Val. No. Tons. Val. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Men. From Elsewhere, 1823, 11437.; 1825, 11530l.; 1830, 10007.; 1834, 21897.; 1836, 3071. XIII. Antigua is most bountifully supplied with | eel (like a serpent); silver, luck, and ink (shedding a variety of edible vegetables and fruit. The yam, ink when caught) fishes; abacore (a large size); shark sweet potatoe, cassave, cabbage, turnips, carrots, ra- (plentiful); doctor (has a lance in the tail); sprat dishes, eddoes, squash pumpkin, cucumber, plantain, (two varieties, one poisonous); king, fry, whitening ochro (spinnage), &c. are among the former; and (poisonous); wattee, hind, comaree, convalby, old among the latter are the orange, mango, guana, shad- wife, queen mullet, cobbler, ten pounder, garr, bolalwe, dock, sweet lemon, pine apple, sapadillo, pomegranate, reay, shew, and crawfish cat (a curious fish with five grenadilla, plum, grape, almond, alligator (and other) prongs, which, if left on the skin, sucks blood). The pears, melon, citron, banana, cashew, dildoe, redcaps, king fish taken young is termed coramour, and, when soursop, bread, and jackfruits, &c. kept in a fish pond, or crawl for some time, is esteemed a great delicacy, as is also the mud fish (resembling tench), commonly found in the water-courses. The mangrove oysters are considered a tantalizing dainty, and trunk lobsters, cockles, &c. are excellent. Sugar is the staple of the island; but other productions are now being attended to. Among the medicinal plants, spices, and trees, are a species of absinthium, aloe perfoliata, amomum zinziber, anisum vulgare, dolichas pruriens, datura stramonium, fæniculum dulce, glycirrhizza glabra, guaicum officinale, several species of menthæ, rosmarinus officinalis, quassia excelsa, and ricinus communis. Guinea grass is extensively cultivated. BARBUDA. This island, the property of the Cod. rington family, situated 36 miles N. of Antigua, about 20 miles broad, with 1,500 inhabitants; the interior is level, the soil fertile, and the air of great purity. It was first settled by a party of colonists The coast, bays, and harbours are plentifully sup- from St. Kitt's under Sir Thomas Warner, whom the plied with excellent fish. Among the most numerous Caribs at first compelled to retreat; but the English are the herring, mackarel, baracouta (of great size); finally returned, and quickly began cultivation. The glouper (sometimes 50 pounds); toad (poisonous); chief trade of the colonists consist in raising cattle, mauget, hedgehog, hog-fish (poisonous); jew-fish swine, poultry, horses, and mules, for sale in the (large and dear); snapper, flatfork, squerrel, chubb, neighbouring islands. There is a good roadstead; but snitt, flounder, mullet, parrot (coloured like the bird), I the coast is dangerous. 87 CHAPTER X.-NEVIS. SECTION I. This delightful little island, one of the leeward Caribbees, is separated from St. Kitt's by a strait, almost two miles broad and full of shoals, in latitude 17o 14' N. longitude 63° 3′ W. It was first colonized by a few Englishmen, in 1628, under Sir Thomas Warner: and it is termed by Smith, in his amusing natural history of Nevis, "the mother of the English Caribbee Isles." II. Nevis is a single mountain, about four miles in length, three in breadth, eight leagues in circumference, with an area of 20 square miles, springing by an easy ascent, as it were, out of the sea, and evidently of volcanic origin. The summit has the appearance of a crater. At a short distance from Clarke's hill there are several hot springs, containing neutral salts in solution. Their heat varies from 100 to 108 Farenheit. At the base of the mountain is a border of level land, extremely fertile and well planted. The appearance of Nevis is perhaps the most captivating of any island in the West Indies. From the S. and W. it seems to be nothing but a single cone rising with the most graceful curve out of the sea, and piercing a fleecy mass of clouds which sleep for ever round its summit. It is green as heart can conceive, perfectly cultivated, and enlivened with many old planters' houses of a superior style, and churches peeping out in the most picturesque situations imaginable. A complete forest of evergreen trees grows like a ruff or collar round the neck of the high land, where cultivation ceases. On the N. and the E. the cone is not so perfect; it falls off in one direction in a long slope, which terminates in a plain towards the Narrows of St. Kitt's, and is broken to windward into one or two irregular hills. Columbus is said to have given the present name to this island, from the mountain of Nieves in Spain. Edwards supposes that a white smoke issued in that age from a volcano now extinct, but perhaps the vapours which rest on the summit may more probably have suggested the notion of snow. Charlestown, the seat of government, is a larger, smarter, and more populous place than the capital of Montserrat. It lies along the shore of a wide curving bay, and the mountain begins to rise immediately behind it in a long and verdant acclivity. The court house is a handsome building, with a square in front; it contains a hall on the ground floor for the assembly and the courts of law, and another room up stairs for the council. The island is divided into five parishes, and it has three tolerable roadsteads. Nevis at one time had a very large white population. In 1673, there were 1,411 men able to bear arms, and 1,739 negroes. In 1707, 1,104 whites, 3,676 negroes. In 1720, 2,358 whites, 5,689 negroes. In 1730, 1,296 whites, 5,646 negroes. In 1788, 1,514 whites, 140 free coloured, 8,420 slaves. The white population is now estimated at 500. Population of Nevis in 1836. [B. B.] Parish. No census has been taken for many years, but the present is the population as near as can be calculated. Nearly all persons residing in the country are em Populatn. Births. Marriags. Deaths ployed in the manufacture of sugar and rum, and in preparing the lands for the cane and provisions. [B.B.] IV. Churches, Livings, &c. [B. B. 1834.] Population of each parish, about 1,275. Value of each living, 18,000 lbs. of sugar, or 1267. sterling. St. Paul's, Charles Town.-One parsonage house, one and a quarter acres of glebe; church situated conveniently in the town, will contain 600 persons; about 450 generally attend. No chapel. Two dissenting places of worship. St. Thomas.-No parsonage house, but 1,500 lbs. of sugar allowed as an equivalent, equal to 137. 10s.; about eight acres of glebe; church situated in a central part of the parish, will contain 140 persons; about 100 generally attend. One chapel, erected on the property of T. P. Huggins, Esq.; service just now discontinued. St. James. No parsonage house, but same allowance as St. Thomas; about eight acres of glebe; church situated in a central part of the parish, will contain 170 persons; in general fully attended. One chapel, erected on the property of T. J. Coull, Esq.; 40 persons generally attend. One dissenting place of worship. St. George.-Church situated in the centre of the parish, will contain 250 persons; about 120 generally attend. Two dissenting places of worship. St. John.-Church situated in the centre of the parish, will contain 200 persons; about 100 generally attend. [No return at the Colonial Office for 1836.] The domestic affairs of Nevis are managed by a Lieut.-Governor, an Executive Council of 12, a Legislative Council of 11, and a House of Assembly of 15 members. The laws and regulations of the island do not require especial notice. Years. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Deaths. 1834 145 104 249 101 131 232 7 No returns for 1835 or 1836. Cost of each prisoner, 10s. 6d. sterling per week. VII. Comparative Yearly Statement of the Revenue of Nevis in Pounds Sterling.-1830, 29357.; 1831, 20421.; 1832, 10347.; 1833, 57941.; 1834, no return sent in; 1835, 43571.; 1836, the return for this year cannot be filled up, the Treasurer's books, &c. having been burnt in the late fire. Comparative Yearly Statement of the Expenditure of Nevis.-1830, 23447.; 1831, 25677.; 1832, 1854l.; 1833, 48871.; 1834, no return sent in; 1835, 42381.; 1836, the return for this year cannot be filled up, the Treasurer's books having been burnt in the late fire. Val. No. Tons. Val. Val. No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Men. 1824 9 1825 17585 1831 662 9 1632 321 2274 818 1122 11 448 9747 17 17034 21 7984 17 1862 2511 2194 6699 3731 20 950 4185 21 1044 7737 74 2840 5861 2290 5782 95 3645 2108 2036 34 1220 9902 5747 98 4206 9358 13 1964 2384 31 850 9667 5770 145 5258 8581 19 2790 2518 39 980 9672 2097 158 4857 3093 6 698 5661 75 1560 From Elsewhere, value, 1831, 1607.; 1834, 159/.; 1835, 7271. EXPORTS AND SHIPPING OF NEVIS. 6025 683 311 905 4986 17 1671 2190 19 836 12789 2074 82 3038 7996 19 2788 19 845 24631 3741 239 11446 1401 14 2669 71 2718 12284 3910 805 5226 10072 4184 210 7887 6921 28 4117 885 63 2314 53888 312 17383 1603 11289 6519 110 4369 6244 12 1829 1084 36 974 72200 173 10524 882 12122 3942 161 6281 2533 1503 2285 42 1319 46933 222 11256 1065 17990 5465 180' 5322 2294 6 698 1238 58 1291 55789 250 8746 1134 To Elsewhere, value, 1834, 8417.; 1835, 3581. No returns from 1825 to 1831. The principal exports from Nevis, since 1830, were, 1831, Sugar, 3,313 hds.; Rum, 76,566 gall.; Molasses, 82,257 gall. 1832, Sugar, 2,452 hds.; Rum, 42,692 gall.; Molasses, 96,348 gall. 1833, Sugar, 2,826 hds.; Rum, 31,584 gall.; Molasses, 17,864 gall. 1834, Sugar, 4,194 hds.; Rum, 52,248 gall.; Molasses, 175,476 gall. 1835, Sugar, 2,297 hds.; Rum, 35,700 gall.; Molasses, 90,048 gall. 1435 IX. The coin in circulation is estimated at 10,000.; the denominations are, 1 dog (copper)=14d. currency, or d. sterling; 1 bit (silver) 7 dogs.; 1 dollar, = 72 dogs, = 98. currency, or 4s. 6d. sterling. There is no paper money. 2001. currency= 100l. sterling. 10 1836 [B. B.]-Horned cattle, 101. each; horses, 301.; sheep, 17.; goats, 17.; swine, 17.; milk, 9d. per quart when it can be procured; fresh butter, 2s. 6d. per lb.; salt butter, 28. 3d.; cheese, 1s. 6d.; wheaten bread, 44.; beef, 9d.; mutton, 9d.; pork, 74d.; rice, 44d.; coffee, 1s. 6d.; tea, 9d.; sugar, 1s.; salt, 14d.; wine, 21. per dozen; brandy, 11s. 3d. per gallon; beer, 128. per dozen; tobacco, 9d. per lb. Wages for Labour. — Domestic, 11. 2s. 6d. per month; prædial, 18. per day; trades, 28. The chief production of the island is sugar, the cultivation of which adds much to the richness of the scenery when contrasted with the mountain forests. There are five steam-engines, 40 wind, and 45 cattle X. Average Prices of Produce and Merchandize in mills for the manufacture of sugar, rum, molasses, &c. CHAPTER XI.—MONTSERRAT. SECTION I-Montserrat in 16.47. N. lat., 62.13.25. W. long., 22 S. W. of Antigua, the same distance N.W. of Guadaloupe, and S. E. of Nevis, is about 12 miles long, 74 broad, and 34 in circumference, containing 47 square miles, or about 30,000 acres. II. The isle was discovered and named by the sailors of Columbus, Montserrat, a name expressive in the Spanish language of its broken and mountainous appearance. In 1632 it was first settled on by Sir Thomas Warner, under the protection of the British Government; about 1664, in the beginning of the reign of Charles II. it was taken by the French, but restored to the English at the peace of Breda, and has continued ever since under our flag. III.-Like many other islands in its vicinity, Montserrat most probably owes its origin to a volcanic N 90 MONTSERRAT.-GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY AND SOIL, CLIMATE, POPULATION. eruption; like them it runs from S. E. to N. W., is equally mountainous, broken, and intersected; on the N. the extremity of the mountain chain terminates in a bold head-land coast, close to which vessels may approach with safety, but there is no landing, and scarcely any anchorage along the coast; the land slopes gently down to the shore, or rather ascends from it, like the W. side of the island, by a succession of round conglomerate hills, overtopping each other in pleasing undulations until they reach the mountain base. On the S. there is no approach for vessels of any description until they get to the westward; the sea for a mile or two is studded with immense rocks and shelving banks of coral, which prohibit even the approach of boats; at this point the island springs up at once, and nearly perpendicular, to the height of 1500 feet; from thence the mountains begin to accumulate, throwing out branches nearly at right angles E. and W., of unequal magnitude, as if for supporters, to those originally formed; subsequently they advance and shoot up to 2500 feet, stretching across to the N. extremity, and terminating in the abrupt head-land above mentioned. The mountains in many places are totally inaccessible in consequence of their declivities forming steep precipices of clay-stone, and being separated from each other by immense perpendicular chasms, several hundred feet deep. These gullies, and the mountains, are richly clothed to the very summit with lofty woods, and all the variety of beautiful shrubs and plants peculiar to a tropical mountain region. On the S. W. side of the chain is a small souffriere, situate 1000 feet above the sea in a dell, formed by the approximation of three conical hills; the scenery around which is grand and beautiful. No marshes exist, but a small lake is situate on the top of a high hill on the west side of the mountains, about two miles from Plymouth, which remains full the whole year. Plymouth, the capital, is small, but extremely well built, and the houses constructed of a fine grey-stone, have a substantial and comfortable appearance. IV. The same geological features mark Montserrat as are to be found in the neighbouring isles; many of the rocks might be termed vast masses of clay of various hues and colours. The conical hills abound with carbonate of lime, iron pyrites, and aluminous earth. The superstrative soil is in general dry, light, thin, gravelly, and thickly covered with blocks of clay and sandstone, except in the vallies where the loamy earth is deposited by rains. V. The Montpellier of the W. is the term given to this Indian isle, which has long been celebrated for the peculiar elasticity of its atmosphere, the majestic grandeur of its picturesque and lofty mountains and bewitching scenery. The temperature of course varies according to locality. On the windward and leeward sides, and according to the elevation above the sea, the air is generally cool and dry; the seasons are similar to those of the neighbouring isles; it is subject to hurricanes, but their visitation are not severe or frequent. VI. This island, like many of our W. I. possessions, was at one time more densely peopled by European colonists than it is at present. In 1648 there were 1000 white families, with a militia of 360 effective Europeans. In 1673, there were 1,175 men able to bear arms, and 523 negroes; in 1707, whites, 1,545, negroes, 3,570; in 1720, W. 1,688, N.3,772; in 1724, W. 1,000, Militia, 500, N. 4,400; in 1730, W. 1,545, N. 5,616; in 1733, N. 6,176; in 1787, W. 1,300, Free coloured, 260, slaves, 10,000; in 1791, there were about 1300 W., and 10,000 N.; in 1805, W. 1,000, free coloured, 250, slaves, 9,500. The increase and decrease of the Slave Population, since 1817, was 3399 3981 7380 Total Of the population 4600 were engaged in agriculture, 30 in manufactures, and 40 in commerce. In 1830 the births were 233, and the deaths 33. Return of the Population in 1834. [B. B.]-The island generally contains, Whites, 143 males, 169 females; coloured, 324 males, 503 females; total, 477 males, 672 females. What the present number of the population may be is uncertain, and especially of the apprenticed labourers; because many of them have emigrated to Demerara, and a few to Trinidad. It is asserted by those who are best acquainted with the fact, that great mortality has prevailed among the children on plantations since the year 1834. The return below, of births and deaths, is not to be taken as complete, because some of the negro children die before they are baptized, and others of the negroes who live at a distance from the clergyman, bury their dead without any application to him. Another hindrance to the completion of this information, is, that of there not being any minister appointed for the new parish church of St. George. The correct number of persons employed in agriculture, will not be ascertained until after the year 1840; because they are now the prædial unattached, who are sometimes employed in agriculture, and at other times at different occupations. In the united parishes of St. Anthony and St. Patrick,-Births, 222; Marriages, 28; Deaths, 36. In |