The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-02
VISIT TO ST. CROIX.

| IN subsequent article, to show the eXpedlen
| CIV of such a course. ASHLAND.
VISIT TO ST. CRoIx.
| Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
ST. CRoIx, W. l., Aprik, 1855.
/ have been much interested in studying
| the condition and prospects of the emancipa-
| ted blacks. The people on the estates are
| blacks, pnre African negroes with all the de-
cided characteristics of that race-the woolly
head, low forehead, fiat nose, thick lips, and
black, greasy skin. One notes at once, be-
tween them and the people of the towns, par
ticularly in st. Thomas, marked difference in
this respect. The majority of the latter, from
intercourse with the whites, possess as many
physical characteristics ofthe European as oft the
African. | have often seen females, with skin
slightly darkened, yet with the straightest hair,
with delicately cut features, with a singularly
refined expression of countenance and alto
gether an airy, spiritual, dreamy type of beauty,
both in form and face, of which the pure white
can scarcely boast.
1t may not be known to some of your readers,
that in the West Indies there is distinction,
almost as wide as that of race, between black
and cOlOred At home, cOlOred is the softened
designation for one who is not white. Not so
here. To call a black, that is, pure negro,
coored, or a colored person black, is a mortal
offence. Whoever has particle of white blood
is coiOred. And these again are subdivided
into muattoes, sambos, grfls, mustis, and, be-
lieve, still others, according to the cross which
distinctions, incapable of discernment by the
whites, are yet carefully marked in the eye of
the people.
But the estate people of whom l speak, are
black. There may be few mulattoes; and
these are stout, healthy class, with broad
chests tall forms, and fully-developed shout
ders and limbs. st. Croix boosted the finest
set of slaves in the West Indies. There are
about $4,000 attached to the estates.
Generally, the same persons remain on the
estates where they have been slaves. Never
was there more conservative and lanbable
movement for emancipation than was made
here successfully in lS4S. When they rose, they
went in large bodies to the public authorities,
and said, "Give us our Freedom! !" Three
thousand in the dusk of evening were sweeping
with heavy tread through the street, with an
ominous silence and armed with various weap-
ons. A lady stepped out on her balcony, and
demonstrated with them against violence. The
response, Numbered forth in concert from that
crowd, bearing the marks of ages of oppression
and wrong, was simple and sublime: "Missis,
we want to hurt nobody. Freedom we want,
and Freedom zoe soiU hace." Hence, when their
demands were acceded to, after day or two
Of wild revel, in which they did not assault the
property of their former masters, but visited
their depredations on some neighboring estate,
they returned quietly to their former homes,
and to steady labor. They even, in some in
stances, went to the forts and shipping where
their masters with their families had taken
refuge, to invite them to return, with the SIN
cerest assurances of security. They seem
bound to their birthplaces by personal regard
for their superiors and acquaintance, and also
by strong local attachments. The privilege of
burial in the ground attached to the estate, that
their dust may mingle with that of their kim
dred and friends is a strong tie. When they
have left they frequently return to beg the favor
of depositng the bodies of their deceased in
the hallowed soil.
The Labor Act" organizing the free sys-
tenn of labor, decreed by the Danish Govern
ment, and rigidly enforced in this Island, is
much TO be commended for its wisdom and
benevolence both toward the people and pro-
prietors. Indeed, the whole historical relation
OF Denmark with the subject of Slavery de-
serves the attention, and think will command
the admiration, of practical emancipationists
by that act, the laborers, while receiving lust
remuneration for their toll, are vet compelled
to work while they remain in the Island. They
may change their place of labor once year
the LIST of October-by giving a months pre-
vious notice. The people are thus prevented
from becoming uneasy and discontinued, while
the planters are secured from irreguarity in
the supply of labor. Changes are rare at the
seasons specified.
Fifteen cents a day is the pay of frstca
hands, ten Of the second, and five of the third
Children too young to work are not included ;
the parents have to support them. Even after
they are old enough to be employed in light
tasks, from live to nine, they are obliged to at
tend free schools three hours in the day. One
third OF the wages is paid in provisions, which
is to their advantage. They have many privi-
leges about the estate, by which their income is
increased. A small cane piece is allotted them,
which they work in common, having the pro-
ceeds. They have free houses. They may
raise bananas, oranges, and various vegetables,
in the yards adjoining their houses, to sell in
town. The markets are principally supplied
with poultry of their raising. Where there is
wood on the estate, they are allowed to cut and
own use or for sale. They are permitted to
keep ponies, and many own them.
To enable them to dispose of their produce,
and make their little exchanges and purchases,
Saturday is a free day. None are obliged to
work then, unless they choose; and if they do,
they receive, as l have already said five cents
extra to their per diem wages. BY this arrange
| ment, they increase their receipts, and the ma
jority choose to work ON Saturday.
Altogether, they are comfortable, happy,
| careless set of people, 1t is a stereotyped re.
mark here, that they are the happiest peasant
ry in the world and am inclined to think that.
so far as mere animal comfort is concerned, the
remark has some truth. They have good
houses, surrounded by pleasant and productive
| grounds. They have the means of clothing
themselves suitably and well. On Sundays and
| holydays, they are dressed neatly and lastly.
| They can provide themselves with abundance
| of good wholesome food. They vary their diet
from the corn meal and herring shared out to
them, with fresh fish brought along daily, salt
| provisions, and other varieties, which they get
| in the market on Saturdays. Often they take
| their meal to market, and exchange it for some
thing else. There, too, if they like, they can
| get fresh pork or beef and veal for a little
| charge. And not only can they supply them
| selves with good provisions, but the Creole
cookery would tempt an epicure.
| The general marketing of the week is done
| on Saturday. The markets in each town are
| held in a public square or street, in the open
| air and hot sun. A lively, and, to a stranger
| an interesting, scene is presented. From ali
| parts of the island, women from the estates
| throng into the market place, where, setting
| their wooden trays on the ground, and resting
| themselves on little benches or stools, they ex
pose live chickens and ducks, eggs, corn meal
salt fish, and all sorts of native vegetables
which they sell or barter. Here, crowded 81