BOOK REVIEWS. 



1303 



described in this book that lend themselves to illustration by photo- 

 graphy, it is much to be regretted that more illustrations are npt 

 included. We hope that in future editions this point will, receive 

 attention. 



"The British West Indies: their History, Eesources, and 

 Progress." By Algernon E. Aspinall, Secretary to the West Indian 

 Committee, 8vo., xii + 435 pp., with illustrations and a coloured 

 map. (Pitman, London, 1912.) 7s. 6d. net. 



The author of the valuable little Pocket Guide to the West Indies " 

 is responsible for this comprehensive account of our possessions in the 

 Caribbean Sea, commonly spoken of as the British. West -Indies. In 

 reality these possessions comprise eight colonies, if British Guiana, on 

 the* north-east coast of South America, and British Honduras, on the 

 east coast of Central America, are included in the term, as for adminis- 

 trative purposes is the case. Of the more important West Indian islands 

 belonging to Great Britain Barbados is the only one which has remained 

 in the undisputed possession of England since its first settlement. The 

 history of all the others " has been written with the sword's point." 

 Well may the author ask, "What other colony can boast of such a 

 varied and romantic history? " for these islands, discovered by 

 Columbus, were the scenes of the daring exploits of the renowned 

 Elizabethan seamen — Ealeigh, Hawkins, Drake, and others — and in 

 more recent times, of those of Benbow, Eodney, Hood, and 

 Abercromby; and it was in the W^est Indies that Nelson chose his 

 bride. Following a narration of the stirring events connected with the 

 early history of the West Indies, the author proceeds to describe the 

 flora and fauna and points out that, with regard to the' former, the 

 staple products of the West Indies are not derived from native plants, 

 but from exotic species— for instance, the sugar-cane, cacao, coffee, 

 cinnamon, nutmeg, banana, orange, and ginger are introduced plants. 

 Incidentally it is mentioned that the beautiful maiden-hair 'ferh, 

 Adiantum farleyense, is so named from its having been first groWh at 

 Farley Hill, the residence of Sir Graham Briggs in Barbados. In 

 British Guiana, too, the noble water-lily, Victoria regia, was discovered 

 by Sir Eobert Schomburgk, and he it was who directed public attention 

 to its beauties. The most interesting members of fehe West Indian, 

 fauna, so far as European commerce is concerned, are the turtles, which 

 are found more or less throughout the islands. 



Much useful information is given concerning the cliniate, cost of 

 living, opportunities for settlers, and other matters, which will be read 

 with interest by those who anticipate visiting or settling there, ■ 



Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is that which deals 

 with the industries of the West Indies. These for the most part are 

 agricultural, but there are also several important industries concerned 

 with the exploitation of petroleum and pitch in Trinidad, and in 

 British Guiana gold and diamonds are^ found, and timber, rubber, 

 balata, and other forest,:products figure in the exports. The sugar 



X 2 



