474 MEXICO, CENTRAL AMEEICA, WEST INDIES. 



Even tlie emancipation of 1848 was far from complete, for the labour market 

 was so controlled as to enforce periods of long contract-service on the freedmen. 

 But this system has fallen into abeyance since tens of thousands of Indian coolies 

 have been introduced, and since blacks from the English islands seek temporary 

 employment at harvest time. A large proportion of the people of colour have 

 acquired holdings, which they cultivate on their own account, raising provisions, 

 coffee and even sugar. 



Basse- Terre, the political capital, is not the largest town, though well situated 

 near the south-west extremity of the island. In the neighbourhood is the health 

 resort of Camp- Jacob, so named from its founder, who established it at Saint-Claude, 

 2,350 feet above sea-level. 



Pointe- à- Pitre, the largest town in Guadeloupe, lies in Grande-Terre near the 

 head of the bay where the Rivière Salée reaches the coast. Here a sufficiently deep 

 basin, enclosed by reefs and islets and communicating with the open sea by a 

 winding channel, forms a well- sheltered harbour, which has become the commercial 

 centre of the island. Founded during the English occupation of 1759-63, Pointe- 

 à-Pitre developed rapidly despite many disasters, such as the terrible earthquake of 

 1843, by which the picturesque cliffs of Saragot, in Marie-Galante, were ruptured 

 for a distance of nearly a mile. 



Le Moule, on the east side of Grande-Terre, ranks in size and importance next 

 to Pointe-à-Pitre and the capital. Despite its exposed roadstead it does a consider- 

 able export trade in sugar. At the Porte cV Enfer cliffs, 9 miles south-east of this 

 place, were found the Carib skeletons that have given rise to so much scientific 

 discussion. The badly-sheltered harbour of Grand-Bourg, capital of Marie-Galante, 

 is frequented by a few small craft ; but the vast basin of the Saintes, being a naval 

 station, does no trade. 



Sugar has long been the staple product of Guadeloupe. Coffee, which had 

 nearly been abaudoDed, has again acquired some expansion, but only in hilly dis- 

 tricts and altitudes of from 600 to 2,000 feet, unsuitable for sugar. The hixa 

 oreUana was formerly extensively grown, but the industry has been ruined by the 

 discovery of the aniline dyes. Cotton at no time possessed any economic impor- 

 tance, and even tobacco is grown in insufficient quantities for the local demand. 

 The capital invested in agricidtural industries is estimated altogether at about 

 £6,000,000, while the shipping exceeds 500,000 tons. France is still the best cus- 

 tomer of the colony, which, however, does a considerable import trade also with 

 the United States, England, and British India. 



The archipelago is divided for administrative purposes into the three arrondisse- 

 ments of Basse-Terre, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Marie-Galante, the whole formine on 

 department, with a general council of 36 members. The municipal councils are 

 framed on the model of the French communal councils, and the department is 

 represented in the French Chambers by one senator and two deputies. 



The revenue, derived chiefly from the customs and excise on spirits, exceeds 

 £200,000, of which one-fifth is set apart for public works and another fifth for 

 education. 



