t _> 



2 MONTSEnBAT. 



the groiind, a group of Avliitisli fruits, nearly two inclies 

 loug; peels carefully off the skin, \vliicli is beset with innu- 

 merable sharp hairs, and eats the sour-sweet refreshing 

 pulp : but not too often, for there are always hairs enough 

 left to make the tongue bleed if more than one or two 

 are eaten. 



AVith lips somewhat less parched, we rode away again to 

 see the sight of the day ; and. a right pleasant sight it was. 

 These Montserrat hills had been, within the last three 

 years, almost the most lawless and neglected part of the 

 island. Princi^oally by the energy and tact of one man, 

 the wild inhabitants^ had been conciliated, brought under 

 law", and made to pay their light taxes, in return for a 

 safety and comfort enjoyed perhaps by no other peasants 

 on earth. 



A few words on the excellent system, which bids fair to 

 establish in this colony a thriving and loyal peasant pro- 

 prietary. Up to 1847 crown-lands were seldom alienated. 

 In that year a price was set upon them, and persons in 

 illegal occupation ordered to petition for their holdings. Un- 

 fortunately, though a time was lixed for petitioning, no time 

 was fixed for paying ; and consequently the vast majority 

 of petitioners never took any further steps in the matter. 

 Unfortunately, too, the price fixed 2 per acre was too 

 high ; and squatting went on much as before. 



