GEORGETOWN. 121 



it is far more bearable than that of a summer in New York 

 City, contrary to our usual idea of the tropics. 



The manner of rain in the tropics is peculiar: the atmos- 

 phere may be ablaze with brilliant sunshine, when a slight 

 haze appears in the air and suddenly one realizes that a 

 fine gentle rain is falling. This may cease as imperceptibly 

 as it began, or increase to a terrific downpour — to give 

 place perhaps a few minutes later to the clear tropic glare 

 again. 



Before taking leave of Georgetown we must mention the 

 three chief points of attraction. The sea-wall comes first 

 and, as we have said, a most pleasant custom of the natives 

 is to drive there in late afternoon and sit in their carriages. 

 The concrete break-water is of vital importance to the town 

 itself as a portion of the streets are below sea-level. The 

 broad summit forms a mile or more of promenade, with a 

 sandy beach on one side, lapped with waves which strive ever 

 to break, but cannot because of the thick sediment which they 

 hold in suspense. On the other side a double row of tall, 

 graceful palms adds a touch of tropical beauty. 



The residences near the sea-wall are the coolest and most 

 pleasant in the town and are practically free from mosquitoes. 

 We spent more than one delightful evening in the garden at 

 Kitty Villa as the guests of our charming American friends, 

 Mr. and Mrs. Howell. From the open, veranda-like rooms 

 one may watch the Yellow Orioles,'''" the Brown-breasted 

 Pygmy Grosbeaks,'"" the Anis and Kiskadees going to roost. 

 Just before dusk scores of the small Black Vultures " appear, 

 flying singly, or in twos and threes low over the trees and palms 

 westward to some general roost. About this time the bats 

 and the lightning bugs arrive, large numbers of very tiny bats 

 hawking about after insects, and several large fruit-eaters 

 with wings spreading almost two feet across. These haunt 

 the fruit-laden sapadillo trees, and as the method of feeding of 



