walking or standing, their poise is admirable,--might be called
graceful, were it not for the absence of real grace of form in
such compact, powerful little figures. All wear brightly colored
cottonade stuffs, and the general effect of the costume in a
large gathering is very agreeable, the dominant hues being pink,
white, and blue. Half the women are smoking. All chatter loudly,
speaking their English jargon with a pitch of voice totally
unlike the English timbre: it sometimes sounds as if they were
trying to pronounce English rapidly according to French
pronunciation and pitch of voice.

These green oranges have a delicious scent and amazing
juiciness. Peeling one of them is sufficient to perfume the skin
of the hands for the rest of the day, however often one may use
soap and water.... We smoke Porto Rico cigars, and drink West
Indian lemonades, strongly flavored with rum. The tobacco has a
rich, sweet taste; the rum is velvety, sugary, with a pleasant,
soothing effect: both have a rich aroma. There is a wholesome
originality about the flavor of these products, a uniqueness
which certifies to their naif purity: something as opulent and
frank as the juices and odors of tropical fruits and flowers.

The streets leading from the plaza glare violently in the strong
sunlight;--the ground, almost dead-white, dazzles the eyes....
There are few comely faces visible,--in the streets all are black
who pass. But through open shop-doors one occasionally catches
glimpses of a pretty quadroon face,--with immense black eyes,--a
face yellow like a ripe banana.

... It is now after mid-day. Looking up to the hills, or along