B ITSl SETTLEMENT


taken of by any beings in the world. The
young, the old, even the maimed and the
dccrepid, all unite in contributing to ren-
der this period joyous and happy; it may
be added, and noisy !
 The morning of Christmas-day is inva-
riably ushered in by the discharging of
small-arms in every direction, every thing
now from established custom being free
and unrestrained; and the master's house
(where the festivity commences) and
whatever it contains is now open to all.
The members of the several African tribes,
again met together after a long separa-
tion, now form themselves into different
groups, and nothing can more forcibly,
denote their respective casts of nationil-
charantcr than their music, songs, ahd
dances. The convulsed rapid movements
of some, and the affectedly reluctant steps
of otl :rs, appear inconceivablyludicrous ;
whilst the occasional br Fst- of old chorus,