CAMPS IN THE CAPJBBEES. 



&& 



CHAPTER I. 



DOMINICA. 



THE MYSTERIOUS OCEAN CURRENT. DOMINICA AND COLUM- 

 BUS. ROSEAU AND ANTHONY TROLLOPE. A WEST-INDIAN 

 TOWN. INTRODUCTION TO TROPICAL SCENES. THE MOUN- 

 TAINS. THE FIRST CAMP. 



ALONG the entire group of the Caribbee Isles, 

 sweeping their western shores, flows a strange, 

 mysterious current. Not subject, apparently, to the 

 laws that govern the winds and tides of this region, 

 it for years puzzled and baffled the ablest navigators 

 and oldest sailors. Among the northernmost of these 

 islands large ships were often sunk, carried by the 

 force of this unseen and unsuspected stream upon 

 sunken reefs or barren rocks. Even so long ago as 

 when Columbus was making his voyages, we have 

 on record that he was detained by this very current 

 among these same islands. 



It was not known until a comparatively recent 

 period that it was the outflow of a mighty river no 

 less than the great Orinoco that caused all this dis- 

 turbance of waters, and that dependent upon its dif- 



