308 TRINIDAD. 



and from a half to three and even four miles in breadth. Its 

 ground surface swells up at intervals into mounds, which form so 

 many islets with which the lagoon is studded. They are covered 

 with a rich vegetation. The largest among them are cultivated 

 in provisions. They are separated by natural channels and a 

 labyrinth of ponds covered with rushes, reeds, and other aquatic 

 plants : four or five larger canals meander amidst this intrication 

 of islets, and ponds, serving as outlets to the water which 

 accumulates in the lagoon. Near the sea-shore, and even in the 

 interior, mangroves grow in great abundance. During the dry 

 season, that portion of the lagoon lying to the eastward remains 

 dry. The land adjoining the lagoon, and such parts of it as 

 remain uncovered at low tide, are of the same black colour as the 

 figuier soil of South Naparima. It is, therefore, probable that, 

 in the course of years, and by the slow but regular process of 

 natural agencies, fresh alluvia will be gradually added to those 

 already deposited, and new land be formed, whilst the waters 

 will collect into some main channel, and form a river, it may be 

 of considerable size. 



At present two principal outlets carry off the waters of tl 

 lagoon to the sea, viz., Mosquito creek or Blazini's river, on tl 

 Naparima side, and Godineau's river on the Oropuche side — ty 

 far the most important of the two. M. Godineau was a Frencl 

 colonist who had formed a settlement at Oropuche, immediately 

 adjoining the lagoon. He first opened a canal, by which to 

 transport his canes to the mill in punts, and afterwards cut 

 through a small neck of land, which acted as an embankment, in 

 order to procure a water communication with the sea, and a freer 

 discharge of the waters of the lagoon. The enterprising Frencl 

 man was unfortunately ruined in an undertaking too arduous fc 

 his resources, but which, under favourable auspices, might ha> 

 terminated successfully, and which would, undoubtedly, have 

 proved of incalculable benefit to the adjoining districts, not only 

 as conducive to their salubrity, but in regard to facility of 

 transport and other advantages. Such as it is, however, the 

 Godineau is a pretty large stream, and the principal outlet of 

 the lagoon. 



The area of the Oropuche lagoon or swamp may be estimated 

 at fourteen square miles. 



In the year 1852, a corduroy road was laid out across the 



eer 



