70 



tkinidad: then and now. 



ting them from cultivating and giving a real value to 

 the lands. It recites all the inconveniences resulting 

 from such a system, such as causing the whole of the 

 fertile lands to be in the possession of those who 

 could not or would not make them productive ; and 

 the law-suits resulting therefrom." 



It then, in eleven clauses, recited the terms on 

 which these lands were to be retained, surrendered or 

 compensated for, and winds up as follows : — 



' ' And that the above articles might be observed 

 and carried into execution in all parts, his Excellency 

 ordered them to be published in the usual place of 

 port, and copies thereof to be fixed up, and others to 

 be sent to the town of St. J oseph de Oruna, valley of 

 Tacarigua, and to all the Commandants of the Quar- 

 ters that they might publish them in their respective 

 districts, and another copy to be transmitted to His 

 Majesty for his royal approbation. And His Excel- 

 lency decreed, ordered and signed this act with the 

 advice of his council in Port-of-Spain, whereof I give 

 faith, 



JOSE MAEIA CHACON. 

 JOSEPH PAMXEN DE CUENCA. 



Before me : — 



LEWIS CENTENO, See. Eis. 



To recount every public act of Don Chacon during 

 the close upon 14 years, that he was governor of 

 Trinidad, would be a task beyond the scope of this 

 work. That he was a just, generous and able gover- 

 nor has already been stated ; that he had a difficult 

 task before him in governing the heterogeneous body 



