TRINIDAD: THEN AND NOW. 



67 



cromby. The Cedula also allowed all foreign emi- 

 grants to bring with them such black or coloured peo- 

 ple as they chose to call their slaves, which often prov- 

 ed to be a serious wrong, for in those days a black or 

 brown complexion was prima facie evidence of a 

 servile condition, and led to many of these people 

 being clandestinely kidnapped on board a sloop or 

 other vessel and conveyed to Trinidad, where all that 

 was necessary was to allege that these unfortunate 

 people were the bona fide property of the kidnapper. 

 Chacon, although it is admitted on all hands that he 

 was a good, conscientious man, was not able to con- 

 tend against this and like illegal acts. 



1 4 If any man could have promoted the success of 

 the extraordinary project of colonizing Trinidad 

 according to the plan of St. Laurent, that man was 

 Don Jose Maria Chacon. All who speak of him, not 

 excepting his bitter and persevering enemies, ad- 

 mit that he was a man of great talent, indefatigable 

 activity, superior accomplishments and incorrupti* 

 ble integrity. 



" He seemed to be one of those rare governors 

 who dedicated all their physical energies to the good 

 of the colonies over which he presided. He was a 

 man of letters, well conversant not only with the rich 

 literature of Spain, but with that of England and 

 France, whose languages he wrote and spoke with 

 considerable proficiency. 



V Although a pious Catholic, few men who ever 

 lived were more tolerant to those not in communion 

 with his church than Don Chacon. Amongst the few 



