650 BIRDS FROM :SIARGARITA— ROBINSON. vol. xvm. 



Trinidad, and only some 17 miles distant from tlie nearest point of tlie 

 Venezuelan coast.' Its greatest length from east to west is 42 miles, 

 and its greatest breadth from north to south 20i miles. It consists of 

 two portions connected by a narrow isthmus 12 miles in length; the 

 western being an irregular quadrilateral 12 miles long by 9 miles broad, 

 and the eastern a pentagon some 20 miles across. In the western por- 

 tion some almost barren peaks rise to a height of 2,300 feet. 



Porlamar (formerly Pueblo de la ]\rar) is on the southern shore of 

 the eastern portion. The adjacent country along the coast and for some 

 three miles back is flat or gently rolling; the vegetation much like that 

 of Curacao, with small, scrubby, thorn trees, several species of post cacti 

 (Cerem), which are now and then laden with a deliciously scented orchid 

 [Epidendrum, sp.), thickets of the detestable prickly tuna ( Opuntia tuna), 

 whose pain-producing thorns are ever ready to enter the flesh, and 

 other irritating plants of the pineapple and nettle families. At points 

 along the beach, shallow salt lagoons occur, which are fringed with a 

 scant growth of mangroves. 



About 3 miles inland foothills begin, which rise by leaps to a central 

 j)eak, 3,240 feet in height. Its summit is constantly enveloped in clouds, 

 whose condensed moisture drips and trickles from every leaf and branch, 

 and collecting, tumbles down its precipilons sides in beautifully limpid 

 streams, abounding in large crayfish. The streams on the southern 

 slope unite and pass seaward down a fertile valley — "El Yal!e del 

 Espiritu Santo" — by a tortuous channel which enters the sea a short 

 distance east of Porlamar. During the rainy season the water reaches 

 quite to the sea, but at the time of my visit the demamls of the "ace- 

 quias," or irrigation ditches, and the thirsty soil of the flat coast region 

 empty the bed several miles back and only a few stagnant pools occur 

 here and there, filled with multitudes of small gasping minnows, much 

 like the little mummichogs of our tide-water brooks. 



Porlamar has an excellent supply of water i^iped from the mountain 

 slopes in rear of El Valle, but at other points on the island water is 

 extremely scarce. Three miles west of Porlamar in a desert of cactus 

 is a solitary water hole, or "posa," a spot which we would designate as 

 •'mud puddle," a scant supply of foul-looking water at the bottom of a 

 crater like depression, whose slopes are trodden smooth by the feet of 

 the goats that come for water. To this place during the heat of the day 

 came hordes of doves and pigeons to drink. 



By the aid of irrigation, quantities of fruits, plantains, cassava, sugar 

 cane, and corn are raised in El Valle; there are manj^ groves of man- 

 goes and cocoauut palms. The stream is thickly bordered with trees, 

 and the mountain slopes in rear are covered with heavy forests. 



The principal occupations of the inhabitants of the interior are the 

 conversion of the sugar cane into rum and the manufacture of pottery 

 and roofing tiles. Those who live near the coast are mainly engaged 

 in fishing, and with nets, seines, and hooks cai>ture an astonishing 

 variety of fish, many being of remarkable shape and brilliant color. 



