140 



which, in the year 1?58, had been worked upwards of forty years ; 

 their produce being sent to different parts of the continent. On 

 digging at the same height, on the other side of the hill, the same 

 substance was found*. 



Mr. Anderson describes, in the Philosophical Transactions, a re- 

 markable lake, or rather plain, of bitumen, in the island of Trinidad, 

 known by the name of the TAR LAKE ; and by the French called 

 La Bray, from its resemblance to pitch, and its answering the in- 

 tention of ship-pitching. It lies on the leeward side of the island, 

 about half way from the Bocas, to the south end, where the man- 

 grove swamps are interrupted by the sand banks and hills ; on a 

 point of land which extends into the sea about two miles, exactly 

 opposite to the high mountains of Paria. 



This cape, or headland, is about fifty feet above the middle of 

 the sea, and has the greatest elevation of land on that side of the 

 island. From the sea, it appears a mass of black vitrified rocks ; 

 but, on a close examination, it is found to be a composition of bitu- 

 minous scoriae, vitrified sand, and earth, cemented together. In 

 some parts, beds of cinders only are found. In approaching this 

 cape there is a strong sulphureous smell ; which is prevalent in 

 many parts of the ground, to the distance of eight or ten miles 

 from it. 



This point of land is about two miles broad ; and, on the east 

 and west sides, for the distance of about half a mile from the sea, 

 falls with a gentle declivity to it ; and is joined to the main land, 

 on the south, by the continuation of the mangrove swamps ; so 

 that the bituminous plain is on the highest part of it, and only 

 separated from the sea, by a margin of wood which surrounds it, 

 and which prevents a distinct prospect of it. Its situation is similar 

 to a savannah, and, in like manner, is not seen until treading on its 



* C. Ludov. TAgascherie du Bl, Dissertatio Medica sistens Examen Bituminit 

 Neucomensis, p. 11. H58. 



