66 MORTON ON THE PITCH LAKE OF TRINIDAD. 



compact gypsum of Antigonisli has quite the character of aLibaster. 

 I have only seen small pieces but probably larger ones are to be got. 

 The quality of this as a material for carving was shown at the 

 Dublin Exhibition, it proved excellent. A small piece was 

 carved to represent a bunch of grapes and some leaves by Mr. C. 

 Harding, of Windsor, whose skill and taste in another department 

 of fine art, viz : pen and ink drawing, have contributed materially 

 to the adornment of the Nova Scotian Courts in both the late 

 Exhibitions. It came under my own notice that both the carving 

 and the material, attracted the attention of a wood- carver and called 

 forth the expression of his favourable opinion. 



In the Provincial Building now being erected, an opportunity 

 offers for testing the value of native materials in internal decoration, 

 and perhaps the public voice will be heard in favor of embracing it 

 as the matter is surely one of Provincial interest. 



Art. VIII. Remarks on the Pitch Lake or Trinidad. By 

 Rev John Morton, LaHave. 



IRe.td March 8, 1866.] 

 The Pitch Lake of Trinidad lies on the western side of the 

 island and about a mile from the Gulf of Paria. It is nearly circu- 

 lar, and about three-fourths of a mile across. There is no point 

 from which a view of the whole lake may be obtained, as it is 

 broken in upon by islands and obtruding points. These lie princi- 

 pally about 400 yards from the western side of the lake ; and from 

 these the view easterly is very striking, and relieves the disappoint- 

 ment which is generally felt upon the first view of the lake. The ex- 

 pression lake is apt at first to mislead. The pitch is not in a fluid 

 state, except in a very small sjDot, and may be safely walked upon 

 over all the rest of the lake. Indeed teams might be driven over a 

 great part of it, although any heavy weight left on it Avould gradu- 

 ally sink. The jaitch, which from the heat of the sun and probably 

 also from subterranean fire, is hot all over the lake, becomes hotter as 

 you approach a point near the centre, where it is simmering and 

 boiling over very gently. You can safely advance to the very edge 



