CHAPTEK i. 
HISTORICAL OUTLINE. 
Trinidad was discovered- on the 31st of July, 1498, by 
Christopher Columbus, on his third voyage to the New 
World. 
“ On the 31st of July,” says Washington Irving in his 
Life of Colimhus, “there was not above one cask of 
water remaining in each ship, when, about mid-day, a 
mariner at the mast-head beheld the summit of three 
mountains rising above the horizon, and gave the joyful 
cry of land. As the ships drew nearer, it w^as seen that 
these three mountains were united at the base. Columbus 
had determined to give the first land he should meet the 
name of the Trinity. The appearance of these three 
mountains, united into one, struck him as a singular 
coincidence ; and, Avith a solemn feeling of devotion, he 
gave the island the name of La Trinidad, Avhich it bears 
at the present day.” It appears that Columbus first 
approached the south-eastern point of the island, and 
gave it the name of Purita de la Galera, from the pecu- 
liar shape of a rock closely resembling a galley under 
sail. This designation was afterwards exchanged for 
that of Purita de la Galiota, of similar signification ; the 
fdrmer name mow designating the north-eastern point, 
Columbus then coasted the southern shore, and entered 
the Gulf of Pari a, betAveen I^oint Icacos — Avhich he called 
Pimta Arenal — and the Wolves’ Pocks. On the 2nd of 
August he cast anchor to leeAvard of “ El Gallo.” To 
the pass itself, from its dangerous appearance, he gave 
the name of “ Boca de la Sierpe,” or tlie Serpent’s Mouth ; 
