.... As we speak and the sailors furl the sails with expert hands, suddenly entirely new human beings appear before us in closed ranks. I call them "new". It is not so long that they have come to our awareness as Europeans, unknown as they were during all the previous centuries. So if you ask me for their name, their race, their institutions, their customs, their nature, their work, their temperament, their tastes, their religious practices, their language, their way of life and of doing things, I can most willingly satisfy you in this domain and according to my means and as long as the help of divine grace is granted me, I will fulfill your wishes. Give me your attention, I shall begin:

The people who now live almost everywhere on the island are commonly called the Karabes. But this general name should not lead anyone into the serious error of concluding that only one race inhabits the whole island. It should be noted here that some fifty years ago at most, a fortuitous accident introduced on the island a certain number of slaves from the coasts of Africa.

Now this is how, they say, the thing really happened. The ship that bore them, forced on by a violent storm, lamentably crashed into the rocks and was wrecked in the northern part of this island. Every last one, except a small number of "Ethiopians" who were very good swimmers, perished amidst the waves.

The indigenous people, who had observed these details in safety from the coast with unusual compassion, welcomed them as they emerged from the waters to live among them after problem-free negotiations and, without them protesting, employed them as slaves. At that time they were just as bitter enemies of the Spaniards and the Batavians as of the English and the French, so that whatever grievous damage befell any of these was obviously to the satisfaction of the savages. In fact, rumour has it even today that the vessel shipwrecked on the rocks belonged to the Spanish nation alone.

In any case, it is certain that by the greatest luck fortunately only one Ethiopian woman or perhaps two were found to have lost their lives in such a great danger. As a result, in a short time these Africans united themselves with the survivors (sibi invicem), some through the bond of individual marriage, others under the polygamous regime, which is allowed among these nations. They had children, whose numbers grew rapidly in the following years, to such an extent that without overtaking the Kara˙bes race, they at least equaled it.

So apart from the simple name of slaves which they usually go by and which the islanders give them more to snub them than because they use them as such, there is absolutely nothing servile about them. Moreover, the islanders behave so little as masters that, as comes naturally to people who remember prior servitude and view it with horror, they are wary above all of any plot or violence that might reduce them to their primitive state. They live absolutely in the manner of the original islanders, use the same laws and have faults and qualities that differ very little. This is no surprise, I must say, since from their most tender years they find their greatest honour in assimilating these customs. Although they live in separate small dwellings we call "cases" - huts, colloquially, nevertheless this does not prevent them from having constant encounters among themselves. Indeed they entertain very easy relations with the Kara˙bes, with whom they frequently stay. They give each other sumptuous receptions on special days taking turns without any apparent discrimination, and they also organise at the same time and in the same way banquets - to be more precise I should say drinking parties, since not more than drinks are served in which all too often - Oh what a scandal! They tank up togethher to the point of nausea. We have, I think, dealt sufficiently, and perhaps more than sufficiently, with these slaves. It is towards the original inhabitants, who in their own way are the masters there, that any discourse hastens to turn.

So the name of which they are proud to the point of having it always on their lips and, what is more, publicizing it in every possible way, is well known according to what has been said above, they are called Kara˙bes. As soon as they meet a stranger who is surprised by their really astonishing nudity and their original behaviour, with their open faces, their bright eyes, they immediately indicate: "We are of the Kara˙bes nation", they say, "and come from the island of St. Vincent".

This is now the place to speak of the Kara˙bes' institutions. Even from the very beginning of their communal living, they were filled with hatred of not just slavery, but any form of injunction, authority or submission, to the extent that these very words themselves are unbearable to them. Yielding to someone else and obeying an order is for them the ultimate indignity. Even today, this explains the virulence of their total freedom. All of them are perfectly equal, and they recognise absolutely no official, chief or magistrate. This said, anyone would understand that of the four different systems, of government: Monarchy, oligarchy, democracy and economy, only the latter can suit them.

Moreover, two factors have above all contributed, from the beginning, to establishing this extreme freedom of life. In the first place we should mention the peculiar nature of these men who are so incapable of being slaves that if any individual is constrained under any pressure to submit to work as a slave, in a few days he is overcome by such depression and affliction that he eventually fades away completely.

Then the fortunate complicity of the country astonishingly encourages the people's frenzy for total independence. In fact the island which dips at each step and is riddled with bays and hollows, offers each father of a family the opportunity to choose without difficulty his ideal site or property, far from any foreign constraint and completely safe - because there was only one entrance to his estate and only by sea - to lead his life exactly as he pleases, with his wife, children and dear ones.

In these circumstances, it was quite plain to the wisest of the Kara˙bes that if the whole nation were to remain so dispersed, split up here and there into different properties, it would gradually be precipitated to its ruin and finally reduced to nothing, unless this great evil could be effectively remedied without delay. With their foresight, they could think of nothing better than to visit one another as frequently as possible.

The decision was welcomed by all with both hands. This custom then of making cordial visits to others effectively became so ingrained that it is still intact today, and there is no danger that it will die out in the future. In this regard I describe the indigenous as stationary rather than sedentary. Indeed the number and length of the journeys they undertake with the sole intention of meeting their relatives is incredible; they stay with them, I do not say whole days, but weeks and sometimes even months on end.

There is one thing I dare to put forward here, because it is true. By day, no one will ever travel the length of the coast of this island without meeting a large number of travelers of this kind. These continuous comings and goings are usually a calls of laughter to those who do not reflect seriously about the aim they pursue in doing this. In fact, nothing more important or useful could be imagined in so dislocated a nation, bound by the only laws which each individual has imposed on himself according to his will, in order to unify it, strengthen it and lastly to prolong its existence.

It is first and foremost this custom which explains primarily that this daily practice is capable of giving birth to and maintaining a very real communion of spirit. It also offers an easy way of providing the necessary help at the right moment. In fact, the natural law itself is not only well anchored in all hearts, but further reinforced by daily practice: no one, to live completely happily, is sufficient unto himself, but needs the help of others. A very precious family spirit results from this, meetings of all kinds, various arrangements, a single community of life and behaviour, mutual gifts, similar tendencies, etc. In addition, even if any event, however new, should take place somewhere on the island, it is nonetheless known by all that very day. With regard to the importance of this fact for the common good, I can say nothing, it speaks for itself. Indeed, my discourse on this topic would be endless if I tried to list all the other forms of advantages there are in such openness to dedication. I therefore leave them aside, to explain how the islanders keep this tradition unscathed....

Here, if I am not mistaken, I will do a very pleasant thing for you by telling you in detail the subjects they discuss especially when they debate communally among themselves. Alright, listen to me carefully: Everything that forms part of the Kara˙bes' conversation can be reduced to five different subjects. Indeed they most often speak either of their own internal affairs or of the cultivation of their gardens, or of hunting and fishing, or of journeys to be made to the closest allied islands, or finally, of the peace to be maintained with their friends and at the same time of the war to be waged against their enemies. ...

Since in fact there prevails the greatest spiritual union between the Kara˙bes, an accord that rarely leads to covetousness, they are extremely mindful of the need to discuss their projects together. They habitually go into the minutest detail, the better to discern through an exchange of ideas what is the best thing for the community to do. They therefore have no secrets from one another, everything is unveiled and open; it would be a crime for them either to keep silent about something, or to hide something from the others. They are also used to informing each other, as I have already said, of the projects they have already achieved, as well as of those in other regions, which they have heard to be without a future. I naively admit that they conclude these matters with very few words, like things that are both banal and rare occurrences.

This is why they plan to undertake journeys abroad, to other not far distant islands. This provides them on the occasion with a fourth subject of onversation. Such exchanges do not last just one or two days, but are prolonged from week to week, and even more often for entire months. You are astonished at such a long time? I shall proceed to give you the simple reasons for this.

Nor do they have a surer way of manifesting their joy at the arrival of friends titan that of inviting the largest number of people to drink together. The latter arrive from the different parts of the island on the day appointed by the priest. ...

At these sort of rallies of the Kara˙be nation are discussed and reasons are given, for and against, different issues among which the two that follow are a priority. The first is to decide whether or not to promote continued peace among the federated nations. The second concerns the way to make war with enemies. Is it better to invade their territory, or rather to stay at home? It is hard to believe the passion with which these questions are debated, It is extremely rare for agreement to reign between them all... But if a decision is taken and it is ratified and made valid, each participant returns home after the 'assembly is dissolved and tells his friends what has been achieved ab ovo.

This gives rise to a final and broad opportunity, as well as a subject for conversation. And it is not only the men, but also the women, although they are otherwise especially shy, who generally deal with matters of war.

Everywhere a lively enthusiasm springs up for what is at stake in the war as well as a no less mortal hatred for the enemy. All you see is soldiers running here and there, equipping themselves for the forthcoming combat and encouraging the others with provocative words....

But although - as I have just said - absolutely all Kara˙bes are involved in the tasks listed above, they should nevertheless not be classed as hard workers, but as people who work for the love of it, given that they do it for their pleasure alone and as if it were not work, they are interested in it and apply themselves to the task. The result is that completing each one of these tasks with all its details demands almost unlimited time.

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