On the way, he remarked that we had visited the island at a very unfavorable time for seeing the cultivation of it, as every thing was suffering greatly from the drought.

There had not been a single copious rain, such as would "make the water run," since the first of March previous.

As we approached the laborers, the manager pointed out one company of ten, who were at work with their hoes by the side of the road, while a larger one of thirty were in the middle of the field.
They greeted us in the most friendly manner.

The manager spoke kindly to them, encouraging them to be industrious He stopped a moment to explain to us the process of cane-holing.

The field is first ploughed[A] in one direction, and the ground thrown up in ridges of about a foot high.