82 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



informed that the smaller bunches are brought to market and all 

 the good fruit reserved for wine. Most people have fruit of their own, 

 so that it is chiefly for vessels calling and for the destitute ; a cluster 

 weighing about a pound may be had for three farthings. 



The banana is sold according to the number of fingers on a bunch ; one 

 with forty to fifty may be had for Is. 6d. sterling, which will serve six or 

 seven individuals for one meal. Pears are sold by number, thirty for 2^d. 

 Potatos are sold by weight and are dear in proportion to other things. 

 Two varieties of figs, both of excellent quality : one long black, thin delicate 

 skin and purplish pulp ; one green, small, short and flat fruit, if anything 

 finer than the black one ; fifty of the green for i^d., and thirty of the black 

 for the same price. 



Soft fruits, figs, grapes, &c., are carried to market on the head in baskets, 

 like strawberries in England. Pears, apples, lemons, &c., in bags made of 

 hogskin, and some of hemp, on mules, and the poorer class carry them on 

 their backs. Two plums : one small round green, in form like greengage, 

 colour a brighter green than it, but the flavour far inferior ; the other a 

 longish oval fruit, black-skinned and insipid taste, something hke ' Orleans.' 

 Having satisfied myself at market, I made a journey north of the town, 

 on the hill where most of the principal vineyards are. 



In planting the vines no situation or aspect is studied ; they thrive in 

 the valleys and deep ravines, on the little eminences and high grounds, and 

 even on the top of old walls and on the roofs of old thatched cottages. 

 The soil in general is a light brown like burned sand. I could not learn, 

 what (or if any) manure is used. They are planted from 6 to 12 or 14 feet 

 apart, and supported on horizontal rough railing of wood 4 or 5 feet from 

 the ground, inclining sometimes to the north, sometimes to the south, but 

 in all cases following the declination, which on a small space varies much. 

 In pruning very little old wood is left, leaving spurs of 2 or 4 inches on 

 the principal shoots. From the rivulets, which are numerous, small chinks 

 or channels are dug along the sides of the valleys for the purpose of con- 

 veying water to the plantations, which is let ofE when required — a cheap 

 mode of watering and at the same time adds beauty to the place. A great 

 portion of the clusters were daubed over with mud and some with lime, to 

 prevent the attacks of mealy-bug and also probably to prevent the ravages 

 of wasps and other insects ; the undersides of the leaves are almost covered 

 with a species of white mealy-bug similar to that which infests pineapple 

 plants in England. Old women and young girls are employed pinching ofi 

 the leaves that shade the fruit. This is done by stooping under the trellis- 

 work : a delightful occupation, screened from the influence of a scorching 

 sun. The observation made to me in the market as to the best fruit being 

 reserved for wine I found correct. On the whole, I confess to be somewhat 

 disappointed about the size and quality — although certainly good, by no 

 means what they are generally represented. Few clusters exceed 2^ lb. or 

 3 J lb. ; the greater part 1 lb. I learn the clusters are thinned early in the 

 season when too numerous ; thinning berries of course is not practised. In 

 passing along the lanes that lead through the vineyards I was invariably 

 escorted by an elderly matron with her distaff, and a little girl or boy 



