16 
TRINIDAD. 
the gulf he called “Golfo cle la Balena/’ '^Golfo Trieste,” 
or the AVhale's Gulf and the Dull Gulf; and to the 
northern entrance that of “ Boca del Dragon,” or the 
Dragon’s Mouth. 
“ Columbus,” again says Irving, “ was surprised at 
the verdure and fertility of the country, having expected 
to find it more parched and sterile as he approached the 
equator ; whereas he beheld groves of palm-trees and 
luxuriant forests sweeping down to the sea side, with 
fountains and running streams. The shores were low 
and uninhabited, but the country rose in the interior, 
was cultivated in many places, and enlivened by hamlets 
and scattered habitations. In a word, the softness and 
purity of the climate, and the verdure, freshness, and 
purity of the country, appeared to him to equal the 
delights of early spring in the beautiful province of 
Valencia.” 
Trinidad, however, was for a long time neglected, 
probably on accoxint of its proximity to the continent, 
which latter must have offered greater inducements to 
settlers. It was first populated by a few Spanish 
families, who established themselves on the banks of 
the river Saint Joseph, and formed the village of San 
Jose de Oriena. In 1780 the number of the colonists 
did not exceed a few hundreds. About f liat time, M. 
Borne de St. Laurent, a colonist from Grenada, visited 
Trinidad, and was much struck with the great capabili- 
ties of the island. He, therefore, immediately proceeded 
to Caraceas, to propose to the Government a scheme for 
procuring a rapid influx of settlers. His views were 
adopted, and his plans approved ; and a first ccdula, or 
decree, was granted in the year 1781, by the Court of 
Spain, for encouraging immigration. Emigrants from 
the French islands, and a few Irishmen, with several 
respectable coloured families, then began to form settle- 
ments in the island. 
In 1788 a second and more explicit ccdula was issued, 
granting, on certain restrictions, to each wldte person of 
