386 
DOTTINGS ON THE "ROADSIDE. [Chap. XXIV.-B. P. 
deep trays, one of which fits tightly over the other, 
and requires neither lock nor hinges. 
Each man brings his own machete, a most useful 
tool, either as sword or pruning-hook, to kill a snake 
or a man, or to pick his teeth or cut down a plantain. 
As to the culinary utensils, the crew always look 
out for them. If going on a long trip, they are charged 
to the passenger, and, when the voyage is over, be¬ 
come the perquisites of the crew; but on the present 
occasion, the necessary articles, such as a large iron 
pot on three legs (the favourite cooking apparatus on 
this coast), a kettle, and a large tin dish, were bor¬ 
rowed from friends. Each man carries a sheath knife 
in a belt, and as to fork or spoon, they do not 
know how to use the one or the other, so very pro¬ 
perly never encumber themselves with such articles. 
Drinking-mngs are also quite superfluous articles of 
luxury, as the canoe’s baler (generally a calabash), 
when not required for baling, answers all the purpose 
of a cup, and suffices for all hands, and even for the 
passenger himself, who will soon discover that a cala¬ 
bash is much more pleasant to drink from than a well- 
battered tin mug, which, in spite of dipping over¬ 
board and well rinsing, more than commonly retains a 
strong flavour of its previous contents. 
Thus equipped, the crew stepped on board, the 
coxswain taking his place as Boss (a favourite name 
with the Caribs for their leading man) just abaft 
the chowpa, in what I should consider a most uncom¬ 
fortable position, for he had the greatest difficulty, 
perched up as he was on the stern, in keeping his long 
