260 TRINIDAD. 



sapodilla) ; Chili and Governor's plums (Spondias and Flacourtia) ; 

 granadillas and water lemons (Passiflora Alata, P. laurifolia) ; 

 sugar apple, soursops, custard apples (Anona squamosa, A. 

 muricata, A. reticulata) ; three varieties of caimit (Chryso- 

 phyllum Caimito) ; musk melons, scarce, and water-melons, abun- 

 dant (Cucumis melo, Oucurbita citridlus) ; pomegranates (Punica 

 granatum) ; papaws (Carica Papaya) ; cashews (Anacardium oc- 

 cidentale) ; Pomme-ythere (local), or cytherine apple (Spondias 

 cythera) ; and several other sorts of tropical fruits. 



Avogado Pear (Per sea gratissima). The avogado or aguacate 

 p ear the latter being preferable as the original Carib designa- 

 tion is extensively used ; hardly, however, as a fruit, but rather 

 as a sort of vegetable marrow, which term has not inaptly been 

 applied to it. From it may also be extracted an oily substance, 

 which might be brought to serve for various purposes. The flesh 

 of the aquacate pear, when ripe, is remarkably soft, and forms an 

 excellent salad. The process of boiling, however, seems to 

 develop in it a bitter principle, which renders the oil prepared by 

 ebullition unfit for culinary purposes. It is presumable, however, 

 that this oil, when cold drawn, might be used at table as a condi- 

 ment. Such of it as has been obtained is limpid, of a greenish 

 colour, and has answered very well for burning in lamps. The 

 pulp contains from 15 to 16 per cent, of oil ; but only 11 per cent, 

 has yet been extracted. Although the aguacate tree thrives best 

 in good land, yet it grows in almost any soil ; it requires very 

 little care, and yields well. It begins to bear at between five and 

 six years, and continues in full bearing for about twenty or thirty 

 years. The fruit weighs from one pound to a pound and a half. 

 I have seen some weighing as much as three pounds two ounces. 



Grapes and European figs are very scantily cultivated ; probably 

 on account of the parasol-ants, which are particularly fond of the 

 vine, and of an insect which attacks the fig-tree. Limes and 

 lemons (Citrus vulgaris, Citrus limonum) are very common ; the 

 balata fruit (Achras balata) is also sold in town and country. 



Exportable Articles. The principal and almost sole articles of 

 export are sugar, molasses, and rum ; cacao, coffee, and coco-nut 

 oil. The cotton, hides, &c., exported from Trinidad, come from 

 the neighbouring cantons of Guiria and Maturin, though some of 

 the former is cultivated in the island. 



Sugar is, by far, the most important article of exportation ; it 



