BRIDGETOWN, which in many points resembles an English town, more than the principal towns in the other Leeward Islands, is the capital of Barbados, and is about two miles long, although its breadth does not exceed half a mile. The mere fact of its containing twenty thousand people, will lead my readers to infer that the houses are well stocked with inhabitants. These, for the most part, are irregularly built, without any regard to order, or the slightest attention to the rules of architecture. This is a general rule, but like all others, not without some exceptions; as there are one or two streets which undoubtedly present a neater and more pleasing appearance than the rest. Among these we may rank the Square, in the centre of which, surrounded by iron rails, is a tolerably good statue of the immortal Nelson, on which the Barbadians pride themselves not a little.

Bridgetown, besides the Cathedral, contains another church, which has been lately erected, and which is

certainly superior in taste and elegance to the former. Indeed, the Cathedral, although a large, capacious, and very convenient building, by no means possesses any exterior attractions, but is rather in accordance with the other buildings of the town.

The houses, generally speaking, are of wood, supported by pillars of brick or stone, and have commonly covered balconies in front. The inhabitants live and sleep on what in England is called the first floor and their dwellings seldom extend higher. The lower apartments are chiefly store and servants' rooms; and the kitchen is always, with the rest of the outhouses, away from the house.

The merchants in town, generally speaking, keep stores (by no means resembling our English shops), where articles of almost every description may be bought. I think, in this instance, I may compare them to our chandlers' shops, only they are on a much larger scale, and have no show in the windows; they also commonly contain a counting house, with one or two clerks, and were it not for the retailing of articles, would have all the air of an English merchant's store. The proprietors are generally wealthy, always respectable, and very often gentlemen who mix in society, and have estates in the country.

In Jew Street, however, there are many actual shops, with a great display of articles, chiefly for ladies, such as dresses, jewellery, lace, bonnets, caps, &c. These are, for the most part, kept by Jews, and, in consequence of the great demand for these articles, thrive extremely well.

this time, the sea was perfectly beautiful; not a cloud in the clear blue sky, not a wave to disturb the surface of the azure main, and nothing to be seen between us and the horizon, but now and then a sea-gull darting into the water, or a shoal of fish sporting in the bright rays of the sun.

There were several sharks around our vessel, one of which was at least eleven feet in length: this the sailors succeeded in striking with the grainge (a three pronged instrument, with a long handle, resembling a trident), and with a rope, which they tied round its body with a slip knot, they hauled it up into the vessel, where they skinned it, and cut it up. I was surprised to see the men running to claim each his share of the fish; and I asked one of them what he wanted with it: he told me it was very fine eating; and after frying it very nicely in butter, and well peppering it, he brought me a bit to taste: I did so, and I can assure my readers that it was not bad. They made me a present of the jawbone and the heart, the latter of which I preserved in some high

wines.

After this nothing more happened to detain us on our voyage, and we speedily approached Barbados; as we advanced, a small kind of bird, somewhat resembling a swallow, would frequently perch on our ship, and it was called by the sailors, one of mother

It is by some people superstitiously imagined, that these birds are the spirits of deceased mariners who have been drowned or wrecked.

Carey's chickens. We now saw daily proofs of being near the end of our voyage, such as flying fish sporting about our ship, and so forth on one occasion, about twenty flew upon the deck, and were caught by the sailors; the cook understood how to dress them, and they made a fine breakfast for the ladies, who had not tasted fresh fish before, during the whole passage.

Three days after this, about noon, we saw Barbados on our lee bow, and made all sail to endeavour, if possible, to land before evening; for after a wearying voyage of thirty five days, with one unvaried scene of sky and wave continually before us, we felt the anxiety natural to landsmen, to tread once again on "terra firma."—And now, gentle reader, " adieu jusqu'au revoir."

CHAPTER IV.

THE LANDING.

"I land with luckless omens"

Dryden's Eneid.

"Into whatever city or town ye enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide."

serve.

Matthew.

THE mere circumstance of being safely at the end of a long journey, and of having escaped the perils and dangers of the sea, creates in the mind a greater degree of pleasure in approaching Barbados, than the actual appearance of the island might in reality deThe scenery, being altogether unlike any thing we see in Europe, is novel, and novelty is always charming nevertheless, the approach to Barbados presents nothing to equal the grandeur and sublimity which mark out the beautiful little islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, as preeminent in the cluster to which they belong.

I do not from this, however, wish my readers to infer that it has no beauties; on the contrary, it has very many; only, to appreciate them duly, we must lay comparison aside :—but more of this hereafter.

It was five o'clock in the evening when our vessel made Carlisle Bay; and on entering it, was sur