acquaintance sooth and condole with her on the privation she is likely to endure of her beloved second breakfast, and of all those dainties and delicacies of which it consists; and when she is on the eve of departing, a provision is laid in for her use during the voyage, which would be sufficient for the consumption of ten people! Besides all kinds of live stock, with forage for their support, a variety of vegetables is provided, with a profusion of fruit, sweetnieats, pickles, liqueurs, &c. &c. and as an amusement, half a dozen parrots, Barbary doves, and other humble companions. When this young lady, however, returns (in eight or ten years) in all the pride of ripened charms and acquired accomplishments, her quondam companions are surprised to find, that among her other refinements, she has contracted an unwonted indifference for her once favourite second breakfast; her roasted corn, her tum-tum, her pepper-pot, and other etcætera. But a little time usually suffices to restore this forgotten

taste.

If a young lady here has a taste for reading, drawing, music, &c. (which is sometimes the case) she may make a shift to keep aloof the ennui of life for a while, till an assembly, a party, or something else comes to her relief. The ladies residing in the towns (particularly Kingston, where there is generally something or other offered as an amusement) have greatly the ad

vantage of their sisterhood of the country; as, besides the variety of objects before them, they can occasionally relieve the tedium of existence with a shopping; that is, a rummaging over every shop, without any intention, perhaps, of buying any thing; an amusement which the females here are as partial to as those of the first fashion in the British metropolis. The country ladies have, however, a mighty relief in their periodical visits to friends and relations. These removals may more properly be termed migrations, as a whole family, perhaps to the amount of thirty or forty, including domestics, set out together on a six or eight weeks' visit! or, as the visits, pro forma, of the town ladies may properly be called visitslittle short ceremonial trips; the others may truly be termed visitations! Their approach (which seals the death-doom of many a turkey, pig, duck, and fowl) is announced by a cloud of dust before them; then arrives in sight the advance-guard of these gormandisers, consisting of twenty or more female slaves, loaded with trunks, beds, chairs, and band-boxes; soon after these, the cavalcade makes its appearance, of uncles, cousins, aunts, and cousin germans; some in carriages, some on horse back, followed by waiting men, waiting maids, grooms, cooks, postillions, and fiddlers, and accompanied by led-horses and sumptermules! Could the pigs, the lambs, and the poultry anticipate the approaching havock which was

о

about to thin their ranks, what a lamentable concert of cackling, squeaking, and bleating there would arise among them! But Providence has with kindness to these poor animals, shut the book of fate.

"Behold the lamb, thy riot dooms to-day;

Had he thy reason would he skip and play?
Pleas'd to the last, he crops the flowery food,
And licks the hand just rais'd to shed his blood!"

These visitations do not so often occur now as in former times, nor is the removal so mighty

a one.

CHAPTER XVI.

Europeans.-Those in the planting line.—Those in the towns.-Nabobs.-Anecdote of one, &c.

THE Europeans who are settled in Jamaica, come to it with one invariable view-that of making or mending their fortunes. Some few, after obtaining this end, continue to remain in it, purchase property, marry, and have families; and, in short, are domesticated as fixed inhabitants of the country. These, attached by a new train of connections and endearments, seldom desire to return to their native country, to which, and to their relatives there, they become in time perfectly indifferent, and as great strangers as they at one time were to this their second home. Another class continue fixed in the country by less agreeable and reputable attachments, which has however the effect, in time, of weaning them from every other wish, hope, and prospect of binding themselves by ties of a more amiable and rational nature. But by far the greater number either ultimately return to their native country, or fall victims to disease before the arrival of that period. Some realize fortunes by the assistance of friends, and a series of good fortune;. but many more fail in the attempt at this great

object. On their first arrival in the island, they are placed, according to their views, talents, and inclinations, either in the planting line, as bookkeepers; in the mercantile line, as clerks; or, if of any profession or trade, in a subordinate situation under others of such profession or trade; till, by proofs of their merit, their industry and abilities, they obtain more independent and responsible situations. As a great many low uneducated men come to Jamaica from Europe, it is observed, that such characters, when still further brutalized by the habits they soon fall into here, are more dissolute in their lives, shameful in their excesses, and more unfeeling in their ideas of the management of the slaves than the lowest and most ignorant of the natives. To the honour of the respectable class of employers, however, be it mentioned, that when they discover such a character in their employ, they immediately dismiss him; so that he wanders about, generally shunned and despised, from situation to situation, till a premature death puts a period to his sufferings and his excesses. In former times such characters as these were too common in the island, particularly in the planting profession; but times are now greatly altered here. New modes and improved ideas are fast gaining ground in the West Indies; and it is, at present, by no means unusual to see young men in the planting line, who have received the most re