Amador ledger., 1908-07-31

on the car. Took long walk
through the country to large sugar
plantation.
Tile Flotilla got under way at 10 80
a. m. on Decem Der 18th, and sailed
for Port of Spain, Trinidad. Had a
fine run down the coast of Porto
Rico, and at Culebra (B. W. l.. } about
3 p. m. to Swing ship" Started
again at $3.50 p. m. Struck rough
weather as soon as we got out from
under the lee of Culebra. At noon
December 18th we we're about half
way between San Juan aud Trinidad,
having covered 270 miles since noon
yesterday and expended 20 tons of
coal. Entered the "Dragon's Mouth"
about l D. M, Decem bera l4th. The
Dragon s Mouth" is the entrance to
the Bay of Paria, and is very narrow
with high mountains on both sides.
On the starboard hand coming in is
Venezuela, and on the port hand is
the Island of Trinidad. Anchored off
Port of Spain about 2:30 p. m, having
covered $50 miles since leaving San
Juan. The whole island is very
mountainous, covered with tropical
vegetation, and wild parrots, mon
keys, etc., are not uncommon a few
miles inland. The inhabitants are
nearly all black and speak English,
but have such Epeculiar accent that
it is very difficult to understand
them. There are also several thou
sand Hindus here. They have will
age of their own on the outskirts of
the town where they live according to
their customs and rites. Went ashore
Sunday afternoon (Dec. 15), and went
all over this village. Visited one of
their temples and saw them worship
ing tho sun and going through all
their peculiar rites and ceremonies.
They wear only the proverbial "Iion
cloth" and present a very ridiculuos
appearance. Also went out about i've
miles in the country to the Leper
Asylum. 1t is situated on the side
of mountain and has about 400 in
through it and found it very interest
ing, although tritie repulsive. They
have patients in all stages of the dis
ease. some who are only slightly visi-
BILE affected, and some who are total
wrecks. These latter ones are very
hideous looking, some whose legs and
arms have dropped off, or their eyes
sunken in or bullying out, or their
nose gone; some can hardly speak
because their mouths have rotted
around the edges until it is unman-
ageable and unbelievably large.
Nearly all of them have large raw
sores all over them, and suffer a great
deal. In striking contrast to all
these aim ost inhuman inmates are the
Sisters of Mercy who care for them.
They all look so neat aud clean in
their uniforms. They have devoted
their whole life to this work and
never leave the grounds. They are
always smiling and seem very happy
aud content, but it must be terri
IDLE life. The institution is support
ed by Great Britain andsthe buildings
are all very nice and clean. A high
wall surrounds the grounds, with
guards posted all around, making it
almost impossible for any of the in
mates to escape. The city of Port of
Spain isn't of much consequence.
The population is about $1,000, and
the buildings all rather unclean,
although the section where the
governor and few white people live
is very clean and pretty. The city
hall and two or three churches are
also very pretty buildings, and there
are several nice little parks out in
the suburbs.
The Arethusa arrived from the
states today (Dec. GOTH, much TO the
Joy of most of the crew, because she
carries our pay master, and most OF
the crew are "busted" and many Of
them need "small stores. We had
an accident to our blowers today
while under way, and the machinists
are hard at work trying to repair
them so we can sail on time. We
went alongside the Arethusa this
morning Dec Dist, and took necessary
stores on board out of our store
room. We showed off from her about
A 80 p. M, but without any money
or small stores, aud most of the crew
are as mad as wet hens.
Got under way this morning dec