Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-01-21

WAYS tine breez-s here. good bathing
aud deep sea fishing. aud the hive
Islands j. popular resort for those who
desire a hri-i respite from the intense
heat of the city. The State Prison is
located on large island beyond this
group aud there are no accounts OF
prisoners escaping from this water
bound prison Aud now after nearly |
two hours on the water We approach the
Grand Bncas.
Undoubtedly at some remote period
in world construction, Trinidad aud all
these nearby islands, as we'll as the
Gulf of Paria, were a part OF the CONT
,urmt, but hy some mighty change OF sub
mersion, extensive lowlands became a
gulf, aud the higher elevations were lett
rs islands ia the midst of the waters,
Between the extreme points OF Trinidad
| and Venezuela there is IA broad strait
some fifteen miles in width, connecting
Gulf and sea, broken at intervals 10y
steep sided rocky islands, small in ex-
tent, breaking abruptly from the sea,
thus making four prominent channels,
ranging from half mile to eight miles
wide; the widest being the "Grand
Channel" next the Venezuela coast.
! This is the "Grand Bocas" or dragons
Month, and to approach it from either
sea or gulf is a sight which truly beg
CARS description. Early in the morning
when the eastern sunrise touches all ma
ture with the beauty of new life; or
at the sunset hour, when silver aud gold
and all the colOred gers seem to be a
gift to both land aud sea, the picture is
one of gorgeous beauty, and the quiet
aud appreciative gazer cannot but be
inspired and eutranced by the grand
suhlimity of 1t all.
Soon after leaving New York tourists
read and talk of the "Grand Bocas", and
although "distance may lend enchant-
ment", the anticipation does not equal
the realization. The upIifted rocks, Of
ten hanging over water worn caves; the
heavy waves breaking into white surf
th.ga pAlil haoau tha rupinas
and small patches of grassy higher
levels, where few natives make Their
homes; the SUBMITS densely clothed ii
rich tropical vegetation all with var
iegated shades of green, as sunshine anC
cloud shadows may light up or cove
them, is picture to tempt the eye anC
! quicker the soul of the artist. AnC
along the south of this chain of island
:, and waterways, alternately linked to
=, gether, we have been steaming for hal
an hour; as it were, a little time in TIN
lea of an island and then looking through
. one of the open channels, across tn
waters of the Caribbean Sea to the
northern horizon, beyond which, tw,
. thousand miles away, lies the grea
north land, SO rich to us, in memory an,
II hope.
On the highest point of Chacachacare
at an elevation of 900 feet is a light
;. house, whose constant light guards thi
dangerous entrance. This is the arges
~. of these islands, and next east of tn
Grand Channel.
II And now at midday we anchor in
= small and sheltered harbor Oh its south
erly coast, black natives row us ashor
n in an old weatherbeaten boat which ha
. safely done like service for many befor
4 us we walk about twenty rods through
4 the woods, aud come out upon small
y sandy beach, and with our hands dip NJ
., some water from the Caribbean Sea
o In our days of childhood and youth GU
O fondest dreams had hardly limited a
+ such an experience. 1t does not take III
= long to don our bathing suits, and TO
j. an hour we enjoy it, so much, playing
q in the rolling, breaking surf here in tn,
- far South.
# But of course we lnnched early anC
need the contents of the basket, and in
. vesting ourselves of what we had been
q Invested, we spread the white cloth or
a the white sand under the trees, and sit
/. ting around it, we soon enjoy to the full
h OF our capacity the good things prepared
= for the occasion. The Roman said, 81
h came, | saw, | conquered; we eat, We
think, we enjoy. After this lunch we
. sit and look, talk and wonder; (yo,
p smoke) while we listen to the voice OIL
the mighty deep as the surf beats
; against the nearby rocky cliff or gently
=. rolls up the sandy beach at our feet
But the day wanes; the sun is sinking
! IN the West. We take another dip in
the waters for few minutes and then
obey the call Of the steamers whistle
: calling us to embark, and we return te
q the city in the early evening tired bu,
, not unhappy.
& ! trust you have enjoyed the little out
ing, 1--WE have-ED.), and now | return
you to the cold winds and drifting snow
of dear old Vermont.
Cordially yours,
+. ID. HALE.