GRADUAL REMOVES.
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of my readers may not be perfectly aware of the fact, I prefer to be branded with the title of a “multiplier of words," rather than omit any subject on which I may be able to afford information. The several removes from a black are as follows :—The mongrel, the offspring of a black and mulatto ; the mulatto, the offspring of a black and a white; the mustee, the offspring of a mulatto and a white ; the fustee, the offspring of a mustee and a white ; and the dustee, the offspring of a fustee and a white.* This last gradation is the connecting link between the degraded children of Ham, and the descendants of his more honoured brethren. It is to be noted, however, that the mulatto is not always fairer than the mongrel, or the mustee than the mulatto ; and children of the same parents often exhibit, as much, if not more, difference of complexion, as those of Europeans.-]-' Perhaps it may be considered almost an impertinence in me to remark—the fact is so well known both in England and the West Indies—that, among this numerous body of her majesty's subjects, there are some of the highest respectability. Every West Indian island has its élite, and Antigua is not behind the rest. Many, very many, could be mentioned, who are superior in every way—well-read, strongminded, with excellent natural talents, and unexceptionable, both in public and private life. It would afford me pleasure to name them ; but I refrain from doing so, knowing that their applause will be sooner gained by remaining silent, and therefore will skim over the more general character of the class, noting, in the first place, some peculiar traits in their personal appearance. * This is the creole way of terming these different castes : the Spanish call them mulattos, tercerones, quarterons, and quinterones. There are also some intermediate names for the issue of unions between the negroes and coloured people, as sambos, &c. ; but the general term for persons of colour is, quadroons. t In illustration of this it may be remarked, that there are families where some of the brothers or sisters are fair enough to be taken for English people ; while the rest are scarcely distinguishable from negroes in colour.