irojs. 319 



island. Numerous attempts have been made to utilise our 

 asphalte locally, but without any marked success. For one reason 

 or another, it has not succeeded as a suitable material for pave- 

 ment or for flooring. Until further researches are made, I 

 deprecate its use for such purposes. The fact is that it con- 

 tracts or shrinks, and after a time the layer becomes uneven, 

 or even breaks when exposed to the rays of the sun. It has 

 given some satisfaction, however, when used together with 

 megass as a fuel. Oils of different consistency, and for 

 various adaptations, can be extracted from our asphaltum, 

 especially for lubricating purposes. Asphaltum glance is a more 

 valuable material; mixed with turpentine oil, it gives a fine 

 black varnish. Asphaltum is exported either as a raw material 

 or as epure. 



Quantity exported in 1879 : — 



Eaw 17,416 tons 



Epure :t , ... 6,144 „ 



23,560 tons 



of which 4,396 raw and 3,021 epure went to the United 

 Kingdom, 9,565 raw to the United States, and % } 6Z6 epure to 

 Germany. Value in sterling £25,938. 



Ward of Irois. — This ward bears, in point of soil and general 

 aspect, the closest resemblance to that of La Brea ; it is highly 

 undulating, particularly towards the interior. The soil is deep, 

 but generally poor, being sandy, and in some places of a reddish 

 colour, deficient in organic matters. Nearly the whole of this 

 ward is crown property, and scanty crops of ground provisions 

 only are cultivated by a few scattered settlers ; it nevertheless 

 once could boast of its sugar plantations, among which La Paix 

 was the largest and most productive. An extensive forest of 

 mora trees lines the course of the river Irois, and probably 

 spreads out in the interior to a great distance ; there are besides 

 a few locust, carapa, guatecare, and olivier trees. This forest of 

 moras had attracted the attention of Sir Ralph Woodford ; it 

 was, however, eventually lost sight of, and it may be said, in 

 some measure, to have been discovered anew by Mr. Purdie, 

 Government botanist. Governor Elliott decided at once on 

 taking advantage of this natural wood-yard, and turning the 

 mora and other timbers to useful purposes. A penal depot was 



