44 TRINIDAD. 



"The harbour of Chaguaramas is very spacious; but, in 

 case the enemy should have such temporary superiority by sea 

 as to enable him to attack this island, our ships could not be 

 protected here, as the mountainous nature of the country could 

 afford him many points from whence he might easily destroy 

 them. 



u The situation which presents itself as the most proper to 

 place naval magazines, with the probability of their being effec- 

 tually defended, without any extensive works, is the island of 

 Gasparil Grande. It has two principal hills, one to the east 

 end, the other near the middle, affording powerful means of 

 defence. On the south side there is a cove large enough for 

 the purpose of repairing and heaving down a ship of the line, 

 where store-houses to any extent might be erected, covered 

 from the view, though not from the shells, of a besieging 

 enemy. With respect to the security of our fleet, the only 

 place, in my opinion, capable of affording it, is the south side 

 of this island. Westward from the above cove the shore is 

 quite bold, and it should be proper to anchor close to it, in order 

 to cover the ships from hot shots, which the enemy might throw 

 from the outer point of Diego's Isle, a spot which he would 

 occupy with that intent, unless we had works on Chaguaramas 

 heights." 



In addition to these two lesser ports, the Gulf of Paria forms 

 one extensive harbour, in which vessels may anchor, from three 

 to twenty fathoms, on a bottom of gravel and mud; in fact, 

 vessels coming to Port-of-Spain very often run into the soft 

 mud, in order to gain a nearer approach to the wharves. Captain 

 Columbine again remarks regarding Port-of-Spain : — " The water 

 in the road of Port-of-Spain is very shallow ; a mile and a half off 

 there are only three fathoms ; it is extremely foul and muddy 

 there, and near the shore it is proportionally more filthy. The 

 course of the tides, both ebb and flood, being checked by an op- 

 posite shore, in the corner where the town stands, they naturally 

 must deposit there much of the mud which they carry along with 

 them : the obvious result is that, in process of time, Port-of- 

 Spain will be an inland town. This operation of nature appears 

 to be going on fast, and to be without remedy." 



The Gulf of Paria may be considered as a sort of salt lake, 

 being shut in on the eastward by the island of Trinidad, which 



