36 NAPARIMA. 



liouse only, by extreme exertion, saved. I>ut the ground 

 liad scarcely cooled when replanting and rebuilding com- 

 menced ; and now the canes were from ten to twelve 

 feet high, the works nearly ready for the coming crop- 

 time, and no sign of the fire was left save a few leafless 

 trees, M^hich we found, on riding up to them, to be charred 

 at the base. 



And yet men say that the Englishman loses his energy in 

 a tropic climate. 



"We had a charming Sunday there, amid charming society, 

 down even to the dogs and cats ; and not the least charm- 

 ing object among many was little Franky, the Coolie 

 butler's child, who ran in and out with the dogs, gay in 

 his little cotton shirt, and melon-shaped cap, and silver 

 bracelets, and climbed on the Squire's knee, and nestled in 

 his bosom, and played with his seals; and looked up trust- 

 ini;ly into our faces w^ith great soft eyes, like a little brown 

 guazu-j)ita fawn out of the forest. A hapj^y child, and in 

 a happy place. 



Then to church at Savannah Grande, riding, of course ; for 

 the mud was abysmal, and it was often safer to ride in the 

 ditch than on the road. The village, with a tramway through 

 it, stood high and healthy. The best houses ^vere those of 

 Chinese. The poorer Chinese find peddling employments 

 and trade about the villacres, rather than hard work on the 



