A WINTER VISIT TO THE BAIIAAFA ISLANDS. 221 



Outside the market, on the sidewalk, will be a line of men and 

 boys sitting upon the curbstone, each with a bundle or two of 

 fodder or a few faggots of firewood deposited in the gutter. 

 Horses are not common on any of the islands, the customary beast 

 of burden being a diminutive mule or donkey. It did not seem as 

 though the sales of these people could average more than two or 

 three sliillings per day, which would indicate the putting forth of 

 considerable effort for rather meagre returns. 



Here it ma}' be fitting to give the results of some observations on 

 the labor problem as viewed in Nassau. The price of wages for 

 an able-bodied man is fifty cents per day, women receiving less, — 

 barely half. It is not correct to represent these people as being 

 averse to labor, as is sometimes done without reflection. They 

 seemed to be as willing to work as anybody else. It has been onl}'^ 

 in rare instances that any people have been observed to labor for 

 the enjoyment it gave them. A gentleman, largely concerned in 

 the canning of pineapples, gave the assurance that when his hands 

 once thoroughly understood what he desired of them and the way 

 it was to be performed, he liad no difficulty whatever in obtaining 

 regular and willing service which was fairly satisfactory. They 

 seemed ready and anxious to please and would linger around the 

 premises when their stint was performed. As the work in this 

 case proceeded by stages some had to begin earlier than others, 

 who of course wrought later to finish up, but all seemed eager to 

 work and contented when busy. The day's stint for a woman 

 was the paring of one thousand pineapples for which she received 

 thirty cents. Any person who voluntarily assumes such a contract 

 cannot be said to be averse to labor. 



It was a part of the programme of excursion to spend two or 

 thi'ee weeks cruising among the islands and visiting some of the 

 outlying settlements. A complete camping outfit, even to tent-pins 

 and frj'ing-pau, was taken from home ; stores Avere procured in 

 New York — 600 lbs. of them ; a circular letter was thoughtfully 

 provided by His Excellency Governor Shea, which ensured a cordial 

 welcome from the magistrate at every settlement visited. A sloop 

 of about ten tons, the Sophia Maud, was secured, with a white 

 conch for skipper and a black conch for pilot and cook, stores were 

 transferred from the custom-house warehouse, the water cask was 

 -filled, and the expedition sailed. 



