A TRIP HOME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3027, 26 October 1908, Page 7

A TRIP HOME.

THE VOYAGE DESCRIBED

(By J. C. Alpass.)

No. 7.

Horses appeared plentiful at Santa Cruz as compared with Kio. We saw but few mules, but perhaps, as it waa Sunday, draught animals were taking their weekly rest. A few mules and plenty of donkeys carrying panniers were about the streets. These had evidently come from the country, as some of the panniers contained tin 3of milk, others vegetables, fruit or poultry. Some of the drivers had evidently disposed of their wares, as the panniers were empty, the woman or girl dviver had mounted up between the baskets and was evidently making tracks for her home in the hills. Many of what appeared to be the working class women of the town were tall with an erect carriage, evidently attributable to the custom of carrying various heavy weights on their heads. We noticed a number of women carrying long narrow casks on tnc-ir heads; this we concluded was the fresh water supply of the higher levels. Our driver turned in and cut, and round about, a lot of narrow roughpaved streets lined with ail kinds ti old fashioned houses, the wood worlc of a good number of them having been painted green at some remote periuu. The roofs were covered with old style pan-tiles, in some cases there being four, one on cop of the other, which must make the roofs very heavy. Our Jehu pulled up in front of a low old fashioned looking building, with what might be termed a rude towei, and our guide introduced ns to the cathedral. A special guide took us in charge and raced _ us through, pointing out the various objects of interest. The chief objects of attraction were the images of saints and apostles, which were, very gorgeous, but we had no time to study them individually. Devotees were here and there kneel- I ing before certain.saint?, and although it was too early for ordinary service, it being Sunday morning, we felt somewhat as if .we were intruding. We did not get out without having a plate put before us with a request for something towards the church. One object which interests all Englishmen is N» hon's flag kept in a glass case. The Tenerifians claim that they took this flag from England's greatest naval commander, but the other side of the question is that the flag was washed ashore and picked up. We again mounted our carriage and were driven through more narrow streets to the better part of the town, where Home fairly up-to-date villa residences had been recently erected. We passed several good looking hotels, and a fairly commodious English church. Just out of the town we pulled up at the arena or bull ring, where the inhabitants now and again i gratify their appetite for sport by watching bull rights. These fights take place on Sundays in the two | months of July and August. Some of our passengers expressed sorrow I that they had not an opportunity of watching a bull fight. If we had, we might have been able to draw comparisons with horse racing and footballing of the Dominion of New Zea- , land. The woman residing at the gate went on with her washing with scarcely a glance at us, but the guide said that she expected a coin. About a dozen little youngsters were waiting outside the gate and pestered us for pennies. A short distance from the bull ring, and a little higher up the hillside, stood a , very fine building, which we had previously taken to be the Governor's palace. This our guide told us was a German hotel, i As far as our observation went this was by far the best building in Santa Cruz. We returned to the centre of the town, dismissed our carriage, and started to look round on foot. The majority of the shops »ere closed, except those that sold tobacco and cigars, and some of our party purchased good supplies of the latter. Then we visited the market, where all kinds of country produce were being exposed for sale, apd we wondered why the market people were allowed to keep open on Sunday, while the shops were compelled to cloße. Many kinds of tropical and semi-, tropical fruits were exposed tor | gale, but generally, they appeared to j be of an inferior quality. We were informed that it was the off season, but I for one was quite disappointed at the quality generally. The price was fairly reasonable, a basket which could hold about a couple of gallons, being oiled up with a collection of all varieties of fruit for three shillings. As it was getting near time f£r our ship to depart we made our way down to the steps, were soon on board the little steam launch, and safely reached our vessel. (To be continued).