70 SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES REGIONS. 



but too shallow for large vessels, which have to ride at anchor some miles from 

 the quays. Despite this drawback, Port of Spain has attracted to itself nearly all 

 the commerce of the island, while splendid natural harbours, such as that of 

 Chagiiaran)as, near the Boca Mono passage at the extremity of the north-west 

 peninsula, are completely deserted. Being surrounded by rocks and swamps, and 

 remote from the cultivated districts, these havens are useless for the purposes of 

 trade. Chaguaramas, sheltered by islets and reefs, is deep enough for the largest 

 vessels, and it was here that the Spanish fleet took refuge in 1797, when 

 Admiral Apodoca delivered it to the flames rather than accept the challenge of an 

 English squadron of equal strength. The Spanish Government preferred to be 

 defeated by its English enemies than defended by its French friends ! * During 

 the season thousands of visitors resort to the beach at Chaguaramas, to the 

 neighbouring islets, and to the Isla dos Monos (" Monkey Island ") in the 

 Dragon's Mouth. 



A road and, farther south, the navigable course of the Caroui connect Port 

 of Spain with the old capital, San Josef [San José), which crowns a rising 

 ground commanding a wide prospect of cultivated lands. Beyond this place a 

 branch of the railway runs east to the village of Arima, while the main line runs- 

 south to S(ui Fernando at the foot of Mount Naparima. As an agricultural centre 

 San Fernando ranks in importance with the capital itself. In the district are 

 situated the richest plantations in the island, and farther inland the villages of 

 Montserrat and Princestown are surrounded by extremely fertile tracts in the 

 hands of independent farmers, amongst whom are distinguished some Venezuelans 

 of Spanish race. 



Administration. 



Trinidad, to which its neighbour, Tobago, is administratively attached, forms 

 a British Crown Colony, so that its inhabitants are subjects with scarcely any 

 electoral rights. The Queen appoints the governor, as well as the executive 

 council of three members by whom he is assisted. The legislative assembly, 

 also appointed by the Crown, consists of six ex-officio and eight other members. 

 The elective principle, however, is allowed free play in the municipal aiïairs of 

 the capital and of San Fernando, fifteen members being elected for the town 

 council of the former and seven for that of the latter place. 



The only armed forces are about 500 police and the same number of volun- 

 teers, who meet from time to time for drill and target practice. The schools, 

 which are frequented by the great majority of the white, Hindu, Chinese, black, 

 and coloured children, partly depend on the Government, which has founded and 

 endowed the secular establishments, while also contributing grants in aid both 

 to the Catholic and Protestant educational establishments. The revenue, large 

 for a still thinly-peopled island, is derived mainly from the customs. There is 

 a public debt of £520,000 (1892), contracted almost exclusively for the railways, 

 which have a total length of 54 miles. 



* Dauxion Lavaysse ; Kingsley, op. cit. 



