By the way, as in thread drift, if anyone comes across a minstrel version of the West Indies Blues while they're researching the above, please post your comments here or on my old thread of that name. The verses I suspect of being minstrel in origin probably date from the 1890's when my mother's nursemaid, Ella Madison, was touring Europe with a Black minstrel group:

West Indies Blues

Been all over dis doggone world,
Even been as far as China,
Worstes' place I ever did see
Was Charleston, South Carolina.

I'se goin' home,
Goin' 'cross de water,
Make my livin' sure's you bo'n,
Diving after quarters.
Got dem Wes' Indies blues.

Charleston folks eat alligator meat,
Fried wi' rice and taters,
Bestes' eatin' I ever did have
Was monkey hips an' tomaters.

I'se goin' home,
Get meself a carriage;
Get meself a monkey gal,
An' make monkey marriage.
I'se goin' home.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble