CHAPTER XXXI 



THE ISLANDS OF GUADELOUPE AND DOMINICA 



Government and resources of Guadeloupe. Basse-Term Grande- 

 Terre. Maria Galante. Desdrade. Lea Saintes. Cities and towns 

 of Guadeloupe. Dominica the beautiful A fertile Boil awaiting 

 cultivation. 



FROM Montserrat the beautiful French island of Gua- 

 deloupe is plainly seen, but the chances are ten to 

 one that you cannot go to it without first returning to St. 

 Thomas or New York, to get some other than an English 

 line of steamers. -V perpetual quarantine seems to exist 

 In -tween the French and English possessions, which renders 

 communication between them difficult and oftentimes im- 

 possible. 



Guadeloupe and Martinique are the two largest islands 

 of the Caribbees and are owned by France. They are 

 separated from each other, however, by the Large English 



li don of Dominica, almost equaling either of them in 



size, and they have little in common, as each island consti- 

 tutes a distinct department of the republic of Prance. But 

 tli'sc two Large French islands are most picturesque and 

 interesting. There is no appearance of thai abject poverty 

 and incessanl begging which meet one at every turn in 

 tic English possessions. People have an air of thrift and 

 self-respect, which finds expression in the cleanliness and 

 the taste displayed in their dress, streets, houses, customs, 



and agricultural possessions. The reader who wishes to 

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