Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-07
From Blackwood's Magazine
Five Years in the West indies.
by cnAnLrs WI. DAY, ESQ.


Dwcllcrs in the temperate zone, and especial
ly i'll climates which, like our own are breezy
and cloudy rather than sunny and bright, form
exaggerated ideas OF the beauties and delights Of
the sLtry lands that lie between the tropics.-
Such IDEAS are fostered by the usual character
Of books relating 10 these regions: books writ
ten often after cursory and insufficient exam
lnatlon Of the countries they profess to describe
by persons whose abode there has been too brief
Tor the charm Of novelty to wear oiT-too brief.
also, to allow them opportunity of appreciatinD
the numerous evils and liSconfurts which coun-
terbalunce the fascination and undoubtcd charm
OF magnificent scenery, a brilliant sky, gor-
Scous and redundant vegetation. A soiourn Of
u lew weeks is by many assumed sufficient
whcreon TO base superficial volumes. The
work before us is founded upon opportunities of
a different class. That country must be very
extensive, most difficult to observe, or cXtraor-
dihariiy fertile in matters mcri,ing observation.
OF which pretty sound knowledge NAV not be
acquired during five years residence. especially
'lf lhc resident chief occupation be TO note the
features and characteristics of the land ami its
inhabitants. Such, if we rightly apprehend
them, were the conditions Of Mr. DAVIS stay in
lie cluster Of small islands which, commencing
near the mouths of the Or2noco river, stretch
norIhward, like the links Of a chain, between
the tenth and eighteenth degrees of latitude. Bv
profession an artist, the sole object, so far as
can be gathered from this book, of Mr. DAVIS
long abode in the English and French West in.
dies, were observation and skctching. We find
INN frequently passing to and fro between the
Islands, visiting and examining their scenery
and institutions, and studying the manners, hab-
It's and customs OF the inhabitants. I'm his pre-
lace he declares that he never wrote many com
secuhVe puges without submitting them TO some
Competent Judge of their truth; selecting for
such reference, persons uneonnectcd with class
interests, and therefore unlikely II be biased M
preJudced, and who would at once have point. /
ed out and rectiied any error into which he
might unwltiingly have fallen. We have no
reason Tor casting doubt on Mr.. DAVIS accu-
.acy or yeracity From the intcrna! evidence
D. lhe pages, we are warranted in considering
nm sharP-slglltcd observer, albeit somewhat
.ehSorlous' casual mention made by its u,g-
nor oil ms manifold skctcIl-buoLs," induces
rope that these Two yol,mrs are but lorcrunncrs
u projected pictorial publications. Meanwhile /,
We haNc mere before rs specimens Of Mr.. DAYS 1
TtStical skill in two landscape frontispieces. L
"a "a number Oh clever little yignettes, which
setully Illustrate his letter press.
The first West Indian Island visited bv Mr. q
~ was BFbadoes. Trinidad was the one ON /
'hgh ne appears TO have made the longest slpy a
nd TO Which he has devoted the greatest MN. e
'r OF chapters The general impression Icrt h
pom ne readers mind by his work is most nm.
Fofa6le TO the West lndieSEus a residence : In
Aree diSiagreeables he particularly indicates {
imely-the odlous character and growing in OF
ienee OF The blacks; the lax morality and dis. I,
PutaoIe tone oil The white society; aud the in o,
S''nl annoyance and danger 0resulting from ri
honoas insects and rrp'iIeSs A. regards ,he 90
ST pGinl, we musi either wholly discredit Mr. tbI
y book, and set it down as mere malicious M