344 TRINIDAD. 



fertility of the soil, and the almost certainty of favourable seasons, 

 I believe that, with assistance, there can be little doubt of its 

 ultimate success.' 7 I have already stated what these resources 

 are ; it only remains for me to add a few remarks. 



The island of Trinidad may be considered as consisting of two 

 great valleys formed by three mountain ridges of various elevation. 

 The middle and southern ranges are accessible on all sides, and 

 might be crossed over at many points by carriage roads. The 

 northern range is accessible only on the south or land side, there 

 being but a few landing-places on the sea-coast. The two valleys 

 might be easily run through, from E. to W., even by tram-roads 

 or railways ; thus offering every facility for land communication, 

 and for the transport of goods to our great sea-port the gulf of 

 Paria. 



On the hills, cacao, coffee, cotton, and spices, might be culti- 

 vated with advantage, as exportable articles ; and plantains, corn, 

 ground provisions, and more delicate vegetables, for home con- 

 sumption. The hills are generally very healthy, and might be 

 settled and cultivated by a white population, and others, with a 

 small capital. The plain might be reserved for the cultvation of 

 the cane mainly ; cacao and tobacco, however, should be culti- 

 vated in the Vegas, or the hollows of river valleys ; the low swamps 

 and less fertile tracts might be sown or planted in rice. In the 

 case of some other cultivations being introduced as indigo, 

 sesame, &c., they could be carried on 'in inferior lands. 



Tram-roads might be laid down between the Oropouche river 

 and Port-of- Spain in the northern basin ; and between the 

 Guataro and La Brea in the southern ; passing close to the rich 

 tobacco district of Siparia. I make La Brea the terminus of the 

 southern tram-road in consequence of its depth of water. These 

 are the local or intrinsic capabilities of Trinidad, but these are 

 not its sole advantages. Its geographical position, adjacent to 

 the province of Cumana, in the republic of Venezuela, and almost 

 at the mouth of the Orinoco, renders it, in a commercial and 

 political point of view, as important as Cuba. Wherefore, though 

 the fate of Trinidad be intimately connected with that of the other 

 British colonies, yet her prospects may be greatly influenced by 

 extraneous circumstances, for they in a great measure depend 

 upon the fate of the neighbouring republic of Venezuela. If 

 ever Venezuela becomes tranquil and prosperous, Trinidad will 



