New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-25
VISIT TO ST. CROIX. No. II.
resnondenna Of The N. Y. Tribune.

ST. CROK, w. l., April, 1855.
Light though fayoring winds did not bring
ms TO West End before eight o'clock, on the
morning of the 18th. for ono was not sorry
for this, as had most earnestly desired to APP
preach the island by daylight The most pleas
ing and picturesque views of the West India
Islands are from the sea. They rise so abruptly
from the ocean, their deep verdure contrasts so
strikingy with the bright waters which sur
round them, aud you so take in at single view
each separate one, that they seem rather to sit
and float upon the deep than to send their rocky
shafts down into its bosom to give them fxity
in the solid structure of the "great globe itself. "
Everything in their appearance awakens the
sentiment Of the utmost purity and grace.
Their shores, made up of frequent alterations
of calm bays and dark inlets, with graceful
eapes or sharp promontOries-their hills SWELL
ing grsndly up from the coast, yerdant to their
SUBMITS, with narrow yallies winding around
among them; altogether they seem fairy lands, in
habited Only by fairies of earth and air cruise
among the West Indies without even setting foot
upon them would be most enchanting
With the earliest light / crept forth from my
DOLLHOUSE TO enjoy the refreshing breeze of dawn
general aspects beheld in the distance had for
months been familiar. For, although forty miles
removed from st. Thomas, the atmosphere is often
40 clear that separate trees can be distinguished
with q glass upon its hills; and the windmllls
which crown its highest peaks can be seen in mo-
ton. The beautiful features of HILL mountain and
valley which hitherto had seen only indIstnctly,
were revealed by that soft morning light in their
full proportions. l was greatly surprised to see
that what i had fancied wild, rugged mountain
sides were indeed in many instances PERCEPTIONS
hills, yet under the highest cultivation, and covered
with luxuriant green fields of sugar cane In
order TO reach West End it is requisite to double
the extreme western point of the island, which
extends from east to west and sail along near to
the land for three four miles in north-easterly
direction. Along this line of coast four or five
beautiful estates abut upon the sea, and thence
run back upon or among the hills. broad car
Tiage-road winding along near the beach, lined on
each side BY rows Of cocoa nut trees-brOad fields
of cane often clothing the highest hills with its
bright green covering, and in various stages OF
fine mansions of the proprietors sur
mounting some graceful elevation near the sea,
with their nesting negro villages close at hand,
EMPOWERED in rich groves ofplantains and bananas,
give one, at his first glimpse, pleasant and not
untruthful picture of st. Cr0x, which he will see
repeated with agreeable variations and different
settings wherever he goes through the island. The
s lie Of the hills seen along this coast and their
being cultivated to their submits reminded me of
the country in some parts Of Columbia County,
particularly through the towns of Clayerack and
Undertook
This town has no harbor; only shallow and in
secure roadstesd. An English bark, two Ameri-
can schooners and sloop or two constituted its
shipping-li list as we bore down upon the town. The
waters not much disturbed by the keels Of vessels,
are Of the most exceeding purity and clearness
M IL ifs 0r
In the water can be discerned clearly at the depth
of FIVE to eight fathoms. Fishes Of the greatest
variety as to species, size and hue, can be seen
disportiug carelessly through the limpid flood.
Two rude wooden whsrves extend from the sandy
beach into the water perhaps thirty feet. These
sufice for the landings and shipments OF the place
In front of these is the Custom House, small,
two story stone building-the center being pierced
by broad passage like the tollhouscs our turn
nike roads. Here every hogshead Of sugar before
Il IL rolled down for shipping, is inspected by
weighing on large pair of scales by the collector
To the left, as we approached the wharf on level
plot Of ground, 10 the Fort-a low stone structure,
with the residence of the commander, and the
barracks for the soldiers connected with il in the
rear, constructed of wood in the painest style of
clapboardpg. The whole to the seward is sur
rounded by low grassy rampant covered with
ehrubbery, save where one or two guns look grim
and defsDtly out over the sea. On the right hand,
behind are scattered thibet cocoa aud tsmarnd
trees, and beyond the street which winds along
the beach halfa-dozen stores asd warehouses Of
modest proportions give facilities for the principal
business operations Of the place. And these, with
halfa-dozen lazy porters, a horse-cart or two,
score of negroes who have rushed forth to see the
strangers, and few merchants and merchants
CLERKS, who partaking of the same curiosity, yet
more equable in its manifestation, have come out
upon the stone piazzas in front of their stores,
pretty fairly represent tsbusiness character and
activity. The town consists of four or FIVE broad,
level streets running from east - vsst and crossed
at right angles by as many mere, wAkeh are lined
by quaint old, rather decayed hoSsss with gar
Gems upon the streets, and numersss snadetrees.
~ quite resembles the old and mere ss4red New
1nfisnd towns before the screech Il o. railroad
SSnaue lad disturbed their qaies faa when the
a. o. me country around came tossing slowly
nw so~r 70 exchange their grain or other light
Pva'0e 'S' slarming implements or temporary sup
pne:, ana farmers wises and daughters csme
driving IN with the accumulated hpttsr and agus
Of week or ten days to barter for household Ss-
csssities and the replenisment Of tbsir s;mr,e
wardrobe. '"o'i s'N'p'o
Arrived upon the wharf found that INV t,n,k
had already preceded me to the Custom. Honsa
For although under the same Government "a -
Thomas, while there system Of practical freq