TALE OF A TAtt. 533 



the appeal to the sable damsels had the effect of silencing their din. 

 She added, addressing herself to Jack : 



" Neber mind dem, massa, dem foolish too much ; go in dat shed 

 yonder, sit down there, and I go wash your trousers." 



" Thank'ee, my good blackee," said the sailor, " I can scrub them 

 myself, because I'm used to it; besides, I've no money to pay you, 

 my lass." 



The girl informed him that she required no payment ; that she 

 would conceive it a favour if he would allow her to perform the pro- 

 posed trifling service, as those employed in washing were a little 

 piqued at seeing a man rivaling them at what they conceived was 

 their sex's peculiar employment. This was spoken, not in the most 

 eloquent language, it is true, but with perfect natural politeness; for 

 she possessed what was the first requisite of genuine politeness, 

 namely, 'a kind heart and good sense. 



The offer of Nancy was accepted by Rattlin, who retired to an 

 ajapa (a shed). The girl finished her voluntary work, and- hung the 

 habiliments on a bamboo to dry ; this, a tropical mid-day sun and a 

 breeze that proceeded from the neighbouring mountains, shortly ac- 

 complished; but in the interim, Nancy came into the ajapa, and en- 

 tered into conversation with the sailor. 



f( How do all the people do in England, Massa ?" said the brown 

 damsel. This is a friendly sort of interrogative generally asked of 

 new-comers from " Home, 1 " as Creoles call Britain. Jack had been 

 long enough in the West Indies to understend the question, which 

 was, however, too comprehensive for him immediately to reply to. 

 After a pause, he answered : 



" Why, since the war, seamen's wages have been more than 31. 10s. 

 out of England, my lass." 



"Me mean, how your fambly, you father and mother do?" said 

 the mulattress. 



" I have neither father nor mother," said the mariner ; " they died 

 ever since I first went to sea, which was when I was a little boy." 



" Me sposed you no hab mother, or you no 'blige for wash your 

 own clothes; but neber mind, poor massa, luck go change, and you 

 go get plenty money. But wha' can I do to 'muse (amuse) you, till 

 you trousers dry ? Yes, I go make one little dinna ge (for) you." 



Rattlin, though not a man of keen penetration, had the sense to 

 comprehend this delicate and hospitable proposal; and the state of 

 his appetite and purse induced him to accede to it. In a few minutes, 

 Nancy spread a little table with a cloth as white as snow, on which 

 she laid a cake of cassava, a wholesome kind of food (extracted from 

 a root, which, in its natural state, is a deadly poison), some pound 

 plantains, fried eggs, a dish of cascodoroes (a small delicious kind of 

 river fish,) and by way of beverage, a jug of water, a bottle of syrup, 

 and some weak claret.* These viands, though her common fare, 

 Jack surveyed as luxuries ; but he could not prevail on his humane 

 hostess to sit down and partake of them with him. No ; she knew 

 he was but a poor sailor, but yet he was a WHITE MAN ; consequently, 



* Vin de Cote is almost as cheap in the Colonies as porter is in London. 



