260 THE BACES. 



wlio hung about tlie horses, whether Barbadians or Trinidad 

 men, were of very angelic morals : but they looked like 

 heroes compared with the bloated hangdog roughs and quasi- 

 grooms of English races. As for the sporting gentlemen, not 

 having the honour to know them, I can only say that they 

 looked like gentlemen, and that I wish, in all courtesy, that 

 they had been more wdsely employed. 



But the N"egro, or the coloured man of the low^er class, 'was 

 in his glory. He w^as smart, clean, shiny, happy, according 

 to his light. He got up into trees, and clustered there, 

 grinning from ear to ear. He bawled about island horses 

 and Barbadian horses for the Barbadians mustered strong, 

 and a fight w^as exj)ected, wdaich, however, never came off; he 

 sang songs, possibly some of them extempore, like that wdiich 

 amused one's childhood concerning a once notable event in a 



certain island 



*' I went to (la Place 

 To see da horse-race, 

 I see Mr. Barton 

 A-wipin' ob his face. 



Bun, Alhmght, 

 Run for your life ; 

 See Mr. Barton 

 A-comin' wid a knife. 



Oh, Mr. Barton, 

 I sarry for your loss ; 

 If you.no believe me, 

 I tie my head across." 



