434 



WEST INDIES. — FRENCH POSSESSIONS, &c. 



sorbs nearly all the trade of the group. J^assau is the chief town. Gxianahani or Cai 

 Island, called by Columbus San Salvador, is celebrated as the spot where Columbus first 

 landed in the new world. The Bahan'as were the haunts of pirates, buccaneers, and freebooters, 

 till the conclusion of the American war, at which time they became the resort of many loy- 

 alists from Carolina and Georgia. 



15. Bermudas. The Bermudas, or Someis Islands, form a cluster of small islands in the 

 Atlantic Ocean, in number about 400, but for the most part so barren that they have neither 

 inhabitants nor name. They are 200 leagues distant from Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, 

 which is the nearest land to them. The largest of these islands are St. George, which is 4 

 or 5 miles long, and 2 broad. St. David, Cooper, Ireland, Somerset, Long Island, Bird 

 Island, and J^onesuch. On the first there is a town containing about 300 houses, which is the 

 metropolis. The group is so surrounded with rocks that it is diflicult for any ship to enter the 

 roads without an experienced pilot. The climate is salubrious and delightful ; and the fields 

 and trees are clad in perpetual green. The tempests and hurricanes are, however, sometimes 

 tremendous. The numerous woods supply timber for ship- building, which, with navigation, is 

 the principal employment of the inhabitants. These islands were first discovered by Juan 

 Bermudez, a Spaniard, in 1522 ; in 1609, Sir George Somers, an Englishman, was wrecked 

 here, and, after his shipwreck, formed the first settlement. 



FRENCH POSSESSIONS. 



1. Martinique. Martinique or Martinico, is about 50 miles long and 16 broad. It is 

 very uneven, and intersected in all parts by hillocks. Three mountains rise above these small- 

 er eminences. The highest bears the marks of a volcano. The principal productions are 

 sugar, coffee, cassia, cotton, indigo, cocoa, ginger, &c. There are numerous bays and harbors. 

 The chief towns are Fort Royal, the capital, with 9,000 inhabitants, and St. Pierre, with 

 18,000. In 1794 this island was taken by the British, and restored to France in J 802. It 

 was again taken in 1809, and restored in 1815. 



2. Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe is about 70 miles long, and 25 at its greatest breadth. It is 

 divided into 2 parts by a channel from 30 to SO yards broad. This channel runs north and south 

 and communicates with the sea by a large bay at each end ; that on the north is called Grand 

 Cul de Sac, and that on the south Petit Cul de Sac. The part of the island east of the chan- 

 nel, is called Grande-Terre, and is about 120 miles in circumference. Point a Peire, in this 

 division, is the principal town, with 15,000 inhabitants. The west part is subdivided by a 

 ridge of mountains into Capesterre on the west, and Bassc-Terre on the east. This part is 

 also 120 miles in circuit. In many parts the soil is rich, and not inferior to that of Martinico. 

 Its produce is sugar, coffee, rum, ginger, cocoa, logwood, &c. This island has been repeat- 

 edly taken by the British. It was restored to France in 1814. Jllariegalunte, a few leagues 

 southeast of Guadeloupe, is 42 miles in circumference. There are several extraordinary cav- 

 erns here, one of which is capable of holding several thousand persons. The climate is un- 

 heahhy. Grandbourg is the capital. Northeast of Guadeloupe is the small dependent isle of 

 Deseada, which is principally a mountain, with a table-land on the summit. It produces con- 

 siderable quantities of cotton. 



Dutch Possessions. St. Martin is about 5 leagues in length and 4 in breadth, and is 

 chiefly valuable for its salt pits. It belongs in part to France. St. Eustatius rises from the 

 ocean like a pyramidal rock, a few leagues north of St. Christopher's. It is one of the finest 

 and best cultivated islands of all the Carribees. Tobacco is its chief product. It was taken 

 by the English in 1801, but restored to the Dutch in 1814. Curacoa is situated 75 miles from 

 "the coast of Caracas, and is 30 miles long and 10 broad. It produces sugar and tobacco, 

 but its soil is not fertile, and it is dependent on the rains for its supply of water. Curac^oa has 

 several good harbors, and the inhabitants are chiefly engaged in trade with the Spanish pos- 

 sessions of South America. 



Danish Islands. St. John, though a small island, is particularly noted for a fine harbor, 

 which is capable of containing the whole British navy. It has also a number of salt ponds. 

 St. Thoma.f is another liltle island lying near Porto Rico. The principal town is St. Thomas, 

 which stands at thp bntrom of a deep bav, surrounded bv lofty hills. Santa Crtiz, a fev^ 



