206 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



was thus forced to accept them as a new enchanting 

 shade. 



Here the shadows caused by the spur of the 

 mighty Andes, itself enshrouded in a golden mist 

 reflecting the glories of the departed sun, thus form- 

 ing a suitable setting to the picture reflected in the 

 waters of the Caribbean sea. Over the one " to me- 

 mory dear " the beautiful sunset had lingered, fre- 

 quently changing and intermingling its various 

 colours, tints and shades ; over the other it hovered 

 as if instinct with life, and was loth to depart ; in 

 the one it could be viewed for hours of slowly fading 

 glamour ; in the other a tropical twilight of short 

 duration bade it depart, but not before it also had 

 deeply sunk into the mind of the beholder where it 

 will remain for ever. 



I have seen many such since, all beautiful but 

 none which remains so deeply impressed on my 

 memory, reminding me as it hovered over the distant 

 hills of Monos, Huevos and Chacachacare of Gold- 

 smith's sublime though slightly altered words : 



" Though round their breast the rolling clouds are spread, 

 Eternal sunshine settles on their head." 



Last of the islets comes Patos, a very uninteres- 

 ting sight commonly called " Goose Island " there is 

 not a single tree on it. Up to twenty years ago, this 

 island was devoted to the breeding of goats, then one 

 of Trinidad's " minor industries." Patos is claimed 

 by the Venezuelan Government on the ground that it 

 was not, as they allege, included dn the articles of 

 capitulation on the surrender of Trinidad by the 



