The
smallness of the society and the close proximity are too much like a
ship. People know everything about the details of each other's
daily life, income, and expenditure, and the day's doings of each
member of the little circle are matters for conversation. Indeed,
were it not for the volcano and its doings, conversation might
degenerate into gossip. There is an immense deal of personal talk;
the wonder is that there is so little ill-nature. Not only is what
everybody does here common property, but the sayings, doings,
goings, comings, and purchases of every one in all the other islands
are common property also, made so by letters and oral communication.
It is all very amusing, and on the whole very kindly, and human
interests are always interesting; but it has its perilous side.
They are very kind to each other. There is no distress which is not
alleviated. There is no nurse, and in cases of sickness the ladies
take it by turns to wait on the sufferer by day and night for weeks,
and even months. Such inevitable mutual dependence of course
promotes friendliness.
The foreigners live very simply. The eating-rooms are used solely
for eating, the "parlours" are always cheerful and tasteful, and the
bedrooms very pretty, adorned with all manner of knick-knacks made
by the ladies, who are indescribably deft with their fingers.
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