438 TRINIDAD. 



Two months after the date of the cedula, the government of 

 the colony was assumed ad interim by Captain Barruto. 



In September, 1780, Don Jose Maria Chacon, captain of the 

 navy, arrived in Trinidad, with the title of Governor and Captain- 

 General. Governor Chacon was the man to carry into execution 

 the plan suggested by Roume de Saint Laurent. He was well 

 informed, clever, and prudent — a perfect gentleman, who could 

 speak French and English fluently enough. He at once caused 

 copies of the Cedula of Colonisation to be circulated in the 

 French and English colonies. Soon immigrants from St. Yin- 

 cent, Martinique, Guadaloupe, Dominica, and Grenada — but from 

 the latter island especially — began to flock to Trinidad in search 

 of a home, and with the object of bettering their condition. 



Governor Chacon, being anxious to execute the conditions of 

 the cedula, gave to the immigrants a ready and warm reception, 

 treated them with consideration, and thus succeeded in securing 

 the confidence of the new settlers. But he met, as natural, with 

 opposition on the part of the Spanish colonists. They had taken 

 possession of, and divided among themselves, large tracts of the 

 best land of the island. They, of course, showed a determination 

 to retain possession of entire districts, which, however, had never 

 been surveyed or granted, and were not under cultivation. When 

 it was attempted to grant lands to the new comers, claims were 

 proffered and suits instituted. The Governor had to proclaim, in 

 July, 1785, a law regulating their position, and protecting the 

 public demesne. It was ill received by the Spaniards, and created 

 dissensions between the two classes of colonists. Governor 

 Chacon, nevertheless, persevered; and so successful was this 

 immigration, that, from 1784 to 1789, the population of Trinidad 

 had increased from 1,000 to 10,422. This immigration consisted 

 not only of white families, with their slaves, but of most 

 respectable black and coloured people. 



Governor Chacon extended to all equal protection ; and the 

 provisions of the cedula were enforced, it may be said, without 

 fear or favour. Nor did he lose sight of the aborigines, but 

 managed to group them under corregidors, or magistrates, and, 

 with that object in view, formed the existing missions into two 

 villages, viz., Arima — consisting of the missions of Tacarigua, 

 Arouca, Caura, and Arima ; and of Savana Grande — comprising 

 Montserrat, Savanetta, and Naparima. He also brought 



