290 TRINIDAD. 



but it is a mere track, and scarcely fit for mule traverse. The 

 ward of Toco abounds in excellent timber, and cedar-boards are a 

 regular trade commodity. Population, 1881, Toco and Blanchis- 

 seuse, 2,025; 1871, 1,278. 



The ward of Turure, in the southern district of this county, 

 is partly hilly, partly level ; the settlements of Cuare, Turure, 

 and La Ceyba, with a few plantations along the banks of the 

 Matura and Oropuche were for many years the only inhabited 

 parts of this ward, its central part, traversed by the eastern road, 

 being highly infertile. Lately, however, many acres have been 

 bought from the Government along the road towards Sangre 

 Chiquito and Morne Calabash; also on the banks of Sangre 

 Grande, Cunape, and Upper Cumuto. The soil along Cunape 

 and Upper Cumuto may be pronounced of the best quality, and 

 cacao cultivation is fast gaining ground in those localities, almost 

 to the foot of Tamana. This district may before long become 

 one of importance. I have said that the central part of Turure 

 is highly infertile ; nothing, in fact, can be worse than the 

 tract lying between Aripo and La Ceyba. 



The settlements of Cuare, Turure, and La Ceyba were formed, 

 in the year 1816, of disbanded soldiers from the 1st West India 

 Regiment. These settlements or villages ranged along the banks 

 of the rivers bearing their respective names ; and the soldiers 

 were located thereon with a grant of sixteen acres of land to 

 each man. They were placed, to a certain extent, under the 

 supervision of their sergeants, who were allowed a larger and 

 more commodious house, on condition of admitting travellers to 

 a temporary lodging when requested so to do. Sergeant Brooks 

 had, for many years, the privilege of entertaining travellers to 

 Bande de I' Est. Some of the locations also bordered on the 

 road, with the object, it seems, to keep that road in good repair ; 

 also to place labour within the reach of neighbouring proprietors. 

 The experiment proved a complete failure, the King's men, as 

 they called themselves, being too proud to work as day-labourers. 

 In the year 1849, after the passing of the territorial ordinance, 

 the lands of these and other settlers were surveyed, and fifteen 

 acres granted free to each settler or his descendants; but the 

 lands of Cuare, La Ceyba, and Turure being of the very worst 

 description, the occupants gradually gave up their grants for 

 better land elsewhere. 



