Transcription
Left-Colon Nov 27. Arrived Trinidad 2/12/17
Trinidad
A traveller wrote
How is one to tell of the
blaze of colour the flaring
scarlet of the begonia, the
vermilion of the bois
immortelle, the red +
yellow of the croton, the
crimson of the nutmeg
apple, the pale yellow
of the allspice, the
snowy white of the
mayapple flowers, the
feathery green of the
bamboo, the innumerable
shades of green on the
mountain top and valley
and plain? Once cannot
do it, and may just as
well not try.
All of this profusion one
can see without stirring
from the verandah of
the Queen's Park Hotel.
Facing this is the wide
sweep of the savannah
from which the hotel
takes it's name — a smooth
level expanse of green
which runs sheer to the
edge of the dark green
mountains beyond as
would the waters of a lake.
On a moonlit night the
resemblance of a placid
sheet of water is so
startling in its accuracy
as a face in the fire
or a figure in the clouds;
+ were it not for the myriad
fireflies which flitter over
it, a stranger led blind-
fold to the hotel + then
allowed to look upon it at
night might listen for
the splash of oars.
Sports.
Savannah. Pt of Spain
possesses a great; green
pleasure ground which
is unsurpassed by any
similar expanse
Cricket, polo, football +
other athletic sports are
held there almost every
afternoon
Geographical Trinidad
Separated from South
America by the Gulf of
Paria + bounded on the
N. by the Caribbean Sea
+ on the east by the Atlantic
the island lies between
10º3" + 10º50" North Latitude
+ 60º54" + 61º36" West Longitude
Area 1754 Sq miles
Roughly 50 miles in length
+ 35 miles across.
The only port of importance
is Port of Spain on the
Gulf of Paria, a few
miles south of the Dragon's
Mouth (Bocas) a name
applied to the four islands
that guard the northern
entrance to the Gulf
in the 12 mile wide channel
separating Trinidad from
Venezuela.
There are two mountain
ranges on the Island
the higher peak Tucuche
3,012 ft
Pts on three sides of Is.
unavailable because of
the shallows.
The Island of Tobago, a
political part of Trinidad
is N.E. of T — separated by
a channel 19 miles wide.
Tobago is 27 miles long + 7 wide
Trinidad is outside of the hurricane
belt + does not suffer from violent storms.
Historical
1499 Columbus discovered Trinidad
on his third voyage in 1499
sighting first the Three
Sisters, Peahs of Noruga
+ because of a vow he
had taken named the Is
"La Trinidad" The Trinity
Indian Name "Jëre" = The
Land of the Humming Bird.
300 years under Spanish Rule
1595 First English visitor Sir
Robert Dudley came from
Africa in the "Bear"
Sir Walter Raleigh came
soon after + with Capt
Caulfield + 90 men captured
the capital. but soon
abandoned it. "Wont wonder
if it were as hot then as now"
1640 The Dutch made and unsuccessful
attempt to capture it.
1672 English from Barbados was
even less successful than Dutch
1677 French sacked the island +
carried off considerable plunder
1702 Cocoa planting began
Negro slavery introduced
1725 Nearly all the cocoas died +
a long term of poverty ensued
1773 Colonised. 1200 French + a
few Irish + English
1797 Sir Ralph Abercromby with
fleet + 10.000 British soldiers
conquered the island
1809 Ceded to Gt Britain
1834 Portuguese emigrants came
from the Azores + Madera
Slavery abolished
621,000 Population declared to be
largest + handsomest town
in the West Indies
Public buildings, squares,
uptodate tramway, modern
electric lighting + telephone
Gov Building known as
the Red House
Railways
1876 Railway are owned + operated
by the Government opened
1876
San Fernando 10,000
Industries
Cocoa. Bib + Pitch
+ Tropical fruits Sugar
Pitch lake 1210 acres in extent
138 to 150 ft deep.
Having a small book in
my possession with
foregoing information I
will forbear any more
detail in this stain as book
will be, or should be, well
at Risdon before this diary
arrives.
We left Colon on the
afternoon of the 27th Nov.
+ crossed the changing
colours of the Caribbean
Sea. In this tropical zone
some magnificent sun-
rising + settings could be
observed changing the sea
informed sisters, orderlies
+ patients alike that I
would be greatly surprised
if we did not make
Trinidad.
Accordingly, during rather
hot + still afternoon of
Dec 1. BseB. rushed in to
borrow my Field Glasses
saying he believed land
was ahead. Sure enough,
we soon passed some
small islands + towards
evening our pace was
much slower; but the order
for "lights out" was still
strictly adhered to.
Trinidad as Seen from Boats
Rising early we were somewhat
disappointed to see what we
thought our haven of
rest disappear to the rear.
but this did not last for
soon an island of far
greater magnitude rose
to welcome our vision.
Gliding around we again
feasted on the rapturous
roll of mountains +
swelling down from these
lay hills of lesser dimensions
and at their feet as
the mystical labour of
Hercules lay the graceful meadows.
Through these meadows
fresh from the mountains
fountains rolled the
life giving streams
chattering + bubbling
frolicking in the tranquil
scene and calling alike to the
dark skinned + white
skinned children to come
+ both in their freshness
hide in its verdure clad
lakes, + eat from the
luxurious fruit which
lay rotting in the sun.
About 10 a.m on Sunday
morning, when in our
own dear Homeland those
whom we love + cherish would
be thinking of hastening to
the humble Meeting houses
where those in fellowship
with God's dear children
would seek to remember
that One Who fought +
won with honours, the
greatest Victory this Earth
or Heaven would ever know
we sailed (or steamed) into
The Port of Spain
Straight ahead, lining the
banks of the Gulf of Persia
lay the city + capital of
Trinidad known as Pt of
Spain. The city in appearance
is probably not quite the
size of Hobart, yet comp-
aring the population of the
latter of 3,000 with that of
the former 63,000 one
[vertically in the margin]
In the harbour lay the Magdalean Euripides, Peria + a bruiser
After leaving we pased the beautiful islands of Brenado[?] Is + town.
(the town looked beautiful through glasses) St Vincent + Martinique
can form an idea of the huge
families that inhabit the houses.
Boasting its fine house + church
steeples little more could be
observed from our places of
anchorage.
We had scarcely stopped before our
boat was surrounded by boats
offering for sale oranges, lemons
+ other tropical fruits which
were greatly appreciated after so
long a time without so little fruit.
These dark tradesmen had to be
handled with the usual cunning in
buying from blacks. They ask
an enormous price expecting to
be beaten down, it was quite usual
to see them go down 100 pc? in
price. Among other things offered
for sale were a young monkey
80/- which was bought by the A.S.C.
parrots + other songsters but
not humming birds unluckely.
a young crocodile, a young
tortoise + some very fine walking
sticks; but none of the usual
silks etc to be found usually
at forign ports.
As I was aware that "Paddy of
Risdon" would favour neither
a monkey or a crocodile I decided
to procure none of this stuff.
During our stay of one week
at this beautiful and interesting
place the weather continued
hot + sultry relieved occasionally
by the already described tropical
shower.
Expanded
Left-Colon Nov 27. Arrived Trinidad 2/12/17
Trinidad
A traveller wrote
How is one to tell of the blaze of colour the flaring scarlet of the begonia, the vermilion of the bois immortelle, the red and yellow of the croton, the crimson of the nutmeg apple, the pale yellow of the allspice, the snowy white of the mayapple flowers, the feathery green of the bamboo, the innumerable shades of green on the mountain top and valley and plain? Once cannot do it, and may just as well not try.
All of this profusion one can see without stirring from the verandah of the Queen’s Park Hotel. Facing this is the wide sweep of the savannah from which the hotel takes it’s name — a smooth level expanse of green which runs sheer to the edge of the dark green mountains beyond as would the waters of a lake.
On a moonlit night the resemblance of a placid sheet of water is so startling in its accuracy as a face in the fire or a figure in the clouds; and were it not for the myriad fireflies which flitter over it, a stranger led blind-fold to the hotel and then allowed to look upon it at night might listen for the splash of oars.
Sports.
Savannah. Port of Spain possesses a great; green pleasure ground which is unsurpassed by any similar expanse. Cricket, polo, football and other athletic sports are held there almost every afternoon.
Geographical Trinidad
Separated from South America by the Gulf of Paria and bounded on the North by the Caribbean Sea and on the east by the Atlantic. The island lies between 10º3” + 10º50” North Latitude and 60º54” + 61º36” West Longitude. Area 1754 square miles. Roughly 50 miles in length and 35 miles across.
The only port of importance is Port of Spain on the Gulf of Paria, a few miles south of the Dragon’s Mouth (Bocas) a name applied to the four islands that guard the northern entrance to the Gulf in the 12 mile wide channel separating Trinidad from Venezuela.
There are two mountain ranges on the Island, he higher peak Tucuche 3,012 ft
Ports on three sides of the Island are unavailable because of the shallows.
The Island of Tobago, a political part of Trinidad is north-east of Trinidad — separated by a channel 19 miles wide. Tobago is 27 miles long and 7 wide
Trinidad is outside of the hurricane belt and does not suffer from violent storms.
Historical
1499
Columbus discovered Trinidad on his third voyage in 1499 sighting first the Three Sisters, Peahs of Noruga and because of a vow he had taken named the Island “La Trinidad”, The Trinity. Indian Name “Jëre” = The Land of the Humming Bird. 300 years under Spanish Rule
1595
First English visitor Sir Robert Dudley came from Africa in the “Bear”. Sir Walter Raleigh came soon after and with Captain Caulfield and 90 men captured the capital, but soon abandoned it. “Wont wonder if it were as hot then as now”
1640
The Dutch made and unsuccessful attempt to capture it.
1672
English from Barbados was even less successful than Dutch
1677
French sacked the island and carried off considerable plunder
1702
Cocoa planting began. Negro slavery introduced
1725
Nearly all the cocoas died and a long term of poverty ensued
1773
Colonised. 1200 French and a few Irish and English
1797
Sir Ralph Abercromby with fleet and 10,000 British soldiers conquered the island
1809
Ceded to Great Britain
1834
Portuguese emigrants came from the Azores + Madera. Slavery abolished
Population
621,000 Population declared to be largest + handsomest town in the West Indies. Public buildings, squares, up-to-date tramway, modern electric lighting and telephone. Government Building known as the Red House
Railways
1876
Railway are owned + operated by the Government opened 1876
San Fernando 10,000
Industries: Cocoa. Bib + Pitch + Tropical fruits Sugar
Pitch lake 1210 acres in extent, 138 to 150 ft deep.
Having a small book in my possession with foregoing information I will forbear any more detail in this stain as book will be, or should be, well at Risdon before this diary arrives.
We left Colon on the afternoon of the 27th Nov. and crossed the changing colours of the Caribbean Sea. In this tropical zone some magnificent sun-rising & settings could be observed changing the sea.
Informed sisters, orderlies and patients alike that I would be greatly surprised if we did not make Trinidad. Accordingly, during rather hot and still afternoon of Dec 1. BseB[?]. rushed in to borrow my Field Glasses saying he believed land was ahead. Sure enough, we soon passed some small islands and towards evening our pace was much slower; but the order for “lights out” was still strictly adhered to.
Trinidad as Seen from Boats
Rising early we were somewhat disappointed to see what we thought our haven of rest disappear to the rear. But this did not last for soon an island of far greater magnitude rose to welcome our vision.
Gliding around we again feasted on the rapturous roll of mountains and swelling down from these lay hills of lesser dimensions and at their feet as the mystical labour of Hercules lay the graceful meadows. Through these meadows fresh from the mountains fountains rolled the life giving streams chattering and bubbling, frolicking in the tranquil scene and calling alike to the dark skinned and white skinned children to come and both in their freshness hide in its verdure clad lakes, and eat from the luxurious fruit which lay rotting in the sun.
About 10 a.m on Sunday morning, when in our own dear Homeland those whom we love and cherish would be thinking of hastening to the humble Meeting houses where those in fellowship with God’s dear children would seek to remember that One Who fought and won with honours, the greatest Victory this Earth or Heaven would ever know we sailed (or steamed) into The Port of Spain.
(In the harbour lay the Magdalean Euripides, Peria and a bruiser. After leaving we passed the beautiful islands of Brenado[?] Is and town. (the town looked beautiful through glasses) St Vincent and Martinique)
Straight ahead, lining the banks of the Gulf of Persia lay the city and capital of Trinidad known as Port of Spain. The city in appearance is probably not quite the size of Hobart, yet comparing the population of the latter of 3,000 with that of the former 63,000 one can form an idea of the huge families that inhabit the houses. Boasting its fine house and church steeples little more could be observed from our places of anchorage.
We had scarcely stopped before our boat was surrounded by boats offering for sale oranges, lemons and other tropical fruits which were greatly appreciated after so long a time without so little fruit. These dark tradesmen had to be handled with the usual cunning in buying from blacks. They ask and enormous price expecting to be beaten down, it was quite usual to see them go down 100 pc? in price.
Among other things offered for sale were a young monkey 80/- which was bought by the A.S.C. parrots + other songsters but not humming birds unluckely. A young crocodile, a young tortoise + some very fine walking sticks; but none of the usual silks etc to be found usually at forign ports. As I was aware that “Paddy of Risdon” would favour neither a monkey or a crocodile I decided to procure none of this stuff.
During our stay of one week at this beautiful and interesting place the weather continued hot and sultry relieved occasionally by the already described tropical shower.
