The English in the West Indies or, The Bow of Ulysses   By: James Anthony Froude (1818-1894)

THE ENGLISH

IN

THE WEST INDIES

OR

THE BOW OF ULYSSES

BY

JAMES ANTHONY FROUDE

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS ENGRAVED ON WOOD BY G. PEARSON AFTER DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR

[Illustration]

NEW EDITION

LONDON

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.

1888

All rights reserved

Fürsten prägen so oft auf kaum versilbertes Kupfer Ihr bedeutendes Bild: lange betrügt sich das Volk Schwärmer prägen den Stempel des Geist's auf Lügen und Unsinn: Wem der Probirstein fehlt, hält sie für redliches Gold.

GOETHE.

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

My purpose in writing this book is so fully explained in the book itself that a Preface is unnecessary. I visited the West India Islands in order to increase my acquaintance with the condition of the British Colonies. I have related what I saw and what I heard, with the general impressions which I was led to form.

In a few instances, when opinions were conveyed to me which were important in themselves, but which it might be undesirable to assign to the persons from whom I heard them, I have altered initials and disguised localities and circumstances.

The illustrations are from sketches of my own, which, except so far as they are tolerably like the scenes which they represent, are without value. They have been made producible by the skill and care of the engraver, Mr. Pearson, to whom my warmest thanks are due.

J.A.F.

ONSLOW GARDENS: November 15, 1887 .

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Colonial policy Union or separation Self government Varieties of condition The Pacific colonies The West Indies Proposals for a West Indian federation Nature of the population American union and British plantations Original conquest of the West Indies 1

CHAPTER II.

In the train for Southampton Morning papers The new 'Locksley Hall' Past and present The 'Moselle' Heavy weather The Petrel The Azores 10

CHAPTER III.

The tropics Passengers on board Account of the Darien canal Planters' complaints West Indian history The Spanish conquest Drake and Hawkins The buccaneers The pirates French and English Rodney Battle of April 12 Peace with honour Doers and talkers 20

CHAPTER IV.

First sight of Barbadoes Origin of the name Père Labat Bridgetown two hundred years ago Slavery and Christianity Economic crisis Sugar bounties Aspect of the streets Government House and its occupants Duties of a governor of Barbadoes 32

CHAPTER V.

West Indian politeness Negro morals and felicity Island of St. Vincent Grenada The harbour Disappearance of the whites An island of black freeholders Tobago Dramatic art A promising incident 41

CHAPTER VI.

Charles Kingsley at Trinidad 'Lay of the Last Buccaneer' A French forban Adventure at Aves Mass on board a pirate ship Port of Spain A house in the tropics A political meeting Government House The Botanical Gardens Kingsley's rooms Sugar estates and coolies 51

CHAPTER VII.

A coolie village Negro freeholds Waterworks Snakes Slavery Evidence of Lord Rodney Future of the negroes Necessity of English rule The Blue Basin Black boy and crayfish 66

CHAPTER VIII.

Home Rule in Trinidad Political aspirations Nature of the problem Crown administration Colonial governors A Russian apologue Dinner at Government House 'The Three Fishers' Charles Warner Alternative futures of the colony 75