326 TRINIDAD. 



The semi-fluid asphaltum not being cast up by any violent 

 agency partly spreads around, and partly returns to the mass. 

 Any quantity of it, however, which has been left exposed 

 to the action of the sun, is soon deprived, by evaporation, of its 

 moisture and petroleum, and then becomes hardened; the solidity 

 increases gradually, and, by loss from evaporation, the volume of 

 the substance diminishes, the surface cracks, and crevices are 

 formed by a regular retraction as is the case with clay-soils. It 

 is highly probable that the superficies or superstratum only is of 

 this hardened consistency, and that, at a less or greater depth, the 

 bitumen is still soft, or semi-liquid. Neither do I admit the 

 supposition of a subterranean volcanic action ; for, bitumen, or 

 asphaltum, belongs to the carboniferous formation, therefore its 

 production cannot be different from that of coal and lignite. 



The Pitch lake is not the only spot where bitumen exists. 

 Besides Savanetta and Naparima already mentioned, it abounds 

 in Oropuche and throughout the quarters of La Brea and Guapo, 

 where springs of semi-liquid bitumen, or mineral tar, are met 

 with in several places ; there are also, at times, regular eruptions 

 of it in the gulf opposite the Guapo shore, and in the bay of 

 Mayaro on the eastern coast. Lagon Bouff, at Guayaguayare, is 

 another of these asphaltum craters. I have no doubt that this 

 substance is disseminated in seams or veins throughout the whole 

 southern division, and that it has a communication with the 

 deposit of " El buen Pastor," in the canton of Maturin, on the op- 

 posite continent. Now, what is the origin of the asphaltic deposits 

 of Trinidad ? Undoubtedly the same as that of coal and peat. 



The Pitch lake, however, ought not to be regarded solely as a 

 curiosity ; it may turn out a permanent source of profit to the 

 island. Quantities of bitumen are prepared for local applications, 

 viz., for flooring stores, which purpose it answers admirably ; also 

 by its admixture with lime and gravel, bricks and slabs are made, 

 which may be used in building. A small portion of King-street 

 comprised between Henry and Frederick streets has been 

 pitched, and that kind of floor-pavement has proved very durable. 

 Mixed with wood, or mogass, it has served very well as fuel; and 

 from it also may be distilled petroleum, which is regarded as 

 preferable to tallow in the lubrifaction of machinery. Several 

 cargoes of the native pitch of Trinidad have been shipped to 

 Europe ; but the samples exported were not, it seems, of the best 



