52 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



There is a certain stage in the progress of civiHzation in 

 which a country is most conveniently supphed by pedlars. 

 The inhabitants live too far asunder, and are not numerous 

 enough to support stationary shops ; yet the probable con- 

 sumption of each estate is sufficient to regard the journey of 

 a hawker of wares. The European jews still exercise this di- 

 vision of labor, which Europe has outgrown : they are con- 

 sequently sinking in utility: their trade is less profitable and 

 less popidar than it was some centuries ago. They would do 

 well to come over in large numbers to South America, where 

 they might become efficient agents for the distribution of Eu- 

 ropean commodities throughout the interior. The dialect of 

 the European Jews is admirably adapted for the coast of Guy- 

 ana, which speaks a medley of Dutch and English, softened 

 by negro pronunciation into a lingua francay the very coun- 

 terfeit of their speech in Europe. It may be added, that at 

 Paramaribo, a large Jew population has been found to thrive* 



Adjoining the market-place are the butchers' shambles. 

 The butchers are mostly free men of color, who have pur- 

 chased their emancipation, and have acquired a little capital 

 and credit. They commence their career by the slaughter of 

 pigs, after that of sheep ; oxen soon follow. They supply 

 themselves from the importations of the Americans, and from 

 those few planters who rear cattle for sale. Unless a butcher 

 clears ten or fifteen pounds sterling by an ox, he thinks it a 



