LA BRBA. 



of the scenery, had attracted the attention of Sir Ralph Woodford, 

 who originally organised the mission by locating thereon the royalist 

 emigrants from the Spanish colonies of South America. After the 

 war of independence, its population received new accessions, and 

 finally rose to nearly 500 souls. They had then a resident padre, 

 or priest, a corregidor, and a schoolmaster. The present state of 

 the mission is far from affording the same pleasant aspect, its popu- 

 lation being reduced, cultivation neglected, no school, no resident 

 priest ; so that Siparia is fast being abandoned : and yet the cane, 

 cacao, plantains, corn, and all the vegetable esculents common to 

 the island, grow there to an extraordinary size, and with a luxuri- 

 ancy which is not equalled anywhere else in the colony. The 

 retired position of Siparia, and its want of communication with 

 some part of the coast, is the great obstacle to the progress of that 

 district. A bridle-path leads to Oropuche through the forest, and 

 mere tracts northward to Naparima, and southward to Moruga. 

 They are practicable during the dry season only. Siparia, from 

 its elevation and inland position, is cool and remarkably healthy. 

 The ward of La Brea, which comprises the quarters of La Brea 

 and Guapo, is bounded on the N. by the gulf; on the S., by Crown 

 lands ; on the E., by Oropuche ; on the W., by Irois. The surface 

 of this ward bears some resemblance to that of Oropuche, undula- 

 ting towards the coast, and swelling into elevations towards the 

 interior. From point La Brea eastward, the ground rises into a 

 sort of dividing range, expanding towards Oropuche on the E., and 

 towards Gruapo on the W. The waters thus separated contribute 

 to form, on the N.N.E., the Roussillac, and on the W.S.W. 

 the Vessini or Bravo river. In the vicinity of the Rousillac exists 

 an extensive marshy plain or hollow, which, in the wet season, 

 becomes flooded to the depth of nearly four feet, and the whole 

 line of coast extending between the mouth of the Roussillac and 

 point La Brea is thickly studded with mangroves. The soil in 

 general, is not of good quality, being an admixture of a reddish 

 retentive clay, or unproductive sand, with asphaltum, very poor in 

 organic matters, and therefore easily exhausted. It improves to- 

 wards the interior ; but even there the abundance of timites shows 

 that it is still rather infertile. Canes and provisions form the basis 

 of the cultivation of the latter portion, but manioc and corn are, 

 in general, the principal growths, the soil not being rich enough 

 for cacao and plantains. La Brea is distinguished for its fine and 



u2 



