New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-03

estate 10 OF very iperlcr quaty Its juice - hoe
reduced to sugar. but to a sort Of syrup similar to
ug.y.kouse molssses. called siag. 1t 10 used much
by tie nerroes and is sold TO some extent IN town,
and is by many esteemed very nice. Vans, sweet po
tatoes tomatoes pigeon peas, and other vegetables OF
less consequence, are produced though IN limited
quantities OF the substantial vegetables in Use in
town, and for ship stores the supply is mainly from
abroad from the Western Isands, Bermuda and the
United States The -four in here is al.o American
principally Of southern brands In addition TO the
above named products, the banana, p!antain papaw
soursop, &C. &c, productions peculiar TO the tropics
are furnished in this market Figs, oranges, lemons
and lines are cultivated tropical varieties Very
fine grapes for eating be and are somewhat pro
duced. There il species of white grape which is
highly extolled and not without reason as can TESTIFY
1t ID the same, think that those who indulge ID I'M
ported fresh fruit in the States, familiar with An
aters laughed ar my simplicity in lsudng our common
favorites, the Isabella and Catawaba. Notwlthstand-
ing Unjust retain my good opinion Of the said varieties
ard believe they not to be sneered az granting 1ue
NAV be inferior to some grown within the tropics IL
seemed 10 me that these hill sides might produce
cranes fol wiDes but uDanayzed CONDITION OF the
climate is nniavorable-Inainly / presume, me mgn
trade.winds which sweep over the island daily, and
Which at certain seasons Of he year are bleak and pos
fess peculiar chDess; for vines do but lndnerenuy
unless protected therefrOm by house or wall
proviSential circumstance such az has often led
great and far.reachng resUltsa handful OF corn in the
earth in the top of the mOun.ans-has done uch iOr
this and other West India Islands hereabous refer
to the casual introduction from Africa OF the socaea
l,pg or Guinea grass These islands naturally des
flute OF grass. Some twenty " thirty years ago a
gentleman on Jamaica estate imported cage OF BIRDS
from Africa-and with them for their food, came
small bag of grass seed. TIE birds died and the bag
was careessy shaken OF its remaining seed on fhe BANK
of stream close at hand, whence the Guinea grass has
spread over these Islands generally, proving source
OF much benefit and small wealth. 1t is very
coarse grass of light green hue closely resembling
species Of swamp grass we have. IL grows II stoht
ciumps from an aggregation of hardy roots three feet
in HIGHT and spreads itself spontaneously in the most
barren localities aud among tie densest growth OF
sbrubbery. Notwithstanding It's cOarseness, horses,
donkeys cattle sheep and goats take to 1t with aydit
Hence the estates have been turned from agricultural
TO grazing and consequently the principal productions
of tie island are now Indifferent beef fair mutton,
goats fesh and milk quite incapable OF cream and re-
semblino the pale dlutons of that natural beverage
formerly and believe still somewhat, selling In the
streets of New York. Guinea grass to feed the nu-
meroug riding ponies of gentlemen, is also brought into
town tied in bundles and piled high and broad on the
backs ofdonkeys 10 the total conceamen OF the bear
ers save their patient faces and dropping ears and their
slender but sure-ioOted pegs
By the way the modes of transportation are lldl-
crous Wheeled vehicles Ike carts are rarely seen.
Every thing is rolled, tumbed tcted. II the com
mission merchant sels hundred barrels of flour to the
retailer half way down the street the negroes roll bar
rel by barrel lazly TO its destination Oxen are en-
ployed more as beats Of burden than draft mus you
will see them one before the other with huge poles
running fore and aft supported by ropes over the backs
of each and the burden is laid these poles between
tie two oxen novel expedent serves as hotd-bdek
applied both to oxen and more frequently to the don
keys prevent the load from slipping forward over the
animals head Ii is bTeecbing consisting OF round
smooth stckrendered smooth apparently by TIE SER
vice two feet long, connected with the rude saddle by
ropes and doing its Office on condition of strenuous
ana persistent resistance of the tail 20 the forward ten
dency The marks Of the struggle Of course are very
palpable and calling In this uncouth and inhuman
method the products Of the estates-cans OF milk,
bundles of wood and grass vegetables and even stone
in paners brought into town And this too though
the principal roads the island are smooth and adapt
ed to transportation on wheels.
MANY of the products for sale in town brought in
on the heads of negresses If you take ride out of
town in the morning you will meet many of these bur
denbearers hurryng to market with wood for cook
ing or with large wooden trays piled high with various
vegetables produced their little patches of ground,
and poised on the head with acareessness which would
seem to- though it does not endanger their security
Women also employed in seyerer abors after this
totirg method They are the principal laborers in dis
charging the shplOads of coal brought here for the
steamers Of the Royal British West India
Mail Company, which they also carry our upon tne
wharves in baskets upon their heads. To facilitate
their locomotiOn and secure Themselves from falling
in their travels along the highway, and in all their bur
denboarng, they adopt Boomer rig of their own in.
vention, BY slipping their skirts up TIL the bottoms OF
them reach the knee and fastening them in that posi-
ton by handkerchief girded tightly around TIE olns
and in this style they trudge along with their bare feet
hardened by the service that they seem utterly care
less ofstones OF whatever they may tread on
ST. THOMAS, W. l., Saturday, Feb. 49, 1854.
The propeller Culew arrived the 10TH eight days
from New-York and four from Bermuda. The reports
of cholera in ST. Thomas which she brings current
in NewYork when abe left, greatly exaggerated
That malady which in the most correct and favorable
view has proved dreadful scourge to this island has
nearly disappeared not more than SIX to ten cases
occurring weekly. 1t however continues seriously to
affect the business of the place. and the shipping inter
est generally to these islands There is comparatively
no business doing at present few vessels touch in here
for orders; many vessels have gone home in ballast
and were il not for distressed vessels of which there
las been large number this winter the harbOr would
present as naked an appearance it is wont to do IN
the hurricane season. II is confidently expected how
ever that this state Of things will cease and
unusual business activity take its place The Spanish
Consu has orders from the officials at Porto Rico TO
give bills OF health to vessels clearing for It's ports as
soon as one week shall have elapsed in which no case
of Cholera shall have occurred; on which vessels will
then be admitt,d to short quarantine The prohib-
tory caution of the Spanish authorities here and at
Porto Rico is commended TO the admiration OF all who
would restrict commercial intercourse with injected
ports. Many ludicrous incidents might be related In
this connection illustrative of the ncorrgbe stupidity
snd constitutional folly of the Spanish character The
best story and which has the merit OF being founded
"on fact is the account of the reception OF the mail bag
at Laeuayra from the small pilOtbOat Packet running
between St Thomas and that place, by the PostOhce
agent there. The first time the said mailboat arrived
at the said post subsequent 10 the intelligence OF cho
IN nj he