THE SOUTH AMERICAN ISLANDS 371 



ness of production to the other islands. Two thirds of 

 Tobago are still covered with primeval forest, comprising 

 many varieties of hard-wood and ornamental trees. The 

 climate is remarkably healthful, and the air very fine and 

 pure. The scenery is beautiful, and delightful rides can be 

 taken. Horses can be easily obtained at very moderate 

 charges. 



This is another island where the former heavy produc- 

 tion of sugar has ceased. The people, since the great col- 

 lapse in sugar in 1885, have taken to diversified agriculture 

 and the raising of sheep and horses. Tobacco and cotton 

 have been lately introduced. 



Tobago's welfare is intimately associated with that of 

 Trinidad, the two islands being politically and commer- 

 cially connected. The only place of importance is the 

 little town of Scarborough. 



The only other island of the South American group 

 worthy of present mention is Curacao that quaint frag- 

 ment of old Holland located on the southern border of the 

 ( aribbean. Nearly five hundred miles west of Trinidad, 

 and just off the western part of the northern coast of 

 Venezuela, it is the capital of the few square miles of 

 America owned by Holland in widely disseminated frag- 

 ments at the extremes of the Lesser Antilles. 



The island embraces two hundred and ten miles of rugged 

 topography, composed of volcanic rocks surrounded by 

 coral reefs. Some of the twenty-eight thousand inhabi- 

 tants grow beans, corn, cattle, and salt, but most of them 

 are engaged in commerce or office-holding. They are by 

 ii" means wealthy. The Dutch Creoles are a fair-skinned 

 and pleasant people who speak Dutch, French, and English, 

 but the negroes have a queer dialect known as the papai- 

 mento. 



Willemstad, the capital of the Island, lias an excellent 

 harbor. It is a quainl old Dutch city, suggestive of what 

 New York may have been two hundred years ago. In 

 substantial buildings include the colonial offices, I'^v Wil- 



