GEOLOGICAL DREAMS. 183 



on end, by the convulsions seemingly so common during the 

 Pliocene epoch, and since then sawn aAvay by water and air 

 into one rolling outline, quite independent of the dip of the 

 strata. The whole southern two-thirds of Trinidad repre- 

 sent a wear and tear whicli is not to be counted by thousands, 

 or hundreds of thousands, of years ; and yet which, I verily 

 believe, has taken place since the average plants, trees, and 

 animals of the island dwelt therein. 



This elevation may liave well coincided with the de- 

 pression of the neighbouring Gulf of Paria. That the 

 southern portion of that gulf was once dry land ; that the 

 Serpent's Mouth did not exist when the present varieties 

 of plants and animals were created, is matter of fact, 

 proven by the identity of the majority of plants and 

 animals on both shores. How else to give a few instances 

 out of hundreds did the Mora, the Brazil-nut, the Cannon- 

 ball tree : how else did the Ant-eater, the Coendou, the 

 two Cuencos, the Guazupita deer, enter Trinidad ? Hum- 

 boldt though, unfortunately, he never visited the island 

 saw this at a glance. AYhile he perceived that tlie Indian 

 story, how the Boca Drago to the north had been only 

 lately broken through, had a foundation of truth, " It cannot 

 be doubted," he says, " that the Gulf of Paria was once 

 an inland basin, and the Punta Icacque (its south-western 

 extremity) united to the Punta Toleto, east of the Boca de 



