The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-06
PER ENNIAL MIDSUMM Err.
Barbados, Its People, Productions,
Commerce, Morals, Society, and az
Whole Chapter Of Interesting
Facts and Incidents. John .sgs
f. Harris, DelineatOr.l q
BARBADOS, BRITISH WEST INDIES,
November g.


November g.
Editor Of Daily Journal: i suppose
Thanksgiving has been appointed by this
time while 1 am so far from the home tur-
key. These are bright summer days In No
vember away down here on a tropiC Al
ISLAND in the middle OF the sea, and the in
habitants know no more of the meaning
we attach to the terms spring, fall and win
ties than the patriarch Nicodemus knew of
the second birth. And, IL you remember,
he didn't claim to know anything about it
whatever.
/ am writing in the evening with my
window open to get a breath OF fresh air
and no more clothes on than / would have
on in good corn weather in old Vermont.
II Is nine F. M, the monkeys in the yard
outside have stopped their chattering and
gone to bed. Even the blackbirds are
hushed, and except for the baying OF dog
at the new moon and the braying OF a lone
some jackass nothing Is 10 be heard except
the eternal boom of the surf on the beach.
The only way the residents here can tell
OF the approach of what we call winter
month, unless they consult the almanac, is
that the prevailing winds shift little and
there is liable to be little more rain.
Think of an endless succession OF days,
weeks, months and years, every day and
week and month alikel | know l would
become desperate and seek suicide, or
even cigarettes, as a relief.
The Barb ADDE'S constitute one of the most
interesting spots on earth-to one who
doesn't have to live here. Sometime after
Columbus Numbered on to America body
of Portuguese fell in with the island, and,
seeing the long webs OF moss hanging from
the tamarind trees, called the island "Bar-
badoes," Portuguese for beard. The name
has stuck; 30 has the moss. / saw both to-
day. In 1905 party Of King James o.
highlands pious assassins bent on policy
Of benevolent assimilation" and the an
nexation of anything that they might faucy
and were strong enough to digest, happeu-
ed along and carved the kings name and
claim on tree. From that hour to this
Barbados has been an English colony with
varying fortunes.
The island is twenty-one miles long, four
teen wide, contains 166 square miles and a
population of about 1872 00O. This makes
more dense population, by the square mile,
than in any other country in the world, ex-
cepting China. There are 106 900 acres in
the island, over 100000 being under high
state of cultivation. The other 5000 odd
aCr - are nearly all covered by bui dngs,
highways or improvements of some kind,
30 there is hardly a foot OF unoccuped land.
or this 1872 600 population all but about
$1,000 are more or less colored. This fact
will give you an idea of the soc ETY.. Another
fact thai will give you further idea of it
is that % per cent OF the births are illegit-
mate. Owing to the value of the land, no
wood is raised for fuel, and the only fire.
wood is a sort of brushwood brought by
schooners from the island of Tobago There
are no streams, brooks or rivers as in many
of the other islands, but an excellent q al.
ity and quantity OF fresh water is available.
Welsh coal, shipped from Wales, is deliver
ed anywhere for So per ton. What is called
"Pocahonta" coal, brought from Philadel-
phia, is sold for 81. go
Although many Of the troops are being
removed TO ST. Lucia which is being made
a garrison town, Barbados has long been
the headquarters of the British army
among the British West Indian colonies
A large part of the southwest end OF the
island is occupied by the barracks, store
houses, various offices and drill grounds.
The forces here consist OF the Royal Leices-
ter regiment aud pat OF the West Indian
black regiment. There are three negro reg
meats, regulars, in the British service
one ON the west coast Of Africa, one at St.
Helena, and the other scattered among
these islands. They are fine looking body
of men, dressed most picturesquely.
The present governor of Barbados, ap-
pointed by the crown, is Sir John Shaw
Hay, scholarly and most courteous gentle
man. His salary is 5000 pounds or Sl4,-
700 yearly.
The soil of the island is a coral formation,
white and hard when dry, gray, sticky
and slippery after a shower. A coral
line limestone is q larried anywhere, sawed
into blocks for building purposes, and all
the public buildings, some business blocks
and few private residences are built of
this material. The SOIL in fact, is powder
cd coral, sort of calcareous marl with
seams OF bitumen and strata OF volcanic
ashes. An occasional spring OF petroleum
is also found. Grass grows luxuriantly in
the fields, and is cut for fodder as required
An important article Of Hook food is also
coon meat" what we call cOw-corn, cut in
the stalk as for ensilage. Every morning
sees professions of little two-wheeled carts
coming into town from the surrounding
country, loaded six feet high with this fod-
der, which the owner brings in to SELL
himself, and possibly his whole family, on
the load, and the whole drawn by little
measly, drab donkey, weighing possibly
200 pounds. This outfit is one OF the fea-
lures OF the island, and l never cease won
dering how the donkey pulls the load, or
how he can possibly emit such an utterly
Internal and quite unearthly bray as he
can produce.
About ten miles from the city, near the
other side of the island lies buried man
who was in the flesh the last of the native
kings OF Greece. He either abdicated, or
was hred out, and took ship here, where he
lived many years under an assumed name.
He now lies buried in the chancel of st.
johns parish church. Some time after his
death Greek warship came here TO remove
his remains, but for some reason they were
left undisturbsd He was the last native
Greek sovereign, since which time the
throne has been Supplied" by ofiicious for
eign powers. His identity was not known
here in his lifetime, but he lived and died a
good citizen aud much respected.
Not many flowers are in bloom here now.
The more common trees are the mango
tiamboirate, mahogany, banyan, tamarind,
breadfiuit, shattuc, banana, cocoanut, and
an infinite variety of palms. There are
also vast number OF beautiful shrubs and
plants. Fruits are not in such profusion as
might be thought, but they are all here or
can easily be got here. Bananas cost at the