288 TRINIDAD. 



parts of the island, but there are no more Indians, neither are 

 their oblations to be seen adorning the church ; their sports and 

 their dances have passed away with the actors therein, and, in 

 their stead, quadrilles, waltzes, races, and blind-hookey are the 

 present amusements of the village. 



Arima is sixteen miles distant from Port-of- Spain. Since 

 the year 1879 it has become the terminus of a railway from that 

 town ; three passenger trains each day ; transit, one hour. Arima 

 will ultimately become an important centre of population and 

 commerce. Produce from the adjoining mountains will find its 

 way to Arima, to be transported afterwards to town. All the 

 cacao from Cumuto, Tumpuna, Cunape, and even Oropuche must 

 be carted there, until, at least, the projected tramway along the 

 left bank of the Caroni is fairly established, when the inhabitants 

 of those localities will find it more advantageous to use the tram- 

 way. Population of the ward in 1871, 3,295; houses, 1,883. 

 Population in 1881, 4,687. 



Northward of Tacarigua, Arima and Guanape, are the wards 

 of Caura and Blanchisseuse. They are hilly, but the soil is, in 

 general, very fertile — particularly that of the valley of Caura. 

 This valley, which is watered and drained by the river Tacarigua, 

 is considered as the most picturesque spot in the whole island — 

 in fact, it is described by visitors as a perfect paradise. It is 

 cultivated in cacao, coffee, and provisions ; the inhabitants are 

 mostly of Spanish descent, and the Spanish language is univer- 

 sally spoken. Blanchisseuse stretches along the sea, and is 

 entirely hilly. The ward-road of Caura has been lately extended 

 to that ward, but it is barely more than a bridle-path. Blanchis- 

 seuse communicates with Port-of-Spain by sea, or by Santa Cruz, 

 through Las Cuevas and Maraccas ; a bridle-path across the moun- 

 tains connects it with Arima. When this path has been con- 

 verted into a regular road, Blanchisseuse will send its produce to 

 Arima. 



It may be seen from the above description that the county of 

 St. George is, for the most part, hilly ; the soil excellent in some 

 parts, and altogether barren in others. Cacao is the chief produce, 

 and is cultivated in the valleys and the river-hollows ; the roads 

 are generally good. Population in 1871, 39,659; in 1881, 

 80,761; increase, 41,102. 



2. County of St. David. — Only two wards have been formed in 



