I OCKE/?MArV (josj >c x. >t *•>. •■■. «■ $idyC LETTER RESPECTING SANTA CRUZ WINTER RESIDENCE FOR INVALIDS; ADDRESSED TO DR. JOHN C. WARREN, OF BOSTON, MASS. y BY JOSEPH TUCKERMAN. —»»»»a®ft<'..... ' ■■' >. , . ~ v* BOSTON: , D. CLAPP, JR. —184 WASHINGTON STREET. ^JS Office of the Medical and Surgical Journal. 1837. ft . .-.. * ■■ *..A-J* ^3 ■/^.fn <";'■■■ f 4 Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. even with the expectation of the greatest pecuniary compensation. I am glad, therefore, of an opportunity to acknowledge what I owe to you. But I would do more. It is indeed but little more that I can do. But I can give you the results of my observation and experience during the past winter, touching questions upon which each of us found it difficult to obtain much definite and satisfactory information; yet of great inter- est to invalids who think of going to Santa Cruz for health. I can give you a copy of a thermometrical journal, which was kept with great care, and for the very purpose of giving you the most exact knowledge of the winter temperature of that island. This, with some of the most important facts and suggestions, upon the topics most nearly concerning the comfort of a winter residence there, is the best return which I can now make to you. Allow me, however, first, in a very few words to give you the little I have gleaned of the history of this island ; or rather, to give you the principal dates in its history. Santa Cruz, or, as the island is also called, St. Croix, was discovered by Columbus on his second western voyage, on the 14th of November, 1493. The Caribs, its inhabitants, called it Ay-ay. Columbus anchor- ed there to obtain water; and while his boat was returning from the shore, a skirmish took place with some of the natives, in which several of them were captured. These captives were carried to Spain. In 1625, the English and Dutch jointly took possession of the island, which was at that time uninhabited. In 1649, the Dutch were com- pelled to leave the island, having been driven from it by the superior force of the English. But the triumph of the conquerors was short. In 1650, twelve hundred Spaniards from Porto Rico made a descent upon them in the night, burned their habitations, massacred all whom they found under arms, and transported the remainder, with their wives and bag- gage, to the island of Bermuda. In 1651, the French, under De Vau- galan, obtained possession by the surrender of the Spaniards to his force. The island was then rich in forests. But these were set on fire by the new conquerors, and the conflagration, it is said, continued several months. But the grounds thus cleared were at once extensively culti- vated, and are said to have been " incredibly fertile." In 1653, Louis XIV. transferred St. Croix, with St. Kitts, St. Bartholomews and St. Martins, to the Knights of Malta. In 1665, a newly formed West In- dia Company purchased the island of the Order of Malta; and in 1674, this company having been dissolved by a royal edict, the island was again annexed to the French Crown. In 1696, the population is said to have been 147 whites, exclusive of women and children, and Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 5 623 blacks. But notwithstanding the extraordinary fertility of the land when the rains were sufficient, yet so frequent and destructive were the droughts at that time, that, at the last named date, the French settlers, having demolished their forts, abandoned the island, and removed to St. Domingo. In 1720 it was uninhabited. About that time, a project for its settlement was formed in England, which, however, was not carried into effect. It was visited by vessels from all nations, till, in 1727, the French captured seven English merchant vessels which were lying there, and took possession of the island. It continued to be the property of France till 1733, when it was sold to a company of merchants in Copen- hagen, called the Guinea Company, for £30,750. The rights of this company were afterwards purchased by the King of Denmark. In 1754, the island was carefully surveyed, and divided into plantations, or oblong squares for plantations ; each plantation measuring 3000 Danish feet in length, from N. N. West to S. S. East, and 2000 Danish feet in breadth, from E. N. East to W. S. West, and containing 150 acres of land, of 40,000 square feet to the acre. This division of the plantations is continued to this day. In 1801 it was taken by the British, but was restored to Denmark after the possession of it for a few months. Again, in 1807, it was taken by the English, and was held by them till 1815, when it was again restored to the Danes ; since which time St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. Johns, have been Danish colonies. Christianstoed, or Bassin, the principal town in St. Croix, and the seat of government, is situated in latitude 17° 45" 11' and in 64° 41" 57' longitude west of Greenwich. Another and smaller town, about fourteen miles from Bas- sin, is called West End, or Frederickstoed; and to this place principally have invalids hitherto resorted. The language of the Island is English. Its length is from 25 to 30 miles from east to west, and upon an average about 5 or 6 miles in breadth. The high grounds of the island, which make about a third part of it, and which stretch from north to south, are formed of innumerable small swells of land rising one above another, and are very beautiful; and especially as they are seen from shipboard, while sailing along the coast. The highest of them are from 12 to 1400 feet above the level of the sea. I shall have occasion hereafter to speak of the mitigated form of slavery in the Danish Islands, and of the productions and interior condi- tion of Santa Cruz. I will now, in the first place, give you my tables of its temperature, from the 7th of December, 1836, the day after my arrival there, to the 8th of May, 1837, the day on which I embarked for home. 6 Temperature in Santa Cruz. DECEMBER, 1836. S £ s a N S3 J^.2 < < w Ah Ah" A^ '3 "eS CD a* i—i CO CD OJ > 7 78 79 80 79 77 77 3 8 76 79 80 80 77£ 78 4 9 75£ 751 75£ 76 75 75 1 10 73| 764. 79£ 79 77£ 76£ 5i Extremes of temperature in twenty-six 11 74 78 78 76a 764 76£ 4 days, 70, and 81 1-2. 12 75 75 79 79 77 76 4 13 72| 76 76 76 76 75£ 75 5 Greatest variation on any day, 7 1-2 14 74 76 76£ 74 2£ degrees. The least variation on any day, 1 degree. 15 73 76 78i 78£ 76 J 75 5£ 16 73 78 80£ 80 77 76£ H The mean temperature of this month, 17 75 78 80£ 80 78 77 ^ 75 3-4 degrees. 18 78 79 814 80 774 76£ 3J Frequent small showers fell during this 19 76 77-^ 79" 79£ 77| 78 3J month, but no one which continued longer 20 75 76i 79 79* 77 76£ 4i than from five to ten minutes. Theso 21 75 77" 80 794 77 76 5 showers came with short premonition of 22 75£ 77 78£ 78f 76 74£ 4 their approach; and great care was re- 23 72 76 78 761 74 74£ 6 quired, while taking a ride or drive, not to 24 73i 76£ 78 77| 76 73J H be wet by them. 25 73 76i 761 76 73£ 73 3* 26 73 761 77£ 76 74 73 4J 27 73 74 74£ 76 75 74 3 28 73 76 78 77 75£ 74 5 29 72 74£ 76 771 764 74 5* 30 70 73 75 76i 74" 73 64 31 73i 75 76i 76f 75 74 3j Temperature in Santa Cruz. 7 JANUARY, 1837. S S s a S < < w a; p^ Ah" '3 cd Q'3 CD a i—i CO CO OS > 1 71* 74£ 77 764 78 74 73 54 2 72 74£ 78 76 75 6 3 76 764 80 804 78 78 44 4 74 75 754 764 76 76 24 5 764 774 80 80 78f 774 34 6 76 784 8O4 81 79 78 5 7 76 79" 80 81 79 77 5 8 76 75 764 78 78 77 3 9 74 77 80" 78 78 754 6 10 74 77 8O4 79 774 76 5 11 74 784, 80 784 76 75£ 6 12 75 77 784 784 761 76 34 13 74 77£ 784 784 76 75 44 14 74 77 78 784 75 744 44 15 74 78 784 784 784 77 44 16 734 77£ 774 774 76 75 44 17 73 774 79 79 76 75 6 18 74 78 78 78 77 764 4 19 74 80 80J 794 79 78 64 20 75 79 80 80 78 76 5 21 74f 79 80 79 78 76 54 22 73 78 80i 804 80 76 74 23 73 76 77 80 78 76 7 24 76 79 804 80 78 76 44 25 76 77 78£ 78 764 76 24 26 75J 77 80^ 79f 77 76 5 27 76 78 804 80 76 764 44 28 75£ 77 774 77 76 754 2 29 744 77 80| 79 78 78 6i 30 76 78£ 813 80 77 78 5i 31 76 78 81 804 77 76 5 The extremes of temperature this month were 71 1-2, and 81 3-4. The greatest variation of temperature on any day was 7 1-2 degrees. The smallest variation on any day was 2 1-2 degrees. The mean temperature of the month was 76. Frequent small showers occurred in this, as in the preceding month, but with less frequency at its close. I passed the months of December and January at Frederickstoed, or West End. During that time, I lived in No. 10 Strand Street, and my thermometer was suspend- ed in the coolest part of the hall of that house. The house fronts west, and is open also to the east; and has a constant draft through its hall whenever the wind is fa- vorable to a passage through it. FEBRUARY, 1837. S S a hrH a S3 < < d a! &H Ah' "3 "3 CD OS i—i CO CD OS > 1 77 794 82 814 764 76 6 2 744 78 81 79 764 76 64 3 75 78 81 794 76 76 6 4 754 77 774 79 76 76 34 5 74 774 78 79 76 76 5 6 744 78 81 804 78 76 6 7 74 77 80 79 78 76 6 8 744 774 80 774 774 74 54 9 744 78 81 80 78 764 64 10 754 784 814 81 78 76 6 11 75 77 80 78 76 75 5 12 74 78 814 79 774 76 64 13 75 784 81 81 78 754 6 14 754 76 79 744 74 73 34 15 74 76 79 76 754 76 5 16 744 78 79 784 75 75 44 17 76 78 80 80 77 76 4 18 754 78 80i 79 77 75 4f 19 74 79 79 78J 74 734 5 20 74 77| 79 79 77 74 5 21 74 734 764 76 77 75 3 22 73 75 79 794 76 74 64 23 73 79 804 80 76 76 74 24 734 76 80 81 764 75 74 25 734 794 814 78 76 754 8 26 74 79 814 82 764 75 8 27 74 78 80 784 76 75 6 28 74 |774 80 774 76 74 6 On the 1st day of this month I removed to Bassin, the Eastern town of this island ; and, till the 22d of the month, lived in a house there upon elevated ground. I thought the air of Bassin drier, and more grateful, to the feelings, than that of West End. On the 22d 1 removed to the Pearl estate, a bleak and almost altogether com- fortless situation. There I remained three weeks, and in that time lost more strength than I had gained in the preceding six or eight weeks. The extremes of temperature this month were 73, and 82. The greatest variation of temperature on any day was 8 degrees. The smallest was 3 degrees. The mean temperature of the month was 77 1-2 degrees. There were two short but heavy showers in this month; one on the 8th, and the other on the 14th. Otherwise the weather was clear and very beautiful. 8 Temperature MARCH, 1837. S S N g S -b-2 < < oi a! Ah" Ah '3 a CD os i—i CO CD OS > 1 74 80 804 80 77 75 64 2 74 76| 79 78 754 74 5 3 72 77* 80 794 75 74 8 4 73 78*80 79| 76 74 7 5 724 784 80 SO 76 75 74 6 73" 75 79 79 76 74 6 7 71 75 774 76| 734 724 64 8 70 74 77 76 734 72 7 9 684 74 78 77 75" 72 94 10 71 74 77 76 74 74 6 11 72 77 774 80 76 74 8 12 72 75 77" 774 75 74 54 13 714 75 79 78" 74 73 74 14 m 74 74} 75 74 74 34 15 74 76 77 78 76 75 4 16 74 75 76 77 76 744 3 17 74 78 804 80 78 76 64 18 76 79 79" 784 77 76 3 19 74 76 764 76* 75 75 24 20 75 754 76 77" 76 75 2 21 74 76 77.i 794 75 74 54 22 74 76 79" 78 75 73 6 23 704 77 77 76 744 74 64 24 674 78 82 78i 76 74 144 25 72 77 80 78 76 744 8 26 74 78 78 78 754 74" 4 27 734 794 79 7S.1- 76| 76 54 28 76 80 82 811 77 77 6 29 77 82 844 S34 SO 79 74 30 79 80 84" 78 764 75 9 31 754 76 77 77 75" 74 3 A cold northerly wind prevailed from about the 7th, to the 21st of this month. On the 30th there was a heavy rain, which continued to fall for three hours. Perhaps not a sixth part so much had fallen in the preceding four months. On the 14th of this month I returned to the house, in Bassin, which I had left three weeks before. The extremes of temperature this month were 67 1-2, and 84 1-2. The greatest variation of temperature on any day was 14 1-2 degrees. The smallest variation was 2 degrees. The mean temperature of the month was 74. in Santa Cruz. APRIL, 1837. S § § g § < < d Ah ti Ah '3 "3 «'a CD OS r-H CO CD os > 1 74 774 78 77 74 73 5 2 76 79" 78 78 764 74.1 4* 3 754 794 81 79 76 75" 6 4 75* 78* 80 80 77 76 44 5 78 83" 85 85 80 78 7 6 77 78 78 ■SI 784 764 44 7 764 79 80 79 78 77 34 8 77 79 81 83 79 78 6 9 79* 83 84 85 80 78 7 10 78" 80 83 83 81 79 5 11 774 814 81 80 78 78 34 12 78 80 80 80 784 784 2 13 76 79 78 79 78 77 3 14 77 82 82 824 804 784 54 15 78 83 84 83 81 79j 6 16 794 814 84 84 81 79 5 17 78 80 834 814 80 79 54 18 784 814 83 82 80 79 54 19 78 180 82 82 80 78 4 20 77 82 83 81 80 78 6 21 77 794 80 79 794 80 3 22 784 81 80 80 79 78 3 23 77 80 80 80 79 78 3 24 784 81 SI 80 804 784 24 25 79*. 834 S3 83 80" 77 6 26 76 82" 834 82 80 78 74 27 78 83 84 83 SI 784 6 28 78 81 84 S2 78 794 6 29 77 794 80 80 79 78j 3 30 764 80 84 S2 SO 77 74 On the 25th of this month I left Bassin, and returned to West End. At the time of leaving Bassin, the country around it had the appearance of almost utter sterility. The canes were yellow from exhaustion of their moisture, the grass was nearly burnt up, and a number of cattle had died from want of water. At West End we found a beautiful verdure, for frequent small showers had fallen there. But the air had become unelastic, and we all with- ered under its influence. The extremes of temperature this month were 73, and 85. The greatest variation of temperature on any day was 7 1-2. The least varia- tion, 2. The mean temperature of this month was 76. Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 9 MAY, 18 37. The extremes of temperature in the first week in May were 76, and 85. The greatest variation of temperature on any day was 9, and the least variation 5 degrees. The mean temperature of this week was 80 1-2. I have not sufficient knowledge of the temperature of the tropical regions, to be able to compare that of Santa Cruz with the temperature of other places in those regions. Of the equability of that of Santa Cruz I need say nothing. The preceding tables will show, that, compared with our own, it is very remarkable. It is, however, worthy of obser- vation, that very small changes, as indicated by the thermometer—for example, of three, four or five degrees—are scarcely less felt, and oc- casion a scarcely less uncomfortable state of feeling, than changes of eight, ten, or fifteen degrees in our own climate. When the wind comes from the south east, the temperature is as delightful as can be con- ceived. This is the Trade Wind. But the wind is hardly less variable there, than here. From the east it is even pleasant, and occasions no chill. But when it comes from the north, it is little less uncomfortable than is an east wind with us in July or August. Nor does it unfre- quently blow from the north. Nor, when from this direction, is it less disagreeable to those who have been long in the island, and to Creoles, than to strangers and invalids. Yet not much will be suffered from it by those who shall be willing, during its continuance, to keep within their rooms, or to make the small change which shall be required in their dress. I had a long and full calico dressing gown, which I was accustomed, when I felt any unpleasant coolness in the atmosphere, to throw over my shoulders ; and, wrapped in this gown, I was at once made comfortable after having felt the chill of a northerly wind. This gown, I may here also remark, was of great use to me when I came in heated by a walk, or a ride. I used it altogether as a cloak, and gradual- ly cooled myself within it. The temperature of the night is, I believe,. seldom below 70, except, perhaps, at an hour before day. I know not that I ever felt the warmth to be so great as to interrupt steep.. I al- ways slept with a window partly open, taking care that there should not be a current of air over the bed ; and, except at the approach of 2 t—H c P=H § § § § _^>o < < oi Ah Ah FM CD OS CO CD OS > 1 78 82 84 82 79 78 6 2 77 82 84 81* 79 77* 7 3 78 81 82 81* 80 77 5 4 78 81 82 81 79 77 5 5 76 84 85 83* SO 78 9 6 76 82 82 82 80 77 6 7 76 82 83 82 79 77 7 10 Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. morning, I seldom wanted any more covering when in bed, than a single sheet. I would, however, advise an invalid to carry there a piece of carpet, to be laid by his bedside. He will find it difficult to obtain one there, and it will add much to his comfort as a protection from a cold floor. One of the oldest and most intelligent men in the island told me, that he had never known the mercury in the thermometer to be be- low 68 in February, nor above 92 in August. He had, however, al- ways lived in the town. On the high grounds in the country it fell several times within the past winter, a short time before day, as low as 65. The barometer never varies more than from one to three lines, ex- cept in the hurricane months. These months extend from the 25th of July to the 25th of October. Then the fall in the barometer, immedi- ately preceding a hurricane, may be fifteen lines in as many minutes. It is common to speak of the hurricane months in a manner which in- timates, that during these months, there is a constant exposure to suc- cessive hurricanes. The fact, however, is far otherwise. There is sel- dom more than one hurricane within the hurricane season ; and the year 1835 passed without one. Yet this is a visitation always looked for during the above named term ; and bars and cords are then kept in constant readiness, for the security of windows and doors. A hurricane seldom lasts longer than six hours. Yet within this space, it can pro- duce wide spread and terrible desolation. It has, to a great extent, de- nuded Santa Cruz of its trees ; and is the principal cause to which is ascribed the small quantity of fruit, compared with that which a stranger would have expected to have found there. In view of the temperature of this island, it will be perceived that the change is a very great one which is made by going there from any part of New England, either in November, or in one of our winter months ; and no one, and. especially no invalid, should make this change, who shall not previously have resolved that he will faithfully conform to the new conditions of life and comfort under which he will there find himself. One of these conditions, and a very important one is, that he should neither too suddenly, nor to too great an extent, make a change of his clothing there. For example, in embarking for Santa Cruz, we leave a cold, and it may be a winter climate, in which we have worn winter garments, and perhaps have been in the daily enjoy- ment of a generous winter fire. Nor, till we shall have reached the latitude of 35, or perhaps of 30, shall we begin to feel the softened atmosphere of a southern sky. Not only an invalid, therefore, but even a healthy man, will of course continue to wear his winter garments during Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 11 half, or it may be, more than half of his voyage. But in his way from the latitude of 30, to 20, and to 17, the latitude of St. Croix, every day and hour will bring him nearer to the warmth of midsummer at home. The heat, not only at midday, but in his state-room at night, may be very oppressive. A very considerable change of dress, under these circumstances, may be safely made by the healthy and vigorous. But it is not so with an invalid. Neither on shipboard nor on shore, will he be safe from the influence of changes of temperature, should he wear a coat or pantaloons lighter than of thin kersimere, or of thin woolen of some sort. Nor should he in any case cast aside his flannel waistcoat, except at night, when indeed it should never be worn. He may substi- tute a new and thin, for an old and thickened flannel; and, should he find the heat enfeebling, cotton drawers may be substituted for flannel. But even this change should be cautiously made. Thin worsted socks also will now be found more comfortable than cotton; and shoes should be worn of a sufficient thickness to secure the wearer from feeling the cold damp of the ground, should he at any time find it necessary to walk over such ground. The thin summer boots which are worn here will indeed be found preferable to shoes, especially as a protection against the stings of musquitoes, to which every day and everywhere there will be more or less exposure. On this topic I need only add, that the com- mon hat of the West Indies is the Panama hat. But it is uncomfort- ably heavy. A broad-brimmed, and light white beaver, or wool hat, will be found far more agreeable. The roads in the country, and the streets at West End, are covered with marl, which gives a painful bril- liancy to the light. Not only, therefore, will a broad brim to the hat be found a great convenience, as a protection of the eyes, but I would ad- vise every one who shall go there to carry with him spectacles with colored glass, and a light umbrella to be used as a parasol. This para- sol will be far more frequently needed, than a larger and heavier um- brella for protection against the rain. I give you this detail, because the particulars comprehended in it were daily forced upon my attention, by the observation and experience of the last winter. A cold may be taken in an hour, as well as in a day; and a large proportion of the colds, from which have resulted the diseases which have terminated in death, have been from short exposures, and might have been avoided by a proper attention to clothing with respect to the exigency of the time. Another, and not less important topic of caution, is exercise. It is not the least interesting of the objects for which an invalid leaves home for a warmer climate, that he hopes there freely to go abroad, and to see 12 Observations on the Climate, Src. of Santa Cruz. a softer sky than his own, and to breathe a milder air; and in a walk, or a ride, or a drive, to enjoy the beauty of a tropical verdure ; and, under all these influences, to feel an exhilaration of his spirits, and a renovation of strength, for which he could hardly have hoped in a con- finement here of six months to his chamber. And all these hopes may there become to him realities. But, that they may, he is never to lose sight of the facts, that from 9, or half past 9 in the morning, till 4, or half past 4 o'clock in the afternoon, whatever exercise he may require, should be taken within the house. Within this interval, the heat with- out will be too great and enfeebling for him. He cannot be exposed to it but for a short time without some loss of power. Whatever, there- fore, shall be his out-door exercise, it should be taken before break- fast, and an hour before sun-set. An early riser, and such should be every invalid who is capable of taking exercise, may have two hours in the outer air before breakfast. He will find, however, that he can walk but little. He must have at command a horse, a pony, or a gig. Po- nies are almost exclusively used for riding in Santa Cruz, and may be hired at from $12 to $16 a month, subject to your call whenever you may be disposed to use them. Yet great care is to be taken in hiring these animals, as very many of them are unsure of foot. Nor is much confidence to be placed in an assurance of their safety by many who keep these animals for hire. For a very poor horse and gig;, $30, or $34 a month will be required. For a horse, with a good four-wheeled chaise, $40 a month must be paid ; and for a carriage which will con- tain three beside the driver, from $60 to $70 a month. The roads throughout the island are highly favorable to the enjoyment of a ride, or a drive. They will compare well with good English roads. And the rides and drives around West End are very beautiful. Those about Bassin are as good, as far as respects the roads, but more hilly than about West End, and far inferior as to scenery. During the months of December and January, I found it important always to have with me both my surtout and umbrella, on account of the sudden, though short showers, to which we were exposed. But there are very few days through the winter in which sufficient exercise may not be taken in the outer air, both in the morning, and at the close of the day. This cir- cumstance, taken in connection with the excellence of the roads and the universality with which the English language is spoken there, will go far to recommend this island to those who shall intend to leave home for the recovery of their health. In the third place, it should be understood, also, that throughout the Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 13 West Indies, houses are everywhere constructed with a special reference to the freest circulation of air through them. Yet even a West Indian is careful not to sit in a draft. Or, if this cannot be avoided, or he is willing to incur some hazard for the enjoyment of a cool breeze, to use his own expression, he " faces the enemy." He sits with his face, rath- er than with his back, towards the wind. Severe colds are taken by ex- posure to these drafts, and invalids should most carefully avoid them. They will hear many admonitions upon this subject, and it will be well to regard them. Some self-restraint and denial will sometimes be thus required, for the coolness of these drafts is sometimes most delightful to the heated body. But let it not be forgotten, that they may themselves be the occasion of a heat, far worse than any which is produced simply by fatigue ; and it will be a small compensation for the confinement and suffering of a fever, that it was incurred by an indulgence, by which the pleasure of an hour was obtained. Again. Great care will be required in regard to food ; or rather, in regard to the temptations to which invalids will be exposed to a very improper and injurious indulgence of appetite. Before an invalid shall have been sent to the West Indies for health, he will probably have been for some time upon a restricted diet at home. Much that might have gratified his palate, will there have been forbidden him. He will have used but little stimulating food, and will altogether have avoided stimulating drinks. Nor will he, during his illness at home, have taken a full meal even of the simple substances by which he has been nourish- ed, and sustained. He will have been accustomed, also, to take his food at times prescribed with a special reference to his own case. Up- on his arrival at Santa Cruz, he will find that the breakfast hour is 8, or more probably half past 8 o'clock ; and on the table will be green and black tea, and coffee ; eggs, fried fish,cold and hashed meats, potatoes, but- ter and cheese, and new and stale bread. The hour of lunch is 12 o'clock ; and for this meal will be provided mush melon, oranges, mangoes, sapa- dillas, banannas ; and perhaps the sugar apple, the belle apple, a grana- dilla, some form of pastry, and in some cases cups of prepared sago, or of rice. At dinner, which is at 3, or half past 3 o'clock, boiled and fried fish will be upon the table, roasted beef or mutton, and poultry either roasted or boiled ; ham, Irish and sweet potatoes, cabbage, and fried plantains. These having been removed, will be followed by puddings, pastry, and fruits similar to those provided for lunch. And at tea, at 7, or half past 7 o'clock, there will be green and black tea, two or three kinds of preserves, and bread and butter. Here, then, a sickly and 14 Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. capricious appetite may be strongly excited to an indulgence, in respect both to the quantity, and the quality of food, which will occasion inju- ries, which no climate can remedy. The fruits of this island are so very far inferior to our own, that an invalid will be very partially satis- fied with them as food ; and the smell of the butter will inform him of its quality, and admonish him to abstain from it, before it shall reach his lips. As to excess in the last of these, therefore, there is no need of caution. But I would earnestly recommend a very temperate use of meats, and a very cautious use of preserves, if not even a total absti- nence from thern. During the last fortnight of my residence in St. Croix, I boarded in a family with a few of my friends who had agreed to dispense with a lunch, and to dine at 2 o'clock, instead of half past three. This I found a very useful and agreeable change with respect to meals. But I should not be faithful to an invalid who thought of going there, if I did not inform him. that he will probably be advised to a moderate use of wine, or of weak brandy and water, in cases in which not one of his medical friends here would sanction the advice. The opinion is there almost a universal one, that stimulating drinks, to a cer- tain extent, are indispensable for counteracting the enervating tendencies of a temperature, under which it is thought that the most vigorous frame must otherwise sink from exhaustion. This, however, it is now well known among us, is a very great mistake. 1 so far yielded to this advice, as to take a glass of wine with my dinner on each of four successive days. This wine I mixed with water. Bui the consequences of having taken it were, a slow fever for a few days, and an increased irritability of my lungs. It will be well for an invalid, therefore, if he shall leave his home with a resolution, that he will seek a restoration of his strength in the only way in which the enfeebled vital energies are to be renewed ; that is, by exercise, and by nutritious food taken at proper times, and in proper quanti- ties. Specifications in respect to diet, my dear friend, I leave to be given by yourself. But you will allow me to add, that a physician will have discharged but half his duty to his patient, if he shall have sent him to the West Indies unadvised of the new condition in which he will there find himself, and unadmonished of the care he should take in re- spect to his clothing, to exposure to drafts of air, to excess in exercise, and to the indulgence of his appetite. Another caution may be of no small importance. Should an invalid find himself recruiting under the bland influences of a Santacrusian win- ter,—that his worst symptoms of disease have disappeared, or are scarce- ly felt, and that his capacities of exercise and of enjoyment have been, Observations on the Climate, &fc. of Santa Cruz. 15 and are daily strengthening, it is probable, and almost certain, that he will daily be looking, and with a daily increasing interest, to the time when he may return to his native air, and to his home. If he were there for the purposes of a business which must daily occupy his thought and care for a definite time, he would patiently await the arrival of that time. He would feel it unmanly to yield even to the strongest rush upon his heart of the sentiments of home. Not so, however, is it with the invalid. While he shall be there, he can never for a moment be brought under the illusion that he is at home. There is so little there which will harmonize with his sentiments of home, his associations with it, and his happiness in it, and so much that is discordant with all these, that whether he shall be gaining strength, or losing it, whether he shall daily be acquiring confidence of prolonged life, or fearing its speedy termination, his thoughts, his cares, his desires will ever be tending to the home he has left, and to the scenes and interests to which he will be solicitous as soon as possible to return. Even if, before he shall have left his home, he shall have fixed the date of his departure for a return to it, he will find himself under many and strong temptations to antici- pate that date; and to return at a season, it may be, very far more un- favorable to his recovery, than was that in which he embarked for a milder climate. A considerable number of those who went to Santa Cruz last autumn for their health, left the island for the United States in the following March, and others in April. They arrived here, therefore, to be exposed to the cold damps of our east winds, under all the increas- ed susceptibilities to their influence which had been acquired under the summer temperature in which they had passed the winter. 1 have in- deed heard of results only in one of these cases. In that, however, of which I have heard, they have been as unfavorable as might have been anticipated. Dr. Stedman, the most eminent physician of the island, said he did not wish to see an American there after the 10th of May ;. because, after that date, the temperature was too enfeebling for those who had come there from a colder region. And yet, having myself left Santa Cruz on the evening of the 8th of May, and having arrived in Boston on the 27th of that month, and moreover having used all possible precautions against taking a cold, I yet not only suffered, but was made ill for some days, from the chilling influences of our east winds in June. I would therefore not only advise an invalid from New England not to leave Santa Cruz before the 10th of May, but, upon his arrival in New York, or in any port north of it, at once to go to Philadelphia, or to Baltimore, or further south; and to make the last 16 Observations on the Climate, ^-c, of Santa Cruz. week in June, or the first in July, the time of return to his home. There are indeed seasons in which our June climate and weather are as perfect as weather and climate can be. So, however, they were not last year, and so they have not been this year. Nor, till July, can we here look with confidence to the settled weather, and the equal tem- perature of summer. In this connection I feel compelled to remark, that, of those who were sent by their medical friends to Santa Cruz last autumn, or in the beginning of last winter, there were cases, in which it seemed that the diseases under which the individuals in question were suffering, must have been of a sufficiently decided and marked character at home, to have made it certain that no change of climate could have changed the character or tendency of their disease. I am aware that the difficulty may be great, in certain cases, of forming a correct and satisfactory judgment of the extent of disease ; and, that the office may sometimes be a very painful one, of saying to a patient who is greatly anxious for life, and perhaps equally anxious to go abroad in the hope of prolong- ing it, " you are too far gone for recovery ; and the term of life which is before you may be made far more comfortable at home." Yet where there is a decidedly prevailing opinion in the mind of a physician, that his patient must die of the disease under which he is suffering, I would say to him, " for mercy's sake, do not send this patient abroad. Do not expose him, in his feebleness, and with a racking cough, to the dreadful discomforts of a voyage under these circumstances. Do not send him to suffer among strangers, who, however kind they may be, cannot meet those wants of the heart, which are to be met only amonc friends. Do not send him from home, and expose him to all the crav- ings of his soul for a home to which he can never return." No one has been abroad, and with the sick who have been sent to die abroad who has not strongly felt, that the imagined kindness, which has been exercised in sending one to die far from his home and friends, is little better in its results than the utmost possible refinement of cruelty. " May you die among your own kindred ! " says an Oriental to a friend who is leaving him. And, "let him die among his own friends!" 1 would say to a physician, who strongly doubts of the recovery of any one who is in his medical care. As far as my observation and capacity of judging enabled me to form a correct opinion upon the subject, 1 was led to the conclusion, that there were but two classes of invalids among those who passed the last winter in Santa Cruz, who derived any considerable benefit from the Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 17 change of climate for which they went there. These were, first, patients suffering under pulmonary affections ; and secondly, those who had suf- fered from rheumatism. The relief found by this last class of patients was very great. And great also was the relief experienced by those who had not passed the first stages of pulmonary affections. But if ul- ceration have begun in the lungs, I believe that it will not there even be retarded in its progress. I was told, indeed, by physicians there, that in decidedly consumptive cases, disease is much more rapid in the tropi- cal regions, than with us. Persons of biliary habits will suffer more from them there, than at home; and will be more exposed than any others to prevalent intermittent fevers. And, for the healthy, the last change to be sought for gratification, is a residence in the West Indies. It will be at no small cost of physical, as well as of intellectual and moral enjoyment, that one who has health, and who knows how to use it, will unnecessarily pass even five or six months there. The temperature of Santa Cruz is indeed generally a very grateful one to an invalid. It is often even delicious. But the heat is sometimes very debilitating ; and it is always too great either for much inellectual, or physical effort. Except at early morning, the whole of which should be appropriated to gentle exercise abroad, no one even in health will there be disposed to any further use of his pen, than will be required to keep his friends informed of his condition ; and hardly will it be possible that even a Creole should be a student. History may be read, but it will be more for amusement, than for instruction : and an hour or two of the day may be given to any books which will require no strong application of attention in reading them. But any one, and especially an invalid, will soon find it necessary to relinquish the book, which either forcibly turns in his thought upon himself, or which strongly engages it upon outward, and greatly interesting concerns. He will be able to concen- trate attention upon any subject but for a short time without loss. In these circumstances, amusement becomes a leading object of life ; and happy will it be with those, who can find amusement in books which will lightly employ thought, without either depraving or fatiguing it. An invalid, who shall have a taste for well-selected books of this class, will have immeasurable advantages, under a tropical sky, over those who have not such a taste. But, if he would read such books in Santa Cruz, he must carry them with him. There is no book shop, nor is there a public library in the island. He will there be told of two or three book clubs, by which a few volumes are annually imported for circulation among the members of those clubs; and he may find a few 3 18 Observations on the Climate, &fC. of Santa Cruz. volumes in the house in which he may be a boarder, or a visiter. But these he will find a poor dependence. A well-selected, but small stock of books, I should therefore consider as scarcely less important for an invalid there, than clothing appropriate to the climate. There were, I think, two hundred and thirty Americans in that island last winter; and a sufficient number of these were invalids, to make the place no- thing less than a large hospital. What would have been the habits of thought and feeling in these invalids, if they had remained at home, and separated from each other, and amidst all the associations and interests of scenes of former life, I cannot tell. But the fact there was, that in their daily comparison of notes with each other, of pains, and of relief from pain, and by the knowledge daily received and communicated of each others'condition, and hopes, and fears, in respect to health and illness, a most unhappy influence was often exerted upon the mind ; and especially of those, who depended upon intercourse and conversa- tion alone for mental employment and gratification. I have not a doubt that disease is often aggravated by the thought and care concerning it which are so induced. A diversion of attention from one's self, in this respect, and to a certain extent, is not less important than are the thought and care of their condition which are required of patients ; and if this diversion is not to be found in books, there is danger at least that it may be sought in ways less exceptionable, as well as less effectual. Among the most hazardous of the circumstances of leaving home, to many, and especially of a residence of some weeks or months abroad, is in the feeling which is awakened, that we are there warranted in indul- gences, which at home we could not justify in ourselves, and should condemn in others. Because they are from home, it is thought by too many that they may act without the restraints of home. They are not aware that they are thus giving the strongest possible evidence, that their restraints and regularity at home were the results of policy, and not of principle; and that all their watchfulness, and abstinence, and cor- rectness of deportment, which they had thought were virtue, and per- haps christian virtue, were but means to ends as essentially selfish, and worldly, as are any by which the most openly selfish and worldly are actuated. On this topic, therefore, I would say to an invalid, " in going from home, resolve that you will act in everything, as far as you may, as you would have felt it your duty to act if you were at home. Where- ver you may be, faithfully carry out the principles of right, and obliga- tion, which you would profess among your nearest and dearest friends. As an invalid, your mind demands exercise, not less than your body ; Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 19 and I do not hesitate to say, that a principal end of this exercise should be, amusement. Let thought, therefore, and reading, and conversation, be upon subjects and interests by which the mind may be amused, as well as exercised. But let all your amusements minister as well to a healthy state of the mind, as of the body. In escaping ennui, you will have done something, and perhaps much, for escaping disease. And in maintaining always, and in everything, an enlightened sense of right, and duty, you will possess at once one of the best mitigations of suffer- ing, one of the most important aids in the recovery of health, and the best possible security for the enjoyment of health, should God be pleased to restore to you that blessing." On my arrival at West End, in Santa Cruz, I soon heard of an inter- mittent fever, which at that time prevailed over a large part of the island. It was not unlike the fever and ague of our Western country. But it was a fatal disease in very few cases. It was, however, often a long, and very troublesome one ; and it was daily a topic of somewhat anxious inquiry, what new cases of it had occurred ? Visitants of the island, and especially invalids among them, could not but feel some ap- prehension of an attack of it. But few Americans, however, suffered from it; and the exposure of those to it was small, who were properly cautious in regard to dress, who were careful not to stand or sit in a draft, not to seek too quickly to cool themselves when suffering from excessive warmth, and not to expose themselves abroad to the air of evening. The slaves suffered much from it; and principally, because, after having labored through the day under a hot sun, against all admo- nition they would be out late for walking, or dancing ; and, while greatly heated, return home through the damps of evening. I should say, how- ever, that I was repeatedly assured, that the intermittent of the last year was far more prevalent, than had been any one during seven pre- ceding years. Having passed eight weeks at West End, I removed to Bassin on the first of February. There I found that vegetation was, and had been, far less luxuriant than at West End; that but little rain had fallen for a considerable time, and that there had been no prevailing disease. I was repeatedly assured that not a case of intermittent fever bad been known there, which had not been brought from West End. Little or no change of temperature was indicated by the thermometer. Yet I thought the air more elastic, and grateful, than at West End. This change of residence was also a very agreeable one, in the circumstan- ces, that the eyes are not tried and pained by the gravelled streets and roads in and about Bassin ; and, that the shade to be found in the nu- 20 Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. merous arcades there, and in the narrower, yet equally commodious street?, makes those streets far more favorable for a walk. Should 1 again go to Santa Cruz, I should prefer Bassin as my place of residence, unless there should he a well-situated and well-kept boarding house in the country. A good deal would be relinquished in giving up the rides and drives around West En I. But more, 1 think, would be gained in respect to light, and air, at Bassin. There are not a few invalids, to whom the question of the religious state of Santa Cruz will be one of great interest. And in reply to this question, I would say, that the established religion, which is that of Den- mark, is Lutheran. Other forms of religion are, however, tolerated, except of the Methodists. Ministers of that class would not be allowed to officiate there. There is an Episcopal church at Bassin, and another at West End, in each of which an Episcopal minister officiates alternately every other Sunday ; and in these churches, in the absence of the minister, prayers and a sermon are read by one of the wardens. There are a few Catholics in the island, and there is a small Catholic church at Bassin. But the most efficient, beyond comparison, of the clergy, are the Mo- ravian ministers. Nor is there any one of all the classes of ministers in Christendom, which has so faithfully carried out the spirit of the Apos- tles. The Moravians began their missionary exertions in St. Thomas, forty miles from Santa Cruz, in 1732; nor, I believe, have their labors in these islands been since intermitted. They have three establish- ments in Santa Cruz ; one in Bassin, one at West End, and another in the centre of the island ; and they have six thousand slaves in their spiritual charge there. They preach only to the slaves, and in the mixed and negro-language which is peculiar to the slaves. They have shops for all smith's work, both in iron and copper; and their own labor furnishes about half the means of supporting their institutions. All the churches, like the houses of the inhabitants, are constructed with a re- ference to the freest course of air through them ; and invalids are there- fore greatly exposed to colds by going to church. And, although not from this cause, small is church-going there, when compared with the population. The task of a minister there, who would be faithful, must be a very painful one. The Moravians feel the greatest freedom in re- ligious action, and exert incomparably the greatest influence. This in- fluence is felt by all to be of the most salutary kind, and no obstacle is interposed to check it. A slave would much prefer to receive a whip- ping, than to have a complaint entered against him to the Boss,—by which term the Moravian minister is distinguished among the slaves. A Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 21 sort of court is held every Tuesday evening by the Moravian ministers, and their wives; and slaves, who would have advice as to their conduct, or who have complaints to make of each other, on that evening go to the Moravian establishments. The females of these establishments have then the charge of the female slaves, and the ministers of the male slaves; and on these occasions, conflicting passions are reconciled and harmonized, and enemies are made friends. The fear felt of the Boss is no other than the fear of a temporary excision from the church. But this is a greatly dreaded evil. The Governor General of Santa Cruz told me there was a Moravian minister at St. Thomas, who was more effective for the security of that island, than would be two hundred soldiers. It is said that slavery is no where to be seen in a more modified, or less repulsive form, than in Santa Cruz. And it is to be acknowledged, that much is due to the Governor General for what he has done, both to lighten the yoke which he has not been able to break, and for the security of right and justice to the free men of color in the island. Slavery, there, is of a mitigated form ; and the free black, or colored person, has there all the civil privileges of a Danish subject. A very large proportion of the mechanics of the towns are colored men. In the militia there are two colored corps ; and one of the aids of the Gov- ernor is a colored man. I have also repeatedly seen colored men at the levees held at Government house ; and the Governor would, if he could, bring about a free intercourse, and an exchange of visits, between the white and free colored population. But great as is his power, and he is a representative of the absolute majesty of Denmark, he has been unable to effect this. Yet a slave, equally as his owner, may carry his com- plaint immediately to the ear of the Governor ; and I was assured, that as prompt and impartial justice would be rendered to the bond, as to the freeman. The meaning of this, without doubt, is, that the slave will receive as- impartial justice, as can be rendered to him while yet he shall continue in slavery. In the sale of a slave, or of slaves, the law for- bids an owner to separate a husband and wife ; or to separate a child under eleven years of age from his or her parents, provided the parents are husband and wife. But I was told, also, that but few of the slaves are legally married ; and that little or no interest is felt by their owners on the question, whether they come together by mutual consent, or are connected by a marriage service. I am glad likewise to be able to state, in this connection, that a slave who is resolved that he will be free, may go to his owner and demand an appraisement of himself. If he shall be 22 Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. satisfied with this appraisement, and shall be able to earn, or otherwise to procure, the sum at which he has thus been appraised, his owner is obliged, on the receipt of this sum, to emancipate him. Or, should he be dissatisfied with the appraisement made by his owner, he may demand an appraisement of himself by a board of reference, to be chosen for the purpose of appraising him, it being understood that his owner shall make one of this board. The power of appointing referees for this object is vested in one of the judges, and the owner must abide by their decision. And slaves actually thus obtain their freedom. To every slave family is allowed a small patch of ground on the estate to which they belong ; and on this vegetables, and poultry, and a pig or two, may be raised, either for home consumption, or for the market. All the horses and ponies in the towns are fed principally upon Guinea grass ; and by far the greatest quantity of this grass is supplied by slaves who carry it to town in bundles upon their heads, and who receive for themselves the sums for which it is sold. On some estates, every Saturday, and on some others, every other Saturday, is allowed them, for labor for themselves. By these means very considerable accumulations of money are made by the slaves, all suspicion of which, however, they are very careful to avoid. A gentleman there, who had several times advanced the sums at which slaves had been appraised, upon their agreement that they would work for him, for a specified time as servants, or as hired persons, told me that a woman came to him, and begged that he would purchase her, and allow her to work for him till she should have repaid him. The sum required by her owner was, I think, $150. She had brought with her $40 of this sum, and her object was that he should advance the balance. He told her that he could not at that time conveniently spare the amount she wanted. She went away, and in an hour or two returned with 109 Spanish dollars, which she had borrowed of a female slave, for which he was to become security ; and thus obtained her freedom. Able bodied slaves, from twenty to forty years of age, are sold there at all prices between a hundred and fifty and three hundred dollars. The average price of good field workers is about $200 ; and of capable mechanics, from 3 to $500.. In two, or at most, in three years, an in- dustrious and enterprising slave may earn enough to purchase his free- dom. It is, however, not uncommon that parents purchase the free- dom of their children, rather than their own. A gentleman told me that he had a slave, who was a carpenter, and who had a wife and eight or ten children. This man was allowed to earn what he could for him- self by working abroad every Saturday; and with the sums thus earned, Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 23 together with those obtained from the sale of the produce of his patch of ground, he purchased successively the freedom of his wife, and of each of his children, while yet he continued himself a slave. Was he not a noble being? I would not, however, enlarge upon this topic, in a work professedly scientific;* and will therefore only add, that both the slave population, and the productiveness of the soil, are considerably less than they were thirty or thirty-five years ago. The land is exhausted in much of the island from having been overwrought; and the slaves have decreased in number, from the circumstances, 1st, that, at the time when the further importation of them was interdicted, the number of females was consider- ably less than of the males; 2dly, from the number that have purchased, or have otherwise received, their freedom ; and 3dly, from the mortality among them, which has attended the prevalent intermittents of the isl- and, of which disease the slaves are principally the victims. Slave property is also constantly deteriorating there, from the prevalence of the conviction, that the certain, and not far distant result of the English emancipation law will, and must be, the emancipation of all the slaves in the West Indies. The population in the year 1800 was, Of white males, 1293 > oo:)Q Of white females, 930 $ ^4d Of colored males and females, 1164 1164f Of male blacks, 11670? Of female blacks, 10036 £ 21706 Total, 25093 Formerly, both coffee and cotton were cultivated there. The only exports of the island now are, sugar, rum, and molasses. Upon a good estate, and with a good crop, the profits from the rum and molasses will support the slaves. The sugar, in this case, gives the net income of the proprietor. * This Letter was first printed in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. A few copies have been struck off in this separate form, for those to whom it was thought it would be more acceptable as an independent pamphlet, than in connection with the Journal. f The colored population consists of those who are neither black nor white. They are, 1st, Mu- lattoes, one of whose parents is black, and the other white ; 2d, Mustees, one of whose parents is white, and the other a mulatto ; 3d, Costees, one of whose parents is white, and the other a Mustee j and, 4th, Samboes, one of whose parents is black, and the other a Mulatto. The number of these is a fact which requires no comment. 24 Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. I have spoken of the mortality among the slaves during the preva- lence of intermittent fever. It is to be observed, also, that elephantia- sis is common among them. In our daily walks and drives we met those, both in towns and in the country, one or both of whose feet were enlarged to an elephantine size. And the spectacle is a very painful one. I observed several cases, in which one or more of the toes had disappeared ; and the skin of the foot had the coarse and rough appear- ance of an elephant's hide. 1 saw one instance in which the disease had extended from both feet, to the upper part of the thighs ; and both of the lower limbs, in this case, were nearly three times larger than the natural size. Under this disease, the poor creatures who are the sub- jects of it can walk, but are wholly disqualified for labor. Men of this class, therefore, and those who are broken down by age, are employed as watchmen of the cane fields. These fields are not enclosed by fences, and must therefore be guarded. This disease is, 1 believe, a species of leprosy ; but, unlike the ancient leprosy of Judea, it is not contagious. The blacks also, I was told, are peculiarly liable to lock- jaw ; and it is remarkable, that a very large number of their children die of this disease, within the first nine days after their birth. A gen- tleman there said, that a fourth part of the black children born upon his estate, had died at this early age from lockjaw ; and that little security was felt there of the life of a black infant, till the ninth day from its birth had passed. This, however, was a very remarkable proportion of deaths from this cause. The slaves, I may likewise observe, have two holidays in the year; one at Christmas, and the other on new year's day. At Christmas, every slave receives six pounds of white flour, six pounds of pork, about four pounds of sugar, and a bottle of rum." Their usual allow- ance is six quarts of kiln-dried corn meal, and ten or twelve herrino-s a week. Some owners, however, allow each of them a ship biscuit every morning at going out to work, during the time of holing, or of digging the trenches in which canes are planted. The above named holidays are welcomed in by the beating of drums. Great preparations of dress are made for these occasions; and no inconsiderable part of their earn- ings must be expended, in the decorations with which they provide themselves. A complete Saturnalia is then to be seen there. The houses of the proprietors of slaves are thrown open ; and long pro- cessions of slaves, decked in silks, and in snow white muslins, and with banners and music, enter at will the habitations to which they determine to go, obtain undisputed possession, are served with cakes and wine by Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 25 their owners, or by others upon whom they may call, and dance till they shall be disposed to depart. A day or two before one of these holidays, a gentleman told me that he was obtaining small Danish coin, in exchange for two doubloons, for distribution among the slaves who would be at his house; and on a visit which I made that day to his house, I found him alternately serving his guests with cakes and wine ; and, although he was seventy-three years of age, joining with them in their dances. The queen of one of the bands at that house was the slave of a mulatto woman. The noise of the music, which was of drums and kettle drums, made it quite impossible that the voice should be heard. But their liberty expired with the day. They slept, and were again slaves. Sunday is the great market day in Santa Cruz. On that day vege- tables and fruits are brought to the towns by slaves from the country; and I was repeatedly told, that " nearly all," or that " nine tenths of these were stolen." The meat markets are in shops, and are well sup- plied with beef, mutton and pork. Poultry, like vegetables, is generally brought for sale from the country. But there are also good fish markets in the towns. The price of butchers' meats was sixteen cents a pound ; and for the poorest pieces, the same price is required as for the best. The butchers, however, are not allowed to sell any of their meats till the garrisons shall have been supplied from their stalls. The richest subject must wait in the purchase of his meats, till the soldier shall have been served. The boarding-houses of the last winter were, at West End, No. 10 Strand street, which is the most pleasantly situated, and best constructed boarding-house in that town ; Mrs. Boyles's, Mrs. Codwin's, Mrs. Rog- ers's, Mrs. Aiken's, and Mrs. Briggs's. About a mile north from West End, is a beautiful place called Prosperity, where a boarding-house was kept by Mrs. Van Brackle; and a good house, in a very healthy situa- tion, was kept by Mrs. Smith at Stoney Ground, about a mile and a quar- ter south from West End. At Bassin, I boarded with Mrs. Hanson, whose house I can recommend highly. Mrs. Hanson has been long enough in America to know the habits and tastes of our countrymen, and no attention will be neglected by her, which she can pay to her boarders. Mr. Springham also keeps a very good house in the outskirts of the town. His estate is called Richmond. And I can confidently recommend the house kept by Mrs. Carden. The inmates of that house were, I believe, all entirely satisfied with it. The general price of board, without wine or spirits, is $10 a week; and for young chil- 4 26 Observations on the Climate, &fc. of Santa Cruz. dren, and servants, $5 a week for each. Washing is a separate ex- pense, and is done, according to the quantity of clothes used, at from $1 to 1,50 a week for each person. The Danish currency of Santa Cruz is as follows. 1st, Metallic, or Stivers, each of which is worth one cent and a third of a cent. Three stiver pieces, each equal to half a good bit, or four cents. Five stiver pieces, each equal to six cents and two thirds of a cent. Ten stiver pieces, each equal to thirteen cents and one third of a cent. A good bit is a nominal coin, and is equal to six stivers, or eight cents. Fifteen old bits, or five stiver pieces, or twelve and a half good bits, are equal to one dollar. A piece of eight, also a merely nominal coin, is equal to sixty-four cents. A Patriot doubloon is equal to sixteen dollars. 2eZ, Paper, or Governmental Notes. These are for 5 pieces of eight, equal to $3 20. 10 pieces of eight, equal to $6 40. 50 pieces of eight, equal to $32 00. 100 pieces of eight, equal to $64 00. The American eagle, half and quarter eagle, and the American and Spanish dollar, half and quarter of a dollar, are received there at their estimated value here. And these will be found a much more conve- nient form of money there than the Patriot doubloon, on which Ameri- cans have hitherto principally relied for their expenses in Santa Cruz. In this connection I am reminded to say, that whoever shall visit that island with an intention of passing the winter there, should carry with him such medicines as may probably be required for the illness under which he is suffering, or for any illness which may reasonably be ap- prehended. For example, the medicinal agent principally relied upon in cases of intermittent fever, is quinine; and two dollars a dozen were required there last winter for quinine pills, of one grain each. For twenty pepperine pills, three dollars and twenty cents were paid ; ten cents a drop for a solution of morphine ; and thirteen dollars for thirteen leeches, five only of which were used. The cost of almost all medi- cines is exorbitantly great there. By incurring a small expense here, therefore, he may there save himself from a large one. I ought to add, that no one is permitted to leave the island without a passport. An American passport may be obtained from the Secretary Observations on the Climate, fyc. of Santa Cruz. 27 of State for the United States, without any cost for it; and with this, countersigned at Santa Cruz, a visiter may leave the island. An American passport is countersigned upon the payment of $2. He who has not such a passport, must obtain a Danish one, for which he must pay $9,60. But although no one is permitted to leave the island without a pass- port, it will yet be a circumstance of no small gratification to those who may go there, that letters and parcels which may be sent to them will at once, and without expense, be conveyed to them. There is no govern- mental post office in Santa Cruz. Letters, and parcels of newspapers, Sic. are taken from the vessel which brings them, to the counting room of the merchant to whom the vessel is consigned ; the letter bag is there opened, and a boy or man is at once sent out to distribute its contents among those to whom they are addressed. To this boy, or man, every receiver of a letter or parcel gives a five stiver piece. But this is a free-will offering. The merchants in the island are in this respect very kindly attentive to strangers. Even letters and parcels which may arrive in one of the towns, and be addressed to individuals in the other, are sent off at once, by express, to the town in which these individuals are residing, and are there immediately sent to them. These are cir- cumstances which call for very grateful" acknowledgment. They are among the most valuable of the hospitalities which could be extended to strangers. I hope you will not think this letter an unreasonably long one. It would have been easy to have extended it. But, such as it is, you will receive it as a small offering of the gratitude and affection with which 1 am your friend, Joseph Tuckerman.