TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW- 



275 



■ ' the noble game of cricket, 9 9 or what some of our 

 celebrated cricketers would now contemptuously 

 designate " bat and ball." A poor old East Indian, 

 commonly called ' ' a coolie, ' ' was driving a cow to his 

 employer's residence and these young mischief-mak- 

 ers began to pelt him with soft lumps of earth, which 

 naturally annoyed him ; he ran after and caught one 

 who, without a moment's hesitation struck the old 

 man on the top of the head with a wicket, felled him 

 to the ground and immediately ran away. I went 

 in pursuit, but the boy got too much start and I 

 returned to the old man to see his state. I found 

 him senseless, with a bleeding wound on the top of 

 the head, and immediately had him conveyed to the 

 hospital not far from the Savannah. 



Having safely conveyed him there I looked about 

 for some one to attend to him, and after some 

 minutes had elapsed, a young practising dispenser 

 leisurely strolled up. I said, 6 6 Here is a man in a 

 dangerous condition, please have him attended to." 

 ' 6 Leave him there ' ' was the reply, 6 6 I will send for 

 the assistant surgeon, he has just gone home to his 

 tea." Being well acquainted with what obtained 

 elsewhere, I asked, " have you no resident surgeon on 

 the premises ? " Yes," he replied, " but it is not 

 his turn for duty." " No matter," I said, " call 

 him, when he hears of the serious nature of the case 

 he will surely come." " No," he replied, " he must 

 remain till the assistant surgeon comes, I have sent 

 for him." " Have you no dresser ? " I asked, "who 

 in the mean time could attend to his wound ? " 



