where a small islet has been seen on an evening, | a gulf is found on the following morning, and, on another part of the lake, a pitch islet is sprung up to be in its turn adorned with the most luxuriant vegetation, and then again engulphed. The usual consistence and appearance of the asphaltum, (except in hot wheather, when it is actually liquid an inch deep,) is that of pit coal, but of a greyish colour, melting like sealing wax; ductile by a gentle heat, and, when mixed with grease, oil, or common pitch, acquiring fluidity, and well adapted for the preserving the bottoms of ships against the destructive effects of the worm termed the teredo navalis. Sometimes the Asphaltum is found jet black and hard, breaking into a dull conchoidal fracture, but, in general, it may be readily cut, when its interior appears oily and vesicular. Deep crevices or funnels, inclining to a conic form, and sometimes six feet deep, are found in various parts of the asphaltum, (pitch), filled with excellent limpid running water, and often containing a great quantity of mullet and small fish. Alligators are said to have been seen in these extraordinary chasms. The bottom of some of these canals are so liquid that marked poles thrust in disappear, and have been found a few days after on the sea shore. Near Cape La Brea, to the S.W. (the place where this lake is) Capt. Mallet observed a gulf or vortex, which, in stormy weather, gushes out, raising the water five or six feet, and covering the surface, for a considerable space with the bituminous substance. A similar gulf is said to be on the coast, at the bay of Mayaro. Pieces of what was once wood, are found completely changed into bitumen; and the trunk of a large tree, on being sawn, was entirely impregnated with petreolum; where the petreolum mixes with the earth it tends greatly to fertilize it, and the finest fruits in the colony come from districts bordering on this singular lake; the pine apples, in particular, being less fibrous, larger, more aromatic, and of a deeper golden colour than are to be had any where else. [For a detailed account of the pitch lake, and mud volcanoes see Vol. VI. of my Colonial Library.] V. The dry and rainy seasons into which the tropical year is distinguished is more marked in Trinidad than in the Antilles. The dry season commences with the month of December, and ends with that of May, the E. N. E. and N. winds then become less cool; the heat increases and it is at its height by the end of June, storms commence and augment in frequency and violence during August and September, and in October they occur almost daily, accompanied by torrents of rain; there is seldom any fall of rain during the night, but a heavy shower without wind usually precedes sun-rise by half an hour during the season. Hurricanes are unknown in Trinidad or Tobago. The hygrometer varies much in different seasons; during the rainy season it is usually between 85 and 90,-in the spring between 36 and 38 in the day, and about 50 at night; on an average there falls about sixty-two inches of water during the winter, and about ten inches (including the heavy dews, which may be estimated at six inches) during the spring. The October rains are very gentle; in November they are less frequent and more slight; and from the end of December to the beginning of June of some years, there does not fall a drop of rain during the day: as the island has become cleared, the quantity of rain falling has diminished. During even the hot and stormy season the thermometer rarely stands at Port of Spain before sun rise, so high as 74 and in the country occasionally as low as 68; from sun-rise to sun-set 84 to 86, falling in the evening to 82 or 80; in August and September when the air is saturated with moisture, the mercury rises sometimes to 90-rarely above that height. When during the winter there is wind with the rain the mornings are less hot, as are also the evenings, when the rain has been preceded by thunder during the day; but the temperature of the whole island varies with the elevation above the sea and the aspect of the place, especially in spring, when the thermometer descends to 60, and sometimes to 50, in places of moderate elevation; on the whole it is less moist than Guyana, and not so dry as Cumana, and being an island, the winds are more constant, and the atmosphere therefore more frequently renovated; the vallies of Santa Anna, of Maraval, Diego Martin, Aricagua, and the heights of St. Joseph, to the N.W., as also the vallies on the N. coast, enjoy a mild temperature, and their inhabitants breathe during nearly the whole year a fresh, pure, and very elastic air, by reason of the simultaneous action of the evaporation of rains, dews, and winds, on the well-known eastern principle, by which liquids are cooled, and even ice formed, by solar evaporation or exposure to a current of air. From the coolness of the night, it is the ordinary custom to have a blanket folded up at the foot of the bed to draw up when necessary, during a residence in the country or in the high lands. The beneficial and abundant dews (arising from the numerous rivers of the island and surrounding ocean) cool and invigorate the atmosphere, and give a vigorous luxuriance to the vegetation of an isle, which, were it otherwise, would be nearly barren. The following table affords a Meteorological Register of Port of Spain : 1797 994 590 301 266 2151 1196 1624 1799 930 606 301 1800 1010 711 327 1801 978 626 292 1802 1061 625 275 1803 961 637 266 1804 1228 662 329 1805 1164 652 301 1806 1073 589 296 1808 1150 649 359 1809 1212 669 360 1810 1147 654 344 1811 1165 725 389 1812 1222 716 434 1813 1250 749 445 1814 1272 863 523 1815 1288 869 531 18161333 1000 585 1817 1461 1071 629 1818 1254 881 533 1819 1463 1060 584 1820 1455 1074 600 1821 1345 972 534 1822 1311 942 553 1823 1397 955 523 1824 1328 955 514 1825 1302 1020 490 1831,1289 926 581 898 756 291 2128 1281 1601 859 853 311 2359 1241 1620 807 740 267 2153 1347 1740 925 888 261 2222 1504 1896 956 919 259 2123 1494 1751 827 740 342 2561 1709 2198 1171 1024 317 2434 1606 2101 1094 1000 316 2274 1502 1980 1047 872 312 2470 1729 2272 1310 1167 348 2589 1683 2212 1289 1200 342 2487 1680 2195 1240 1154) 338 2617 1790 2380 1456 1417 393 2765 1778 2426 1497 1365 452 2896 2089 2675 1685 1653 469 3127 2216 2926 1823 1749 531 3219 2482 3103 2045 2023 594 3512 2863 3513 2215 2064 632 3793 3124 3902 2487 2343 553 3221 3040 3708 2246 2343 609 3716 3571 4210 2385 2319 578 3707 3999 4679 2594 2693 589 3440 3728 4418 2635 2607 535 3341 3742 4430 2669 2551 511 3386 3857 4500 2526 2464 516 3313 4024 4884 2657 2430 498 3310 4503 5066 2740 2674 523 3319 4398 5314 3335 3238 283 1143 299 1071 270 1212 10009 17712 14110 21975 15012 22850 15964 24229 260 1166 236 1154 309 1416 330 1733 349 1607 366 1635 374 1647 379 1659 403 1716 433 1804 299 1265 259 1236 238 1147 222 1141 24 193 1157 33 19709 28372 20138 28227 20925 31004 20108 30076 21761 31043 21895 32478 21475 32095 20728 31143 21841 33217 25717 37980. 24329 38348 25871 41203 23828 40667 193 4474 301 401 190 186 1078 4594 345 242 273 4408 344 217 211 4900 291 354 297 5275 321 311 274 4812 327 320 271 6102 387 427 293 5801 488 543 372 5401 397 478 383 6478 396 483 390 6384 412 484 377 6269 404 472 404 7043 422 476 415 7066 433 479 459 8102 312 346 308 8714 351 374 252 9653 318 342 249 10655 267 337 315 11856 324 361 279 11337 244 264 238 12485 223 257 190 180 13965 267 254 209 180 910 28 22738 41348 13388 240 268 237 211 956 23 13392 218 234 222 219 893 20 13347 200 259 229 184 872 16 23110 41288 13995 209 219 192 163 783 12 23117 41220 14983 183 201 195 148 727 12 23230 42262 16285 202 218 187 155 762 7 21302 41675 21719 39526 23227 40873 These natives of the eastern hemisphere were brought to the west for the purpose of cultivating rice, and perhaps with the idea of forming a free labouring population; no Chinese women were induced to accompany them; the men soon became discontented, and there now remain but a few of them as fishermen The Slave Population, according to a Parliamentary Return, was in numbers, (1289 926 581 523 4398 5314 3335 3238 27402037 2906 2915 2241 2086 483 687 1236 1758 1127 1086 21302 41675 No. of Indians:-men, 202; women, 218; boys, 187; girls, 155; total, 762. Chinese, 7. Trinidad Population in 1835 (new division of districts.) From B. B. for 1835, page 119. 15 89 70 75 85 64 35 20 21 35 35 65 61 86 92 57 16 22 34 35 27 41 15 23 59 28 84 39 59 22 77 48 11 53 31 35 93 12 110 34 13 15 42 83 153 98 77 21 19 18 22 19 28 29 111 94 73 80 233 203 190 205 200 153 98 75 79 89 87 89 124 82 77 14 144 126 130 52 24 39 42 41 14 58 37 63 58 34 6 12 12 15 3 3 3 121 379 3 5 11 3 5 14 18 4 29 43 45 39 4 4 2 26 112 23 17 14 165 836 419 892 6 3 551 697 9 109 187 8 254 849 48 1340 1946 4 409 596 15 13 1018 1194 The following return shews the number of Slaves for whom Compensation has been claimed, and of the Number of Claims preferred for such Compensation, and of the Amount of Compensations awarded in each of the classes of Prædial-attached, Prædial-unattached, and Non-Prædial. [Parliamentary Return to the House of Lords, March, 1838.] square mile. Persons em ployed in Births. Marriages. Deaths. Note.-There are two places of worship (R. C.), one in Port of Spain, designated St. Mary's Chapel, congregation from 10 to 1200 persons; and one in Carenage, designated St. Peters, congregation about 1200. Years. tried Prisoners. tried Prisoners. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Deaths. 21322 527960 17 19 36 10 ས 7 7 2 No Returns. X. The administrative functions are vested in a Lieutenant-governor and an executive and legislative committee. The executive council consists of three official members (viz. the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer, and Attorney-general), selected from the legislative councils; they have no powers, and no other functions than counsellors of the Governor, who may follow their advice or not, as he pleases. The legislative council consists of twelve members, six of whom are styled official, holding offices and salaries at the pleasure of the Crown, viz. the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, Attorneygeneral, Colonial Treasurer, Public Prosecutor, and Collector of Customs, and six are styled non-official, selected from amongst the inhabitants, the whole removable at the pleasure of the Crown. The Governor presides at the board, has a vote, and a casting vote in addition, and no measure can be introduced or proposed at the board which he objects to. The Cabildo, in its authority and functions, resembles our municipal corporations; it has power to raise revenues which are derived from licenses to the dealers in spirituous liquors, to hucksters, &c., and from a tax on carts, and on meat and fish sold in the town of Port of Spain, thus realizing about 100001. per annum, with which the streets and market-house are kept in repair, and the salaries of the police officers paid. All other salaries are paid out of the Colonial Treasury. The laws are principally Spanish, executed after the Spanish form, with some modifications; the titles of Alcalde, Alguazil, &c., are always used instead of the corresponding terms in English. The Cabildo is composed of the Governor, two Alcaldes in Ordinary, the Procurator Syndic, and ten Regidors. Of the latter two are perpetual; the remaining eight serve in saccession as the Alcaldes, four going out of office annually. After having (in conjunction with the remainder of the Ca bildo) elected four others as their successors, whose names are then submitted to the Governor for his approval. The office of Coroner does not exist. There is no power of arrest in the colony upon mesne process except on the authority of the Roman Law, when a person is suspectus de fuga. Every individual about to leave the island must obtain a pass from the Governor, and advertize his intention to leave; any creditor may then apply to the Colonial Secretary's Officer, and stop the pass. The Alguacil, Mayor or Provost Marshal, is appointed by the Governor, and removable by him. He gives security in 20001. He executes processes, &c. by deputies, and receives fees according to a tariff. In each district there are Alcaldes de Barrio elected by the Cabildo Board from among the freeholders for one year. They receive no salary or emoluments, entertain civil causes or pleas of debt to the amount of 20 dollars (with an appeal to the Chief Judge if made within the government of the police of their respective districts. five days after sentence), and they are also entrusted with There is no jury in the "Court of Criminal trial" which has under its jurisdiction all criminal offences committed in the island with the exception of petty thefts, &c. The Court is annum) as President; of the Assessor of the Governor of composed of the Chief Judge (with a salary of 20001. per the Alcaldes in ordinary, and the Escribanos (Secretaries) of the civil tribunal (who act in the same capacity herein). The Attorney General prosecutes; counsel is heard for the prisoner, the Chief Judge sums up the evidence, and takes the opinion of each member of the Court individually, beginning with the junior member. The judgment in all cases is final, excepting death sentences, when an appeal lies to the Governor in Council. Every freeman of the island is enrolled in the militia, which is composed of artillery, cavalry, and infantry, with a very numerous staff. Their appearance on the great plain before St. Anne's is really superb; the muster is about 4500, and a more efficient state of discipline is kept up than perhaps in any of the other islands. The Governor is of course Commander-in-Chief; there are two Brigadiers-Generals, an Adjutant, Commissary, Paymaster, Mustermaster, Provost-Marshal, and Judge Advocate-General, with deputies to each; Physician, Surgeon, and Apothecary General; and of Field Officers, two Colonels, twenty-one Lieutenant-Colonels, twelve Majors, and fifty-seven Captains. The militia strength for 1835 was as follows [B. B. Colonial Office]: 1st. Division.-Cavalry, 23 staff, 13 officers, 25 non-commissioned officers and privates. Infantry, 85 officers, and 1485 non-commissioned officers and privates. 2nd Division.-Cavalry, 5 staff, 3 officers, 31 non-commissioned officers and privates. Infantry, 40 officers, and 856 non-commissioned officers and privates. 3rd Division.-Cavalry, 4 officers, and 28 non-commissioned officers and privates. Infantry, 11 officers and 271 non-commissioned officers and privates. 4th Division.-Cavalry, 10 officers and 36 non-commissioned officers and privates. Infantry, 11 officers and 225 non-commissioned officers and privates. 5th Division.-No Cavalry. Infantry, 3 officers and 61 non-commissioned officers and privates. Total. Cavalry, 28 staff, 30 officers, 120 noncommissioned officers and privates. Infantry, 150 officers, 2898 non-commissioned officers and privates. The uniforms are various and splendid. The artillery is blue, with red facings and gold lace; the royal Trinidad light dragoons blue, facings buff, and lace silver; mounted chasseurs and light infantry, green |