New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-23
ST. THOMAS.
A MORNING RIDE IN st. THOMAS.

From Our own Correspondent
ST. Thomas. ". l., Saturday Aug. :, ls5i.
The most agreeable and -uccs-fui method ot eXer
else here as TO nv fancy iny part Of the world
is on horseback. Nowhere perhaps Il exercise more
needed than in the tropics, and nowhere Is 1t more
difficult 20 take il. The air lacks those breciny quail
ties which IN more north I'm ATTITUDES keep the sys
TEN in a vigorous state. and much exercise ia needed
10 ceunterac the tendency 10 condition OF inert las
situde thus induced. AT the time active labor
OF walking soon e1hausts any one not creole. Horse
back riding is precisely the economy 10 resolve this
difficulty By this one is most agreeaby exercised
without ally lsborous effort fatigue his part
rather with most eAhilirating effect on MS entire
system. This, therefore, is the mode Of exercise gen.
orally adopted by gentlemen, and by ladies' also TO
oppose the debilitating effect of the climate.
The animals employed are worthy OF mention.
They are Porto RICO ponies, race OF understood
horses small the Canadian ponies yet not po-sess
ing the stouness and chubbyness Of that stock. They
are obtained from Porto Rico and take the name Of
that island; yet whether peculiar TO II am nos able
TO say. They beautiful riding animals, being care
fully trained for that purpose 70 an easy pace or am
bling trot, which they rarely break and in which with
little apparent effort they glide the grouad with
the swiitness Of the wind. The gait said 10 be alto
eether unnatural they being broken TO It by having
tier feet tied with ropes dlagOnally and thus ham
pered TO Indicate how they must 90 If ~ ALL they are
urged into a tr0t or pace They spirited yet do
ellie and trectable race. They live aud thrive the
coarse guinea grass though they do not refuse oats
meal Those brought here are for the most part OF
y,
crafty fancy. They sold at from s75 10 $500,
though in Porto Rico they be obtained as high as
$500 or a 81 900.
II is necessary 10 take the morning or evening for
Iiding-say from 3 to in the morning and from to
in the aiiernoon.he intensity OF the suns rays at
any Intermediate hour precuding the idea OF outdoor
exercise. The afternoon hour Is usually taken by
gentlemen, il being Immediately before dinner and
the labors Of the day having then closed. Ii is
pleasant relaxation after the confinement aud harrass
ments of the day, to mount their ponies and take
turn around the bay, or out of town in either of
the only two possible directions, east orwest-the
north leading up the steep winding ascent of the
mountain lying Immediately back OF the town.
rlde az this hour also gives good appeu' for the
dinner at or ~ the great meal of The day But for
myself, not beng C. man OF business, ana ever al
fecting the fIesiMess and cheerful Inspiration OF ma
ture In tie early morning, took that hour for my
ride which il s the purpose OF this letter 10 describe
Having eaten my tosst and slipped my coffee at O.
the only reireshmeni taken here I'll ~ or H. when
breakfast is served, was soon on the back OF my
pony making my way through the narrow, filthy
streets of this negro town, in westerly direction 70
enjoy the Tesh cool morning breezes Of the country
and the sea-sbore. The early sunlight difldsed pc
cuar charm over the rugged surface of the islands
tipping with its brightness the sides of the sharp,
towering SUBMITS of the mountains, and bringing out
tie str )Dg contrasts OF shade upon mountain aud val
ley. But ah me what painful contrast 10 morn
ing ride in my own, my native land NO
sorgs of earliest birds at dawn; hum and STIR
of indie pendent and enterprisng labor rousing tsef
TO a day OF remunerative toll no cultured farms
swaying fields Of X ain, graceful meadows inviting
the cradle of the reaper. or the Clustering, clicking
scythe OF the mower dense, dark woodlands no
GOcks and herds wandering through green pssturage
over thousand hills and valleys aspects OF nature
made up Of thousand ndescribable elements, the
product Of both nature and labor, 10 m the soul ON
The wings of exuberant joy and praise. Yet while
the heart of the exile could not but sigh for one hour
in that familiar and cherished presence, there we're
not wanting objects and incidents of interest from
their novelty and peculiarly.
The way over which rode IL smooth hard, ana
mostly az far as | went level road, winding around
the hills spires Of the mountains running through
the center of the island from west SEEM
ing to lead you inland, and now approaching the sea
10 the very shore of some small bay; and anon from
some slight eminence giving fine lookout upon the
wide, grand ocean. Generally fences separate It
from the adjoining grounds or fields. Instead OF
which of trees and shrubs dense with weeds
and luxurious cact yet not mpervlOus 10 the ntru-
sion Of animals there any in the streets
there anything in the fields particularly invite their
entrance. Some OF the way the road becomes beau.
tiful avenue through rows Of coaco-nut cotton and
other trees. cotton tree, which passed mile west
of the town is one of the wonders Of st. Thomss-
indeed quite q lion. Its great irregular, ll-shaped
trunk which is ten feet in diameter rises 10 the hight
Of the number of feet, whence il commences
sending out lis scraggy crooked branches-each be-
ing as large as good sized tree By itself These
tend thirty forty feet IN all directions These are
covered with various parasitic which, hanging ike
shaggy beard all over H. give the old tree quite ven
erabe appearance. IL Is more than twenty feet
it, extreme hight.
The fields on either side of the way nave the sp-
pearaDce of All unweeiei garden that yoes 10 seed.
Seemingly capable of a luxuriani production they
seem for the most part abandoned by the hand Of
cultivation and covered with weeds and grass.
Much Of the way wild and useless shrubbery has
been permitted TO the land. Here and there
q small patch of sugar cane pigeon pears are seen
or a small vegetable garden adj -eent 90 a negro hut
pleasing exception 10 the general desDlaion the
MOravian settlement mile aud half OuI OF town,
where industry. sanctioned by sobrety virtue and
religion still makes the soil tributary ~ the support
Of its people and makes the desert blossom the
rose This interesting sect 81 early a. l74O think
established Missions among the poor slaves Of this
and the other Danish West India Islands urier the
patron age of the then reigning monarch They still
maintain their position and influence among the
blacks. They have three or four large estates, On
which they live as essentially distinct communities
not unlike the Shakers, where they employ large
number OF families, com ected with the estates d.
rectinc their labor 10 their support and on the
Sabba,h nstructng them in religion by the preacher
attached TO each community. AZ religious societies
these communities extend beyond the limits Of the
estates and embrace people in distant parts Of the
island. AT the station which passed, a large airy
mansion situated on e commanding elevation little
distance from the road serves az the same tune the
purpcee of q residence IF the preacher aud other
whites attached 10 the estates for IT, management,
school house To- the children an : huych .Or SAB
ba'h se-yice-. Al extensive vegetable gar1es -