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CHAPTER I. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION PJSITION AND AREA HISTORICAL OUTLINE. 



THE Island of Trinidad is situated between 10 3' and 10 50' 

 latitude N., and between 61 1' and 62 4' longitude W. of 

 Greenwich ; it is separated from the province of Cumana, in the 

 republic of Venezuela, by the Gulf of Paria, together with the 

 Dragon's and Serpent's Mouths. In figure it is an oblong, or of a 

 rectangular shape, with promontories at its four angles, viz., 

 Galera and Galeota to the eastward, and Mono and Icacos to the 

 westward ; these two latter stretching for several miles towards the 

 opposite shores of Venezuela, and thus contributing to the for- 

 mation of the northern and southern boundaries of the Gulf of 

 Paria. 



According to Captain Columbine, its principal dimensions are 

 as follows : 



The north side, from Point Galera to Point Mono, 53J miles. 

 The eastern side, from Point Galera to Point Galeota, 48J 

 miles. 



The south side, from Point Galeota to Point Icacos, 65 miles. 

 The western side, from Point Icacos to Point Mono, 49^ miles. 

 The greatest length of the island, from N. to S., is, from 

 rrand Matelot to Casa Cruz, 50 miles ; average length, 48 miles. 

 Greatest breadth, from Galeota to Icacos, 65 miles; average 

 ?adth, 35 miles only. The superficial extent or area is about 

 5,012 miles, or 1,287,600 square acres. 



Trinidad is bounded on the N. by the Caribbean Sea, on the 

 by the channel which separates it from the Delta and Canos 

 the Orinoco, on the E. by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the 

 r . by the Gulf of Paria. 



Physical Aspect. The general aspect of Trinidad is that of a 

 ?vel country, bearing no resemblance to the other Antilles. Its 



E 



