TRINIDAD I THEN AND NOW. 



177 



one ? it would take more time but it would be more 

 evenly done." It was the most feeble attempt at 

 road metalling that I had ever seen and within six 

 months had to be done over again It was no won- 

 der, because, as I afterwards learned, the contractor 

 was paid by the mile, irrespective of the number of 

 cart loads of metal or the thickness of the layer of 

 stones. 



At this time the majority, if not the whole, of the 

 roads of the colony were under the control of the 

 Wardens and local boards, and the way in which 

 they kept them in repair was as follows : — At 

 the end of the rainy season they sent out a gang of 

 men with mules and carts — the mules and carts being 

 principally their own, for which they charged so 

 much each day. The labourers began trimming the 

 side of the road, as of course must always be done ; 

 the parings were shovelled into the middle, the side 

 drains were dug out and disposed of in like manner 

 and then the whole was round-ridged. Whenever a 

 river or stream was near a few loads of sand or 

 gravel were carted and spread over the grass and 

 clay as thinly as possible ; but as in most cases it was 

 the only way to justify the use of the mules and carts, 

 and the consequent charge for them, it had to be 

 done. 



It is somewhere said that it is unsafe to build 

 your house upon the sand ; but I think this advice 

 was not strictly adhered to, as it was said the foun- 

 dations of many houses and what are now flourishing 

 cocoa estates were laid in this way. Whether they 



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