THE EXHIBITION OF 1862. 
193 
We may admire, too, the native cap, manufactured of feathers, 
and exhibited so prominently ; and stay for an instant to 
hear that our colonists have commenced the culture of tea and 
silk, and that the sugars produced in the settlement are of 
excellent quality. In passing out, we cannot fail to notice the 
fine specimens of rhinoceros horns, nor to be struck with the 
display of native weapons, all of which speak of a population 
consisting largely of aborigines ; and, leaving the colonists to 
develop their resources and push on the work of civilization, 
we now hurry onwards to the 
Gape of Good Hope. The exhibition in this court is unique, 
and is calculated to cause surprise to one who has visited the 
remaining courts in which our colonies are represented ; for it 
consists of a limited display of articles contributed by one indi- 
vidual, Mr. Ghislen. 
This gentleman has done what he can to redeem the cha- 
racter of this important colony, which is absolutely unrepre- 
sented, wherefore we know not,* The most remarkable, and 
certainly a novel, feature in Mr. Ghislen’s beautiful little mu- 
seum is the application of seaweeds (algae), instead of wood or 
horn, in the manufacture of whips, handles to cutlery, &c. The 
stems of a marine plant ( Ecldonia buccAnalis ?) are submitted 
to some hardening process, and then bronzed, painted, or gilt ; 
and certainly they look very attractive when thus treated, and 
converted into riding-whips, &c. 
In close contiguity to the “ Cape ” court, if it can be so 
called, is that of the “ Bahamas,” which deservedly commands 
considerable attention, from the beautiful shell ornaments con- 
tained in it. All our home-made articles of the kind are 
eclipsed by these exquisite objects, which consist of baskets, 
head-wreaths, &c., all of a beautifully translucent white. The 
buds of the flowers are composed of “ rice-shells,” the leaves of 
“ cup-shells,” and the effect produced by this combination sur- 
passes our powers of description. Why do not our English 
jewellers direct their attention more earnestly to the employ- 
ment of such beautiful productions of nature as these ? They 
would adorn a royal head, and far exceed in elegance much of 
the gaudy and fashionable head-gear now in vogue. 
Let us once more cross over to the eastern side of the tran- 
sept which we are exploring, and we shall there find, in close 
proximity, our colonies of Trinidad, British Guiana, and 
Jamaica, which present features worthy of consideration. Anti- 
abolitionists point to Jamaica as one of the ruinous results of 
the manumission of slaves; but, for a “bankrupt” colony, we 
* As we visited the Exhibition shortly after it was opened, other objects 
of interest may have been sent over subsequently. 
