SQUATTING. 73 



It appeared to the late Goveruor that this evil would best 

 be dealt with experimentally and locally ; and he accordingly 

 erected the chief squatting district, Montserrat, into a ward, 

 giving the warden large discretionary powers as Commissioner 

 of crown-lands. The price of crown-lands was reduced, in 

 1869, to 1 per acre; and the Montserrat system extended, as 

 far as possible, to other wards ; a movement which the results 

 fully justified. 



In 1867 there were in Montserrat 400 squatters, holding 

 lands of from three to 120 acres, planted with cacao, coffee, 

 or provisions. Some of the cacao plantations were valued at 

 1,000. These people lived without paying taxes, and almost 

 without law or religion. The Crown woods had been, of course, 

 sadly plundered by squatters, and by others who should 

 have known better. At every turn magnificent cedars might 

 Lave been seen levelled by the axe, only a few feet of the trunk 

 being used to make boards and shingles, while the greater 

 part was left to rot or burn. These irregularities have been 

 now almost stopped; and 266 persons, in Montserrat alone, 

 have taken out grants of land, some of -400 acres. But this 

 by no means represents the number of purchasers, as nearly 

 an equal number have paid for their estates though they 

 have not yet received their grants, and nearly 500 more have 

 made application. Two villages have been formed; one of 

 which is that where we rested, containing the church. The 



