114 Naturalist at Large 



visual aspect of the inside of a piece of machinery but 

 also learned something about the value of caring for 

 that equipment. From this stage they were carried to 

 that of learning to drive trucks, run pumps, operate 

 power shovels, drive tractors — in short, carry on 

 practically all the mechanical operation of our plant's 

 equipment, and that, too, with a considerable degree of 

 skiU and success. 



Imperceptibly this group of men and boys were the 

 forerunners of an upper class in the island's native 

 society, a class which had heretofore known no marks 

 of distinction, no gradation of education, no differ- 

 ential as to degrees of ability, all because the class 

 as a whole were what was locally known in Nassau as 

 being behind God's back. This awakening of class 

 consciousness has been a stabiHzing influence for the 

 community as a whole. Just as the first group of truck 

 drivers were looked upon by all and sundry as being 

 people quite specially favored and quite admirable to 

 emulate, so also have been the actions of this upper 

 class of society. It is seen that they have better homes, 

 homes which are tangible and possible of attainment. 

 It is seen that some of this group are acting even now 

 to get a better education. It is seen that this group as 

 a whole are being invested with local authority and as 

 such, shall we say, perhaps like the bureaucratic regime 

 in Russia, it is a position worth striving for. Not only 

 is the financial recompense appreciable, but so also 

 is the standing which this group has in managing local 

 affairs. 



Our whole purpose in handling this group of Ne- 



