316 THE CREOLES — THEIR RESPECTABILITY. 



apartment, with scarcely moving or breathing room — 

 Bleeping on the bosom of mother earth, and covered 

 only with their breech-cloth, which is of the lightest 

 texture. They receive very trifling wages ; but as 

 they live principally upon rice and curry, which cost 

 scarcely anything, they are able in the course of their 

 apprenticeship to save what is, to them, a considerable 

 sum of money. 



These people are anything but temperate as re- 

 gards the consumption of ardent spirits ; but I never 

 saw one of them display the slightest approach to 

 intoxication. Their favorite beverage is the fiery 

 arrack, (distilled from rice,) which they buy for a 

 trifle, and consume in large quantities. 



And now we come to the most influential, wealthy, 

 and thrifty people in the port. I refer to the Cre- 

 oles, the issue of a union of some one of the white 

 races with the East Indian. They are mostly French, 

 and nine-tenths of the mercantile business is con- 

 ducted by them. Their distinguishing traits are — 

 industry, neatness, and exact business qualifications. 

 They are also enterprising, and possess all the polite- 

 ness and suavity of Monsieur himself. It is not at 

 all unusual, on going into their business-places, to 

 be waited upon by a bevy of safi'ron-colored clerks, 

 whilst at one side sits the maternal relative, dressed 

 in the handsomest manner, but with a skin as black 

 as ebony. The Creoles treat these relatives, not- 

 withstanding the difference of color, with a degree 

 of filial affection pleasing to witness. 



These Creoles, on account of their wealth, and 

 character as substantial men and good citizens, are 

 much respected, even more so than the white resi- 



