Navigational hazards, page 27
[page 27]
whether at sea, or by the outflowing of Great Rivers.- The Current
running leeward on the southside of Tobago, as it approaches the
Spanish Main, gets a new force and direction, from the powerfull
out-stream of that vast River the Oronooko, which forces it northward
thro’ the Channel dividing Tabago from Trinidad, rapidly carrying
a vessel six knots in 1 hour, and in equal degree obstructing ye Return.
The main Current from the Eastern Ocean, striking on
the S.E. Promontory of Tabago (by Columbus named Gracias
a Dios’)- whirls Northward round the Bluff head,- disturbs
Tirrels Bay with its Eddies,- and having cleard that end of
the Island, resumes its Course to Leeward, at half o’ Leagues
distance from the Coast,- with back, or counter stream, near
to the shore.
Masters of vessels, ignorant of the force and direction of
The Currents in these seas, are frequently driven to Leeward;
-to Trinidad, or to Grenada, in make Tobago;- or weathering
its Eastern Headland to fetch Scarboro’, are hurried on to the
Spanish Main. It is not long since, that the ‘Cove’ a British
merchant ship of 350 Tons, well mannd & Commanded by an
able Seaman (Captain Westley) – who had long been in the
Tobago Trade, and was fully acquainted with its Navigation,
having left Queens bay, to complete his lading of produce
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