320 TRINIDAD. 



one single barrel of flour to any distance; an empty cart, even, cannot 

 force its way through the deep and adhesive mud of most of the 

 roads in wet weather, and it often becomes necessary to pack the 

 flour in small parcels of forty or fifty pounds, each parcel being then 

 carried by a labourer. It is not unusual to see carts left lying, or 

 rather sticking in the mire on the high-road, from the sheer impos- 

 sibility of taking them back to the estate. This very ground, how- 

 ever, which becomes so soft and adhesive when saturated with water, 

 becomes of a brick-like consistency when exposed for some weeks to 

 the action of the sun and wind, and, by the gradual process of evapo- 

 ration, breaks into fissures in all directions and becomes almost fri- 

 able. In consequence of this property in the soil of the Naparimas 

 and Savannah Grande, there are no good pasturages in these dis- 

 tricts, so that, informer times, the lossof animals was fearful nearly 

 twenty per cent annually. It has, however, materially decreased 

 since the planters have adopted the plan of hand-feeding their 

 stock in stables during a part of the day. Nearly the whole tract 

 westward of the Mission is under cultivation. From some of the 

 elevated spots, the aspect of the country is enchanting all around 

 cane-fields are seen waving under the gentle influence of the 

 breeze, surmounted by their beautiful panicles of flowers, and 

 concealing the saccharine treasures which the industry of man will 

 soon make available for freighting the vessels awaiting in the 

 placid gulf their annual cargo of sweets. Lo ! on whatever side 

 the observer turns, the black, curly smoke escaping from the lofty 

 chimney, and carried away by the evening breeze, is an indication 

 that the manufacture of sugar is going on throughout the entire 

 district ; and whithersoever he bends his steps the wholesome 

 balsamic odour of new made sugar is wafted in a tide of perfume 

 towards the spectator. 



Since emancipation, several villages have been formed in this 

 county, viz., Bambou, or Canaan village, at the head of Ally's 

 creek, and on the South Naparima royal road ; Bourg Rambert 

 or Mulatresse, on the South Naparima central road ; the village 

 of St. Joseph, on the Point-a-Pierre road ; those of St. Magdalen 

 and St. John, in North Naparima ; and Monkeytown, in Savannah 

 Grande. 



Population in 1851, 15,940 males, 8,899 ; females, 7,041. 

 Church of England, 5,094; Catholics, 7,512. 



COUNTY OF ST. PATRICK. Bounded on the N. by Victoria 



