216 Barbados. [March, 



a long white dress. No doubt, each successive step is to them of 

 the same importance as to their more favored sisters of northerly 

 climes. Covered with but the scantiest apology for a garment, or 

 sometimes elaborately attired in nothing but a string of beads 

 around the neck, the smallest members of the household attend 

 to playing in undisturbed happiness. They are well treated by 

 all and cry by far less than the average country children of our. 

 own homes. Entirely at liberty, they roam into the fields, secure 

 a prize in the shape of a huge sugar-cane, and enjoy themselves 

 in gradually chewing up several feet of it. As they grow up their 

 wearing apparel improves. It would be difficult to draw the line 

 sharply at which the most pronounced metamorphosis takes place. 

 By the time they have arrived at an age of comparative usefulness, 

 either at market or in the sugar-house, they have risen to the ex- 

 alted position of wearing long dresses. While working or walking 

 in the country a "reef " is taken in the dress below the waist. 

 Huge earrings and bracelets begin to ornament the dusky skin 

 and a tastefully draped turban of flashy color protects the head 

 from the rays of a hot sun. The hair is plaited in short, stiff 

 braids and is ornamented with beads and ribbons ; a necklace, 

 sometimes more than one, is added ; rings with precious glass 

 stones adorn the fingers, and the young woman is ready for an 

 evening promenade. Her good figure and general ornamentation 

 may attract the attention of some stalwart young boatman, and a 

 deepening of color in the dark brown cheeks betrays the blush 

 which his loudly expressed admiration has called forth. 



An inconvenient narrowness of sidewalks in town forces pedes- 

 trians into the street. There may be found a motley accumulation 

 of donkeys, men, women and children. Once in a while a team 

 drawn by six mules wends its way through the crowded thorough- 

 fare, causing a decided swerving and sudden scattering of the 

 mass of humanity. Here, as on the plantations, women take a 

 leading part in active work. While a great, overgrown darkey 

 may be perched on the top of a cart and allow himself to be 

 drawn by a donkey scarcely larger than a Newfoundland dog, a 

 woman will walk alongside, staggering under a heavy load which 

 she carries on her head. It is amusing to see the accuracy with 

 which these women balance on their heads large wooden trays 

 filled with fruit or vegetables. Both hands free to manage the 

 folds of their ample, flowing dresses, they pass along with heads 



