96 Captain Alexander on the Pitch-Lake of Trinidad. 



men and sulphur, and as one moves along, the impression of the 

 feet remains on the surface of the pitch. 



During the rainy season, it is possible to walk over the whole 

 lake, nearly, but in the hot season a great part is not to be ap- 

 proached. Although several attempts have been made to ascer- 

 tain the depth of the pitch, no bottom has ever been found. 

 The lake is about a mile and a half in circumference ; and not the 

 least extraordinary circumstance is, that it should coniain eight or 

 ten small islands, on which trees are growing close to the boiling 

 pitch. 



In standing still for some time on the lake near the centre, 

 the surface gradually sinks till it forms a great bowl, as it vrere; 

 and when the shoulders are level with the general surface of the 

 lake, it is high time to get out. Some time ago a ship of war 

 landed casks to fill with the pitch, for the purpose of transport- 

 ing it to England : the casks were rolled on the lake, and the 

 men commenced fiUing, but a piratical looking craft appearing 

 in the offing, the frigate and all hands went in chase ; on re- 

 turning to the lake, all the casks had sunk and disappeared. 



The flow of pitch from the lake has been immense, the whole 

 country round, except near the Bay of Grapo (which is protect- 

 ed by a hill) being covered with it ; and it seems singular that 

 no eruption has taken place within the memory of man, although 

 the principle of motion still exists in the centre of the lake. 

 The appearance of the pitch which has hardened, is as if the 

 whole surface had boiled up into large bubbles, and then suddenly 

 cooled ; but where the asphaltum is still liquid, the surface is 

 perfectly smooth. 



Many experiments have been made, for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining whether the pitch could be applied to any useful pur- 

 pose. Admiral Cochrane, who is possessed of the enterprising 

 and speculative genius of his family, sent two ship loads of it to 

 England ; but after a variety of experiments, it was ascertained, 

 that, in order to render the asphaltum fit for use, it was neces- 

 sary to mix such a quantity of oil with it, that the expense of 

 the oil alone would more than exceed the price of pitch in 

 England. A second attempt was made by a company, styled 

 the Pitch Company, who sent out an agent from England ; but 



