AS the good ship Solent, of H. M. Royal Mail Service, is slowly 

 steaming into the main harbor of Barbados, a small flotilla 

 of boats gradually accumulates around her. Boats of all sizes, 

 of many colors, and in variable conditions of seaworthiness, con- 

 tain a motley crew of black oarsmen. While following alongside 

 of the steamer these enterprising substitutes for hackmen keep 

 incessantly shouting, with many gestures : 



" Mastah ! mastah ! here's de boat for ye ; take ye right in ; go 

 wid de boat of Christopher Columbus ; come right 'long, now." 



Christopher Columbus is appropriately clad in linen trousers, 

 which once may have been white. The capacious folds of a sea- 

 green " duster " envelops his manly form, and a gray beaver hat 

 with a broad mourning band surmounts his stately figure. 



" Shut up dar, you black nigger," chimes in a thick-set darkey 

 of the most pronounced type ; " don't go wid dat fellow, mastah ; 

 come wid your own little snow drop ! " 



It is refreshing to note under the sub-tropical sun even this 

 energy of competition. While passengers are listening to the 

 alluring words of numerous boatmen the ship has anchored and 

 everything is made ready for transfer to the shore. A short time 

 must still elapse before the baggage and its owners can be placed 

 into the tossing boat, and meanwhile a new scene presents itself. 

 Rapidly approaching is a skiff propelled by the arms of a strong 

 man. Within it are three or four boys and young men supplied 

 with only a minimum of wearing apparel. Resting a few yards 

 from the steamer the -mysterious young darkeys make known the 

 object of their visit : 



" Trow down sixpence, mastah ! trow him in de watah, far out; 

 trow him far out!" 



Compliance with this apparently unreasonable request imme- 

 diately proves them to be expert divers. With eager eyes and 

 an attitude of intense excitement they closely watch every move- 

 ment of the passengers who may be standing at the rail. A slight 

 splash may be seen in the water, at once followed by that of four 

 human bodies. Often the coin is recovered even before its last glit- 

 ter has faded into the dull gray of the water. It is a rare case, in- 

 deed, that any sixpence should escape their eyes. Although oc- 



