362 FISHES AND FISHING. 



ted him to the sacrament of baptism, and gave him the 

 name of James instead of Washee, which he had borne 

 above forty years ; this the negro thought was a most 

 extraordinary proceeding. The priest insisted on 

 James keeping the regular fast days, under the 

 penalty of eternal misery ; but the prohibition did 

 not suit Washee' s gastronomic propensity, and he 

 adopted his own peculiar method of indulging his 

 appetite, and yet avoiding the threatened punish 

 ment. The priest went into Washee' s house on a 

 Friday, and to his horror, found "Washee regaling 

 himself with a dish of beef steaks. The missionary 

 in strong terms reprobated Washee's conduct ; but the 

 negro stoutly declared he was eating fish only, and 

 thus endeavoured to prove it. " You took my hand, 

 you put water on my face, and speakee fine words. 

 I no understand, and den you say my name no more 

 "Washee, but now be James ; well, dis morning, I 

 takee de beef steak, and putting water over dem, 

 make talkee, and say, ' No more beef steak, but now be 

 FISH.' " 



