WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 



larger and more valuable number belong to Britain. 

 The British Virgin Islands were first possessed by 

 Dutch buccaneers, who built a fort on Tortola, but 

 were expelled by the English, who have remained 

 in possession ever since. The largest of these 

 islands is Anegada ; the next, Tortola. The har- 

 bour of Tortola is very extensive, completely land- 

 locked, and afforded shelter in many cases during 

 war to 400 vessels. Virgin Gorda is of an irregu- 

 lar shape, and contains two good bays, where 

 ships may ride in security. 



The Bahamas or Lucayos Islands. 



These, the most northerly of the West India 

 islands, were the first land discovered by Col- 

 umbus in 1492, and they amount in number to 

 fully 500. The island which gives the name to 

 the whole is the most northern, as well as the 

 most important of the group. A settlement estab- 

 lished by the British in 1629, was ravaged by the 

 French and Spaniards several times, and the 

 Bahamas became a nest for pirates, until they 

 were expelled by the British in the beginning of 

 the last century. The Bahamas are of coral 

 formation, and although flat, have a very pleasing 

 aspect, from the richness of the vegetation. The 

 chief island is New Providence, which contains 

 the capital, Nassau. These islands are very 

 healthy, and their climate is delightful. The chief 

 article of exportation is cotton, neither sugar nor 

 coffee having succeeded. Provisions of all sorts 

 are plentiful, cattle and sheep thrive well, and the 

 shores abound with fish and turtle. Turk's Islands 

 and the Caicos, at the south-east of the group, are 

 included in the government of Jamaica. 



Bermudas or Somers" Islands. 



These are a cluster of small islands, in latitude 

 32 20', and longitude 64 50', distant about 600 

 miles from the American continent. They are 

 upwards of 300 in number, with an aggregate area 

 of 24 square miles. The principal are St George, 

 Ireland, St David, Somerset, Long and Birds' 

 Islands, &c. These lie close together, and form 

 capacious bays, which afford good anchorage. 

 The coast, however, is of the most dangerous 

 description, being studded with rocks, which are 

 visible at low- water, and disappear at flood-tide. 

 The soil is very fertile, and produces maize, barley, 

 potatoes, onions, and all sorts of garden vegetables 

 in great abundance. Arrowroot is a principal 

 article of culture ; and medicinal plants, such as 

 the aloe, jalap, &c. grow spontaneously. There 

 are no fresh-water streams, and only a few wells 

 of brackish water, so that the inhabitants are 

 obliged to have recourse to tanks. The climate 

 is generally healthy. The Bermudas are chiefly 

 important as a naval station on the homeward- 

 bound route from the West Indies. There are 

 also convict establishments on the islands. 



For a long period after the abolition of slavery, 

 and the removal of the protective duties on sugar, 

 the British West India colonies continued in a 

 very unprosperous condition. But the lowest 

 point of depression seems to have been reached ; 

 and by means of improved machinery, the intro- 

 duction of coolie labour into several of the islands, 



and the increased demand for West India pro- 

 duce, these colonies have entered upon a new 

 career of prosperity a prosperity apparently more 

 sound and stable than they ever before experi- 

 enced. 



FOREIGN POSSESSIONS. 

 French. 



The French possessions in the West Indies 

 comprise the islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, 

 Marie Galante, and De'sirade. Martinique, at 

 the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, is about 50 

 miles long, and 20 broad. It is of volcanic origin ; 

 romantic in appearance ; and the mountains are 

 covered with almost impenetrable woods. Marti- 

 nique is well watered ; and the soil is good, al- 

 though it varies much, on account of the volcanic 

 eruptions, which have in some places covered 

 the surface of the land. About two-fifths of the 

 island are cultivated; the rest being occupied 

 with mountains, forests, and plains, which last 

 yield good herbage for cattle. Fort Royal, the 

 capital, is situated on one of the bays which indent 

 the coast, and possesses the safest and most 

 capacious harbour in the West Indies. The chief 

 commercial town is St Pierre. 



Guadeloupe is situated in lat. 16 20' north, and 

 long. 62 west. It is divided through the centre by 

 a small channel, which is navigable for vessels of 

 fifty tons, and forms, as it were, two islands. 

 There are several volcanic mountains in Guade- 

 loupe, one of which still emits smoke, and some- 

 times sparks of fire. The chief town is Basse- 

 terre. 



The island of St Bartholomew, lying about 30 

 miles north of St Christopher, was a Swedish 

 possession from 1784, when it was ceded by 

 France, till 1878, when it was ceded by Sweden 

 to France for a sum of money. It produces 

 sugar, tobacco, cotton, and cocoa ; and has only 

 one town and one harbour, namely, Gustavia and 

 La Carenage. St Bartholomew is now a depend- 

 ence of Gaudeloupe. Its area is about 8 square 

 miles, and the population is near 2500. 



De'sirade and Marie Galante are small islands, 

 situated near Guadeloupe, and subject to its 

 government. The former is famous for its cotton, 

 and the latter yields chiefly sugar and coffee. The 

 slave population of the French West Indies were 

 set free at the Revolution of 1848. 



Spanish. 



Sixty years ago, the colonial possessions of 

 Spain extended from the frontiers of the United 

 States almost to Cape Horn. Now, she has not 

 a foot of land on the American continent ; and of 

 the islands, she possesses only two worth men- 

 tioning Cuba and Puerto Rico. 



Cuba is by far the largest island in the West 

 Indies, being 800 miles in length, and 127 at its 

 greatest breadth. It is traversed throughout its 

 .ength by chains and mountains, some of which 

 reach the height of 7200 feet From these moun- 

 tains flow numerous streams, which water the soil, 

 and render it highly productive. The savannas, 

 or plains, are very extensive, stretching on both 

 sides from the mountains to the sea. The soil of 

 these plains is so fertile, that two, and even three, 



