CHAP, iv.] WEST INDIES. 209 



places, about forty miles in breadth. These data, sup- 

 posing the island to have been a level country, would 

 give - - - 3,840,000 acres. 



But a great part consisting of 

 high mountains, the superficies of 

 which comprise far more land than 

 the base alone, it has been thought 

 a moderate estimate to allow on 

 that account ^ more, which is 240,000 



The total is 4,080,000 acres, 



Of these, it is found by a return of the clerk of the 

 patents, that no more than 1,907, 589 > were, in No- 

 vember 1789, located or taken up by grants from 

 the crown, and as no grants have been issued since 

 that time, it appears that upwards of one half of the 

 country is considered as of no kind of value. The 

 lands in cultivation may be distributed nearly as fol- 

 lows : 



In sugar plantations (including the land reserved 

 in woods, for the purpose of supplying timber and 

 firewood; or appropriated for common pasturage, all 

 which is commonly two thirds of each plantation) the 

 number of acres may be stated at 690,000 5 it appear- 

 ing that the precise number of those estates, in De- 

 cember 1791, was 767, and an allowance of 900 acres 

 to each, on an average of the whole, must be deem- 

 ed sufficientlv liberal, 



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Vol. I. D d 



