Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-15

The Pitch Lake Of Trinidad.

The most remarkable feature of Trini-
dad is the Pitch Lake. 1t is about mile
and a half in circumference. The pitch at
the sides of the lake is perfectly hard and
cold: but as one walks toward the middle
with the shoes of, in order to wade through
the water, the heat gradually increases.
the pitch becomes softer and softer, until
at last it is seen boiling up in a liquid !
state. The air is then strongly impreg-
mated with bitumen and sulphur, and the
impression of the feet is left upon the
pitch. 1t is possible during the rainy sea-
son to walk over most of the lake. but
during hot weather great part cannot be
approached. | extract the following ac-
count from the narrative of gentleman
who visited it from San Fernando: 10
get TO the lake it was necessary to sail ten
miles on the Cult of Paria. The course
Law along the shores OF the district OF
South Marina, with cane cultivation COM
inc down nearly to the waters edge, and
the planters houses placed so as to COM
mand good views of the sea; then past the
swamp called, par excellence, the lagoon,
which fronts the sea tor three or tour
miles, and extends far into the interior, a
fertile source of agues and fevers to the
estates adjoining, especially to leeward.
Then came some more miles of bush, and
then our destination, the beach and village
of La Brae (Which signifies pitch). Moth
ing could be more appropriate than the
name, for it IS pitch here and there and
everywhere. 1t is the shore. it is the bed
of the sea as far as you can trace it. 1t is
the street and the surface of the ground.
1t forms the floors of the houses, and is I'M
der the vegetation which f1ourshes with
tropical luxuriance all around. The road
proceeds almost in a straight line from the
shore for about mile to the borders OF
the lake, which is wholly covered with
pitch. presenting the appearance of mo-
ton, though quite hard when he visited
| It'll. 1t appeared as if wave after wave
was coming on, each one having sufhclent
consistency to preserve its crest, as if the
ripples on level seashore had been sud-
denly arrested and solidified. The pitch
is quite level with the edge of the basin.
1t was our intention to proceed toward
the middle of the lake, and after we had
spent some time on the border surveying
the singular scene we began to put our in
tention into effect. The sides Of the hum
mocks were slippery, and very steep but
we pursued our way till we arrived near
the middle, where was a larger flow OF
pitch than any we had crossed. Some
guava bushes afforded shelter from the
suns rays, and there we halted. The
stiffness was very marked. Not sign of
animal life but what came from our own
party, while the black, brownish hue OF
the surface of the pitch added to the mo-
notonv of all around. Yet even here were
the guavo bushes growing, without any
visible soil to nourish them. although
probably cropping-up of soil in the lake
gave them place to strike root in. The
water in the lake is so slightly tinged with
the taste of pitch as to be drinkable, and
there are many places where those inclined
to bathing can indulge their wish