286 TRINIDAD. 



missions were formed at Tacarigua, Caura, Arouca, and Arima ; 

 but as the establishment of ingenios, or sugar estates, was 

 carried eastward, the Indians located at the above places were re- 

 moved to Arima, where one thousand quarrees of land had been 

 reserved on the right side of the river as their full and inalienable 

 property. The present village of Arima owes its origin to the 

 mission. This was settled and governed on the same plan as all 

 such establishments in the Spanish colonies. These Indians had 

 their own municipal government, the first and second Alcades 

 being chosen from among themselves, but under the control of the 

 missionary priest. At the conquest of the island, and subsequent 

 to the death of the padre, or missionary priest, a corregidor was 

 appointed, as also a protectory to whom the Indians would appeal 

 against any arbitrary act of the corregidor. All able-bodied 

 Indians were obliged to work two days in the week, for the sup- 

 port of the aggregate members of the community, who, in 

 general, were employed in keeping the village clean and culti- 

 vating the land in common, the proceeds being distributed to each 

 house or family equally ; each head of a family had, besides, his 

 own allotment, or conuco, which he cultivated for his own private 

 benefit and advantage. They were not, strictly speaking, subject 

 to taxation, but were bound to assist in performing any public 

 work within the limits of the mission, when ordered by the cor- 

 regidor ; they had also to accompany him whenever required, on 

 wages. The Indians were considered in the light of minors, and 

 could not sell or otherwise dispose of their property, which, how- 

 ever, descended to their natural heirs : a very wise provision 

 indeed, since the moment they became emancipated, they sold 

 what property they had for a mere trifle. Once every year they 

 elected, with the sanction of the corregidor, a king and queen to 

 preside over their festivities, and to act as their principals on 

 solemn occasions. In 1834, when a stipendiary magistrate was 

 appointed, the Indians were brought under the common law, and 

 the corregidorship was abolished. In 1849, after the passing of 

 the territorial ordinance, the lots in the village were put up for i 

 sale at an upset price — a measure the legality of which is highly 

 questionable, as far as the Indians were concerned, since the lands 

 and lots in the mission had been granted to them as compensation 

 for property of which they had been deprived. The Indians of 

 Arima called themselves Calif ournans ; some twenty- five years 



