The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-21

nOisteo, HI the guns II me pace mere hred
and all the people in me place came down tc
call those natives Sanbos, when they are hal
negro and half Indial-bad come eff outside
the reef, to pilot US 10, and remained on board
after we had let go or, anchor. he was called
Christian George Kiag and was fonder of all
hands than anybody Sl3e was. Now, confess
for myself, that on tt; fret day, if had beer
captain of the Chrisa pher Columbus. Instead
of private in the Royal Marines, should have
kicked Christian Geoege King-who was nc
more Christian, thsa be was King or Q
George-over the side, without exactly know
idg why, except thstsit was the right thing
to do.
But must likewise confess, that was 70,
in particularly pleasant humor when stood
under arms that morning, aboard the Christie
pher Columbus, In the harbor Of the Island Of
Silver Store. / had Fad a hard life, and the
life of the English on tie Island seemed too easy
and too gay to Piles me. "Here you are
| thought to myself, .good scholars and coed
hvers; able to read aat you Ike, able to eat
and drink what you IKE, and spend what yoH
like, and do what yorslke; and much yOa care
Tor q poor, ignorant private in the Royal Ma.
rines Yet it's hare, too, | think, that you
should have all the halfpence, and / all the
kicks; you all the smooth, and l all the rough /;
you all the oil, and al the vinegar" 1t was
IS envious thing to think as might be, let
alone it's being nonseIsical; but l thought it,
L took it so much s.piss, that, when very
beautiful English LADY came aboard, L granted
TO myself, "Ah goa aave got lover, I'll he
bound as if there was any new offence 10
me Ia that, if she had.
She was sister to H. captain of our sloop,
who had been in poor way for some time, and
who was 80 i'll then t1\.he was obliged to be
carried ashore. She the child Of military Ty
ofhcer, and had come gsut there with her sister,
who was married to oiie Of the owners of the
silver mine and whe.Faad three children with
her. 1t was easy tossse that she was the light
and spirit Of the Is.s ID. After | had got a
good look at her, or ated to myself again, in
en- even worse sts.e;si mind than before, "I1l
be ID if don'rze re him, whoever he isl
My officer, Lieuie mt Underwood, was az
Ill as The captain oteas s!oop, and was carried
ashore, too. They 'ere both young men, Of
about nv age, whoSb&d been delicate in the
West India climate. u even took that in had
part L thought was much filter for the work
than they were, and that, if all of US had our
deserts, should be both Of them rolled into
one. 1t may be imagined what sort of an eff .
Ger OF marines / should have made, without the
power OF reading written order. And as to
auy knowledge how to command slcop-
Lord l should have sunk her in q quarter of
an hour y
However, such were my reflections; and
when we men were ashore and dismissed, l
strolled about the place along with Charker,
making my observations in similar spirit
1t was pretty place: in all its arrangements
partly South American and partly English, and
very agreeable to look at on that account, being
like bit of home that had got Clipped of. and
had hoated awty to that spot, accommodating
itself to circumstances as IL drifted along. The
butts OF the Sambos, to the number of five and.
twenty, perhaps were down by the beach, to
the lett OF the anchorage. On the right wa1 q
sort OF barrack, with South American flag
aud the Union Jack, flying from the same staff,
where the little English colony could all come
together, if they saw occasion. /. was wall.
ed square of building, with sort of pleasure
SrOuuu lnsl1U ~-1 ;.>sde tnbt eSoIII, sur arI
block like a powder magazine, with little
square trench round it, and steps down to the
door.
Charker and / were locking in at the gate,
which was not guarded and ] had said to
Charker, in reference to the bit like powder
magazine. That's where they keep the. silver,
you see and Charker had said to me, aftel
thinking it over, "AEd silver amt gold is it
Gill2" when the beautiful young English lady
had been so bilious about looked out of door
or window-at ell events, looked out from.
under bright awning. She no sooner saw ",
| two In uniform, than she came out so quickly
that she was still putting on her broad Mexican
hat when we saluted.
"Would you like to come in" she said, "end
| see the place. 1t is ralher.a curious place"
We thanked the young lady, and seid W.
| didn't wish to be troublesome but she said i
| could be no trouble to an English sol6ier's
daughter TO show English soldiers how their
countrymen and countrywomen Jared, so far
away from England and, consequently, we sa.
luted again, and went in. Then, as we stood
in the shade che showed us (being as afabs
as beautifully bow the different families lived il
their separate houses, and how there was a gen,
eral house for stores, and general reading.
room, and general room for music and dane,
ing, and room for church and how there
were other houses on the rising ground callel
the Signal Hill, where they lived in the hotter
weather.
Your officer has, been carried up there
she said, and my brother, too, for the better
air. At present, our few residents are dispersed
over both spots deducting, that is to cay, such
OF Cur number as art always going to, or COM
ing from, or staying at, the Nine"
| T. lie is amongst. one of those parties"
thought, " and wish somebody would knock
his head off")
"Some Of our married ladies live here" eli e
said, during at leatt half the year, as lonely
as widows, with theic children"
Many children Eere, ma'am?"
"Seventeen. Tn re are thirteen married h.
dies, and there are eight like me-"
| There were not eight like her-,here was net
ono like her-in the world. She meant, single.
Which, with about thirty Englishmen, Of
various Degrees" sad the young lady, " form
the little colony now On the leland. I don't
count the sailors, for they don't belong to ~ !;
nor the soldiers "--she gave us a gracious
smile when she spoil 9 Of the soldiers--' for tie
same reason"
Nor the Sambos, ma'am," said I.
"No."
Under your favor, and with your leay 2,
ma'am,' said l, "a,s they Trustworthy ?"
Perfectly W~are all very kind to the. q,
and they are very gsateful to us."
Indeed, ma'am9 Now, Christian Geor .e
King ?"-
"yery much attsrhed to US al-would tje
for u.s."
She was, as in my uneducated wsy ha 5e
observed very beautiful women almost alws IS
to be, so composed that her composure pa re
great weight to whst she said, and believedAt.
Then she pointed out to US the building 6sse
q powder magazine, and explained to us IN
what manner the silver was brought from the
mine, and was broyght over from the m ainlar' d,
and was stored thee. The Christopher Coluul-
bus would have RICH lading, she said, for there
had been great yield that year-a much rich
er yield than usuals-aud there was q chestsof
Jewels, besides the Silver.
; When we had booked about us, and wsre
getting sheepish, thpgh fearing we were trouble.
some, she tarned ] over to a young woman
English born bnt est India breed, who served