CHAPTER I. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION — POSITION AND AREA. 



The Island of Trinidad is situated between 10° 3' and 10° 50' 

 latitude N v and between 60° 54' and 61° 56' longitude W. of 

 Greenwich ; it is separated from the province of Cumana, in the 

 republic of Venezuela, by the Gulf of Paria, together with the 

 Dragon's and Serpent's Mouths. In figure it is an oblong, or of 

 a rectangular shape, with promontories at its four angles — viz., 

 Galera and Galeota to the eastward, and Mono and Icacos to the 

 westward ; these two latter stretching for several miles towards 

 the opposite shores of Venezuela, and thus contributing to the 

 formation of the northern and southern boundaries of the Gulf 

 of Paria. 



According to Captain Columbine, its principal dimensions 

 are as follows : — 



The north side, from Point Galera to Point Mono, 53J miles. 



The eastern side, from Point Galera to Point Galeota, 48 J 

 miles. 



The south side, from Point Galeota to Point Icacos, 65 miles. 



The western side from Point Icacos to Point Mono, 49 £ 

 miles. 



The greatest length of the island, from N. to S., is, from 

 Grand Matelot to Casa Cruz, 50 miles; average length, 48 

 miles. Greatest breadth, from Galeota to Icacos, 65 miles; 

 average breadth, 35 miles only. The superficial extent or area, 

 according to MM. Wall and Sawkins, is not more than 1,754J 

 square miles, or 1,122,880 acres. 



Trinidad is bounded on the N. by the Caribbean Sea, on the 

 S. by the channel which separates it from the Delta and Canos 

 of the Orinoco, on the E. by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the 

 W. by the Gulf of Paria. 



Physical Aspect. — The general aspect of Trinidad is that of 



