Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-12
A TRIP ID THE TROPICS
In the Far Away Island of Trim
 idad.
BADLY MIXED POPULATION
Where the Color Line Is Not Drawn-Whites, Negroes, Hindoos. Spanish, Chinese
 and Arabs Living Together.

clal Corlespo4qenGesl at the other islands at which F stopped, I was met on shore by a motley array of humanity, the coal black predominating. My first duty was to telegraph my arrival to an anxious and inquiring world. I cabled four words and was touched to the tune of SIP, or at the rate of $3 per word I next disposed of what business had and then I turned my attention to sight sec ing and amusement.
 For fear that the aforesaid inquiring public may not know my exact wherea- bouts I feel it my unbounden duty to tell them.
 Trinidad lies just 10 degrees above the equator in 62 degrees west longitude. It Was discovered on July 31, 1436, by Co., lumbus on his third voyage, and has re- mained discovered ever Since. Columbus Saiied from the Cape Verde islands, SO the story goes, intending to reach the equinoetial line, but when in the 5th de- gree ef latitude north became becalmed in the torpidity which prevails In the re- zion contiguous to the equator, known among sailors as the "Doldrumsn Suf- fering greatly from the heat, which was so intense as to melt the tar and open the seams of his ships, causing them to leak, he was forced to seek harbor as quickly as possible in order to repair damages After much anxious sailing he sighted land on the aforesaid date, foot sore and weary. He had resolved to name the first land he beheld in honor of the blessed Trinity, and as the>triple summits of these mountains presented themselves he regarded the appearance as providential and devoutly named the island La Trinidad. It remained in Spanish possession until 1797, when a British expedition from Martinique caused it's equalization, and 1t was finally a6 fn tni tr, h,r 1n treaty of Amiens. The island contains about 1,O00,000 acres and lies just off of the Orinoco river. Not satisfied with commanding the mouth of the river, England wants to actually own the river With that idea in view she has been gradually encroaching upon Venezuelan territory until 1t now looks as if the United States government will have to step in and interfere. The "blasted Britishers' down here have gotten it into their heads that our country won't fight. and they think they can bluff us as they do smaller powers. If MT. Cleve- land would only enforce the Monroe doc Urine, which Is clearly applicable to this dispute, he will cement the friendship of the South American republics and en- nance our trade with them. This boun diary dispute is agltating the people here as did the silver question agitate' our people during the summer.
 The population of Trinidad is motley mixture of English, French, Spanish, Chinese, negro, Hindoo and Arab, speak ing a babel of tongues, a patois,. with a Frencll-Spanisr foundation predominant ing No place presents a ter varie- ty of race types. The most novel is the Hindoo coolie, with turban and two scant cotton garments, just sufficient to com ply with the demands of de- not uncomely, having regular flea, lures, with abundant hair and flashing black eyes. They wear much heWelry, many bracelets and bangles on the ankles, wrists and arms, sometimes extending above the elbow, heavy earrings and pendants in the nose over hanging the lip, which makes kissing very difficult I imagine.
 These coolies are brought over from Hlndostan, under governmental super vision. to work in the fields in place of dhe negroes, who positively will not work. They are frugal, temperate and economi- cal. They might be regarded as good citizens if they were Christians, for they never get drunk, never steal, are quiet and orderly, chaste and devoted to their families.
 good many Chinese are to be seen here. They are peaceable and harmless, minding their own business and never try to convert the whites to their reli- zion. The negroes are insolent and un- pleasant to deal with, the women being gross, ungainly and repulsive. The women do more work than the men, sav- ing. of course, the hard labor on roads, moving heavy objects, loading and nn- loading vessels, etc. Few women are found idling, but many men appear to be taking it easy. Hardly d negress is to be met who is not carrying 6 load on her head.
 The color line Is not drawn in the tropics and the negro is found working be- side the whites in every branch of trade nd in fhp nrnfaSSiOnS. RPinR black does moi affect mans chance- of success, ev- erything else being equal. Al the schools the white and black and yellow children sit together side by side. There are no negro pews in the churches. At balls and parties, public and private, persons of color mingle indiscr minately with whites. Some of the wealthiest, best edu- cated and smartest men in the tropics are negroes. most of whom were edu- Cated in the leading colleges of Europe. One of the leading lawyers here is negro. Negroes have distinguished them- selves in war. literature the sciences, art. music and politics. One of the most distinguished negroes of today is AleXan- der Dumas, the younger, author of ca mille" etc. A New Orleans negro named Caraby was a brilliant advocate Of the bar of Paris. A Cuban negro named White received the first prize as violin hst from the French Conservatory of Mu- sic in 1856 Another negro named De la Nux was pianist of great skill and celebrity Then there is our own Blind Tom, who has delighted the world with his wonderful playing.
 In the French army are several men of color at the present time. General Dumas was native of St. Domingo, general-in- chief of the armies of the re- public in 1794 and the intimate friend of Hoche, Kleber and Marcean. His name Is chiseled in the imperishable marble of the Arc de Triomphe His son, Alexander Dumas, was a celebrated writer. Other li,erary men who were either negroes or mulattoes were Eugene Chapus. native of Guadaloupe. pleasing and refined Writer and editor of the journal Le Sport Francais; Felicien Mallefille a romancer and dramatist. author of Memories de Don Juan and comedy entitled Le Coeuret la Dot" which had a long run al the Comedie Francaise, Paris: Au- guste l.acaussads, g. distinguished poet and cheyaller of the Legion of Honor: Victor Sejour. a native of New Orleans, nramatist of considerable celebrity. and an officer aos the Legion of Honor: Melvil Bloucoals, ss writer # many valuable works