332 TRINIDAD. 



E. by Moruga, on the N. by Guapo and Irois ; Moruga, on the 

 W. by Erin, on the E. and N. by undefined crown lands, and both 

 wards, on the S., by the sea. The surface of these two wards is highly 

 undulating, particularly towards the interior. The soil in Erin is 

 generally light, and in some parts of excellent quality ; in Moruga 

 it is of a more clayey nature, but of the best description. Erin 

 was once pretty well cultivated, but its population has of late been 

 gradually diminishing, owing mainly to the want of facility for 

 communication . 



Sugar, cacao, coffee, and provisions, were the principal produc- 

 tions ; and the Erin coffee is still regarded as excellent. Several cacao 

 estates are now in an abandoned state, having been sold either for 

 quit-rents or ward-rates ; and there is now but one sugar estate 

 under cultivation in Erin the Chatham, which has very good 

 land. Moruga is still more scantily inhabited, and produces only 

 a little sugar and cacao, with some ground provisions, the whole 

 almost entirely the growth of the Moruga estate, formed on the 

 banks of the river of the same name, by the enterprising and in- 

 dustrious Mr. Henry Lumy. 



Colonel Hamilton once attempted, under the government of 

 Sir Ralph Woodford, the establishment of a hato, or stock-farm, 

 principally for horned cattle and horses, in the natural savannah 

 of Erin ; but it did not succeed, if public rumour is to be believed, 

 owing to the ravages among the animals of ticks and bats : it is, 

 however, highly probable, the concern itself was ill managed. 



Between Erin and Moruga, lignite exists in seams, the extent 

 of which has never been ascertained. Report states that chromate 

 of iron has also been found at Point Calfat or Chaguaramas. 



Produce is brought to town by droghers or pirogues, after 

 rounding Point Icacos a tedious and expensive voyage. A path 

 through the virgin forest leads from Moruga to the mission of 

 Savannah Grande, and another track from Erin to Guapo; the 

 latter is about six miles in length. His Excellency, Admiral 

 Elliot, 1 have heard, intends to render it practicable for beasts of 

 burden an invaluable service to the ward of Erin, as its produce 

 might then be conveyed to Guapo, on the gulf, and the now 

 isolated quarter of Erin brought more directly within the range of 

 Port-of- Spain than Cedros. 



The above wards abound in excellent timber, particularly in fus- 

 tic, cedar, and moras. They are drained by several small streams, 



