PEOPLE, LAXOITAGES, AND RELIGIONS. 
29 
tlie light of civilization, and the sun of Christianity 
had never beamed on their lovely Island of Jere. A 
few families of Indian descent are still, however, to be 
met with in different parts of the island, all speaking 
the Spanish language, and having preserved Spanish 
habits ; fond of smoking, dancing, and all other kind of 
amusements, but above all, of the dolcefar niente. They 
are generally ^Dossessors of conucos, tliat is to say pos- 
sessors of a few acres of land, which they cultivate in 
provisions and coffee, but particularly in cacao.’' 
From the times of Cohmdous, many Spanish families 
have dwelt in the land. They obtained or brought with 
them their slaves. In the year 1783, many came from 
the other West Indian islands, from the French as well 
as the English ; and indeed the French element displaced 
the Spanish, and still remains contesting the English. 
The population was slightly increased by a few thou- 
sand Africans, delivered by our men-of-war from the 
liands of slavers. About 4000 Africans, liberated from 
captured slavers, have been added since emancipation; 
and some thirty thousand Asiatics, Coolies, and Chinese 
have been imported since the year 1845, when the first 
Coolie ship anchored off Port of Spain. 
The population of Trinidad, therefore, is a motley 
aggregation of Africans, Asiatics, Europeans, and a few 
individuals of Indian or American blood, together with 
their mixed descendants. 
The following table, borrowed from the latest authority 
I can find, will give some idea of the population, and its 
motley character : — 
Natives of Trinidad 
Natives of Africa 
Natives of Europe 
Natives of Asia . 
Emigrants from other parts 
40,584 
8,150 
1,508 
4,200 
15,158 
69,600 
