220 Barbados. [March, 



attached to one end of a cane twice as long as himself, munching 

 away lustily; the hard rind is gradually overcome, and the juice 

 furnishes him his favorite nourishment. In addition to the nutri- 

 ment obtained in this manner, such process of demolition furnishes 

 an excellent means for passing the time. Few scenes are more 

 ludicrous than seeing half a dozen lazy darkies, of various sizes, 

 lying in some shady corner while munching long cane-stalks with 

 the utmost solemnity. Poor as the fare may be, the people seem 

 to require no better. In part, the indolence of the colored popu- 

 lation may be explained by the climatal conditions of the island. 

 Though rains are frequent and cooling breezes are not wanting, 

 the mean temperature is such as to require but very scant clothing. 

 Children are clad at a ridiculously small expense, and shoes are 

 luxuries unknown until the female wearer blossoms into stately 

 maidenhood. By this means one great incentive to work — the 

 supply of clothing for the family — is reduced to a minimum. A 

 few pence per week are ample to keep body and soul together, 

 rum can be stolen, and both may be acquired with but little 

 labor. 



Among the native fish the " flying fish " ranks high as an 

 article of food. At certain seasons it may be quite rare, and 

 again appear in abundance. (In March, 1880, flying fish were 

 selling at four cents per hundred at Bridgetown). Duiing our 

 stay we decided to indulge in the sport of catching them, which 

 had been represented to us as an highly enjoyable pastime. A 

 small fishing boat was accordingly chartered, together with a 

 skipper and two men to assist him. Early one morning, long 

 before sunrise, four of us, respectively " England," " Nova Scotia," 

 " Scotland " and " America," stood out to sea. With the usual 

 forethought a sumptuous lunch had been packed into several bas- 

 kets, rifles and shotguns were taken along to destroy sharks and 

 secure seabirds. Fishing tackle and nets were supplied in abun- 

 dance ; also bait. Not many parties, perhaps, have started with 

 more complete equipments. Our old, gray-haired skipper stood 

 at the helm with imposing gravity while three poles were put up 

 in the boat, and to each of them was attached a rag of triangular 

 shape. Everything was shaky, the seats were very narrow, and 

 our sporting accoutrements occupied by far the greater portion of 

 available space. A brisk breeze, which had been blowing from 

 the start, began to freshen up, the waves were gradually growing 



