324 TRINIDAD. 



timitales, or timite groves, abounding at Guapo and Irois ; 

 from Point Luna, its eastern boundary, to Quemada, along the 

 sea, it is either a light or clayey loam, generally fertile. This is 

 evidenced by an abundance of a species of palm (AUalea 

 speciosa) , its presence being a sign of a rich, light soil ; and by 

 the successful cultivation of cacao, and the natural growth of 

 carats and cedars. This county, notwithstanding its relative 

 disadvantages, is highly interesting, as being the grand receptacle 

 of our bitumen deposits and lignite formation. 



The great obstacle to the development of this county is the 

 want of facilities for land communication. It is only quite 

 lately that the Government has undertaken the formation of 

 cart roads between Oropuche and La Brea and at Cedros. A few 

 villages have arisen in the county of St. Patrick, viz., at 

 Oropuche, Guapo, and Cedros ; the Missions of Siparia and 

 Erin have a nominal existence. Siparia, however, may be said 

 to be a resort for pilgrims. Population of the county in 1881, 

 7,209 : males 4,350, females 2,859 ; increase on last census, 

 2,635. 



3. County of Mayaro. — Bounded on the N. by the river Or- 

 toire; on the S. and E. by the sea; and on the W. by the counties 

 of Victoria and St. Patrick. It comprises two wards — that of 

 Moruga, which I have already described, and that of Mayaro, 

 which comprises the quarters of Mayaro and Guayaguayare, ex- 

 tending along 'the eastern and southern coasts from Point 

 Mayaro to Point Casa Cruz. Only a part of the county — a 

 long, narrow belt — is cultivated, and it is very thinly inhabited. 

 Mayaro preserves a level all along the sea-shore from Point 

 Mayaro to Lagon-doux, but runs into waving land in the in- 

 terior. The level tract along the beach is a light sandy loam, 

 of excellent quality, compounded largely of organic matter, 

 with a goodly proportion of comminuted marine shells; the 

 undulating tract is a brown clayey loam, resembling the Napa- 

 rima Zapatero soil. The sugar-cane, rice, plantains, and roots 

 succeed admirably, and yield abundant returns ; sweet potatoes also | 

 and yams are of particularly fine growth and of excellent quality. 

 The coco-palm thrives better along the Mayaro beach than any- 

 where else, perhaps, in the island. Cotton was once extensively cul- 

 tivated, but the high price of sugar, coupled with the depredations 

 of caterpillars and locusts, induced the proprietors to abandon its 



