846 TRINIDAD. 



There are, at the mouth of the river, low islands and sand-banks y 

 or shoals, which also render the navigation intricate and dangerous; 

 so much so, that large vessels would not find it safe to venture, 

 without experienced and skilful pilots, through its various channels. 

 To remove, or even permanently to remedy those obstacles, cannot 

 be regarded as an easy undertaking. On the other hand, the Gulf 

 of Paria is not only one of the safest harbours known, but is fully 

 capable of sheltering the united fleets of the world : hurricanes are 

 unknown here, and ground swells are felt but seldom, and that 

 principally within a line drawn from the first Boca to Point la 

 Brea ; in fact, the navigation of the Gulf is, at all times, safe and 

 easy ; whilst the dangers, if there be any, attending the passage of 

 the smaller Bocas, or entrance mouths, can easily be avoided by 

 passing through the largest, or Grand Boca. The Gulf is consi- 

 dered healthy, and even the yellow fever, in its occasional and rare 

 visitations, has had but few victims among the shipping. There is 

 a never failing and plentiful supply of excellent spring and river 

 water in the island, and fresh meat can be procured from the pro- 

 vince of Otimana, to almost any extent ; dry docks might also be 

 constructed at the Gasparil Islet, and warehouses erected there for 

 ship stores ; there are even reasons to hope that the patent fuel from 

 the bitumen at La Brea will prove, under the usual discouragements 

 of new competition, a valuable substitute for coals, assuring the 

 supply of steamers on the spot, with a fuel combining advantages 

 of cheapness, less bulk, and equal efficiency. Now, the Gulf com- 

 municates with the Orinoco by means of the Cafios of Manaino, 

 Pedernales and Macareo: small craft bound to Trinidad, from 

 Angostura, or Ciudad Bolivar, pass generally through the Oano 

 Pedernales. These, or at least one of these natural canals, might 

 be rendered perfectly navigable for large steamers and other 

 vessels, which would carry the produce of the immense and fertile 

 basin into the Gulf, for the lading of vessels awaiting their cargo ; 

 or, these vessels might be tugged through to Barancas. It is 

 only surprising that an attempt of the kind has not, as yet, been 

 made by some enterprising British company, especially as but 

 little capital would be required at the outset. The attention of 

 His Excellency Lord Harris had been attracted to the subject, as 

 proved by the following extract : " I have already, on several 

 " occasions, pointed out to your lordship the very great benefits 

 " which would accrue to this island, if a more liberal policy could 



