Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-23
Life in Jamaica.

i found myself in a great shadowy,
roomy hotel, with hardwood floors and
furlongs of veranda, giving on a garden
which had run somewhat to seed, but con-
tanned several palm trees, ana an assort-
ment of Lizards, green and brown, in
agreeable confirmation OF the ~propinQuity
OF the equator. Round about this hotel
ana We wandered till lunch
was ready; there were oranges, bananas,
and several other fruits which i do not
specify only because | am still unable to
recoIlect their names. As to their flavor,
l can only say that do not care much for
II as yet; there was one that tasted like
butter, and another hat had the consist
ency of cream cheese and the taste of
strawberry jam.
On the whole, the flavor OF these south
ern PRODUCTS strikes the northern visitor
as lnsipid and too sweet. and makes one
understand why Englishmen always n
er after curr.es and like sharp condiments
IN the tropics; but no doubt we are UNI
sophisticated and wrong and ought to AXE
what seems TO Us insipidity. Meanwhile,
the oranges. nam and plneapples are
al much better here than they ever are
after enduring export.
As for the breadfruit and yams, of which
We also had specimens, they are a mixture
OF the potato n sweet potato, and are
less captivating than either. They have
almost no taste at all. and l should sup.
pose that one would finally come TO regard
them IN much the same light as bread,
something usefuliy filling, but without
character enough TO inspire either loath-
- NAN "ANi Nv aAi VI EtuNts
well.
The bill OF fare included likewise fish.
which was good, and meat which was not
very good; it had to he eaten too soon
after killing to have lost its %toughness.
But one does not expect TO eat much meat
down mere; vegetarians are in their ele-
nleht In the tropics, especially that super
LOT order OF them who favor that part o..
the vegetable kingdom which grows above
ground. The country women, who walk
IHG N - NHn Il n AAuu In ~
sun with burdens on their heads which
must sometimes weigh not less tina so
pounds; and who are never in the least
tired-these ladies. it appears, live Oh
fruit and ANS only, and find them ali.
sufficient diet.
After dinner l went into a barber shop
anu suDmltted myself to the ministrations
Of artist there. The shop was d. the
rear fthe little structure which bore the
sign. the front part OF 1t. If l remember
Ign, was devoted In part to the sale OF to-
windows protected Nv wooden gratings
painted erd and blue; through them ]
saw bits OF intense blue sky and green
fronds OF palm. On the wall just outside
the sash u lizard ran and hoped, and the
eternal buzzard alighted on a corner OF A
roof within my range OF vision. Close be.
s.de me a young darkey with "A counter.
ance of illimitable amiability labored as
~siduously on an instrument in the nature
OF a hand organ; but the works were In
full view, and nj the opinion OF several bv-
ISLANDERS seemed TO Vie in interest with the
tunes, This music took the place OF the
traditional BARRIERS conversation, though
that also was a~bundantly available on de-
mInd, and was, indeed, carried on with
much vivaClty in the various EMPLOYEES
and some visitors who appeared to have
come IN for that purpose. IL sounded ike
a mixture OF Italian and French, and may
nave been jamaican popular English. for
aught l know. | could not understand IL.
accepted all thes details as being typ!c-
ally tropical: but on the other hand the
chair in which / sat was made in Roches-
ter. N. Y; on the wall there was large
Autograph of Brooklyn bridge, and a por-
trait of President Cleveland. Electricity.
TOO, mas got 10 Kingston, and the wires
run through the branches OF the mangos
palms. The hous in which Ihave
taken up my abode Is fitted throughout
with electric bells, but ! am happy 10 add
mat none of them work. In one Of the
large shops, | think. there is an elevator,
the only one OH the island.
| said just now that the white people
look out of place. That fact, go far as |
can judge. is the moral OF the story here.
The island belongs to the co.ored folk,
n the others are gradually being
crowded out. The proportion Is already
ABOUT thirty to one against the latter!
ana while the colored arce goes on multi
plying, the whites are packing their
trunks and moving out. Is this move
Their IL Will be arrested 10y the English.
Workmen imported from the states do nor
succeed here; that Is, they all die in two
years from rum. The coolies do admir-
ably, but they cannot he the final solution
of the problem, Perhaps the best thing We
can do rs to be come colorod people our
selves.