h they have passed the night; then they dress, and
breakfast on coffee or tea, and are at their offices at eight. They
work till nearly noon, when they dine, and take a nap till four, when
they again attend to business till six. Afterwards they drive out, or
mix in social intercourse in an informal way till nine, when they sup,
and retire to bed at eleven. Newman, whose means of observation were
greater than mine, told me that the men had their parties together, and
the ladies theirs, which I should consider a very bad arrangement. The
men of higher rank--the upper merchants--are each attended by a slave,
holding an umbrella behind him; but a junior merchant must carry his
umbrella himself.

The women marry very young, are very ill-educated, and pass much of
their time lolling on sofas, talking and laughing with their slaves,
whom another moment they will order to be whipped for the slightest
offence. Those born in the country have very supple joints, and can
twist their fingers, hands, and arms in almost every direction. What
can be expected from women who are abandoned, almost as soon as born, to
the care of ignorant slaves--little or no care being taken to inculcate
moral or religious principles into their plastic minds, till they have
fully imbibed all the superstitious notions and prejudices which are
held by their attendants? While saying this, I must urge parents at
home never--if they value the eternal happiness of their children--if
they wish them to imbibe right principles, and to avoid pernicious
ones--to commit them to the charge of persons, however decent in their
behaviour, who are not likely, from their want of education, to be able
to instil them. Parents, children were given you by God; and at your
hands he will require them. On your care, on your exertions, on your
prayers, it depends whether they grow up a blessing to you and to
themselves, or become miserable and lost. Still, children, nothing will
exonerate you, when you become free agents, and understand good from
evil, if you reject the good and choose the evil. You have more need
for prayer, more need for exertion, more need for self-control, to
conquer the vices which have grown up with you; and, believe Old Jack,
however you may be weighed down with them, if you will but _try_, if you
will but cast all your burden on Him who is alone able to bear it, you
will succeed.

Provisions of all sorts we found abundant and cheap. The fruits