CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



excellent harbour called the ' Little Careenage,' 

 which, admitting only one ship at a time, is cap- 

 able of containing thirty ships of the line. The 

 capital is Castries, the only town in the island, 

 and a place of no importance. 



Dominica. 



This island, situated between Martinique and 

 Guadeloupe, is about 29 miles in length, and 14 in 

 breadth. It is of volcanic origin, and has many 

 mountains, the highest of which is 5314 feet above 

 the sea's level. Several of these contain volca- 

 noes, which frequently discharge vast quantities of 

 burning sulphur ; and there are many hot-water 

 springs throughout the island. The valleys are 

 fertile and well watered. Dominica yields the 

 finest timber, such as locust-wood, rosewood, 

 mastic, ironwood, cinnamon, bastard mahogany, 

 and a gum-tree of considerable value. The 

 capital is Roseau. Prince Rupert's Bay is the 

 safest harbour in the island, and capable of con- 

 taining a whole navy. 



Montserrat 



This is one of the smallest of the British West 

 India Islands, being only about 12 miles long, and 

 7^ broad. It is of volcanic origin, and presents 

 a very uneven and mountainous surface. It is 

 extremely difficult of access, from the broken char- 

 acter of the land, and the coral beds and rocks 

 which stud the sea around the southern part of it. 

 Both mountains and valleys are covered with 

 wood ; and many fine streams water the low lands. 

 Indigo, formerly much cultivated in this island, 

 has been abandoned ; and the principal productions 

 now are cotton and sugar, the latter of which is 

 much esteemed. This island has been called the 

 Montpelier of the West Indies, from its healthy 

 climate, although it is occasionally subject to 

 hurricanes. 



Ant'gua. 



This island, discovered by Columbus in 1493, 

 is about 20 miles long. It was first settled in 1632 

 by the English, but in consequence of the want of 

 water, its progress was slow at first. Antigua is 

 indented with bays, and surrounded with small 

 islands, rocks, and shoals, which render it difficult 

 of access. The country in the north-east is low, 

 and even marshy, but it gradually rises towards 

 the south and west The island being almost 

 destitute of water, the rain which falls during the 

 wet season is collected in tanks. The land, 

 however, is very fertile, and vegetation luxuriant. 

 The capital, St John's, situated on the north-west, 

 possesses a capacious harbour. Englishtown, on 

 the south, has a fine harbour, with a royal naval- 

 yard, arsenal, &c. The coast is indented with 

 bays, which afford excellent shelter to shipping. 

 The climate is dry and healthy ; and the island is 

 not subjected to either heavy dews or severe hur- 

 ricanes, like most of the other islands. Antigua 

 was the first island to ameliorate the slave-laws, 

 by affording the accused slave the benefit of trial 

 by jury ; and it anticipated the British parliament, 

 by putting an end to negro apprenticeship in 

 1834. 



Sf Christopher or St Kitt's. 



This island, situated in lat. 17 1 8', and long. 

 62 40', is 72 miles in circumference. It was dis- 



334 



covered by Columbus, and was first settled by 

 an Englishman of the name of Warner, and four- 

 teen associates. Warner found several Frenchmen 

 already on the island ; and these two parties, after 

 making war upon the natives, divided the island 

 between them one part called Capisterre, or high 

 country, being assigned to the French ; and the 

 other part, called Basseterre, or low country, to 

 the English. Many battles were fought between 

 the parties till 1713, when the whole island was 

 ceded to Britain. St Christopher is of an irregular 

 oblong shape, traversed lengthwise by a ridge of 

 mountains ; and slopes gradually from the centre 

 to the sea. The greatest height, Mount Misery, 

 rises 3711 feet, almost perpendicularly, and is 

 clothed with vegetation nearly to the summit. 

 The vale of Basseterre is extremely beautiful, the 

 ground being very rich, and everywhere highly 

 cultivated. The soil is considered the finest in 

 the West Indies for the cultivation of the sugar- 

 cane. The island is watered by four small rivers ; 

 and there are numerous springs in the low lands. 

 These, however, from strong saline impregnations, 

 are not fit for drinking, and the rain-water is 

 collected in tanks for domestic purposes. The 

 capital is Basseterre, which is the best shipping- 

 station. 



Nevis. 



This beautiful little island, consisting of a single 

 mountain, which rises like a cone out of the sea, 

 unbroken, and verdant to the summit, was dis- 

 covered by Columbus at the same time with St 

 Christopher, from which it is separated by a 

 channel about two miles broad. It was first taken 

 possession of by a party of English from St Chris- 

 topher. The hill is well cultivated ; and where 

 cultivation ceases, evergreen forest-trees grow 

 luxuriantly, the whole island having a cheerful 

 picturesque aspect. 



Barbuda and Anguilla. 



These two islands, although far separated, may 

 be classed together, from the similarity of their 

 scenery and the occupations of the inhabitants. 

 Barbuda is situated about thirty miles north of 

 Antigua. It is about 20 miles long, and 12 broad. 

 The first notice made of Barbuda is in the time 

 of Queen Anne, when it was granted to General 

 Codrington, by whose descendants the greater 

 portion of it is still possessed. Anguilla, or Snake 

 Island, is about 100 miles north-west of Barbuda. 

 It is 30 miles long, and 3 broad, and receives its 

 name (signifying an eel) from the peculiarly winding 

 shape it presents. These islands were both first 

 settled by the British ; and they have always 

 remained in the possession of this country. Their 

 aspect is different from that of any of our other 

 West Indian settlements, being in many respects 

 indeed quite English. The occupation of the 

 inhabitants is rearing stock and cultivating pro- 

 visions, for which a ready market is found in the 

 neighbouring islands. 



Virgin Islands. 



This name was given by Columbus (in 1493) 

 to a group of about forty small islands, forming a 

 part of the Leeward Islands, and lying near Puerto 

 Rico on the east. They are divided among the 

 British, Danes, and Spaniards, but much the 



