FRENCH AMERICAN ISLANDS. 549 



parte sent out an expedition to reduce Toussaint to dependence upon 

 France, and restore order in the colony. After several encounters, 

 in which the negro chief, unable to resist the regular forces of France, 

 was almost constantly defeated, Toussaint was induced to submit, 

 and accept of apparently favourable terms. But the French, soori 

 after, most perfidiously seized on him, under a charge, probably 

 without foundation, of treacherous practices, and sent him in irons 

 to France, where he perished in a dungeon. The other black chiefs 

 who had submitted with him, Christophe and Dessalines, saved 

 themselves by flight; the negroes and mulattoes again flew to arms, 

 and the French troops rapidly fell victims to the climate. Dessalines 

 afterwards succeeded to the authority of Toussaint, and, following 

 the example set him in Europe, caused himself to be proclaimed em- 

 peror of Hayti,* by the title of Jacques I. He carried' on, a war of 

 extermination, which was but too successful, against the French, 

 who were compelled entirely to abandon the island. The last post 

 they held was at St. Domingo, from which they were expelled by the 

 Spaniards in 1809. Hayti has been for some years engaged in a civil 

 war, which commenced immediately after the death of Dessalines. 

 One party chose Christophe as the successor of that chief, and elect- 

 ed him king. Another party declared in favour of a republican form 

 of government, and chose Petion, a mulattoe, for their chief magis- 

 trate. The war has been conducted with various success. Christophe 

 is at present in possession of the northern and Petion of the southern 

 part of what was formerly French St. Domingo. 



MARTINICO, which is situate between 14 and 15 degrees of 

 north latitude, and in 61 degrees west longitude, lying about 40 

 leagues north-west of Barbadoes, is about 60 miles in length, and 

 half as much in breadth. The inland part of it is hilly, from which 

 are poured out, on every side, a number of agreeable and useful ri- 

 vers, which adorn and enrich this island in a high degree. The pro- 

 duce of the soil is sugar, cotton, indigo, ginger, and such fruits as 

 are found in the neighbouring islands. But sugar is here, as in all 

 the West India islands, the principal commodity, of which a consi- 

 derable quantity is exported annually. Martinico was the residence 

 of the governor of the French islands in 'these seas. Its bays and har- 

 bours are numerous, safe, and commodious, and so well fortified, 

 that they used to bid defiance to the English, who, in vain, often at- 

 tempted this place. However, in the war of 1756, when the British 

 arms were triumphant in every quarter of the globe, this island was 

 added to the British empire ; but it was given back at the treaty of 

 peace. It was again taken by the English in 1794, but restored by the 

 sreaty of Amiens. Retaken in 1809, by the same enemy; and again 

 restored in 18 IS. 



GUADALOUPE, so called by Columbus from the resemblance of 

 its mountains to those of that name in Spain, is situate in 16 degrees 

 north latitude, and in 62 west longitude, about 30 leagues north of 

 Martinico, and about as much south of Antigua ; being 45 miles long, 

 and 38 broad. It is divided into two parts by a small arm of the sea, 

 or rather a narrow channel, through which no ships can venture; but 

 the inhabitants pass it in a ferry-boat. Its soil is equally fertile with 

 that of Martinico, producing sugar, cotton, indigo, ginger, &c. This 

 island is in a flourishing condition, and its exports of sugar almost in- 



* The ancient native name of the island. 

 Vol. II. 4 A 



