LA BREA. 315 



elevation and inland position, is cool and very healthy. Popula- 

 tion of Oropuche and Siparia in 1881, 4,393 ; 1871, 1,646. 



The ward of La Brea, which comprises the quarters of La 

 Brea and Guapo, is bounded on the N. by the Gulf; on the 

 S. by crown lands; on the E. by the ward of Oropuche; on 

 the W. by Irois. The surface of this ward bears some resem- 

 blance to that of Oropuche — undulating towards the coast, and 

 swelling into elevations towards the interior, where it meets 

 Morne l'Enfer, 327 feet high. From Pointe La Brea eastward, 

 the ground rises into a sort of dividing ridge, expanding towards 

 Siparia on the E., and towards Guapo on the W. The waters 

 thus separated contribute to form, on the N.N.E., the Roussillac 

 and Silver Stream, and on the W.S.W. the Vessini or 

 Bravo river, and the Guapo. In the vicinity of and skirt- 

 ing the Roussillac exists an extensive marshy plain, or hollow, 

 which, in the wet season, becomes flooded to the depth of 

 nearly four feet. The whole line of coast, extending between 

 the mouth of the Roussillac and Pointe d'Or, is thickly studded 

 with mangroves. The soil is not of very good quality, being 

 an admixture of reddish retentive clay, or unproductive sand, 

 with asphaltum, very poor in organic matter, and therefore 

 easily exhausted. It improves towards the interior; but even 

 there the abundance of timites shows that it is still rather 

 infertile. La Brea is distinguished for its fine and delicious pine 

 apples. Guapo very much resembles La Brea ; the soil, however, 

 may be rated as of better quality, particularly on the slopes 

 towards the rivers. Besides the Vessini, or Bravo, and Guapo 

 rivers, there are two or three smaller brooks. Once flourishing 

 districts, La Brea and Guapo began to decline shortly after 

 emancipation, and may be considered now as almost abandoned. 

 In 1840, there were in the district of La Brea seven sugar estates 

 and eleven in Guapo, all under the management of their resident 

 proprietors ; now only provisions are cultivated, and even these 

 on a very reduced scale. Lately, however, abandoned tracts have 

 been purchased, with the object of forming coco-nut plantations. 

 The inhabitants of the ward are generally poor, but moral and 

 peaceable. The population of La Brea and Guapo, which 



I amounted to 439 inhabitants in 1871, is now 621, with only two 



\ Indians. 



The quarter of La Brea, which owes its name to the large 



