CHRISTIAN MISSION. 
107 
selves ; lienee, matters remained as at the first, though 
years were rolling on, and tlie children were growing up 
and taking the places of their fathers. The surrounding 
forests and the had roads, from tlie rich, loamy nature of 
the soil, tended to make their isolation the more com- 
plete. This being the state of things, it is not surprising 
that hut little or no advance was made among the 
descendants of these Americans. Their seclusion tended 
to make them somewhat self-reliant and sensitive of 
control ; having to depend upon their own resources, 
they came to think that they could remain independent 
•of the outer world. At first little or no legal supervision 
was maintained, hlo taxes were paid, and themselves 
were required to make and cutlass their own roads. 
They were, in fact, a small imperium^in wiperio. But 
after awhile government found that they were multiply- 
ing, the country was being opened up, new estates were 
being cultivated, the high woods were rapidly falling 
beneath the woodman’s axe, and the American settle- 
ments were cominq within tlie circle of civilization. A 
Toad was made to the other side of the island, wdiich ran 
right through them, and in this manner many passed 
through these villages. At length government resolved 
to bring the lands of the American settlers within the 
jurisdiction of the Wardens’ Ordinance, and to take charge 
of the roads, imposing a house and land ward -rate to defray 
the expenses. This step at once placed these villagers in 
a similar position to the villagers throughout the country. 
They were visited by the assessor to assess their lands 
so as to fix the amount of the ward-rate. The warden’s 
• constable statedly came to serve the tax-papers, and the 
householders had, once a year, in the end of IMarch, to go 
to San Fernando to pay their ward-rates and bring home 
their receipts. This circumstance undoubtedly broke the 
ice of their seclusion, and opened their eyes to many 
things of which they were, and otherwise would have 
remained, ignorant. It is only Avhen men compare 
themselves with other men that they can discern either 
