WEST INDIES TODAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 6

WEST INDIES TODAY

OPTIMISTIC SURVEY

RESULTS OF OTTAWA

(From "The Post's" Representative.) KINGSTON (Jamaica), March 30. The Governor of UlO Leeward Islands, Sir Reginald St. Johnstone, addressing the Legislative Council of that colony, forecast substantial benefits accruing from tho Empire Conference as a result of tho. increased preference and quota ou sugar, which, together with a decline iv the world's production, placed_tho industry 011 a much moro stable- footing. An awakened interest in England was likely to benefit growers of sea island cotton. Taxation was now as low as 5s per head, ono of the lowest rates in the Empire. Appropriations for development included £10,000 for a. water scheme for Antigua. Despite lower export prices, the favourable trade balance for 1932 was £.750,000, an increase of 18 per cent, over the previous year. Sugar increased by £210,000, and gold production by £28,000. Imports from United Kingdom increased by £180,000 to £1,120,000. Imports from United States decreased by £00,000. The Guiana Indians, or Caribs, use the root of the Haiari.tree for stupefying fish to facilitate their capture. The practice has its origin in an ancient legend. An Indian noticed that when his son swam in tho river the fish died, and yet wore good to oat. Tho fish decided to retaliate, and one day, while he lay in the sun, they attacked him and killed him. Before he died the Loy told his father to watch for tho plant that would spring from the ground on which his blood had fallen, aud so in timo came the Haiari. Tho Great Pitch Lake at La Brea, of 140 acres extent, is still producing, the pitch being hewn out by pick-axe, taken to. a nearby refinery, and shipped to the world's markets. Legend has it that this lake was one of the most fertile spots on the island. The pineapples were sweet, the- %vild turkey abundant, and the fish delicately tender. A tribe of Indians, tempted by its richness, settled on the spot. As they flourished they destroyed thousands of birds. Ono night the whole encampment sank beneath- the ground. A neighbouring tribe who came on a visit found tho awful desolation of the Great Pitch Lake,, which now froths and frets under a tropical sun. The Festival of tho Rose, survival of an ancient custom during the French occupation, is still observed by the Roses,' a. society which, in other days, vied with a rival organisation, the Marguerites (now defunct)1 in displaying tho most elaborate- costumes in songs and dances of their own composition. There is a picturesque incongruity in the white naval uniforms, with tinsel epaulettes and wooden swords, worn by the coloured dandies, in contrast to the quaint costumes of their womenfolk—the pert knotted bandana, tightly-fitting bodice, and long flowing skirt looped around the wais.t, to display the much-embroidered and stiffly-starched petticoat. They parade, singing pastorals, and make- merry at a hilarious ball after sunset on this island paradise. ... ._ .^. .. -.^