Zoology--Rabbits--Rats--Horned cattle--Horses--Mules--Asses--
Sheep--Goats--Domestic animals--Whales--Thrasher--Grampus--
Porpoise--Shark--Anecdote of the Young Creole--Death of the
sailor-boy--Remora--Pilot fish--Dolphins--Jew fish--Stingray--
Corramou--Beautiful colours displayed in fish--Parrot fish.
In an island like Antigua, destitute of every wild animal of
larger growth than a rabbit or a rat, it may be deemed risible to
talk about its _zoology;_ but as that word embraces a description
of all living creatures, I intend to include under it the several
doctrines of ichthyology, entomology, and ornithology.
Having mentioned rabbit and rats, I will reverse the general
order pursued in writing upon subjects of natural history, and
commence with a slight mention of those animals. The wild rabbit
more particularly abounds in Long Island, a pretty and delightful
spot, already mentioned as belonging to the Hon. Bertie E.
Jarvis. Although rabbits sometimes form a dish at genteel tables,
they are not generally esteemed in Antigua as an article of food.
Many of the Creole negroes express the greatest antipathy to
them, on account of their similitude to a cat; and to offer to
them such a repast would, no doubt, be deemed an insult. I
remember upon one occasion, hearing a woman inquire of a black
carpenter, who was employed about our premises, if he would
purchase from her a rabbit which she had in a basket. "Rabbit?"
interrogated the artisan, his face wearing a most sardonic grin,
"I should _jist_ like to no war you take me for, ma'am? You tink
me go buy _rabbit?_ No, ma'am, me no cum to dat yet; for me
always did say, an me always will say, dat dem who eat rabbit,
eat _pussy,_[60] and dem eat pussy, eat rabbit. Get out wid you
and your rabbit!"
The rats are a numerous race in Antigua, and feed most lusciously
upon the sugar-cane, to the grief and loss of the planter. The
present race are said to have been introduced into the West
Indies by Sir Charles Price, in hopes of exterminating the Creole
rat. The emigrants' tribe fulfilled their duty with great
fidelity in this respect, and waged a vigorous war with their
brothers of the _furry coat;_ but while thus employed, they
multiplied so fast themselves, that they overran the whole
island, and proved a more troublesome and dangerous foe to the
planters, than their predecessors. These quadrupeds are so fat
and sleek, from feeding upon the juice of the sugar-cane, that
some of the country negroes find them an object of value, and
with addition of pepper and similar spiceries, prepare from them
a delicate _fricassé,_ not to be surpassed by a dish of French
frogs!
The horned cattle of Antigua, as well as beasts of burden, and
domestic animals, are all of Lilliputian dimensions. Agricultural
labour is generally carried on by help of oxen, and upon this
account, each plantation is provided with a large herd of these
animals, whose patient drudgery often calls for an expression of
sympathy. The horses bred upon the island are, in most instances,
but a very sorry race; still there are some handsome Creole
ponies to be met with, whose slender limbs and bright wild eye
give them the appearance of "sons of the desert." The donkeys and
mules are of diminutive sizes, but retain their asinary qualities
in as great a degree as their patient brethren in the other parts
of the world.
Sheep, like "Miss Cowslip," are as tall and slender as a poplar.
Their wool falls off as they gain maturity, and is succeeded by
short stiff hairs, like a goat. Many of them are so spotted and
marked, that they might be taken for spaniel dogs, were it not
for their length of legs, and _sheepish_ visage. The sheep,
however, at Long Island, are very deservedly admired. Their backs
are of a deep warm brown colour, and the underneath part of the
body, with the breast, feet, legs, and head, of a glossy coal
black. Their eyes are also black, and very piercing, very much
like the eyes of the stag; and as they raise their long necks,
throw back their well-formed heads, and gaze earnestly at the
stranger who intrudes upon their haunts, they display a higher
degree of animation in their features than any of their species I
ever saw.
Goats are also a numerous race in Antigua, almost every negro
possessing one or more of these sure-footed creatures: their
milk, as well as that of the sheep, is generally used for
domestic purposes. Cats and dogs also degenerate greatly in size,
and present as attenuated an appearance as if they had been
keeping strict fasts and vigils for a month; the young puppies
are sold for two shillings currency, and the cats are sometimes
bartered between the negroes for a chicken: this last-named
animal often forms an article of food to negro watchmen, who rear
them especially for that purpose.
The lordly whale at times frequents the West Indian seas. These
huge marine animals generally quit their hyperborean homes in the
summer months, to take a trip along the eastern shores of North
America, and passing through the West Indian Archipelago, return
to their icy regions, where they enjoy, with redoubled pleasure,
their unwieldy gambols amid the stupendous icebergs. In their
passage between the several islands they often meet with various
trials; at times they quit their right course, and flounder about
in shallow water, until at length they are perhaps cast ashore,
where they suffer an untimely and lingering death. One met this
fate at Antigua a few years ago. It was driven upon an
unfrequented part of the coast, where it must have remained for a
long time, until at length the effluvia became so offensive that
it attracted the attention of some negroes, who, going in search
of the cause which so tainted the air, discovered the defunct
whale. It was a very large one, measuring from sixty to seventy
feet in length, and of about thirty feet in circumference; many
of its bones were preserved by the curious as commemorative of
the event.
But the greatest enemy the whale meets with in the tropic seas is
the thrasher, (a species of squalus;) a fish so called from the
manner in which it attacks its prey. As soon as the thrasher
perceives the whale, he swims rapidly up to it, in a kind of
orbit, until at length, when it approaches near enough, it
compresses its tail, and by a great effort, throws itself out of
the water and falls heavily upon the body of its unoffending
victim. This exploit the thrasher performs again and again, until
at length the whale (which very seldom escapes by speed) spouts
up volumes of blood and water, and with one dreadful convulsion
sighs out its last breath, and its immense carcase floats upon
the ocean until some playful wave flings it upon the shore of
some neighbouring island. In one of my trips from Antigua to
Barbados I witnessed one of these conflicts, and although at a
considerable distance from the place of battle, the blows sounded
audibly in our ears.[61]
Among the other _Cetaceæ_ which sometimes frequent the waters of
the blue Caribbean, are the grampus and porpoise.[62] I have
heard some master of the small trading vessels express great
apprehension of grampus, who, they say, will at times approach so
near a craft as to endanger its safety; but during my sojourn in
these islands, however, I never heard of such a casualty taking
place. A few years ago, an immense shoal of grampus were driven
ashore at Antigua during a season of stormy weather, and by the
oil they yielded, became a valuable prize.
But the greatest dread of the mariners in these seas is the shark
--that rapacious and terrific monster whose very name conjures up
a train of horrors. The usual length of the white shark is from
25 to 30 feet; the body oblong, and tapering to the tail, which
is of a semiannular form, and of great strength; the head is
rather flat upon the top; and the jaws, of horrific dimensions,
are armed with numerous rows of flat, jagged, triangular teeth,
(which it has the power of erecting at pleasure,) down to the
very gullet.[63]
The eyes of the shark are large and prominent; and they appear to
watch their hoped-for prey with the malign glance of an ogre;
while their vision is so acute, that they can distinguish objects
at an immense distance, and will brave any danger to procure
booty with which to fill their ravenous maw. A circumstance
occurred some years ago which evidently proves that the optics of
a shark are anything but defective.
A young Creole one day escaped from the vigilance of her nurse,
and, attracted by the numerous wild flowerets and gaudy
butterflies she met with, rambled on, reckless of danger, until
at length she approached the sea-side. Here she watched for
awhile the waves as they dashed their snowy foam over the pointed
rocks which lined that part of the beach, until, impelled by the
beauty of the scene, and the heat of the weather, she threw off
her simple tropic dress and wended her way into the smiling
waters. Although not more than six years old, from being
accustomed to bathing, she had learnt to swim with agility; and
gaily did she sport with the bounding billows, until her
attention was arrested by a violent rushing of the waters, when,
upon looking behind her, she saw, fast approaching, what instinct
immediately told her must be a shark. It was but the thought of a
moment to make for the land, upon whose confines she fortunately
was; and urged on by fear, she gained the pointed rocks, followed
by the rapacious monster. Springing from one to the other of
these natural coast-guards, she at length reached the land in
safety; while the greedy shark, fearful of losing its prey, and
regardless of hazard, dashed after, until it became entangled in
the intricacies of the beach, where it floundered about, unable
to extricate itself, until a party of negroes (who had been
working near the spot, and whose attention had been attracted by
the cries of the child) came to the scene of action, and with
ready good will despatched the encaged monster.
The shark is viviparous, and sometimes five hundred young ones,
of about a foot in length, have been found in the stomach of the
mother. The mouth is placed so far beneath the snout, that the
shark is obliged to turn upon its back to seize its prey. The
fins are large and strong, which enables it to dart quickly
through the water, while the huge dorsal one may often be seen
above the surface of the sea for a long time together, marking
the spot where the dreadful creature lurks beneath. The bays and
harbours of Antigua abound with this voracious marine animal, and
woe betide the unfortunate swimmer who approaches its lair.
On board the ship which first conveyed me to Antigua, was a
remarkably fine and intelligent lad, "the only son of his mother,
and she was a widow." He had been placed under the care of the
captain of the ship, in order to gain some knowledge of the sea
before sailing with his uncle, the master of a South Sea whaler.
Robert had never quitted his fond parent before, and anxiously
did he look forward to the end of his voyage, hoping that a
letter from his mother would be awaiting his arrival at
Antigua.[64] At length we gained our wished-for haven, and the
passengers quitted the ship to seek their several places of
destination. The packet had arrived, but there was no letter for
poor Robert, who, with a disappointed heart, was obliged to wait
the arrival of another mail. In the meantime, according to the
rules of the merchant's service, he was employed along with the
other lads in many little duties aboard the ship, until one fatal
Saturday, as he was drawing a bucket of sea-water from over the
ship's side, he overbalanced himself, and fell into the depths
beneath. The steward, who was passing, raised an alarm; a boat
was lowered, but without success, for he never rose to the
surface. At length drags were procured, and (after an ineffectual
search of some hours) his body was discovered, but the merciless
sharks had made it their prey; the head, legs, and arms were
gone, and his mutilated trunk alone reposes in the churchyard at
St. John's. It was an untimely and dreadful death, so far from
the land that gave him birth; and the circumstance was rendered
more affecting, by the arrival of the packet the next day,
bringing a letter for him from his mother, expressing her hope of
her darling boy's quick return.
It is a general custom in St. John's when a horse dies to have it
towed over the bar,[65] in order that it may be cast away in deep
water. These defunct animals are very often made a bait for
shark-fishing; but at times the sharks are so large and so
greedy, that these would-be fishers are obliged to let go their
bait in order to prevent their boat being overturned, and they
themselves become the prey of the monsters. Young sharks are
often exposed in the Antiguan markets for sale; and their flesh,
stewed down with rice or "sweet potatoes," forms, among the
negroes, a savoury supper.[66]
The common attendants upon the shark are the _remora_, or
sucking-fish, and the pilot-fish, the former deriving its name
from the firm manner in which it can adhere to any foreign
substance. This adhesion is performed by means of a piece of hard
thick skin, of an oval form, about five inches long and two
broad, and which is attached to the head of the fish. This
curious appendage is indented like the roof of a cat's mouth, and
can be drawn up or expanded at pleasure. By these means the
remora fixes itself so firmly to the back of the shark that no
effort of that animal can dislodge it. Some naturalists are of
opinion that the sucking-fish is the friend of the shark in
directing its course and warning it of approaching danger, in the
same way as the hermit-crab acts towards the pinna-marina. Others
think this is a fable, and that, instead of befriending, it in
time becomes the destroyer of the shark by draining its body of
all moisture. I have heard seamen assert, who are often better
observers of nature than is generally supposed, that if by
accident a sucking-fish becomes separated from the shark, it is
unable to provide for itself, and has not even the sense to swim
from approaching danger. A remora was caught by the crew of a
small vessel on board of which I was passenger. It was placed
upon the deck for a few moments in order that I might be better
able to inspect it, but when about to be removed, it was found to
have adhered so firmly to the planks, that no effort, save the
cruel one of cutting off the part, could disengage it. It belongs
to the ray kind, and measures generally from two to five feet in
length; but one was captured off Guadaloupe, which had attained
the unusual length of thirteen feet from head to tail. Many
strange tales have been related of the remora being able to stop
a ship when in full sail, as well as performing other prodigies
of valour; but in this age of wisdom all such statements are
deservedly regarded as fables.
The pilot-fish, the other attendant upon the shark, is a very
beautiful fish, of a tapering form; it is represented as
encompassed "with chains of pearls, corals, emeralds, and other
precious stones;" and really, from the brilliancy of its scales,
such an idea might be entertained. It was formerly supposed to
precede the shark in order to point out its way, and for this
cause it obtained its name of "pilot-fish." This supposition is,
however, exploded by later observations, which point out that it
attends the shark at a respectable distance, in hopes of
participating in its prey.
The dolphin, or _delphinus,_ is the next most remarkable and
beautiful fish which frequents the Caribbean. Painters and
sculptors have represented it of a semiannular shape; but the
true figure of the fish is straight and tapering, with the back
very slightly curved. The snout is long and narrow, and armed
with numerous sharp-pointed teeth; the French give it the name of
_Porc de mer;_ it has also been called the "prismatic fish," from
the assertion, that when in the agonies of death it presents the
seven primary colours. Much has been said about the dying
beauties of the dolphin; but how far more beautiful it looks
sporting in its parent element with all the brightness of the
emerald, and enjoying the life that has been given it! The flesh
is firm, and of a very good flavour, although it is a rapacious
fish, waging incessant war upon the poor little flying-fish, and
devouring them with the greatest avidity.
The largest among the fish esteemed in Antigua as articles of
food is the "Jew-fish," which commonly weighs from three hundred
to four hundred pounds. The flesh is reckoned one of the greatest
luxuries the West Indian seas afford. It is, however, but seldom
caught--probably one reason for its being in such repute--its
visits, like angels', being "few and far between." A
superstitious notion is attached to this fish--that its
appearance bespeaks the death of some magnate of the Island; and
accordingly, when tidings are brought that such fish is captured,
all the old women lay their heads together to plan out who is to
die. The king-fish, grouper, barracoota, cavallie, are equally
esteemed for their gastronomic qualities; there are seasons,
however, when the flesh of the barracoota is poisonous--a
circumstance attributed by some persons to their feeding on
copper banks.[67] The other poisonous fish found near Antigua are
principally the "horse-eyed cavallie," the yellow-billed sprat,
and the conger eel: the flesh of the yellow-billed sprat has
often proved fatal to those who have eaten it, and it has been
known for death to take place six hours after tasting it. The
poison is said by some to be contained in the head.
The stingray is another native of these seas, the meat of which
is much esteemed by the Creoles. This fish is armed with a long,
slender tail, in the middle of which is a sharp barb; with this
instrument the stingray beats the water, or anything that
approaches it, rapidly, when attacked. The negro fishermen
allege, that the stroke from the stingray's tail products
leprosy, for which cause they are very careful in approaching it;
and a circumstance has been related of a person having been
thrown into a frenzy for forty-eight hours after being struck by
this formidable weapon.
The _corramou_ is the salmon of the Antiguan fisheries, as far as
regards superiority of flavour. It is caught in the fresh-water
stream which runs throughout the Island, but is rather scarce; it
is the most delicate of the West Indian fish, and ought to be
cooked as soon as taken from its parent stream. Snappers, hinds,
silks, mullets, doctors, angels, old wives, nurses, Spanish
mackerel, &c., are among the other kinds of fish exposed for sale
in the Antiguan markets, some of which are noted for their
excellent taste, the others for their brilliancy of hue; indeed,
the most diversified colours, as yellow, purple, pink, orange,
green, and blue, chequered with gold and silver, and the whole
happily blended together, are to be observed in almost every
species. The parrot fish is the most beautiful of its tribe. Its
scales are of the deepest emerald, and its eyes, composed of
different coloured circles, are as clear as crystal. It feeds
upon shell-fish, which it crushes between its bony jaws, nature
having armed it with such instruments in place of teeth. The
negroes always call it "blue parrat;" its flesh is much esteemed
by them, but the flavour is so rank, that it is never admitted at
any respectable table. It sometimes attains the weight of from
sixteen to twenty pounds. There are a great number of other
edible fish which might be deservedly mentioned, but the pages of
this work have so multiplied, that I must pass them over without
further mention.
------
[60] The negroes term all cats, but more particularly kittens,
"pussy."
[61] The whale belongs to the class _mammalia;_ order, _cete_.
The food of the whale is lump fish, and small marine insects.
Whalebone is procured from the lamina in the upper jaw, (commonly
called whiskers,) which supplies the want of teeth. It is split
and prepared for use in England.
[62] The grampus generally measures from 15 to 25 feet, and is of
great circumference. It is a very voracious fish, feeding upon
its neighbour the porpoise, when able. It also attacks the whale,
and sometimes makes that huge animal cry out with pain. Pliny,
the great Roman naturalist, who perished in that awful eruption
of Mount Vesuvius, in A.D. 79, which also destroyed the cities of
Herculaneum and Pompeii, when speaking of the grampus, says, "it
is an immense heap of flesh, armed with dreadful teeth."
The porpoise measures from six to nine feet in length, and may be
found in all parts of the ocean, and even in the mouths of large
rivers. It keeps in large shoals, and if one of the company
receives a wound from the harpoon, the rest fall upon him and
devour him. Formerly, it was esteemed a fish of such rarity, as
to be introduced as royal fare; but in this degenerate age, its
savoury qualities are generally over-looked, unless by sailors,
who sometimes make a portion of it into a sea-pie.
[63] Some naturalists are of opinion that a fresh row of teeth is
added every year. I have counted five rows in a shark's mouth.
[64] We went by way of America, and consequently our time from
England was long.
[65] A shoal running across the harbour of St John's from north
to south.
[66] Shark, in ichthyology, a species of squalus.
[67] Labat thinks the reason some of the West Indian fish are
poisonous is on account of their feeding upon the "galley-fish,"
a genus of the Zoophyte tribe.