608 



SlcivarVs Present State of Jamaica. 



If a pjciitlcman pajs his addresses to 

 a lady, it is not llioiight necessary, as a 

 lioniiigi; to Ijer delicacy, to get rid, « 

 frriori, of his illicit establishment, nor is 

 tlie lady so nnrtasonable as to expect 

 such a sacrifice; the blown lady remains 

 in the house till witliiii a few days of the 

 Tiiarriago, and, if she is of an accommo- 

 dating; disposition, even assists in 

 making preparations for the reception of 

 the bride ; in which case there may be a 

 tolerable good niidcrslandin^ between 

 them, and the wife may even condesccn<l 

 to take in good part the occasional calls, 

 inquiries, and prolfered services of the 

 ex-favourite, and make suilablc re- 

 turns of kindness to hiT and her chil- 

 dren. Nothing is more common than 

 for the brown mistress of a white man to 

 apply to a rrsi)ectable married lady 

 to bteonie go4motiier to her female 

 infant. 



The white females of the West Indies 

 are generally rather of a more slender 

 form than the Euroijcan women. 'I'hcir 

 complexion, which they are peculiarly 

 careful to preserve, is either a pure 

 ■white or brunette, w ilh but litlle or none 

 of the bloom of the rose, which, to a 

 stranger, has rather a sickly ajipcarance 

 at first, llioiiirh that impression gradually 

 •wears off. Tlicir features are sweet and 

 legular — their eyes rather expressive 

 than sparkling — their voices soft and 

 pleasing — and their whole air and looks 

 tinder, gentle, and feminine. With the 

 ap|>earance of languor and indolence, 

 tliey are active and animated on occa- 

 sion, particularly when dancing, an 

 amusement of which they are particu- 

 laitly fond, and in which they display a 

 natural case, gracefulness, and agility, 

 ■which surprise and delight a stranger. 

 Tliey are fond of music, and there are 

 feiv who have not au inlnifive taste for it, 

 »nd fine voices. The heat of the cli- 

 Biate, joined to the slill habits of a 

 sedentary life, naturally beget a lan- 

 guor, listlcssness, and disiiositionfo self- 

 indulgence, to which the females of 

 more northern cliniales arc strangers. 

 The daily loll in bed, before dinner, is so 

 gratifying a relaxation, that it has be- 

 come almost as necessary as their 

 nightly repose. 



THE CREOLES. 



The Creole ladies are so excessively 

 fond of pleasure and ainiisemcnts, that 

 they would be glad if the whole texture 

 «f human life were forinrd of nothing 

 else; balls in paiticular are their great 

 delight: they are averse to whatever 

 icquires much mental or bodily excr- 

 4 



tion, dancing excepted; reading they do 

 not care much about, except to fill up an 

 idle hour; and diligence, industry, and 

 economy, cannot be said to be among 

 the number of their virtues. 



The low, ignorant, Creole men, are, 

 generally, indolent, extravagant, un- 

 princij)led in their dealings, and de. 

 pravedin their habits; in the two last of 

 which qualities they are indeed rivalled 

 by many of the Europeans of the same 

 class. Hut the Creole gentleman, who 

 has received a liberal education'in Great 

 Jiiitain, is in no material respect differ- 

 ent from the well-educated gentlemaa 

 of any other country. 



ATTORNEYS. 



The attorney employed by tiie non- 

 resident proprietor has the whole ma- 

 iragement of his estates and other con- 

 cerns infruslrd to him by power of 

 attorney. He may be a resident pro- 

 prietor, a merchant, a lawyer, a medical 

 man, or an old expqrienced overseer 

 who has given proofs of ability and dili- 

 gence in his quondam situation. Some 

 j)ropriel()rsnpi)oint two attorneys, one to 

 manage their mercantile, law, and other 

 concerns ; the other a professional 

 planter, to superintend the agricultural 

 iluties of their plantations. These agents 

 have a joint power, and mutually share 

 the emoluments of their agency. Aa 

 attorney has sometimes liflecn or twenty 

 estates, belonging to different proprie- 

 tors, under his sole care. Some of these 

 may be an hundred miles distant from 

 one another ; in which case, (lie attorney 

 enqiloys a sub-agent to overlook the 

 management of the remote estates, he 

 himself paying them a visit oncea-ycar. 

 'J'lie attorney who has the management 

 of so many properties is in the way of 

 rapidly realizing a great fortune: iiis 

 emoluments are considerable, being a 

 commission of five per cent, on all sales 

 and purchases (the crop being valued at 

 the existing current prices), though some 

 arc eii)[)loyed at a certain salary. 

 Besiiles this, they have the privilege of 

 residing, if they choose, on one of tlio 

 properties, where they may live in splen- 

 dour at no other expense than that of 

 their wine. lu a few years they may 

 become opulent proprietors themselves 

 — perhaps get into their hands some of 

 the estates of their less active constitU' 

 ents, v\ ho will not take the trouble of 

 managing their own properties. But 

 the latter are beginning to be somewhat 

 wiser: many now go upon f!ie plan of 

 allowing a stipulated salary to their 

 uttonieys, and uo perquisite beyond 



tlrat, 



