338 TEINIDAD. 



for hoping that Port-of-Spain may eventually become the recep- 

 tacle of the trade of that vast tract of country from which the 

 Orinoco draws its waters. A steamer passing by the Caho 

 Macareo could reach Bolivar in seventy hours and return in fifty, 

 whereas merchant vessels take from five to twenty days to ascend 

 to that place from the chief mouth of the river. An American 

 company has already entered into contract with the Venezuelan 

 Government to navigate the Orinoco, from Bolivar upwards, for 

 a distance of 700 miles by steamer. It only requires, therefore, 

 to connect Trinidad and Bolivar by similar means — only I hope 

 by an English company — and the interior of the western part of 

 that vast continent would be opened to enterprise, and an invalu- 

 able impulse given to the commerce of this island/'' (Lord Harris 

 to Earl Grey, 21st February, 1848.) That connection has been 

 established for the last eight or ten years, two trips monthly to 

 and from Bolivar corresponding with the arrival of the English 

 mail. Great, therefore, not to say unlimited, are the advantages 

 enjoyed by Trinidad. How long will they remain only partially 

 developed, God only knows ! for numerous are the obstacles to 

 be overcome. We have to deal with jealous neighbours, more 

 or less prejudiced against foreigners, with a Government blind 

 to its best interests ; and yet, " under the fostering care of Great 

 Britain (if she will foster it), this colony may become, not only 

 prosperous, but may prove of vast importance in assisting to 

 civilise the fine and extensive continent in its vicinity." (Lord 

 Harris to Earl Grey.) It is, therefore, our duty to prepare our- 

 selves for any favourable contingency which may arise, by 

 adopting such measures as may improve our condition, and 

 render this island a desirable home for all who may choose to 

 bring hither their capital and industry. 



Trinidad is a newly-settled country, with a scanty population, 

 and imperfect means of communication; it is, therefore, most 

 important that we should establish good roads where required. 

 Without such, entire districts must remain altogether unde- 

 veloped or stationary. The perfection of means of communica- 

 tion does not, however, depend on the proper construction of 

 roads, but also on the facility of procuring fit materials for their 

 repair and maintenance. In our best agricultural districts, the 

 ground is far from affording facilities for the formation and 

 preservation of public ways, it being generally clayey and defi- 



