Henry Alfred Alford Nicholls diary
Page 58
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Transcription
St Vincent 82 Jan, 1891. Leave the Carriacou and go some further on to Calliagana on the road I was know well. The roads are in excellent con- dition, and the day is fine, so we get on quite immensely. At Calliagana the road strikes inland for a number of miles, and passes through many estates, mostly situated like good old pleasant away from St. Joseph's estate, the great house which is at the top of hill, and went commanded a splendid view. The house we entered, is a very fine one, he saw also the sea coast again, and reach the Apple Estate, and drive along the sands, with the strong trade winds blowing in and carrying salt in abundance of saline particles. In places we drove along around that had been blown out of the cliffs, and below us, we see the Atlantic waves dashing against the base of the cliff and heaving into spray. So the road in these places is not one wide, if the hurricane to take sudden burst, we should certainly come to perils for the turns are sharp and frequent. We pass by Jumby Cottage the residence of Dr. Pierce Austin, and some time after reach the Colombia Road by a fine bridge, and some short roads came to a long tunnel through the "Black Rocks" which divide the windward side of Vincent into two parts; the southern a older settled part, and the northern which was long held possession of by the Poole's and is now called the 83 Jan, 1891. Caribbean country.". The tunnel is very well cut, and quite dry away from through it. Our coachman, who has required us with tales of jungles he spoke, said that the tunnel was very dangerous after dark, as there were lots of jungles in it, and he would not go through it for any sum of money. When we emerged from the tunnel we were on the Grand Table estate, so called from the long and wide stretch of black sands fronting a portion of it. The Grand Table River when it reaches this stretch of sand turns up to the south and then seems to lose itself in the surf itself. We soon reached the town of Ginger Town which lies between Grand Table and the sea. We drove through one of the streets, and noticed several good homes, and then we turned off towards the west and drove to the Grand Table house which is situated at under a cliff close 3/4 mile from the town. The former great home of the estate was built on a hill and is said blown down by a hurricane, so the present house was built one that specially excavated from the hill. Close to the back of the house is a perpendicular cliff, so that in the day time when the sun is shining well it cliff the house is almost untenably hot. The home is a very fine one and nicely furnished and Dr. Sturgill this