74 TRINIDAD. 



The islet nearest to Trinidad, in the formation of the Dragon's 

 Mouth is, Monas, or Apes' Islet ; the next, Huevas, or Eggs', and 

 lastly, Chacachacarreo. These islets present precipitous cliffs to 

 the N., and can be approached only on the gulf side. The 

 different passages or channels known as the Dragon's Mouths bear 

 the respective names of Monas, between the mainland; and 

 Monas-Huevas between Monas and Huevas Navias, or Ship's 

 passage, "between Huevas and Chacachacarreo; and the Boca 

 Grande, or Grand Mouth or passage, between Chacachacarreo and 

 Cape Peiia, which is the easternmost extremity of the Peninsula of 

 Paria. The Monos channel gives admittance only to sloops and 

 schooners, or steamers: the depth of water is from 10 to 20 

 fathoms, but the channel is very narrow. Huevas passage allows 

 entrance to vessels bound inward: the water is very deep and 

 bold from 10 to 40 fathoms. The islet of Monas being very 

 elevated (1,000 feet) shelters the passage from the easterly winds, 

 so that vessels entering run the risk of being becalmed if much in 

 shore of the islet. Boca de Navias, or Ship's Mouth, between 

 Huevas and Chacachacarreo, has a north-western direction, and 

 is the outward-bound passage. The Grande Boca is about 12 

 miles in breadth : it is the safest passage for vessels bound both 

 inward and outward, and is that which although more to the 

 leeward of Port of Spain, is chosen by men-of-war and the 

 larger class of merchantmen. 



The ebb or flow of the tide determines the direction, inward 

 or outward, of strong currents in the Dragon's Mouths ; and vessels 

 becalmed in the Huevas and Navias passages may be drifted on 

 the rocky sides of either island and wrecked. The southern en- 

 trance of the Gulf of Paria is divided into several passages by 

 rocks ; those nearest to Point Tracos are known as Los Lobos, or 

 the Wolves ; and about the middle of the strait is El Soldado, or 

 the Soldier Rock ; the three channels formed by them and the 

 mainland, are called the Serpent's Mouths. The Soldier is 120 

 feet above the level of the sea; the Wolves are sunken rocks. 

 Strong currents prevail in the southern as well as in the northern 

 passages. 



Mountains. The island of Trinidad is divided in an E. and 

 W. direction into two basins or drainage-valleys, by three ranges 

 of mountains or high hills, varying from 600 to 3,100 feet above 

 the level of the sea. The northern range is the most elevated, 



