380 



THE ARAB. 



been remarked of our countrymen in Guiana 

 and the West Indies, and it notably pre- 

 vails in the Brazil, where the negress and the 

 Mulatta are preferred to the Creole. Considering 

 the effect of the African skin when excited by 

 joy, rage, fear, or other mental emotion, of course 

 a cogent reason for the preference exists. 



Public prostitutes are here few, and the pro- 

 fession ranks low where the classes upon which 

 it depends can always afford to gratify their pro- 

 pensities in the slave-market. I have alluded 

 to the "Wasawahili women of the Madagascar 

 Quarter; a few also live scattered about the 

 town, but all are equally undesirable — there is 

 not a pretty face amongst them. The honorarium 

 varies from $0.25 to $1, and the proceeds are 

 expended upon gaudy dresses and paltry orna- 

 ments. Retired Corinthians who have not pros- 

 pered, live by fishing upon the sands, or make 

 rude pottery at Changani Point : those who can 

 afford it buy a slave or two, and give the rest of 

 their days to farming. Girls who work for hire 

 are always procurable, but such amours are likely 

 to end badly : the same may be said of the pros- 

 titutes ; consequently most white residents keep 

 Abyssinian or Galla concubines. The ' Liwat ' is 

 here considered a mere peccadillo : the late Say- 



