CONTEXTS 





CHAPTER I 



THE GEOGKAPHIC RELATIONS OF THE WEST INDIES 



PAGE 



Position relative to the continents. Types of the surrounding lands. 

 The cast -and- west trends of the Antillean Mountains. Differ- 

 ences between the Gulf and Caribbean basins 1 



CHAPTER II 



THE WEST INDIAN WATERS 



The American Mediterranean. Its area and littoi'als. Distinctness 

 from the oceanic basins. The currents and winds inducing the 

 equable temperature and conditions of life. The remarkable sub- 

 marine configuration. The great deeps and flooded mountains. 

 Peculiar aspects of the life of the waters. Influence of the coral 

 polyps in making the rocks of the islands. Passes into the Atlantic 7 



CHAPTER III 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE WEST INDIAN ISLANDS 



Their number, area, and populations. Antithetic nature of their ori- 

 gin, configuration, and resources. Classification into groups of 

 similar type The Great Antilles. The Bahamas. The Caribbean 

 chain. The South American islands of the Trinidad type. Reefs 

 and keys. Their political organization 18 



^ CHAPTER IV 



en 



THE GREAT ANTILLES 



Their individuality. Distinctness of physical characters from those 

 of the Tinted States. Continental diversity of their configuration 

 c^ ; as compared with the monotypic character of the other islands. 



2^~ vii 



