CARAPICHAIMA COUVA SAVANETTA. 309 



burning, that the quality of the grass improves, and the shade- 

 trees grow more thickly. When the colony was first settled, the 

 Grand Savannah was renowned for the immense quantity of 

 aquatic game and parrots that thronged there, and which were 

 eagerly hunted, for sport or subsistence, by the inhabitants. Ducks, 

 teals, herons, flamingos (7Ms),&c., then swarmed in the ponds, 

 and the % mangrove, and guava trees especially, were literally 

 covered with ramiers and parrots : but the quantity has diminished 

 in an incredible degree, particularly since the practice of firing the 

 long grass, which afforded shelter to the feathered and other game. 

 Lapos and other animals of the chase are also caught in great 

 numbers, when running confusedly in all directions from the course 

 of the fire. From the mangroves along the Caroni, Port-of-Spain 

 gets a large supply of fuel. 



Wards of Carapichaima, Couva, and Savanetta. Next to 

 Chaguanas lies the ward of Carapichaima, and in succession south- 

 ward, Couva and Savanetta : they are bounded on the N. by 

 Chaguanas, on the S. by Pointe-a-Pierre, on the E. by crown 

 lands, and, on the W. by the Gulf. These wards very much 

 resemble each other in point of soil and general disposition, and 

 may be said to form a perfect level, except towards the interior. 

 The soil is partly sandy, partly clayey, and not of the best descrip- 

 tion, excepting, however, on the banks of rivers : the soil of Couva 

 is, on the whole, considered as being of a better quality, the crab- 

 lands, especially, being very productive and that of the lower 

 part of Savanetta is also very good. These wards being flat, are 

 not easily drained, and are consequently damp. The water is very 

 shallow along the whole length of coast, and mangrove swamps 

 occur at frequent intervals ; as a necessary consequence, fevers are 

 rather prevalent. 



Cane, cacao, and ground provisions are pretty generally culti- 

 vated ; the two latter, however, in the interior only, where the 

 land is undulating. About sixty families of mixed Spanish blood 

 have settled in the heights of Couva in fact, nearly reaching the 

 fountain-head of the river itself on a very fertile tract, where they 

 have planted about 100,000 cacao trees ; some of these conucos, 

 indeed, may aspire to the dignity of cacao plantations. They 

 cultivate, also, maize, manioc, plantains, &c.,and these articles are 

 sold cheaper in Couva than in, perhaps, any other district of the 

 colony. Sugar, the grand staple of these wards, is, in general, of 



