MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
71 
and good-nature; but the entire population may 
be described as showing what we in England 
would call the points of good-breeding; and 
even the most ragged and tattered slave pos¬ 
sesses a natural dignity and ease of manner, 
which contrasts favourably with the rude con¬ 
duct and boorish manners of the lower class at 
home. No one would think of passing another 
upon the road without saying, “ Allow me to 
pass, sir;” to which the usual reply is, “ Pray 
proceed, sir.” Then follow a number of in¬ 
quiries : “ How are you?” “How is it with 
you?” &c.; “May you reach the end of your 
journey safely and happily,” &c.; and finally, the 
expression “ Veloma ”—“Fare you well”—and 
“ May you live to a good old age,” conclude 
the greetings. 
The people are very temperate in their hab¬ 
its, except where they have come into con¬ 
tact with Europeans and Creoles; and their 
food is principally rice and manioc root, with 
boiled herbs, or fowl and beef cooked with the 
rice. Large quantities of gold and silver fish 
are caught in the streams near the capital, and 
are sold in the markets for food; but they, 
strange to say, are not appreciated, as they pos¬ 
sess a muddy, insipid flavour. Tropical fruits 
and vegetables of all kinds abound. The poor 
people sometimes eat a small species of the locust, 
