20 
TEINIDAD. 
population of tlieir ward. At first the wards were very 
many, and the salaries small ; hut lately ward unions 
have been made, and a more competent class of persons 
appointed, and the salaries have been somewhat aug- 
mented. 
Throughout the island we have a good constabulary 
force. An inspector resides in Port of Spain ; the sub- 
inspector resides at San Fernando. Besides the ordinary 
duties devolving upon the police, they have charge of 
the postal arrangements throughout the country. In 
the country districts the police station is also the post- 
office. In Port of Spain a policeman delivers the letters; 
in San Fernando also there is a postman ; but in the 
country districts letters must be sent for from the station. 
The sergeant stationed at each police station is a kind of 
post-master, and thus his duties are somewhat increased. 
Between town and San Fernando, and all the inter- 
mediate stations along the coast, there is a daily post ; 
while there are but two (and, in some cases, but one) 
postal communications during the week with some of 
the outlying parts of the island. 
Many of the planters are justices of the peace, and on 
every estate there is a private constable — an arrangement 
very judicious, since many of the estates are far from 
the police station, and are, moreover, numerously peopled 
by immigrants. 
Trinidad is a very peaceable colony. Such a thing as 
a riot or outbreak of any kind is very rare. The only 
serious one which has occurred of late years was in 
1851, when a new law coming into force, which decreed 
that debtors’ heads should be shaved, the people gathered 
in crowds around the Government House and Court- 
house, and broke almost every pane of glass in the 
buildings. The riot assumed such a serious aspect that 
the black troops were called out. The Kiot Act was 
read, the troops fired on the people, and some three 
persons were shot. The yell raised by the mob when 
the soldiers fired was something to be remembered. 
