276 TRINIDAD. 



tions and strict surveillance, these lands would soon become 

 sufficiently wooded so as to afford an increased supply — an object 

 the more desirable, as the St. Ann's water does not appear to 

 possess the incrusting properties of the Maraval water. Of 

 course it is difficult to say whether the offer would have been 

 accepted; I nevertheless regret that it was never made. 

 Successive and superlaying reservoirs might be formed in the 

 glens, even at Cascade, with the object of collecting water for 

 the supply of the town. St. Ann's is a Roman Catholic parish 

 —population, 1881,872; 1871, 808. 



Westward of Port-of-Spain is the ward of Mucurapo — flat, 

 with a light soil of average quality. There is at present only 

 one sugar estate in this ward, viz., Woodbrook estate. The 

 St. Clair estate has been lately bought by the Government, with 

 the object of parcelling it into building lots, and preventing its 

 occupation by the coolies and the poorer classes. This ward is 

 traversed by the western Royal Road and the Maraval river. 

 On the right bank of the Mucurapo, or Maraval river, between 

 the Royal Road and the entrance of the Maraval valley, are 

 the St. James's Barracks, about two miles from Port-of-Spain. 

 These fine barracks stand on a flat, permeable ground, with 

 underground sewerage to the bed of the river, just opposite the 

 opening of the Maraval valley, and are, consequently, exposed to 

 the direct action of the northerly wind, which, as is well known, 

 is dangerous. To this injudicious position is mainly attribut- 

 able the much-talked-of unhealthiness of these barracks. The 

 selection, I must say, was an unfortunate one, both in site and 

 proximity to the town. Let me recall here the opinion of 

 Captain Tulloch : — "The mortality (in Trinidad) is under the 

 average of the whole command (Barbadoes), being only about 

 60 per 1,000, or 1 per 16-66." Population, 1881, 2,789. 



Westward of Mucurapo is the ward of Cocorite — mainly 

 hilly, and soil generally bad ; a few acres planted in pro- 

 visions and guinea-grass. A large conical-shaped hill (1,830 

 feet), called Fort George Mountain, seems to tower over the 

 whole ward; on a summit somewhat lower (1,120 feet) is the 

 fort of the same name, as also the signal-post, which corres- 

 ponds with a similar post (740 feet) on the north side of 

 Diego Martin, and, by notice from the latter, signals the arrival 

 of vessels long before they enter the gulf. At the base of Fort 



