378 CUBA AND POETO HICO 



1120 to the square mile, the most densely populated coun- 

 try in the world to be found outside of China. There are 

 many white families, numbering altogether 20,000 persons, 

 most of whom have for generations looked upon Barbados 

 as their home ; the attachment of these people to the island 

 and the traditions of the past is exceedingly strong. The 

 island has been settled for so long, and so many generations 

 have lived side by side, that a general understanding ap- 

 pears to have grown up of the respective habits and 

 requirements of the different classes. The whites are out- 

 numbered by the blacks in the proportion of over eight to 

 one, and such blacks as cannot be seen elsewhere. 



The Barbadian blacks have evolved into a distinct race, 

 well marked by a physiognomy and dialect which can be 

 recognized wherever seen. They are especially noted for 

 their large and rotund heads, accompanied by open coun- 

 tenances and pleasant features. To the credit of the Eng- 

 lishman it can be said that the effects of miscegenation are 

 hardly visible upon the island, and that the African race 

 seems to have been preserved in all its opaque purity. In 

 dress the Barbadians differ from the other West Indian 

 Islanders, the costumes of the men being neat suits of 

 white cotton, coat, shirt, and trousers, while the univer- 

 sal costume of the women is also pure white, accompanied 

 by a neatly folded head-dress. Their clothing is stiffly 

 starched with cassava. Shoes are worn only to church. 

 Obiism seems to have almost disappeared from among 

 these black people in Barbados, and most of them can read 

 and write. 



Before the ship has dropped its anchor in the offing, a 

 mile from shore, it is surrounded by hundreds of these 

 people in boats. They are passed masters in the art of at- 

 tracting the attention of the stranger, and scramble with a 

 good-natured ferocity for his patronage. A rowboat hav- 

 ing been selected from the crowd, the journey to the 

 wharves begins. As these are approached they are seen to 

 be a living mass of black humanity, and almost as soon as 



