\ L:20.1
and on landing, I was as much pleased with the sight of the interior
of ,the place:^the^streets are regular and wide,; .in fhg middle
runs a rapid stream, which refreshes the air very much; the houses
are built of, brick and freestone,' mostly two (stories high/ and
thQUgkjhey.aip not remarkablefit^ r their architecture, are comfortable,
and aye, properly accommodated to the climate.-The shops
seem to be well furnishedwith all sorts .of,European goads; which
are, it is ^aid, brought hither by neutral yessels ; I hope,therefore,
hod soon an opportunity of sending you, this letter, or, I might
almost ?ay, this vpj^ime, that when you learn |^y the public papers,
of the Jason haying been taken, this maydnform you what is jmcome-
of her passenger: adding, that for the present, I am lodged in a pri-.
vate house kept by a widow lady, who is so obliging as to take,$a,re
that I shall enjoy much comfort after sp long and- unexpected,^
voyage. However, as this is. the best season for traveling in the
Tropiqs, I shall, as soon as I can find qn opportunity^ resume my
voyage for Surinam* Farewell.
L s i ]
L E T T E R III.
A Description of the Environs o f Sti Pierre.Principal Productions—
Character and Manners of the Inhabitants.-—-Island much infested
by Serpents.4dA proposition, to destroy them.—The Authors Illness*
and recovery.—Departure fromdht IslandjM*PasSage tds St. Lucia. ■
—Sickly Situation of Morne FortunSe.—Departure from St.Lucia.
Passage to Barbadoes.—Description of Bridge town.— Happy meeting
with Captain W.—A Tour to Speight’s Town.— Visit to Mr.
W. C.—A useful Cotton Mpll.—An improvement o f a Sugar Mill.
—The first introduction of the Levant ( white) Fig-tree into Barba--
does.—Scenery on the Road.—The% Mode of manuring the Fields.—
Happy situation of the Country in respect of. Provisions.—On the
Barbadoes Tar.— The Nourishment of the Negroes.—The apparent
good Treatment of them in this Island.—Arrival o f the English
Squadron. —Departure from Barbadoes.
M y D ear Sir , ' Mqrtinico, St.P.iqrre,, March 6th .
Y o u are persuaded, by knowing my custom, that soon after my
arrival at St. Pierre I visited the adjacent country, which had appeared
so inviting t© me'when viewed from' the sfeia‘; indeed the
walks ^m the fields are very interesting, and as far as 1 am able
to judge, most of the plantations appear in the highest cultivation,
many of the country houses are very handsome, with an atenue of
large shady treesi It is there in general the owneifs?-with their
families pass the hours of recreation. 'Thesfe plantations have much
the appearance of the estates in Europe, and the more so, because
the inhabitants do not cultivate' the ground merely to acquire
a quick fortune, and. then hasten to Europe again, leaving their