326 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



etc., etc. are an exaggeration ; let me give his exact 

 words and then judge ; they were as follows : — 



6 My friends, I am come down this afternoon to 

 have a little talk with you. I wish to tell you that it 

 is entirely a misconception on your part to think 



there is any desire to stop your amusement I 



had no idea what your masquerade was like. If I 

 had known you should have no cause for dissatisfac- 

 tion ; there has been entirely a misconception on all 

 sides, for the only reason for interference was the 

 fear of fire. I thought the carrying of torches at 

 this time of the night might be attended with danger 



and I was anxious to guard against it You 



can enjoy yourselves for these two days and I will 

 take care that the police do no interfere with you. I 

 will give the town to you for your masquerade if you 

 promise not to make any disturbance or break the 

 law. I will give orders that the police shall not mo- 

 lest or interfere with you. If you keep within the 

 law there shall be no interference with your mas- 

 querade. ' ' 



It will be seen that these lines set forth in a fairly 

 accurate way what took place on the night of the 

 " Cannes Brulee " riot and the following day. Two 

 of the Councillors alluded to — there were others — 

 were Borough Councillors backed up by two promi- 

 nent, and with the lower class influential, citizens ; 

 one a general contractor and the other a man hold- 

 ing a very mionr government appointment. The 

 governor did go to the market place, and spoke to the 

 mob, ordered the police and soldiers to their respec- 



