The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-10
Correspondence of the Troy Daily Wing.
A LAKE OF PITCH.
PORT OF SPAIN, ISLAND OF TRINIDAD, J
Saturday. February Sd, 1850. {

"A hAhG OT IllSI.
PORT OF SPAIN, ISLAND OF TRINIDAD,
Saturday. February Sd, 1850.
Last week made an excursion to the Pitch,
Lake. Early on Friday morning embarked
in the steamer Lady Mcleod for the point of
La Brea, distance of about 40 miles Souther-
ly along the coast. There was one passenger
only to land at La Brea, Mr.. Chapman of St
Vincent An introduction by fellow passen.
ger to neighboring planter and to the supervi-
sor, procured us mules to prosecute our enter.
prise. Mr.. c., having few miles further to 90
to visit plantation on busines, and his route
being the same as mine, | accepted his invita-
ton to bear him company as far as the lake.
Imagine black surface-a dreary, desolate
black-spread out to the length of nearly a
half a mile by an eighth in width-lighty va.
ried by many fissures-some of them but a step
across, some just too wide to jump-a few Of
these fsssures filled with short shruhbery, but
most of them are mere ponds of water,-wa-
ter as clear as the mountain spring and then
imagine the whole bordered by thick growth.
of trees and the graceful bending bamboo, and
this whole border thickly hanging with pro-
fusion and variety of beautiful howers-I know
not the spot elsewhere where the eye can rest
on such profusion of flowers at glance
and this may possibly convey some general
idea of the popularity Of general view. Fora
close inspection of the central part of the lake
| was obliged to repeat my visit the next morn
ing, securing the services of negro to carry q
plank to bridge the unjumpa6le fssures
then found spots where the surface of the
pitch would gradually sink beneath my feet,
so that in a few moments | stood in cavity
ankle deep. Not wishing to pitch deeper,
changed my position. In other places it seemed
to be boiling below; for the surface around me
was bubling and simmering like that of pot
over the fire, while the gas thus discharged was
very strong. Though the surface of the lake is
generally two hard to receive a foot print
just hard enough to cut readily with an axe
there are places where the pitch oozes out in
nearly liquid form, SO that one may dip it with
a spoon. Some of the water assures are quite
deep, affording good bathing, and are tolerably
well stocked with fish.
Near the lake found black man engaged
in boiling the pitch in several large boilers A
part of this he sells after boiling in pure state
and to the rest he adds portion of lime, which
is shipped as mastic. He says he has cut from
the lake a great many hundreds of tons, but he
never penetrates more than ten or twelve inches
below the surface, and the hole is always filled
again within two days after the cutting The
supply is doubtless inexhaustable. But the pitch
is not confined to the spot have endeavored
to describe. There are masses of it extending
miles inland, and in several points it extends to
the sea beach. At the last place it is cut out
in large quantities, to ship to this city and some
of the islands, to use in building and in tagging
the Streets 1t is used by the steamers, being
largely mixed with coal for fuel, and is recently
coming into use in the manufacture ofpetroliun,.
But whenever these cuttings are made-o the
lake, inland or on the beach-the quantity is
almost Immediately made good, and in some :.
places gradually increases. The ncighborhood
is in motion, very slow to be sure, yet there is,
as it were, growing up of the surfnce in spots,
so that the houses in La Brea are found now
and then to have a side or an end raised a few
inches above its opposite.
SINGULAR ENAcTING OF THE CRuCIFIxIoH..
A Berlin paper states that there is in Rus
sin place called Annerdale, where most sim.
gular custom exists. Every ten years the aw-'
full scenes of the crucifxion are enacted by the
villagers. Some are dressed to represent SOL.
diers and Jews, some as Pharisees, and many
men, women and children stand around as the
crowd of spectators, while on the three crosses,
are nailed figures in wax and at the feet kneeE
women to represent the Marys. The whole
scene is gone through within all its details, and,
lasts all dav. This very singular performance,
which has been kept up since the middle ages,>
is announced to take place again in the month,
of June of this year, and strangers are invited
to witness it, &
&
MICHAEL ANcELo's WILL-This great ar.
tist lived to the age of eighty.nine, and then
died uttcring his last will in these words: ." My
s,ul I ras;nn ia Cod ,,,,- Lai.. 70 tLa aa.tLs