302 TRINIDAD. 



general, very fertile particularly that of the valley of Caura. 

 This valley, which is watered and drained by the river Tacarigua, 

 is considered as the most picturesque spot in the whole island- 

 in fact, it is described by visitors as a perfect paradise. It is 

 cultivated in cacao, coffee, and provisions : the inhabitants are 

 mostly of Spanish descent, and the Spanish language is universally 

 spoken. Blanchisseuse stretches along the sea, and is entirely 

 hilly. The ward-road of Caura has been lately extended to this 

 ward, but it is barely more than a bridle-path. Blanchisseuse 

 communicates with the town by sea, or by Santa Cruz, through 

 Las Cuevas and Maraccas : there are in it two settlements those 

 of Filette and Blanchisseuse, with a Rom an -catholic- church in 

 common. Cacao and provisions form the staple cultivations : the 

 population is composed almost entirely of descendants of Spaniards, 

 each settler being allowed to occupy five quarrees of land of the 

 crown, on paying a quit-rent. 



It may be seen, from the above description, that the county of 

 St. George is, for the most part, hilly ; the soil excellent in some 

 parts, and altogether barren in others. Cacao is the chief produce, 

 and is cultivated in the valleys and the river-hollows ; the roads 

 are generally good ; population 39,659 more than half of the 

 whole population of the island. 



County of St. David. Only two wards have been formed in 

 this county one in the north and the other in the southern divi- 

 sion ; the district itself is but imperfectly known, as the greater 

 part of it is still covered with high virgin forests. It is in general 

 hilly, and the high-lands would appear to be very fertile, whilst 

 the level are of the worst description ; but a tract of undulating 

 land, near the river Oropouche, is of the best quality. The ward 

 of Toco, in the northern division, extends along the sea-shore ; 

 this ward is entirely hilly, and parts of it of very difficult access. 

 It is particularly well adapted to the cultivation of cacao, coffee, 

 and provisions ; plantains grow luxuriantly, and some of these 

 walks on the banks of the Rio Grande, of more than sixty years' 

 growth, are still thriving and productive, almost without culture. 

 There was formerly, at Toco bay, a sugar estate, but it has been 

 abandoned since emancipation. The want of safe harbours, and 

 the difficulty of communication, either with the Bay of Toco, or 

 with town, will be felt, for a long time, as a great obstacle to the 

 prosperity of that ward, which otherwise would soon rise in im- 



