GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION. 39 



the merchantmen lying at anchor in the roadstead, or beating up 

 for the port. 



A person visiting the island would meet with but very few 

 neat, or even comfortable, residences in the country districts, the 

 dwellings of the planter's looking rather primitive, whilst the 

 labourers' cottages, or rather cabins, and other estate-buildings, 

 do not contribute to make the aspect of a plantation a very 

 pleasing one. Although nature has liberally supplied a very fine 

 growth of fruit trees, yet the island cannot boast of even a re- 

 semblance to an orchard, except at Dr. de. Boissiere's residence, 

 Maraval, and at the Government Gardens, to the northward of 

 the town. Several country residences can bear comparison with 

 English and French villas — viz., that of the late Mr. Burnley, 

 Tacarigua; of Mr. L. Agostini, Saint Ann; Zurcher, Dr. de 

 Boissiere, and Cipriani, in the neighbourhood of Port of Spain ; 

 and several others in the country. 



Coasts. — The coasts of Trinidad are bold on the N., bluff on 

 the S., and generally low and flat on the E. and W., where the 

 water also is very shallow. 



The north coast is rock-bound, with serried mountains thickly 

 wooded from their summits to the very verge of the sea,. which 

 breaks in a heavy surf along the whole extent, and renders landing 

 impossible, except at a few shelving spots ; its bearing is W. by 

 S. Passing from E. to W., we may notice the following points 

 or promontories : — Arecife or Reef's Point, Toco, Sanssouci, Rio 

 Grande, Petit and Grand Matelot, Chupara, Pointe-a-Vache, 

 Saut-d'-Eau, and Maqueripe. 



The south coast extends from Point Galeota on the E. to 

 Point Icacos on the W. From Galeota to Casa Cruz — a dis- 

 tance of twelve miles and a half — it takes a south-western direc- 

 tion, and then runs due W. Between Points Galeota and Casa 

 Cruz are Grand Cayo and Tablas ; and westward of Casa Cruz 

 are the following promontories : — Canary, Pelican, Moruga, La 

 Ceyba, Curao, Negra, Siparia, Roja, Chagonaray, Taparo, Erin, 

 Islote, Galfat, and Quemada. 



The eastern coast stretches from Point Galera on the N. to 

 Point Galeota on the S., and appears by nature to be divided 

 into four sections, which respectively bear the names of Cumana, 

 Matura, Cocal, and Mayaro. The first section extends from 

 Galera to Point Salibea — a distance of thirteen miles ; it has a 



