Climate and geography, page 8
[page 8]
This extensive plain, is a singular contrast in Nature, to the
towering hills and broken and rumpled surface which imediately
on the confines of this level district, from coast to coast, and for
more than twenty miles to the Eastern Bluff head, of – ‘Gracias
a Dios’ (as named by Columbus) – exhibits a succession of difficult
passes and commanding stations, and in a military view, The strongest
Country possible:- Peaceable and undisturbed travellers must
wind round ravines, and up and down, The steeps of Hill by
zig-zags and circuitous paths:- and Troops will have every
resource for defence, and for a war of Posts.- whatever Power possesses
and makes Tobago a place of armed Depôt, - will hold it sure
against whatever attack.
The Eastern bold Headland of Tobago, which juts forth as
the Southern promontory of the vast Bay, which indents and
divides the Continents of North and of South America, - as
it meets and catches the Eastern Breeze or Tradewind, gives it
to the continuous mountain ridge, on the summit of which
passing westward, it freshens in force and temperature; and
as it thence rushes down the lateral ribs of Hill, it ventilates
the entire Island with a really delightfull, as healthy breeze:
This combined with the frequent showers, from Clouds collecting
on the heights; and with the agitation of air from the many
rapid rivulets there having their source, - may in some degree
In this exhibition
- Background information
- Gallery and transcription
- Introducing the Essay
- Natural resources of the island
- Tobago's relative position
- The Commercial & political importance of the island of Tobago
- The Commercial & political importance of the island, continued
- Port of enterprize and command, page 29
- Orinoco River, page 30
- Appeal to British merchants, page 31
- Historical political instability of the island, page 32
- The reach of the Orinoco River, page 33
- Potential trade agreements with Spain, page 34
- Further trade routes with South America, page 35
- Establishing the port of Courland, page 36
- Prospects of national advantage, page 37
- Conclusions
- Military significance of Man o' war Bay, page 38
- Further significances, page 39
- Military consensus, page 40
- French intentions for the island, page 41
- Suitability as a port for ships of war, page 42
- Relative safety of the island, page 43
- The necessity to prepare for conflict, page 44
- Revelations of an inside source, page 45
- Fas est, et ab hoste doceri, page 46
- Select bibliography