XAYMACA; THE ISLAND OF MANY RIVERS 327 



" Nice fraish feesh jus gwine pas, sixpence 

 a pound, sixpence a pound," a huckster's call, 

 meant that nice fresh fish was offered. In this 

 way all the various wares were cried. 



" Cum buy-a-me-a feesh-a. Mek-a go way. 



Mek-a go way. Mek-a go way. 

 Cum buy-a-me-a feesh-a. Mek-a go way. 

 Me no cum for to lean upon de counta. 



" O de weda, O de heata, O de gingue, 



O de gingue, O de gingue, 

 O de weda, O de heata, O de gingue. 

 Me no cum for to lean upon de counta." 



This is a typical native jingle, drawled out in 

 a sing-song monotone of minor cadence. The 

 blacks of Jamaica present a contrast to their more 

 musical brothers of America. Melody on the 

 whole is not characteristic of the Jamaica ne- 

 gro. It is rarely heard. Once, however, a troop 

 of men who were bringing a huge, half-finished 

 canoe down from the high hills attracted my 

 attention. Dragging the great weight on primi- 

 tive rollers through the rough country, fifty or 

 sixty stalwart fellows hauled on a rope, timing 

 their efforts to a fine chorus in minor key. 



An amusing incident serves to illustrate the 

 customs of the peasantry. West, the head man, 

 some thirty-five years old, came to me and asked 

 if he could take two or three days as a holiday, 



