THE GREAT LAGOON. 309 



lagoon, closely parallel with the sea-shore. It is two miles long, 

 and cost the sum of £1,855 sterling. Two bridges have been 

 thrown over the Blazini and Godineau rivers, the latter a fine 

 iron structure ; also many culverts along the line. This corduroy 

 road is a necessary connecting link between the Naparimas, 

 Oropuche, La Brea, and Cedros, and yet it is not sufficiently 

 wide ; and, as an embankment, is not very solidly laid. 



The lagoon is frequented at certain seasons by large numbers 

 of water-game — white and gray herons, crimson spatulas, red 

 ibis, teals, ducks, water-fowls, &c. The mangrove ramiers and 

 flocks of parrots resort to the islets and the mangroves as their 

 places of rest; and at such times the chattering of the latter is 

 really deafening. The lagoon is also inhabited by alligators; 

 mangrove dogs are not uncommon. Large oysters are found in 

 some of the channels, sticking to the roots of the mangrove 

 trees. 



The Oropuche lagoon is an inexhaustible source of malaria, 

 which spreads over the neighbouring districts and renders them 

 very unhealthy, especially that part of the ward of Oropuche 

 which stretches along the coast. Intermittent and remittent 

 fevers are endemic in those localities. Population of the two 

 wards of S. Naparima, 1881, 10,057 ; in 1871, 8,787. 



Savanna Grande. — To the east of the wards of North and 

 South Naparima is the district of Savanna Grande, divided into 

 two wards. It is bounded on the W. by the Naparimas, and on 

 all other sides by Crown lands. The ground in this district is 

 highly undulating, rising into hillocks near the Mission. The 

 Mission and the settlements around extend over the table land 

 which stretches to the S.E., and, after skirting the head of the 

 lagoon, join the southern range, so as to form, in a manner, a 

 dividing ridge between the Ortoire and the Oropuche lagoon. 

 This section is, in general, fertile, and tracts of it may bear com- 

 parison with the best soils of Naparima — in fact, the zone of the 

 figuier soil may be traced to some of the sugar estates of this 

 district, which are considered as equal to any in the colony. In 

 several places are found beds of marl, containing hard nodules, 

 with infusoria and bivalve shells. In the eastern ward are the 

 mud volcanoes, or salses, which I have already mentioned. 

 Sugar and provisions are the principal, not to say the sole, 

 products. 



