THE SOUTH AMERICAN ISLANDS 307 



The capital and chief city of the island is Port of Spain, 

 situated on a beautiful harbor facing the Gulf of Paria, 

 which, were it not for its shallowness, would hold the 

 shipping of the world. The larger vessels are loaded by 

 lighters. It was into this harbor that Columbus first came, 

 when he named the island Trinidad, in fulfilment of a vow 

 he had made to the Holy Trinity. The city is elevated 

 about four hundred feet above the level of the sea, from 

 which it is some six miles distant, and is a pretty, hilly 

 town of about twenty thousand inhabitants. It is a curi- 

 ous combination of English, French, and Spanish build- 

 ings, arranged on broad streets and with many squares or 

 plazas. Street-cars traverse the chief avenues. The city 

 has been made somewhat unattractive by numerous fires; 

 some of these have been very extensive, especially those 

 of 1884 and 1891. The governor's house, as in all the 

 English colonies, stands in large grounds out of town, at 

 the foot of the mountains. It is surrounded by beautiful 

 botanical gardens, which are especially rich in nutmeg-, 

 cinnamon-, and other spice-trees, and every known species 

 of palm-tree. Immense ceibas, almonds, and orange-trees 

 also ornament the grounds. 



It is said that, owing to its exposure to the combined 

 breezes of the sea and mountain, with a most delicious 

 climate, Port of Spain is a very healthful place, while its 

 situation in a rich and fertile country, its extended views, 

 the beauty of its women, and the hospitality of its inhabi- 

 tants, make it a most attractive town. To this place 

 come eighteen steamers a month from England, six from 

 the United States (four steamers of the French line, two 

 of the Quebec), and two from Holland; and there arc seven 

 steamers to Venezuela. There is also an extensive carry- 

 ing-trade b.-twerii Port of Spain and Venezuela. Gold 

 and other products of the country are reshipped from Trini- 

 dad to Europe, and goods from Europe are sent to Trini- 

 dad for distribution in Venezuela. 



There arc several smaller places, Princestown and San 



