PREFACE. IX 



of the chief rivers, and the position of the principal towns in 

 Great Britain, France, and even in Russia and China ; but they 

 are ignorant, perhaps, of the names of the Guataro and Oropuche, 

 or through what county the Caroni has its course. They know 

 that San Fernando exists, but may not be able to say whether it 

 is on the eastern or the western side of the island ; they can give 

 the principal boundaries and dimensions of Europe, and its larger 

 kingdoms, but are ignorant of those of their own island-home ; 

 they can enumerate the chief productions of England or France, 

 but they do not know what are the agricultural products of their 

 own country, or whether the quantity of sugar exported is 35,000 

 or 56,000 hogsheads. 



Not only is such ignorance discreditable, but its effects cannot 

 but be prejudicial to the best interests, and consequently to the 

 advancement of the colony. 



With this view of being serviceable, particularly to my own 

 countrymen, I have entered into details which might otherwise 

 have been overlooked. Being also under the impression that 

 statistical facts and comparisons make a deeper and more lasting 

 impression on the mind than mere statements, I have taken great 

 pains in preparing a few tables which, I hope, will prove useful in 

 drawing and fixing the attention of those who can judge for them- 

 selves, and in circulating correct notions regarding the commercial 

 and agricultural capabilities of Trinidad. Ruin and misery are 

 hovering over the community ; and to resist and escape both, we 

 must strain every sinew, since no efficient support can be relied on 

 from the mother country : we must, on the contrary, be prepared 

 to struggle singly with every new difficulty which may be unex- 

 pectedly thrown in our way. We must look to ourselves and 

 assist ourselves by putting our own shoulders to the wheel ; and 

 in thus speaking, I have especially in view the welfare of the 

 emancipated class, and of that numerous body of inhabitants who 

 have gradually fallen from comparative affluence into the sink of 

 abject poverty. I hope they will find in this sketch sufficient 

 reasons to encourage them to exertion. 



It now remains with me to give a few explanations, and to 



