My Friends in their Gardens 
bad properties of herbs often possessed by reputed Obi 
men and women will account in the minds of unbiased 
folk for the ascendency they obtained over the minds of 
the vulgar. And we can scarcely blame the West Indian 
peasant for superstition when we recollect how in these our 
own days even, an old woman was actually accused of 
witchcraft in Galloway, and the crime believed in by most 
of the Christian folk round about. The next time passing 
I admired the wild Balsams springing at their own sweet 
will in the little garden, and Jacob gave me a beautiful 
posy of them, though apparently he was rather surprised 
at my taste. After a while we became friendly enough for 
me to dismount and study slowly the different bushes in 
the little corral. I learnt to know the different Yams 
apart and tried to identify the shrubs under the queer and 
often uncommon names given to them by the negro, who, 
though fond of flowers in a way, never seems to give any 
one an individual name. “ Missis like a Rose ? ” would be 
the usual remark and preface to a bunch of any flower 
available. When it dawned on Jacob Missis loved birds 
and flowers, he one day stopped me as I was riding by and 
said, “ Missis cae to see a Collobree’s nest ? ” Wondering 
what I should see, I dismounted and followed Jacob to 
the back of his hut, where there was a big Breadfruit-tree. 
Among the branches of some shrubs near it he showed me 
a tiny little nest made of brown sheep’s wool, partially 
covered with white lichen, such as was on the tree. A 
sweet little green Humming-bird flew off as we approached, 
and Jacob was amply rewarded by my delight. 
I need scarcely say it was not the only visit I paid 
Mahme Collobree, and she grew to be wonderfully tame, 
and would continue sitting even while I looked at her. 
When at last the tiny eggs gave place to little imps looking 
somewhat like Humblebees, Jacob actually came to see me 
and tell me what had happened. For my sake he pre- 
vented any one killing the parents, and the dear little 
things reared their brood safely in the corner of the old 
Obi man’s compound, What splendid colouring there was 
317 
