Six months in the West-Indies, in 1825

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BARBUDA.

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the crown by Sir B. Codrington upon the service of presenting a fat sheep to the commanderin-chief of Antigua, whenever he visits the island. This is generally commuted for a turtle or a buck. The inhabitants are two white overseers, one of them a German, and about four hundred slaves. Mr, James, the attorney of the estate, visits them occasionally, and at those times resides in the old castle with his family. No sugar is grown in the island, and the labor consists in raising provisions and building droghers. The slaves speak very good English, and in reality have little more of servitude in their condition than the name. At the instance of the Bishop it has been agreed to build a church sufficient to contain the population, and a school will of course be an accompaniment to it. I think, if this island were carefully managed, it might be made very nourishing, and the negros be easily civilized. We were nearly capsized by a very severe squall in sight of St. John's on our return, and there are such nests of reefs and shoals in every direction that it is particularly dangerous to scud. The Poetess behaved like a man, and came up two or three times with her jib only, the main-sheet flying in the wind. We left English Harbour on the 20th of June, and, after weathering Deseada with great difficulty, got back to Carlisle Bay once more on the evening of the 24th.


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