The people The original inhabitants of Trinidad were chiefly Arawak. Although there are inhabitants of the town of Arima who claim descent from Carib royalty, it is doubtful that the land was settled by Caribs. Tobago was frequently visited by American Indians, probably both Arawak and Carib, but was not settled before the arrival of Columbus. Spanish, French, African, English, East Indian, and Chinese have all contributed to the ethnic composition of the islands' population. The various immigrant groups brought with them their languages, culture, and religion. Although English is the official language, four creole languages (Trinidad English, a French creole, a Spanish dialect creole, and Manzanillan--a melange of English, Spanish, and several African tongues) and some East Indian languages also are spoken.
Under the Spanish, Roman Catholicism was the official religion, and it was strengthened by French immigration during the French and Haitian revolutions. Protestantism gained a foothold in various forms (Anglican, Methodist, Moravian, and Baptist) with the advent of the British. East Indians brought with them their languages and their Hindu and Muslim religions. Both Sunnite and Shi'ite Muslim groups are present. Further diversification followed with the immigration of Syrians and Lebanese. African-influenced religious groups include the Shango and Shouter cults.
The first census of Trinidad and Tobago, in 1861, recorded a population of almost 100,000. By 1921 the population had more than tripled to some 360,000. Both the birth and death rates have remained fairly stable since the 1960s, and the rate of natural increase has been high. Emigration from the islands, however, has moderated the total population growth rate.
The people