66 TRINIDAD. 



mountains have not the towering majesty which distinguishes those 

 of St. Vincent, Dominica, Cuba, &c. ; they do not present sepa- 

 rate summits, cone-shaped, steep, and rugged, but form three 

 ranges running in a parallel line from E. to W., separated by two 

 large valleys or river-basins, and being clothed from their base to 

 their utmost summits with stately forests. The central and 

 southern ranges are accessible on all sides ; the northern range, 

 which is abrupt on the sea-side, slopes gradually towards the in- 

 tervening valley ; it may be ascended, however, along the ridges 

 or crests which separate the water-courses. 



The mountains trending along the whole northern border of 

 the island are in a style of eminent grandeur, stretching south- 

 ward to the plain, and, in many places, along the gulf, down to 

 the sea ; whilst the forms of the hills are strikingly varied by the 

 intersections of the vallies and gullies in opposite directions. The 

 vallies in this range are few, open generally to the south, and 

 transversal. These vallies also present a great uniformity in their 

 general configuration, being contracted in the middle by the con- 

 vergence of the ridges, and expanding at each extremity. They 

 are level, branching off into smaller vales, and each watered by a 

 stream, from which it commonly takes its name. Such are the 

 vallies of Cuesa or Carenage, Diego-Martin, and Maraval, west- 

 ward of Port of Spain ; the beautiful and rich valley of Santa 

 Cruz to the eastward, as also those of Maraccas and Caura. These 

 latter are shut in, as it were, by the rise of the land at their 

 entrance. This is still more strongly exhibited at the Valley of 

 Arouca, which is blocked up for several miles by high hills, the 

 river flowing between precipitous slopes. Beyond Arouca the 

 vallies are contracted to a very small span, in fact, to mere gorges. 

 There are, also, on the north coast, three or four glens, viz. : 

 Maraccas, Las Cuevas, Chupara, and Rio Grande. The Maraccas- 

 bay valley, as it is called, to distinguish it from the valley of 

 Maraccas, is a small semicircular plain, bounded on almost every 

 side by steep hills, with a stream of fine water : the valley of Las 

 Cuevas is extensive, with a copious stream of water running 

 through it, but completely barred up at its mouth; it is the 

 Quebrada-de-Hierro, or the Iron Ravine of the old Spanish settlers. 

 Chupara is contracted to a mere gorge by the surrounding moun- 

 tains ; whilst at Rio Grande the land is undulating, and a 

 considerable part of it flat. It does not appear that any other 



