The sun., 1884-02-24
LIFE IN NASSAU, NEW pRopIDBNcE
Tho Negroes and their Ideas-Ths Climate
Eacrvatibe.

Eaervatine.
NASSAU, Feb. 1.-THE most interesting
thing in Nassau Wahamas) is tho colored
people. 1t Is fortunate that they are in
.ercst!ng. because there arc so many OF
,hem. If onos interest in them should
,ycr pail. life in Nassau might even become
oppressive. on account OF the swarms OF ne
rrocs which fill tho houses and the streets.
rhcy nll the middle OF the street AS often as
no sidewalks. lettering along, chattering and
aughing and calling to each other. Their
roices are soft and rich. the modulations very
woet. but thoy all speak broken English.
often 1t is hard to mako out what they moan
o say. In tho market. whore they are all gath
red together or among little bands OF them
Walking along tho country roalS. you will
,ftcn hear African spoken.
In town. the young women arc o'ten deckcd
white muslins. with fine hats. but tho ac-
epted fashion for tho setted matrons IL an
ntidy medley OF old clothes. and bandann
handkerchief with floating ends tod round the
lead. On top of this is worn n mans hat
ahmed down hard. Except when they shuttle
around with n pair OF old slippers hung on
heir toes. young and old go barefoot Our
waitress. in muddy weather. always stops to
wipe her bare feet on the doorsill as she brings
in the dinner from tho outside kitchen.
There arc few muattoes here compared to
hose in the United States and large propor-
ion OF the colored people are intensely black.
Many are Africans. and many more the chill
ircn Or grandchildren OF pure African parent
age. They make quiet ana inoilensive ropu-
alton crime is rare among them. But on the
whole they are certainly not an Intelligent
ace. The servants are much slower duiler.
md more careless than white servants. They
,cem unable to keen many ideas in their heads
-,..G. 4
As well rs forEetful. 1t is almost impossible in
he street 10 get colored person to give you u
clear direction. They arc very supcrstitous.
md carry on many of their African PRACTICES
In case Of sickness. If they employ white
physician. and the patient does not get
Well in two or three days. they send him off
and go 20 n :" bush doctor" This. one of them
said TO me. was really the most sensible thin.
TO do because n white doctor charges a dollar
svory time you go to see him. and you have to
pay for the medicines besides: but n bush doe
tor will give you advice and boil you UP II big
bottle OF medicine. all for twenty-five cents.
Tho bush doctors prepare their medicines
themselves from herbs and shrubs. whence
hey get their title. Perhaps tho most logical
d all their remedies is that for an elongated
palate. They wind the topmost lock of Lair on
the patients head around a stick. twist 1t as
cose to the head us possible, and fasten it in
that position. It is sevident that this must pull
the palate up into Its proper place.
They often prescribe the application OF dif-
ierent leaves to different parts of tho body. ac;
cording to, the aiiment. The chambermaid
Ireep leaf laid close behind each ear. They 5
The same girl. though involved in the meshes
2f error medically was religiously heightened.
She warmly disclaimed any belief in magic
but she assured the German maid who was
With us that she would certainly go to he'll ii
,he did not say her prayers morning and night
her teaching, that she suddenly flung herself
De done. Also she besought the German girl
20 get murrod because no old maid is ever ad-
hitted to heaven; but when woman marries
she is safe. rs a!! her sins fall on the soul OF
her husband.
heard there was n native African bush doc
to see him. He had spent three years OF his
youth. they said. in school for, such things, in
savage ii appearance. though dressed like his
fellows. He spoke little English. and that very
or9ksn: He to!d me % my forGne I with the heir
rass Of water with a leaf and some black pins
IN it, The fortune was ordinary. but at the end
pretended friend who. according to his nc.
.o-.t, %es secretly " w;tchins" me IN tho most
- If you wan" he said, FIX you up some
thing 80 il you lay little stick on your door
way ana s shs s step se6 on IT 1t H s go Gax r 20
ike me to- TX it, And 1 iIx or stick % SO i You You
step on II. by de biessin, OF Almighty God you
asked ed 4 he he kasT angthin. about y9o-doo
here. because he would be caught and punish
ed. i he was only at home in Africa then he
with voodoo" he said in whisper '' / Sc
right here and make II mans house catch fir,
snyy% aad anS Wan 1T make An man IF, fai a. psa
gots all crawl roun. aud den make him get
nuka aI inn IL, oil
II | tell he dcnd termorrcr"
" Will other yOo-doo men kill you?"
No. de yoo-duO kill mo-"
He was like a child frightened by It's own i'm
lginations. He seemed really 70 believe in hi
own magic and be afraid of it. 1t was curious tc
watch the, effect Of his words on the big band
some highly respectable coGred woman hac
England. had lived for years in tho Bishop:
!amily, and before we started ridicuied all be,
coming home, II was evident tha, in the bottou
pf her heart she believed and was frightened
think the awful idea of the man having To Ge
up and dance under such unpleasant circum
stances had overcome her skeptcism.
The climate Of Nassau is warm soft enorvat
lng. In summer and autumn the inhahitant
are liable to malaria and bilious feverS, In
these are rare. though not unknown. in th'
Tho trip to Nassau should only be under
taken by the most robust, rhh climate may b
good for snmo !nvai,iS after they get here. bu
there IL TOO much risk oi their being damage
on the way The vuylg. in the winter seUIDI
= art TO br rough; and tho methods of reach
Ing the shore. after III. ship has come to an
.hor Sliil rouGhrr The vessels now runniL.
20 Nassau cannot enter ths Larbor n, all AN
PASSENGERS are taken ~ land by small s,oor
But under some unfavurabie circumstance
the vessel may not even be- ah'e 10 lie outsia
ot In" hHrb"r, and may iana the passengers
Transforming Them first to ii small s,oOp an,
ht"rwari to- n roWboat. on M ABSOLUTELY dnso
late beach about sixteen miles from town. Tai
happened the might We arrived. and H. the car
rlases sent out from town were entire insuiil
sient TO hold all he pnsscnscrs. thers were
eumher 81 lnyalids obliged to remain on tn
beach until tho carriages could return for then
about 10 or l. O'Clock ut night, II ranod lre
onently during tho evening. and they wer
without shelter