70 MORTON ON THE PITCH LAKE OF TRINIDAD. 



of it is very indefinite, and points as much to the great pitch lake, 

 as to any place on the whole western coast. 



The town of San Fernando, is about twenty miles N. of LaBrea. 

 A hill rises abruptly, behind the town, to the height of upwards of 

 1000 feet. The cutting of a road, across a spur at the north side 

 of this hill, lays bare a surface of pitch. It is very' hard and has 

 the appearance of having been thrown out of place by some convul- 

 sion. The valley of the Naparima, extending inland some nine 

 miles and about four miles in breadth, is well cultivated, and a 

 tramway runs up through it, in laying which several considerable 

 cuttings have been made, but no pitch has been any where dis- 

 covered. From this and from the fact that there are decided indi- 

 cations of volcanic action on the hill, it seems probable, that the 

 pitch has been here thrown up from a considerable depth, by volca- 

 nic action ; and that the formation extends over a considerable part 

 of the W. side of the island, from the middle to the southern ranges 

 of mountains, flowing out at LaBrea, underlying the surface further 

 north, and thrown up by volcanic action at San Fernando Hill. 

 All this part of the island is subject to volcanic action. At Pointa 

 Pierre six miles N. of San Fernando, there are hot springs ; and in 

 the forest twelve miles east, I visited some small but very interest- 

 ing and active mud volcanoes. 



Near the southern range of mountains, sulphur has been found 

 almost in a pure state, reminding one of a similar connection of 

 pitch and brimstone at the Lacus Asphaltides, under which the 

 slime pits, or bitumen wells, of the Valley of Siddim, continue to 

 throw up their products, and on whose shore brimstone is found in 

 large quantities. 



The pitch of Trinidad is manufactured on the Island, with com- 

 mon coal, and then used for raising steam. M. Stollmeyer, is 

 largely engaged in manufacturing it for paving, or flooring stores ; 

 it being preferable to wood where insects are so troublesome and 

 destructive. But it is scarcely hard enough for paving streets in so 

 hot a climate. It is largely shipped to France and Hamburg, for 

 paving. The pitch for shipment, is raised at the point that runs 

 out into the Gulf of Paria, whence it is conveyed in boats to vessels 

 anchored a few hundred yards off". The pitch here, being more in- 

 spissated than at the lake, is better adapted for conveyance in large 



