ORTOIRE. 327 



Newer Parian group, as termed by Messrs. Wall and Sawkins ; 

 and to the Moruga or Arenaceous series. " From the S. coast 

 to the valley of the Ortoire," say these gentlemen, " and even 

 further N., an extensive series of strata, usually of a loose sandy 

 nature, are observed. These are well exposed in cliffs all along 

 the southern shore. Thick strata of massive sand, generally 

 loose and pulverulent, are the most prevalent beds ; and, indeed, 

 sand may be said to be in great excess. 



u Shales are numerous, but clays are of rarer occurrence. 



11 Calcareous sandstone is extensively diffused in beds, not ex- 

 ceeding six to eight feet thick, and often only a few inches. 

 There is, at the sources of the Moruga river, an isolated tract of 

 the Naparima marl." 



The geological formation of the southern range is evidently 

 different from that of the northern and middle range. Shales, 

 sandstone, and calcareous sandstone are the materials of which 

 the southern range is formed. The nucleus of Point Mayaro seems 

 to be of sandstone, with an admixture of limestone; and the entire 

 promontory represents a rather peculiar disposition, being an 

 insulated headland, bounded on the N. and W. by the river 

 Ortoire ; whilst the ground is so low southward that it cannot 

 be more than thirty or forty feet above the level of the bay or 

 river. Point Mayaro is very rugged, being rent in all directions 

 by ravines, though the soil is a loam of excellent quality. Its 

 connection with the ridge followed by Mr. d'Abadie, when 

 cutting the Mayaro track, can be easily traced. The disposition 

 of Point Galeota is very similar to that of Point Mayaro, and 

 its geological formation probably identical. It is in the quarter 

 of Guayaguayare, longitude of Casa Cruz, N. of the three 

 sisters, that the pitch deposits and salses called " Lagon Bouff n 

 and " Terre Bouillante " are to be found. The three sisters are 

 the three summits of the mountains sighted from the Pint a. 



The surface of the Moruga series occupies more than one- 

 fourth of the total area of the colony ; and " it is essential," 

 say Messrs. Wall and Sawkins, " to arrive at some understanding 

 as to what productions would be best suited for it. After full 

 consideration, it seems that many, if not all, the natural condi- 

 tions requisite for the growth of cotton are present. The surface 

 is dry, the soil light and sandy, and the district not characterised 

 by an excess of moisture. This production of the tropics and 



