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CITY OF TRINIDAD. 229 



amphibious creatures, take to the high spots for safety. They remain 

 on what, in the wet season, become islands, there patiently to wait the 

 going down of the annual deluge. Many cattle and horses are lost by 

 not knowing where to go. 



As we approached the town of Trinidad, the canoes lying at the bank 

 of the stream, logs towed up from the wooded country, with the resem- 

 blance of the cathedral to a ship-house, added to the number of white 

 cotton hamacs hung under sheds by the canoemen, reminded us very 

 much of a navy yard. 



The Indians were all dressed alike, in white cotton frocks ; some 

 carrying jars of water on their heads from the stream to the houses ; 

 others washing. Carpenters hewing logs for houses, or digging out 

 canoes with North American tools. One of the men was somewhat 

 astonished at the interest we took in his chisel, manufactured in New 

 England, and from hand to hand passed to this Indian carpenter, who 

 used it tolerably well, and took great care of it. He had no idea from 

 whence it came, except that the canoemen from Vinchuta brought it 

 with them. His mallet was of home manufacture. His adze came 

 with the chisel. He had no nails for fastening his timbers ; wooden 

 pegs were used. Some of the canoemen were loading with chocolate 

 and sugar for Santa Cruz and VinchutsP; others were unloading salt, 

 flour, and foreign goods. Women were digging clay out of the bank 

 for pottery. The men are industrious, and the women quite as good 

 looking and as pleasant in expression of face as they are active and 

 handsome in figure. The exterior of the town and people was remark- 

 able for neatness. There was life and activity here. What particu- 

 larly pleased us was, that no shabby-looking policemen came to demand 

 our passports. We walked into town undisturbed by the side of a fine- 

 looking Indian driving a yoke of oxen. 



The streets were cleanly swept, wide, and perfectly level ; they ran at 

 right angles; each square had been nicely measured by the Jesuits who 

 came into the wilderness, called the savages together, and instructed 

 them how to build a city. 



The houses are all of one story, roofed with tiles, which extend over 

 the sidewalks and supported on a line of posts, by which arrangement 

 every house in town has a piazza, and, in the wet season of the year, 

 people walk all round one block under cover, or all over town, only ex- 

 posed to the rain at the crossings. The floors are on the ground, raised 

 a very little above the level of the street. The hollow of the square is 

 open to all on each side, so that oxen or horses may be driven through. 

 One of these squares is the market place, with buildings all round. One 



