TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



209 



who either have been born in Trinidad, or are so long 

 resident here as to become so familiar with it as not 

 to be able to appreciate its beauties, and consequently 

 think little of it. But it is not a place to be lightly- 

 thought of. On the contrary its scenery is something 

 to be proud of. In order to fully realize this, take an 

 intelligent artistic stranger for a drive over " The 

 Saddle, ' ' stop at the reservoir, buried on the one side 

 under towering hills — almost mountains — and shaded 

 on the other by beautiful clusters of bamboo, remind- 

 ing one of the old vast ruined Cathedral aisles to be 

 met in various parts of Europe, and hear your deligh- 

 ted companion exclaim " how beautiful ! how en- 

 chanting ! how romantic ! " for it is indeed a scene 

 enchanting to the imagination and pleasing to the 

 vision of any beholder. Continue on through the 

 picturesque little village, with its old Roman Catholic 

 church elevated on a high plateau on the side of the 

 hill, as if proclaiming its watchfulness over the spirit- 

 ual welfare of the inhabitants. We might here turn 

 to the left and pass over a steep road back to Port-of- 

 Spain, by Petit Valley, Cameron Valley, Pour Roads 

 and the hamlet of St. James, which we have visited 

 before ; or when we pass a little out of the village 

 in this direction turn to our right, and after a stiff 

 climb come to the top of the hills overlooking the sea, 

 a journey much affected and enjoyed by the late 

 Honourable Clarence Bourne and his charming wife, 

 when they resided in our midst. 



Time will not permit us to visit either of these 

 places, and, as we have already mapped out our route 



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