SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I929 



131 



drying plant material. Here also we became acquainted with Saiil, 

 who adopted us on sight and became our friend, guide, " man Friday," 

 and social equal, all in one. We were interested to learn that he had 

 previously conducted Dr. Abl)ott and Dr. Ekman on their visits to 

 Tortue. Although his total knowledge of English was " Sect down," 

 "You want watah?", his patience and good nature rendered him 

 mvaluable as a teacher of his native Creole lingo. 



Usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays the entire neighborhood 

 gathered on the beach of La \'allee, either to go to market at Port de 

 Paix or to send their i)roduce — plantains, potatoes, pumpkins, pigs. 



Fig. 113. — An abandoned locomotive, half hidden 

 by tile rank junt^le of La Vallee, Tortue Island. 



fish, and goats. The boats were invarialjly loaded to the gunwale 

 and the start was an occasion of great excitement and rivalry as to 

 which would be the first to get off. One morning, unfortunately 

 stormy, we set sail in the largest boat available and finally reached 

 Port de Paix, drenched to the skin. 



We had returned to Port de F^iix for recuperation, but being at 

 once made ill again were glad to get ofi:', after a few days, to Caberet 

 on La Baie Moustique and boil our usual stews over the open fire. 

 Caberet must have been a considerable settlement in the old log-wood 

 days, but we found it nearly deserted, its houses falling into ruin. A 

 small dirtv stream, all that is left of the Moustique River after its 



