Antigua and the Antiguans Volume II Part 19

The different species of grain propagated in Antigua are the Indian Corn, or Maize, and the Guinea Corn-both of them included in the botanical name, _Zea_. The Indian corn rises to the height of about five or six feet; the leaves are eleven or twelve inches long, and two broad, with the edges deeply serrated. The corn, when ripe, is of a bright golden colour, and the ear is covered with a brown silken substance, and then enwrapped in a husk composed of many leaf-like envelopes, which are dried and used by the negroes for stuffing their beds.

The Guinea corn attains the height of about seven or eight feet; the stalk is about the thickness of a small rattan, and is, it is said, capable of being manufactured into sugar. The main stalk branches at the top into several pedicles, each of which bears an ear of corn; the grains are small and round, like shot; they are inclosed in a black sh.e.l.l, which, as the corn ripens, bursts, and forms two small leaves. This grain is used chiefly for feeding horses, &c., although the negroes sometimes manufacture it into meal, and boil it into a kind of pudding.

Of the esculent roots, the yam, _dioscorea sativa,_ is the most valuable the island produces. There are several varieties of this plant, the roots of some of them weighing from 20 to 30lbs. The flowers are green, and consist of six segments, the male flowers having six stamens, and the female three styles. The leaves are broad, and strongly veined, and are seated upon long spreading vines. The internal colour of the root varies according to the species-some being quite white, others white and red blended together, which are called by the negroes _moonshine,_ and some of a reddish purple.

The Sweet Potatoe, _convolvulus batatas,_ is the most common in Antigua. It grows upon a twining vine, and vegetates best in a clayey land. The flower is campiform, and the leaves deeply lobated. There are several varieties of this root, some of which attain a great size; it abounds in a saccharine milky juice, which stains the flesh touched by it.

Eddoes, _arum maximum aegyptianum,_ are small edible roots, abounding, in their crude form, in a slimy juice, but when thoroughly ripe and boiled, attains a dry floury consistence. The natives consider it as one of their standing vegetables, using it in soups, &c.; but to an English palate it is generally distasteful at first trial.

Squashes, _cucurbita melopepo,_ is a pomiferous herb much esteemed by the Antiguans. The yellow bell-flower is succeeded by a small, oblong fruit, which, when boiled, is very similar to the English vegetable marrow.

Soap-berry tree, or _saponaria_. The flowers are white and small, and are succeeded by acrid berries of the size and colour of small cherries. They were formerly imported to England, where they were used for waistcoat b.u.t.tons. If pounded and thrown into water, it is said they cause the death of all the fish therein.

These berries answer the purpose of soap in washing linen, (from whence they attain their name,) and are recommended as a specific for the disease of yaws in poultry.

There are a great variety of peas in Antigua, but none of them of the delicate flavour of those usually cultivated in England. The princ.i.p.al sorts are the pigeon pea, the black-eyed pea, and the white bean, or Barbados pea. The general use made of these vegetables is to boil them in soup, which forms a grand dish in negro cookery; they are used either in their dry or green state.

Ginger is a genus of the monogynia order, cla.s.s monandria. There are ten species, each natives of tropical climates; the common ginger, or _amomum zingiber,_ is the one most known in Antigua.

The flower-stalks rise by the side of the leaves, (which are of a light green, and very narrow,) directly from the root; they are scaly, and from every joint issues a single blue flower, five-leaved, and shaped like the iris. The ovary afterwards becomes a triangular fruit, the seed being contained in three cells. The use of the dried root is too well known in England to descant upon the virtues of it; the green root is preserved in sugar, and forms a much admired sweetmeat.

Pine apple, _ananas,_ is the queen of Antiguan fruits. There are two varieties, the "black pine," and the "white pine;" of these the first mentioned is the most esteemed. The flavour of the pine is exquisite, not to be _described,_ but _eaten_ to have its excellences fully appreciated; it forms, indeed, a perfect ambrosia not to be surpa.s.sed by that of _Mount Olympus._

Water Melon, or _anguria,_ a genus of the diandria order, cla.s.s moncia. The calyx is quinquefid, and the flower quinquepetalous.

The fruit belies not its name, abounding in a sweet water; it is three-celled, and contains numerous flat seeds; the scent is very fragrant. There are three kinds of melon in Antigua, all of which are esteemed for their cooling qualities.

Of the capreolated plants, the gourd (_cucurbita_) is the most common in the island. The flower consists of one leaf, an expanded campiform, but so deeply divided that it appears upon first view to be five distinct segments. The germen becomes an oblong, bottle-shaped fruit, divided into six cells, containing flat, oblong seeds. The bitter flavour of the gourd is extreme; but both the fruit and leaves are said to be of great efficacy in some diseases of the viscera.

Among the acroydra tribe, the princ.i.p.al found in Antigua is the Ground Nut, _arachis hypogaea_. It is a genus of the decandria order, cla.s.s polyadelphia. The flowers are papilionaceous, and the leaves of a light green; the nut, which grows from the root, is not dug until the plant withers. It is roasted before eaten; the kernel, which is twofold; is very sweet, and forms an important article of traffic to the petty hucksters.

CHAPTER LIII.

Government-Governor-in-Chief-Council-a.s.sembly-Government officers-Judicial officers-Ecclesiastical establishments- Schools-Fortifications and military defences-Revenue-Exports and imports-Population returns.

Antigua is the usual residence of the captain-general and governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands; and in his absence, the oldest member of council, who is styled president, acts as his deputy. But in case of the death of the governor, or his removal from the office, according to a recent arrangement, the lieutenant-governor of St. Kitt's takes up his residence at Antigua, and officiates as governor until a fresh appointment is made.

The colonial government of Antigua is confided to the governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands-a council, nominated by the governor, and confirmed by the crown-and a house of a.s.sembly, consisting of twenty-five members, representing the capital town of St. John's, and the twelve divisions, which the six parishes of the island compose, elected by the freeholders. The council act in two capacities-the one as the advisers of the governor in the administration of the executive branch of government; the other, as an upper house in the legislative a.s.sembly.

As the appointed advisers and a.s.sistants of the governor, his "privy council," as they are termed, when acting in that capacity, the members of the council enjoy the t.i.tle of "honourable;" and their concurrence, or that of three of their body, is required to most of the acts of the governor in his executive capacity. Their appointment, sometimes, is immediate from the crown, though the governor may, in case of a vacancy, appoint _ad interim,_ until a confirmation, which is seldom withheld, is obtained. Leave of absence from the colony may be granted to a member of the council, by the governor, or his _loc.u.m tenens,_ for six months, which may be extended by the crown to two years; but by a longer absence, a member incurs the forfeiture of his office. The governor, moreover, has the power to suspend any member of the council from the exercise of his office, until such time as the pleasure of the sovereign may be made known.

In their legislative capacity, the council a.s.sume to themselves, with regard to the members of a.s.sembly, as nearly as may be, the relation of the House of Lords to that of the Commons in England.

Their officers are, a clerk and marshal, the former being the first colonial secretary, and often a.s.suming the functions of the usher of the black rod. The senior member presides, under the t.i.tle of president. They deliberate in private, excluding strangers, and enjoy the same freedom of debate as do the house of a.s.sembly, as the English parliament.

The house of a.s.sembly, a.s.similating itself, as it does, as closely as possible, to the usages of the English House of Commons, needs no further particular notice.

The governor, however, discharges two important functions, which are usually exercised by separate individuals. He acts as chancellor, or rather, as commissioner of the great seal, and, as such, presides in the court of equity; and up to the present time, he has also exercised all the functions of an ordinary, though, we believe, in practice, seldom going beyond granting licences for marriages, and admitting the probate of wills-acts for which he is not allowed to grant deputations; but this interference in matters of ecclesiastical jurisdiction may probably soon be dispensed with.

The chief officers of the island are-

1. The _Governor,_ who receives a salary of 3000l. sterling from the British government, besides certain fees of office-as, on administering oaths on admission to certain public offices; on granting letters of administration, probate of wills, marriage licences, signature and great seal to writs of execution, letters of guardianship; on every motion made in the Court of Chancery, and on various other occasions; but the fees on granting leave of absence to a member of the council, or commissions to public offices, are usually the exclusive perquisites of his excellency's private secretary.

2. _Public Secretary._-His income, arising from fees, is said to equal, if not exceed, that of the governor.

3. _Treasurer._-Receives from 800l. to 400l. per annum, and 2 per cent. on all taxes and other moneys received; and also the same on all moneys paid away. He is required to give security on this appointment, from the governor, to the amount of 10,000l.

currency.

4. _Master in Chancery._-His income varies with the amount of business occurring. His fees are, 15s. 2d. for every hour, with other charges in proportion, when accounts are pa.s.sing before him.

5. _The Registrar of Deeds_ was formerly paid in sugar; but now, for every ninety-six words recorded in his office, he receives 2s., and the same sum for every year in which a search is made for any particular deed in his records. The returns of this office, as of the two preceding, being wholly dependent on fees, it is not easy to estimate their average amount.

6. The _Provost Marshal_ receives a fixed salary of 600l., which is paid from fees, out of which the gaoler also receives a salary of 160l. All incidental expenses attendant on these two offices are also discharged from the same fund; and there is always a surplus remaining, which is placed at the disposal of the governor.

7. The _Harbour Master_ receives 50l. per annum currency for boat-hire, and a fee, varying from 4s. 6d. to 22s. 6d., on certain vessels coming into the harbour, according to tonnage, from 30 tons to 300, and upwards. This officer seems less adequately provided for than any other, considering the attention required, and the responsibility attendant on his office.

8. The _Postmaster,_ who is paid by the home government, receives 80l. sterling per annum.

The judicial officers connected with the colony are numerous, considered with respect to the population; but as none, with the exception of the chief judge, receive pecuniary remuneration, and he only 300l. sterling,[72] and from fees, the appointments, although high-sounding, are, with this exception, only honorary, and almost parallel with that of the unpaid, though not less useful, magistracy of England. The appointments are as follow:-A chief judge; four a.s.sistant justices; a chief baron of the exchequer; judge of the vice-admiralty court; registrar of the vice-admiralty court; two masters examiners of chancery; registrar in chancery; provost marshal, advocate, and attorney-general; procurator and solicitor-general; three king's counsel and a coroner, (the latter receiving 300l. per annum sterling from the colony.) The office of coroner is filled by Sir Robert Horsford, the attorney-general. To these must be added two stipendiary magistrates, appointed under the provisions of the act for the abolition of slavery, and paid by the home government.

The ecclesiastical establishment now comprises a bishop, receiving 2000l.; an archdeacon, receiving 500l. sterling from the British government; the rector of the parish of St. John, receiving, with a curate, 330l. from the colony; the rector of the parish of St. George, who receives a stipend of 230l.

sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Paul's, who receives 250l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Peter's, who receives 300l. sterling; and the rector of the parish of St.

Philip's, who receives a stipend of 275l. sterling.

The stipends are raised by rates on the several parishes; and in addition to these, the clergy receive the usual surplice fees.

There are several day and night schools belonging to the Established Church-viz.,

St John's-one boys' and one girls'; two infant-schools at the Rectory; on Manning's Estate, Cedar Valley, Marble Hill, St.

James's, St. Luke's, African Hospital; three evening-schools in St. John's, and four Sunday-schools, besides at the various parishes in the island. The instruction which is generally given is reading and repeating the scriptures and church catechism, and also certain lessons and hymns. The number of children instructed by the clergy may be reckoned at about 2300.

There are twelve churches, including four chapels of ease. One of these chapels of ease is the private property of the Honourable and Reverend Nath. Gilbert, the descendant of the founder of Methodism in this country, which contains 400 sittings.

Sittings.

St. John's church contains 1600 St. George's 600 St. Peter's, (town of Parham,) old church 300 St. Philip's, (near Willoughby Bay) 433 St. Paul's, (Falmouth) 400 St. Mary's, (Old Road) 250 St. John's parish has three chapels of ease-one at Popehead, called St. James's 420 Bendall's Bridge, St. Luke's 400 And one in town 150 St. Peter's, one chapel of ease, (private property of Nath. Gilbert) 400 St. Philip's 260 St. Paul's, (a temporary chapel at English Harbour) 350 St. Mary's, (in Ffryes Valley) 250

There is also a temporary chapel at the common gaol, which may be supposed to contain 150 sittings. The Rev. Robert Holberton volunteered, in the early part of 1829, to deliver a religious discourse every Sunday morning, between the hours of seven and eight o'clock, and has not grown weary in this laudable cause. He attends the prison at all times when serious consolations are required, and more particularly those who may have to suffer death by paying the penalty of the law.

Account of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials.

Baptisms. Marriages. Burials.

1836 Parish of St. John's 310 112 150 St. George's 74 38 36 St. Peter's 116 52 24 St. Paul's 74 47 39 St. Mary's 60 40 14 St. Philip's 122 40 19

Total 756 329 282

1837 Church 662 246 393 1838 " 528 316 313 1839 " 723 468 420