Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/128

Rh long shawl and of thicker material, to screen them from the sun when they are out in the middle of the day. Sometimes, and even to-day, I have seen ladies, evidently not of the lower class, dressed in garments of coarse gray sackcloth, and with this scarf of the same cloth over the head. I have been told that this is in fulfilment of some vow, or prayer, made in time of need or of sickness for themselves or their friends.

I shall to-day leave Matanzas to accompany my kind friends to a sugar-plantation belonging to Mrs. B.'s parents, at a place called Limonar, about fifteen miles off. I shall there study trees and flowers, and the Lord knows what else. After a stay of a few days at Limonar, I shall go to Madame de C.'s, who resides on a large sugar-plantation, situated between Matanzas and the city of Cardinas. Kind and hospitable people provide me here also with opportunities of seeing the country and the people; and I cannot say how thankful I am for this kindness.

&emsp; I have now been here for more than a week in the very lap of slavery, and, during the first few days of my visit, I was so depressed that I was not able to do much. Close before my window—the residence of the planter is a large one-storied house—I could not avoid seeing the whole day a group of negro-women working under the whip, the cracking of which (in the air, however,) above their heads, and the driver's (a negro) impatiently-repeated cry of “''Arrea! Arrea!''” be quick! get on! kept them working on without any intermission. And through the night—the whole night—I heard their weary footsteps, as they spread out to dry upon the flagged pavement, outside my window, the crushed sugar-cane which they carried from the sugar-mill. In the day time it is their work to rake up together the sun-dried canes, la bagaza, and carry them in