GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION. 77 



charges its waters into the gulf, to the S. of Cipriani's Canal ; 

 next come the Hondo, Caparo, Arena, and Couva, all having 

 their sources in the central range, and their outlet in the gulf. 



The southern plain is watered by a number of small streams, 

 and a principal river called the Guataro. In the lagoon basin the 

 following water-courses are worth noticing : the Cipero, south- 

 ward of the town of San Fernando, flows from the district of 

 Savannah Grande, and drains part of that of Naparima ; about 

 one mile and a half from its mouth is a shipping place, whither 

 flats are sent to take off produce. Eastward of La Brea are the 

 Aripero, or Silver-stream, and the Roussillac ; southward, the 

 Bravo, or Vassini's River, the Gunpo, and Capdeville, with a 

 number of smaller ravines ; all these water-courses spring from 

 the high land of the interior, and form separate streams which 

 flow into the gulf. Between the Cipero and Aripero, however, 

 lies the Oropuche or Grand Lagoon, which may be considered as 

 the great drain of the lagoon basin. It is an extensive swamp, 

 studded with mounds of a black soil, clothed with rank vegeta- 

 tion, and intersected by channels expanding, at intervals, into 

 ponds covered with reeds, rushes, and other aquatic plants or 

 trees. A great number of streams, flowing from the surrounding 

 undulating districts, supply it with much more water than might be 

 at first imagined. The Lagoon discharges its waters into the gulf 

 by two principal outlets Mosquito Creek or Blazini's River, and 

 Godineau's River. 



The eastern division of the southern plain is drained by the 

 largest river in the colony, the Guataro, or Ortoire. Its course is 

 imperfectly known ; it may, however, be traced from the Mont- 

 serrat heights, running southward, then eastward, and its mouth 

 opens on the eastern coast, immediately northward of Point 

 Guataro. Its tributaries are partly from the central range, the 

 principal being the Maora, Bell's Creek, the Fossi, Lunapure, 

 Laranache, Anapo, and a number of small ravines, and partly 

 from the high lands to the south. The river Guataro is made on 

 Mallett's map to communicate with the Nariva by means of navi- 

 gable canals ; but no such communication exists. 



The Labranche valley is watered by the Labranche and a few 

 ravines ; the Labranche itself has its source in the group of the 

 same name, and its mouth to the southward of Manzanilla Point. 

 The Guaracara valley is watered by the Guaracara, which descends 



