189 



CHAPTER XII. 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 



Evening assemblages — Balls — ^Dinner-parties — Shooting — ^Fishing 

 — Boating — Regatta — Spectators — Bermuda damsels — Royal 

 Bermuda Yacht Club — Superiority of sailing-boats — Sea-bath- 

 ing — Fishing on the open sea — Intellectual resources. 



The amusements of the higher classes in Bermuda 

 are much the same as in other colonies; and as all 

 are engaged either in public or private business, 

 or professional pursuits, their hours of relaxation are 

 spent either in dinner-parties, or in evening assem- 

 blages at each other's houses, where quadrilles and 

 dancing keep the younger members of society in 

 pleasant occupation, whilst their elders look on, 

 play at cards, or converse upon the topics of the 

 day. 



The Government House has usually given the ton 

 in dinners and balls, with now and then a state 

 dinner to the superior officials. The Admiralty 

 House, too, is usually gay during the visit of the 



