Trinidad 329 



formed great clumps, the feathery masses of which 

 contrasted beautifully with the darker and more solid 

 foliage of the great rounded tree-tops which formed the 

 background. One of these growths of bamboo was 

 being cut down and a man was sawing up the joints 

 'to make flower-pots," as he informed us. The joints 

 were five or six inches in diameter, and no doubt may 

 well serve as receptacles for growing plants. Our 

 faithful guide obtained a couple of the things for the 

 use of the ladies, who fancied them, and I took one as a 

 receptacle for paint-brushes, for which it is admirably 

 adapted. 



We could have lingered much longer in the Botanical 

 Garden, but there were other places to be seen, and we 

 therefore beat a retreat to our automobile, and went into 

 the town itself. The city has witnessed many vicissi- 

 tudes since its first settlement by the Spaniards in 1532. 

 For nearly two hundred and fifty years the banner of 

 Spain floated over the island ; then there was an attempt 

 by the French to possess it, and finally the English took 

 it, and English it has remained since 1797. The older 

 parts have been remodeled and rebuilt since the days 

 of the early settlement. The streets are laid out at 

 right angles, which was not originally the case. The 

 business portion has a rather seedy and forlorn look. 

 The residential parts occupied by the wealthier classes 

 are attractive, even beautiful. Some of the houses are 

 well built, and the gardens with their wealth of flower- 

 ing shrubbery and fine trees are charming. After 

 having seen the main thoroughfares, and visited the 

 principal points of interest, we decided that it was time 

 for luncheon, We went to the Queen's Hotel, and fared 

 very well. The fish which was served, and which we 

 were told had come fresh from the sea that morning, 



