The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-05-18
Singular Geographical Fact-a Lake
of Pitch.

A correspondent of the Troy Wing,
writing from the Island os Trinidad, de-
scrbes the following wonderful lake,
Il have just made an excursion to the
Pitch Lake. Early in the morning /
embarked in the steamer Lady Mcleod
tor point La Brea, distance of about 40
miles Southerly along the coast: There
was one passenger only to land with mr.
at La Brea, Mr.. Chapman Of St. Vincent.
An introduction by fellow passenger
to- neighboring planter and 10 the su-
pervisor, procured US mules TO prosecute
our enterprise. Mr.. C. having a few
miles farther 10 60, to visit plantation
ON business, and his route being the same
as mine, accepted his invitation TO bear
him company as far as the lake
Imagine black surface-a dreary.
desolate black-spread out to the length
OF nearly halt amile by an eighth in
width-slightly varied by many assures
some ofthem but step across. some
just too wide TO jump-a few Of these
assures filled with short shrubbery, but
must of them mere ponds of water clear
as the mountain spring; and then inas-
inc the whole bordered by thick growth
OF trees and the graceful bending bamboo.
and this whole border tbickIy hanging
with profusion aad variety Of of beau
tliul flowers know not the spot else
where where the eye can rest on such a
profusion Of flowers a: a glance-and this
may possibly convey some general idea
OF the popularity of a genera view. For
closer inspection Of the central part of
the lake l was obliged to repeat my visit
the next morning, securing the services
ola negro TO carya plank to bridge the
un;umpabie assures.
! then found spots where the surface
OF the pitch would gradually sink beneath
my feet, so that in few moments stood
IN cavity ankle deep. Not wishing to
pitch deeper ! changed my position. In
other places it seemed 10 be boiling be-
low; for the surface around me was bub-
bling and sImmering like that OF a pot
over the fire, while the gas thus dis
engaged was very strong. Though the
surface Of the lake is generally too hard
to reserve foot print Just hard enough
to cut readily with an axe-,here a1e
places where the pitch oozes out in near
~ liquid form, so that one may dip it
with aspoon. Some of the water fis-
sures are quite deep, afford good bathing
and are ,oIerably well stocked with fish.
Near the lake I found black man en-
gagged in boiling the pitch IN several
large boilers A part of this he sells al
ter boiling in pure state, and to the rest
he adds portion of lime, when it is ship
ped as mastIc. He says he has cut from
the lake great many hundreds OF tons,
but ne never penetrates more than ten
or twelve inches below the surface, and
the hole is always filled again within
two days after the cutting. The supply
is doubtless inexhaustable. But the
pitch is not confaed to the spo, have
endeavored to describe. There are mas
SEES OF It extending miles inland, and in
several points it extends to the sea beach.
AT the last place 1t is cut out in large
Quantities, to ship to this city and some
Of the islands, 10 use IN building and in
tagging the streets. II is used by the
steamers, being largely mixed With coal
for fuel, and is recently coming into use
IN the manufacture of petroleum. But
whenever these cuttings are made-on
the lake, inland or on the beach-th.
quantity is almost Immediately made
good, and IN some places gradually in
creases. The aeighborhood is in motion
very slow to be sure, yet there Is, as il
were growing up OF the surface in spots
so that the houses in La Brea are found