A chapter on colour--Gradual removes from the negroes--Middle
classes--Personal appearance--Devotions at their mirrors--Style
of dress--Chapel belles--Passion for dress--Home and home
scenes--The young men--Extreme officiousness--Higher classes of
colour--Coloured Hebes--The chapel tea-party--Gastronomy and
speeches--Wesleyan bazaar, and lunch-table--Gastronomic relics.
In commencing this "chapter on colour," it may, perhaps, be
deemed _unnecessary_ for me to mention, that there are as many
gradations in _tint_ as there are in _rank;_ but as some 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.[42] 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.[43]
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, strong-minded, 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.
The chief peculiarities in the coloured race are, the extreme
pliancy of limbs, attenuation of person, large black eyes, and a
profusion of black curling hair. The men are generally _under_
than above the middle size, but in most instances, possessed of
good figures.
The females are also small and slender, and are noted for an
ambling gait, combined in many of them with an extreme
affectation of manners. Many of them, unknowingly, are warm
admirers of Lord Chesterfield's "Advice," and practise the "airs
and graces" before a looking-glass with an intenseness and
indefatigability which, no doubt, that _great philosopher_ would
fully appreciate.
We hear of the beautiful Narcissus being so enamoured of his own
lovely features, when reflected in the clear waters, that he
pined into a jonquil. Now, I cannot take upon myself to state
this is exactly the case with the West Indian brunettes; but they
do certainly "lingering look," until a pretty considerable stock
of patience would be exhausted.
Their toilets are laborious in the extreme; and they might
exclaim, with Lady Mary W. Montague's "Flavia,"--
"------------ I oft have sate,
While hours unheeded pass'd, in deep debate
How curls should fall, or where a braid to place;
If blue or scarlet best became my face!"
Sundays, marriages, and funerals, are the occasions appointed for
making the greatest display. At other periods, a long
dressing-gown, or "wrapper," as it is termed in Antigua, with a
many-coloured cotton kerchief around their shoulders, and their
heads perhaps enveloped in a similar article, and _slip-shod_
shoes, constitute their attire. But when "high-days and holidays"
come, and an _étalage_ is contemplated, one or two of their
friends are generally called in to officiate as tire-women, and
it must be allowed, their place is then no _sinecure_.
The style of dress adopted by ladies of this rank, when abroad,
is very superb! Silks and satins of the most approved colours,
challis and mousseline-de-laines of the gayest patterns,
mantelets, and "Victoria cloaks," bonnets covered with flowers,
silk stockings, parasols of the most fashionable dimensions,
gloves of the softest dyes, shoes and boots of every shade,
reticules, with tassels and all complete, and pocket
handkerchiefs, ornamented with lace in the manner dictated by the
changeful goddess, added to a rather exuberant display of
_bijouterie_, whose gold is deeply alloyed, and whose gems owe
their brightest rays to the aid of different coloured _foils_,
serve to increase the charms of the olive-tinged creole beauties.
Those of this class who frequent the chapel, and term themselves
Methodists, make some slight difference in their apparel. Their
bonnets, for example, are divested of flowers on the _outside_,
for which they make amends by various twinings and
_counter_-twinings of glossy ribbon and cotton lace, and filling
their caps--I beg pardon, I mean their _brides_--but I am such an
indifferent votary of fashion, that I am ever forgetting her
technical terms--their _brides_, then, with such a profusion of
flowers, which be they of Amaranthine birth I know not, but I am
very sure, they are like nothing earthly--that their eyes, nose,
and mouth, just peep forth like sentinels from some guarded
fortress. Others, more scrupulous I suppose, discard the use of
flowers altogether, and in their room call to their aid snowy
_blondes_, and bows and puffs of choicest ribands. Jewellery is
also interdicted, although a few of the smarter of the "chapel
belles" contrive to smuggle a ring or two, a mock-cameo brooch,
or a treble-gilt chain, into their outward adornments. Fashion
is, however, worshipped by all. Their bonnets must be of the
proper size, their collars and capes of the proper shape, their
dresses of the proper length and breadth, and their waists
reduced to the proper circumference.
But the _sleeves_ of their dresses are the parts appropriated to
the display of their most exquisite skill. _One_ poor human brain
could never invent the puffings, plaitings, and gatherings;
quiltings, flutings, and bandings, which are lavished upon that
peculiar portion of their dress; to devise them must be an
arduous task, to construct them an herculean labour. The
arrangement of their hair is also a work of no trifling nature,
and takes up no small portion of their time; and the dealers in
oils and pomades derive no small profit from such articles, which
are indispensable in making their masses of black locks repose in
their proper position.
But, jesting apart, it is really the very pinnacle of absurdity,
to see the rage to which dress is carried, by this class of
persons in particular, when their style of living and rank in
society are taken into consideration. Their mothers are of that
class who have been already described when speaking of the
negroes, but who, it must be mentioned, disdain that term. Others
again are mongrels or mulattos; themselves the offspring of those
illicit alliances for which the West Indies, in their days of
darkness, have been so disgracefully noted. These mothers have
had, in almost every instance, the entire management of their
children. Perfectly uneducated themselves, they of course see no
charms in knowledge, and except the simple act of being able to
spell through an easy lesson, or scrawl their own names, these
unfortunate girls are brought up with no higher ambition than the
wearing smart clothes, utterly unbefitting their station, and
spending their lives in brushing and dressing their hair, or
rubbing their teeth with a roll of tobacco. While their mothers,
who keep a small shop, sell in the market, or huckster about the
town to gain a subsistence, think they have performed the part of
a good parent, by procuring for their daughters clothing which
every well-thinking person must mourn to see them arrayed in.
Their houses are, in many instances, the domiciles I have also
already described in the negro chapters, where, amid all these
smart habiliments, the young persons whom you may see walking out
with the air and dress of a _duchess_, herd together, eat the
coarsest fare, perhaps never know the luxury of a table-cloth;
and where the whole family, including male and female of every
age, take their nightly repose together. Some of these young
females are more industrious, and take in needlework of different
kinds; but the amount of their earnings is lavished upon that
all-absorbing object--dress. This, however, is the only species
of work they will condescend to perform, for as to going out to
service, they scorn the very idea.
The young men are equally scrupulous in adorning their persons;
although, in many instances, very negligent in improving their
minds. Their dress, which has been already described when
speaking of the _black beaux_, they procure by following the
several trades of tailors, shoemakers, joiners,[44] &c., and
sometimes, I am sorry to say, by less honest means. They are far
behind the females in appearance; for the latter, let them be
ever so uneducated, have a certain gracefulness of manners,
which, as long as they keep their mouths shut, tends to gloss
over their ignorance. I have had opportunities of noticing this
in public places of resort; the missionary bazaars, for example.
The females sit or stand quietly in groups, and offend not the
eye or ear by their coarseness of mien; but, on the contrary, the
men have that dissolute, vulgar, cavalier manner, so
characteristic of low, over-dressed vanity, that, were it in
England, we should be led to keep a steady eye upon our pockets
and watches, and feel ourselves safe only at a distance. Even in
the West Indies, where the "swell mob" does not exist, a kind of
unpleasantness of feeling steals over one upon their near
approach, heightened, or rather produced, by their boldness and
vulgar, officious conduct. They appear to know no difference of
rank, but, in their obtruded remarks, forget their plebeian
origin. This is more apparent in their behaviour to the higher
classes of their own colour, whom they approach with the utmost
familiarity, and unless they are speedily and properly
discountenanced, prove as troublesome as the impertinent little
_gad-flies_ do to a quiet herd of cattle, when standing musing in
some marshy pool.[45]
The higher class of coloured persons, which embraces a large
portion of the community, I have already slightly glanced at; but
still my work would indeed be incomplete did I not more fully
endeavour to portray their worth and superiority. These are men,
who, if not educated in England, have received the best
instruction the West Indies could afford, aided by their own
strenuous endeavours for information. Hospitable in the highest
degree, with a hand ever open to grasp in friendship that of the
strangers whom fate or the winds may lead to their pretty little
island; living in an easy elegance of style--the possessors of
warm and generous thoughts--the doers of high and noble actions--
patriots in the full sense of the term, their services ever at
the command of their country; of agreeable conversation and
polished manners; these are the characteristics of many of our
Antiguan coloured gentlemen. Their wives and daughters are, in
several instances, as unexceptionable as themselves, and perform
their social duties in the same pleasing manner.
Within the last few years, the young people have been more
generally educated in England, and many of them exhibit superior
talents, and have attained to no mean proficiency in the fine
arts. Their manners, too, are, with but few exceptions, very
graceful; their voices soft and mellifluous; and although,
perhaps, rather more silent than in the present age is expected
of women, what they do say is generally to the purpose.
Among these young daughters of a glowing clime, many very
beautiful girls are to be met with. With a sufficiency of
_embonpoint_ to prevent the appearance of any "right angles" in
their frame, they possess a sylph-like movement and an elastic
step; while the large, black liquid eyes, the glossy jet hair,
the long eye-lashes, and the soft olive tinge of their
complexions, relieved by rosy lips and dazzling white teeth,
would form no bad model for one of Mahomet's _houris_.
Our sweet little queen has, unwittingly, done much to improve
their beauty, in wearing her own fair hair in the simple style
she does. As true and loyal subjects, the Creole girls can do
nought but follow the example of their royal mistress; and the
massy bunches of curls, which tended to give their features a
degree of thickness really not their own, and caused them to look
more sallow by the contrast, have given place to the more
elegant, Madonna-like bands and braids.
The place of all others where the greatest display of coloured
beaux and belles are to be found is at the tea-parties given at
the Methodist chapel for charitable purposes.
It being a beautiful moonlight evening upon the last occasion of
the kind, we determined to avail ourselves of it, and attend the
party whose gastronomic performance was to commence at seven
o'clock. Upon gaining the outer wall of the chapel, we found the
gate guarded by a few of the "new police," and the porter
appointed to receive the tickets of admission, for which the sum
of 2s. 6d. sterling was demanded.
Passing across the court-yard, we stopped for a few moments at an
open window, to view the interior. The entertainment was held in
the school-room, a large apartment, forming the ground-floor of
the chapel; the walls of which were hung round with various
pictorial embellishments, seen to advantage by the aid of the
numerous lamps. We entered at that auspicious moment when nearly
the whole of the company were assembled, and before the actual
business of the evening commenced. The effect was really very
picturesque, and the scene would have been worthy the painter's
pencil. The whole of the interior, with the exception of a space
all round the apartment, reserved for a promenade, was laid out
with tables, placed breadthwise, surrounded by well-dressed
groups, and covered with all those delicate "cates and
confections," generally introduced at that social meal, which
Cowper has celebrated.
The heat of the climate rendering it necessary to have all the
windows thrown open, renders the use of large glass shades also
necessary to prevent the tapers from being extinguished by the
fresh land-breeze. On every table a pair of silver candlesticks
supported the delicate sperm or wax candles, the clear light of
which, heightened by their glittering screens, threw an air of
cheerfulness on all. Many elegant little vases, filled with
choice and fragrant flowers, were placed at stated distances,
interspersed with baskets and plates of the most luscious fruits,
while, at each end of the table, with their tea equipages of
silver and china placed before them, was seated a lady-member of
the chapel, whose zeal prompted her to prepare all this pretty
display, for the benefit of the society. Every pillar of the
apartment supported its appropriated lamps, which, reflected in
the bright eyes of the assembled girls, shewed their brown faces
to more advantage.
In about the centre of the apartment, elevated a foot or two from
the floor, was placed the seraphine, at which a young lady
(sister to the wife of one of the missionaries) presided, with
quiet grace and great skill; and around this instrument were
gathered the missionaries themselves. The business of the evening
commenced by singing a "grace;" upon the conclusion of which,
tea-spoons rattled, tea-cups danced from hand to hand, and every
one appeared resolved to prove, _par experience_, the goodness of
the plenteous fare placed before them. As for myself, I had full
work for my eyes, and postponed the exercise of my masticatory
powers until another opportunity.
Now, be it known to my English readers, that _tea_ is a beverage
West Indians seldom, if ever, indulge in; except those of the
higher classes. When, then, such a mixed party of coloured
persons meet together for the express purpose of partaking of
that cup "which cheers, but not inebriates," it is done by the
lower classes merely for the sake of fashion, or to shew off
their gala dress. Accordingly, some most ludicrous caricatures
might have been taken, had Cruikshank or Phiz been of the party
instead of myself. Some of this class sipped their tea with the
same apparent relish they would have partaken of so much
decoction of senna, or any other similar luxury the pretty new
"druggist's shop," lately established in St. John's, under the
auspices of a son of "mighty Scotia," so neatly dispenses.
Others, with many a rueful look, talked of the _delights_ of
tea-parties, and of their own fondness for that fragrant herb,
while they beat a tattoo upon their tea-cups; and some, again,
with noble determination of purpose, stirred their smoking cup
until a little cool, and then gulped down the whole quantum, much
in the same way, and with the same happy countenances, as a
_débutant_ generally swallows his first glass of water from some
of our English chalybeate springs.
The "young men" of the class already noticed, appeared to have
been engaged the preceding forenoon in studying attitudes, for,
collected in groups, they stood leaning against the pillars,
distorting their forms and faces, and striving, I suppose, to
emulate the statues of the "Apollo Belvidere," or the "Farnesian
Hercules."
Everything in this world has its end, and consequently the time
at length arrived when the repast--to which all appeared to do
justice, and consumed such huge pyramids of cake as was
marvellous in my eyes--was over, and at a signal from one of the
preachers, they all knelt down to prayer; but while thus engaged,
I could hear the repressed jingle of many a silver spoon, which
some more careful dame was placing in security in her box or bag.
After the prayer, a few hymns were played and sung; during which
period, I took the opportunity of walking with my companion
around the space already mentioned, in order to obtain a full
view of the assembled guests; and then followed some speeches by
the missionaries and one or two of the leading members, which
afforded much interest to the assembled group.
One old gentleman--a very excellent man, by the way, but rather
too much given to prosing when in the pulpit--spoke in favour of
tea-meetings and of the chapel debt, (to pay off which, these
entertainments were given, as one means of raising money.)
Another preacher gave us a long rambling anecdote of a
bowie-knife; paid high compliments to the ladies, which were
received by a grin of applause; said how much better it was to
have these agreeable parties, and thus raise money, instead of
the old way of trudging about from house to house, begging the
inmates to put down their names for certain sums, and attributing
the happy change to the fertile genius of the "tender sex;" and
concluded by remarking, that in the course of a week or two there
would be a bazaar held at the court-house, for the purpose of
raising more cash to liquidate the chapel debt, at which he
understood there was to be a _solid lunch-table_ spread, besides
one for confectionary; and although he liked tea very well, he
liked lunch a great deal better.
After Mr. ------ had concluded, a mild, quiet-looking man rose,
who spoke of social intercourse, referred to Job's sons and
daughters; talked of heaven and heavenly enjoyments; and then,
after a few more speeches, more compliments to the ladies, a few
more hymns, and a concluding prayer, came the cloaking, shawling,
and bonneting, and we returned home, altogether pleased with our
visit, and leaving the lady-givers of the repast packing away
their silver urns and tea-pots, and all their other "goods and
chattels," with a clatter and clamour that would have awakened
the "seven sleepers."
Having been so well pleased with our visit to the tea-party, we
resolved to attend at the Wesleyan Bazaar held at the
court-house; and accordingly, on the day appointed, we drove to
that handsome building, whose walls have seen many a smiling
face, and echoed the sighs of many a heart--so mutable is
everything in this world, sorrow ever treading upon the steps of
joy!
The day was very warm; and upon entering the crowded apartment,
the smell of the various viands from the predicted _lunch-table_
completely overcame me for a few seconds; but recovering myself,
after a short sojourn in one of the wings of the building, I
ventured to return and look about me. The upper rooms of the
court-house, where the council and assembly hold their meetings,
had been appropriated to the occasion; the council-chamber (after
having one of the temporary partitions taken down, thus including
the lobby) was cleared of its chairs and tables; and in their
place, fitted up with stalls, placed around the sides of the
apartment, at which some of the chapel-ladies presided.
Here several little fancy articles were exhibited for sale, at
the usual high prices; the best of which were, a pretty little
baby-house, illustrative of the style of architecture most used
in Antigua, and which was made from the long arrow (or sheath) of
the sugar-cane, and a "pedlar woman" of old England in her red
cloak, black bonnet, and basket on her arm, containing her
numerous diversified wares, and hung round with other miniature
symbols of her trade--the make and gift (with many other elegant
trifles) of the accomplished daughters of a lady of Upper
Holloway, England.
The other apartment, where the house of assembly hold their
conclaves, was appropriated for the eating part of the amusement;
and a very good amusement some of the company seemed to think it,
if I may judge from appearances. On one long table was displayed
a cold collation, consisting of savoury dishes, suited to the
tastes of all, and where, for the charge of 1s. sterling, any one
might fare most sumptuously. Those who preferred it, partook of
sandwiches, for which the moderate charge of 2¼d. sterling was
demanded; and upon my entrance, my eyes were first attracted by
seeing a huge widow-Barnaby-looking woman, devouring them with a
voracity I certainly did not expect to witness in that place. The
other table displayed confections of various beautiful forms and
kinds, interspersed with fruits and flowers; and where the
younger people also seemed to find full employment.
Here again I could not help observing the low appearance of many
of the "young men," who, with hats placed on one side of their
heads, and immense quantities of black hair smoothed to a
half-straight fashion by the assistance of a plentiful supply of
lard pomatum, and their thumbs stuck most (_un_)gracefully in
their waistcoat pockets, were pacing the room and shewing off
their smart apparel. I afterwards understood that many of these
over-dressed specimens of mortality contrived to enter the room
without paying the "quarter dollar" (1s. sterling) entrance
money, by fascinating, I suppose, the door-keeper, who was too
_simple-hearted_ to denounce these peacock-like persons of
conduct a sober-robed owl would scorn to be guilty of.
At length the appetites of all seemed to be appeased,--their
motives for coming (to see and be seen) fully answered,--their
appropriated sum of money expended,--and themselves loaded with
pincushions and _scent-bags_, babies' caps, and reticules, they
began to disperse, and we ourselves took our departure, leaving
some of the matrons, who had _an eye to business_, very eagerly
making bargains for sundry portions of beef and ham, tongues,
poultry, and cold mutton, jellies and cheese-cakes, and other
gastronomic relics.
------
[42] 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.
[43] 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.
[44] In these remarks, the author begs to say, she means no
disparagement to the other professors of these several trades.
She is well aware that Antigua boasts a most respectable class of
tradesmen--white, black, and coloured--who are an honour to the
colony in which they reside.
[45] A great portion of this class of persons are the offspring
of those illicit alliances already alluded to in the times of
slavery, and who did not receive their freedom until after the
general emancipation in 1834, or within a short time previous to
that event, when they became so depreciated in value, that their
owners were satisfied to dispose of them at a trifling
remuneration.