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“...February, and March, the north-east trade-
winds blow with great regularity, rendering those
months particularly pleasant, and, speaking generally,
year in and year out, the favourable features of the
West Indian climate far outnumber the bad.
HEALTH. There are well-qualified physicians in
each of the West Indian islands, British Guiana, and
British Honduras, besides efficient Government medical
services. Indeed, throughout the West Indies there is
no lack of medical men; but tourists who adopt the
usual precautions as to diet and mode of living should
not require to have recourse to their ministrations. It
used to be said that the best way to ensure good health
was to keep the pores of the skin open and the mouth
shut! Owing to the moisture in the air and the pre-
valence of the trade-winds for the greater part of the
year, the heat of the sun is felt far less than it is at the
same temperature in New York or London, and for this
reason sunstroke is practically unknown in the West
Indies ; but...”
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“...is the first meal of the day in
the West Indies. This connotes a cup of the beverage
from which its name is taken, or of tea or other liquid
refreshment, whatever be its nature, which is served
with toast and butter at the early hour of 6 a.m. Break-
fast is somewhat of a movable feast. It may be put on
the table at any time between io and 12.30, according
to the locality, and it will often be found to partake
more in the nature of luncheon at home. Tea follows
at 4.30 or 5, and dinner at the usual time of 7.30 or
8 p.m. At first, the difference in the hour of meals in
various islands is rather bewildering, but the visitor
soon gets accustomed to the changed conditions.
EXPENSES. The cost of a visit to the West Indies
must, of course, depend very largely upon the tastes
and the temperament of the individual. While at sea,
there are, after the ticket has been paid for, no necessary
expenses except for wines, etc., and the inevitable tips.
Ample ready money should, however, be carried to meet...”
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“...sent out,'
for in British Guiana, though the roads are good, the
distances are short, and in the small islands the roads
are either tod indifferent or too hilly for comfort. They
should, moreover, make the fullest enquiries as to the
supply of spare parts suitable for their cars. In
Barbados the speed limit is fixed at twenty miles an
hour in the country and eight miles in town; while in
British Guiana, Jamaica, and Trinidad the driver is only
compelled to drive with safety and to observe the usual
police traffic regulations. In Bermuda motor-cars are
entirely .banned, and there are many who think this a
great advantage....”
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“...MORE GENERAL INFORMATION 17
Ladies should take their usual thin summer dresses,
but shun openwork blouses, which are a source of great
attraction to mosquitoes, and, owing to the action of
the sun, give the wearer the appearance of being tattooed
when she appears in evening dress. Dresses and parasols
made of glacé silk, chiffon, or taffeta should also be left
at home, as they suffer in the tropics. So, too, should
sequin dresses, as the sequins yield to the great heat and
become unpleasantly sticky. Articles of pongee or of
soft washing silk are, on the other hand, recommended.
A light dinner-gown and one or more ordinary evening
dresses should form part of the outfit. Wool or silk
should always be worn next the skin. Silk stockings
are preferable to cotton, and two pairs of the former
worn at the same time are said to be impervious to
mosquitoes. Light wraps should be provided as pro-
tection against chills in the evenings and heavier ones
for travel by sea. For night attire, a material...”
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“...laundress who used to salute passengers on their
arrival at Barbados, taking from them their “ washing
and selling to them her famous Barbados hot sauce, is—
alas!—no more; but she has many imitators. Some are
good and others exceedingly bad. It behoves tourists
therefore to make the closest enquiries before submit-
ting their garments to them. In most of the islands
the work is good and the hotels are in touch with the
best laundries. In British Guiana the Chinese under-
take washing, with the usual satisfactory results. They
are past masters in the art of cleansing clothes. An
injunction on the bills of the late Mr. Pomeroy’s Hotel
in Barbados used to read: “ Guests haying outside
washers are particularly requested to examine all wash-
ing returned, as invariably bugs are brought into the
PASSPORTS. Intending visitors to the West Indies
will do well to provide themselves with passports and
to have them visaed by the consular officers of all the
countries whose territories they are likely...”
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“...and night.” On
arriving at Madeira they were " verry neare losing our
shippe, the master being unacquainted, and comeing too
boldely in near the shoar, in a dangerous place.” On
Tuesday, the 18th, they crossed the Tropic of Cancer,
and were.much diverted by the flying fish, "which,
though common at sea, may be a subject of wonder to
such as are home-bred . . . they fly in whole shoales,
but not very farre, for no sooner are theire wings dry,
but they drop into theire element, the water. It is
usual for them to fly into the shipps. We had one or
two come on board our vessell.” On Monday, May 8th,
the island of Deseada was sighted, “ which was a wel-
come sight to us, who were forced to keepe the pump
goeing night and day, by reason of a dangerous leake
we had sprung at sea, which we could not finde, and...”
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“...and Trinidad, letters are accepted for express delivery in the®
United Kingdom, the full fee of 6d. being collected from the®
addressee ; but if express delivery is required to be made from
the G.P.O. or from the head district office in London at an address
outside the ordinary delivery of such office, or beyond a distance
of one mile from the local post office in the provinces, the charge
is 6d. per mile. Parcels from the same places will be delivered
express in the United Kingdom within the usual limits of ordinary
parcel delivery for a special fee of 6d. prepaid. A “ Cash or
Delivery ” or C.O.D. postal service recently established betweer
the principal islands and the United Kingdom has proved £
great convenience.
Parcel Post. Parcels can be sent by parcel post to Bermud;
and the British, American, French, and Dutch West Indies
The limits of size for packages for the British and America!
West Indies are: length, breadth or depth 3J ft., length ant
girth combined 6 ft.; and to Cuba and...”
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“...THE BERMUDAS
51
On the north side of the square stands the Public
(Buildings erected in 1839, which contain the Council
{Chamber and usual Government offices. On the south
{side is a Cenotaph, unveiled on May 6, 1925, to the
i memory of Bermudians who fell in the Great War,
11914-1918. It is a replica of Sir Edward Lutyenses
masterpiece in Whitehall, London.
Behind the Public Buildings stand the Post Office
■open daily—'Sundays and holidays excepted—from
|8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in
{winter), and the Sessions House, erected in 1817, the
upper part of which is devoted to the House of Assembly
rand the lower to the Courts of Justice. The Clock
Tower, now lighted by electricity, was erected to com-
memorate Queen Victoria’s first Jubilee in 1887, the
work being completed in 1893.
F Passing from the wharves up Burnaby Street, the first
cross-road is Reid Street, so-called after Governor Reid,
in which are situated the Masonic Hall and the Post
Office (both to the...”
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“...arrival and departure of passenger steamers
tne boats, many of which are named after celebrities, are in
great demand.
Motor-cars and carriages are obtainable in Bridgetown from
several garages, including those of Messrs. Burton and Co.
Pinfold Street, W. W. Watkins, George Street, and Johnson’s
Stables and Garage, Coleridge Street. Motors can be hired by
°r ,day t°,carry four or six passengers. They can also
be obtained from Chelsea Garage, Ltd., Ward and Co., Coleridge
Street, and others. The usual charge for motor-cars is at the
rate ot is. per mile for 4-seater cars and is. 3d. a mile for 6-seaters.
Un arrival of tourist steamers arrangements can be made for
c°?tmg *'°?1 *3 to $4 a passenger. Carriages can be
hired for the week for f i8 and motor-cars for $30.
A radway (2 ft. 6 in. gauge) owned by the Barbados Govern-
ment runs across the southern part of the island and up the
Windward Coast to St. Andrew’s (24 miles). The whole journey
takes two hours. On Sundays and Wednesdays there...”
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“...p
84 POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
rejoicings. The statue was decorated with flowers by!
day and illuminated at night, and the populace celebrated !
the event in a suitable manner.
The Public Buildings, which form an imposing group I
in Trafalgar Square, are substantially built of coral rock!
hewn locally, the style being a modification of the Italian»
Renaissance, the open arcades having Gothic instead of |
the usual rounded arches. They were erected from the I
designs of Mr. J. F. Bourne, Superintendent of Public I
Works, and opened in 1874. In the western wing, which!
is divided from the eastern by a drive studded with palmjj
and other tropical trees, are shown the Council and I
Assembly chambers. The latter have stained glass!
lunette windows, containing portraits of the sovereigns
of England from James I—during whose reign Barbados1!
was first settled {see page 76)—-to Victoria. In the!
Lobby there are paintings of the Hon. A. J. Pile and the|
Hon. T. Yearwood, late Speakers; Sir...”
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“...trim little white sloops which ply to St. Vincent
land the Grenadines, completes a charming picture.
[ 0n November 18th, 1867, a very remarkable oc-
fcurrence took place in the Carenage. Between 5 and
i.20 p.m. the water suddenly subsided about 5 feet, expos-
ing a reef, and the water over the “ Green Hole,” a spot
Between the Spout, the old watering-place for ships,
ind the opposite shore on the north, began to bubble
furiously and to emit sulphurous fumes. The sea then
lose 4 feet above its usual level and rushed up to the
ikead of the Carenage. This was repeated several times,
ind the Green Hole, which was very deep, was completely
Wled tip. The wave rushed up the northern coast as
®r as Gouyave, and at Dougaldston the bridge at the...”
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“...hundred miles and fell profusely over
Barbados, where they caused much astonishment. A
similar phenomenon was witnessed during the former
great eruption in May, 1812, when the ashes were called
by the Barbadians “ May Dust.” The earliest recorded
eruption of the Soufrière was in 1715. For the relief of
the sufferers in 1902, a Mansion House Fund was
opened and £65,76910s. 10d. collected, which was supple-
mented by contributions from the neighbouring colonies
and other parts of the Empire.
The usual plan adopted by visitors who wish to see the
crater is to leave Kingstown by the Government launch,
which starts each day at 2 p.m. for Chateaubelair (22
miles), railing en route at the small leeward towns of
Layou (8 miles) and Barrouallie (12 miles), the principal
town of the first French planters, which suffered severely
from the eruption of 1902, and arriving at 6 p.m., after
giving the passengers an admirable view of the forest-
clad bilk of the island and the narrow valleys which rim
down...”
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“...families or for a lengthened stay out of season. Branchdeane
House. Board and lodging, 10s. per day. Mrs. Daniell’s
Boarding House. Board and lodging, 8s. i,d. per day.
COMMUNICATIONS. Nevis can also be reached from St.
Kitts by motor-launch which plies daily. The boat fare from
steamers to the shore is is. per passenger. Motor-cars can be
hired from the garages of J. A. Maloney and F. Henville. No
fixed tariff is adhered to, but is. 6d. per mile is the usual fare
for cars. For the drive round the island,'a distance of 20 miles,
£1 ios. is the usual fare; but for shorter distances a special
agreement has to be made beforehand. Riding horses can be
obtained for about is. per hour.
SPORTS. Excellent boating is obtainable, and the rates for
boat hire are low. Good fishing can also be had. There is not
much shooting, but on occasions in the fall of the year flights
of plover give fair sport, and in the high lands mountain doves,
as well as blue and ramier pigeons, can be obtained.
SIGHTS. In Charlestown...”
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“...Public Works, and Collector-
General, and such other persons, not exceeding ten in number,
as his Majesty may from time to time appoint, or as the Governor
may from time to time provisionally appoint, and fourteen
persons elected by the people, one for each parish. The elected
members have the control in financial matters. The Council
is dissolved at the end of five years from the last preceding
general election, if it has not been previously dissolved. There
is also a Privy Council, with the usual powers and functions of
an Executive Council.
Governor of Jamaica
Sir Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G.
ACCOMMODATION. Jamaica has hotels and boarding-houses
to suit every purse. The figures given below are the minimum
rates for board and lodging per day. Special terms are usually
quoted for a long stay....”
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“...of the American Railroad Company of Porto Rico
connects San Juan with Ponce and Carolina, and Ponce with
Guayama. The names of the principal stations will be found
in the tables given opposite and on page 336.
Motor-cars and cabs can be hired in San Juan, Ponce, and
Mayagüez. There is no fixed tariff and a bargain should be
made before hiring. Visitors to San Juan should patronise the
Porto Jiico Blue Line, Inc., an American company whose cars are
good and drivers efficient and reliable. The usual charge for the
drive to Coaino Springs and back {see below) is {42 for a seven-
passenger car.
San Juan has a service of electric cdrs which also run to the
suburbs of Santurce and Rio Piedras. Ponce also has an electric
car service.
CONSTITUTION. A Bill—commonly known as the " Foraker
Bill ”—providing for a civil government for Porto Rico was
introduced into the fifty-sixth Congress of the United States
and was passed and assented to by the President on April 12th,
1900. Under this Act civil...”
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“...never heard of. The commonest form of fever
is that known as “ Paludismo,” which resembles a very mild
type of malaria.
HISTORY. Columbus visited Haiti from Cuba, landing at
Mole St. Nicolas on December 6th, 1492. He found the island
inhabited by 2,000,000 aborigines, who called the. place Haiti,
the “ Mountainous Country,” and Quisquica, the “ Vast
Country ” ; but Columbus changed the name to Espagnola, or
Little Spain, which was latinised to Hispaniola. Adventurers
from Europe, attracted by the usual tales of gold, flocked to
the island, and after thirty years the natives, whom they cruelly
maltreated, were crushed out of existence. In 1505 negroes
were first introduced into the island, and by royal edict, in the
year 1517, the importation of 4,000 negroes a year was authorised.
In 1630 a mixed colony of French and English, who had been
driven out of St. Kitts, and had established themselves at
Tortuga, where they became formidable under the name of
Buccaneers, settled in Haiti, and in 1697...”
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“...train plies at regular intervals between Third
Street, Colon, and Gatun, calling at the following stations :
Fifth Street, Passenger Station (Colon), Commissary (Cristobal),
Shops (Cristobal), Mount Hope, Mindi, New Gatun, and Gatun.
(Time, 25 minutes.)
SPORTS. Motoring, swimming, boating, hunting, fishing,
riding, dancing, golf, baseball, visiting the Canal and historic
spots, the theatre, horse-racing, bull-fighting, boxing, tennis,
and participation in the native fiestas are among the most usual
diversions. The presence of large Army and Navy forces adds
to the social gaiety of life.
CLUBS. The Strangers’ Club at Colon welcomes visitors.
At Cristobal, the American settlement, there is a Y.M.C.A.
which also shows hospitality to visitors.
SIGHTS. Colon, formerly called Aspinwall after the
name of one of the founders of the Panama Railroad (see
page 419), stands on Manzanillo Island, which is only
separated from the mainland by dismal mangrove
swamps. Formerly a hot-bed of yellow fever,...”
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