On the Pitch Lake of the Island of Trinidad. 1 C7 



of the soil near the pitch lake containing burnt cinders, but 

 I imagine he may have taken tor them the small fragments 

 of the bitumen itself. 



An examination of this tract of country could not fail, 

 I think, to be highly gratifying to those who embrace the 

 Huttonian theory of the earth ; for they might behold the 

 numerous branches of one of the largest rivers of the world 

 (the Ormoco) bringing down so amazing a quantity of 

 earthy particles as to. discolour the sea in a most remarkable 

 manner for many leagues distant*; they might see these 

 earthy particles deposited bv the uiflncnce of powerful cur- 

 rents on the shores of the Gulf of Paria, and pirticularly 

 on the wesiern side of the island of Trinidad; they might 

 there find vast collections of bituminous substances, beds of 

 porcelain jasper and such other bodies as may readily be 

 supposed to arise from the modified action of heal on such 

 vegetable and earthy materials as the waters are known 

 actually to deposit. They would further perceive no very 

 vague traces of subterranean fire, by which these changes 

 may have been effected and the whole tract elevated above 

 the ordinary level of the general loose soil of the country: 

 as for instance, hot springs, the vortices above mentioned,' 

 the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, and two singular 

 semi-volcanic mouuds at Point Icaque, which, though not 

 very near, throw light on the general character of the coun- 

 try. Without jiledging myself to any particular system of 

 geologv, I confess an explanation similar to this appears to 

 me sufficiently probable, and consonant with the known 

 phaeiiomena of nature. A vast river, like the Orinoco, 



• No scene can be more marnifi'-ent tlian that presented on a near ap- 

 proach to the nov'.h-western coast ot 'Trinidad. The sea is not onlv changed 

 from a hght green to a deep brown colour, but has in an extraordinary de- 

 gree that rippliugf, confused and whirling motion, which arises from the 

 violence of contending; currents, and wliic-ii prevail here in so remarkable a 

 manner, particularly at those seasons when the Orinoco is so swollen by pe» 

 riijdical rain-), that vessels are not unfrequeiulysevcral days or weeks in stem- 

 ming them, or perhaps are irre>istibly borne before them far out of their 

 destined tract. The dark verdure of lofty mountains, covered with impene- 

 trable woods to the very summits, wbeacC; in the most luini'd of climates, 

 torrents impetuously rush through deep ravines to the sea; three narrow 

 passages into the Gidf of Paria, between rug7,ed mountains of brown mi- 

 caceous schist, on whose cavernous sides the c<lcl ving- surt;e dashes with fury, 

 and wliere a vessel must necesiSarily be for some time embayed, with a depth 

 of water scarcely to be fathomed by the lead, — present altogether a scene 

 ^hich may well be conceived to h^tve impressed the mind of ;|ie navisjator 

 who first beheld it with considerable surprise and awe. Columbus made this 

 la.'.d in hrs third voyage, and gave it the name of the Boca.s del /)ragu. From 

 the wonderful discoloration aiid turbidity of the water, he sagaciously con» 

 eluded that a very large river was near, and consequently a great cunti- 

 pcnt. 



L4 must 



