244 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW 



unfortunately a reef runs right across the bay from 

 nearly one point to the other, and prevents vessels 

 drawing more than 8 feet of water from entering 

 near the beach, but a sail on shore in one of the 

 steamer's cargo boats will repay the traveller, parti- 

 cularly if the day is fine. It, like many other places of 

 Trinidad forms a striking contrast with the Trinidad 

 of Then compared with the Trinidad of Now. 



From this bay we pass round Point Galeota, 

 round which Columbus sailed on the memorable 31st 

 July, and sight the long beach of Mayaro for miles 

 forming one vast panorama of cocoanut palms — a 

 beautiful sigRt when first seen by the beholder. The 

 origin of the cocoanut palm in Trinidad is accounted 

 for in Kingsley's " At Last " as follows : — 



" These cocoas, be it understood, are probably 

 not indigenous. They spread, it is said, from an 

 East Indian vessel which was wrecked here. Be this 

 as it may, they have thoroughly naturalised them- 

 selves. Every nut which falls and lies, throws out 

 during the wet season, its roots into the sand ; and is 

 ready to take the place of its parent when the old 

 tree dies down." 



Mayaro is a long beach about ten miles, and my 

 advice to the visitor is to land at St. Mary's where 

 the journey on shore is much shorter and the surf not 

 so rough ; we can wander inland up a nice road for 

 about half a mile to the top of a slightly rising ground 

 from which we obtain a view for miles around not 

 only of the cocoanut palm but also of the cocoa or 

 chocolate tree which is fast becoming the staple 



