132 THE NOnrilERX MOUNTAINS. 



carried home, and verified at Port of Spain ; and meanwhile, 

 disturbed by the axe-strokes, pair after pair of birds flew 

 screaming over the tree-tops, wdiich looked like rooks, till, as 

 they turned in the sun, tlieir colour brilliant even at that 

 distance showed them to be great green parrots. 



After breakfast which among French and Spanish West 

 Indians means a solid and elaborate luncheon our party 

 broke up. ... I must be excused if I am almost prolix over 

 the events of a day memorable to me. 



The majority went down, on horse and foot, to Blanchis- 

 seuse again on official business. The site of the new church, 

 an address from the inhabitants to the Governor, inspection 

 of roads, examination of disputed claims, squatter questions, 

 enclosure questions, and so forth, would occupy some hours in 

 hard work. But the '' piece de resistance " of the day was to 

 be the examination and probable committal of the Obeah-man 

 of those parts. That worthy, not being satisfied with the 

 official conduct of our host the warden, had advised himself 

 to bribe, with certain dollars, a Coolie servant of his to " put 

 Obeah upon him ; " and had, with that intent, entrusted to 

 him a Charm to be buried at his door, consisting, as usual, of 

 a bottle containing toad, spider, rusty nails, dirty water, and 

 other terrible jumbiferous articles. In addition to which 

 attempt on the life and fortunes of the warden, he was said 

 to have promised the Coolie forty dollars if he would do the 



