t long, and in shape like a mullet.

CHAPTER II.

WEST INDIES.

Arrival in West Indies--Cruise among the French islands--Bombardment
and capture of St. Pierre, Dominique--Attack on Bourbon--Capture of
forts--Surrender of General Rochambeau and the French garrison.

After a pleasant passage of thirty-four days we anchored in Carlisle Bay,
Barbadoes. Two days after our arrival I had permission to go on shore with
the gunner, who had been here before. I found the town not very extensive.
The houses are built much in the same style as those at Kingston, in
Jamaica, except that they have more garden ground. The streets are very
sandy, but they are ornamented with a profusion of cocoa, plantain and
banana trees, which afford a partial shade. It appeared to me that most of
the people who inhabited Bridge Town maintained themselves by washing
clothes. The women are well made and very indolent. The men are
sufficiently conceited but active. I procured here a quantity of very
pretty small sea-shells. They assort them very tastefully in cases, and
for about two dollars you may purchase a tolerable collection. The natives
of this island pride themselves on not being creoles, that is not being of
the Caribbean race, although it assuredly is one of the Caribbean Islands.
If you are unfortunate enough to speak in favour of any of the other West
Indian Islands in their presence, they immediately exclaim, "Me tankey my
God dat I needer Crab nor Creole, but true Barbadeen born." They drawl out
their words most horribly. I happened one day to hear two of the dignity
ladies of Bridge Town, as black as ink, returning the salutations of the
morning. The first began by drawling out, "How you do dis maurning. I hope
you berry well, m-a-a-m, but I tink you look a little p-a-a-le." The other
answered, "I tank you body, I hab berry b-a-a-d niete (night), but I
better dis mording, I tank you, m-a-a-m." This island is famed for its
noyeau, guava jelly, candied fruits--particularly the pine-apple, which is
put on table in glass cases--and its potted flying-fish, which I thought
equal in flavour to potted pilchards. Were I to make this assertion at
Mevagissey I fear I should stand but little chance of being invited to
dine off star gazy pie(2); but for fear my reader should be from that
neighbourhood, I beg him to understand that I do not think them better,
bu