108 
X.—MONTSERRAT. 
304. sper an is situated 27 miles south from Antigua and 
40 miles miles north of Guadeloupe. It has an area of 39 square 
miles. ale ea is rugged, and composed of a series of rocky 
hills and ie ges, culmina ating in several high peaks from 
2,500 feet to 3,000 feet high. The island is evidenly of volcanic 
origin, and a soufriére exists in the high lands to the south. 
ere are easy slopes on the western and south-eastern sides, ar nd 
these are chiefly in calibration. Other portions of the island are 
somewhat steep, and broken up into numerous valleys and 
ravines. he higher parts of the island are clothed to their 
summits by dense forest with cabbage-palms, tree-ferns, wild 
bananas, and some valuable timber trees. Although the surface 
is, on the whole, so rugged and broken, it is estimated that the 
greater part could be advantageously placed under cultivation. 
305. The soil varies from a light sandy loam to a stiff clay, 
and is generally of considerable depth. The mean annual 
temperature is 78°. The annual rainfall is about 56 inches in the 
lowlands and 78 to 80 inches in the hilly par : = the interior. 
The heat is seldom oppressive, as it is ered by the 
sea-breeze. The climate is one of the Tea, in the West 
Indies. 
306. The roads in the island have hitherto been maintained in 
good order. Some were even picturesque and;well shaded with trees. 
These roads were, however, so seriously injured by heavy floods 
at the close of 1896, that it will be some time before ilies are 
restored to their former condition, 
307. The island contains 25,000 acres. There are no Crown 
lands. The ee area in forest is 5,000 acres, or one-fifth of 
the whole. About 15,000 acres, or three-fifths of the whole island, 
are suitable for E while the area actually under crops is 
10,000 acres, or 66 per cent. of the cultivable area. The principal 
industries in order of importance are sugar, limes, coffee, cacao, 
oth 
crops commonly grow sland are sweet potatos, yams, 
eddoes, beans, pigeon-peas, cassava, arrowroot, tous-les-mois, aloes. 
ginger ndian corn. The f ogee trees furnish tz 2 again 
oranges, bread-fruit, bread-nuts, and ws. Many drugs, gum 
and resins are found in the mountain woods, and pimento is cai 
to be plentiful, but is not collected for expor 
308. The population in 1891 was 11,762, or 1679 more than in 
1881, chiefly belonging to the Church of Englan d. There are no 
East Indian immigrants. The inhabitants (362 to the square mile 
are peaceful and quiet. Montserrat isan island of small cultivators 
who hold freehold allotments of 1 to 3 aeres ea e 
about 1,200, and live in thriving villag The cottages are well 
aS and surrounded by small pia with fruit trees and 
