Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11

and shipshape. as We say. Well. the food S
cruel bad and the ships undermined and
under-engined. but WEN just on the windy
side of the Jaw. believe. which is all you
can expect from a tramp like the Pea
body The old man (skipper) is a very
good sort and everybody likes him: also
the mate; likewise the bosun. Everything's
all right, In fact, except the grub and en-
gines. be the carpenters mate
us seed a good few Of the wonders of
the deep coming out over. but 1t blowed a
bit of the Azores (Which you can find in
fathers big map of the WORLD, and We took
1t green By which l mean this vessel
shipped solid waves over her bows and we
had to slow down, else we'd have gone
down. The engines be good for nought in a
head-wind. But we got to Barbados at last.
and find it's called BIN for shortness. In
the dimpsy light us fetched it, but out here
twilight turns to night while the clocks
striking, and afore We cast anchor twas
dark and the island lying like a sea monster
with a red light on his nose and white
on his tail-lighthouses / mean. Bridgetown
1t was where us landed part of our cargo
place with windmills pom it and TILED
land and miles Of stuff, as made me think
Of homeS so green 1t was; but tbs sugar
cane when you gets up to 1t. We didn't
bide in Carlisle bay long. else I'd have
wrote from there, but we was so terrible
busy hadn't but one chance to land. The
folks here be every color you could name
between white and black. through all man.
or and putty color, and peat color. Cheer
full, lazy devils, like to laugh and smoke
and chew sugar-cane all day. But they
properly hate work. Reckless mongrels,
should say. they was; but in BIN a man
don't get any show unless he>ve got a touch
of the tar-bruSh as they say. That means
niger blood. Such way as they tell.
never heard English spoke so comic in all
my born days. Their clothes be built for
ventilation mostly, and l never seed such a
show of rags. Barbados is made of coral,
but tother islands are VOLCANOES, and they've
a nasty way of going off when you east
count upon 1t.
From Carlisle bay you can see white
houses under wooden tiles all scorched gray
by the sun heat and in the streets a great
crowd goes up and down in the blazing air
and shining dust. Such a noise and clatter
/ never did hear. Mules squealing. bells
ringing. bands playing. niggers bawling.
The women all wear white dresses and gay
turbans. Theym amazing straight in the
back. owing to carrying all their goods pom
top their heads. They sell cocoanuts, cane,
pineapples oranges. lines. mangoes. yams,
pickles, and Lord knows what beside. They
stride out beautiful owing to their short
petticoats, but their mouths be caution
The children look like little chocolate dolls
and much you'd love em. The policemen
all be dressed in white. They fancy them
selves an awful lot. The pigs run about
the streets and be for all the world like
grayhounds (What call long dogs to
home). The climates that fiery that you'll
never get no stock properly fatted in It..
But you don't feel no call for much red
meat. We got fresh water and green stun
aboard here, and how / wish L could have
sent you my dinner yesterday. / had fly
ing-fish and sweet potatoes and green
skinned oranges, red as gold inside, and
many other fine things as would make your
little mouth water to hear tell about. But
the mangoes is what like best, though they
do say out here they be no better than a
bit of tow dipped In turps. Ban't true, l
assure e. 1 got off for two hour just afore
we set sail, and went into the country,
trapsing round to what l could see.
And if I didn't come across great mango
tree as 'peared to me to be just foreign.
wild tree alongside the high road. Wen, l
seed the fruit in 1T, an thinks l, twill be a
fine thing for the ship. So up l goes, hand
over fist but not before I made some mig
gers stop throwing stones up at the tree.
Well, Skinned up aloft and began f1ingng
down the mangoes, and the wretched mig
gers holloed out, Good Massa! Massa
brave! Massa no frightened OBJ nobody!
Then suddenly there was mighty loud
barking and up coined yellow dog so big
as calf. and the nigs went off for dear
life. Him coming, Massa! Him running
like de debbil, sar!' they shouted out as
they went; and then big chap arrived at
the bottom of the tree and began giving me
all the law and the prophets, l do assure
e. For 1t happened to be his tree.
"'You tief, come down! come down and
my dog he tear you. / catch you at last!
1t all ober wild you now!
: mot much I said I ban't coming
down to be tored by thicky hulking dog,
john Gus calls all niggers 'John)
"'You tief and you take to gaol, sar. 1
no go till you come down. he says.
And 1 knowed as my ship would sail In
two hours or less!
Nov list to me- you black ass I says.
L thought this here was wild tree-as any
body would. You ought to stick your name
on the tree. And l ban't thief, and If
you call me one, I'll break your fat head
| Just take the dog and tie him up, then III
come down and usll have a bit Of a tell
about it.
You tief my manyoes. You lodge in de
| goal! was al he could think Of. So 1 told
| him not to be such a tarnation fool.
There's your mangoes on the ground,
I said. I'll give you bob for 'em, and If
| hear any more about It. I'll apply to the