154 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



sessed of infinite power has still, I am afraid, to be 

 learnt by many, and it is just as absurd to think that 

 their puny efforts can stop the rising tide of the ad- 

 mixture of races undoubtedly to their benefit : 

 this will, I am sure, at no distant day be an accom- 

 plished fact. 



While preparing this chapter 1 was for a few 

 hours in the company of a lady and two gentlemen, 

 and on enunciating the ideas as here expressed one 

 of the gentlemen said, 6 6 You must have been reading 

 Trollope's book on the West Indies," I answered il I 

 read some of his books but not the one on the West 

 Indies, I was not even aware that he had written such 

 a book ; if I had I certainly would have read it ; but 

 if his ideas coincide with mine on this subject I am 

 proud to be in such good company." The gentle- 

 man replied, ' ' He has written a very fine book on the 

 West Indies and one of his chapters coincide with 

 your ideas as you have expressed them." 



I went to the Library next day and obtained the 

 book. I regret that space will not permit me to give 

 more than one extract from it ; but that is an import- 

 ant one and bears out what I have so feebiy demon- 

 strated. It reads as follows : — 



6 \ If the coloured people in the West Indies can 

 overtop contempt, it is because they are acquiring 



education, civilization, and power My theory 



— for I acknowledge to a theory — is this : that Pro- 

 vidence has sent white men and black men to these 

 regions in order that from them may spring a race 

 fitted by intellect for civilization ; and fitted also by 



