6l 
V.—TOBAGO. 
175. The island of Tobago comprises an area of 114 square 
miles, or about four-fifths the size of Barbados, It is 20 miles 
north-east of Trinidad, with which island it was politically 
amalgamated in 1888. The surface is generally hilly, with 
anne valleys andravines. The highest ridges attain a height 
2,000 feet. Of the total area (73,313 acres) probably not more 
iar 10, 000 0 are at present under cultivation. It is estimated that 
there are about 11,000 acres of land, partly i in forest and partly 
cleared, belonging to the Crown. In the original settlement of 
Tobago there was a reservation made of three chains on the coast 
line, and also of the highest positions, extending over sot acres, 
on the main ridge. The latter was made with the expressed 
object that the effects of the rainfall might not be ee 
The average rainfall is 64:20 inches. There are two wet seasons, 
May and October. The dry months are February, Mart, and 
April. The soil is generally rich and fertile, and the island i is 
capable of yielding nearly every kind of tropical produce 
179. The population in 1891 was 18,353 or 161 to the square 
mile, The portion of the population directly Sasi in the 
sugar industry is returned at 5,000, or 27 per c This is 
probably i in excess of the actual number, as the total a of -a 
s 
sugar, rum, and mo 
climate is described by the Chief Medical Officer as “one o 
the healthiest in the topics.’ 
SUGAR INDUSTRY. 
180. In 1862 there were 65 sugar ang: ces in the island 
At the present time they are reduced o 38, not one-half of which 
employ steam ite "The at area ne r sugar is 2,000 
acres, or 20 per t. of the whole cultivated area. Most of the 
present estates are, oe only no ominally in cultivation. “The 
“cultivation of sugar is carried on solely on the metayer system ; 
“the owner of the estate supplying the land on which the canes 
to base a c comparison of the yield, but it may be assumed that the 
manufacture is of a rude aa and that there is a great loss of 
available sugar. The sugar mills are all small and only common 
muscovado sugar is ma 
181. It is stated that abolition of the metayer system would 
be beneficial to all concerned. It is probable that cane farming 
e 
rtu land. t 
farming with 60 farmers who have agreed to sell their canes at 
4s. per ton, the estate undertaking the carting to the mill, In the 
