Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-03-23
MISCELLAN ECU S.
LETTERS FROM THE WEST INDIES.
ExTRACTs-ST. CRoIx.


We arrived at St. Croix and came to anchor in
the barbor of West End, or Frederickstead, at III
o'clock at night, having come from st. 1homas
$50 miles distant) in five hours The next morn
ing. on going on deck, one of the most enchanting
scenes burst upon our view that could have been
nic,ured in the widest dream. The shore for
great distance lined with the tall cocoa-nut trees,
with their long aud widespread leaves lending
gracefully to the breeze the town before us, rls-
ing gradually from the water and thickly inter-
spersed with deep-green trees and shrubbery
long street, of neat and compact buildings, with
trees in front, facing the sea the fort, with Its
death threatening cannon, and The soldiers passing
to and fro upon its top the high, conical hills IN
the back ground to the north and east, rising in
quick succession one above the other, covered
with rich verdure the fields Of waving sugar
cane, cultivated TO their very tops, dotted here
and there with trees, and the paths crossing and
winding in every direction the wind-mills with
their giant arms-the white mansions ofthe plan
tiers and the cots of the slaves-all these formed
picture like vision of the Imagination more than
like sober reality.
Sunday is market day here. The market place
being near my residence, stroled through H. 1t
is large square, shaded by trees, under which
are gathered, every Sunday, some two or three
hundred slaves from the country, with fruit and
vegetables, scattered in heaps oh the ground, or
borne on little trays, in which the slaves bring
their market produce to the town. Here you will
find nearly all the fruits of the island. 1t was a
siUht N mo IN Gao he
slaves sitting or leaning the ground 10y their lit.
tie stores, or gathered together in groups-n chat
ting, laughing aud greeting each other, apparent
" very happy and conten,ed. They are allowed
little patch of ground, which they cultivate, Ia
king the products 10 Town; aud often, in this way
they accumulate sufficient 10 purchase their free
dom. But was informed that most of the frli
was stolen.
The rides about West End are delightful, ant
horses and carriages easily to be had. In compa
ny with fellow ship passenger, hired hors'
and chaise, or gig, for S'32 per month, and we ar
allowed to drive twice day, Sundays excepted
Our first drive out early in the morning. OF
what is called the North, side road" which run
by the sea.shore, and is lined with cocoa-nut tree
md hedges, with thousand beautiful flowers
diffusing their fragrance upon the wind. The nj
was so pure and nvigorating, that it seemed to in
fuse new life into US at every step. w
passed several plantations, all looking neat and Il
dy, and saw several gangs of slaves commencln
their daily work They are mostly composed {
females, the gangs numbering from 90 10 90 eacl
and they used their heavy hoes MS though aread
fatigued And what inducemem has the poe
slave TO do more than he is compelled? =
The manner of living here is thus arise from Ina
past to 6, at the firing of gun from the fort.
take sea-bath. and walk or ride-breukfas,
8, lunch at II, dinner at B. tea ut 2 in The evening
The time for riding OF walking is before 8 A.
and after a p. NJ, and the drives are most deligh
full, over roads too hard TO be penetrated by Il
rain, never muddy or dusty, and which are sbad,
by the cocoa-nut and palm trees. The palm, {,