206
MERCHANTS.
innumerable spiders of every size, or present a desirable spot for the freemasons (the ichneumon bee) to erect their clayey dwellings upon. One corner of these vast emporiums is latticed off, forming a counting-house, decorated with a coat of white, green, or yellow paint, and shewing its chequers of red tape, for the purpose of sticking orders, letters, or banknotices for payments, due at the Colonial or West India Bank. Here, on a high-legged stool, of dingy look, sits the merchant, dressed in his round, white jacket, snowy pantaloons, Panama or Paget hat; and, with pen in hand,and a pinch ofLundyfoot between his fingers, (to assist his ideas, I suppose,) calculates the probabilities of his 'specs, which in other days afforded such golden harvests as to give rise to the belief, that the streets in the West Indies were paved with doubloons and dollars. But let it not be imagined that this worthy and numerous class employ all their business-hours in calculating their gains and losses, poring over the leaves of a dusty ledger, or puzzling their brains over their " bank accounts." Oh ! no, no—the Antiguan merchants are far too wise for that— many a bowl of "pepper-punch" is brewed; many a long cork of approved brand is drawn, and the " rosy red" Vin de Bordeaux is poured into the tendered crystal ; and many a bottle of champagne, or " Tennent's pale ale," is unwired, uncorked, and its creamy excellence effused for them. Nor is the tongue idle ; well-seasoned jests and brilliant repartees abound ; news is discussed, wit flies like arrows, and many a rosy face grows more roseate, and many a laughing eye becomes dewy before they part. But I must say something more about the stores—what a scene of confusion they present to the unaccustomed eye !— what varied and multiplied articles do they display ! In 'one part are hogsheads of salt cod, herrings, and other salted fish ; bins of Indian corn, rice, peas, and salt ; flour, tobacco, barrels of blacking, and kegs of lard. In another part may be found barrels of beef and mess-pork ; hogsheads of prime Cumberland hams, kits of ox tongues, and barrels of biscuits;