288 Timekri. 



in Trinidad. The new house built on the site of the old one was a great 

 improvement on it, and we were very happy till an outbreak of malignant 

 fever prostrated us all and took away our youngest and prettiest. Much 

 sympathy was shewn us and help given in our trouble. 



I think no place can be more full of delightful surprises than a 

 tropical Botanic Garden. There is always some wonder or benuty to see. 

 The opening of a rare and choice lily, the flowering of perhaps a price- 

 lees orchid ; a specimen from the fores 1- , or a wealth of blossom on some 

 towering tree 



I was privileged to see a copy of Charles Kingsley's "At Last" 

 marked and annotated by Mr. Prestoe, so I knew where to look for the 

 exquisite " Amherstia," the Lignum -Vitae trees with their gloss} 7 leaves and 

 lilac flowers, the giant bamboo, the wonderful Temple of whispering 

 palms, the Brownia with its scarlet clusters ; the African palms with their 

 glossy nuts, and many other beautiful works of nature. 



The glorious mountains at the back of the Gardens were at times 

 brilliant with flowering trees, and alas ! at times with the vivid flames of 

 mountain fires, which I watched in fear and trembling. 



In the autumn of 1878 Mr. Prestoe was invited to go to Demerara 

 and select a site for the formation of a Botanical Garden. On his return 

 to Trinidad after having selected a site and prepared a plan for a garden. 

 my husband was offered the post of Head < 'ardener in Demerara at a slight 

 increase of salary. I did not want to leave Trinidad or my beloved and 

 prolific garden with its constant supply of fruit and vegetables, but my 

 husband thought it would not be wise to refuse. The prospect of laying 

 out a garden of the size and on the lines of the plan w 7 as most attractive 

 to him. 



We left Trinidad on the 21st December, 1878, and arrived in 

 Demerara on the 23rd. Owing to a severe accident immediately before 

 embarking I had to be carried out of Trinidad (I was dragged in !) and 

 carried in a deck chair through Sandbacb, Parker's wharf on arriving at 

 Georgetown. We were taken to the Tower Hotel and the proprietress 

 (Mrs Murray) treated me with great care and attention. I am very 

 proud of the fact that she still allows me to call her my best friend. As 

 soon as possible after our arrival Mr. J. E. Tinne, afterwards Chairman 

 of the Board of Directors, called to drive my husband to the scene of his 

 future labours. Never shall I forget the shock of his return, looking the 

 picture of misery and disappointment. "Oh !" he exclaimed, " I wish I 

 could take you all back in the same steamer. There is no house for us, 

 no garden, nothing but mud and rank vegetation. I can never make a 

 garden there ! " I was ill and nervous, and in a very weeping voice said, 

 " We can't go ba;k and you will have to do your best." Well ! he did his 

 best and has had the satisfaction of being told that the garden made in 

 such an unpromising situation cannot be surpassed, if equalled, in the 

 West Indies. On the 2nd of January, 1879, the first sod wa6 turned and 



