SEA TURTLES RESIGNED. NEGROES HAPPY. 119 
One turtle we particularly examined. It had then recently 
been taken from the water, weighed fifty-seven pounds, was alive 
and fat, and was soon, in the form of soups and steaks, to grace 
the tables of the dining-room. This huge reptile, (though quite 
an infant compared with some of the same species), while he 
must have had some vague suspicions of the cruel fate in store 
for him, and was turned over upon his back so that he could not 
crawl away, and rudely punched to wake him up and to see if he 
was fat, seemed perfectly contented and happy. 
A large number of servants of both sexes were employed in and 
about the Victoria Hotel, yet there was no jarring, scolding, com- 
plaining or quarreling. Some were grave, but none appeared sad 
or discontented. Light hearted and good natured, polite and re- 
spectful, attentive and faithful, they performed the tasks assigned 
them in a very unexceptional manner. Petulant and unreason- 
able complaints did not disturb their equanimity or elicit tart 
replies. When a number were assembled to perform some labor 
in common, they lightened their tasks by finely singing with 
rich musical voices sacred songs. They were never boisterous, 
and ever exhibited a respectful deference and a politeness which 
was the more agreeable because unstudied and natural. 
-We seldom heard in any of the suburbs of Nassau, teeming as 
they do with colored people, a harsh or profane word ; we never 
there witnessed a fight, nor do we remember to have heard a 
child cry. When sailing on one occasion, we heard some loud 
unpleasant talk between two white men, near a public dock, 
each on board and apparently in command of a vessel. Finally 
one said to the other—‘‘ Now look’er here! If you get me mad 
I’m going to wrestle, or run, or do something f? This old salt 
had evidently breathed the air of the Bahamas for some time. 
It seemed to us while in Nassau that if we had any enemies 
any where in the wide world that it was a good time to heartily 
