218 TRINIDAD. 



from a few localities. The very nature of the soil itself— it 

 being, in many places, clay or clay-loam — is, when coupled with 

 our heavy rains, a very great obstacle to the formation of good roads. 



During the prevalence of slavery, the commandants had the 

 charge of making, repairing, and keeping in repair the roads ; 

 the construction of bridges was out of the question. The free 

 inhabitants of each quarter were compelled by law to keep the 

 roads, in their respective districts, in good order, and for that 

 purpose a certain amount of days' labour was exacted, according 

 to their amount of property ; the commandant made an estimate 

 of the number of days necessary for the repairs, and summoned 

 each proprietor to furnish his quota, the roads being partitioned 

 among the different individuals, and, as a rule, the portion 

 nearest to each individual's estate allotted to him as his share ; 

 the work was afterwards inspected, and if not properly executed, 

 was required to be perfected. 



Immediately after emancipation, it became necessary to 

 change that system, and no less than four ordinances were 

 enacted between the months of October, 1839, and March, 1844. 

 In the year 1846, however, an ordinance was passed providing 

 for the making and repairing, and keeping in repair, the roads, 

 bridges, and fences in the island of Trinidad. This ordinance 

 was made very comprehensive, and fully entered into the details 

 of the subject. The colony was divided into twenty-nine road 

 districts, and commissioners were appointed who had the manage- 

 ment and care of the roads in their respective districts, with 

 authority to regulate the roads already laid out; to alter or even 

 discontinue those they might regard as useless ; to ascertain and 

 define others. A portion of the roads was allotted to each 

 commissioner, and funds assigned. 



Bridges were to be kept in repair by joint contributions from 

 adjoining districts. Although very comprehensive, this ordi- 

 nance never worked well ; nevertheless, it was changed only and 

 consequent on the new territorial division in the year 1849. 



The new enactment divided the roads of the colony into 

 royal and ward roads. The roads termed royal were five in 

 number. They were placed under the superintendence of 

 surveyors and inspectors appointed by the Governor, while the 

 wardens of the several wards were charged with the superinten- 

 dence and keeping in repair of all other public thoroughfares not 



