Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-01
LIFE IN THE P
Preparations for Departure Farewell
to the Coast-.-0n the Ocean Wave
---ArrivaI at New Orleans.
Contributed to the Ledger.

The little sloop | had selected for
my passage to Utilla had come to
Sieba for bananas and c%ocoanuts, as
sisting the complement of the huge
New Orleans schooner San 0teri,
which lay at anchor in East HarbOr,
Island of Utilla. She bore that beau
tiful Spanish name, "Juanita," and
was soon joined by three others-the
Sea Bird" the Ocean Queen and
the Helicon.' Owing to the fruit
having to be cut and gathered to load
these four vessels, we were detained
at the Sieba coast for nearly two days.
Learning that there was an American
living near the city | determined to
make him a visit. In company with
two ofthe natives, we reached Captain
Ned's after a walk Of a couple of
miles. He cordially received me and
exerted himself to make my visit
agreeable. His plantation was an
elegant one, covered with a rich
growth of bananas and sugar-cane,
and several tall cocoa trees shadedhis
pleasant dwelling. He was not with
out the usual domestic points, which
seem a necessary %appendage TO every
house in the tropics. One of those
rare species Of yellow-crested parrots
noisily chatted from a perch which
had been constructed for him-several
specimens of domesticated wild birds
we're skulking amid the shrubbery-a
little monkey sat close by, displaying
all his characteristic mimics, and con
fined in a coop in the yard was a
young tiger cub, a recent addition to
the captains collection. The little
prisoner gave an ugly snarl and growl
when we approached his quarters,
which warned us not to modest him.
He had broken from his confinement
the night before, and, attracted by the
smell of fresh beef, had entered the
larder and there was found the next
morning gratifying his gourmand APP
petite. After wandering over the
premises and gathering a basket full
of cachues, tamarinds and custard-
apples to take back with us, we sat
down to the first meal cooked in
American style to which we had been
treated since leaving Belize. The
captain was a very loquacious, as well
as intelligent, gentleman. He said his
ventures had been successful here,
though he had grown weary Of his
solitary life, so remote from all the
advantages and conveniences of civil
z%ation, and often he had wished to
close out his business here and return
fH his former home in Massachusetts,.
/ could but wonder, myself, that he
had remained so long in such a posi-
tion, surrounded only by ignorant
natives and barbarOus earibs.
But the time for our departure was
at hand and the captain accompanied
us back to the village. He was very
hospitable and had made our visit so
agreeable that we only wished that we
could have prolonged our stay under
his friendly roof.
All the vessels were loaded by our
return and were ready to sail for
Utilla. The four vessels were about
equally loaded, carrying. each about
$50 punches of bananas. They raised
anchor Simultaneously and a lively
race ensued. The sea was rough and
several times our prov plunged into a
huge wave, thoroughly dreaching us
all and flooding her deck with water.
The distance to Utilla was twenty-siX
miles, and the Juanita triumphantly
led the feet into port at East HarbOr
by at least twenty minutes.
AT Utilla | was fortunate enough to
meet a vessel bound for New Orleans,
upon which | embarked for home. She
was the huge schooner Santa 0teri, y
commanded by Captain Henri Pizzati.
and owned by the Messrs. Oteri &
Bro, the leading fruit dealers in New
Orleans or this euterprising firm !
would say word, as they have done
more for the fruit trade of New Or
leans than any other house. They
have a line of three sehooners and one
steamer plying betwSeu New Orleans
and the tropics for fruits, which latter
vessel is also carrying the British mails
from Belize TO New Orleans. VIII
these four vessels they are able TO
living monthly into the New Orleans
market above 10000 punches of
bananas. This will of course give
new impetus to their competitors ia
trade, and we will soon find the price
of this fruit radically reduced. ia
like manner they can bring a proper
tionate amount of cocoanuts and plsn-
tains, and these, too, by their cheap
ness, will soon find a way into the
hands of the small dealer in the
smaller towns, who have hitherto re-
Trained from handling them, owing 70
tue high figure for which they sold
Another fact that leads me to the
belief that these fruits will fall radl-
cally in price is the enormous guam
1lty now being produced on the islands
along the coast. For instance, Puerto
Cabsllos, heretofore mosly stunned
by fruiters, owing to her inability TO
supply then with a cargo, is nov pre-
pared to load at least three vessels
monthly with the fruit she can supply
from along the line Of the short rail
road, and there is one cocoanut plant
alton Just below Puerto Sal capable Of
supplying $4,000 eocoannts per mouth.
Thus, the fruit business has rapidly
expanded IN production, and Il will
soon require extra vessels from New
Orleans 20 import it.
After u voyage Of seven days VOID
f anu inoidant of i'm nortonra. We