XXIV INTRODUCTION 



tli> West Indies, especially ( luba, with a secondary interest 

 in Porto Rico the only islands where the white race has 

 become acclimated and numerically dominant, and whose 

 political administrations have been most disturbed, despite 

 1 heir superior natural resources. The other islands present 

 equally interesting economic and sociologic studies. 



The West Indies since their introduction to European 

 civilization have been attractive objects of interest and 

 have presented a wonderful panorama of human and natu- 

 ral phenomena. They have been the theater of historic 

 action, the center from which early American exploration 

 radiated, and the base of geographic operations during 

 those entrancing years when mariners ever scanned the 

 horizon in expectation of discovering the new and the 

 wonderful. They have been the battle-ground of the New 

 World of nations from the formative centuries until the 

 present civilization. They have been the grand arena of 

 the war of races. First, the Spanish conquered the abori- 

 gines ; then English, Dutch, French, and Dane, anxious for 

 participation, strove to share in the possession of the 

 Indies, and even individuals, as pirates and bucaneers, 

 took part in the general seizure. The din of European 

 arms over these waters continued intermittently until the 

 beginning of this century. Cities with old-world walls, forti- 

 fications, and institutions had grown opulent in the West 

 Indies, or had been destroyed by the guns of foreign foes, 

 before the landing upon Plymouth Rock or the settlement 

 of Jamestown had initiated Anglo-American civilization. 

 Every island is strewn with old cannon and picturesque 

 ruins of antique battlements which attest the days when 

 individuals and nations preyed upon the Spanish Main. 

 Here Morgan, Drake, Grenville, De Grasse, Rodney, Nelson, 

 Albemarle, and other sea warriors of note won victories 

 or suffered defeat, and many a brave forefather from our 

 own colonies participated in the struggle. 



African slaves were implanted upon territory gained by 

 Caucasian from aborigine. By the close of the last cen- 



