COUNTY OF VICTORIA. 311 



palms; many are preserved in the cane-fields, sending forth 

 their column-like stems, surmounted by a crest or crown of 

 undulating foliage. 



With fortunately but few exceptions, the soil is excellent 

 throughout the whole extent of the county, and is well suited 

 to the growth of almost every product — provisions, cacao, and 

 sugar ; but it seems particularly well adapted to the production 

 of the latter article. If it ever be the good fortune of Trinidad 

 to extend its cane cultivation, new sugar estates will decidedly 

 be established in the county of Victoria. The only drawbacks 

 against this district are the difficulty of establishing good roads, 

 and of keeping them in proper repair. The roads now existing 

 are pretty good ; but for many years it was nearly impossible, 

 during the rainy season, to cart one single barrel of flour to any 

 distance; even an empty cart could not, in the Wet weather, 

 force its way through the deep and adhesive mud of most of 

 the roads ; and it often became necessary to pack the flour in 

 small parcels of forty or fifty pounds, each parcel being then 

 carried by a labourer to the estate. It was not unusual to see 

 carts left lying, or rather sticking, in the mire on the high road, 

 from the sheer impossibility of taking them back to the estate. 

 This soil, which becomes so soft and adhesive when saturated 

 with water, is of brick-like consistency when exposed for some 

 weeks to the action of the sun and the wind, and, by the gradual 

 process of evaporation, breaks into deep fissures in all directions, 

 and becomes dangerous to man and beast. In consequence of 

 this property in the soil of the Naparimas and Savanna Grande, 

 there is no good pasturage in these districts ; and, in former 

 times, the loss of animals was very great — nearly 20 per cent, 

 per annum. It has, however, materially decreased since the 

 planters have adopted the plan of hand-feeding their stock in 

 stables during part of the day. 



Nearly the whole tract westward of Savanna Grande is under 

 cultivation. From some of the elevated spots, the aspect of the 

 country is enchanting. All around cane-fields are seen waving 

 under the gentle influence of the breeze, surmounted by their 

 beautiful panicles of flowers, and concealing the saccharine 

 treasures which the industry of man will soon make available 

 for freighting the vessels awaiting in the placid gulf their annual 

 cargo of sweets. Lo ! on whatever side the observer turns, the 



