Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 77
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[Page 77]
owing to the discovery and exploration of oil and pitch wells which are rapidly making Trinidad, for its size, one of our richest possessions.
The town is just a West Indian town like so many others, with two or three rows of up to date shops a few good public buildings and the rest given over to the inadequate dwellings of the all pervading nigger colour population.
One redeeming feature is the
There is an excellent hotel and a very good club where as usual we were hospitably entertained.
In these parts one must accept invitations warily: for the majority of people breakfast at 11.30 having begun the day on a cup of coffee.
The writer remembers turning up to breakfast at one house at what he conceived to be the civilised hour of 8.30 to find the men folk at work and the women in bed.
The climate does not call for a heavy morning meal and those who have to work rise early, get it done, and then have a midday siesta. Life begins again about 3.30 and a tennis invitation usually means four o'clock.
Once a week the Club puts up a West Indian hot pot a compote of monkey and other things which is eaten as a ceremony by the members. Fortunately we were not told the components of the very dainty dish that was put before us.
Trinidad was always a happy spot for the Australian ships as the Governor was Sir George Hunter who once held office in South Australia and he still treasured the most kindly memories of Australia and her people and made us doubly welcome.
Every time the Melbourne or Sydney went to Trinidad the signal came off to the Captain asking him to allow as many Officers as convenient to go ashore