Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-21
Brasilian correspondence.

To one coming from the North, the
West India Islands offer many beautiful
views. They are, generally, mountain
Gus, and are seen plainly rising from the
water for hours, while the swift steamer
is approaching, before the cities and
towns on the shore are visible. In pic
lures they are much alike. High, and in
many places steep, mountains rise in
every variety of shape, all clothed with
a rich, green verdure, which shows on q
nearer view many new forms OF trees,
the most conspicuous of which are the
palms, varying from the graceful to the
rrotesuue. Deep, dark ravines indent
the mountain sides--here and there q
light green spot marks a plantation OF
sugar. cane or coffee, and the little dots OF
red and brown, which, in the distance
look like clods of earth, or rocks, are de.
veloped into red, rooted mansions, sur
rounded with the cottages of the peas
antry. All are embowered in trees;
even the cities, until you approach near
them, are hard to distinguish among the
masses of foliage mingled with the houses.
The lighthouse, the fort, the barracks,
and rows of heavy, solidlooking ware
houses are very much alike, and so are
the solemn, venerable churches, which
occupy the most conspicuous stations.
And yet there is sufficient variety to at.
tract the attention of the passer-by, till
each in succession is lef! far in the rear.
Barbadoes, the last island in sight
before we start on 'bee line for Para,
differs altogether from the others,
and merits particular notice. Instead
of being mountainous, it seems almost q
dead level And yet the land rises at
distance of four miles from the shore to
the hight of eight hundred feet, afford-
ing the residents of the island one of the
most delightful climates in the world
where the temperature. ranges from
seventy to eighty degrees the year round:
The amount of land in it is one hundred
and sixty thousand acres, almost every
acre of which is owned by the whites
Euglish--and is in high state of cult
yation, principally in sugar cane. II IS
the most hourishing of all the West
India Islands, as is evidenced by the
value of its lands-which rate from four
to FIVE hundred dollars per acre in gold.
The negroes are numerous, and free, but
as the lands are owned by the whites
they have but little chance to indulge
their taste for vsgabond life. They are
forced to work, and at prices so low, that
in spite of the high price ofland, the plan
ters are able to manage their business so
as to afford great profit Daring the sea-
son when such work is needed, lsborers
are paid twelve and half cents week
per acre for keeping the lands wellweeded,
and nowhere in the world are the crops
kept so clean. A hand-even woman
can attend to twelve acres, and they
| like the work, as it allows them to do it at
such times as they please. A dollar and
a half a week 10 enough to support per-
son, or even q family, where potatoes are
often as low as twenty five cents q hun
dred pounds, and flying 6sh-s foot long
twenty for an English penny. Some
of the negro men, under this state Of
things. become quite pretentious and
aristocratic, marrying or. taking two or
three wives piece, whose labor, bring
inc them in the enormous sum OF four
dollars and half Q week, enables them
10 live a liz. of affiuencs and ease. Wind
mills are a prominent feature OF Barbs-
does. Every estate has its tower in the
midst Of its buildings, whore the cane Is
ground and the sugar made None OF
them, however, were in motion, Tor the
crop had just been gathered, and the sails
taken down in preparation for the hurr.'
cane season. which was said TO be at hand.
We we're sorry to take leave Of this island,
for Il seemed more homelike than any OF
the others Ifs evidences Of industry,
thrift and general prosperity give i :
truly American appearance.
Alsr losing sight Of Barbadoss We
we're seven days without seeing land, aud