Remarks upon free system—State of affairs before emancipation— Trials and casualties—Improved price of land—Sugar estate during slavery—Benefits of emancipation in the moral state of the colony—Benefits arising to the planter—Pretended illness among the negroes—Propositions in their favour—Decrease of crime—Hopes indulged—“The first of August.” CHAPTER XLV. A chapter on colour—Gradual removes from the negroes—Middle classes—Personal appearance—Devotions at their mirrors—Style of dress—Chapel belles—Passion for dress—Home and home scenes—The young men—Extreme officiousness—Higher classes of colour— Coloured Hebes—The chapel tea-party—Gastronomy and speeches— Wesleyan bazaar, and lunch-table—Gastronomic relics CHAPTER XLVI. Prejudice—Its former and present character—An act of resentment —The “Prejudice Bell”—Exclusion of persons of colour from offices of trust and polished society—The dawn of better days— The assertions of some authors contradicted—Domestic character of the coloured gentry—Hospitality—A day at a coloured gentleman’s country-house—Dwellings—Marriages—Great suppression of illicit connexions within these last few years—Funerals—A scene of riot in former days—Provincialisms CHAPTER XLVII. Grades among the _pure in blood_—Aristocrats—The tribe _fungi_— An overseer’s duty—Managers and attorneys—Pickings and gleanings—Managers’ wives and managing ladies—Aristocratic shops—“My daughters”—Education—“Field days” of the militia—The Antiguan aide-de-camp CHAPTER XLVIII. The pure in blood—Aristocrats of the higher order—Law, physic, and divinity—Merchants and planters—Proprietors’ dwellings—A day at a country-seat—Gastronomy—Beef—“Mary Swift”—Mutton—Pork— Turtle and City aldermen—Christmas CHAPTER XLIX. The pure in blood—Places of amusement—The theatre—“Romeo Coates”—Jugglers and rope-dancers—Maroon parties—Shooting season—The Creole beauties—Dress—“The lords of the creation”— Fops and foppery—Business hours—Scene at the Antigua post-office—Auction sales—Militia doings—The gallant dragoon— Guard-nights CHAPTER L. 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 CHAPTER LI. Zoology: Orb-fish—Echinus, known to the ancients—Hippocampus— Trumpet-fish—Toad-fish—Sea-blubber, and galley-fish—Sea-polypus —Cat-fish—Crabs, oysters, &c.—Turtle—Land-crab—Soldier-crab— Lizards—Guana—Wood-slave—Scorpions—Centipede—Snakes—Tarantula— Cockroach—Caterpillars and butterflies—Ants—Bats—Aquatic birds— Land birds—Humming bird—Anecdote