276 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



other Dutch colonies, where cinnamon-water, perhaps 

 also cinnamon-oil, is distilled from it. 



Cascarilla Bark, Croton Cascarilla L. Catesb. II, 

 t. 46, is likewise gathered on sundry of the islands. 



Under the name of Squills (also Sea-onions) a large 

 onion similar to the squilla is collected on the sandy 

 shore, dried, and sent to North America. The ap- 

 pearance of these is the same, and it is said their vir- 

 tues are quite the same as those possessed by the ordi- 

 nary Scilla maritime*. At this time the plant was not 

 in flower, and I could not determine whether it is a 

 species of the Scilla, or (more likely) a Pancratium. 



Fishing is a common employment of the poorer white 

 inhabitants as well as of many negroes ; however, fish 

 are not always to be had when wanted. After a 

 profitable or heavy catch, the fishermen dispose them- 

 selves to drinking up their gains rather than to taking 

 thought of their own needs or those of the market. 

 There is no regular fish-market, but the fishermen send 

 what they catch from house to house, or one must go 

 to them. There is a great variety of fish. The finest 

 and most remarkable have been well described and 

 pictured by Catesby. The high, splendid, contrasting 

 colors with which most of the fishes of these and the 

 other West Indian waters are adorned, are certainly 

 very striking. The most glowing red, the purest blue, 

 green, and yellow are as common among them as such 

 high colors are rare among European fishes. Before 

 coming hither I was disposed to think that Catesby, in 

 the representations of his fishes, had done violence to 

 nature; but I became convinced of the contrary, and 

 of the truth of his colorings ; the feathered inhabitants 

 of the South American forests are scarcely more 



