238 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



— now about five years ago — I am informed that the 

 aspect of the place and its surroundings has so much 

 changed as to be almost beyond recognition. This is 

 chiefly due to the erection of the oil works at Brigh- 

 ton — which is, properly speaking, part of La Brea 

 — and the erection of these vast oil works makes a 

 visit to it still more interesting. I have previously 

 stated in this chapter that the export of Asphalt 

 amounted in 1910 to 157,000 tons ; in 1911 it amount- 

 ed to 158,983 tons valued at £179,146, or within a 

 fraction of being three times the value of the revenue 

 of the whole colony in 1842, which was only £62,684. 

 It will, therefore be seen that the development of this 

 source of prosperity is one of the most remarkable of 

 the events occurring within my time. I think I am jus- 

 tified in this instance, as in a few others, in departing 

 from the course mainly adopted by me of only writ- 

 ing of matters coming within my own knowledge and 

 occurring within my time, and also be permitted to 

 depart from this course by going back to a period an- 

 terior by at least 100 years, thus describing and com- 

 paring the " Pitch Lake " of Then with the " Pitch 

 Lake ' ' of Now. 



