PRELIMINARY ESSAY, 



59 



fish, with plantains, yams, cocos, &c. ; of this they 

 partake most freely, literally fulfilling the meaning 

 of the expression, 6 bellyful. 5 The meal over, they 

 fall asleep, and as might be expected, are most diffi- 

 cult to arouse." — Page 106. 



"In former times, the lower orders of the laboring 

 population were considered to be very abstemious. 

 There appears, however, to be a tendency to excess 

 among many of them, especially those located in 

 towns; their favorite drinks are those compounds 

 known as Anisettes, and liquors of a similar kind." 

 —Page 108. 



"Among the lower classes the majority not com- 

 pelled by circumstances to be field-laborers, are too 

 lazy to move; they frequently squat down all day in 

 a sort of sullen apathy; they eat, and drink, and sleep 

 like the brute that perisheth, but all the more active 

 impulses of their human nature appear to be as little 

 excited as if they were totally wanting." — Page 110. 



"It is a well known fact that all the towns and 

 •villages contain a large number of persons who 

 have no ostensible means of earning their livelihood ; 

 the way in which they subsist is an enigma to them- 

 selves and others. Exposure to the night-air is 

 very prevalent among the lower classes; under 

 various excuses they meet in numbers, frequently in 

 the open air, or under temporary sheds, as at the 



