OROPUCHE. 313 



also of tobacco, which, when properly prepared, is of excellent 

 quality. The tract of land between Oropuche and Siparia is very 

 much broken up by ravines, which have their courses through 

 thick Timitales. The principal productions are, in Oropuche, 

 sugar and provisions ; lately, they have commenced planting 

 coco-nuts ; in Siparia, a little cacao, coffee, tobacco, and pro- 

 visions. The cane cultivation extends along the sea-shore, from 

 Godineau to the Aripero river, and not further than two miles 

 inland. Besides the Godineau river, the ward of Oropuche is 

 drained by the Aripero, or silver stream, and the Eoussillac, 

 which receives the waters of a considerable hollow or depression, 

 known as the Roussillac swamp, between Oropuche and La Brea. 

 The Aripero is a tidal stream, and admits of the entrance of flats 

 to unload estates' supplies and take off produce. Between the 

 mouths of the Godineau and Aripero rivers lies a shallow bank, 

 formed by the washings of the lagoon and surrounding 

 district. At the fall of the spring tide, this bank extends 

 upwards of a mile out to sea, impeding the approach of the 

 smallest boat. The Rio Perro and the Negro discharge their 

 waters into the lagoon, as also the San Francisco, which may be 

 regarded as the outlet of the Bertrand lagoon. Just at the foot 

 of the Siparia table-land, there is a small streamlet called lava- 

 pies. They all flow from S.S.E. 



The quarter of Oropuche is very unhealthy, not only on 

 account of its proximity to the lagoon, but also in consequence 

 of the prevalence of mangrove swamps all along the line of 

 coast. 



The village of St. Mary stands on a small natural savanna, 

 between the Bellevue and the Otaheite estates, about a mile from 

 the Godineau river, and a mile and a-half from the sea. It is 

 well laid out, but the constructions are miserable ; the ground 

 upon which it stands is rather sandy. Besides this village, there 

 are a few isolated settlements, viz., at Freeman's Bay, the public 

 landing place ; the Yarraba village, the Krooman village, the 

 Avoca, and the Fyzabad — the latter a Coolie settlement. In all 

 these nooks and corners are herded together bands of immigrants 

 imported into the colony, particularly Congoes and Kroomen. 

 In fact, the population of Trinidad may be characterised as a 

 heterogeneous collection of inhabitants of different countries — 

 Congoes, Yarrabas, and Kroomen from Africa; Coolies and 



