Vol. IV. No. 8.3. 



THE AGEICULTUEAL NEWS. 



181 



COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHIBITION. 



The following description of the West Indian 

 Court at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition is repro- 

 duced from the West India Comviiftee Circulnv: — 



Tlie Court, which stands back in a sjilendid [losition in 

 the north transept of the Crystal Palace, occui)ies a space 

 of 7,000 square feet, and is surrounded by a handsome screen 

 of architectural design, having facias of peacock-blue 

 supported on Georgian columns decorated in deep buff, and 

 relieved with mouldings forming rectangular panels. There 

 is an inner screen of lofty sugar-canes, which form a striking 

 feature, and which will, it is hoped, .serve to remind the 

 British public that cane sugar conies from our colonies and 

 beet sugar from foreign countries, and induce them to ask 

 for and insist upon getting pure cane sugar, which is really 

 pure, sweet, and economical. 



Entering through the wide arch nearest the centre 

 transe^it, the visitor finds himself in the Jamaica section. 

 Two large banners, bearing the coat of arms of the colony, 

 adorn the main entrance, and the passage to the adjacent 

 sections is under an arch surmounted Iiy a large crocodile. 

 Among the preserves there is also a turtle surrounded by the 

 many succulent products with which its name and substance 

 are coiuiected. To the right and left of the entrance are 

 large show cases for Jamaica cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco 

 belonging to the Montpelier Cigar Comjiany and Messrs. 

 B. & J. B. ilachado, both of Kingston, Jamaica. To the 

 left again is a very complete collection of samples of Jamaica 

 woods, arranged like books in a book-shelf, each sample 

 having its name on the back. A .screen carries a number of 

 pictures of Jamaica life and scenery, among them being 

 several notable woi'ks of Jlr. J. Kirkiiatriclc, and here, too, is 

 a table of literature and files of the newspapers of the i.sland. 

 Portraits of the Governors of tlie island occui)y another 

 screen on the right-hand side of the section. Seeds, seed 

 ornaments, lace-bark in many forms, bitter-wood cups, and 

 walking sticks of various woods are shown in great quantities, 

 and are already finding a quick sale. In glass cases adjoining, 

 the more valuable specimens of lace-work and jii)pi-jappa hats 

 are displayed. Of consumable Jamaica produce, sugar, cacao, 

 coffee, cassava, arrowroot, tapioca, bread-fruit, pimento, 

 and almost every conceivable kind of tropical commodity 

 are to be found, so closely have the Exhibition Committee 

 in Jamaica and Mr. John Barclay, the Commissioner, 

 devoted themselves to the task which was set them. 

 Jamaica tea is a welcome novelty, the development of 

 which it will be very interesting to watch. Me.ssrs. William 

 Alfred Jones it Co., of Liverpool, .show Jamaica cigars 

 and bananine, a banana flour. A more comprehensive 

 exhibit than that in the Jamaica court it would not be 

 easy to find. 



Passing under the archway, the Grenada section is 

 found on the left. The most striking object in this is the 

 gold mace of the colony, which was sent out to Grenada in 

 a ship called the ' Baillies ' in the year 1791, and now makes 

 its reappearance in England for the first time since that date. 

 This island being known as the ' Spice Islaiul of the West,' 

 it is natural that spices should form a jirominent feature in 

 its di.splay. Various stuffed animals, including a monkey 

 and several sjjecimens of mungoose, will also prove an 

 attraction, while bottled fruits, preserves, and spices are 

 attractively shown in sample glasses. The exhibits are 

 clearly set out on an open show-stand painted buff colour 

 picked out with blue. This is flanked by two glass 

 cases in which the choicest articles are displayed. Below 

 are some fine samples of leather and the wonderful conch 



shells so much run after by tourists. Coral, too, of most 

 fantastic shapes, bulks largely in this section. There is 

 also a fine collection of Carib implements, the only relics 

 now remaining of the former inhabitants of the island, 

 ilr. C. Falconer Anton is to be congratulated upon the 

 collection which he has got together ; the more so as we 

 believe this to be his first experience of exhibition work. 



To the left again is the Barbados section arranged 

 under the supervision of the Hon. Forster M. Alleyne, the 

 Commissioner for the island, in which sugar is very 

 naturally a prominent feature. This, with rums, coloured 

 and uncoloured, is shown in great variety in glass-stoppered 

 bottles, each bearing a distinctive label, with the arms of 

 the colony neatly printed upon it in blue. Liqueurs, arrow- 

 root, tous-les-mois, cassava products, candied shaddocks, 

 grape fruit, preserves, pickles, and hot sauces are shown on 

 a central stand, consisting of two columns with tiers of 

 shelves, the columns being connected by an arch bearing 

 the name of the colony in blue letters on a white ground, 

 ilanjak, pottery, a statuette of coral rock, models of a flying- 

 fish boat and estate i:arts are set out on .shelves about the 

 sugar-cane screen which surrounds the section, and below 

 are baskets of yams, eddoes, and Sea Island cotton. A won- 

 derful collection of Barbadian seeds, made by a girl of 

 thirteen years of age, has been found a space near the Eoyiil 

 ilail Steam Packet Company's exhibit referred to below. 

 Mr. H. Martin Sells has kindly lent for exhibition in this 

 court a large glass case containing ciiral and flying and other 

 fish of great interest. 



To the immediate right of the crocodile arch are two 

 shelves of samples of manui'es, shown by the Anglo 

 Continental Guano Works. Near by is a comprehensive 

 display of limes and lime piroducts by Messrs. L. Hose & Co. 

 A pyramid of bottles of lime juice supports a golden dome, 

 crowned by a basket of roses, which serves to remind visitors 

 of the name of this enterprising firm. Facing this is an 

 octagonal stall for the sale of West Indian produce. Messrs. 

 James Philip & Co., the Pure Cane Sugar Company, have 

 a large show-case beyond this stall, containing every kind of 

 West Indian produce imaginable ; and across the gangway 

 Messrs. F. Everington k. Co., of Melville Hall estate, 

 Dominica, exhibit limes, cassava, and other local produce. 



Further to the right is the .section occupied by the 

 Iloyal ilail Steam Packet Comi)an3', who show, besides many 

 bottled fruits and preserves, a fine model of the West Indian 

 mail steamer ' Tagus.' 



Passing again down the middle gangway, the visitor 

 then reaches the Trinidad section arranged personally by 

 Mr. J. H. Hart, the Conunissioner, who, it is easy to see, 

 has had previous experience of exhibitions, in which the 

 products exhibited are extremely numerous. The section is 

 surrounded by red baize, which, though lessening the light 

 appearance of the sugar-cane screen, certainly shows off the 

 exhibits to very great advantage. On the left on entering is 

 a wide range of sugar samples in glass bottles, and near by 

 are asphalt and allied products, shown by the New Trinidad 

 Lake Asphalt Company. JIanjak, petroleum, and kerosene 

 are appropriately situated near this exhibit, and mention 

 must be made of a dress model showing what Trinidad can 

 do in the way of dyeing. Tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes are 

 shown under glass, and nutmegs, coffee, rice, and starches are 

 on a long table close by. Lace-bark d'oyleys and lace of great 

 value also find a place in a glass case, as al.so does a collection 

 of coolie jewellery made in Trinidad. To the right of the 

 entrance of this section is as fine a display of Trinidad cacao 

 as has ever been shown, we may venture to say. The 

 samples are in tall glass-stoppered bottles 



