132 
present plant is probably Thrinax radiata found at Barbuda and other 
localities in the Leeward Islands. That, however, grows to a height of 
15 to 20 feet, and forms a stem 3 or 5 inches in diameter. 
fter passing Blowing Point we descended to sea-level and visited 
the salt pond near Road Bay. Salt-making is practically the only im- 
portant industry in the island, and unfortunate ely just now it is rather a 
precarious one. The lessee pays the Government а rent of 200/. per 
annum for the right of making salt, but the success of the crop depends 
so much on the weather that there is no а of employing more 
than a very limited number of people. е were unable to continue our 
ment and traverse a rugged path across the country in the direction of the 
Court se. When we arrived there the Governor held an informal 
th ished 
started in connexion with the repairs of the roads, and afterwards 
extended, if found absolutely necessary, to the clearing nd for a 
fibre industry. An offer was made to the able-bodied to find work for 
them at St. Kitts or Antigua, and transfer them and their families to 
estates where they would have cottages tree and regular wages. Ver 
food without labour. Seed for planting was proposed to be distributed 
in order to enable early crops of peas, beans, and corn to be raised. 
went on board the ** Partridge” early in the afternoon. We im- 
mediately д under way and made for the Virgin Islands. It was 
ould have time, at least, to touch at Tortola, 90 miles away, 
and then Roa on to catch the mail steamer due to leave St. ние for 
the southern islands on Tuesday evening. There was a rately 
rough sea during the night, but at daybreak we were well within рер 
of the outer fringe of the Virgin group. 
VIRGIN IsLANDs. 
The Presidency of the Virgin Islands consists of 30 to 40 small 
scattered islands to the east of Porto Rico. Geologically speaking they 
form a submarine prolongation of the mountain system of that island. 
= юш area is about 58 square miles, and the estimated орава 
5,000. The principai members of the group are Tortola, Virgin 
Conta, and Anegada. The latter, as Из name implies some inundated) i is 
merely a iow reef elevated a few feet above the level of the sea as 
an area of 14 square miles. Tortola, 26 square miles in ruine s com- 
posed of hills, the highest of which rises to nearly 1,600 feet. "The 
surface is much broken up into ravines or *gullies," and nearly the 
whole of it has been under cultivation. Virgin Gorda, 10 square miles 
in extent, is also hilly, but less fertile than icut Copper mines have 
been wor ked here, but at present they w are not productive. The inhabi- 
nd 
age y eet and кабет is very succes ssful. 
r Road Town, a small place on the south-side of Tortola, is the capital 
of the grou 
