A letter written to Mrs* Holmes while in Kingston, 
March 11, 1900, gives a glimpse of the rare charms of the 
islands : 
HHH 
(Extract from a letter 
to Mrs. Holmes) 
"It seems now that we shall soon be homeward bound — ■ 
and I am glad for it is so difficult to get from one island 
to another here that spring will be here before anything can 
be done. We have tried for two weeks to get to Cuba but have 
entirely failed. It will be impossible to reach Porto Pico 
without returning first to New York or going half way to Liver- 
pool. We are tentatively booked for the Philadelphia fruit 
steamer that leaves Port Antonio on the north shore of this 
island on the 22nd of March. That will bring us home about 
March 27th. 
’’Since writing you we have been across the island by 
rail to Port Antonio and back again by carriage. It is all 
interesting, charming, superb. The north side is typically 
tropical, and the mountain as well as the shore scenery is hard 
to beat. At Port Antonio we met Professor Langley and Mr. and 
Mrs. Hague; the former is out with Powell at the town of Mande- 
ville, and the Hagues are here. 
I am busy every day securing and boxing collections and 
looking up sites# Yesterday was Sunday and I made some sketches. 
Today I finish my work here, the next day climb a mountain near- 
ly snd probably the next day start on a carriage journey 75 
miles around the east end of the island. 
