Antigua and the Antiguans Volume II Part 3

A short time ago, I was speaking to an old woman whom I knew when she was a slave upon McKinnon's estate; and among other questions, I asked her, "Juncho," (her name,) "are you happier now than when you was a slave-are you better off now than you was then? or would you be satisfied to return to slavery, and become once more the property of your old master?" "Missis," returned the poor old creature, "me no going to tell 'tory, me 'peak de truth; me no better off now den me war den, nor no so well self; for den me hab house and garden, an me could raise 'tock, (meaning poultry, &c.,) an plant yam, an pittates, (potatoes,) an green, an ebery ting else; and now me free, me hab notting." "And where is your house now?" I asked, to hear what she would say.

"Why, wen August com, ma.s.sa call me, and he say, Me no want you to lib here no more; you no good to work, you must go, me want your house to gib to one oder somebody dats 'trong; no ole like you; and you garden me want. So you know, missis, me forced to go; so me come to town wid me daughter, and me lib wid she, for me can do but lilly work now." "Then you would rather be a slave again?" "Oh, no, missis, me no want to be slabe gen, me sure. G.o.d made me free-G.o.d put it in buckra heart to set me free, an me bless G.o.d for it; me no want to be slabe gen." "But I understood you, that you were better off in the time of slavery-that you had many comforts then that you cannot obtain now, and yet you tell me you do not want to be a slave again-tell me the reason."

"Well, missis, it true me better off den dan me am now, for since me free, me no get much; sometimes me no eat bread all day, for me daughter hab so many pic'nees (children) she no able to gib me much; but den me no me free; me no G.o.d gib me free, and slabery is one bad something sometimes." I went on to ask her what she meant by a "bad something," for I was anxious to know what the negroes thought of slavery and freedom. "S'pose, den," said Juncho, "s'pose you hab one pic'nee, dat pic'nee sick; well, he put in de sick house; me 'bliged to go field, me want to go see me sick pic'nee, but me no must go, me hab to work till ebening 'praps; wen work done, me go see me poor sick pic'nee, but me must no 'top wid he. Me hab make haste go; den me pic'nee say, 'Mammy, 'top wid me, no go, mammy:' but me forced to go and leabe me poor pic'nee. Den 'gen, missis, 'praps me pic'nee do something bad, something he no ought to do, and ma.s.sa take he and tie he two hands up to one tree, else he make two men 'tretch he upon de ground, an den de driber lick he so, an me cry to see him lick so, and me pic'nee bawl, but me no dare say, 'Don't do so, ma.s.sa; let him go,' but me hab to go way and lebe he dere; so you see, missis, dat make me say me no lub slabery. Now wen me noung, me hab to work hard, hab dig cane hole, weed cane, pick gra.s.s, do ebery ting; but now me ole, and no able to work, dey take away me house, 'cause me no b'longs to dem, but den me no me free, and me bless G.o.d me am free." This was Juncho's tale: it proves negroes do feel for their relations when in trouble, or suffering from illness; but with regard to her being turned out of her house after freedom, I think is not quite correct, for I never heard of an Antiguan planter doing so. Perhaps all of her children who could be of any service to the estate, by working upon the property, quitted it, and the manager might have told her, that if they did not return, she must leave too.

Another instance, which ill.u.s.trates the doctrine that negroes do feel affection towards each other, is related by one who used to frequent the slave markets. One day, going his rounds, he saw two fine intelligent-looking youths, with their arms clasped tightly round each other, and being pleased with their appearance, he went up, and asked the price of the eldest of the two. After some talk, the bargain was completed, and the negro became the property of his new master.

While this business was going on between the buyer and seller, the youths looked on with the deepest feeling of attention depicted upon their sable faces. When the younger perceived that his companion was about to be led away from him, he clung to him with almost supernatural strength. Suddenly he released his hold, sprang up, for he had thrown himself down upon his knees, commenced jumping with all his might, dancing, and putting himself into a thousand different att.i.tudes, to shew his strength and the pliancy of his limbs, in hopes the purchaser would take him also. All, however, was of no avail, and his sorrowing friend in affliction was about to be led away; when the poor fellow, as if to try the last resort, flew up to the gentleman, threw his arms around him, and with the most expressive looks of agony, seemed to beseech his pity. Nature has not made every one insensible to the voice of woe; he saw and felt for the boy's grief, and he lightened the bands of slavery by buying them both.

Another anecdote is related by a resident of Nevis, who had occasion to purchase some slaves, and accordingly, upon the arrival of a Guinea s.h.i.+p with a cargo of negroes, he went to inspect them. As they appeared strong and active, Mr. -- made a bargain for a certain number. After the lapse of some months, finding that he wanted an increase of hands to carry on the work of the estate, and another cargo having arrived, he visited the capital, and purchased a further supply of negroes, which were also conducted to his plantation. Upon their arrival, the former lot came forward to welcome the new comers; and amongst the number a young negress, who, when she had looked upon a female of about the same age as herself, suddenly started, her lips quivered with emotion, her eyes glistened, and then, as if fully a.s.sured, she started forward, and threw her arms around the neck of the girl who had attracted her attention, and who had been similarly affected, and burst into a flood of tears. Tenderly and fervently did these children of nature embrace each other, long did their mutual tears flow, until, when they had partly regained their composure, their master asked if they had known each other in Africa. In a voice of joy which vibrated upon every heart, the one who had first arrived, and who had acquired a little English, replied-"Oh, ma.s.sa, she me own dear sissy!"

In many instances the character of the negroes is very bad- sullen, obstinate, and revengeful, given to lying, stealing, and deceit. Still I do not so much attribute this to their pristine state, as I do to the way in which they have formerly been treated. The Africans, torn from their native country and all their former connexions, made to work beneath a broiling sun harder than they were ever accustomed to do, beaten for the slightest fault, and scorned as the meanest reptile, could form, it is to be supposed, no very favourable opinion of their masters. Memory would at times transport them home; again, in fancy, would they roam their native wilds, or with their well-known companions rouse the tawny lion from his lair, or chase the fleet-footed antelope. Once more would the song be heard, once more, in imagination, would they join the festive dance beneath the spreading branches of some n.o.ble mimosa; but in the midst of this joyous scene, the voice of the overseer would be heard, or the crack of the driver's whip dissolve their airy castles, and they would return to despondency and despair.

Ignorant of the G.o.d that made them, and of the mild doctrines of Christianity, no wonder the dark spirit of revenge took possession of their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. The feelings of the parents were naturally enough inculcated into the minds of their children, and this, strengthened, perhaps, by harsh treatment from their owners, has conspired to render the negro character, in great measure, what I am sorry to say it is.

But we ought now to look for brighter days: a great deal has been done for the negroes, much even before emanc.i.p.ation; schools have been erected in all parts of the island, and instruction proffered, both to young and old. The labours of the Moravian and Wesleyan missionaries have, without doubt, done a great deal of good to society at large by teaching the divine truths to the black population, and striving to make them learn the important fact that they have something else to look for besides the gratification of the present moment. As an episcopalian myself, I feel sorry that the church of England should have been less forward some years ago in their labour of love. True it is there has been, from the time these missionaries first came to the island, up to the present, a great number of churches and parsons. But of these, few, I am sorry to say, practised the pure doctrine they pretended to preach; indeed, many openly denied by their lives what they taught with their lips: their motto was-"Do as I say, not as I act;" which conduct, although it ought not to make religion less respected, has, in a great measure, a tendency to that effect among all cla.s.ses. "For how," would many exclaim, "could they enforce the seventh commandment when they wilfully broke it?-or teach a proper respect to the ordinances of G.o.d, when (as some have been known to do) they have left a card-table to read the service at church, and then returned to finish their game?" But those days have pa.s.sed away: Antigua now possesses another race of clergymen very different to those alluded to; men of pious lives, and of ardent desire to further the cause of Christianity. The rector of St. John's, the Rev. R. Holberton, is an evangelical preacher, and has proved a great acquisition to the island. This gentleman is one who does not preach for the sake of the _loaves and fishes_ alone, but strives to do his duty as an humble follower of his divine Master. To his talents as an orator, he adds the more sterling quality of earnest zeal in his vocation, evinced by the bright example he sets, of joining practice to precept. His discourses are not in that flowery style which, working upon the feelings and imagination, produces but a transitory impression; he rather strives to speak to the heart than please the ear. Like a skilful surgeon, he probes the wound he hopes to heal, and then offers the "balm of Gilead," and binds it up with the essence of love. I once more beg pardon of my readers for my digressions; but I could not let the opportunity pa.s.s, without noticing the great difference between the former race of clergymen and those of the present day; I will now return to my more immediate subject-the outlines of the negro character.

Before their conversion to Christianity, the Africans firmly believed that after death they would return to Africa, and there enjoy uninterrupted felicity. Under this idea, suicide was very frequent among them, particularly when they fell to the share of an austere and cruel master. But now this imagination is almost lost sight of: they are taught so to live, that, after death, they may inherit a better land than Africa: still I have met with some of the old people who seemed to entertain the opinion.

A short time previous to emanc.i.p.ation, I remember talking with a negro who fostered this belief. He was rather a remarkable personage: when in the prime of manhood, he must have possessed great strength, if we may judge from height and breadth. His cheeks, arms, and back of his hands, were deeply tattooed with different devices; his complexion was of a clear black, and his countenance very intelligent; nor had he that remarkable flatness of nose and thickness of lips by which the natives of Guinea are so particularly distinguished. He told me he had been "long 'nough" in the West Indies, (which phrase I found, by inquiry, extended to about four and twenty years,) and that he was a prince in his own country-brother, I think I understood him, to the King of Benguela, or something he p.r.o.nounced very much like it; that, during a war with a neighbouring tribe, he was taken prisoner, sold to some merchants at Calabar, from whom he was purchased, with several others, by the captain of a slaver, and brought to the West Indies. Several persons whom he knew were on board the same vessel, but that they all died, with the exception of one woman. I afterwards saw this female, who confirmed him in the report of being a great man among his countrymen, where, she said, she could not speak to him, from her inferior station in life. Poor fellow; aged, (for I suppose he must have been about seventy,) infirm, and miserable-brought from comparative affluence to poverty, from governing others, to be himself a slave;-the tear of pity would not be restrained.

The circ.u.mstances under which I became acquainted with him excited also my sympathy. The estate had been, for a long time, robbed of its ground provisions, and to discover, if possible, the offenders, the owner had given orders not to distribute to the negroes their usual share of salt food, until the guilty parties confessed their crime. This poor old man came up to the "great house"[13] one morning to beg the owner's lady to intercede with "his ma.s.sa" for him, that he might have some herrings to eat with his potatoes; "For," said he, "me ole now, missis-me want something to 'trengthen me; do, missis, beg ma.s.sa gib me lilly salt provision." His tremulous voice, as it broke upon my ear, called my attention to him, and thus caused the introduction.

Seeing that I pitied him, he continued, "But now me ole, me soon go hom-me no 'top much longer to trouble me ma.s.sa!" I asked him what he meant, and where was his home. "To me own country-to Africa!" he replied, the "light of other days" beaming, for a moment, in his eyes.-"What! now you are so _old_? You have less chance of returning there than you ever had."-"Oh! missis, you no sabby, (understand.) Me mean me die soon, an' den me go home-den me happy, den me hab no mo' work, no sick no mo', no hungry no mo'; me ole bone no ache den, but me get 'trong den an' happy too!" Poor fellow! before this he must have gone "home;" a better home than even Africa I hope he may have found it, for

"Though earth has full many a beautiful spot, As a poet or painter may shew; Yet more lovely and beautiful, holy and bright, To the hopes of the heart, and the spirit's delight, Is the land that no mortal may know."

There are not many Africans now in Antigua who were brought there as slaves, they having princ.i.p.ally died off, but there are a great many who have been captured in slavers, and brought here by some of her majesty's s.h.i.+ps, who have been made free, after serving an apprentices.h.i.+p of some years. These persons are termed by the Creole negroes _Willeyforce nagers_, (Wilberforce,) and between them are constant bickerings-the Creole blacks looking upon themselves as so far superior. Whenever they meet and enter into conversation, it generally terminates in a quarrel; and at such times, the actions they make with their hands, and the clamour of their tongues, would almost lead you to imagine murder was intended. The African has generally the advantage over the Creole in garrulity; but when this is perceived by the other party, he exerts all his energies, "works up each corporal agent to the terrible feat," elevates his voice to the pitch of a bagpipe, throws aloft his arms, and, with fire-flas.h.i.+ng eyes and quivering lips, exclaims-"You, _you Willeyforce nager, you!_"

This is decisive; the African is stunned; and, with crest-fallen brow, goes his way, and leaves the ground to the victor.

I am now about to enter upon my "shadows" of negro character; and as I have not screened the master, neither can I gloss over the faults of the servant, or slave. The most predominant trait in their character is superst.i.tion; indeed, there never was a race so universally inclined to this weakness. What is called _Obeah_, has existed since the first introduction of negroes into these islands; it is one of those dark and fearful practices which they brought with them from Africa, where the devil is still openly wors.h.i.+pped, and temples built to his honour. Few English people can have any idea of the dreadful extent to which the practice of Obeah was carried in the West Indies, in former days. It led the unhappy followers of it on, from one crime to another, until the gallows was too often their end. Many, and many a one, has sunk into a premature grave, from the awful dread of Obeah hanging over them. These Obeah men and women are supposed to have entered into a league with the spirit of darkness, and by his aid are enabled to bring hidden things to light, and do many other marvellous actions; and to offend one of these person was, they thought, to seal their doom.

At one time, poisoning was so frequent a crime among these followers of Obeah, that in the year 1809, it required the strong arm of the law to subdue it. The old people are acquainted with many of the wild plants indigenous in the country; and they often recommend them as specifics in certain diseases. They also appear equally familiar with those plants which yield poison. When irritated with denials of what they wished for, or suffering from jealousy, or any other strong pa.s.sion, instances have been known of the negroes applying to these Obeah people, and, for a small sum, receiving from them one of their deadly draughts, so prepared as to render death either almost immediate, or, as was most common, lingering.

I heard of an instance of this nature occurring in Antigua during my stay there. I cannot take upon myself to vouch for its authenticity, as it does not appear there were sufficient grounds of complaint against the suspected parties, to warrant their apprehension; I will, however, give the report then current in the island. An English gentleman, a native of Huntingdons.h.i.+re, resided upon a property about eight miles from the capital, of which he was the manager. Upon one occasion, he had the favour asked him, by a female belonging to the estate, to give her a bason of milk; which request, from some reason or the other, was refused. The matter pa.s.sed off, and no more was thought about it by the manager. A short time afterwards, he received an anonymous scrawl, warning him to be careful of what he ate or drank. This production was treated, as most anonymous ones ought to be, with contempt. Another note was received, and met with no more attention than the former. At length, sorrow came within his door; his son, a boy of about fourteen, strong and full of life and joy, suddenly fell ill, death claimed his prey, and he was consigned to an early tomb. This melancholy duty was but just performed, when his sister, a laughter-loving girl of twelve years, fell a victim to that all-conquering monster; and but a few more revolving suns, and the younger sister also departed for "that bourne from whence no traveller returns." Whether any _post mortem_ examination of the bodies took place I am unable to say, but report attributed their deaths to the milk they used being poisoned.

This terrible crime does not, it is true, rage to the extent it once did; but even in these days of freedom, Obeah men and women are still to be met with, and many negroes consult them when they have lost anything, are suffering from protracted pain, or when they wish to injure any one they may have quarrelled with. One of the Antiguan magistrates related to me the following circ.u.mstance, which had recently occurred. A man who had formerly lived with him as groom, but who for some time past had suffered severely from an ulcerated leg, brought a complaint before him, against another of his s.e.x. It appeared the defendant was one who practised Obeah, to increase his worldly store; and the other poor fellow, ignorant, and depressed in spirit from the almost incurable state of his leg, was induced to apply to him for advice. The Obeah man agreed to cure him, provided he received ten dollars for his pains. This the infirm man was unable to do, but said he had a surtout and a pair of black trousers at home, and if he would take them in place of the money, he would go and fetch them. The offer was accepted by the conjuror, the surtout and trousers were put into his hands, and the ceremony commenced.

The diseased man was ordered to seat himself upon the ground, while Mr. Conjuror took a calabash of some liquid, and poured it upon his head, rubbed it very hard, and then putting his mouth to that part called the "crown of the head," sucked it for some time, and producing a tooth, said he had extracted it by those means, and that his leg would soon get well. Some weeks having elapsed, and the limb still continuing in the same state, the man began to think he had been imposed upon, and consequently brought the case before the magistrate, in hopes of getting his surtout and trousers returned.

The negroes, with but few exceptions, firmly believe the Obeah people can insert different articles, such as pieces of gla.s.s bottles, old rags, nails, stones, &c., into the flesh of those they dislike, and that the afflicted are obliged to get one of the same craft to relieve them.

I once heard a servant of mine relating a circ.u.mstance to a group of sable listeners, which ill.u.s.trates this subject. His wife had lost a gown for sometime, and could not account for its strange disappearance. Soon after she experienced very odd sensations, but was unable to say what was the matter with her. In her distress she applied to the negro doctress upon the estate, but could receive no relief from her, until at length one of her friends advised her to consult an old Obeah woman who resided near, and to her she accordingly went. As soon as this Obeah woman saw her, she informed her she had "enemies," and it was from their machinations all her illness proceeded; but that if she would come to her again on a certain day, she would consult "Obeah" about it, and, by his a.s.sistance, conjure the evil things out of her, provided she brought "all the money she could procure." At the appointed time the woman attended, and after many mysterious rites had been performed, the necromancer proceeded apparently to draw out of the sufferer's arms and legs, pieces of the gown she had lost, various sized pieces of gla.s.s, parts of an old shoe, and many other similar articles. This was related with the utmost seriousness of countenance, and no doubt firmly believed in by the reciter. One of the party asked if his wife derived any benefit. "Why," said John, "she say she do, but me no no; me no see she look much better; hab to pay plenty money tho'; Obeah no like it if yo no gib much."

Another practice of these Obeah people is to dig a hole before the door of a house where the resident is obnoxious to them, and in it place their favourite commodities-old rags and pieces of gla.s.s bottle. If the person for whose injury these articles are intended, unconsciously pa.s.ses over, their health decays, or else they will never be better off in the world than they were at that day. This the negroes also firmly believe; and so true is the old proverb, "Fancy kills and fancy cures," that many, knowing such charm has been practised upon them, have taken it to heart, and in a short time died.

It has ever been customary, and in these days of freedom it is not discontinued, to give the negroes upon the different estates, a plot of ground to plant provisions in, independent of their wages. The "negro-ground," as it is called, is frequently situated at some distance from their houses, and consequently, when its different productions are ripe, it is extremely liable to be robbed. To prevent this as far as possible, it is customary to go to an Obeah person, and, for a certain sum, obtain from them a bottle, partly filled with some mysterious mixture,[14] or else a piece of charmed wood, which they hang up in their grounds over against where their provisions are growing. This generally has the desired effect, for daring indeed must be that person who would steal those articles under the protection of Obeah.

[13] Proprietor's residence.

[14] I have been lately favoured with the sight of an "Obeah bottle," which was picked up a few weeks ago by J. Fairclough, Esq., a gentleman of Antigua, at his residence, the grounds of which are washed by the sea. The bottle has evidently been immersed in the water for some period, from the number of barnacles formed upon it, as also from the appearance of the cork. Its princ.i.p.al contents are two large nails, a bent pin, a few minute sh.e.l.ls, and a conglomeration of substances of which I can give no correct statement. It is filled with a dark liquid, which stains the bottle, and gives the idea of something deadly; but it may only arise from the action of acids upon the iron nails.

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

Negroes: Superst.i.tion-Trials by ordeal-Flower-fence-Bible and key-A way to recover stolen property-Charm to prevent a scolding tongue-Jumbies-A night's adventure-The soldier's last jump-Jumbies calls-Betsey, the nurse-The haunted house-A cure- The drowning boys-The murdered woman-The jumby's revenge.

In the former chapter I endeavoured to give some description of the doctrine of Obeah. There are also several mysterious rites current among the negroes on which they rely to find out a thief.

One of these trials by ordeal is thus performed: they procure some of the leaves of the "flower-fence," or "Barbados' pride,"

(called by the negroes "doodle doo,") and lay them in a heap, in some peculiar manner, with a black dog (not a quadruped, but a small copper coin of about three farthings sterling, current in this island a few years ago) in the middle. They do not tie this bundle together, but by the manner in which it is placed they are enabled to raise it to the neck of the suspected person without its falling to pieces. The accused is then to say, (holding the bundle under their throat at the same time,) "Doodle doo, doodle doo, if me tief de four dog, (or what- ever it may be that is missing,) me wish me tongue may loll out of me mout." If nothing takes place, the person is innocent, and the charm is tried upon another, until the guilty one's turn comes, when immediately their tongue hangs out of their mouth against their will.

Another trial by ordeal (which, I believe, has formerly been practised in England, and has probably been taught them by the whites) is thus performed:-A door-key is placed between the leaves of the Bible, upon the 18th and 19th verses of the 50th Psalm, and the book is then bound tightly round so that the key cannot fall out; care must be taken at the same time that the key is sufficiently large, that after being placed upon the verses mentioned, part of the handle or bole may be left out. Two persons, the accused and accuser, balance the bound book by placing the first finger of the right hand under the bole of the key, and in this situation make use of the following incantation, (as I suppose I must call it:) "By St. Peter, by St. Paul, you tief me hog," (or whatever else it may be that is stolen;) the accused answers, "By St. Peter, by St. Paul, me no tief you hog;"

this is repeated thrice by both parties. If the accused is guilty, the key immediately turns, but if not, the charm is tried upon all who are suspected, until the event takes place. What St.

Peter or St. Paul have to do with this, I could never learn, but to me it seems very shocking to make a conjuring book of the Bible. In respect to this part of superst.i.tion, the negroes are like the natives of the east, who never lose anything without trying some charm, either by b.a.l.l.s of wax, grains of rice, or something similar.[15] There is another curious way by which the negroes endeavour to recover their stolen property. For example: If they lose a fowl or a pig, or indeed any other article, and they suspect it is stolen by their neighbours, they walk up and down the street, calling out, "Let go me fowl-let go me fowl! If you no let go me fowl, me tro grabe durtty upon you. Let go me fowl, me say!" If the person who stole the fowl hears this denunciation, he immediately looses it, in terror of the consequences; but if the threat is not attended to, the owner of the lost biped takes a dog (the same copper coin I have before mentioned) and an egg, and proceeds to a burial-ground. Here they look out for the grave of one of their friends, and depositing the dog and the egg, make use of an incantation, and taking up a little of the soft mould off the grave, depart. This mould, or _grabe durtty_, as they term it, they sprinkle all about in those streets where they think the suspected parties are more likely to walk, believing, that if the thief pa.s.ses over it, it immediately causes his body to swell, and no medicine can give relief-death alone can end their misery. So terrible to the negroes is the denunciation, "Me tro grabe durtty upon you," that if possible, they will restore the goods pilfered to the last particle.

They have several other charms, all of which they deem infallible. When they fancy they are under the power of Obeah, they procure a snake, kill and skin it; when the skin is thoroughly dried, they bind it round their leg, and feel easier in mind, supposing the one charm will counteract the other.

Again, if sent out of an errand, and they loiter about, to prevent any scolding from their employers, they pick a blade of a peculiar species of gra.s.s, and place it under their tongue, which they believe has the power of preventing any angry words. This also is done when they wish to escape punishment or detection.

I am aware that it is not the negroes alone who are given to superst.i.tion-to using charms and observing omens; the Greeks and Romans were famous for this practice; and in my own country, among the lower cla.s.ses, most of the old women have a cramp-bone in their pockets, to drive away pains; the tip of a tongue, or a stone with a hole in it, for luck; and a horseshoe nailed to the door, to prevent the entrance of witches. Our seamen, too, are strict disciples of superst.i.tion, and rear her many an altar. I once heard a captain of a merchantman who trades to Antigua, speaking of this subject, and laughing at the generality of sailors for paying attention to this or that omen. "I don't believe in anything of the kind," said he. "What can a dolphin, or a Mother Cary's chicken, (the stormy petrel,) have to do with a gale of wind? It's nonsense,-altogether nonsense. Of course, though, it would be only a madman _who would whistle in a storm_ or sail on a Friday, if they could possibly help it!" I wished to ask what poor Friday[16] had done, or if Eolus disliked whistling.

All superst.i.tious people, in every part of the world, are p.r.o.ne to believe in the existence of imaginary beings; and while the English have their ghosts, the Scotch their brownies, and the Irish their banshees, the negroes have their jumby.[17] These creatures, like all of their cla.s.s, love to frequent churchyards, lonely roads, and the margin of ponds. They are represented by the believers in this creed to be very revengeful and malicious; strangling children, knocking down people, frightening old women into fits, and indeed, doing all the mischief they can. I have heard that "Spring Gardens," the part of the town we reside in, is a favourite spot for their ambulations; but I cannot say I have as yet formed any acquaintance with these _fleshless_ beings. Many are the tales related of their exploits,-tales more terrible than that of the poor ghost in "Hamlet," whose "lightest word would harrow up the soul." But as I have too much love for my readers, to wish to "freeze their blood," and all those other dreadful threats his ghosts.h.i.+p promised his hopeful son, I will merely relate a few little incidents about these night-loving people.

A servant who once lived with us had occasion to go a few miles into the country after dark. Upon his return the next day, he gave the following most frightful account of his night's adventure. He said, that after getting a little way out of the town, a string of jumbies met him, dressed all in white, who held up their bony fingers at him in a menacing manner. He was very much alarmed, he said, but determined to proceed as fast as he could, without looking behind him; for if by any chance he had happened to turn his head, they would have immediately strangled him. Finding they could not get this advantage over him, they went behind him, and "whispered soft and low"-"James! James!"

Although not over-pleased at this salutation, he thought it best to bear it in silence, and hurry on as fast as he could.

At length he came to a pond, known by the name of "Tom Long's Pond," which is always reckoned a favourite resort for jumbies-a kind of Vauxhall of theirs, I suppose. Here he met with another troop, who joined their comrades in tormenting him, until our poor benighted traveller hardly knew what to do. Fear overcame him, the perspiration streamed from off his brow, and his excessive emotion caused "each particular hair to stand on end, like quills upon the fretful porcupine." In this awful situation, he remembered, that if he dispossessed himself of his upper garment, turned it before the jumbies' faces, and then put it on again, wrong side out, they could not hurt him. He tried this remedy; and as soon as his dress was altered, his unpleasant companions gave a loud scream, fled from him in every direction, and left him to prosecute his walk in silence and solitude.

This is James's version of the circ.u.mstance. I, who was an unknown, but attentive listener, could not help asking (so wishful was I of gaining information upon this _important_ subject) if there was any great merit in turning his coat. "Oh, yes!" was the reply; "jumbies can never hurt you, if you can only have strength to turn your jacket." So, it appears, that whatever may be the character of jumbies in other respects, they shew their good sense in disliking _turncoats_.

During the first few weeks of my residence in this island, I was staying upon an estate a few miles from the capital. Having for some length of time seen nothing but the "sky above and the sea below," it may be imagined how happy I was once more to tread _terra firma_; and I lost no time in exploring this, to me, new world. In these rambles, I was attended by my servant, a rosy-cheeked English girl, who gave utterance to her surprise at tropical scenes and tropical customs, in like sentences to these: "Lawk, ma'am!" "Well, I never!" "Lawk-a-daisy-me!" One day we wandered far and wide; and after many devious routes, my attention was at last attracted by the appearance of a cl.u.s.ter of trees. I am very fond of these ornaments of the vegetable world; I love to watch the play of the sunbeams upon their leaves-to listen to the melody of the gentle gale, as it whispers among them; and when in this "far, far west," they greeted my eye with their verdant foliage, I was anxious to make their acquaintance.

Upon a nearer approach, I found they formed a complete fringe to a kind of rivulet; they were mangroves, and very beautiful they looked. We walked by the side of them for some distance, and at length came upon the high-road, which crosses the rivulet. Here we fell in with a few larger trees, of a different species; and near to them was a spring of water. A soothing silence reigned around, occasionally broken by the murmuring of the breeze, the buzzing of those pigmies of the feathered race-the humming-birds, or the coo of the ground-doves, those constant frequenters of all sylvan spots. Now and then, the faint hum of human voices broke upon the ear, as the slaves were returning from the cane-fields, it being near the close of the day.

Altogether, I was quite pleased with the spot, and hardly knew how to leave it. As I was returning to the house, with "pensive steps and slow," I overtook the driver, one of the head slaves upon the property. With the native politeness which many negroes possess, he pulled off his hat, with "How d'ye, missis?" his black sparkling eyes, his white teeth glistening through his thick lips, his ebon complexion, and his large straw hat, rendered him quite a novelty to me. I remarked to him, what a pretty spot the spring was situated in, and thought it must be very serviceable to the estate. "Yes, missis," rejoined he; "it one pretty 'pring 'nough; but me no like to go dere much at night." I asked the reason; it brought the following tale:-"Some time aback, one soger buckra run away from de barracks. He was gone long time, till at last sombody go tell upon he where he go hide. De soger cappen send two oder sogers to go look for he, an bring he to town; bery well, dey find he, an was going to fetch he back to town, when, just as he get to dis 'pring, 'fore de oder sogers no war he go do, he jump, bram! right into de 'pring; an by de time dey manage to get he out, he go dead; so eber since dat time, jumbies come see soger's jumby, an dey 'top here an make dance; so we no lub to come here much self."

A similar circ.u.mstance has been related to me by the attorney of the estate. A negro belonging to the property, who for several months had given way to idle, dissolute habits, at length so far forgot himself as to become a runaway. After being absent for some time, intelligence was brought to the attorney that he had been seen skulking about the capital; and accordingly, other negroes were despatched to endeavour to find him and bring him back to the estate. Their undertaking proved successful, the runaway was secured, and the party set out upon their journey home. Upon the road the man remarked-"He wished he could die, for he had no cause to run away, and he should be ashamed to meet his friends, for he knew not what excuse to make," and proceeded in this strain until gaining the "spring," at the entrance of the estate; he gave a sudden start, and before his companions were aware of his intentions, he had leaped into the water. By the time a.s.sistance could be procured, the man was dead; and his friends had the melancholy office of burying his swollen corpse.

The negroes have an idea, that if a jumby calls them, and they return an answer, they will very soon die. I have often called a servant by name at night, and could get no answer, when I was well aware they must have heard me; and upon asking them the reason have had the following reply given me-"Me no no, missis, it was you; me tink it one jumby calling me."

If a child is born with a caul it is preserved with religious veneration. My milk-woman came to see me one day with her two little babies; the little creatures had each a small black bag tied round their necks with a piece of black ribbon. I asked the mother what this was for; she said they were both born with cauls, and that if it was not always kept near them, the jumbies would strangle them the first time they were left alone; nor was this all, for if they did not wear it upon their persons, they would see the jumby (or spirit) of every one that died.

I mourned to think how superst.i.tion prevailed in these parts, what then was my surprise upon soon after taking up an English newspaper of late date, to see the, following advertis.e.m.e.nt:-"A child's caul to be disposed of, _a well-known preventive against drowning, &c. Price, ten guineas._ Address, post-paid, to A. B.

C., to the care of Mr. Evans, Hyde Park newspaper-office, 42, Edgware Road!"

Had I not seen and read this myself, I could not have believed it. While we write and talk of the superst.i.tion of the negroes, although we mourn that its influence should extend so far, yet there is greater allowance to be made for them from want of education; but that such an enlightened people as the English should put such an advertis.e.m.e.nt in a public paper is almost incredible. A certain preventive against drowning!-why, superst.i.tion in her gala days could not have furnished a more striking instance of her power! That any rational creature should believe such an a.s.surance is astonis.h.i.+ng. I firmly hope, for the honour of my country people, that the _ten guinea_ advertis.e.m.e.nt remains unanswered.