SAN FERNANDO. 313 



drain the northern division of this section, and the Cipero its 

 southern portion. Very little or no cacao is cultivated in this 

 district, and but few ground provisions raised : a little coffee only 

 is grown near San Fernando. 



The Naporima mountain or hill is nearly insulated, of a conical 

 shape, and, though only 670 feet high, remarkably conspicuous : 

 it is entirely formed, according to all probabilities, of silicate of 

 alumina, covered with a fine vegetable mould, and is cultivated 

 almost to the summit on the eastern side. At its foot stands San 

 Fernando, the chief town of the southern division of the island. 

 It is built in a sort of small recess, formed by two spurs stretching 

 from the mountain towards the sea. Two small ravines flowing 

 down the hill, traverse the upper part of the town, and soon after 

 unite in one stream ; the ground previously rising rather abruptly 

 towards each arm. This space is scantily dotted with a few houses, 

 except, however, along the principal street, which leads from the 

 wharf to the S. side of the mountain, following the left or southern 

 spur ; it has a rather winding direction, whilst some of the other 

 streets are straight, and intersect at nearly right angles, though 

 several are very narrow. To the southward is a high ground upon 

 which stand the Roman Catholic church, the hospital, the town hall, 

 and the barracks : an alley planted with trees forms a promenade 

 around. This part is the most pleasant section of the town, as it 

 commands an extensive view of the gulf and the adjacent country. 

 The promenade was projected by Lord Harris, and bears his name. 

 On the sea-board, near the wharf, is a small square, used as a 

 landing-place and a market. A pier, strong, and durably con- 

 structed of hard-wood, with a flooring of carapa and cedar planks, 

 has just been completed for the convenience of passengers and the 

 reception of light freight : it is 300 feet long. The houses are of 

 one or two storeys high, few being substantially built, although the 

 greater number are of hard-wood. House rent is much dearer in 

 San Fernando than in Port-of-Spain : there were on the 1st of 

 July, 1851, 637 houses, representing a revenue of 13,222 

 sterling. Though the soil is of a retentive nature, San Fernando 

 is nevertheless easily drained, on account of the peculiar disposi- 

 tion of the ground : the ravines, also, which traverse it from east to 

 west, by proper precautions, and gradual improvements, may be 

 made useful sewers ; whereas if due attention be not paid to their 

 banking and cleansing, they will be to San Fernando what the 



