of
humanity--you know him as a gentleman. The whip is seldom used, and only
for theft, which scarcely ever occurs. And I do not think that, were they
free to-morrow, they would leave Mr. W., who is an Englishman."

On the second morning of my residence here I rose at four o'clock, and the
view from a kind of field called the Park was most remarkable and
picturesque in the extreme. Below me in all the valleys was a dense fog,
resembling a white woolly-looking cloud, stretched out like an immense
lake. The lower mountains appeared like so many islands. At first I stared
in astonishment at so novel a sight, and it reminded me of the picture of
the Deluge, when all the lower world was under water.

At breakfast I mentioned to Mr. W. the extraordinary scene I had
witnessed. "To you," said he, "it may appear strange, but for at least
four months in the year we have those settling clouds or fogs. They first
form on the higher mountains, and then descend into the valleys. About
seven o'clock, as the sun gains force, they disperse. But," added he,
"they are very necessary to the young plantations, which they moisten
profusely."

The purser was now sufficiently recovered to join us in our rambles of an
evening, in one of which we came near a large tamarind-tree, where a
number of humming-birds were flying around. "I would not hurt any of those
little creatures for a trifle," said Mr. W. "Were I to do it in the
presence of any of the negroes, they would immediately conclude I was
wicked. They consider them sacred, and, although they might fetch a good
price, I have never known one to be sold."

On the fifth morning the mules were ordered at an early hour, and we bid
adieu to our kind and hospitable friend, who promised to spend a day with
us on board on our return from our cruise. We arrived at Kingston at
eleven o'clock without accident, and were on board by dinner-time. On the
following Sunday we put to sea, and a week afterwards were on our old
cruising grounds in the Mona passage and off Porto Rico.

We again sent two boats away on a speculative cruise with the second
lieutenant, who a few hours after returned with a very handsome Spanish
schooner, about forty tons, in ballast. We now put all our wise heads
together, whether to send her to Jamaica or make a tender of her. As I was
the first consulted, I voted for the last, "As were she to be sent to
Jamaica," said I, "the expenses of her condemnation will most likely
exce