^6 TiMEHRI. 



any rate better than running one's chance in a sailing 

 vessel, which takes in times of calm and adverse currents 

 as much as 7 or 8 days ; a catastrophe to be avoided by 

 all valetudinarians. We reached Carupano at 5 a.m. 

 06lober the 20th, and on Friday the 22nd I took passage 

 in the Dutch Mail Packet for Port-of-Spain. The accom- 

 modation and the fare is homely and in some respefts 

 preferable to the larger boats. 



My conclusions, after rather a hurried visit, from a 

 sanitary point of view are : 



1. That Margarita is highly suited for chest com- 

 plaints, and the sequelae of malarial fever. 



2. The mean temperature is higher than Trinidad, but 

 owing to its even chara6ler and the absence of humidity 

 lighter clothes can be worn and therefore the heat is 

 not felt. 



3. The absence of hotels or houses to rent is a bar at 

 present to any one in ill health ; the difficulty of access 

 and the hardship on the route via Carupano should also 

 make the trip to any one not in robust health prohibitory. 



4. The bathing is perfe6\, and there is also splendid 

 fishing and rabbit and wild goat shooting. 



5. Food is varied in quality cheap and excellent, 

 the fish being magnificent ; oysters are abundant and 

 of fine quality (there is also the chance of finding a 

 pearl). 



6. It is said that a line of steamers is to run from 

 La Guayra, to Port-of-Spain, touching at Margarita. This 

 should induce Demerarians and Trinidadians to make a 

 move in the direflion of obtaining suitable houses or 

 hotels. The climate is utterly unlike and infinitely 

 superior to Barbados. 



