166 TRINIDAD. 



By adding the totals of these two periods we have, for six- 

 teen years, 55,239 births. By referring to the above tables, we 

 find that out of a grand total of 55,239 births, there are 26,993 

 males and 27,446 females; so that the males are to the females 

 as 100*68. Huf eland pretends that the ratio of the sexes for 

 the whole world is as 21 males to 20 females, or as 105 and 100. 

 The result in Trinidad is somewhat contrary to what has been 

 observed elsewhere ; the number of males being always greater 

 than that of females. 



By reference to the above tables we have the number of 

 births per quarter, and therefore can ascertain the months 

 wherein a larger average of births takes place. 



Thus we have 13,769 for the first quarter ending 31st March; 

 14,223 for the second quarter; 13,706 for the third quarter 

 and 14,563 for the fourth quarter. 



The months showing a majority of births are therefoi 

 October, November, and December; July, August, an( 

 September. 



Marriages. 



Table showing the number of marriages throughout the 

 period : — 



Table showing the number of marriages during the seconc 

 period : — 



1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 188 

 369 416 477 453 391 449 437 465 436 585 632 55J 



Average for the twelve years, 472. The average of six years 

 for the first period was 360. I have not included in my calcu- 

 lation the year 1854, which exhibits 1,625 marriages, a very 

 startling result if it could not be easily accounted for. But in 

 this memorably calamitous year (1854), cholera raged in the 

 colony for about four months, and not only were several persons 

 married in articulo mortis, but the terror created by hourly im- 

 pending danger of almost sudden death induced many who 

 were living in concubinage to submit to the holy rite; hence 

 the disproportionate number of marriages in that year. The 

 population being 109,638 in 1871, and the number of marriages 



