Xviii INTRODUCTION. 



extends a lovely bay, where we anchored one evening, almost 

 touching the little beach, close to which stands a small coUec- 

 tion of negro huts. 



Coming to St. Vincent, we find it fairly cultivated on the 

 southern side. (Fig. E.) Its greater prosperity is undoubtedly 



Fig. E. — Kingstown, St. Vincent. 



due to its more varied agricultural interests, and the fall in 

 the price of sugar has not proved so disastrous there as in those 

 islands where the sugar crop forms the sole support of the pop- 

 ulation. From the southern extremity of the highest peak, the 

 soufriere in 1812 sent out vast sheets of lava during an eruption 

 which lasted for three days. It was heard eighty miles off, at 

 Barbados, which was enveloped in darkness and covered with 

 volcanic dust, while a heavy tidal wave swept its shores. 



From St. Vincent we pass by the Grenadines, small, low, unin- 

 teresting islands, with names more romantic than their scenery ; 

 they are formed by the summits of a volcanic ridge rising ab- 

 ruptly out of deep water. 



We come finally to Grenada, the last of. the Lesser Antilles. 

 Its excellent though small harbor reminds one of Malta on a 

 small scale, and the resemblance is not lessened as one goes 

 climbing the steep streets from the docks to the more level 

 region where Government House is located. At the entrance 

 of the harbor is Fort Richmond, and behind it rises the rim of 



