Árdís - 01.01.1956, Blaðsíða 15

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
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land or more land as the case may be. As a result, they form the
largest land-owning group in the colony. They lack the humor and
musical ability of the negroes. They do much to supply the popula-
tion with rice and other food products. Many negroes and East
Indians have qualified for local government posts.
To the tourist, especially people from a cold climate, the poverty
is appalling, and yet the natives appear to be very healthy. They
live in palm-thatched huts, but these we were told were relatively
clean. They manage with scarcely any elothing. Their diet consists
of rice, fresh fish, fruit which grows everywhere in abundance,
local vegetables and salted meats. Having visited Haiti before we
came to Trinidad, we decided that the Trinidadians were better
off than the Haitians.
There are two seasons in Trinidad, the dry season extending
from January to May and the rainy season which lasts throughout
the rest of the year. The latter period is often humid and oppressive.
As in all tropical countries, there is little twilight. Dawn flares up
about 5:30 a.m. and darkness falls suddenly about 6:30 p.m. The
maximum and minimum temperatures range from 97 degrees to
67 degrees F. (the annual mean being about 84 degrees). The nights
are invariably cool and at higher elevations there is usually a
breeze. The average rainfall is 64 inches a year. Rainfall even in
the wettest months is usually heavy but of short duration and
quickly followed by brilliant sunshine.
As this was the holiday season, we spent the first week sight-
seeing during the day and attending social gatherings in the even-
ing. Most of these functions were between the hours of 6 and 9
o’clock. At all of these gratherings, we met very interesting per-
sonalities. One group that Ruth and Doug entertained at their home
was of particular interest to us. All the guests, with the exception
of one woman, were colored. The men were all lawyers by profes-
sion and work in the land-leasing department of the Dominion Oil
Co. of which Doug is the manager. One woman in particular was
exceedingly interesting. She had her M.A. from Glasgow University.
Her father, Constantine by name, was at one time a famous cricket
player in England, and while there, received his law degree and is
at present in business in Trinidad.
First of all, we viewed the scenery throughout Port of Spain
and the surrounding area.