SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, S^C. '2f 



unpacked, washed, and dressed, dinner was ready, namely 

 at five. 



A dinner at Stabroek is a sort of mercantile medley of the 

 imitable parts of the manners of remote nations. There was 

 soop to begin with as in France, and salted ling to begin with 

 as in Holland : there was an English huge joint of beef and a 

 couple of Moscovy ducks: there was an Italian desert of Bo- 

 logna sausages and sallad, anchovies and olives: there was fruit 

 of all kinds, pine-apples, guavas, oranges, shaddocks and 

 avoiras. Wine was taken during the repast, and porter be- 

 tween the courses, for a bonne-bouche. 



At dusk, spermaceti candles were lighted, and placed within 

 large cones of glass, to prevent the wind from blowing them 

 aside. Segars were offered to us at the whist table, and most 

 of the party smoaked, and drank coffee. A hammock, pro- 

 tected by a gauze curtain against the mosquitoes, was allotted 

 me to sleep in, until beds could be put up. 



The household establishment I found to consist of eight 

 male and two female negro-servants; a strange disproportion. 

 The house was spacious, airy, and open, with pervious shut- 

 ters, to admit every where a free circulation of air. 



e2 



