STONE-CUTTING, COOPERING, BAEBERIZING, &C. 315 



our men would do in disposing of a dozen bags on 

 the wharves at home. 



Besides this, they are the barbers, coopers, and 

 stone-cutters of the port. I saw boys, of ten yesirs 

 and upwards, and possessing the most effeminate 

 bodies, with mallet and chisel, working away at the 

 last-named business like good fellows. 



In coopering they pursue a novel mode of opera- 

 tion : one getting on top of the cask and holding the 

 driver on the hoops, whilst the other uses the ham- 

 mer. This is done, of course, after the head has been 

 adjusted ; previously to which the helper stands in 

 the center, and arranges the staves. 



Barberizing, from the universal practice of shaving 

 the head, seems to be a thriving trade. The person 

 undergoing the operation squats cross-legged, whilst 

 the barber works around him, removing his hair in 

 a very short time. I think this a most excellent 

 custom in this hot climate, so conducive to the fos- 

 tering and increase of vermin. 



From this class servants are selected, who perform 

 all the various fanctions of waiters, footmen, run- 

 ners, &c. There are few women and children im- 

 ported, in comparison with the number of adult 

 males : possibly, owing to the greater usefulness of 

 the latter. Their costume varies — some wearing the 

 turban ; but generally a plush cap is worn, orna- 

 mented with gilded or silvered braid, arranged in 

 fanciful forms. All wear the breech-cloth — the upper 

 and lower portions of the body remaining bare. 

 They live any and every where — the ground-Hoors 

 of the dwellings throughout the city being crowded 

 with them; and ten or a dozen will occupy one 



