan beneath
+their burdens; and among their goodly fare may be found, as the
+old Christmas carol expresses it--
+
+   "Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[56] The estate belongs to "the firm."
+
+[57] The principal of these country residences are--"Claremont,"
+the seat of the Hon. R. E. Williams; "Cedar Hill," the seat of
+the Hon. Wm. Byam, both of them truly paternal looking edifices;
+"Gilbert," the seat of the Rev. Nat. Gilbert; "Mount Joshua," the
+seat of the Hon. Bertie E. Jarvis; Green Castle, the seat of Sir
+H. Martin, &c.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+
+
+  The pure in blood--Places of amusement--The theatre--"Romeo
+  Coates"--Jugglers and rope-dancers--Maroon parties--Shooting
+  season--The Creole beauties--Dress--"The lords of the creation"
+  --Fops and foppery--Business hours--Scene at the Antigua
+  post-office--Auction sales--Militia doings--The gallant dragoon
+  --Guard-nights.
+
+There are but few places of public amusement in Antigua; no
+malls, or parks, or Kensington gardens,--no morning concerts,
+Colosseums, or exhibition-rooms,--no "Almacks" of an evening,[58]
+or box at the opera, where the Creole beauty may shew forth her
+charms with _eclât_. The Antiguan _belle_ has to trust to fortune
+to bring her admirers;
+
+   "Unknowingly she strikes, and kills by chance,"
+
+as Dryden expresses it.
+
+A few years ago, however, there was a theatre in Antigua,[59]
+which now and then was frequented by a straggling company of
+players, who, in their trips about the West Indies, called in at
+Antigua to delight and surprise the inhabitants with their
+dramatic lore. Then "Macbeth" grasped his gory dagger,--"Hamlet"
+stalked about in sable suit,--"Othello" raved, or "Jaffier"
+stormed,--then poor "Juliet" wept, or "Desdemona" prayed, and
+many other heroes and heroines of the stage "mouth'd" and "saw'd
+the air," with all the grace that strolling players are noted
+for. Their ranks augmented by some gentlemen amateur performers
+of Antigua, who, not content with entering the lists as knights
+of the "buskin and sock," like Hercules, put on the _petticoats_,
+to shew, I suppose, their diversity of talents. Much cannot be
+said for the performance upon these occasions. One gentleman, in
+his metamorphosis, forgot to divest himself of his "Wellington
+boots," and there was such a clattering and stamping about with
+him, when playing the part of the waiting woman, that I verily
+believed the boards were in danger.
+
+The well-known and eccentric "Romeo Coates," as he is generally
+called in London, is a native of Antigua; and many and oft have
+been the nights, when he has made his bow before an Antiguan
+audience, and trusting in his histrionic powers, claimed the
+chaplet which Fame has woven for stage-struck heroes. The
+playhouse has, however, been levelled with the ground; and its
+site is now occupied by a very respectable private
+dwelling-house, in place of the shabby temple, formerly
+appropriated to the tragic and comic muse.
+
+Although the theatre is "no more," Antigua is not always devoid
+of public exhibitions. A juggler, or a rope-dancer, now and then
+makes his appearance, and having procured an empty store or loft,
+throws his body into ten thousand different contortions, for the
+amusement of those who feel inclined to throw in their dollars.
+At other times, a dwarf, or an "infant phenomenon," do their best
+to call a smile into the face of their audience; or a ship-load
+of _yankees_, with their stud of horses, and an "incomparable
+female rider," as their play-bills have it, erect their marquee
+upon the barrack-ground, and for the small remuneration of a
+dollar, spring over the moon almost, or act the part of a spitted
+ox, dressed by the heat of fire-works.
+
+During the absence of these "professional characters," the
+Antiguans have other methods for getting rid of the time that
+hangs too heavy upon their hands. Now and then a _maroon party_,
+or West Indian _fête champetre_, is given; when groups of
+beautiful girls and gallant youths, stayed matrons, and gentlemen
+of riper years, assemble together, with full purpose to enjoy the
+passing hours. Some sweet spot, generally near the sea-side, is
+chosen for the day's resort; or else some
+
+   "---- green and silent spot amid the hills,
+    A small and silent dell."
+
+And beneath the shade of some far-spreading trees, whose boughs
+form natural arcades, their rural banquet is spread. Various
+pastoral sports are here enjoyed; and although no "Weippert's
+band" is in attendance, the sound of the lively violin, or
+soft-breathing flute, often floats across the blue waters, and
+mingles with the murmur of the playful wavelets.
+
+At different periods of the year, fancy sales are held in the
+court-house, when all classes congregate together, from the
+governor's lady, to the lady of the agricultural labourer. These,
+with balls at government house, now and then, and occasional
+quadrille parties at private houses, Bible and missionary
+meetings, and rides and drives in the afternoons, or walks by
+moonlight, constitute the chief _amusements_ of the Creole
+beauties.
+
+The gentlemen vary these pastimes with occasional regattas and
+races, a day's rabbit-shooting upon Long Island, or, in the
+season, they deal destruction with their murderous guns upon the
+poor winged tribe, who pay us annual visits. The shooting season
+commences about September, when plovers, teals, and wild ducks
+migrate from America to these islands, although the quail remains
+with us throughout the year. There are game-laws now in force in
+Antigua, and consequently, every sportsman has to take out a
+licence, before he is at liberty to endanger the lives of the
+birds, or may be, the safety of the queen's subjects. Some few
+years ago, this was not the case; and whoever felt inclined, went
+out shooting. Cobblers, tailors, butcher-boys, and carpenters,
+were immediately metamorphosed into gentlemen, and gun-in-hand,
+shot-belt and powder-flask slung round them, left the trammels of
+the shop and the work-bench, to wage war against the feathered
+race.
+
+Many of the white Creole girls are very beautiful. Their
+complexions may vie with the purest Parian marble; while the
+softest, most delicate rose-tint mantles in their cheeks, and
+every blue vein can be traced, as it courses through their
+polished foreheads. The long glossy ringlet, the drooping
+eyelash, and the penciled brow, relieve, while they set off,
+their natural white; and the little coral lip, and pearly teeth,
+make up a _tout ensemble_, more lovely than can be told. Beauty
+has ofttimes been compared to flowers, and when looking at some
+of these lovely Creoles, they bring to mind that sweet and
+elegant rose, known in England as "the maiden's blush." In person
+they are generally _petite_, and their hands and feet are
+faultless as regards shape or size. Canova might have chosen them
+as a model for his Venus. What a pity it is, that extreme
+affectation should, in so many instances, spoil their manners,
+and deteriorate from their natural charms. Dress is carried to a
+great extent. Every pew in the church looks as gay as a box at
+the opera. Such feathers and flowers, mantelets and cloaks; such
+_capotes_ of _tulle_, and cardinal pelerines; such corsages _à la
+vierge_, and skirts _à la Corinne_--crispins of lace, and I know
+not what besides, are exhibited by the Antiguan belles, as would
+surprise any one who is not well versed in all the changes of the
+arbitrary rule of fashion.
+
+From a glance at the ladies it is but right I should turn to the
+"lords of the creation," and remark a few of their peculiarities.
+In a small community like Antigua, it is not to be supposed there
+are to be met such extreme contrast in dress and appearance as in
+the crowded streets of London--and yet some of the gentlemen
+emulate the "fops" of Regent-street, while others, again, are so
+_outré_ in appearance, that we involuntarily exclaim, "From what
+habitable part of the globe could this creature have sprung?" As
+is generally the case, the younger gentlemen are those who enlist
+under the banners of "foppery;" and then there is such a display
+of exquisitely-fitting coats, brilliant satin waistcoats, and
+voluminous stocks, or reversed collars and cuffs, and throats _à
+la Byron;_ such pointed boots and pumps, clerical-looking hats,
+and elegant canes! with wasp-like waists, flowing locks, and
+languishing manners, that had Adonis lived in these days and seen
+the Antiguan beaux, he would, most undoubtedly, have despised his
+own inartificial charms, and have cried with King Richard--
+
+   "I'll be at charges for a _looking-glass_
+    And entertain a score or two of tailors
+    To study fashions to adorn my body."
+
+The gentlemen of more advanced years very generally patronize the
+blue-coat-and- white-waistcoat school, and some of them follow
+the almost obsolete custom of powdering the hair; but white is
+the prevailing morning-dress among all classes and all ages, a
+dress of all others best suited to this warm climate.
+
+As bright Hyperion takes from the Creole maidens the _glowing_
+tints for which England's daughters are so famed, so he thinks it
+but fair to play many pranks with the complexions of the
+gentlemen who own his much-loved and frequented island as their
+home. Some he renders so pale and wan, that they appear like
+gliding spectres; others are as fiery red as the old English
+country market-women's cloaks with which they enwrap themselves
+when Winter holds his despotic reign; while some, again, present
+the deeper tinge of a full-blown peony; when to these latter
+shades are added the silvery honours of old age, the _tout
+ensemble_ is most striking.
+
+The hours of business in Antigua are from about six in the
+morning to four in the afternoon; after that period, the lawyer
+leaves his musty books and all his _pros_ and _cons;_ the
+merchant quits his counting-house, his day-book, and his ledger;
+the dealer in fashions and furbelows shuts his varied store; even
+the professors of the lancet abandon, for a time, the _cure_ of
+the _incurables;_ and away they all hurry, on "pleasure bent," to
+enjoy the exercise of riding, driving, or walking, until the day
+draws to a close, and their watches point the hour of dinner.
+
+Many circumstances, however, occur during these "business hours"
+which calls for the presence of the trader as well as the
+professional man. The packet from England is signalized, and away
+they scamper to the post-office, almost before the mails are
+landed, to the utter consternation of the poor post-master, and,
+with anxious eyes and clamorous tongues, crowd the office-door.
+At length, two or three burly sailors, followed by the commander
+of the packet, a lieutenant in the navy, are seen approaching the
+spot, bearing upon their broad-built shoulders the
+long-looked-for mail-bags, well secured in their leathern
+envelops. The pushing and jostling increases, as gig after gig
+dashes up and sets down its several passengers--horsemen curvet
+about, at which lank and miserable-looking dogs bark,
+servant-boys grin and chatter--and a group of little children,
+just dismissed from one of the free schools, stand gazing
+thereon, and wondering "war make dem buckra care so much 'bout
+letter?"
+
+Oh, what a _hurly burly_ it is! what a noise and discord! what a
+pushing, and scrambling, and puffing, and panting! At length, the
+door is opened, and the postmaster announces, in not very dulcet
+tones, "the letters will not be out for two hours," and closes
+the portal again. A look of dismay and vexation overspreads the
+countenance of all. The first turns to his neighbour, and he, in
+_his turn_, looks to the one behind him; one mutters, "How
+provoking!" and another says, "I hate to be served so!" while one
+of the applicants, a melancholy-looking man, observes, in an
+important voice, "The letters _must be sorted_, you know." As no
+good can be effected by waiting, they finally disperse, and
+endeavour to while away the time until, the two hours having
+elapsed, they again besiege the office. A well-applied rap
+summons the postmaster. "Are the letters out?"--"No, they will
+not be out for another hour!" Time, however, brings many things
+to pass, and the letters are at length sorted. Happy now does
+that individual feel himself whose name begins with an "A"--for
+they always conduct this business alphabetically. A silence
+ensues, the letters are distributed, and, too anxious to know
+their contents, their several receivers open them upon the spot.
+
+Various is the intelligence received, as seal after seal is
+broken--manifold the subjects discussed. Some talk of failures of
+mercantile houses, others of legacies received or in prospect;
+some descant upon politics, and others upon the price of sugars;
+while another group peruse the London newspapers, inspect
+carefully the list of births, deaths, marriages, and
+_bankruptcies_, look to see what the Queen and the court are
+doing, and then go forth to publish the "varied accidents by
+flood and field."
+
+Another figure emerges from the office-door. A fine
+portly-looking man, whose complexion rivals in colour the
+_château margaux_ he so liberally indulges in: a pair of
+gold-rimmed spectacles surmounts his well-formed nose, a
+substantial-looking umbrella is stuck beneath his arm, while in
+one hand is borne an open letter, and in the other, a voluminous
+silk handkerchief, and a gold snuff-box almost large enough to
+play the part of a portmanteau. "Not bad, though," he mutters to
+himself, as he carefully looks out for the lapses in the stone
+platform which runs along the front of the post-office--"not bad,
+though; my last ten hogsheads brought 78s. per cwt.; and my agent
+tells me the sugar was not so good as the former shipment, or he
+should have got higher prices. I must look to what my manager is
+doing; he must exert himself more, or he and I must part. Ay--
+rain again!" and he inspects the movements of the clouds, and
+glances for a moment at the vane upon the church-steeple visible
+above the surrounding houses. "Well, let me get home first, and
+it may rain as long as it likes--all the better for my canes." So
+saying, he gains his "top-gig," and carefully stepping in, and
+placing his umbrella between his knees, he tells "John" to gather
+up the reins, and make haste home. This is a resident proprietor
+of a sugar-estate, a man with whom the world has long dealt well.
+
+Another event that makes an inroad into business-hours, is the
+occurrence of an auction-sale. When a gentleman or his family
+intends paying a visit to England, one of their first
+preparations is to "call an auction," and sell off all their
+household furniture, carriages, and horses. Upon these occasions,
+they print no compendious catalogues, as is the custom in
+England; but an advertisement is inserted in the island weekly
+papers, calling the attention of individuals to the fact, that
+
+"The subscriber being about to proceed to England by the first
+opportunity, will dispose of all his fashionable household
+furniture, lately imported, consisting of,
+          HANDSOME FRENCH POLISHED MAHOGANY SIDEBOARD,
+        Dining, Loo, Card, and other tables, Glass, &c.
+Also, a few choice articles of plate and plated goods; also, an
+English-built Phaeton and Pair of Horses and
+                       A FLOCK OF SHEEP.
+
+                                                          Y. Z."
+
+Now, this last announcement is but very seldom true. But as Mr.
+Robins, of well-known auctioneering celebrity, calls to his aid
+all the high sounding words and flaunting descriptions he can
+get, to ensure company at his rooms, so the Antiguan auctioneer,
+or _vendue-master_, as one of the craft calls himself, throws out
+all the sprats he can in hopes of catching whales. The country
+managers and overseers are often good purchasers; and to ensure
+their company, the bait of a _flock of sheep_ is held out, which
+has more effect in bringing them to the scene of action than
+anything else. "I have no sheep," observed a gentleman one day to
+an auctioneer he had employed. "Why do you put such notice into
+the papers?"--"Oh! I know you have not," quoth the knight of the
+hammer; "but it makes the advertisement look so much better, and
+draws the attention of the planters--they all like to come when
+sheep are to be sold."
+
+Upon the day of this important undertaking, a red flag is hoisted
+before the house, and the bellman perambulates the streets,
+announcing that "the sale is just begun." Carpets are not taken
+up, and beds taken down, mirrors torn from their resting-places,
+and pots and pans brought into the drawing-room, as is often the
+case in England; but everything remains in its usual situation,
+only, perhaps, with a rather stricter eye to order than is
+practised in common; and the auctioneer proceeds from one
+apartment to the other, until the whole of the articles are
+disposed of.
+
+The company assemble about twelve o'clock, and the first lots,
+consisting of glass-ware, china ornaments, or similar little
+_knick-nacks_, are knocked down _very cheap_. Sangaree is then
+handed about; and as its potent influence becomes apparent, the
+heavier articles are brought forward, and often obtain high
+prices.
+
+As another means of ensuring good company and biddings, a kind of
+lunch is provided; and then there is such a cutting-up of hams,
+tongues, and salt-beef: such a calling for sangaree, punch,
+"swizzle," and porter; such a laughing, choking, talking, and
+eating, that a poor quiet body is glad to get into a corner, and
+offer up a prayer for silence.
+
+It is not always, be it remarked, that "the subscriber is going
+to England," although such intimation heads the advertisement
+that occasions these "auction sales," for very frequently they
+are nothing more than an Antiguan scheme for "_raising the
+wind_."
+
+Previous to the abolition of the militia, field-days and reviews
+often occurred, to abstract attention from business. Upon such
+occasions, the gentlemen took great pride in exhibiting their
+epaulettes and garnished coats.
+
+In proof of this assertion, I need but relate the following
+anecdote. A resident of Antigua, who, in days of militia glory,
+served in the dragoons, went to a neighbouring island, of which
+he was a native, to pay a visit to his friends. In order to
+astonish the inhabitants, and create a "sensation," Mr. ------
+determined to land in full uniform. The dress of the dragoons was
+very smart, and the swords and steel scabbards they carried, very
+long and heavy. Fancy, then, our brave _militaire_, who, by the
+bye, is a very short and corpulent personage, with a redundancy
+of colour, landing upon a sandy beach, beneath a burning sun, in
+all the glory of blue cloth and yellow worsted, with his
+Goliah-like weapon, scarcely twelve inches shorter than himself,
+dangling, or rather dragging, gracefully by his side. Although of
+little stature, he is big of heart; and proudly erecting his
+head, and settling his shoulders, he marched along, amid a herd
+of astonished boatmen and sea-side loiterers, with all the
+dignity of a commander-in-chief. The news spread like wild fire--
+astonishment was at its height--for rich and poor, black, white,
+and coloured, all thought their _ci-devant_ neighbour was
+Fortune's child, and had been promoted governor of his native
+island. Before, however, any procession could be formed, or
+salute fired to welcome his arrival, his real rank was
+discovered; and as the truth became known, the assembled
+multitude one after another departed, and left our gallant
+dragoon "alone in his glory."
+
+In speaking of the militia, I am reminded that I have not yet
+mentioned the Christmas guards. Before the emancipation of the
+negroes in 1834, martial law was put in force upon the 24th of
+December, and continued during the three following days, which,
+by law, constituted the Christmas holidays; and a militia guard
+stationed at the guard-house in St. John's, in order to protect
+the arsenal from any attack which might be made upon it by the
+slaves, who were more at their leisure during that period than at
+any other part of the year.
+
+At such times, the whole body of the militia appeared in their
+tinselled jackets, and the churches and chapels presented such an
+array of glittering steel, and burnished epaulettes, blue and
+gold, and red and silver, that the pews looked like beds of
+ranunculi. When the guard for the night was comfortably fixed in
+the guard-house, a complete scene of dissipation ensued. Wine,
+cards, and dice, were liberally indulged in; and not
+unfrequently, mirth and festivity paved the way for sorrow, care,
+and quarrels. Upon one of these guard-nights, a wealthy German,
+since deceased, met with such a run of ill luck at the
+gaming-table, that the next morning he was obliged to hire
+porters, and despatch the dollars he had lost to the house of his
+adversary in _wheel-barrows!_ That was, however, in a time when
+dollars were more plentiful in Antigua than they are at the
+present day, and when doubloons were in such abundance, that, it
+is said, the possessors of these costly coins found it necessary
+to deposit them in barrels! But, alas for the bonny little isle!
+that golden age has long ago passed by, and in its place we have
+one of copper and paper money.
+
+Before concluding this part of my work, I contemplated to enlarge
+upon the "traits and trials" of that portion of the Antiguan
+community, who, in absence of other qualifications, rest all
+their claims to superiority upon the reputation of their being
+_white people_. As these sketches, however, have been already
+lengthened more than at first intended, but a very brief mention
+of this class of individuals can be given.
+
+I would not for one moment have it supposed that I am so
+heartless as to upbraid them with their poverty--far be it from
+me to hint at such a thing--no; it is their pride, their
+overweening pride, I notice, and their hard struggles to ape _the
+ton_, while at the same time they condescend to receive the
+parish allowance, which ought really to be applied to the benefit
+of those who possess humbler minds. The "son of Sirach" in his
+wisdom, saith--"Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am
+greatly offended at their lives;" and first among the trio he
+mentions, "a poor man that is proud." Now, without making use of
+such a strong expression as _hatred_, who can help noticing the
+fulsome attempts of these persons to appear greater than they
+are? while their wives and daughters, instead of dressing as
+becomes their station, and thus rendering themselves respected,
+figure away in rainbow-coloured gowns, and bonnets that would
+better suit a strolling player, and then falsely think they merit
+reward! Some few years ago, about the smartest ladies in the
+Episcopal congregation were receiving parochial aid; but upon its
+being officially notified that the names of all paupers would be
+published, many of these dashing damsels became alarmed, and
+resolved rather to depend upon their own unaided exertions than
+let the world know how they procured their ribbons and laces.
+
+But there is another class of white persons, who, although not
+dependent upon parochial relief, dress and act equally beyond
+their sphere in life. In illustration of this--A lady brings to
+Antigua an English servant-girl, and before her mistress can
+collect her scattered thoughts, after all the rolling and
+bounding, pitching and jumping of the vessel in which she took
+passage from Old England, the _femme de chambre_ is turned into
+the fine lady; and ere, perhaps, six moons have waned, is united
+in the holy bands of wedlock with a _ci-devant_ Irish soldier,
+who plays the part of a policeman; a lately-imported English
+ploughman; or, in lack of these, some red-faced overseer, who may
+stand in want of that somewhat necessary appendage--a wife.
+Servitude at an end, our fair lady makes a display of her
+dignity, and all the cast-off graces of her former mistress--
+wears very fashionable blonde caps, and long-skirted gowns--
+patronizes hysterics and _eau de Cologne_--and laves her
+previously hard-worked fingers with Rowland's Kalydor. Equipped
+in all her finery, she next makes her appearance at church, and
+when the service is over, bows and courtesies with self-approved
+grace to any other _white lady;_ and then takes promenades with
+her fiery-faced husband, while visions of future grandeur and
+_invites_ to Government House float through her brain.
+
+If "her lord" should be an overseer, the estate upon which he is
+employed generally furnishes him with servants; but if instead,
+he is an ex-son of Mars, or some similar grade, our _lady_
+employs a black servant-girl of about eight years of age, to
+conduct her domestic affairs; while her husband obtains another
+specimen of juvenility, (but of course of an opposite sex,) to
+play the part of groom to the Canadian pony he has lately
+purchased for about four pounds sterling.
+
+Although not _quite_ so thick
+
+   "As autumnal leaves that strow the brooks
+    In Vallambrosa,"
+
+still ladies and gentlemen of the grade above described are no
+_raræ aves_ in Antigua; in all parts of the island they more or
+less abound, while in affectation and outward adornment they are
+not to be equalled among the _pure in blood_.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[58] In former years there was a subscription assembly held at
+"Smith's Tavern," then a noted house of entertainment, where
+cards and dancing were resorted to until twelve o'clock, when
+supper was introduced, and the festive party broke up about two
+in the morning.
+
+[59] The first Antiguan theatre was established by a party of
+amateurs, and opened on 17th Jan. 1788, with Otway's play of
+"Venice Preserved." The orchestra was composed of the band of the
+69th regiment, (then stationed upon the island,) conducted by Mr.
+Green, the late organist of St John's. The prices of admission
+were, two dollars to the boxes, and one and a half dollar to the
+pit; the funds being appropriated to the erection of a Free
+Mason's Lodge (never finished), the remains of which are to be
+seen at this day, at the east of the town.
+
+
+
+
+                           CHAPTER L.
+
+
+
+  Zoology--Rabbits--Rats--Horned cattle--Horses--Mules--Asses--
+  Sheep--Goats--Domestic animals--Whales--Thrasher--Grampus--
+  Porpoise--Shark--Anecdote of the Young Creole--Death of the
+  sailor-boy--Remora--Pilot fish--Dolphins--Jew fish--Stingray--
+  Corramou--Beautiful colours displayed in fish--Parrot fish.
+
+In an island like Antigua, destitute of every wild animal of
+larger growth than a rabbit or a rat, it may be deemed risible to
+talk about its _zoology;_ but as that word embraces a description
+of all living creatures, I intend to include under it the several
+doctrines of ichthyology, entomology, and ornithology.
+
+Having mentioned rabbit and rats, I will reverse the general
+order pursued in writing upon subjects of natural history, and
+commence with a slight mention of those animals. The wild rabbit
+more particularly abounds in Long Island, a pretty and delightful
+spot, already mentioned as belonging to the Hon. Bertie E.
+Jarvis. Although rabbits sometimes form a dish at genteel tables,
+they are not generally esteemed in Antigua as an article of food.
+Many of the Creole negroes express the greatest antipathy to
+them, on account of their similitude to a cat; and to offer to
+them such a repast would, no doubt, be deemed an insult. I
+remember upon one occasion, hearing a woman inquire of a black
+carpenter, who was employed about our premises, if he would
+purchase from her a rabbit which she had in a basket. "Rabbit?"
+interrogated the artisan, his face wearing a most sardonic grin,
+"I should _jist_ like to no war you take me for, ma'am? You tink
+me go buy _rabbit?_ No, ma'am, me no cum to dat yet; for me
+always did say, an me always will say, dat dem who eat rabbit,
+eat _pussy,_[60] and dem eat pussy, eat rabbit. Get out wid you
+and your rabbit!"
+
+The rats are a numerous race in Antigua, and feed most lusciously
+upon the sugar-cane, to the grief and loss of the planter. The
+present race are said to have been introduced into the West
+Indies by Sir Charles Price, in hopes of exterminating the Creole
+rat. The emigrants' tribe fulfilled their duty with great
+fidelity in this respect, and waged a vigorous war with their
+brothers of the _furry coat;_ but while thus employed, they
+multiplied so fast themselves, that they overran the whole
+island, and proved a more troublesome and dangerous foe to the
+planters, than their predecessors. These quadrupeds are so fat
+and sleek, from feeding upon the juice of the sugar-cane, that
+some of the country negroes find them an object of value, and
+with addition of pepper and similar spiceries, prepare from them
+a delicate _fricassé,_ not to be surpassed by a dish of French
+frogs!
+
+The horned cattle of Antigua, as well as beasts of burden, and
+domestic animals, are all of Lilliputian dimensions. Agricultural
+labour is generally carried on by help of oxen, and upon this
+account, each plantation is provided with a large herd of these
+animals, whose patient drudgery often calls for an expression of
+sympathy. The horses bred upon the island are, in most instances,
+but a very sorry race; still there are some handsome Creole
+ponies to be met with, whose slender limbs and bright wild eye
+give them the appearance of "sons of the desert." The donkeys and
+mules are of diminutive sizes, but retain their asinary qualities
+in as great a degree as their patient brethren in the other parts
+of the world.
+
+Sheep, like "Miss Cowslip," are as tall and slender as a poplar.
+Their wool falls off as they gain maturity, and is succeeded by
+short stiff hairs, like a goat. Many of them are so spotted and
+marked, that they might be taken for spaniel dogs, were it not
+for their length of legs, and _sheepish_ visage. The sheep,
+however, at Long Island, are very deservedly admired. Their backs
+are of a deep warm brown colour, and the underneath part of the
+body, with the breast, feet, legs, and head, of a glossy coal
+black. Their eyes are also black, and very piercing, very much
+like the eyes of the stag; and as they raise their long necks,
+throw back their well-formed heads, and gaze earnestly at the
+stranger who intrudes upon their haunts, they display a higher
+degree of animation in their features than any of their species I
+ever saw.
+
+Goats are also a numerous race in Antigua, almost every negro
+possessing one or more of these sure-footed creatures: their
+milk, as well as that of the sheep, is generally used for
+domestic purposes. Cats and dogs also degenerate greatly in size,
+and present as attenuated an appearance as if they had been
+keeping strict fasts and vigils for a month; the young puppies
+are sold for two shillings currency, and the cats are sometimes
+bartered between the negroes for a chicken: this last-named
+animal often forms an article of food to negro watchmen, who rear
+them especially for that purpose.
+
+The lordly whale at times frequents the West Indian seas. These
+huge marine animals generally quit their hyperborean homes in the
+summer months, to take a trip along the eastern shores of North
+America, and passing through the West Indian Archipelago, return
+to their icy regions, where they enjoy, with redoubled pleasure,
+their unwieldy gambols amid the stupendous icebergs. In their
+passage between the several islands they often meet with various
+trials; at times they quit their right course, and flounder about
+in shallow water, until at length they are perhaps cast ashore,
+where they suffer an untimely and lingering death. One met this
+fate at Antigua a few years ago. It was driven upon an
+unfrequented part of the coast, where it must have remained for a
+long time, until at length the effluvia became so offensive that
+it attracted the attention of some negroes, who, going in search
+of the cause which so tainted the air, discovered the defunct
+whale. It was a very large one, measuring from sixty to seventy
+feet in length, and of about thirty feet in circumference; many
+of its bones were preserved by the curious as commemorative of
+the event.
+
+But the greatest enemy the whale meets with in the tropic seas is
+the thrasher, (a species of squalus;) a fish so called from the
+manner in which it attacks its prey. As soon as the thrasher
+perceives the whale, he swims rapidly up to it, in a kind of
+orbit, until at length, when it approaches near enough, it
+compresses its tail, and by a great effort, throws itself out of
+the water and falls heavily upon the body of its unoffending
+victim. This exploit the thrasher performs again and again, until
+at length the whale (which very seldom escapes by speed) spouts
+up volumes of blood and water, and with one dreadful convulsion
+sighs out its last breath, and its immense carcase floats upon
+the ocean until some playful wave flings it upon the shore of
+some neighbouring island. In one of my trips from Antigua to
+Barbados I witnessed one of these conflicts, and although at a
+considerable distance from the place of battle, the blows sounded
+audibly in our ears.[61]
+
+Among the other _Cetaceæ_ which sometimes frequent the waters of
+the blue Caribbean, are the grampus and porpoise.[62] I have
+heard some master of the small trading vessels express great
+apprehension of grampus, who, they say, will at times approach so
+near a craft as to endanger its safety; but during my sojourn in
+these islands, however, I never heard of such a casualty taking
+place. A few years ago, an immense shoal of grampus were driven
+ashore at Antigua during a season of stormy weather, and by the
+oil they yielded, became a valuable prize.
+
+But the greatest dread of the mariners in these seas is the shark
+--that rapacious and terrific monster whose very name conjures up
+a train of horrors. The usual length of the white shark is from
+25 to 30 feet; the body oblong, and tapering to the tail, which
+is of a semiannular form, and of great strength; the head is
+rather flat upon the top; and the jaws, of horrific dimensions,
+are armed with numerous rows of flat, jagged, triangular teeth,
+(which it has the power of erecting at pleasure,) down to the
+very gullet.[63]
+
+The eyes of the shark are large and prominent; and they appear to
+watch their hoped-for prey with the malign glance of an ogre;
+while their vision is so acute, that they can distinguish objects
+at an immense distance, and will brave any danger to procure
+booty with which to fill their ravenous maw. A circumstance
+occurred some years ago which evidently proves that the optics of
+a shark are anything but defective.
+
+A young Creole one day escaped from the vigilance of her nurse,
+and, attracted by the numerous wild flowerets and gaudy
+butterflies she met with, rambled on, reckless of danger, until
+at length she approached the sea-side. Here she watched for
+awhile the waves as they dashed their snowy foam over the pointed
+rocks which lined that part of the beach, until, impelled by the
+beauty of the scene, and the heat of the weather, she threw off
+her simple tropic dress and wended her way into the smiling
+waters. Although not more than six years old, from being
+accustomed to bathing, she had learnt to swim with agility; and
+gaily did she sport with the bounding billows, until her
+attention was arrested by a violent rushing of the waters, when,
+upon looking behind her, she saw, fast approaching, what instinct
+immediately told her must be a shark. It was but the thought of a
+moment to make for the land, upon whose confines she fortunately
+was; and urged on by fear, she gained the pointed rocks, followed
+by the rapacious monster. Springing from one to the other of
+these natural coast-guards, she at length reached the land in
+safety; while the greedy shark, fearful of losing its prey, and
+regardless of hazard, dashed after, until it became entangled in
+the intricacies of the beach, where it floundered about, unable
+to extricate itself, until a party of negroes (who had been
+working near the spot, and whose attention had been attracted by
+the cries of the child) came to the scene of action, and with
+ready good will despatched the encaged monster.
+
+The shark is viviparous, and sometimes five hundred young ones,
+of about a foot in length, have been found in the stomach of the
+mother. The mouth is placed so far beneath the snout, that the
+shark is obliged to turn upon its back to seize its prey. The
+fins are large and strong, which enables it to dart quickly
+through the water, while the huge dorsal one may often be seen
+above the surface of the sea for a long time together, marking
+the spot where the dreadful creature lurks beneath. The bays and
+harbours of Antigua abound with this voracious marine animal, and
+woe betide the unfortunate swimmer who approaches its lair.
+
+On board the ship which first conveyed me to Antigua, was a
+remarkably fine and intelligent lad, "the only son of his mother,
+and she was a widow." He had been placed under the care of the
+captain of the ship, in order to gain some knowledge of the sea
+before sailing with his uncle, the master of a South Sea whaler.
+Robert had never quitted his fond parent before, and anxiously
+did he look forward to the end of his voyage, hoping that a
+letter from his mother would be awaiting his arrival at
+Antigua.[64] At length we gained our wished-for haven, and the
+passengers quitted the ship to seek their several places of
+destination. The packet had arrived, but there was no letter for
+poor Robert, who, with a disappointed heart, was obliged to wait
+the arrival of another mail. In the meantime, according to the
+rules of the merchant's service, he was employed along with the
+other lads in many little duties aboard the ship, until one fatal
+Saturday, as he was drawing a bucket of sea-water from over the
+ship's side, he overbalanced himself, and fell into the depths
+beneath. The steward, who was passing, raised an alarm; a boat
+was lowered, but without success, for he never rose to the
+surface. At length drags were procured, and (after an ineffectual
+search of some hours) his body was discovered, but the merciless
+sharks had made it their prey; the head, legs, and arms were
+gone, and his mutilated trunk alone reposes in the churchyard at
+St. John's. It was an untimely and dreadful death, so far from
+the land that gave him birth; and the circumstance was rendered
+more affecting, by the arrival of the packet the next day,
+bringing a letter for him from his mother, expressing her hope of
+her darling boy's quick return.
+
+It is a general custom in St. John's when a horse dies to have it
+towed over the bar,[65] in order that it may be cast away in deep
+water. These defunct animals are very often made a bait for
+shark-fishing; but at times the sharks are so large and so
+greedy, that these would-be fishers are obliged to let go their
+bait in order to prevent their boat being overturned, and they
+themselves become the prey of the monsters. Young sharks are
+often exposed in the Antiguan markets for sale; and their flesh,
+stewed down with rice or "sweet potatoes," forms, among the
+negroes, a savoury supper.[66]
+
+The common attendants upon the shark are the _remora_, or
+sucking-fish, and the pilot-fish, the former deriving its name
+from the firm manner in which it can adhere to any foreign
+substance. This adhesion is performed by means of a piece of hard
+thick skin, of an oval form, about five inches long and two
+broad, and which is attached to the head of the fish. This
+curious appendage is indented like the roof of a cat's mouth, and
+can be drawn up or expanded at pleasure. By these means the
+remora fixes itself so firmly to the back of the shark that no
+effort of that animal can dislodge it. Some naturalists are of
+opinion that the sucking-fish is the friend of the shark in
+directing its course and warning it of approaching danger, in the
+same way as the hermit-crab acts towards the pinna-marina. Others
+think this is a fable, and that, instead of befriending, it in
+time becomes the destroyer of the shark by draining its body of
+all moisture. I have heard seamen assert, who are often better
+observers of nature than is generally supposed, that if by
+accident a sucking-fish becomes separated from the shark, it is
+unable to provide for itself, and has not even the sense to swim
+from approaching danger. A remora was caught by the crew of a
+small vessel on board of which I was passenger. It was placed
+upon the deck for a few moments in order that I might be better
+able to inspect it, but when about to be removed, it was found to
+have adhered so firmly to the planks, that no effort, save the
+cruel one of cutting off the part, could disengage it. It belongs
+to the ray kind, and measures generally from two to five feet in
+length; but one was captured off Guadaloupe, which had attained
+the unusual length of thirteen feet from head to tail. Many
+strange tales have been related of the remora being able to stop
+a ship when in full sail, as well as performing other prodigies
+of valour; but in this age of wisdom all such statements are
+deservedly regarded as fables.
+
+The pilot-fish, the other attendant upon the shark, is a very
+beautiful fish, of a tapering form; it is represented as
+encompassed "with chains of pearls, corals, emeralds, and other
+precious stones;" and really, from the brilliancy of its scales,
+such an idea might be entertained. It was formerly supposed to
+precede the shark in order to point out its way, and for this
+cause it obtained its name of "pilot-fish." This supposition is,
+however, exploded by later observations, which point out that it
+attends the shark at a respectable distance, in hopes of
+participating in its prey.
+
+The dolphin, or _delphinus,_ is the next most remarkable and
+beautiful fish which frequents the Caribbean. Painters and
+sculptors have represented it of a semiannular shape; but the
+true figure of the fish is straight and tapering, with the back
+very slightly curved. The snout is long and narrow, and armed
+with numerous sharp-pointed teeth; the French give it the name of
+_Porc de mer;_ it has also been called the "prismatic fish," from
+the assertion, that when in the agonies of death it presents the
+seven primary colours. Much has been said about the dying
+beauties of the dolphin; but how far more beautiful it looks
+sporting in its parent element with all the brightness of the
+emerald, and enjoying the life that has been given it! The flesh
+is firm, and of a very good flavour, although it is a rapacious
+fish, waging incessant war upon the poor little flying-fish, and
+devouring them with the greatest avidity.
+
+The largest among the fish esteemed in Antigua as articles of
+food is the "Jew-fish," which commonly weighs from three hundred
+to four hundred pounds. The flesh is reckoned one of the greatest
+luxuries the West Indian seas afford. It is, however, but seldom
+caught--probably one reason for its being in such repute--its
+visits, like angels', being "few and far between." A
+superstitious notion is attached to this fish--that its
+appearance bespeaks the death of some magnate of the Island; and
+accordingly, when tidings are brought that such fish is captured,
+all the old women lay their heads together to plan out who is to
+die. The king-fish, grouper, barracoota, cavallie, are equally
+esteemed for their gastronomic qualities; there are seasons,
+however, when the flesh of the barracoota is poisonous--a
+circumstance attributed by some persons to their feeding on
+copper banks.[67] The other poisonous fish found near Antigua are
+principally the "horse-eyed cavallie," the yellow-billed sprat,
+and the conger eel: the flesh of the yellow-billed sprat has
+often proved fatal to those who have eaten it, and it has been
+known for death to take place six hours after tasting it. The
+poison is said by some to be contained in the head.
+
+The stingray is another native of these seas, the meat of which
+is much esteemed by the Creoles. This fish is armed with a long,
+slender tail, in the middle of which is a sharp barb; with this
+instrument the stingray beats the water, or anything that
+approaches it, rapidly, when attacked. The negro fishermen
+allege, that the stroke from the stingray's tail products
+leprosy, for which cause they are very careful in approaching it;
+and a circumstance has been related of a person having been
+thrown into a frenzy for forty-eight hours after being struck by
+this formidable weapon.
+
+The _corramou_ is the salmon of the Antiguan fisheries, as far as
+regards superiority of flavour. It is caught in the fresh-water
+stream which runs throughout the Island, but is rather scarce; it
+is the most delicate of the West Indian fish, and ought to be
+cooked as soon as taken from its parent stream. Snappers, hinds,
+silks, mullets, doctors, angels, old wives, nurses, Spanish
+mackerel, &c., are among the other kinds of fish exposed for sale
+in the Antiguan markets, some of which are noted for their
+excellent taste, the others for their brilliancy of hue; indeed,
+the most diversified colours, as yellow, purple, pink, orange,
+green, and blue, chequered with gold and silver, and the whole
+happily blended together, are to be observed in almost every
+species. The parrot fish is the most beautiful of its tribe. Its
+scales are of the deepest emerald, and its eyes, composed of
+different coloured circles, are as clear as crystal. It feeds
+upon shell-fish, which it crushes between its bony jaws, nature
+having armed it with such instruments in place of teeth. The
+negroes always call it "blue parrat;" its flesh is much esteemed
+by them, but the flavour is so rank, that it is never admitted at
+any respectable table. It sometimes attains the weight of from
+sixteen to twenty pounds. There are a great number of other
+edible fish which might be deservedly mentioned, but the pages of
+this work have so multiplied, that I must pass them over without
+further mention.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[60] The negroes term all cats, but more particularly kittens,
+"pussy."
+
+[61] The whale belongs to the class _mammalia;_ order, _cete_.
+The food of the whale is lump fish, and small marine insects.
+Whalebone is procured from the lamina in the upper jaw, (commonly
+called whiskers,) which supplies the want of teeth. It is split
+and prepared for use in England.
+
+[62] The grampus generally measures from 15 to 25 feet, and is of
+great circumference. It is a very voracious fish, feeding upon
+its neighbour the porpoise, when able. It also attacks the whale,
+and sometimes makes that huge animal cry out with pain. Pliny,
+the great Roman naturalist, who perished in that awful eruption
+of Mount Vesuvius, in A.D. 79, which also destroyed the cities of
+Herculaneum and Pompeii, when speaking of the grampus, says, "it
+is an immense heap of flesh, armed with dreadful teeth."
+
+The porpoise measures from six to nine feet in length, and may be
+found in all parts of the ocean, and even in the mouths of large
+rivers. It keeps in large shoals, and if one of the company
+receives a wound from the harpoon, the rest fall upon him and
+devour him. Formerly, it was esteemed a fish of such rarity, as
+to be introduced as royal fare; but in this degenerate age, its
+savoury qualities are generally over-looked, unless by sailors,
+who sometimes make a portion of it into a sea-pie.
+
+[63] Some naturalists are of opinion that a fresh row of teeth is
+added every year. I have counted five rows in a shark's mouth.
+
+[64] We went by way of America, and consequently our time from
+England was long.
+
+[65] A shoal running across the harbour of St John's from north
+to south.
+
+[66] Shark, in ichthyology, a species of squalus.
+
+[67] Labat thinks the reason some of the West Indian fish are
+poisonous is on account of their feeding upon the "galley-fish,"
+a genus of the Zoophyte tribe.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER LI.
+
+
+
+  Zoology: Orb-fish--Echinus, known to the ancients--Hippocampus
+  --Trumpet-fish--Toad-fish--Sea-blubber, and galley-fish--
+  Sea-polypus--Cat-fish--Crabs, oysters, &c.--Turtle--Land-crab--
+  Soldier-crab--Lizards--Guana--Wood-slave--Scorpions--Centipede
+  --Snakes--Tarantula--Cockroach--Caterpillars and butterflies--
+  Ants--Bats--Aquatic birds--Land birds--Humming bird--Anecdote.
+
+Among the _curiosities_ found about the shores of Antigua, are,
+first, the orb-fish, sea-porcupine, or _orbus-major,_ as it is
+severally called. This fish varies from seven inches, to two feet
+in length; it has no scales, but is armed with sharp spines,
+measuring from one to three inches in length, which it can erect
+at pleasure--the longest of these spines are placed behind the
+eyes, the shortest beneath the body. The mouth is shaped like a
+frog; the eyes are round and prominent, and behind them rises two
+strong, circular-shaped fins, which it uses with great agility
+when swimming. The anal and posterior fins are large and curved;
+and the tail strong and well adapted for making way through the
+waters. In the middle of the stomach is a bladder filled with
+air, by the aid of which it can inflate itself at pleasure, until
+it presents the figure of a complete sphere. The meat of the
+orbus is said to be excellent, with exception of the head, which
+is always thrown away; it is dressed in the same manner as
+turtle. When alive, it is a dangerous and formidable enemy in its
+native element, as it is not blessed with a very amiable temper.
+And when stuffed, it is an object of great curiosity, and well
+worthy of a place in a museum. The _echinus,_ or sea-urchin, is
+another species of the class and order _vermes, mollusca_. It
+does not attain the size of the orbus major, being seldom found
+more than five inches in length, but it is covered with sharp
+prickles, and can equally inflate itself when angry. The flesh is
+eaten with oil, vinegar, and pepper; and in flavour resembles the
+lobster. This fish was known to the ancients, who esteemed it a
+royal fare, when dressed with mead, parsley, turmeric, and mint.
+
+The trumpet-fish, or _fistularia,_ is a genus of the order of
+_abdominales_. It measures about 18 inches in length. The snout
+is cylindrical, like a trumpet, from whence its name; the jaws
+are at some distance from the eyes, which are very bright, and
+the body tapering to the tail. Its principal food is small fish
+and marine worms.
+
+The hippocampus, or sea-horse, is another surprising little
+animal, never exceeding in length nine inches, and about the
+thickness of the little finger. The formation of the head is very
+much like that of a horse--from whence its familiar name--the
+snout is a kind of tube, with a hole at the end, which it can
+open or shut at pleasure. The eyes are bright and jut from the
+head; behind them are two fins, of the shape and appearance of a
+horse's ears, and above them two orifices for respiration,
+through which it can spout up the water in a similar manner to
+the whale. Down the back runs a line of short, stiff hairs, like
+the mane of a horse, which falls off when the animal is dead; and
+the whole body is composed of rings with intermediate prickles.
+It belongs to the _cartilaginei_ order. The ancients considered
+it extremely venomous, even to the slightest touch, but like many
+other assertions, it is ill-founded, for I have handled many of
+them and received no hurt. Some of the hippocampus are of a dull
+chesnut colour, others of a dark grey; when swimming, they
+compress their tails, and raise themselves with an undulating
+motion, which gives them the appearance of a miniature horse
+cantering.
+
+The toad-fish is another curious little denizen of the deep, of
+the same dusky hue as the toad--from whence its name. When gently
+rubbed with the finger, it inflates itself into the form of a
+ball; and if pressed while in this state, bursts with a sharp
+report. It is eaten by many of the negroes, who are not famed for
+the delicacy of their palates, although the flesh is very rank.
+
+The sea-blubber and galley-fish are other varieties of the
+_mollusca_ class. They float like a jelly upon the surface of the
+sea, near its margin; and are dangerous to fishermen, and those
+persons who are in the habit of going into shallow water without
+shoes, wounding the feet sorely. If trodden upon, they explode
+with a loud noise, like an inflated bladder. These sea-nettles,
+(so called from the stinging pain they occasion if touched,) like
+the rest of their tribe, feed upon minute shell-fish and
+sea-insects. They are viviparous.
+
+The sea-polypus also inhabit these seas. These wondrous phenomena
+of nature belong to the genus _hydra,_ class _vermes,_ order
+_zoophyte;_ the distinguishing character of which is, that if any
+part of the body be severed, it instantly becomes a perfect
+animal. For example, if a polypus be cut transversely into two or
+three pieces, each portion becomes a regular animal, and a new
+polypus will also be produced from the skin of the old one. If
+any of the young polypi be mutilated while growing upon the body
+of the parent, the parts cut off will immediately grow again; and
+even if the polypus be dispossessed of its extremities, it will
+produce young ones before it has attained head or tail. The
+sea-anemone is very beautiful when alive. It is of a most lovely
+purple, and throws out its numerous feelers like radii from the
+centre; these feelers it can contract or expand at pleasure. They
+feed, like the rest of their species, upon small marine worms,
+insects, and shell-fish, which they have the power of rendering
+motionless, (after being entrapped in their long fibrous arms,)
+by means of a gluey liquid which oozes out of their bodies.
+
+The _chætodon,_ or cat-fish, is another inhabitant of the
+Caribbean. It is one of the most voracious of its tribe, preying
+indiscriminately upon all who approach it, and who it is enabled,
+by stratagem or open warfare, to overcome. The body is oblong,
+the head small, and the teeth slender, but extremely sharp, and
+bending inwards. The fins of the back are scaly, and the
+gill-membrane six-rayed.
+
+Among the shell-fish are lobsters, (some of which attain to an
+immense size,) several kinds of crabs,[68] oysters, (which
+generally adhere to the mangrove trees,) conchs, whelks, cockles,
+star-fish, sea-eggs, and smaller multivalves and bivalves. This
+part of the ocean is also very prolific in marine plants, (some
+of which, as "sea-feathers," "sea-fans," &c., are very
+beautiful,) and corals of several shapes and kinds; the latter
+substance is principally used for burning lime. The brain-stone
+is also frequently found, as well as many other curiosities,
+which are purchased from the negro divers and sent to England, as
+presents, but which I must pass over with this brief notice.
+
+The _testudo Mydas,_ or sea-turtle, frequent the bays of Antigua.
+The female is so very prolific, that she sometimes lays 1000
+eggs, which are hatched by the sun, in about 25 days. The merits
+of this amphibious animal are too well known to descant upon. The
+shell[69] is very hard and strong, and it will carry as much as
+700 or 800 lbs. upon its back. One was captured in these seas, a
+few years ago which measured six feet across the back, and the
+shell formed a good boat for a boy to sail about the harbour in.
+In Cuba, they attain a great size, and have been known to walk
+off with five or six men standing upon them. A full-grown turtle
+has often attained the weight of 500 lbs. There are none of this
+race of giants at Antigua; those caught upon her shores are of
+smaller dimensions, although of rich flavour.
+
+The _cancer ruricola,_ or land-crab, is another inhabitant of
+Antigua well worthy of note. They live in clefts of rocks, hollow
+trees, or deep holes which they dig for themselves in the earth,
+and are much esteemed by Creoles for the sweetness of their meat.
+Once in the year they march down from their mountain dwellings to
+the sea-shore in immense numbers, for the purpose of casting
+their spawn. Before starting upon these expeditions, the whole
+body meet in "conclave grave," when leaders are chosen, the route
+agreed upon, and the whole company divided into three battalions.
+The strongest males most gallantly take the lead in order to face
+any foe, as well as to act as pioneers; they are followed a short
+time afterwards by a battalion of females, and the rear is
+brought up by a medley group of stragglers of all ages and sex.
+They travel by night, and, as far as possible, keep as straight a
+line to the sea-side as if they were going by rail-road, only
+that they neither cut through hills, nor fill up dingles, but
+march over every impediment with the greatest nonchalance. While
+upon their travels, they commonly march with their long nippers
+held aloft, and which now and then they clatter together, as if
+in defiance of any one they may meet; and if assaulted, they will
+grasp their assailants so firmly by them, that very frequently
+they leave such members behind them. They have something of the
+_ogre_ about their disposition, for if one of their companions
+meet with an accident which prevents it travelling as fast as the
+rest, the others immediately fall upon and devour it, without any
+compunctive feelings.
+
+As soon as they reach the sea-side, the females prepare to cast
+their spawn upon the surface of the sea, leaving it to chance to
+bring it to perfection. The females are very prolific; but it is
+supposed two-thirds of their eggs fall a prey to the numerous
+shoal of fish, which are apparently hovering about, waiting for
+their expected treat. After remaining for some time by the
+sea-side, they prepare to return to their mountain homes; but
+many of them are fatigued by their long journey, and dig holes
+about the adjacent parts of the country, where they remain until
+they again become strong and fat. It is during these annual
+peregrinations that the negroes employ themselves in
+crab-catching; which exploit they perform at night by aid of a
+torch, when the crabs come out of their holes to feed. Land-crabs
+cast their shells annually, and at such periods remain closely
+concealed in their holes, almost without motion and without food,
+for about the space of six or eight days, during which time the
+new shell hardens. They vary in size and colour, some being of a
+deep coal black, others of a light yellow, and some streaked in
+red and yellow. Their favourite resorts are the burial-grounds,
+upon which account many persons have a great antipathy to them as
+an article of food.
+
+The soldier-crab is a curious little animal, totally unprovided
+by nature with any shell, so that in order to protect its
+delicate body from the attack of its enemies, it is obliged to
+look out for the vacated covering of some shell-fish in which to
+take up its abode. As the "soldier" increases in bulk, it changes
+its habitation, and sometimes, for want of a better dwelling, is
+fain to content itself with the cast-off claw of a lobster or a
+defunct crab. Although of small size, they are extremely
+quarrelsome, and their combats for a favourite shell are very
+terrific, and often end fatally to one of the party; upon which
+event, the conqueror immediately takes possession of the
+fought-for dwelling, and to put an end to the affair, makes his
+dinner off the body of his enemy.
+
+Lizards abound in Antigua; from every fence, from every tree--
+from the copsewood thicket and the wavy cane-field--you may see
+their bright little eyes peeping at you. There are about eighty
+species of this tribe found in different parts of the world,
+included under the name _lacertæ;_ those commonly found in
+Antigua are the _agilis,_ or common tree lizard, the ground
+lizard, and the guana, or iguana. The common lizard is of a
+bright green colour, with the head and feet of an ashy hue; there
+are some, however, of a dirty olive brown, with the feet and tail
+approaching to black. Like the chameleon, they have the power of
+changing their colour; and when angry, they swell out the skin of
+the thorax into a kind of pouch, inflating and contracting it
+with a clock-like motion. Their tails, of the extreme length of
+their bodies, are verticillated, and armed with sharp scales;
+their snouts are long and pointed, and their jaws furnished with
+numerous small and sharp teeth. They feed upon insects and young
+buds, and are particularly quarrelsome among themselves, often
+losing the greater part of their tails in their combats. The
+lizard is very susceptible of melody, and will remain couched
+upon a tree for a long time together, listening to the soft
+strains of a flute or piano, or the sound of the human voice.
+They are also capable of being tamed, and will frequent the spot
+where they have once been fed with bread crumbs. The lizard is
+oviparous, and deposits its eggs (which are white, of the shape
+of a hen's egg, and about the size of a small kidney bean) in
+holes in the ground near the roots of trees, or even in the ashes
+by the fire-hearth.
+
+The ground-lizard is considerably larger than the tree-lizard. It
+is of a greenish brown hue, with a blood-red stripe running
+longitudinally down each side. The head, ending in a pointed
+snout, is also of the same colour, which gives the animal
+altogether a disgusting appearance. The mouth is armed with an
+infinite number of sharp, slender teeth, the bite from which is
+supposed to be very venomous on account of their often leaving
+such weapons in the wound they have inflicted. The negroes have a
+superstitious notion, that as soon as this reptile has bitten any
+one it immediately makes the best of its way to the sea-side, and
+as the only means of preventing any ill-consequences to itself,
+bathes in the water, and the wounded person receives the
+punishment in the shape of leprosy. If, on the contrary, the
+individual bitten can reach the sea and perform the ablution
+necessary, before the lizard has time to gain that spot, the
+reptile pays the penalty, falling a prey to the effects of its
+own venom. The tail of the ground-lizard is of extreme length,
+and trails along the ground, giving the creature, when walking, a
+kind of snake-like motion; when, however, it is attacked by a
+dog, or frightened by the sound of approaching footsteps, it
+throws this unwieldy member over its back, and starts away with
+the greatest activity. The ground-lizard lives in deep holes,
+which it burrows in the ground, (from whence its name;) its food
+is the young herbage, fruit, vegetables, or anything of the kind
+that falls in its way; it holds its prey firmly with its
+fore-feet, while it tears it to pieces with its teeth, and then
+swallows it with much apparent _gusto,_ putting out its long
+slender red tongue, in the manner of a dog. I have often fed a
+ground-lizard with the fruit of the soursop, for the purpose of
+watching its movements; and if a piece of its favourite fare was
+delayed for a little longer than it deemed necessary, it would
+turn up its bright round eyes upon me, as if asking why I balked
+its appetite. Ground-lizards are also extremely choleric, and
+will fight with their own species for an hour together. The mode
+of warfare is to spring forwards, grapple each other with their
+fore-paws, throw their long tails around each other's body, and
+in this situation roll over and over in the dust, until one of
+them acknowledges itself conquered by striving to retire.
+
+The iguana, or guana, sometimes attains the length of from four
+or five feet, measuring from the point of the snout to the
+extremity of the tail; its usual size, however, is from three to
+four feet. It is of a deep emerald green, with the upper part of
+the head, the feet, tail, and legs, of a dull ash colour. Along
+the summit of the back and tail runs a deeply serrated membrane,
+almost like the fin of some fish; the head is surmounted by a
+kind of crown, or crest, from which circumstance it has obtained
+the name of "king of the lizards;" and underneath its jaws hangs
+a kind of comb, which it can inflate when angry or excited. Like
+all the _lacerta_ tribe, its mouth is well furnished with teeth,
+with which, when exasperated, it inflicts deep wounds; but, in
+general, it is a quiet and inoffensive animal, feeding in its
+wild state upon leaves of trees, vegetables, insects, or, when it
+can procure them, young birds. It climbs with agility, and will
+spring from one branch of a tree to the other, like a squirrel.
+The flesh is said to be excellent, rivalling in delicacy that of
+a chicken. It is eaten in the French islands as a great luxury;
+but from its outward appearance, few strangers would be led to
+partake of it, unless deceived by its form of cookery.[70]
+
+The wood-slave is about the same size as the common tree-lizard,
+but with a shorter tail. The bite is said to be extremely
+venomous, as also the wound inflicted by its sharp claw, which
+ends in a kind of nipper, and with which it adheres to the part
+with such tenacity, that no power but that of a knife will
+extricate it. In colour it approaches a toad; its haunts are amid
+old timber or old dwellings, from whence it attains its name of
+wood-slave.
+
+Scorpions are another formidable foe. They are well equipped for
+battle, having eight legs, besides two shorter ones fixed on the
+fore-part of the head, and answering for hands, with which they
+hold their prey; eight eyes, three upon each side of the head,
+and two on the back; two feelers, and a long tail, terminated by
+a curved sting, underneath which are two instruments resembling a
+comb. The poison is contained in a small reservoir, and is
+evacuated through two oblong orifices at the top of the sting, at
+the moment of the wound being given. The effects are extremely
+painful, producing a burning heat, which, if not alleviated,
+produces fever. If encaged, and it can discover no means of
+escape, the scorpion stings itself to death, rather than remain
+in captivity. The body of the parent scorpion becomes the nest of
+the young ones, which remain sticking and feeding upon their
+mother until she dies, and all nurture is absorbed, when they
+fall off and shift for themselves; fifty of these terrific little
+creatures have been counted at one time adhering to the body of
+their dead parent.[71]
+
+The _scolopendra,_ or centipede, is another member of the
+_aptera_ order, whose bite is equally dreaded with that of the
+scorpion. They sometimes attain the length of six inches, and are
+as thick as the finger of a man; the common size is, however,
+from two to three inches. They lurk in the dark holes and corners
+of houses, in the lumber-yards, in the stores, (or warehouses,)
+in stone-walls, rotten wood, or indeed, any place where they
+think themselves secure from molestation; and from whence they
+issue forth and attack whoever falls in their way. They feed upon
+insects; and their wars with the cockroaches are most terrible.
+Sometimes, however, they fall a victim to their stingless enemy,
+who in that case makes a hearty meal upon their remains. The
+scolopendra is furnished with numerous feet, from whence it
+derives its name of centipede--there being as many of these
+members (on each side) as there are joints in their body. The
+antennæ are covered with short hairs; they wound with two curved
+feelers in the head, armed with two short teeth. The bite is very
+painful, and produces (like the scorpion's) severe fever, if some
+antidote is not immediately applied. In illustration of this, a
+sailor on board a West Indiaman was so severely wounded in the
+hand by a centipede, that his life was thought to be in danger;
+he was, however, eventually cured, by having roasted onions
+applied to the part affected. The workmen employed in pulling
+down old buildings, or in removing stacks of lumber, are also
+very often dreadfully bitten by these terrible creatures.
+
+The Antiguan snakes are perfectly harmless; some of them are
+beautifully streaked and speckled. Spiders are also very numerous
+in this part of the world, and call for the constant use of the
+housemaid's broom. The _tarantula,_ or "horse-spider," is the
+most celebrated in Antigua. It is about the size of a pigeon's
+egg; the body and legs are stout, and thickly covered with stout
+black hairs, and the feet armed with triple claws, with which
+they hold their prey, while they tear it to pieces with their
+forceps. Their bite is very sharp, and is also often attended
+with fever; but the strange stories which have been related of
+the bite of the tarantula throwing its victims into a state of
+lethargy, from which the power of music can alone restore them,
+has long ago been proved a fable.
+
+The cockroach, or _blatta,_ is a most disgusting insect, although
+perfectly harmless, being utterly devoid of any weapon of
+warfare. It belongs to the order hemiptera, and is furnished with
+four plain wings, which, when walking, it conceals beneath its
+outward covering. The common cockroach is of a bright brown
+colour, with long antennæ, and wings exceeding the body in
+length. They are most destructive creatures, preying
+indiscriminately upon the contents of the larder, the
+linen-chest, or the book-case, or upon any insect they can
+overcome by treachery or open combat, or vary their repasts at
+times with a taste of the little negroes' fingers, when they go
+to-bed with such members in a greasy state. Cockroaches cast
+their skins once or twice in the year; during those periods they
+present a most revolting appearance, being of a milky white
+instead of their usual brown hue. In the day, they lurk in holes
+and corners, but no sooner does night approach, or the clouds
+threaten rain, than they issue forth by legions, crawl over the
+floor or furniture, dash in your face, or commence their work of
+devastation upon your property, leaving their nauseous odours
+behind them upon whatever they may touch. The _drummer_-cockroach
+is of a dingy ash colour; it receives its name from the drumming
+noise it makes by striking, it is said, its horny head against
+any wooden substance it may come near. It is even more disgusting
+than the common cockroach, both as regards form and odour; the
+antennæ and wings are shorter, and the body of greater breadth,
+and differently marked; the feet are furnished with an adhesive
+liquid, which stain anything they pass over. The eggs of the
+cockroach are about one-third the size of their bodies; they are
+rather flat and long, and are covered with a hard shell of a
+brown colour. The parent insect attaches them to walls, curtains,
+the interior of boxes or drawers, or, indeed, any place which
+they deem convenient for the purpose, by means of a kind of
+animal gum with which they are provided. The cockroach has many
+enemies to contend against, among whom the domestic fowl is,
+perhaps, the most formidable, picking them up, impaling them
+alive upon their beaks, or swallowing them with a relish which
+none but a fowl could conceive. The avidity with which fowls seek
+such food gives rise to the negro proverb, "Dat time cockroach
+hab dance, he no ax fowl for to come." They certainly are the
+pest of the West Indies; nothing escapes their depredations; and
+as the North American Indians have remarked of the deer, "The
+more you kill, the more they come." The redeeming qualities of
+cockroaches are said to be, that they improve the flavour of
+wine, and make excellent fish-sauce!
+
+There are immense hordes of caterpillars (_erucæ_) in Antigua;
+some among them are of great magnitude and beauty, although sad
+plunderers of the garden. After grovelling for some time upon the
+ground, and then undergoing the transformation of a nympha, they
+at length burst from their shelly covering, and, in the plenitude
+of life and joy, bound forward in the bright sunshine as so many
+gorgeous butterflies. Some of them are beautiful in the extreme,
+their velvety coats displaying every tint of the rainbow; but,
+alas! like all other beauties, their triumphs are soon over; the
+sun rises and sets but seldom for them, and after laying their
+300 or 400 eggs, their business in the world is achieved--their
+little lives are over, and they again become a "thing of nought."
+
+Ants also abound, and infest every comer and cupboard in your
+dwelling. They have been held up as patterns of industry, and
+surely they possess that virtue in an eminent degree, for in vain
+does the thrifty housewife use her best endeavours to secure the
+contents of her larder from their depredations. They never tire,
+but surmount every difficulty, and, like the "Goths" and "Huns"
+of old, pour their countless legions over the whole face of the
+country. You may, with the greatest caution, suspend your
+choicest preserves from the ceiling, thinking that a place of
+security, but in a short time it is sure to be discovered by some
+roving ant, who, without loss of time, communicates the results
+of his foraging to his neighbours. The whole tribe are soon in
+motion, the discoverer acts as pioneer, and with great judgment
+conducts them over every impediment along the ceiling, down the
+string, until at length they gain the sweetmeat, where, _sans
+ceremonie,_ they luxuriate at will. At other times, in order to
+guard the delicacies from the attacks of the ants, the vessel
+which contains it is placed in water, and there all is deemed
+quite secure. But not so; the ants are indefatigable; for no
+sooner does their sense of smelling tell them some choice dainty
+is inclosed therein, than they form a kind of bridge across the
+water, by one ant embracing another by the antennæ, and in this
+way they transport and enjoy the luxury at pleasure. There are
+ants of various sizes, and colours; the large black ant, the
+small black, the red ant, the wild ant, &c., but of all these
+varieties the sugar-ant is the most disagreeable. It is supposed
+the sugar-ant was first brought into the West Indies in a slaver,
+from the coast of Guinea, and after destroying vegetation to a
+great extent in Dominica, found its way to Antigua, where it
+committed great havoc upon the sugar canes. They are of small
+size, and of a light-brown colour, tinged with black, and when
+crushed, emit a mucilaginous substance of a foetid smell.
+
+As for flies, it would take an entomologist months to describe
+them, so numerous are their varieties; and of insects of a viler
+name, not to be mentioned to ears polite, the negroes would no
+doubt tell you they are far from being an extinct race. Bats are
+among the other denizens of Antigua, whose company is not very
+desirable. Some of them attain the size of pigeons; but although
+the dreaded "vampire" may be found among the number, we never
+hear of any creature falling a prey to its thirst for blood.
+
+The principal aquatic birds are, boobies, or gannets, man-of-war
+birds, coots, gorlings, (a kind of heron,) gulls. The other birds
+are, chicken-hawks, (or killa-a-killa, as the negroes call them,)
+buzzards, turtle-doves, ground-doves, wild pigeons, quails, a
+brown bird, with a most melodious note,--"the nightingale of a
+tropic noon," as Coleridge poetically calls it; sparrows,
+finches, yellowbreasts, blackbirds, (but not like those sweet
+songsters of old England's woods,) several other birds, with
+whose names I am unacquainted, and lastly, the pigmy
+humming-bird. Speaking of these beautiful little creatures, a
+modern author remarks: "The consummate green of the emerald, the
+rich purple of the amethyst, and the vivid flame of the ruby, all
+happily blended and enveloped beneath a transparent veil of wavy
+gold, are distinguished in every species, but differently
+arranged and proportioned in each." Pretty as this description
+is, it is not quite applicable to the humming-birds of Antigua;
+for although the "emerald" may be found, as well as the purple
+and gold, in some degree, "the vivid flame of the ruby" will be
+sought for in vain. Still it is a lovely little creature, with
+its long slender bill, its graceful little head, its sparkling
+black eye, and its fairy-like flittings among the fragrant
+blossoms of its sunny home. It has been asserted that the
+humming-bird is one of the shyest among the feathered tribe; but
+to express my own opinion, I think it has as good a stock of
+assurance as is possible to conceive for such a minute creature;
+while its passions are very strong, and it will attack any bird
+who comes within its range.
+
+An anecdote was related to me during my stay in this island,
+which proves how strong maternal love reigns in the breast of a
+humming-bird. In order to increase a cabinet of birds, a negro
+was dispatched in quest of these little creatures, with orders to
+capture all he could; and in the course of his perambulations, he
+alighted upon one which had built her tiny nest of cotton in a
+secluded dell, and which, at that moment, was engaged in the
+office of incubation. Void of pity, the negro seized upon his
+prize, (which, with an expectant mother's love, would not quit
+her eggs,) broke off the stem of the tree to which the nest was
+attached, and carried it the distance of ten or twelve miles to
+his master's house, where it remained for four days; and although
+under no confinement, the humming-bird would not forsake her
+nest, but was conveyed in that situation on board ship, where she
+must have died of starvation; for who was to administer to her
+the ambrosial dews which formed her food?
+
+There are many other creatures whose lives and habits might be
+given; but as I have already extended this part of my subject to
+greater lengths than I had intended, I must conclude, or my task
+would reach to many more pages.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[68] The _cancer graspus_ is the handsomest of its species, being
+of a pale yellow, beautifully streaked and spotted with red, and
+deeply serrated claws of a pure white. When in its native element
+it spouts out the water from two orifices near its eyes, forming
+a beautiful and never-ceasing arch.
+
+[69] It was the shell of a turtle which served that great
+monarch, Henry IV. of France, for a cradle.
+
+[70] The guana has the power of fascinating small birds &c. in
+the same manner as the anaconda, or rattle-snake, does. When bent
+upon such deeds, it stretches itself baskingly in the sun, and
+darts out its long red tongue; the birds, attracted by the sight,
+hover round, apparently irresistibly approaching the creature's
+mouth, until at length, when drawn within a convenient distance,
+the guana makes a sudden start, and with one effort swallows the
+poor bird.
+
+[71] Oldmixon, in his history, says, the scorpions in Barbados
+are as big as rats. If so, the present race of scorpions must
+have degenerated greatly in size, or else the rats are of a
+Lilliputian family.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER LII.
+
+
+
+                            BOTANY.
+
+In commencing this chapter upon botany, I deem it proper to
+mention first the forest trees, confining myself to those
+vegetating in Antigua. As, however, it will be necessary to
+insert the botanical names, as well as their classifications, and
+wishful of throwing as much interest into the subject as
+possible, I have, along with my own observations upon these
+beauties of the creation, consulted other and more efficient
+botanists. It must be remarked, that nearly all the West Indian
+trees continue to bud and blossom throughout the year; so that
+there is no naked sprays and branches to be seen, as in old
+England's woods in winter, but instead, every grove presents an
+unchanging canopy of the deepest green.
+
+One of the commonest flowers in Antigua is the Four o'clock,
+_mirabilis jalapa,_ or _marvel of Peru,_ so called from the
+circumstance of its opening its pretty petals at that hour of the
+day. The leaves are of dark green, and shaped like a heart; the
+flowers are of a tubulous form, and of the several colours of
+red, white, or purple--the latter are the most common. The seeds
+are black and hard, and of a conical structure; the leaves are of
+much repute among the old nurses of Antigua, for their efficacy
+in relieving tumours, &c., but if it be only fancy, or if they
+really possess some medicinal qualities, I leave the gentlemen of
+the lancet to determine.
+
+The Palmetto, _areca oleracea,_ cabbage palm, or mountain
+cabbage, is the most beautiful tree in Antigua, and richly
+deserves the epithet of king of the West Indian forests. The
+trunk rises straight and smooth, and is of a most graceful form,
+being about four to seven feet in circumference at the base, and
+gradually tapering upwards to the height of from one hundred
+feet; it is of a silverish grey colour, and indented with rings,
+marking the place of former foot-stalks. The upper part of the
+trunk presents a finely turned polished column, of a beautiful
+green colour, which diverges gradually from its pedestal until it
+attains the centre, when it diminishes in the same manner to the
+top, from whence springs an acuminated spatha terminating in a
+point. The branches spring from the top of the trunk in an
+elegant plume-like manner; as they decay and fall off, they are
+succeeded by others bursting from the centre of those that
+remain. The young leaves are esteemed delicious when boiled, as
+well as the cabbage, which is found in the interior of the green
+part of the trunk. The flowers are hermaphrodite; the male calyx
+sends forth three petals and nine stamens; the female flower is
+like the male, and turns to an oval fruit, enclosing an oval
+seed, which will bear a fine polish, and was formerly used for
+buttons. A grove of these trees presents a beautiful appearance,
+forming indeed a colonnade of finely turned columns, from the top
+of which springs a verdant canopy.
+
+Cocoa-nut Tree, _cocos nucifera,_ belongs to the order monoecia
+hexandria. Male calyx is trifid, the corolla three-petalled, with
+five stamens; the female calyx is quinquefid, the corolla divided
+into three segments, and furnished with three stamens. The
+cocoa-nut tree is supposed to have been brought from the Maldives
+to the West Indies. It loves a sandy soil, and sometimes attains
+the height of eighty feet. The trunk is a straight column,
+slightly annulated, and tapering from the base to the summit,
+where it expands into branches of about fifteen feet long, and in
+a circular form, among which break forth the sheaths, which are
+open from top to bottom and full of flowers, or clusters of
+embryos. The branches are apparently fastened at the top with
+stringy threads, interwoven like a piece of coarse sackcloth; the
+pinnæ are of a deep glossy green, and, near the trunk, are often
+a foot long. The nut is much esteemed for the sweetness of its
+kernel, as well as for the milk and oil it produces. When the
+kernel first begins to grow, it is in the form of jelly, which
+lines the interior of the shell; as it increases in age, this
+jelly thickens, and becomes a solid mass of about a quarter of an
+inch thick, and of the whiteness of unsullied snow. The jelly
+nuts contain the largest supply of milk, or water, as it is
+generally termed in Antigua, often as much as a pint, or a pint
+and a half; it is most esteemed in this state, the ripe nut being
+seldom eaten in its crude form, but generally compounded into
+different kinds of sweetmeats, or shipped to England. Thomson,
+speaking of the cocoa-nut, observes--
+
+   "Amid those orchards of the sun,
+    Give me to drain the cocoa's milky bowl,
+    And from the palm to draw its freshening fruit."
+
+These nuts are enclosed in a thick husk, composed of strong
+fibres, thickly matted together, which, when young, is of a
+bright green, but which attains a dull brown as it arrives at
+maturity; from these husks an excellent dye can be obtained,
+while the dried ones are now manufactured into mattresses,
+floor-cloths, and all kinds of brooms and mats. The trunk of the
+cocoa-nut tree is capable of being made into cordage, and, if
+tapped, a clear liquid issues, to which the name of arrack is
+given, which, when fermented, becomes an intoxicating drink. The
+shell of the nut is sometimes beautifully carved and polished,
+and, when mounted in silver, is used as cups or sugar-basins.
+From the kernel a clear white oil is extracted, which burns with
+great brilliancy, and emits a pleasant odour.
+
+Whitewood-Tree, _bucida buceras,_ is a beautiful forest-tree, and
+one that lives to a great age; there are some still remaining in
+the island which are said to be coeval with the first settlers.
+It rises to the height of forty or fifty-feet, and is thickly
+covered with a light-green foliage, here and there sprinkled with
+a leaf of the brightest red. It is said that ships built from its
+timber never breeds worms.
+
+Cedars belong to the _juniperus_ tribe. There are two species in
+Antigua, the white and the red. The white is a very beautiful
+tree, clothed with a dark-green glossy foliage, from whence
+spring flowers of a trumpet-like shape, and of the most delicate
+pink or pearly white. It forms a very beautiful avenue to a
+gentleman's seat, as well as a road-side border; but the timber
+is not of so much value as the red cedar, which is another most
+lovely forest-tree, rising sometimes to from sixty to seventy
+feet, and of proportionate circumference. The foliage is very
+thick, the leaves in form like the English ash; the flowers
+(which have not the beauty of its sister tree) are succeeded by
+oval berries of a purplish colour. The wood of the cedar is too
+well known to need much description. It is of a reddish colour
+and of a fragrant smell, and is almost incorruptible, as no worms
+will breed in it. It has been related that cedar-wood was found
+in the temple of Apollo at Utica, full 2000 years old.
+
+Silk-cotton Tree, _bombax seva,_ or _Ceiba,_ of the polyandria
+order, class monodelphia, is one of the most beautiful
+forest-trees of the western world, and a great ornament in tropic
+scenery. The trunk rises smooth and straight as a column, to the
+height of sixty or seventy feet, and of immense circumference. It
+is said to have originally been brought from Africa to the West
+Indies, where it now flourishes in splendid magnificence. The
+leaves are broad, and of a glossy green, the flowers of a
+delicate primrose, and campanulated; the corolla is quinquefid,
+from whence rises the pointal, which afterwards turns to a pod of
+about four or five inches in length, containing the seeds, and a
+profusion of bright beautiful silk. From its extreme shortness,
+it has been for a long time held as unfit for any use; but within
+these last few years, it is discovered it can be manufactured
+into hats. The East Indians use it for stuffings to their
+ottomans, cushions, and sofas, on which they recline during the
+heat of the day; but the West Indians, less effeminate and
+luxurious, allow it to float about in its native copses unheeded,
+except by the pretty little humming-bird, which sometimes builds
+her fairy nest from its silky fabric.
+
+The Manchineal, or _hippomane,_ rises from twelve to thirty feet,
+branching into several stems, but the main trunk sometimes
+attains three feet in circumference. It is a very beautiful tree,
+the bark smooth and of a brownish hue; and the leaves, of about
+two or three inches in length, are of the same glossy bright
+green as the laurel; they are thick and unctuous, and, when
+pressed, yield an oily milk. This tree has male catkins, which
+are produced at some distance from the embryos. The female
+pointal turns to a globular fleshy fruit, containing a rough
+woody nut, inclosing fewer or more flat seeds. This fruit is the
+celebrated manchineal apple, which, with the most beautiful
+exterior, possesses the most poisonous qualities. So dire is this
+plant, that the very sun, darting its rays upon it, calls forth
+all its dangerous odours, and renders it unsafe to the touch;
+while if any one takes shelter beneath its spreading boughs
+during a storm, the rain-drops as they trickle off the leaves
+blister any part of the skin they fall upon. Its timber is,
+however, made use of by cabinet-makers, although, when felling
+it, the wood-men, it is said, are obliged to cover their faces
+with thick cloth. The Caribs used to dip their arrows in this
+juice, which rendered the wound fatal. Poison extracted from this
+tree will preserve its venom for 100 years. The apples, if eaten,
+are said to be certain death to everything but goats.
+
+Loblolly-Tree, _varronia-alba,_ (_pisonia subcordata?_) is
+another denizen of Antigua, which shews its verdant green canopy
+throughout the year. The leaves are broad, glossy, and ovate; the
+trunk rises from the bottom in numerous woody stems, which,
+though they present a beautiful road-side scenery, are of very
+little use, except for fire-wood.
+
+Sandbox-Tree, _hura crepitans,_ rises to the height of from
+twenty to thirty feet. The trunk is straight and thick, and is
+armed with short prickles; the branches start from the top, and
+abound with an acrid juice. The leaves are broad and long, and of
+a dullish green. The male flowers are formed like a tapering
+column, and close over each other like the scales of fish; the
+female flowers consist of a trumpet-like style, with a quinquefid
+stigma. The germen becomes a round woody capsule, compressed at
+the ends like an orange, divided into twelve cells, each
+containing a flat oblong seed. When these capsules are ripe, they
+burst with a loud noise, scattering their seeds and severed cells
+to a great distance, and occasioning the negro, who may be
+passing at the time, to exclaim, "Eh! eh! de jumbies (ghosts) dun
+dere dinner hark dere plates; how dey _mash 'em!_" Before these
+pods burst, they are sometimes plucked by the Antiguans, and
+after being scraped and garnished with gold paper, are made into
+sandboxes, (from whence this tree derives its common name,) and
+sent to England as presents for the curious. This tree belongs to
+the natural order _tricoccæ_, and to the monoecia class of
+plants.
+
+Logwood, _hæmatoxylon Campechianum_, grows in Antigua, but no use
+is made of it in the way of commerce. It rises from the height of
+eighteen to thirty feet. The trunk is generally uneven in its
+growth, with somewhat of a knotty surface; the branches are
+thorny, and thickly covered with lanceolated leaves, and the
+flowers, five-petalled, are of a delicate pale purple and yellow.
+The pointal afterwards becomes a flat oblong pod, containing a
+few kidney-shaped seeds. Altogether it forms a very beautiful
+object in woodland scenery. It belongs to the decandria class of
+plants.
+
+Calabash-tree, _crescentia cujete,_ rises to about the height of
+the English apple. The trunk is straight and columnar, branching
+off at the head into numerous long slender branches, clothed with
+dark green foliage. The flower is insignificant; the pointal
+afterwards becomes an oblong or globular fruit, of a fine green
+colour, and covered with a rind, which, as it approaches to
+maturity, attains the hardness and stability of maple wood. The
+interior of the fruit is filled with a white pulpy substance
+containing the seeds. This the negroes scrape carefully out, and
+after divesting the nut of its outer green covering, dry it in
+the sun, and then use them as culinary articles, instead of the
+more brittle cups and basins of English ware. Some of these
+calabashes, as they are generally termed, will hold from one to
+two gallons, while others will not contain more than a gill.
+
+The Pimento, or _Jamaica-pepper,_ is a species of myrtus. It is
+one of the most beautiful trees in the western hemisphere, the
+trunk rising smooth and shining, and of a silver-grey colour, to
+the height of from fifteen to twenty feet, when it branches off
+into a rich canopy of dark-green foliage, like the leaves of the
+bay-tree. These leaves are very odoriferous; from them may be
+expressed oil like that of cloves, and when distilled with rum or
+high wines, they rank first among the West Indian simple waters,
+known as _bay-rum_. The flowers are white with green stamens, and
+emit a pleasing fragrance; while the berries, round, black, and
+small, partake of the flavour of all the different spices, from
+whence their name, _allspice_. It is said of this tree, as of the
+nutmeg in the Moluccas, that the chief means of propagation is by
+the birds, who, swallowing the seeds, void them again whole, when
+they immediately take root and flourish.
+
+Barbados-Lilac, _melia azedarach,_ is a very beautiful tree,
+rising from twelve to twenty feet. The bark is smooth and of an
+ash colour; it is bitter and astringent, and when compounded with
+aromatics, has been used (in the form of powders or decoctions)
+in fevers and chronic rheumatism. Toddy is said to be extracted
+from the young trees. The leaves are of a light green, and the
+sweet pale umbelliferous flowers hang in graceful tassels from
+every branch.
+
+Turpentine Tree, _burseræ gummifera,_ belongs to the order
+dioecia, class polygamia; the calyx is triphyllous, the corolla
+three-leaved, and the seed-vessel tri-valved. It grows very fast,
+and sometimes attains a great height. The trunk is of a bright
+brown, sometimes mottled with red, and presents a glossy
+appearance; the leaves are broad, and of a deep green. It is so
+tenacious of life, that it will bud and blossom after being cut
+up and planted as posts.
+
+Nickel, or nickar tree, _guilandina,_ is a curious genus of the
+monogynia order, decandria class of plants. There are two
+species, the _bonduc,_ or yellow nickar, and the _bonducella,_ or
+grey nickar. They are both of them climbing plants, sometimes
+attaining the height of fifteen or eighteen feet. The flowers are
+quinquefid, the petals of a yellow colour, and growing from the
+wings of the stalks. The germen becomes an oblong pod, thickly
+covered with slender spines, two-valved, and containing two hard
+seeds of the size and shape of a marble; those of the bonduc are
+yellow; the bonducella, of a beautiful grey colour, from whence
+their respective names.
+
+Locust-Tree, _hymenæa courbaril;_ order monogynia, class
+decandria. This tree sometimes rises to the height of sixty or
+seventy feet, in a straight column-like trunk, of two or three
+feet in circumference, covered with an ash-coloured bark. The
+leaves are of a dark-green, and the flowers, divided into five
+segments, and of a pale purple, streaked with yellow, come out in
+loose spikes at the end of the branches. The germen becomes a
+thick fleshy pod, of four or five inches long, covered with a
+hard brown shell, and containing a farinaceous substance, in
+taste something like gingerbread, but of a most intolerable
+odour, but which is eaten heartily by the negroes. In it is
+seated two or three hard brown seeds, of about the size of
+marbles, but of an oblong shape. The timber is used for making
+bedsteads, &c., while from the roots a dark transparent gum may
+be procured, which, when dissolved with spirits of wine, forms an
+excellent varnish.
+
+The Cashew-nut Tree, or _anacardium,_ belongs to the order
+dioecia, class polygamia. The cup of the flower is oblong and
+quinquefid. The flower is deciduous, and is formed of a single
+leaf, divided into five concave segments, with five lanceolated
+petals; at the bottom of the calyx is the ovarie, which turns to
+a fruit the size and shape of a bury pear, and of a red or yellow
+colour; it abounds in a sweet juice, slightly acrid, but which is
+much esteemed by the Antiguans in punch or lemonade; from the
+apex of the fruit grows the seed, in shape like a hare's kidney,
+the upper part of the receptacle being the largest. The shell is
+thick and cellular, and abounds in a dark caustic oil, which
+blisters the parts it is applied to; it is said to be used by
+some West Indian ladies to improve their complexion--it must
+prove a very painful wash, I should think; far unlike Rowland's
+inimitable Kalydor. When roasted, the kernel is very sweet; they
+are often sent to England as presents. It is a common practice in
+Antigua, to place the young fruit, when growing, in a
+shallow-necked bottle, which is attached to the tree; when the
+fruit is full grown, it is severed from the tree, and the bottle
+filled with high wines, which keeps it in a state of
+preservation. Thus prepared, it is sent to England as a
+curiosity, where it raises surprise from the fact of so large a
+fruit having entered at so small an aperture as a bottle's mouth.
+The milk which oozes from the tree stains of a deep black, which
+no ablution will remove.
+
+Mango-Tree, _mangifera,_ belongs to the polygamia class of
+plants. This tree sometimes rises to a great height, and is
+covered with a roughish bark. The leaves are often eight or nine
+inches long, and about an inch and a half in breadth, and the
+flowers start from loose umbels at the end of the branches. The
+germen afterwards becomes a large, oblong, fleshy fruit, of a
+fine yellow colour, and containing a flat seed covered with a
+woolly substance. When good, it has something of the flavour of a
+ripe apricot, but the generality of mangos are so strongly
+impregnated with turpentine, that it is almost uneatable. When
+fermented, an agreeable drink is said to be procured from the
+fruit. This tree was introduced into the West Indies from some
+part of Africa. In 1798, Admiral Lord Rodney planted it in
+Jamaica; he had taken the plants in a French prize from the Isle
+of Bourbon.
+
+Banana, _musa sapientum,_ rises to the height of six or ten feet;
+the leaves are about eight inches broad, and three feet long, and
+of a bright green colour, deeply veined. The wind, as it blows
+them backwards and forwards, severs them at these several veins,
+so that in a few days, from unfolding, the banana branches hang
+in tattered shreds. The fruit is oblong, and about four inches in
+length; the outer covering is yellow, and the flavour something
+like that of an over-ripe apple. When cut longitudinally, a
+representation of the crucifixion of our Saviour is said to be
+perceived, but this, I think, is a vagary of the imagination--at
+least, I never could find anything of the sort, although I have
+cut many bananas.
+
+The Custard Apple, _annona reticulata,_ is a genus of the
+polygynia order, class polyandria. This tree rises to about the
+height of a common apple. The cup of the flower is three-leaved,
+from whence start six petals of the heart-shaped kind, and
+antheræ are numerous. The pointal becomes a large roundish fruit,
+of a pulpy consistence, and containing a great number of black
+seeds; it is not held in much repute, and is scarcely eaten
+except by the negroes, although Ligon speaks of it as being very
+delicious.
+
+Star-apple, _chrysophyllum cainito,_ belongs to the monogynia
+order, and petandria class of plants. It rises to the height of
+thirty-five or forty feet, with a smooth straight trunk, from
+which shoot several branches at regular distances. The foliage is
+of a deep green on the upper side, with the underneath of a
+russet colour. The flower is campaniform, divided into ten
+segments, but of no great beauty; from the calyx rises the
+pointal, which afterwards becomes the fruit, of a globular shape,
+and divided into ten cells, in each of which is a flattish glossy
+seed. It derives its name from its internal arrangement, which,
+when cut transversely, presents the form of a star.
+
+Papaw, _carica papaya,_ a genus of the decandria order, class
+dioecia. The trunk rises in a simple hollow stem, marked in
+lozenges, to the height of eighteen or twenty feet; the trees are
+male and female; the leaves are large, and divided into several
+lobes, and come out upon very long, hollow footstalks, from the
+acros or summit of the tree. The male flowers are tubelous, and
+divided into five segments; the calyx small, and the filaments
+short and long alternately. The colour is a bright primrose, and,
+seated as they are upon their pale green flower-stalk, they
+present a very beautiful appearance. The female flowers are also
+primrose colour, and expand in form of a star, so deeply cut into
+six segments, that they appear to consist of so many distinct
+leaves. The calyx is quinquedentated; and from the centre rises
+the pointal, surmounted by a crest of four leaves. This pointal
+afterwards becomes a fleshy fruit, of an oblong or globular form,
+covered with a thin rind, and containing, as in a melon, numerous
+small black seeds of the pungent flavour of pepper. The fruit,
+when good, has the colour, and something of the taste, of an
+apricot; when unripe, the internal part is quite white, and in
+such state is boiled and dished up in the manner of turnip. It is
+also cut into various forms, and, mixed with peppers, cucumbers,
+&c., forms the West Indian pickles. The milk which exudes from it
+is said to be efficient in making meats tender; and, accordingly,
+its good qualities are often put to the test by notable
+housewives, who wish to pass off their old fowls, of five or six
+generations, for young chickens. From all parts of the tree flows
+this acrid milky juice, or _albumen,_ which may be used instead
+of egg in clarifying sugar or liquors. It is also said to be a
+specific for the toothache.
+
+Soursop, _annona muricata,_ of the polygynia order, polyandria
+class. It is a richly foliaged tree, rising to the height of
+about twenty feet. The flowers have a grateful but rather heavy
+odour. The calyx is three-leaved; the corolla is large, composed
+of six petals--the three outer ones concave and coriaceous, and
+of a yellow colour; the three inner ones somewhat smaller and
+spherical. The flowers are deciduous, and when they open they
+make so loud a report as to occasion a start from those who stand
+beneath the tree. The fruit is pulpy, and covered with a thick
+green rind, of the consistence of leather, studded over with
+green prickles, cone-shaped, and attains a great size; the
+interior is cellular, and furnished with oblong glossy seeds,
+which spring from the spear-shaped core. The juice makes an
+excellent transparent jelly; but in its crude form the fruit is
+never introduced at genteel tables, although of a very grateful
+flavour: all manner of stock are fond of it, and the little
+negroes luxuriate most freely upon it when in season.
+
+Mamma Sapota, _achras mammosa,_ is a splendid lofty tree,
+belonging to the monogynia order, class pentandria. The pistil of
+the flower is rather long, and is surrounded by six stamens. The
+fruit is globular, and is covered with a thick brown rind; the
+eatable part lies between that and the large round seed, which is
+covered with a fine thin skin. It is very indigestible when eaten
+in its crude state, but makes a luscious sweetmeat, which is
+generally esteemed.
+
+Bread Fruit, _artocarpus,_ belongs to the order monandria, and
+the monoecia class of plants. It was brought from Otaheite to
+these islands by Captain Bligh, a gentleman well known for his
+trials in the "Mutiny of the Bounty." This tree rises to the
+height of about forty feet, and is covered with a thick foliage;
+the leaves are sometimes a foot and a half long, of an oblong
+shape, and when broken, exude a milky juice. The trunk is of a
+pale ash colour, with a smoothish bark; the catkins, or male
+flowers, have no calyx, but are formed of valves hanging down in
+the form of ropes; the corolla has two petals, and concave; the
+female flower has neither corolla nor calyx, but the germs are
+numerous, connected into a globe. The fruit is globular, and
+about the size of a melon; the rind is thick and green, and is
+divided hexagonally in the form of net-work; the internal part is
+covered with a substance like thick wool. The edible part of the
+fruit lies between the skin and the core; it is perfectly white,
+and something like new bread, but it must be roasted before
+eaten. The taste is insipid, but is said to afford great
+nourishment. The milk which oozes from the trunk, when boiled
+with cocoa-nut oil, makes an excellent bird-lime, and the wood is
+useful for building.
+
+Sappadilla, _achras sapota,_ of the monogynia order, class
+pentandria. The calyx is a perianthum, with six erect concave
+leaves; the corolla bears one petal, the full length of the cup;
+the germen is globular, and becomes a pulpy fruit of a similar
+form, having twelve cells, each containing a glossy oblong black
+seed. The fruit is very luscious to the taste, and ranks among
+one of the first at an Antiguan table. The tree is about the size
+of the oak, and continues to bud and blossom throughout the year:
+there are three species of this tree.
+
+Sugar Apple, _annona squamosa,_ another genus of the polygynia
+order, polyandria class. The flower is insignificant, and nearly
+scentless; the pointal changes to a cone-shaped fruit of a dead
+green colour, divided into oblong compartments, each one
+cellular, and furnished with a flat glossy seed. The fruit
+abounds in saccharine juice, from whence its name. It grows to
+the height of about fifteen feet, and is thickly covered with
+oblong leaves, the upper part of a dead green, the underneath
+approaching to white.
+
+Sea-side Grape, _coccoloba uvifera;_ of the order trigynia, and
+octandria class of plants. The calyx is divided into five
+segments, of a velvety texture; there is no corolla, but the
+berry, containing one seed, is formed from the calyx. It
+luxuriates most freely in a sandy soil, where it sometimes
+attains the height of from eight to fifteen feet. The trunk, or
+rather trunks, for it sends up from the root several stems, is
+covered with a smooth brown bark. The leaves are orbicular, and
+are from five to six inches in circumference; they are of a
+bottle-green, and deeply veined, and stand upon short, thick
+foot-stalks. The fruit is of a red colour, but when quite ripe,
+approaches to black; it contains one seed, in form, like a
+cocoa-nut. There are fourteen species of this shrub, of which the
+chigery grape, _coccoloba nivea,_ is another denizen of Antigua.
+It is not, however, much esteemed for the flavour. The flowers,
+which afterwards turn to the fruit, come out at the wing of the
+stalk, in racemi of about the length and appearance of white
+currants.
+
+The Shaddock, _citrus decumana,_ order polyandria, class
+polyadelphia, is a native of China; it was brought first to the
+West Indies by Captain Shaddock; hence its name. It is another
+species of the tribe _citrus,_ belonging to the same class and
+order as its sister shrubs, the lime and orange. The fruit is of
+two kinds--the one with a white pulp, the other of a reddish
+colour; the latter is the most esteemed. The fruit is of much
+larger dimensions than the orange, with a thick rough rind, which
+is capable of being manufactured into a very superior kind of
+_bitters_. This tree grows to the height of from eight to twelve
+feet, with thick broad leaves, slightly serrated.
+
+Lime-tree, _citrus limonum,_ of the polyadelphia order, class
+polyandria. The calyx is divided into five segments, the corolla
+is quinquefid, and of the most delicate white, and with numerous
+antheræ tipped with yellow farina. The scent of the flowers is
+most delicious; and their silvery whiteness, contrasted with the
+glossy green of the foliage, renders it one of the most beautiful
+of shrubs. The lime-tree is said to resemble the holly of England
+in appearance; it sometimes attains the height of fifteen feet.
+Oldmixon, speaking of this shrub, says--"Fifty years ago, the
+planters made hedges of them about their houses; their prickles
+served for a fortification against the naked negroes." The fruit
+is very fragrant, of the colour and shape of a lemon, and about
+the size of a hen's egg; the juice is a strong acid. Galisco
+mentions that it was the lime-tree and the box which Harpalus
+found so much difficulty in cultivating at Babylon.
+
+The Orange, _citrus aurantium,_ is of the same class and order as
+the foregoing. The trunk rises smooth and straight, from six to
+ten feet in height, when it divides into several branches,
+forming a green canopy. The leaves are oval-shaped, and of a
+glossy green; and its beautiful and fragrant flowers spring forth
+from numerous flower-stalks at the side of the branches. The
+fruit, when gathered, is in a green state, which afterwards
+attains a yellow colour. An orange-bough just severed from the
+tree, bending gracefully from the weight of its fruit, and
+shewing its clusters of pearly blossoms, is a very lovely
+picture.
+
+Avocada Pear, _persea gratissima,_ order trigynia, class
+Enneandria, is a lofty tree, crowned with a dense foliage, and
+bearing one of the best fruits the island produces. The shape is
+that of a quince, covered with a tough, ligneous rind, and
+containing one large, compressed globular seed. In flavour, it
+somewhat resembles a broiled _vegetable marrow_. It is sometimes
+eaten with wine and sugar, but more generally with pepper and
+salt.
+
+Black Cherry, _cerasus occidentalis,_ is a genus of the natural
+order rosaceæ. It rises to about the height of 20 or 30 feet. The
+wood is much used by the negroes in their wattled houses, as it
+is of a flexible nature. The leaves are obovated, and the
+delicate-looking flowers hang from every branch.
+
+The Acacia rises to about twenty feet in branching stems, armed
+with long and sharp thorns. The flowers are globular, and of a
+bright yellow; they hang from every spray, and load the air with
+their fragrant odours. The pointal afterwards becomes a legume,
+containing several flat brown seeds, like those of lupins; these
+seeds have been found useful in setting dyes, and the gum
+produced from the trees is the best that can be used in calico
+printing; formerly the flowers were made use of in the materia
+medica, but this age of wisdom has expelled those various
+conserves which once loaded the shelves of an apothecary's shop.
+
+Lignum Vitæ, _guaiacum,_ or pack wood, as it is sometimes called,
+is another beautiful forest tree of Antigua. It attains the size
+of a large oak; the trunk is covered with a hard, brown bark,
+although the branches are of a greyish-ash colour. The foliage is
+magnificent, and of the sweetest green, while the beauty of the
+tree is enhanced by the clusters of cerulean flowers, which hang
+in loose umbels from almost every spray.
+
+Perhaps the most beautiful and fragrant flower which grows in
+Antigua is the _frangepanier,_ or _plumeria_. It rises to the
+height of from ten to fifteen feet, with a rough, greyish trunk,
+from whence start numerous fantastic-shaped branches, convolving
+and wreathing their long, naked arms on all sides. From the end
+of these branches start large, oblong leaves, standing upon
+three-inch footstalks, and forming a beautiful cluster. These
+leaves are deciduous, and as they fall off, are succeeded by
+bunches of flowers, which grow in umbels, rising from one centre
+stem, of about three or four inches in length. These flowers are
+of the most delicate pink, shaded off to white, and of a velvety
+surface, the lower part of the petals being yellow. They are
+divided into five or six segments, and the scent of them is so
+delicious, that it ravishes the senses while inhaling its odour.
+All parts of this tree abounds in a milky, acrid juice, which
+drops freely upon breaking off the least part, or making the
+slightest incision.
+
+Guava Tree, _psidium pomiferum,_ order monogynia, class
+icosandria, rises in the manner of a shrub, to the height of from
+two to twelve feet. The leaves are ovate, and of a dusky green;
+the flowers consist of five segments, produced in a circular
+form, with numerous stamens surrounding an ovary of an oblong
+form. This becomes a fleshy fruit, of the shape and colour of a
+lemon, surmounted by a crest of small leaves. The interior of the
+fruit is of a rose-colour, or a pure white, containing numerous
+small, yellow seeds; the flavour is exquisite, and the jelly made
+from it surpasses the whole world of confectionary. The
+celebrated Sir Hans Sloane is said to have been particularly fond
+of it; indeed, it is a universal favourite, and cattle and birds
+greedily eat the fruit in its crude form.
+
+Bamboo, _bambusa arundinacea,_ belongs to the order monogynia,
+class hexandria. It rises to a great height, sometimes fifty or
+sixty feet. The young stalks are almost solid, and are filled
+with a sweetish kind of liquid, which, as they progress in age
+and become hollow, falls to the bottom of the joint, where it is
+stopped by a woody membrane, and concretes into a kind of sugar,
+called _tabaxir_. This tabaxir is said to possess strong
+medicinal qualities, and was held in such esteem by the ancients,
+that it was often sold for its weight in silver. The bamboo is
+used in Antigua for spouts, fish-pots, or as posts for fences: it
+forms a pretty screen, and as the wind wantons through its
+lanceolated leaves, a pleasing melody ensues.
+
+Physic Nut, _jatropha curcas,_ belongs to the same order and
+class as the cassada, &c. It grows to the height of ten or twelve
+feet, with a knotty stem, and the leaves (cordate and angular)
+starting from the ends of the branches. The flowers are green,
+and hang in umbels; they are succeeded by nuts, with the outward
+covering green, and containing an oblong kernel, separated by two
+milk-white leaves, of a perfect shape. This plant is often used
+for fences, and according to old Ligon, is "of so poisonous a
+nature that no animal will approach it." This is not correct in
+every point, for it produces no ill-consequences, unless taken to
+excess, when it acts as a violent cathartic.
+
+The French Physic Nut, _jatropha multifida,_ is another species
+of this tribe. It rises in a shrubby manner, from eight to ten
+feet in height, the main stem being covered with a silver-grey
+bark, and dividing into several branches at the top. The leaves
+are large and lobed, and the flowers, of a purple colour, grow
+from the extremity of the branches, in groups. They are succeeded
+by nuts, of the same size and appearance as those of the
+_jatropha curcas_.
+
+Peppers, _capsicums,_ genus of the monogynia order, class
+pentandria. There are twenty species of this tribe, the principal
+of which known in Antigua is the bonnet or bonny pepper,
+_capsicum angulosum,_ of a bright yellow; the goat-pepper, or
+_capsicum annuum,_ of an oblong figure, and red colour, not much
+esteemed for flavour; the cherry-pepper, or _capsicum
+cerasiforme,_ also red, in form like a large Kentish cherry--from
+whence its name; and the bird-pepper, the most esteemed of all
+capsicums. This last is a most beautiful shrub; the leaves are of
+the deepest green, and the fruit, with all the rich glow of the
+coral, bursting from their light green cups, cluster upon every
+bough. It is from the bird-pepper the best cayenne is produced;
+when mixed with the yellow bonny, the colour becomes paler, and
+is less esteemed. The London adulterators, in order to keep up
+that bright red tinge, are in the habit of colouring their
+cayenne with red lead.
+
+The Jasmines are of great beauty and variety in Antigua. The
+principal among them are the Arabian jasmine, _jasminum sambac,_
+and the Cape jasmine, _jasminum fragrans_. The leaves are large,
+and of a beautiful green, while the silvery blossoms, of a
+rose-like form, fill the air with their delicious fragrance. This
+shrub is a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the
+diandria class of plants.
+
+King of Flowers, _lagerstroemia indica,_ is a genus of the
+monogynia order, belonging to the polyandria class of plants. It
+is one of the ornaments of the Antiguan flower-garden--its rosy
+corolla peeping from its bright green leaves; still it is not
+near so worthy of praise as its fair consort, the lovely
+
+Queen of Flowers, _lagerstroemia regina,_ which does not throw
+out her delicate pink petals until her slight limbs are bent down
+beneath her flowing burden.
+
+"Lady of the Night," _cestrum nocturnum,_ of the monogynia order,
+and pentandria class of plants, one of the sweetest and most
+poetical of all the Antiguan flowering shrubs. The flowers are of
+a delicate white, and elegantly shaped. As the day draws to a
+close, they unfold their lovely petals, which emit the most
+delicious odour, and that so powerful, that a single flower will
+perfume an entire suite of apartments. It is not "_labour lost_"
+to sit up until midnight, to watch the unfolding of this darling
+child of Flora's in all her glory; for, in the words of the poet,
+
+   "Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night,
+    Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear."
+
+The Flower Fence, or Barbados pride, _poinciana pulcherrima,_ is
+a very beautiful aculeated shrub, of the order monogynia; the
+flowers, of a bright red and yellow, are papilionaceous; the
+pistilum is long, and the stamens numerous; the seeds are oblong
+and glossy, and when beaten up with borax and water are said to
+form an excellent cement. There are two species, the red and the
+yellow, each equally admired, and which form a most beautiful
+garden fence, from whence the name. The leaves of the shrub are
+supposed to contain some medicinal qualities, and are
+consequently much esteemed by "old women."
+
+Trumpet Flower, _bignonia unguis,_ is a genus of the angiospermia
+order, class didynamia; the calyx is quinquefid, the corolla of
+an elegant bell-shape, and is also quinquefoliated. It is one of
+the most glowing beauties of the West Indian florist's world. By
+some it is called the scarlet jessamin, from its colour.
+
+The Noyeau-vine, _convolvulus dissectus,_ belongs to the order
+monogynia, class pentandria; the flower is campiform, but expands
+beneath the influence of the light into the figure of a star. The
+petals are of a delicate pearly white, the lower parts of a deep
+purple, the leaves of a deep green; and the seeds, black and very
+hard, are contained in a three-celled capsule. Noyeau is said to
+be extracted from this plant, from whence its name; but setting
+aside this doubtful good quality, it is one of the most admired
+parasites Antigua produces, and forms a great ornament to a
+verandah or balcony.
+
+Among the other beautiful vines to be met with, are the
+passiflora tribe; they are--
+
+1st. The Granadilla, _passiflora quadrangularis._
+
+2nd. The Water Lemon, _passiflora maliformis,_ and
+
+3rd. The Conch Nut, _passiflora maliformis._
+
+The granadilla bears a large, oblong fruit, with a thick, fleshy
+covering, and containing a most delicious pulpy consistence, of a
+slightly-acid flavour, with numerous flat seeds.
+
+The fruit of the water lemon is of a similar flavour, but of
+smaller growth, in size and shape more resembling a lemon--from
+whence its name--and with a covering more ligneous. The conch nut
+is the most acid, and of an inferior quality. It is of a globular
+form, with a smooth woody shell. All these varieties form an
+elegant arbour, with their glossy green leaves, and their lovely
+blossoms, of the same fair form and colour as the passion-flower
+--a genus of their own tribe.
+
+Aloe, a genus of the order monogynia, class hexandria: there are
+thirteen species of aloes, the most common of which found in
+Antigua is the aloe plant, _aloe vulgaris._ The leaves are broad
+and thick, and about from two to three feet long; they are full
+of strong fibres, which can be manufactured into cordage, &c. The
+aloe plant is commonly used for fences, its long sharp-pointed
+leaves proving an excellent repellant to any intruder. From the
+centre of the plant rises a smooth green stem, or column, of
+about twenty or thirty feet high, broad at the base, and tapering
+to the top, where it branches out into numerous pedunculuses, or
+flower stalks. This plant has no calyx; the corolla is
+monopetalous, and of the colour of the brightest gold, which
+produces a splendid appearance when in bloom. They are very hardy
+plants, and can scarcely be destroyed even if wished.
+
+Spanish Needle, _bindens leucantha;_ of the natural order,
+compositiæ oppositifoliæ. The leaves are composed of strong
+fibres, which are capable of being manufactured into a ship's
+cable or a skein of lace thread, a sail for a man-of-war or the
+finest cambric handkerchiefs.
+
+Cactus, _cacteæ_, is an order of plants that abounds in all parts
+of the island. They consist of a calyx adhering to the ovary, the
+corolla divided into several segments, and the petals variously
+coloured. The fruit is a succulent seedy berry, in some species
+of a beautiful red colour. The stems are covered with small
+tubercles, containing tufts of sharp spines, varying in size. The
+"Turk's cap," _melocactus communis,_ is one of the handsomest of
+its tribe. It rises in a globular-shaped stem, deeply channelled,
+of a green colour, and covered with long spines. The top is
+surmounted by a spherical spinal crest, of a beautiful rose
+colour, with fleshy seeds of the same glowing tinge. It grows
+wild in all the sun-dried plains of Antigua, and forms a singular
+contrast to the withered-looking herbage. The prickly pear is
+another member of this family; the leaves are thick and oblong,
+covered with long spines, and filled with a muculent substance.
+The fruit is in form like an English pear, and of a slightly acid
+flavour; the rind is thick, and of a red colour, marked near the
+base with streaks of yellow; the pulpy interior is of the finest
+crimson, and of the consistence of syrup, which is sometimes used
+to colour sweetmeats, and affords at times a rich treat to the
+little negroes. The fruit starts from the leaves without any
+footstalks, and leaf succeeds to leaf, until it attains the
+height of from five to six feet. It loves a sandy soil, but on
+every bank, or in every pasture, it may be met with; while from
+its formidable spines, and thick fleshy leaves, it forms an
+excellent fence. There is another species, called the French
+prickly pear, the succulent leaf of which is sometimes used as a
+vegetable.
+
+The Egg-Plant, _solanum melongena,_ or _ovigerum,_ is a curiosity
+in the vegetable kingdom. It attains the height of from two to
+three feet, and is covered with downy leaves of an ovate form.
+The fruit is of a globose fleshy berry, of the size, shape, and
+colour of a hen's egg, from whence its name.
+
+There are three species of lilies indigenous to the country, the
+most common of which is the Lily-asphodel, _amaryllis equestris,_
+a genus of the monogynia order, hexandria class of plants. The
+flower rises from an oblong emarginated spatha; the corolla
+consists of six lance-like petals, of a clear white, with long
+slender stamens. The seed-bag, or _capsule,_ is composed of three
+valves, and contains numerous seeds.
+
+Cotton Shrub, or _gossypium,_ rises to the height of six or seven
+feet. The flower is bell-shaped, and consists of one leaf deeply
+cut into several segments, enfolding one another, and of a pale
+primrose. From the centre of the flower rises a kind of hollow
+cylinder, adorned with chives or filaments. The pointal becomes a
+globular fruit, or pod, composed of five cells, containing small,
+hard, black seeds, closely enwrapped in the wool, (or cotton, as
+it is more generally termed,) which, when ripe, bursts open at
+the apex, and discloses the snowy interior.
+
+Castor Plant, or _palma Christi,_ is a very pretty shrub, rising
+to the height of about fifteen feet. It expands into numerous
+branches, from which spring dark green leaves, deeply lobed, and
+standing upon long footstalks. The flowers are insignificant in
+appearance; the germen becomes a three-celled, globular pod,
+covered with slender spines, and contains three
+beautifully-polished, oblong seeds, of a black and silver-grey
+colour. The best castor oil is obtained from these seeds, by
+pressure; but the common practice in use among the negroes is to
+boil them in water, and skim off the unctuous matter as it rises
+to the top.
+
+Cassada, or cassava, is made from the roots _jatropha,_ or
+_janipha manihot_. This plant belongs to the natural order
+_euphorbiaceæ,_ and abounds in a juice, the smallest dose of
+which is highly dangerous from its poisonous qualities. It,
+however, forms a nutritious food after the juice is well
+expressed, when it is baked in the form of thin cakes, and
+supplies the want of bread. _Farina_ and tapioca are other
+preparations from this root, half a pound of which, per diem, is
+said to be sufficient to support the strongest man.
+
+Arrow-root, and _tout-les-mois,_ is the fecula obtained by a
+similar process from those several roots, the nutritious
+qualities of which are too well known in the sick chamber to call
+for further mention. The petals of the arrow-root are of a clear
+white, while those of the _tout-les-mois_ are of a fine crimson,
+and start from long sheath-like leaves. The French gave the name
+to this latter plant, from the fact of its flowering every month.
+
+There are a great variety of grasses to be met with in Antigua,
+the principal of which are--the Guinea-grass, cent. per cent.
+grass, (_panicum colonum,_) devil-grass, (_cynodon dactylon,_)
+and nut-grass, (_cyperus hydra._) The Guinea-grass was introduced
+into the West Indies, from the coast of Guinea, as its name
+declares. Jamaica was the first island in which it was
+propagated, and that by mere accident. The seed of this species
+of herbage was brought from Africa, as food for some curious
+birds, natives of that clime, which the captain of a slaver
+intended to convey to Jamaica as a present. Soon after their
+arrival, the birds died, and the seed was thrown away as useless.
+It, however, took root, and flourished surprisingly. The cattle
+grazing in that part of the island found it out, and eagerly
+feasted upon it, which being perceived by the planters, the
+remaining roots were protected for seedlings, and thus the growth
+of this species was established, and finally distributed
+throughout the other islands, where it now ranks among the most
+esteemed of grasses.
+
+The different species of grain propagated in Antigua are the
+Indian Corn, or Maize, and the Guinea Corn--both of them included
+in the botanical name, _Zea_. The Indian corn rises to the height
+of about five or six feet; the leaves are eleven or twelve inches
+long, and two broad, with the edges deeply serrated. The corn,
+when ripe, is of a bright golden colour, and the ear is covered
+with a brown silken substance, and then enwrapped in a husk
+composed of many leaf-like envelopes, which are dried and used by
+the negroes for stuffing their beds.
+
+The Guinea corn attains the height of about seven or eight feet;
+the stalk is about the thickness of a small rattan, and is, it is
+said, capable of being manufactured into sugar. The main stalk
+branches at the top into several pedicles, each of which bears an
+ear of corn; the grains are small and round, like shot; they are
+inclosed in a black shell, which, as the corn ripens, bursts, and
+forms two small leaves. This grain is used chiefly for feeding
+horses, &c., although the negroes sometimes manufacture it into
+meal, and boil it into a kind of pudding.
+
+Of the esculent roots, the yam, _dioscorea sativa,_ is the most
+valuable the island produces. There are several varieties of this
+plant, the roots of some of them weighing from 20 to 30lbs. The
+flowers are green, and consist of six segments, the male flowers
+having six stamens, and the female three styles. The leaves are
+broad, and strongly veined, and are seated upon long spreading
+vines. The internal colour of the root varies according to the
+species--some being quite white, others white and red blended
+together, which are called by the negroes _moonshine,_ and some
+of a reddish purple.
+
+The Sweet Potatoe, _convolvulus batatas,_ is the most common in
+Antigua. It grows upon a twining vine, and vegetates best in a
+clayey land. The flower is campiform, and the leaves deeply
+lobated. There are several varieties of this root, some of which
+attain a great size; it abounds in a saccharine milky juice,
+which stains the flesh touched by it.
+
+Eddoes, _arum maximum Ægyptianum,_ are small edible roots,
+abounding, in their crude form, in a slimy juice, but when
+thoroughly ripe and boiled, attains a dry floury consistence. The
+natives consider it as one of their standing vegetables, using it
+in soups, &c.; but to an English palate it is generally
+distasteful at first trial.
+
+Squashes, _cucurbita melopepo,_ is a pomiferous herb much
+esteemed by the Antiguans. The yellow bell-flower is succeeded by
+a small, oblong fruit, which, when boiled, is very similar to the
+English vegetable marrow.
+
+Soap-berry tree, or _saponaria_. The flowers are white and small,
+and are succeeded by acrid berries of the size and colour of
+small cherries. They were formerly imported to England, where
+they were used for waistcoat buttons. If pounded and thrown into
+water, it is said they cause the death of all the fish therein.
+These berries answer the purpose of soap in washing linen, (from
+whence they attain their name,) and are recommended as a specific
+for the disease of yaws in poultry.
+
+There are a great variety of peas in Antigua, but none of them of
+the delicate flavour of those usually cultivated in England. The
+principal sorts are the pigeon pea, the black-eyed pea, and the
+white bean, or Barbados pea. The general use made of these
+vegetables is to boil them in soup, which forms a grand dish in
+negro cookery; they are used either in their dry or green state.
+
+Ginger is a genus of the monogynia order, class monandria. There
+are ten species, each natives of tropical climates; the common
+ginger, or _amomum zingiber,_ is the one most known in Antigua.
+The flower-stalks rise by the side of the leaves, (which are of a
+light green, and very narrow,) directly from the root; they are
+scaly, and from every joint issues a single blue flower,
+five-leaved, and shaped like the iris. The ovary afterwards
+becomes a triangular fruit, the seed being contained in three
+cells. The use of the dried root is too well known in England to
+descant upon the virtues of it; the green root is preserved in
+sugar, and forms a much admired sweetmeat.
+
+Pine apple, _ananas,_ is the queen of Antiguan fruits. There are
+two varieties, the "black pine," and the "white pine;" of these
+the first mentioned is the most esteemed. The flavour of the pine
+is exquisite, not to be _described,_ but _eaten_ to have its
+excellences fully appreciated; it forms, indeed, a perfect
+ambrosia not to be surpassed by that of _Mount Olympus._
+
+Water Melon, or _anguria,_ a genus of the diandria order, class
+monoecia. The calyx is quinquefid, and the flower
+quinquepetalous. The fruit belies not its name, abounding in a
+sweet water; it is three-celled, and contains numerous flat
+seeds; the scent is very fragrant. There are three kinds of melon
+in Antigua, all of which are esteemed for their cooling
+qualities.
+
+Of the capreolated plants, the gourd (_cucurbita_) is the most
+common in the island. The flower consists of one leaf, an
+expanded campiform, but so deeply divided that it appears upon
+first view to be five distinct segments. The germen becomes an
+oblong, bottle-shaped fruit, divided into six cells, containing
+flat, oblong seeds. The bitter flavour of the gourd is extreme;
+but both the fruit and leaves are said to be of great efficacy in
+some diseases of the viscera.
+
+Among the acroydra tribe, the principal found in Antigua is the
+Ground Nut, _arachis hypogæa_. It is a genus of the decandria
+order, class polyadelphia. The flowers are papilionaceous, and
+the leaves of a light green; the nut, which grows from the root,
+is not dug until the plant withers. It is roasted before eaten;
+the kernel, which is twofold; is very sweet, and forms an
+important article of traffic to the petty hucksters.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER LIII.
+
+
+
+  Government--Governor-in-Chief--Council--Assembly--Government
+  officers--Judicial officers--Ecclesiastical establishments--
+  Schools--Fortifications and military defences--Revenue--Exports
+  and imports--Population returns.
+
+Antigua is the usual residence of the captain-general and
+governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands; and in his absence, the
+oldest member of council, who is styled president, acts as his
+deputy. But in case of the death of the governor, or his removal
+from the office, according to a recent arrangement, the
+lieutenant-governor of St. Kitt's takes up his residence at
+Antigua, and officiates as governor until a fresh appointment is
+made.
+
+The colonial government of Antigua is confided to the
+governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands--a council, nominated by
+the governor, and confirmed by the crown--and a house of
+assembly, consisting of twenty-five members, representing the
+capital town of St. John's, and the twelve divisions, which the
+six parishes of the island compose, elected by the freeholders.
+The council act in two capacities--the one as the advisers of the
+governor in the administration of the executive branch of
+government; the other, as an upper house in the legislative
+assembly.
+
+As the appointed advisers and assistants of the governor, his
+"privy council," as they are termed, when acting in that
+capacity, the members of the council enjoy the title of
+"honourable;" and their concurrence, or that of three of their
+body, is required to most of the acts of the governor in his
+executive capacity. Their appointment, sometimes, is immediate
+from the crown, though the governor may, in case of a vacancy,
+appoint _ad interim,_ until a confirmation, which is seldom
+withheld, is obtained. Leave of absence from the colony may be
+granted to a member of the council, by the governor, or his
+_locum tenens,_ for six months, which may be extended by the
+crown to two years; but by a longer absence, a member incurs the
+forfeiture of his office. The governor, moreover, has the power
+to suspend any member of the council from the exercise of his
+office, until such time as the pleasure of the sovereign may be
+made known.
+
+In their legislative capacity, the council assume to themselves,
+with regard to the members of assembly, as nearly as may be, the
+relation of the House of Lords to that of the Commons in England.
+Their officers are, a clerk and marshal, the former being the
+first colonial secretary, and often assuming the functions of the
+usher of the black rod. The senior member presides, under the
+title of president. They deliberate in private, excluding
+strangers, and enjoy the same freedom of debate as do the house
+of assembly, as the English parliament.
+
+The house of assembly, assimilating itself, as it does, as
+closely as possible, to the usages of the English House of
+Commons, needs no further particular notice.
+
+The governor, however, discharges two important functions, which
+are usually exercised by separate individuals. He acts as
+chancellor, or rather, as commissioner of the great seal, and, as
+such, presides in the court of equity; and up to the present
+time, he has also exercised all the functions of an ordinary,
+though, we believe, in practice, seldom going beyond granting
+licences for marriages, and admitting the probate of wills--acts
+for which he is not allowed to grant deputations; but this
+interference in matters of ecclesiastical jurisdiction may
+probably soon be dispensed with.
+
+The chief officers of the island are--
+
+1. The _Governor,_ who receives a salary of 3000l. sterling from
+the British government, besides certain fees of office--as, on
+administering oaths on admission to certain public offices; on
+granting letters of administration, probate of wills, marriage
+licences, signature and great seal to writs of execution, letters
+of guardianship; on every motion made in the Court of Chancery,
+and on various other occasions; but the fees on granting leave of
+absence to a member of the council, or commissions to public
+offices, are usually the exclusive perquisites of his
+excellency's private secretary.
+
+2. _Public Secretary._--His income, arising from fees, is said to
+equal, if not exceed, that of the governor.
+
+3. _Treasurer._--Receives from 800l. to 400l. per annum, and 2½
+per cent. on all taxes and other moneys received; and also the
+same on all moneys paid away. He is required to give security on
+this appointment, from the governor, to the amount of 10,000l.
+currency.
+
+4. _Master in Chancery._--His income varies with the amount of
+business occurring. His fees are, 15s. 2d. for every hour, with
+other charges in proportion, when accounts are passing before
+him.
+
+5. _The Registrar of Deeds_ was formerly paid in sugar; but now,
+for every ninety-six words recorded in his office, he receives
+2s., and the same sum for every year in which a search is made
+for any particular deed in his records. The returns of this
+office, as of the two preceding, being wholly dependent on fees,
+it is not easy to estimate their average amount.
+
+6. The _Provost Marshal_ receives a fixed salary of 600l., which
+is paid from fees, out of which the gaoler also receives a salary
+of 160l. All incidental expenses attendant on these two offices
+are also discharged from the same fund; and there is always a
+surplus remaining, which is placed at the disposal of the
+governor.
+
+7. The _Harbour Master_ receives 50l. per annum currency for
+boat-hire, and a fee, varying from 4s. 6d. to 22s. 6d., on
+certain vessels coming into the harbour, according to tonnage,
+from 30 tons to 300, and upwards. This officer seems less
+adequately provided for than any other, considering the attention
+required, and the responsibility attendant on his office.
+
+8. The _Postmaster,_ who is paid by the home government, receives
+80l. sterling per annum.
+
+The judicial officers connected with the colony are numerous,
+considered with respect to the population; but as none, with the
+exception of the chief judge, receive pecuniary remuneration, and
+he only 300l. sterling,[72] and from fees, the appointments,
+although high-sounding, are, with this exception, only honorary,
+and almost parallel with that of the unpaid, though not less
+useful, magistracy of England. The appointments are as follow:--A
+chief judge; four assistant justices; a chief baron of the
+exchequer; judge of the vice-admiralty court; registrar of the
+vice-admiralty court; two masters examiners of chancery;
+registrar in chancery; provost marshal, advocate, and
+attorney-general; procurator and solicitor-general; three king's
+counsel and a coroner, (the latter receiving 300l. per annum
+sterling from the colony.) The office of coroner is filled by Sir
+Robert Horsford, the attorney-general. To these must be added two
+stipendiary magistrates, appointed under the provisions of the
+act for the abolition of slavery, and paid by the home
+government.
+
+The ecclesiastical establishment now comprises a bishop,
+receiving 2000l.; an archdeacon, receiving 500l. sterling from
+the British government; the rector of the parish of St. John,
+receiving, with a curate, 330l. from the colony; the rector of
+the parish of St. George, who receives a stipend of 230l.
+sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Paul's, who receives
+250l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Peter's, who
+receives 300l. sterling; and the rector of the parish of St.
+Philip's, who receives a stipend of 275l. sterling.
+
+The stipends are raised by rates on the several parishes; and in
+addition to these, the clergy receive the usual surplice fees.
+
+There are several day and night schools belonging to the
+Established Church--viz.,
+
+St John's--one boys' and one girls'; two infant-schools at the
+Rectory; on Manning's Estate, Cedar Valley, Marble Hill, St.
+James's, St. Luke's, African Hospital; three evening-schools in
+St. John's, and four Sunday-schools, besides at the various
+parishes in the island. The instruction which is generally given
+is reading and repeating the scriptures and church catechism, and
+also certain lessons and hymns. The number of children instructed
+by the clergy may be reckoned at about 2300.
+
+There are twelve churches, including four chapels of ease. One of
+these chapels of ease is the private property of the Honourable
+and Reverend Nath. Gilbert, the descendant of the founder of
+Methodism in this country, which contains 400 sittings.
+                                                         Sittings.
+  St. John's church contains                               1600
+  St. George's                                              600
+  St. Peter's, (town of Parham,) old church                 300
+  St. Philip's, (near Willoughby Bay)                       433
+  St. Paul's, (Falmouth)                                    400
+  St. Mary's, (Old Road)                                    250
+  St. John's parish has three chapels of ease--one
+     at Popehead, called St. James's                        420
+     Bendall's Bridge, St. Luke's                           400
+     And one in town                                        150
+  St. Peter's, one chapel of ease, (private property
+     of Nath. Gilbert)                                      400
+  St. Philip's                                              260
+  St. Paul's, (a temporary chapel at English
+     Harbour)                                               350
+  St. Mary's, (in Ffryes Valley)                            250
+
+There is also a temporary chapel at the common gaol, which may be
+supposed to contain 150 sittings. The Rev. Robert Holberton
+volunteered, in the early part of 1829, to deliver a religious
+discourse every Sunday morning, between the hours of seven and
+eight o'clock, and has not grown weary in this laudable cause. He
+attends the prison at all times when serious consolations are
+required, and more particularly those who may have to suffer
+death by paying the penalty of the law.
+
+          Account of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials.
+
+                                   Baptisms. Marriages. Burials.
+
+  1836  Parish of St. John's            310        112      150
+        St. George's                     74         38       36
+        St. Peter's                     116         52       24
+        St. Paul's                       74         47       39
+        St. Mary's                       60         40       14
+        St. Philip's                    122         40       19
+
+        Total                           756        329      282
+
+  1837  Church                          662        246      393
+  1838    "                             528        316      313
+  1839    "                             723        468      420
+
+  1837  Wesleyan Society                 96          0      112
+  1838    "                             108          0      114
+  1839    "                              95          0       85
+
+  1837  Moravians                       383          0      318
+  1838    "                             249          0      256
+  1839    "                             265          0      254
+
+The Wesleyan society has several Sunday-schools, also day
+scholars, exclusive of night-schools, which may be reckoned as
+follows:--From the "Ladies' Society," and the "Wesleyan
+Missionary," conducted by voluntary contributions:--
+                                            Scholars.  Teachers.
+  Sunday-school                                 1782        155
+  Day-school                                     962         19
+  The Moravian Mission has                      1115          0
+  Besides infant children, whose number may
+     be estimated at about                      1800          0
+  The members of their church may be
+     estimated at about 9000.
+
+Fortifications.--There are seven forts--namely,
+                                                       Sterling.
+  Fort James, which costs the country for captain's
+    salary                                            150l.  0s.
+  Fort George                                         112l. 10s.
+  Fort Johnson's Point                                 60l.  0s.
+  Fort Byam                                            50l.  0s.
+  Old Road                                             59l. 12s.
+  Goat Hill Battery                                    60l.  0s.
+  Rat Island                                           60l.  0s.
+
+The amount expended for the military defence of this country,
+sustained by the colony exclusively, not under the control of the
+ordnance department, amounts to near 2500l. sterling; and that
+incurred by Great Britain in this time of peace is sometimes over
+24,000l. sterling. Some years it may be 1000l. or so under, and
+particularly now the island has no militia, as it ceased to exist
+in July, 1838, by order of her Majesty in council.
+
+Revenue.--The comparatively yearly revenue may be estimated at
+about 19,000l. sterling. The expenditure is generally more, which
+is raised by ¼d. assessed upon all lands; 1d. on every 100 lbs.
+of sugar; 3d. on every 100 gallons of rum and molasses; a
+street-tax, and a per centage upon all dwelling-houses or
+merchant-warehouses, according to the exigencies of the case;
+also a cistern-tax upon all dwelling-houses of the annual rent of
+60l., not having a cistern on or belonging thereto; (while this
+is a very necessary precaution in cases of fire, it brings in a
+very good revenue;) an import duty imposed by the British
+parliament on all American importations, (part of this only is
+paid into the island treasury, as a per centage is first detained
+by the collector of her Majesty's customs for defraying the
+expenses of officers' salaries; however, the surplus paid into
+the treasury may be computed at 9000l. currency annually, but has
+at times amounted to 16,000l.;) also another import duty, levied
+by our colonial legislature on all goods imported not coming
+under the act of the imperial parliament, but such as upon all
+British or other articles of foreign manufacture may not be
+considered dutyable, in that case, 2l. 10s. upon every 100l. is
+paid; also an annual sum is paid by every retailer of spirituous
+liquors, wines, and beer; and a customs duty on wine imported,
+(except it be brought from Madeira and the Western Islands.
+
+               Amount of Export in the Year 1770.
+
+                                                      £.  s.  d.
+  To Great Britain                              430,210   0   0
+  To North America, United States, and the
+    West India Islands                           35,806  17   6
+                                               £466,016  17   6
+
+              Amount of Export, in the Year 1787.
+
+  To Great Britain, North America, the West
+    India Islands, United States, and Foreign
+    Ports, consisted of 284,526 casks of
+    sugar, 716,545 gallons of rum, 5910
+    gallons of molasses, 160,510 pounds of
+    cotton, 4l. sterling worth of dyeing
+    woods, and 48,000l. worth of other
+    miscellaneous articles, which together
+    amounted to  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   £592,596   9   0
+
+                    Shipping Inwards, 1831.
+
+                                          No. of         No. of
+                                        Vessels.  Tons.     Men
+  From Great Britain.                        55  11783      634
+  From North America.                        50   4410      256
+  From West Indies.                         142   6997      730
+  From United States.                        58   6692      375
+  From Foreign Ports.                        80   2608      336
+  Totals.                                   385 32,490     2331
+
+                    Shipping Outwards, 1831.
+
+                                          No. of         No. of
+                                        Vessels.  Tons.     Men
+  To Great Britain.                          55  11498      628
+  To North America.                          39   3334      197
+  To the West Indies.                       191  10482      982
+  To the United States.                      31   3686      211
+  To Foreign Ports.                          91   3522      399
+  Totals.                                   407 32,522     2417
+
+                  Amount of Exports for 1831.
+
+                                                      £.  s.  d.
+  To Great Britain                              228,612   0   0
+  To North America                               12,803  10   0
+  To West Indies                                 37,766  19   6
+  To United States                               10,372  18   0
+  To Foreign Ports                                7,090  15   0
+                                               £296,646   2   6
+
+                    Shipping Inwards, 1840.
+
+                                              Number of
+                                               Vessels.    Tons.
+  From Great Britain                                 51  11,334
+  From North America and the West Indies            254  10,968
+  From the United States                             79  11,657
+  From Foreign Ports                                158   3,650
+
+  Total Number of Men                                     2,925
+  Total Number of Vessels                                   542
+  Total Number of Tons                                   37,609
+
+                    Shipping Outwards, 1840.
+
+                                              Number of
+                                               Vessels.    Tons.
+  To Great Britain                                   56  12,953
+  To North America and the West Indies              251  10,297
+  To the United States                               26   3,844
+  To Foreign Ports                                  142  10,781
+
+  Total Number of Men                                     3,133
+  Total Number of Vessels                                   475
+  Total Number of Tons                                   37,375
+
+                    Amount of Exports, 1840.
+
+                                                      £.  s.  d.
+  To Great Britain                              401,624   4   6
+  To North America and the West Indies              328   0   0
+                                               £401,952   4   6
+
+                          Population.
+
+        Number of Whites.Number of Coloured. Number of Negroes.
+   1673 no account taken.  no account taken.                500
+   1690               600                     no account taken.
+   1707              2892  no account taken.             12,892
+   1720              3672                                19,186
+   1724              5200                                19,800
+   1729              4088                                22,611
+   1734              3772                                24,408
+   1756              3412                                31,428
+   1774              2590                                37,808
+   1787              2590               1230             37,808
+   1788 no account taken.  no account taken.             36,000
+   1805              3000               1300             36,000
+   1810              3000                                37,000
+   1817 no account taken.  no account taken.             32,249
+   1824                                                  30,314
+   1827                                                  29,839
+   1831                                                  29,537
+
+                     Census Taken in 1821.
+
+                   Area in Number of Number of     Total Number of Number of     Total
+                     miles     White     White number of  Coloured  Coloured number of
+                   square.    Males.  Females.   Whites.    Males.  Females. Coloured.
+  St. John's        17,955       644       563      1207      1210      1623      2833
+  St. Philip's      10,881       116        46       162        62        99       161
+  St. George's        6000        56        35        91        24        44        68
+  St. Mary's        14,190        81        43       124        65        94       159
+  St. Peter's         8310       100        37       137        53        65       118
+  St. Paul's        11,941       142       117       259       292       435       727
+                    69,277      1139       841      1980      1706      2360      4066
+  Number of
+  negroes in six
+  parishes,
+  30,985.
+
+No census has been taken since 1821, but the population now may
+be estimated at about the same. The greatest bulk is employed in
+agriculture; the manufacture is sugar, rum, and molasses. The
+island is supposed to contain 69,299 miles, or 108 square miles,
+consequently the average population is estimated to the square
+mile in this island to be about 343.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[72] It most be remarked that this salary is not a determined
+one. The judge receives it as a boon from the existing
+legislature. His successor may, perhaps, only obtain the _honour_
+conferred by the appointment.
+
+
+
+
+                     Supplemental Chapter.
+
+
+
+Since the foregoing pages have been written, many and great
+events have occurred in Antigua. St. John's, the capital of the
+island, has been raised to the dignity of a city, by the mandate
+of her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, (as announced by
+official letter of his excellency the governor-in-chief, Sir
+Charles Augustus Fitzroy, K.H., dated 10th November, 1842;) the
+church constituted a cathedral church and an episcopal see; and
+our former worthy archdeacon has become the Right Rev. the Lord
+Bishop of Antigua. The rector of St. John's, the Rev. R.
+Holberton, has most deservedly been appointed archdeacon, (as
+well as rector,) in the room of Dr. Davis, the present bishop.
+The first ordination held in the island took place on Tuesday,
+the 25th July, 1843. The governor-in-chief. Sir Charles Augustus
+Fitzroy, has ably conducted the government, and made himself
+universally and deservedly beloved and respected for his zeal and
+strenuous exertions for the common good. His excellency first met
+the council and assembly at the court house, on Thursday, the
+21st of February, 1842, where he was received by a guard of
+honour, (of part of the 81st regiment, then stationed in
+Antigua.) After taking his seat in the council chamber, his
+excellency delivered in person a most flattering inaugural speech
+to the legislature; addresses were then returned by the council
+and assembly, to each of which his excellency made most gracious
+answers. Upon the breaking up of the meeting, his excellency
+returned to government house, where he held a levee, (which was
+numerously attended,) and received congratulatory addresses from
+the clergymen of the church of England, the Moravian ministers,
+the Wesleyan missionaries, and the members of the Presbyterian
+association.
+
+The Scotch kirk has been nearly completed, and opened for divine
+service; an able preacher from Scotland, the Rev. A. Brown, is
+the officiating minister. Until the opening of the new church,
+the court house was kindly lent to the members of this persuasion
+to hold their Sunday service in; and where the Rev. Mr. Brown
+poured forth a strain of pure, unaffected devotion, and delivered
+a series of sermons, whose beauty lay not only in words, but in
+the grand religious truths they inculcated.
+
+Agricultural societies have been formed, much to the interest of
+that useful class of men, the agriculturists. In these societies,
+prizes have been awarded to the following:--
+
+  To manager who makes the largest quantity of sugar per acre, on
+  average crop--a silver tea-pot, value 8l.
+
+  To manager who makes best quality of sugar--a silver cup, value
+  7l.
+
+  To manager who makes the largest quantity of sugar per acre,
+  from second ratoons, being not less than five acres--a silver
+  ladle, value 4l.
+
+  To manager who has been most successful with his stock during
+  the year--a silver knife, value 3l.
+
+  To the overseer who shall produce the best plan of a
+  plantation, pay, boiling-house, and still-house books--a pair
+  of silver spoons, value 2l.
+
+  To labourers who have worked the greatest number of days in the
+  year on one property--five prizes, from 10s. to two dollars
+  each, currency.
+
+  To those parents who have the largest number of children
+  employed in agriculture--five prizes, from 10s. currency, to
+  two dollars each.
+
+  To stock-keepers who have remained during the year, and have
+  been most successful with the stock--five prizes, from 10s. to
+  two dollars.
+
+A popular institution for intellectual improvement has also been
+instituted at St. John's, in which several lectures have been
+given upon various interesting subjects.
+
+On the 12th of June, 1842, a very bright and beautiful meteor
+passed over the town of St. John's, in a direction from east to
+west. Its form was globular; and as it passed rapidly along the
+heavens, it emitted bright spiral flashes of fire, which gilded
+the sky, and threw deep shadows upon the earth. During its
+progress, it was attended by a rushing noise, sufficient to call
+the attention of those who did not even notice its extreme
+brilliancy. Possibly this meteor might have belonged to the class
+termed _aerolites;_ many of such phenomena have appeared, from
+time to time, in this quarter of the globe: one fell at Bahia, in
+Brazil, which weighed 14,000 pounds, and another, (still
+preserved in the British Museum,) which fell at Buenos Ayres,
+weighed 1400 pounds.
+
+The next great event to be recorded, is the awful earthquake,
+with which Antigua and many of the other Leeward Islands was
+visited, on Wednesday, the 8th of February, 1843. About half-past
+ten o'clock a. m., a low, hollow, rumbling sound arrested the
+attention, and announced, in its own peculiar solemn tone, the
+coming of an earthquake. Immediately after this awful warning, a
+tremor of the earth was felt, which gradually increasing in
+violence, led the frightened inhabitants to rush from their
+houses, and seek safety in the open air. Heart-rending were the
+screams, fervent and numerous were the calls for mercy, from the
+assembled groups. The air was darkened with the dust from the
+falling buildings, as well as from the sulphureous exhalations
+which issued from the opening earth, and almost stopped
+respiration. In Antigua, the extent of damage was immense. Out of
+fourteen parish churches, (including the chapels of ease,) only
+two remain uninjured. St. Paul's, situated at Falmouth, was
+entirely destroyed; as also St. Stephen's chapel of ease, the
+district church of All Saints, and the chapel schools of St.
+Bartholomew's and St. Mark's, not long ago erected. The new
+church of St. Peter's, which has been mentioned in these pages as
+being in a state of progress at Parham, and which was expected to
+be completed and opened for Divine service in 1843, was also much
+rent and injured. The pretty parish church of St. Philip's was
+cracked from top to bottom, and rendered unsafe, and the
+school-house was levelled with the ground. St. James's chapel of
+ease was severely injured, and the north and south wings fell.
+The school-room at St. Barnaby's was rent in several places; and
+at St. Stephen's a similar building was entirely levelled. The
+school-room at Brecknocks was also rendered unsafe. There were
+172 sugar-mills upon the island, most of which upon that eventful
+morning had been "put in the wind," and were merrily going with
+the breeze, crushing between their powerful machinery the golden
+canes, and sending a rich stream of luscious juice through the
+several pipes into the boiling-houses; of these thirty-five were
+entirely levelled with the ground, eighty-two split from top to
+bottom, and the remaining fifty-five almost all of them injured,
+requiring numerous repairs. Among those most seriously injured
+may be mentioned--
+
+  "Bellevue, Messrs. Shand's--down.
+  Renfew's--down.
+  Belmont's--down.
+  Bath Lodge, property of Walters--down.
+  Green Castle's, Sir Henry Martin's works and mansion--down.
+  Lower Freeman's--down.
+  Sir Geo. Thomas's works, and part of the mansion--down; the
+  manager was obliged to take up his quarters under a shed.
+  Little Duers--down.
+  Big Duers--down.
+  Ffrys--down.
+  Elliot's, part of sugar works--down.
+  Potter's--down.
+  La Roche's--down.
+  Baijer Otto Baijer's--down.
+  Mount Pleasant--down.
+  Rock Hill--down.
+  Delap's--down.
+  George Byam's--partly down.
+  Patterson's new steam-mill, and works--down.
+  Monterea's--down.
+  Paynter's--down.
+  Gunthorp's--down.
+  Claremont's, the seat of the Hon. W. E. Williams, untenantable,
+  and works of two estates--down.
+  Gambles, Admiral Tollemache's--down.
+  The Wood--down.
+  Fryar's Hill--down.
+  McKinnon's--down.
+  The newly erected sugar-works of Wm. Williams, Esq.--down.
+  &c. &c. &c."
+
+The city of St. John's suffered severely, and after the
+earthquake, presented a most dismal appearance. About one-third
+of the stores and dwellings were levelled with the ground; and
+the remainder (with the exception of those buildings erected of
+wood) so shattered and torn, that they were rendered
+untenantable. Some of the houses were completely twisted round,
+presenting an acute angle to the street, instead of their usual
+position. The cranes at the water's edge were many of them lifted
+out of the ground; and in several of the stores, streams of water
+bubbled up through the interstices of the pavement. The
+court-house, police-office, (formerly the old jail,) the arsenal,
+the new jail and barracks, the registrar's office, treasurer's
+office, governor's secretary's office, (recently erected,)
+colonial bank, Antigua library-rooms, &c., were all of them rent
+and torn, and several rendered unsafe. The cathedral of St.
+John's was damaged to a great extent, the tower being rent from
+top to bottom, the north dial of the clock precipitated to the
+ground, and part of the east wall of the tower thrown upon the
+roof of the church. The handsome altar-piece was entirely
+destroyed; and many of the monuments which graced the walls of
+the cathedral were hurled from their resting-places, and shivered
+into atoms. Of these were the tombs of Lord Lavington, Warner,
+Kelsick, Ottley, and Atkinson. The font was thrown off its
+pedestal, seven of the large pipes in the front of the organ
+knocked out, and much damage done to the interior of that
+instrument. The whole of the south-east walls of the cathedral
+were thrown into the churchyard, carrying with them some of the
+ornamental ground-glass windows. The north-west walls fell in one
+mass of ruins, while the north-east protruded beyond the
+perpendicular. The north and south vestibules were almost blocked
+up by the piles of massy stones and bricks. The churchyard also
+presented a melancholy appearance, many of the tombs being rent
+open, and split in various places.
+
+Before this awful event, it had been the intention of the vestry
+to enter into a contract for raising the tower, and improving its
+architectural adornments, as also to make some alteration in the
+chancel.
+
+The school-room erected near the rectory of St. John's was also
+very much dilapidated; and the national-school for girls was so
+much injured as to require being taken down.
+
+The new Wesleyan Chapel was fearfully rent, and doubts were at
+first entertained for the safety of the building; but upon a
+mature deliberation, it was determined to repair it without
+pulling it down; which has since been done.
+
+The nearly finished Scotch kirk met with a severe injury, its
+walls being cracked in several places.
+
+The ministers of the established church in St. John's performed
+service under a large tent, erected to the east of the Daily Meal
+Society's buildings, and also in the Conversion Society's
+school-room, and the African hospital.
+
+The Scotch and Wesleyan ministers were accommodated at the Mico
+and Moravian school-room, or beneath a grove of trees, near to
+the spot where Governor Parke met his fate; and for one day in
+the week, at the Moravian Chapel.
+
+Almost every kitchen and oven in the island was destroyed; and
+many of the capacious cisterns ruined. In some of them, the water
+was so deeply impregnated with sulphur, or mixed with the fallen
+mortar, as to be perfectly unusable.
+
+Oh! awful indeed was this fearful visitation of the Almighty! The
+loftiest looks of men were humbled, and the stoutest hearts were
+bowed down. Tremendous--terrible was the shock! The earth reeled
+as if about to be over-thrown; and scarce could the strongest man
+keep his footing. The island shook from its very centre; and in
+many parts the ground opened, and emitted columns of noxious
+sulphureous water. The sea felt the powerful hand of its Maker,
+and rose several feet above its highest mark; while in some parts
+it dashed up the streets to the distance of many yards.
+
+The excess of terror occasioned by this awful throe of Nature was
+so great, that many individuals threw themselves over the wharfs,
+and sought refuge in the treacherous waves. Still their fears
+were not allayed; for the sea was so turbulent that they were
+under the necessity of again seeking dry land to save themselves
+from being engulfed in its yawning abyss. The legislature met at
+government-house on the 13th, (the court-house being in an unsafe
+condition,) by special command, to take into consideration the
+best way of averting, as far as human endeavours could, the
+direful results likely to accrue from the late calamity. A grant
+of 500l. currency was placed at the disposal of a committee, for
+the purpose of supporting the roof and plate of the cathedral,
+and rendering it in some measure safe for divine worship. The
+vestry met on the 24th March, under the tents, and among other
+resolutions agreed to make a record of the event in the church
+books. The dock-yard at English Harbour--the pride of the
+Caribbee Islands--has suffered greatly; the excellent wharfs
+racked and rent; in some places they sank down to the level of
+the sea, in others, they were heaved up and down, like the
+billows of the great deep; the massy stone and brick buildings
+erected within the yard were nearly all of them injured; the
+officers' quarters severely rent; the cordage stores, &c.,
+cracked from top to bottom; the fine capacious cisterns ruined.
+The superintendent's office, &c., was also much impaired and
+rent; and the stone platform which ran along the commissioners'
+room moved out of its place, and the pavement beneath literally
+wrested up. The guard-house and midshipmen's quarters were
+greatly damaged, and the stone building near presented an awful
+appearance, one side of it having sunk some depth into the
+ground, while that part of the wharf contiguous to it was
+fearfully rent. In the boat-house, the massy stone circular
+pillars which supported the shed were very much cracked, and one
+of them was separated from its pedestal and hurled to the ground.
+The blacksmith's shop, paint stores, &c., were left but as
+"tottering walls," while the long line of cliffs and stone walls
+that topped the hill at the back of the yard were shivered in all
+directions. St. Helena was also much injured, and the embattled
+walls of Fort Berkley, at the mouth of the harbour, were
+overthrown. The superintendent of the yard, Jos. Hart, Esq.,
+estimated the damage at about £20,000. In many parts of the yard
+the ground looked as if ploughed up, while in others, deep and
+broad fissures, strongly impregnated with sulphur, opened their
+yawning mouths. It was, at first, asserted that the mouth of the
+harbour had been obstructed by the fallen rocks; but upon a
+careful survey, the water was found to be deeper, if anything,
+than before the awful occurrence. At the Ridge, the terrible
+effects of the earthquake were also felt. The stone stores and
+barracks were either thrown down, or so severely rent that they
+were unsafe, and the privates were accommodated under tents for
+some time after. The small stone building, situated at the
+extreme point of Shirley Heights, (erected for the accommodation
+of the signal-man,) fell at the commencement of the shock,
+burying beneath its ruins a baby of four months old, but which
+was afterwards extricated and restored to its distressed parents
+unhurt, with the exception of a trifling scratch. The town of
+Falmouth presented but a mass of ruins--its church was levelled
+with the ground, and the tombs in the churchyard rent open, as if
+the last great day was come. The fortifications at Monk's-hill
+were cracked and rent in many places; and near to the spot, a
+huge rock was lifted up by the oscillations of the earth, from
+the place where it had reposed for centuries, and hurled to the
+opposite side of the road.
+
+Dows Hill, the country residence of the governor, suffered great
+injury, and his excellency Sir C. A. Fitzroy lost furniture to
+the amount of 1000l. sterling. De Witts, the seat of Sir Robert
+Horsford, Knt., solicitor-general of Antigua, was nearly levelled
+with the ground, and several other delightful country residences
+partly destroyed. The lately established villages were nearly all
+dismantled--their neat little stone cottages in ruins. Many of
+the Moravian and Wesleyan settlements throughout the island have
+suffered very much, as well as several of the forts. Rat Island
+battery is also much damaged, as well as the new lunatic asylum
+erected there. In many parts of the island, pools of water were
+formed, where hitherto no appearance of moisture was to be found;
+while in other places, established ponds were completely dried
+up.
+
+The boats and ships in the harbour were fearfully affected. The
+island could not be seen for the space of ten minutes, from the
+dense cloud which arose from it. The hills which encircle the
+harbour were fearfully shaken; and at that part known as
+"Hatton's-hill" the effects were truly terrific. The whole of
+this eminence, which rises rather conically, is rent into yawning
+fissures to the extent of about eighteen or nineteen acres. This
+spot had been appropriated to the negroes' provision ground; and
+in one place, a portion of their well-cultivated gardens slipped
+from the brow of the hill, and, still clothed with its vegetable
+productions, half way filled up one of the chasms, (in breadth
+from three to four feet,) cleft in the solid ground. Upon the
+margin of the sea, another deep abyss presents itself. The solid
+rock is rent asunder, in extent to about forty feet long, thirty
+feet deep, and near seventy feet wide. That peculiarly shaped
+rock known to mariners as "Ship's Stern," and which has proved
+for so long a time a sure landmark to pilots, was shivered to
+pieces; and McNish's mountain (the highest in the island) very
+much rent and fissured. Several shocks were felt during the next
+forty-eight hours, and the ground appeared to have a tremulous
+motion for several weeks after. A proclamation was issued by his
+excellency Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, setting apart Friday,
+the 14th of February, a day of "public humiliation and
+thanksgiving before God, in acknowledgment of his Divine power,
+so fearfully and wonderfully displayed, as well as his mercy and
+forbearance in sparing the island from utter destruction," which
+was kept throughout Antigua. At Barbuda, the earthquake was also
+severely felt--all the stone buildings, with the exception of a
+small school-room, fell.
+
+Barbados, St. Vincents, Martinique, Dominica, and St. Thomas,
+felt the shock but slightly. Guadaloupe was the greatest sufferer
+of the group. One whole town. Point à Pitre, was entirely
+destroyed, and upwards of 4000 souls perished, while about 600
+were severely wounded. A few days after the earthquake. Admiral
+Gourbeyre, the governor of Guadaloupe, despatched the "Papillon"
+man-of-war to Antigua to inquire into its state, and render all
+the assistance possible. She brought the intelligence, that out
+of the inhabitants of one entire street, only one individual (a
+female) was saved alive. Soon after the earthquake, a fire broke
+out, and consumed what the earthquake had spared. An American
+master of a ship was taken into custody for secreting many
+articles of value, (the property of the sufferers,) on board his
+ship. His sentence would have been death; but on account of his
+having been seen to render assistance to some of the poor
+creatures who were partly buried beneath the fallen buildings, it
+was mitigated, and he was condemned to serve on board the galley
+for a certain term.
+
+At Monserrat, the effects of the earthquake were severely
+experienced. Scarcely a house in the island that had the least
+particle of brick-work about it was uninjured; and some were so
+rent, that they were obliged to be pulled down. A great many of
+the buildings on the sugar estates were levelled with the ground,
+and otherwise severely injured. The fall of earth was so great
+from the mountain, and the dust so thick, that it was at first
+supposed to be a fresh eruption from the _Souffrière_, a volcanic
+mountain.
+
+The following is an extract from a letter from a resident upon
+the island:--
+
+"I was about five hundred yards from the sulphur pit, opening an
+old spring of fresh water; the earthquake commenced gradually--
+the oscillation slow. Though sensible it was an earthquake, I was
+under no apprehension, till of a sudden I heard a dreadful noise.
+On looking towards the mountain over the sulphur, it was
+enveloped in one mass of smoke as I thought. It was then time to
+move my quarters, but I was thrown upon my back by the violent
+motion. The path that I returned I observed cracking; I called to
+the man to be cautious--it was giving way--he came instantly
+forward, saying it was well we got over as we did, for the path
+was fallen in. The mountain, to the extent of a mile, is rent in
+various places. A man this moment has returned from the sulphur,
+stating that the crater is open, but does not perceive any
+greater appearance of smoke from it than usual."
+
+We passed Monserrat three days after the earthquake. From the
+deck of the steamer we could perceive that large slips from the
+mountains were still falling; and every now and then a cloud of
+dust arose.
+
+St. Christopher's also suffered very severely, the damage done
+being immense. The stone dwellings and stores in Basseterre, the
+capital of the island, fearfully shook and rent,--some of the
+finest, but a mass of ruins, and others rendered unsafe. The
+north and south vestibules of the parochial church of St. George
+were severely injured, as well as the walls of the main building,
+which in some places were rent from top to bottom. The clock
+stopped at half-past ten, the time the earthquake commenced; many
+of the mural monuments which adorned the interior of the church
+were also destroyed. The Female Benevolent Institution was much
+damaged, and the West Indian Bank rent and split. The
+reading-rooms also suffered, the south gable having fallen into
+the street beneath. One large dwelling, situated in the square,
+and known as "Wall House," fell a complete prey to the violence
+of the rockings. The entire side walls fell down, which striking
+upon a horse-stable beneath, buried the unfortunate animals in
+the ruins. Some of the private dwelling-houses were completely
+gutted, nothing remaining of them but the exterior walls. The
+gaol was so shattered, that the prisoners had to be removed, and
+accommodated for the night in the hospital adjoining. The square
+was crowded with a concourse of persons of every age, sex, and
+condition--pride, rank, power, were alike forgotten--as upon
+bended knees, or with clasped hands and pallid lips, they invoked
+the aid of that Great Being "_who rideth upon the wings of the
+wind,_" and at whose rebuke "_the earth shook and trembled, and
+the foundation also of the hills moved, and were shaken._"
+
+The estates in the country suffered greatly; steam-engines,
+windmills, boiling-houses, proprietors' dwellings, &c., the
+labour of many years, were in one moment levelled with the
+ground. The works and dwelling-house at Bevan Island, (in the
+parish of St John's,) situated upon a cliff, were lifted from
+their foundations, and hurled into the ravine below. St. Peter's
+church was also greatly injured, as well as the Moravian church
+at Cayon. Upon one estate, report said, that three negro-houses
+sank into the earth; and in the vicinity, the ground opened, and
+a pool of water, of a particularly white and clear quality, was
+formed. In the neighbourhood of Sandy Point, at an estate
+belonging to the Payne family, the earth also opened, and vomited
+forth from its secret depths fumes of sulphureous vapour. Fort
+George, at Brimstone Hill, has felt the shock in a serious
+manner; while the mountain itself is, in many places, despoiled
+of its beauty, from the land-slips which have taken place. From
+Mount Misery, the highest point of the island, a long spiral
+cloud of white smoke was seen to ascend during the time of the
+earthquake; and the sulphureous spring situated in its centre is
+said to have overflowed its bounds.
+
+At Johnstone's, or French River, a melancholy catastrophe
+occurred. It is a spot chosen by the washerwomen of Basseterre as
+the scene of their necessary avocations; and upon the eventful
+morning of the earthquake, about ten of these females were busily
+employed in washing, in a natural basin, (formed by huge rocks,)
+at the moment of the shock taking place. Seven of these women
+fortunately escaped by flight; but the three, who were exactly
+underneath the cliff, met a more melancholy fate. At the
+commencement of the awful commotion, an immense rock parted from
+this cliff, and fell into the stream below. The affrighted
+females fled from the scene of danger; but, alas! the increased
+oscillations of the earth caused it to rebound with fearful
+velocity, and striking against a larger rock, it split into three
+or four pieces, and thus dealt destruction to each of the poor
+panic-stricken women! From some parts of St. Christopher's, the
+Dutch island of St. Eustatia was seen to tremble like an
+aspen-leaf. Nevis also felt the dire commotion; the streets of
+the capital presented but one mass of ruins. The bath-house, an
+immense pile of the strongest masonry, was split and rent in
+every direction, and some of the massive stones riven in two. The
+court-house was greatly injured--many of the finest of the stores
+and dwelling-houses levelled, and the busy marts become mere
+heaps of rubbish. In many parts of the island, the earth was rent
+open to the extent of several inches--cliffs toppled down--
+columns of water were thrown up, and pools formed, where, prior
+to the awful visitation, nothing of the kind was to be perceived.
+Many of the estates also suffered great devastations; and some of
+the inhabitants left their tottering houses, and took shelter
+beneath sheds and outhouses.
+
+It is impossible to describe the appearance presented in these
+different islands; indeed, it baffles all description. The scene
+cannot be painted, and language fails to impart the terror and
+alarm which prevailed. It was a beautiful day throughout the
+archipelago--the sun was abroad in all its glory, shedding a
+fervid ray over every object, and gilding the waters of the blue
+Caribbean, which lay quietly smiling beneath its influence. The
+breeze was as soft as an infant's sigh, and the wide canopy of
+heaven was spread aloft in all its beauty. Little then did
+
+   "Coming events cast their shadows before them."
+
+A few minutes more, and darkness brooded over the land; and then,
+as it cleared away, the devastations presented themselves to the
+wondering gaze, and caused the strongest mind to quail! Yet, who
+could repine? for how signal was the mercy of God, who, amid all
+the dire convulsions, spared the lives of so many of his
+trembling creatures!
+
+At the Savannah, besides many other places in the Union, the
+shock, which extended north as far as New York, was felt.
+
+On the 8th February, the day of the great earthquake, the waters
+of the river Tiber, which washes the city of Rome, rose suddenly
+to such an immense height, as to inundate the houses to the first
+story. In Portugal, about the same time, loud subterranean
+thunder was heard; and soon after, the earth opened, and sent up
+large volumes of water, which overflowed the country for some
+miles. In the course of the following month, (March,) shocks of
+earthquake were felt in several places, from Liverpool and London
+north, as far as Van Dieman's Land south. In Jamaica, several
+smart shocks were experienced, which caused great excitement, and
+a day of public fast and humiliation was set apart by the
+government. The Grand Cayman (one of the three islands called
+Caymanas, lying between Jamaica and Cuba) has disappeared. This
+group of islands is inhabited principally by the descendants of
+the old buccaneers, who used to frequent these seas in former
+years, and negro turtle-fishers. They take their name from being
+a resort for the _cayman,_ or alligator, who frequent these
+shores for the purpose of depositing their eggs in the sand.
+Trinidad has also been visited by several shocks of earthquake.
+
+These several instances shew how very general these awful
+convulsions have been within the space of a few weeks; and prove
+to us (setting aside superstitious notions) that we ought
+seriously to consider "the signs of the times." Great fears were
+expressed by many of the credulous in America, upon feeling, or
+hearing of the earthquake; as on 1st January, the same year, a
+proclamation had been issued, by an American Millerite, in the
+following alarming words:--
+
+"Great Earthquake!--To all the people far and near, to dreadful
+warning give ear. Jan. 11, 1183, there will be a great
+earthquake; three shocks in succession in all the whole world.
+Let all the people believe, and tremble before God; for the time
+will come when the saints will possess the kingdom. Jan. 31,
+1843, the door of mercy will be shut against the whole world.--
+Now, my dear friends, I would advise you to flee for mercy, while
+the door of mercy is open. The Spirit of God testifies these
+things which are coming on the earth."
+
+As soon as the events of this distressing earthquake became known
+in the sister colonies, meetings were held by the legislature, to
+take into consideration the best means of alleviating the wants
+and distresses of the Antiguan and other sufferers. Barbados was
+the first island which despatched a grant for the relief of the
+sufferers in the several islands. Trinidad granted 1000l.
+sterling; St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Jamaica, the Bahamas, &c.,
+joined in their benevolence.
+
+The subject of the great earthquake, and the loss met with by
+Antigua, was brought before the House of Commons on the 14th of
+March, 1843, by W. A. Mackinnon, Esq., M.P. for Lymington. A
+meeting was held in London on the 11th of March, for the purpose
+of taking measures for the relief of the sufferers in Antigua.
+The agent for the island, Dr. Nugent, presided at the meeting, at
+which also the bishop, Dr. Davis, was present, and was requested
+by the meeting to attend Dr. Nugent in his interview with the
+principal secretary of state for the colonies, for the purpose of
+soliciting aid from government.
+
+Extensive subscriptions have been entered into at London and
+Liverpool,[73] &c. Her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria,
+Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and that exemplary and
+benevolent lady the Dowager Queen of England, with many of the
+nobility and commoners of England, have all most kindly and
+liberally bestowed that aid, so truly wanted by the distressed
+colonists.
+
+It must be remarked, that the sufferers by this most awful and
+unprecedented occurrence are not to be found among the humbler
+grades of life, but in most instances are those who move in the
+higher and middle classes--individuals who are, generally
+speaking, endued with keener sensibilities, and who will thus
+feel more the change which, no doubt, will reduce many of them
+from comparative luxury to extreme want, unless most effectual
+aid be rendered to them.
+
+Soon after the earthquake, the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company's
+ship Actæon was dispatched from St. Thomas's, to learn the fate
+of the colonies.
+
+The "Thames," the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company's ship, Capt.
+Haste, was passing Antigua at the moment of the shock. Capt.
+Haste says, "The Thames was brought up as if on a reef of rocks,
+to his own dismay, and the dismay of all on board, and continued
+for a short period to jump and kick as if beating on rocks."
+
+The shock was felt severely at sea. "The brig British Queen,
+Capt. Kennedy, from Whitehaven, lat. 17° 3' north, long. 58° 45',
+ship going six knots, felt a severe shock of earthquake, which
+stopped her way when 160 miles due east of the island, on the
+8th, which lasted about four minutes." A French brig coming to
+St. Thomas's, "off Tortola, felt the shock so severely, he (the
+captain) thought that the vessel had struck on a rock."
+
+Soon after the earthquake. Admiral Sir Charles Adams arrived at
+Antigua, in order to inspect the dock-yard. Before the
+earthquake, the barometer was noticed to vary from 30° to
+one-tenth higher; and on the 8th of February it stood at 30·2 in.
+
+The next event of importance was the appearance in the heavens of
+a most beautiful comet. The first time this beauteous stranger
+was observed in Antigua, was on the 3rd of March, 1843. Its first
+appearance was like a scarf of clear white, shooting up from the
+horizon, and forming an arch of about 30°. The nucleus not being
+above the horizon, this phenomenon was supposed to be similar to
+the _aurora-borealis;_ but as it gradually ascended the heavens,
+this idea was dissipated, and it was clearly seen to be a comet.
+Upon the evening it was first observed, a very splendid meteor
+passed over the town. Admiral Sir Charles Adams, on his way from
+Port Henderson to Spanish Town, Jamaica, observed this wondrous
+traveller, and made the following observations upon it, on board
+her Majesty's ship "Illustrious:"--
+
+"March 4th, 1843. About fifty minutes after sunset, observed a
+strong ray of light in the west-by-south quarter, supposed to be
+a zodiacal light.
+
+"March 5th. The same seen.
+
+"March 6th. It proved to be a comet, the tail subtending an angle
+of 37° 14".
+
+"March 7th. At forty minutes past seven, p. m., angular distance
+from Sirius 83° 50", length of tail 34° 28"
+
+"March 8th, At forty-seven minutes past seven p. m., angular
+distance from Sirius 80° 19'; length of tail 29° 54"
+
+"March 9th. Cloudy.
+
+"March 10th. At fifty-four minutes past seven, p. m., angular
+distance from Sirius, 74° 48' 20"; length of tail, 24° 16'.
+
+"March 11th. The same was seen,--much less brilliant."
+
+The appearance of this eccentric body caused great excitement,
+occurring as it did so recently after the earthquake. When first
+perceived, it was supposed by many to be a lunar rainbow; but its
+steady movements and long continuance soon dispelled this idea.
+At times the stars could be distinguished through it, while at
+other periods they were hidden from observation. This comet, it
+appears, was discovered by Mr. Glaisher, of the Cambridge
+Observatory, as far back as the 28th of October, 1842. When
+discovered, "its north declination was nearly 69°, with right
+ascension of 16h. 40m. Now (Dec. 3) it has south declination of
+34°, and right ascension of 19h. 16m. From the immense rapidity
+of its motion as it approaches its perihelion, it is probable
+that it is a comet of very long period. It seems this comet is
+not identical with the Chinese one of 1301, but coincides with
+the comet of Halley." This is Mr. Glaisher's own statement of the
+appearance of this wonderful heavenly body.
+
+On Good Friday, being the 14th April, 1843, the cathedral of St.
+John's was re-opened for public worship, after being temporarily
+repaired for that purpose. An appropriate and impressive sermon
+was preached by the archdeacon, to a numerous congregation. All
+the other places of worship were crowded with attentive hearers.
+About eight o'clock in the evening, a sharp shock of earthquake
+was felt, which caused many of the inhabitants to rush from their
+houses, or from the respective chapels they had congregated in.
+Providentially, it did not continue long, and no accident
+happened; but from the recent awful convulsion of a similar
+nature, it was a moment of extreme terror to many.
+
+During the month of April, 1843, another comet made its
+appearance. This coincides strangely with events of the year
+1690, the period of the great earthquake in Antigua, which
+devastated great part of the town of St. John's, and rent
+"Hatton's Hill," and which was followed by the appearance of two
+comets.
+
+Up to the time of this work going to press, more than 35,000l.
+currency have been received from the British West Indian
+Colonies, and subscriptions raised in England, for the relief of
+the sufferers in the late awful earthquake. Since that dreadful
+occurrence, agricultural wages have risen from 4s. to 8s.
+currency per diem; and great complaints are made by the planters
+for not being able to obtain a sufficient number of labourers to
+carry on with expediency the culture of the sugar-cane.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[73] Francis Shand, Esq., gave 100l.
+
+                           Appendix.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 1.
+
+
+
+_Copy of the First Commission which was ever granted for the
+Government of Barbados and the Leeward Islands._
+
+Whereas We have byn crediblie informed by our well-beloved
+subject Raphe Merifeild of London, Gentleman, for and on the
+behalf of our well-beloved subject Thomas Warner, Gent. That the
+said Thomas Warner hath lately descovered fower several Islands
+in mayne ocean toward the Continent of America, the one called
+the Island of St. Christopher's, alias Merwar's Hope; one other
+the Isle of _Mevis;_ one other the Isle of Barbados; and one
+other the Isle of Monserate, which said Islandes are possessed
+and inhabited only by Savage and Heathen people, and are not, nor
+at the tyme of the descovery were in the possession, or under the
+gouernment of any Christian Prince, State, or Potentate. And
+thereupon, the said Thomas Warner beinge sett forth and supplyed
+by the said Raphe Merefeild for that purpose made entrie into the
+said Islandes for & on the behalfe of our deare ffather and hath
+sithence with the consent and good likinge of the natives made
+some good beginninge of a plantation & Colony, and likewise of an
+hopefull trade there, and hath caused diverse of our subjects of
+this our Realme to remove themselves to the said Islandes, with
+purpose to proceede in so hopefull a worke. Know ye therefore,
+That we in consideration of the premisses and to the intent that
+the said Raphe Merifeild and Thomas Warner may be encouraged and
+the better enabled with the more ample countenance and authority
+to effect the same, doe by these presents take as well the same
+Islandes as all the inhabitants there and alsoe the same Thomas
+Warner and other our lovinge subjects under his commande or
+government resident on the said Islandes or any of them, and all
+lands good or other thinges within the said Islandes or any other
+neighbour Islandes to them, or any of them adjoining already by
+the said Thomas Warner or his company inhabited or possessed, or
+hereafter to be inhabited or possessed, not beinge in the
+possession or governement of any other Christian Prince, State or
+Potentate, into our Royal protection. And of our especiall grace,
+certeyne knoledge, and meree motion have given and granted and by
+these presents doe give and grant unto the said Thomas Warner,
+duringe our pleasure the custodie of the aforesaid Islandes, and
+of everie of them together with full power and authority for us &
+in our name & as our Leuitenant to order and despose of any
+landes or other thinges within the said Islandes, and to governe,
+rule and order all and singular persons which nowe are ore
+hereafter shall bee abydinge in the said Islandes or any of them,
+as well our natural borne subjects, as the natives and Savages of
+the said Islandes and all other that shall happen to be or abyde
+there by such good & reasonable orders, articles and ordinances
+as were heretofore made and agreed upon betweene them the said
+Raphe Merifeild & Thomas Warner or such other good & reasonable
+orders & ordinances as shall be most requisite and needfull at
+the discretion of him the said Thomas Warner. And all such as
+shall disobey, chastise, correct and punish accordinge to their
+faults and demeritts. And alsoe with force and stronge hande to
+represse and anoye all such as shall in hostile manner attempte
+or goe about to encounter the said Thomas Warner or his Company,
+or to possess or invade the said Islandes or any of them, or to
+ympeache our possession thereof, or to hurt or to annoy him or
+our subjects there beinge or any others which hereafter shall goe
+or transporte themselves to the said Islandes or any of them. And
+generally to doe all such acts, as shall or may tend to the
+Establishment of our Government settling a Colony or plantation
+advance any trade or commerce there which they the said Raphe
+Merefeild & Thomas Warner or either of them shall find mete or
+beneficial for us or our Kingdom or subjects straightly
+chargeinge and commandinge all manner of persons which now are or
+hereafter shall be abydinge in the said Islandes or any of them,
+that they be obidient, ayding and assisting to the said Thomas
+Warner, in all thinges as to our Leiutenant. And foreasmuch as
+the said Raphe Merifeild hath at his owne charges not only
+furnished and set forth the said Thomas Warner in the preemisses,
+but alsoe byn the means of transportinge our well beloved John
+Jeffreson gentleman, & many other our subjects hither and hath
+byn the especial furtherer of that whole designe. We doe by these
+present give and grant to the said Raphe Merifeild and to his
+partners, deputies, factors, servants and assignes, full power
+and authority freely to trade and traffique to and from the said
+Island for all manner of goods, merchandizes & commodities
+whatsoever payinge the customs and other dutyes therefore due.
+And alsoe to transporte, send and convey unto the said Islandes
+and plantations or any of them, for the mayntenance &
+strengtheninge of the same all and everie such our lovinge
+subjects as already are or hereafter shall be willing or
+desirouse voluntary to enter into, be sent, transported or goe
+unto the said Islandes & plantation aforesaid upon with and under
+such covenant contract and agreement as betweene them are or
+shall be made and agreed upon and to defende themselves in the
+same by all lawfull wayes and meanes and generally to doe and
+performe all such acts as shall or may tende to the establishment
+of our said Government settling a Colony or Plantation uppon the
+said Islandes or any of them and the advancement of any trade or
+commerce there with the said Thomas Warner and his Company uppon
+the said Islandes or any of them without lett disturbance or
+interruption of any person or persons beinge our naturall borne
+subjects, denizens or strangers. And our further will and
+pleasure is, that in case the said Thomas Warner be at this
+present dead, or hereafter shall die, our Leiutenant as
+aforesaid, then and in that case, we doe hereby authorise and
+appoint the said John Jeffreson if he shall be then livinge, in
+his room and place. And We, doe hereby give and grant unto him
+the like power, authority and prehemience during our pleasure as
+is before by these presents lymitted, meant or mentioned to the
+said Thomas Warner, and if in case the said John Jeffreson be at
+this present dead, or hereafter shall die our Leiutenant as
+aforesaid then our English subjects being or which shall be
+resident in the said Islandes shall and may elect some other able
+and fitte person there resident, to be our Leuitenant whoe by
+virtue of these presents shall have the alike power, authority
+and preheemience during our pleasure, as is before lymitted
+meante or intended to the said Thomas Warner and soe from tyme to
+tyme upon the decease of the Leiutenant, the English subjects
+there residing shall and may elect a new Leiutenant whoe shall
+have the like privilege authority and prehemience during our
+pleasure as is above mentioned. In Witness whereof. We have
+caused these our Letters to be Patents.
+
+Witness ourselvese at Southampton, the thirteenth day of
+September, in first yeare of our Reigne 1625
+
+Per ipsum Regum
+
+Dupl:
+
+Great Seal of England
+
+Wynn and Wolseley.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 2.
+
+
+
+                GENEALOGY OF THE WARNER FAMILY.
+
+William Warner, of Framlington, co. of Suffolk, Esq., the
+representative of an ancient and distinguished family in that
+county, m. Margaret, dau. of Geo. Jermingham, co. Suffolk, Esq.,
+by whom (among other issue) he left a son,
+
+Sir Thomas Warner, first English governor, and colonizer of many
+of the West India Islands, and who, for his energetic exertions
+in extending his majesty's dominions in the American seas, was
+graciously complimented, and had the honours of knighthood
+conferred upon him by his sovereign, Charles I., at Hampton Court
+Palace, 21 Sept. 1629. Sir Thomas m. 1st, Sarah, dau. of Walter
+Snelling, of Dorchester, Esq.; and 2ndly, Rebecca, dau. of Thomas
+Payne, co. Surrey, Esq. By his first marriage. Sir Thomas had
+issue,
+  1. Edward.
+  2. Mary, buried at Putney, co. Surrey, 29 Dec. 1635.
+
+By his second wife Sir Thomas had
+  3. Philip.
+
+Sir Thomas Warner, dying in 1648, was succeeded in his estates by
+his eldest son,
+
+Edward, a captain in the army at the early age of thirteen. He
+was sent by his father, Sir Thomas Warner, in 1632, with a party
+under his command, to colonize Antigua, of which island he was
+the first English governor. His lady was made prisoner, and
+carried away, by the Caribs, in 1640, (vide p. 9, vol. i.,) and
+dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother,
+
+Philip, colonel in the army, and governor of Antigua in 1674. He
+m. Henrietta Ashton, sole heiress of her brother, Col. Henry
+Ashton. Col. Philip Warner having acquired great wealth, d. 23
+Oct. 1689, and was buried at St. Paul's, Antigua, leaving issue,
+by Henrietta, his wife, two sons and four daus. His eldest son,
+
+Thomas, inherited the family estates of the Folly and Savannah,
+m. Jane, dau. of -- Walrond, of Antigua, Esq., by whom he had
+issue four sons and one dau. Col. Thomas Warner, dying in 1695,
+was buried at St Paul's, Antigua, 11 Nov. of that year, and was
+succeeded in his estates by his eldest son,
+  i. Edward, a colonel in the army, and member of the Council for
+    the Island of Antigua; m. Elizabeth, dau. of the Hon. Richard
+    Scott, (one of King William III.'s counsellors for Barbados,)
+    by whom he had (among other issue) a son and heir,
+    Richard-Scott, who dying a minor, at Eltham, in Kent, during
+      the lifetime of his father, his three surviving sisters
+      became the co-heirs of the family property--viz.,
+    1. Grace, born at Cobb's Crop, Antigua, 13 Oct. 1717, died 31
+      May, 1754; m. 1st, (in 1735,) Samuel Byam, Esq., the son of
+      Major S. Byam, and grandson of Col. Willoughby Byam; and
+      2ndly, William Fauquier, Esq., F.R.S. By her first husband
+      (buried at St. George's, Antigua, 14 Jan. 1738) she had
+      issue one son and one dau.,
+      1. Samuel, who died 19 Nov. 1761, three weeks before the
+        day appointed for his marriage, when his sister,
+      2. Phillis, became his heir.
+        By her second husband (buried at Eltham, 21 Dec. 1788,
+        aged 80) she had, among other issue,
+      3. Thomas Fauquier, who died in 1827.
+      4. Georgiana, m. 25 May, 1787, George Venables Lord Vernon.
+    2. Elizabeth-Anne, born in 1718, and m. in 1739, to Godschall
+      Johnson, of Bloomsbury-square, Esq., (which family are now
+      in possession of the Warner estates of Savannah and
+      Folly,[74]) by whom she had issue.
+    3. Jane, born at Christ's Church, Barbados, in 172O, m. at
+      St. John's, Antigua, 2 Jan. 1738, to the Hon. and Rev.
+      Francis Byam, rector of St John's, and counsellor of that
+      island, by whom she had a son, the Hon. Edward Byam,
+      president of Antigua for nearly fifty years, born at St.
+      John's, in 1740, who, failing of male issue, is now
+      represented by his four granddaughters, i. Adelaid; ii.
+      Anne-Byam; iii. Jane-Elizabeth; iv. Maria-Catherine,
+      co-heirs of the barony of Lee de Spenser.
+  ii. Ashton, (second brother of Edward Warner, whose lineage is
+    traced above,) speaker of the house of assembly, and
+    attorney-general for Antigua, born in 1691, and m. 8 April,
+    1714, Eliza-Anne, (dau. of George Clarke, of Clark's Hill,
+    Antigua, Esq., and relict of Major Samuel Byam,) who died 2
+    June, 1748. The Hon. Ashton Warner died in Feb. 1752, and was
+    interred in the same vault with his deceased wife, leaving a
+    numerous issue.
+  iii. Henry, (third son of Col. Thomas Warner,) clerk of the
+    assembly, Antigua, in 1724, born in 1693, and buried at the
+    family vault on the Savannah Estate, in that island, in 1731,
+    in the 39th year of his age.
+  iv. Philip, baptized at St Paul's, Antigua, and mentioned in
+    his father's will, 27 Sept. 1695, as "my youngest son
+    Philip."
+
+Among the numerous children of the Hon. Ashton Warner, Speaker of
+the house of assembly, his youngest sons were,
+  i. Samuel-Henry, born 11 Dec. 1733, and appointed deputy
+    provost-marshal of Antigua, who, marrying in 1762, was father
+    of the Hon. Samuel Warner, late president of Antigua, and
+    brigadier-general of the militia in that island, and who died
+    in 1838.
+  ii. Daniel, treasurer of Antigua, born in 1724, m. 2 Feb. 1746,
+    Rebecca, dau. of Thomas Freeman, Esq.[75] He was killed on
+    board H.M. sloop of war, "Virgin," 25 March, 1760, while
+    defending that vessel from the attack of three French
+    privateers, leaving, among other issue, a son,
+    Thomas, born 12 Feb. 1753, and m. in 1790, Dorothy, dau. of
+      the Hon. Francis Ffrye, dying in 1825, at Sevenoaks, co.
+      Kent, left, among other issue, three sons,
+      1. Daniel-Francis, rector of Hoo, co. of Kent, born 9 June,
+        1795, m. in 1818, Sylviana-Maria, dau. of Robert-Walter
+        Vaughan, of the city of Bristol, by whom he has issue
+        nine children.
+      2. Thomas-Shirley, stipendiary magistrate of Monserrat,
+        born 24 May, 1797, and m. 9 May, 1825, Rebecca, dau. of
+        the Hon. Henry Hamilton, of the island of Monserrat, by
+        whom he has issue six children.
+      3. Samuel-Ashton, rector of St George's, Antigua, in 1826,
+        born 30 May, 1790, and m. 10 June, 1824, Mary, dau. of
+        Stephen-Ross Willock, of Antigua, Esq., by whom he has
+        six children.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+I cannot conclude this detail of the Warner family without
+relating an anecdote of the celebrated ring, mentioned in Hume's
+History of England, as given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of
+Essex, and which jewel is now in possession of a descendant of
+Sir Thomas Warner.
+
+When Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the far-famed favourite of
+Queen Elizabeth, was in the hey-day of his power and her
+majesty's regard, the queen presented him with a diamond ring,
+which she ordered him to keep with the strictest care, so that
+should he at any time want to beg a boon, or be so unfortunate as
+to fall under her majesty's displeasure, and thus incur imminent
+danger from the malevolence of his enemies, he might return it to
+her as a talisman, when she pledged her word to accede to his
+request, or forgive him, and grant him her protection.[76] It is
+unnecessary to enter into the various circumstances which led to
+the downfall of this accomplished young nobleman; suffice it to
+say, that, led astray by self-interested flatterers, and his own
+headstrong passions, which scorned reproof, the Earl of Essex
+engaged in a conspiracy against her majesty, and which being
+detected, he was tried by his compeers, and condemned to pay
+forfeit of his crimes, by suffering decollation. Queen Elizabeth,
+although deeply grieved at this defalcation of her kinsman from
+his loyalty, as well as from his gratitude towards her, still
+remembered with pity the unfortunate earl, then in the full bloom
+of manhood, and celebrated for every grace which can adorn a
+nobleman, and anxiously looked for the appearance of the ring she
+had given to him, in order that some excuse might be afforded her
+for granting him a pardon. Days, however, rolled by, and Essex
+made no appeal to her majesty's clemency; until, at length,
+deeming him too haughty to return the talismanic jewel which
+might have saved his life, Elizabeth became incensed against him
+--the high blood of her father, "bluff old Hal," rose in her
+veins, and, signing his death-warrant, he was beheaded on Tower
+Hill, 25th Feb. 1601. About two years after this tragic event,
+Catharine, the first Duchess of Nottingham, (daughter of Henry
+Lord Hunsdon, and a relative of the unfortunate earl,) was seized
+with a mortal illness, and finding her life drawing to a close,
+she despatched a messenger to the queen, beseeching her majesty
+to visit her immediately, as she had tidings to communicate to
+her, which, without doing, she could not die in peace. Elizabeth,
+anxious to soothe her last moments, complied with her request,
+and, little deeming what those tidings were, presented herself at
+the bed-side of the dying countess, who, summoning up all her
+failing energies, related, in the hollow tones of death, the
+following circumstances:--
+
+That during the period the Earl of Essex was confined in the
+Tower, under sentence of death, he was desirous of obtaining a
+faithful messenger who would convey to her majesty a ring, which
+he had, at a happier hour, received from her hand, on the sight
+of which he hoped the queen's mercy would be extended to him.
+Distrusting, however, those placed about him, he waited in vain
+for an opportunity; until, one morning, as he was gazing from his
+prison window, he perceived a boy, with whose open countenance he
+became so impressed, that he determined to trust him with his
+secret, and, making signals to him, (which were observed and
+answered by the lad,) the earl "engaged him by money and
+promises," to convey the ring, which he took from his finger, to
+Lady Scroop,[77] (a friend of his lordship's,) and beg her to
+present it to her majesty. The youth readily undertook the
+commission; but, from some mistake, instead of conveying it to
+Lady Scroop, he carried it to her sister, the Countess of
+Nottingham. This lady shewed it to her husband, the admiral, the
+implacable foe to Essex, who commanded her, under pain of his
+heaviest displeasure, to conceal the jewel, and not to breathe a
+word of the event to mortal ears. The countess complying with her
+lord's command, the queen was kept in ignorance, and the Earl of
+Essex fell a victim to his supposed stubbornness, for, according
+to Camden, the chief reason that prevented Queen Elizabeth from
+granting him a pardon was his obstinacy in not supplicating for
+mercy.
+
+As soon as the countess had concluded her relation, she earnestly
+begged her majesty's forgiveness; but the queen, losing all
+command of herself at this harrowing statement, violently shook
+the dying woman, and exclaiming, "
+" left the apartment in an agony of grief. As soon as she gained
+her dressing-closet, she threw herself upon the floor, tearing
+her grey hair, and calling upon the name of Essex. She refused to
+sleep upon a bed, and, according to some authors, would never
+after receive any sustenance. This, however, must be a mistake,
+for the Countess of Nottingham died on the 25th February, 1603,
+and her majesty did not depart this life until the 24th of March
+following--a period of about twenty-seven days.
+
+After the demise of Queen Elizabeth, this ring passed, with the
+other jewels to her successor, James I., from whom it was handed
+down to his unfortunate son, Charles I., and who, at the
+instigation of his queen, Henrietta Maria, presented it to Sir
+Thomas Warner. From Sir Thomas Warner, it passed (in a direct
+line) to his great grandson. Col. Edward Warner, who bequeathed
+it by will (dated 27th Dec, 1732, proved in the P. C. of
+Canterbury, 21st Feb. following) to his brother, Ashton Warner,
+as "_a diamond ring_, in shape of a heart, given by Queen
+Elizabeth to the Earl of Essex."
+
+From the Hon. Ashton Warner it descended, as an heirloom, to his
+son, Joseph Warner, and it is now in possession of Charles
+Warner, Esq., solicitor-general of Trinidad.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[74] This marriage accounts for the Savannah and Folly estates,
+having passed into another family.
+
+[75] For further information of this gentleman, the reader is
+referred to Appendix No. 19.
+
+[76] The queen's attachment to Essex might perhaps, in great
+measure, arise from the fact of his being her relative--as shewn
+in the following table, viz.,
+
+Anne Boleyne, united to Henry VIII., king of England, had issue a
+daughter,
+    Elizabeth, afterwards queen of England.
+    Mary Boleyne, (sister to Anne Boleyne,) married to William
+      Cary, had issue a daughter,
+      Catharine Cary, married to Francis Knolleys, K.G., had
+        (among other issue) a daughter,
+        Lettice Knolleys, married to Walter Devereaux, Earl of
+          Essex, K.G., who had issue a son,
+          Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the favourite.
+
+[77] Philadelphia Cary, second daughter to Henry Lord Hunsdon,
+married to Thos. Scroop, of Bolton, in Yorkshire, who succeeded
+his father in his title, in 1592, made governor of Carlisle
+Castle, and warden of the West Marches, in 1593, and K. G. in
+1599.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 3.
+
+
+
+               MEMORIAL OF THE WINTHORPE FAMILY.
+
+This gentleman (Samuel Winthorpe, Esq. of Antigua) was the son of
+John Winthorpe, of Groton Hall, co. Suffolk, Esq., by his wife,
+Margaret, dau. of Sir John Tindall, Knt., master in Chancery, and
+ancestor of the present Chief Justice Tindall. Mr. Winthorpe's
+family had early embraced the Protestant religion, and were among
+the most stanch supporters of that creed; and in those dark days,
+when Popery once again reared its head in England, the
+grandfather of this John Winthorpe attended the martyr Philpots
+to the stake, as one of his latest friends. In after years, Mr.
+J. Winthorpe, fearing religious persecution, sold off all his
+property, (bringing him in 500l. or 600l. per annum, a great sum
+in those days,) and emigrated to New England, then a forest
+waste, where, in process of time, he became its first governor,
+and from whence he kept up a private correspondence with Oliver
+Cromwell, then Protector of the Commonwealth. Besides Samuel
+Winthorpe, the ancestor of the Antiguan branch of the family, he
+had two sons,
+  i. Stephen, a colonel in the army, appointed by Cromwell to a
+    command in Scotland, and was afterwards a member of his
+    parliament, died in 1659, the year prior to the Restoration,
+    and
+  ii. John, who succeeded his father in the government of New
+    England, and was a regular correspondent and distinguished
+    member of the Royal Society in Old England, died 5th April,
+    1676, aged 70.
+
+Samuel Winthorpe, Esq., visiting Holland, espoused there a Dutch
+lady, (whose name we have not been able to ascertain,) with whom
+he immediately afterwards emigrated to Antigua, and died there
+about 1675. He left by his wife a numerous progeny of sons and
+daughters, among whom, Samuel, Joseph, and Henry, inherited a
+large estate from their father, but who (by means, it is said,
+little creditable to the parties concerned to relate) were
+deprived of their patrimony, and, consequently, their place and
+station in that insular community. The daughters married into
+some of the best Antiguan families, and became the ancestresses
+of the Williams, Thomas, and Ffry families. For further
+particulars of the Winthorpe family, the reader may consult
+"Mathew's History of New England," and "Farmer's Genealogical
+Register" of that settlement, as well as later works upon the
+United States of North America.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 4.
+
+
+
+                 GENEALOGY OF THE BYAM FAMILY.
+
+Lieut.-Gen. William Byam was descended in a direct line, on his
+father's side, from Caradoc Vraich Vras, Earl of Hereford, Lord
+of Radnor, one of the knights of the celebrated Round Table of
+King Arthur, (a.d. 540,) who himself sung his praises,
+emphatically styling him one of the "Pillars of Britain." He was
+founder of a dynasty of princes not extinguished till after the
+Norman invasion, when Blethin, the last of the regal order, was
+slain by Bernard Newmarch, near Brecknock, in 1094, and his
+territory appropriated to himself and parcelled out amongst his
+followers.
+
+His son, Cawrdave, was equally, if not more celebrated than his
+father, being also extolled in the Triads, and, like King Arthur
+himself chosen (besides the enjoyment of his own territory) to be
+"Unbennaeth," or supreme monarch of Britain.
+
+Caw succeeded his father in his patrimonial inheritance, at this
+time entitled the Principality of Ferlex and Brecon; and
+
+Gloyw succeeded him; and
+
+Hoyw him, flourishing a.d. 640.
+
+Kynvard, regulus of Ferlex and Brecon, succeeded his father,
+Hoyw; and
+
+Kyndeg, who was contemporary with Cadwallader, and lived a.d.
+703, succeeded him.
+
+Teithwalch, his son, gained a signal victory over his rival, the
+Mercian king, at Carno, in Brecknockshire, (opposite to the
+village of Crickhowell,) and in commemoration of which an immense
+circle and pile of stones is to be seen to this day.
+
+But the encroachment of the Saxons in his son Tegyd's time became
+more formidable than ever, considerably circumscribing his
+limits, that had originally embraced all the territories lying
+between the two rivers of Wye and Severn; and
+
+Tangwyd, his son, succeeded to very straitened limits, being
+reduced to the lordship of Radnor, with parts of Montgomery and
+Brecon; and
+
+Anarawd, his son, succeeded as regulus of Radnor and Brecon, in
+the time of Egbert, king of the West Saxons, who united the whole
+heptarchy into one entire kingdom, henceforward called that of
+"England." To Anarawd succeeded his son,
+
+Gwyngwy, who, though greatly reduced in territory, still affected
+the regal title, calling himself "Brenhin" Ferlex a Brecheiniog.
+And to Gwyngwy succeeded his son,
+
+Hugan, called by John de Castares, "Prince of West Wales," but by
+the Welsh historians, more modestly, the "Prince of Brecknock."
+To Hugan succeeded
+
+Druffin, so humbled as to be persuaded or compelled to row King
+Edgar in his barge on the river Dee, being one of the tributary
+kings who acted that derogatory part, which served to inflate the
+pride of that vain-glorious but powerful English monarch. Druffin
+m. Crusella, dau. of Idwal ap Meyrick, and was succeeded by his
+son,
+
+Maynarch, who m. Ellen, dau. of Eineon ap Seliff, Lord of the
+Cantred of Seliff. Maynarch was succeeded by
+
+Blethin, the last prince of his house and family; for William
+Rufus promising to Bernard Newmarch (England at that time having
+been effectually conquered and possessed by the Normans) all he
+could conquer in Wales, that adventurer (at the time gentleman of
+the bedchamber to this the second of the Norman kings) set out
+for the principality, and the enfeebled prince collecting, on a
+sudden, all his diminished forces, a battle ensued in the
+neighbourhood of Brecknock, in which he was worsted and himself
+slain. The conqueror and his eleven Norman knights (whom, tempted
+by the prize, he had invited to partake of his enterprise)
+entered into possession; and the last act of royalty shewn to
+this unhappy prince by his subjects and followers was the
+conveying his corse to the Abbey of Strata Florida, in
+Cardiganshire, and there interring it amongst the princes of
+Wales, with all the pomp the circumstances allowed. Thus, after a
+possession of between five and six hundred years, was this family
+divested of every mark of regal dignity. Rhys Goch, however, his
+brother, was permitted to retain a small possession on the
+confines of the county, entitled the lordship of Ystradew,
+(afterwards usurped by the Clares, and came into possession of
+the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke.) Rhys Goch, or Rhys the Red,
+married Joan, daughter of Cadogan[78] ap Elistan Glorith, (whose
+arms are still quartered by the Byam family,) and by her had
+Kynwillen, who married Jonnett, dau. and co-heir of Hawell,
+Prince of Caerleon, (to whom Henry II. allowed that city, and
+twelve miles around circumadjacent country,) and by her, whose
+arms are still likewise borne by the Byams, Kynwillen had
+Kynwell, who married Gladwys, dau. of Sitsilt ap Duvenwall, Lord
+of Gwent, and seventh Baron of Abergavenny, by right of tenure of
+the castle thereof, (from the Norman conquest,) and by her had
+Arthur, who married Ellen, the dau. of Meirick ap Cradog,
+(ancestor of the Matthews, and of the present Earls of Llandaff,)
+and had Howell, who married Jone, dau. of Grono ap Llowarth, Lord
+of Kebor, and had Griffith, who married Jonnett, dau. and sole
+heir of Grono ap Treherne ap Blaith ap Elvarch, Lord of Penrose,
+in Monmouthshire, a possession which she conveyed to her
+husband's family, in whose family it remained several centuries,
+and the ruins of the mansion are still extant, and by her (whose
+arms the Byams still bear) Griffith had David. David marrying
+Maud, dau. to Llewelyn Vaughan, of Lansamllo, had Howel Gam, who
+marrying Joan, dau. to Adam ap Rees ap Eineon Sais, had Meiric,
+and Meiric marrying Gwenllian, dau. to Gwyllim ap Jenkin, had
+Ievan ap Meirick, of Penrose, Esq., (from whom, in the time of
+his son and grandson, and by the blending of ap that followed
+their name with his of Ievan, or Evan, came the name of Abyam,
+and at length Byam;) for this Ievan, or Evan, had a son, Jenkin,
+or John, that was the first to whom the surname was assigned, and
+was of Maerdy, in Monmouthshire, and he a son, Thomas, of same
+place, and who marrying Johanna, dau. of Llewelyn ap Gwyllim, had
+a son, Edward, who was both of Maerdy, in Monmouthshire,
+aforesaid, and of Bath, in Somersetshire, in Subsidy Rolls of
+which city he is included, 45 of Henry VIII., 1545, under the
+name of Edward Abyam, (the ultimate name as now used being
+scarcely, as yet, determined,) and this Edward Abyam dying in
+Jan. 1594, was buried at the Abbey Church, 2 Feb. following,
+leaving by Welthian, his wife, the dau. of Robert Gamage, (of the
+Glamorganshire family of that name,) Thomas Byam, his son and
+heir, of Bath, and Lawrence Byam, ancestor of the family now in
+question.
+
+Lawrence Byam was of Brasennose College, Oxford, and entering
+into holy orders, he was, on 17th June, 1575, by letters patent
+under privy seal from Queen Elizabeth, presented to the rectory
+of Luckham. He married Anne, or Agnes, dau. of Henry Yewings, of
+Capton, in Stogumber, in co. of Somerset, by whom (who survived
+her husband, and was buried at Bicknoller, 8 Dec. 1623) he had
+four sons, all great loyalists in their day, and the three
+eldest, Henry, John, and Edward, all in holy orders, and of
+Exeter College, Oxford, (which they entered at the respective
+dates of 1597, 1599, and 1600.)
+
+Henry, the eldest, succeeding his father in the rectory of
+Luckham, was chaplain in ordinary to Charles II., and the
+companion of that monarch in his exile, both by sea and land. "He
+engaged," says Wood, in his "Athenæ Oxoniensis," "his five sons
+in the royal cause, four of whom were captains in the regiment
+raised by their father in his majesty's behalf. In 1636, he had
+become prebendary of Wells, and afterwards canon of Exeter. For
+his faithful adherence to the royal cause he was severely pointed
+at by the opposite party. His wife and daughter perished at sea,
+in their attempts to escape into Wales, in order to avoid the
+cruelties of the enemy. He attended the king in his exile to
+Jersey and the Scilly Islands. He was universally esteemed for
+his great sanctity, his knowledge of literature, his loyalty to
+his sovereign, and his charity to his fellow-creatures. His
+sermons were afterwards published by Hamnet Ward, vicar of
+Sturminster Newton Castle, in Dorsetshire, and who also wrote the
+epitaph on his tomb, still extant in Luckham church, (for which
+see 'Collinson's Somersetshire;' and also for further account of
+him, 'Echard's History of England,' under the year 1669.) He died
+at the advanced age of 89."
+
+His brother, John, D.D., rector of Clotworthy, in same county,
+following his footsteps, shared his fate, in suffering in his own
+person, and those of all his children, unmerited persecutions,
+but which to recount would fill a volume. Edward was the son from
+whom the Antigua Byams came. He was admitted a student of Exeter
+College, Oxford, 31 Oct. 1600, then aged 16, and instituted to
+the vicarage of Dulverton, co. of Somerset, 4 Aug. 1612. On 22
+July, 1613, he married, at Walton, in same county, Elizabeth, the
+dau. of Anthony Eaglesfield, rector of that place, and vicar of
+Chewton Mendip, some time fellow of Queen's Coll., Oxford, (being
+of kin with founder;) but in 1625, this Edward Byam transported
+himself into Ireland, where he became precentor of Cloyne
+Cathedral, (the next dignity therein to that of dean,) and dying
+at his seat at Kilwillin, on the river St. Bride's, in co. of
+Cork, on 6 June, 1639, he was buried in the chancel of the parish
+church of Castle Lyons. His funeral certificate, signed by his
+widow, who survived him, being given in to Ulster's office,
+Dublin, and letters of administration taken out for him in
+prerogative court of same place, his second son,
+
+William Byam, born at the house of his uncle, (the aforesaid Dr.
+Henry Byam,) at Luckham, 9 March, 1622-3, entered at Trinity
+Coll., Dublin, as "Scolarium Commensalis," 24 May, 1639, just
+before his father's death, and he it was that was first of the
+name and family in the West Indies. The civil wars breaking out
+soon after the above-mentioned period, he entered on a military
+life, and distinguished himself in the manner already recounted,
+at Bridgwater and elsewhere. He married Dorothy Knollys, dau. of
+Frances Knollys, of Standford-in-the-Vale, co. Berks, Esq., son
+of Richard Knollys, next brother of William, the only lawful Earl
+of Banbury, K.G. By this marriage the Byams became connected with
+the first families in England, and even with royalty itself, as
+shewn by the following table[79]--viz.,
+  Edward 1st, King of England, m. (2nd) Margaret, dau. of Philip
+    III. of France, and had issue,
+  Thomas Plantagenet, surnamed "of Brotherton," Earl of Norfolk
+    and Suffolk, and grand mareschal of England, m. Alice, dau.
+    of Sir Robert Halys, Knt., and had issue one dau.,
+  Margaret Plantagenet, Duchess of Norfolk, m. John Segrave, Lord
+    Segrave, and had issue a dau.,
+  Elizabeth, one of the heirs of Lord Segrave, m. John Mowbray,
+    Lord Mowbray, and had issue,
+  Thomas Mowbray, created Duke of Norfolk, 1398, earl marshal of
+    England, and Earl of Nottingham. He m. Elizabeth, sister and
+    one of the heirs of Thomas Fitz-Allen, Earl of Arundel; died
+    in 1400, and left issue,
+  Margaret, eldest dau. and one of the heirs of Thomas Mowbray,
+    Duke of Norfolk, m. Sir Robert Howard, Knt., and had issue,
+  John Howard, created Duke of Norfolk, 1483, m. Catherine, dau.
+    of William, Lord Moleyns. The Duke of Norfolk was slain at
+    Bosworth Field, 22 Aug., and was buried at Leicester, 1485,
+    leaving issue a son,
+  Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. His father having been
+    attainted, he was restored to the title, and m. Elizabeth,
+    dau. and heir of Sir Frederick Tilney, Knt., and died in
+    1524, leaving issue a dau.,
+  Elizabeth, m. Thomas Boleyne, Viscount Rochford, created Earl
+    of Wiltshire and Earl of Ormond, by Henry VIII., and had
+    issue two daus. and one son,
+    1. George Boleyne, Viscount Rochford, beheaded, May, 1536.
+    2. Anne, youngest dau. of Thomas, Viscount Rochford, m. Henry
+      VIII., King of England. She being beheaded, 19 May, 1536,
+      left issue,
+      Elizabeth, Queen of England, born a.d. 1533, died a.d.
+        1603.
+    3. Mary, eldest dau. of Thomas, Viscount Rochford, Earl of
+      Wiltshire and Ormond, m. William Cary, esquire to the body
+      of Henry VIII., and had, among other issue, a dau.,
+      Catherine, (sister of Henry Cary, created Lord Hunsdon,)
+      lady of the bedchamber to her cousin-german, Queen
+      Elizabeth, m. Sir Francis Knollys, K.G., and dying in 1568,
+      was buried at Westminster Abbey, leaving issue a dau.,
+      Lettice, who m. Walter Devereaux, Earl of Essex, by whom
+      she had Robert, Earl of Essex, the far-famed favourite of
+      Queen Elizabeth, and a son, Richard Knollys, (brother and
+      heir to William Knollys, created Earl of Banbury,) m. Joan,
+      dau. of John Higham, co. Suffolk, and had issue, Francis
+      Knollys, of Standford-in-the-Vale, co. Berks, m. Alice,
+      sister and co-heir of Sir Wm. Beecher, Knt., clerk to privy
+      council, and dying 4 Aug. 1640, left issue a dau., Dorothy,
+      who, as already mentioned, m. Lieut.-Gen. Wm. Byam.
+
+Lieut.-Gen. William Byam dying at Antigua, (will proved there
+1670-1,) left, by Dorothy, his wife, among other issue, two sons,
+Willoughby and Edward. In this way the Byam family became divided
+into two distinct branches, Willoughby being the ancestor of the
+present Byams of "Cedar Hill," and Edward that of "Pensive Hall,"
+or "Martin Byam's," and a dau., Mary, m. to Col. George Needham,
+of the island of Jamaica, the son of Sir Robert Needham, first
+Viscount Kilmoray, and by whom she was ancestress of the present
+Gen. Needham, of that island, and of the Lords Seaford and Howard
+de Walden.
+
+Edward Byam, youngest son of Lieut.-Gen. Byam, was governor of
+the Leeward Islands,[80] 1715, and president of the council of
+Antigua in 1707, born at Surinam, 1663-4, and m. 1st, Mary, dau.
+of Samuel Winthorpe, and granddau. of John Winthorpe, first
+governor of New England, and of Groton Hall, co. Suffolk; 2ndly,
+Lydia, dau., of William Thomas, aunt of Sir George Thomas, and
+relict of Samuel Martin, of Green Castle, Antigua, (ancestor of
+the present Sir Henry and Sir Byam Martin.) Col. Edward Byam is
+described by Oldmixon, in his "British Empire in America," as a
+man of the best head and fortune in British America; and also as
+the most popular man in the Leeward Islands. He commanded, in the
+attack upon the island Guadaloupe, on the breaking out of the war
+of succession, in the reign of Queen Anne, a regiment raised by
+himself in Antigua, and a part of the Enniskillen, or 27th regt.
+of the line. At the head of this force, he attacked and carried
+in gallant style the port called "Les petits Habitans," and
+obliged the enemy to retire. He is honourably mentioned in the
+London Gazette, No. 3912, from May 6th to May 10th, and also in
+the "Annals of the Reign of Queen Anne." By his first wife, Mary,
+he had one son and one dau.--viz.,
+  Edward, m. Walthian Devonshire, and died at Antigua, 29 May,
+    1745.
+  Mary, born 13 Oct. 1690, m. Col. Thomas Williams, of the Old
+    Road, Antigua.
+
+By his second wife, Lydia, relict of Samuel Martin, he had three
+sons and two daus.--viz.,
+  i. George, born at Antigua, 24 April, 1704, m. Henrietta-
+    Maria, dau. of Col. John Ffrys, of Antigua, and died 12 Nov.
+    1734, leaving issue two sons and four daus.--viz.,
+    1. George, of Apps Court, co. Surrey, m. Louisa, dau. of
+      Peter Bathurst, Esq., M.P., of Clarendon Park, co. Wilts,
+      and niece of Earl Bathurst, and was buried at St George's,
+      Antigua, 7 Nov. 1779, had issue, 1. George Byam, died an
+      infant, in 1774; 2. Selina, m. Rev. William Hony, of
+      Liskeard, co. Cornwall, and has issue; 3. Elizabeth, m.
+      Mark Batt, of Lawell House, Co. Devon, and d. s. p.; 4 and
+      5. Louisa and Henrietta-Maria, both d. unm.
+    2. John, died at Antigua, 26 Oct. 1754, unm.
+    3. Mary, m. 1st, ---- Lyons, of Antigua, and 2ndly, Daniel
+      Mathew, of Antigua, and Felix Hall, co. Essex, some time
+      high-sheriff for that county, had issue, 1. Daniel-Byam
+      Mathew, of Felix Hall, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Sir Edward
+      Deering, Bart.; 2. George, who m. Euphemia Hamilton, and
+      had issue a son, the present George B. Mathew, capt. in
+      Coldstream Guards, and late M.P. for Shaftesbury, who m. at
+      St George's, Hanover Square, April, 1835, the dau. and heir
+      of Henry Hoare, Esq., and granddau. of the celebrated
+      antiquary, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart.; 3. Elizabeth, who
+      m. Robert, fourth Viscount Galway; 4. Louisa, who m.
+      Admiral Lord Gambier; and 5. Jane, who m. Samuel Gambier,
+      commissioner of the navy.
+    4. Elizabeth, d. unm. in 1806.
+    5 and 6. Henrietta Maria and Lydia, both d. unm.
+  ii. William, of Byams, Antigua, and of Westbourn House, co.
+    Middlesex. He was a colonel in the army, and member of the
+    privy council, Antigua; born 3 July, 1706; admitted of
+    Christ's Coll., Cambridge, 21 June, 1720, B.A. 1724, m. 1735,
+    Anne, dau. of Col. John Gunthorpe, member of council,
+    Antigua, and had issue,
+    1. Martin, member of the council, Antigua, born 29 Sept.
+      1742, admitted a fellow commoner of Sidney Coll.,
+      Cambridge, 30 April, 1761, m. in 1771, Elizabeth, dau. of
+      Stephen Blizard, judge of court of common pleas, Antigua,
+      and relict of William Warner, of Antigua. He died June,
+      1805, s. p., and was buried at Lyndhurst, Hants.
+    2. Edward, lieut. R.N., born 15 Sept. 1743, m. Anne, dau. of
+      William Gunthorpe, of Antigua, Esq. He was lost in the
+      "Ville de Paris," after her capture, in 1782, leaving, by
+      Anne, his wife, a son and dau.,
+      1. William-Henry, capt. R.N., who m. his first cousin,
+        Alicia, dau. of Anthony Wyke, Esq. of Monserrat, and died
+        26 Nov. 1838, s. p.
+      1. Louisa, only dau. of her father, Edward Byam, d. unm. at
+        Kensington, in 1835.
+    3. Anne, eldest dau., born 27 Sept. 1744, m. 13 Jan. 1763, to
+      Anthony Wyke, Esq. of Monserrat, and died 18 June, 1814,
+      leaving a dau., Alicia, m. to her first cousin, William
+      Henry Byam, (see above.)
+    4. William, capt. in 68th regt. of foot, and of Woodborough,
+      in Somersetshire, born 7 Nov. 1753, m. in 1781, Mary, only
+      dau. of Rev. Richard Burgh, of Mount Bruis, co. Tipperary,
+      Ireland, and died in France, 27 April, 1830, leaving issue
+      three sons and three daus.--viz.,
+      1. Martin-William, born 19 Aug. 1783, m. Elizabeth, dau. of
+        Thomas Bull, of Bostock Hall, co. Chester, and died 22
+        April, 1836.
+      2. Rev. Richard-Burgh, member of council, Antigua, fellow
+        of King's Coll., Cambridge, vicar of Kew and Petersham,
+        Co. Surrey, born 26 Jan. 1785.
+      3. Edward-Samuel, late commissary-general of the police in
+        the Mauritius, and civil commissary of Port Louis, in
+        which situation he distinguished himself by his undaunted
+        zeal and inflexible efforts to suppress the slave trade
+        in that island, as may be seen in a recent work of Sir
+        Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart. on the slave trade, p. 220.
+        Mr. Byam is also a gentleman of great antiquarian
+        research, and a Celtic scholar, as well as the compiler
+        of a "Genealogical Table of the Kings of England,"
+        reckoned one of the best that has been published; born 5
+        Aug. 1788, m. at the ambassador's chapel, Paris, 26
+        March, 1818, Eleanor, eldest dau. of Andrew Murray, prior
+        of Rathdowney, in Queen's County, and of Claremonts, co.
+        Wicklow, and niece of Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency,
+        and had issue, Edward de Montmorency Byam, who died an
+        infant, and was buried at Harpenden, in co. of Herts.
+      4. Martha, eldest dau., born 7 May, 1782, and living unm.
+      5. Anna-Maria, born 15 March, 1786, living unm.
+      6. Alicia-Juliana, born 10 April, 1787, m. 21 Aug. 1805,
+        Wm. Leeves, Esq. of Tortington House, co. Sussex.
+    5. Alice, second dau. of William Byam, born 29 Sept. 1746, m.
+      23 April, 1763, Samuel Eliot, Esq. of Antigua, and died 13
+      Dec. 1827, and was buried in the family vault of Lord Lee
+      Despencer, at Mereworth, leaving four daus., 1. Anne, m.
+      Lieut.-Gen. Sir Henry Crosby, of Barnesville Park, co.
+      Gloucester; 2. Elizabeth, m. Sir Thomas Stapleton, Lord Lee
+      de Spenser; 3. Mary, m. Robert Cambden Cope, colonel of
+      Armagh militia; and 4. Alice, m. to William Hay Carr, Earl
+      of Errol, father of the present peer.
+  iii. Alice, born 19 May, 1711, m. 11 July, 1728, Robert
+    Freeman, of Antigua, Esq., and had issue.
+  iv. Lydia, born 14 Aug. 1713, m. 9 Nov. 1734, to her cousin,
+    Edward Byam, of Cedar Hill, Antigua, and of Clay Hill, co.
+    Middlesex, from whom descends that branch of the family.
+  v. Francis, clerk, M.A., rector of St. John's, Antigua, and
+    member of the privy council at that island, born 8 May, 1709,
+    admitted a student of Trinity Coll., Cambridge, 1728, and m.
+    1738, Jane, dau. and co-heir of Edward Warner, of Eltham, co.
+    Kent, member of privy council, Antigua, dying at Antigua,
+    left issue four sons and one dau.--viz.,
+    1. Edward Byam, judge of the court of vice-admiralty, and
+      president of the council of Antigua for near half a
+      century, born 21 Dec. 1740, and m. 7 July, 1763, Rebecca,
+      dau. of Stephen Blizard, judge of court of common pleas,
+      Antigua, dying 8 Feb. 1817, left issue an only child and
+      heir,
+      Jane, m. 10 June, 1784, Thomas Norbury Kerby, of Weir's
+        Estate, Antigua, who died while in the execution of his
+        office of commander-in-chief, (for the time being,) his
+        wife, Jane, dying at Hampton Court Palace, in 1837, left
+        by him an only child,
+        Anne-Byam Kerby, born in 1796, and m. the Hon. Miles
+          Stapleton, rector of Mereworth, co. Kent, third son of
+          Lord Lee de Spencer, by whom she had issue,
+          Adelaide, for whom her majesty the queen-dowager most
+            graciously stood sponsor, born 22 Oct. 1822;
+            Ann-Byam, born in 1823; and two other daus.
+    2. Sir Ashton-Warner Byam, Knt., A.B. of Sidney Coll.,
+      Cambridge, attorney-general of Grenada, and a great
+      luminary of the law in the Western world, born 1 June,
+      1744, d. unm. 25 Dec. 1790, and was buried in St John's,
+      Antigua.
+    3. William, of Santa Crux, d. s. p.
+    4. Richard-Scott, M.D., born 20 Dec. 1753, and died at Bath,
+      unm., 17 Dec. 1832.
+    5. Grace, only dau., born 1 Jan. 1752, and m. 3 March, 1767,
+      to Thomas Ottley, Esq. of the island of St. Vincent, by
+      whom she had a numerous issue--viz., 1. George W. Ottley,
+      of Parry's Estate; 2. Francis-Byam Ottley, of Wier's
+      Estate; 3. Matilda Ottley, m. to Hastings Elwyr, barrister;
+      4. Jane, m. 1st, Valentine Horsford, Esq., by whom she had
+      five sons, and 2ndly, to Lord James O'Brien, brother and
+      presumptive heir to the Marquis of Thomond; and 5. Rebecca
+      Ottley, m. to the Hon. Langford-Lovel Hodge, who dying 24
+      Jan. 1817, left issue a son, Langford-Lovel Hodge, Esq., m.
+      the dau. of -- Hart, Esq. of Dorset Square, Brighton, by
+      whom he has issue.
+
+The remaining son of Lieut.-Gen. William Byam was Willoughby
+Byam, (from whom the present family of the Cedar Hill Byams
+descend.) He was a lieut.-col. in the army, and commanded the
+body-guard of the commander-in-chief, Gen. Codrington, in the
+expedition against the island of St. Christopher's, in 1690, when
+he received a mortal wound in the neck, of which he soon after
+died. He is honourably mentioned in the London Gazette of that
+period, Nos. 2590 and 2602, and left, among other issue, two
+sons, William and Samuel. Samuel Byam, the younger son, was a
+major in the army, and dying early in life, (in 1712,) left, by
+Elizabeth, his wife, the dau. of George Clarke, of Parker's Hill,
+in Antigua, (and who re-married Ashton Warner, Esq.,) a son, a
+second Samuel, who marrying Grace, dau. of Col. Edward Warner,
+left Phillis, the heir of her brother, a third Samuel, (that d.
+unm.,) and she (Phillis) m. 1st, Charles Wollaston, Esq., M.D.,
+F.R.S., (physician to her majesty Queen Charlotte,) and 2ndly,
+James Frampton, Esq. of Moreton, in Dorsetshire, and for whose
+issue, _vide_ "Burke's _Commoners_"--1st, "Shirley, of Eatington
+Park, co. Warwick," vol. i. p. 49; 2ndly, "Wollaston, of
+Shenton," vol. iii. p. 419; 3rdly, "Frampton, of Moreton, in co.
+Dorset," vol. iv. p. 193.
+
+William Byam, son and heir, of Cedar Hill, Antigua, colonel in
+the army, member of the privy council, and also one of the
+general council of the Leeward Islands, m. Mary, dau. of John
+Yeamans, of Mill Hill, Old Road, Antigua, lieut.-governor of that
+island, and had issue,
+  i. Willoughby, died young, and was buried, 7 July, 1714, at
+    Oxford.
+  ii. Yeamans, died young, and was buried at Oxford, in 1714.
+  iii. Edward, of Cedar Hill, Antigua, and Clay Hill, co.
+    Middlesex, admitted a student of Trinity Coll., Cambridge, m.
+    (his first cousin) Lydia, dau. of Edward Byam, governor of
+    Antigua, in 1734.
+  iv. John-Sampson, died in 1766, unm.
+  v. Willoughby, (second of the name, the first having died an
+    infant,) died unm. in 1764.
+  vi. Henry, D.D., m. Hester, dau. of John Gunthorpe, of Antigua,
+    Esq., and dying, left issue by his wife, 1. Hester Byam, m. 7
+    Aug. 1781, Anthony Munton, d. s. p.; 2. Mary-Gunthorpe Byam,
+    born 9 Nov. 1748, m. in 1771, to Col. William Dundas, brother
+    to Lord Viscount Melville; 3. Anne Byam, living at Pear Tree
+    Lodge, near Southampton, unm. in 1838; 4 and 5. Henry and
+    Edward Byam, died infants.
+  vii. Anne, (second dau. living,) m. in 1727, Crooke Thomas, of
+    London, merchant.
+  viii. Mary, (eldest dau.,) m. 21 March, 1738, to Warner
+    Tempest, Esq. of Antigua, and of Moulsey, co. Surrey; and
+  ix. Rebecca, m. to Thomas Freeman, Esq. of Antigua.
+
+Edward Byam, son and heir of William Byam, dying 13 June, 1768,
+left by Lydia, his wife, issue,
+  i. William, of Cedar Hill, son and heir.
+  ii. Samuel, who m. 30 June, 1764, Elizabeth, dau. and heir of
+    Thos. Sheppard, Esq. of Antigua, and died in 1786, leaving
+    issue one dau., Lydia, m. to the Rev. Robt. Sutton, of East
+    Dereham, Norfolk, and has issue.
+  iii. Edward, buried at Antigua, in 1795.
+  iv. Lydia.
+  v. Rebecca, m. to -- Davies, R.N., died s. p.
+
+William Byam, son and heir, of Cedar Hill, and Sunny Hill, co.
+Pembroke, member of the privy council, Antigua, m. 26 June, 1766,
+Martha, dau. of Edward Rogers, of Lanwnda, in Pembrokeshire,
+died, and was buried at St. George's, Antigua, 1 Oct. 1779,
+leaving issue,
+  i. Edward, son and heir.
+  ii. Samuel, D.D. of University Coll., Oxford, vicar of
+    Catterick, co. York, and chaplain in ordinary to George III.,
+    born in 1769, and m. Jane, dau. of John Welsh, of the island
+    of St Christopher's, dying at Brusselles, 24 April, 1816,
+    leaving issue,
+    1. William-Geo.-Munton, born 5 Aug. 1804, late lieut. in 43rd
+      Light Infantry.
+    2. Adolphus-Elizabeth, born 5 Sept. 1805, capt in Madras
+      artillery, and secretary to the court of Hydrabad, died at
+      the Cape of Good Hope, in 1839, s. p.
+    3. Henry-James, born in 1813, an officer in the service of
+      the Queen of Spain, died at San Sebastien, 5 Aug. 1837, s.
+      p.
+    4. Cornelia-Rachel-Munton, born 23 Feb. 1803, m. Baron
+      Augustus de Firkes, of Mittau, in Courland, and died in
+      1826.
+    5. Augusta-Louisa-Anne, born 4 Nov. 1806, and m. Frederick
+      Shallet Lomax, of Netley Park, co. Hants.
+  iii. Lydia, bapt. 4 Sept. 1772, died on her passage from
+    Antigua, unm.
+
+Edward Byam, the son and heir, was a member of the house of
+assembly of Antigua, born in 1767, and m. Christiana Matilda,
+dau. of Matt. Ryan, of Dublin, barrister-at-law, died 27 May,
+1795, leaving issue by his wife,
+  i. William, son and heir.
+  ii. Edward, late major in the 15th Hussars, now lieut.-col. in
+    the army. He served in the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria,
+    Orthes, and Waterloo, of Warblington Lodge, co. Hants, born
+    24 Dec. 1794, and m. 10 Sept 1829, at the residence of the
+    British minister at the court of Florence, Elizabeth Augusta,
+    dau. of Sir Grenville Temple, Bart., and has issue,
+    1. Willoughby-Temple, born 15 Aug. 1832.
+    2. Henry-Edward, born 22 Aug. 1835.
+    3. Edward, born in April, 1842.
+    4. Matilda-Augusta-Anne, born 28 June, 1830.
+    5. Agnes- Welthian, born 7 June, 1831.
+    6. Maria-Christiana-Elizabeth, born 6 Jan. 1834.
+    7. Augusta-Temple, born 10 May, 1837.
+
+William Byam, the present representative of the Cedar Hill
+branch, and of Westwood House, co. Hants, member of the council,
+Antigua, and late lieut.-col. of the Local Dragoons, m. in 1815,
+Martha, dau. of Thomas Rogers, of Antigua, and has issue,
+  i. Edward-Gamage, an officer in the 59th regt. born 30 June,
+    1823.
+  ii. Thomas-Rogers, born 12 Dec. 1826.
+  iii. William, born 10 Feb. 1828.
+  iv. Lydia, born 31 Dec. 1818, m. 18 May, 1837, to Francis
+    Shand, Esq. of Liverpool, and of Everton, co. Lancaster; and
+  v. Martha, born 29 Aug. 1821.
+
+Col. William Byam served under the "hero of a hundred fights,"
+the Duke of Wellington, in the battles of Orthes, Toulouse, and
+Waterloo, in which latter he was dangerously wounded, and in
+those ensanguined plains he belied not his high name, nor the
+deeds of his fathers, whom we find so often figuring in the
+annals of Antigua, leading its troops to battle, filling some
+high official situation, or spilling their hearts' best blood in
+defence of their native shores!
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[78] Ancestor of the now Earls of Cadogan.
+
+[79] This pedigree, and that of the Byam family in general, has
+been authenticated by Herald's College, by certificate, dated
+"College of Arms, 27 July, 1841."
+
+[80] So termed by the Heralds of the College of Arms, although
+only mentioned in Antiguan history as lieut.-governor of the
+island.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 5.
+
+
+
+_Copy of the Grant of Land to Col. Philip Warner, after the
+Restoration of Antigua to the English Crown, in_ 1667.
+
+William Lord Willoughby of Parham Captn Generall and Chief
+Governor of Barbados and the rest of the Caribee Islands, To all
+whom these presents shall come greeting--Whereas the King's most
+excellent Majestie hath by due Conquest regained to himself ye
+sole and absolute right and propriet unto and in ye said Island
+of Antigua and every part thereof. The said Island having been
+lately taken and conquered by the f.french and since retaken and
+reduced to his Majestie's obedience by his Majestie's forces. And
+Whereas the Assembly or Representatives of the said Island have
+acknowledged and recognized His Majestie's said title by Conquest
+and have wholly submitted to ye same. Now know ye by virtue of
+the power and authority to me given by His Majestie's Letters
+Pattents under the great Seale of England bearing date the third
+day of January in the yeare one thousand six hundred sixty and
+six and by his instructions under his privy signett bearing date
+the fourth day of February in ye said year enabling me to grant
+and confirm estates in His Majestie's behalfe in the said Caribee
+Islands. I the said William Lord Willoughby for divers good and
+lawful considerations Have given granted remised released and
+confirmed and doe by these Presents give grant release remise and
+confirme unto Coll Phillip Warner his Heires and Assignes for
+Ever all ye right title interest or demand which his said
+Majestie now hath or heretofore had to a certaine plantation or
+parcell of land situate laying and being ye Island Antigua
+aforesaid commonly called and known by the name of the Savanna
+The Westward part of which is bounded upon ye lands of _Thomas
+Compton_ in Falmouth Division and part of ye lands called
+Picadilla the North East thereof in part bounded with ye . . . .
+of _George Mould_ the land of _William Phillips_ ye lands of
+_John Andrews_ and ye land of _Phillip Lenird_ and part wth ye
+sea. The Southward part thereof is bounded by a line drawn from
+the head of English Harbor Creeke through the Valley towards
+Crosse Cove in falmo harbor and from ye head of ye aforesaid
+Creeke two hundred foot or forty geometricall paces from ye high
+water marke observing ye turnings and windings of English Harbor
+to ye Southermost end of the Sandy Bay at ye mouth of the said
+Harbor, and part with ye sea The Eastermost part wholly bounded
+wth ye sea side. Together withall and singular the Houses
+Edifices, Buildings Timber, Timber trees, Woods, Underwoods,
+Waters, Water-courses, Rights, Members Jurisdictions, Wayes,
+Easemts Proffits, Priviledges, Commodities, Hereditaments, and
+Appurtenances whatsoever to ye same belonging or any wayes
+apertaining To Have and to Hold the said Plantation or parcell of
+land wth all and singular ye appurtenances to him ye said Coll
+Phillip Warner his Heires and Assignes and to ye only use
+benefitt and behoaf of him ye said Phillip Warner his heires and
+Assignes in Free . . . . Yielding and paying therefore yearly for
+ever unto His Majestie his heires and Successors one Eare of
+Indian Corne att or upon ye feast of ye Birth of our Lord Christ
+in full satisfaction of all rents and services for ever. In
+Witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and caused His
+Majestie's Seale appointed for Barbados and ye rest of the
+Caribee Islands to be affixed the Eleventh day of Aprill in the
+twentieth yeare of ye Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the
+Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of ye
+Faith Anno que Domini One thousand Six hundred Sixty Eight.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+  _Copy of the Grant of Land to Col. Philip Warner, restored to
+  him after his acquittal upon the charge of murdering his
+  half-brother, the Indian Warner, in_ 1676.
+
+To all Xion People to whom these presents shall come William
+Stapleton Capn Genl over all His Majties Leeward Islands in
+America Sendeth Greetinge Know ye that I William Stapleton Capn
+Gen as aforesaid in pursuance of His moste Excellent Majties
+Charles the Second his Commission to me directed Bareing date the
+tenth day of February and by virtue of an article in ye same
+Impowering me to Sell Lett and dispose of all such lands
+tenements and Hereditaments in and upon any or either ye said
+Islands which shall fall or by Law Ellapse or otherwise become
+due or belonging unto our Said Soveraigne Lord ye King and the
+same or any part of Pall thereof from time to time to dispose of
+under such moderate quitt Rents acknowledgements or securities to
+be reserved to His Majestie his Heires and Successors by mee
+shall bee deemed meete and convenient. And further by one other
+Article in his Majties said Commission I am fully Impowered and
+authorized by his said Majtie to grant Letters and Charters of
+Incorporasion to all Citties, Townes, Boroughs and other places
+wthn any or either ye said Islands or plantations respectively
+wth all liberties, franchises, and priviledges requisite and
+usually granted to any such wthn the kingdom of England which
+said grants charters or priviledges soe by me granted and
+------------ His Majties great Scale appointed for his said
+Leeward Islands, and beinge duly Entered inrold and recorded
+shall be good and effectuall in Law against any Pson, Power or
+Authoritie what so ever. Know ye therefore that I the said
+William Stapleton Capn Genl &ca by virtue of my said Commission
+and ye severall Powers to mee therein given for and in ye behalfe
+of our Soueraigne Lord ye King, for divers good and lawfull
+causes and considerations hereinafter in the Psents mentioned and
+expressed and forasmuch as Coll Phillip Warner of the Island of
+Antigua stands possessed of a certain freehold and plantation or
+Pall of land in and upon ye said Island of Antigua commonly
+call'd or known by the name of the Savanna by virtue of a grant
+and Pattent had and obtained by the said Coll Phillip Warner from
+and under the hand of William Lord Willoughby of Parham late Capn
+Genl and Governor in Chiefe of Barbadose and the rest of the
+Leeward Islands and sealed wth the greate Seale then appointed by
+his Majtie for the said Islands bearing date the 11th day of
+April 1668. I have at the speciall instance and request of him ye
+said Coll Phillip Warner Given granted released remised and
+confirmed as I doe by these Psents give grant release remise and
+confirme unto the said Coll Phillip Warner his heires and
+assignes for ever the said Plantation and freehold under the name
+and title of the Manor of _fframingham_ and doe by virtue of this
+my Pattent invest him the said Coll Phillip Warner his Heires and
+Assignes for ever in Right Title and Interest of the said
+Plantation in a Mannor and Royaltie Lyinge wthn the Limits and
+bounds hereinafter mentioned and expressed. That is to say the
+Westward part of the said land being bounded wth the land of Mr
+_William Wainwright_ and Crowne land in Falmouth Harbor To the
+North wth the land of Mr _Nathl Monck_ and the land anciently
+call'd and known by name of Piccadille Hills and to the North
+East wth the land late of _George Mould_ the lands of _John
+Pinchin Richard Law_ and _Richard Willis_ and part wth the sea.
+The East and South East part thereof bounded wholie with ye low
+water marke upon ye Severall Bayes, Poyntes, and Clifts at ye sea
+side the South and South west part the said land and manner is
+alsoe bounded with the Sea in English Harbour to the low water
+marke observeing the severall turnings and windings of the said
+Harbor and Creeke thereunto belongeing and from the Head of the
+Eastmost Creeke through the Vallie to the adjacent round Hill
+next to Cobb's Crosse Cove. And from thence to the sea in Falmo
+Harbor, Together with all ye Ponds Creekes Coves inlets waters,
+watercourses. Houses, Edifices buildings Orchards lands meadows
+Leasowes Pastures Commons Sugar Mills Timber and Timber Trees
+woods and underwoods Advowsons reversions rents Securitties,
+wrecks, wafes, Estrayes Royaltties Liberties Privileges
+Jurisdictions, hereditaments Together wth all other Rights,
+Privileges, and power by Law warranted or allowed to any Royaltie
+or Maner whatsoever saving onely and excepted to His Majtie his
+Heires and Successors all Mines and Mineralls of Gould and Silver
+which shall ly or be within the said Manor or the lands thereunto
+belongeinge or appertainge. To have and to Hold the said Manor
+lands tenements and all the premises in _fee simple_ to him the
+said Coll Phillip Warner his heires and Assignes for ever and of
+and in every part or Pall thereof wth the appurtenances
+Royallties, Jurisdictions and Privileges heretofore in these
+Psents mentioned and expressed to bee and Inure and shall bee
+deemed adjudged Esteemed reputed and taken to bee and Inure to
+the onely use benefit and behoofe of the said Coll Phillip Warner
+his heires and assignes for ever. Yieldinge and payeinge
+therefore yearly for ever unto his Majtie his heires and
+successors a full growne _Bore_ at or upon ye Feast and Birth of
+our Lord Christ if lawfully demanded which payment shall be
+accepted reputed and taken in full satisfaction and discharge of
+all other rents services duties taxes or Impositions layed or to
+be layed by any Law authortie Custome or Usage Whatsoever. In
+Testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and caused His
+Majtie's Great Seal prepared and appoynted for this and the rest
+of the Leeward Islands to be hereunto affixed the 3rd _of
+November_. In the one and Thirtieth Year of the Reigne of our
+Soveraigne Lord Charles ye Second King of England Scotland France
+and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c Anno Domi 1679.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 6.
+
+
+
+  _A Remonstrance of the inhabitants of the island of Antigua why
+  they soe very earnestly craved authority and commission from
+  his Excellency, William Stapleton Captain General and Governor
+  in chief, in and over all his Majesties Leward Cariba Islands
+  in America. To kill and destroy the Indians inhabiting in ye
+  Island of Dominica and likewise for ye craveing ayde from the
+  neighbouring Islands under his Excellency's command which was
+  promised us._
+
+It is to well knowne as well to ye inhabitants of this Island as
+to ye other merchants and traders amongst us since its first
+being inhabited by Christians, or very near that time that ye
+said Indians have not ceased by their continual incursions and
+very many horrid murders, ripping up women with child, burning of
+houses, and carrying away into miserable captivity, their
+children and others, allmost to ye utter ruine of this collony,
+whilst Indian Warner of late going under the name of Thomas
+Warner was a chief leader and actor amongst ye said Indians
+untill the year of our Lord 1657 when some of ye inhabitants of
+this Island with the assistance of Mountserrat and others went
+against them although by their subtility it proved almost
+ineffectual, yett in ye year 1660, ye said Indian Warner with
+other Indians came to Collo Xpher Keynell[81] then governor of
+this Island, to make peace which was then agreed unto and wee had
+for some small tyme rest from their allmost continual Alaroms,
+but they soon fell to their accustomed cruelltys by robing,
+murdering and carrieing away others of the inhabitants, so that
+we were again constrained to make war against them to our
+exceeding charge and ye losse of our crops at which tyme we
+requested Collo Phillip Warner to goe in pson against them in
+hopes he might by faire means have brought ye said Indian Warner
+to have been helpful to our party in finding out and persueing
+those othere breakers of ye sd peace, but all our endeavours
+proved fruit-lesse and procured us nothing more but fair
+promises, but he would not go or appear against those that
+himselfe would say were our enemies, but on the contrary would
+give them notice of our arrival, although we spared not, at any
+tyme, to furnish him and those he called his friends with what
+necessaries they wanted.
+
+Notwithstanding in the year 1666 they began again their old
+villainies and outragious practices, not regarding that peace,
+but rather lookeing on us as their tributaries, a barbarous
+conclusion drawn from our kindnesses, Indian Warner being all
+this while amongst them, and would never give us any notice of ye
+designs against us, which drew us to conclude he was still
+against us, by consent, if not in pson, for those by him
+protected as his friends and nearest relations, were chief in
+comitting many outtrages murders, rapes and burneings, by which
+means we were wholly putt from labour, which if at any time wee
+attempted to follow their poisoned arrows were soon in some of
+our sides, which spake nothing but death, soon after ye said
+Indian Warner was carried prisoner by the French to St.
+Xphers[82] being however his friends and nearest relations still
+persued their bloody practises against the poore Inhabitants of
+this Island for as often as ye men engaged the Ffrench enemy, the
+said Indians were comitting their murders, rapes and other
+villanyss amongst ye women and children, and when the Ffrench had
+subdued ye Island and disarmed our inhabitants and carried away
+our negroes and what else they thought fitt, then did these
+Indians prosecute all villanies imaginable against our naked
+inhabitants haveing nothing but the mercy of God to protect
+ourselves from their cruelties, at which time, we having
+submitted to the Ffrench on their promise of safety from ye
+barbarisme of the said Indians, ye said Indians came to the house
+of Collo Cardine late Governr of this Island who cyvilly treated
+them, but at their departure desired him in friendship to walk
+with them to the sea-side, where they cruelly murdered him, and
+those that were with him, cutting off Collo Cardine's head,
+broyled it and carried it to Dominica in triumph. But before
+their departure returned to Collo Cardine's house, and carried
+away his wife children and others, with them into captivity where
+some of them perished.
+
+Neare to this same tyme they went to the house of Mr. Thomas
+Taylor pretending friendshipp and by him they were kindly
+entertained, but before they departed they murdered ye said
+Taylor, Mr. Thomas Beadle minister, Mr. Robert Boyers, wounding
+others with poisoned arrows to death and carried away Mrs Taylor
+and children, Mrs. Chrew and children, Mrs Lynt[83] and children,
+with many to tedious to relate, and in these and ye like bloody
+practises they continued untill a peace was proclaimed betwixt
+our more gracious king, ye Ffrench, and Dutch. All which bloody
+cruelties were acted and done by ye Chiefs of Indian Warner's
+friends, without the least cause or provocation on our part.
+
+And since ye peace made with them by the Lord William Willoughby,
+although they have been kindly received and entertained by our
+inhabitants out of respect to the said peace, yett they soon
+begain their accustomed cruelties fore comeing to Parham Hill
+plantation in agreeable manner were civilly and librally
+entertained at their departure murdered several seamen that were
+taking in tobacco, and planters that were carrying the same to ye
+boats with out any manner of provocation.
+
+Some of ye said Indians being soone after apprehended at
+Mountserrat by our generall, who intended to have given them a
+due reward for ye said murders, but such was our clemency towards
+them, that if by any means wee could have brought them to live
+peaceably by us, wee made our humble addresses unto our generall
+to lett them goe, which we hardly obtained from his Excellency,
+but no sooner were they loose but they comitted roberies upon ye
+said Island.
+
+Such hath always been their requitalls of any kindnesses or
+civilities shewn them, and amongst these Indians were the freinds
+and associates of the said Indian Warner and by him then
+interceeded for alledging they were not the persons that had done
+the said murders, although afterwards appeared that these whom he
+a called his friends were the men that comitted ye said murder.
+
+And to manifest the truth thereof, one of his nearest allies, in
+the yeare 1674 came with other Indians to the plantation of Collo
+Phillip Warner and killed severall Christians and carried away
+sixteen negroes, and one Christian child, whom they afterwards
+cruelly murdered, and at the return of the said Indians from this
+Island, Indian Warner mett them at Guardeloup and craved share of
+the booty they had brought from Antigua, and afterwards some of
+ye goods [_obliterated_] Collo Warner's boyling house at their
+being last there comitting of murders aforesaid were found in the
+village belonging to Indian Warner in Dominica and were brought
+back by some of Collo Warner's servants.
+
+Thus hath the said Indian Warner often dealt treacherously,
+pretending freindshipp, but proving and absolute enemy, not only
+to this Island, but to our whole nation, for himself declared
+that he had a Ffrench comission, and said that he would rather
+serve ye Spaniards then ye English and finding ourselves to be
+neare our utter ruine by his fraud and treachery, we were
+constrained humbly to crave ayde of our captain generall to give
+us his comission to make war against the said Indians, without
+exception that we might labour by his just power to redeem
+ourselves from those cruel practices which wee had long laine
+under, which he was pleased to grant.
+
+We then besought Collo Phillip Warner, our governor to goe in
+person against them, which at our earnest request he was pleased
+to undertake and with very great difficulty and hazard did doe
+such service upon them which hath procured our ease and rest in
+some measure to this tyme, although not without continnall
+watching and warding to our great charge and trouble, they still
+threatening a bloody revenge upon this place.
+
+And it is evident, had not Collo Warner's party beene quick in
+giving the first blow, upon those our bloody enemies, he and
+those with him had received the same measure from our pretended
+freinds but utter enemies. Who had agreed with those hee called
+our enemies to destroy Collo Warner and his party and to that end
+had them at rediness at hand, but God Almighty prevented them,
+not sufferinge him any longer to raigne in his barbarous
+practices of which this Island might give a large acompt for
+neare forty yeares past and whether ye said Indian Warner with
+his associates received not a due recompense for their villanys
+and barbarous practices wee appeal to God and all ye world.
+
+  (Signed)             Richard Boraston.    Rowld. Williams.
+  (Autographs)         Jonas Watts.         Paul Hicks.
+                       Jacob Hill.          Jere. Watkins.
+                       Saml. Irish.         Richd. Ayres.
+                       Daniel Pellar.       John Cade.
+                       Thomas Beck.         Will Thomas.
+                       Franc. Carlisle.     John Mayer.
+  1676                 Tho. Turner.         Samuel Jones.
+
+May it please your honours,
+
+The sense wee have of the sufferings of Collo Phillipe Warner,
+our late governor by and for an action by which wee have received
+soe many advantages, and which the prayers of our inhabitants
+constrained him by ------ comission to undertake, hath highly
+obliged us to suplicate your honours, on his behalfe. Not that we
+doubt his being justly dealt with, and according to law, but to
+give your honors to understand that it was not by any designe or
+private concern of Collo Phillip Warner that carried on that warr
+and that action wherein it is said Indian Warner fell. But it was
+founded on the supplication of the inhabitants here, that for
+many yeares enjoyed little rest from the incursions of those
+Indians of Dominica and amongst them those of Warner's family.
+Some crying for their husbands slaine with poisoned arrows,
+others for their children snatcht from them. Those and the such
+like were the common complaints here. Until by their humble
+addresse to our generall they obtained comission to goe under the
+command of Collo Warner who was not easily wrought upon to
+undertake it; but being highly importuned by all, he at length
+complied and by that action we have since enjoyed much peace and
+they have not dared to putt foot uppon our shoare, which we
+wholly attribute to God's mercy towards us, but that action as
+the second cause. This wee humbly offer unto your honors fearing
+you may not otherwise be given to understand, what was the first
+cause that moved to that action, as will appear if all papers
+relating thereunto may be perused. We have not more to request
+from your honrs than to give your favourable constructions of the
+matter humbly take leave and subscribe ourselves your most humble
+servants,
+
+                                       Richard Boraston, &c. &c.
+
+Falmo July ye 25th, 1676.
+
+To ye Honble. his Maties. justices of Oyer and terminer appointed
+for the triall of Collo Phillip Warner in ye Island of Barbadoes
+
+These humbly are sent.
+
+It was not Col. Warner alone who was implicated in this affair,
+although he plays the most prominent part. Many of the offenders
+had their lands taken from them, until the issue of their trial
+was known; but Col. Warner and Lieut. Ffrye, of their own free
+will, delivered up their possessions, immediately upon their
+being charged with the crime already narrated, as may be learnt
+from the following passage extracted from an old record (speaking
+of those persons who had been dispossessed of their lands):--
+
+"Excepted the lands of Collo Phillip Warner at the ffig tree, and
+at the Road being resigned up freely by himself. Also excepted
+the lands of Lieut. John Ffrye, lying and beinge in the body of
+this Island beinge resigned up freely by him."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[81] Christopher Reynall.
+
+[82] St. Christopher's.
+
+[83] Lynch.
+
+
+
+
+                             No. 7.
+
+
+
+               GENEALOGY OF THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
+
+The family of the Williams' trace their colonial descent from
+
+-- Williams, Esq., who was supposed to have emigrated from
+England under the auspices of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke,
+and, by tradition, is said to have been the first Englishman who
+set foot in the Island of Antigua. He planted and settled the
+family estate at Old Road, and dying, left a son,
+
+Rowland, colonel in the army, and the first white child born in
+the colony, about the year 1632. He fulfilled for some time the
+office of governor of Antigua, and in the attack upon the French,
+to recover St Christopher's, in 1690, he gallantly distinguished
+himself, having under his command a body of eight hundred
+Antiguan troops. He died in 1713, at the advanced age of eighty,
+universally lamented by all who knew him, and was interred in the
+parish church of Old Road, of which edifice he was the principal
+founder. His will is now to be seen in the Prerogative Court of
+Canterbury. He left issue, by his wife, two sons, Thomas, his
+heir, and Samuel, student of Christ's College, Oxford, of which
+university he was a distinguished member. He is honourably
+mentioned by Oldmixon, in his "British Empire." He died at an
+early age (probably in his father's lifetime) s. p.
+
+Thomas, son and heir of the above Col. Rowland Williams, was a
+colonel in the army, of Old Road estate, Antigua, and of
+Newlands, co. Surrey, m. in 1705, Mary, dau. of Edward Byam,
+(then fulfilling the government of Antigua,) by his first wife,
+Mary, dau. of Samuel Winthorpe, Esq., and granddau. of John
+Winthorpe, first governor of New England, and of Groton Hall, co.
+Suffolk. The likeness of this lady (Mary, the wife of Col. Thomas
+Williams) was in possession of the late Rowland-E. Williams, at
+Newlands. Col. Thomas Williams dying, left issue, by Mary, his
+wife,
+  i. Edward, son and heir.
+  ii. Rowland, died s. p.
+  iii. Samuel, entered at University College, Oxon, 3 November,
+    1737, died s. p.
+  iv. Sarah, died s. p.
+
+Edward, son and heir, of Old Road. Antigua, and Newlands, in the
+parish of Thames Ditton, co. Surrey, born 9 May, 1710, m. in
+1747, Mary, dau. of -- Bennet, of Penryth, co. Cumberland. He,
+dying 6 April, 1784, was buried at Thames Ditton, aforesaid,
+leaving issue by his wife,
+  i. Rowland-Edward, son and heir.
+  ii. Samuel, who possessed an estate in Hampshire, and dying s.
+    p. in 1825, was buried at Lyndhurst, in that county.
+
+Rowland-Edward, as eldest son, inherited the family estates of
+Old Road, Antigua, and Newlands, co. Surrey, born 18 Dec 1784, m.
+Mary, dau. of Robert Symes, of the Island of Jamaica, Esq., and
+dying 28 Nov. 1826, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, left
+issue two sons,
+
+i. Rowland-Edward, son and heir.
+
+ii. Samuel Williams, captain in the Royal Navy, and two daus.
+
+Rowland-Edward Williams, as eldest son, possesses the family
+estates in England and Antigua, the patrimonial domains of his
+ancestors, who came in among the first settlers; member of her
+Majesty's privy council in that island, and late captain in the
+10th regiment of Hussars, m. Mary-Anne, dau. of Sir Patrick Ross,
+K.C.B., (then captain-general and governor-in-chief of the
+Leeward Caribbee Islands,) who, dying at the early age of
+thirty-two, left issue by him two sons, one of which only
+survives.
+
+
+
+
+                          Nos. 8 & 9.
+
+
+
+              GENEALOGY OF THE CODRINGTON FAMILY.
+
+One of the great ancestors of the Codrington family was John de
+Codrington, grandson of Geoffrey Codrington, standard-bearer to
+Henry V., 1415; he afterwards purchased the manor of Wapeley in
+1455, living to the great age of 112; died in 1475. From this
+source descends the family of Codrington connected with Antigua.
+
+Geoffrey Codrington, of Codrington, co. Gloucester, left issue a
+son, Robert, of the same place, and also of Sodbury. Robert had
+issue three sons, Morvail, Humphry, and John.
+
+John, m. and had issue, Christopher, and Edward.
+
+Edward, m. and had a son,
+
+Thomas, who m. and had a son,
+
+Simon, who died in 1618, leaving by his wife, Anne, co-heiress of
+Richard Seacole, of Didmarton, co. Gloucester, three sons,
+
+i. John. ii. Giles. iii. Robert.
+
+Robert Codrington, m. Anne, co-heiress of Richard Stubbs, and
+left issue, Christopher, and John. John was of Didmarton, and
+died in 1670.
+
+Christopher, the eldest son, was a lieutenant-colonel in the
+army, and settled in Barbados in the year 1649, after having
+contended in the Royal cause; he married and had two sons,
+Christopher, and John, the latter colonel of the Life-guards in
+Barbados, of whom presently.
+
+Christopher, the elder son, was governor of the Leeward Islands
+in 1689, and died in 1698, leaving, by ------, his wife, two
+sons, Christopher, the celebrated founder of All Souls', Oxford,
+and John, who died in the lifetime of his brother.
+
+Christopher, the elder son, was the purchaser, from his cousin,
+Samuel, of Doddington, in Gloucestershire, and was appointed to
+succeed his father in the government of the Leeward Islands, in
+1698. Among his great possessions in the West Indies, he had an
+estate called "Betty's Hope," in Antigua, from whence, 22 Feb.
+1702, was dated his will, making such munificent bequests for the
+foundation of a college in Barbados, and to All Souls' College,
+Oxford, which is thus described in a contemporary work, among the
+remarkable events of the year 1710:-- "About the same time (21
+July, 1710) came advice from the Leeward Islands of the death of
+Col. Christopher Codrington, for some time captain-general of
+those Islands. He left the bulk of his estate to his
+cousin-german, Col. William Codrington, of Barbados, (and also of
+Antigua,) which is reckoned to amount to 40,000l. and upwards. He
+most generously bequeathed 20,000l. to the Society for
+Propagating the Faith in that part of the world; and having for
+many years been Fellow of All Souls', Oxford, gave that college
+10,000l., as also his noble library, valued at 6000l. more. He
+ordered his body to be buried there, and allowed only 20l. for a
+gravestone upon it, but left 1500l. for erecting a monument for
+his father in _Westminster Abbey_." And to his remaining estates,
+his cousin, Col. William Codrington succeeded accordingly. He was
+a Member of the Council of the Island of Antigua, and son of Col.
+John Codrington, of the Life-guards, Barbados, by his wife, the
+dau. of Col. Bates, of the same island. Col. William Codrington
+is spoken of in very high terms by "Oldmixon," in his "British
+Empire in America," _as one of the two men of the best heads and
+best fortunes in British America_, (Col. Edward Byam, as already
+mentioned, being the other,) and was very deservedly created a
+Baronet, 21 April, 1721. He died 17 Dec. 1738, leaving by his
+wife, Elizabeth, dau. of William Bethel, of Swindon, co. York,
+Esq., four sons,
+  i. William, second Bart., who succeeded him, and of whom
+    hereafter.
+  ii. John-Archibald, died s. p. in 1759.
+  iii. Christopher, m., and died s. p. in 1797.
+  iv. Edward.
+
+To John Archibald he bequeathed his Barbados estates. To
+Christopher he bequeathed an estate called "Rooms's," in Antigua.
+To Edward the Folly estate in that island, (now modernized into
+"Bath Lodge,") and comprising "Betty's Hope," the "Cotton
+Estate," and the "Cables," all in the Island of Antigua, and the
+entire Island of Barbuda, in the general bequest to his eldest
+son and successor.
+
+Sir William, second Bart., M.P. for Minehead, co. Somerset, dying
+11 March, 1792, left, by Anne, his wife, the dau. of -- Acton,
+Esq., a son and heir of his own name--viz.,
+
+Sir William, third Bart., who died in France in 1816, whereupon
+his cousin,
+
+Christopher-Bethel Codrington, of Dodington Park, co. Gloucester,
+assumed the title, asserting his cousin to have died in France,
+without lawful issue. He was the son of Edward, by his wife,
+Rebecca Le Sturgeon, and grandson of Sir William, the first
+Bart., the son of Col. John Codrington, Treasurer of Barbados, by
+his wife, the dau. of Col. Bates, of the same island, as already
+mentioned. Besides Christopher-Bethel, of Dodington Park, Edward
+was the father of Sir Edward Codrington, the hero of Navarino,
+G.C.B., K.S.L., K.S.G., and Rear-Admiral of the Blue; and also of
+Caroline, the wife of Joseph-Lyons Walrond, of Walrond's and
+Lyon's Estates, in Antigua, and of Dulford House, co. Devon, and
+by whom she has, Bethel Walrond, Esq., formerly M.P. for Sudbury,
+who m. in 1829, Lady Janet Erskine, dau. of the Earl of Rosslyn.
+Sir Christopher-Bethel, of Dodington Park, aforesaid, m. 15 Aug.
+1796, the Hon. Carolina-Georgiana-Harriott Foley, dau. of Thomas,
+second Lord Foley, (by Harriott, dau. of William, second Earl of
+Harrington, by Caroline Fitzroy, dau. of Charles, second Duke of
+Grafton, K.G.,) and by her had, (among other children,)
+
+Sir William-Christopher, the present Bart., born 12 March, 1805,
+and m. Lady Georgiana Somerset, dau. of his Grace the present
+Duke of Beaufort.
+
+It may be right to observe, that the title is disputed by his
+cousin, William-Raimond Codrington, who alleges himself to be the
+legitimate son of William, the third Bart., but this is a
+litigation into which we shall not enter.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 10.
+
+
+
+                GENEALOGY OF THE MATHEW FAMILY.
+
+The family of the Mathews originally came from Glamorganshire,
+(where they were one with the Mathews, Earls of Llandaff,)
+emigrated to the West Indies, from Cornwall, in the Heraldic
+Visitation for which county, in 1622, they are mentioned. The
+lineal descent of the present branch of the family, from the
+first settler of the name, may be traced in the following manner
+--viz.,
+
+Abednego Mathew, of Pennetenny and St. Kew, co. Cornwall, born in
+1629, was a colonel in the army, and emigrating to the West
+Indies, obtained grants of land, first in Antigua, and afterwards
+in St Christopher's, of which island he became governor, through
+the interest (it is supposed) of his second cousin, George, Duke
+of Albemarle, and Sir Richard Grenville, and which situation he
+honourably filled until his death, 18 April, 1681. He m. a Miss
+Sparrow, a West Indian heiress, by whom he left issue two sons,
+  i. Charles, colonel in the army, m. Miss Dashwood. His arms,
+    impaled with those of Dashwood, are given in a General Atlas,
+    published in 1721, to which work he was a subscriber.
+  ii. William, Knt.
+
+Sir William Mathew was one of the brightest luminaries the West
+Indies produced: a brave soldier--an accomplished gentleman--a
+true friend--and a good governor. He was colonel of Monk's own
+regiment, the Coldstream-guards, and highly distinguished himself
+by his gallant bearing and true martial glory, at the siege of
+Namur, Neerwinden, &c., under William III. In 1702, he was
+nominated brigadier-general of her Majesty's Guards; and in 1704,
+appointed captain-general and governor-in-chief of the Leeward
+Caribbee Islands, and sailing from England at the beginning of
+June, in a squadron consisting of five men-of-war, and six
+transports, arrived at Antigua, the seat of his government, 14
+July, 1704, where he died 4th Dec following. Sir William Mathew
+m. Katharine, Baroness Van Leempat, an heiress of the celebrated
+family of that name in Holland, and who accompanied Mary, Queen
+of William III., to England as one of the maids of honour. The
+nuptials were celebrated at Kingston, co. Surrey. The Baroness
+accompanied her husband to the West Indies, where she surviving
+him nineteen years, died at St Christopher's, 26 March, 1723. Sir
+William left issue by his lady,
+
+i. Abednego. ii. Edward. iii. William, of whom hereafter. i.
+Susan. ii. Louisa.
+
+William (third son of Sir William Mathew) was another
+distinguished officer in her Majesty's service,
+brigadier-general, and colonel in the Coldstream-guards, and
+served as second in command under Lord Peterborough, in the
+Peninsular wars. General Mathew acted as lieut.-governor of the
+Leeward Islands in 1730; and 13 Sept. 1752, was appointed
+captain-general, and commander-in-chief. He m. 1st, Anne, dau. of
+General Thomas Hill, Governor of Nevis, who died s. p.; and
+2ndly, ----, dau. of the Hon. Daniel Smith, President, and
+sometime governor of Nevis, a great heiress, possessing estates
+in St. Kitts, Nevis, and Antigua, by whom he had issue four sons,
+  i. William, died young.
+  ii. Daniel, of Antigua, and Felix Hall, co. Essex, Esq.,
+    sometime high-sheriff for that co. He m. at Antigua, 10 May,
+    1750, Mary, dau. of George Byam, and grandson of Governor
+    Edward Byam, by whom he had issue,
+    1. Daniel-Byam, of Felix Hall, and Antigua, m. Elizabeth,
+      dau. of Sir Edward Deering, Bart., (by whom issue.)
+    2. George, m. Euphemia, dau. of John Hamilton, Esq., by whom
+      he had issue a son, George, captain in the
+      Coldstream-guards, and late M.P. for Shaftesbury, m. in
+      1835, the dau. and heir of the celebrated antiquary, Sir
+      Richard-Colt Hoare, Bart., and has issue a son, born 5
+      March, 1839.
+    1. Mary, m. to James, Lord Gambier, K.C.B., admiral.
+    2. Jane, m. to Samuel Gambier, commissioner in the navy.
+    3. Elizabeth, m. in 1779, to Robert-Monckton Arundel,
+      Viscount Galway, by whom, among other issue, she had
+      William-George, the present viscount, born in 1782.
+  iii. Edward, major-general in the army, and governor of
+    Grenada, and sometime equerry to the Queen's household, m. 31
+    March, 1743; Lady Jane Bertie, dau. of the third Duke of
+    Ancaster,[84] and by her (who died 21 July, 1793) had issue,
+    1. Mathew, born 11 Sept. 1762, 2. Jane, m. 30 Aug. 1776,
+    Thomas Maitland, of Herts, Esq.
+  iv. Abednego, m. ----, and had issue two daus., the second of
+    which, Mary-Buckly, m. Hugh, Viscount Carlton.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[84] The three only daus. of this third Duke of Ancaster m. West
+Indians: Lady Mary-Bertie, the eldest, was united to Samuel
+Greathead, Esq. of Guy's Cliff, and M.P. for Coventry, and died
+13 May, 1774; Albemia, the second dau. of his Grace, m. Frances
+Beckford, Esq., and died 12 Feb. 1754; and Jane, (as already
+seen,) m. Major-Gen. Edward Mathew, and had issue a son,
+Brownlow-Bertie Mathew, who assumed the name and arms of Bertie,
+in accordance with the will of his maternal uncle, Brownlow, last
+Duke of Ancaster, and Marquess of Lindsey.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 11.
+
+
+
+  _List of the Members of the House of Assembly at the time of
+  the death of Governor Parke, copied from the Original Returns._
+
+                         Dr. Daniel Mackinnon.
+                          Mr. Edward Chester.
+  Returns made by John    Col. John Gamble.
+  Gamble, Esq.            Mr. William Granodle. St. John's Town.
+  By Richard Oliver,     Col. Thomas Williams.
+  Esq.                    Major John Tomlinson. St. John's Division.
+                         Captain John Pigott.   New North Sound
+  By Edward Byam, Esq.    Captain John Painter. Division.
+                         Mr. Jacob Morgan       Dickenson Bay
+  By S. Watkins, Esq.     Samuel Watkins, Esq.  Division.
+                         Richard Cockran, Esq.
+  By Charles Lloyd, Esq.  Charles Lloyd.        Nonsuch Division.
+  By Thomas Osterman,    Col. John Ffrye.       Old Road and Bermudian
+  Esq.                    Captain John Roe.     Valley Div.
+  By John Haddon, Esq.   Mr. Andrew Murry.      Five Islands.
+                         Mr. John Elliot.
+  By John Kerr, Esq.      John Kerr, jun.       Belfast.
+                         Edward Warner, Esq.    Falmouth and
+  By John Horsford, Esq.  Isaac Horsford, Esq.  Rendezvous Bay.
+  By Nathaniel Crump,    Mr. Samuel Phillips.   Old North Sound
+  Esq.                    Nathaniel Crump.      Division.
+                         Mr. Baptist Looby.     Willoughby Bay
+  By G. Lucas, Esq.       G. Lucas.             Division.
+  By Francis Rogers,     Mr. Francis Carlisle.
+  Esq.                    Mr. William Hamilton. Popeshead Division.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 12.
+
+
+
+           LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF GOVERNOR PARKE.
+
+It may not be uninteresting to some of my readers to peruse a
+copy of the will of that unhappy man, Governor Parke: it is here
+inserted. It is worthy of notice, that anxious as Col. Parke was
+to perpetuate his name, it has become utterly extinct. The latter
+sentence of his will was written upon the morning of the very day
+in which he met his fate:--
+
+"In the name of God, Amen. I, Daniel Parke, Capt.-Gen. and Chief
+Governor, &c., of all the Leeward Islands, make this, my last
+Will and Testament, in manner following: (Imprimis, I bequeath my
+soul to Almighty God.) I give all my estate in these islands,
+both land and houses, negroes, debts, and so forth, to Thos.
+Long, Esq. and Mister Ceasar Rodney, for the use of Mistress Lucy
+Chester, being the daughter of Mistress Katharine Chester,[85]
+though she is not yet christened, and if her mother thinks fit to
+call her after any other name, I still doe bequeath all my estate
+in the four islands of my government to her; but in case she dies
+before she attains the age of twenty-one years, then I bequeath
+the same to her mother, Mistress Katharine Chester, that it shall
+be and remain in the hands of my loving friends, Collonel Thos.
+Long and Mister Ceasar Rodney, the produce of the same to be paid
+into her own hands, but to no other person whatsoever, and after
+the decease of the said Mistress Katharine Chester, then I
+bequeath the same to my godson, Julius Ceasar Parke, and his
+heirs for ever, but in case the said youngest daughter of the
+said Mistress Katharine Chester lives to marry and have children,
+I give the whole to her eldest son, and the heirs male of his
+body, and for the want of such heirs, to her second son's son,
+and the heirs of his body, and for want of such, to her next, and
+so on to her heir, provided still, he that heirs itt, calls
+himself by the name of Parke; and my will is, that the said
+youngest daughter of Mistress Katharine Chester alter her name,
+and that she calls herself by the name of Parke, and that
+whosoever shall marry her, calls himself by the name of Parke,
+and that she and the heirs of her body, themselves by the name of
+Parke, and use my coat of arms which is yet of my family of the
+county of Essex, but in case she refuses, or her heirs, to call
+themselves by the name of Parke, then my will is, that all my
+estate, both real and personal, go to my godson, Julius Ceasar
+Parke, to him and the heirs of his body for ever, and for want of
+such heirs, to the heirs of my daughter Francis Curtis, and for
+want of such heirs, to the heirs of the body of my daughter Lucy
+Bird, always provided whoever shall enjoy this my estate, shall
+call themselves by the names of Parke.
+
+"Item, I give to my daughter Francis Curtis, all my estate, both
+real and personal, either in Virginia or England, and the heirs
+of her body, provided they shall call themselves by the name of
+Parke, and for want of such heirs, to the heirs of the body of my
+daughter Lucy Bird, and for want of such heirs, to the heirs of
+the body of the youngest daughter, now living, of Mistress
+Katharine Chester, and for want of such heirs, to the heirs of
+the body of Julius Ceasar Parke, provided still, that whoever has
+this my estate shall call themselves by the name of Parke, and in
+case of failure of heirs, or that they refuse to call themselves
+by the name of Parke, then my Will is, that my estate go to the
+poor of the parish of White Church, in Hampshire, but my Will is,
+that my daughter Francis Curtis pay out of my estate in Hampshire
+and Virginia, the following legacies and all my debts, that is,
+to my daughter Lucy Bird, one thousand pounds sterling; to my
+godson Julius Ceasar Parke, fifty pounds sterling each year
+during his life; to my three sisters and their children, fifty
+pounds to buy them rings; and to my Executors, hereafter named in
+England, each twenty pounds, and my Will is, that Thos. Long,
+Esq. of this island, and Mister Ceasar Rodney, and Major Saml.
+Byam, be my Executors in trust for the performance of what is to
+be done with my estate in the Leeward Islands; and that Micajah
+Perry, Esq., Mister Thomas Laws, and Mr. Richard Perry, of
+London, merchant, be Executors in trust for the performance of
+what is to be done in England and Virginia, and I doe hereby
+Revoke all former Wills, Declaring this to be my last Will and
+Testament, being writ with all my owne hand, signed and sealed in
+St John's, in Antigua, the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the
+year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred nine and ten.
+
+"Sealed, published, and Declared to be his Will and Testament,
+
+Daniel Parke.
+
+"In the presence of us,
+"Herbert Pember,
+"John Birmingham,
+"William Martin.
+
+"December the seventh. One thousand seven hundred and ten, I doe
+appoint in the room of Collonel Thos. Long, deceased, Mister
+Abraham Redwood to be one of my Executors in trust, to see this
+my Will performed.
+
+"Daniel Parke.
+
+"By the Honourable Walter Hamilton, Esq., Lieut-Gen. and
+Commander-in-Chief in and over all her Majesty's Leeward Charibbe
+Islands in America, and ordering of the same for the time being,
+December twentieth, One thousand seven hundred and ten.
+
+"Then Hubert Pember, of the said island, Esq., and William
+Martin, of the town of St. John's, vintner, personally came and
+appeared before me, and made oath on the Holy Evangelists of
+Almighty God, that they were present, and did see his late
+Excellency Daniel Parke, Esq., late Capt. Gen. and
+Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands, sign, seal, publish,
+and declare the within instrument of writing, as and for his last
+Will and Testament, and were subscribing witnesses to the same,
+and that the said Daniel Parke was then of perfect mind, memory,
+and understanding, to the best of their judgment and knowledge.
+
+"Sworn before me the day and year above written,
+
+"Walter Hamilton. "Robt. Pember.
+"Wm. Martin."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[85] Wife of Edward Chester, Esq.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 13.
+
+
+
+                ACCOUNT OF THE MACKINNON FAMILY.
+
+This Dr. Mackinnon (mentioned page 81, vol. 1,) was the second
+son of Lacklin More Mac'kinnon, chieftain of the powerful
+Highland clan of the Mac'Kinnons. He was the founder of the
+Mackinnon family in Antigua; and as his estates in that island
+are still in the hands of his representative, Wm. Alex.
+Mackinnon, Esq., a short account of that gentleman's lineal
+descent, from the celebrated Dr. Mackinnon, may not prove
+superfluous.
+
+                           Genealogy.
+
+Dr. Daniel Mackinnon, of Dickenson's Bay, Antigua, member of the
+legislature in that island, representing the town of St. John's
+in the assembly convened 22 May, 1710, and one of the most
+influential men of his day, m. Alice, dau. of William Thomas,
+Esq. of Antigua, and ancestor of the present Sir George Thomas,
+Bart., by whom he had issue,
+  i. William, of whom hereafter.
+  ii. Charles, m. the dau. of ---- Cunningham, Esq., of St.
+    Christopher's, by whom he had issue.
+  iii. Elizabeth, m. at St. John's, Antigua, 28 April, 1708, 1st,
+    Francis Carlisle, Esq. of Antigua, the second of the name in
+    that island, by whom she had a dau., Alice, who m. Ralph
+    Payne, Esq. of St. Christopher's, (nephew of Sir Charles
+    Payne, created a baronet in 1737,) and who, on her decease,
+    m. 2ndly, Margaret Galway, and by her had Admiral John Payne,
+    and Gen. Sir William Payne, who m. Lady Harriet Quin, dau. of
+    the Earl of Dunraven, and who, in 1814, took the name of
+    Galway. He was succeeded by his son, the present Baronet in
+    1831.) But by Alice Carlisle, the first wife of the aforesaid
+    Ralph Payne, he had Sir Ralph Payne, K.B., late Lord
+    Lavington, of whom a more ample detail will be found in
+    another place (vide page 136, and Appendix No. 15.) Elizabeth
+    (the dau. of Dr. Daniel Mackinnon above mentioned) m. 2ndly,
+    at a very advanced age, John Gray, of Antigua, Esq.
+
+i. William Mackinnon, son and heir, succeeded his father, Daniel
+Mackinnon, born in 1697, died 8 Oct. 1767, and was buried in
+Abbey Church, Bath, where there is a monument erected to his
+memory, m. Charity, second dau. of William Yeamans, of Mill Hill,
+Antigua, by whom he left issue,
+  i. William, son and heir, of whom hereafter.
+  ii. Elizabeth, m. Thomas Fraser, Esq., M.D., of Antigua, by
+    whom she had, 1. William-Mackinnon Fraser, of London and of
+    Bath; 2. Jane, m. to Charles Grant, Esq., chairman of the
+    Hon. East India Company, by whom she had the present Lord
+    Glenelg; 3. Charity, m. to William Chambers, Esq. M.D., by
+    whom she was the mother of the celebrated physician of the
+    same name now living. To revert to the son,
+
+i. William Mackinnon, (the son of William, by his wife, Charity
+Yeamans,) who m. Dorothy, the dau. of Henry Vernon, Esq., of an
+ancient family of that name, in Staffordshire, and had issue,
+  i. William, of whom presently.
+  ii. Daniel, Esq., barrister-at-law, who m. Rachel, dau. of
+    Thomas Eliot, Esq., and had issue.
+  iii. Henry, major-general in the army, who was slain at
+    Badajos, Spain, by the explosion of a mine, leaving, by
+    Catharine, his wife, dau. of Sir John Call, Bart., (since
+    re-married to A. R. Prior, Esq.,) 1. George, a colonel in the
+    army, and of the Coldstream Regt. of Guards, and 2. Donald,
+    captain in -- Regt. of Infantry.
+
+i. William, the eldest son, m. Harriott, the dau. of Francis
+Ffrye, of Bermudian Valley, Antigua, Esq., by whom he had,
+  i. William-Alexander, now a most able and useful M.P.,
+    representing Lymington, in Hampshire, m. to Emma, dau. of
+    Joseph Palmer, Esq.
+  ii. Daniel, colonel in the Coldstream regt. of Guards.
+  iii. Harriott, the wife of the Rev. Dr. Molesworth, rector of
+    Rochdale, in Lancashire.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 14.
+
+
+
+       PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE NEGRO INSURRECTION OF 1736.
+
+"_His Excellency and Council to the Gentlemen of the Assembly,_
+
+"Gentlemen--
+
+"I think fit to lay before you a remonstrance I have received
+from the justices who have examined into the intended
+insurrection of the negroes. I could not forbear remarking to
+this board the grateful sense I have of this great service, and
+have found here every member as moved as myself. I cannot doubt
+but the Assembly will give a _public testimony_ of their
+satisfaction and acknowledgment to the gentlemen, from whose
+wisdom, public zeal, and indefatigable care, we found a crime of
+the deepest die, and of universal danger, and the public safety
+secured by the most criminal having been brought to justice.
+
+                          "By command,
+
+                                        "De la Court Walsh, &c."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+         "_Members of the Assembly to his Excellency._
+
+"We are extremely sensible of the zeal and integrity with which
+the magistrates have acted, in endeavouring to discover and
+punish the principal offenders in the insurrection intended by
+the slaves of this island, as well as of the prudence and temper
+with which they have proceeded in this matter; and, therefore, we
+shall not be wanting on our part, to testify our acknowledgment
+for the same, by appointing some members of our house to return
+these our thanks upon that account.
+
+                                         "Thos. Kerby, Speaker."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+The following relates to the execution of "Frank," one of the
+conspirators of the Ravine:--
+
+"Gentlemen--
+
+"I sent you a report of the justices of the conspiracies, dated
+15th instant, upon which I observed to you, that the execution of
+the negro "Frank," belonging to E. Chester, Esq., had been
+suspended from Friday the 17th, to this 20th of December, upon
+some information and application to the justices; which, having
+been considered fully by them, he is, accordingly, this day to
+suffer the aforesaid sentence of death, by being burnt in Otto's
+Pasture.
+
+                                                "By command, &c.
+
+"Council Chamber, 20th Dec. 1736."
+
+
+                             ------
+
+In the thirtieth chapter of this work, will be found another
+letter from a white inhabitant of Antigua, to a friend in
+England, giving a fuller account of the mode of execution
+practised upon some of the unfortunate actors in this melancholy
+affair. The military strength of Antigua at this period consisted
+of "Monk's Hill," mounted with thirty guns; a fort, known as
+"Great Fort," at the entrance of St. John's Harbour, mounted with
+fourteen guns; and seven other batteries, with twenty-six pieces
+of cannon.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 15.
+
+
+
+                GENEALOGY OF THE THOMAS FAMILY.
+
+The family of Sir George Thomas is certainly of Welsh extraction,
+and, by tradition, came from Glamorganshire, and still possess
+considerable property in Antigua. The first of the name in the
+island was
+
+William Thomas, of Bristol, Esq., who afterwards emigrating to
+Antigua, became a member of the legislature of that island, and
+in such capacity signed the "Remonstrance," drawn up in the case
+of Col. Philip Warner, in 1676. He married, at St. Augustine's,
+Bristol, 2 Nov. 1665, Lydia Tomlinson, by whom he had issue two
+sons and two daus.--viz.,
+  i. William, son and heir, member of her majesty's council in
+    Antigua, died in or about 1717, leaving his nephew, George
+    Thomas, his heir.
+  ii. George, (second son of William Thomas,) col. in the army,
+    m. -- Winthorpe, dau. of Samuel Winthorpe, of Antigua, Esq.,
+    and sister of the first wife of Edward Byam. Col. Thomas
+    dying 13 May, 1707, left issue two sons and one dau.--viz.,
+    1. George, first Bart., of whom hereafter.
+    2. William, who m. -- Yeamans, dau. of John Yeamans, of Mill
+      Hill, Antigua, Esq., and dying, left issue,
+      William, who was killed in a duel, and left his estate to
+        his sister.
+      Elizabeth, who m. Frances Farley, Esq., and dying s. p.,
+        left her estate to her husband.
+    3. Elizabeth, m. William Dunbar, of Dickenson's Bay, Antigua,
+      Esq.
+  iii. Lydia, who m. 1st, the Hon. Samuel Martin, and 2ndly,
+    Governor Byam.
+  iv. Alice, m. to Dr. Daniel Mackinnon, of Antigua, the first
+    settler of the name in that island.
+
+Sir George Thomas, Bart., who inherited the estates of his uncle,
+the Hon. William Thomas, was appointed governor of the Leeward
+Islands, 25 Jan. 1752, and afterwards created a Baronet. He left
+issue, by his wife, Lydia, dau. of John King, Esq. of Antigua,
+  i. William, second Bart.
+  i. Lydia, who m. John White, Esq. of Chichester, M.P., and
+    whose granddau., Frances, m. Gen. Crosbie.
+  ii. Margaret, m. to Arthur Freeman, Esq., by whom she had,
+    among other issue, Inigo Freeman, of Ratten, near Eastbourne,
+    Sussex, and who assumed the name of Thomas, m. 1st,
+    Charlotte, dau. of Henry Peirce, Esq. of Bedale, co. York;
+    and 2ndly, Frances, dau. of Viscount Middleton, and has issue
+    by both marriages.
+
+Sir George Thomas dying at Upper Brook-street, London, 31 Dec.
+1774, was succeeded by his eldest son,
+
+Sir William, who was living at Pickitt's Hill, co. Hants, in
+1745, high-sheriff for Sussex in 1767, m. Margaret, only dau. and
+heir of Walter Sydserfe, Esq. of Antigua, and Soho, London, and
+had issue,
+  i. Sir George, third Bart.
+  i. Anne, m. in 1774, to Stephen Popham, Esq.
+  ii. Elisabeth, m. to Andrew Lyon, of Edinburgh, Esq.
+  iii. Maria, m. to General Popham.
+  iv. Margaret, m. to William Roe, Esq.
+  v. Lydia, m. to Alexander Adair, Esq.
+
+Sir William died 16 Dec. 1779, and was succeeded by his eldest
+son,
+
+Sir George, of Dale Park, co. Sussex, m. 1st, Jane-Louisa, dau.
+of Alexander Salis, Esq. of Andelheim, Alsace, Switzerland, by
+whom he had issue,
+  Sir George-William-Lewis, fourth Bart.
+
+Sir George (third Bart.) m. 2ndly, Sophia, dau. of Admiral John
+Montague, who was living in 1843, s. p., and dying in 1816, was
+succeeded by his son,
+
+Sir George-William-Lewis, present Bart., born about 1768, m.
+Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Welsh, Esq., by whom he has issue,
+  i. George, died in 1820.
+  ii. Montague. iii. William.
+  i. Helen. ii. Sophia.
+  iii. Louisa-Leonora, m. in 1841, to -- Browne, Esq., 41st regt.
+    at Weymouth.
+  iv. Elizabeth.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 16.
+
+
+
+           GENEALOGY OF THE CARLISLES AND LAVINGTONS.
+
+The first of the Carlisle family of whom we find any record, was
+
+Richard Carlisle, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Conyers, and
+had issue,
+
+Thomas Carlisle, who m. Anne, dau. of -- Bussell, Esq. of co.
+Somerset, and had, among other children,
+
+Francis Carlisle, of Mells, in Somerset, and who was included in
+the Heraldic Visitation of that county for the year 1623. He m. a
+lady whose name is not on record, but who was alive in 1663, when
+her son bequeathed her an annuity of 15l. for her life. This son
+was a second
+
+Francis Carlisle, of Wemden, and of Durleigh, near Bridgewater,
+at the former of which places is a property still known by the
+name of "Carlisle's." The first Francis Carlisle had another son,
+viz., John Carlisle, prebendary of Comb, in the cathedral of
+Wells, between 1661 and 1667, and who, on 7 June, 1664, proved
+his brother Francis' will in the Archdeacon's Court at Taunton,
+and in which will, mention is made of a third
+
+Francis Carlisle, plainly the first settler of the name in
+Antigua, young at the date of his father's death, in 1664, but
+who afterwards emigrated to Antigua, where he became a member of
+the legislature in 1676, on 25 July of which year, in such
+capacity, he signed a remonstrance in vindication of Col. Philip
+Warner, inserted in another place, (vide p. 317.) His son,
+
+Col. Francis Carlisle, was still alive in 1732, when we find him
+named as executor to the will of Col. Edward Warner, the
+representative, in this island, of Sir Thomas Warner, and the
+owner of the Folly and Savannah estates. He (Col. Francis
+Carlisle) m. at St John's, Antigua, 28 April, 1708, Anne, dau. of
+Daniel Mackinnon, Esq., and had an only dau. and heiress,
+
+Alice Carlisle, who m. at St John's, Antigua, 8 July, 1735, the
+Hon. Ralph Payne, chief justice, and afterwards governor of St
+Christopher's, and by whom, who died 1762, she had (besides a
+dau. Elizabeth, the wife of Drury Ottley, Esq., who died at his
+house in Bryanstone-square, London, 22 April, 1822) a son,
+
+Sir Ralph Payne, K.B., created Lord Lavington, who succeeded to
+this estate on the death of his mother, at St Christopher's, in
+1760, at the time when a general sickness prevailed in that
+island. Lord Lavington was born at Basseterre, in the parish of
+St George, in the island of St. Christopher's, 19 March, 1739,
+and before his elevation to the peerage, in the imperial
+parliament, he represented the several places of Shaftesbury,
+Camelford, and Plympton. In 1771, he was made Knight of the Bath;
+and in 1795, was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron
+Lavington of Lavington. He m. at St George's, Hanover-square, 1
+Sept. 1767, Frances, Baroness Kolbel, one of the ladies who
+accompanied her Majesty Queen Charlotte, on her leaving Germany,
+as the bride elect of King George III. Lord Lavington died at
+Antigua, 1 Aug. 1807, leaving to his lady his estates for her
+life.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 17.
+
+
+
+           GENEALOGY OF SIR CHARLES AUGUSTUS FITZROY.
+
+William Crosby, brigadier-general, col. of the Royal Irish,
+equerry to the Queen of George II., appointed governor of the
+Leeward Islands, and afterwards of New York, in 1730,[86] m.
+Grace, the sister of George Montague, Earl of Halifax, and dying
+10 March, 1736, left issue by her a dau.,
+
+Elizabeth, who m. 1st, Lord Augustus Fitzroy, second son of
+Charles, second Duke of Grafton,[87] and 2ndly, James Jefferys.
+She dying 21 Dec. 1788, left by her first husband a son,
+
+Augustus-Charles Fitzroy, third Duke of Grafton, who m. 29 Jan.
+1756, Anne Liddell, dau. and sole heir of Henry, Lord
+Ravenscroft, by whom he had issue,
+  i. George-Henry, fourth Duke of Grafton, who m. Charlotte, dau.
+    of James, third Earl of Waldegrave, by whom he had a son,
+    Henry Fitzroy, Earl of Euston, the present Duke of Grafton.
+  ii. Charles, a general in the army, and colonel of the 48th
+    Regiment of Foot, m. 20 June, 1795, Frances, dau. of Edward
+    Millar Munday,[88] of Shepley, co. Derby, the issue of which
+    marriage was a son,
+    Sir Charles-Augustus Fitzroy, K.H., the present
+      commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands, born 10 June,
+      1796, m. Lady Mary Lennox, dau. of Charles, fourth Duke of
+      Richmond, by which marriage he has issue.
+
+
+                             ------
+
+[86] Philip Crosby, Esq., another descendant of this family, and
+a distinguished admiral in the British navy, in 1792, m.
+Elizabeth, dau. of William Gunthorpe, Esq. of Bugle Hall, co.
+Southampton, and of Winthorpe, in the island of Antigua.
+
+Lieut.-Gen. Henry Crosby, another of that family, died at Bath,
+17 Jan. 1822, aged 79; m. Anne, dau. of the late Samuel Eliot,
+Esq. of Belfast Division, in the island of Antigua.
+
+[87] Henry, the father of this Charles, was the first Duke of
+Grafton, so created 11 Sept. 1675. He was mortally wounded by a
+shot, that broke two of his ribs, while heading a party in an
+assault upon the city of Cork, 21 Sept. 1690, and of which he
+died, 9 Oct. following. His son, Charles, (the second Duke of
+Grafton,) had two sons, who dying in his lifetime, (the eldest,
+George, Earl of Euston, s. p.,) he was succeeded in his title by
+his grandson, the son of Lord Augustus Fitzroy, by his wife,
+Elizabeth Crosby, of whose marriage mention is made in Oldmixon's
+"History of the British Empire," vol. i. p. 260:--
+
+"Judge Morris makes mention of Lord Augustus Fitzroy being at New
+York, where was then a man-of-war, on board of which that lord
+had a command, and while he was in this city, he took to wife a
+dau. of the governor, (Brigadier-General Crosby,) an agreeable
+young lady." We need hardly repeat, this lady was the
+great-grandmother of the present commander-in-chief. Sir C. A.
+Fitzroy.
+
+[88] William Munday, of Markinton, co. Derby, Esq., another
+member of this family, m. Harriott-Georgiana, dau. of James
+Frampton, of Moreton, co. Dorset, Esq., and granddau. of Phillis
+Byam, an heiress of the island of Antigua.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 18.
+
+
+
+              GENEALOGY OF THE WILLOUGHBY FAMILY.
+
+The Willoughby family trace from a long line of noble ancestors,
+the first of whom known in England was
+
+Sir John de Willoughby, one of the followers of William, Duke of
+Normandy, who, on the conquest of England, gave to him the
+lordship from him called Willoughby, in Lincolnshire; and from
+this Sir John, we pass to his descendant, in a direct line,
+
+Sir William de Willoughby, who, the 54th of the reign of Henry
+III., was signed with the cross, as the phrase then was, and
+accompanied Prince Edward (afterwards King Edward I.) into the
+Holy Land. He m. Alice, dau. of John, Lord Beke, of Eresby, and
+had issue,
+
+Sir Robert de Willoughby, who, the 4th of Henry II., inherited,
+as next heir, the estates of Anthony Bec, bishop of Durham, and
+was summoned to parliament, in three years afterwards, as Baron
+Willoughby de Eresby. From this nobleman we pass to his
+great-great-grandson, and lineal descendant,
+
+William Willoughby, fifth Baron Willoughby de Eresby, who died in
+1409, leaving, by Lucy, his first wife, dau. of Roger, Lord
+Strange, two sons--viz.,
+  i. Robert, sixth Baron Willoughby de Eresby, ancestor of the
+    Willoughbys of Eresby.
+  ii. Sir Thomas, a soldier of distinction, and one of the heroes
+    of Agincourt. He m. Joan, the dau. and heir of Sir Richard
+    FitzAlan, and was succeeded by his son,
+
+Sir Robert, who, dying in his minority, was succeeded by his
+brother,
+
+Sir Christopher, who was made a Knight of the Bath, 6 July, 1483.
+He m. Margaret, dau. of Sir William Jennet, and by her (among
+other children) had,
+
+Sir Christopher, knighted for his gallant conduct at the siege of
+Tournay, temp. Henry VIII. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of Sir George
+Talboys, and by her had,
+
+Sir William, Knt., who was elevated to the peerage, by letters
+patent, dated 16 Feb. 1547, in the dignity of Lord Willoughby of
+Parham. His lordship having distinguished himself in the wars of
+Henry VIII., was made lieutenant of Calais, 4th of Edward VI.,
+and resided there the remainder of that reign. He m. Elizabeth,
+the dau. and heir of Sir Thomas Heneage, by whom he had,
+
+Charles, second Lord Willoughby of Parham, who espoused Lady
+Margaret Clinton, dau. of Edward, first Earl of Lincoln, by whom
+he had issue,
+
+William, who died before his father, leaving issue, by Elizabeth,
+his wife, dau. and heir of Sir Christopher Hilliard, a son,
+
+William, third Lord Willoughby of Parham, who succeeded his
+grandfather. This nobleman died in 1617, leaving issue, by his
+wife, Lady Frances Manners, dau. of John, fourth Earl of Rutland,
+three sons, Henry, Francis, and William. Henry was the fourth
+lord, but dying in his infancy, his brother
+
+Francis succeeded him, and became fifth Lord Willoughby of
+Parham. This nobleman, on whose account, in the first and
+principal degree, we have introduced the present lineage, married
+Elizabeth, second dau. and co-heir of Edward Cicil, Visct.
+Wimbledon, and had issue one son, William, who died young, and
+three daughters,
+  i. Diana, m. to Heneage, Earl of Winchilsea.
+  ii. Frances, m. to William Brereton, Lord Brereton, of Laghlin,
+    in Ireland; and
+  iii. Elizabeth, m. to Roger Jones, Visct. Ranelagh.
+
+This nobleman--viz., Francis, fifth Lord Willoughby--was one of
+the most celebrated characters of his age, but whose fortune
+brought him to Antigua, and the other Caribbee Islands, of which
+he became one of the most distinguished and notable governors;
+having under his command at one time, the whole archipelago of
+which the British empire in those parts consist.
+
+Those who would wish to be fully acquainted with the character
+and conduct of this nobleman, must consult all the annals of the
+eventful period in which he lived, comprising the entire epoch of
+the civil wars, and which, from first to last, abound with
+anecdotes and facts relating to his personal history. We find him
+first mentioned in connexion with the siege of Newark, a place he
+gallantly besieged and took, sword in hand, at twelve o'clock at
+night; and also at the termination of the civil commotions, as
+state prisoner in the Tower of London, for attempting (after his
+return from the West India Islands, in 1652) to raise a rebellion
+against the government of the Protector, Oliver Cromwell.
+
+In 1649, when the English fleet revolted from the parliament and
+the service of the Commonwealth, they chose this nobleman,
+Francis Lord Willoughby, for their commander and admiral; a
+capacity in which he attended upon his Majesty Charles II., then
+in Holland. Pointing out to his Majesty the islands in the West
+Indies which still remained faithful to his cause, and unsubdued,
+and where had congregated a vast assemblage of gallant royalists
+--the island of Barbados alone counting several thousands of them
+--his Majesty proposed to him to give him a commission of
+governor thereof, provided only he would go out and assume the
+command in his own person; terms with which Lord F. Willoughby
+was readily induced to comply--obtaining also a commission from
+the Earl of Carlisle, to whom those islands had been previously
+granted. Thus armed at all points, he arrived at the island of
+Barbados at the beginning of the year 1650. The first act of his
+lordship's government, and of the ardent spirits there assembled
+and associated with him, was, now that Charles I. had perished by
+the fatal axe, to proclaim Charles II., his son, as his
+successor;--this was done when, by the laws of the Commonwealth,
+it was felony and death to acknowledge the Prince of Wales as
+king of England, or rightful heir of any of the territories
+thereunto belonging;--and Charles II. was proclaimed accordingly,
+on 7th May, 1650. But the legislature of Barbados being at this
+time engaged in some affairs of a very delicate nature, they
+wished to bring them to a close before any new commander assumed
+the head of the government; they therefore entreated his lordship
+to suspend his authority for the space of three months, when, on
+his return at the end of that period, they promised him all due
+submission--an arrangement to which Lord Willoughby assenting, he
+left Barbados, with some of his personal friends, (Major Byam in
+the number,) and came to Antigua, where they again proclaimed
+Charles II. as king of England and the territories thereto
+belonging. This seems to be the first occasion of his visiting
+the shores of this island; for at the end of the specified term
+he returned to Barbados, where, at the expiration of little more
+than another year, a fleet arrived for the reduction of that
+colony, an account of which will be found in the annals of the
+Byam family. (Vide page 40, vol. i.)
+
+Lord Willoughby availing himself of the comprehensive nature of
+the terms then and there obtained, went to England. After the
+restoration of Charles II. to the throne of his ancestors, his
+lordship renewed his pretensions to Antigua and other West India
+colonies; and again obtaining a commission, dated 12th June,
+1663, he shipped himself for those ports, and arrived at Barbados
+in the August following. In another part of this work is given an
+account of his loss off the Saint's Island, near Guadaloupe, with
+a large fleet under his command, destined for the recovery of St.
+Christopher's, recently taken by the French. On his plantations
+at Surinam, his lordship expended no less than £26,000, a vast
+sum in those days, equal to £150,000 according to the value of
+money in our time; and these possessions (all lost by the
+surrender of Surinam, according to the terms of the treaty of
+Breda) his lordship, by his will, bequeathed to his nephew,
+Lieut-Gen. Henry Willoughby; his Barbados property to his next
+nephew, William; and his Antigua estates to his dau., Lady
+Brereton, already mentioned. Of this possession of his lordship's
+in the island of Antigua, we find traces in the maps of the same,
+as late as 1748, wherein on "Collins's" estate, near Nonsuch
+Harbour, is marked down, "My lord's pond," "My lord's cove,"
+evidently in allusion to his lordship's former possessions, and
+perhaps personal residence in the island. Lord Francis Willoughby
+dying without male issue him surviving, his brother
+
+William succeeded to his hereditary honours, and became sixth
+Lord Willoughby of Parham, and obtaining letters patent for the
+renewal of his brother Francis's commission, dated 3 Jan. 1666-7,
+he shipped himself for these colonies, where he arrived soon
+afterwards. His sons Henry and William, acted conspicuous parts
+in the West India islands, where, together with their father,
+they found their grave, though no memorial of them now seems to
+exist, nor, indeed, have the exact dates of their deaths been
+ascertained; but their father, William, Lord Willoughby, by whom
+the most ancient of the Antigua laws, as they now exist in the
+printed statutes book, were signed, died at Barbados, on 10
+April, 1673. To the circumstance of the considerable mortality in
+this family (occurring in these islands) may fairly be traced the
+speedy extinction of their hereditary honours, and thus enabling
+a foot soldier (collaterally related to those who died in the
+Western hemisphere) to claim and recover the ancient honours of
+the Willoughby family; for Edward Willoughby, a private in the
+confederate army, serving under the illustrious Duke of
+Marlborough, perceiving the family honours vacant, and knowing
+himself to be a cadet of the house, laid claim to them, and
+succeeded in establishing his right to the same, though he did
+not long enjoy them, dying in April, 1713, when his brother
+Charles succeeded him. It would not be consistent with the plan
+of this work to pursue the history of this family further than to
+observe, that the title finally became extinct in 1779, in the
+person of George Willoughby, the seventeenth Lord Willoughby of
+Parham.
+
+The present Earl of Abingdon traces his descent from George,
+seventh Lord Willoughby of Parham, (who succeeded [on the failure
+of male issue] William, sixth Lord Willoughby of Parham,
+capt.-gen. of the Leeward and Windward Caribbee Islands, and who
+died 10 April, 1673,) in the following manner:--
+
+Elizabeth, dau. and sole heir of George, seventh Lord Willoughby,
+m. James Bertie, second son of James Bertie, second Earl of
+Abingdon, (by his wife, Eleanor, dau. of Sir Henry Leigh,) and
+had issue a son, who succeeded his grandfather as Willoughby,
+third Earl of Abingdon, born in 1692, m. Anna-Maria, dau. of Sir
+John Cullin, by whom he had issue, Willoughby, fourth Earl of
+Abingdon, born in 1740, m. Charlotte, dau. and coheir of Sir
+Peter Warren, K.G., and dying in 1799, was succeeded by his son,
+Montague, fifth and present Earl of Abingdon, born in 1784, m.
+Emily, dau. of Gen. Thomas Gage, by whom he has issue a son, Lord
+Norreys, born in 1808, M.P. for co. of Oxford.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 19.
+
+
+
+        GENEALOGY OF THE MARTIN FAMILY, OF GREEN CASTLE.
+
+-- Martin, colonel in the army. He emigrated to the West Indies,
+and became proprietor of an estate at Surinam, at which colony,
+soon after the Restoration, he swore to having been present at
+Charing Cross, London, when Charles, Prince of Wales, was
+proclaimed King, under the title of Charles II., and when his
+proclamation was read, commanding all persons _then in office_ to
+continue so until further notice. This gentleman is said to have
+been, under the appellation of Sovereign, the chief magistrate of
+Belfast It is supposed he died at Surinam, previous to the
+removal of that colony to Antigua, according to the terms of the
+treaty of Breda, in 1667, leaving, by ----, his wife, a son,
+
+Samuel Martin, major in the army, speaker of the house of
+assembly in Antigua, in 1689, during the administration of
+Christopher Codrington, the elder. He m. 1st, 18 Aug. 1690, the
+relict of Christopher Reynall, (who died 8 Aug. 1691, s. p.;) and
+2ndly, 28 Jan. 1692, Lydia, dau. of the Hon. William Thomas, of
+Antigua, by whom (who re-married Governor Edward Byam) he left
+issue three sons,
+  i. Samuel, son and heir, of whom hereafter.
+  ii. Thomas, M.D., born in Antigua, died at Jamaica in 1747,
+    leaving issue.
+  iii. Josiah, president of the Council of Antigua, m. 1st, Mrs.
+    Chester, and 2ndly, Mary, dau. of William Yeamans, of New
+    York, by whom he left a numerous issue.
+
+Major Samuel Martin being murdered 25 Dec. 1701, was buried at
+St. John's, Antigua, and was succeeded in his estates by his
+eldest son,
+
+Samuel, (above mentioned,) a minor at his father's death, but
+became afterwards colonel in the army, and speaker of the house
+of assembly in Antigua, from about 1753 to 1763. He was possessed
+of great virtues and eminent qualifications, and having insured
+the goodwill of all his contemporaries, died in 1788, universally
+lamented, at the advanced age of about 90 years, leaving by his
+first wife, Frances, dau. of John Yeamans, Esq. of Mill Hill,
+Antigua,
+  i. Henrietta, wife of Col. Anstar FitzGerald, (of the Desmond
+    family,) and who was ancestor of William Thomas FitzGerald,
+    the poet, and John Fonblanque, the present Commissioner of
+    Bankruptcies, and
+  ii. Samuel, treasurer to the Princess of Wales, M.P. for
+    Camelford and Hastings, and one of the joint-secretaries of
+    the treasury. He is famous for the duel he fought with the
+    celebrated Wilkes, who received a wound in the encounter.
+    Samuel Martin died s. p.
+
+And by his second wife, Sarah, dau. of Edward Wyke, of Monserrat,
+Esq., Col. Martin had three sons,
+  i. Henry, of whom hereafter.
+  ii. Josiah, appointed governor of North Carolina, 8 Dec. 1770.
+  iii. William-Byam, of White Knights, Reading, high-sheriff for
+    the county of Berks, in 1787, died in 1816, leaving by his
+    wife Charlotte, dau. of Col. Yorke, three sons--viz., 1.
+    Samuel, lieut.-col. in the guards; killed in France, 13 Dec.
+    1813; m. Elizabeth, dau. of Samuel Rolleston, Esq., by whom
+    he left issue three sons and one dau.; 2. William-Byam,
+    resident in Hyderabad, now of Hyde-park-corner-terrace; and
+    3. Henry-Yorke-Byam, d. unm. in 1808.
+
+Sir Henry, commissioner of the navy, M.P., born in 1733, created
+a Baronet in 1791. He m. Eliza-Anne, dau. of Harding Parker,
+Esq., by whom he had issue,
+  i. Sir William-Henry, second Baronet.
+  ii. Josiah, collector of the customs, Antigua.
+  iii. Sir Byam, G.C.B., M.P., comptroller of the navy; m.
+    Catherine, dau. of Commissioner Fanshawe, by whom he has
+    issue, 1. Capt William-Fanshawe Martin, R.N.; 2. Capt
+    Henry-Byam Martin, R.N., and a dau.
+  iv. Judith, m. to John-Poll. Bastard, Esq., Devon.
+
+Sir William-Henry, second Baronet, born in 1768, died in 1842,
+leaving issue by his wife, Catherine, (to whom he was married 23
+Jan. 1792,) dau. of Thomas Powell, Esq., a son and heir,
+
+Sir Henry, the third and present Baronet, born in 1801, and
+married to his first cousin, Catharine, the dau. of Sir Byam
+Martin, G.C.B.
+
+
+
+
+                            No. 20.
+
+
+
+                GENEALOGY OF THE FREEMAN FAMILY.
+
+The lineage of the Freeman family may be traced from Arthur
+Freeman, of Lincoln's-inn-fields, London, and of Antigua, Esq.,
+who espoused Dorothy, relict of George Symes, Esq. of Antigua,
+(by which marriage the estates called "Freeman's," in Antigua,
+now in possession of Inigo-Freeman Thomas, Esq., came into that
+family,) and had issue a son, Thomas, who m. Rebecca, dau. of
+Col. Wm. Byam, (_see_ Byam's _Pedigree_,) and by her had,
+  i. Arthur, of whom hereafter.
+  ii. Thomas, m. Anne, dau. and co-heir of Col. John Wickham, of
+    Old North Sound, in the Island of Antigua, and by which
+    marriage he became possessed of the estate still known by the
+    name of "Wickhams." Dying, he left issue two sons, 1. Thomas,
+    speaker of the house of assembly, Antigua, in 1790, m.
+    Christiana, second dau. of Francis Ffry, of Bermudian Valley,
+    Antigua, Esq., by whom (who died at Cheltenham, 23 Feb. 1808)
+    he had a son, Thomas-Inigo-Wickham Freeman, Esq., a capt. in
+    the army, and late of his Majesty's 18th Hussars, and of
+    Wickhams, in the island of Antigua, as lineal descendant of
+    John Wickham aforesaid, (of the family of the celebrated
+    William of Wickham, the founder of Winchester College, and
+    New College, Oxford,) whose arms Capt. Freeman quarters with
+    his own; and 2. Arthur, an accomplished scholar, and rector
+    of St. Paul's, Antigua, where he died in 1815.
+  iii. Byam, m. Anne, dau. and co-heir of Thomas Watkins, Esq. of
+    Popeshead, Antigua, by whom he had an only child, Harriet,
+    the wife of Thomas Oliver, Esq. of Boston, in North America,
+    who had issue two daus., Alice, late wife of Captain Haynes,
+    R.N., and Emily, who m. -- Elton, Esq.
+  iv. Robert, v. Charles, both died unm.
+  i. Elizabeth, m. to Richard Kirwan, Esq.
+  ii. Rebecca, m. to Daniel Warner, Esq.
+  iii. Mary, m. to -- Phillis, Esq.
+  iv. Charlotte, m. to General Sherington Talbot, (son of John
+    Talbot, Bishop of Durham, and brother of Charles, Lord
+    Talbot, lord chancellor of England, and ancestor of the now
+    Earl Talbot,) by whom she had an only dau., born at Antigua
+    during the raging of a hurricane, 28 July, 1751, and
+    appropriately christened "Indiana;" m. at St George's,
+    Bloomsbury, 1773, to Louis-Peake Garland, Esq., by whom she
+    had two sons, Nathaniel, and Peake Garland, Esqs., the former
+    of Ensom, in Surrey, and the latter a barrister-at-law,
+    recently deceased at Cheltenham.
+
+Arthur Freeman (the eldest son of Thomas and Rebecca Freeman) m.
+Margaret, dau. of Sir George Thomas, first Bart., and dying in
+1780, left two sons and three daus., Inigo and George, who, in
+conformity with the will of their maternal grandfather, assumed
+the name of Thomas. (For Inigo-Freeman Thomas, _see_ Thomas'
+_pedigree in this work_.) George, who was lieut.-col. in the 11th
+Hussars, and proprietor of an estate at Popeshead, in Antigua,
+died unm. in Nov. 1827.
+
+                            THE END.
+
+         T. C. Savill, Printer, 107, St. Martin's Lane.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume II
+(of 2), by Anonymous
+
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