The Wonderland _of_ Trinidad [Illustration: (uncaptioned)] ISSUED BY THE BARBER ASPHALT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA, PA. CHICAGO PITTSBURGH SAN FRANCISCO NEW YORK KANSAS CITY ST. LOUIS [Illustration: Trinidad Asphalt Lake, showing the loop of the narrow gauge railroad] [Illustration: (Illustrated capital)] In the name “Trinidad” is embodied all the romance and beauty and wonder of a tropical island. In the native language it is called Iere, “the land of the humming bird.” Quite in accordance with the luxurious abundance of life and color is the asphalt lake, the marvel of centuries. Its causation astonishing, its features gigantic, it lies in the heart of a romantic land—a subject of speculation among scientists, but a tropical enchantment to those of more fanciful mind. The Island of Trinidad lies about 700 miles north of the Equator and 2000 miles from New York. Its area of 1755 square miles is less than that of the State of Delaware. It belongs to Great Britain and is separated from its nearest neighbor, Venezuela, by the wonderful Gulf of Paria and its narrow straits or bocas which connect the gulf with the ocean. [Illustration: A private mansion, Port of Spain, B. W. I.] This majestic gateway has seen the coming and going of many famous mariners. Through it Columbus sailed north on his third voyage in midsummer of the year 1498. Sir Walter Raleigh and many buccaneers swept through the bocas in the days when English seamen performed deeds of valor against the Spaniards, and any galleon was their lawful prey. Here, too, cruised Nelson with his great English fleet, hunting for the French warships on that half world chase that ended at Trafalgar. To-day important trade centers in Trinidad, and the harbor of Port of Spain, the only city of size, is busy with the arrival and departure of steamships bearing to Europe and America the tropical riches of the Island. [Illustration: A country road just outside Port of Spain] In Trinidad the thermometer records 85 degrees almost every day and never changes more than twenty degrees. The only difference between one season of the year and another, is that for a few months it rains. Even in the rainy season, however, and nearly every day, there is an abundance of bright sunshine. There are fine shops, large warehouses filled with chocolate beans, sugar and other tropical products; and one can ride on trolley cars made in Philadelphia. The most popular hotel faces the great Savannah, a wide stretch of lawn bordered by trees. There are beautiful drives to the Reservoir; up the mountains to Maracas Waterfall with vista of the Caribbean a thousand feet below; through avenues of giant bamboos arching over the roadway, and through miles of plantations of cacao.