311 



CHAPTER IX. 



TOPOGRAPHY SOUTHERN DIVISION. 



THE southern division comprises four counties, viz., Victoria, 

 St. Patrick, Mayaro, and Nariva. 



County of Victoria. Bounded on the N. by the county of 

 Caroni ; on the S. by a line running E.N.E. from Siparia, and 

 intersecting the Guataro at about 10 13' ; on the E. by a line 

 drawn from the latter point to Mount Tamana ; and on the W. by 

 the sea, and part of the south-western side of the lagoon of Oropuche. 

 This county is naturally divided into four sections the section of 

 Point-a-Pierre, N. of the Guaracara ; that of N. Naparima, N. of 

 the river Cipero ; that of S. Naparima, S. of the same river ; and 

 the district of Savannah Grande, to the eastward of the Naparimas. 



The section of Pointe-a-Pierre is bounded on the N. by Sa- 

 vanetta ; on the S. by the river Guaracara ; on the W. by the 

 gulf; and on the E. by crown lands. Pointe-a-Pierre has been 

 divided into two wards. This district is level or gently undulating 

 on the S.W., and hilly on the N.N.E., towards the Montserrat 

 hills. The soil is generally a light loam, with the exception of 

 some veins which are clayey and not very productive ; but its 

 quality improves, and it becomes more fertile as it makes a nearer 

 approach to the above range ; it is very productive along the banks 

 of the Guaracara. The principal productions are sugar and ground 

 provisions. There are in this section at present but five sugar 

 estates, several having been thrown out of cultivation since the 

 emancipation. 



The river Guaracara rises, as previously stated, in the Mont- 

 serrat hills, between two spurs, one of which terminates at Pointe- 

 a-Pierre on the N., and the other at Mount Naparima, on the S. 

 The river is navigable for a short distance, for flats and boats. 



On the Plaisance estate, and in its vicinity, are to be found 

 the thermal and mineral springs I have already mentioned. After 

 Port-of-Spain had been almost entirely destroyed by fire, in the 

 year 1808, it was in contemplation to erect the new capital at 



