The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-11-19

\ '>~ - '~~F
/ prepared By the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. D. c.
The island Of Trinidad, British pos
session of the mouths Of the Orinoco
river. which barely escapes being a
part Of South America, affords close
.o-home opportunity to study the ORR
ent Columbus mistake has been
made the truth. II he landed again
on Trinidad he would meet true East
Indians as he thought he did when
his vessel first touched land in the
Western Hemisphere and the red man
was given his homogeneous name. IN
dian" For to this island thousands
of Hindus have been brought and they
have made large parts Of the country
miniature copies Of their home land
Trinidad has been called zone Of
the most favored, most beautiful and
most interesting isles In the world"
and whether the visitor OF today be
a naturalist, an artist, an ethnologist.
a business man or an ordinary garden
variety Of tourist he will probably find
the phrases accurate. To begin with,
the soil is exceedingly fertile. Though
in the tropics. the island has pleas
ant climate for It is in the trade wind
belt and Is covered with hills which
catch the breeze. There Is abundant
moisture, and thanks 10 fmportattons
from all parts of the world dating
back in many cases several centuries,
practically every plant the tropics
know grows there luIuriantly. II is
far enough south 10 escape the de-
structive hurricanes that periodically
devastate most of the other West In
dian islands With its stable British
government it is q haven for political
South America
Nor does Trinidad lack a world
wonder. Near the Islands southwest
ern extremity is the famous Lake OF
Asphalt from which has come paving
material for many of the cities OF
America and Europe. More than 100
acres is covered by the asphalt. Ike
a huge paved field. though the area
Is dotted with some pools Of muddy
water and a few patches Of vegeta- |
ton. One may walk upon the ma-
terial, but he must keep moving or his |
feet will slowly sink into It Negro |
laborers dig the asphalt and long /
of buckets transports IL to |
the nearby coast where It Is dumped /
into freight steamers.
This is one Of the most unpleasant l
parts Of Trinidad climatically; low, I
sizzling hot, and odorous; for sui
phurous smell Is constantly rising
from the asphalt There are other low
portions OF the island given over TO
swamps, alligators and malaria. but
the greater portion of the area Is
either well drained lowland or rolling
hills. Where the latter have not been
cleared the close-packed vegetation
sweeps up In a vivid green mantle
rom the seashore to highest pinnacle.
Il is on the large cacao plantations
n the rolling uplands that the pleas
ln.est rural conditions are found
Port Of Spain a Busy City.
Port of Spain. capital and metrop-
Ills of Trinidad. Is one of the busiest
titles Of the Caribbean. and one Of
he most delightful TO live in IL one
axes the ordinary precautions Of the
ropics TO shield himself from the hot
est rays of the sun The population
4 the city is about 62,Oo0. but II is
S cosmopolitan as many q city of
lalf q million On the streets one I
meets Britons, citizens OF the United
tates. Portuguese. Latin Americans.
egroes, Hindus. Chinese, and natives
I various mixtures OF blood includ-
1g that Of the old Caribs- Port OF
pains roadStead Is constantly crowd
d with ocean steamers and its huge
warehouses; are filed with varied 8
Gods. for this Is the principal depot
Or trade between Great Britain and (
he northern countries of South Amer e
a.
on the inland edge of Port of Spain q
the city's beauty spot. Queens park c
r the Savannah, adjoining which is q
le palace-like residence of the COVER
or and one OF the finest botanical G
ardens in existence. The latter, with {
$ wonderful collection of trees, ?
,rubs and flowers, all of which APP
,rently have found ideal growing \
,nditions. is a paradise for botan-
rs. II is a field as well for the G
because of the wealth o
its birds. including many of the $
,inty little creatures which gave W
rinidad its native name. Ii was o
lied Iere, Land of the Humming a
rds." =
Columbus discovered Trinidad on d'
. third voyage IN 14eS and gave VI