stable are not even boarded, being defended only by strong bars of wood or rails; one of these was taken out by Quashie, who then tied the horse's legs together, and throwing him down, dragged him under the other bars, unfettered him, made him get up, and rode off to his Dulcinea. He had returned before daylight, and had been detected performing the same ceremony to drag the horse into the stable again, and by some awkwardness he had lamed him. I could not have ventured to intercede for him, for there is something so aggravating in a servant's abuse of his master's dumb animals; however, Mr. Graham only put him in the stocks on Christmas-day, and dismissed him from the house to work in future in the fields; but Quashie felt it as a heavy punishment, for he begged to be flogged again and again, if his master would let him still be groom; but he begged in vain.

While the negroes were enjoying these festivities, we were not idle or indifferent on our part; our little dances were kept up every night with a great deal of mirth and good fellowship: music and dancing, billiards, cards, and chess, all in turns presented their allurements. I was a little quizzed for remarking

that the planters would be called to account by the reformers in England for letting the negroes dance on Christmas-day, and was called a saint,-Saint Newcome. Mr. Graham told me there would be a rebellion in the island if any attempt was made to curtail the enjoyments of the blacks, even on religious principles but this must be prejudice, though it might have such an effect on the French, perhaps.

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CHAPTER VII.

As my inclination as well as my business would lead me to visit the capital, my host very kindly procured me two excellent horses, and provided me with two negroes to attend me, who were to be mounted on mules; one to lead the second horse, and the other to take charge of a sumpter mule loaded with my baggage. Poor Quashie begged again to be my conductor; but as I learned that he had been convicted of the same offence once before, his request was inadmissible, and a stout little fellow, whom his master called Magnus, was appointed to attend me as my head valet. .I think there was a little roguery on the part of the old gentleman, in giving me this genius as my Cicerone; for though he did not want sabby, as they call it, he was a regular psalm-singer, a downright saint or methodist,

who was always talking of grace, faith, new birth, and hell fire. His real name was Pompey, to which his master had added the nickname of Magnus, on account of his diminutive stature I suppose; but he (Pompey) told me with great gravity, that he had been christened Abbesneezer, for so he pronounced Ebenezer, and begged that I would call him by this his christian appellation."

My other attendant was an African, a Papau, a true believer in the faith of Mahomet, as far as he understood it, which might be to some extent, as he could read and write what might be Arabic for ought I knew. He was a slim, genteel looking man, with a jet black complexion, and teeth as white as ivory. He rode his mule with a superior grace, though they are all good cavaliers, and conducted himself on all occasions with a very dignified air and manner. His name was Abdallah, but according to the phraseology of the negroes, pronounced Dollar; and he had as thorough a contempt for the Christian miracles and mysteries he had heard preached, and for the foolish "fashions," as he called them, of his friend Sneeza, as any of the muftis of Constantinople could have felt or expressed.

Pompey was a Creole, and well acquainted with the country, the roads and the estates, which we were to pass; a sort of topographical dictionary, from which I could derive all necessary information. Abdallah had been recommended for his invincible integrity, as a servant on whom I might depend in every emergency on the road, and one who would see the horses fed and rubbed and locked up securely at night,---an indispensable precaution, as I afterwards found.

I left the old gentleman and his family with great regret, for I had experienced every kind attention at this hospitable mansion, and felt myself as much at home as in the bosom of my own family. I promised to write to the young ladies from time to time, and took their letters of introduction to several young people I was to have the pleasure of visisting in my tour. They cautioned me against too much fatigue, and riding too long in the sun, or trusting myself to the night dews; in short, they won my heart by the interest they were. kind enough to take in my welfare, and I shall never think of them without feelings of gratitude and affection.

Behold me then on my white American