306 TRINIDAD. 



of Indians and Spaniards many, especially of the latter, being 

 emigrants from the neighbouring province of Cumana and little 

 or none but the Spanish language is spoken throughout this dis- 

 trict. Venomous snakes are abundant, principally along the 

 Tumpuno and Arena ; and parasol ants are a regular pest some 

 of the best tracts remaining unoccupied, on account of their 

 depredations. There are regular groves of cedar towards the 

 upper course of the Tumpuno, which might be formed into rafts 

 and drifted down to the Caroni during the overflow of the rivers. 

 Cacao yields more abundantly in this ward than, perhaps, in any 

 other part of the colony. I know an instance of 1,000 trees, 

 about 18 years old, yielding 32 fanegas, or 3,500 Ibs. whilst the 

 average return, in other parts, for the same number of trees, is 

 about 1,500 Ibs. only. Maize is chiefly cultivated during the dry 

 seasons. Three roads connect this ward with the Royal road : 

 one from the junction of the Guanape and Aripo, which reaches 

 the Royal road just at the eastern extremity of Arima this is the 

 Cocorite road ; another runs a little westward of Tumpuno, cross- 

 ing the O'Mara savannah to the south-west of Arima it is 

 known by the name of the O'Mara road ; the third leads from the 

 mouth of the Mujico to d'Abadie's village, and across the 

 Piarquito savannah to the Royal road. But the Caroni river is 

 the real highway to town ; it is formed in this ward by the junc- 

 tion of the Guanape and the Aripo ; half a mile lower down it 

 receives the Tumpuno. The banks of the Cumuto and Tumpuno 

 are high and steep, their waters turbid and yellow ; they both 

 flow from Mount Tamana. The banks of the Caroni are higher 

 still, the bed is muddy, and its course excessively winding. After 

 the junction of the Tumpuno, the depth varies from one to four 

 feet down to the point reached by the tidal flow, and from six to 

 twelve feet below that point to its mouth ; the shallow or mud- 

 bar at its mouth can be crossed only at high-tide. The mean time 

 descending in a canal from the mouth of the Tumpuno to the sea 

 is eight hours ; but going up or against the current is very tedious and 

 much prolonged. In the wet season, the Caroni, Tumpuno, &c., 

 overflow their banks after heavy showers, and inundate the country 

 around, for several hours, after which the waters retire, leaving a 

 fertilising deposit on the soil. The bed of the Caroni is blocked 

 up with fallen trees and bamboos, which much obstruct the navi- 

 gation of that river : it will be difficult to prevent, or effectually 



