180 



TRINIDAD. 



as comprehensive details are wanting in order to a thorough 

 investigation of the subject. Such as I have been able to 

 obtain, however, will lead to some interesting conclusions. 



The following is a return of persons committed to the Royal 

 Gaol of Port-of- Spain, from the 1st of January, 1872, to the 

 31st December, 1878, with particulars of sexes, country, and 

 religion : — 



- 



In this grand total are not comprised adjourned cases, debtors, 

 Annual average number, 2,424. 



If we take the total of the five years, 1873, 1874, 1875, 

 1876, and 1877, we have, after deducting as above, adjourned 

 cases and debts, 12,950 persons committed, and these may be 

 classed as follows : — 



With respect to felony and misdemeanour, we find, during the 

 whole period, 42 commitments for murder and manslaughter, 

 viz., 3 in 1873, 9 in 1875, 5 in 1876, 8 in 1877, and so many as 

 17 in 1874 ; 5 commitments for arson ; 10 for burglary; 111 for 

 cutting and wounding; 251 for receiving stolen property; and for 

 obtaining money under false pretences, 66. Of lighter offences 

 we have : Assaults and battery, 1,117 ; drunk and disorderly, 

 726; fighting, 1,039; larceny, 2,136; violent and obscene 

 language, 483 ; riotous and disorderly conduct, 598. 



Murder and manslaughter are generally the results of 

 revenge. The cases are very rare where a man is murdered with 

 the view of appropriating money. Wife murder is a crime very 

 common among the Coolies; any wife forsaking her husband 

 may be said to do so at the risk of her life. The crime of arson \ 

 is of very frequent occurrence : megass houses, in which tht 

 cane refuse or megass is stored as fuel, are generally selected a* 



