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up the stuff we've collected in excess of the chests and trunks we brought with us.  Yes the cruise is soon over, and packing has to get underway.  Tortola has such close ties economically and socially with St. Thomas, that natives here do not want customary West Indian currency, even stores and P.O. wants (and asks) for American money.  The Port officer here (colored) is brother of treasurer in Nevis, their younger brother is an English trained doctor, and in charge of hospital at Nevis that treated our Mizuel's smashed little (right) finger.

This man was born in Nevis as were his brothers, and was educated locally, pride of home and achievement make these very nice colored people to deal with and these three brothers are as black as Booker Washington claimed he was.

Roadtown is truly a one road town along the shore front and back to the hills which 

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perhaps 2 1/2 scrub pail full of rather small six inch tail, 13 to pail, = 30-35 young lobsters with 6th +/- tails.   ($5 B.W.I. for the pail full which on counting had only 13 lobsters in it.  How catch native go up to pile with their sail boat, anchor it with rock anchor and jump overboard with a 40 foot 2 inch mesh seine or gill net, with this they encircle pile to be worked on, net is put around quietly & cautiously und. two ends well over lap to form complete enclosure leaving natives (3) inside net with faggot pile, this stick by stick (they [[strikethrough]] [[?]] throw start in another pile) a long side of the present one but just without the net.  When all our out of net, and the feel around with feet till all is clear and not sticks even 6 inch ones are left inside into [[?triangle]] or tear [[?with]].  [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]]  

Next lead line[[?]] brought together purse seine fashion, must have had 30 to 40 [[strikethrough]] over [[/strikethrough]] in net.  [[strikethrough]] Laboratory [[/strikethrough]]  Capt. gave the 3 men $5.00 B.W.I. for the bucket of lobsters which more than satisfied them.  Then we went over to village on far side of lagoon to have a look at it.  Capt knew a colored