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 HISTORY 
 
 BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 R. MONTGOMERY MARTIN, F.S.S. 
 
 MEMBER OF THE ' ASIATIC' AND OP THE 'MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL* SOCIETIES OP BENGAL, 
 
 AUTHOR OP ' TAXATION OP THE BRITISH EMPIRE ;' OP THE ' POLITICAL, 
 
 FINANCIAL, AND COMMERCIAL CONDITION OP THE ANGLO-EASTERN 
 
 EMPIRE ;' • IRELAND AS IT WAS — IS — AND OUGHT TO EB ;' 
 
 &C. &C. 
 
 IN FIVE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOLUME V. 
 
 POSSESSIONS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Far as the breeze can bear — the billows foam — 
 Survey our Empire !' 
 
 LONDON: 
 JAMES COCHRANE AND CO. 
 
 11, WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. 
 MDCCCXXXV.
 
 LONDON : W. NICOL, 51, PALL MALL.
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 POSSESSIONS IN THE WEST INDIES.
 
 ]0\\ 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 General Map of the West Indies . to face title page 
 
 Map of British Guyana page 1 
 
 Map of Jamaica 137 
 
 Map of Trinidad 213
 
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 INTRODUCTION 
 
 SECOND VOLUME 
 
 HISTORY OF THE BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 Europe emerging from the dark ages which for centuries 
 had shrouded the genius of her sons, was roused from her 
 long lethargy at the close of the 15th century, one of those 
 memorable epochs when the human mind bursts through 
 the shackles of ignorance and prejudice, thinks for itself, 
 and approximates yet closer to the maximum of intelli- 
 gence allotted unto mortals. The invention* of the art of 
 printing, the discovery of the compass and astrolabe, the 
 knowledge of gunpowder, &c. &c., all conduced at this period 
 to stimulate men to investigate hypotheses heretofore neg- 
 lected, and among the speculative opinions of the day was 
 the possible existence of a Western Continent. The master- 
 mind of Prince Henry of Portugal had already traced the 
 African shores to the Cape Verd isles, and meditated a 
 passage round the Southern cape to the rich kingdoms of 
 the East ; — an obscure navigator, yet bolder, contemplated a 
 shorter route across the wild and heretofore unknown waste 
 
 * I say invention and discovery as in common parlance, but it is more 
 than probal)le that what were then termed discoveries was merely imported 
 information from China and the eastern hemisphere, where printing, the 
 compass, astrolabe, gunpowder, &c. were long known. 
 
 718539
 
 H INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the western waters, where it had long been surmised avast 
 Irttnsatlantic territory gave rotundity and balance to the 
 world. Then was the tradition remembered, that at a period 
 of time indefinitely remote, there existed a vast insular ter- 
 ritory, stretching beyond the coasts of Africa and Europe, 
 which bore the appellative of Atlantis ; and that for three 
 days this western land was shaken to its foundations by the 
 incessant and hourly increasing concussions of an earth- 
 quake, when it at length yielded to the irresistible and un- 
 seen mysterious power, and sunk with its immense population 
 beneath the bosom of the ocean !* Nor ware the chronicles 
 of Wales forgotten— namely, that in 1170, Madoc son to 
 Owen Qtiineth, Prince of Wales, seeing his two brethren 
 at debate who should inherit, prepared certain ships with 
 men and munition and left his country to seek adventures by 
 sea : leaving ' Ireland N. he sayled W. till he came to a land 
 vnknown : returning home and relating what pleasant and 
 fruitfull countries he had scene, without inhabitants, and for 
 what barren ground his brethern and kindred did murther 
 one another, he provided a number of ships, and got with 
 him such men and women as were desirous to hue in quiet- 
 nesse, who arrived with him in this new land, in the yeare 
 llTO.f 
 
 As if in confirmation of these statements, pieces of curiously 
 
 * This is the recorded tradition of Plato and the ancients, and on ex- 
 amining the geological features of the different West Indian islands, in the 
 following pages there will be found a remarkable confirmation of the 
 earthquake tradition : in particular vide ' Bermudas' chapter. 
 
 t I notice these events in order to induce the attention of the rising 
 generation to the geogrnplit/ of our possessions, which is so little known 
 even in the highest quiirieis, that Berbice is marked {printed) in an official 
 document in the House of Commons as an island, and placed among the 
 Bahamas !
 
 INTRODUCTION. HI 
 
 carved wood, large jointed reeds, and trees of a kind unknown in 
 Europe, were picked up to the westward of Cape St. Vincent, 
 and at the Azores after long continued westerly winds. At 
 Floras the bodies of two human beings were washed ashore, 
 whose colour and features were distinct from those of any 
 heretofore seen men ; and a singularly wrought canoe was also 
 driven on the same coast. Several Portuguese navigators 
 thought they had seen three islands when driven far to the 
 westward, and the sons of the discoverer of Terceira perished 
 in seeking them, while the legends of the Scandinavian voyagers 
 told of a mysterious Vin-land, enveloped in danger, and sur- 
 rounded by the awful superstitions of the northern mariners.* 
 Urged by these and many other indications, as also by some 
 sound geographical reasonings, Columbus, a Genoese seaman, 
 of a hardy character, and chivalrous spirit — imbued with the 
 religious enthusiasm of the times, and actuated by a lofty 
 desire for fame, after in vain tendering his services to several 
 European monarchs, finally engaged in the employ of the 
 politic Ferdinand and magnanimous Isabella of Castile and 
 Arragon, sailed from Palos with two barks or caravals and a 
 deckedship, on the 3rd of August 1492, and on the 12th of Oct. 
 set at rest a long agitated question by discovering and landing 
 
 * Araong the visions and delusions of the day was that recorded of the 
 inhabitants of the Canary isles, who imagined that from time to time they 
 beheld a vast island to the westward, with lofty mountains and deep vallies. 
 It was said to be distinctly seen in cloudy or hazy weather, or only for 
 short intervals, while sometimes in the clearest atmosphere not a trace of 
 it was visible. The Canary people were so convinced of the reality of the 
 island, that they applied for and obtained permission from the King of 
 Portugal to fit out various expeditions in search of it, but in vain ; the 
 island, however, still continued to deceive the eye occasionally, and it was 
 identified by many with the legendary isle alleged to havft been discovered 
 by a Scottish Priest St. Brandan in the fith century, and was actually 
 laid down in several old charts, as St. Brandan's or St. Borodon's isle.
 
 IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 one of the Bahama islands, now in our possession, and called 
 by its discoverer fian Salvador. 
 
 Cuba was the next island of importance discovered ; then 
 Haiti or St. Domingo, where the Spaniards formed a colony, 
 and gave the isle the name of Espanola (Hispaniola.) It 
 would be out of place to detail the further progress of mari- 
 time adventure : in the three succeeding voyages of Columbus, 
 the main land: near Trinidad, and several islands were ex- 
 plored, and as years rolled on, the Spaniards extended their 
 colonies to Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, Porto Rico, &c. and 
 finally to Mexico and Peru, under adventurers such as Cortez. 
 
 For some years the Spaniards were left in almost undis- 
 puted possession of the West Indies ; but the French and 
 English* began to molest them, the former in 1536, the latter 
 in 1565, under the command of Captain Hawkins; in 1572, 
 by the celebrated Francis Drake ; and in 1595, by Sir Walter 
 Raleigh. The commencement of the 17th century saw the 
 first British colonization on the West India islands, (the 
 French and Dutch had been previously settling themselves 
 on the main land at Guyana, and on several islands not occu- 
 pied by the Spaniards,) and Barbadoes was occupied by the 
 servants of Sir WiUiam Courteen, in 1624. {Vide chapter on 
 Barbadoes.) 
 
 * The first English vessels seen in the West Indies, were two ships 
 of war, under Sebastian Cabot and Sir Thomas Pert, vice admiral 
 of England, in 1517. They touched at the coast of Brazil, and then 
 proceeded to Espanola and Porto Rico. The first trading English 
 vessel that visited the islands, arrived at Porto Rico in 1519, being, as was 
 said by the captain, sent by the King to ascertain the state of those islands, 
 of which there was so much talk in Europe. The Spaniards at St. Do- 
 mingo fired on her, and compelled her to return to Porto Rico. The 
 Governor blamed tiiem for not sinking her, and preventing any dis- 
 f-eivi illation in England of a kiio^vlcdgc of the West Indies.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 For the next half century, the progress of EngUsh and 
 French settlement m the West Indies was extremely rapid. 
 Various disputes arose as to first location ; in some instances 
 the subjects of each nation resided on the same island, parti- 
 tioning it between them, or alternately expelling each other, 
 {vide Montserrat chapter), and as war raged in Europe be- 
 tween the chief nations, it was carried on in the West with 
 a bitterness and fury outvying that waged in the Old World. 
 The Revolution and subsequent Restoration in England, 
 helped to people the Western isles, {vide Jamaica chapter), 
 and freedom of commercial adventure, and a bold enterprize in 
 unison with the spirit of the age, increased the wealth and 
 European inhabitants of the New World. The close of the 
 eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries, were 
 marked by the most terrible European wars that ever de- 
 vastated the earth ; its effects extended to the colonies of 
 the contending combatants ; — for eighteen years England 
 waged against France and Spain the most destructive hosti- 
 lities on the transatlantic shores, and in 1810, Britain had 
 captured every West India island belonging to any Power at 
 war with her in Europe. 
 
 At the downfall, in 1815, of that extraordinary meteor, 
 who seems to have been sent on earth to teach a lesson to 
 arbitrary rulers, and afford an example of the instability of all 
 human greatness, a restoration and repartitioning of the West 
 India Islands took place, and they have since remained under 
 the government of the English, French, Spaniards, Danes, 
 and Dutch — as marked on the Map prefixed to this volume. 
 
 This concise notice of the settlement and acquisition of the 
 islands, will be found sufficiently amplified under each posses- 
 sion ; but before directing the reader to the several chapters
 
 vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 for the details referred to, I must briefly advert to the ori- 
 ginal and present population of the West Indies. 
 
 When Columbus first discovered the New World, he found 
 the whole continent, and every island however small, densely 
 peopled with a mild, and just, and generous race of men, (I 
 do not allude to the Caribs scattered throughout the Archipe- 
 lago, and preying, or rather feasting on their fellow-creatures), 
 with skins of a copper or light bronze colour, long silky black 
 hair, finely formed limbs, and pleasing features ; in some in- 
 stances warlike, and civilized to no mean extent ; in others, 
 living in luxurious idleness, under the enervating effects of a 
 tropical clime. Such were the Indians, among whom history 
 records some of the rarest instances of true heroism that man 
 has ever been ennobled by. 
 
 Within a few short years after the discovery of the W. I. 
 islands by the Spaniards, they had for the greatest part perished, 
 — milions of them had been swept from the face of the earth like 
 so many ants from an ant-hill,* — countless myriads sank into the 
 grave by reason of the avarice of a mere handful of desperate, 
 immoral, and murderous adventurers from the west ! This is 
 one of the extraordinary, the inscrutable, the awful dispen- 
 sations of Providence, which it is forbidden to mortals to 
 divine ; the human mind dwindles with all its boasted wisdom 
 
 * Bensoni states, that of 2,000,000 Indians of the island of Hispaniola, 
 (St. Domingo or Haiti), when discovered by Columbus, in 1492, not more 
 than one hundred and fifty were alive in 1545! The Indians in Cuba, to 
 avoid working in the mines, destroyed themselves in great numbers, not- 
 withstanding all the efforts of the Spaniards to prevent them. The men, 
 women, and children of a village containing fifty houses, have been found 
 at daylight all hanging to the trees ! In the Jamaica and Trinidad chap- 
 ters, will be found illustrations of the cruel treatment of the Indians by the 
 Spaniards, who absolutely fed their dogs on the flesh of their fellow- 
 creatures, whom they shot or slew when their bodies were required.
 
 INTRODUCTION, Vll 
 
 into utter insignificance, when attempting to fathom the in- 
 tentions of the Ahiiighty ; and I merely record the fact, in 
 order to induce the contemplation of the most terrible event 
 in the moral history of our species, and to show how weak, 
 how powerless, how pitiful is man, either as an individual, or 
 when congregated into society, in attempting to resist the 
 decrees of Heaven.* 
 
 I pass from this melancholy truth to glance at another 
 event scarcely less astounding, as regards its long and 
 desolating continuance, I allude to the slave trade. When the 
 Spaniards found how rapidly the aboriginal or Indian popu- 
 lation of the West India isles perished under the system of 
 forced labour, and beneath the tyranny of their rule, the ex- 
 pedient of introducing negro slaves from Africa was resorted to, 
 and that infernal traffic in human blood and agony — doubly 
 curst to the enslaver and to the enslaved — sprang into deadly 
 and ferocious activity. The example of the Spaniards was 
 soon followed by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and 
 English ;f companies for the horrid traffic were formed — 
 
 * Some retributive justice has ah'eady been dealt out to Spain by the 
 Supreme Disposer of events. At one period the Spaniards possessed en- 
 tirely the Floridas, Mexico, Darien, Terra Firma, Buenos Ayres, Paraguay, 
 Chili, Peru, and California ; they are now utterly expelled from every one 
 of these possessions, their dominion execrated, and new and flourishing 
 republics are rising on the ruin of their once valuable colonies. 
 
 t In the year, 1503, the Portuguese, who had settlements in Africa, had 
 begun to send negro slaves into the Spanish settlements in America, and 
 iu 151 1, Ferdinand the Fifth permitted them to be carried in greater num- 
 bers. Bartholomew de las Casas, the Bishop of Chiapa, actuated with a 
 desire to save the lives of the Indians, promoted the traffic ; but Cardinal 
 Ximenes perceiving the injustice and probable ill effects of the scheme, 
 discouraged it, and it experienced a partial interruption. Nevertheless, be- 
 fore the close of that century the African slave trade was carried on by 
 natives of nearly all the maritime states of Europe, and in after times, 
 proh pudor ! by the United States of America.
 
 VIU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 monopolies granted, and Kings, Princes, and Nobles enriched 
 their coffers with the price of human blood. 
 
 About thirty millions of our fellow creatures have been 
 dragged from their native homes, shipped like cattle in chains 
 to a distant land, worked like the beasts of the field, shot 
 like dogs if they murmured forth a claim in behalf of humanity 
 — and finally they have (with few exceptions) pined and pe- 
 rished under the cruelties, avarice, and brutality, of a hand- 
 ful of Europeans, — for of the thirty millions exported from 
 Africa to the W. Indies* since the commencement of the six- 
 teenth century, not half a million of the original slaves, or of 
 their unmixed descendants, are now in existence ! 
 
 I cannot in this instance, no more than in the former, pene- 
 trate the ways of God towards man, — of the Being who de- 
 clareth that ' He that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he 
 be found in his hands, he shall surely be put to death.' Exod. 
 xxi. 16. I have carefully studied the pages of W. India his- 
 tory which chronicle the deeds of upwards of 300 years, and 
 
 The first instance of an Englishman engaging in the traffic occurred in 
 the year 1562, when Sir John Hawkins, m his first voyage to Africa and 
 Hispaniola, carried slaves ; and on his return deceived his mistress. Queen 
 Elizabeth, in the report which he made of his proceedings. The Queen is 
 stated to have expressed her concern, lest any of the Africans should be 
 carried off without their free consent, and declared, ' that it would be de- 
 testable, and call down the vengeance of Heaven upon the undertakers.' 
 Hall, the naval historian, has the following remarkable observations on this 
 fact : * Here began the horrid practice of forcing the Africans into slavery, 
 an injustice and barbarity which, so sure as there is vengeance in Heaven 
 for the worst of crimes, will some time be the destruction of all who allow 
 or encourage it.' 
 
 The African Company, formed in the reign of Charles H., granted by 
 letters patent, an exclusive right of trade to Queen Catherine, Mary (the 
 Queen Dowager), the Duke of York, and others, forming a royal company, 
 who carried on a traffic in slaves to the extent of ^^800,000 per annum. 
 
 • Half a million of negroes were imported into Jamaica from Africa, 
 during the first half of the 18th century.
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 I find nothing but wars, usurpations, crimes, misery and 
 vice :* — no green spot in the desert of human wretchedness on 
 which the mind of a philanthropist would love to dwell ; — all 
 — all is one revolting scene of infamy, bloodshed, and unmiti- 
 gated woe. Slavery (both Indian and Negro) that blighting 
 upas, has been the curse of the West Indies ; it has accom- 
 panied the white colonist, whether Spaniard, Frenchman, or 
 Briton, in his progress, tainting, like a plague, every incipient 
 association, and blasting the efforts of man, however originally 
 well disposed by its demon-like influence over the natural 
 virtues with which his Creator had endowed him — leaving all 
 dark, and cold, and desolate within. 
 
 But now a glorious and happier era bursts upon the Western 
 World, it diffuses the light of a new existence over the soul, 
 Liberty is the spirit it has awakened — already her voice re- 
 sounds along the beautifull hills and through the fertile val- 
 lies of the West, and is swept over the ocean to the utter- 
 most bounds of the earth. Long may England wear the 
 crown of glory that encircles her with an halo far brighter 
 than that of all her conquests and battles ; millions of the 
 human race will bless her name for ages to come, and 
 Afric's swarthy sons will pour forth prayers to the Giver of 
 all good, for her honour and prosperity. She was the last 
 nation in Europe to enter into that accursed traffic in human 
 
 * In 1730 the legislature of Bermuda passed an act, ^\^ng impunity to 
 the murderers of slaves ; if, however, it could be proved that a person had 
 wilfully and maliciously killed a slave he was liable to be fined 10/. in 
 current money, towards the support of the government ! If the murderer 
 was not the owner of the slain slave, he was, in addition, to pay the ap- 
 praised value of the dead slave to the owner. What a picture of society 
 does this Legislative Act in 1/30 evince? In some of the islands emas- 
 culation was resorted to for the punishment of rebellious negroes, in 
 preference to taking away life, because that was of value to the owner of 
 the slave. What refined and demoniac cruelty !
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 beings, — to her eternal honour be it said, she was the first 
 to rehnquish it — to strike the manacle from the slave, — to bid 
 the bond go free ! 
 
 Tell me not that, Christianity has no power over the soul 
 when we witness the consummation of this splendid act, of 
 which the history of paganism affords no parallel. Slavery 
 w€ are told existed from the period when time was, and for 
 four thousand years has continued to afflict the earth ; under 
 the benign influenceof owr* Christian faith it ceases on the 
 Jirst day of August, Eighteen Hundred and Thirty-four ,— 
 it ceases throughout an Empire on which the sun never sets ; 
 and myriads * redeemed, regenerated, disenthralled," walk 
 forth in all the majesty of freedom.f 
 
 I stoop not to answer the impious assertion, that the image 
 
 * I say ' our ' without any feeling of bigotry, in reference to Roman 
 Catholic countries which still tolerate the traffic in slaves. 
 
 f Progress of Slave Abolition. It must be grateful to a British 
 mind to learn that, at an early period of our colonial history, negro slavery 
 was reprobated by many public writers. Early in the sixteenth century, 
 it was also discountenanced by Cardinal Ximenes, by Charles V. of Spain, 
 by Pope Leo X., and by the Spanish Dominican Friars. Queen Elizabeth 
 would also have discountenanced it, had the facts been known to her. 
 Milton, and many others, have left on record their solemn protests against 
 it. The sublime Poet of Paradise thus inveighed against this crying sin: 
 
 * O execrable son, so to aspire 
 Above his brethren, to himself assuming 
 Authority usurpt from God, not given ; 
 He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl. 
 Dominion absolute ; that right we hold 
 By his donation ; — but man over men 
 He made not lord, such title to himself 
 Reserving, human left from human free.' 
 
 Also, Morgan Godwyn, in a little book entitled ' The Negro's and 
 Indian's Advocate,' published in 1680; the celebrated Richard Baxter, in 
 his ' Christian Directory ;' Thomas Trygon, in his * Negro's Complaint,' 
 &c. ; John Woolman, in 'Considerations on keeping Negroes;' Anthony
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 of the Creator, made in his hkeness, and imhued with a por- 
 tion of his divine spirit, was born to a state of slavery, — 
 Veluti pecora, — proiia — oliedientia ventri. 
 I heed not the physical care which may, and no doubt has, in 
 many instances been bestowed on the mere animal ; if the negro 
 were not a rational being, endowed with a mind to reflect, 
 and with a soul to be saved, I might rest satisfied with 
 
 Benezet, in his ' History of Guinea,' &e. ; Southern, in his trag-edy of 
 'Oronooko, 1696 ;' Dr. Primatt ; Hutcheson, in his ' Moral Philosophy ;' 
 Foster, in his 'Discourses on Natural Religion and Social Virtue ;' Sir 
 Richard Steele, in his story of ' Inkle and Yarico ;' Atkins, in his * Voyao"e 
 to Guinea, Brazil, and the West Indies ;' Pope, in his 'Essay on Man ;' 
 Thomson, in his 'Seasons;' together with Richard Savage, Shenstone, 
 Dyer, and other poets ; also Wallis, Hughes, the celebrated Edmund 
 Burke, Dr. Haytcr, John Philraore, Malachi Postlethwaite, Thomas 
 Jeffery, Sterne, and Warburton, in their prose writings. To these may 
 be added, Rousseau and Baron Montesquieu. Granville Sharp, Esq. a 
 gentleman of undying benevolence, took up the subject with intense 
 energy in 1768 ; and by his noble exertions, the judges, after three days' 
 deliberations, made the memorable decree, that the moment a slave 
 touched the soil of England he was 2t.free man. Since Mr. Sharp's time, 
 further efforts have been made in the hallowed cause of slavery abolition ; 
 among others, by Thomas Day, author of ' Sandford and Merton,' and 
 the * Dying Negro,' published in 1773; Dr. Beattie, in his ' Essay on 
 Truth ;' Rev. John Wesley, who had been in America, and observed the 
 condition of the slaves, in his ' Thoughts on Slavery ;' Dr. Adam Smith, 
 in his ' Theory of Moral Sentiments,' and ' Wealth of Nations ;' Professor 
 Miller, in his 'Origin of Ranks;' Dr. Robertson, in his 'Histories of 
 America,' and of ' Charles V. ;' the Abb6 Raynal ; Dr Paley, in his 
 ' Moral Philosophy;' Dr. Porteus, Bishop of Chester, afterwards of 
 London, who published a sermon on negro slavery in 1776, which he had 
 preached before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and 
 became, from that time, an active and powerful friend of the oppressed 
 Africans. In 1784, Dr. Gregory, also in his ' Historical and Moral 
 Essays,' gave a circumstantial detail of the slave trade, in terms calculated 
 to excite abhorrence of it. In the same year, Gilbert Wakefield preached 
 a sermon at Richmond, in Surrey, in which he censured the conduct of 
 Great Britain towards the Africans ; this sermon was also published. In 
 the same year, the Rev. James Ramsay, vicar of Teston, in Kent, became
 
 Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 thinking of the careful attention bestowed on him as a beast 
 of burthen ; but he has far higher quahfications ; he is equally 
 
 an able, zealous, and indefatigable patron of the African cause ; in de- 
 fence of which he published an Essay on the Treatment and Conversion 
 of the African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies, 1784 ; An Inquiry 
 into the Effects of Abolition, 1/84 ; A Reply to Personal Invectives 
 and Objections, 1/85; A Letter to James Tobin, Esq. 1/8/ ; Objections 
 to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, with Answers ; and An Examina- 
 tion of Harris's Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the Slave Trade, 
 in 1/88 ; An Address on the proposed Bill for the Abolition of the Slave 
 Trade, 1789. In 1785, a celebrated work of M. Necker, the French finan- 
 cier, made its appearance in the English language, and was found to contain 
 some very forcible observations on the slave trade. In this year (1/86), 
 the first petition to Parliament, excepting one from the Society of Friends, 
 was presented from the borough of Bridgewater, at the instance of the 
 Rev. G. White and Mr. John Chubb, of that town. In 1788, Capt. J. S. 
 Smith, of the royal navy, authorized the publication of a letter in vindi- 
 cation of the facts which had been stated by Mr. Ramsay, and disputed 
 by the West India planters. In the same year, the poems of the celebrated 
 William Cowper made their appearance, containing many strong passages 
 against the slave trade and slavery. Thomas Clarkson, M. A. has been 
 eminently distinguished by his writings against slavery, as well as by his 
 indefatigable labours in the cause of abolition, from the first agitation of 
 the subject. His most considerable work is his ' History of the Abolition 
 of the Slave Trade,' in 2 vols. 8vo. published in 1808 ; it is a faithful and 
 affecting narrative, which ought to hold a conspicuous place in every 
 Englishman's library. His other works are as follow : — ' An Essay on 
 the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African, 
 translated from a Latin Dissertation, which was honoured with the First 
 Prize, in the University of Cambridge, for the year 1785 ;' ' An Essay on 
 the Impolicy of the African Slave Trade, 1788;' with several smaller 
 productions. 
 
 To the names already mentioned must be added those of Peers of 
 Parliament, particularly Lords Grenville, Holland, and Teignmouth ; 
 also Sir Wm. Dolbeu, Sir P. Francis, Sir S. Romilly, Sir J. Mackin- 
 tosh, Messrs. W. Wilberforce, W. Pitt, C. Fox, S. Whitbread, J. 
 Stephen, C. Grant, H. Gurney, G. Harrison, Z. Macaulay, Alex. 
 Falconbridge, H. Thornton, William Dylwyn, Sam. Bradburn, Capt. 
 Marjoribanks, Captain Layman, James Montgomery, Joseph Woods, N. 
 Vansittart, the Rev. R. Boucher Nichols (Dean of Middleham, in York-
 
 INTRODUCTION. XIU 
 
 entitled with his white brethren to every right and privilege 
 of man,* and the alleged superior skill and intelligence of the 
 
 * To the argument founded on an alleged mental inferiority of the Afri- 
 can race, iny friend, Mr. Thomas Fisher, has thus furnished me with an 
 admirably reply, to which, if space permitted, I could offer many addi- 
 tional illustrations, from observations made by myself in Africa. ' The 
 following are a few instances of African negroes who have been mathema- 
 ticians, physicians, divines, philosophers, linguists, poets, generals, and 
 merchants, all eminent in their attainments, energetic in enterprise, and 
 honourable in character. Hannibal, a colonel in the Russian artillery, and 
 Lislet, of the isle of France (the latter of whom was named a corresponding 
 member of the French Academy of Sciences, on account of his meteoro- 
 logical observations'* prove the capacity of the negroes for the mathematical 
 and physical sciences. Fuller, of Maryland, was an extraordinary example 
 of quickness of reckoning. Being asked in a company, for the purpose of 
 trying his powers, how many seconds a person had lived, who was seventy 
 years and some months old ? He gave the answer in a minute and a half. 
 On reckoning it up after him, a different result was obtained; ' Have you 
 not forget the leap year ?' asks the negro. This omission was supplied, 
 and the number then agreed with his answer. Jac. Eliza John Capitem, 
 who was bought by a slave-dealer, when eight years old, studied theology 
 at Leyden, and published several sermons and poems. His ' Dissertatio de 
 Servitute Libertat'i Christiance non contraria,' that is Treatise of a Servitude 
 (or Bondage) not contrary to Christian Liberty, went through four editions 
 very quickly. He was ordained in Amsterdam, and went to Elmina, on 
 the Gold Coast, where it is believed he was either murdered, or consented 
 to return to the practices and opinions of his countrymen. In 1734, 
 A. W. Arno, an African from the coast of Guinea, took the degree of 
 Doctor in Philosophy, at the University of Wittemberg. Friedig, in 
 Vienna, an African negro, was an excellent performer, both on the violin 
 and violincello ; he was also a capital draftsman, and had made a very suc- 
 cessful painting of himself. Ignatius Sancho, who was born on board a 
 slave ship, on its passage from Guinea to the West Indies, and Gustavus 
 Vasa, of the kingdom of Benin, doth distinguished themselves as literary 
 characters, in this country. Toussaint Louverture, the negro general, and 
 Christophe, the negroe Emperor of Hayti, and his admiral, acquitted them- 
 selves with sufficient energy in war, to achieve the liberties of their country, 
 which is still governed by persons of African descent.' 
 
 shire), the Rev. John Newton, the Rev. J. Jamieson, the Rev. Abraham 
 Booth, the Rev. T. Burgess (afterwards Bishop of St. David's), Messrs. 
 Beaufoy, Josh. Hardcastle, W. Smith, T. F. Buxton, W. T. Money, H.
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 European over the negro should make the former a kind friend, 
 instead of, as has formerly been too often the case, a cruel and 
 
 Brougham, with several others, who have advocated the cause of the 
 oppressed Africans, either in pamphlets, or in speeches, which have been 
 afterwards printed and circulated through the country. H. R. H. the 
 Duke of Gloucester especially distinguished himself by becoming the 
 patron and president both of the African Institution and of the Anti- 
 Slavery Society. 
 
 The Society of Friends, or Quakers, warmly espoused the cause of 
 humanity. The members of this community have long been, individually 
 and collectively, both in principle and practice, opposed to the enslave- 
 ment of the African race. So far back as the year 16/1, it was adverted 
 to in an address delivered by the celebrated George Fox to the inhabitants 
 of Barbadoes. He was supported in his views and conduct by his col- 
 league, William Edmundson. The first public censure on the traflSc, 
 passed by the society in its collective capacity, bears date in the year 
 1727, in which year it was resolved, 'That the importing of negroes from 
 their native country and relations, by Friends, is not a commendable nor 
 allowed practice, and is therefore censured by this meeting.' The same 
 sentiment was more emphatically urged upon the attention of the mem- 
 bers of this society in 1756, arid has been since that time very frequently 
 reiterated in an improved form, as the subject has been better understood, 
 and the evils of slavery more distinctly perceived. In 1761, it was re- 
 solved to disown any member of the Society of Friends, who should have 
 any concern in the traffic in slaves. In 1783, the society petitioned the 
 English Parliament for the abolition of the slave trade, and it was the 
 first public body which adopted that course. From that time till the pre- 
 sent moment, its exertions for the suppression of the slave trade, and 
 emancipation of the slaves, have been indefatigable. "The Friends have, at 
 a great expense, circulated information upon the subject ; and it is now 
 adverted to, as often as occasion presents, at the yearly meetings of the 
 society. 
 
 Nor let me omit to state that the University of Cambridge frequently 
 petitioned Parliament for the abolition of the slave trade, until that object 
 was obtained ; and it has since distinguished itself by petitioning the 
 House of Commons for the abolition of slavery. 
 
 Among the earliest friends of the cause in Parliament were Sir Charles 
 Middleton (afterwards Lord Barham), William Wilberforce, Esq. and the 
 Right Honourable William Pitt, then Chancellor of the Exchequer. The 
 latter, on the yth of May, 1788, submitted a resolution to the House of 
 Commons, 'That this House will, early in the next session of Parliament,
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 avaricious tyrant, prompted only to kindness by the despicable 
 motives of self interest. Slavery, however, has now received 
 
 proceed to take into consideration the circumstances of the slave trade, 
 complained of in the said petitions, and what may be fit to be done 
 therein.' The House, after some debate, agreed to this motion. Several 
 distinguished members of the House delivered their sentiments on the 
 occasion, particularly the late Right Honourable C. J. Fox, the Right 
 Honourable Edmund Burke, Mr. S. \Miitbread, Sir William Dolben, Sir 
 James Johnson, a planter, Mr. Bastard, Mr. L. Smith, Mr. Grigby, and 
 Mr. Pelham, who were all favourable to the motion. Lord Penrhyn and 
 Mr. Gascoyne, the members for Liverpool, admitted the evils of the trade 
 although their constituents considered themselves as having a great in- 
 terest in its continuance. 
 
 Sir William Dolben having expressed himself particularly anxious to 
 apply an immediate remedy to the crying evils of the middle passage, a 
 short regulating act was brought in, and passed the House of Commons. 
 It also passed the House of Lords, after considerable opposition, especially 
 from the then Lord Chancellor, Thurlow. Upon the whole, the cause of 
 the oppressed Africans appeared to gain strength during the parliamentary 
 session of the year 1788. 
 
 From this time till the passing of the first Abolition Act, in 1806, the 
 subject did not rest in Parliament. Those who were friendly to the cause, 
 and cherished a desire to see the slave trade abolished, continued inde- 
 fatigable in their exertions to procure information, with a view to en- 
 lighten the members of both houses; (among those, Mr. Thomas Clark- 
 son deserves honourable mention ; his valuable life may be said to have 
 been devoted to this holy cause.) And on the 12th of May, 1/89, Mr. 
 Wilberforce laid upon the table of the House of Commons twelve pro- 
 positions, deduced from the report of the Committee of Privy Council, 
 stating the number of slaves annually brought from the African shores ; 
 the means by which they were procured ; their treatment ; the average 
 loss of British seamen and of slaves in the transit voyage, or, as it was 
 more commonly called, the middle passage ; also the average mortality of 
 newly-imported slaves in the West Indies. These propositions Mr. Wil- 
 berfore prefaced by a brilliant address to the House, which obtained for 
 him its plaudits, and he was supported by Mr. Burke, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, 
 Mr. (afterwards Lord) Gren^ille, and other distinguished members ; but 
 the opponents of the cause, among whom were to be reckoned Aldermen 
 Watson, Sawbridge, and Newnham, three of the members for the city of 
 London, refused to be satisfied with the facts contained in the evidence 
 then before them, and required further testimony. To this the House
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 its death blow, not merely in the British colonies, but through- 
 out the civilized world ;* England has paid the penalty of her 
 
 * In 1807, the foreign slave trade was abolished throughout the United 
 States, by the Act of Congress, a revolting internal slave trade still, how- 
 ever, exists in the Southern States, and nearly 2,000,000 of wretched beings 
 are there in bondage. Mexico abolished the slave trade in 1824, and 
 Buenos Ayres, Chill and Columbia since the treaty of Vienna. The Con- 
 ventional Assembly of France, in 1/94, abolished slavery, but the Act 
 became void. Buonaparte, on his return from Elba in 1815, again decreed 
 its abolition, but the Bourbons had neither the wisdom, humanity, or 
 gratitude, to carry his decree into execution. England has paid nearly half 
 a million of money to Spain and Portugal, for the suppression of the slave 
 trade, but without a final eflfect. Now is the moment to enforce it, and to 
 invite the co-operation of France and the United States for the abolition of 
 internal slavery. 
 
 acceded, and the examination of witnesses commenced at the bar of the 
 House. The question was, in consequence, deferred till the following 
 session ; but before the Parliament adjourned. Sir William Dolben ob- 
 tained the renewal of his regulating act. 
 
 In 1790, the examination of witnesses against the slave trade proceeded 
 in the House of Commons, but not without opposition. 
 
 In 1791, it was resumed and completed ; and, on the 18th of April, a 
 motion was made by Mr.Wilberforce on the evidence taken, for prevent- 
 ing all further importation of slaves from Africa, which, after a long and 
 warm debate, was lost by a majority of 75 votes, the numbers being for it 
 88, against it 163. 
 
 On the 2nd of April, 1792, Mr. Wilberforce moved the House, that 
 •The trade carried on by British subjects for the purpose of obtaining 
 slaves on the coast of Africa, ought to be abolished.' This proposition, 
 after a long discussion, was agreed to by the House of Commons, with a 
 limitation that the abolition should not take place till 1796; but when it 
 was brought up to the House of Lords, the discussion of it was postponed 
 till the following session, and their Lordships determined, in the interim, 
 to receive further evidence. 
 
 Mr. Wilberforce, in his introductory speech in Parliament, this session, 
 stated some dreadful instances of mortality, which had happened on board 
 of slave ships during the middle passage, particularly that one ship, with 
 a cargo of 602, had lost 155 ; another, with 450 slaves, 200 ; another, 
 with 466 slaves, 73; and another, with 546 slaves, 158; and that out of
 
 INTRODUCTION. XVll 
 
 past wickedness, she must follow up her atonement by the 
 performance of justice towards the colonists and their former 
 
 the survivors in the four ships^ after the voyage \vas completed, 220 had 
 died on shore in the West Indies. The discussions relative to the slave 
 trade, were moreover conducted in this session with' less command of 
 temper than they had previously been on the part of the friends of that 
 trade, who began to distinguish their opponents by the terms /anatic, saint, 
 specula t is t, or abolitionist. 
 
 Notwithstanding the discouragements in the House of Lords the ques- 
 tion was not allowed to rest after the session of 1/92. In 1/93 a motion 
 was made by Mr. Wilberforce in the House of Commons to renew the 
 resolution of the preceding year, which motion was lost, as was another 
 for the abolition of a foreign slave trade, then carried on by British capi- 
 talists upon British bottoms. The proceedings in the House of Lords 
 were also remarkable this year for the opposition given in that house to 
 the cause of the Africans : but some progress was made there in the hear- 
 ing of evidence. 
 
 In the year 1 794 the motion to abolish the foreign slave trade was re- 
 newed by Mr. Wilberforce in the House of Commons, where it was 
 carried, but was afterwards negatived by the House of Lords, who, never- 
 theless, made some small progress in the hearing of evidence. 
 
 In February, 1795, Mr. Wilberforce moved in the House of Commons 
 for leave to bring in a bill for the aI)olition of the slave trade. This mo- 
 tion had then become necessary, if, according to the former resolution of 
 that House, already mentioned, the slave trade was to cease in 1796. 
 The proposition was, nevertheless, rejected. 
 
 In the years 1796 and 1797 a temporary success attended the exertions 
 of Mr. Wilberforce in the House of Commons, but it ended in disappoint- 
 ment ; the enemies of abolition having, in the latter year, by a recom- 
 mendation that the Colonial Assemblies would adopt measures of 
 amelioration, parried the blow aimed at their system by the abolitionists. 
 This scheme of amelioration was favourably received by Parliament, where 
 it checked discussion, although it produced few good results in the West 
 Indies. 
 
 In 1798 Mr. Wilberforce attempted to renew his former bill for the 
 abolition of the slave trade within a limited time, but was again defeated, 
 although by a small majority, in a thin House; the numbers being, for 
 the question, 83 ; against it, 87. Mr. Wilberforce and the friends of the 
 Africans, convinced that truth and justice were on their side, still per- 
 severed in their hallowed course, and in the following session, 1799, Mr. 
 Wilberforce renewed his motion in the House of Commons for the abo- 
 
 VOL. 11. c
 
 XVIH INTRODUfTION. 
 
 bondsmen ; the measures involving which will be found in the 
 last chapter of this volume.* Ere, however, I close this brief 
 
 * I have only briefly adverted, under the head of St. Vincents, to the 
 present sj'stem of West Indian Governments or Lieut. -Governorships, in 
 my fifth Volume the West India Colonists will I trust find their views 
 fully developed. 
 
 lition of the slave trade, but it was again lost. Another measure, pro- 
 posed by Mr. Henry Thornton, for limiting the trade to certain districts 
 of the African coast, had scarcely a better fate ; the bill passed the House 
 of Commons, but, after much discussion, was lost in the Lords. The 
 years 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1803, were, therefore, allowed to pass without 
 any effort being made in Parliament to abolish this odious traffic ; but in 
 the year 1804 Mr. Wilberforce revived the subject, and, after a very in- 
 teresting debate, obtained, by a large majority of 124 votes against 49, 
 leave to bring in a bill for the abolition of the slave trade. The bill was, 
 nevertheless, when brought in, opposed in every stage of it, but it finally 
 passed the House of Commons, and was sent up to the House of Lords. 
 There, in consequence of the advanced state of the session, the conside- 
 ration of it was postponed till the following year. 
 
 It was of course revived early in the session of 1805, and met, as usual, 
 with decided friends and strongly excited adversaries. At length the 
 question upon it was lost in the House of Commons, owing, as was be- 
 lieved, to the excessive confidence of its friends. 
 
 The good effects of these proceedingsf became at last visible ; an order 
 by his Majesty in Council, 1805, gave the first check to the English slave 
 trade, by interdicting the importation of slaves into British colonies, ex- 
 cept in certain cases; in the succeeding year, 1806, the prohibition was 
 confirmed by Act of Parliament, (46 Geo. III. cap, 52), which also pro- 
 hibited a British traffic in slaves for the supply of foreign colonies. 
 In June following, the House of Commons came to certain resolu- 
 tions for the more effectual suppression of the African slave trade. 
 On the 26th March, 1807, an Act (47 Geo. III. cap. 36) was passed, pro- 
 hibiting the trade, under large penalties, and offering bounties to those 
 who might be instrumental in detecting it. This was followed by the 
 Act of 1811, (61 Geo. HI. cap. 23) declaring the slave trade /<?/o«j^, and 
 subjecting those concerned in it to condign punishment. By a more re- 
 cent Act of Parliament, (4 Geo. IV. cap. 17) the traffic in slaves by Bri- 
 tish subjects WHS declared to be piracy. These proceedings were followed 
 up by the Government at home, by the colonists abroad, and by Parlia- 
 
 t I am inider obligations to the philanthropic Thos. Fisher, Esq. late of 
 the India House, for many of these valuable chronological recordg.
 
 iNTRODUCTtOX. Xl)C 
 
 introduction, let me entreat the reader to peruse the details 
 under each W. I. possession, indicating the numerous re- 
 sources of the colonies, and their manifold advantages to 
 England, even in a mere commercial point of view.* To de- 
 
 * The example of St. Domingo has been frequently cited as an instance of 
 the commercial and social ruin which will be the effect of slave emancipa- 
 tion in the British Colonies. Nothing can be more erroneous than such 
 conclusions, in illustration of which I am happy in being able to furnish 
 the following summary of events, drawn up by my friend, Mr. Fisher. 
 
 'The Island of St. Domingo, now the Republic of Hayti, was formerly 
 the joint property of the French and Spaniards ; who had acquired their 
 rights in it, as such rights used to be acquired, by taking possession of the 
 land, and stocking it with a slave population. But in August, 1791, the 
 slaves on St, Domingo achieved their own freedom by that successful in- 
 surrection against their white masters, the guilt of which was most erro- 
 neously charged upon English Abolitionists. 
 
 It has been asserted that the blacks on St. Domingo, when they acquired 
 liberty, in 1791, murdered nearly all the whites : and that their conduct 
 upon that occasion was marked by great cruelty and atrocity. To this it 
 is justly replied, that it was so reported by deputies sent by the whites to 
 the French National Assembly ; but to do justice to the negroes, it is ne- 
 cessary to advert briefly to some other circumstances in the history of the 
 transactions referred to. When the French revolution, which decreed 
 equality of rights to all citizens, had taken place, the free people of colour 
 on St. Domingo, many of whom were persons of large property and liberal 
 education, petitioned the National Assembly, that they might enjoy the 
 same political privileges as the whites there. The subject of the petition 
 was not discussed till the 8th of March, 1 790, when the Assembly agreed 
 upon a decree concerning it. The decree, however, was worded so ambi- 
 guously, that the two parties on St. Domingo, the whites and the people 
 of colour, interpreted it each of them in its own favour. This difference 
 
 ment, in framing regulations for ameliorating the physical condition of 
 the slaves, and providing for their moral and religious improvement. 
 The crowning of all this was the final abolition of negro slavery through- 
 out the British empire by the Act 3rd and 4th William IV. which comes 
 into operation the 1st August 1834, and has already been unqualifiedly 
 adopted without the apprenticeship clauses, by the Antiguans, (vide 
 chapter xi.), ,£20,000,000 having been appropriated by Parliament for 
 compensation to the planters, as regards any loss they may sustain from 
 abolition. [For the projected allocation see chap, xvi.]
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 velope tliose resources a more generous mercantile code 
 must be adopted ; the interest of an enormous public debt, 
 
 of interpretation g-ave rise to animosities between them ; and these animo- 
 sities were augmented by political party spirit, according as they were 
 royalists or partizans of the French revolution ; so that disturbances took 
 place, and blood was shed. 
 
 In the year 1/91, the people of colour obtained from the Assembly in 
 France another decree in explicit terms, which determined that they were 
 entitled to all the rights of citizenship in all the French islands, provided 
 they were born of free parents on both sides. The news of this decree 
 had no sooner arrived at the Cape, than it produced an indignation almost 
 amounting to phrenzy among the whites. They directly trampled under 
 foot the national cockade ; and were with difficulty prevented from seiz- 
 ing all the French merchant ships in the roads. After this the two 
 parties armed against each other ; camps were formed, and, it is to be 
 deplored, that terrible massacres and conflagrations followed ; the reports 
 of which, when brought to the mother country, were so terrible, that the 
 Assembly in the same year abolished the decree in favour of the free people 
 of colour. 
 
 When the news of this last act reached St. Domingo, it occasioned as 
 much irritation among the people of colour as the news of the passing of 
 it had produced among the whites ; and hostilities were renewed between 
 them, so that new battles, massacres, and burnings took place, which 
 compelled the Conventional Assembly to retrace their steps. They sent 
 out commissioners ; who, after several attempts at pacification, emanci- 
 pated such blacks as were willing to range themselves under the banners 
 of the Republic; and in 1794, the National Convention emancipated the 
 whole remaining slave population, who immediately betook themselves to 
 courses of industry. In these transactions it must be evident, that the 
 slaves in the first instance were the mere engines employed by their 
 owners, by whom they were hurried on to excesses. If afterwards they 
 found a cause properly their own, and in any instance prosecuted it with 
 cruelty, it should be recollected that they had not been educated in the 
 principles of civilized society. Their whole experience in the colonies 
 had been limited to the contemplation of but one motive for human 
 action, and that motive was fear. They had witnessed great excesses of 
 cruelty practised by white men upon blacks ; and when the ebullitions of 
 their own rage and resentment, for injuries long endured, had burst all 
 the restraints of law, and they knew that the foe they had raised up 
 would, if triumphant, resort to still more execrable cruelties than he had 
 formerly practised, what wonder that in the use of power they should be 
 implacably cruel, thus following the example of their white oppressors.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xxi 
 
 {£ 28,000,000 yearly) as well as a portion of the current 
 expenses of the nation, must be levied on some other 
 sources, instead of causing them to fall so heavily as they 
 now do on our colonial produce. Again, I repeat, we must 
 bring the trade of our transmarine possessions as nearly as 
 possible to that of a coasting traffic. Why should an 
 Englishman settling in any part of the empire be burthened 
 with enormous fiscal duties on the produce of his skill and 
 industry, for the benefit of some more favoured portion of his 
 fellow subjects? In the hope, therefore, that the present 
 era of social liberty is but the prelude to a state of commer- 
 cial freedom, when the rich and varied products of our 
 colonies will be unsubjected to heavy fiscal restrictions and 
 legislative enactments, I close my labours on the Second 
 
 who certainly were not less so ? The very worst part of the conduct of 
 the blacks on St. Domingo, in their struggle for their liberties, is many 
 shades less dark and diabolical than that of the cool calculating slave 
 trader, who navigates his vessel, freighted with fetters, manacles, thumb- 
 screws, and scourges, to the shores of an unoffending people, and, after 
 drawing numbers of them into his toils by employing the most satanic 
 arts, sacrifices the lives of nearly half of his cargo of human beings that 
 he may secure the others in a distant region, in a state of irremediable 
 bondage. The outrages of men struggling to regain their lost liberties 
 have too much of virtue in them to admit of any comparison with such 
 transactions as those of the slave trader. 
 
 The inhabitants of St. Domingo have since, as might naturally be ex- 
 pected, experienced some revolutionary struggles; but although they are 
 in the very midst of slave colonies belonging to several European nations, 
 they are at this moment an independent negro state, under a republican 
 government, over which a native mulatto chief presides, and are daily in- 
 creasing in popidation (it is now 1,000,000, having doubled itself in 25 
 years) and improving in power, in intellectual cultivation, and all the 
 arts of civilization. Boyer, the President of the Republic of Hayti, has 
 thrice, viz. in 1814, 1816, and 1823, offered to compensate the former 
 proprietors for their losses ; but France wished to stipulate for sove- 
 reignty, and to this the Haytians of course would not consent. One mil- 
 lion francs have been presented to Lafitte by the St. Domingans, for the 
 losses he may have sustained by his projected Haytian loan.
 
 XXll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Volume of the History of those Possessions, wliich I caiitiot 
 help beheving have been attached by Ahnighty Providence 
 to Britain, for the purpose of working out more than has yet 
 been done, — the salvation and happiness of the human race. 
 
 *#• The enlightened and ingenuous reader, who does me the honour to 
 accompany me through the unavoidably monotonous details necessary to 
 a due understanding of the first connected view of the British Colonies that 
 has ever been laid before the public, is requested to suspend a definitive 
 opinion on my mercantile and colonial policy, until the appearance of 
 i\ie fifth volume, in which will be developed the principles of ancient and 
 modern colonization, and an exposition of the future line of conduct and 
 government which England must inevitable pursue amidst the extraordi- 
 nary events which surround and influence her small domestic, and vast 
 transmarine Empire. 
 
 For the generous manner in which so many Editors of the public Press 
 have unbiassedly cheered me on to complete an undertaking the mere 
 preparation for which has cost me years of peril and privation abroad and 
 at home, I return my sincere thanks ; few can imagine the difficulties 
 which I have had to surmount in proceeding even thus far ; indeed not- 
 withstanding the possession of no ordinary degree of energy, I should 
 have sunk beneath the pressure of unremitted daily and midnight toil, 
 had I not been supported by the consciousness that ray country will reap 
 some benefit from my sacrifices, and that I owe a duty to society, to ex- 
 tend by every possible exertion, social and commercial freedom, and thus 
 tend to lessen the number of wretched and indigent throughout the world. 
 
 With reference to the utiliti/ of statistical tables of population, trade, 
 and finance, or to the value of geological descriptions, and geographical 
 delineations of our colonies, it may be sufficient to observe, that I mistake 
 the spirit of the mercantile age in which I live, if correct facts and prac- 
 tical conclusions are not more desired by the mass of well informed 
 society, than theoretical views and lengthened abstract disquisitions, 
 which lead to — Nothing. It may have suited the genius of a bygone ge- 
 neration, — or be adapted to the taste of a few members of the present, 
 to busy themselves in such procedures as extracting sun-beams from 
 cucumbers, forgetful that even if successful, the question of ctii bono ? is 
 with less difficulty answered. For me (and I think I have merely stamped 
 on my mind the impress which gives form and pressure to the progress 
 of civilization and Christianity,) it is enough to know that the great mass 
 of the race of human beings in wliich my destiny is cast, are poor, igno- 
 rant, and wretched; and that extended commerce relieves want — that 
 competence annihilates ignorance — and that knowledge is virtue, and 
 power, and happiness.
 
 XXlli 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND VOLUME 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HISTORY OF THE BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 Introduction. — Discovery, conquest, and colonization of the West Indies ; 
 Rise, process, and abolition of slavery, &c i. to xxii. 
 
 Chapter I. — British Guyana ; Locality, history, physical aspect, rivers 
 and mountains, climate, geology, mineral, vegetable and animal king- 
 doms ; Population ; Natural productions ; Commerce, government, 
 revenue and expenditure ; Religion, education and the press ; Value of 
 property, &c p. 1 
 
 Chapter II. — Jamaica; Locality, history, physical aspect, mountains, 
 rivers, geology, soil, climate, mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, 
 population, government, civil and military establishments and stations; 
 Commerce, imports and exports, monies, weights and measures, revenue 
 and expenditure ; the press, education and religion, value of property, 
 social state and future prospects p. 13/ 
 
 Chapter III. — Trinidad; Locality, general history; Physical aspects; 
 mountains, rivers, harbours, mud volcanoes, pitch lakes ; Gulf of 
 Paria ; Navigation ; Climate ; Vegetable, mineral and animal king- 
 doms ; Geology ; Staple produce j Population ; Commerce ; Govern- 
 ment ; Finance ; Value of property, &c p. 213 
 
 Chapter IV. — Tobago ; Locality ; General history ; Physical aspect ; 
 Geology; Climate; Animal and vegetable kingdoms; Population; 
 Commerce ; Revenue and expenditure ; Government, &c p. 257 
 
 Chapter V. — Grenada; Locality; Physical aspect; Mountains, rivers, 
 
 and lakes ; Geology ; Vegetable and animal kingdoms ; Population ; 
 
 . Commerce j Revenue and expenditure ; Government, &c p. 266 
 
 Chapter VI. — St. Vincent's ; Locality; Physical aspect; Volcanoes; 
 Geology ; Climate ; Vegetable kingdom and produce ; Population ; 
 Finances ; Commerce ; Government, &c .p. 284
 
 XXIV CONTENTS. 
 
 Chaptkk VII. — Barbadoes ; Locality ; History ; Physical aspect ; Climate ; 
 Population J Productions; Commerce; Education; Property; Govern- 
 ment, &c p. 312 
 
 Chapter VIII. — St. Lucia; Locality; History; Aspect; Climate; Popu- 
 lation; Commerce; Weights and Measures; Revenue; Monies; Go- 
 vernment, &c p. 329 
 
 Chapter IX. — Dominica; Locality; History; Physical aspect ; Geology ; 
 Climate ; Population ; Resources ; Commerce ; Finance ; Government, 
 &c. &c p. 336 
 
 Chapter X. — IMontserrat ; Locality ; History ; Physical Aspect ; Geology ; 
 Productions; Population ; Commerce ; Government, &c p. 348 
 
 Chapter XI. — Antigua; Locality; History; Aspect ; Geology ; Climate; 
 Vegetation; Ichthyology; Population; Commerce; Revenue; Govern- 
 ment, &c p 354 
 
 Chapter XII. — St. Christopher's or St. Kitt's, Nevis, Anguilla, Tortola, 
 &c. ; Locality ; Physical Aspect ; Mountains ; Rivers ; Geology ; Cli- 
 mate ; Population p. 367 
 
 Chapter XIII. — ^The Bahamas ; Locality ; History ; Aspect ; Geology ; 
 Climate ; Population ; Productions ; Finances ; Government ; Waste 
 lands, &c p. 385 
 
 Chapter XIV.—- The Bermudas, or Somer Isles ; Locality ; History ; Phy- 
 sical aspect ; Geology ; Climate ; Population ; Productions ; Govern- 
 ment, &c p. 394 
 
 Chapter XV. — Honduras ; Locality ; Early history ; Physical aspect ; 
 Geology ; Climate ; Rivers and mountains ; Natural Productions ; Com- 
 merce ; Government ; Finances ; State of society, &c p. 399 
 
 Chapter XVI. — General West India Commerce ; principally in reference 
 to sugar, cofifee, cocoa, rum, molasses, &c. Tables of the Staple pro- 
 ductions of each Colony for a series of years. Impolicy of enormous 
 taxation in England on West India produce ; necessity of giving relief to 
 the planters by permitting them to carry on a direct trade with foreign 
 countries, and advantages to all parties of freeing our colonial commerce 
 from legislative restrictions and fiscal impositions ; proposed W. I. bank 
 and projected allocation of the grant of ^,'20,000,000 to the W. Indian 
 planters p. 425 
 
 Appendix. — Official tables of W. I. commerce, shipping, and tropical pro- 
 ductions; Returns from each possession; Slave population; Advan- 
 tages of making Tortola, Dominica, &c. free ports ; Salaries of W. I. 
 Governors, &c p. 467
 
 HISTORY 
 
 BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 POSSESSIONS IN THE WEST INDIES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BRITISH GUYANA — LOCALITY, HISTORY, PHYSICAL ASPECT, RIVERS AND 
 MOUNTAINS, CLIMATE, GEOLOGY, MINERAL, VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL 
 KINGDOMS — POPULATION — NATURAL PRODUCTIONS — COMMERCE, GO- 
 VERNMENT, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE — RELIGION, EDUCATION AND 
 THE PRESS— VALUE OF PROPERTY, ETC. 
 
 Locality. — British Guyana, embracing the settlements on 
 the rivers Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice, and covering 
 an area of nearly 100,000 square miles,* extends about 200 
 miles from E. to W. along that alluvial portion of the South 
 American Continent termed the * Main,' which is formed by 
 the deltas of the mighty rivers Amazon and Orinoco, having 
 for its boundaries on the East the mouth of the river Couran- 
 tyn, in Lat. 6.10 N. Long. 56.2.5 W. ; on the West the 
 boundaries of Colombia, between the Baryma and Pomeroon 
 rivers,f about Lat. 8 N. Long. 60 W., and to the southward 
 or inland, about 100 leagues, or perhaps to a mountain range 
 
 * Under the Demerara and Essequibo districts, 70,000 square miles ; and 
 within the Berbice territory, 25,000 ditto. 
 
 t Some consider the river Baryma in Lat. 8.35 N., Long. 60.10 W. the 
 Western boundary j others the Pomeroon river, Lat. 7-40 N. Long. 58.60 
 VV. ; but the limits have never yet been completely settled. 
 
 VOL. II. B
 
 2 LOCALITY OF BRITISH GUYANA ; — 
 
 (the Cordilleras) extending on the eastward to within two 
 degrees of the Equator.* 
 
 General History. — A detail of the early history of this 
 part of the South American Continent would be out of place 
 in a work whose chief object is to enable the British public 
 to form a correct view of the position, magnitude and impor- 
 tance of our Colonies ; the leading points of the European 
 settlement and English acquisition will therefore suffice. So 
 early as 1580 the Dutch attempted to form small settlements 
 along this coast on the banks of the Amazon, Orinoco and 
 Pomeroon rivers (for trading purposes), on the latter named 
 river they had a factory called Nieiiiv Zealand, and in 1581 
 the States-General of Holland privileged certain individuals 
 to trade to the coast. These proceedings were viewed with 
 a jealous eye by the Spaniards, who, aided by the Indians, 
 drove the Zealanders from their station; the persevering 
 character of the Dutch would not allow a first check to daunt 
 their efforts, their commander Joost Van Den Hoog suc- 
 ceeded in gaining possession of a small island at the junction 
 of the Mazerooni and Cayuni, called Kykoveral, and in 1602 
 Jan Van Peere, a native of Flushing, attempted to open a 
 trade with the Indians of the Orinoco, but was defeated by 
 
 * The territories on this coast are called, 1st, Spanish; 2nd, British; 
 3rd, French; and 4tli, Portuguese — Guyana. The 1st lying^ on both sides 
 of the Orinoco, and extending S. and S. W. to the Rio Neg-ro, and the Por- 
 tuguese settlements, is bounded on the E. by the river Barynia in 8.50 N. 
 Lat., 60.5 W. Long.; 2nd, British (formerly Dutch) Guyana described in 
 the text ; and 3rd, French Guyana (called Cayenne from the name of the 
 island on which the chief town stands') extends from the boundary of Bri- 
 tish Guyana on the W. to Vincent Pincon's bay, near Cape North, in Lat. 
 2.36 N., Long. 51 W.; (this bay the Portuguese have confounded with the 
 bay of the great river Oyapoko, whicli joins the sea in N. Lat. 4.35 W., 
 Long. 51.20) and 4th, Portuguese Guyana, it is alleged, extends from Cape 
 North between the parallel of 1 and 2.25 N. Lat. to the junction of the 
 great river Amazon with the Rio Negro or black river, thus cutting oflf the 
 southern parts of French, British and Spanish Guyana, from 61 to nearly 
 65 W. Long. 800 miles, and having for its S. and S. W. boundary the great 
 river Amazon.
 
 EARLY DUTCH SETTLEMENT AND HISTORY. 3 
 
 the Spaniards ; the Zealanders, however, about this time, 
 effected a settlement on the banks of the Essequibo, in 1613 
 they reported their colony to be in a flourishing condition, and 
 in 1621, the Dutch Government undertook to supply the 
 colonists with negro slaves from Africa ; for the prosecuting 
 of which trade a company was formed and a monopoly 
 granted. Jan Van Peere, with his companions, when driven 
 by the Spaniards from the Orinoco, commenced colonizing 
 on the banks of the Berbice river, and cleared a large extent 
 of territory between the rivers of Berbice and Courantyne. 
 In 1657, the Zealanders colonized on the river Poomeroon 
 and the creek Morocco, and erected thereon the towns of 
 New Zealand and New Middleburgh. Essequibo, in 1665, 
 was taken by the English, and afterwards plundered by the 
 French ; but both were expelled from the Dutch settlements, 
 in the following year, by an expedition from Holland.*' In 
 1712, the French took possession of Berbice by force from 
 the Dutch proprietors ; but, in 1714, returned it to its former 
 owners, on the payment of a sum of money. At this period, 
 the States General contracted for the supply of negroes to 
 the colony, in the proportion of two-thirds male, and one- 
 third female, at the rate of £250 each. 
 
 In 1720 the proprietors of Berbice not having a capital 
 equal to the cultivation of which the colony was capable, 
 raised a fund of 3,200,000 florins, divided into 1,600 shares 
 of 2,000 each, to be employed solely in cultivating sugar, 
 cocoa, and indigo; 50 per cent, was to be repaid in 1724, the 
 remainder when required by the Directors, who consisted of 
 
 * It is said that, in 1662, after its settlement, the irliole coast was 
 ceded by Charles II. to Lord Willoughhy, the then Governor of Barbadoes, 
 who named the principal river wherein Paramaribo is situate, and, in fact, 
 the whole colony, Stirry]\^\n (in honour of the Earl of Surry, the term 
 being afterwards changed into Surinam), and that the colony was pur- 
 chased from the heirs of Lord Willoughby Ijy the British Crown, and 
 exchanged with the Dutch Government for New Holland, in N. America 
 (now New York). In 1669, the whole of Dutch Guyana was transferred 
 from certain gentlemen in Amsterdam, Flushing, &c., who claimed to be 
 proprietors, to the Dutch West India Company.
 
 4< CAPTURE AND CESSION TO ENGLAND ; 
 
 seven Proprietors (afterwards increased to nine), of 20,000 
 florins each, residing at Amsterdam : the former Proprietors 
 of Berbice were also to be paid 800,000 florins, or allowed to 
 purchase 400 shares. From this period the Colonies rapidly 
 flourished and extended ; cofiee cultivation was introduced 
 from Surinam, and a fort built at the junction of the Canje.* 
 In 1741 the planters at Essequibo, thinking the low lands 
 near the sea more productive than the upper country over 
 which they had previously settled, began emigrating to the 
 former; and, in 1745, the Directors of the Chamber of Zea- 
 land gave permission to form plantations on the uninhabited 
 coast of the river Demerara. A most disastrous negro 
 insurrection took place in Berbice in 1763, from which the 
 colony was not relieved until after eleven months desolation, 
 and only then by the arrival of a strong squadron from Hol- 
 land. Courts of policy and of civil and criminal justice were 
 established for Demerara 1773, on an island named Borsden, 
 about twenty miles up the river ; but, the following year, the 
 seat of Government was removed from thence to the east 
 point of the mouth of the river, and named Stabroek, now 
 George Town. In 1781, the colonies on the Essequibo and 
 Demerara were placed under the protection of Great Britain 
 by a squadron of Admiral Lord Rodney's fleet; but, in 1783, 
 the French took temporary possession of the whole Dutch 
 settlements, which, in 1796, surrendered to the British 
 forces under the orders of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and 
 commanded by Major General White. These settlements 
 were, however, restored to the Dutch by the treaty of 
 Amiens, in 1802, but again taken possession of by England 
 on the breaking out of the war in 1803; since which period 
 they have belonged to Great Britain. In 1812, all distinctions 
 
 * A passage from the river Amazon to the Essequibo was discovered, 
 in 17«35, by a Portuguese named Silva de Rosa, who had been private 
 secretary to the Viceroy of Brazil ; but, having killed a nobleman in a 
 duel, he fled with some negroes in a canoe along the Rio Branca, Tacusa, 
 Moan, and across the lake Amuca ; thence entering the Rippanouny, and 
 finally reaching Essequibo.
 
 REGULATIONS FOR GUYANA CONSEQUENT THEREON. 5 
 
 between the colonies of Essequibo and Demerara, whether 
 of jurisdiction or otherwise, were abohshed — the office of 
 commander of Essequibo was done away with, the courts of 
 civil and criminal justice of both colonies united at Demerara, 
 and the judicial establishment at Fort Island discontinued; 
 the name of the capital was also changed from Stabroek to 
 George Town, and a board of police appointed for its in- 
 ternal management, the financial representations of Demerara 
 and Essequibo combined with the College of Kiezers, and 
 the right of suffrage extended to all persons paying income 
 tax on 10,000 florins, or possessing twenty-five slaves. In 
 1807 the slave-trade was only finally abolished. By an ad- 
 ditional article to a convention signed at London, loth Aug. 
 1814, Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice were finally ceded to 
 Great Britain, with the condition that the Dutch proprietors 
 had liberty, under certain regulations, to trade with Holland. 
 The year 1818 witnessed the first introduction of trial by 
 jury and the commission of oyer and terminer. In 1820, 
 after much angry dispute relative to the enormous and illegal 
 exactions of fees, a tariff of the same was fixed, and a petition 
 to the Crown, praying for an enquiry into judicial abuses, 
 agreed to, which enquiry v^•as ordered. A serious insurrec- 
 tion of the slaves took place on the east coast of the De- 
 merara river, in 1823, which was finally suppressed, and Mr. 
 Smith, a Missionary of the London Society, condemned to 
 death for inciting the negroes to rebellion — a sentence which 
 was commuted at home to total banishment from the West 
 Indies : Mr. Smith died in prison pending the sentence. In 
 1831, the colonies of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice 
 were united into one government, and called British Guyana ; 
 the forms of the courts altered ; civil causes to be heard 
 before a chief and two puisne judges, in criminal causes, three 
 assessors to be associated with the judges, and a majority 
 of the whole required for condemnation ; and the College of 
 Kiezers and financial representatives, which had been united 
 in 1812, were separated. — [Vide Government section.] 
 
 Physical Aspect. With the exception of ranges of sand-
 
 6 PHYSICAL ASPECT OP BRITISH GUYANA, 
 
 hills, about twenty miles inland, and rarely more than forty 
 or fifty feet above the level of the rivers and creeks,* the 
 whole country inhabited by the Europeans is perfectly flat 
 and alluvial, bearing a striking resemblance to Holland and 
 Flanders, and, like those countries, drained by canals and 
 sluices, with lofty dikes or mounds of mud, of considerable 
 thickness, embanking each estate, and kept, together with 
 the numerous bridges, in repair by the proprietors of the 
 land in which they are situate. 
 
 As the country is ascended from eighty to one hundred 
 miles inland, its fine savannahs are interrupted by, in some 
 places, a beautiful hill and dale territory, varied with high 
 and frequently rocky land — presenting a strong contrast to 
 the rather monotonous scenery which a dead flat possesses, 
 and which those who have visited Bengal and the delta of 
 the Ganges, as contrasted with the upper provinces, will 
 readily understand. Further southward, at the Coomarow 
 Fall (vide river Essequibo), the granitic table-land belonging 
 to the Cordillera rises to the height of six thousand feet 
 above the level of the sea, at three hundred miles distant 
 from the ocean. 
 
 The whole face of the coast of Guyana, from the Maranon to 
 the Orinoco, is low, and generally bordered with a sandy flat, 
 extending far out to seaward; — moreover the various large 
 rivers with which it is intersected, continually bring down from 
 the upper country vast quantities of alluvial matter, which, on 
 depositing, forai a margin of low ground, covered with man- 
 grove bushes, appearing an inaccessible barrier at low water, 
 but completely hidden at full tide. About five hundred 
 paces within these mangroves, the low and level savannahs 
 commence, extending irregularly inland, and every where 
 intersected by rivers, rivulets, and creeks, with a dense, 
 luxuriant, and magnificent vegetation. The plantations are 
 regularly ranged on either side of the great rivers, or along 
 
 * Some of the sand hills on tlie west bank of the Demerara river are 
 from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet high, and nearly perpen- 
 dicular.
 
 PLEASING INDICATIONS OF INDUSTRY. RIVERS. 7 
 
 the coast, in allotments of from five hundred to one thousand 
 acres each.* The dwelling-houses, elevated on piles of 
 timber, are generally close to the river's brink, with a wharf, 
 or landing place, opposite for the convenience of shipping 
 produce ; — buildings of different descriptions are scattered 
 about in every direction ; sugar mills driven by wind, or 
 by steam f; and on the coffee plantations, logies, or barns, 
 three stories high, form a picturesque prospect, in addition 
 to the numerous boats sailing up and down the rivers and 
 creeks ; while the insulated, well-tilled plantations, excellent 
 brick-made and avenued roads, with numerous white bridges, 
 afford a most pleasing indication of an industrious and in- 
 telligent community. The physical aspect of the colony 
 may be further judged of by its 
 
 RIVERS. 
 
 The three great rivers within British Guyana are the 
 Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice, with their numerous 
 tributaries ; to begin with the most westerly, the Essequibo, 
 situate 9 miles west of the Demerara river, at its embou- 
 chure from one side of the main land to the other is from 1 5 
 to 20 miles wide, and covered with many beautiful, low, and 
 bushy islands, with shoals or sandy spits, extending from the 
 north parts of the islets a considerable distance to seaward, 
 and dividing the navigation into four separate channels. The 
 most eastern island is termed Leguan, (containing 24 sugar 
 estates), between which and the east side of the river is the 
 ship channel, a wide passage but much encumbered with 
 shoals : to the westward is a long and narrow island, called 
 Wakenaam, containing 18 sugar estates, its dimensions are 
 about 9 miles long and 3 broad ; to the north west of the 
 
 * The Dutch West India Company parcelled the allotments out into 
 five hundred acre conditional grants, with an additional five hundred acres 
 behind the first allotment, when two-thirds of the latter were cultivated. 
 Sales and divisions of patrimony have caused some changes in the area of 
 the estates. 
 
 t There are two hundred and sixteen sugar estates in the colony ; each 
 has a steam-engine, many two.
 
 8 THE ESSEQUIBO AND MAZAROONI RIVERS, 
 
 latter and near the west shores is a small islet, termed Tiger 
 Island, (containing 3 sugar estates). A succession of other 
 islands* (one termed jPo/-/ /^/f/wc/ about 15 miles from the mouth), 
 extend to the southward and further up the river, from 25 to 
 30 miles, between all of which there are channels, but from 
 the extensive deposits of mud, it is difficult to state the 
 soundings for any length of time> the depth of water on the 
 whole coast being continually undergoing a change, according 
 to the heaviness of the rains or the duration of the winds 
 that blow on the shore. From Fort Island the Essequibo 
 runs nearly south for about 30 miles, where it is joined by the 
 large river Cayuni which runs nearly S.W., afterwards north 
 west through the province of Colombian Guyana, where it is 
 supposed to join some of the interior branches of the Orinoco ;. 
 a little further, or inland, the Essequibo is joined by the 
 Mazarooni river, which makes a considerable sweep to the 
 north west and then returns, so as to form a large peninsula, 
 enclosing lofty mountains and considerable creeks or rivulets ; 
 indeed for 80 miles inland the breadth of the Mazaroony is so 
 great, and the wooded islands and creeks so numerous, that it 
 has more resemblance to a lake than a river, and the influence 
 of the tides is felt, at least in the Essequibo, 100 miles from 
 the ocean. The enterprizing Mr. Hillhouse, an engineer 
 officer at Demerara, has recently explored the Mazarooni 
 river, and from his manuscript journal, as kindly lent me, by 
 the intelligent and active secretary of the Royal Geographical 
 Society, I glean the following description of the river and 
 the adjacent country. 
 
 The distinguishing island feature of the Mazarooni river 
 commences at Caria island ;f from this point for nearly 100 
 miles, an innumerable string of islands divide the river into 
 from five to ten different channels, in which space the two 
 banks of the river are scarcely once visible together, and even 
 
 * Ho*j Island, the largest in the Essequibo; its South end extends 
 nearly to Fort Island. 
 
 t Caria was once a Dutch fort, and several plantations then existed on 
 each bank, but now only to be traced by a few cocoa trees.
 
 SCENERY ON THE MAZAROONI FALLS, &C. 
 
 one bank but seldom, the river continuing from three to foiir 
 miles broad throughout the Archipelago. The rapids com- 
 mence between these islands,* and at the fourth rapid ( Wari- 
 mambo) is a large open space in the centre of the river, which 
 in the rains has the appearance of a vast lake, and in the dry 
 season that of a rugged rocky plain. 
 
 Some of the falls are most difficult of ascent, the Caboory, 
 for instance, is full thirty feet high, in four different ledges, and 
 requiring an hour's hard labour to get over a space of about 
 one hundred yards. On emerging from the almost interminable 
 confusion of islands, creeks, and falls, and with the open and 
 placid Mazarooni river like a great inland lake running S. and W. 
 the eye of the low-lander is agreeably astonished with a sight 
 of ' Arthur s Tables (the first visible point of the mountains of 
 Merumah or St. George, the great central chain of Guyana), 
 at an apparent distance of about sixty miles, and which would 
 seem by a comparison with other parts of the chain to be six 
 thousand feet above the level of the sea. At the thirty-fourth 
 and last fall, named Teboco, (and the extreme southern limit 
 
 • The manner in wliich the falls are ascended is thus described by Mr. 
 Hillhouse. — ' The rapids do not run in one sheet over a level ledge, but 
 force themselves through a number of fissures,— large intermediate blocks 
 of granite dividing the different shoots of the fall. At the base of these 
 blocks is an eddy, into which the boat is forced, and becomes stationary, 
 having no current either way. The crew then spring on the rock, and wade 
 as far as they can find footing; by means of a long stout rope they then pull 
 the canoe, or corial, into one of the shoots of the fall, where there is 
 water enough to float her, and by main strength haul her up the ascent. 
 They then take her out of the current, and lay her stern against the upper 
 part of the rock, from the lower part of which they have thus ascended ; and 
 with her head right up the stream, at a given signal they all spring in, and, 
 pulling with their whole might, endeavour to cross diagonally the different 
 currents till they get into another eddy. This is the time of the greatest 
 danger : if not active in seizing their paddles, the head of the canoe is 
 taken by the current, and she drifts broadside down the fall and upsets. If 
 not strong-handed also, she cannot stem the currents above, and goes down 
 the fall stern foremost ; the currents, at most of the rapids, run at the 
 rate of ten or twelve miles an hour ; and thus frequeiitly many hours are 
 consumed in gaining a few hundred yards.*
 
 10 FALLS OF TEBOCO, xMACREBAlI, &C. AND 
 
 of ]Mr. Ilillhouse's expedition), a lofty mountain was observed 
 due S., with a conical peak at the N. extremity, like the 
 crater of a volcano, equal in height to Arthur's Table, and 
 named by the voyagers * RaleigJi's Peak ;' the Caranang 
 creek appeared to lead towards it, but was not explored. At 
 the fall of Teboco the river narrows to one-third of its 
 usual breadth, but widens again immediately after, and at 
 Aramayka the cliffs of Marybyacrew, became visible about 
 one thousand feet high, with perpendicular northern faces, 
 with a remarkable detached peaked rock on the W. face of the 
 cliffs called the Caribisce, the legend of whose nation states 
 it to be a man turned into stone for presumptuously daring 
 to scale the cliffs. At the point of Teboco the granite, for 
 the first time, assumes a regular formation, and as the river 
 is ascended is continued to be found in strata, at an angle of 
 about five degrees above the horizon, its apex being nearly 
 northward : it forms the base of all the cliffs, to a height of 
 six hundred to one thousand feet, when a perpendicular and 
 cubical formation of quartz is the general superstructure to 
 one thousand five hundred feet higher. From a little above 
 Aramayka the chain of Merumah or St. George is seen 
 bounding the horizon, stretching to the N. where it appears 
 highest, and terminates abruptly, in perpendicular faces, like 
 the other branches of the chain. Near the extremity in a clear 
 day, a white curved line is seen extending from the summit to 
 the base of the chain, this is the Merumah creek forcing its 
 way from the table land, a height of one thousand two hun- 
 dred feet, to the valley of the Mazaroony. 
 
 At the fall of Macrebah navigation ceases ; the creek winds 
 about in the most opposite directions, and at every turn a large 
 bold spit of white sand projects. The water though per- 
 fectly transparent, is of a deep chocolate colour, and the sands 
 are reflected in it of a bright claret or purple — the dark and 
 still creek is fringed with a dense and gloomy foliage ; while 
 journeying in the midst of this gloomy valley, a perpendicular 
 cliff of one thousand five hundred feet high is suddenly seen, 
 and though distant it appears as if it could be touched ; —
 
 PECULIAR ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY AT MACREBAII. 11 
 
 around are detached masses of rocks, which seem abruptly 
 torn from the gigantic walls of nature, and every two or 
 three hours an immense block of granite must be passed in 
 a deep channel, barely wide enough for the Corial (canoe), 
 then suddenly the channel widens into a shallow claret- 
 coloured lake one hundred and fifty yards broad, but scarcely 
 deep enough for the craft to swim in, and at last a capacious 
 bason is entered, surrounded by a bold extensive sand clay, as 
 white as chalk, while the waters are as black as ink, without 
 any perceptible current, though a fall of water is heard, and 
 there is a foam like yeast on the surface, which remains the 
 whole day without any visible alteration, save when a gust of 
 wind coming down the fall, scatters the foam in flakes 
 exactly resembling snow. At a distance a broken white line 
 (the fall of Macrebah) of one hundred feet high is seen strug- 
 gling through a cluster of granite rocks, at the base of two 
 quartz cliffs of mixed character. 
 
 Half way up the Macrebah fall, a small spring of clear, 
 transparent, and slightly effervescent water, exists without the 
 least ferruginous tincture, and issuing from a superior quartz 
 formation, indicating perhaps that the extraordinary purple 
 tinge of the waters of the creek is owing to a decomposition of 
 granitic iron in combination with a solution of astringent 
 vegetable matter. The distance of Carulang creek (in which 
 the Macrebah fall is situate) from the coast is estimated at 
 four hundred miles, (including the sinuosities of the river) and 
 the height above the sea, (roughly calculated by the boihng of 
 water at two hundred and eight Farenheit) above three thou- 
 sand feet. A cataract above Macrebah named Coomarow is 
 six hundred feet high, and exceedingly difficult of access, the 
 greater part of the rise being an angle of forty-five, with an 
 abrupt descent and only ladders of roots. On the crest of the 
 fall there is not more than two feet of water in dry weather, 
 but in the rains the rise is above ten feet, when the sur- 
 rounding country is totally submerged. The table land above 
 the Coomarow fall is evidently the extreme height of the 
 horizontal granite formation, the laminae being here perfectly
 
 12 THE DEMEllAKA RIVER AND GEORGE TOWN. 
 
 horizontal, and that of the bed of the creek in large plates or 
 layers, of from one to three inches thick : the ci*eek itself 
 was one hundred yards broad and two feet deep, but com- 
 pletely choked with a sort of long grass, having stems as 
 thick as a man's arm, dividing at top into a multiplicity 
 of long threads like the tails of horses, and completely cover- 
 ing the surface of the water. 
 
 The descent of the falls is accomplished with great rapidity, 
 in less than one day the ascent of three may be got over — 
 eighty or ninety miles being an easy day's journey. The 
 middle channels are now chosen, where the current is most 
 rapid and the greatest body of water rushing to the coast; it 
 requires four stout hands, two a-head and two a-stern, to give 
 steerage way whilst shooting many crooked passages, — that 
 of Itackeck is a zig-zag of four turns, where not a few accidents 
 have occurred to the small craft of the Indians. 
 
 We know nothing further ^f the Mazaroony region, and 
 even this knowledge is imperfect, owing to Mr. Hillhouse's 
 evident deficiency of astronomical instruments. The Esse- 
 quibo and Cayuniare are almost unexplored. 
 
 Judging from Mr. Hillhouse's observations, the El-Dorado 
 of the unfortunate Sir Walter Raleigh (to which the fall of 
 Teboco seems to be the key,) is not a very fertile country ; 
 Dr. Hancock differs from Mr. H. and until the land be better 
 explored it would be difficult to arrive at a correct judgment. 
 We may now proceed briefly to glance at the — 
 
 Demarara River — situate to the SE. of the Essequibo, 
 sixteen miles from Leguan island, and about fifty seven miles 
 westward of the bar of the Berbice river in C. 40 N. Lat. and 
 57.45 W. Long, nearly three miles broad at its mouth, and 
 becoming narrower as it is ascended. The capital of British 
 Guyana, in Lat. 6.47 N. Long. 58. IW. formerly called Sta- 
 broek, now called George Town,* is situate amidst a dense 
 
 * ]f it were not for the tropical scenery around George Town it might be 
 mistaken for a Dutch city ; except close to the river the houses, raised on 
 supports to prevent damps, are widely scattered, built of wood, after the 
 Dutch style with a stoup, coloured according to the fashion of the
 
 ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY, — BERBICE RIVER. 13 
 
 foliage, on its E. or right bank, about one mile and a half from 
 a small fortification, built of mud and fascines, with two low 
 platforms, and termed Fort William Frederick. The river is 
 navigable by ships of burthen for one hundred miles up, as 
 far as the cataracts, and affording an excellent harbour, ca- 
 pable of holding the whole navy of Great Britain ; but unfor- 
 tunately the bar will not allow .vessels that draw more than 
 eighteen feet to go over it. For thirty miles inland, along the 
 banks of the Demerara, the country consists of extensive 
 level meadows or savannahs ; several sand hills then appear, 
 and as the river is ascended, the country becomes more bro- 
 ken and mountainous. 
 
 The general direction of the river, ascending it, is south, with 
 a slight inclination to E. ; the rapids hi a straight line being 
 not more than seventy English statute miles S. by E. of 
 George Town, but one hundred and six by the course of the 
 river. The difference of level between the water above and 
 below the rapids is only twelve feet, and the river describes at 
 them a very considerable arc of a circle, the chord of which 
 is about one mile and a half; the rapids are descended safely 
 in small canoes. Of its source we know, I believe, nothing 
 certain. 
 
 The Berbice River. 57 miles E. of the Demerara, reaches 
 the Atlantic in 6. 24 N. Lat. ; at its luxuriant looking en- 
 trance, a little to the N. of Fort St. Andrew it is about three 
 miles wide, with low cleared land on both sides, covered with 
 trees, and at a distance resembles a number of islands. In the 
 
 owners, surrounded by a garden and lofty trees, and separated from each 
 other by canals, dykes, or lofty mud embankments. The most ancient 
 part of the capital Stabroek, runs back from the river towards the forest, 
 consisting of two rows of houses full a mile long, with a broad and 
 shaded road between them, and a canal in the rear of each line of houses, 
 communicating with the river. In cousequence of the scarcity of fresh 
 water each house is provided with a large cistern, and pipes leading into it, 
 for the preservation of rain water. The barracks, hospitals, and public 
 buildings in Demarara, are in evidence of the taste and munificence of the 
 Colonists, at whose cost they have been erected.
 
 14 FORT NASSAU : TIDES AT BERBICE. 
 
 middle channel lies Crab island (so called from its numerous 
 crabs), about one mile in circumference, with a spit of land 
 running out to the N. and S. dividing the river into two navi- 
 gable channels; the E. with 17 to 20 feet, the W. with but 
 8 to 13 feet water. Eight miles N. of Crab island is a bar of 
 sand, with only seven feet on it at low water,* thus lessening 
 the importance of the harbour. 
 
 There are several small creeks on the coast, but navigable 
 only by boats, and a shallow flat extending along the shore 
 renders it impossible for vessels, except those of small draught, 
 to approach within a league of the coast. Moderately sized 
 ships can go up the river Berbice as far as Fort Nassau, 
 which is at the distance of fifty miles in a straight line from 
 the entrance, and vessels drawing fourteen feet water may, it 
 is said, sail two hundred miles up the Berbice. The banks 
 of the river are low and covered with numerous plantations, 
 as also along the sixty miles of sea coast territory of Ber- 
 bice, the roads through which close along the sea coast, com- 
 municating with Demerara, are kept in excellent repair at the 
 expense of the individual proprietors through whose estates 
 they pass, and may be said to be almost entirely formed of 
 brick. The early Dutch settlers constructed a fortress fifty 
 miles up the river, called Zelandica, but this was subse- 
 quently abandoned and New Amsterdam built on the side of 
 the river Canjee,f at its confluence with the river Berbice, 
 two miles above Crab island, on the E. bank of the river, 
 
 * Neap tides at Berbice rise from eight to nine feet, and springs eleven 
 feet; in September before the equinox they rise fifteen feet; the flood 
 sets strong to the W. and the ebb to the E. The times of high and 
 low water at full and change of moon along this coast arc, seven miles 
 off Bram's point 6h. OOin. At Bram's point 5h. 30". Off Fort Amsterdam 
 6h. 10". ; Fort Zeelandia, 7^- 00'^. At Demerara bar generally at half 
 past four ; and at Fort Frederick at five. 
 
 f The Canjee river, or creek, waters the Berbice district, and is navi- 
 gable for schooners for fifty miles, but its course is then impeded by falh 
 and cataracts. About forty miles below its head there is a creek, commu- 
 nicating with the Courantyn river, by which despatches have been conveyed 
 from Surinam to British Guyana by the Indians.
 
 FORTIFICATIONS, &C. — OTHER RIVERS IN GUYANA. 15 
 
 where it is intersected by canals, and has all the advantage of 
 the tides. 
 
 Three strong batteries protect the entrance of the river, 
 two on the E. side, and the other York redoubt, on the west 
 side, opposite Crab island. Fort St. Andrews, nearly four 
 miles from the entrance of the river, and two from New Am- 
 sterdam, is like Fort Wm. Frederick in the Demerara river, 
 a small, low fortification, consisting of four bastions, sur- 
 rounded by a ditch or fosse, and mounted with eighteen 
 twelve pounders. An extensive savannah or swamp extends 
 in the rear of the fort (which is separated from New Amster- 
 dam by the Canjee river or creek) so that it cannot be com- 
 manded from any adjacent point. Sixty miles E. of Berbice 
 river lies the Courantyne, about thi-ee miles wide at its en- 
 trance, with the navigation obstructed by many small islands 
 and quicksands. The islets are fertile, covered with trees, 
 and having on the W. side good clean anchorage in five 
 fathoms. The W. banks of the river (which form the E. 
 boundary of Berbice) are under British jurisdiction, and have 
 a smiling appearance of cultivation. Besides the foregoing 
 there are numerous other rivers, which in Guyana are termed 
 creeks, though they would be considered large rivers in 
 Europe; among the principal is the Mahaica creek, about 
 twenty miles to windward or eastward of the Demerara, be- 
 tween that and Abary creek ; the M ahaicony is also on the E. 
 or windward coast, not far from the Mahaica ; the Boesary is 
 on the leeward coast, near the Essequibo ; along the interior 
 or southern portion of the Colony there are numberless small 
 rivers and creeks intersecting wild and almost impenetrable 
 forests, which, during the rainy season, empty themselves in 
 torrents into the larger rivers, Essequibo, Cayuni, (of which 
 we know very little) Mazarooni, Demerara, Berbice, &c., 
 which latter rivers generally flow towards the ocean in dis- 
 coloured streams at the rate of six or seven knots an hour. 
 
 Climate. — The mortality of Europeans on the early set- 
 tlement or colonization of Guyana was very great, partly 
 owing to torrid heat acting on a moist soil and dank luxurious
 
 16 CLIMATE OF BRITISH GUYANA, — DRY SEASON. 
 
 vegetation pregnant with animal and vegetable decomposition, 
 and partly owing to the intemperate habits of the settlers and 
 their non-conformity with the customs of the country, and 
 the dictates of nature : of late years, however, as the coast 
 became cleared, and a free circulation of air was admitted, 
 the health of British Guyana has materially improved, and may 
 now be considered as good as the nature of a low country 
 will permit in any zone, particularly when we consider the 
 extraordinary quantity of rain which falls annually.* It is 
 difficult to ascertain accurately the quantity of rain falling 
 annually, not only because Demerara is subject to two rainy 
 seasons, but from the variation which takes place in cleared 
 and drained land, on the sea-coast or in the interior. In the 
 dry season, and when the sea breeze prevails, there is rarely 
 any moisture observable in the morning, the thermometer F. 
 averaging about 82 during the night, with no very material 
 diflference in the shade during the day. At the distance of 
 twenty miles from the sea, or where the country is not exten- 
 sively cleared, the trees and plants will be found every morn- 
 ing dripping with dew, the thermometer falling to 76 or 78, 
 and a blanket is acceptable at nights. As the country is 
 ascended (or southerward towards the Equator) the vicissi- 
 tude of climate is yet greater, and on the table land, 300 miles 
 inland, the climate is described to be delicious, and the influ- 
 ence of the monsoons regularly felt in the periodical fall of 
 rain. Two wet and two dry seasons mark the revolutions of 
 the year, each continuing for three months ; the wet embrace 
 the months of December, January and February ; and then 
 June, July and August, during which periods the thermome- 
 ter is lower than at any other time, and the land winds (which 
 are of course less healthy than the sea breeze) prevail. The 
 dry season is exceedingly delightful ; the morning twilight 
 commencing at four, gradually unveils a deep azure sky, over 
 which the sun crosses cloudlessly from the ocean to the 
 
 • In 1830 there fell, in five months, six feet eight inches of rain at 
 George Town.
 
 WET SEASON. — COMPARATIVE MORTALITY OF GUYANA. 17 
 
 inland mountains, l>ehind which it sets. The inviooratinor sea 
 breeze sets in at ten, giving animation to nature, and conti- 
 nuing to blow with increasing vigour till sunset, at 6 p. m., 
 when it gradually dies away, but frequently returns again 
 during the night. 
 
 During the wet season the wind is often from S. to W., and 
 the rain then descends in torrents, sometimes for two or three 
 days without intermission, in the interior and on the coast; 
 at these periods our sailors say it only leaves off raining to 
 commence pouring ; it appears to be admitted that the mois- 
 ture, and consequently the fertility, of British Guyana is 
 greater than that of the contiguous coast of the Orinoco, and 
 may be accounted for by waters of the Essequibo, Demerara 
 and Berbice having less declivity than those of the mighty 
 Orinoco. Yellow fever (if in reahty it ever did exist there) 
 has for some years been unknown in Guyana, but agues, and 
 what we term in India jungle fevers, are prevalent among 
 new comers if they rashly expose themselves to the night air 
 or vertical sun. Demerara has been cited as one of the 
 strongest instances of a deleterious atmosphere, particularly 
 among our West India Colonies, but when we come to exa- 
 mine facts, it turns out otherwise ; the range of mortality, 
 even among the labouring slave population, is about one in 
 thirty-seven to forty, but in London and France it is equal as 
 regards the whole population, rich and poor, and in other 
 countries it is even more; thus, in Naples, one in thirty-four; 
 Wirtembergh, one in thirty-three ; Paris, one in thirty-two ; 
 Berlin, one in thirty-four ; Nice, one in thirty-one ; Madrid, 
 one in twenty-nine ; Rome, one in twenty-five ; Amsterdam, 
 one in twenty-four ; Vienna, one in twenty-two and a half ! 
 Thus that which is termed our most unhealthy West India 
 Colony has, even as regards its working population, a greater 
 duration of life than the rich and poor of some of the prin- 
 cipal parts of Europe ! On six years, ending 1832, the 
 increase on 40,892 Creole population was 3,678, or nine per 
 cent. The following comparison will put this point more 
 
 VOL. II. c
 
 18 DURATION OF LIFE IN DEMERAR A AND IN EUROPE. 
 
 clearly ;* in the Appendix to the Report of the Committee 
 of the House of Commons on the Factory Bill, it appears, 
 that, in a number of 10,000 deaths in a healthy county (Rut- 
 land) under twenty years of age, 3,756 died ; under forty 
 years of age, 5,031 died ; lived to forty years and upwards, 
 4,969. In London, under twenty years of age, 4,580 died; 
 under forty years of age, 6,111 died; lived to forty years and 
 upwards, 3,889. In the town of Preston, under twenty years 
 of age, 6,083 died ; under forty years of age, 7,462 died ; lived 
 to forty years and upwards, 2,538. In the town of Leeds, 
 under twenty years of age, 6,213 died ; under forty years of 
 age, 7,441 died ; lived to forty years and upwards, 2,559. In 
 the town of Bolton, under twenty years of age, 6,113 died; 
 under forty years of age, 7,459 died ; lived to forty years and 
 upwards, 2,541 : contrast this with Demerara, where it ap- 
 pears, by the last registration, that the deaths during the 
 triennial period, were 7,016, of whom died under twenty years 
 of age, 1,929 ; died under forty years of age, 3,359 ; and 3,657 
 lived to upwards of forty years of age. Supposing, then, the 
 number of deaths to have been 10,000, instead of 7,016, the 
 result would be — died under twenty years of age, 2,749 ; died 
 under forty years of age, 4,788 ; and lived to forty and up- 
 wards, 5,212, being 243 in favour of the duration of life in 
 the colony of Demerara, as compared with a healthy county 
 (Rutland) in England, and a still greater and increasing dif- 
 ference in favour of the colony, as compared with the towns 
 before mentioned. 
 
 In the hurricane months, when the Caribbee islands are 
 ravaged with terrific tempests, vast masses of clouds, Pelion- 
 like upon Ossa, advance towards the south ; the mountains 
 inland reverberate with pealing thunder, and the night is 
 illumined with faint lightning coruscations ; brief storms 
 succeed ; but, happily, the Barbadian hurricane is unfelt, 
 
 * I am indebted to Mr. P. M. Stewart's valuable defence of the West 
 India Colonists on the ^SOth May, 1833, for these details.
 
 YEARLY METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER FOR GUYANA. 
 
 19 
 
 
 Ther. 
 
 Wind. 
 
 January 
 
 85 to 74 
 
 E. 
 
 February 
 
 86 to ;6 
 
 N. E. 
 
 March 
 
 85 to ;; 
 
 E. N. E. 
 
 AprU .. 
 
 85 to 76 
 
 E. 
 
 May . . 
 
 86 to 78 
 
 N. E. 
 
 June .. 
 
 83 to 75 
 
 S. and variable. 
 
 July .. 
 
 86 to 78 
 
 E. and S. 
 
 August 
 
 89 to 77 
 
 S. 
 
 September . . 
 
 87 to 77 
 
 S. and E. 
 
 October 
 
 86 to; 6 
 
 Variable. 
 
 Kovember . . 
 
 85 to 77 
 
 N. and E. 
 
 December . . 
 
 78 to 75 
 
 N. N. E. 
 
 The length of the clay in Guyana is about thirteen hours. In 
 the hot season, the thermometer ranges from 84 to 90, on 
 the coast ; and, twenty miles inland, seldom exceeds 80, 
 during the warmest part of the day, falling at night to 60, or 
 even 50.* 
 
 The following Meteorological Register, though noted at the Military Hos- 
 pital at Demerara, may serve for the whole coast of British Guyana. 
 
 Remarks. 
 Cool and pleasant; refreshing breezes. 
 Clouds heavy, with occasional showers. 
 Ditto, frequent ditto. 
 Hot; no rains. 
 
 Clouds heavy ; frequent lightning. 
 Hot, with occasional rains. 
 Sultry and oppressive. 
 Hot ; occasional rains. 
 Warm ; thunder and lightning. 
 Refreshing breezes ; light showers. 
 Steady, exhilirating breezes ; ditto. 
 Heavy showers > strong winds ; cool. 
 
 In considering the climate of tropical countries, the in- 
 fluence of the moon seems to be entirely overlooked; and 
 surely, if the tides of the vast ocean are raised from their 
 fathomless bed by lunar power, it is not too much to assert 
 that the tides of the atmosphere are liable to a similar in- 
 fluence ; this much is certain, that, in the low lands of tropical 
 countries, no attentive observer of nature will fail to witness 
 the power exercised by the moon over the seasons, and also 
 over animal and vegetable nature. As regai'ds the latter, it 
 may be stated that there are certainly thirteen springs and 
 thirteen autumns, in Demerara, in the year; for so many 
 times does the sap of trees ascend to the branches, and 
 descend to the roots. For example, the wallaba (a resinous 
 tree, common in the Demerara woods, somewhat resembling 
 mahogany), if cut down in the dark, a few days before the 
 new moon, it is one of the most durable woods in the 
 world for house building, posts, &c. ; in that state, attempt 
 to split it, and, with the utmost difficulty, it will be riven in 
 the most jagged unequal manner that can be imagined ; cut 
 
 * At the Portuguese fort of St. Joaquim, on the Rio Negro, (Lat. 3 N. 
 Long. 62 W.) which was visited by Dr. Hancock, the thermometer ranges 
 from 7G to ^9 in April.
 
 20 LUNAR INFLUENCE ON TIIC SEASONS, VEGETATION AND LIFE. 
 
 down another wallaba (that grew within a few yards of the 
 former), at J'lt/f moon, and the tree can be easily split into the 
 finest smooth shingles of any desired thickness, or into staves 
 for making casks ; but, in this state, applied to house-building 
 purposes, it speedily decays. Again — bamboes, as thick as 
 a man's arm, are sometimes used for paling, &c. : if cut at 
 the dark moon, they will endure for ten or twelve years ; if 
 at full moon, they will be rotten in two or three years ; thus 
 is it with most, if not all, the forest trees. Of the effects of 
 the moon on animal life, very many instances could be cited. 
 I have seen, in Africa, the newly littered young perish, in a 
 few hours, at the mother s side, if exposed to the rays of the 
 full moon ; fish become rapidly putrid, and meat, if left 
 exposed, incurable or unpreservable by salt ; — the mariner, 
 heedlessly sleeping on deck, becoming afflicted with nyctolo- 
 pia or night blindness, at times the face hideously swollen if 
 exposed during sleep to the moon's rays, the maniac's par- 
 oxysms renewed with fearful vigour at the full and change, and 
 the cold damp chill of the ague supervening on the ascen- 
 dency of this apparently mild yet powerful luminary. Let 
 her influence over this earth be studied, it is more powerful 
 than is generally known. 
 
 According to Mr. Hillhouse, who has repeatedly visited the 
 interior, the climate of the region inhabited by the Indians is 
 much more salubrious than that of the coast; though ap- 
 proaching nearer to the line, its superior elevation causes a 
 decrease of temperature, and the surface of the earth is 
 always kept cool, from the thick shade of the forest with 
 which it is universally covered. 
 
 It is a common observation, that the air of the rivers is un- 
 healthy ; but this only applies to that part of them which runs 
 through the swamp land and level with the sea coast ; here 
 the exhalations and vapours accumulate, and the sea breeze is 
 not always sufficiently constant or powerful to dissipate them. 
 Throughout the whole extent of the salt or brackish water, 
 fever and ague predominates ; but, beyond the influx of the 
 tide, the banks of the rivers are so proverbially healthy, that
 
 CLIMATE OF THE INTERIOR OF GUYANA. 2\ 
 
 were the population ten times more numerous than it is, 
 there would be little employment for a physician. 
 
 As we approach the high sand hills of the interior, the 
 natural drainage is so perfect, and the torrents of fresh water 
 supplied by the creeks form so strong a current, that all im- 
 purities are quickly drained from the vallies, and the surface 
 water is instantly absorbed by the sands. The water of those 
 creeks that are uniformly shaded from the sun, is about five 
 degrees colder than that of the river. 
 
 The breadth of the river, by exposing a great surface to 
 the influence of the sun, causes its increased temperature. 
 During the night, therefore, which is seven or eight degrees 
 cooler than the day, the water of the river becomes com- 
 paratively a warm bath; and the time of its lowest comparative 
 temperature is about noon, when the heat of the air is greatest, 
 and the river has not yet recovered the heat it lost during 
 the night. Bathing, therefore, in the heat of the day, is more 
 bracing to the system ; but bathing in the morning is most 
 congenial to the feelings, as there is scarcely any difference 
 between the temperature of the air and the water, for two 
 hours after sun-rise. 
 
 The evaporation in the neighbourhood of the line being 
 supposed ten times greater than near the poles, the rains are 
 in proportion much more heavy and frequent. In these re- 
 gions vegetation would cease, were the supply of moisture 
 only equal to that of temperate climates ; and, upon the hills, 
 where the water runs off more rapidly, a greater quantity 
 of rain is required than in the vallies, where it stagnates, 
 and is absorbed in superior proportion by the earth. We 
 accordingly find that, upon the hills of the interior, the clouds 
 discharge three times as much rain as falls upon the coast, 
 and without causing any inconvenience. This disproportion 
 between the rains of the coast and the interior would not be 
 so great, but from the circumstance of the vast tract of low 
 land, from which the forest has been cleared for cultivation. 
 Woody countries are always the most humid — and, in a plain 
 without trees, the clouds will pass over without discharging
 
 U^ TllEES CONDUCIVE TO KAIN : WINDS. 
 
 any rain, from the want of points of attraction. The importance 
 of this fact has not hitherto met with sufficient consideration. 
 A plain in the tropics, without rain to moisten it, soon becomes 
 a sterile desart ; and nothing will attract the electricity of the 
 clouds, and cause them to burst, but the intervention of 
 groups or rows of tall trees. It is a point, therefore, worthy 
 the consideration of the Colonial Legislature, to preserve a 
 portion of bush standing on the coast for the attraction of 
 the rains ; or, to oblige the different estates to plant tall fruit 
 or forest trees on their side-lines — as there is no doubt, that 
 the more the country is cleared of bush, the drier it becomes, 
 and the less fertile, and this more particularly with regard to 
 the sugar cultivation. 
 
 In the interior, the direction of the winds is by no means so 
 uniform as on the coast. From the month of April to July, 
 they blow more from the south than from any other point ; 
 and these land winds, which occur at intervals throughout the 
 year, by impeding the course of the clouds, as they are pi*o- 
 pelled by the sea breeze, are another cause of the increased 
 rains. 
 
 From the superior salubrity of the climate, and the simple 
 habits of the Indians, it is reasonable to suppose that, prior to 
 the introduction of rum, they enjoyed great longevity. The 
 native intoxicating beverages are so mild and diuretic, that 
 little inconvenience results from their excesses with them ; 
 but their system of computation is so defective, that they can 
 neither calculate their own age, or those of their offspring. 
 
 Early puberty is common in all hot latitudes ; but it does 
 not seem to shorten the period of existence, though the ap- 
 pearance of age comes on sooner. The Indian girls are mar- 
 riageable at twelve or thirteen, and the boys at fifteen or six- 
 teen — at twenty-five years the women lose all the appearance 
 of youth ; but the men at forty are not older in appearance 
 than Europeans of the same age. 
 
 I agree with the Surveyor of Demerara that upon the whole, 
 there is no doubt, that if the hand of cultivation reached to 
 the hills of the interior, and a few artificial improvements
 
 GEOLOGY OF GUYANA SEA COAST STRATA. 23 
 
 were added to the advantages of local situation, the climate of 
 the Indians would be the most healthy and agreeable of any 
 within the tropics — with fish, flesh, fowl, and vegetables in 
 abundance, pure water, no fevers, and no mosquitoes. 
 
 Geology. Little is known of the geological strata of 
 Guyana. An alluvial flat extends along the sea coast for 
 about thirty miles inland, terminating at a range of sand hills. 
 Efforts have recently been made to obtain water by boring 
 at George Town. In 1830 Major Staples sunk a shaft of 
 140 feet at Cumingsburgh ; on arriving at the micaceous 
 sub-stratum indicating a primary formation, a clear spring 
 of water, strongly impregnated with iron, burst forth.* At 
 twelve feet below the alluvial surface, an irregular stratum 
 of fallen trees (of a kind called the Courida, and still known 
 on the coast) was discovered, in a semi-carbonized state ; 
 and, at forty feet depth, blue clay; at fifty feet below the 
 surface, another similar stratum of decaying wood, twelve 
 feet thick ; nine feet deeper, a compact of whitish grey clay ; 
 thirty-one ditto, yellow sand, mixed with clay ; six ditto, 
 violet-coloured clay, diminishing in shades to yellow light 
 straw, and again merging into slate-coloured clay ; the re- 
 mainder, to a depth of one hundred and twenty feet from the 
 surface, is argile, the lower part being of that smooth soapy 
 surface indicating the purest wedgewood clay. Mr. Hillhouse 
 says, that it seems evident from this ' that, some ages ago, 
 this continent was habitable fifty feet below the present sur- 
 face, and that it was then covered with an immense forest of 
 Couridas, which was destroyed by conflagration, as appears 
 by the ochrous sub-stratum. The sea must, at that time, 
 have been confined to the blue water, where there is now 
 eight or nine fathoms ; and, whatever may have been the 
 comparative level between the Pacific and Atlantic, on this 
 side of the Isthmus of Darien the surface must have been 
 then fifty feet lower than now.' 
 
 * This water is perfectly good for washing and for culinary purposes 
 (except for tea) after exposure to the air. Wells have since been sunk in
 
 24 DELTA OF THE RIVERS — AND FORMATION OF THE INTERIOR. 
 
 The delta of the Essequibo (and, to a considerable extent, 
 along all the rivers) is decayed vegetable matter, forming a 
 fertile black mould, on a clayey sub-stratum. As the Esse- 
 quibo is ascended, the alluvium of the estuary changes to 
 white sandstone, with scattered appearances of black oxyde 
 of manganeze ; to the sandstone felspar succeeds, and then 
 granite. The mountain ranges seen on passing from the Es- 
 sequiljo into the Mazarooni, appear to be white quartz, 5,000 
 feet high, having the appearance of gold, from the numerous 
 shining particles of mica in the quartz, which give to the 
 mass the appearance of the precious metals, thus forming 
 the far-famed £/-Dorado of the chivalrous and ill-treated 
 Raleigh.* On the Demerara river, the first indication of 
 rock is met with at seventy miles from George Town, under 
 water ; it appears to be porphyritic sandstone. At the Post- 
 holder's (ninety-four miles from George Town), there is a 
 large bed of rocks of a granitic nature, with some hornblende, 
 and at the rapids, one hundred and six miles up (or seventy 
 miles, as the crow flies, from George Town), there is abun- 
 dance of stratified green-stone. 
 
 The structure of the mountains is principally granite, with 
 a large proportion of ironstone. The Warow land of Poome- 
 roon, and the coast lands of the whole colony, are described 
 by an accurate observer as principally composed of an 
 alluvial blue clay, intermixed with narrow strata of sand — 
 and, on the Mahaica coast, with sand and shell reefs. 
 
 This tract is most particularly adapted to the cultivation of 
 sugar, cotton, and plantains, to which it is mainly devoted ; 
 nor does there exist in the known world a soil possessed of 
 such amazing richness and fertility. It is never manured, 
 though an acre has been known to produce upwards of 
 6,000 lbs. of sugar, or 20,000 lbs. of farinaceous food (the 
 
 various parts of the colony, and water obtained at depths varying from 100 
 to 145 feet. Tbi^ supi)ly has proved a great advantage to the inhabitants. 
 * Raleigh's peak is supposed to be volcanic, and, according to the In- 
 dians, several volcanoes exist in the interior, particularly between the 
 Siparooncc and Ripanoonc rivers.
 
 ROCKY REGION — GOLD AND SILVER MINES. 25 
 
 plantain), in a year. As we go deeper into the interior, the 
 clay loses its blue tinge, and gradually becomes yellow ; at 
 this stage, it is always covered with a stratum of vegetable 
 residuum, called pegas, which is the half-decayed vegetable 
 mould from dead grass and leaves, and is, in many places, 
 several feet deep, forming a great impediment to cultivation. 
 
 Plantains do not thrive in this land ; but it is peculiarly 
 favourable to the growth of coffee, for which it is principally 
 cultivated, and the returns are ample, and of superior quality. 
 
 Behind the pegas lands, come high ridges of sand, inter- 
 spersed with vallies, in which is a slight admixture of clay. 
 These sand reefs present many fertile spots for the cultiva- 
 tion of coffee, cocoa, arnotto, fruits, and ground provisions of 
 all kinds ; and, extending in their direction parallel with the 
 sea coast, are occupied exclusively by the Arawaak nation. 
 
 To the south of this belt the rocky region commences, 
 consisting of elevated ridges and detached conical hills, rest- 
 ing on bases of sand, stone, granite, and silicious crystal, 
 containing a great variety of ochres and iron ores, mica, 
 prismatic, hexagonal crystals, and, in some instances, slight 
 indications of the precious metals. Though it is fully as 
 probable that gold and silver exists in the primitive moun- 
 tains of the west, as well as in those of the eastern coast, 
 yet no native specimens have ever been produced by the 
 Indians within our territory. Two or three attempts at mining 
 were made by the Dutch, on their first settlement in Esse- 
 quibo, but the ore was not found worth the expense of 
 working. The most probable site of the precious metals, 
 is in the mountains of the Attaraya and Attamacha nations. 
 
 The rocky region is possessed by the Accaways and Cari- 
 bisce, interspersed with small settlements of Macousi and 
 Paramuna ; but these latter are principally found in the 
 debateable land at the foot of the mountains, where they 
 become the alternate victims both of the coast tribes and the 
 mountaineers. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing details derived from various 
 sources, I am indebted to the urbanity and science of Dr.
 
 26 COMPONENT TARTS OF THE INTERIOR MOUNTAINS. 
 
 Hancock of Demerara, for the following tlevelopement of the 
 geology of the interior of British Guyana, in which the 
 learned and philanthropic doctor has long resided. Nothing 
 of petrifactions, sea shells or the organic remains of marine 
 animals has yet been observed in the mountains of the in- 
 terior of British Guyana. The principal component parts of 
 the interior mountains are granite, porphyry, and their 
 various modifications, all denoting a primitive formation, 
 while the exterior ranges towards the coast of a minor eleva- 
 tion, are chiefly composed of indurated clays, with sand and 
 gravel stones ; indicating a secondary order of formation. 
 The great rocks of the interior are chiefly of a conoidal 
 figure ; on a savannah in 2.50. N. Lat. there is a mountain 
 called We'ive, composed of one entire solid block of granite, 
 seven hundred feet high, and about forty miles to the N. E. 
 is another still higher, called Taripoor, (devil's rock) ; they 
 are both of the cone or pyramid shape, much exceeding the 
 Egyptian piles in elevation and magnitude. Veins of quartz 
 are very common traversing the great masses of granite, and 
 most perspicuous along the channel of the rivers in the dry 
 season, the direction of all the strata in Guyana being almost 
 uniformly from N.E. to S. W. Vast quantities of iron are 
 met with in the mountains, the soil of which (as also that of 
 many parts of the interior), consists of a strong and fertile 
 loam, being a mixture of clay, sand, and vegetable mould, 
 with little calcareous earth, but much ferruginous matter, 
 giving to the soil a reddish tinge in some places. The soil 
 of some of the upland savannahs is composed of clay and 
 gravel very close, and though apparently sterile, yielding food 
 for the immense herds of cattle and horses that depasture 
 along the Rio Branco. Of a very pure white clay, there are im- 
 mense masses forming the high banks of the Essequibo above 
 the falls, which would probably prove a valuable article in 
 the manufiicture of stone-ware or porcelain, as would also 
 the huge blocks of milk-white quartz found in various places. 
 Some indurated clays, of great hardness, have been found 
 mixed with sand, mica, calcareous earth, oxyde of iron, &c.
 
 INDURATED CLAYS AND IMETALLIC APPEARANCES. 27 
 
 amorphous and full of particles of a metallic brilliancy. 
 These indurations, which are of various degrees of hardness, 
 lie in horizontal strata, breaking into diagonal plates ; they 
 are found along the edge of the water, and Dr. Hancock 
 thinks are caused from the alternate influence of the sun and 
 water, assisted by a deposition of heterogeneous earthy 
 matters. Substances of a metallic nature which have the 
 appearance of ores are also very abundantly met with in the 
 mountains, but still more plentiful among the falls and rapids 
 of the river. Rock crystal is found upon several mountains 
 of Demerara, growing (if it may be so said) out of beds of 
 quartz ; Dr. Hancock only met with one species, and that 
 always crystalized into hexagonal columns, and generally 
 terminated by a single pyramid with from three to six faces. 
 These columns are commonly found solitary, but are some- 
 times met with in groups standing together as it were aggluti- 
 nated. They are perfectly transparent, of a water colour, 
 taking a fine polish, and nearly as hard as agate. Red agate 
 is found in the Rio Mow opposite, and not far distant from a 
 crystal mountain. Much of the land at Moroko is thickly 
 scattered over with silicious gravel stones of an iron colour. 
 At this range of mountains primitive rock in smaller or larger 
 portions is every where to be seen ; no traces of a secondary 
 formation are visible ; on most of them are found large masses 
 of indurated clay scattered in loose masses amongst the granite, 
 but no calcareous matter or organic bodies are to be found, 
 and they appear as if undisturbed since the creation of the 
 world. The Conoko mountains (belonging to the chain of 
 the cataracts of the Orinoco) form an insulated group, seated 
 on the elevated plains, which separate two great systems of 
 rivers ; the tributary streams of the Essequibo flowing N. E. 
 and those of the Tacutu, Branco, &c. S. W. towards the 
 Rio Negro and Amazon. From the summit of these moun- 
 tains can be seen the spot where the Tacotu and Rapanooni 
 take their rise. The soil here is also of a pure white clay, 
 (not chalk) giving to the Rio Branco and other rivers a milky 
 colour, owing to the quantity of clay therein diffused, and in
 
 »8 POPULATION ; — ITS INCREASE OR DECREASE. 
 
 such a minute state of subdivision as to require several days 
 before the waters vvill become transparent by deposition. In 
 fine, as regards geological science, British Guyana presents 
 a wide field for the geologist, and in reference to the agricul- 
 turist a great diversity of soil, the three leading features of 
 which are first, the clayey alluvial soil of the coast, extending 
 eight to ten miles inland ; second, hills of silicious sand or 
 gravel, which with intervening fertile savannahs extend to 
 the falls fifty miles inland ; third, a rich primitive soil ; and, 
 lastly, a mountainous country, with divers coloured ochres, 
 indurated clays, and various mixtures of loamy earth and 
 vegetable mould on beds of granite to a vast extent, all 
 offering food and the means of obtaining every necessary 
 and comfort of life to the hand of the industrious and skilful 
 emigrant. 
 
 Population. In estimating the population of births and 
 deaths in the African population of the West India Colonies, 
 it must be remembered that the African is as much a stranger 
 to the West India climate and soil as the European is, and, 
 indeed, experience teaches that the superior civilization and 
 food of the European renders him much better enabled to 
 withstand vicissitudes of climate than his dark coloured 
 brethren. The decrease of the African slave population 
 (especially when we consider manumissions, the prevailing 
 disparity of the sexes, and the arts to M'hich the African 
 women resort to prevent their being mothers) is not there- 
 fore to be wondered at, bvit it will be found to be over 
 balanced by the increase of the Creole population, or Colonial 
 born African descendents. 1 am not now necessitated to 
 enter into the question whether a state of slavery in the West 
 India islands has caused a decrease of population or other- 
 wise ; my province is more particularly to detail facts when 
 we have not sufficient means to draw a fair conclusion ; many 
 subsequent tables, therefore, will be considered as data 
 merely — rescued from the oblivion of fleeting and scattered 
 records — and not for the purpose of establishing any precon- 
 ceived theory or foregone conclusion.
 
 TWO COMPARATIVE CENSUSES OF 18^39 AND 1832. 
 
 29 
 
 Summary of the Slave Population of the United Colony of 
 Demerara and Essequiho, from the year 1817 to the year 
 1833, at intervals of three years. 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 
 < 
 
 i 
 < 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (*^ 
 
 <«^ 
 
 
 c 
 
 gj 
 
 
 
 t, 
 
 When Registered. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 >• 
 
 o 
 
 S 
 
 < 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 c 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 > 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 J3 
 
 M 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 < 
 
 u 
 
 h 
 
 S 
 
 < 
 
 a 
 
 K 
 
 ■■A 
 
 S3 
 
 a 
 
 Q 
 
 31st May, 1S17* . 
 
 2r,,72n 
 
 17,046 
 
 15,499 
 
 17,=93 
 
 77.1K* 
 
 46.350 
 
 30,813 
 
 10,379 
 
 7,285 
 
 
 
 
 
 31st May, 1820 . 
 
 24,1^58 
 
 1S,;69 
 
 11,471 
 
 in,67R 
 
 r7.37< 
 
 39,940 
 
 37,436 
 
 9,07s 
 
 881 
 
 
 4,868 
 
 7,1 to 
 
 2,272 
 
 31st May, 1823 . 
 
 21,-67 
 
 i»,4i: 
 
 13,00.1 
 
 20,748 
 
 74,977 
 
 33.605 
 
 38,372 
 
 7.471 
 
 
 5,43.1 
 
 4,.'il2 
 
 7,1S8 
 
 2,675 
 
 SlstMay, 1S26 . 
 
 18,898 
 
 i9.8n(i 
 
 11,592 
 
 21,032 
 
 71 .38-; 
 
 3^,257 
 
 36,125 
 
 6,134 
 
 
 10,40i 
 
 4,494 
 
 7,634 
 
 3,140 
 
 31st May, 1829 . 
 
 16,384 
 
 'M.Thl 
 
 10,.-i43 21.983 
 
 69,46/- 
 
 35,.393 
 
 34,074 
 
 4,S15 
 
 
 16,013 
 
 4,684 
 
 5,731 
 
 1,047 
 
 SlstMay, 1S32 . 
 
 13,519 
 
 20,330 
 
 9,052 
 
 22,166 
 
 65,517 
 
 34,359 
 
 31,1.58 
 
 3,181 
 
 
 
 4,086 
 
 7,016 
 
 2,930 
 
 The two following censuses w 
 I give them as historical recor 
 serve for comparison at a future 
 
 Suainiary of the Slave Population 
 of the united Colony of Demerara 
 and Essequibo, 31st May, 1829. 
 
 African males, 16,384; Creole 
 ditto, 20,757 ; total, 37,141. Afri- 
 can females, 10,343 ; Creole ditto, 
 21,983; total, 32,326 ; i^rand total, 
 registered for 31st May, 1829, 
 69,467. Of whom are males under 
 three years, 2,319 ; females, 2,365; 
 above three, and not above five 
 years, 2,926; between five and ten 
 years, 5,251 ; ten and twenty, 
 13,060 ; twenty and thirty, 9,472 ; 
 thirty and forty, 10,835 ; forty and 
 fifty, 14,856; fifty and sixty, 6,239; 
 sixty and seventy, 1,621; seventy 
 and eighty, 417 ; eighty and ninety, 
 56 ; ninety and a hundred, 8 ; up- 
 wards of 100, 1 ; ages unknown, 
 presumed to be absentees, 41. 
 
 ere made in 1829 and 1832. 
 ds, in order that they may 
 period : — 
 
 Statement of the Slave Popula- 
 tion of the District of Demerara 
 and Essequibo, 31st May, 1832. 
 
 African males, 13,519; Creole 
 ditto, 20,830 ; total males, 34,349. 
 African females, 9,052 ; Creole 
 ditto,22,116; totalfemales,31,I68; 
 grand total registered for 31st IMay, 
 1832, 65,517- Of whom are males, 
 under three years, 1,974; females, 
 ditto, 2,112; above three, and not 
 above five years, 2,744 ; between 
 five and ten, 5,401 ; ten and six- 
 teen, 6,115 ; sixteen and thirty, 
 16,013; thirty and forty, 8,345; 
 forty and fifty, 13,585; fifty and 
 sixty, 7,179 ; sixty and seventy, 
 1,613; seventy and eighty, 363; 
 eighty and ninety, 40; ninety and 
 a hundred, 7 ; aged one hundred 
 and upwards, 2; ages unknown. 
 
 • Between 1817 and 1820 were considerable Importations of Slaves from other Colonies ; some few also between 
 1820 and 1823 ; and afterwards at the Census of 1829, there were of mnles under three years of age, 2,319, of 
 female8i'2,dijb : and in 1832, males, 1,974, females, 2,.'i6o ; thus indicating a rising preponderance in females, the 
 preliminary to au increasing population.
 
 30 
 
 BERBICE SLAVE POFULATION FROM 1817 tO 1831. 
 
 Decrease by death since the pre- 
 ceding Registration — males, under 
 ten years of age, 547; females, 
 ditto, 517; males, between ten and 
 twenty, 214; females, ditto, 195; 
 males, between twenty and thirty, 
 222; females, ditto, 170; males, 
 between thirty and forty, 775 ; fe- 
 males, ditto, 436 ; males, between 
 forty and fifty, 1,129; females, ditto, 
 603 ; males, upwards of fifty, 630 ; 
 females, ditto, 393 ; total, 5,371. 
 
 Births since last Registration — 
 males, under three years, 2,319; 
 females, ditto, 2,365 ; total, 4,684. 
 
 Decrease on the three past years, 
 1,047. 
 
 presumed to be absentees, 24 ; 
 total, 65,517. 
 
 Decrease by death since the pre- 
 ceding Registration — males, under 
 ten years of age, 770 ; females, 
 ditto, 714 ; males, between ten and 
 twenty, 216; females, ditto, 229; 
 males, between twenty and thirty, 
 254; females, ditto, 194; males, 
 between thirty and forty, 637 ; fe- 
 males, ditto, 345 ; males, between 
 forty and fifty, 1,277 ; females, 
 ditto, 622; males upwards of fifty, 
 1,121 ; females ditto, 637; total, 
 7,016. Of whom were Africans, 
 3,850; ditto Creoles, 3,166. 
 
 Births since last Registration — 
 males under three years of age, 
 1,974 ; females ditto, 2,1 12; total, 
 4,086. 
 
 Decrease on the past three years, 
 2,930. 
 
 I have found it difficult to obtain returns of any nature 
 from Berbice ; it is to be hoped that in future the general 
 returns for Guyana will not disappoint the statistician. 
 
 Berbice Slave Population frc 
 
 m 1817 to 1831: 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 01 
 
 ■a 
 
 i 
 
 Increase by 
 Birth. 
 
 Decrease by 
 Death. 
 
 Decrease by 
 Manumis- 
 sion. 
 
 
 (U 
 
 73 
 
 e 
 
 
 01 
 
 •a 
 
 •3 
 
 e 
 
 1817 
 1819 
 1822 
 1825 
 1828 
 1831 
 
 13,802 
 13,327 
 12,007 
 11,423 
 11,358 
 11,020 
 
 10,747 
 
 10,441 
 10,349 
 10,041 
 9,541 
 9.625 
 
 24,549 
 
 23,76s 
 
 22,35(5 
 21,4fi4 
 20,899 
 20,645 
 
 827 
 
 773 
 919 
 820 
 
 822 
 740 
 869 
 770 
 
 1 ,249 
 1,348 
 1,029 
 1,092 
 
 9S7 
 
 1,052 
 
 707 
 795 
 
 3 
 12 
 
 47 
 49 
 
 16 
 20 
 56 
 
 69
 
 CENSUS OF DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO. 
 
 31 
 
 The following Census shews the total Population of Demerara 
 alone, 31st October, 1829. 
 
 "^ rt 
 
 o 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Free Black 
 and Coloured. 
 
 i 
 
 
 (U 
 
 •a 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 6 
 ■3 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 •a 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 From pi. Thomas to pi. Lusignan, parish of 
 
 St. George and St. Mary 
 
 From pi. Annandale to pi. Lancaster, parish 
 
 of St. Paul and St. Mary 
 
 From pi. Cane Grove to Mahaica Village, 
 
 parish of St. Mary 
 
 From Abary to pi. Bath, parish of St. Mary . 
 From pi. La Penitence, including Canal No. 
 
 3, parish of St. Mattliew 
 
 From pi. La Grange to pi. Waller's Delight, 
 
 parish of St. Swithia 
 
 From pi. La Parfait Harmonie to pi. Wales, 
 
 parish of St. Mark 
 
 From pi. Vriesland to Soesdyk, parish of St. 
 
 Mark and part of St. Matthew . . 
 From pi. Sans Souci on the lower side, to 
 
 Dinabuna on the upper, parishes of St. 
 
 Mark and St. Matthew 
 
 From Windsor Forest to Bocrasirie Creek, 
 
 parishes of St. Swithin and St. Luke .. 
 From pi. Zeelugt to Beverhauts, parish of 
 
 St. Luke 
 
 From pi. Mara to pi. Loo, Upper Demerara 
 
 River, parish of St. Luke 
 
 81 
 
 87 
 
 71 
 
 28 
 82 
 
 60 
 32 
 
 23 
 80 
 35 
 31 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 3 
 
 20 
 
 7 
 11 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 23 
 15 
 
 88 
 
 88 
 
 81 
 31 
 
 102 
 
 59 
 
 71 
 
 34 
 32 
 
 46 
 
 23 
 
 29 
 
 67 
 38 
 
 36 
 
 33 
 
 25 
 38 
 
 55 
 25 
 37 
 
 57 
 
 42 
 37 
 
 113 
 
 74 
 
 51 
 44 
 33 
 
 46 
 
 51 
 28 
 45 
 53 
 
 65 
 
 66 
 180 
 
 Hi 
 
 87 
 77 
 
 5f 
 84 
 
 106 
 53 
 82 
 
 110 
 
 153 
 
 154 
 
 261 
 143 
 
 189 
 136 
 129 
 118 
 
 138 
 135 
 140 
 156 
 
 
 662 
 
 110 
 
 772 
 
 463 
 
 617 
 
 1080 
 
 1852 
 
 A similar Return for Essequibo, at the same date, gives 
 the population thus. 
 
 
 14-1 
 
 o 
 
 DISTRICT. 
 
 . 1 Free Black 
 V\mtes. 'and Coloured. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 "3 
 
 S 
 
 "3 
 
 o 
 H 
 
 H 
 ■a 
 a 
 £ 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 (0 
 
 n 
 
 "(3 
 
 1 
 
 ■i 
 
 o 
 
 •3 
 S 
 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 From Fort Island, inclusive of both sides of 
 the river upwards 
 
 Leguan Island and Hog Island, parish of St. 
 Peter 
 
 From pi. Caledonia to pi. Maria's Lodge, 
 parish of St. James 
 
 From Vergeeleegen to Aboeneboenaba, pa- 
 rish of St. John 
 
 From Caro Caro Creek to pi. Hoff Van Hol- 
 land, parish of St. John 
 
 From pi. Alliance to Cattle Town, parish of 
 St. John 
 
 From pi. Tay mouth Manor to Shamrock Hall 
 
 9 
 no 
 
 86 
 33 
 
 54 
 
 63 
 121 
 
 13 
 
 32 
 
 15 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 37 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 142 
 
 101 
 
 46 
 
 66 
 
 100 
 137 
 
 6] 
 
 52 
 
 34 
 
 176 
 
 62 
 
 28 
 29 
 
 58 
 
 51 
 
 37 
 
 186 
 
 66 
 
 38 
 34 
 
 119 
 103 
 71 
 
 362 
 
 128 
 
 66 
 63 
 
 141 
 
 245 
 
 172 
 
 408 
 
 194 
 
 166 
 200 
 
 
 
 
 4/6 
 
 138 
 
 614 
 
 442 
 
 470 
 
 912 
 
 1526
 
 32 
 
 GRAND TOTAL POPULATION IN GUYANA. 
 
 Of Berbice, I can find no similar return ; but the accom- 
 panying shews the 
 
 General Population of Demerara and Essequibo, 3 1st. Oct. 
 1829; and of Berbice, agreeably to Census of 1827, and 
 Slave Registration of 1831. 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Free, Black, 
 
 
 Slaves on the 
 
 
 and Coloured. 
 
 1 
 
 31st May, 
 
 1829. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 "3 
 
 "5 
 
 1 
 
 
 03 
 S 
 
 c3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 ■3 
 
 a 
 
 •a 
 
 •a 
 
 s 
 
 ! S 
 
 
 ^ s 
 
 (K 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 Demerara .. ..662 
 
 no 
 
 7/2 463 
 
 617 
 
 1080 
 
 1852 
 
 
 39,199 
 
 41,051 
 
 Essequibo .. .. ' 4;6 
 
 139 
 
 614 442! 470 
 
 912 
 
 1526 
 
 
 23,553 
 
 25,079 
 
 Total in the Country 1 138 
 
 248; 13861 905 1087 
 
 1992 
 
 3378 
 
 33,833 2S,'869 
 
 62,572 
 
 66,130 
 
 Do. in Geortre Town* 962 
 
 658 I62OI 1625, 2743 
 
 4368 
 
 5988 
 
 3209 3407 
 
 6616 
 
 12,604 
 
 General Total .. 2100 
 
 906 3006 2530 3830 
 
 6360 
 
 9366 
 
 37,092 32,276 
 
 69,36s 
 
 "8,734 
 
 Berbicet •• ..419 
 
 104 523 454j 70/ 
 
 1161 
 
 
 10,098! 9420 
 
 1 
 
 20,418 
 
 22,102 
 
 GrandTotal of Mouths 2519 
 
 1010 
 
 3529 
 
 2984 
 
 4537 
 
 7521 
 
 9,366 
 
 48,090 
 
 41,696 
 
 89.786 
 
 100,836 
 
 General Census and Appraisement of George Town of the 3Ist of October, 
 
 1829. 
 
 
 , .. Free, Black, 
 
 
 
 
 \Miites. and Coloured. 
 
 
 
 
 
 „• 
 
 Appraised 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Value of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lots and 
 
 DISTKICTS. 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 H 
 
 Buildings 
 
 
 •a 
 
 ■5 -j 
 
 E S 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 E 
 
 -a 
 
 ■a 
 e 
 a 
 
 
 
 m 1830. 
 
 Kingston 
 
 66 
 
 es' 134 
 
 158 
 
 277 
 
 435 
 
 569 
 
 /. 508,040 
 
 North Cumingsburg 
 
 117 
 
 85 202 
 
 231 
 
 359 
 
 590 
 
 792 
 
 1,355,350 
 
 South Cumintjsburg, including Company Path 1 
 with respect to Appraisement . . . . J 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 202 
 
 108 310 
 
 375 
 
 630 
 
 1005 
 
 1315 
 
 1,554,340 
 
 Robbs Town 
 
 144 
 
 32 176 
 
 78 
 
 135| 213 
 
 389 
 
 1,069,200 
 
 New Town, including Columbia .. 
 
 52 
 
 21 73 
 
 29 
 
 58 87 
 
 ibo 
 
 362,000 
 
 Stabrook 
 
 81 
 
 69 150 
 
 80 
 
 182 262 
 
 412 
 
 427,350 
 
 Werkcn Rust 
 
 148 
 
 118 266 
 
 316 
 
 495 811 
 
 1077 
 
 778,660 
 
 Cbarlcstown 
 
 86 
 
 84 170 
 
 183 
 
 299' 482 
 
 652 
 
 407,750 
 
 Lacy Town 
 
 60 
 
 73, 139 
 
 175 
 
 308 483 
 
 622 
 
 — 
 
 
 962 
 
 658 j 1 620 
 
 1625 
 
 2743 
 
 4368 
 
 5988 
 
 6,462,692 
 
 t The Population of Berbice in 1764 was whites, 116; male negroes, 
 1308; female ditto, 1307; children, 745; total, 3476.
 
 SLAVE POPULATION IN EACH PARISH. 
 
 33 
 
 The Slave Population in each parish of Demerara and Esse- 
 quibo, 31st May, 1832, was — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Births under 
 3 years of age 
 
 
 
 Parishes. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M lies. 
 
 Fe. 
 
 maJe.' . 
 
 224 
 
 Births 
 percent.* 
 
 Deaths. 
 
 St. Mary . . . 
 
 3,391 
 
 2,907 
 
 6,30! 
 
 237 
 
 ^- 1993 
 ' > 6;i(ii 
 
 Q 1891 
 ^' 6301 
 
 St. Paul . . . 
 
 4,510 
 
 4,26'. 
 
 8,77'- 
 
 300 
 
 338 
 
 »•• .199 
 ' ' 2193 
 
 Q 1081 
 "J 2193 
 
 St. George and "^ 
 St. Andrew J 
 
 3,993 
 
 4,04 ( 
 
 8,032 
 
 280 
 
 297 
 
 _, 1409 
 < ' «*i3.i 
 
 ^ 7769 
 i > SUJi 
 
 St. Matthew . . 
 
 2,934 
 
 2,67( 
 
 5,60- 
 
 iss- 
 
 162 
 
 _ 995 
 •5> 14U1 
 
 11 — 
 I I, 467 
 
 St. Mark . . . 
 
 2,5;( 
 
 2,061- 
 
 4,63c 
 
 ue 
 
 1C& 
 
 oS63 
 4, 46^3 
 
 10,4633 
 
 St. Swithin . 
 
 2,059 
 
 1,851 
 
 3,91( 
 
 10^ 
 
 104 
 
 - ICi 
 '^> 391 
 
 ,„ S07 
 
 St. Luke . . . 
 
 2,930 
 
 2,60f 
 
 5,53.' 
 
 167 
 
 191 
 
 6, "IS 
 
 I 1 , 11U7 
 
 St. Peter . . . 
 
 3,015 
 
 2,87^ 
 
 5,887 
 
 178 
 
 155 
 
 5 ^5 
 
 IS H. 
 
 St. James . . . 
 
 2,126 
 
 2,04 { 
 
 4,166 
 
 8^4 
 
 106 
 
 ■*, 2L.33 
 
 ,„ mi 
 
 »«5, 3U83 
 
 St. John . 
 
 2,471 
 
 2,146 
 
 4,617 
 
 12S 
 
 144 
 
 „ 4115 
 '^» 4617 
 
 11 — 
 1 i, 4ttl/ 
 
 The Trinity . . 
 
 4,347 
 34,349 
 
 3,71*^^ 
 
 8,05i 
 
 224 
 1974 
 
 281 
 211fx 
 
 170.^ 
 
 - 2186 
 O, 8Uo9 
 
 lO ^ 
 
 l^> 8059 
 
 
 31,16t 
 
 65,517 
 
 
 Slaves attached t 
 to Plantations J 
 
 28,08^ 
 
 25,394 
 
 53,477 
 
 155S 
 
 
 Personal and 1 
 Unattached ) 
 
 6,266 
 
 5,774 
 
 10,040 
 
 416 
 
 4o: 
 
 
 
 The native Indians of this coast have long engaged the 
 attention of Europeans, and indeed imperatively call for the 
 protection of the British Government. When this part of the 
 South American continent was first visited by the mariners of 
 the old world it was found densely peopled; but few, alas, 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 Since the Registration of May, 18-9. 
 D
 
 '34 INDIAN TRIBES IN BRITISH GUYANA. 
 
 now remain to indicate the aboriginal inhabitants of a land 
 which the Whites have made their property, — offering a me- 
 lancholy contrast to the progress of European colonization 
 and civilization in the Eastern hemisphere. 
 
 Mr. Fowel Buxton, and his philanthropic coadjutors, are 
 now directing public attention to this humane and indeed im- 
 portant subject ; the following details will therefore be accept- 
 able to all who think it of little consequence whether the 
 image of the Creator be carved in ebony or in ivory, each and 
 all claiming the attention of the philanthropist and christian. 
 
 The principal tribes in and around British Guiana, are the 
 1. Arrawaks, 2. Accawai, 3. Caribisce, 4. Warrows, and 
 5. Macoosies. The first mentioned border on the coast line — 
 the 2nd are removed further inland — and in stature, colour, and 
 some other respects are like the first. The ord. inhabit the 
 upper country between the Essequibo and Cayuny — they are 
 described as having the manliness and intrepidity of all high- 
 land tribes, and as being fairer than the Arrawaks, or low- 
 landers. According to tradition they once inhabited the West 
 India islands ; it is more probable however that the W. I. 
 islands were originally peopled by the Caribisce from the mahi 
 land. The 4th, or Warrows, occupy the coast between the 
 Pomeroon and Orinoko, and are a black short hardy race 
 of fishermen and sailors, subsisting chiefly by boat building. 
 The 5th, or Macoosies, reside in the deep recesses of the 
 forests of the interior, and are numerous, very industrious, 
 extremely cunning, and implacable in their revenge ; pro- 
 bably they ai-e the aborigines of the country, and fleeing before 
 more civilized tribes, as we find to be the case in every part 
 of the Eastern hemisphere. 
 
 It is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate the number of 
 Indians south of the Rippanooney ; about 5000 consider them- 
 selves under the protection of the British Government ; re- 
 ceiving triennial presents and annual supplies ; about 20,000 
 are migratory, unattached to any particular government, and 
 removing at pleasure from the Orinoque to the Brazils, 
 Cayenne, or Surinam, as necessity (i. e. want of food) orincli-
 
 ARRAWAAKS;— THEIR CASTES OR FAMILIES. 35 
 
 nation may dictate, Mr. Hillhouse, ofDemerara, the generous 
 and indefatigable friend of the Indians, to whose philanthropic 
 labours and varied talents I am indebted for the following 
 details of the different nations within our boundary, places 
 them as in the annexed order : — 
 
 1. 
 
 Caribisce, 
 
 5. 
 
 Macusi, 
 
 2. 
 
 Accaway, 
 
 6. 
 
 Paramuni, 
 
 3, 
 
 Arawaak, 
 
 
 Attaraya, 
 
 4. 
 
 Warrow, 
 
 8. 
 
 Attamacka, 
 
 The Arrawaaks, it is justly observed, demand our first 
 consideration, as living within the immediate vicinity of the 
 plantations, being the most civilized, and whose services 
 have been the most frequently required. As we are also most 
 familiar with them, their character will serve as a model of 
 general approximation for all other tribes. 
 
 This nation can furnish about 400 men, all perfectly ac- 
 quainted with the use of fire arms, and particularly serviceable 
 in the intersected country and swamps adjoiningtheplantations. 
 
 They consist of the following families, or castes : — 
 1. Maratakayu, 14. Nebebeetaddy, 
 
 .2. Queyurunto, 15. Seewedey, 
 
 3. Wooneseedo, 16. Jorobalina, 
 
 4. Demaridy, 17. Haduadafunha* 
 
 5. Corobahady, 18. Boerybetaddy, 
 
 6. Wurallikaddy, 19. Caruafuddy, 
 
 7. Ebusuana, 20. Bakurucaddy, 
 
 8. Dacamocaddy, 21. Euboquaddy, 
 
 9. Aramukunyu, 22. Wakuyaddy, 
 
 10. Baboana, 23. Ehbehselio, 
 
 11. Kanahea ] 24. Wareerobaquady, 
 
 Macoveyu, J 25. Aramkritu, 
 
 12. Daharabetady, 26. Kariwhete, 
 
 13. Carabunury, 27. Eubotaddy. 
 
 The cast of blood is derived from the mother, and the 
 family genealogy preserved with the greatest care, as a pre- 
 servative from incestuous intercourse — one family not being 
 allowed to intermarry within itself. The children of the Mara-
 
 56 MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP — PLLRALITY OF WIVES. 
 
 takayu father cannot, therefore, be Maratakayu ; but if the 
 mother be Queyurunto, the children are also Queyurunto, and 
 can marry into the father's family, but not the mother's. 
 
 Marriage is frequently contracted by the parents for their 
 children, when infants. In this case, the young man is bound 
 to assist the family of his wife till she arrives at puberty ; he 
 then takes her where he pleases, and establishes his own 
 household. But young men and women who are free, at a 
 more advanced age, consult their inclinations without any ce- 
 remony beyond the mere permission of the parent, which is 
 never withheld but on account of family feuds. 
 
 Polygamy is allowed and practised by all those who have 
 the means of maintenance for a plurality of wives. This is 
 generally the case with the chiefs or captains, who have some- 
 times three or four wives. All the inconveniences common in 
 Europe, where there are more mistresses than one in the 
 house, are also felt here ; and envy, jealousy, and henpeck- 
 ing, are perfectly understood by their effects in the Arrawaak 
 seraglio. The interference of the husband, with a stout bush 
 rope, is frequently necessary to restore tranquillity, and he is 
 often driven out of the house by the din of domestic warfare.* 
 
 The captain commands the services of the families of his 
 different wives on emergencies ; and, in return, he is re- 
 quired to become the principal in all feuds, and to exercise to- 
 wards them all the rights of hospitality, in their most extended 
 sense. On any scarcity of provisions, or prevalence of sick- 
 ness, all the branches of the family flock to the dwelhng of 
 the chief, and live at his expense, without the least doubt of 
 a welcome. It therefore frequently happens, that the chief 
 is fairly eaten out of house and home, and his cassava field 
 completely exhausted. In this predicament he unties his 
 hammock, puts his family into his canoe, and starts off to pay 
 his round of visits amongst his friends, at whose expense he 
 lives, till his next crop of provisions coming in, enables him 
 to return to his home. The visiting is a complete system, and 
 is always made to occupy three months of the twelve. 
 * Petty family feuds or quarrels are uuknown.
 
 APFEARANCE OF THE ARRAWAAKS. 37 
 
 The Arrawaak, therefore, in preparing his cassava fields, 
 calculates upon provisions for his family and guests for nine 
 months ; and he is never disappointed in the hospitality of his 
 friends for the supply of the other three, although this might 
 be a dangerous experiment in a more civilized community. 
 
 The Arrawaaks seldom more than five feet four inches 
 in height, are stout and plump in proportion, but not mus- 
 cular. Their necks are short, and their ancles, hands and 
 feet, particularly those of the women, remarkably small. The 
 eye slopes upward towards the temples, and the forehead 
 is uniformly lower than that of Europeans. This trait of phy- 
 siognomy may be supposed indicative of inferiority of intel- 
 lect ; but it is incomparably superior to the cranium of the 
 Negro, whose untutored powers of mind are as much inferior 
 to those of the Indian as are those of the latter to the mental 
 calibre of the European. Some of the castes are almost as 
 fair as the Spaniards or Italians*— whilst those who live near 
 the sea are of a very dark brown, sometimes as dark as what 
 is called a yellow skinned negro ; but the straight strong 
 black hair, small features, and well-proportioned limbs, are 
 peculiarities that can never make the Indian be mistaken for 
 the African, even if alike in colour. On the birth of children, 
 the husband, in his hammock receives the congratulations of 
 his friends in due form ; and the women of the village are 
 particularly attentive to the wants of the mother. An Indian 
 will bear any insult or inconvenience from his child tamely 
 rather than administer personal correction ; Mr. Hillhouse 
 strangely, and I think erroneously, asserts, that the conse- 
 quence is, the children do not show one-half of the respect to 
 the parents that the extraordinary aiFection of the latter entitles 
 them to ; there is great paternal, but very little filial afiection. 
 
 A child is named by a pe-i-man, or magician, at any age. 
 An offering of considerable value is necessary on this occa- 
 sion, as, according to the fee given to propitiate the pe-i-man, 
 
 * Dr. Hancock saw some Indian women at the Portug'uese fort on the 
 Rio Branco (within two degrees of the Equator) who kept themselves within 
 doors and did not use the Indian paints ; and, in respect to colour, they 
 might have passed for Europeans.
 
 I&S NATURAL CHARACTER OF THE INDIANS. 
 
 SO is the virtue of his incantations proportioned. An un- 
 named Indian is thought to be the certain victim of the first 
 sickness or misfortune that he may encounter ; — accordingly, 
 only the very poorest of them are without names. They fre- 
 quently take the names of Europeans in addition to their In- 
 dian appellations, more especially when they have been in 
 the habit of receiving obligations from them ; and they fre- 
 quently ask an European to name a child, by which he enjoys 
 the privilege of making an occasional present. 
 
 The secret attachment between the old Dutch proprietors 
 and the Indians, consisted in the colonists taking Indian 
 women for their house-keepers ; and of course acquiring some 
 knowledge of their language, and becoming what may be 
 termed " broomstick relations." The Indian is proud of these 
 connections, and though he makes it a point to tease, harass, 
 and defraud the European usurper, who has no connection 
 with him — yet, the moment a family compact is entered into, 
 and the Indian is addressed in his own language, nothing 
 can exceed his faith, attachment, and honourable conduct to 
 his white relation. His heart opens at once, and instead of de- 
 ceit, suspicion, and distrust, he becomes open and confiding. 
 
 This was common during the time of the Dutch govern- 
 ment ; but, as the taste of the English seems to be directed 
 in a darker channel, the ties of confidence have become en- 
 tirely extinct, and all that the Indian now cares for, is to levy 
 contribvitions on all who are simple enough to pay them. 
 
 Those who live in immediate contact with us, are so de- 
 graded by the practice of all our vices, without any encourage- 
 ment to copy our virtues, that a hvmiane mind is disgusted at 
 the picture. To such, how bitter must be the reflection, though 
 undoubtedly true, that this horrible state of abandonment is 
 entirely caused by our criminal and hard-hearted neglect of 
 the first duties of humanity. The Dutch were angels to us.* 
 
 The Indian, having no inducement to carry on trade or 
 
 ♦ To the labour and industry of the Indians the Dutch were indebted 
 for the success of their early settlements; the exiiuiple of negro slavery 
 must have contributed to bring thcni to their present state.
 
 MODE OF OCCUPATION GREAT HOSPITALITY. 39 
 
 commerce, cultivates, during three or four months, as much 
 provision as is necessary for the consumption of his family 
 during the year. The rest of the time is spent in hunting, 
 fishing, visiting, drinking, and dancing. His life is therefore 
 a life of pleasure; and it is with great unwillingness that he 
 undertakes a superfluous degree of labour, by which he relin- 
 quishes a present enjoyment for the prospect of future provi- 
 sion, about which he has no care. He takes no thought for 
 to-morrow ; Mr. Hillhouse supposes that this is the fault of 
 the climate not of the man, but he should visit Bengal, where, 
 under a similar climate, the thrifty and provident Hindoo 
 accumulates, not merely for the morrow, but for posterity. 
 
 The lex talionis is observed rigidly, and tends greatly to 
 prevent the increase of population ; but, in this respect, the 
 influence of Europeans is productive of the happiest effect : 
 for though an Indian will hear of no com.promise from another 
 Indian in a feud of blood, he will yet faithfully abide by the 
 determination and award of a favourite European, and will 
 consent to a commutation, even for the life of the dearest re- 
 lative, when proposed by his " backra matty." Without this 
 interference, the accidental death of one individual frequently 
 entails destruction on the families of both the slayer and the 
 slain. Most of the blood feuds originate in jealousy and the 
 revenge of connubial injuries, of which they are highly 
 resentful. 
 
 The duties of hospitality are paramount with all barbarous 
 nations. When a stranger, and particularly an European, 
 enters the house of an Indian, every thing is at his command. 
 The women prepare the pepper-pot, and bake a hot cake of 
 cassava bread ; a bowl of caseri is produced, (a fermented 
 preparation from the sweet potatoe,) and the head of the 
 family strives to forestal all his wants. The young men im- 
 mediately leave their hammocks to hunt and fish ; every article 
 of arms or furniture, except the toys of the children, is at his 
 disposal, and he is absolutely oppressed with the kindness 
 of his welcome. This is exceedingly inconvenient in the 
 sequel, because all offices of kindness are supposed to be
 
 40 MORALS — DISTINCTION OF PROPERTY. 
 
 reciprocal. When the Indian pays the white man a visit, the 
 difference in value of his furniture and equipments causes a 
 return in kind to he too expensive. The Indian therefore 
 says, ' When you visit me, I give you every thing I have in the 
 world — but when I visit you, you refuse me the commonest ar- 
 ticles of your daily expenditure :' therefore, though they bow 
 to our acknowledged mental superiority, they despise us for 
 our stinginess and inhospitality ; and while giving us all due 
 credit for the virtues of the head, they say we have *no heart 
 for any thing but money.' They have not a community of 
 goods, — individual property being distinctly marked amongst 
 them ; but this property is so simple, and so easily acquired, 
 that they are perpetually borrowing and lending, without the 
 least care about payment ; and, in the purchase of corials and 
 canoes, their most expensive articles, the buyer is frequently 
 credited, to what we should call a ridiculous extent, especially 
 as there seldom exists the means of enforcing payments. 
 
 It is reckoned highly indecent in the men to caress or notice 
 the women in public ; and our practice in this respect, appears 
 to them highly contemptible. But the Arrawaak, when se- 
 eluded from public observation, exhibits as sincere and unre- 
 served an affection for his domestic connections, as the more 
 civilized of any nation ; and though apt to fly into the ex- 
 tremes of passion, when influenced by jealousy and intem- 
 perance, he is on the whole a good husband and relative, and 
 a most kind and indulgent parent. 
 
 The Indians are considered by many deficient of personal 
 courage. It is true, that being of less stature, and possessing 
 less bodily strength, they are unable to cope equally with Eu- 
 ropeans, or even negroes. However, in wars amongst them- 
 selves, where they are more equally matched, they display a 
 fierce determination that despises all danger ; and their com- 
 bats are always a I'outrance. An Indian, who is deputed to 
 revenge a murder, will follow his enemy for years together, 
 publicly avowing his purpose, which he will not relinquish 
 but with life. Their principle valuable qualities are agihty, 
 dexterity, and the itituitivc tact of tracking, or discovering
 
 VALUABLE QUALITIES — GOOD SOLDIERS AND GUIDES. 41 
 
 footsteps in the bush.* Where an European can discover no 
 indication whatever, an Indian will point out the footsteps of 
 any number of Negroes, and will state the precise day in which 
 they have passed ; and, if on the same day, he will state the 
 hour. In all pursuits of deserters, and reconnoissances of 
 Negro camps, this qualification makes them indispensably 
 necessary, as an expedition without Indian guides has little 
 chance of success. 
 
 The Indians manufacture bows, arrows, hammocks, baskets, 
 canoes, and corials, and apparatus for fishing, with consider- 
 able ingenuity; but, at a certain pitch, their art is stationary, 
 and there does not appear to have been any improvement or 
 new idea struck out in any of these branches, from time imme- 
 morial. This is the case with all barbarous nations till they 
 begin to work the metals ; which material, by its fusion and 
 ductility opens a new train of ideas, and enlarges the field for 
 improvement, ad infinitiim — whereas, in works of wood, bone, 
 or stone, all possible excellence is very soon acquired, and 
 improvement quickly ceases. Their animal perceptions are 
 astonishingly acute ; and their speed in their native woods, and 
 over the most difl[icult ground, far outstrips that of Europeans 
 — few of whom can keep pace with them, even for a short dis- 
 tance. No European march could ever come into competition 
 with the astonishingly rapid movements of the Indian regi- 
 ments in the army of Bolivar. An expedition, composed ex- 
 clusively of Indians, will go over three times the ground in 
 the same time that can be traversed by European troops ; and 
 this superiority of locomotion, renders them more than a match 
 for double their numbers, in their native wilds. They can, 
 moreover, live comfortably where European troops must 
 starve, and they require no commissariat. With 10 lbs. of 
 cassava bread, an Indian can keep the field for three weeks 
 or a month. His gun will be always in order, and his ammu- 
 nition dry and serviceable. It is impossible to surprise him ; 
 
 • Their sense of smell is so great that they will track any animal (man not 
 excepted) by merely smelling the stones or earth on which he may have 
 recently trod.
 
 42 INDIAN COMMLNITIES PETTY REPUBLICS. 
 
 and, with a commander who can keep pace with him, and in 
 wliom he has confidence, the Indian ranger cannot be equalled 
 by the best troops in the known world, for service in a tro- 
 pical region, and under the burning sun of the line. 
 
 Mr. Hillhouse, whose extensive knowledge of the subject 
 entitles his opinions to the vitmost attention, considers the 
 settlement of the Indians as so many petty republics, without 
 any universally acknowledged authority, and he strongly re- 
 commends our pursuing the same line of policy as that of the 
 Spanish missions on the Orinoque ; i. e. placing an intelligent 
 and accomplished European in authority over the Indians, 
 and forming them into military detachments, and establish- 
 ments. To proceed with the Indian's description : — 
 
 The Accawai occupy the country between the rapids and 
 the high mountains of the interior. In the Demerara River, 
 their number is about seven hundred, and in the Massaroony, 
 about loOO. They are not superior to the Arrawaaks in 
 statiu'e, but their skins are of a deeper red, and they are 
 more resolute and determined in their enterprises. They 
 are recognised, at first sight, by a large lump of arnotto, 
 stuck upon their hair over the forehead — with which they 
 paint themselves, both to strike terror, and as a defence from 
 the bite of insects, by its properties. In character they are 
 quarrelsome, warlike, and capable of enduring considerable 
 fatigue and hardship ; but such determined republicans in 
 principle, that it is difficult to preserve subordmation amongst 
 them; and their chiefs have less consideration out of the 
 limits of their family connections, than the chiefs of other 
 tribes. As soldiers, a well-trained body of Accaways would 
 be capable of performing the most desperate enterprises ; but 
 their commander must be endowed with some most peculiar 
 and acknowledged claim to superiority, or they will not yield 
 the least obedience to his authority.* 
 
 The Accaways are dreaded by all the other tribes; and, 
 
 * At the Portuguese fort St. Joaquim, on the Rio Branco or Parima, 
 there are several huiidr. il Indians, some employed as soldiers, others as 
 agriculturists, and many in manufacturing hammocks and cotton cloths.
 
 ACCAWAI — THEIR HABITS, CHARACTER, &C. 43 
 
 wherever they settle, they soon make a clear neighbourhood. 
 They are the pedlars and news-carriers of the whole eastern 
 coast ; and their numbers in the interior being superior to 
 those of all the other tribes together, they could easily sub- 
 due them, were there any thing like union or subordination 
 amongst them ; but, from the want of these, they are con- 
 stantly at war amongst themselves, and the extent to which 
 they carry on the slave trade keeps their numbers from in- 
 creasing, so that the other tribes, under the patronage of the 
 Colonial Government, still preserve their liberty. 
 
 From their constant locomotion, no accurate census can be 
 taken of their number. It differs every year, and every 
 month of the year, so numerous are their expeditions and 
 emigrations to and from the Orinoque, the Brazils, and Cay- 
 enne ; but, wherever they travel, they trade and fight — and 
 the travelling kit of an Accaway Indian is as well calculated 
 to drive a bargain as to sack a village. 
 
 They are fully as improvident and irregular in their habits 
 as the other tribes ; but they calculate their interest to a 
 nicety, and the greatest number of Accaways will always be 
 found where they are best paid, and most encouraged. 
 
 Being as hospitable as they are quarrelsome, an Accaway 
 village is always on the alert, to receive properly either a 
 friend or an enemy ; and, as the sudden and frequent visits 
 of the numbers that are constantly travelling, demands an ex- 
 traordinary supply of provisions, their cultivation is double 
 that of the other tribes. If any period of general truce be 
 allowed amongst them, it is during the dry season, in which 
 they prepare and plant their numerous and extensive fields of 
 cassava. But no sooner have they provided a supply for all 
 goers and comers during the ensuing year, than they set to 
 work manufacturing warlike implements of all kinds; and if, by 
 the sale of a few articles, they can muster a cargo of European 
 goods, and a few fire-arms, they set off to the Spanish or 
 Portuguese frontier, to barter them for dogs, hammocks, &c. 
 
 In these expeditions several families join, as in the cara- 
 vans of Asia — their only care being to supply themselves with
 
 44 DRINKING FESTIVALS OF THE ACCAWAI. 
 
 a good stock of bread ; they tlien march for three days, and 
 halt for two, during which tliey hunt and barbacot (smoke 
 dry) their game, and are in no distress for provisions, for 
 even two or tliree months, which is frequently the duration of 
 their journeys. 
 
 In these marches, when they approach a village, it signifies 
 not of what nation, they prepare to attack it. If it be on the 
 alert, and strong enough to resist, tliey conclude a treaty of 
 commerce, cat together, and trade, without reserve or sus- 
 picion ; but if the place be weak, and the inhabitants off their 
 guard, those who resist are instantly massacred, and the re- 
 mainder become slaves to the victors.* 
 
 Their audacity in these predatory excursions is astonishing. 
 If a party can muster eight or ten stand of fire-arms, it will 
 fight its way through all the mountain tribes, though at open 
 war with them ; and, by the rapidity of their marches, and 
 nightly enterprises, which they call Kanaima, they conceal 
 the weakness of their numbers, and carry terror before them. 
 
 On their return from a successful expedition, they pre- 
 pare for a general and tremendous drinking-match. For 
 several days prior to the piworry feast, all the women in 
 the vicinity are assembled. They sit round a fire, on which 
 the cakes of cassava, made about three-fourths of an inch 
 thick, are baked till they are brown throvighout. Each 
 woman, then moistening her mouth with a little water, chews 
 a piece of bread till it is perfectly saturated with saliva ; she 
 then strains it in her mouth, and spits out the moisture into a 
 vessel in the centre. When a sufficient quantity of this 
 extract is accumulated, w^ater is added, and it is thrown into 
 a hollow tree, or corial, cleaned out for the purpose, which 
 contains two or three hundred gallons. There it is left to 
 ferment ; and as soon as it begins to get sour, the guests as- 
 semble, and for two or three days continue to drink, till the 
 whole supply is exhausted. On the second day's debauch, 
 inebriety is general, and all the consequences then ensue, as 
 
 • The rorlugtiese have abolished the slaverj' of the Indians on Rio 
 Branco.
 
 THE PIWORRY — MODE OF PREPARING IT. 45 
 
 regularly as at an Irish fair. Quarrels, broken heads, pitched 
 battles, incontinence, and frequently murder.* 
 
 During the dry season, the chiefs, or heads of families, 
 exercise more authority than at other periods. The security 
 of a supply of ground provisions for the ensuing year, is a 
 point in which all are concerned, and to this all are bound to 
 contribute to their utmost. The chief, therefore, calls his 
 young men around him, and, selecting a fertile spot, he pro- 
 ceeds with axes and cutlasses to fell the trees with which it 
 is covered, which are left to dry as they fall, and in six or 
 eight weeks they are collected into heaps and burnt. The 
 ashes, forming a strong manure, are mixed up with the soil, 
 and cassava being planted, in nine months the roots are I'ipe 
 for use. A succession of fields are necessary to keep up the 
 supply during the year ; and two crops are all that can be ex- 
 pected from the same field. One Indian will clear, and with 
 his wife, plant two or three acres in as many weeks ; and 
 
 * These orgies are common to all the Iiulian nations, and seem to he 
 their great besetting sin, since numerous feuds and fatal corisequeiices fre- 
 quently ensue, from affronts given or received in these parties ; and 
 it is not improbable that the character the Accavvays have for frequent 
 quarrelling, may originate in the superior excess to which they indulge 
 themselves in these feasts beyond the other nations, who are more moderate 
 in their debauches. The piworry is very diuretic, and, notwithstanding 
 the insensible state of inebriety, brought on by the enormous (juantities 
 of it they imbibe at one sitting, few inconveniences result from it as to 
 health. Now and then a slight fever occurs from exposure to the night 
 air, with the damp earth for a bed ; but its ill efifects bear no comparison 
 with those resulting from the use of rum. The Indian women, by fre- 
 <iuently chewing the piworry, contract a scorbutic redness in their gums. 
 They are frequently annoyed with the tooth-ache, and soon lose their teeth. 
 [The African, Otaheiie, and Sandwich Islands' women are similarly affected 
 from preparing a similar drink, in which millet is used.] 
 
 Throughout all the tribes of Guiana, however differing in habits or 
 language, the devotion to piworry is universal, and its mode of manufac- 
 ture the same. It fills the cup of welcome on the arrival of the stranger, 
 and is the pledge of good wishes on his departure — and, though an Euro- 
 pean stomach may rebel against the mode of its preparation, the rejection 
 of it will, undoubtedly, be resented as an insult to the house and person of 
 the host.
 
 46 AVIT AND MIMICKRY OF THE ACCAWAl. 
 
 seven or eight acres will supply them with a year's food ; so 
 that ten or twelve weeks in the year, is absolutely all that is 
 required for actual labour, and the rest of the time remains 
 for pleasure, hunting, and fishing. 
 
 Those who are lazy or absent upon these occasions, receive 
 most severe chastisement, or are driven out of the village ; and 
 as their natural impatience of restraint frequently provokes 
 the culprit to an insolent retort, when reprimanded, the 
 punishment, which is uniformly inflicted with the moussy or 
 club, is not unfrequently fatal. At other times, this stretch of 
 authority on the part of the chief, would unite all hands 
 against him ; but here they support him from the urgency of 
 the occasion, and his harshness is not resented. 
 
 The Accawai are most determined humourists ; and in 
 their choice of nick-names, by which they all familiarly address 
 each other, they are careful to select some animal, or peculiar 
 part of one, from which they form the most ridiculous com- 
 parison, with some outre quality of the individual.* They do 
 not see an European twice, without affixing to him some 
 ridiculous epithet, most mortifying to his personal vanity. 
 Rank and title have no influence with them in waving this 
 custom ; but even a governor or protector has no benefit from 
 his station, but by being made appear more conspicuously 
 ridiculous. This is very annoying to individuals in authority 
 over them ; but it is meant as a trial of temper ; and, if passed 
 over, or merely laughed at, they yield in return a most prompt 
 obedience, and an alacrity in the execution of the duties re- 
 quired of them, unknown to the other tribes. In fact, the 
 Accawai are more difficult to command by strangers, than the 
 others ; but if they see that you will not be put out of humour, 
 nor lose your self-possession, they will soon evince an aff^ec- 
 tion and devotion, encreasing as they become better acquain- 
 ted with the object of it, and yielding to no instances of 
 European fidelity. But the first impression is with them 
 indelible ; and if it be unfavourable, no conciliatory attempt, 
 
 • This is also the case with the New Hollanders and several African 
 nations I have met.
 
 THE WORALLY POISON — ITS EFFECTS. 47 
 
 or after efforts can efface it. An Accaway, if once a friend, is 
 always a friend ; but, if in enmity with you, he can never be 
 reconciled. With indifferent persons, the Accaways are very 
 Jews at a bargain ; but they will sell to a favourite for one- 
 half what they demand of a stranger, and they seldom pay 
 debts till they are forced to do it. They manufacture the 
 woraly poison, which they use in shooting feathered game, 
 by means of the woody fibre of the centre of the leaf of the 
 palm. This is blown through a long tube often feet, which is 
 also a kind of small palm, hollowed for the purpose, and 
 lined with a hollow smooth reed, called a sodij. The common 
 woraly has little effect upon the larger animals ; but the macusi 
 woraly is sufficiently strong to destroy large animals, and even 
 man. After witnessing various methods of preparation, Mr. 
 Hillhouse is inclined to think that the vegetable extract is 
 merely the medium through which the poison is conveyed — 
 the common woraly owing its poisonous quality to the infu- 
 sion of the large ants, called Muneery, and the stronger kind 
 from the fangs of venomous reptiles, particularly the Coony 
 Coochy, which is the most venomous of all known snakes. 
 
 The Muneery gives the Indians, by its bite, a fever of 
 twelve hours, with the most excruciating pain ; and a decoc- 
 tion of two or three hundred of these, may well be supposed 
 capable of depriving small animals of life. 
 
 The Accaways have not that open and determined deport- 
 ment which characterises the Caribisce ; but they are, un- 
 doubtedly, superior in courage to all the other nations ;* and 
 their great numbers, and constant communication with the 
 interior, renders them the most valuable of all the Indians 
 within the Colonial boundaries. Their numbers can be en- 
 creased at will, by holding out proper inducements; but at this 
 day they are dissatisfied and discontented, and of course 
 daily decreasing. 
 
 The Caribisce occupy the upper part of the rivers Esse- 
 
 • The Accawai and Atoriis bury their dead in a sitting posture in a pot 
 made of clay with a cover j and yet they say that the soul of man dies wiih 
 the body.
 
 48 CARIBISCE OR CARIBS — HABITS AND CHARACTER. 
 
 quibo and Cayuny, being at the extremest verge of the 
 colony, where they retreated on tlie first settlement of the 
 Dutch in the lower Essequibo. They are the most brave, 
 credulous, simple, obstinate, and open in their resentments, of 
 all the Indian nations. Their opinion once formed is never 
 modified by circumstances, and that kind of prudence, deno- 
 minated policy, is unknown to them. They are, in conse- 
 quence, rapidly decreasing ; and though, about twenty years 
 ago, they could muster nearly a thousand fighting men, at 
 this moment Mr. Hillhouse thinks it would be difficult to collect 
 fifty in the whole country below the falls. 
 
 Those that remain have retired so far into the interior, 
 that their services are entirely lost to us ; but they still pre- 
 serve a strong attachment to the colony, and a very slight 
 manifestation of kindness would soon induce them to return. 
 
 The Caribisce differ materially from the Accaways, in that 
 they never go to war for the purposes of traffic, or procuring 
 slaves. Their disputes are either on account of personal 
 affronts, or infringement of territory, and their wars are 
 always wars of extermination. On the Portuguese frontier, 
 they used sometimes make prisoners and sell them ; but with 
 us never, the purchase being prohibited. It was a Caribisce 
 captain, who, on the refusal of a late Governor to accept of a 
 fine slave, immediately dashed out the brains of the slave, and 
 declared, for the future, his nation should never give quarter.* 
 
 The Caribisce have some slight tradition of their having 
 once occupied the Caribbean Islands. This is undoubtedly 
 true, as the names of many rivers, points, islands, &c. both in 
 Trinidad and the Leeward Islands^ are decidedly Caribisce. 
 It may not be improbable, that the difference in the character 
 of the Caribisce, and the Accawai of the present day, may 
 
 • Mr. Hillhouse thinks that to prevent this cruelty, the Governor ought 
 to be empowered to purchase the slave and attach hiin to some public 
 Indian establishment until his labour remunerated the cost of his ransom. 
 Though this system would save some bloodshed Mr. H. will find, on 
 reflection, that it would cause more wars than before, as has indeed been 
 the case throughout the greater part of Africa.
 
 MODE OF LIFE HOUSFS AND FOOD, &C. 49 
 
 originate in the former occupation of the islands by the one, 
 and of the continent by the other — their language being 
 nearly identical, and the Caribisce only distinguished by that 
 independent boldness that characterises all islanders, when 
 compared with the inhabitants of neighbouring continents. 
 
 The houses* of the Caribisce are constructed of two rows 
 of elastic rods, about twenty feet long, stuck firmly in the 
 ground, and bent over at top into the shape of a pointed 
 arch ; the base is about twenty feet, and the whole is covered 
 by the leaves of the palm, laid horizontally from bottom to 
 top. The houses of the Accawai are built either square, like 
 those of the Arrawaaks, or conical, like a bell tent : these are 
 called weemuh, and are very close and warm, being also 
 thatched from the ground to the top, and no aperture for the 
 smoke to escape by, but through the door-way. These 
 weemuh are also used by the Macusi, and several inland 
 tribes. The Caribisce are very indiscriminate in the use of 
 animal food. Nothing comes amiss to them. Tigers, cats, rats, 
 frogs, toads, lizards, and insects, are equally welcome with 
 fish and game. If they shew any predilection, it is in favour 
 of fish. This they catch by stopping creeks at high water, and 
 infusing the hai-arry, or the gonami, in the shallows, the in- 
 toxicating qualities of which cause the fish to rise and float 
 insensible on the surface.t 
 
 They also shoot them with arrows, as they seek their food 
 in the banks of the river ; and this method is peculiar during 
 the rainy season, as then all kinds of seeds and fruits fall in 
 the water from the trees on the margin, and the fish crowd 
 to the sides to devour them. 
 
 In the dry season the fish leave the sides, and are only 
 caught with hook and line in the deeps, except at the falls, 
 where they are shot as they pass and repass. 
 
 * The Caribs alone prefer open land for their habitations, the other 
 nations dwell chiefly in the covered retreats of the forests. Though warlike, 
 they are fond of cultivating land, and disposed to traffic. 
 
 t Vide Vegetable Kingdom for a description of the plan of poisoning the 
 waters, and intoxicating the fish with the hai-arry. 
 
 VOL. II. E
 
 50 THE WAROWS — OR SAII.OKS AND SHIPWRIGHTS OF GUYANA. 
 
 The Warows, inhabiting the Ponieroon coast from Morocco 
 Creek to the Oronoque, are a nation of boat-builders. They 
 are about seven hundred in number, and derive considerable 
 emolument from the sale of their canoes and coi'ials. It is 
 most extraordinary that a maritime nation like ours should, 
 up to this time, have paid no attention whatever to the 
 peculiar and appropriate qualifications of the Warows. 
 
 The mora furnishes excellent crooked timbers, of any di- 
 mensions, and the silvabally is, beyond all known woods, 
 incomparable for planking ships' bottoms, being almost im- 
 pervious to the worm, light, and easily worked. With such 
 materials, and such workmen, as a little instruction would 
 ipake the Warows, Mr. Hillhouse thinks a dock-yard might be 
 established in Pomeroon, adequate to the repairs of all our 
 cruisers in these seas, and at a comparatively trifling expense. 
 
 The large canoes and corials made by the ^^ arows have 
 been known to carry one hundred men and a three-pounder. 
 They are constructed on the best model for speed, elegance, 
 and safety, without line or compass, and without the least 
 knowledge of hydrostatics j they have neither joint nor seam, 
 plug nor nail, and are an extraordinary specimen of untaught 
 natural skill. These crafts are almost exclusively monopolized 
 by the Spaniards, who, according to the above-named authority, 
 do not scruple to take them by force, wherever they find them, 
 at their own price, though made within the British boundary.* 
 They fit them out as launches, and in this state they are 
 admirably adapted for privateering, and even piracy. This 
 practice ought, certainly, to be prevented, as it is both our 
 interest and duty to protect the property of the Warows 
 within our territory, and the craft itself is highly useful for 
 colonial purposes.-}" 
 
 The Warows frequently hire themselves as sailors in the 
 
 ♦ I trust this systfim has heen put a stop to. R. M. M. 
 
 t Of late years, the Warows have suffered dreadfully from measles and 
 small-pox, which last, Mr. Hillhouse says, has been entirely owing to the 
 neglect of their protectors, in not spreading the vaccine virus at a time 
 when the other tribes were saved by the inoculation.
 
 THEIR PRINCIPAL RESOURCES : — THE ETA. 51 
 
 colony crafts ; and, in the Oronoque, they compose the ma- 
 jority of the crews of the feluccas and launches. They 
 speedily acquire a practical knowledge of navigation ; and, 
 being expert fishermen, soon become good sailors, and con- 
 sequently are ill adapted for land service. 
 
 My informant says they are drunken, quarrelsome, and in- 
 subordinate, and have little taste for agriculture — their food 
 being principally fish, of which they will devour, at a meal, 
 sufficient for three moderate Europeans ; and they will ally 
 themselves indiscriminately to M'hites, negroes, or mulattos. 
 
 Like their European sea brethren, they would become rich 
 from their trade in corials, but that they soon dissipate the gains 
 of their industry. One month they will be seen gaily dressed, 
 and elevated with good living, and the next they will be 
 starving, and working harder than any slaves, in the formation 
 of craft, for a fresh supply. This improvidence, however 
 inconvenient to themselves, is, nevertheless, capable of being 
 turned to good account by an intelligent Government, and 
 becomes an unceasing spur to their industry. 
 
 The climate being peculiarly sultry on their strictly-wooded 
 coast, is also particularly infested with musquitoes. To re- 
 medy these inconveniences, they smear themselves profusely 
 with the oil of the carapa, and this renders their skins so 
 dark, that, but for their hair, they might be mistaken fre- 
 quently for yellow-skinned negroes. 
 
 The eta tree (mauritia) is the grand succedaneum of, and 
 is almost adored by, the Warows (as the cocoa nut is by the 
 Maldive fishermen in the Indian Ocean). The fruit tastes 
 like cheese, and is eaten with the pith, manufactured into a 
 kind of cake of the consistency of sago. The young leaf is 
 woven into hammocks, ropes, and baskets. The old leaf 
 thatches the house. The trunk, split up, encloses it, and 
 makes the floor. The pith of the large arm of the leaf, split 
 longitudinally, makes a sail for the corial ; and, by raising 
 the fibres of the arm, and placing a bridge under, they make 
 a rude kind of viol, to the music of which thev dance.
 
 52 THE MACOUSI — THEIR CHARACTER AND HABITS. 
 
 They barbacot* and salt great quantities of the querry- 
 man, (genus miigil,) with which they traffic on the coast, and 
 sometimes as far as town. 
 
 The Warows, though deficient in the requisite quaUfica- 
 tions for service by land, are yet equally valuable with the 
 other nations, as they occupy a tract of land otherwise unin- 
 habitable, and thus form a barrier to the emigration of 
 fugitives westward. In their present neglected state, their 
 point of peculiar excellence is overlooked, and of no advan- 
 tage to us ; but there is no doubt that, at some future day, 
 we shall find it necess.iry to husband them with our other 
 neglected resources ; and the benefit to be derived from so 
 doing is manifest. 
 
 The Macousi. These Indians are little known. Dr. 
 Hancock, whose extensive knowledge of Guyana is highly 
 appreciated, says, he found the Macousi a very numerous 
 tribe, inoffensive and hospitable, and more industrious and 
 provident than their neighbours, and the only tribe, except- 
 ing the Accawai and distant Torumas, independent of the 
 Caribs, whose warlike spirit and rapacity have almost annihi- 
 lated the other tribes. Dr. H. says, that they are continually 
 subject to civil broils, by reason of the strange custom of 
 selling their own people, and even relations, as slaves. When 
 a Macousi dies, his wife and children are at the disposal of 
 the elder surviving brother, who may sell or kill them at his 
 pleasure. Mr. Hillhouse says, they are timid, taciturn, 
 obedient, and tolerably industrious; but deficient in stature 
 and personal strength, being of a yellower cast than the 
 Accawai, whom otherwise they somewhat resemble. Having 
 
 * Amonacst all the tribes of Indians, the virtues of the pyroligneous acid 
 has been acknowledged from time iinineniorial. There being many kinds 
 of meat that will not imbibe salt with sufficient rapidity in this climate to 
 prevent speedy putrefaction, they prepare a stage, under which they make 
 a clear wood fire, and laying fish, flesh or fowl upon the stage, twelve 
 hours' smoking will preserve it for several weeks. This is called * barba- 
 coting.'
 
 PARAMUNI — ATTARAYA, AXD ATTAMACKA INDIANS. 53 
 
 little courage, they resort to artifice in self-defence, and they 
 have the general character of poisoners and assassins. 
 
 Paramuni — Attaraya — Attamacka. These three na- 
 tions, with several others, reside far in the interior, and are 
 little known. They may be called mountaineers, and have all 
 the propensities peculiar to highlanders, being always at war, 
 or engaged in predatory expeditions. 
 
 All the information we possess concerning them is derived 
 from the Accawai, who sometimes purchase their slaves ; 
 but they are described by them to be warlike and ferocious, 
 and determined against the admission of any white person 
 into their country. However true this may be, it is certain 
 that no European has ventured yet beyond their boundary ; 
 and even the accounts given of them by the fathers of the 
 missions, are equally founded on report alone. It is remark- 
 able, that even these Indians, who are, undoubtedly, the 
 most likely to incur the charge, have never been suspected 
 or accused by the other nations of cannibalism; and Mr. 
 Hillhouse asserts that, in all his transactions with the different 
 tribes, he has never met with any trace or fact to justify such 
 a supposition. It is true the Caribisce make flutes of the 
 thigh-bones of their enemies ; but they abhor the idea of 
 either eating their flesh or drinking their blood, and this 
 abhorrence is general. 
 
 There are six protectors of Indians in British Guyana, 
 under whom are six postholders and assistants, on the dif- 
 ferent rivers. The postholders receive each £158 a year 
 and a house ; their assistants each £72 per annum. The 
 protector's duty is to overlook that of the postholders in the 
 performance of their duties, to endeavour to make peace 
 between the Indian tribes when at war, and to transmit 
 quarterly returns to the Lieutenant-Governor, They receive 
 no salary, and are generally merchants and planters along 
 the coast. The postholders are instructed to keep their 
 posts or stations in good order — to attach the Indians to 
 their posts — to prevent, as far as in them lies, quarrelling or 
 fighting between the tribes — to obtain passes, signed by the
 
 54 
 
 SCALE OF LIFE AND OCCUPATION IN GUYANA. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor or Protector of Indians, from all per- 
 sons passing the station, and to give in quarterly returns of 
 all occurrences at their posts. It is to be feared that the 
 lowness of the salary, and the want of vigilant superintend- 
 ence by the chief authorities, have caused this otherwise 
 excellent plan to be of little utility in practice. 
 
 I trust that these statements will have some effect in in- 
 ducing attention to the state of the native aboriginal popula- 
 tion in British Guyana.* 
 
 * According to the testimony of Mr. Hillliouse, who has resided in the 
 West Indies for many years, the following is the scale of life or occupation 
 of the year, from the line to the 20 of N. Lat. I give it as the production 
 of an analytical mind, without vouching for its infallibility. 
 
 
 i 
 
 (U 
 
 a 
 
 n 
 
 C 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 
 Co 
 
 S 
 
 m 
 
 
 s 
 
 INFERENCES, REMARKS, and DESTINATION. 
 
 
 
 
 
 «M 
 
 «t-4 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 03 
 
 ai 
 
 (A 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 >. 
 
 k. 
 
 >. 
 
 >. 
 
 >> 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 IS 
 
 OS 
 
 te 
 
 ct 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 » 
 
 O 
 
 R 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 He generally keeps the Sabbath, and retires to 
 
 English 
 
 200 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 35 
 
 Bath or Cheltenham a wealthy and superan< 
 nuated invalid. 
 Drinking his whiskey punch at night, and living 
 
 Scotch 
 
 265 
 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 
 otherwise poorly, to shine hereafter in Auld 
 Reekie. 
 
 Irish 
 
 200 
 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 65 
 
 Werk-en-Rust.t 
 
 French 
 
 200 
 
 
 40 
 
 10 
 
 .. He buys a title and estate in Flanders, or dies 
 from drinking: sour claret. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 He drinks drams, from sun-rise to breakfast, sys- 
 
 Dutch 
 
 225 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 100 
 
 tematically — and modifies the miasma without 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 detriment to his business or constitution. 
 
 German 
 
 2-5 
 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 20 
 
 A Lordship on the Rhine. 
 
 Spaniard . . 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 135 
 
 Attached to the soil, from whence he never re- 
 moves. 
 
 Mulatto . . 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 50 
 
 C5 
 
 50 
 
 "] A premature death from drunkenness or its con- 
 
 Mestize 
 
 100 
 
 125 
 
 25 
 
 50 
 
 65 
 
 • sequences, united to the evils of constant 
 
 Indian 
 
 PO 
 
 150 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 25 
 
 J poverty and want. 
 
 Free Negro. . 
 
 50 
 
 150 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 95 
 
 Dies at an advanced age from want. 
 
 Negro Slave . 
 
 250 
 
 30 
 
 25 
 
 10 
 
 50 
 
 After ten or fifteen years of invalided ease, he dies 
 of old age having never known want. 
 
 If the European attains independence, his constitution is so much shat- 
 tered that he is unable to enjoy it. The life of the Creole Spaniard ap- 
 pears the pleasantest — and that of the Negro Slave of the best moral and 
 political tendency. 
 
 The intemperance of the European is frequent, but not excessive or of 
 long duration — but of the others, though seldom indulged in, it is more 
 prolonged and desperate. 
 
 t The Burial Ground.
 
 LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN GUYANA. 55 
 
 Language. The principal language in British Guyana is, 
 of course, English ; but the Dutch colonists still keep up, as 
 much as possible, a knowledge of their mother tongue, which 
 is the more necessary, as many of their hereditary rights and 
 deeds of property are in that language. The negroes speak 
 (as is the case in all our ci-devant slave colonies) a mixed 
 jargon of English and African words, according to the part 
 of the coast from whence they emanate. Of the language of 
 the Arrawaaks, Accawai, Caribisce, &c. little seems to be 
 known ; and the dialects of the Indian nations east of the 
 Andes appear not to have been known even by the profound 
 Humboldt. An extraordinary dissimilarity is observable 
 between the languages and dialects of the natives of Mexico 
 and Peru, and those of British Guyana and the whole east 
 coast of the South American continent — as much so, indeed, as 
 between the Indians of Canada and the other northern states, 
 when compared with those of the southward. The Indians 
 of Guyana do not appear to have any hieroglyphical cha- 
 racters to express their ideas, nor, though possessing a rude 
 knowledge of astronomy, any symbolic almanac, as their 
 brethren on the west of the Andes have. Owing to the great 
 variety of animated nature and of the vegetable kingdom, the 
 language of the Indians is extremely copious. Mr. Hillhouse, 
 to whom I am indebted for the following vocabulary of the 
 four principal nations in British Guyana, says, that the 
 Arrawaak has at least some claim to harmony and expression.* 
 
 Whether the whole of the languages spoken on the east 
 side of the Andes be not merely dialects of the principal 
 language (Caribisce), is worth consideration. Mr. Hillhouse 
 thinks that the Caribisce, Arrawaak, and Warow, all materially 
 differ in their composition, and never run into each other; 
 while the similarity between the tongues of the Caribs and 
 
 * The Lord's Prayer in the Arrawaak language is thus given by Mr. Hill- 
 house: — Kururumanny — haamary caleery oboraady — bachooty deweet 
 boossa — baynse parocan bayin so pareeka— yahaboo ororoo adiako — rae- 
 heracheh beyn dacotooniah — Ebehey nebehedow wakayany odomay — 
 Mayera toonebah dayensey — Boboro talidey. — Hedoua'xney.
 
 56 
 
 THE FOUR INDIAN LANGUAGES OF GUYANA. 
 
 Accaways is accounted for by the former calling the latter a 
 brother nation, as the English would do the Americans. With 
 the view of stimulating further inquiry, I give the annexed 
 
 Vocabulary of Eighty-two Nouns and Numerals in the 
 Four Indian Languages of British Guyana. 
 
 Note. — Where the Aceaway and the Caribisce are exactly the same, one is omitted. The 
 vowels have mostly the broad accent. 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 ARRAWAAK. 
 
 ACCAWAI. 
 
 CARIBISCE. 
 
 WAROW. 
 
 Man 
 
 Wadeely, 
 
 VVeenow, 
 
 
 Neebooroo. 
 
 Woman, 
 
 Hearoo 
 
 Ebooetey, 
 
 Woorey, . . 
 
 Teeda. 
 
 Boy, .. 
 
 Eluuchy, 
 
 Weenofutoonoli, 
 
 Meh, 
 
 Noboto. 
 
 Girl 
 
 Heariaaza, .. 
 
 Yemooricoh, . . 
 
 Yemooroh, 
 
 Annebacka. 
 
 Old Man. . . 
 
 Habettoo, 
 
 Tompoco, 
 
 . . 
 
 Edamoo. 
 
 Old Woman,. . 
 
 Daaca Tay 
 
 Wabotorey, 
 
 Peepeh, '. . 
 
 Natweet. 
 
 Brother, 
 
 Dalookeytchey, 
 
 Sayowa 
 
 Seewoh, .. 
 
 Daheyey. 
 
 Sister,.. 
 
 Dayoodaata, 
 
 Yeynootey, 
 
 Wahwah, . . 
 
 Daakooey. 
 
 Uncle, 
 
 Dadayinchy, 
 
 Vaaooh, 
 
 Yaawooh, . . 
 
 Daatoo. 
 
 Aunt 
 
 Daarey, 
 
 Waapoh, 
 
 
 Daakatey. 
 
 Cousin, 
 
 Daooenchy, 
 
 Baatomoh, 
 
 
 Hesenga. 
 
 Grandfather, 
 
 nadookootchy. 
 
 Taamoh, 
 
 Taamcoh, . . 
 
 Nobo. 
 
 Grandmother, 
 
 Daacootuh 
 
 Peepeh, . . 
 
 
 Naatu. 
 
 Grandchild, . . 
 
 Daalekenchy, 
 
 Eupaarey, 
 
 
 Naatoosenga. 
 
 Head 
 
 Daaseye, 
 
 Eupopo,. . 
 
 Eubooboh, 
 
 Maquaw. 
 
 Neck 
 
 Daanooroo 
 
 Yewasacorooey, 
 
 Yenasally, 
 
 Mahaabey. 
 
 Eyes 
 
 Daacousy, . . 
 
 Yenooroo, 
 
 
 Maamu. 
 
 Nose, . . 
 
 Daseery, 
 
 Yenatarry, 
 
 
 Mayhecaddy. 
 
 Mouth, 
 
 Daleeroko, . . 
 
 EubotaiTy, 
 
 Endarry, . . 
 
 Maroho. . 
 
 Hair, .. 
 
 Uabarra, 
 
 Eyunsettey, . . 
 
 Eusettey, . . 
 
 Maaheo. 
 
 Ears 
 
 Dadeehy 
 
 Paanarrey, 
 
 
 Mahohoko. 
 
 Arms, . . 
 
 Daadenaina, 
 
 Yaboorey, 
 
 
 Mahaara. 
 
 Hands, 
 
 Daacabboo, .. 
 
 Yeynarroo, 
 
 Yenarry, . . 
 
 Maamuhoo. 
 
 Fingers, 
 
 
 Yeynai-oo- \ 
 seeteireh, J " ' 
 
 Yenarry \ 
 etecdeh, J 
 
 Mamuhoo. 
 
 Bones, 
 
 Daaboonah 
 
 Yelipoh 
 
 
 Moohu. 
 
 Skin 
 
 Daada, 
 
 Eupeehpoh, 
 
 
 Mahoro. 
 
 Flesh, . . 
 
 Daseeroquaw, 
 
 Paacah 
 
 Eubonoh, . . 
 
 Matoomuh. 
 
 Back, . . 
 
 Dahaborooh, 
 
 Yaabooh, 
 
 Enganarry, 
 
 Maahuh. 
 
 BeUy, . . 
 
 Daadeybayou, 
 
 Youcniboo, 
 
 Eueuboh, .. 
 
 Moboonuh. 
 
 Breast, 
 
 Dalouasebou, 
 
 Epopooruh, 
 
 Epoboroh,. . 
 
 Maameyhoo. 
 
 Thighs, 
 
 Dabookeesa, 
 
 Eiipatooh, 
 
 Eupeeteh, . . 
 
 Marolo. 
 
 Legs 
 
 Uadaanah, . . 
 
 Eu.sairuh, 
 
 Euseedeh,.. 
 
 Maahah. 
 
 Feet, .. 
 
 Daaeooty, . . 
 
 Eubcbooruh, . . 
 
 Pobooroh, . . 
 
 Moomoo. 
 
 Blood, 
 
 Cooreesa 
 
 Mooenooroh, . . 
 
 
 Hotuh. 
 
 Fire 
 
 Ikhe-kee, 
 
 Waatuh, 
 
 
 Ikkoonub. 
 
 Wind, •) 
 Air, ; 
 
 Awadooley, . . 
 
 Pepcytoh, 
 
 
 Ahaaka. 
 
 Water, 
 
 Wunney-yabbo, . . 
 
 Toonah,.. 
 
 Tooniah, .. 
 
 Ho. 
 
 Earth, 
 
 Ororoo 
 
 Eetoh, .. 
 
 
 Hotah. 
 
 Sky 
 
 Ooraroo, \ 
 Casaako, J ' " 
 
 Caaboh,.. 
 
 
 Nahaamootuh. 
 
 Bow, .. 
 
 Semaara-haaba, . . 
 
 Ooreybah, 
 
 
 Ataboroo. 
 
 Arrow, 
 
 Semaara, 
 
 Poolevvah, 
 
 
 Ataboo. 
 
 Bow-string, . . 
 
 S. h.Tecmy, 
 
 Labarey \ 
 om notch, J " ' 
 
 Ooreybah \ 
 amootch, J 
 
 A. Ahootuh, 
 
 Hammock, . . 
 
 Daacorah 
 
 Eubaatey, 
 
 
 Hah. 
 
 House, 
 
 Baachch, 
 
 Yeowteh, 
 
 
 Hanooko. 
 
 Corial, 
 
 Coriaal, 
 
 Cooriaala, 
 
 
 Wayeybacka. 
 
 Paddle, 
 
 Nahaaley, . . 
 
 Abagoeta, 
 
 
 Haaheh. 
 
 Buck-Pot, . . 
 
 Uawadda, . . 
 
 Toomaycng, . . 
 
 Toomaany, 
 
 Hahlah. 
 
 Knife,.. 
 
 Eadawalla, . . 
 
 Mareea, . . 
 
 
 Daabo. 
 
 Hook,.. 
 
 Bodeyhey, . . 
 
 Kehweey, 
 
 Kuhweh, . . 
 
 Osceebokay. 
 
 Calabash, . . 
 
 Eweedah, 
 
 auala-y,.. 
 
 
 Vlatalu. 
 
 Club 
 
 Moossy, 
 
 Eubodooroh, . . 
 
 Pooduh, .. 
 
 Dooseh. 
 
 Beads. 
 
 Coraai-a, 
 
 Casooroh, 
 
 
 Naasccy.
 
 RELlcaON EDUCATION AND THE PRESS. 
 
 57 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 ARRAWAAK. 
 
 ACCAWAI. 
 
 CARIBISCE. 
 
 WAROW. 
 
 Cloth 
 
 Careniarry, . . 
 
 Tebooroh, 
 
 Cameesa, .. 
 
 Heakaarah . 
 
 Sugar, 
 
 Secaruco, 
 
 Asekara, 
 
 
 Secaramutuh. 
 
 Salt 
 
 Pamoo, 
 
 Waaeyu, 
 
 
 Bam. 
 
 Pepper, 
 
 Haatchey, .. 
 
 Pooeymuy, 
 
 Poomeh, . . 
 
 Hooka. 
 
 Gun 
 
 Aracaboosa,.. 
 
 Arakoobsa, 
 
 
 
 Powder, 
 
 Culbara, 
 
 Culbara, 
 
 
 Henehbwah. 
 
 Shot 
 
 Bala 
 
 Peeroto, 
 
 Beerotoh, . . 
 
 A. Amu. 
 
 Tobacco, 
 
 Yeury, 
 
 Taamooy, 
 
 Taamuh, . . 
 
 Aoha. 
 
 Sun, .. 
 
 Hadalley, .. 
 
 Weeyeyu, 
 
 
 Yah. 
 
 Moon, 
 
 Kaatchey, . . 
 
 Noonoh, 
 
 
 Waanehuh. 
 
 Stars 
 
 Weewah, 
 
 Eeremah, 
 
 Seereguh, . . 
 
 Koorah. 
 
 Rain 
 
 Wunney, .... 
 
 Konobo, 
 
 
 Naahaa. 
 
 Wind,.. 
 
 Awadooley, . . 
 
 Pepeytoh, 
 
 Beybeytuh, 
 
 Ahaaka. 
 
 Thunder, 
 
 Acoollia cally. 
 
 Gonomaru, 
 
 
 Nahaa. 
 
 Lightning;, . . 
 
 Beylebeleero, 
 
 Cabeyta, 
 
 
 Abeylebeyleh. 
 
 Hills 
 
 Ororoo-Ayumuntuh, 
 
 Wooeybooey, . . 
 
 Wooboh, .. 
 
 Hotaquay. 
 
 Woods, 
 
 Konoko, 
 
 Eetoh 
 
 
 Daunah. 
 
 Rocks, 
 
 Seeba, 
 
 Toeboh,.. 
 
 
 Hoeyu. 
 
 Sand 
 
 Murtooko, .. 
 
 Sacow, . . 
 
 
 Kahemrah. 
 
 Islands, 
 
 Kai-eery, 
 
 Paah-oh, 
 
 Paahuh, . . 
 
 Bulohoh. 
 
 One, .. 
 
 Abaaru 
 
 Tegeenah, 
 
 
 Hesacha. 
 
 Two 
 
 Bcama, 
 
 Asagreh, 
 
 
 Monamu. 
 
 Three,.. 
 
 Cabooin 
 
 Osorwoh, 
 
 
 Deeanamu. 
 
 Four 
 
 Bee-y-beech, 
 
 Asagreyney, . . 
 
 
 Munebee-nahatakanuh. 
 
 Five, .. 
 
 Aba dacabbo. 
 
 Togeneh sell, . . 
 
 
 Mahabass. 
 
 Six 
 
 Aba temainy. 
 
 Meah daroy, . . 
 
 
 Mohomatuna-hesecka. 
 
 Seven, 
 
 Beama temainy, . . 
 
 Yacombeh, 
 
 
 
 Manam. 
 
 Eight,.. 
 
 Cabooin temain, .. 
 
 Tosorwa-nobeh, 
 
 
 
 Deeanamu. 
 
 Nine, . . 
 
 Beeybeech temain. 
 
 Yacombeh-nelly 
 
 
 
 Nahatakanuh. 
 
 Ten, . . 
 
 Beama dacabbo, . . 
 
 Yuma-cawuh,.. 
 
 
 Mooreycooyt. 
 
 Religion, Education, and the Press. — Throughout the 
 West India Colonies considerable efforts have been made by 
 the local governments and legislatures, for several years back, 
 to promote religion and education ; and by none more so than 
 Guyana ; in Demerara and Essequibo (independent of Ber- 
 bice) there are attached to the Established Church of England, 
 seven rectors and one curate ; to the Church of Holland, two 
 ministers ; to the Church of Scotland, five ministers ; and to 
 the Roman Catholic Church, two priests ; twelve catechists, 
 or schoolmasters, one being attached to each parish church 
 of the English and Scotch persuasion ; besides four schools 
 in George Town for free boys and girls, and slave boys and 
 girls, to which there are two masters and two mistresses. 
 The annual sum paid to the clergymen,* catechists, school- 
 masters and mistresses, from the colonial fund, amounts to 
 135,450 guilders, equal to about £10,000 : in addition to this 
 
 * The fixed salaries, independent of contingents and the rectors, are 
 6000 guilders, or ,£500. sterling a. year : — the Roman Catholic clergyman 
 is placed on the same footing as the clergy of the Established Church, ov 
 those of the Dutch or Scotch persuasion.
 
 58 COLONIAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 sum, there have been expended, between the years 1824 and 
 
 1831, upwards of 350,000 guilders, equal to about £26,000, 
 on the building of churches and parsonages ; independently 
 of which, large sums have voluntarily been contributed by 
 individuals for that purpose. On the estimate for the year 
 
 1832, a suni of 200,725 guilders, equal to £14,337, was placed 
 for the support of the establishment for that year alone. 
 
 Let it be remembered that these expenses are borne solely 
 by the inhabitants, by taxes levied on them by the Court of 
 Policy, combined with the financial representatives of the 
 community. In Berbice there were, in 1831, three places of 
 worship capable of holding 1,000 persons; and the usual 
 congregation is 800. There are two public or free scliools, 
 with 155 male and 147 female scholars. 
 
 The press has made as much progress as could be expected 
 in a community where the cultivation of the land and propor- 
 tion of its products forms the chief object of men's attention. 
 
 There are two well conducted newspapers, a very good 
 almanac, the printing of which would not be discreditable to 
 a London typographer ; and several local works printed in 
 Demerara shew that the mighty engine of civilization, by 
 which I trust its blessings will be extended and perpetuated, 
 is making progress on the continent of South America. 
 
 Among the English Colonists the Episcopalian is the prin- 
 cipal creed, and each parish has its rector, under the diocese 
 of Barbadoes ; the Dutch have their Lutheran church and 
 minister, the Romish their chapel and minister, all paid (as I 
 before said) and supported by the colony; and there are 
 several active and useful missionaries endeavouring to instil 
 Christianity into the negro population. Of the creed of the 
 Indians we know little. Mr. Hillhouse says that they acknow- 
 ledge the existence of a superior divinity, the universal 
 Creator ; and most tribes also believe in a subservient power, 
 whose particular province is the protection of their nation. 
 Amongst the Arawaaks, Aluberi is the supreme being, and 
 Kururumanny the god or patron of the Arawaak nation. 
 
 Woorecaddo and Emehsewaddo are the wives of Kururu-
 
 CARIB IDEAS OF THE SUPREME BEING. 59 
 
 manny — one signifying a worker in darkness, and the other 
 the couchy, or large red ant, that burrows in the earth ; toge- 
 ther, they are typical of the creation of all things out of the 
 earth in the dark. 
 
 The Caribisce and Accawai call their god Maconaima, 
 also signifying one that works in the dark. Their idea of 
 the creation is, that coeval with Maconaima was a large tree, 
 and that, having mounted this tree, with a stone axe he cut 
 pieces of wood, Avhich, by throwing into the river, became 
 animated beings. The details of this tradition are nearly as 
 absurd and obscene as the mythology of the Hindus — they 
 are, however, sufficiently indicative of the acknowledgement 
 of a supreme being. Mr. Hillhouse thinks the Indians have, 
 undoubtedly, a religious principle amongst them ; but, as they 
 have no priesthood, and no form of worship, it degenerates, 
 as with all ignorant minds, into superstition and a belief in 
 magic. I learn from Dr. Hancock that the Accaways are in 
 perpetual fear of evil spirits, whom they consider night 
 murderers, that continually lie in wait to entrap and destroy 
 them ; the Accaways are in fact real vassals to a fancied 
 daemonocracy. 
 
 The great and just Creator is believed to be incapable of 
 wantonly afflicting the works of his hands ; and, as his power 
 and unearthly nature places him above the requisition of 
 services from mortals, they conceive that prayers or adoration 
 are superfluous — his will being independent of the wants or 
 caprices of mankind. They laugh at the idea of the supreme 
 power being propitiated by the supplications of individual 
 interest, because they say he is supremely just, and that if he 
 hears the prayer of one, he is bound to hear all; and, as the 
 interests of one individual are always interfering with the 
 interests of others, so, to prevent unjust precedence, he will 
 be influenced by no supplications, but execute his own will, 
 without deigning to consult that of mortals. 
 
 The Indians of the Spanish missions of the Oronoque, who 
 are of the same nation as ours, believed, that the object of 
 the fathers in confessing, was to obtain a knowledge of their
 
 60 ASCENDENCY OF THE INDIAN PE-I-MEN OR PRIESTS. 
 
 pecuniary means, in order to lay them under more effectual 
 contribution. As to absolution, they thought the idea of a 
 delegation of such a power to mortals, was too absurd to be 
 worthy even of dispute ; but they readily, from their belief in 
 magic, subscribed to the virtues of the rosary, beads, amulets, 
 and relics. Matins, vespers, and houris, were considered as 
 incantations, and efficacious in expelling the evil spirit; and 
 to this hour, the Spanish Indians of the Orinoco, who all 
 wear the cross, and denominate themselves " good Catholics," 
 chaunting their services morning and evening, have no other 
 idea of a religious principle, than that the performance of 
 these ceremonies gives them a chai'med existence. 
 
 It is true these Indians are more sober and industrious 
 than any of ours ; but this arises from the circumstance of 
 their having been long congregated in towns and villages, and 
 subjected to the municipal guardianship of the local autho- 
 rities. The Spanish missions evidently began at the wrong 
 end — but, even under this great disadvantage, the Indians 
 slowly improved under their care, from the example of their 
 regularity and discipline, and an exemplification of the su- 
 perior comforts of a state of society. 
 
 The evil spirit is believed to be the author of all the 
 miseries that afflict humanity: every idea of terror is attached 
 to this power of darkness ; and the pe-i-man, who claims the 
 qualification of an exorcist, is regarded with the greatest con- 
 sequent reverence and respect. The ascendancy exercised 
 by the pe-i-man, can only be compared to that of the Pope, or 
 of a Catholic priest. All attempts, therefore, at conversion, 
 must be utterly futile, except the pe-i-man himself be made an 
 interested party. 
 
 In the present circumstances, the pe-i-man derives all his 
 power and authority from the conviction of his supernatural 
 agency ; and he moreover derives all his subsistence from the 
 contributions levied on the credulity of the ignorant. This 
 is so truly monkish, that the bad success of the latter need 
 no longer to be wondered at — ' Two of a trade never agree.' 
 
 To convert the Indians, the pe-i-man must first be made
 
 GAOLS OF DEMERARA, &C. 61 
 
 sensible that his change of creed will more amply fill his own 
 pockets. To individuals only alive to self-interest (and these 
 form a vast majority in all communities), that religion is 
 always the best which is most in favour of pecuniary emolu- 
 ment. At present, a puncheon of rum, and a few beads or 
 clothes, would convert more Indians than all the holy water 
 that was ever consecrated. It would be therefore highly im- 
 prudent, in the present unprepared state of the Indians, to 
 make religious instruction the first object. There is little 
 doubt that a missionary, more zealous than prudent, would, 
 at this moment, soon receive at their hands the crown of 
 martyrdom ; and one such occurrence would retard their 
 conversion for ages. The slower, yet more certain, medium 
 of association and example, is infinitely preferable. Pageantry, 
 show, and ceremony, have little influence, except as employed 
 for magical purposes ; nor will they respect a priesthood that 
 is not endowed with the most palpable mental superiority. 
 
 In the foregoing remarks, I perfectly agree with Mr. Hill- 
 house.* The Moravian missionaries would be the most effi- 
 cient converts of the Indians of Guyana. 
 
 Gaols, &c. In Demerara and Essequibo, the number of 
 persons confined for debt, in 1831, was three; for misde- 
 meanors, sixty-five males and thirty-five females ; for felonies, 
 three males and one female. There is but one prison, and it 
 is capable of containing two hundred and seventy-three pri- 
 soners. In Berbice, there is one prison, suited for fifty pri- 
 soners ; and, in 1831, there were therein twelve males for 
 misdemeanors, and one female for ditto ; four males for 
 felonies, and no debtors. 
 
 Staple Products. Sugar, rum, coffee, and cotton, form 
 the principal articles of growth and export. The following 
 return, given on oath, shews the production of Demerara 
 and Essequibo for three periods of three years each : — 
 
 In the first period (1823, 1824, and 1825), 213,478,633 lbs. 
 
 * It is one out of many lamentable instances of the neglect which talent 
 and enterprize meets with from the British Government, when we find 
 such men as Hillhouse and Hancock unhonoured and unknown.
 
 62 
 
 STAPLE PRODUCE OF DEMF.RARA AND ESSEQUIBO. 
 
 (Dutch*) sugar; 17,779,473 lbs. coffee ; 6,808,913 lbs. cotton. 
 In the second (1826, 1827, and 1828), 239,556,975 lbs. (Dutch) 
 sugar : 13,897,083 lbs. coffee ; 7,389,373 lbs. cotton. In the 
 thu-d (1829, 1830, and 1831), 262,709,559 lbs. (Dutch) sugar; 
 7,059,431 lbs. coffee; 2,252,557 lbs. cotton. 
 
 It will be seen from the foregoing, that, while coffee and 
 cotton cultivation has diminished, sugar has increased. We 
 have no returns for Berbice ; there, however, the production 
 of coffee and sugar has increased. The following is a con- 
 secutive return of the 
 
 Produce of Demerara and Essequibo. 
 
 
 
 DEMERARA. 
 
 
 
 
 ESSEQUIBO. 
 
 
 u 
 
 ^ 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 gal. 
 
 gal. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 gal. 
 
 gal. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 1810 
 
 9,222,659 
 
 471,365 
 
 
 19,248,210 
 
 5,821,776 13,349,590 
 
 600,340 
 
 
 2,269,926 
 
 1,293,632 
 
 2 
 
 12,351,979 
 
 815,131 
 
 
 6,167,289 
 
 4,322,453 16,317,354 
 
 843,035 
 
 
 687,134 
 
 399,711 
 
 3 
 
 13,597,072 
 
 847,081 
 
 
 2,951,555 
 
 2,408,265 16,758,414 
 
 843,286 
 
 
 614,149 
 
 267,585 
 
 4 
 
 12,780,282 
 
 722,146 
 
 
 7,431,926 
 
 5,494,416 18,526,224 
 
 955,523 
 
 
 919,585 
 
 529,481 
 
 5 
 
 18,657,091 
 
 965,012 
 
 
 8,270,432 
 
 3,844,690 21,865,329 
 
 1,026,806 
 
 
 1,586,843 
 
 560,298 
 
 6 
 
 19,869,713 
 
 898,009 
 
 
 11,254,206 
 
 3,393,980 24,246,068 
 
 1,058,886 
 
 
 602,411 
 
 426,532 
 
 7 
 
 22,787,125 
 
 946,106 
 
 522,988 
 
 5,370,418 
 
 3,846,889 30,462,555 
 
 1,169,161 
 
 547,151 
 
 935,454 
 
 536,048 
 
 8 
 
 24, 037, -lis 
 
 1,025,032 
 
 501,068 
 
 9,855,717 
 
 4,498,591 30,095,438 
 
 1,283,389 
 
 437,121 
 
 818,827 
 
 584,683 
 
 9 
 
 33,009,248 
 
 1,4 45,465 
 
 526,252 
 
 3,033,310 
 
 2,485,483 33,781,912 
 
 1,356,558 
 
 485,499 
 
 440,990 
 
 228,502 
 
 20 
 
 35,128,107 
 
 1,()7!),031 
 
 333,351 
 
 4,160,133 
 
 2,266,273 35,467,584 
 
 1,551,917 
 
 407,687 
 
 278,77s 
 
 150,250 
 
 1 
 
 30,855,407 
 
 1,433,574 
 
 306,572 
 
 9,898,297 
 
 2,482,127 31,279,222 
 
 1,284,238 
 
 315,200 
 
 709,3.59 
 
 322,499 
 
 2 
 
 32,023,713 
 
 1,390,667 
 
 525,266 
 
 6,437,881 
 
 3,543,514 33,025,734 
 
 1,336,067 
 
 574,017 
 
 382,455 
 
 162,445 
 
 3 
 
 36,962,174 
 
 1,265,035 
 
 1,123,667 
 
 5,986,435 
 
 2,065,957 37,859,359 
 
 1,152,981 
 
 1,117,376 
 
 391,588 
 
 178,161 
 
 4 
 
 34,930,396 
 
 1,093,931 
 
 1,379,166 
 
 4,735,531 
 
 1,874,147 34,422,882 
 
 1,027,721 
 
 1,137,526 
 
 255,958 
 
 175,168 
 
 5 
 
 31,631,781 
 
 1,053,393 
 
 1,311,014 
 
 6,059,099 
 
 2,297,041 37,672,041 
 
 1,014,755 
 
 1,459,5.96 
 
 350,862 
 
 218,439 
 
 6 
 
 33,001,815 
 
 1,204,163 
 
 1,333,284 
 
 2,579,422 
 
 2,527,261 37,101,378 
 
 1,144,580 
 
 1,162,057 
 
 193,074 
 
 273,903 
 
 7 
 
 42,025,893 
 
 1,337,267 
 
 1,495,326 
 
 5,121,773 
 
 2,558,767 42,431,339 
 
 1,309,191 
 
 1,524,898 
 
 255,723 
 
 111,406 
 
 8 
 
 42,552,390 
 
 1,371,398 
 
 1,456,536 
 
 5,415,699 1,562,400 42,444,161 
 
 1,275,907 
 
 1,430,785 
 
 331,392 
 
 355,636 
 
 9 
 
 46,357,180 
 
 1,810,005 
 
 1,113,148 
 
 4,450,123 1,127,471 45,295,151 
 
 1,579,731 
 
 1,175,589 
 
 103,666 
 
 89,798 
 
 30 
 
 46,451,553 
 
 2,068,028 
 
 1,167,.537 
 
 1,274,177 
 
 546,700 43,220,224 
 
 1,908,992 
 
 978,374 
 
 52,981 
 
 67,950 
 
 31 
 32 
 33 
 
 46,504,202 
 
 2,030,190 
 
 1,607,510 
 
 1,449,292 
 
 379,068 
 
 34,831,249 
 
 1,514,608 
 
 1,289,036 
 
 27,192 
 
 41,270 
 
 There are many other articles to which I hope the attention 
 of the colonists will be turned. I would suggest opium as 
 likely to succeed, and yield a large profit ; tobacco also, if we 
 can get the duty reduced in England on the colonial product, 
 would be found advantageous. 
 
 According to Mr. Peter Rose,f of Demerara, the following 
 
 * 1121bs. Dutch = 1 12 lbs. 4 oz. Avoirdupois. 
 
 t Evidence before W. I, Parliamentary Cuinniittee.
 
 COST OF A SUGAR ESTATE IN DEMERAUA. 6.'J 
 
 is the cost of producing 10,769 cwt. of sugar, and 58,384 
 gallons of rum, on an estate in the best part of Demerara, 
 with five hundred negroes, or workmen, on it: — Salt fish, 
 £677. 1*.; clothing, £750; plaintains purchased, £1,143; 
 coals and sugar hogsheads, £1,205; drogherage, £300; 
 salaries, medical attendance, and taxes, £1,500; pork, rice, 
 port wine, bricks, lime, timber, lumber, nails, temper-lime, 
 lamp oil, tar, pitch, cordage, cane punts, &c. £1,096; ma- 
 chinery, implements (employed in the manufacture of sugar 
 and rum), repairs of buildings, negro houses, &c. £1,000; 
 insurance on buildings, £248; — total, £7,919. 1*. Cost of 
 production: 10,769 cwt. sugar, at 12*., £6,461. 8*.; 58,334 
 gallons rum, at 6d. per gallon, £1,458. 7*. ; — total, £7,919. 15*. 
 These calculations are without reference to the invested 
 capital: this estate cost the proprietors £120,000 sterling. 
 
 I give the foregoing statement that it may serve for future 
 comparison with a system of free labour. 
 
 Vegetable Kingdom. It will be observed from the pre- 
 ceding section, that sugar and coffee are the chief vegetable, 
 products of Guyana. Did space and time permit, it might be 
 readily shown that no part of the earth is richer in vegetation 
 than Guyana. The most careless observer is struck with as- 
 tonishment on beholding the magnificent forests and splendid 
 verdure of the South American continent, where every variety 
 of timber flourishes in inexhaustible profusion, and each dye 
 and spice that ministers to commerce or health, scarcely 
 requires the industry of man for its production. Those ma- 
 jestic trees, the wallaba, silvabali, bulletre, and purple heart, 
 whose stems are straight and branchless for seventy feet, and 
 then crowned with splendid foliage, are abundant in various 
 parts of the colony ; but, as the vegetation of all our West 
 India possessions is pretty much alike, and the productions 
 similar to those of the main land, I will here give a detail of 
 the forest trees which, though prepared at first for the island 
 of Dominica, may, with equal propriety, be given under the 
 head of Guyana for the purpose of saving repetition. The 
 commercial reader will perceive what an advantageous timber
 
 64 TIMBER TREES OF fJUYANA. 
 
 trade we may carry on with our West India colonies, if the 
 import duty be reduced, or, as I hope, finally removed from 
 colonial timber. The timber of British Guyana is extremely 
 valuable for ship-building. Among the numerous varieties 
 of wood, may be mentioned the Mora (mimosa), equal to East 
 India teak, and superior to oak, — it is not subject to dry-rot ; 
 the green heart, a very fine-grained hard wood ; the purple 
 heart, also possessing the same qualities ; the white cedar ; 
 and the locust, or coubarre, &c. The following is a descrip- 
 tion of the different sorts of timber trees, shrubs, plants, &c. 
 natural to our West India possessions, with their qualities, 
 and the purposes for which they are best adapted. 
 
 The Black cinnamon is generally found about fifty feet in 
 height and two feet in diameter, and delighting in arid and 
 barren soils. The leaves are about the size of those of the 
 orange tree, which they also resemble in fragrance. When 
 fresh cut, the wood is of a deep blood red, but in time becomes 
 quite black ; it is very durable, takes a fine polish, and, from 
 its hardness and smoothness of surface, peculiarly adapted for 
 mill cogs, wheels, and other purposes, where its great weight 
 is not an objection. 
 
 There is an inferior sort, called the White cinnamon (from 
 its wood being of a lighter colour), only valuable for its leaves 
 and berries, which possess an aromatic pungent smell and a 
 powerful spicy quality, and is esteemed an excellent substitute 
 for the East India cinnamon. 
 
 The Acoucoa generally grows very crooked, seldom ex- 
 ceeding eight or ten inches in diameter, and is chiefly made 
 use of for posts ; for which purpose, on account of its extreme 
 durability, it is valuable, — most other W. I. woods decaying 
 quickly when exposed to moisture. 
 
 The Locust tree is often found eight or nine feet in dia- 
 meter, and upwards of seventy feet in height ; the branches 
 begin to spread in the highest parts of the tree, and are very 
 full of leaves of an oval shape, and a dark green colour, about 
 three inches in length ; the blossoms are of the papilonaceous 
 form, with a long flat pod, shaped like the husk of a broad
 
 VARIETIES OF WOODS IN THE WEST INDIES. 65 
 
 bean, about four inches long, of a strong texture, and a dark 
 brown colour when ripe, containing three beans of the same 
 colour, which are of a farinaceous consistence, and of a plea- 
 sant sweetness. The wood is a rich brown, intermixed with 
 dark veins like marble, and takes a beautiful polish, for which 
 reason it is chiefly used for the manufacture of furniture and 
 articles of taste. It is very strong and durable, and therefore 
 employed with advantage for rollers in sugar mills, &c. 
 
 The Letter wood, of a beautiful brown colour, mixed with 
 black spots, bearing some resemblance to hieroglyphics, or 
 letters ; (from which circumstance it derives its name ;) is 
 chiefly made use of for walking canes, segar tubes, and other 
 small articles. As the fine part of the wood is taken from 
 the heart of the tree, which is seldom more than twelve inches 
 in circumference, it is not available for work of any size, and 
 therefore confined almost exclusively to the before mentioned 
 purposes. It is about twenty feet in height, the leaves nar- 
 row and pointed, and the flower, which is pentapetalous, and 
 of a purple colour, is succeeded by a red berry. 
 
 The Ironivood tree grows to the height of about fifty feet, 
 and six in circumference ; the bark is of a whitish gre}', the 
 leaves light green, and about three inches in length, and the 
 flowers white, with red berries. It derives its name from its 
 remarkable strength, but, as it is not durable when exposed 
 to wet, the colonists generally employ it in the interior of 
 their buildings. 
 
 The Bollo or Bully tree, usually found about fifty feet in 
 height, and six in diameter, is covered with a smooth bark 
 of a grey colour ; the branches, which grow near the top of 
 the tree, are commonly cut into shingles for covering build- 
 ings, being particularly compact and durable, (resisting even 
 wet) ; and therefore very well adapted for house timber, and 
 other purposes, where but few woods would be found an- 
 swerable. The leaves are long, and become narrow towards 
 the foot stalk ; and the flower, consisting of five petals of a 
 beautiful purple colour, is succeeded by blue berries. 
 
 The Purple Heart tree, so called from the beautiful colour 
 
 VOL. II. F
 
 66 PURPLE AND GREEN HEART — SILK, COTTON, &C. 
 
 of its Avood wlien dry, is about sixty feet in height, and two 
 in diameter ; the branches, hke those of the preceding, grow 
 very near the top of the tree ; the leaves are of a dark green 
 colour, about four inches in diameter ; and the blossoms of 
 a deep red, consisting of five petals, and succeeded by red 
 berries, which contain the seeds. The wood is mostly used 
 for furniture when new, on account of its durability, as well 
 as beauty of colour ; but as it gets old the colour darkens, so 
 that at last it becomes as black as ebony. 
 
 The Green Heart tree, which, like the former, derives its 
 name from its colour, and grows about the same size, is much 
 esteemed for its durability, being of a close grain, very hard, 
 and peculiarly adapted for ships' planking. It possesses the 
 singular property of changing its foliage twice a year ; the 
 flowers are of a yellowish white, tetrapetalous, and are suc- 
 ceeded by a small farinaceous fruit, of which the Indians 
 sometimes make bread, but of a very insipid taste. 
 
 The CoiK' tree, generally found about forty feet high, and 
 eight feet in circumference, is divided into many branches, 
 plentifully supplied with leaves about two inches in length, 
 and of a light green colour. The bark, of a light gray or 
 ash colour, is of a rough texture, the Avood light, and easy to 
 work, and chiefly employed for the manufacture of domestic 
 furniture. 
 
 The Silk Cotton tree grows to the height of 100 feet, and 
 twelve or fourteen in diameter, and is very much sought after 
 by the Indians to make their largest canoes. Its roots spread 
 along, on the surface of the grovmd, to the distance of from 
 ten to fifteen feet ; the trunk is covered with a thick, ash 
 coloured bark, set with short sharp prickles : the branches, 
 which do not begin to grow nearer to the ground than sixty 
 feet, are full of oblong leaves about seven inches long. The 
 blossom, which appears only once in three years, and consists 
 of a green calyx, with five white folliculi, and the petals, with 
 five stamina, is succeeded by a bud, containing a fine silky 
 cotton, of a light grey colour, but being of too short a texture 
 for the manufactories, it is made use of for stuffing mattresses.
 
 THE PALISADE, BOIS PIAN — RIVIERE, &C. 67 
 
 &c. The humming bh'cls are very fond of it (from its soft 
 nature) to hne their nests with. 
 
 The Palisade tree, the smallest species of palm, is princi- 
 pally used by the negroes for the side walls of their huts, or 
 split into staves ; the stalk being small upon which the seeds 
 grow, is also used by them as a broom. The tree grows to 
 the height of twelve or fifteen feet, and eight or nine inches 
 in diameter, and produces a very fine cabbage. 
 
 The TrooUes are chiefly employed for covering the roofs of 
 buildings in the country. They are large leaves, twenty feet 
 long, and two broad, of a strong texture, and straight fibres ; 
 growing from a small fibrous root, from which arise eight 
 or ten stems, each producing a leaf of the above dimensions. 
 They are very durable and well calculated for the above 
 purpose. 
 
 The Bois* Pian is very good wood for house frames and 
 sills, for which it is much used. The shingles made from it 
 will last nearly as long as the best cypress. It is often found 
 fifty feet in height, even when the diameter does not exceed 
 a foot, which seldom extends to more than eighteen inches. 
 The immense length renders it so springy, especially if sawed 
 when green, that the process of sawing is very seldom at- 
 tended with success, if adopted. 
 
 The Bois Riviere is seldom found far from the borders of 
 rivers or streams, and generally on their edge. It is of very 
 rapid growth, with roots running superficially. It is very 
 heavy when green, but comparatively light when dry, in con- 
 sequence of its parting with so much of its moisture ; of 
 which it imbibes a large quantity immediately when exposed 
 to air. It is therefore evidently very porous, and liable to 
 decay, if so exposed. Nevertheless, it is much used for 
 rafters and other parts of buildings not exposed to wet, and 
 answers the purpose very well in those places. It splits freely, 
 and therefore is not fit to be used where timber of a tough 
 grain is required. It is so tenacious of a nail that has en- 
 
 * French words in this description are accounted for by a part of it 
 being drawn up for Dominica.
 
 68 SEA-SIDE GRAPE — OLIVIEUE, Scc. 
 
 tered without splitting it that it is ahnost impossible to draw 
 it, especially if left in the wood any length of time. It saws 
 very smoothly, and will make good boards for many pur- 
 poses. 
 
 Lauriere Caca, so called from its leaves resembling the 
 laurel, is a very useful wood for various purposes, particu- 
 larly for boards, being tolerably durable ; or for flooring, 
 sides of houses, &c. It reaches to the height of forty or 
 fifty feet, and in diameter about eighteen inches, but seldom 
 more than two feet. The wood has a very unpleasant smell, 
 especially about the knotty parts, very like that of stercum ; 
 it goes off, however, as it dries, and is imperceptible when 
 completely seasoned. 
 
 Bois Perdrix or Sicard is only found near the sea. It bears 
 a large yellow plum of a sweet and sickly taste, and but seldom 
 eaten by the least refined palate, although not hurtful. 
 
 Olivier, so called from its resemblance to the olive tree, is 
 a very useful timber, and tolerably durable. It burns with 
 difficulty, and is therefore often used for shingles, to cover 
 roofs near chimnies, or otherwise contiguous to the fire. 
 
 The Contrerint is tall and straight, the timber likely to 
 decay in damp places, but is sometimes used for beams, being 
 very stiff and strong, but not durable. It makes good fire-wood. 
 
 Sea-side Grape is never found except near the sea-shore. 
 The timber is very durable in every situation, and very heav}"^, 
 but always so crooked that it can seldom be used in any 
 valuable work. It bears a berry about the bigness of an 
 olive, but quite round, of a beautiful damson colour, with a 
 delicate down upon it, is very juicy and delicious, and much 
 resembling the real grape in taste. The pulp which covers 
 the kernel is the only eatable part, and does not exceed the 
 eighth or sixteenth of an inch in thickness. The kernel has 
 the appearance of the wallnut, but is of a harsh astringent 
 taste, totally unfit for use. The fruit grows in long bunches, 
 very much like the grape. It bears an immense quantity 
 when in favourable situations : the leaves are large and nearly 
 round, smooth and thick.
 
 BOIS DIABLE — SOUR ORANGE, &C. 69 
 
 The Bois Diable is a native of the poorest, cold, and clayey 
 soils and ridges. It grows to a great height, but never ex- 
 ceeds from two to three feet in diameter. Its shape is regu- 
 lar and straight, but unfortunately the timber is of the worst 
 kind, and unfit for every thing but fire-wood, which it is 
 peculiarly adapted for, as it burns extremely fierce, even 
 when green, and lasts longer than any other wood for that 
 purpose. It is of a deep blood red, and very hard ; whether 
 it derived its name from the latter quality, or its igneous pro- 
 perty, is a question of very little importance, but it is most 
 undoubtedly devUishhj hard and hot. Its bark is thick, and 
 of a very dark-green colour, with small white specks on little 
 rigid eminences ; the leaves small and pointed. 
 
 The Sour Orange Tree is too well known to need much 
 description. The fruit is no less so, though perhaps not 
 so much esteemed as it deserves. Independently of the 
 common purposes for which it is used as an acid, it makes 
 an excellent cooling beverage in fevers, particularly of the 
 putrid kind, and unites with that quality those also of being 
 both laxative and sudorific. The rind contains an extremely 
 aromatic and inflammable oil, and when squeezed before the 
 fire flashes like gunpowder ; chipped small it is an excellent 
 ingredient for puddings and confectionaries, and in the com- 
 positions of stomachic bitters. 
 
 The Grigris is very much in appearance like the Olivier, but 
 very much inferior in quality, although it makes good beams 
 and lasts a long time if not exposed to moisture. The greatest 
 objection to it is its liability to warp and spring although sea- 
 soned ever so long. It is of a dark lead colour. 
 
 The Boisseladame varies in height from forty to sixty feet, 
 and is about two feet six in diameter. The timber, though 
 not particularly valuable, makes very good boards for va- 
 rious purposes. It is when new of a dull rose colour, and 
 smells something like musk ; the leaves are rather larger than 
 a man's hand, and the bark approaches to orange colour. 
 
 Boisfourmi. — The ramiers, or wild pigeons, are very fond 
 of the berries of this tree. It is of little value as a timber.
 
 70 THE WHITE CEDAR TREE, 
 
 growing crooked, ramifying very much, and is generally co- 
 vered over with tubercles, which afford shelter to the ants, 
 with which this tree abounds ; from this cause the name is 
 derived. 
 
 The Bois Jaune derives its name from the colour of the 
 wood, which is of a pale bright yellow when fresh cut. Al- 
 though not of a very close texture it is useful for posts, which 
 will remain sound ten or twelve years ; and is also much used 
 for oars, being light, straight, and elastic; and not cross 
 grained. 
 
 The Willie Cedar is usually found near the sea shore, 
 and thrives better to windward than to leeward, evidently on 
 account of its receiving more of the saline particles in these 
 situations. It is principally used for ship and boat building, 
 especially for timbers, which it affords of all degrees of cur- 
 vature, and in greater abundance than any other tree in this 
 climate. It is also sawed into boards for planking vessels, 
 being valuable for that purpose as it lasts a long while in the 
 sea water, but decays soon in fresh water or damp situations. 
 It shrinks less in drying than any other wood, and conse- 
 quently swells less, which is a most favourable quality for the 
 above-mentioned use. It is also very light when young, but 
 brittle and almost useless when full grown, tough and cross 
 grained. It grows very crooked and much ribbed in the trunk, 
 especially near the root, which renders it difficult to get 
 boards of any length out of it. Its leaves are oval, with three 
 strong ribs, about six or eight inches long, when the tree is of 
 luxuriant growth, and about five or six wide, but in general 
 much less. In the months of June and July it bears a bell- 
 flower, of a pale violet colour, with small yellow antherae, be- 
 coming yellowish toward the stem, and is slightly odoriferous. 
 The flower is succeeded by a long slender pod, containing 
 some hundred seeds, which are very small and flat, lying close 
 together, and much resembling parsnip seed, being of the 
 papilonaceous kind, and are therefore carried to a great dis- 
 tance by the wind. The pod is about six inches long, and a 
 large tree will bear several thousand of them. The tree grows
 
 THE BOIS ANGLOIS, THE BOIS COTE, &C. 71 
 
 very rapidly, and stands to a great age. The colour of the 
 wood darkens as the age of the tree increases. 
 
 The Boh Anglois is seldom found above a foot in dia- 
 meter, and not lofty. The stem is round and smooth, the 
 branches growing by regular stages and nearly horizontal, 
 but slightly inclining upwards. From this circumstance the 
 young stems are much used by the lower classes of people as 
 a charm to stir pots, after having cut the diverging branches 
 to a convenient length. This wood has a strong smell of 
 musk, is very pliant, and much used for oars, staves, &c. but 
 is too scarce (in Dominica) to supply them in sufficient number. 
 
 The Bois Cote, so called from its growing longitudinally 
 ribbed throughout, is made use oT for ordinary buildings as 
 rafters or plates, but decays too soon to be employed for 
 valuable work. It makes good fire-wood when quite dry. 
 It grows between two or three feet in diameter, and is lofty 
 for its size. 
 
 The Gommter derives its name from the gum, which exudes 
 from it in great abundance, and is a very useful article to the 
 inhabitants for various purposes. When fresh from the tree 
 it is quite soft and sticky, but becomes hard and brittle by 
 exposure. It burns fiercely, and is much used for torches, 
 especially by the negroes to search by night for crapeaux,* 
 which during the day remain silent and confined to their holes, 
 from whence they issue at night, and by their croaking, guide 
 the frog hunters to their abodes. This gum is a good sub- 
 stitute for tar when mixed with grease, although not equal to 
 the resin from the fir tree, as it is apt to scale off sooner. It 
 has an aromatic smell, but the smoke, which it yields in 
 abundance, blackens every thing near, even the nostrils of 
 those who inhale it, but it is not injurious to health. The 
 wood is principally used for making canoes, on account of 
 the singular property it possesses of expanding by heat ; and 
 is occasionally employed for other purposes, but principally 
 for the former. The stem of the tree is generally round and 
 
 * The W. I. French, love frogs as well as the Parisians.
 
 T3 THE CHATAMER : THE POIX DOUX, &C. 
 
 Straight, and is usually found about sixty feet in height, and 
 twelve in circumference. 
 
 The Chatanier Grand feuille derives its name from the re- 
 semblance it bears to the chesnut tree. The shape of the 
 stump is very remarkable, as it shoots out very wide and thin 
 ribs, which begin to spread out at the height of eight or ten 
 feet, and upwards, according to the size of the tree ; so that 
 a full-grown tree will sometimes spread its ribs at the surface 
 of the ground so as to extend to one hundred and twenty 
 feet in circumference, although the stem, where the ribs 
 begin to diverge, may not be more than three feet in diameter, 
 which, in fact, they seldom exceed. It is extremely lofty ; 
 the leaves are very large, of an oval shape, from twelve to 
 eighteen inches long, and from eight to fourteen broad ; the 
 wood is very heavy, and held in little estimation. It is a 
 native of low and rich soils. There is a smaller and inferior 
 specimen of this tree found in high, ridgy, and poor soils. 
 
 The Poix Doux is of little value for its timber, being of an 
 irregular shape, very small, and the branches beginning near 
 the surface of the ground, and having, therefore, scarcely any 
 stem. The wood besides is of a most inferior quality ; but it 
 is extremely valuable as a fence to the coffee bushes, to which 
 plant it is particularly congenial. The careful coffee planter 
 plants them very near, with no greater interval than six or 
 eight rows of coffee trees between them. The fences are 
 planted both up and down and horizontally, on the sides of 
 the hills, forming squares, like a chess board, and looking 
 very beautiful in a well-cultivated and fruitful coffee estate. 
 These fences are generally lopped and trimmed alternately 
 every other year, leaving the hitermcdiatc fence as a pro- 
 tection until the last cut one can acquire strength to shelter 
 the coffee bushes. These dismembered branches and leaves 
 are considered very useful as a manure to prevent the growth 
 of grass. It is of quick growth, and suffers no injury from 
 these repeated croppings. It is remarkable that the coffee 
 trees which grow nearest to the Poix Doux are always the
 
 REASONS FOR PECULIAR LANGUACxE OF DESCRIPTION. "3 
 
 finest, and outlive by many years those that are at a distance ; 
 indeed, it may be called the patron of the coffee tree.* 
 
 Branda. The wood of this tree is mostly used for beams 
 and stanchions, and answers very well for that purpose when 
 it is not much exposed. It springs a great deal when sawed 
 green, grows tall and straight, and seldom exceeds two feet 
 in diameter. 
 
 Bois Sejjt Ans, so called, it is presumed, from its duration 
 not exceeding seven years, and that too must be under 
 favourable circumstances. It is seldom otherwise used than 
 by being sawed into boards for the most common purposes. 
 It answers very well as heading for sugar casks, and is light 
 and porous, and therefore evidently unfit for durability. 
 Being common, and easily worked, it is often resorted to 
 where better kinds cannot be had, or are too expensive. It 
 has a moderate large leaf, and grows in superficial soil. 
 
 Bois Violon, It is difficult to give a sufficient reason for 
 its being so called, unless its gi'eat levity may be considered 
 so. It generally grows straight and tall, and about twenty 
 or twenty-four inches in diameter. It is frequently made use 
 of for masts for small vessels ; but is incapable of bearing 
 any great strain, and seldom for that or any other purpose, 
 except from necessity. Its bark is of a very dark colour 
 outside, and strips off freely, and sometimes serves for tying 
 bundles. The v»'ood is of a pale yellow, and smells, when 
 green, exactly like the copariva juice, so much esteemed in 
 medicine, and may probably be a species of the tree from 
 which that liquid gum is extracted. 
 
 Bois Fred is a very singular tree, being hollow, with thin 
 partitions at intervals of from three to four or five inches 
 distance ; the inner part with a thin integument, that hardens 
 as the tree approaches to maturity: therefore, by the time 
 the tree has arrived at its full growth, the liollovvness almost 
 
 * Tlie manuscript whence a great part of this descriptiun is derived, I 
 found translated from a French account; the reader will probably, how- 
 ever, agree with me, that the information it convevs, compensates for 
 imperfeclness in literary or scieniiric conipooiiion.
 
 74 SINGULAR KIND OF BAMBOO TREE. 
 
 disappears. From this liollowness it evidently derives its 
 name. Tlie wood is extremely light, which, added to these 
 vacancies, render it peculiarly useful to suspend any heavy 
 substance in the water. As a timber, it cannot be applied to 
 any use ; it grows from thirty to forty feet in height, with 
 imcouth straggling branches. The young leaves grow in a 
 very curious manner : before they expand, they are enclosed 
 in a sheath, or spatha ; when this bursts, the young leaf 
 expands by degrees, of a beautiful pink colour inside, and 
 white outside, which after being exposed to the rays of light, 
 gradually becomes green. These are of the shape of the 
 vine leaf, with more numerous and deeper sinuosities. They 
 are nearly circular, each ray or division growing from six to 
 ten inches from the leaf or stem; consequently the entire 
 diameter, from point to point, is sixteen inches, but generally 
 considerably less. The interior integument before mentioned 
 is rather pulpy in the young and tender branches, and in that 
 state is used as a styptic to staunch the bleeding of fresh 
 ■wounds, &:c. The outside of the young branches is green; 
 but the bark turns white afterwards, as does the under part 
 of the leaf, which causes the tree to present a beautiful 
 appearance from the contrast it displays with the verdure of 
 other trees. 
 
 Laurier Blanc is a species of the laurier,* of a Avhite colour, 
 from which boards are produced, of middling quality, for 
 ordinai'y purposes ; but not at all fitted for valuable work. 
 The tree seldom exceeds thirty feet in height, and twenty 
 inches in diameter. The outer bark is of a deep green, 
 stained with whitish spots as large as the hand. 
 
 Mahaut Cochon is a native of moist and fresh soils, where 
 it may sometimes be found sixty or seventy feet in height, 
 and from three to four in diameter. It bears a large leaf with 
 sinuosities, but not deeply indented. It is very abundant and 
 much used for ordinary buildings, staves for sugar casks, 
 shingles, &c. for which it is well adapted, as it splits free, is 
 easily worked, light, and porous. 
 
 • Fide No. 12.
 
 THE SOAP AND POISON APPLE TREES. 75 
 
 Rose Mahaut is a straggling tree, which never rises high, 
 but the branches as they become heavy drop down to the 
 ground by degrees, when they take root and shoot out other 
 branches. The young saphngs before they become too 
 strong are cut down and stript of the bark, which is very 
 useful for common ropes. It is moderately strong, and if the 
 ropes are well manufactured and kept dry, they will last a 
 long time. It bears a large round leaf, six or eight inches in 
 diameter, of a deep green colour on the outer side, and of a 
 whitish tint underneath ; the timber is by no means valuable. 
 It is found near running streams of fresh water, or on the 
 sea shore. 
 
 Bara Bcira is a middling sized tree, usually about twenty 
 inches in diameter, and proportionally lofty, i. e. twenty or 
 thirty feet high, the wood is seldom used for building, it 
 being so very light and brittle. It bears an apple about the 
 size of an English pippin, of a poisonous quality, which the 
 Charibbean Indians use for poisoning fish, which latter do not 
 however prove injurious to those who eat them.* 
 
 Savouette, so called from its forming a lather with water in 
 the same manner with soap. The tree grows to a great size, 
 but has a very small leaf, resembling the leaf of the Cassia 
 Fistula. The v/ood is vised for shingles, and boards for 
 ordinary purposes, it has a strong smell of garlic when 
 fresh cut. 
 
 Galba or Calba. This tree grows to the height of from 
 twenty to twenty-five feet, and about fourteen or sixteen in 
 diameter. The leaf is small and thick, and the wood is prin- 
 cipally used for fences, posts, &c. 
 
 Bois d'Ail, so called from its strong smell of garlic. It 
 grows tall and straight, and about twelve inches in diameter ; 
 the leaf is long and narrow. The timber is sometimes used 
 for common roofs, but is not much employed, as it is not 
 lasting, and subject to be worm eaten. 
 
 Boistan. The bark of this tree is much used for tanning 
 
 " * The name of this tree, as well as of every other, when the same syl- 
 lable is repeated, is Charib.
 
 76 TAN AND GLUE WOODS — MANGROVE, &C. 
 
 leather, from which the tree derives its name. It grows tall, 
 straight, and about two feet in diameter, and is generally 
 found in steep and craggy places. The wood is tough, and 
 commonly used for boards, cart wheel naves, and other 
 ordinary purposes. When full grown, the colour is of a deep 
 red or blood-colour, and the bark very thick, and of the 
 same colour inside. 
 
 Pommier, is a soft light wood very similar to the Gommier,* 
 but of inferior quality, although occasionally used by the 
 Caribs for canoes. The leaf is about the size of a man's 
 hand, and of an oval shape. 
 
 Mangle or Mangrove-\ is a tree of singular structure, as it 
 shoots fresh roots as it grows, which when the tree is at its 
 full age, may be found six or eight feet from the ground ; 
 to which they gradually tend in regular succession. The 
 timber is very heavy and of a free grain, and employed 
 principally for the manufacture of fishing-rods, walking sticks, 
 arrows, and other light purposes. It is not available for 
 building as it soon decays. The leaf is very thick and stiff', 
 and about eight inches long and nine wide. The tree seldom 
 attains more than a foot in diameter, and fifteen or twenty 
 feet in height. The leaves and bark yield a thick juice, 
 which is very viscid and of a yellow colour. 
 
 Bois JjlanCf derives its name from the colour of its wood ; 
 grows to a good size (about thirty inches in diameter) lofty 
 and straight, of a free grain, and used principally for boards 
 for ordinary purposes ; although not durable, it is less likely 
 to be worm-eaten than most of the soft woods, on account of 
 its extreme bitterness, for which quality the bark may be used 
 in the same manner as that of the Angelin,:}; and with less 
 danger, as it is not so powerful as the former. 
 
 Bois Glue, so called from the gluey juice that exudes from 
 the bark, on an incision being made in it. This juice thickens 
 when exposed to the air, and is much used for bird-lime, 
 
 * rideT^o.2G. 
 
 i Skirts tlie wluilo sc-coast of Guyana, aad most low tropical shores. 
 
 : /Wr No. 5,
 
 CORK WOOD — MASTICII, &C. 77 
 
 which is, with the exception of fire-wood, the sole benefit 
 derived from the tree. It grows tall and straight, and of a mo- 
 derate size, and the leaf is six or eight inches long and two wide. 
 
 Bois Flat, or Cork-tvood. From its very buoyant qualities 
 this tree is thus called, and the wood is very available for 
 fishermen's floats, turtle trammels, fish pots, &c. It is also 
 employed for rafts, to convey heavy timber by w^ater. It may 
 usually be found about thirty feet in height, and twelve or 
 fourteen inches in diameter ; the leaves are rough and round, 
 about tv/elve inches across. The bark is white, and strips 
 off with facility, but has no strength. It has but few branches, 
 which grow in a v/ild straggling manner ; the pith, when dry, 
 is very light and elastic, and may be pressed into a quarter 
 of its original size, but upon the pressure being removed, it 
 assumes its former shape and size. 
 
 Mastich. The timber of this tree is more durable than 
 that of any before mentioned, very scarce, and only to be 
 met with in a few places to leeward. It is of a brownish 
 yellow colour, and very close grained and heavy. It is very 
 valuable for shafts, and other parts of a water wheel, as it 
 will resist moisture better than any other wood. It has an 
 oily appearance, and will take a very fine polish. When de- 
 caying, it very slowly begins to be affected externally, so 
 that after taking a part out of the ground half eaten through, 
 the remainder will be as sound as the first day it was put in ; 
 seeming to wear away instead of rotting like other woods. 
 There is also an inferior sort called the white mastich. 
 
 Guava (Psidum fructicosum). The fruit of this tree, which 
 is common every where in the W. Indies, is justly esteemed as 
 very agreeable, especially when preserved, or made into mar- 
 malade. The wood is tough, and used mostly for cattle crooks. 
 The seeds of the fruit are considered a restringent medicine 
 in some fluxes. 
 
 The foregoing detail demonstrates, as I before said, what 
 a valuable timber trade may be carried on with our West 
 India possessions ; every one of the trees just mentioned 
 might be adapted to a variety of useful purposes in England ;
 
 78 THE CASSAVA ROOT — iMODE OF MAKING 
 
 before quitting this subject a few more specimens of the vege- 
 table kingdom of the AVestern hemisphere may be mentioned. 
 
 The Agniero, a species of palm^ has the stem and branches 
 covered with sharp ebony-hke spines six inches long ; it 
 produces a fruit the size of a walnut, consisting of a slimy 
 substance ; the stone resembles a diminutive cocoa-nut, and 
 being susceptible of a high polish, is cut into rings as orna- 
 ments for the Indians' wives and children ; the outer rind is 
 sweet and pleasant when chewed for some time. 
 
 The Assery fruit groAvs on a species of vine which creeps 
 up the branches of trees ; it is about the size of a large goose- 
 berry, and is of a delicious flavour of sweet and acid resem- 
 bling lemonade. 
 
 One of the most valuable roots in tropical coimtries is the 
 Cassada, which grows to about fovu* feet in height, covered 
 with an ash coloured bark, dividing near its top into several 
 green branches ; from which spring large leaves supported 
 by a red stalk. The root, when cut, is in substance like a 
 coarse potatoe, the bitter species whereof is* a rank poison 
 until exposed to the action of lire. The Indians manufacture 
 bread from this root, and also a drink called piworrie ; the 
 process observed for the former is as follows. The root is 
 jfirst grated, by means of a large board stuck full of small 
 sharp pebbles, against which they rub it, the pulp is put into 
 a long elastic tube, made of basket-work, about seven feet 
 long, though not above three inches in diameter, and closed 
 at the bottom. This is crammed full of the grated cassada 
 root, which causes it to shrink or contract ; they then extract 
 the juice by suspending it to a beam, and by means of 'a 
 heavy weight attached to the end of it the machine is pulled 
 out to its former size, and the poisonous juice, forced through 
 the interstices, falls into a calabash placed underneath to 
 receive it.f The root, after being thus squeezed and dried in 
 
 * There are two species, a sweet and bitter Cassava or Cassada ; it is the 
 latter which is poisonous until cooked. 
 t This juice often proves fatal to birds and animals who drink of it.
 
 BREAD THEREFROM. SILK GRASS. 79 
 
 the sun, is grated, and then sifted through a basket-worked 
 machine constructed for the purpose; and finally made into 
 small thin flat cakes, which are of an insipid taste when dry, 
 but if eaten with fresh butter, palatable : the expressed juice 
 not only becomes innoxious when well boiled, but it forms 
 the principal ingredient in the celebrated pepper-pot of the 
 colonists. Tapioca is the farina of the Cassava, and well 
 known as a light, pleasant, and nutritive diet for invalids. I 
 agree with the celebrated agriculturist. Sir John Sinclair, 
 that the increased cultivation of the bitter cassava, (or cas- 
 sada,) and the transmission of machines for grating it, would 
 be an effectual means of rendering our valuable colonies in 
 the West Indies independent of other countries for food. 
 
 The Heriheri, a large and majestic tree, furnishes the 
 Indians with an excellent material for kindling a fire. Taking 
 two pieces of this tree they cut a notch in one, and placing 
 the other perpendicularly into the notch so made, by rubbing 
 it round and round between their hands for a few seconds, 
 the friction causes it to ignite ; they then light the maroon, 
 which is a species of moss produced from the behersda, and 
 collected by the ants from its leaves to form their nests with. 
 The Maan tree produces a gum, which when boiled makes 
 excellent tapers ; before boiling it is very hard, and called 
 carimaan. Another tree, called Dalt, bears a berry from 
 which wax is extracted. 
 
 The Silk Grass Shrub, called by the Indians curra, bears 
 some resemblance to the aloe, but is much smaller ; its leaves 
 rise in clusters immediately from the root, five feet in length, 
 with indented edges, protracted into prickly points. The 
 inner substance of the leaf consists of a number of small strong 
 white fibres, running longitudinally, which the Indians extract 
 by means of a small loop of cord fastened to a post, through 
 which the leaf is drawn with a jerking motion ; this takes of 
 the outer green substance, and leaves the fibres ready for 
 twisting into cord, which is done after drying in the sun. 
 When the cord is made, which the Indians do with remark-
 
 80 THE IIIARY — MODE OF INTOXICATING FISII. 
 
 able neatness, it makes excellent bow strings, as it possesses 
 extraordinary elasticity and strength. 
 
 The Iliary (with which the Indians intoxicate fish) is a 
 plant of the papilonacea order, bearing a small quantity of 
 bluish blossoms which produce pods about two inches long 
 less in the leaf than a goose quill, and enclosing about ten 
 small grey leaves : leaf nine inches long, central stem with 
 four spear-pointed leaflets on each side, two inches long and 
 one at the apex : root, when full grown, three inches in dia- 
 meter, containing a gummy milky juice, which is a poAver- 
 ful narcotic, and prepared by the Indians for fishing, by 
 beating with sticks until reduced to a mass like coarse hemp ; 
 the Hiary root is then employed to saturate a corial (canoe) 
 full of water until it is of a milky whiteness, then conveyed 
 to the selected fishing spot, and the water sprinkled with 
 the infusion, (a solid cubic foot of the root will poison an 
 acre of water surface), in about twenty minutes every fish 
 within its influence rises to the surface, and is either taken by 
 the hand or shot with arrows, neither deteriorated in quality 
 nor tainting more rapidly than when hooked. 
 
 The Cockarito Palm, usually grows to the height of fifty 
 feet, and produces the most delicate cabbage of all the palm 
 species. The cabbage is found in the very heart of the tree 
 at its summit, enclosed in a green husk, which is pealed off in 
 strata, until the white cabbage or inner leaves appear in long, 
 thin, white flakes, and are in taste much like the kernel of 
 a nut; the heart, or centre of it is the most delicate, and, 
 being sweet and crisp, is frequently used as a salad ; the out- 
 side, when boiled and eaten with butter and salt, is far pre- 
 ferable to an European cabbage.* Tlie bark of this tree, on 
 
 * There is a worm or majjirot natural to this tree whidi is reckoned a 
 great delicacy in the West lisdies. It is the larva of a l>lack beetle, and 
 j^rows to the length of four inches, and as thick as a man's thumi) ; it is 
 called Grofifro — and, although disj^usting in appearance, when well dressed 
 furnishes a delicious treat, partaking of the flav(»ur of all the spices of the 
 East. Grogros are ouly to be found on such trees as are in a state of decay.
 
 THE PLANTAIN — MAIZE DE DOS MESES. 81 
 
 account of its hardness, is used by the Indians for the 
 manufacture of their poisoned arrows. They are generally 
 cut twelve inches long, with one end sharpened to a point, 
 which is dipped into the poison of the wouralie, so called, 
 from the nebe, or bushrope, which forms the principal ingre- 
 dient in its composition. The other end is wrapped round 
 with a small piece of cotton, adapted to the cavity of a long 
 hollow reed, (usually about nine feet long) into which the 
 arrow is inserted, and by one blast of the breath it is dis- 
 charged with extraordinary swiftness and unerring aim, 
 carrying inevitable death to the person or animal wounded 
 by it. 
 
 The Plantain tree (whose fruit forms so large a portion of 
 the food of the negroes and labouring population), grows to the 
 height of from sixteen to twenty feet, throwing out its leaves 
 from the top of the stem, somewhat in the form of an umbrella. 
 They are like rich satin, of a shining sea-green till fading, when 
 they hang down in tatters, as their places are supplied by 
 the young shoots ; which open and expand from the top. 
 From the centre of these grows a strong stalk, about three 
 feet in length, that bends downwards with the weight of its 
 purple head, which exactly resembles a calf's heart, and on 
 this stalk, the plantains grow, in considerable numbers, 
 forming one large bunch, of which each tree bears no more 
 than one at a time. When boiled or roasted the plaintain is 
 a good substitute for potatoes, and when ripe a delicious and 
 nutritive desert. 
 
 The Cariaca, or maize de dos meses, hitherto but little 
 know in Europe, is a sweet and profitable corn, which in the 
 short space of two months from the time of sowing, yields 
 ripe grain. It is not certain whether this plant is a distinct 
 species, or only a variety of the common India corn : but it 
 is in every respect more diminutive, being very slender in its 
 stalk ; and with the leaves and ears also small in comparison 
 with the former. 
 
 The flavour of the Cariaca is very fine, when roasted in 
 the milk, i. e. before the kernel is dry, when it is very soft and 
 
 VOL. II. G
 
 82 TIIF. cow OR MILK TREE OF GUYANA. 
 
 juicy ; indeed, it is usually prepared in this way, and 
 seldom permitted to arrive at maturity. The natives some- 
 times crush, and bake it, and it makes a nutritious, juicy sort 
 of bread which they call Cachapo.* 
 
 The Tayes, a root growing about eighteen inches high, 
 and a foot in diameter, is much used for food among the 
 negroes ; the white inhabitants likewise boil the young 
 sprouts in broth. The root is very productive and forms 
 the chief food of numerous domestic animals. 
 
 Of the fruit trees of British Guyana the following, are 
 celebrated for their delicate flavoured products, or medicinal 
 qualities. 
 
 The Hyahya tree, is of the species of sapotacea, many of 
 which furnish excellent fruit, and some of them are extremely 
 valuable as timber. The whole of this numerous class contain, 
 in a greater or less degree, a milky juice, and in all probability 
 the Hyahya will be found identical, (or a very near species) 
 with the Cow Tree, (Palo de vaca) of Venezuela. It bears a 
 small eatable yellow fruit, of an oblong shape, the leaves are 
 ' oval, rigid, and lactescent on being broken. It yields abund- 
 antly a milky fluid, of a sweetish and rather pleasant taste, 
 also a resinous and albuminous matter, or kind of elastic gum 
 or caouchtou. The tree grows tall, and proportionate in size, 
 but the timber is not reckoned valuable. 
 
 The Star Cherry is of such size and form as if four 
 European cherries were compressed into one, each division 
 having a stone; the pulp is enclosed within a clear, tender, red 
 skin, of a very agreeable taste, somewhat between sweet and 
 
 • It is also very often roasted or parched l)y them in the following 
 manner: — an iron pot is filled with sand, and set on the fire till the sand 
 is nearly red hot, when two or three pounds of the grain are thrown in and 
 stirred up with the sand, the latter throws up the grain, which bursts and 
 yields a white substance of twice its size before undergoing the process, 
 which is separated from the sand by a wire seive ; the latter is then re- 
 turned into the pot to be heated up again for the same operation. The 
 flour of maize, mixed with wheat, makes sweeter and more agreeable bread 
 than that of wheat alone.
 
 THE CHERRY, GUAVA AND PAPPAW FRUITS. 83 
 
 sour, with a slight aromatic flavour. There is another cherry 
 pecuhar to the country, resemhhng very nearly the European, 
 but not nearly so fine in flavour, and but little valued, except 
 for conserves, &c. The former tree, it has been asserted, pro- 
 duces fruit every three months. 
 
 The Missel or Medlar, is a high growing bush, with small 
 pointed dark leaves, producing fruit about the size of an olive, 
 and in form like the hip of the wild rose, and of the same 
 colour when ripe, but containing no hard stone ; tastes very 
 much like raspberry cream, it is very delicate and will not 
 keep long. 
 
 The Marctises, grow on a high shrub, with strongly fur- 
 rowed leaves, sharp pointed, and of a light green colour ; the 
 blossoms have some resemblance to the passion flower. The 
 fruit, when ripe, is of a dark yellow, and shaped like a lemon, 
 and when cut through the middle and mixed with wine and 
 sugar, is a delightful jelly, and much esteemed. There is 
 another sort, but of an inferior quality. 
 
 The Guava tree, rises in Guyana about eighteen feet, the 
 leaves rough, running to a point, and of a dark green colour ; 
 blossoms white, fruit green, at first, but changing to a light 
 yellow, and about the size of a russeting apple, w hich it also 
 resembles in shape ; pulp soft, of a red colour, and inter- 
 mixed with very small hard seeds, taste a pleasant subacid, 
 and forms a rich marmalade, as stated under timber trees. 
 
 The Pappaw tree, male and female. The male tree may 
 be easily distinguished by the foot-stalks on which the blos- 
 soms stand, being about two feet six inches in length, and by 
 its bearing no fruit. The female grows about fifteen feet 
 high, and eight in diameter, its trunk or stem, is soft, green, 
 and hollow, and the interior part pithy, like the palm ; the 
 leaves are about three feet in circumference, and have some 
 resemblance to those of the fig-tree, but are stronger and more 
 pointed ; they are supported by long green stalks, rising in 
 clusters from the highest part of the tree, and are seldom 
 more than fifteen in number. The blossoms, which are of 
 a pale yellow, are pentapetalous flowers, very fragrant, and
 
 84 CINNAMON APPLE, MARMALADE FRUIT, &C. 
 
 much used for confectionary. These blossoms are succeeded 
 by a fruit about six inches in length, of an oval form, which 
 when full ripe is of a bright yellow, but it is generally gathered 
 while green, and after extracting the caustic milky juice it 
 contains, it is boiled and served up to table as a vegetable, 
 or made with sugar into preserves. The seeds, when boiled 
 have been reckoned a good antiscorbutic, and resemble the 
 ealad we term " mustard and cress." 
 
 The Cannelle, or Cinnnamon Apple tree, bears a fruit 
 about the size of a turkey's egg, and of the shape of a pine 
 cone, which, when ripe, is of a beautiful violet colour, and 
 tastes like very rich cream, flavoured with cinnamon. 
 
 The Marmalade tree fruit, is of a globular form, about the 
 size of an apricot, has a strong skin, and is of a yellowish 
 brown when ripe ; and when the fruit is divided in the middle, 
 the soft pulp, (of a deep red colour) is equal to the best 
 marmalade. 
 
 The Moiipee, which is very much like the European plum 
 tree, bears a fruit of a dark orange colour, of the shape of an 
 olive, though much larger, which encloses a stone having a 
 acid taste, and fragrant smell. 
 
 The Maripjia, a species of palm, has fruit as large as an 
 apricot, but rounder in shape, and of an orange colour; it 
 contains a large hard stone, which changes to a jet black ; of 
 this the negroes make rings. The fruit is not much esteemed, 
 but a good oil is made from the kernel. 
 
 The Simaruba tree has a pleasant bitter taste, and is 
 esteemed a specific against the dysentery, as well as an ex- 
 cellent stimulating medicine. The tree bears a resemblance 
 to the European apple tree ; but the blossom is of a violet 
 colour, and has a sharp unpleasant smell. The fruit, about 
 the size of an English pippin, is of a blood red, and divided 
 into partitions, like a walnut. 
 
 The Physic nut shrub grows about six feet high, with a 
 slender knotted stem ; the leaves, arising from the top of the 
 branches, are slightly indented, and of an oval shape ; blossom, 
 red ; nut, thin-shcUed ; kernel, about the size of a filbert,
 
 CASTOR OIL PLANT, IPECACUANHA, &C. 85 
 
 divided into four parts by a thin wliite skin which has lio 
 taste, but, if not peeled off, will occasion a strong purging, 
 and, if a sufficient quantity be eaten, a violent vomiting. 
 
 The Castor oil bus/t, or jmlfua christi, is about the same 
 height as the before-mentioned shrub ; the stalks jointed, and 
 the branches covered with leaves about eighteen inches in 
 circumference, forming eight or ten sharp-pointed divisions, 
 spreading out in different directions; the flowers contain 
 yellow stamina; the nut is enclosed in a triangular-formed 
 husk, of a dark brown colour, and covered with a light fur, 
 of the same colour as the husk. It has been said there were 
 two sorts of this tree ; but the only difference between them 
 is the colour of the stem — one being green, the other of a 
 dirty reddish colour : their properties are exactly similar, 
 both producing oil of a highly medicinal quality. 
 
 The Quassia root, whose stomachic qualities are too well 
 known to need description, was first discovered by a negro, 
 whose name it still bears. It is of a strong bitter, and an 
 excellent remedy against the intermitting fever ; but must be 
 made use of with extreme caution, as frequently, if too great 
 a quantity be administered, it enervates the system, and 
 renders the patient liable to paralytic disorders. 
 
 The Ipecacuanha bush grows about two feet high, with 
 large smooth leaves pointed at the end ; blossoms of a red 
 colour ; fruit, oblong and pointed in shape, about two inches 
 in length, is enclosed in a smooth green husk, containing a 
 number of small flat seeds, of a brown colour, joined by a 
 fine silky filament. 
 
 Dr. Hancock, to whom I am indebted for many valuable 
 facts in the Guyana chapter, says — 'No soil can be more 
 congenial for the produce of dates, figs, and grapes of supe- 
 rior quality, as proved by the Friars of Carony ; as well as 
 for the various aromatics and spiceries, such as the nutmeg, 
 cloves, and cinnamon.* This is the natural soil of the odori- 
 
 * The writer has observed a wild kind cf cinnamon on the mountains of 
 Rippanonie and Parimma. It is called by the Caribees, wabaima, and by 
 the Portuj^ese, casca preciosa. It grows to u very large tree, having a 
 sweet aromatic bark. The natives represent its vvcod as being very durable.
 
 86 VARIETY OF IMPORTANT FRUITS, DRUGS, SPICES, &C. 
 
 ferous vanilla, which has been taken to Martinique and sold 
 at fourteen dollars the pound. Dying woods, cochineal, wild 
 honey, gum copal, &c. abound in the forests, beside a multi- 
 tude of treasures unknown to Europeans. 
 
 *Many of our most valuable and expensive medicines, 
 moreover, could be produced here with facility ; as opium 
 and ipecacuanha, which would give a quick return. The 
 more humid parts would likewise produce the invaluable 
 Sarsa de Rio Negro (Smilax syphilitica), which doubtless, 
 with a little research, might be found growing wild. 
 
 *It is not improbable that some of the more febrifuge 
 species of cinchona (Peruvian bark tree) would be found on 
 the mountain Mackerapan, or others of the elevated range of 
 Parime. But, whether found indigenous or not, this would 
 afford a proper soil for its cultivation, Avhich would be de- 
 sirable, now that the cinchona forests on the declivity of the 
 Andes are becoming exhausted. 
 
 'The Rubiaceous plants are especially numerous in Guyana. 
 There are several different species of coffee growing wild 
 in the interior parts, as well as of the cephalus genus, of 
 which the true ipecacuanha is one ; and there can be no 
 doubt but that the cinchona will likewise be found, all these 
 being of the same natural family. Another tree (of a new 
 genus perhaps) found in Pomeroon, and described by the 
 writer, affords a tonic and febrifuge bark, not inferior to 
 cinchona. 
 
 'The cocoa tree grows spontaneously in various parts of 
 Guyana; coffee, pepper, indigo, and vanilla, are indigenous 
 to the soil; manioc and cassada are considered the best ali- 
 mentary plants ; the potatoe, the igname, two kinds of millet, 
 and the tayove, are also very nutritive. 
 
 'Guyana is famed for its medicinal plants. It supplies 
 Europe with quassia, or the wood of Surinam. The dolichos 
 pruriens, the palma christi^ a species of ipecacuanha, gentian, 
 the Arabicus costus, the copaifera balsam, and many others, 
 are mentioned in the memoirs of Bajon and Aublet.' 
 
 Sufficient has been written to shew the value of the vege- 
 table productions of the British settlements on the continent
 
 ANIMAL KINGDOM OF GUYANA. 87 
 
 of South America ; and I now hasten to offer a few remarks 
 on the — 
 
 Animal Kingdom. The New World, when discovered by 
 Columbus, was found to contain few quadrupeds, and those 
 few by no means equal in size, strength, or ferocity, to the 
 animals of Asia or Africa ; while some were peculiar to the 
 American continent. 
 
 Among the principal animals found in British Guyana are 
 the Mypourie (Tapir) ; Jaguar (S. American Tiger) ; Bakkire, 
 Pingo, and Peccary (Wild Hogs) ; Lobba (a small amphibious 
 animal) ; Salempanter (large Lizard) ; Cayman (or Crocodile) ; 
 Coatimundi (or Fox) ; Opossum ; Deer ; Manati (Sea Cow) ; 
 Sloth; Ant-bear; Vampyre, &c. &c. 
 
 The Tapir, or Mypoiirie, is about the size of an Alderney 
 cow ; its body is shaped like the hog, having short legs and 
 tail, and four small hoofs on each foot ; its head like that of 
 the rhinoceros, with a prominent bone projecting from the 
 forehead, to which its moveable upper lip and nostrils are 
 attached, forming a kind of proboscis ; in its upper jaw there 
 are seven grinders on each side, four front teeth, and two 
 sharp tusks — the grinders very large and deeply cuspidated ; 
 in the under jaw, six grinders and one tusk on each side, and 
 six fore teeth ; the ears are small, oblong, and pointed ; back 
 slightly arched, and covered with short hair of a greyish 
 brown or dun colour. The greatest singularity in this animal 
 is its want of a gall bladder. It confines itself chiefly to 
 marshes and rivers, feeding upon roots and aquatic plants 5 
 and, when pursued, invariably takes to the water, and there, 
 like the hippotamus, is sure of a safe retreat. The flesh of 
 this animal, when roasted, closely resembles beef, especially 
 if it be young. The hide, when tanned, makes excellent 
 boot soles, and is highly prized by the Indians for the manu- 
 facture of shields. 
 
 The Bakkire resembles the Egyptian wild boar in shape, 
 but is not so large. It is a native of the high and moun- 
 tainous parts of the country, subsisting on roots, branches of 
 trees, occasionally on snakes and lizards, &c. ; in fact, on any
 
 88 THE MANATI, OR SEA-COW PACA, &C. 
 
 thing that comes in its way. It is very courageous and fierce 
 when attacked, often coming off best in a combat witli the 
 panther, and sometimes even with the jaguar, but not often 
 with the latter. When young, its colour is Hght brown, 
 marked logitudinally with hght grey stripes, which gradually 
 become dark as it gets old, when it is of an uniform dusky 
 hue. The bristles on its back become very stiff, and raised 
 hke those of a hedge-hog, when the animal is irritated. It 
 has a glandular orifice in the back, containing an offensive 
 liquor, similar to the peccary. 
 
 The Pingo is another animal of the same species, but 
 smaller, and more slender in shape. Its habits and propen- 
 sities are in every respect the same as the former. 
 
 The Coney Coney is one of the cavery species ; in form, 
 something like the guinea-pig, but more delicately shaped, 
 having fine long limbs, with which it runs very swiftly. It lives 
 in hollow trees, banks, and other places where it can burrow. 
 Its food is wild plants, roots, insects, &c. 
 
 The Paca is also like the guinea-pig in shape ; about a 
 foot in length ; its hair of a fine chesnut colour on the back, 
 sprinkled with white spots ; underneath the belly it is entirely 
 white. It is a remarkably clean little animal, and its flesh 
 esteemed a delicacy, something like the European hare, by 
 which name it is sometimes called. It is very docile, and 
 easily domesticated. 
 
 The Manaii, or Sea-cow, has a head somewhat like a bull- 
 dog, nostrils semi-lunar, and eyes very small and near the 
 ^nout ; it is without ears in outward appearance, but has two 
 small spiracula situated at the back part of the head : mouth 
 large, with soft and protracted lips, fitted for laying hold of 
 the grass or herbage growing near the shore ; neck short, 
 and body covered with a rough, blackish skin, thinly sprin- 
 kled with bristly hair ; the belly and sides near the tail, 
 white. From the shoulders protrude two pectoral fins re- 
 sembling arms, with which it supports itself in the water, 
 and which enable the female to give suck to its young (of 
 •which it only bears one at a time) who receive it from several
 
 THE PECCARY \VATER-HAR,E, &.C. 89 
 
 porous openings or mammae in the breast of the animal. It 
 has no other fins, but its tail is formed like that of the whale. 
 It is not an amphibious animal, never leaving the water, but 
 feeding upon the aquatic plants and shrubs growing on the 
 borders of the rivers and lakes, sometimes elevating its head 
 to munch at the bushes which overhang them. Its flesh is 
 white and delicate, resembling veal more than any thing else, 
 and when dressed has also a similar taste. It is very singular 
 that the flesh of this animal will keep good several weeks, 
 even in the hot climate of which it is a native, when other 
 meat will not resist putrefaction for as many days. The 
 length of this animal varies from eight to fourteen or sixteen 
 feet. 
 
 The Peccary, or Mexican Hog, is supposed to be indigen- 
 ous to Guyana, and will not breed with either the wild or 
 domestic hog: it has an orifice in the lower part of the back, 
 from which a fetid liquor is constantly oozing of a very dis- 
 agreeable smell ; and the natives, upon killing the animal, cut 
 away that part to prevent its infecting the flesh and rendering 
 it uneatable. When full grown it is about three feet in 
 length, with finely formed strong limbs, short tusks, and 
 white or grey bristles. A light coloured mark extends from 
 the shoulders on each side of the breast having some resem- 
 blance to a horse collar. The Peccarii run in large droves 
 in the woods uttering a loud noise, and are very vicious and 
 mischievous when pursued or irritated. 
 
 The Water-hare, (also called the water-hog,) is an animal 
 about the size of a half-grown English pig, of the hippopo- 
 tamus species, but difiJering in shape from those of Africa, 
 although of similar habits. Its mouth is exactly like that of 
 the hare, having long front teeth, the ears shorter and more 
 erect, and the head large and broad. The back is covered 
 with stiff* hair of a dusky brown colour, the belly and inside 
 of the legs grey or dirty white : its tail very short. When 
 pursued by dogs it makes the nearest way for the water, and 
 swimming into the centre or deepest part, waits the attack 
 with coolness. On its pursuers approaching it strikes them
 
 90 THE QUACY-QUACY SLOTH — ANT-BEAR, ScC. 
 
 with its fore paws, with such surprising quickness and strength, 
 forcing them under the water at every blow, that they are 
 obhffed to return to the shore tired out and half drowned. 
 The flesh is considered excellent food, being white and deli- 
 cate, and much of the same flavour as the tapir (mypourie). 
 
 The Quacy-quacyy or Coatimondi, (the fox of Demerara) is 
 in body shaped like a dog, of a dark brown colour, and mea- 
 suring two feet from snout to the tail, which is long, hairy, an- 
 nulated, having black rings upon a deep buff*-colour ground ; 
 breast and belly dingy white, jaws long and light brown, snout 
 black and projecting upwards, legs short (particularly the 
 foremost), feet long, and like the bear, frequently standing 
 upon its hind legs, and walking always upon its heels : ad- 
 mirable climbers, very cunning and strong, and great depre- 
 dators on the poultry-yards of the planters. 
 
 The Sloth, of which there are two or three species, varying 
 in size, is usually about two feet in length, with a head like a 
 monkey, mouth exceedingly wide, eyes languid, hinder legs 
 shorter than the fore, hair long, bushy, of a dirty grey or 
 reddish colour, resembling moss, and with three or two toes, 
 (according to the species), and long and arched claws, with 
 which it clings to the branches always hanging from them, 
 (never standing on them), in which position it is to be found 
 asleep or in action. Its flesh is devoured with avidity by the 
 natives. 
 
 The Ant-bear measures six feet from the tip of its long 
 tail to the snout, covered with long shaggy black hair on the 
 back and belly, and on the neck and sides of a yellowish grey, 
 the head extremely long and slender, of a light bay colour, 
 ears short and round, mouth without teeth, and only large 
 enough to admit its tongue, which is nearly twenty inches in 
 length when elongated on an ant hill, and resembling a worm 
 covered with slime. When seeking food the bear stretches his 
 tongue on a hillock and draws it into his mouth as often as 
 it is covered with the ants, which stick to it in crossing. The 
 hind legs are black, shorter than the fore, and having five 
 claws ; the fore legs are of a dirty white, with four claws, the
 
 TUB JAGUAR — TIGER CAT — CRABO DAGO, &C. 91 
 
 two central of enormous length. The ant-bear travels slowly 
 (walking on the outside of his fore feet) in search of ant hills, 
 and when asleep covers itself with its enormous tail. It is 
 esteemed good eating. 
 
 The Jaguar, or, as it is sometimes called, the South Ame- 
 rican tiger, (although it more properly should be classed with 
 the ounce species,) is of a beautiful bright colour, between 
 brown and yellow, and when full grown, about the size of, 
 and very much resembling the ounce in shape ; the top of 
 the back is striated, of a dark colour, which, as the animal 
 gets old, become at last quite black : the sides are beautifully 
 variegated with irregular oblong spots open in the middle, 
 with a central shading of a light yellow. The jaguar is very 
 courageous, and will attack an ox or buffalo ; but if he fails 
 in bringing it down, he retires to seek an easier prey, which, 
 should he not obtain, he will then lie in wait for the human 
 species ; this, however, is very seldom the case, unless when 
 compelled by extreme hunger. It can swim well, crossing 
 the large rivers with which the country abounds with the 
 greatest facility. 
 
 The Tiger Cat is as large as a well grown European cat, 
 but more slender in shape and longer limbed ; usual colour 
 light grey, head striped with black, and body marked with 
 long irregular dark spots : there are some variegated with 
 red and black. They live generally in the woods, feeding 
 upon small lizards, mice, birds, &c., and when taken quite 
 young may be domesticated. 
 
 The Crabo Dago, (i. e. a dog living on crabs,) is about 
 two feet long, and nine inches high, head large, and snout 
 full and thick like that of the hyena, tail long, and legs 
 rather short : the colour generally is a greyish brown ; it 
 lives upon crabs, birds, and fruits ; is not ferocious, but very 
 mischievous. 
 
 There is another species of crabo dago, described under 
 the title of quaci-quaci. None of the native dogs of South 
 America have any voice.
 
 92 OPOSSUM — ARMADILLO — DEER, &C. 
 
 The Ojwssum,^ small animal of the Kangaroo species, varies 
 from six to thirteen inches in length, the colour sometimes 
 black, brown or grey, head oblong, and large in proportion 
 to the size of the body, eyes small, ears large, pointed at 
 the end, and standing upright ; the tail long and prehensile, 
 but not hairy in general ; the feet have five toes with sharp 
 claws, except on the large toe on the hind feet, which is round. 
 Its chief food is nuts, buds of trees, and grain of any kind. 
 There are two or three sorts of this animal, but the above 
 will suffice for a general description. 
 
 The Armadillo (of which there are several varieties) is 
 covered with a strong crust of scales or shells, in hexangular 
 figures, and of from seven to ten moveable bands, the last of 
 which is only halfway upon each side; the head is very oblong, 
 ears in pi'oportion and erect, claws sharply pointed, and tail 
 long and jointed. The animal rolls itself up when sleeping, to 
 cover with its armour its vulnerable parts (the snout, ears, 
 and belly,) in case of attack ; it is a quiet, harmless creature, 
 feeding upon roots, worms, and other insects, and grows to 
 about eighteen or twenty inches in length : its flesh is consi- 
 dered delicate eating, somewhat like a rabbit in taste and 
 colour, and it burrows in the ground like that animal. When 
 pursued it begins digging a fresh burrow, if too far off its 
 own retreat ; and when half buried, and its tail taken hold of 
 by its pursuers, it will sufier it to be torn off sooner than let 
 go its hold : the Indians tickle it behind with a small stick, 
 which soon causes it to relinquish its hold, and allow itself 
 to be taken. 
 
 There are two species of Deer very numerous in Guyana, 
 the one resembling in shape the fallow deer of Europe, but 
 with shorter and less branching antlers, usually of a brown 
 grey ; very fleet and courageous when closely pursued. The 
 other, something like the European roebuck when young, of 
 a light brown, with longitudinal stripes, of a clear white, 
 about the size of a goat, very delicately framed, and without 
 horns. It lives chiefly in the marshy parts of the colony, and
 
 MONKEYS — BABOONS, &C. 93 
 
 if taken* when quite young may be domesticated, but never 
 lives long in that state, gradually pining to death. When full 
 grown, its colour becomes uniformly brown. 
 
 The Baboons and Monkeys of Guyana exhibit great 
 variety ; — among the most remarkable are, — 
 
 The Holding Baboon, — of a bright ferruginous colour, and 
 about thirty inches in height when standing erect ; face beard- 
 less, quite bare, and covered with a black skin, as are also 
 the hands : tail prehensile, and of considerable length. The 
 cartilaginous organ with which the rattling noise is made, 
 from whence it is named, is about six inches in circumference, 
 in the form of the cup of a wine glass, with the upper part 
 turned to the windpipe, and surrounded with numerous mem- 
 branes, which can be opened or closed according to the plea- 
 sure of the animal ; the noise issuing from it is clear and 
 shrill, and can be heard at a considerable distance. 
 
 The Kissee Kissee (of the Sapajou species) is about the 
 size of a half grown cat, perfectly symmetrical in form; head 
 small and round, face of a flesh colour, and covered with short 
 white hair ; eyes large, black, and piercing ; the tip of the nose 
 and the mouth surrounded with black hair ; the body is of a 
 bright gold yellow shaded with brown, the under part white ; 
 hands and feet orange colour ; the tail, which is tufted at the 
 end, dark brown or black. When this little animal is taken 
 young it becomes quite domesticated, but if confined to a 
 room or chained up, soon frets itself to death. There is a 
 rare species of the sapajou which can seldom be caught, 
 about the same size as the above, but differing in colour, — 
 the body being brown, the head face and hands black, the 
 chin edged with a short straight beard, which is continued 
 all round the head; the face is flat, and the cartilaginous 
 
 * The Indians have a curious metliod of tal<in2[ aninial.?, ulilcli tliey 
 perform in the following manner : — a man, seated in a tliicklv-branclied 
 tree, blows a species of flute or wliistle called pita, uitli which tlipv can 
 imitate the cry of a younc^ deer; by this means he not only l)rings the old 
 dam to him, but various beasts of prey, which arc soon siiot bv hunters 
 concealed in other trees near the spot.
 
 94l $ACCA\VINKEE MONKEY — BIRDS — VAMPYRES 
 
 partition of the nostril very broad. It is of a mild dispo- 
 sition. 
 
 The Wanacoe, or bush-tailed brown Saccawinkee, is rather 
 larger than the two preceding, and covered all over with long 
 brown hair, w hich turns on the head towards the face ; tail 
 like that of a squirrel. It is in general a lively and docile 
 animal, but turns melancholy if confined, in which state it will 
 not live long. 
 
 The Large-eared Saccatvinkee is not more than eight or 
 ten inches long, but beautifully formed ; the face is round, 
 nose high between the eyes, and flat towards the end ; upper 
 lip divided, like that of the hare, eyes dark chesnut colour ; 
 ears large in proportion to the body, and tail at least a foot 
 long ; the fore hands, and as high as the elbow, are of an 
 orange colour ; the body a shining black, intermixed with 
 yellow hair ; the face is also black ; although there is a very 
 rare species having a white face. The Dutch have named 
 the first-mentioned Chagrintee, on account of its being soon 
 oflfended, when it becomes spiteful and mischievous. 
 
 BIRDS. 
 
 The sportsman and naturalist will find ample employment in 
 Guyana, where the feathered tribe, in number and splendour 
 of plumage, make some amends for the deficiency observable 
 in quadrupeds ; — to particularize each species, whether of 
 bird, beast or fish, would be beyond the limits assigned me ; 
 I must therefore content myself with giving, as in the fore- 
 going section, a few specimens as illustrative of the country, 
 reserving for another opportunity a more detailed account of 
 the Natural History of the British Colonies. To begin with 
 the connecting link between birds and beasts, I may mention ; 
 
 The Vampyre Bat, which often measures thirty inches from 
 point to point of wing when extended, although the body sel- 
 dom exceeds seven or eight ; resembling the harpies of old in 
 their hideous and disgusting appearance. The vampyres may 
 be seen in the forests, hanging head downwards in clusters on 
 the branches of trees : the large kind suck the blood of men
 
 EAGLE — FALCON. 95 
 
 and animals when sleeping, the smaller that of birds ; while 
 sucking a gentle flapping is kept up by the wings, which lulls 
 the sufferer until an exhaustion of blood prolongs the period 
 when the vampyre may suck with impunity. While sleeping 
 in an open hut the vampyres are only kept off by means of 
 large fires. 
 
 The Crested Eagle far surpasses in size the monarch of 
 European birds, sometimes measuring seven or eight feet 
 across the wings ; it has a crest of four long black feathers, 
 which are erected when about to seize its prey or if it be irri- 
 tated. The ground colour is of an ash grey with dark shad- 
 ing ; the bill and legs yellow, very strong and long ; eyes large 
 and black. 
 
 The Falcon, of which there are two or three species, differs 
 very little from those of Europe in shape or size, and is 
 chiefly distinguishable by the colours. The White Falcon (so 
 called from its body being of a beautiful clear white) has wings 
 and tail like a swallow, of a bright glossy black, as are also 
 the legs and eyes. 
 
 The Brown Falcon is in every respect like the former ex- 
 cept the colour of the body, which is brown, with the belly and 
 thighs covered with yellow spots. 
 
 The Spotted Falcon is a most beautiful bird, about the size 
 of a pigeon, and similar in shape to the preceeding ; its head 
 beak, wings and tail are black ; legs yellow, and breast a deep 
 orange, with white specks scattered over the whole body. 
 
 The King of the Vultures, an immense bird, as large as the 
 black eagle, is of a pinky white, or flesh colour, in the body ; 
 wings black ; head and neck (entirely divested of feathers) 
 of an orange and rose colour, alternately shaded ; the beak is 
 overhung with a fleshy substance, also of an orange colour, 
 curiously shaped, like an ornamented tassel. The eyes of a 
 light pearl colour, are round and large and sparkling ; around 
 the neck, above the breast, is a kind of collar of thick rough 
 feathers, ofanirongrey colour, which serves it as a safeguard 
 to draw its head into when likely to be stung or wounded by 
 the venomous snakes, upon which it usually feeds.
 
 96 BANANA AND TIGER BIRDS — GUYANA PARTRIDGE, &C. 
 
 Among the birds worthy of notice for tlie beauty of their 
 plumage, or singular propensities and habits, are — 
 
 The Banana Bird (so called from its fondness for that 
 fruit), as large as a thrush ; body chiefly of a yellow or 
 orange colour, beak and legs horn colour, wings and tail 
 black ; it builds its nest nearly a yard in height, of a conical 
 form, composed mostly of grass, with an opening half way 
 down for its entrance. The bottom is semi-globular, with the 
 upper and narrowest part fastened to the extremity of a 
 branch that overhangs the water, in order to secure its inmate 
 and brood from lizards and other reptiles. 
 
 The Carrie Cnrrie, or Red Curlew, is a very beautiful 
 bird, having a neck, body and wings of bright scarlet, the 
 four principal wing feathers tipped with black ; its legs are 
 long and slender. It is larger than the common curlew, and 
 very delicious eating when young, at which time it is quite 
 black, not attaining its rich plumage until a year old. 
 
 The Partridge, called Anamoe, is much of the same shape 
 as the European partridge but larger, of a dark brown colour 
 on the top of the head, back, and wings; the breast, legs and 
 thighs, of a cream colour, with transversal bars of orange and 
 black feathers. The head and bill are small, neck long, tail 
 wanting; it is a bad flying bird, runs very swift, and finds 
 shelter among the low bush-wood ; its flesh is extremely 
 luxuriant eating. 
 
 The Maam is about the size of a pullet, which it resembles 
 in shape and habits. It is of a light brown colour, and 
 when dressed the flesh is white and delicate, but very dry, 
 which is ratlier remarkable, as the bird is exceedingly plump 
 and fat, and cannot fly any great distance without resting. 
 
 The Wallahaha is a beautiful bird, with a deep purple 
 body and white wings. Its cry sounds like its name, but its 
 voice is harsh and hoarse. 
 
 The Ibibiron, is somewhat like an English magpie, its 
 head being black and white, the breast, back, and wings are 
 tastefully variegated. 
 
 The Tiger Bird, or Bit fern is of a Ijrigljt brown colour,
 
 THE MOCKING AND TRUMPETER BIRDS. ^4 
 
 marked with black stripes like the animal after which it is 
 named ; bill hard, long, and very sharp pointed, neck and 
 legs very long, and the body, although looking large when 
 the bird is flying, generally small and thin. 
 
 The Douraquare, resembles the English partridge in its 
 colours, but is not more than half its size. 
 
 The Dara, is about as large as the jay, with a plumage of 
 snow-white, and a high crest of black and white rising from 
 its head ; its notes are clear, loud, sonorous, and romantic, 
 resembling the sound of village church bells. 
 
 The Mocking Bird is larger than the starling, of a black 
 and yellow colour, with its beak of a sulphur tint ; delights 
 (as most of the birds of this continent do), to take up his 
 abode near the habitation of man ; his note is sweet and 
 short, but if a sheep bleat near him, a dog bark, or a hen 
 cackle, he stops his own note, and instantly commences with 
 apparent delight an imitation of the animal he hears, with a 
 mimicry quite extraordinary. The nests are pendulous, and 
 suspended from the outer branches of trees, similar to those 
 of the Banana Bird, to which it is a near species, if not 
 actually identical ; but the latter is not so perfect in its 
 imitations, which is in all probability the reason they have 
 been distinctly classed. 
 
 The JVaracoba, or Trumpeter (Psophia Crepitans of 
 Linnaeus) is about the size of a domestic fowl, with short 
 wings and tail, and long legs, runs very fast, but seldom flies. 
 The singular habits of this bird are very amusing : it will 
 stand on one leg as the traveller approaches, and hop or 
 dance before him, and then tumble over and over like a 
 merry andrew, uttering at the same time a peculiar noise, 
 from which it derives its name. When domesticated it 
 becomes much attached to the person who feeds it, following 
 him about like a dog, and driving away all other birds, and 
 even a hog or any domestic animal; jumping upon and 
 scratching them with such fury that it intimidates and puts 
 them to flight. Naturalists are at a loss to account for the 
 sound it makes, some averring that it proceeds from the 
 
 VOL. 11. H
 
 98 THE VENTUILOQIIST — SUN-FOWL — TOUCAN, &C. 
 
 belly, after the manner of a ventriloquist ; others (and 
 Linnaeus amongst the number), say it is caused by the anus, 
 but they all agree that this power is confined to the male 
 bird. According to Dr. Hancock, a gentleman of great 
 experience, who resided in the West Indies nearly thirty 
 years, the trachea (wind pipe) runs down the belly to within 
 an inch of the anus, it is then doubled back upon itself and 
 enters the cavity of the chest at the anterior part of the 
 breast-bone ; in all probability, therefore, it is this peculiar 
 formation that gave rise to the before-mentioned conjecture. 
 These birds are highly prized by the Indians, and kept in 
 their houses, but are seldom or ever known to breed when 
 domesticated. 
 
 The Sun Foivl is about the size of a woodcock, and similar 
 in shape, with a long pointed beak, and long slender legs ; 
 colour brown, shaded with black and yellow; the long 
 feathers in the wings resemble the rays of the sun, which it is 
 apparently very proud of shewing, as it almost invariably 
 appears with its wings spread out like a peacock's tail. It 
 lives upon insects and soon becomes tame. 
 
 The Swallows of Guyana resemble those of Europe in most 
 respects, but are rather larger, and in place of the white 
 mark under the throat of the latter, have one of an ash-grey. 
 They build in houses, and never quit the country. 
 
 Macaws and Parrots are in great variety. 
 
 The Toucan (called by the natives P'la-poco, from its cry) 
 is about the size of a magpie, having an enormous beak, or 
 proboscis, which appears to weigh the bird down to the 
 earth. Its plumage is exquisitely variegated with yellow and 
 black, upon a ground of brilliant scarlet ; the eye is also 
 encircled by bare skin, of the same colours combined. It 
 flies by jerks, like the magpie, and is equally cautious of 
 strangers. 
 
 The Hou-tou (also named from its cry) is a most magni- 
 ficent bird, — ^its plumage partaking of all the colours of the 
 rainbow. It can only be met with, at the dawn of morning, 
 in the woods and unfrequented places, and may then be
 
 THE FLY-CATCHER WILD TURKEY, &C. 99 
 
 heard articulating, with a loud and clear voice, ^' Hoii-tou 
 hou-tou" in such a distinct mournful tone, that the traveller 
 is at once interested and delighted. This bird never ap- 
 proaches the habitation of man, shuns all society with other 
 birds, and is seldom caught. 
 
 The Wow Wow, so called by the natives, is a beautiful 
 bird, with a head and breast of a deep blue ; back and rump, 
 very much like the peacock's neck ; belly, bright yellow, or 
 gold colour; and very short legs, so that the bird seems to 
 squat on its stomach, much like the swallow ; the neck is 
 quite destitute of feathers, although it cannot be easily ob- 
 served as it sits upon the branches with its head sunk 
 between its shoulders ; it Hies by long jerks, and is about 
 the size of a pigeon. 
 
 The Han-na-qua somewhat resembles a hen pheasant, 
 though smaller in size ; the bill and legs ai*e flesh-coloured, 
 and the cheeks red. 
 
 The Marradie, or Wild Fowl, is of the same species as the 
 former ; about the size of a barn-door fowl ; head and body 
 chiefly black, slightly speckled with white. 
 
 The Cole is also of the same species, size and colour as 
 the Maradie, except the head and cheeks, which are white — 
 the latter are naked. 
 
 The Derli, or Fly-catcher, equal to any before mentioned 
 for variety and beauty of plumage, is about the size of a 
 pigeon, its body partaking of all the different shades of 
 brown, spotted with white and black. It may be easily tamed, 
 and will stay in a house, feeding upon flies, which it darts at 
 with its bill. 
 
 The Powie Powie, or Wild Turkey, (somewhat smaller than 
 the domestic bird of Europe) has a bright yellow bill, and a 
 beautiful crest of glossy black feathers, very curiously curled 
 near the points ; head, neck, and body, of a shining black ; 
 tail long, consisting of several broad feathers, which it can 
 spread at pleasure. This bird, like the Hou-tou, &c. derives 
 its name from its cry, and is excellent eating. 
 
 The Peacock CoUbri, or Humming Bird, of which there 
 are varieties too numerous to be treated of here, is of an ex-
 
 100 HUMMING BIRD — EGRETTE — SPOONBILL, &C. 
 
 quisite shining green, with a rich red brown shading ; neck, 
 particularly brilliant, of a still lighter green ; tail, a bright 
 purple, with gold-coloured feathers on each side ; the bird is 
 about three inches long, of which the tail is full half. There 
 are several other species, varying in size from a quarter of an 
 inch to five inches, and variegated m ith all the colours of the 
 rainbow. Their nests are built between the forked branches 
 of trees, and are composed of dry leaves, lined with silk 
 cotton ; they lay two white eggs, of the size of peas, but 
 rather oval in shape, on which they sit ten or twelve days. 
 These exquisitely lovely creatures subsist chiefly on the juice 
 of flowers ; the largest sorts upon gnats and other very small 
 insects. 
 
 The Black-winged Woodcreeper, somewhat larger than an 
 European titmouse, is of a most brilliant ultra-marine blue, 
 except the throat and wings, which are glossy black ; the 
 inside of the wings, silver grey ; the bill, about an inch and a 
 half long, is black, and the legs orange, with three toes 
 before and one behind, ending in small crooked nails. 
 
 Among the principal water-fowl are the 
 
 Snow-white Egrette, so called from the delicate and beau- 
 tiful plume on its breast, which so frequently adorns the 
 heads of the European noblesse. The bird is of the shape 
 of the heron, but not quite so large, with a black bill. 
 
 The Spoonbill is as large as a full-grown goose, and, like 
 that bird, web-footed ; the bill, from which it derives its 
 name, is from six to seven inches long, quite straight and 
 flat to within two inches of the tip, where it becomes broad 
 and round, exactly resembling a spoon; the head is of a 
 whitish or grey colour, and rather bald on the top ; and the 
 feathers on the body are slightly tinted with pink. The 
 spoonbills may be seen by dozens standing in a line, ranged 
 like soldiers, on the beach, waiting for the small fish which 
 are brought in by the tide. 
 
 The Hammie Hammie, a large bird of the heron species, 
 so called by the natives, measures about six feet from head 
 to foot, with a long straight bill, terminating in a point, of a 
 light pink, or fle^h colour. The top of the head is black.
 
 THE VICISSY DUCK, CRANE, FLAMINGO, &C. 101 
 
 adorned with a small crest ; neck long and white ; wings 
 brown, and tipped with black ; and back covered with long 
 hairy feathers. 
 
 The Vicissy Duck is smaller than the European duck; 
 bill, legs, and feet of an orange colour ; feathers on the top of 
 the head brown, with variegated bars of a light chesnut ; 
 breast, a dark mahogany colour. The Vicissy breed in the 
 savannahs, and make a sort of whistling noise, not in the 
 least like that made by ducks in England. They are so 
 timid that, when fired at, though unhurt, they fall to the 
 ground to all appearance dead ; but if not mortally wounded, 
 they are scarcely ever discovered, as they hide themselves in 
 the grass with surprising dexterity. They are very delicate 
 eating, being free from that fishy taste so unpleasant in the 
 Muscovy duck. 
 
 The Jah'iru or Crane is clear white, except the head and 
 prime feathers of the wings and the tail, which are black ; the 
 legs, neck, and back, are very long like the European stork, 
 which it also resembles in size. 
 
 The Grey Crane is of the same shape, but not so large as 
 the former ; of a blueish grey, with a small crest on the back 
 part of the head, and some long light grey feathers along the 
 neck ; the beak and legs (long, like the preceding) are of a 
 greenish cast. 
 
 The Flamingo^ about half the size of the European stork, 
 and of the same shape, is of a lively scarlet when full grown ; 
 (when young, white or grey,) with an arched bill, long legs 
 and wings.* 
 
 The AunaJiee, or Wild Duck, is not so large as those of 
 Europe, but stands higher on its legs ; it is of a light brown, 
 
 * The embouchures of the rivers in Eastern Africa are crowded with 
 these beautiful birds, which, at a distance, resemble regiments of soldiers 
 drawn up on the beach to oppose a landing. During the expedition of 
 Captain Owen in the Leven and Barraconta, I have seen our sailors shoot 
 hundreds of flamingos for the purpose of making a dish of the tongue alone^ 
 the remainder of the bird, in imitation of the Roman epicures, being 
 thrown away.
 
 102 THE DARTER LIZARDS AND SERPENTS. 
 
 beautifully variegated with darker shades, bill and legs of a 
 pale orange ; frequently domesticated among the poultry, and 
 excellent eating. 
 
 The Water Hen is about the size of, and resembles in 
 shape, the European moor hen, but of a deep cinnamon 
 colour, with the principal wing feathers of a light green ; it 
 has a small comb on the forehead, crossing the beak, of a 
 blood-red ; the beak, which is about two inches long, is of a 
 yellowish green. It has three long toes before and one be- 
 hind ; taste rather insipid and somewhat fishy. 
 
 The Darter is a fine bird, as large as a Muscovy duck, and 
 something like it in shape, but more slender ; the head is ob- 
 long, and small in proportion to the body, ending in a pointed 
 beak about three inches long, which causes it to look like a 
 serpent ; the neck long, body chiefly grey, shaded with 
 black and white. This bird waits on the bank until it sees 
 a fish rise in the water, when it pounces down with amazing 
 quickness ; if unsuccessful in transfixing the fish with its 
 beak it will pursue it under water, and indeed it rarely fails 
 in catching the object pursued. 
 
 Lizards and Serpents. — Guyana, teeming with animal and 
 vegetable life under a vertical sun, may be naturally sup- 
 posed prolific in lizards, serpents, &c. ; these reptiles are 
 however objects of fear, owing rather to their prodigious 
 size or hideous appearance, than to their poisonous qualities 
 or voracity towards man. 
 
 The Caijman* or Crocodile, or Alligator, is seldom foimd 
 more than from fifteen to twenty feet in length, usually of a 
 light dusky colour when young, but becoming iron grey when 
 full grown ; it has a hard scaly impenetrable skin, indented 
 
 * The Indians, it is said, are very expert in catching the cayman : — 
 a man dives down upon the crocodile's back, while asleep, and 
 fastens a rope round its body ; he then strides across it and, nrtaking a 
 sijjnal to his companions on the river's bank, they are pulled towards the 
 surface of the water tof^ethcr. By tickling it under the axilla with a stick, 
 the monster, it is stated, becomes perfectly managea!)lc, and is hauled to 
 the beach, where the rider's comrades despatch him with iron-shod clubs.
 
 THE CAYMAN, OR CROCODILE — GUANA, &C. 103 
 
 on the back and upper ridge of the tail ; the head very strongly 
 formed, with a long snout and extremely wide jaws, armed 
 with a formidable double row of sharp teeth. The claws on 
 the fore feet are tremendously strong and sharp. The flesh, 
 although of a musky smell, is eaten with avidity by the In- 
 dians. For a description of the internal structure see Cuvier's 
 Natural History. 
 
 The Guana is about three feet long from the head to the 
 extremity of the tail, and covered with a soft skin, of a blueish 
 green colour on the back and legs ; on the sides and belly 
 nearly white. It has a bag or pouch of loose skin under its 
 throat of a light green ; eyes black ; and claws, of which there 
 are three or five on each foot, sharply pointed. It has also a 
 fringed skin or kind of mane running along from the head to 
 the tail which it erects when irritated, and will then snap hold 
 of any thing with great tenacity, but it is perfectly harmless if 
 undisturbed ; the bite is painful but not dangerous. The 
 Indians hunt this animal for its flesh which is very delicious, 
 and reckoned but little inferior to turtle. 
 
 The Broivn Lizard, called also the Devil in the Wood, is 
 about eighteen inches long, tail included ; it has no scales, is 
 of a dark brown colour, mixed with black spots ; the head 
 large, and the legs armed with strong claws. It runs very fast, 
 feeds on small birds and insects, and will bite very severely. 
 
 The Serpenti7ie Lizard is a very singular reptile, being 
 neither serpent nor lizard, but partaking of the characters of 
 both. The shape and contour of the body is exactly that of 
 a serpent, with four armatures or feet attached. The body is 
 very slender and nearly cylindric, covered with small annular 
 bands, a little interrupted at the insertions of the feet, which 
 are very imperfect, being small appendages, almost without 
 toes or nails except mere rudiments ; it is therefore their situa- 
 tion alone that would imply them to answer that purpose. The 
 eyes are small, teeth widely placed and very fine, tongue bifid 
 and cutaneous ; the back is of chocolate colour, belly white. 
 The hmbs have each a joint about the middle, forming a sort 
 of elbow, and there are three toes on each fore foot. When
 
 104 SERPENTINE LIZARD, CHAMELION, &C. 
 
 roused by any approaching of clanger it displays much courage 
 and agility, notwithstanding its helpless appearance, and 
 springs aside at the assailant sometimes to the distance of two 
 feet, never making the least attempt to escape. The bands 
 under the belly are quite incapable of being elevated so as to 
 facilitate motion, as in most other serpents- 
 
 The Banded or Annulated Lizard, a harmless little crea- 
 ture, about five inches long, is one of the prettiest of the spe- 
 cies ; it has a flat and pointed head, the body coloured with 
 black and light blue regular stripes, about a quarter of an 
 inch wide ; the feet have each five small sharp claws, the tail 
 about an inch and a half long, is pyramidical in form, and 
 covered with fine bristles. 
 
 The Salempenta, or Fil Mateo, measuring from the tail to the 
 nose three feet, is exceedingly ugly ; colour chiefly a brownish 
 green, with yellow spots ; and marked in the most extraor- 
 dinary hieroglyphical manner : amphibious, running along the 
 bottom of rivers as easily as it does on dry land, and feeding on 
 herbs and small insects ; it is thought (particularly by the In- 
 dians) good eating, the flesh being white and tender. It has 
 some resemblance to the Guana when seen at a distance, but is 
 much more repulsive in appearance than that animal. The 
 Salempenta has (like the Chameleon, and several others of 
 the same species) in some measure the faculty of changing its 
 colour when in any way excited, either through fright or 
 anger ; but does not shew its shades in such great variety as 
 the Agamma, or common Green Lizard, which is about ten 
 inches long, of which the tail measures half. 
 
 The Againma, or American Chameleon, is distinct from 
 those of Africa in shape, by the back part of the head not 
 running to a point, and its tongue being short and thick. The 
 body is about six inches long, and the tail above nine, in 
 shape is like the Guana, to which genus it belongs; the 
 principal change of colour observed in it is from green to 
 brown, or vice versa, which, in the opinion of Baron von Sack, 
 (who had several of them domesticated) is assumed to deceive 
 an enemy when approaching, and to render itself invisible, —
 
 THE RATTLE SNAKE — KUNUKUSI, &C. 105 
 
 for example, if put on a green umbrella (says the Baron,) 
 it immediately changed to that colour, and upon being let down 
 upon the floor, which was made of the boUo tree (of a dark 
 brown) it assumed a very dark chocolate colour. This change 
 seems to be effected by the motion or disposition of its scales, 
 as they are either elevated or depressed by its voluntary power; 
 and when the reptile is fresh caught this will take place five or 
 six times in a minute, all the time snapping at any thing that 
 approaches it. The bite, if not attended to, will inflame and 
 become painful, but is not at all dangerous. The power of 
 changing colour is not confined solely to the chameleon, but 
 common to several of the lizard tribe. 
 
 Of the Serpents, the Iguana is in colour resembling the 
 Guana lizard, and has a similar bag or pouch under the 
 throat. It is about seven or eight feet in length when full 
 grown ; its bite is said to be in most cases fatal. 
 
 The Rattle Snake, is usually between seven and eight feet 
 long, very thick in the middle, and tapering towards the neck 
 and tail ; head large, flat and broad, with two knobs or pro- 
 jections over the eyes ; nostrils wide, and snout blunt at the 
 end. Within the tail are several thin horny hollow rings, with 
 which, when the snake becomes excited, a rattle-like noise is 
 made. The colour of the head and back is a dusky orange, 
 mixed with brown and black spots ; belly a whitish grey or 
 ash colour, teeth long and widely situate, tongue forked and 
 quite black ; Lite considered fatally poisonous. 
 
 The Kunulcusi, or Ccsnnukusi, so called from counoko, the 
 wood or bush ; attains very often ten or twelve feet in length, 
 and is of a yellowish grey colour, marked on the back with 
 dark brown or black spots, of a diamond shape, and zig-zag 
 or diagonal lines ; the belly of an ash or dirty white colour. 
 The Kunukusi is the Crotalus Mutus of Linnaeus, placed by 
 some naturalists under the genus Boa, but more properly be- 
 longing to that of the himararia, labaria, and parrot snake. 
 The kunukusi has a head somewhat three sided in shape, 
 and obtusely levelled, or as if pared round with a perpen- 
 dicular stroke of a knife : eyes placed laterally, having over 
 each a large oblong scale. On each side of its mouth there
 
 106 KUNUKUSI SNAKE, AND OTHER POISONOUS SERPENTS. 
 
 is a bundle consisting of seven fangs, the foremost one fixed 
 in the upper jaw, on a prominence or projecting point of a 
 bone, which is capable of motion. The second, of about the 
 same size, is attached, as it were, by cartilage, and keeps the 
 same position as the first. The remaining five lie in a bundle 
 enveloped in a separate sheath, immediately behind the two 
 primary ones, gradually diminishing in size backwards ; the 
 tongue is three forked ; the tail, which is short and pointed, 
 terminates with a horny substance, sometimes an inch in 
 length. This serpent, like most others of a venomous cha- 
 racter, is very sluggish, and slow to bite, unless irritated, and 
 then it darts with great velocity, springing its whole length 
 on an enemy ; who, if bitten, meets inevitable death. 
 
 The Labaria is another venomous serpent, of the same 
 genus as the preceding, which it closely resembles in shape, 
 but is much smaller, and its colours more vivid ; it generally 
 measures five or six feet when full grown, and is of an ashy 
 grey on the body, and light blue on the sides and belly : the 
 back is marked with dark spots and yellowish transverse lines. 
 The head and fangs are similar to those of the preceding. 
 
 The Hhnararia is another of the same character in every 
 respect as the two above named. 
 
 The Parrot Snake, so called from its colour being exactly 
 like the common green parrot, is of the same genus as the 
 three former. It grows to about a yard in length, and resides 
 in hollow trees, preying upon small birds, mice and insects ; 
 the bite is extremely dangerous, in most cases proving mortal. 
 
 The Cehayrit, one of the worst class of poisonous serpents, 
 is generally found about three feet six inches in length, and 
 thick in proportion, of an ash colour, with transverse bands 
 of black, and white under the belly : eyes large, and covered 
 with a thin transparent convex or lens, of a grey colour ; 
 mouth also large, with two rows of teeth on each side of tlie 
 upper jaw, and one in the lower ; at the posterior extremity of 
 the outer row, in the upper jaw, on each side, is a large fang 
 pointing backwards, provided with a muscular sheath or cover. 
 The whole l)ody is covered witli large scales : it moves with 
 great rapidity, (contrary to the hal)its of most others of this
 
 THE SCARLET SERPENT — BOA CONSTRICTOR, &C. 107 
 
 class,) sometimes springing several yards at a leap ; the bite 
 causes the body to swell, producing almost instant death : it 
 preys upon small birds and reptiles. 
 
 The Scarlet Serpent reaches to the length of five feet, and 
 to four inches in circumference. The upper part of the body 
 is of a briUiant scarlet, the belly of a dvdl red, the head flat 
 and white, tail very slender and short ; bite in most cases fatal. 
 
 The Caruiia, when full grown, is about four feet long, 
 slender in shape, and of a brown colour on the back, belly 
 dusky white, the sides and back covered with black oval 
 spots. Its head is wide and flat, neck small, and its bite is 
 believed to be poisonous. 
 
 The Coluhunaru,* growing as large as the East India boa 
 constrictor, and to which genus it belongs, is generally of 
 a grey ground colour, beautifully dotted with brown spots ; 
 towards the tail the colour becomes of a reddish brown, joined 
 with white rays, or bounded by irregular white spots ; on the 
 back and sides it is finely marked with transverse bars of an 
 ash colour, the belly speckled with a light yellowish green. 
 It is much feared by the Indians on account of its prodigious 
 strength, as it very often seizes a horse, or other animal of 
 equal size, and winding itself round the lower part of the 
 belly, makes its way towards the head, breaking every bone, 
 and holding as it were by hitches (like that jart of machinery 
 called the cog wheel, which forms a stop or check to retain 
 whatever it has gained) until its victim is incapable of motion, 
 when it begins to gorge the carcase whole. The colukunaru 
 is said to exhale a pestilential air from the mouth which de- 
 prives its prey of motion, and renders it perfectly passive, 
 but this has never been substantiated. 
 
 The Camodi, an amphibious snake, from ten to fourteen 
 feet in length, and sixteen inches in circumference, is of a 
 grey ground colour, with large oblong dark-brown or black 
 spots ; the sides have ocellated marks or spots of the same 
 colour, with yellow centres. It is of the same class of ser- 
 pents as the preceding, but usually living in creeks or ponds, 
 * In Arrawtik — to take Doer.
 
 108 WATER SERPENTS— LAND TURTLES. 
 
 and subsisting upon ducks and other water-fowl : its bite, 
 though not poisonous, is very severe, as it has two rows of 
 sharp teeth in the upper jaw a quarter of an inch long, and 
 pointed slightly backwards. 
 
 The Mamiiria is about the same size as the kunukusi or 
 bush-master, of a yellowish grey ground colour, with oval 
 ocellated black spots on back and sides, belly speckled witli 
 yellow and grey, head broad and flat, and marked with black 
 stripes, a dog's nose, and its lips serrate or notched. 
 
 " The Boa Scytala of Linnceus" attains avast size in these 
 retired and humid regions, (often measuring thirty feet,) but 
 seldom met with, and therefore but little known. There is a 
 smaller snake of this class very often found (usually five or 
 six feet long, and rather thick in the middle) with a dart of 
 bone attached by muscular fibres to the upper jaw or palate, 
 about two inches in length. The colour on the back is a 
 dark luridous green, the belly and sides clouded with black 
 and ash coloured spots : it has a horny substance at the end 
 of the tail, similar to the kunukusi, lamaria, and others of 
 that class. 
 
 Turtles. — There are two species of land turtles indigenous 
 to these Colonies ; the first of which, the common turtle, 
 eighteen or twenty inches in length, has an upper shell of an 
 oval form,hexangular in shape, highly convex and elevated, of a 
 yellowish brown colour, and very hard texture ; the under shell 
 slightly concave, and of a lighter colour. The head, feet and 
 tail resemble those of an European tortoise, which it is also 
 like in its motions : they feed on fruits and vegetables, and 
 are tolerable eating, but not equal to sea turtle. 
 
 The other species, called by the Indians Arracaca, is of a 
 smaller size, its upper shell flat, of a dark dingy colour, and 
 seems capable of a fine polish ; the body of the animal is black, 
 with light red spots ; the taste is very indifferent. 
 
 There are likewise three different species of land crabs, 
 but being nearly alike in most respects, it will be sufficient to 
 notice only — 
 
 The Abenoura, which is about the size of a man's hand,
 
 THE LAND CRABS RANA PARADOXA. 109 
 
 the body of a quadrangular shape, and a vivid blue colour ; 
 there are eight legs, four on each side, covered with bristly 
 hairs, and towards the end tending to a fleshy hue. The 
 abenoura burrows in the earth near the sea-shore, and on the 
 banks of rivers, from which they are dug out by the Indians, 
 who are very fond of them ; they are also esteemed a delicacy 
 by the white inhabitants. The best manner of dressing them 
 is to pick out all the flesh from the shell, the former is then 
 made into a stew, with plenty of cayenne pepper, and then 
 dished up in the shells : in this way they are very little in- 
 ferior to turtle. The Indians, who do not understand the 
 above method, merely boil or roast them in ashes, by which 
 they are deprived of their luxurious flavour, and become not 
 only insipid in taste, but disgusting to look at.* 
 
 Rana Paradoxa. There are several species, or perhaps 
 varieties, of frogs in Guyana, whose larvae or tadpole grows 
 to a considerable length before the tail drops. In these cases 
 it does not fall suddenly, but begins from the extremity to 
 lose its vitality, shrink and slough off", till the perfect frog 
 appears : previously, however, the legs are gradually pro- 
 truded, the hinder ones are first observed, then the fore legs : 
 the skin, which may be observed to grow to the body of the 
 larva, only in a small number of points, loosely envelopes it, 
 as it were, in a purse. This is, however, not peculiar to the 
 species, but common, perhaps, to most of the genus. The 
 above subject has a branchial opening, or gill aperture, only 
 on one side of the head, by which it imbibes oxygen from the 
 air contained in water, in the same manner as fishes do. 
 
 Insects. The Knife Grinder^ or Rhinoceros Beetle, re- 
 sembles an European beetle in shape and colour, but is of a 
 much larger size, with a long stout horn, projecting from the end 
 of the nose, and a smaller one beneath. With these horns the 
 knife grinder seizes on a young branch of a tree, then setting 
 its body in a rapid circular motion, an attrition is kept up for 
 
 * Lieutenant-Colonel St. Clair, in his amusing West Indian recollections, 
 gives this opinion respecting the cooking of the Demerara crab.
 
 110 INSECTS — KNIFE GRINDER — LANTERN CARRIER, &C. 
 
 some time, until the wood is completely sawn through ; the 
 insect making all the while a deafening noise, exactly like 
 that of a knife grinder holding steel against the stone of his 
 wheel. When the branch drops off they strip it of the bark, 
 upon which they subsist while it lasts ; when a fresh supply 
 is required they again commence the usual operation. 
 
 The Lantern Carrier is nearly three inches long, the body 
 of a beautiful green, in shape something like the common 
 moth ; with four transparent wings, of a delicate light green, 
 and on each of the under wings a spot brilUantly variegated 
 with purple and yellow, not unlike the feathers in the pea- 
 cocks' tail : from the head rises a large proboscis of an oval 
 form, but tapering most towards the head, which is called 
 the lantern, as it emits a bright light, said by some to be so 
 powerful, that on putting two of them under a glass, a com- 
 mon print may be read by them. There are two other 
 species of fire-flies, having a luminous spot under each wing, 
 (so that the light can only be observed while they are flying), 
 which in the rainy season assembling in great numbers, ap- 
 pearing sometimes like so many intermitting sparks from 
 fire-works. 
 
 The Cacerlache, or CocJc Roach, (so well known as scarcely 
 to need description) is about an inch and a half long, of an 
 oval form, shaped like the common black beetle, but of a 
 brown colour ; the body of a soft texture, has six legs at- 
 tached, head almost triangular. It sheds its skin once a year, 
 when it obtains wings, but does not make much use of them, 
 is of a noxious smell, and very destructive to wearing ap- 
 parel of any kind; seldom appears in the day time. 
 
 The Scorpion, a very formidable insect, in these colonies, 
 is usually about three inches long, of wliich the tail is one- 
 third ; the body shaped like a lobster, and of a grey colour : 
 from its neck proceeds two claws, having three divisions or 
 joints, and armed at the end with a pair of sharp pointed 
 forceps ; the other four pair of legs resemble those of a 
 spider, the tail is jointed, and has at the extremity a crooked 
 tube of a horny substance, containing a liquid, which the
 
 SCORPION, CENTIPEDE, TARANTULA, &C. Ill 
 
 insect injects into the wound inflicted ]jy it, and causes it to 
 swell and become exceedingly painful. The Scorpion preys 
 upon other insects, and will not attack an individual unless 
 in defence, for which it is always prepared, flying with its tail 
 coiled over the body. 
 
 The Centipede, a kind of caterpillar, growing sometimes to 
 the length of seven or eight inches, is provided with a tremen- 
 dous pair of forceps, proceeding from the head, and, like the 
 Scorpion, inflicts a severe wound when irritated. The body 
 consists of twenty articulations, each having a pair of legs 
 attached, with which the insect runs with amazing quickness. 
 These noxious vermin will sometimes breed in houses, but do 
 not then attain above half the size before-mentioned. 
 
 The Bush Spider is about two inches long, of an oval form, 
 the abdomen covered with black hair ; the fore part of the 
 corslet is almost square, to which are connected five pair of 
 legs, about two inches long, armed at the end with two 
 yellow claws ; from the mouth projects two teeth in form of 
 inward pointed pincers. It makes a strong thick web, but 
 small in proportion to its size ; it is asserted the females 
 carry their young ones in a bag or web, which they deposit 
 beneath the belly. The bite of this spider causes a violent 
 inflammation, which no doubt proves fatal to its prey, which 
 is composed of large and small insects. 
 
 The common House Sp)ider is somewhat less than the pre- 
 ceding, of a light grey colour, making no web, but pursuing 
 the cock roach and other insects, when it grows drirk; the 
 bite is not dangerous to the human species, nor are its pincers 
 strong enough to penetrate the skin. 
 
 The Tarantula is about three quarters of an inch in 
 length, of a light green colour, with diagonal stripes of yellow, 
 the body is divided into two parts, the lower or abdominal 
 part, of the form of a pea ; its forefeet, of a bluish colour, has 
 sharp pointed claws, which it turns on every side as if it ex- 
 pected to be attacked ; they inflict, when laid hold of, a 
 painful and venomous wound, difficult to heal, but not en- 
 dangering life. There is another species of tarantula, of a
 
 112 ANTS — M ASPS— BUTTERFLIES, &C. 
 
 larger size, and black colour in the body, armed with yellow 
 claws, chiefly confined to the forests. 
 
 The Mary Bunter, or Guyana Wasp is not so large as 
 those usually found in England, but its sting is much more 
 painful, so much so that very often they will draw blood from 
 each sting leaving a troublesome wound. There is another 
 wasp, above an inch long, but very slender in shape, the 
 body of a purple colour, legs yellow, sting very long, their 
 nests are in the roofs of houses, or in hollow trees. 
 
 The largest of the Ants, of which there are abundance in 
 the colonies, is — 
 
 The Black Ants, about three quarters of an inch in length ; 
 they build their nests deep in the earth, fetching their materials 
 from the higher parts of trees ; the bite causes considerable 
 pain. 
 
 The White Ants, nearly as large as the preceding, form 
 their habitations on the upper part of a tree, of incrusted earth, 
 several feet in circumference, and containing many covered 
 alleys. They are very destructive to household furniture if 
 they take up their residence in a dwelling. 
 
 The Red Ant is a very destructive insect ; its march is in 
 dense columns of myriads at a time, destroying and devouring 
 every thing in the way. These vermin, in utter contempt of 
 the safeguard of lock and key, make their way through the 
 smallest crevice, and take up their abode as long as any thing 
 in the shape of food remains ; it is said indeed that they will 
 cover the whole body of a sleeping person, and there stick 
 with the tenacity of leeches until satisfied. They have even 
 been known to cause the death of animals, by lodging them- 
 selves in the hollow part of the foot and eating their way clear 
 to the bone. 
 
 Butterflies are very numerous, and of every colour that it 
 is possible to conceive ; they are much larger than those of 
 Europe, very similar in shape, but far surpassing them in 
 splendor and variety of tints and shades. 
 
 The Chigre is a small species of sand-fly, which insinuates 
 itself into the skin of the feet and toes, and if not disturbed,
 
 ICHTHYOLOGY OF BRITISH GUYANA. 113 
 
 penetrates between the skin and the flesh, and forms a bag 
 in which it encloses itself and deposits its eggs, which are 
 very numerous ; in a few days this bag increases to the size of 
 a pea, when it bursts, and the young brood begin to form 
 other bags ; so that if not timely prevented they occasion 
 severe ulcers, which are healed with considerable difficulty. 
 There are several other insects which, like the former, enter 
 the skin, but are not so formidable, as they only occasion an 
 itching, and are easily destroyed by washing with soap and 
 lemon juice. 
 
 Before quitting the animated portion of Guyana it may be 
 considered necessary to give some description of its — 
 
 IcpiTHYOLOGY. As may be expected, fi-om the numerous 
 rivers and extensive flat coast, British Guyana teems with 
 fresh and salt water fish of every possible variety; as yet we 
 are imperfectly acquainted with this as well with the other 
 kingdoms of nature, and I therefore gladly avail myself of the 
 long experience and scientific knowledge of several gentlemen* 
 to whom I am under many obligations for details relative to 
 the important Colonies of Britain on the American Continent. 
 
 The Loiv Low (of the genus Silurus)^ is the largest fish of 
 the tropical rivers, very often measures twelve feet in length, 
 weighing upwards of two cwt. ; the head, which is fiat 
 and broad, is covered with a strong bony plate extending to 
 the first back fin. This plate, as well as the first ray of the 
 dorsal and pectoral fins is a small spine, studded with white 
 bony tubercles ; the bones of the fins, about five inches long 
 and sharply pointed, are most formidable weapons of defence, 
 and can be ei'ected or depressed as occasion requires. The 
 
 • Dr. Hancock and Mr. Hillhouse of Demerara, formerly an officer of 
 the staff corps, and now a Surveyor, who, it is melancholy to think, has 
 received so little encouragement from the local Government in his arduous 
 and meritorious efforts to extend our knowledge of British Guyana. 
 
 t The genus Sllurus have a remarkable peculiarity, noticed by Mr. Hill- 
 house, namely, that of the young fry entering the mouth of the female fish 
 in cases of danger, I have observed the same with the shark, or a nearly 
 similar fish on the Madagascar coast. 
 
 VOL. II. I
 
 114 THE LOW LOW, SUN FISH, TETRODEN, &C. 
 
 back is of a bluish cast, belly white, mouth and fins yellow, 
 hinder parts reddish. The Low Loio feeds chiefly upon other 
 fish, and although of so large a size is considered excellent 
 eating. 
 
 The Gillbagre {Silurus) a sea fish, called by the Indians 
 Weerokotoory, is similar in every respect to the preceding, 
 but does not attain half the weight or size of the Low Low, the 
 swim or sound of the former contains a highly glutinous sub- 
 stance equal to that of the sturgeon. Although rather hard 
 as food it is exceedingly well flavoured. 
 
 The Cuirass, is of the same genus, and scarcely differing 
 from the last-mentioned except in its colour, and in its not 
 affording the isinglass substance peculiar to that species. 
 
 The Cum Cum is in its general conformation like the cuirass, 
 to which it also bears a resemblance in colour, but is slightly 
 darker, rather more slender in shape, and consequently not 
 so heavy. It feeds upon crabs and insects, and is well fla- 
 voured. 
 
 The Lucannany, or Sun Fish, is seldom more than seven 
 or eight pounds in weight, or two feet in length ; it has in its 
 tail a golden circle that renders it perceptible to the Indians 
 at the depth of three or four feet in the water, who shoot it 
 with barbed arrows called wayuwakassy. It feeds upon smaller 
 fish and insects, and it is excellent food, being firm, fat, and 
 with but few bones. Owing to its extreme lusciousness it is 
 difficult to salt or dry. 
 
 The Arawan is between two and three feet in length, its 
 body somewhat compressed and covered with large scales, 
 edged with a beautiful scarlet. As food this fish is particu- 
 larly fine, but, like the last treated of, very fat and luscious. 
 
 The Tetroden, or Swell Belly (so called from the power it 
 possesses of inflating its body into a globular form, with only 
 its head and tail slightly protruding, and in this state swim- 
 ming almost out of the water,) is seldom more than six inches 
 long, the body of a yellowish brown colour, crossed on the 
 back with black bands. It is a very voracious fish, and con- 
 sidered fatally poisonous.
 
 THE STING RAY, PYARA, ARAPAIMA, &C. 115 
 
 The Haimora {Esox) is a fine fish, growing to the length 
 of four feet, and twelve pounds in weight. The power of its 
 teeth and jaws is sufficient to cut off a man's hand at the 
 wrist ; it is exceedingly voracious, preying upon fish half its 
 size, — is excellent eating, and forms the principle article of 
 food with the Accaways of the Demerara river.* 
 
 The Pijara is four or five feet in length, and weighs twelve 
 pounds. It is remarkable for the length of the two lower 
 front teeth ; on the full grown male they are four inches long, 
 fitting into two flexible apertures between the nostrils; it swims 
 with great strength and velocity, and attacks all other fish. It 
 is not particularly esteemed as food being coarse and bony. 
 
 The Cumuruaa is a large fish, in most respects similar to 
 the haimora, with very large scales ; it is good eating, and 
 inhabits the creeks and rivers. 
 
 The Separie, or Sting ray, is in form much like the salt 
 water sting ray, with a long tapering tail like a whiplash, and 
 a narrow membranous fin, extending about eight inches on 
 the under side, backward from the point opposite the thorn, 
 which is a strong sharp white pointed bone, four inches long, 
 barbed on both sides, and a most formidable weapon, \\\t\\ 
 which the Indians very often movmt their arrows : — a wound 
 inflicted by them is very difficult to heal and apt to mortify, 
 for which reason the fish has been said to be poisonous, but 
 the extreme laceration occasioned by itf no doubt gave rise 
 to this assertion. 
 
 The Arapaima, a large fish but little known to ichthyolo- 
 gists in general, is between six and seven feet long and five 
 
 • The Indians have an ingenious mode of catching this fish, by means of 
 a trap made of a cylindrical piece of bark, about five feet long and six 
 inches. in diameter, which, after being stopped at one end, and a live fish 
 fastened to the bottom, is suspended horizontally by a string tied to the 
 branch of some neighbouring tree, at about two feet below the surface ; 
 the haimora then, attracted by the bail, puts his head beyond the centre, 
 the lower end of the cylinder sinks, it becomes vertical and the fish, 
 enclosed with its head downwards, is beyond the possibility of escape. 
 
 t These fish lie concealed under the mud, and very often inflict severe 
 wounds on the feet of the Indians.
 
 116 THE PERI — CARTABAC, PACOU, &C. 
 
 inches broad, and weighs about seventy pounds ; of a silver 
 grey on the back ; belly white ; the outside of the pectoral 
 fins a vivid green ; the scales are large, and their margins, • 
 particularly along the inferior and posterior parts, marked 
 with a brilliant red or scarlet ; the head is elongated, and the 
 snout also, like that of a hog ; teeth very small and sharp. 
 This fish is very shy, and seldom caught. 
 
 The Peri is about two feet in length, of a flat shape, with 
 a large head, wide mouth, and very sharp teeth. It has a fin 
 on each side of the belly, and a single fin on the back, which 
 is covered with shining scales of a blueish colour. It lives in 
 fresh water, and is very rapacious, very often snapping off 
 the legs of ducks and other water fowl, or even a man's foot ; 
 but the Indians, in order to frighten them, keep in constant 
 motion while bathing, in which case the fish always remains 
 at a distance. 
 
 The Cartabac is from fifteen to eighteen inches long ; back 
 of a darkish colour ; sides light red or orange ; belly white ; 
 the fins very soft and fleshy, and the whole body covered 
 with small scales. It feeds on fruits, seeds,* and insects, 
 and is excellent food, being fat and containing few bones; 
 the taste somewhat resembles turbot. 
 
 The Pacou is from sixteen to twenty-four inches in length, 
 sub-oval in shape, with very small scales, of a silver grey 
 ground colour, beautifully spotted with bright scarlet. It 
 chiefly feeds upon aquatic plants and seeds,f and is, when 
 well prepared, quite a delicacy. 
 
 * This fish is peculiarly fond of the seed of the carassa, and is in the 
 highest state of perfection in the month of June, when that seed falls from 
 the trees. The Indians boil the seed and, enclosing it in a small basket, 
 lower it about two feet in the water, and as the fish appears to devour it, 
 shoot them with arrows. 
 
 t The TFeyra, an aromatic vegetable, eaten by the Pacou and other 
 gregarious fishes, is thus employed by the Indians for the purpose of taking 
 that valuable fish. A part of the falls, where the Weyra grows plentifully, 
 and where shoals of the Pacou are perceived feeding, is enclosed with a 
 wall of loose stones, about a foot above the surface of the water, leaving
 
 THE OSIBU YARROW, SNAKE FISH, &C. 117 
 
 The Morocoto, or Osibu, usually between two and three 
 feet hi length, feeds entirely on herbs and fruits, and is a 
 most delicious fish, equal to the pacou, or in fact any other 
 natural to the tropics. It is in taste nearer resembling flesh 
 than fish, and eagerly sought after by the epicure. 
 
 The Bashaw grows to the length of thirty inches, some- 
 what resembling the last in shape, but not so much in demand 
 as food, the taste being rough and strong. 
 
 The Dawalla, or Piava, is shaped something like a trout, 
 and also in some degree resembles it in taste, not however 
 possessing the fine flavour of that fish, being dry and insipid. 
 
 The Loivkidd//, or Yelloiv-back (Silurus), is about fifteen 
 inches long, with a large head, and two very long whiskers 
 extending from the upper jaw and four shorter from the 
 lower ; the body is small in proportion, with small scales. It 
 is pretty free from bones, and the taste tolerable, but not 
 generally esteemed. 
 
 The Yarroiv (Esox) is about a foot long, and when the 
 water is drying oflP it burrows in the mud, and has been 
 found* living under the earth when there was no water at all. 
 It is fat, free from bone, and very good eating ; it feeds on 
 fruit, seeds, and insects. 
 
 The Snake Fish is about two feet six inches long, and an 
 inch and a half in diameter ; of a dark brown colour on the 
 upper part, underneath of dull yellow, studded with dark 
 spots ; the head is very soft, snout flattened, eyes small, and 
 near the point of the jaw. The greatest singularity connected 
 with this fish is, that its heart will continue to move several 
 hours after the fish is dead. The bladder, or sound, running 
 
 two narrow spaces for the fish to enter, which, having done, the apertures 
 are speedily and silently closed with long stakes and bundles — and the fish 
 are thus confined within a temporary dam or pond. In this manner from 
 200 to 300 Pacou, weighing, on an average, seven pounds each, and a hun- 
 dred weight of other fish are taken at a time. The Pacou are split, salted 
 and dried on the rocks, and when cured will fetch a guilder eac"h. 
 * Dr. Hancock.
 
 118 COMMERCE OF DEMERAKA AND ESSEQUIBO. 
 
 along the spine, contains air that burns when put in contact 
 with a light. 
 
 There are nutnerous other species of small fish ; but my 
 limits will not admit any further description. The above are 
 those most generally known, and esteemed for their fine 
 flavour or other peculiarities. 
 
 Commerce. Of the trade of the entire colony of British 
 Guyana, I have no complete return ; that for Demerara and 
 Essequibo I give according to the latest year in my pos- 
 session, and which, with many other valuable documents, has 
 been kindly furnished me by Mr. Rose, the indefatigable and 
 intelligent agent for the colony. 
 
 TRADE OF DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO FOR 1830. 
 
 Imports. From the United Kingdom — official value, 
 £542,107; West India Colonies, £21,628; North American 
 Colonies, £125,168; United States of America, £541; Fo- 
 reign States, £45,084; — total Imports, £734,528. 
 
 Exports. Sugar, 56,666hogsheads, 2,848 tierces, 4,502 bar- 
 rels — official value, £1,361,925; rum, 26,143 puncheons, 
 4,835hogsheads, 1,296 barrels— £139,106; cotton, 3,695bales, 
 £35,971; coftee, 5,025,256 lbs., £181,863; molasses, 19,585 
 hogsheads, £70,081 ; British manufactures, £26,068 ; mis- 
 cellaneous articles, £20,690; — total Exports, £1,835,704: 
 thus forming a grand total of £2,570,229. 
 
 Ships Imvards. From the United Kingdom, 169 ships, 
 50,438 tons ; British Colonies, 319 ships, 31,632 tons ; Foreign 
 States, 79 ships, 7,170 tons ; — total, 567 ships — 89,240 tons — 
 5,230 men. 
 
 Ski2)s Outwards. For the United Kingdom, 192 ships, 
 54,858 tons ; British Colonies, 379 ships, 35,872 tons ; United 
 States, 1 ship, 96 tons ; Foreign States, 23 ships, 3,697 tons ; 
 —total, 595 ships— 94,523 tons— 5,600 men. 
 
 The greatly increased exports of sugar will be seen on 
 comparing the year just given with the following statement 
 of produce shipped from the Colonies of Demerara and Esse- 
 quibo, from 1803 to 1825 :—
 
 EXPORTS FROM DEMERARA, &C. FROM 1803 TO 1825. 119 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. Cotton. 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dutch 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hds. 
 
 Tierc. 
 
 Brls. 
 
 PUDC. 
 
 Hds. Brls. 
 
 Bales. 
 
 pounds. 
 
 Hds. 
 
 Tierc. 
 
 Brls, 
 
 1803 
 
 394 
 
 19.638 
 
 213 
 
 161 
 
 4,887 
 
 — — 
 
 46,435 
 
 9,954,610 
 
 311 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1804* 
 
 71 
 
 2,161 
 
 71 
 
 19 
 
 504 
 
 — — 
 
 6,318 
 
 439,520 
 
 311 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1805 
 
 200 
 
 15,839 
 
 212 
 
 129 
 
 3,611 
 
 17 — 
 
 21,202 
 
 2,295,701 
 
 1,637 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1806 
 
 221 
 
 19,337 
 
 474 
 
 804 
 
 4,722 
 
 17 
 
 — 
 
 23,604 
 
 12,390,102 
 
 1,694 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1807 
 
 198 16,857 
 
 138 
 
 643 
 
 5,813 
 
 7 
 
 — 
 
 26,314 
 
 4,399,141 
 
 4,255 
 
 6 
 
 — 
 
 1808 
 
 202 18,383 
 
 168 
 
 578 
 
 6,474 
 
 11 
 
 — 
 
 18,361 
 
 9,204,718 
 
 2,544 
 
 72 
 
 171 
 
 1809 
 
 191 17,065 
 
 210 
 
 286 
 
 6,412 
 
 7 
 
 — . 
 
 13,588 
 
 2,463,163 
 
 1,521 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 1810 
 
 211 15,731 
 
 27 
 
 402 
 
 4,967 
 
 7 
 
 — 
 
 28,850 
 
 7,652,342 
 
 1,597 
 
 25 
 
 120 
 
 1811 
 
 26P 18,374 
 
 21 
 
 243 
 
 9,363 
 
 30 
 
 — 
 
 20,916 
 
 13,233,534 
 
 3,856 
 
 156 
 
 308 
 
 1812 
 
 27422,276 
 
 53 
 
 186 
 
 10,086 
 
 63 
 
 — 
 
 25,069 
 
 8,279,725 
 
 2,513 
 
 144 
 
 259 
 
 I8I3 
 
 227 20,585 
 
 163 
 
 637 
 
 12,117 
 
 120 
 
 — 
 
 16,426 
 
 10,485,158 
 
 777 
 
 — 
 
 23 
 
 1814 
 
 245 22,170 
 
 187 
 
 314 
 
 10,980 
 
 107 
 
 — 
 
 1,447 
 
 6,250,412 
 
 780 
 
 — 
 
 2 
 
 I8I5 
 
 29431,550 
 
 326 
 
 642 
 
 14,181 
 
 127 
 
 — 
 
 30,315 
 
 10,204,902 
 
 2,327 
 
 41 
 
 11 
 
 1816 
 
 336129,418 
 
 510 
 
 587 
 
 11,038 
 
 135 
 
 — 
 
 15,361 
 
 12,271,476 
 
 3,843 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 1817 
 
 3n9'36,682 
 
 72 
 
 474 
 
 15,062 
 
 70 
 
 — 
 
 17,235 
 
 14,908,943 
 
 9,567 
 
 16 
 
 33 
 
 1818 
 
 443^37,387 
 
 157 
 
 797 
 
 14,587 
 
 161 
 
 — 
 
 19,137 
 
 ;, 244, 085 
 
 8,968 
 
 24 
 
 71 
 
 1819 
 
 434'45,936 
 
 479 
 
 1,124 
 
 15,761 
 
 446 
 
 — 
 
 9.718 
 
 8,944,009 
 
 9,450 
 
 — 
 
 13 
 
 1820 
 
 42349,953 
 
 720 
 
 1,224 
 
 23,609 
 
 581 
 
 — 
 
 9,193 
 
 4,518,523 
 
 7,567 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1821 
 
 426 39,780 
 
 783 
 
 785 
 
 16,162 
 
 881 
 
 — 
 
 9,006 
 
 5,702,919 
 
 5,191 
 
 — 
 
 11 
 
 1822 
 
 3&l'45,177 
 
 1,008 
 
 1,671 
 
 19,672 
 
 1,841 
 
 — 
 
 14,905 
 
 10,264,297 
 
 10,200 
 
 14 
 
 61 
 
 1823 
 
 36851,360 
 
 449 
 
 2,470 
 
 15.781 
 
 2,568 — 
 
 9,587 
 
 8,084,729 
 
 19,634 
 
 230 
 
 269 
 
 1824 
 
 395,47,393 
 
 371 
 
 1,631 
 
 13,531 
 
 1,966 
 
 739 
 
 8,275 
 
 7,761,355 
 
 24,528 
 
 282 
 
 256 
 
 1825 
 
 374 
 
 47,635 
 
 481 
 
 1,603 
 
 12,305 
 
 2,220 
 
 1,233 
 
 12,683. 
 
 3,500,983 
 
 23,824 
 
 746 
 
 311 
 
 The trade of Berbice for 1831 was — 
 
 Imports. From Great Britain, value sterling, £\ 10,450 : 
 British Colonies, £40,811; Foreign States, £9,916;— total 
 Imports, £161,177. 
 
 Exports. To Great Britain, value sterling, £235,2^2; to 
 British Colonies, £65,080; to Foreign States, £23,515;— 
 total Exports, £323,837, 
 
 The principal articles of Exports were — sugar, 10,850 bogs- 
 heads ; molasses, 279 casks ; rum, 2,117 puncheons; coffee, 
 2,241 tierces, 
 
 The shipping employed was — 
 
 Inwards. From Great Britain, 34 ships, 8,937 tons ; Bri- 
 tish Colonies, 194 ships, 10,665 tons; Foreign States, 14 ships, 
 1,616 tons; — total Inwards, 242 ships, 21,208 tons. 
 
 Outwards. To Great Britain, 30 ships, 7,737 tons ; Bri- 
 tish Colonies, 210 ships, 1 1,304 tons ; Foreign States, 6 ships, 
 1,087 tons;— total Outwards, 246 ships, 20,128 tons. 
 
 The quantity of Sugar, Coffee, Rum and Cotton imported 
 into the United Kingdom for the year ending January, 1832^ 
 was — 
 
 * From 10th September, 1804, to 5th January, 1805.
 
 120 IMPORTATIONS INTO ENGLAND FROM BRITISH GUYANA. 
 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 Demerara & ^ 
 
 Essequbo j 
 Berbice . . 
 
 cwts. 
 
 802,134 
 
 122,087 
 
 lbs.* 
 
 1,991,352 
 1,585,402 
 
 galls.t 
 
 2,320,000 
 220,000 
 
 galls. 
 2,000,000 
 200,000 
 
 lbs. 
 
 979,702 
 554,083 
 
 Total . 
 
 924,221 
 
 3,576,754 
 
 2,540,000 
 
 2,200,000 
 
 1,533,785 
 
 The relative state of cultivation of Staples in Demerara 
 and Essequibo in May, 1832, may be judged of by the fol- 
 lowing return of Estates to Government : — 
 
 PARISH. 
 
 
 •a 
 
 U 
 is 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 £ 
 
 St. Mary, No. of estates. 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 St. Paul, ditto, 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 St.Georii;e& St. Andrew, do. 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Matthew, ditto, . 
 
 6 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Mark. ditto, . 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 St. Swithiii, ditto, . 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Luke, ditto, . 
 
 13 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 « 
 
 St. Peter, ditto, . 
 
 28 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 St. James, ditto, . 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 St. John, ditto, . 
 
 IS 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Trinity, ditto, . 
 
 20 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Total Number . 
 
 152 
 
 36 
 
 12 
 
 33 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 Weights. Principally steelyards, from 1 to 3,500 lbs. ; 
 110 lbs. Dutch = 100 lbs. English, or 10 per cent difference. 
 Of measures, 1 Dutch ell of 26 inches Rhyaland, is equal to 
 27 inches. 
 
 The Form of Government in Guyana is peculiar. At the 
 capture of Demerara and Essequibo, in 1803, 
 
 * In 1828 there was imported from Demerara of coffee, 3,832, 1941b8. 
 and from Berbice, 1,792,677 lbs. 
 
 t Eighty gallons of rum are expected from every hogshead of sugar. 
 The rum of Demerara has a richness of flavour, which gives it a preference 
 in the American markets over the Jamaica rum.
 
 FORM OF GOVERNMENT DUTCH AND ENGLISH. 121 
 
 The Court of Policy consisted of eight members — four 
 official appointed by the Sovereign, and four from amongst 
 the inhabitants by the College of Kiezers. Official members 
 — the Governor, the Commander of Essequibo, the Fiscal of 
 Demerara, the Fiscal of Essequibo ; two members returned 
 from the district of Demerara, and two from the district of 
 Essequibo. Each district had a College of Kiezers, consist- 
 ing of seven members. 
 
 The College of Kiezers for each district was elected by 
 the inhabitants. They held the situation for life, or during 
 their residence in the colony ; qualification, twenty-five slaves, 
 and three years' residence in the colony ; qualification of 
 electors, the possession of twenty-five slaves. Vote by ballot. 
 Votes sent into the Governor's Secretary's office, and depo- 
 sited in a sealed box, and opened in the presence of the 
 Governor and not less than two other members of the Court 
 of Policy. 
 
 The College of Kiezers nominated two persons to fill va- 
 cancies in the Court of Policy. The Governor and the 
 Court selected one from the nomination, and notified in the 
 Gazette the person selected. The senior member of the 
 Court went out after the meeting of the Combined Court, 
 which assembled annually for levying the taxes. 
 
 Financial Representatives. The College of Financial Re- 
 presentatives, nominated by the inhabitants, the same as 
 Kiezers, and consisted of six ; three returned by the district 
 of Demerara, and three by the district of Essequibo. Term 
 of service, two years ; qualification, same as Kiezers ; duties, 
 to sit with the Court of Policy annually, for the purpose of 
 levying taxes and regulating the expenditure, which was then 
 called the Combined Court — "the Court of Policy combined 
 with the Financial Representatives." At this combined 
 meeting the Court of Policy submitted an estimate of the 
 expences for the year, which had previously been prepared 
 and discussed in that Court. In the Combined Court every 
 item of the estimate was discussed, and every member, 
 whether of the Court of Policy or Financial Representatives,
 
 122 FINANCIAL REPRESENTATIVES— JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 
 
 had an equal vote. At this meeting the public accounts of 
 the preceding year were examined and audited, which was 
 the peculiar province of the Financial Representatives. 
 
 The Court of Policy passed all laws for the internal regu- 
 lation of the Colony. It required four members to constitute 
 a Court. No law binding without the concurrence of one 
 member of the representative section of the Court. Quali- 
 lication for a member of the Court of PoHcy, the owner of a 
 plantation, and three years' residence. 
 
 Judicial Department. — Each district had a court of civil 
 and criminal justice, which consisted of six Members and a 
 President. The Members (Colonial) elected by the Kiezers 
 in the same manner as the Court of Policy; the two senior 
 members retiring every year; qualification, possession of 
 twenty-five slaves, and three years' residence in the colony. 
 The Commander was President of the Court of Justice of 
 Essequibo ; the Governor President of the Court of Justice 
 of Demerara ; the law of Demerara was the law of Holland 
 or Roman law. Each member of the court an equal vote on 
 both law and fact : all cases decided by a majority of votes. 
 
 In 1812 the courts of justice of Essequibo and Demerara 
 were united by proclamation of the Acting-Governor, Major- 
 General Carmichael ; and the court of justice of Demerara 
 became the court of both districts ; and consisted of eight 
 colonial members and a president, the president appointed 
 by the Crown. 
 
 The colleges of Kiezers and Financial Representatives 
 existing in 1812 were dissolved by General Carmichael's pro- 
 clamation, and a College of Kiezers and Financial Represen- 
 tatives was established, in which the functions of both col- 
 leges were united ; this college consisted of seven members : 
 term of service two years ; and elected by the inhabitants of 
 both districts, paying tax on an income of 10,000f. per annum, 
 or possessing twenty-five slaves ; all the courts having been 
 united. 
 
 In July, 1831, the ancient court of justice was abohshed, 
 and a new court constituted by Order in Council, by which
 
 NEW COURT OF JUSTICE — COLLEGES OF KIEZERS, &C. 123 
 
 Berbice was united with Demerara and Essequibo ; and the 
 Court of Pohcy formed of ten members, five official, and five 
 colonial ; the governor, in case of an equality of votes, having 
 a casting vote as formerly. 
 
 The Colleges of Kiezers and Financial Representatives 
 were separated in 1831 ; the members of the College of 
 Kiezers are now for life, and consist of seven members ; 
 the Financial Representatives of six members, term of service 
 two years ; one college each of Kiezers and Financial Repre- 
 sentatives for the Colony of British Guyana, being Demerara, 
 Essequibo and Berbice ; and the qualification, possession of 
 twenty-five slaves as previous to 1812. 
 
 The court of criminal and civil justice of British Guyana, 
 and the court of civil justice and the court of criminal justice 
 of Berbice, together with several courts of criminal trial, and 
 of first instance of civil jurisdiction in the island of Trinidad, 
 and also the royal court of St. Lucia, by an order in council, 
 23rd April, 1831, are directed to be holden by and before 
 three judges; that is to say, before the president of the court 
 of civil and criminal justice in Guyana, the chief judge of 
 Trinidad, and the first president of the royal court of St. 
 Lucia ; the three judges repairing, from time to time, to the 
 said respective Colonies ; two sessions in the year, at the 
 least, to be holden in each settlement. In criminal cases three 
 assessors, qualified by certain regulations, and open to chal- 
 lenge as jurors, are associated with the judges, and punish- 
 ment can only be inflicted by sentence of the majority deli- 
 vered in open court. In each of the above mentioned colo- 
 nies courts of inferior jurisdiction in civil and criminal causes 
 are established, subject to the appeal and revision of the 
 superior court of assize. The colonists object to these pro- 
 ceedings ; they deny that the Home Authorities have any 
 right to annul their ancient form of government, because a 
 compact was solemnly entered into at the capitulation in 1803, 
 and signed by the legislative assembly of the colonists, {not 
 merely by the military powers,) wherein it was agreed that 
 the religion, laws, liberties and institutions of the colonists
 
 121' INJUSTICE TOWARDS THE COLONISTS, 
 
 should be guaranteed to them and their heirs for ever, unless 
 where and when altered with their own consent. Contending 
 as I do, most strenuously, for the right of every colony to its 
 local legislature, I perfectly agree in the justice of the 
 following observations recently addressed to Lord Goderich 
 by Messrs. Rose and Smith, the deputed agents for the 
 colonists. 
 
 They say that " the first point to which they claim attention is the right 
 of legislating for themselves on all matters of internal policy ; a right which 
 they possess, both as British subjects, and by virtue of the articles of capi- 
 tulation under which the colonies surrendered to His Majesty's arms. 
 
 In July 1831, an order in Council was published, abolishing tlie Courts 
 of Justice then subsisting in the colony, and directing others to be estab- 
 lished in their stead, but the judges who were to compose the new court, 
 were not then in the country, or even in the West Indies, independent of 
 which it was for other reasons physically impossible that the details of the 
 order should be carried into eflfect, yet by its mere publication the colony 
 was deprived of its courts ; but what was still more extraordinary, one month 
 before the publication of this order, and consequently before it ever had, 
 or could have come into operation, it had actually been suspended by 
 another order in council, issued in this country, and bearing date 20th of 
 June ; this second order was not published in the Colony till 22d of Nov. 
 1831, and for the whole intermediate period from the 2l8t of July, till the 
 22nd of November, this large and valuable Colony was without a court of 
 justice, or any legal tribunal whatever, either for the protection of pro- 
 perty, or for the punishment of crime, exhibiting the unprecedented spec- 
 tacle of a community, enjoying all the institutions necessary for conducting 
 the affairs of civilized society, stripped in one instant of all these ad- 
 vantages — reduced to a state of anarchy — and that by an Act, not of a 
 hostile power — but of the government, to which allegiance has been sworn, 
 and from which protection was due, an Act framed by that government, 
 not with the intent to injure, but- to benefit the colony. Nothing surely 
 can point out more strongly the good sense on which the claim of the colony 
 rests, or demonstrate more clearly the impossibility of the Mother Country 
 legislating for a community four thousand miles distant ; nor can we con- 
 ceive the claim of the colonists to control their finances, resting as it does 
 both on established right from the earliest period of their history, and on 
 its own self-evident justice and reasonableness, to require more than to be 
 stated, in order to be at once admitted by His Majesty's government, in 
 accordance with the principles of the British Constitution. 
 
 The franchise, the right of voting for Kiezers, the colonists readily con- 
 cede, was, in the infancy of the settlement, restricted to persons having
 
 AND MEMORIAL FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES. 125 
 
 twenty-five slaves, but regulations of this kind applicable to a settlement 
 consisting of a few planters, receiving their supplies from ship-masters, 
 and otlier transient traders, would be utterly inapplicable to a community 
 where the planters form but one class of a society which comprises among 
 its members a large body of merchants, and many of the learned profes- 
 sions ; to disqualify these latter classes because they are not proprietors of 
 twenty-five slaves, and for that reason alone to exclude them from any 
 voice in the government, whatever their wealth, their talents, or station 
 in life may be, whatever may be their possessions in land or buildings, in 
 the colony, or however great their contributions to the public purse, would 
 be an act in itself so unjust, that it would never receive the deliberate 
 sanction of the British government, certainly not of the ministers who now 
 guide the councils of their sovereign. 
 
 As regards the court of justice, the colonists feel that it is a stigma 
 wholly unmerited, to deprive them of a seat in that body. 
 
 They appeal to the records of the colony to prove the unimpeachable 
 integrity of their old court, they appeal to the fact, that in more instances 
 than one, the opinion of the colonial members of the court, in opposition 
 to that of the professional judge, has been confirmed by His Majesty iu 
 council, and they unite in praying the restoration of an institution so well 
 adapted to the wants of the community, and so revered and cherished. 
 The nature of this communication prevents us from entering into details, 
 but it would be very easy to shew how impossible it is for a court com- 
 posed only of three lawyers, sent out from this country to administer a foreign 
 law amongst a people, of whose manners, customs, and modes of trans- 
 acting business, they were totally ignorant, how impossiijle it is for such a 
 court to conduct the judicial business of a large and trading colony, without 
 the aid of colonial members, or tlie intervention of a jury. How unjust 
 that a man tried, perhaps for his life, should be deprived of the jury or 
 any equivalent institution. But whilst the colonists urge the re-establish- 
 ment of their court of justice, they claim not infallibility for the institution, 
 and to evince their readiness to meet the wishes of His ftlajesty's Mi- 
 nisters, they would, notwithstanding the impoverished state of the country, 
 consent to an addition of three judges, men of legal education, to be ap- 
 pointed by His Majesty, that is, in all, three professiohal judges for Deme- 
 rara and Essequibo, and one for Berbice. On these points, which refer 
 more particularly to the constitution of the colony, the right of legislation, 
 the control of the finances, the franchise, and rhe re-establishment of their 
 courts and institutions, the colonists are aware the law would secure to 
 them ample redress ; but they have ever anxiously desired not to stand in 
 opposition to His Majesty's government, and they would \villingly accept, 
 as a boon from His Majesty's grace, what they might have demanded as a 
 right from his justice." Messrs. Rose and Smith then proceeded to 
 " sketch out the heads of a plan of redress, which if embodied in a new
 
 I'^a NEW CHARTER OF GOVERNMENT AND OF JUSTICE 
 
 charter to the colony, would remove many of those evils which are so 
 rapidly destroying its best interests, would restore to tranquillity the country 
 in general, and place it in that state of peace and security, which must 
 undoubtedly be the great object of His Majesty's Government. 
 
 The Court of Policy of Demerara and Essequibo consists of eight 
 members, four official, and four colonial; the number established in 1789, 
 when the colony was just beginning to grow into some consideration, and 
 to attract the notice of the Mother Country ; but which of necessity is 
 very inadequate to its present maturity and importance, since the period 
 referred to, other interests have arisen, which were then unknown in the 
 colony. Mercantile establishments have been formed, the trades, the arts 
 and sciences, incident to a community have been extensively cultivated. It 
 is, therefore, highly necessary that the court should keep pace with the 
 colony, and that it should be established on a basis sufficiently extensive 
 to aflFord scope for including a fair average expression of the sentiments, 
 and representations of the interests of the community for which it is to 
 legislate : for this purpose the number of colonial members should, they 
 conceive, be increased to ten more, especially if the court is henceforward 
 to be the Court of British Guyana ; the Governor, and at least ten other 
 members should be required to form a court, for the dispatch of business ; 
 this court to originate and make all laws for the internal government of 
 the colony, subject to His Majesty's allowing or disallowing the same, any 
 member to be at liberty to submit to the court for deliberation and decision, 
 any bill or motion, after notice and leave, had the question of granting or 
 refusing such leave, to be decided, as all other questions, by the majority 
 of the voters of the members present. 
 
 For the reasons above alleged, for the increase of the members of the 
 Court of Policy, the financial representation ought also to be increased, 
 say to nine, chosen as formerly by the inhabitants ; (individuals or firms), 
 possessing twenty-five slaves, or paying tax on an income of ten thousand 
 guilders, and upwards, the financial representatives, of whom, not less than 
 six to be present, to sit with the Court of policy, in a combined court, for 
 the purposes of taxation, each member of this combined court to have an 
 equal vote. No tax or other burthen, to be laid on the colonists, except 
 by this combined court, which should delil)erate on all matters of finance, 
 discuss the est mates, item by item, and fix both the amount to be raised, 
 and the mode of raising it ; the King's chest to be consolidated with the 
 colonial. The Kiezers might remain at their present number, seven, chosen 
 as formerly by the inhal)itants, (individual or firms), pos.>essing twenty- 
 five slaves, or paying tax on an income of ten thousand guilders and 
 upwards, the term of service to be limited to five years, but the members 
 who have served to be immediately re-eligible. In accordance with the 
 ancient practice, a financial representative may hold the office of Kiezer 
 and vice versa, but no person actudly filling a judicial situation, whether
 
 REQUIRED FOR BRITISH GUYANA. l.^? 
 
 appoiuted by His Majesty, or elected I»y the Kiezers, as a colonial member 
 of the court of justice, to be eligible to the. office of Kiezers, or financial 
 representative, or to a seat in the Court of Policy, either as an ex-oflScer, 
 or a colonial member ; the Kiezers, in a meeting of not less than five of 
 them, to elect, as formerly, the colonial members of the Court of Policy 
 and Justice ; nominating such persons as from their stations, respectability 
 talents, property, and residence in the colony, they may, on oath, deem 
 best qualified to discharge those important duties, without reference to 
 the particular district, in which the property of the party elected may be 
 situated. The qualification of a colonial member of the Court of Policy, 
 to be, as now, the possession of a plantation in the colony, or as regards 
 three seats in the court, the paying tax on an income of not less than 
 *f. 20,000, coupled with a residence of seven years in the colony. 
 
 The court of justice to consist of eleven members for Demerara and 
 Essequibo, namely, the President and two Puisne Judges nominated by 
 His Majesty and eight colonial members, chosen as formerly by the 
 Kiezers. For Berbice also of eleven members, namely the President and 
 one of the Puisne Judges of Demerara, the Puisne Judge of Berbice, and 
 eight colonial members, the President, two Puisne Judges, and at least 
 four Colonial Members to form a Court, which should set once in every 
 three months, in each colony. One Puisne Judge, to hold the Roll Court 
 every fortnight, and to discharge the duties now performed by the presi- 
 dent, granting arrests, &c. &c. 
 
 One Puisne Judge, and two colonial members, to hold the Commissary 
 Court every month. 
 
 The rules for proceeding, to be drawn up by the Court of Justice, and 
 submitted by the Court of Policy, if approved of, to be made law by the 
 latter court. 
 
 The Deputy Fiscals in each district, or others, appointed magistrates, to 
 hold courts for the recovery of debts under f 100, and for the trial of minor 
 offences, with authority to inflict punishment by imprisonment, not ex- 
 ceeding one month, or fine, not exceeding f 100, or by whipping; three 
 magistrates to form a court. 
 
 The colonists also complain of the exorbitant fees of the public oflQces as 
 at present regulated in the colony, and they require the table to be revised, 
 and new ones formed by the combined court on more equitable principles ; 
 the remodelling of any of the existing offices, to be effected by the Court 
 of Policy. As regards those public officers who have fixed salaries, the 
 colonists desirous of proving their readiness to give government every fair 
 support, would disclaim all interference with the salaries of the governor or 
 Lieutenant-Governor, the President, the Puisne Judges, Fiscals, and the 
 protectors of the slaves, unless with the previous sanction of His Majesty's 
 
 * /. florin or guilder.
 
 128 DIVISION OF DEMERARA INTO PARISHES. 
 
 ministers ; tbey would only stipulate that tliese salaries should now be 
 adjusted to tlie circumstances of the times, on a scale to be approved of by 
 His Majesty; the salaries of the public officers to be revised by the com- 
 bined court, with reference to the diminished expense of living in the 
 colony, and the impoverished resources of the inhabitants." 
 
 I have every hope that this reasonable prayer of the 
 Guyana colonists will be granted ; no minister who watches 
 the signs of the times and provides for coming events will 
 refuse an accession to just claims. 
 
 Demerara and Essequibo contains eleven parishes, whose 
 names and extent are, St. Marys, extending from Abary 
 Maicony, and to Mahaica, thence to Plantation lowlands 
 inclusive, and embracing the settlements on the banks 
 of the Maicony and Mahaica creeks ; St. PauVs, from 
 plantation Northbrook to Cuming's lodge, inclusive ; St. 
 George * and St. Andrew united, embrace George Town 
 and the plantations on the Cumingsburgh canal ; aS'^ 
 Mattheiv, from George Town up the East bank of the 
 
 • George Totrn, the capital, is divided into districts, thus ; — Kingston, 
 joining Fort William Frederick ; Cumingsburgh, North and South ; Vlissen- 
 gen, which is sub-divided into Robs Town and Lacey's Town. Stnbroeh, a 
 district in itself, and ancient part of the Dutch capital; aUo en Rust and 
 Charles Town, which are bounded by plantation La Penitence ; to the 
 Eastward of Fort William Frederick is situated Camp House, tlie residence 
 of the Governor- a few hundred yards to the East of which is the re- 
 sidence of the Ordnance Storekeeper. Between Camp House and the 
 Ordnance Department, a little to the South, are placed two splendid hos- 
 pitals, with kitchens, cisterns, &c. for the military— nearly opposite to 
 which tlie new military l)arracks have been lately erected ; they cannot be 
 surpassed in accommodation in any part of the King's dominions — two for 
 the men and officers, with kitchens, servants' apartments, cisterns, &c. &c. 
 To the Eust of the Ordnance Department are the quarters of the engineers' — 
 and adjoining the engineers' quarters are the York and Albany barracks, 
 built by the colony, for the accommodation of 200 men and othcers. 
 Facing the river, in the district of Stabroek,new public buildings of bricks, 
 stuccoed, have been erected by the colony to accommodate all the public 
 officers — they have cost the colony upwards of ^50,000 sterling ; near to 
 the latter is the Scotch church, a very handsome modern building — to the 
 Eastward of which is the town guaid-house, is:c.
 
 MILITARY DEFENCE — FINANCE OF GUYANA. 129 
 
 the river, as far as the settlements extend, including those in 
 canal No. 3 ; St. MarJc, from plantation jNIindenburgh along 
 the W. bank of the river as far as the settlements extend, 
 including those on canals No, 1 and 2 ; St. Swithin, from 
 plantations La Grange to Jalousie inclusive ; aS*^. Ltike, from 
 plantation Blakenburgh inclusive to the Essequibo river, and 
 along the E, bank upwards as far as the settlements extend ; 
 St. Peter comprehends Leguan and Hog islands, in the mouth 
 of the Essequibo river ; St. James, Waakenham and Troolie 
 islands, in ditto ; St. John, from Schoeven creek to Capoey 
 ditto, on the W. coast of Essequibo river, including the set- 
 tlements on the intervening creeks and on Tiger island ; 
 Trinity, from Capoey creek to the Pomeroon river, and as 
 far as the British settlements extend. 
 
 Military Defence. Each male freeman between the ages 
 of sixteen and fifty is compelled to enrol himself in the 
 militia, which is liable to be called out at the pleasure of 
 the governor, for service, not extending beyond the preser- 
 vation of internal tranquillity. The strength of the militia 
 may be reckoned at five thousand men. The senior officers 
 in the country are justices of the peace, and exercise a juris' 
 diction over certain districts, each of which is distinguished 
 by different coloured banners. They are termed burgher 
 officers, and their duties in general consist in promulgating 
 proclamations, taking depositions upon tax schedules, carry- 
 ing into effect public and local laws, and putting down any 
 disturbances which may arise within their jurisdiction. 
 
 Finance — Revenue. — The items of taxation in Demerara 
 and Essequibo are principally as follow: — Tax on produce 
 yielding about 220,000 ^or«w4r ;* on income /. 46,000; on 
 horses and carriages f. 30,000 ; tonnage and beacon duty 
 f. 30,000 ; ivine and spirit duties, and tax on transient traders 
 f. 65,000 ; poll tax on slavesf f. 28,000 ; grog shop licences 
 f. 10,000; gain on bills of exchange f. 20,000. 
 
 * A floriu or guilder is equivalent to ISs^tivers — each one penny English. 
 t How this tax is in future to be levied is not known or provided for. 
 VOL. II. K
 
 130 ANNUAL INCOME OF DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO. 
 
 The following is an account of the receipts of Demerara 
 and Essequibo for 1830.* Bills on the colonial trustees on 
 account of dividends on funded property, £4642. 17*. \d, 
 y. 65,000; bills drawn on colonial trustees on account of 
 ilmded property sold, £21,128. Us. 5(1.— f. 300,000; saving 
 bank of slaves,/. 1,360. 0.0.; arrears oftax on slaves, 6,374, 0.0. 
 horses and carriages, 3,954.0.0.; income, 14,507.0.0.; 
 produce, 30,732. 18.0.; cart licenses, 2,310.0.0.; liquor 
 and grog shop licenses, 9,100. 0. 0. ; huckster licenses, 
 1,175. 0. 0. ; beacon and tonnage duty, 31,259. 0. 0. ; tax on 
 slaves, 28,902. 0. 0. ; horses and carriages, 30,132. 0. 0. ; 
 income, 46,579. 0. 0. ; produce, 227,457. 19. 12. ; wine and 
 spirit duties, and tax on transient traders, 65,109. 11. 8.; 
 amount refunded, being expended last year for repaii'ing the 
 Leliendaal road, 9,066. 0. 0. ; amount from the king's chest, 
 for half expenses, sea dam, last year, 1,017. 10. 0. ; fines 
 from the protector of slaves, 2,400. 0. 0. ; a fine from A. M. 
 Meerteens, Esq. (returned a member of the Court of Justice) 
 3,000. 0. 0. ; amount refunded by plantation Craig, being 
 expended for making up the road, 3,410. 0. 0. ; a fine from 
 his honour the first Fiscal, 1,100. 0. 0. ; ditto the second ditto, 
 220. 0. 0. ; amount from plantation Retrieve for a negro given 
 up from the colony workhouse, 1,000. 0. 0. ; law expenses 
 paid, 388. 15. 0.; gain on Bills of Exchance, 19,230. 7. 8.; 
 surplus jail fees,. 8,824. 11. 0.; table money entered in 1829, 
 not called for, 12. 0. 0. ; refunded from the ordnance for 
 money expended on camp house, 18,200. 0. 0. ; total receipts, 
 /. 931,821. 17. 12. 
 
 It will be perceived that part of the annual income of the 
 Guyana government is procured from a 'property tax. The 
 following is the valuation of produce in Demerara and Esse- 
 quibo alone, as retvirned on oath for taxation in 1830. 
 
 * This is the latest year I can obtain in England ; for Berbice I find the 
 gross revenue receipts of 18.31 to be ^4' 11,611 sterling; 1 repeat, there 
 ought to be annually laid before Parliament a detail of the revenue and 
 expenditure of every colony, as is now done for India.
 
 PROPERTY TAX IN BRITISH GUYANA. 
 
 131 
 
 PROPERTY TAX IN DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO FOR 1830.* 
 
 VALUATION OF PRODUCE, AND 
 
 Sugar . . . , 
 
 Rum (proof 24) 
 Do. ( do. 22) 
 Do. C do. 21) 
 Do. ( do. 20) 
 Do. ( do. 19) 
 Do. ( do. 18) 
 
 Molasses 
 
 Coffee . . . . 
 
 Cotton 
 
 Plantains sold , 
 
 Cattle do. . 
 
 91,052,331 lbs. 
 
 2,411,310 gals. 
 
 20,573 do. 
 
 111,917 do. 
 
 360,430 do. 
 
 423,248 do. 
 
 61,230 do. 
 
 2,288,737 do. 
 
 4,555,789 lbs. 
 1,217,269 do. 
 in value 
 do. 
 
 at 2^ s. 
 
 — 14 
 
 — 16 
 
 — 18 
 
 - 6i 
 
 Amt, of Income returned for Taxation /. 
 
 /. 10,310,887 
 
 1,687,938 
 
 16,458 
 
 101,625 
 
 342,408 
 
 423,248 
 
 67,353 
 
 915,494 
 
 1,138,947 
 
 395,812 
 
 526,424 
 
 64,844 
 
 3,500,000 
 
 Total /. 19,491,438 
 
 RATE OF TAXATION ON PRODUCE. 
 
 at 3|/. per 100 lbs. /. 154,663 
 
 — 21 — 100 gals. 25,319 
 
 — 24 — 246 
 
 — 27 — 1,524 
 
 — 28i — 5,136 
 
 — 30 — 6,348 
 
 — 33 — 1,010 
 
 — 12 — 13,732 
 
 — 7i 100 lbs. 17,084 
 
 — 93 — 5,934 
 
 — li pr. ct. on 526,424 9 7,896 
 
 — do. 64,844 972 
 Producing, at li per Cent. /. 292,368 
 
 Total /. 532,232 
 
 Exclusive of the taxes raised by the Combined Court, de- 
 nominated the colony taxes, there is a tax of/". 3.10. per 
 head, paid on all working slaves, and J". 1 per head on chil- 
 dren from three to twelve years ; this is called the King's 
 taxjf and is under the sole control of the Governor ; besides 
 which a revenue is derived by grants of crown land, on which 
 acre money is paid, which is likewise paid into this chest. 
 The revenue arising from these sources amounts to about 
 £12,000 per annum, one half of the following salaries are 
 
 * Abstract of the total yearly revenue and expenditure of the King's Chest 
 at Demerara and Essequibo, from January 1819, to December 1826. 
 
 In 1826 the King s taxes were 
 productive as follows : — Capitation 
 tax 10,050/. ; fees paid into the 
 chest by the President 379/. ; acre 
 money, 122/. ; licenses to wood- 
 cutters, 62/. The capitation tax 
 and acre-money are levied under 
 the authority of the Lieutenant- 
 Governor and Court of Policy ; the 
 licenses to wood-cutters are granted 
 by the Lieutenant-Governor solely, 
 and are paid for at so much per annum, according to the value of the lols 
 leased. 
 
 t Of Derbke, I can only obtain the following details of finance : — For 
 eight years ending 1826, the revenue .^134,482 ; expenditure, M 141,308 — 
 deficiency, .£^6,825. Supplied by an issue of paper currency. 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 1819 
 
 £ 12,596 
 
 .^^11,660 
 
 1820 
 
 13,234 
 
 . 1 1,255 
 
 1821 
 
 13,527 
 
 . 11,702 
 
 1822 
 
 6,353 
 
 . 11,250 
 
 1823 
 
 12,805 
 
 . 11,853 
 
 1824 
 
 12,651 
 
 . 13,295 
 
 1825 
 
 23,493 
 
 . 15,278 
 
 1826 
 
 10,628 
 
 . 14,635 
 
 £ 103,290 
 
 £ 100,931
 
 IS2 ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF GUYANA. 
 
 paid from this fund; Governor, President of the Court of 
 Justice, Protector of Slaves, besides various other officers, 
 who hold appointments under the crown, but which have 
 little or no duties attached to them, several of which have 
 been lately abolished. 
 
 Eccpendifure. The disbursement of the sums levied accord- 
 ing to the foregoing account for Demerara and Essequibo is 
 thus given for 1830, the latest year before me. 
 
 Amount remitted, Hall, M'Garel, and Co. for balance 
 due to 31st December, £2,284. 6s. 5d.—f. 31,980. 10. 0; 
 Amount remitted. Hall, M'Garel and Co. for cost of new paper 
 money, &c. £358. 10*. 8r/.— 4,302. 8. 0. ; provisions for reli- 
 gious establishments, 14,084. 9. 0. ; repairs of the court house, 
 9,000. 0. 0. ; cost of the new public buildings, 197,584. 0. 0; 
 extraordinary expenses, 22,064. 2. 0. ; contingent arrears, 
 3,975. 5. 0. ; repairs of public buildings, 13,981. 16. 0. ; ba- 
 lance of a negro sold and credited last year, 190. 10. 0. ; 
 amount of militia fines paid, 100. 0. 0. ; amount of taxes re- 
 funded, twice paid, 148. 0. 0. ; table money, 39,678. 15. 0. ; 
 fixed annual salaries, 297,425. 0. 0.; annuities, 13,194. 0. 0. ; 
 colony jail expenses, 17,703. 10. 0.; house hire, 21,004. 0. 0.; 
 expensesofjustice,30,014. 5.0.; militiaexpenses, 6,913. 19.0.; 
 allowances and rations to the Indians, 24,034. 6. 0. ; colony 
 house expenses, 18,636. 0. 0.; colony hospital expenses, 
 7,403. 15. 0. ; printing expenses, 6,238. 10. 0. ; vote to sur- 
 geon of the tread-mill, 1,400. 0. 0. ; contingent repairs of 
 colonial barracks. 9,857. 15. 0.; recording manumissions, 
 4,800. 0. 0.; additional vote to Mr. Veret, 1,200. 0. 0.; vote 
 in aid of free schools, 2,100. 0. 0. ; amount voted to the pro- 
 prietors of lots in America street, 4,256. 0. 0. ; amount paid 
 to Captain Luckie for a lot of land, 1,400. 0. 0. ; expences of 
 steam boat ferry stelling, 4,471. 15. 0. ; repairs of sea dam, 
 320. 0. 0. ; expenses of the light-house, 6,078. 12. 8. ; ditto 
 main roads, 9,000. 0. 0. ; ditto beacons, 2,562. 0. 0. ; ditto 
 and renewal of public stellings, 10,645. 0. 0. ; triennial pre- 
 sents to the Indians, 16,500. 0. 0. ; repairs of public bridges.
 
 MONETARY SYSTEM OF BRITISH GUYANA. 133 
 
 1,007, 4. 0.; expenses of bush expeditions, 591. 18. 0. ; 
 the receiver's commission, 23,000. 0. 0. ;— total/. 877,947. 4. 8. 
 
 Among the fixed salaries (that is those which are not altered 
 from year to year) are, the Lieutenant Governor 35,000 g.* 
 (sterling, £2,500.) ; the President of the Court of Justice, 
 21,000^. (£1,500.); first Fiscal, 25,000^.; second Ditto, 
 15,000 g. (The table money to the officers of the King's 
 regiments and to the Governor has been recently reduced ;) 
 six Post-holders have 13,200^. (each 2,200); and four As- 
 sistants to ditto, 2,792^. The Ministers of St. Paul's, St. 
 Swithin's, St. John's, St. Luke's, St. Mary's, St. Marks, St. 
 Peter's, St. James', St. Matthew's, and Trinity Parishes, 
 have each 6,000 g. ; the Minister of St. George's, 5,000 g. ; 
 the Roman Catholic Clergyman in George Town, 9,450 g. ; 
 the Adjutant General of Militia, 6,000 g. ; the Colony House- 
 keeper, 6,000 g. ; the Colonial Agent in London, 5,600 g. ; 
 the Protector of Slaves, 7,000 g. ; the Accountant in the Fi- 
 nancial Department, 7,200 g. ; &c. 
 
 Monetary System. — The monies of account in British 
 Guyana are — guilders, stivers and pennings ; sixteen pen- 
 nings one stiver, twenty stivers one guilder. 
 
 Dutch 
 
 English Guilder. 
 
 Stivers. 
 
 Pennings. 
 
 Half-a-crown =1 
 
 - 15 
 
 - 
 
 One shilling - 
 
 - 14 
 
 - 
 
 Sixpence - - 
 
 - 7 
 
 - 
 
 One penny - 
 
 - 1 
 
 - 4 
 
 Half-penny - 
 
 - 
 
 - 10 
 
 Farthincr - 
 
 - 
 
 - 5 
 
 Pass at these rates by virtue of a proclamation of the Go- 
 vernor. 
 
 The Par of Exchange is 12 /. per £. sterling ; but for 
 many years it has been at 14 /. per £. except for the year 
 1832, and part of 31 and 33, when it ranged as high as 
 
 • The other half of the Governors' salary is paid from what is termed the 
 King's chest, the funds of which arise from licenses for wood-cutting, lands 
 granted, capitation tax on slaves, &c.
 
 134 PAPER crnnENCY in British Guyana. 
 
 IG.IO/. per £. ; it is now at 14 /. per £. and which is the 
 rate that the Governor's salary is paid, and all other officers 
 of the Crown who have a fixed sterling salary. 
 
 The metallic money in circulation consists of Spanish dol- 
 lars ; three guilders equal to a dollar. 
 
 The Colonial silver coinage, consists of three-guilder pieces, 
 two-guilder ditto, and one-guilder ditto, and ten-stiver and 
 five-stiver pieces. 
 
 The paper currency is secured on funded property and 
 Colonial security, and amounts to 2,199,970 guilders. The 
 money invested in the three per cent. Consols and Bank Stock 
 nearly cover the paper money of Demerara and Essequibo in 
 circulation. Notes of twenty joes are equal to 440 guilders, 
 and proportioned down to one joe, which is equal to twenty- 
 two guilders. 
 
 Amount of Property in Guyana. It is difficult in any 
 community to ascertain the amount of property in a given 
 place, or for a fixed period, partly from its fluctuating nature, 
 partly from its relative value — that which may he worth 
 ,£1,000 at one time, and in one country, being scarcely worth 
 more than half the sum if attempted to be realized in cash 
 for transmission to another place. In every instance, there- 
 fore, where the value of property is given in the History of 
 the British Colonies,'^ it must be considered in the light of an 
 approximation to truth, and for the purpose of affording a 
 comparison between one colony and another. The following 
 detail will probably affiard the most correct view of the 
 subject. 
 
 * I had intended to ^ive a table of the property in every W. I. posses- 
 sion ; I find however that considerable space would be occupied therewith ; 
 1 would therefore request the reader to observe, that the data given on the 
 next page will enable him to find the amount of property created, &c. by 
 referring- to the statement of annual produce, and calculating accord- 
 ingly.
 
 VALUE OF PROPERTY IN GUYANA. 
 
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 136 IMPORTANCE OF THE BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN GUYANA. 
 
 General View and Future Prospects. The importance 
 of our possessions in South America may be gathered from 
 the foregoing detail. The social condition of the mass of the 
 population is now in too great a state of transition from slavery 
 to freedom to admit of much speculation as to the future ; and, 
 reserving my general views of the whole on our West Indian 
 possessions for the termination of the volume, I conclude 
 with observing, that British Guyana offers a wide and fruitful 
 arena for the industry of the emigrant, the enterprize of the 
 merchant, and the science of the geologist and natural phi- 
 losopher. Millions of acres of fertile land, now lying waste, 
 are adapted to the cultivation of every tropical product of 
 which the mother country stands in need. Cotton, tobacco, 
 opium, silk, pepper, rice, indigo, timber, drugs, dyes, and spices, 
 may be raised and exported, to an incalculable extent, with 
 benefit to all who engage in these pursuits. There is wanting 
 to develope the resources of so fine a country, the granting 
 of a free government to the colonists — the disposal of the 
 crown lands, at a nominal quit rent, to intending emigrants — 
 the reduction of the duties in England on articles of colonial 
 growth and manufacture, or the permission being given to the 
 Colonists to trade with any European nation they choose, on 
 their own terms. Surrounded, as British Guyana is, by the 
 continental possessions of France, Spain, Holland, Portugal, 
 &c. it behoves the British nation to view with interest, and 
 even anxiety, the progress of our colonial power on one of 
 the most eligible spots of the American hemisphere.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 JAMAICA. 
 
 HISTORY, PHYSICAL ASPECT, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, GEOLOGY, SOIL, CLI- 
 MATE, MINERAL, VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL KINGDOMS, POPULATION, 
 
 GOVERNMENT, CIVIL AND MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS AND STATIONS 
 
 COMMERCE, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, MONIES, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, 
 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE — THE PRESS, EDUCATION AND RELIGION, 
 VALUE OF PROPERTY, SOCIAL STATE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS. 
 
 Locality. — Jamaica, (Xaymaca* or St. Jagof), a magnificent 
 island, one hundred and sixty miles long, by forty-five broad, 
 containing 4,000,000 acres, and situate between the parallels 
 of 17.35 to 18.30 N. Lat. and 76 to 78.40 W. Long.+ four 
 thousand miles S. W. of England, ninety miles W. of St. 
 Domingo, the same distance S. of Cuba, and four hundred 
 and thirty-five miles N. of Carthagena, on the S. American 
 continent ; was discovered by Columbus on the morning of 
 the 3d of May 1494, during his second expedition to the 
 New World. 
 
 General History. When first visited by the Spaniards 
 Jamaica was found to be densely peopled with Indians, re- 
 sembling in appearance and language the inhabitants of the 
 contiguous mainland ; numerous canoes put off from the 
 shore to meet Columbus, and resistance was offered by a large 
 
 * The isle was. thus called by the Indians, signifying, in the language of 
 Florida, abundance of wood and water. 
 
 t According to Oldmixon this name was given by Columbus, on his 
 second visit to the island, in honour of St. Jago, alias St. James, the patron 
 Saint of Spain. 
 
 X The latitude and longitude of the principal ports are — 
 East Part . . Long. W. 76.63 . . . Lat. N. 17.56 
 West Part . . 78.22^ . . . 18.16 
 
 South Cape of Portland, 17.43i 
 
 North Part, . . 18.33 
 
 Centre of thelsle . 77.8 . . . 18.194
 
 138 COLUiMBUS — FIKST LANDING I\ JAMAICA. 
 
 party of armed Indians, when the Spanish boats proceeded 
 to obtain soundings in the haven, now called Port Maria. 
 
 The voyagers then entered another harbour, named Ora 
 Caheca, and on experiencing a similar demonstration of 
 opposition, several arhaletes were discharged at the Indians, 
 who fled on witnessing the slaughter of their companions, 
 and permitted the quiet landing of Columbus. The admiral, 
 (who took formal possession of the island for his sovereign,) 
 remained ten days among the astonished natives, and then 
 (18th 'May 1494), sailed for Cuba. On the ,^2nd of the 
 ensuing month, Columbus again approached Jamaica, off Rio 
 Bueno, and surveyed the coast (without landing), till the 20tli 
 of August, when he reached San Miguel, now Cape Tiburon. 
 For eight years from this period nothing further was heard 
 of Jamaica, and the peaceful Indians were yet a little while 
 left in the tranquil occupation of their lovely and happy home. 
 In 1502, (14th July), Columbus, then on his 4th voyage, 
 sailed from Hispaniola for Jamaica, but contrary and 
 boisterous winds compelled his sheltering at Guanaja, or the 
 isle of Pines. The succeeding year saw the first European 
 settlement on our present colony, the result of necessity, 
 rather than choice. Returning from the disasterous expedi- 
 tion to Veragua, Columbus (with his son and brother and 
 two ships), was driven for shelter to Maxaca, on the S. coast 
 of Cuba, whence after imperfectly repairing his vessels, he 
 again put to sea, but was forced, by stress of weather, and in 
 a sinking state, on an vniinhabited part of the N. coast of 
 Jamaica, where neither water nor provisions were procurable ; 
 once more the intrepid navigator turned his shattered prows 
 to the faithless deep, the tradewind drove him down the 
 coast to the westward, «and at St. Ann's Bay, (called by the 
 devout and weather-beaten mariner Santa Gloria), the sinking 
 vessels were run on shore for the purpose of preserving the 
 lives of the almost exhausted adventurers, who, protected by 
 a reef of rocks, lashed the wrecks together, and canopied 
 beneath a canvas awning, found present shelter and repose. 
 
 Friendly communications were opened with the unsuspect-
 
 SHIPWRECK ON THE ISLAND — MUTINY. 139 
 
 ing Indians, wlio supplied the ship-wrecked seamen with 
 abundance of provisions in exchange for beads, bells, or other 
 trifles. Columbus dispatched Diego Mendez, the secretary 
 to the squadron, in company with a Genoese named Fieski, in - 
 two canoes (each furnished with six Castilians and ten Indians) 
 to Ovando, the Governor of Hispaniola, then the capital of 
 the Spanish western isles, distant 200 leagues from Jamaica, 
 and with a strong adverse wind in their course. Ovando, the 
 Governor of Hispaniola, was the inveterate enemy of Colum- 
 bus, and availed himself of the occasion of his rival's misfor- 
 tune, to heap insult and injury on the unfortunate admiral; a 
 vessel was dispatched from Hispaniola, to mock the sufferers 
 with condolence aiul ironical regrets of inability to afford 
 assistance, the commander of the reconnoitering ship (which 
 purposely lay outside the reefs of Santa Gloria) having been 
 expressly selected on account of his being the personal enemy 
 of Columbus. The suffering Spaniards, under the impression 
 that they were neglected by the 'Viceregal and Home Autho- 
 rities, by reason of their fidelity to Columbus, mutinied at the 
 instigation of the brothers Pooras, (one a commander, and 
 the other a military treasurer), Columbus was accused of 
 witchcraft, and several attempts to assassinate him as he lay 
 confined to his bed with the gout were only frustrated by the 
 bravery and presence of mind of his brother Bartholomew ; 
 the mutineers seized on ten canoes which the admiral had 
 been preparing, plundered the natives of provisions wherever 
 they could be found, forced several to accompany them in 
 their efforts to cross the sea to Hispaniola, and threw them 
 overboard with their baggage to lighten the fragile barks in 
 which they several times endeavoured to gain the seat of Su- 
 preme Government, and when compelled to return by the 
 storm to Jamaica, it was but to lay waste and destroy the 
 unoffending Indians, and to make fresh attacks on Colum- 
 bus and his few faithful followers. At length, after losing 
 several of their comrades in a battle with the admiral's 
 friends, headed by Diego Columbus, the renegades sued 
 for permission to return to their allegiance, and in a month
 
 140 DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIANS BY THE SPANIARDS. 
 
 after (28th June, 1504,) Columbus bade a final adieu to the 
 Jamaica shores in vessels prepared for his relief by Mendez 
 and Fieski, whom he had dispatched from Santa Gloria to 
 Hispaniola and Spain (as before stated) soon after the ship- 
 wreck of his vessels. The peaceful Indians of Jamaica were 
 now left for a brief period in the quiet possession of their 
 lovely isle, but in three years after the death of Christopher 
 Columbus, i. e. in 1509, the Spanish Court divided the Darien 
 Government between Alfonzo d'Ojeda and Diego Nicuesa, 
 authorizing them jointly and severally to make what use they 
 pleased of the unoccupied island of Jamaica as a garden, 
 whence provisions might be obtained, and as a nursery 
 whence slaves might be procured to work in the mines. The 
 result of such orders, in such times, may be easily imagined ; 
 a contest arose between the provincial Governors who 
 should make the most of the unfortunate islanders and their 
 country ; towns and villages were laid waste and burned ; the 
 slightest resistance was returned with indiscriminate slaughter; 
 the caciques, or chiefs, murdered in cold blood ; the women, 
 who tempted the lust of the invaders, became victims to their 
 sensuality ; tortures of the most infernal nature M'ere resorted 
 to for the purposes of forcing a discovery of that which the 
 Spaniards eagerly thirsted for — gold ; and the adults and 
 children of Jamaica who were not fortunate enough to escape 
 to the recesses of the mountains, there to perish, lingering 
 of famine, were borne away into captivity, to wear out a brief 
 existence in the rayless mines where their merciless oppressors 
 sought wealth at an incalculable sacrifice of human life and 
 misery, — justly may we exclaim with the poet — 
 quid noil inortalia pectora cogis, 
 Auri sacra fames 1 
 
 While the rival governors, Diego and Nicuesa, were dis- 
 puting about the adjudication of Jamaica, Diego Columbus 
 (the son of the great navigator) stepped in to assert his 
 prior claim, and accordingly despatched, in 1509, Don Juan 
 d'Esquimel, with seventy men, to take possession of the 
 island and form a settlement at Santa Gloria, a spot sacred
 
 FIRST SPANISH COLONY IN JAMAICA. 141 
 
 to his filial affections, by reason of the shipwreck and suf- 
 ferings of his father. The seat of government Mas fixed on 
 the banks of a small rivulet, termed Sevilla Ntieva, to com- 
 memorate the successful termination of his suit against the 
 crown, as recently decided by the council of the Indies ; 
 and Ferdinand, another son of Columbus, was despatched 
 from Spain to establish a monastery, and assist in the exten- 
 sion of the new colony. The unwarlike Indians of Jamaica 
 did not long offer resistance to the government which they 
 found disposed to settle amongst them, they sank by degrees 
 into the condition of serfs and slaves, and were regarded as 
 mere ministers to the pleasures of their white brethren, who 
 had now usurped the sole occupancy of the soil. San Do- 
 mingo, then in all its glory, graced by the presence of royal 
 blood, and many of the nobility of Castile, and the seat of 
 fashion in the new world, communicated its luxuriance and 
 taste to Sevilla Nueva (now called Sevilla cVOro, from the 
 gold brought thither by the natives,) and a splendid city arose, 
 rivalling in magnificence the towns of the mother country, but 
 of which not a vestige remains, save the memory of the name, 
 — the cane fields, on the site of the former capital, being still 
 termed Seville. 
 
 The chroniclers of the day represent the government of 
 Don Juan d'Esquimel as mild in character towards the 
 natives, and fostering in regard to the culture of cotton, the 
 introduction of the sugar cane, vine,* and European cattle, 
 which flourished in the virgin soil, and fruitful vallies, and 
 savannahs of the island. The cotton wool was celebrated in 
 commerce for its quality as well as quantity ; and the beautiful 
 fabrics woven therefrom by the Indians became a source of 
 wealth to the Spaniards, which, if they had been attended to, 
 would have proved of more lasting value than the precious 
 metals, in the avaricious search for which every thing living 
 and dead was sacrificed. Unhappily for the Indians, the rule 
 of Don Esquimel was brief; he died, and was buried at 
 Sevilla d'Oro, the beautiful bay on the south of the island 
 * Claret was then made in Jamaica.
 
 142 DEATH OF DIEGO COLUMBUS, AND 
 
 now called Old Harbour, where he had fixed his estate as an 
 eligible ship-building settlement, inheriting his name, and 
 bequeathing to posterity the remembrance of a man whose 
 character offered a bright contrast to that of his sanguinary 
 successors. Francisco do Garay, a Spaniard, who had long 
 been a fortunate partner of the celebrated Diaz in the famed 
 mine of St. Christopher, in Hispaniola, and whose insatiable 
 avarice and cruelty was notorious, succeeded Esquimel as 
 lieutenant of Diego Columbus, in the government of Jamaica, 
 which, in 1519 (ten years after its settlement), had risen so 
 rapidly as to have been enabled to fit out three vessels, 
 manned by two hundred and seventy men, to endeavour to 
 take possession of a territory named Panuco, on the main 
 land. In 1521, Sevilla d'Oro began to send off branches 
 from the parent stock, and two new towns were founded — the 
 one on the Bay of Blewfields, named Oristan, from a place 
 in Sardinia ; the other, Melilla (supposed to be on the site 
 where Marthae-bras now stands), so called after a small town 
 in Barbary. t 
 
 The death of Diego Cohimbus (who, in 1523, had founded 
 St. Jago de la Vega, or St. Jago of the Plains, to distinguish 
 it from St. Jago de Cuba), in 1526, checked the improvement 
 of the island ; and the cruelties of the Governor, Don Pedro 
 d'Esquimel, whom LasCasas declares to have been the greatest 
 destroyer of the Indians, added to the destructive piratical 
 warfare carried on by French corsairs, under the name of Fli- 
 bustiers — all tended to cloud the rising prosperity of Jamaica. 
 The intelligent author oiiheAunals of Jamaica, i\\eV^e\.G^N. 
 Bridges, says, that the consequence of such proceedings was, 
 that the settlement of Oristan was destroyed in its infancy, 
 Melilla was abandoned almost as soon as built, and the capital 
 became the repeated prey of a lawless banditti. Its buildings, 
 many of them the creation of monastic munificence, were 
 suspended — its trade interrupted — and, such as were not 
 bound by office to the seat of government, deserted their 
 half-finished walls to seek a safer retreat in the southern 
 districts of the island. The Jamaica Almanac says, that St.
 
 PIRACY OF THE FRENCH FLIBUSTIERS. 143 
 
 Jago de la Vega, or Spanish Town, was founded by Diego 
 Columbus, in 1523 ; but Mr. Bridges states its origin to have 
 been owing to the affrighted Spaniards, who fled over the 
 mountain range, in 1538, in order to breath in security from 
 the plundering attacks of the French flibustiers, or corsairs ; 
 while superstition suggested the name of the new capital, 
 under the impression that the patron saint of the island had 
 been offended at the name (St. Jago) given by Columbus 
 having been outlived by the native cognomen, Xaymaca, or 
 Jamaica. Security of person and property, the main spring 
 of national wealth and happiness, soon contributed to raise 
 St. Jago de la Vega into a flourishing city : the neighbouring 
 savannahs were quickly cultivated, the manufacture- of sugar* 
 rapidly extended, and, in sixteen years from its foundation 
 (1555), the capital of Jamaica gave the title of Marquis to 
 the grandson of the extraordinary mariner who may be truly 
 said to have discovered a new world for the purpose of sti- 
 mulating into renewed energy the enterprize and intelligence 
 of the old. The wars between Charles V. and Henry of 
 France were carried on in America by the latter under pi- 
 ratical leaders ; and, after a desperate attack of the flibustiers, 
 in 1554, who massacred all the inhabitants, sculptured arches 
 and bare walls alone remain as evidence of the pristine splen- 
 dour of the once celebrated city of Sevilla d'Oro. 
 
 In 1558, it is stated that the native inhabitants of Jan^aica 
 had entirely perished,f and the Spaniards cultivated the 
 lands in the neighbourhood of St. Jago de la Vega, by 
 means of the few slaves which (says Mr. Bridges) they were 
 enabled to purchase ; whence they were derived the annalist 
 has not recorded. In 1580, owing to the junction of the 
 crowns of Spain and Portugal, the territorial riglit of 
 
 * In 1523 there were thirty sugar mills estal)lished iu the island. 
 
 t Gage, writing iu 163/, says, ' This island was once very populous, 
 but is now almost destitute of Indians, for the Spaniards have slain in it 
 more than 60,000; insomuch that women, as well here as on the continent, 
 did kill their children hefore they had given thein birth, that the issues of 
 their bodies might not serve so cruel a nation.'
 
 It^ PROGRESSIVE PROSPERITY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Jamaica was vested in the royal house of Braganza, and the 
 Portuguese, who emigrated to the island, gave new life and 
 vio-our to the settlement. In 1587 Jamaica was so over run 
 with the bread of horned cattle, swine, and horses, originally 
 imported from Hispaniola, that a considerable trade arose in 
 provisions, lard, and hides ; the cultivation of sugar which 
 had been neglected after the destruction of Sevilla d'Oro, 
 was resumed ; and ginger, tobacco, and other articles were 
 added to the planters' commercial stock. In 1605 the famed 
 wealth of Jamaica induced a predatory incursion on the 
 settlement from Sir Anthony Shirley, who was cruising in the 
 neighbourhood with a large fleet, but the invaders retired 
 after plundering only those parts of the island that were 
 most accessible. 
 
 In 1644, Col. or Capt. WiUiam Jackson, made a descent 
 upon Jamaica from the windward islands, at the head of 
 five hundred men ; the Spaniards fought bravely at Passage 
 Fort, but were beaten, and compelled to pay a large sum of 
 money for the preservation of the capital. Little, or indeed 
 nothing authentic, is known of the internal history of the 
 island up to the period of the British Conquest in 1655 ; the 
 acquisitions of Spain on the Continent, and the vast quantity 
 of precious metals thence derived, soon induced the neglect 
 of the insular possessions of the Mother Country for the 
 sake of the more shewy, but less substantial advantage, 
 derived by the conquest of Peru and Mexico ; all accounts, 
 however, agree in representing the Hidalgos of Jamaica as 
 leading a life of slothful luxuriance ; for the latter fifty years 
 the N. side of the island had been abandoned and allowed to 
 grow into dense woods, the population at the time of the 
 British Conquest was stated by Venables to be no more than 
 1,500 Spaniards and Portuguese, with about an equal number 
 of Mulattoes and negro slaves, and the higher class of inha- 
 bitants was composed of only eight families, who may be 
 said to have divided the country between them into eight 
 hatos or districts. 
 
 Cromwell, no less with a desire to rid himself of those dis-
 
 POLICY OF CROMWELL IN COLONlZINa. 145 
 
 affected towards his government, than with a hope of 
 humbhng the power of the Spanish court, which favoured 
 the restoration of Charles, — aided by the popular feeling in 
 England against the Spaniards, for the condemnation of six 
 hundred peaceable English settlers at St. Christopher's, to 
 work in subterraneous bondage in the mines of Mexico in 
 1629, — anxious to avenge the murder of a small English 
 colony, who had quietly settled on the unoccupied island of 
 Tortuga eight years after the peace of 1630, and a repetition 
 of the same bloody tragedy twelve years afterwards at Santa 
 Cruz, in which, as at Tortuga, even the women and children 
 were put to the sword, — and urged, moreover, by a desire to 
 establish the maritime supremacy of England, by the founda- 
 tion of colonies, and by putting an end to the exclusive right 
 of navigating the American seas, as claimed by Ferdinand 
 and Isabella ; — influenced, I say, by these and other motives, 
 Cromwell fitted out a large armament, which he placed under 
 the joint command of General Venables and Admiral Penn, 
 with three controlling commissioners, for the purpose of 
 seizing on Hispaniola at the moment of declaring hostilities 
 against Spain in Europe. The expedition was hastily des- 
 patched, the ranks of the army filled from the gaols and 
 prisons in England and Ireland, and the fleet so hurried out 
 to sea that the store-ships were left behind ; the capture of 
 Hispaniola was prevented by the vigilance of the Spaniards, 
 but to make amends for the discomfiture, Jamaica was at- 
 tacked by a force of 6,500 men, on the 3d of May 1665, after 
 being one hundred and forty-six years in the possession of 
 Spain. Little resistance was offered, negotiations were 
 entered into for the British occupation, and skilfully pro- 
 longed by the Spaniards, until the latter removed all their 
 valuables, so that when St. Jago de la Vega was entered by 
 the British forces, about ten days after the landing, nothing 
 but bare walls were found, the inhabitants having carried off 
 all their goods to the mountains, where, aided by their slaves, 
 and by occasional reinforcements from Cuba, they long held 
 out, but after some years were gradually annihilated, par- 
 
 VOL II. L
 
 146 BRITISH CONQUEST OF JAMAICA, AND 
 
 doned, or permitted to emigrate. Spain vainly endeavoured 
 to recover Jamaica, Avhich some skill and energy would 
 have enabled her to do, owing to the disaffection and disor- 
 ganization of tlie British army and occupants ; but the rapid 
 acquirement of wealth, without the aid of industry, and 
 almost solely by means of violence and craft, is as fatal to the 
 strength and happiness of a nation as it is to that of an indi- 
 vidual, and the Spanish government, after several and un- 
 successful efforts, abandoned all further prospects of re- 
 possessing themselves of the island. During the early 
 British occupation much inconvenience and distress (as is 
 the case in all infant settlements), was experienced, some of 
 the Spaniards and their negroes still occupied the mountains,* 
 and martial law was the sole judicature for a series of years, 
 during which period little progress was made in cultivation, 
 the soldiers being disinclined to turn their swords into 
 ploughshares. 
 
 Under the government of Colonel D'Oyley, Jamaica be- 
 came the head quarters of the pirates, or buccaneers, who 
 infested these seas, and derived inordinate wealth from the 
 plunder of the Spanish colonies and the fleets laden with the 
 precious metals on their return to Europe ; it is stated that 
 
 * Colonel D'Oyley, the Governor of Jamaica in 1661, wrote to Secre- 
 tary Nicholas, that a party of soldiers had just brousfht in from the moun- 
 tains about 100 negroes, the remainder of some 2,000, who had infested the 
 place since their arrival. He adds, (and it corroborates what I demon- 
 strated in my work on the Tau-ation of the Bnt'ish Empire respecting the 
 Parliamentary Government of the revolution) " thei soldiers have received 
 no pai/ since they came." — State Paper Office. It would appear that blood- 
 hounds were now introduced into Jamaica, and not, as was supposed, for 
 the first time by Loid Balcarras. The two following Jamaica orders 
 respecting bloodhounds and Bibles, afford a curious picture of the manners 
 of the times : — 
 
 August \A, 1656. " An order signed Edward D'Oyley, for the distri- 
 bution to the army of IJOl Bibles." 
 
 August 26, 1659. " Order issued this day unto Mr. Peter Pugh, Trea- 
 surer, to pay unto John Hoy the summe of twenty pounds sterling, out of 
 the impost-money, to pay for fifteene doggs, brought by him for the 
 hunting of the ncgrucr^."
 
 WISE COMMERCIAL MEASURES FOR ITS PROSPERITY. 1 17 
 
 the tables and household utensils of the colonists were of 
 silver and gold, and their horses sometimes shod with the 
 former metal, loosely nailed on, to indicate the abundance 
 and contempt for slight losses of wealth. Negro slaves ap- 
 pear to have been imported by the British in pursuance of 
 the policy of their predecessors, and in 1659 the population 
 of the island was rated at 4,500 whites, and 1 ,400 negroes. 
 Of the white population a chief proportion must have been 
 outlaws and soldiers ; for, according to the Board of Trade 
 and State Paper Office Records, — " Two hundred of the 
 rebels taken at Sedgemoor were transported to Jamaica ;" 
 and the military strength of the island in 1662 consisted of 
 five regiments, containing 2,083 men at arms ; that emigra- 
 tion from England began early is nevertheless correct ; Sir 
 Thomas Modyford, in a letter dated Jamaica, January 30th, 
 1664, mentions the number of settlers recently arrived, at 987, 
 of which 855 came from England, and the remainder from 
 Barbadoes. 
 
 At the restoration Charles sought to allay the feuds existing 
 in the island between the republican and royalist parties in 
 Jamaica ; the restraints of martial law were abolished, courts 
 of session formed, and a council of 12 elected by the inhabit- 
 ants to aid the government convened ; a partial survey took 
 place, 12 districts were marked out, laws framed by the 
 council for the government of the island, and taxes levied for 
 the maintenance thereof; every encouragement was held out 
 to new planters, and the wise regulations of Cromwell, ex- 
 empt'ing planters or ' adventurers ' from paying excise or 
 customs on any produce, Sfc. exported to Jamaica, or itnported 
 from thence itito the dominions of the commonwealth, for 10 
 years, was allowed ; together with the abolition of hindrance 
 or impressment on ships or mariners bound for Jamaica. 
 
 On the accession of Lord Windsor to the chief authority, 
 in September, 16G2, a municipal government was formed ; 
 judges of session and magistracy appointed ; the militia es- 
 tablished ; the island divided into seven parishes, and patents 
 of land in free soccage granted. It is interesting to examine
 
 148 ORIGIN OF OUR WEST INDIAN COLONIAL LEGISLATURES. 
 
 the origin of our colonial legislatures. According to a letter 
 in the State Paper Office from Colonel (afterwards Sir 
 Thomas) Modyford, dated Barbadoes, February 16th, 1651, 
 addressed to Bradshaw (the regicide), the following sugges- 
 tions occur, relative to the island sending representatives to 
 Parliament : — ' The great difficulty is, (which your wisdoms 
 will easily overcome) how we shall have a representative with 
 you in your government and our parliament : to demand to 
 have burgesses with yours to sit and vote in matters concern- 
 ing England may seem immoderate ; but to desire that two 
 representatives be chosen by this island to advise and consent 
 to matters that concern this place, I presume may be both 
 just and necessary ; for if laws be imposed upon us without 
 our personall or implied consent, we cannot be accounted 
 better than slaves, which, as all Englishmen abhorre to see, 
 so I am confident you detest to have them : This is so cleare 
 that I shall not need to enforce it with argument, neither 
 enter upon particulars for the good of this place,' &c. &c. 
 
 It may be gathered from this that the home authorities 
 preferred granting colonial legislatures to colonial represen- 
 tatives in the British Parliament. 
 
 In January, 1664, the first assembly of Jamaica was con- 
 vened by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Charles Littleton, in 
 conformity with the power of his commission from England ; 
 it consisted of 30 members, who chose a speaker (Mr. Robert 
 Freeman) the 20th of January, and continued their sittings to 
 the middle of February, then adjourned to May,and afterwards 
 resumed them at Port Royal ; thus dividing its session be- 
 tween the seats of Government and trade. This early esta- 
 blishment of a popular legislative assembly was attended with 
 signal advantages ; laws suited to the community were framed, 
 taxes raised independent of the Governor and parent state, 
 and the acts of assembly were sent for confirmation to the 
 King. Disputes subsequently broke out between the Go- 
 vernor, Sir Thomas Modyford, and the house of assembly ; 
 but those who appreciate the blessing of legislative repre- 
 sentation in uuison with taxation, will think lightly of dif-
 
 NDBI.E CONDUCT OF THE JAMAICA LEGISLATURE. 149 
 
 -ferences between the party desiring the exercise of uncon- 
 trollable authority, when balanced by the calm and efficient 
 power of a chamber freely elected by the intelligence and 
 wealth of a community.* 
 
 For sixty-four years the House of Assembly of Jamaica 
 carried on a noble contest to secure the means of defend- 
 ing itself against tyrannical acts on the part of the Crown, 
 and for controlling the expenditure of their own supplies. 
 Up to 1670, when peace was ratified with Spain, Jamaica 
 was the head quarters and rendezvous of all the pirates, 
 corsairs, and buccaneers of the New World, encouraged by 
 many of the Governors of Jamaica. f The celebrated, the 
 notorious Morgan, | as well as other bandits, contributed to 
 
 * Of Colonel Samuel Long, who nobly opposed the arbitrary measures 
 «f the Crown, endeavoured to be enforced through the then Governor, the 
 Earl of Carlisle, in 16/9, the following notice occurs in a paper in the 
 Board of Trade : — 
 
 Nov. 23, 16/6. " His Excellency," Lord Vaughan, " haveing acijuainted 
 the Council of the present vacancy of the Chief Justice's place, and that, 
 in this emergency, he could not propose any other than Lieutenant-Colone* 
 Samuel Long unto them, wherein his Lordship desired their advice, all 
 unanimously declared that they were fully satisfied with the great abilities 
 of Lieutenant-Colonel Long to performe and discharge the said trust and 
 employment, and did approve of his Excellency's choice." 
 
 This distinguished colonist died possessed of nearly 20,000 acres in 
 Jamaica. His descendant, Mr. Edward Long, was the accomplished and 
 learned author of the history of that island, and to the grandson of that 
 gentleman I am indebted for several valuable memoranda. 
 
 t Sir Thomas Lynch, in \G64, considered the calling in of the pri- 
 vateers ' a remote and hazardous experiment.' ' If they cannot get Eng- 
 lish commissions,' he says, ' they will get French or Portuguese, although 
 they be dangerous rogues.' Sir Thomas JModyford, in 1665, acknowledges 
 the receipt of a letter from Lord Arlington, directing that ' privateers be 
 handled quietly for the future, and be reclaimed by degrees ; encouraging 
 them to return home and take service in H. M. fleet against the Dutch, ' 
 State Paper Office. 
 
 \ This extraordinary adventurer was a native of Wales, born in 1636, 
 of a junior branch of the great clan of the Morgans of Tredegar, 
 but by daring courage, talents, and successes, becaoie advanced to the 
 dignity of Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica Having no inclination to 
 follow his father's agricultural pursuit, Morgan bade him adieu, wandered
 
 150 LIFE AND EXPLOITS OF MORGAN (AFTERWARDS 
 
 pour a vast flood of wealth into Jamaica, the prize of their 
 infamous marauding expeditions. 
 
 to Bristol, and embarked for Barbadoes, where, according to the custom 
 of the times, he bound himself as a servant, or sold his services, for the 
 space of four years. As soon, however, as he gained his freedom, Morgan 
 went to Jamaica, where the temptations held out for the rapid acquire- 
 ment of wealth induced him to join the West India buccaneers, who con- 
 sidered their pursuits legitimate because the Spaniards refused to be at 
 peace with other nations within the tropics, where they asserted English- 
 men had no right to settle. War was declared against the Spaniards, by 
 beat of drum, at Port Royal, 27th February, 1666 ; and Morgan, by his 
 daring intrepidity, soon brought himself into notice, made several suc- 
 cessful cruises, and secured a share of the spoil. Seeing the excesses and 
 improvidence of his companions, he profited by the example, and lived so 
 moderately, that he soon amassed a sulBcicnt sum of money towards pur- 
 chasing a vessel, in conjunction with some of his comrades, who elected 
 him their commander, and he returned to Port Royal with several prizes 
 from the Bay of Campeche. Mansfeldt, the prince of pirates, who was 
 then preparing a formidable expedition against the Spaniards, pitched 
 upon him to be his vice-admiral ; and in a short time, with fifteen ships 
 and five hundred men, he stormed and plundered the island of St. Ca- 
 therine (Providence), thirty-five leagues from Chagres river, and, after 
 various successes in different places, next proceeded, in 1668, with a fleet 
 of nine ships and four hundred and sixty men against Puerto Bcllo. This 
 city was defended by three castles, two of which were so situated that no 
 hostile boat could pass, and the town itself was well garrisoned. It was 
 night when he arrived, and, being acquainted with all the avenues of the 
 city, he sailed in canoes up the river to Puerto Pontin, where he anchored, 
 and, guided by one who had been a prisoner there, reached Estcra longa 
 de mar, whence he marched to the outposts of the city. After securing 
 the sentinel, he assailed the castle with such resistless impetuosity, that 
 the Governor was compelled to submit. Being unable to spare men 
 to guard his prisoners, Morgan is accused by the Spaniards of having 
 enclosed them all in a large dungeon, fired the magazine and blown up 
 the fortress with every Spaniard in it. They then forced the com- 
 mandant of the city into the remaining fort, who vainly endeavoured, 
 by an incessant cannonade, to prevent the plundering of the town 
 below ; but it had no other effect than to urge them to make a quick 
 and sanguinary dispatch. The buccaneers rifled the churches and houses, 
 and stormed the castle at the very mouth of its guns. The carnage of 
 this nocturnal conflict was dreadful. After performing prodigies of 
 alour, Morgan's men became dispirited and faint ; but their courage 
 as restored by seeing the English colours waving over the third and only
 
 Sir EDWARD) THE JAMAICA BUCCANEER. 151 
 
 In 1670, the total white population was 15,198 (vide section 
 on population) ; the militia muster rolls exhibiting an internal 
 
 remaining castle, which another party of these desperadoes had successfully 
 stormed. Our hero commanded the prisoners, they had taken from the 
 religious houses, at the point of the sword, to place the scaling ladders 
 against the walls. The Spanish soldier's duty prevailed over his superstir 
 tion, and many of the religieuse were slain. The pirates, however, 
 mounted the ladders, and the Spaniards, throwing down their arms, 
 begged for mercy. The commandant alone refused to yield, and nobly 
 met his fate in the presence of his wife and daughter. Every species of 
 excess marked the footsteps of the remorseless conquerors during fifteca 
 successive days. A ransom of 100,000 pieces of eight was demanded for 
 the preservation of the town, and paid. After levelling the redoubts 
 which had been raised by the Spaniards, and dismounting their guns, the 
 buccaneers returned to Jamaica with a ransom and plunder of 250,000 
 pieces of eight and much merchandize. The chroniclers of the day 
 narrate that, on the sea shore at Port Royal, plate, jewels, and other rich 
 effects were literally piled beneath the eaves of the houses for the want of 
 warehouse room. But this immense wealth was soon transferred to others, 
 and the pirates, reduced almost to starvation, constrained their captain to put 
 to sea again, after a few short weeks of riotous debauchery. Morgan was 
 now at the head of a thousand desperate fellows and a fleet of fifteen 
 vessels, to which was added, it is said, the Oa^ord frigate, commanded h\ 
 Captain E. Collier, sent by Charles II. to aid in the war against the 
 Spaniards. The fleet rendezvoused at the Isle de Vache, in Hispaniola; 
 and Sir William Beeston and Escpiemeling relate the following almost 
 incredible circumstance. A council of war was held on board the Ojcford, 
 on the 2nd January, 1669. The captains remained to dinner, and, while 
 feasting, the frigate, 'by some unknown accident, blew up at once, and 
 killed two hundred and fifty men : Admiral Morgan, and those captains 
 that sat on that side of the table that he did, were saved ; but those cap- 
 tains on the other side were killed.' This misfortune prevented an attack 
 on Carthagena ; but Macaicubo, with Gibraltar (on the Spanish main) was 
 again sacked, and the inhabitants underwent the same cruel torture they ex- 
 perienced at the hands of Solonnois. Failing, however, in this attempt to 
 plunder them, the inhabitants having concealed their valuables in the woods, 
 the pirates wearied and vexed at their unusual ill fortune, retreated from 
 the town. They were waited for by the Spaniards, who were prepared with 
 three men-of-war to obstruct their passage fi'om the lake ; and even in this 
 dilemma, when life and death were in the event, Morgan's courage alone re- 
 mained unshaken. He contrived a fire ship with such ingenuity, that it was 
 impossible for the enemy to recognise her assuch. With this he destroyed one
 
 152 DARING BRAVERY AND CUNNING OF THE PIRATES. 
 
 Strength of 2,720 men, and the British seamen about the 
 island being 2,500 strong. Fifty-seven sugar works were 
 
 of their vessels — the second ran on shore, and the remaining- one became 
 an easy prey to the pirates ; hut, although he had destroyed their fleet, the 
 castle, which they must pass, was impregnable. In vain did he resort to 
 his usual practice in exposing the nuns and friars they had taken prisoners 
 upon the deck, to restrain their countrymen from firing. Finding it utterly 
 useless, he had recourse to a wily stratagem. • He withdrew out of the 
 reach of the guns, and, filling his boats with men, they were ordered to 
 row ashore, as if with the design of landing ; but, instead of doing so, 
 they concealed themselves at the bottom of the boats, and the boats 
 returned apparently with only two or three men. After doing this several 
 times, the Spaniards, thinking they were going to attack the castle from 
 the land, removed their guns from the sea side to the ramparts, leaving 
 the former almost defenceless. The pirates then by moonlight dropped down 
 with the tide, when opposite the fort, spread every inch of canvass, and 
 saluted the mortified Spaniards as they passed with a few shots, which the 
 governor, completely outwitted, was unable to return; thus again was Ja- 
 maica deluged with wealth and benefitted by the prodigality of the pirates. 
 Morgan's reputation was now so great that he was joined by several youn;^ 
 men of family from England. After a few months' peace, war was again 
 proclaimed (2nd July, 1670), at Port Royal, against the Spaniards. Morgan 
 received a commission from the Governor to harass the enemy, and sailed 
 with a fleet of thirty-seven sail, carrying two thousand men at arms, besides 
 large crews of good sailors. St. Catherine was recaptured, and kept as a 
 place of retreat. Morgan's vice-admiral (Broadley), with four ships and 
 four hundred men, gained possession, (after losing one hundred men in 
 killed and wounded,) of the town and castle of Chagres. JMorgan next 
 sailed to Panama, which, after a desperate conflict, he succeeded in taking 
 possession of; but it, by some accident, took fire, and continued burning 
 several days. Vast quantities of molten gold and silver were found en- 
 crusted on the very pavements of the town, and the worth of millions was 
 collected from the wells and fountains, where it had been hastily concealed. 
 With one hundred and seventy-five mules, richly laden with gold, silver, 
 and jewels, Morgan arrived at Chagres. There he made a division of the 
 spoil ; but his crew, suspecting him of fraud in the partition, mutinied, 
 and he was glad to escape with two or three ships and 400,000 pieces of 
 eight in specie, with which he arrived in Jamaica. Morgan now gave 
 up his depredations, retired into private life, purchased a plantation, 
 lived upon and improved it, and so effectually recommended himself to 
 public favour, that he was made a naval commander in the service of his 
 King, obtained the honour of knighthood, became President of the Council
 
 EARLY STATE OF CULTIVATIOX IN JAMAICA. 15* 
 
 established, yielding annually 1,710,000 lbs. of sugar; forty- 
 seven cocoa walks, giving 180,000 lbs. of nuts; and forty-nine 
 indigo works, producing 49,000 lbs. of dye. The indigenous 
 pimento afforded an export annually of 50,000 lbs. ; 10,000 
 bushels of salt were produced from three salt pans ; — in 
 six years, 60 tame cattle had increased to 60,000 ; and sheep, 
 goats, and tame hogs, were innumerable ;* cotton, tobacco, 
 arnotto, and other articles, were being attended to ; and, in 
 the brief space of fourteen years, amidst numberless misfor- 
 tunes abroad and at home, Jamaica exhibited a wonderful 
 progress in colonial prosperity. 
 
 Sir Thomas Lynch, on his arrival as Governor in 1671, 
 put an end to the privateering system, and directed the atten- 
 tion of the Colonists to the more permanently profitable means 
 of attaining wealth, agriculture and commerce. The assembly 
 (consisting of eighteen representatives) was convened, and 
 the revenue fixed as follows : — land at Port Royal one half- 
 penny per foot ; cleared land and savanna, one penny per acre; 
 license to sell liquor, 40s. per annum ; brandy and spirits im- 
 ported, 6d. per gallon ; Portuguese and Spanish wines, £4> 
 per ton ; beer, 30s. per ton ; and mum, at 40s. ditto ; British 
 ships, Is. per ton anchorage; foreign double; the salary of 
 the Governor or Commander-in-Chief fixed at £1000 per 
 annum ; £400 to the Lieutenant-Governor ; £200 to the 
 
 of Jamaica, and thrice filled the office of Lieutenant-Governor. According 
 to some chronicles, the pusillanimity of the British Court, and Morgan's 
 Spanish enemies, however, prevailed so far as to procure a letter from the 
 Secretary of State, ordering him a prisoner to England, where his robust 
 constitution, which the numberless trials to which he had been exposed 
 could not impair, sunk beneath unmerited disgrace. Others assert that he 
 died at Port Royal, in comfortable retirement, and much beloved, the 26th 
 August, 1668 ; leaving a name which struck terror into Spain, and which 
 records exploits rarely equalled in the annals of British courage. 
 
 * The price of provisions had fallen rapidly — for in 1663 Sir Charles 
 Lyttleton, the Lieutenant-Governor, says — " Hogg, which is, planter's 
 food, is sold at 2d. per pound — and I have paid here 7d. : every thing 
 else does abate almost in proportion."
 
 154> FORMATION OF JUDICIAL ESTAHLISIIMENTS, 
 
 Major-General ; £80 to the Cliief Justice ; £20 to every 
 Judge ; and £10 to his Assistant. 
 
 According to documents in the State Paper Office the As- 
 semhly, in 1671, consisted of eighteen representatives, and 
 in 1674- Mr. Cranfield, in reply to some queries from his 
 Majesty, stated, that the Council of Jamaica consisted of 
 twelve gentlemen ; the Assemhly of Representatives elected 
 by the freeholders ; two from every parish except from St. 
 Jago and Port Royal, which have the privilege of choosing 
 three. A Chief Court of Judicature sat at St. Jago, sitting 
 every three months with appeals to the Governor as Chan- 
 cellor, with six inferior courts in different parts of the island, 
 sitting evei'y month, and holding pleas not exceeding £20, 
 except by Justices, and these of any sum whatever. Quarter 
 Sessions, according to the custom of England, were held in 
 every precinct, and an Admiralty Court was established ; the 
 domestic armed force of the island consisted of one regiment 
 of cavalry 500 strong, and the infantry regiments containing 
 5000 men.* The administration of LordVaughan commencing 
 in 1677 was termed indulgent, steady and impartial, but the 
 conduct of his successor, the Earl of Carlisle, has been cen- 
 sured as weak, petulant and tyrannical ; his efforts to induce 
 the Colonial Assembly to surrender its independence, were 
 happily attended with discomfiture, and every lover of liberty 
 will rejoice that the planters of Jamaica were among the fore- 
 most to resist the unconstitutional pretensions of the Crown. 
 
 In 1684 the first fruits of the impolicy of slave labour was 
 felt by a serious insurrection of the negroes, which however 
 was speedily suppressed ; in 1686 the extensive immigration 
 of Jews gave renewed commercial stimulus to the island, but 
 
 * III 1680 the military force of the island was 4,526 men in eight regi- 
 ments, the relative strenjjth of which was as follows, — 
 377 661 592 420 
 515 496 1,101 364 
 Sir Henry Morgan, (the Lieutenat-Governor) in a letter dated 1681, says 
 that the North side of the island had then only been settled five years.
 
 DESTRUCTION OF PORT ROYAL BY AN EARTHQUAKE. 155 
 
 the sectarian Popish zeal of the Duke of Albemai'le, who, to 
 preserve him from starving in England, was appointed by 
 James IT, Governor of Jamaica, temporarily checked the hap- 
 piness and prosperity of the islanders. 
 
 In 1691, the maroons or run-away negroes became exceed- 
 ingly troublesome to the planters, several of whom, with their 
 families, were murdered, but by the vigilance of the militia 
 the evil was for the time suppressed. In the midst of much 
 prosperity, and when the Colonists were exvUting in their 
 good fortune, the town of Port Royal, into which the wealth 
 of the Buccaneers had been poured, and on whose shores their 
 crimes and wickedness had been felt, by the awful interposi- 
 tion of Providence, was suddenly destroyed, and 3000 of its 
 inhabitants instantly engulphed in the earthquake which en- 
 tombed the scene of so much depravity for ever ! On the 
 7th June, 1692, at mid-day, while the Governor and Council 
 were sitting, and the wharfs were loaded with merchandize 
 and rich spoil, a roar was heard in the distant mountains, and 
 reverberated through the vallies to the beach where the sea 
 suddenly arose, and in an instant stood five fathoms deep, 
 where a moment befoi"e were displayed the glittering treasures 
 of Peru and Mexico ; in some places the earth opened wide 
 and swallowed whole houses, which were again, perhaps, 
 thrown upwards by the violent concussion of the sea ; in 
 others, many individuals were swallowed up to the neck, and 
 the earth then closing strangled them ; the Sivan frigate was 
 forced over the tops of the sunken houses, and afforded a 
 providential escape to many persons, and of the whole town, 
 perhaps the richest spot in the world, not more than two 
 hundred houses of the fort were left. The whole island felt 
 severely the shock, in some parts mountains were riven, in 
 others connected, the outline of every thing was changed, and 
 the entire surface of the island considerably subsided ; many 
 thousand persons were destroyed in the overwhelming of 
 Port Royal, the ruins of which are yet visible in clear weather 
 from the surface of the ocean, beneath which they lie. A 
 dreadful epidemic, arising from the putrifying bodies floating
 
 156 GALLANT DEFENCE AGAINST THE FRENCH. 
 
 in shoals about the harbour and from the noxious miasm, suc- 
 ceeded, in which 3,000 persons fell victims. Amidst the loss 
 of much wealth and property, the destruction of the official 
 papers and records of the island was not the least valuable. 
 In June 1 694, while the colonists were yet bending under the 
 effects of the earthquake, a formidable descent was made 
 on the island by M. Du Casse, with three ships of war, 
 twenty-three transports and 1,500 men, from France and 
 Martinique. 
 
 This formidable invasion was most gallantly met by the 
 Jamaica militia, and utterly routed, with a loss to the invaders 
 of seven hundred men, and on the side of the English of 
 about one hundred killed and wounded. The most wanton 
 cruelties were committed by the French ; fifty sugar estates 
 were totally destroyed, many plantations burned, and 1,500 
 negroes and several merchant ships carried away by the 
 retreating marauders. The latter years of the seventeenth 
 century were not remarkable for any memorable events in 
 the colonial annals of Jamaica. The Scots colony of Darien 
 was formed about the period of October 1798, and very soon 
 after suppressed, but the colonists of Jamaica generously 
 extended encouragement and support to those whom the 
 miserable policy of the home government would not permit 
 the defence of, against the tyrannical and false usurpation of 
 the territory by Spain. In 1698 the population was, whites, 
 males, 2,465 ; women and children, 4,900 ; total, whites, 7365 ; 
 negroes, 40,000; and in August 1702, the following return 
 was given in : — servants, 1,307; slaves, 41,596 ; cattle, 38,248 ; 
 sheep, 28,598. Port Royal, which had begun to rise again 
 contiguous to the site it had occupied previous to the earth- 
 quake, was now doomed to a second destruction by fire ; the 
 whole town having been annihilated by the blowing up of some 
 gunpowder, loosely lodged beneath roofs of pitch pine ; 
 Kingston rose in prosperity as Port Royal sank under re- 
 peated misfortunes. During the reign of Queen Ann, various 
 unconstitutional efforts were made to induce the Jamaica As- 
 sembly to pass a bill granting a permament revenue to the
 
 CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES IN JAMAICA. 157 
 
 crown, but the measure was steadily and triumphantly re- 
 jected. For the first nine yeai's of the eighteenth century, there 
 had been fifteen Sessions and eight Assemblies, convened for 
 the purpose of endeavouring to give the crown a power over 
 the money bills or supplies, raised by the representatives of 
 the people ; but the Jamaica colonists have never allowed 
 an encroachment on their constitutional rights, and neither 
 threats nor persuasions could induce the House of Assembly 
 to part with a power, which once lost, would have left no 
 principles or rights worth preserving. In August, 1122, a 
 tremendous hurricane sunk several ships, and destroyed much 
 property and many lives ; a fatal endemic, as usual, followed, 
 causing thereby great distress, nevertheless one of the first 
 Acts of the House of Assembly on being convened in Jan. 
 1723, was to double the Duke of Portland's salary, making it 
 £5,000, * in deference to His Majesty's recommendation and 
 to His Grace's character.' 
 
 This fact demonstrates that the opposition of the House of 
 Assembly to binding and burthening their posterity with op- 
 pressive taxes, was not founded on a parsimonious, but on 
 a constitutional and patriotic principle. The Duke of Port- 
 land's administration is represented to have displayed a just 
 blending of moderation and firmness, of urbanity of manners, 
 and decision of judgment ; unhappily, however, his rule was 
 too brief to be productive of much advantage, save in the 
 excellent example of calm discussion, which he gave to poli- 
 tical parties. His Grace was honoured with the tears of all 
 who knew him. In May, 1727, the long agitated revenue bill 
 passed through the House of Assembly ; and articles of 
 foreign growth or manufacture, with the quit rents, fines, and 
 forfeitures, which had already been relinquished, supplied 
 the required fund of £8,000 per annum, and that which has 
 been termed the Magna Charta of Jamaica passed, namely, 
 that ' all such laws and statutes of England as have been at 
 any time introduced, used, accepted, or received as laws in 
 the island are declared to be laws in Jamaica for ever.'
 
 158 STATE OF THE ISLAND IN 1739. 
 
 From this period to 1740,* few events occurred worthy of 
 notice in a work, the main object of which is to lay before 
 the British pulilic the present value and importance of the 
 colonial appendages of Britain ; the Maroon war was carried 
 on for some time to the great vexation of the planters, and 
 although the Maroon marauders did not exceed 500 men, 
 they kept large bodies of troops at bay, owing to tbe natural 
 fastnesses of their mountain retreats ; the submission of Cud- 
 joe, the leader, and most of his followers, was eagerly accepted 
 by the government, and portions of land quickly allotted for 
 their use. The war with Spain, the gallantry of Vice Admiral 
 ^'ernon, and the patriotism of Governor Trelawney, gave 
 glory to the British arms in the West, a stimulus to the 
 
 * The following detail of the produce of Jamaica Estates and its value, 
 in 1739, has been furnished to me from the MS. collections of the late 
 Mr. Long. This MS. is entitled, * Number of sugar plantations in Ja- 
 maica, with the quantity of sugar generally made for some years past ou 
 them. Date, Christmas, 1739.' 
 
 It mentions every estate separately, together with the name of its 
 owner and its produce. Tlie estate producing the largest return appears 
 to have been Old and New Buxton, in the parish of St. Thomas in the 
 Vale, the property of Charles Price, Esq. The produce was 300 hds. 
 The next single estates, producing about 250 hds., were the properties of 
 the Beckford, Pennant, and Dawkins' families. The two estates of Long- 
 ville and Lucky Valley, in the pai'ish of Clarendon, belonging to the Long 
 family, yielded, the first 130, the second GO hds. In the same parish the 
 estate of Seven plantations, formerly also in that family, produced 200 
 hds. An estate, called the Crescent, in St. Mary's parish, first settled in 
 1676, produced 150 hds. It has since, on one or two occasions, yielde<l 
 400. 
 
 The general summary of the island produce, in the same document, is 
 as follows : — 
 
 43 sugar works in St. Thomas in the Vale, producing 3315 hds. ; 3 ditto 
 St. Catherine's 210 hds. ; 31 ditto, St. Andrew's, 1390 hds. ; 8 ditto St. 
 David's, 455 hds. ; 44 ditto, St. Thomas in the East, 4120 hds. ; 4 ditto St. 
 George's, 380 hds. ; 19 ditto, St, Mary's, 1526 hds.; 19 ditto, St Anne's, 
 2050 hds. ; 8 ditto, St. James, 660 hds. ; 39 ditto, Hanover, 2620 hds- ; 
 64 ditto, Westmoreland, 5450 hds. ,• 32 ditto, St. Elizabeth's, 2745 hds. j
 
 DREADFUL BARBARITY SLAVE INSURRECTION. 159 
 
 ardent and enterprising spirits of Jamaica, and a flow of wealth 
 towards their shores from the expeditions of the Enghsh 
 fleets and cruisers against the Spanish settlements ; and in 
 1742 Jamaica contained 14,000 whites and 100,000 slaves. 
 Under the government of Admiral Knowles in 1751, the seat 
 of government was removed from St. Jago de la Vega, or Spa- 
 nish Town, to Kingston ; the lands patented, or granted, 
 amounted at this time to 1,500,000 acres ; and the exports to 
 Great Britain, on an average of four years, were estimated at 
 nearly i> 800,000. In 1758 the government was again re- 
 moved after much acrimony between the government and the 
 planters, who opposed the removal of the seat of government 
 to Kingston. The year 1760 witnessed one of those despe- 
 rate insurrections which must ever characterise a population 
 where nine-tenths are bondsmen, and though with the feelings 
 of men, treated as brutes ; the contest ended only with the 
 destruction of the greater part of the rebel slaves ; and it ex- 
 hibited the most disgusting cruelty and barbarism on the part 
 of those whom civilization ought to have taught that humanity 
 never suffers by the exercise of clemency towards a fallen 
 foe. The Rev. Mr. Bridges says, that some of the con- 
 demned rebels were burned, some fixed alive on gibbets, and 
 
 7 ditto. Vera, 405 lids. ; 66 ditto. Clarendon, 5480 hds. ; 8 ditto, St. Do- 
 rothy's, 370 hds. ; 28 ditto, St. John's, 2000 hds. Total, 418 siig-ai- 
 works (whereof 10 are new and make no sugar, producing 33,155 hds. 
 33,155 hds. of sugar, 1600 lbs. each, is 53,048,000, sold at 18*. 
 
 per cwt., is, . . _ . . ^477,432 
 
 Each 60 lbs. sugar to produce 4 gallons molasses, is 3,536,532 
 
 gallons, one-third whereof sold, is, 1,178,844 gallons, at Sd. 
 
 per gallon, - - - ... 39,2.'M 
 
 The remaining molasses, 2,357,688 gallons, 3 gallons to n^.ake 
 
 2 gallons rum, including the skimmings, is 1,571,7-^2 gallons 
 
 rum, at 18u^. .---.. 117,884 
 
 ^^634,610 
 
 N. B. The above is exclusive of plantation consumption. 
 
 Sugar. Consumption of Jamaica, and sent to the northward and other 
 
 places, about 2000 hds., the rest sent to Britain. — Rum. Consumption -of 
 
 Britain, 5000 puncheons ; of .lamaica and other parts, 9000; total, 14000.
 
 160 PROGRESS AND PRICE OF THE SLAVE POPULATION. 
 
 one lived 210 hours suspended under a tropical sun, without 
 80 much as a drop of water ! It is to be hoped that the day 
 for the repetition of such monstrous and ineffectual attempts 
 to enforce obedience have passed away for ever. Ninety 
 white persons fell in this rebellion ; 400 of the rebel negroes 
 were slain ; many destroyed themselves in the woods sooner 
 than again fall into the hands of their former masters, and 
 their skeletons were found suspended in the lofty branches 
 of the cotton-trees, and about 600 were transported to the 
 Bay of Honduras. Prosperity attended the island during 
 the war ending in 1763, the king's house was completed and 
 furnished at an expense of £30,000., and the banks of the 
 Rio Cobre adorned by elegant villas and well cultivated farms. 
 One of the finest fortresses in Jamaica, perhaps in the West 
 Indies, Fort Augusta, was blown up, 14th September, 1763, 
 by reason of the magazine, containing 3,000 lbs. of gunpowder, 
 being ignited by lightning, by which several hundred persons 
 were killed and wounded, and £43,000. of property destroyed. 
 It is stated that the number of slaves annually imported into 
 Jamaica about this period, amounted to 16,000;* and within 
 thirty years the slave population had increased from 99,000 
 to upwards of 200,000, while the total numerical strength of 
 the whites did not exceed 16,000. 
 
 The war waged against England by the N. American co- 
 lonies, in a struggle for independence from a country which 
 could not appreciate their value, and therefore deserved to 
 lose them, called forth the utmost energies of Jamaica to 
 preserve the island from the meditated combined attack of 
 the French and Spanish forces ; and here it may be remarked, 
 that in every contest in which England has been engaged, 
 
 • According to a manuscript journal of Hampson Needhaoi, in posses- 
 sion of his grandson, JMajor-General Needham, the price of Negroes in 
 1/50 is thus stated : — " Bought ten Negroes at i.50 each" — and in 1747 
 the following calculation appears in the Board of Trade Papers : — 
 
 500 Negroes, at ^'30 each <i^ 15,000 
 
 Clothing with Osnaburghs four times a year, at 4*. (>d. each, 460 
 
 Maintenance — fifty-two weeks, at 1*. lOrf. each per week, 2,383
 
 JAMAICA LOYALTY — RECEPTION OF HIS PRESENT MAJESTY. 161 
 
 the inhabitants of Jamaica have evinced a loyalty and attach- 
 ment to the mother country, unsurpassed in the annals of 
 colonial history. The combined fleets of France and Spain, 
 amounting to 60 sail of the line, with 6,000 choice troops 
 and a well organized artillery, destined for the conquest of 
 Jamaica, were frustrated in their intentions by the splendid 
 victory of Rodney and Hood,* on the 12th April, 1782, off 
 Dominica, over the French squadron of o6 sail of the line 
 and 10 frigates, commanded by Count De Grasse, by which 
 personal security was afforded to the islanders, whose condi- 
 tion was much reduced by several years of continued hurri- 
 canes, and by the extraordinary efforts which they made for 
 the preservation of Jamaica to the British crown. His present 
 Majesty, then a midshipman in the British navy, visited Ja- 
 maica at this period, and generously bore testimony to the 
 enthusiasm displayed by the colonists in their heroic endea^ 
 vours to defend this valuable island from becoming the pro- 
 perty of the enemies of England ; and on His Royal Highness' 
 return to Jamaica in 1788, the colonists solicited the Prince's 
 acceptance of a star of the value of one thousand guineas, 
 while to General Campbell was presented a splendid service 
 of plate, in testimony of his exertions as governor during the 
 anticipated invasion from the combined fleets. And here let 
 me regret the insane policy of England in imposing heavy 
 duties on the produce of Jamaica and of our other E. and W. 
 India colonies, when imported into England ; nothing could 
 (as was then justly complained of) more effectually tend to de- 
 stroy the planters, not even the almost annual visitation of 
 the hurricanes with which they were afflicted; the full benefit 
 of colonies can only be experienced when their trade approxi- 
 mates as closely as possible to a coasting commerce, freed 
 from fiscal exactions and legislative decrees. 
 
 The Maroon war, so imprudently and unjustly brought on 
 by the intemperate policy of the Earl of Balcarras, then (1795) 
 
 * The Jamaicians, with their usual liberality, caused a marble statue to 
 be erected in memory of Rodney, which was executed by Bacon, and cost 
 3,000 guineas. 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 1G5 CHRONOLOGICAL DATA OF THE GOVERNORS. 
 
 Governor of Jamaica, cost the lives of many brave men, and 
 ended in the removal of the surviving Maroons to Nova 
 Scotia, and finally to Sierra Leone. The disastrous revolu- 
 tion in St. Domingo caused additional expense to the island, 
 and the West India or coloured regiments, were then first 
 raised, much to the dissatisfaction of the colonists, who were 
 also at this time burthened with the absurd support of the 
 20th regiment of Dragoons ; a pretty species of force for a 
 West India svigar plantation.* In 1802, Kingston was con- 
 stituted a corporation, and a mayor, aldermen, &c. appointed. 
 But I have already encroached on the limits allotted to this 
 portion of my work, and it would detract from the object I 
 have in view, namely, to develope the actual condition and 
 commercial and political advantages of the British colonies, 
 were I to continue a minutiae of facts or chronological account 
 of domestic occurrences;f sufficient has beenwritten to demon- 
 strate the manner in which the island of Jamaica became 
 colonized and attached to Great Britain,;}; and we may now 
 proceed to contemplate its — 
 
 * After putting the country to an enormous expense for the support of 
 this regiment, the wiseacres of the day discovered, after a lapse of several 
 years, that the mountains of Jamaica were not favourable to the move- 
 ments of a regiment of cavalry, and it was accordingly withdrawn. 
 
 t The terrific slave insurrection of 1831-2 need not here be mentioned. 
 I trust it is the last civil or predial war which the island may be doomed to 
 witness. 
 
 X The following are the names of the Governors, Lieutenant-Gover- 
 nors, &c. of Jamaica, with the years when they commenced their admi- 
 nistrations : — 
 
 Goi-^r/jor, Colonel D'Oyley . 1660 | Gov. Chas. Earl of Carlisle, 16/8 
 Lord Windsor . . 1662 [ L/.-Goi*. SirH. Morgan, Knt. 1680 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor, Sir C. 
 
 Lyttleton, Knt 1662 
 
 President, Col. Thos. Lynch, 1664 
 Gov. Sir T. Modyford, Knt. 1664 
 Lt.-Gov. Sir T. Lynch. Knt. 1671 
 
 Sir H. Morgan, Knt. 16/5 
 
 Governor, Lord Vaughan, . 16/5 
 Lt.-Gov. Sir H. Morgan, Knt. 16/8 
 
 Gow. Sir Thos. Lynch, Knt. . 1682 
 Lieut.- Governor, Col. Hender 
 
 Molesworth, . . . • 1684 
 Governor, Christopher, Duke 
 
 of Albemarle .... 168/ 
 
 President, Sir Fras. Watson . 1688 
 
 Gov. Wm. Earl of Inchiquin, 1690 
 
 President, John White, Esq. 1692
 
 PHYS5TCAL ASPECT OF JAMAICA. 
 
 163 
 
 Physical Aspect. This beautiful isle, happily screened 
 by Cuba and Hispaniola from the tempestuous winds of the 
 Atlantic, and peculiarly adapted for an extensive and profitable 
 commerce with the adjacent continent, by reason of the 
 number and disposition of its excellent havens, is really one 
 of our most valuable colonies. Jamaica is somewhat of an 
 oval shape, with an elevated ridge called the ' Blue Moun- 
 tains,' (towering in some places to nearly 8,000 feet above 
 the level of the sea), running longitudinally through the isle 
 E. and W. and occasionally intersected by other high ridges, 
 traversing from N. to S. ; approaching the sea on the S. coast 
 in gigantic spines, of sharp ascent — difficult of access, and 
 clothed with dense and sombre forests ;■ — on the N. de- 
 clining into lovely mounds and round topped hills, covered 
 with groves of pimento, and all the exquisite verdure of the 
 
 President, J no.Bouvdcn, Esq. 
 Lt.-Gov. Sir W. Beeston, Knt. 
 Governor, Wrn Sehvyn, Esq. 
 Lieut.-Gov. P.Beckford, Esq. 
 
 T. Handasyd, Esq. 
 
 Gov. Lord Arch. Hamilton, 
 
 Peter Heywood, Esq. . 
 
 Sir Nich. Lawes, Knt. 
 
 Hen. Duke of Portland, 
 
 Pres. John Ayscough. Esq. 
 C^of.Maj.-Gen. Rob. Hunter, 
 Pres. John Ayscough, Esq. 
 
 John Gregory, Esq. , 
 
 Henry Cunningham, Esq. 
 was appointed Governor in 
 1735, but President Gregory 
 was succeeded by 
 Gov. Edward Trelawny, Esq. 
 
 ■ Charles Knowles, Esq. 
 
 Lt.-Gov. Henry Moore, Esq. 
 Gov. George Haldane, Esq. 
 Lt.-Gov. Henry Moore, Esq. 
 Gov. W. H. Lyttelton, Esq. 
 Lt.-Gov. R. H. Elletson, Esq. 
 Gov. Sir Wm. Trelawny, Bt. 
 
 1G92 
 1(!93 
 1702 
 1702 
 1702 
 1711 
 I7I6 
 I7I8 
 1722 
 1722 
 1728 
 1734 
 1735 
 
 1738 
 1752 
 1756 
 1758 
 1759 
 1762 
 1766 
 1767 
 
 Lt.-Gov. Lt.-Col. J. Balling, 1/73 
 Gov. Sir Basil Keith, Knt. 1773 
 
 Major-Gen. J. Bailing, 1777 
 
 Major-General Arch. 
 
 Campbell, . . . . 1782 
 Lt.-Gov. Brig. Gen. Alured 
 
 Clarke, 1784 
 
 Gov. T. Earl of Effingham, 1 790 
 Lt.-Gov.Mdi].-G. Williamson, 1791 
 
 Earl of Balcarras, 1795 
 
 Lt.-Gen. G. Nugent, 1801 
 
 Lt.-Gen. SirE. Cootc, 1806 
 
 Gov. Buke of Manchester, 1808 
 i.^.-Co!-. Lt.-Gen.E.Morrison, 1811 
 Gov. Buke of Rlanchester, 1813 
 Lt.-Gov. M.-Gsn. H. Conran, 1821 
 Gov. Buke of Manchester, 1822 
 Lt.-Gov. Major-General Sir 
 
 John Keane, .... 1827 
 G^or. Earl of Belmore, . . 1829 
 Pres. G. Cuthbert, Esq. . 1832 
 Gov. C. H. Earl of Mulgrave, 1832 
 Lt.-Gov. 
 Coy. Marquis of Sligo, . 1834
 
 164 SPLENDID VIEW FROM POINT MORANT. 
 
 tropics, — the coup dceil presenting a splendid panorama of 
 high mountains, embosomed in clouds, and vast savannahs or 
 plains, hills and vales, rivers, bays, and creeks. The middle 
 part, called Pedro's Cockpit, lying between Clarendon and 
 St. Ann's Parishes, is spread for an extent of many miles, 
 with an infinite number of round-topped hills, whose surface, 
 covered with a loose lime-stone, or honey-combed rock, is 
 clothed with fine cedar and other trees, of enormous bulk ; 
 the dales or cockpits meandering between these hummocks 
 contain a rich soil, of great depth, where the succulent 
 Guinea grass forms a perfect carpet of ever- verdant beauty.* 
 When viewed at a distance from Point Morant (the south- 
 ernmost high land on the coast), the picture is splendid ; the 
 blue mountains appear above the stratvim of clouds, which 
 roll along their precipitous sides, — beneath the rugged hills 
 are furrowed with ravines, and steeps cliffs descend abruptly 
 to the sea ; on a nearer approach lofty forests are discovered 
 on the sides of the hills, and patches of bright emerald green 
 become visible on running along the S. coast towards Port 
 Royal. From Fort Morant (conspicuous under a steep hill), 
 to Port Royal, there is a narrow spit of land, called the 
 palisades, composed of sand, overgrown with mangroves,-|- 
 behind this is the harbour of the chief commercial town.:|: 
 (Kingston) situated on a gentle slope of about one mile in 
 length, which is bounded on the S. by a spacious bason, 
 through which all vessels must advance beneath the com- 
 manding batteries of Port Royal. The extended inclined 
 plane, on the verge of which Kingston stands, is inclosed on 
 the N. by the loftiest ridge of the Blue Mountain chain, 
 
 • Butter made from the cattle fed here, is by some persons thought equal, 
 if not superior to any in England. 
 
 t Quicksands are commonly met with in Jamaica (and indeed in most 
 tropical isles) on crossing the mouths of rivers or gullies on the coast, at 
 the junction of the sea and freshes. 
 
 X St. Jago de la Vega, or Spanish Town, Co. Middlesex, on tlie S. W. 
 Bide uf tlie island, about sixteen miles from the sea and sixteen from 
 Kingston, is the seat of Government, but Kingston is in reality the capital 
 of the island.
 
 APPEARANCE OF KINGSTON AND PORT ROYAL. 165 
 
 termed Liguana, which, forming a semi-circle, terminates in 
 the E. at the narrow defile of Rock Fort, — from thence a 
 long neck of land stretches far away to Port Royal, forming 
 the S. barrier of a beautiful haven ; in the W. the semicircle 
 terminates at a contracted pass upon the edge of an imprac- 
 ticable lagoon, from thence the main land sweeping round to 
 Port Henderson, and the projecting salt pond hills secure 
 an harbour, in which the navies of Europe might safely 
 ride.* The entrance is defended on the E. point of the 
 delta of Port Royal by the formidable ramparts of Fort 
 Charles, thickly studded with heavy ordnance ; on the W. side, 
 by the cannon of Rock Fort, while the low raking shot from the 
 long level lines of Fort Augusta, which face the narrow channel, 
 would sweep a hostile navy off the ocean. For nine miles 
 around Kingston is an alluvial plain, surrounded by a series 
 of irregular mountains, some of which to the E. and N. E. 
 are of considerable elevation, — constantly cloud-capped, and 
 appearing as if made up of several hills piled upon one ano- 
 ther, with various elevations, picturesque vallies and chasms, 
 impressing the mind with an idea of volcanic origin, or that 
 some convulsion of nature, had caused the strange irregularity 
 displayed. 
 
 The streets in Lower Kingston are long and straight, with 
 a mathematical regularity like the new town of Edinburgh, 
 the houses in general two stories, with verandahs above and 
 below. The English and Scotch churches are really elegant 
 structures, particularly the former, which is built on a pic- 
 turesque spot, commanding a splendid view of the city, the 
 plains around it, the amphitheatre of mountains, and the 
 noble harbour of Port Royal. 
 
 On a plain at the top of the declivity on which Kingston is 
 built are the fine barracks, called Up Park Camp, and not far 
 
 * The anchorage is good all over Port Royal Harbour — but for ships 
 bound to sea the best is in nine fathoms, with a remarkable notch on the 
 East side of a high mountain, called the leading notch, a little open to the 
 Eastward of Fort Augusta, bearing nearly North, and having Rackum 
 Key on with Port Royal Point. . . ^
 
 166 MOUNTAINS OF JAMAICA — THEIR HEIGHT, &C. 
 
 hence on a still more conspicuous spot, is the residence for 
 the naval commander-in-chief on the station, called the 
 Admiral's Pen. 
 
 Mountains. The heights of the principal places above 
 the level of the sea, are thus computed — 
 Blue Mountain Peak, 7,770 ft. Flamstead House, 3,800 ft. 
 Ridge of ditto, - - 7,163 Sheldon House, 3,417 
 Portland Gap ridge, 6,501 Middleton ditto, 2,340 
 Portland Gap, - - 5,640 Stoney Hill, Bks. 1,360 
 Catherine's Peak, - 4,970 Green Castle, - 1,328 
 AbbeyGreen House, S.D.4, 233 Hope Tavern, - 699 
 Chfton House, s. a. 4,228 
 
 It is asserted, however, that the three very remarkable 
 peaks on the grand ridge of Blue Mountains at the eastern 
 part of the island called the Coldrklge, have their respective 
 summits 8,184, 7,656, and 7,576 feet above the level of the 
 sea, and there are other mountains in this ridge exceeding a 
 mile in height. Catherine's peak, about seven miles and a 
 half N. of Kingston, is stated to be 5,075 feet, and Hardwar 
 Hill to the westward of it nearly of equal elevation, forming 
 the summits of another grand ridge which crosses the island 
 diagonally. The mountains to the W. in the counties of 
 Middlesex and Cornwall do not reach the height of a mile, 
 rarely exceed half a mile : Lenians mountain* in the county 
 of Middlesex, six miles N. of Spanish Town is 2,282 feet 
 high, and the Bull's Head, in Clarendon, near the centre of 
 the island on the meridian of Carlisle Bay, is 3,140 feet. In 
 the W., the Dolphins Head S. of Lucea is 3,450 feet. On 
 the S. E. coast Yallah's Hill which is within the point of the 
 same name is only 2,706 feet. The greater proportion of the 
 mountains are of conical form, with steep declivities, ap- 
 proaching very near the shore on the N. coast, and leaving 
 plains of about twelve miles wide on the S. ; the dark and 
 deep ravines between the lofty mountains, denominated 
 
 • Near this mouniain is Highgatc, a delightful residence, where Lord 
 Belmore resided with his family in the hot months, and lately occupied by 
 Lord and Lady Mulgrave.
 
 RIVERS, HARBOURS, HOT SPRINGS, &C. 167 
 
 Cockpits, are closely shut in by dense woods, and offer a 
 marked contrast to the lower mountains, which are cultivated 
 with coffee, pimento, cotton, capsicums, &c., in all their 
 variety, affording delightful country retreats from the coast. 
 
 Rivers and Harbours. The beauty of the island is further 
 enhanced by its numerous rivers, upwards of two hundred 
 of which have been enumerated ; few, however, (owing to the 
 mountainous and hill and dale nature of the country), are 
 navigable for vessels of any burthen, though they might be 
 made so by means of locks, &c. In St. Elizabeth parish, 
 Black River, which flows for the most part through a flat 
 country, is the deepest and least rapid, and is navigable for flat- 
 bottomed boats and canoes for about thirty miles. The other 
 chief rivers on the S. side are the Rio Cobre and Rio Minho, 
 and on the N., Marthabrae, White, Ginger and Great River, 
 &c. The precipitate current of the streams renders them the 
 better adapted for mechanical purposes, their quick agitation 
 over the falls preserves their zest and sprightliness for animal 
 drink, and prevents the too great evaporation and formation 
 of damps and mists, which would otherwise be occasioned. 
 
 Springs are extremely numerous, even in the highest moun- 
 tains ; about Kingston, and on the N. side, they are generally 
 impregnated with calcareous earth, and in the latter stalactites 
 are met with. Several are of a medicinal nature in Vere and 
 Portland ; the most celebrated is one of a sulphureous nature 
 in the E. parish of St. Thomas, giving name to a village called 
 Bath ; there is a cold and a hot spi-ing ; the latter runs by 
 many rills out of the side of a rocky cleft that confines the 
 middle part of the sulphur river to the E., as it runs towards, 
 the South ; it is very hot at its source, naturally light, and 
 plentifully charged with volatile particles of mineral acid, 
 combined with sulphureous steam, slightly engaged in a cal- 
 careous base ; the cold spring differs only in being more 
 abundantly charged with sulphur ; the use of both is exceed- 
 ingly beneficial in cutaneous disorders, obstructions of the 
 visc2ra, &c. 
 
 Of the harbours it may be sufficient to state, that the Ja^
 
 1C8 DIVISION or THE ISLAND INTO PARISHES, &C. 
 
 maica shore has sixteen principal secure havens, besides 
 thirty bays, roads or shipping stations, which afford good 
 anchorage. 
 
 Division. — The island is divided into three counties — 
 Middlesex, Surrey and Cornwall,* -each of which is subdivided 
 into parishes, nine, seven and five. Middlesex contains St. 
 Jago de la Vega, or Spanish town, situate in a noble plain, 
 and adorned with many fine buildings in the Castilian style ; 
 Surrey contains Kingston and Port Royal, and likewise the 
 villages of Port Morant and Morant Bay, the latter of con- 
 siderable importance on account of its shipping ; Portland 
 parish, in this county, contains Port Antonio, one of the most 
 commodious and secure in the island ; St. George parish 
 contains Annotto Bay ; Cornwall county has Montego Bay 
 on the north-west coast, on which coast Falmouth, twenty 
 miles east of Montego Bay, is also situate. The other places 
 worth notice are Carlisle and Bluefield Bays on the south, 
 and Marthae-brge and Lucea harbours on the north coast. 
 The chief headlands of the island are Port Morant, at the 
 east end of Jamaica, and two promontories on the west end, 
 the coast along which is bold and high.f 
 
 It may be necessary to say a few words respecting the 
 position of the military stations, &c. in Jamaica, especially 
 on the south side of the island, where four out of five regi- 
 ments are stationed. To begin with 
 
 Fort Augusta. This strong fortress is built upon a low 
 
 Counties. Area in Acres. 
 
 *Conwall 1,305,235 
 
 Middlesex 072,616 
 
 Surry 1,522,149 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Parishes. 
 
 Villages. 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 7 . 
 
 8 
 
 Total.. 3,500,000 6 21 27 
 
 f The roads through the island are in general narrow but good. By the 
 old laws the width of the roads was ordered as follows ; — 
 
 Width in standing wood 60 feet 
 
 Do. wood on one side 40 do. 
 
 Do. open ground 24 do. 
 
 The making ofsome roads in the island have cost iC/OO per mile.
 
 UP PARK CAMP, JAMAICA. 169 
 
 neck of land, or peninsula, joined to the hills at Port Hen- 
 derson by a narrow isthmus of sand, having a coral formation 
 for its base. The buildings of the fort occupy the whole area 
 of the point of the peninsula, which is surrounded by the sea, 
 except to the west, — the sovith face of the fort being washed 
 by the deep water of the ship channel, while the east and north 
 fronts are environed by the shallow waters of a lagoon. The 
 fort is considered healthy, owing to the prevalence of the 
 wind from the S. and S. E. The barracks are two stories high, 
 well ventilated,* and contain generally four service companies. 
 Up-Park Camp contains the only government barracks in 
 Jamaica, and they are indeed highly creditable to the island. 
 They are situate about two miles north of Kingston, at the 
 extremity of the plain of Liguana, which gradually rises 
 above the level of the sea; is well cultivated, — extremely 
 fertile, — about one mile and a half south of the Long Moun- 
 tain, with an elevation of eight hundred feet, covered with 
 brush wood, and exceedingly steep towards Kingston. The 
 height of the camp above the sea shore is about two 
 hundred feet, and it covers an irregular square of between 
 two and three hundred acres, sloping towards Kingston. 
 The barracks consist of two long parallel lines of buildings, 
 extending from east to west (that to the south, or seaward, 
 comprising the officers' quarters), two stories high, a six- 
 feet basement, an excellent hospital, a splendid bath of 
 forty feet clear and four deep, containing 70,000 gallons of 
 running water •,-f the whole cantonment, at sixty feet distance, 
 surrounded by a wall of six feet high, surmounted by an iron 
 palisading. Twelve hundred and eighty-four European sol- 
 
 * The eftbrts of the surgeon of the 84th regiment, in 1828, caused the 
 House of Assembly to make considerable improvement in the barracks and 
 hospital at this station. 
 
 f This fine bath is supplied with water from Papine estate, four miles 
 and a half distant ; the pipe conveying it is six inches in diameter, with a 
 velocity of twelve inches, and discharging 4,600 gallons per hour. This 
 plentiful supply of so indispensable an element, enables the soldiers to irri- 
 gate their beautiful gardens, which are laid out in the camp, and which 
 furnish the garrison with a constant supply of vegetables.
 
 170 STONY HILL — PORT ANTONIO, FALMOUTH, &C. 
 
 tliers are encamped with comfort, and the attached offices are 
 spacious, lofty, and commodious.* 
 
 Stoney Hill garrison, capable of holding five hundred 
 men — is situate 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, on the 
 ridges of a chain of mountains, (in a depression between a 
 more elevated chain), running in a curved direction from east 
 to west, and enjoying a most beautiful and picturesque view 
 of the inclined alluvial plain of Liguana, of tlie city of King- 
 ston, of Port Royal, of Fort Augusta, and of the adjacent 
 country. The barracks, hospitals, &c. are, generally speak- 
 ing, situate on small detached eminences, and are nine miles 
 north of Kingston, seven of which cross the plain of Liguana ; 
 the remainder of the road is a rather an abrupt ascent to 
 the garrison, but practicable for wheeled carriages of every 
 description. This post commands the grand pass, which 
 intersects the island from north to south, and is therefore 
 justly considered of great importance. The government 
 ground at the station amounts to eighty-three acres. 
 
 Port Antonio, situate at the extremity of the island, 
 eighty miles from Kingston, is nearly insulated ; — its fort 
 exhibiting a half-moon battery, with a magazine in the rear, 
 one hundred and forty-four feet long by twenty-one wide. 
 The barracks are placed upon a kind of peninsula, forming 
 on either side a bay, and capable of containing upwards of 
 fifty men. The buildings are new and elevated, commodious, 
 and commanding a fine view of the sea. 
 
 Falmouth, or Marth^-br^, fifteen miles east of Montego 
 Bay, has a small fort at Point Palmetto, with a good set of 
 artillery barracks, and an hospital, stores and quarters, open 
 to the sea breeze. It is a bar harbour ; channel very narrow, 
 intricate, not more than sixteen or seventeen feet deep, but 
 within a regular depth of from five to ten fathoms. The town 
 of Falmouth is built on the west side of the harbour. 
 
 Maroon Town is situate in the interior, between the 
 parishes of Westmoreland and St. James, on a very high 
 
 • Dr. Adolphus, late Inspector of Hospitals at Jamaica, has been one of the 
 main causes of the great improvements recently effected at Up Park Camp.
 
 MAROON TOWN — MONTEGO BAY — SAVANNAH LE MAR. 171 
 
 mountain, affording a most desirable station, in a military as 
 well as in a sanatory point of view {vide Climate). The barracks, 
 delightfully placed in the midst of verdant mountains and 
 springs of the most delicious water, are capable of accom- 
 modating upwards of two hundred men, with an excellent 
 hospital for twenty patients. 
 
 MoNTEGO Bay is situate at the foot of a range of mountains 
 which nearly surround the town, except on the sea side. 
 The barracks for one hundred men, and an hospital for forty 
 patients, are complete and comfortable. The N. point is in 
 Lat. 18.30^ N. It is a good bay, sheltered from all winds, 
 from the N.N.E. round to E. and W. and open to those from 
 N. and W. It is distant fifteen miles from — 
 
 LucEA, or Fort Charlotte, which is built on the north- 
 east extremity of a peninsula, bounded on one side by the 
 beautiful bay and secure harbour of Lucea, and on the other by 
 the sea. The mountains of Hanover and Westmoreland rise 
 abruptly and majestically high immediately behind the town of 
 Lucea, about one mile from the garrison. The highest peak, 
 termed the Dolphins Head, serves as a good land-mark to the 
 mariner. 
 
 Savannah Le Mar. This is a fine station, in the midst 
 of a highly cultivated country. From the sea shore the 
 ground springs a little towards the north, pretty level, and 
 intersected by several fine rivers; towards the east, at the 
 distance of twelve miles, the mountains begin to rise near the 
 coast, running nearly northerly upwards of sixteen miles, when 
 they turn to the west, and incline, after running several miles 
 further, towards the south, where they terminate not far from 
 the ocean, and embrace within their border a beautiful and 
 highly cultivated amphitheatre. The town of Savannah le 
 Mar is situated on the beach, from which a low alluvial flat 
 extends for several miles ; in this plain, about one mile from 
 the town, are an excellent range of barracks. The station is 
 now healthy,* and the harbour good ; but requiring a pilot, 
 on account of its intricate entrance. 
 
 * It is a reinarknble circumstance tliat the most healthy stations in tro- 
 pical ciimes have become, at times, quite the reverse.
 
 172 
 
 PORT ROYAL, SPANISH TOWN, &C. 
 
 Apostles Battery is a small fort, erected on a high rock, 
 on the shore opposite to Port Royal. 
 
 Port Royal, situate nearly at the extremity of a tongue of 
 land, which forms the boundary of the harbours of Kingston and 
 of Port Royal. Towards the sea, the tongue is composed of 
 coral rocks, covered with sand, which the tide frequently 
 inundates, as a great part of the town of Port Royal is only 
 a few feet above the sea level. The royal naval yard lies to 
 the N. the naval hospital to the S. W., and the works of 
 Fort Charles, and the soldiers' barracks, to the southward. 
 The fortifications are extremely strong, and the situation 
 (though low) healthy from its openness to the sea breeze. 
 The harbour is capable of containing 1,000 large ships with 
 convenience.* 
 
 Spanish Town. The capital of Jamaicaf is situate at the 
 
 * The European reader will remember that it was on this spot the 
 former Port Royal stood ere it was overwhelmed by the earthquake of 
 1692, and with 2000 houses buried eight fathoms under water. 
 
 f The following are the Post Roads Windward of the Island : — 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Distance from Kingston to St. 
 
 David . . . .19 
 
 St. David to Blue Mountain . 8 
 
 Blue Mountain to Morant Bay, 8 
 
 Morant Bay to Port Morant . 7 
 
 Port Morant to Bath . . 6 
 
 Bath to Amity Hall . . ^ 
 
 Amity Hall to Manchioneal . 9 
 
 Total 
 
 64 
 
 North Side to Port Antonio. 
 From Kingston to Annotto Bay, 30 
 Anuotto Bay to Buff Bay . 10 
 
 BufFBay to Hope Bay . .10 
 Hope Bay to Port Antonio . 10 
 
 Total 
 
 60 
 
 MUes. 
 
 North Side to Port Maria. 
 From Kingstown to Highgate, 32 
 Highgate to Port Maria . . 10 
 
 Total 
 
 42 
 
 North Side to Green Island. 
 From Kingstown to Spanish 
 
 Town . . . .13 
 
 Spanish To\vn to Rodney Hall, 14 
 Rodney Hall to the Moneague, 15 
 The Moneague to St. Anne's . 15 
 St. Anne's to Dry Harbour . 14 
 Dry Harbour to Rio Beuno . 5 
 Rio Beuno to Falmouth . .17 
 Falmouth to Little River . 12 
 
 Little River to Montego Bay . 11 
 Montego Bay to Flint River . 12 
 Flint River to Lucea . .11 
 
 Lucia to Green Island .12 
 
 Total . . .151
 
 GEOLOGY OF JAMAICA. 173 
 
 extremity of an extensive plain, extending far to the S., S,E. 
 and W., but with the mountains closely approaching the 
 tOM'n on the N. and N. W., and distant from the sea at Port 
 Royal Harbour six miles. The Cobre, a river of considerable 
 depth, passes the city at the distance of about a quarter of a 
 mile on the N. E. The barracks are good, well situate, and 
 capable of holding three hundred and seventeen men ; the 
 hospital, however, will not accommodate more than thirty-six 
 patients. The buildings of the capital, as before observed, 
 are in the magnificent style of Spanish architecture, and the 
 city has an imposing appearance.* 
 
 Geology. The soil is generally deep and fertile, on the 
 N. of a chocolate colour, in other parts a bright yellow, and 
 every where remarkable for a shining surface when first 
 turned up, and for staining the skin like paint when wetted ; 
 it appears to be a chalky marl, containing a large proportion 
 of calcareous matter ; there is a soil in the island termed 
 "Brick Mould," which is deep and mellow, on a retentive 
 under strata ; this, next to the ash mould of St. Christophers, 
 is considered the best soil in the W. Indies for the sugar cane. 
 A red earth abounds most in the hilly lands, and a purple 
 loam sometimes mixed with a sandy soil in the savannahs and 
 low-lands, but the highest mountains are remarkable for 
 having on their summits a deep black rich soil. The principal 
 soils on the interior hills and mountains of Jamaica may be 
 enumerated thus : a red clay on a white marl ; a ditto on 
 a grit ; a reddish brown ditto, on marl ; a yellowish clay, 
 
 MUes. 1 Miles. 
 
 South Side to Savannah le Mar. 
 
 From Kingstown to Spanish 
 
 Town 13 
 
 Spanish Town to Old Harbour, 12 
 Old Harbour to Clarendon . 12 
 Clarendon to Green Pond . 16 
 Green Pond to May Hill . . 5 
 May Hill to the Gutters . 6 
 
 The Gutters to Goshen . . 6 
 
 * Population about 5,000 
 
 Goshen to Laconia . . .12 
 Laconia to Black River . .12 
 Black River to Robin's River, 16 
 Robin's River to Savanna la 
 Mar ... .16 
 
 Total . . 124
 
 174 VARIOUS SOILS AND MOULDS OF JAMAICA. 
 
 mixed with common mould ; a red grit ; a loose concliaceous 
 mould ; a black mould on a clay or other substrate ; a loose 
 black vegetable mould, on rock ; a fine sand ; and the varieties 
 of all the foregoing. The mountain-land in general when 
 first cleared of its wood, possesses more or less a deep 
 surface of rich black mould, mixed with shells ; a soil which 
 will grow anything. 
 
 The brick mould soil of Jamaica (which is a compound of 
 very fine particles of clay, sand, and black mould), is of 
 amazing depth, and is considered by far the best for cultiva- 
 tion ; it is always easily laboured, so inexhaustible as to 
 require no manure, in very dry seasons it retains a moisture 
 suflicient to preserve the cane root from perishing, and in 
 very wet it suffers the superfluous Avaters to penetrate, so 
 that the roots are never in danger of being rotted ; next in 
 fecundity is the black shell mould, previously mentioned, 
 which owes its fertility to the mineral salts and exuviae inter- 
 mingled with it. The soil about Kingston on the alluvial 
 plain, consists of a layer of deep mould, chiefly composed of 
 decayed vegetable matter, with a proportion of marl and 
 some carbonate of lime, entirely free from gravel, and highly 
 absorbent of water : the substratum varies, being sometimes of 
 a compact aluminous earth alone, in other places mixed with 
 gravel; in sinking a shaft, layers of aluminous earth and 
 gravel are found, running horizontally, approaching to pure 
 clay at the bottom, and at four feet from the surface a strata 
 of finely divided silicia. About Stoney Hill garrison, the 
 surface is similar to what is frequently met with in elevated 
 situations in Jamaica, namely, a superstratum of rich dark 
 mould, varying in depth from two to twenty inches, with a 
 substratum of argillaceous and red earth, evidently con- 
 taining a mixture of carbonate of iron ; and in many parts the 
 surface of the ground studded with lime stones of a very 
 large size. Silver and golden mica is frequent, especially 
 among the hills between St. Catherine's and Sixteen Mile- 
 Walk, and when washed down with the floods mistaken for 
 gold sand : — near Spanish Town it is found incorporated with
 
 MINERALOGY AND CLIMATE. 175 
 
 Potters' clay. Mixed and purplish schistus are common in the 
 mountains of St. John's, and about Bull Bay, and the hard 
 lamellated Amianthus is found in large detached masses, 
 having all the appearance of petrified wood. The lower 
 mountains E. of Kingston are principally composed of a 
 whitish bastard marble, with a smooth even grain, taking a 
 good polish, and frequently used in Jamaica for lime stone.* 
 White free stone, quartz of different species, and lime stone 
 are abundant, — subcrystalline spar is found in small de- 
 tached masses, and rock spar, very clear, may be seen formed 
 into rocks of prodigious size in the mountains of St. Ann's, 
 where it is observed to constitute whole strata. When ex- 
 posed any time to the weather the surface grows opaque, and 
 of a milky white. Friable white marl and clammy marl, or ahoo 
 earth, (of an apparently smooth, greasy, and cohesive nature), 
 are found, and the latter sometimes eaten by the negroes 
 when they are diseased, to the great detriment of health. 
 
 Mineralogy. The lead ore of Jamaica is extremely rich 
 and heavily impregnated with silver ; several varieties have 
 been found, and indeed, worked at Liguana, where also 
 striated antimony is obtainable ; in the lower mountains of 
 Liguana every variety of copper ore is in profusion, in par- 
 ticular the green and livid, and the shining dark copper ores ; 
 in the more mellow matrices, yellow mundick (marchasites), 
 is largely mixed. In the mountains above Bull Bay, a dark 
 iron sand, attracted by the magnet, is found : neither gold nor 
 silver ore has yet been discovered, though it is certain the 
 natives possessed those metals in abundance when first visited 
 by Columbus and the early Spanish settlers. 
 
 Climate. The heat of Jamaica is by no means so fearful 
 as has been represented ; even on the coast it is temperate, 
 the medium at Kingston throughout the year being 80 F. and 
 the minimum 70. As the country is ascended the tempera- 
 ture of course decreases ; eight miles from Kingston the 
 maximum is 70, and at the distance of fourteen miles, where 
 
 * Long Mountain, near Kingston, is entirely composed of carbonate of 
 lime. Vet limestone was sent to Jamaica from England 1
 
 176 DELIGHTFUL WEATHER IN JAMAICA. 
 
 the elevation is 4200 feet, the average range is from 55 to 
 65 F. the minimum in winter 44, and a fire in the evenings 
 not only agreeable but necessary. On the summits of the 
 mountains the range in summer is from 47 at sunrise to 58 
 at noon, the minimum in winter 42. The heat of a tro- 
 pical climate is materially mitigated by unremitted breezes 
 from sea'or land, and by vast masses of clouds Avhich, inter- 
 posing between the sun's rays and the earth, prevent any 
 great inconvenience therefrom ; the air is remarkably light 
 and enlivening, producing great cheerfulness even in old age, 
 and so equal in its pressure that it rarely varies more than an 
 inch at anytime of the year. Although the temperature alter- 
 nates eight or ten degrees on the south side of the mountains, 
 and more so on the north, it is not subject to the sudden and de- 
 trimental transitions experienced in South Carolina, and other 
 parts of the United States. From July to October is the hur- 
 ricane season, but severe stoi'ms at the Windward Caribbee 
 isles are not felt at Jamaica. For two or three months pre- 
 ceding the May rains,* lightning and thunder are prevalent, 
 but not very mischievous ; and from November to March, 
 when the sea-breeze is irregular northerly winds blow, be- 
 coming colder as they recede towards the west ; during this 
 season the air is delicious, resembling the finest English 
 vernal weather.-j- The seasons are divided into four, — viz. 
 vernal or moderate rains, in April and May, lasting six weeks; 
 the second, hot and dry, including June, July, and August; 
 the third, hurricane and rainy months, embracing September, 
 October, and November ; and the fourth, serene and cool, 
 comprising December, January, February and March. 
 
 There is however considerable difference of climate on 
 either side of the island ; on the south it may be said that 
 sjyring ranges through the months from November to April ; 
 summer from May to August , and winter from September to 
 
 • The quantity of rain falling in the year is nearly fifty inches. 
 
 f Tliese statements demonstrate how well adapted the hig'h lands of 
 Jamaica are for the settlement of European cultivators of tropical produc- 
 tions.
 
 TMETEOROLOGICAL REGISTER AT UP-PARK CAMP. 
 
 177 
 
 October ; while on the north side winter ranges from October 
 to March; the north has a larger supply of rain than the 
 south, but distributed in smaller and more frequent showers, 
 and it is cooler, and with a vegetation of greater bulk and 
 height. The following Meteorological Register for Up-Park 
 Camp, is from Sir J. Mc Gregor's office. 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 January f . 
 
 84 
 
 76 
 
 February . 
 March . . 
 
 84 
 
 86 
 
 78 
 82 
 
 April . . 
 May . . 
 June . . 
 
 37 
 87 
 86 
 
 83 
 81 
 
 82 
 
 July . . 
 
 89 
 
 83 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 
 October 
 
 87 
 89 
 86 
 
 82 
 82 
 80 
 
 November 
 
 85 
 
 79 
 
 December 
 
 84 
 
 7& 
 
 
 Wind.* 
 
 71 
 
 N&SE 
 
 72 
 
 Ditto 
 
 77 
 
 Ditto 
 
 79 
 
 Ditto 
 
 75 
 
 Ditto 
 
 78 
 
 Ditto 
 
 77 
 
 Ditto 
 
 77 
 
 S.S.W. 
 
 76 
 
 Ditto 
 
 74 
 
 Ditto 
 
 73 
 
 Ditto 
 
 73 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Fine, some showers, strong- N. winds. 
 Fine and dry, strong sea breezes. 
 Ditto, Earthquakes felt, ditto, ditto. 
 Very dry, ditto, moderate ditto. 
 Fine, with light showers. 
 Mostly ditto, with heavy ditto. 
 Many showers, but generally fine. 
 Some heavy rain, ditto. 
 Mornings fine, noon heavy rains. 
 Some heavy rain, mostly fine. 
 Ditto, ditto. 
 
 Some rain, generally fine. 
 
 On the southern side of the island, the sea breeze from the 
 
 * For a more accurate account of the winds, vide page 1 78. 
 
 t That the climate of Jamaica has undergone great change since the 
 cultivation of the isle is most true. From Mr. Nedham's journal, kept 
 at Mount Olive, in the parish of St. Thomas in the Vale, 1 find that the 
 thermometer is noted January 5th at 50 — " ivhole day cold." Governor 
 Modyford, in a letter to Lord Arlington, then, in 1665, Secretary of State, 
 observes, with regard to the healthiness of the island, that " the officers 
 of the old army, from strict saints, are turned debosht devils;" and 
 " really my Lord," he adds, " no man hath died but an account hath been 
 given — y' he gott his decease either by surfeitts or travelling at high 
 noone in a hott day — or being wett with rain, and not changing in season. 
 The Spaniards, at their first coming, (I mean those who trade with the 
 Royall Company) wondered much at the sickness of some of our people ; 
 but when they understood of the strength of their drinkes, and the great 
 quantity they charged themselves with, and the little observation of times 
 and seasons, they told me they wondered more they were not all dead. 
 Their health and cheerfulness depending upon their temperance, which, 
 being my natural disposition, I doubt not but will continue me capable to 
 serve his Majestic," &c. &c. 
 
 VOL. II. N
 
 ITS LAND AND SEA BREEZES, 8cc. 
 
 eolith-eastward comes on in the morning, and gradually in- 
 creases till noon, when it is strongest ; at two or three in 
 the afternoon its force diminishes, and in general it entirely 
 ceases by five o'clock. About eight in the evening the land 
 breeze begins ; this breeze extends to the distance of four 
 leagues to the southward of the island. It increases until 
 mid-night, and ceases about four in the morning. 
 
 The sea and land-breezes are pretty regular from the latter 
 end of January until May. In the middle of May the sea- 
 breeze generally prevails for several days and nights, especi- 
 ally about the times of full and change of the moon, and thus 
 they continue throughout June and part of July: from that 
 time the sea-breeze diminishes, and veers round toS. byW. 
 or S. S. W., with frequent calms. August, September, and 
 October, have generally strong gales of wind, with much rain. 
 
 In December, January, and February, when the north 
 winds predominate, their force checks the sea-breeze. The 
 southern coast is that, which, of course, is least exposed to 
 these winds, being sheltered in a great measure by the moun- 
 tains. When combined with the land breeze they render the 
 air very cold and unhealthy. 
 
 On the northern side of the island, during the greatest part 
 of July, and the whole of August, the southerly, or sea-breeze, 
 generally blows hard off the land, with frequent squalls ; but 
 in October, northerly winds prevail, and frequently extend 
 over all the Bahamas and Cuba ; and for some time on the 
 north side of Jamaica, where the current of air is forced up- 
 wards by the mountains, and its sti'ength spent in the heights ; 
 but it sometimes reaches the southern coast, particularly in 
 the neighbourhood of Kingston, and has been known to con- 
 tinue for some days. 
 
 During the winter season, the land-breeze is more general 
 off the shores than in summer ; and it sometimes continues 
 through the day as well as night. Westerly winds prevail 
 also over the whole space between Jamaica and Cuba, and 
 even so far as the Island of Hayti. 
 
 On the south side of the island, during the month of
 
 CLIMATE IN THE INTERIOR OF JAMAICA. 179 
 
 November, southerly winds generally prevail, and have been 
 known to extend from the Mosquito shore. These winds are 
 generally faint ; nor do they reach the land until it be heated 
 by the sun, and soon after mid-day are often expelled by a 
 fresh land-breeze, which also abates in a few hours. 
 
 The return of tlie sea-breeze in autumn is gradual; it first 
 approaches the east end, then advances a little, and some- 
 times reaches Morant Point a fortnight or more before it is 
 felt above Kingston. It also continues to blow a week or two 
 later on the east end of the island than at Kingston ; and has 
 been known in some years to prevail there in the day-time, 
 during the whole time it was unfelt at the former place. 
 
 Tliat the climate is not inimical to the human constitution* 
 is evident from the long lives and good health which Euro- 
 peans and negroesf enjoy who live temperately, — and indeed 
 intemperance, which in more temperate climate would be 
 punished with death, here too often and too long escapes with 
 impunity. 
 
 At Stoney Hill garrison, nine miles from Kingston, and 
 2,000 feet above the sea, the thermometer is generally during 
 the hot months 74 at 6 a. m., 82 at 2 p. m., and 80 at 6 p.m. ; 
 during the cold months at corresponding hours, 68 — 75 and 
 73; in November and December, when the north winds 
 prevail, the mercury falls as low as 66 F. 
 
 At Trelawney-Maroon town, which is situate on a very high 
 mountain in the interior of the island, between the parishes 
 of Westmoreland and St. James the thermometer seldom or 
 ever rises higher than 71 or 72 at noon, falling during the 
 night and early part of the morning as low as 50 and 52. 
 The troops stationed here have for several years enjoyed as 
 good if not indeed a better state of health than they would 
 perhaps have experienced in any other part of the world; 
 and, in 1795, when the yellow fever was at its acme in Ja- 
 maica, the men and officers of a newly raised regiment (83rd) 
 
 * Of late years the yellow fever has almost, if not quite, disappeared 
 from Jamaica and the other West India islands, 
 t A negro, called 'Poor Hope,' recently died at Jamaica, aged 150 years I
 
 180 COMPARATIVE HEALTH AT DIFFERENT STATIONS. 
 
 did not lose a man by fever at this station.* I have the 
 testimony of that highly intelligent and zealous officer, Dr. 
 Adolphus, Inspector of Military Hospitals, whose eminent 
 services in Jamaica, and wherever his professional zeal and 
 duties have been engaged are duly appreciated, in proof that 
 the climate of Jamaica has of late years most materially im- 
 proved ; that the high-lands of this beautiful isle are well adap- 
 ted to the European constitution, the more so when they 
 become cleared and cultivated, (a measure, I trust, which will 
 speedily be accomplished), and there are many districts in the 
 interior of Jamaica where the climate and soil are nearly as 
 favourable to health as in any part of Britain, which dis- 
 tricts are the property of the crown and now lying waste. 
 
 Vegetable productions. Fruitful in all the rich vege- 
 tation of the tropics, but having for its present staple sugar 
 we will first advert to that important article. It is difficult 
 to say whether the sugar cane is indigenous to the Antilles, 
 or whether, as some say, it was introduced from the Canaries 
 into Hispaniola, soon after the discovery of the New World ;f 
 
 * The comparative health of the different Military Stations at a period 
 of unusual sickness — namely, for six years ending in 1822, is thus shewn : 
 
 Average 
 Station, Strength. Deaths. Ratio. 
 
 Up-ParkCamp - 5,543 1,100 1 in -5 
 
 StoneyHill - - 1,878 163 1 in 11^ 
 
 Port Royal - - 1,651 190 1 in 83 
 
 Fort Augusta - - 2,024 126 1 in 16 
 
 Spanish Town - - 1,885 300 1 in 6i 
 
 Port Antonio - - 814 124 1 in 64 
 
 Port Maria - - 115 30 1 in 3^ 
 
 Falmouth - - 703 65 1 in 102 
 
 Maroon Town - - 576 9 1 in 64 
 
 Lucia - _ . 417 29 1 in 14i 
 
 Savannah le Mar - 331 47 1 in 7 
 
 Moutego Bay - - II7 10 ] in 10* 
 
 The total number of deaths during each of the six years ending in 1822, 
 
 was 315, 332, 754, 300, 312, 287. Ouing to the humane zeal of Sir James 
 
 M'Gregor, the mortality in the West Indian army has, of late years, been 
 
 considerably diminished. 
 
 t The sugar cane is asserted by many not to have been cultivated in the 
 
 New World on its discovery by Columbus— it is known tliat this valuable reed
 
 VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OE JAMAICA — SUGAR. ISl 
 
 eertain it is that at an early period it was extensively cul- 
 tivated by the Spaniards in Jamaica, and in 1671 Traphan 
 speaks of the numerous complicated sugar works like a town 
 or village in various parts of the island.* The quantity of 
 sugar now made in Jaraaica is very great ; and the impor- 
 tations into Great Britain have for some years averaged cwts. 
 1,400,000: which, rated so low as 21*. per cwt., would 
 give nearly one million and a half sterling. The Jamaica 
 
 was introduced from Asia via Africa, Spain, the Canary Islands, and thence 
 to St. DoniinoQ in 1520, when the first sii,2:ar plantation was established, the 
 number of which had increased to thirty in 1635: this was the 'creole' 
 cane. In 1/88 JM. Martin, a French botanist, introduced the celebrated 
 Otaheite cane into Cayenne and Martinico frotn the Isle of France, whither 
 it had been brought by the justly celebrated Bougainville. The great 
 advantage of this latter cane is its flexibility of organization, or property 
 of accommodating itself to various temperatures much more than the 
 Canary or Creole cane, (.which will scarcely yield any sugar in Louisiana ;) 
 besides it yields more sugar and of better quality, does not require re- 
 planting in three times the time the Creole cane does, (every two or three 
 years) and it yields more refuse for fuel. Although the Spaniards at first 
 attended to the cultivation of sugar, it was subsequently neglected. In the 
 year 1743 the chief productions of Jamaica were cocoa, indigo and hides ; 
 the cultivation of sugar had just re-commenced. The increase in the 
 growth of this staple article of the island has been as follows : — 1722, 
 11,000 hogsheads were exported; 1739, 33,155; 1744, 35,761; 1768, 
 65,000; 1774,78,304; 1790, 105,400; 1802, 140,000; 1832, cwts. 
 1,200,000. 
 
 * Governor Knowles's calculation in 1755 was — 2,128,431 acres un- 
 granted, out of which 400,000 are plantable ; of these 100,000 are fit far 
 growing sugar, and the rest for coflfee : the remaining 1,728,431 consist of 
 barren mountains, &c. A return was made about the year 1765, of properties 
 in the parish of St. Andrew's, and their produce, to the Board of Trade. 
 In this, an estate called Norbrook, the property of Charles Long, Esq. is 
 thus entered ; — ' 2,222 acres, 55 hogsheads of sugar, nine puncheons of 
 rura ; five acres in coffee, producing 2,972 cwt. ; 100 acres in provision 
 ground ; 500 in pen and pasture — five servants, 153 negroes, and eighty- 
 six head of cattle. Indifferent land — some parts rocky and mountainous.' 
 This estate, in the return of 1739, is put at sixty hogsheads. The culti- 
 vation of Jamaica in 1818, according to Mr. Robertson's survey, was — in 
 sugar plantations, 639,000 acres ; in breeding farms or fens, 280,000 i and 
 in coffee, pimento, ginger, &c, 181,000 ;— total 1,100,000.
 
 182 RUM, COFFEE, &C. — IMI'ORTANCE OF JAMAICA. 
 
 sugar is of a very line quality, and by the improved systems 
 of culture and manufacture coming into operation, there is 
 little doubt but that the quantity and quality may yet be more 
 extended* if the Home Government will reduce the monstrous 
 rate of taxation now levied on what ceases to be a luxury, for 
 it is a necessary of life to the poorest individual. The quantity 
 of rum made from the sugar is also very great ; the annual 
 average exportations to England may be taken at 3,500,000 
 gallons, which may be estimated in value at 1,000,000/. 
 sterling. The Jamaica rum is justly prized as an excellent 
 spirit. Of coffee, (and that too of excellent quality,) the 
 quantity grown in Jamaica is very great : and the importation 
 into Great Britain nearly 20,000,000 Ibs.-j- yearly, which, at 
 the low value of 1*. per pound, is another million sterling. 
 Now let the opponents of the colonies remember that this 
 great accession of wealth, annually produced and crossing 
 the Atlantic to Great Britain, is not grown or prepared by 
 foreigners on a foreign soil, but by Englishmen, on land that 
 
 * Dr. Ailiilpluis, of Jainaica, (for whose opinions I entertain the highest 
 respect) on perusing my manuscript, has done me the favour of appending 
 the following note ; — * The abolition of slavery will render this quite im- 
 possible ; the negroes will not work for wages ; their idea of freedom is 
 entire exemption from labour. The apprenticeship system will prove an 
 unpleasant pastime.' If the worthy doctor's view be correct, there is the 
 more necessity for the location of a white population in the island. 
 
 -j- The cofice plant was first introduced into Jaumica by Sir Nicholas 
 Lawcs in 1/28, where it was cultivated on an estate calleil Temple Hall, in 
 Linguanea. An act of legislature of the island was passed to encourage 
 its growth; and in 1/32 cotTee was advertized in a Jamaica paper at 
 a pistole a pound ; in 1662 tliere were exported 60,000 lbs. — and in 
 1 77 j, 440,000 lbs. Until 1/88 little attention was paid to this singular 
 berry. In the four years ending .SOth September, 1794, the average 
 exportation of coffee was i,()()3,0()6 ll)s. — in 1804 it amounted to 
 22,000,000 lbs. ; and during three years ending 30th of September, 1807, 
 the average exportation was more than 2H,500,000 lbs., which, at .^6 per 
 cwt. its cost in Jamaica produced more than ^^1,700,000. The production 
 is now about 20,000,000 lbs. yearly. It is calculated that ^'20,000,000 is 
 invested in cofice estates. The coffee plant thrives in almost every soil 
 about the mountains of Jamaica, and in the very driest spots has frequently 
 produced very abun'laiit crops.
 
 COTTON, COCOA, DYES, DRUGS, ESCULENTS, &C. 18iJ 
 
 is as much a part and parcel of the empire as any field 
 around London. 
 
 Cotton, indigo, and cocoa,* were at one time extensively 
 cultivated ; but they have principally given place to the fore- 
 going staples of the island. Various drugs, dye stuffs, and 
 spices, are of excellent quality. Aloes, cochineal, spikenard, 
 canella, liquorice root, castor oil nut, vanilla, peppers, arrow- 
 root, ginger, ipecacuanha, scammony, jalap, cassia, euphorbia, 
 senna, &c. all attest the fruitfulness and capabilities of the 
 soil and climate. The cultivated vegetables of Europe arrive 
 at great perfection. Maize is the principal corn grown, and 
 together with calavances, the yam and sweet potatoe, cassava, 
 &c. form the chief food of the negroes. Various grasses 
 thrive, but Guinea grass abounds ; and, in consequence, of 
 its indispensable importance in feeding the cattle that supply 
 manure for the sugar plantations, it is considered next in 
 importance to the sugar cane. It was introduced into the 
 island in the early part of the last century by accident, 
 having been forwarded with some Guinea birds that were 
 sent as a present. The birds died, the seed was thrown 
 away, the grass sprung vip, and the cattle were observed 
 to devour it eagerly, attention was accordingly paid to the 
 subject. It now grows all over the island, thriving in the 
 most rocky places, and rendering (like sainfoin) lands pro- 
 ductive that were heretofore considered barren, and making 
 good hay, if salted or sprinkled with sea water when being 
 ricke d.The immigration of European industry would doubt- 
 less make further additions to West Indian agriculture. 
 
 Of vegetables — potatoes (Irish and sweet), yam, cassava, 
 peas and beans of every variety, artichokes, beet root, carrots 
 and parsnips, cucumbers and tomatoes, radishes, celery, choco, 
 ochro, Lima bean, Indian kale, calalue, various salads, cab- 
 bage trees (two hundred feet high !)f , &c. all flourish in 
 
 * Blomc, who published a short account of. Jamaica in 1672, mentions 
 the existence of sixty cocoa walks. At present there can scarcely be said 
 to be a plantation in the whole island. 
 
 t Some cabbage trees have been known 2~0 fcei high.
 
 18 i DELICIOUS FRUITS — BEAUTIFUL PIMENTO TREE. 
 
 abundance ; and, indeed, it may be said that Autumn is per- 
 petual in Jamaica, for every month presents a fresh collation 
 of fruits and vegetables, and some species are at maturity all 
 the year round. The bread-fruit tree, cocoa nut, plaintain 
 and banana, alligator pear, the delicious mellow fig, pine, 
 cashew — papaw — and custard apples, orange, lime, lemon, 
 mango, grape, guava, pomegranate, soursop, shaddock, plums, 
 tamarind, melon, wall and ches-nut, mulberry, olive, date, 
 citron, and many other delicious fruits, all arrive at perfection. 
 The native and exotic grasses are excellent for cattle and 
 horses, in particular that called the Scotch grass, which 
 vegetates rapidly, and grows to the height of five or six feet, 
 with long and juicy joints. Five horses may be fed for a 
 year on an acre of this vegetable, allowing each, every day, 
 fifty-six lbs. of grass. 
 
 Of Trees Jamaica possesses a great variety, one of the 
 most valuable of which is the pimento,* which flourishes 
 spontaneously and in great abundance on the N. side of the 
 island; its numerous white blossoms, mixing with the dark 
 green fohage, and with the slightest breeze diffusing around 
 the most delicious fragrance, give a beauty and charm to 
 nature rarely equalled, and of which he who has not visited the 
 shady arbours and perfumed groves of the tropics can have 
 little conception. This lovely tree, the very leaf of which 
 bruized emits a fine aromatic odour, nearly as powerful as that 
 of the spice itself, has been known to grow to the height of 
 from thirty to forty feet, exceedingly straight, and having for 
 its base the spinous ridge of a rock, eight or ten feet above 
 the surface of the hill or mountain. A single tree will pro- 
 duce one hundred and fifty of the raw, or one hundred 
 pounds of the dried fi'uit. The indigenous forest and even 
 exotic trees of Jamaica grow to a prodigious height; the 
 palmetto royal is frequently found one hundred and forty feet, 
 the vast trunks of the ceiba, (wild cotton tree) and fig-trees, 
 often measure ninety feet from the base to the limbs, and the 
 
 • The cultivatioi) of jjiiuento is extending (as is also that of ginger) iu 
 Jamaica.
 
 FOREST TREES — CULTIVATION OF THE SUNFLOWER. 185 
 
 trunk* of the formei', when hollowed out, has formed a boat 
 capable of holding one hundred persons. There is a great 
 variety of timber for agricultural and household purposes, 
 and some exquisitely beautiful cabinet woods. 
 
 The trumpet tree grows from thirty to forty feet high, its 
 trunk and branches are hollowed and divided with mem- 
 braneous septae like the bamboo : it produces an agreeable 
 fruit, like our strawberry, the strong and fibrous bark is used 
 for cordage, and the light trunks are for bark logs, &c. The 
 bamboo is plentiful, and houses built by the Spaniards with 
 it at St. Jago de la Vega (Spanish Town) are still standing. 
 Cedar, mahogany, lignum \\tse, Spanish elm, mangeneel, brae- 
 ziletto, the valuable palmetto,-}- (thatch), white bully, or gali- 
 meta, dog-pigeon-rose — beef and iron woods, the black man- 
 grove, greenheart, &;c. all flourish.;}: 
 
 The attention of the planters is being now turned to the 
 cultivation of other vegetable productions, which I doubt not 
 will be attended with success ; for instance, a correspondent 
 in a recent Jamaica journal, makes the following observations 
 on a plant of great beauty and worth, the utility of cultivating 
 which is deserving of consideration in our other colonies, and 
 indeed at home. 
 
 * The Sun-flower is a plant of peculiar beauty, and which, if cultivated 
 with attention, may be rendered valuable in a pecuniary point of view. Its 
 fecundity in this climate renders it far preferable to corn for the common 
 purposes of food for poultry ; and xvhen mixed with corn in the proportion 
 of a pint to two quarts, it is valuable as a nutricious food for horses. As a 
 proof of its fruitfiilness, I have lately gathered several hundred heads ; and 
 averaging the quantity collected by the stalks from whence taken, I find 
 that each stalk may have produced eleven flowers, and that eight flowers 
 will yield one quart of clean seed, by a process much less laborious than 
 rubbing out corn.' [Maize, called " corn," is husked by the hand.] 
 
 * For the production of an oil, in my opinion preferable to olive oil, the 
 seeds of the Sun-flower are more easily manufactured than even the Castor 
 
 * The wild pine commonly takes root in the forks of the ceiba, and by 
 the conformation of its leaves, catches and retains the rain water, each leaf 
 holding about a quart ; it would seem as if nature designed it to supply the 
 gigantic truuk with occasional moisture. 
 
 t Has I)ccn found 140 feet high. + Vide Guyana Chapter.
 
 186 ANIMAL KINGDOM OF JAMAICA. 
 
 nut, and will yield a greater proportion either by heat or pressure. In 
 short, like many other productions of Jamaica which are overlooked in the 
 eager pursuit of Supar and Coffee, the Sun-flower, which here grows with 
 such superior luxuriance, needs only to be more extensively cultivated to 
 add to the valuable gifts of nature in the torrid zone. The best manner of 
 planting them, as indeed I have seen practised in the North of Italy, is to 
 dibble them, in rows about three feet asumler, putting two seeds into each 
 hole ; in this way I have reaped the ripe seed ten weeks after planting.' 
 
 Animals. Animal life has attained neither great variety 
 nor size in the new world, and the islands appertaining to 
 that vast continent, when discovered, were found to contain 
 but few species ; Jamaica, for instance, had only eight varieties 
 of quadrupeds, — the agouti, peccari, armadillo, opossum, 
 racoon, musk rat, alco, and monkey, of these only the first and 
 last remain ; all the domesticated animals of Europe thrive, 
 and are found to multiply fast ; there are many varieties of 
 beautiful lizards, and the feathered tribe are exceedingly 
 numerous, and some (especially the parrot) of fine plumage. 
 Of the wild fowl, the most delicious are the ring-dove and 
 the rice bird of S. Carolina, which, after fattening on the 
 rice there arrive in Jamaica in countless numbers in October, 
 to feed on the Guinea grass. Epicures compare the plump 
 and juicy flesh of this delicacy to the Ortolan. 
 
 Fish. The rivers and sea coast abound in fish of various 
 quality, and there are several salt ponds which, if attended 
 to, might render the planters in a great measure independent 
 of supplies of salt fish from Europe. 
 
 The sprat, herring, dolphin, anchovie or silver fish ; the 
 flying, sword, sun, parrot, rock, king and gar fishes ; flounder, 
 sole, eel, bream, snapper, mullet, perch, boneeto, Spanish 
 mackerel, sea devil, (weighing from 100 to 300 lbs.) old 
 wife, shark, porpoise, sting ray, thrasher, &c. &c. may be 
 caught ; sea and land turtle are plentiful and good eating. 
 
 Reptiles. The silver, black and yellow snakes are numer- 
 ous, excepting the former ; the yellow is considered good 
 eating by the negroes ; the alligator, together with varieties of 
 lizards, guanas, and chameleons, are natives of the isle.* 
 
 * The animal kingdom of the West Indies is fully detailed in Chapter I.
 
 POPULATION — EARLY ACCOUNTS OF. 187 
 
 Population. It is a melancholy reflection that the abo- 
 riginaj inhabitants of Jamaica, to the amount probably of 
 several hundred thousand, were destroyed by the European 
 colonists within fifty years after their settling on its shores ; 
 had they been preserved, as sound policy as well as humanity 
 would have dictated — and of which the island of Ceylon, 
 with its miUion of coloured inhabitants, afford us an excellent 
 illustration, the deadly curse of slavery — doubly curst to the 
 enslaved and the enslaver — would have been avoided, and an 
 incalculable amount of human misery prevented. 
 
 We have no authentic accounts of the Indian population 
 on the island when first visited by Columbus ; all accounts 
 agree in representing it as densely peopled — within half a 
 century they had all ceased to exist!* The original Spanish 
 colony consisted of seventy persons, whose numbers were ra- 
 pidly increased by immigration, until the riches of the main 
 land caused Jamaica to be comparatively neglected, and the 
 incursions of freebooters rendering property insecure checked 
 population ; it would appear that the Spaniards began early 
 to import negro slaves, but on the capture of the island by the 
 British in 1655, Venables stated the whole population to be — 
 not more than 1,500 Spaniards and Portuguese and an equal 
 number of negroes and mulattoes, although Spain had been 
 one hundred and forty-six years in possession of the island. 
 The troubles in England dui'ing the common wealth and the 
 early years of the restoration, contributed materially to 
 people our western colonies, and Jamaica exhibited the fol- 
 lowing progressive rate of population.j- 
 
 * Las Casas says—' they hanged these unfortunates by thirteen, in 
 honour of the thuteen Apostles ; — I have beheld them throw the Indian 
 infants to their dogs, — I have heard the Spaniards borrow the limb of an 
 human being to feed their dogs, and next day return a quarter to the 
 lender ! * 
 
 t Seven years after the conquest of Jamaica by England a census was 
 taken, of which the aggregate was — 2,600 men, 645 women, 408 children, 
 and 652 negroes, hi this census the acres under cultivation are 2,917.
 
 188 
 
 PROGRESSIVE SLAVE POPULATION; IMPERFECT 
 
 
 Free 
 
 
 
 
 Free 
 
 
 Year. Whites. 
 
 Coloured. 
 
 Slaves.* 
 
 Year. 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Coloured. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 1658t 4,500 
 
 
 1,400 
 
 1768 
 
 17,947 
 
 
 176,914 
 
 1670 7,500 
 
 
 8,000 
 
 1775 
 
 18,500 
 
 3,700 
 
 190,914 
 
 1734 7,644 
 
 
 86,146 
 
 1717 
 
 30,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 250,000 
 
 1746 10,000 
 
 112,428 
 
 1800 
 
 300,000 
 
 The number of Slaves in Jamaica at the expiration of each 
 year, from 1800 to 1817 was| — 
 
 A. D. 
 
 No. of Slaves. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 No. of Slaves. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 No. of Slaves- 
 
 1800 
 
 - 300,939 
 
 1806 
 
 - 312,341 
 
 1812 
 
 - 319,912 
 
 1801 
 
 - 307;094 
 
 1807 
 
 - 119,351 
 
 1813 
 
 - 317,424 
 
 1803 
 
 - 307,199 
 
 1808 
 
 - 323,827 
 
 1814 
 
 - 315,385 
 
 1803 
 
 - 308,668 
 
 1809 
 
 - 323,714 
 
 1815 
 
 - 313,814 
 
 1804 
 
 - 308,542 
 
 1810 
 
 - 313,683 
 
 1816 
 
 - 314,038 
 
 1805 
 
 - 303,775 
 
 1811 
 
 - 326,830 
 
 1S17 
 
 - 345,252 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 stand of 
 
 Acres 
 
 
 Men. 
 
 Women. 
 
 children. 
 
 Negroes. 
 
 Arms. 
 
 planted. 
 
 Precincts of Port Morant 
 
 168 
 
 53 
 
 37 
 
 126 
 
 99 
 
 467 
 
 JMorant .... 
 
 122 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 53 
 
 35 
 
 129 
 
 Yallah .... 
 
 207 
 
 36 
 
 19 
 
 64 
 
 53 
 
 353 
 
 Ligonee (now Liguana) 
 
 553 
 
 139 
 
 135 
 
 31 
 
 121 
 
 480 
 
 St. Ja^o Town 
 
 207 
 
 62 
 
 42 
 
 32 
 
 38 
 
 83 
 
 Black River, Bower's Sa- "1 
 vannah, &c. . . J 
 
 138 
 
 17 
 
 10 
 
 24 
 
 38 
 
 128 
 
 Angells .... 
 
 96 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 46 
 
 50 
 
 133 
 
 Seven Plantations, Bay of 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Macario, and Qua'tha- i 
 
 216 
 
 41 
 
 48 
 
 45 
 
 95 
 
 205 
 
 bacoa . . .J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Guanaboa and Guardaleone 
 
 351 
 
 38 
 
 26 
 
 63 
 
 89 
 
 610 
 
 Cagua .... 
 
 400 
 
 150 
 
 80 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 — 
 
 
 2458 
 
 454§ 
 
 448 
 
 514 
 
 618 
 
 2588 
 
 • From the year 1702 (when the importation was 800) to 1774, when 
 the importation was 18,000) the number of slaves imported into Jamaica 
 was hoJf a milUon, of which 130,000 were re-exported, and of those 
 retained in the island not more than 19,000 were alive in 1775. 
 
 f Census of Jamaica, December 12, 1661. 
 
 X I give these returns, together with many other documents, as histo- 
 rical records for future comparison. 
 
 § Some errata, but of no importance in a general view.
 
 CENSUS, AND NEGLECT OF THE JAMAICA LEGISLATURE. 189 
 
 From 1817 to 1829 (the latest years before me) the Slave 
 Population of Jamaica was — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase by 
 
 Decrease by 
 
 Decrease by 
 
 
 
 
 
 Birth. 
 
 Death. 
 
 sion. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 in 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 >• 
 
 •3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 <u 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 ■a 
 
 1 
 
 •3 
 
 S 
 
 1817 .. 
 
 173,319 172,831 
 
 346,150 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 1820 .. 
 
 1-0,466 J 171,916 
 
 342,382 
 
 12,201 
 
 12,145 13,423 11,681 
 
 366 
 
 650 
 
 1823 .. 
 
 166,595 169,659 
 
 336,253 
 
 11,685 
 
 11,564 14,030 12,321 
 
 371 
 
 550 
 
 1826 .. 
 
 162,726 168,393 
 
 331,119 
 
 11,604 
 
 11,422 13,520 11,650 
 
 316 
 
 611 
 
 1 829 . . 
 
 158,254 164,167 
 
 322,421 
 
 10,986 
 
 10,742; 13,435 11,702 
 
 362 
 
 755 
 
 1832 .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 I have prepared the following imperfect (yet the most 
 complete which I have seen) view of the population of Jamaica 
 from various documents laid before the Finance Committee of 
 
 1828. 
 
 - 
 
 ■=3 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Free Co- 
 loured. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 0) 
 
 ■3 
 
 
 "3 
 
 I 
 
 ■3 
 
 
 ■3 
 
 1 
 
 a ^ 
 
 PARISH AND 
 COUNTY. 
 
 •3 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 "5 
 E 
 
 "3 
 
 
 
 •a 
 
 6 
 ■3 
 E 
 
 •3 
 1 
 
 
 Kingston, Surry -i 
 
 county J 
 
 St. George, ditto. . 
 St. David, ditto . . 
 Port Royal, ditto. . 
 St. Andrew, ditto . 
 St. Thomas in\ 
 
 the East, ditto J 
 
 Portland, ditto 
 
 Vere, Middlesex "i 
 
 county J 
 
 St. Ann, ditto 
 
 Clarendon, ditto.. 
 St. Dorothy, ditto . 
 St. Mary, ditto. . . . 
 Manchester, ditto. 
 Westmoreland, \ 
 
 Cornwall .... J 
 St. Elizabeth, ditto 
 Trelawney, ditto. . 
 St. James, ditto . . 
 Hanover, ditto . . 
 
 400 
 71 
 37 
 I2i 
 
 300 
 349 
 
 20 
 
 2728 
 
 625 
 331 
 223 
 
 80 
 204 
 
 126 
 
 550 
 491 
 
 51 
 112 
 
 13 
 
 120 
 266 
 
 131 
 150 
 316 
 
 500 
 
 no 
 
 139 
 
 150 
 583 
 
 670 
 
 900 
 610 
 
 223 
 303 
 
 120 
 
 502 
 
 883 
 
 27s 
 
 42(. 
 9f 
 
 546 
 1035 
 
 502 
 263 
 723 
 
 800 
 150 
 210 
 
 400 
 1190 
 
 1050 
 
 1600 
 970 
 
 6,511 
 3,535 
 
 3,847 
 
 10,600 
 9,655 
 
 6 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 9 
 
 ,270 
 ,369 
 
 ,953 
 
 ,400 
 844 
 
 12,781 
 7,669 
 6,904 
 
 24,500 
 5,331 
 7,800 
 
 4,700 
 25,000 
 
 22,000 
 
 22,451 
 
 6,814 
 4,042 
 
 4,093 
 11,029 
 
 6,600 
 3,901 
 
 4,056 
 11,085 
 
 35,000 
 
 13,414 
 8,082 
 7,943 
 
 14,584 
 
 25,800 
 
 5,591 
 
 8,149 
 
 24,000 
 20,000 
 5,250 
 26,673 
 21,000 
 
 33,400 
 
 22,111 
 
 24,000 
 
 22,451 
 
 I trust the view of the foregoing mutilated Table (some of 
 the parishes having no place even in it) may, when it reaches 
 Jamaica, stimulate the House of Assembly to cause an accu- 
 rate census of the island to be immediately prepared. 
 
 It is impossible to state with accuracy the actual popula-
 
 190 PARISH RETURNS OF SLAVES, STOCK AND LAND, &C. 
 
 of Jamaica,* owing to some mistaken feelings the census has 
 not been completed ; by some it is said that the population 
 of the island is half a million of mouths, which would give 
 seventy eight persons to the square mile, a remarkable small 
 proportion, particularly in comparison with Barbadoes, 
 where there are six hundred to the square mile ! 
 
 The following is a summary for 1833 of the returns of the 
 number of slaves on each estate in the island ; the number of 
 stock, or horned cattle, and the quantity of land in cultivation 
 and pasture ; these returns are given in on oath.f — 
 
 Co. MIDDLESEX. 
 
 Co. SURREY, 
 
 St. Catherine 
 St. Thomas 1 
 in the Vale J 
 St. John . 
 St. Dorothy 
 Vere . . 
 Clarendon 
 Manchester 
 Su Ann 
 St. Mary . 
 
 Total 
 
 7,507 
 
 10,733 
 
 5,985 
 5,142 
 8,002 
 16,156 
 19,304 
 24,821 
 23,544 
 
 5,976 
 
 3,127 
 
 985 
 3,358 
 3 ,fi30 
 5,999 
 9,872 
 23,569 
 8,900 
 
 Acres of 
 Land. 
 
 Parishes 
 
 64,768 
 
 79,668 
 
 62,060 
 40,149 
 59,08(; 
 183,891 
 170,377 
 243,761 
 122,72(: 
 
 121,194 
 
 65,416 1,026,48(1 
 
 Co. CORNWALL. 
 
 Hanover . . 
 Trelawny 
 St. Elizabeth 
 St. James . . 
 Westmorland 
 
 Total 
 
 21,826 
 25,337 
 18,371 
 22,019 
 19,599 
 
 107,152 
 
 14,583 
 25,557 
 8,152 
 17,034 
 18,047 
 
 83,373 
 
 115,741 
 
 168,947 
 216,542 
 145,456 
 172,166 
 
 818,852 
 
 Kingston . . 
 Port Royal . 
 St. Andrew . 
 St. Thomas "1 
 in the East J 
 St. David . . 
 Portland . . 
 St. George 
 
 Total 
 
 5,265 
 
 5,965 
 
 13,545 
 
 23,319 
 
 7,417 
 
 7,267 
 
 11,508 
 
 74,286 
 
 345 
 
 405 
 
 2,183 
 
 6,362 
 
 1,771 
 1,682 
 3,707 
 
 16.455 
 
 Acres of 
 Land. 
 
 3,612 
 26,008 
 79,183 
 
 132,395 
 
 45,858 
 13,557 
 89,773 
 
 390,386 
 
 Grand Total. 
 
 Middlfsex 
 
 Surrey 
 
 Cornwall 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Stock. 
 
 121,194 
 
 74,286 
 107,152 
 
 65,416 
 16,455 
 83,373 
 
 302,632 
 
 165,244 
 
 Acres of 
 Land. 
 
 1026,486 
 390,386 
 818,852 
 
 2235,724 
 
 * By some the number of whites is estimated at 35,000 ; of maroons 
 there are about 1200 in Jamaica. 
 
 t The Jamaica Ahnanac for 1833, whence I derive this statement, is so 
 imperfectly printed that whole columns are illegible, and even the sum- 
 mings up are incorrect ; I have endeavoured to complete the return by a 
 reference to the returns for 1832.
 
 FORM OF GOVERNMENT — LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, &:C. 191 
 
 Form of Government and Law Courts. Jamaica is 
 ruled by a Governor, or Captain-general, (appointed by the 
 crown,) aided by a council of twelve, somewhat similar to the 
 House of Lords ; and a House of Assembly answering to 
 the home House of Commons. The Council is generally 
 appointed by the King, through the Secretary of State for 
 the Colonies, from among the most respectable colonists who 
 are ex-officio justices of the peace. The Lieutenant-Governor, 
 Chief Justice, Attorney-General, and the Bishop, are all ex- 
 officio Members of the Council, each member of which is remov- 
 able at the pleasure of his Majesty. The Assembly consists of 
 forty-five members, each of the parishes sending two repre- 
 sentatives ; and Spanish Town, Kingston, and Port Royal, 
 one additional member each ; a representative must possess a 
 freehold of £300. per annum* in any part of the island, or a 
 personal estate of ;£3,000; an elector must be of agef and 
 possessed of a freehold of £10. per annum in the parish for 
 which he votes. The Governor has the title of his Excel- 
 lency, and is invested with the chief civil and military autho^ 
 rity ; he is also Chancellor, Ordinary, and Vice-Admiral. 
 On his death or absence, the government devolves on the 
 Deputy or Lieutenant-Governor, if there be any : otherwise 
 on the senior Councillor. 
 
 He has the disposal of such appointments as his Majesty 
 does not reserve to himself or his Ministers ; and as to such 
 offices so reserved, whenever a vacancy occurs by death or 
 removal, the Governor may appoint to them till they are filled 
 up from home, and his appointee, till superseded, takes all 
 the emoluments. 
 
 The Council, who are by courtesy severally addressed in 
 the colonies by the title of Honourable, consists of twelve 
 Members. They are appointed by mandamus from the 
 
 * Such was the law, but it has not been attended to. 
 t Persons of colour are now admitted to all the privileges of white per- 
 sons, and there are no civil disabilities from religious dififerences.
 
 192 FUNCTIONS OF THE IIOUSF. OF ASSEMBLY. 
 
 King, and hold their offices during his Majesty's pleasure ; 
 but if at any time by death, absence from the island, or 
 suspension, the Council should be reduced to less than the 
 number limited by the instructions to the Governor, he may 
 appoint as many persons out of the principal freeholders, 
 inhabitants of the island, to be Members of the Council, as 
 will make up such number ; which persons so appointed may 
 act as Councillors until they are disapproved, or others are 
 appointed by his Majesty. The Governor may, however, 
 suspend any of the Members of the Council from sitting, 
 voting, or assisting therein, if he find just cause for so 
 doing; but he must, by the first opportunity, signify to the 
 English Government any vacancy in the Council, from what- 
 ever cause it may arise. 
 
 The duty of the Council is to give advice to the Governor 
 or Commander in Chief for the time being, when required ; 
 and they stand in the same relation to the Governor in the 
 colony as the Privy Council in England does to his Majesty ; 
 they are also a constituent part of the Legislature of the 
 colony, corresponding with the British House of Peers; and, 
 finally, they sit as Judges on certain occasions. 
 
 The General Assembly are the Representatives of, and 
 chosen by, the people, and correspond with the British 
 House of Commons, and its utmost duration is seven years.* 
 
 The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, 
 may, from time to time, as occasion requires, summon the 
 General Assembly together, and may, of his own authority, 
 adjourn, prorogue, and dissolve them. 
 
 * The laws and statutes of England passed previously to the settlement, 
 unless they are from their enactments inapplicable to the local circum- 
 stances of Jamaica, apply to the colony. Statutes passed in England 
 since 1728, unless they relate to trade and navijration, are not in force there. 
 The Assembly have all the privileges of the House of Commons in England ; 
 they have the sole power of levying taxes, and the distribution thereof, with 
 the exception of an annual permanent revenue to the Crown of ^10,000. 
 the salary of the Speaker of the Assembly is £ 1,000 per annum.
 
 LEGISLATIVE POWER AND SUPREME COURT. 193 
 
 The Council and General Assembly, with the concurrence 
 of the King, or his representative the Governor, may make 
 laws, statutes, and ordinances for the public peace, welfare, 
 and good government of the colony, so that they be not re- 
 pugnant, but as near as conveniently may be agreeable, to 
 the laws and statutes of Great Bi'itain. 
 
 By an order in Council, dated 15th January, 1800, it is 
 declared, that in all cases when his Majesty's confirmation is 
 necessary to give validity and effect to any act passed by the 
 legislature of any of his Majesty's colonies or plantations, 
 unless his Majesty's confirmation thereof be obtained within 
 three years from the passing of such act in any of the said 
 colonies or plantations, such act shall be considered dis- 
 allowed. 
 
 By the English statute, G Geo. 3. c. 12, all the British 
 colonies are declared to be dependent upon the Imperial 
 Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, who have full power 
 to make laws to bind such colonies in all cases whatsoever. 
 But by the 18 Geo. 3. c. 12, the King and Parliament de- 
 clared, that thenceforth they would not impose any duty 
 payable in the colonies, except for the regulation of commerce, 
 the produce whereof should always be applied to the use of 
 the colony in which it is levied. 
 
 The Supreme Court. The jurisdiction, both civil and 
 criminal, of the Supreme Court is co-extensive with those of 
 the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, 
 (and Insolvent Debtors), in England, taken collectively, and 
 it has also the exclusive power of hearing and deciding on 
 informations for the breach of any act of Parliament or As- 
 sembly relating to trade and navigation, or for laying any 
 duties or customs on the import of goods, wares, and mer- 
 chandizes into, or on the exportation thereof from, the 
 the island ; also on informations for land under the quit rent 
 acts, and all escheats. It is likewise a court of appeal from 
 the inferior Courts of Common Pleas. 
 
 This Court sits in the capital of St. Jago de la Vega, or 
 
 VOL. ir o
 
 194 ASSIZE COURTS GUSTOS ROTULORUM. 
 
 Spanish Town, three times in the year, for three consecutive 
 weeks each time, commencing respectively on the second 
 Monday in February, the first Monday in June, and the first 
 JNIonday in October in each year. 
 
 The Chief Justice is nominated by the Government in 
 England, and has a patent of oflSce under the great seal of 
 the island ; and the Assistant Judges are appointed either 
 by his Majesty's Ministers or by the Governor of the island.* 
 All the judges hold their offices during his Majesty's 
 pleasure, and are removable by his sign-manual only ; but 
 they may, upon sufficient cause, be suspended by the Go- 
 vernor, with the consent of a majority of a board of the 
 Council, till his Majesty's pleasure be known. 
 
 The Assize Courts. f The jurisdiction of these Courts is 
 limited to their respective counties of Surrey and Cornwall ; 
 and the Justices in the Courts to be held respectively 
 before them have the same power, authority, and jurisdiction 
 that the Justices of Assize and Nisi Prius, Justices of Oyer 
 and Terminer, and Justices of Gaol Delivery have in 
 England. 
 
 The Court of Assize for the county of Surrey sits three 
 times in the year, for three successive weeks each time, if 
 
 • There are eight or ten Assistant Judges, who sit in rotation with the 
 Chief Justice ; they have each a salary of .£500 per annum West Indian 
 currency. 
 
 t The parishes, which are more like counties as to their extent, are 
 under the supervision or government of a chief magistrate (termed the 
 Custos Rotulorum) and bench of justices, who hold sessions of the peace 
 every month, and Courts of Common Pleas, for trying actions to the ex- 
 tent of £2i).; — debts not exceeding 40*. are determined by a single jus- 
 tice ; each parish has a rector and church officers, according to the number 
 of churches or chapels in the parish ; the vestries consist of the Custos, 
 two magistrates, ten vestrj'men, and the rector ; (the vestrymen are elected 
 annually by the freeholders) ; the vestries have the power of assessing and 
 appropriating local taxes, allot labourers for repairing the highways, 
 appoint way-wardens, nominate persons called constables, for the collec- 
 tion of public and parochial races, and regulate the police of their several 
 parishes.
 
 COURTS OF COMMON PLF.AS AND SESSIONS. 195 
 
 necessary ; anil such sittings are held at the town of Kings- 
 ton, in that county, and commence respectively on the second 
 Monday in April, the first Monday in August, and the second 
 Monday in January. 
 
 The sittings of the Court of Assize for the county of Corn- 
 wall are held at the town of Montego-Bay, for the like period 
 as the Court of Assize for the county of Surrey sits ; and 
 such sittings respectively commence on the second Monday 
 in March, the first Monday in July, and the first INIonday in 
 November. 
 
 The Justices of Assize receive no salary, are appointed by 
 the Governor, by a commission under the broad seal of the 
 island. They, like the Judges of the Supreme Court of 
 Judicature, hold their places during his Majesty's pleasure, 
 and can be removed by his sign manual only ; but, upon 
 sufiicient cause, may be suspended by the Governor, with the 
 consent of the majority of a Board of Council, till his Ma- 
 jesty's pleasure be know n. 
 
 Courts of Common Pleas. The several inferior Courts 
 of Common Pleas in the island of Jamaica have jurisdiction 
 over all causes (wherein any freehold is not concerned) to the 
 value of £20 with costs, and no more, but by the aid of a 
 justicias from the Chancellor, who is the Governor, they may 
 hold Pleas to any amount. They are, however, absolutely 
 restricted from intermeddling with or determining actions 
 where the title to land or negroes is concerned. These Courts 
 are held at the same time, and in the same place of the 
 respective precincts, as the Justices of the Peace hold the 
 Quarter-Sessions, once in every three months; some of them 
 have the privilege of sitting oftener. The appointment and 
 removal of the Judges of these Courts are under the controul 
 of the Governor, and an appeal lies against their decision to 
 the Supreme Court of Judicature. 
 
 Courts of Sessions. Every precinct has a Court of Ses- 
 sions, held quarterly. 
 
 All manner of debts, trespasses, and other matters, not 
 exceeding the value of 40^. wherein the titles of land are not
 
 196 COURT OF CHANCERY — VICE ADMIRALTY, &C. 
 
 concernetl, may he heard and determined by any Justice of 
 the Peace of the island within their respective precincts, 
 without appeal; and after judgment, the Justice may grant a 
 warrant of distress, and, for want of sufficient distress, may 
 imprison the defendant in the common gaol of the precincts 
 till he pay the debt and charges. 
 
 [A law passed in 1828 extended this jurisdiction to sums 
 not exceeding £10, but was lately disallowed by the King in 
 Council. A bill for a similar object is now (December 1831) 
 in progress through the legislature.] 
 
 In concluding this brief notice of the Common Law Courts, 
 it may be observed, that their mode of proceeding is, in most 
 respects, similar to that adopted in Westminster Hall. 
 
 Court of Chancery. The Governor sits as Chancellor, 
 with the same powers of judicature that the Lord High 
 Chancellor has in England, and the proceedings of this 
 Court are similar to those of the English Court of Chancerj% 
 The Court of Error is held by the Governor and 
 Council for hearing Appeals, in the nature of Writs of Error, 
 from the Supreme and Assize Courts. 
 
 These Appeals, or Writs of Error, are allowed and regu- 
 lated by his Majesty's instructions to the Governor. 
 
 An appeal also lies from the judgment of the Court of 
 Chancery, to his Majesty in his Privy Council under certain 
 restrictions. 
 
 On an appeal to the King in Council, the proceedings 
 must be transmitted, and the party appealing must proceed, 
 within a year after the pronouncing of the decree or order 
 appealed against. 
 
 The Court of Vice-Admiralty has two distinct juris- 
 dictions ; by one of which it is an Instance Court for deciding 
 all maritime causes, and by the other a Prixe Court: its 
 practice is similar to that of the High Court of Admiralty in 
 England, to which Court, or to the King in Council, an 
 appeal lies from its decision. The Judge is appointed by 
 the Government in England, and holds his office during his 
 Majesty's pleasure ; but may be suspended by the Governor
 
 MILITARY FORCE — AND MILITIA. 197 
 
 for good cause, with the consent of a majority of a board of 
 Council, till his Majesty's pleasure be known. 
 
 The Court of Ordinary is for determining ecclesiastical 
 matters, and the Governor presides in it as judge. 
 
 The English Bankruptcy Laws are not in force in Jamaica, 
 but there is an ' Insolvent Debtors' Act,' by which a debtor, 
 on making oath that he is possessed of no property above 
 bare necessaries, and delivering his books, if he has any, into 
 the hands of the Deputy Marshal or Sheriff's Deputy, he is 
 exonerated from all demands against him after suffering three 
 months' imprisonment. Any person leaving the island must 
 give three weeks' notice on account of creditors. 
 
 Military Force. — The military establishment of the 
 island generally comprises the head-quarters of four Euro- 
 pean regiments of the line ; one West India regiment, com- 
 posed of CafFres or W. Coast African negroes ; a strong 
 detachment of Artillery ; altogether comprising about 3,000 
 men ; and of Colonial militia, from 16 to 18,000 men at arms,* 
 comprising in Middlesex County, a regiment of horse of 
 eleven troops, well equipped and mounted, and nine infantry 
 regiments ; in Surrey County, a regiment of horse of nine 
 troops, and eight regiments of infantry, with artillery; in 
 Cornwall County, a regiment of horse of six troops, and six 
 regiments of infantry ; and to each regiment are attached two 
 field pieces and a company of artillery ; the whole well ap- 
 pointed and proving a most efficient force in case of internal 
 insurrection or foreign aggression. 
 
 The following detail shows the strength of the Eturopean 
 
 * All white males, from the age of fifteen to sixty, are obliged by 
 law to provide themselves with suitable clothing-, and to enlist in either 
 the cavalry or infantry of the militia. Substitutes are not allowed. When 
 on permanent duty (which occurs on the proclaiming of martial law) the 
 militia receive pay 2*. 6</. a day and rations ; arms and ammunition are 
 found by the government. When the militia and line act together, a lieu- 
 tenant-colonel of the latter has the rank and command of a major-general 
 of the former, a major of brigadier-general, and a captain of lieutenant- 
 colonel, &c.
 
 198 
 
 JlKIilSll TKOOl'S rilOM 1812 TO 1828. 
 
 troops employed in Jamaica, the number of deaths, and the 
 annual ratio of decrement by death per cent per annum, from 
 the year 1818 to 1828 inclusive.* 
 
 Years. 
 
 1812 
 
 Streii«tli. 
 
 - 4,826 
 
 Ucceasc.l 
 
 - 4/4 
 
 Ratio of 
 Loss. 
 
 - 9.8 
 
 Years. 
 
 1822 - 
 
 strength. 
 
 2,400 
 
 Deceased. 
 
 - 441 
 
 Ratio of 
 
 - 18"3 
 
 3 
 
 - 4,128 
 
 - 3/1 
 
 - 8.9 
 
 3 - 
 
 2,476 
 
 - 155 
 
 - 6.2 
 
 4 
 
 - 3,902 
 
 - 322 
 
 - 8.2 
 
 4 - 
 
 3,150 
 
 - 235 
 
 - 7.4 
 
 5 
 
 - 4,331 
 
 - 336 
 
 7-7 
 
 5 - 
 
 2,644 
 
 - m 
 
 - 29.3 
 
 6 
 
 - 4,235 
 
 - 434 
 
 - 10.2 
 
 6 - 
 
 2,237 
 
 . 176 
 
 - 7.3 
 
 7 
 
 - 4,322 
 
 - 317 
 
 - 7.3 
 
 7 - 
 
 3,083 
 
 - 636 
 
 - 20.6 
 
 8 
 
 - 3,025 
 
 - 230 
 
 - ^^ 
 
 8 - 
 
 2,700 
 
 - 192 
 
 - 7.1 
 
 9 
 
 - 2,969 
 
 - 754 
 
 - 25.4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 - 2,546 
 
 - 301 
 
 - 11.8 
 
 INIean • 
 
 3,287 
 
 438 
 
 13.3 
 
 1 
 
 - 2,885 
 
 - 310 
 
 - 10.6 
 
 
 
 
 
 It will be observed that, in 1828, the ratio of loss was small, 
 owing to the judicious arrangements of Sir James M'Gregor, 
 seconded by the Medical Staff and Colonial Legislature, the 
 health of the troops has since materially improved. 
 
 Income and Expenditure. — The annual income or ways 
 and means of the island, on an average of ten years, ending 
 1831, was as folloM's : — 
 
 Poll Tax (at 5s. lOd. per head on 
 
 Slaves, and 2s. per head on slock, 
 
 excmptini^ Working Stock on 
 
 Plantations), Rents at Is. 8d. 
 
 in the £., and Wheat at 20s. 
 
 ^'105,000 
 
 Tax on Trans^ient Traders, - 150 
 
 Arrears of former Years' Taxes, 
 
 3,000 
 
 Land Tax, - - 23,700 
 
 Deficiency Tax, - 14,000 
 
 Rum Duty, - - 21,000 
 
 Additional Duty on Wines and 
 
 Spirits, - - 15,000 
 
 Tea Duty, - - 1,400 
 
 Duties on Goods from foreign 
 
 Ports, - - 4,800 
 
 On Goods from United States, 
 ^31,000 
 Surplus of Revenue, - 8,300 
 Stamp Duty, - 1}),000 
 
 For Arms and Gunpowder, 900 
 Balance of Cash 30th September, 
 
 1830, - . 147,945 
 
 Duty on Cattle imported, 1,000 
 Tonnage Duty on Ships to i)ay 
 
 Custom House Salaries, 25,000 
 Loan to be raised, - 50,000 
 Debts due to Public on Judgments 
 
 500 
 Double Duties received by Officers 
 
 of Customs and refunded, 15,048 
 
 * This statement has been obligingly furnislied me by IMr. Henry Mar- 
 shall, Deputy Inspector-General of Army Hospitals, whose zeal in pur- 
 suit of science endears him to every friend of humanity.
 
 llxMANCES — INCOME AND EXPENDITURE, 
 
 199 
 
 Excluding the shillings and pence (as given in the Parlia- 
 mentary Return) the total ways and means thus given for 
 Jamaica in 1831, is £489,743. The return is certainly not a 
 very explicit one, and it is difficult, if not indeed impossible, 
 to ascertain the actual state of taxes in the island, and the 
 nature of their bearing or operation on commerce. 
 
 Jamaica Expenditure (as laid before Parliament in the 
 return whence the foregoing statement is derived) defrayed 
 by the Island in 1831. — 
 
 Governor, - - ,£5,500 
 
 Chief Justice, - 4,000 
 
 Assistant Judges, - 3,400 
 
 Speaker of Assembiy, 1 ,400 
 
 Governor's Secretary, 3,000 
 
 Officers of His Majesty's Customs, 
 23,390 
 Clergy of Established Church,* 
 23,593 
 Ditto Presbyterian, - 1 1,201 
 Ditto Roman Catholic, J200 
 
 Charitable Institutions, 14,656 
 Army Expenses, - 157,032 
 Clerk of Supreme Court and Pro- 
 vost Marshal, - 1,160 
 Secretary of Commissioners' of 
 Public Accounts, - 1,000 
 Secretary of Ditto Correspondents, 
 
 300 
 Clerk of Board of Works, 400 
 Commissioners of Stamps, 1,550 
 Deputy Receiver General and Se- 
 cretary at the Outports, 1,560 
 Marshals of Militia Regiments, 
 1,050 
 
 Alien and Bonding Office, ^600 
 Island Agent, - 2,542 
 
 Captains of Forts, - 669 
 
 Officers of Assembly, 6,146 
 
 Island Botanist, - 560 
 
 Engineer and Surveyor of Public 
 Works, - - 740 
 
 Storekeeper, - - 500 
 
 Receiver General, - 7,000 
 
 Law Expenses and Goals, 14,874 
 Roads, Bridges, and Public Build- 
 ings, - - 25,850 
 Printing - - 7,159 
 Militia Arms and Gunpowder, 8,594 
 Board of Works, - 8,890 
 Premium on Increase Slaves, 8,120 
 Registry and Vestry Returns, 5,378 
 Maroons and Superintendant of 
 Maroon Towns, - 2,030 
 Miscellaneous, - 10,000 
 Interest on Public Loans, 16,900 
 
 370,000 
 
 * Curates' stipends 8000/. ; Rectors' ditto, 11,718/. ; Registrar and Ap- 
 positor to the Diocese, 475/. ; Annuitants, being widows and orphans of 
 the Clergy 2,000/ ; Expenses of building chapels, 1,400/.— Total 23,593/. 
 
 t Presbyterian Institutions, 301/. ; Support of Kirk in Kingston, 700/. ; 
 Presbyterian Charity Schools, 200/.— 1.201/. 
 
 X Pay, 14,000/. ; Contingent Accounts, 20,645/. ; Rations, 72,000/. ; 
 Ditto to 1st April, 1831, 35,700/.; Repairs of Barracks, 10,483/.; Lodg-
 
 200 , EXPLANATION OF JAMAICA CURRENCY. 
 
 The Jamaica budget for 1832 gives the taxes and internal 
 duties at £207,367 ; duties on vessels and cargoes £95,970 ; 
 the certificates in circulation were £399,205 ; * and the loan 
 certificates, including £64,415 loan deposits, was £250,035. 
 Of the expenditure, the military amounts to £184,143, be- 
 sides £222,729 for the general defence of the island, of which 
 j6176,691 was incurred for martial law in 1832. The civil 
 expenditure was £85,078, of which £15,544 was for interest. 
 On a general view, it may be stated that the annual public 
 revenue of Jamaica is £300,000 ; and the vestry, or parish, 
 or local taxation of the different counties, a nearly similar 
 sum. The poll-tax on slaves heretofore formed the largest 
 item of the public income. How the amount is in future to 
 be supplied, has not been devised. So far from Jamaica and 
 other of the colonies being a drain on the home exchequer, it 
 will be seen that they add considerably to the national ex- 
 chequer; this one island alone contributing nearly half a 
 million of money per annum ! f 
 
 Monies. The West India islands are much in want of 
 some established currency ; in no two islands is the currency 
 
 ings for Officers, 2,090/. ; Island Pay, ditto, 99//. ; Sundry Wharfage, 
 Water, &c. for Troops, 1,115/.— Total 157,032/. 
 
 * The distribution of the certificates in circulation, from 1822 to the 
 year 1832, is as follows :— Of 1822. 615/. ; 1825, 6,535/.; 1826, 41,203/.; 
 1827, 79,928/.; 1828, 61,741/.; 1829, 39,965/.; 1830, 96,499/.; 1831, 
 10,825/ ; 1832, 12,000/.; and of 1832, comprising 1/. 21. and 3/. certifi- 
 cates in circulation was, 49,864/. The legal rate of interest is six per cent.; 
 the Government borrow at five. 
 
 t Mr. Burge says — ' The annual expenditure of Jamaica is ^£489,849 ; 
 to this must be added £\Q,OQO, which is annually raised, and is a per- 
 petual revenue granted to the Crown, and made applicable to the orders 
 of the Governor in Council, and over which the House of Assembly 
 exercises no superintending control.' It was given in evidence before 
 Parliament in 1832, by the same aiithority, that 'the island of Jamaica 
 sustains the whole burden of its Government, with the exception of the 
 salary of the Bishop ; every other species of its expenditure, including its 
 ecclesiastical, military and civil establishments, are defrayed by the island 
 itself.'
 
 VALUE AND WEIGHT OF COLONIAL COINS. 201 
 
 alike, and they again vary in proportion to sterling money 
 thus: — 
 
 sterling. Currency. Dollar. Currency. 
 
 Jamaica,* . . 100/. = 140/. 1 = 6*. 8(/. 
 
 Barbadoes, . . 100/. 135/. 1 6s. Sd. 
 
 Windward Isles, except 
 
 Barbadoes, . . 100/. 175/. 1 8s. 3d. 
 
 Leeward Isles, . 100/. 200/. 1 9*. 
 
 At the established rate of the dollar in Jamaica, 4*. 3\d. 
 sterling will be equal to 6s. currency, or 14,?. 3\d. sterling to 
 £1 currency. The metallic currency in the island is estimated 
 at £100,000. A silver standard for all the West India pos- 
 sessions (of a depreciated value to that of the English coinage, 
 so as to keep it in the settlements) would probably be pro- 
 ductive of considerable benefit. 
 
 The following are the weights of the gold coins current in 
 Jamaica : — 
 
 Dwts. Gr. Dwts. Gr. 
 
 Old Spanish doubloon, 17 8 The pistole, 4 8 
 
 Half doubloon, . 8 16 Half ditto, 2 4 
 
 Colombian doubloon, and its aliquot parts in the 
 
 same proportion, . . . . . 18 12 
 
 The old Spanish silver dollar weighs 17 dwts. 8 gr. and 
 the small silver coin, called a hit, is of the value of 1\d. cur- 
 rency. 
 
 The paper currency consists entirely of the island checks 
 issued by the Receiver-General, under the orders of the 
 
 * As regards Jamaica, this is the nominal par of exchange. In real 
 transactions of buying or selling bills, the exchange is thus adjusted : — 
 if bills bear a premium, say twenty per cent, then a bill for €100 sterling 
 is said to be equal to £\2^ sterling ; this latter sum, turned into Jamaica 
 currency at 40 per cent, makes a bill for i.^100 sterling require about 
 ^168 currency. The relative value of the currencies of the mother 
 country and colony varies, of course, from this ratio, as bills may at the 
 time bear a higher or lower premium. In Barbadoes or the other 
 colonies the currency, as compared with sterling, varies according to the 
 demand for bills. In Jamaica ^^100 sterling is always equal to MX'Vi 
 curreiH'v-
 
 202 UNITED KINGDOM DERIVED FROM JAMAICA IMrORTS. 
 
 Board of Accounts, and upon the security of the island and 
 its revenue.* 
 
 Commerce. The trade of this important island is very 
 considerable, and principally confined to the mother country.f 
 Its maritime worth will be seen by the following return of 
 Jamaica Shipping : — 
 
 
 SHIPPING INWARDS. 
 
 SHIPPING OUTWARDS. 
 
 
 From Gt. 
 Britain. 
 
 From 
 Brit. Col. 
 
 From For. Total 
 States. Inwards. 
 
 To Great 
 Britain. 
 
 To To For. 
 Brit. Cols. States. 
 
 Total 
 Outwards. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. Tons. No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. Tons. 
 
 1828 
 
 240 
 
 75,541 
 
 165 
 
 22,974 
 
 269 25,687 674 
 
 124,202 
 
 287 
 
 87,729 
 
 145 
 
 18,205 256 
 
 24,454 
 
 688 130,388 
 
 i 
 
 In 1830 the total shipping inwards vf as number 715 — tons, 
 120,721 ; outwards, 690 — tons, 130,747 — employing altoge- 
 ther about 15,000 seamen. 
 
 * The state of the money market in Kingston 29th March, 1834, was — 
 Bills of Exchange. Commissariat, 30 days — 18 per cent, premium, 
 payable in Doubloons and Dollars. On London, at 90 days — 12 1-2 to 
 15 per cent, premium. On America, at 30 and 60 days — 7 1-2 to 10 per 
 cent, premium. Specie. — Mexican Doubloons, 7 per cent, premium — 
 very scarce. Columbian Ditto, 2 ditto ditto. Dollars, 5 to 6 ditto ditto. 
 Small Silver 2 1-2 to 3 ditto ditto. 
 
 f Mr. Burjje, the indefatigable airent for the colony, thus demonstrated 
 before Parliament the importance of this colony to Great Britain. 
 
 Returns of the Net Revenue derivable from Imports into the United 
 Kingdom from the Island of Jamaica, supposing that the whole of those 
 Imports were to be entered for home consumption for the year 1831 : — 
 
 1,429,093 Cwts. of Sap:ar, at 24s. per Cwt 
 
 3,528,652 Galls, of Rum, at 9s. per Gall 
 
 107 Puns, ol Molasses, say 1,177 Cwts. at 9s. per Cwt. . . 
 
 15,644,0/2 lbs. of Coffee, at 6d. per lb. 
 
 ''•no Bairs } Ginger, say 4,222 Cwts. at lis. 6d 
 
 4,974,302 lbs. of Pimento, at 5d. per lb 
 
 4,526 Cwts. of Arrowroot, at id. per lb. 
 
 80 Puns, of Lime Juice, say 8,000 Galls, at Ojd. per Gall. 
 673 Packapres of Sweetmeats, say 6,730 lbs. at 3d. per lb. 
 
 279 Bales of Cotton, say 50,220 lbs. at 4d. per lb 
 
 3,182 Hides, say 2,000 Cwts. at 4s. 8d. per Cwt 
 
 7,361 Tons of Logwood, at 3s. per Ton 
 
 1,452 Tons of Fustic, at 3s. per Ton 
 
 328 Tons of Nicaragua Wood, at 15S. per Ton 
 
 319 Tons of Lignum Vitae, at los. per Ton 
 
 244 Tons of Ebony, at 15S. per Ton 
 
 2,219 Logs / Mahogany and Cedar, i say at 4l. per Ton 
 1,750 Pieces l Cabinet Wood, «:c. J 3L 15s. per Ton 
 29,324 Lance Wood Spars, at is. each 
 
 }:: 
 
 Tota 1. 
 
 Duty. 
 
 
 dg. 
 
 8. 
 
 d. 
 
 1,714,911 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 1,587,893 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 529 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 391,101 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 2,427 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 1,363 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2,112 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 84 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 837 
 
 
 
 
 
 466 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 1,104 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 217 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 246 
 
 
 
 
 
 159 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 
 
 31,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,466 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 3,736,113 
 
 10 
 
 6
 
 mrORTS AND EXPORTS OF JAMAICA. 
 
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 204 
 
 EXPORTS FROM JAMAICA FOR THIRTY YEARS. 
 
 An Account of Sug.ir, Rum, and other Produce, exported 
 from the Island of Jamaica, from the year ending the 29th 
 September, 1800, to the year ending 29th September, inclu- 
 sive, 1829; extracted from the Journals of the House of As- 
 sembly at Jamaica : — 
 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses 
 
 Ginger. 
 
 Pimento. 
 
 CoflFee. 
 
 
 Hds. 
 
 Tierc. 
 
 Bar. 
 
 Pun. 
 
 Hds. 
 
 Casks. 
 
 Bags 
 
 Casks. 
 
 Bags. 
 
 Casks. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 1800 
 
 96,34; 
 
 13,549 
 
 1.631 
 
 37.166 
 
 1,350 
 
 
 3,586 
 
 444 
 
 12,759 
 
 610 
 
 11,116,474 
 
 1801 
 
 123,251 
 
 18,704 
 
 2,692 
 
 18.879 
 
 1,514 
 
 
 239 
 
 12 
 
 14,084 
 
 64^ 
 
 13,401,468 
 
 1802 
 
 129,54J 
 
 15,405 
 
 2,403 
 
 45,632 
 
 2,073 
 
 366 
 
 2,079 
 
 23 
 
 7,793 
 
 591 
 
 17,961,923 
 
 1803 
 
 107,387 
 
 11,825 
 
 1,797 
 
 13,29^ 
 
 1,41'^ 
 
 461 
 
 3,287 
 
 51 
 
 14,875 
 
 867 
 
 15,866,291 
 
 1804 
 
 103,352 
 
 12,802 
 
 2,207 
 
 42,207 
 
 913 
 
 429 
 
 1,854 
 
 1,094 
 
 19,572 
 
 1,417 
 
 32,063,990 
 
 1805 
 
 137,906 
 
 17,9;" 
 
 3,682 
 
 53,211 
 
 1,328 
 
 471 
 
 2,128 
 
 315 
 
 7.15- 
 
 2S8 
 
 ■24,137,393 
 
 1806 
 
 133,991' 
 
 18,237 
 
 3.579 
 
 58.191 
 
 1,178 
 
 499 
 
 1,815- 
 
 485 
 
 19,531 
 
 1,094 
 
 -9,293,036 
 
 1807 
 
 123,175 
 
 17,344 
 
 3,716 
 
 51.812 
 
 1,998 
 
 699 
 
 1,411 
 
 512 
 
 19,224 
 
 525 
 
 26,7'-l,188 
 
 1808 
 
 121,44J 
 
 15,836 
 
 2,625 
 
 52,409 
 
 2,196 
 
 379 
 
 1,470 
 
 436 
 
 6.529 
 
 225 
 
 29,528,673 
 
 1809 
 
 104,45; 
 
 14,596 
 
 3,534 
 
 43,492 
 
 2,717 
 
 230 
 
 572 
 
 2,321 
 
 1,17" 
 
 24,022 
 
 25,596,668 
 
 1810 
 
 108,7OL- 
 
 4,560 
 
 3,719 
 
 42,353 
 
 1,964 
 
 293 
 
 1,881 
 
 520 
 
 il,163 
 
 4,276 
 
 25,885,285 
 
 1811 
 
 127,751 
 
 15,236 
 
 3,046 
 
 54,093 
 
 2,041 
 
 446 
 
 2,072 
 
 1,110 
 
 22,074 
 
 636 
 
 17.460,068 
 
 1812 
 
 105,28!' 
 
 11,357 
 
 2,558 
 
 43,346 
 
 1,531 
 
 151 
 
 1,23S 
 
 804 
 
 7,778 
 
 59s 
 
 18,491,896 
 
 1813 
 
 97,45^ 
 
 10,029 
 
 2,304 
 
 14,618 
 
 1,345 
 
 208 
 
 l,42t 
 
 8I6 
 
 14.361 
 
 1,024 
 
 24,6-23,572 
 
 1814 
 
 I01,84f 
 
 10,485 
 
 2,575 
 
 43,486 
 
 1,557 
 
 145 
 
 1,668 
 
 884 
 
 10,711 
 
 394 
 
 34,045,585 
 
 1815 
 
 118,76; 
 
 12,224 
 
 2,817 
 
 52,996 
 
 1,465 
 
 242 
 
 1,667 
 
 1,493 
 
 ;7,336 
 
 844 
 
 27,362.742 
 
 1816 
 
 93,881 
 
 9,332 
 
 2,236 
 
 35,736 
 
 769 
 
 166 
 
 1,118 
 
 2,354 
 
 28,057 
 
 851 
 
 17,282,293 
 
 181/ 
 
 116,011 
 
 11,094 
 
 2,868 
 
 47,949 
 
 1,094 
 
 254 
 
 1,896 
 
 3,361 
 
 15,817 
 
 946 
 
 14.79i,296 
 
 1818 
 
 n3,8U 
 
 11,388 
 
 2,786 
 
 50,195 
 
 1,108 
 
 407 
 
 1,067 
 
 2,326 
 
 21,071 
 
 941 
 
 25,329,456 
 
 1819 
 
 108,30.- 
 
 11,540 
 
 3,244 
 
 43,946 
 
 1,695 
 
 253 
 
 718 
 
 1,714 
 
 24,500 
 
 882 
 
 14,091,493 
 
 1820 
 
 I15,06J 
 
 11,322 
 
 2,474 
 
 45,361 
 
 1,783 
 
 252 
 
 316 
 
 1,159 
 
 12,880 
 
 673 
 
 22,127,444 
 
 1821 
 
 111,511 
 
 11,703 
 
 1,972 
 
 46,802 
 
 1,793 
 
 167 
 
 271 
 
 984 
 
 24,827 
 
 1,224 
 
 16,819,761 
 
 1822 
 
 88,551 
 
 8,705 
 
 1,292 
 
 28.728 
 
 1,124 
 
 144 
 
 72 
 
 891 
 
 18,672 
 
 699 
 
 19,773,992 
 
 1823 
 
 94,90: 
 
 9,179 
 
 1,947 
 
 35.242 
 
 1,935 
 
 614 
 
 60 
 
 1,041 
 
 21,481 
 
 1,894 
 
 20,226,445 
 
 1824 
 
 99,225 
 
 9,651 
 
 2,791 
 
 37,121 
 
 3,261 
 
 910 
 
 52 
 
 2,230 
 
 33,308 
 
 599 
 
 27,677,239 
 
 1825 
 
 73,813 
 
 7,380 
 
 2,858 
 
 27,630 
 
 2,077 
 
 894 
 
 348 
 
 3,947 
 
 20,979 
 
 537 
 
 21,254.656 
 
 1826 
 
 99,9rb 
 
 9,514 
 
 3,126 
 
 35,610 
 
 3,098 
 
 549 
 
 517 
 
 5,724 
 
 16,433 
 lb 
 
 522 
 
 20,352,886 
 
 182- 
 
 82,396 
 
 7,554 
 
 3,441 
 
 33.348 
 
 3,099 
 
 214 
 
 186 
 
 4,826 
 
 2,807,522 
 
 25,206,020 
 
 1828 
 
 81,90b 
 
 8,724 
 
 2,910 
 
 33,717 
 
 3,253 
 
 283 
 
 41'i 
 
 1,942 
 
 2,473,153 
 
 17,247,943 
 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 1833 
 
 91,150 
 
 9,564 
 
 3,392 
 
 36,931 
 
 2,513 
 
 167 
 
 319 
 
 1,333 
 
 6,069,127 
 
 13,955,732 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 As 
 
 state 
 
 d ui 
 
 ider 
 
 Gm 
 
 /am 
 
 z, it is 
 
 dif 
 
 icult 
 
 to i 
 
 brm 
 
 a defin 
 
 idea of the amount of property in any place. Mr, Colquhoun, 
 in 1812, estimated Jamaica thus: — Negroes, £19,2n0,000 ; 
 cultivated lands, (809,450 acres) £16,189,000; uncultivated, 
 (1,914,812 acres) £1,914,812; buildings, utensils, &c. on 
 estates, £12,709,450; stock on estates, £4,800,000; houses, 
 stores, merchandize and furniture, £2,000,000 ; colonial ship- 
 ping, £42,000 ; metallic money, £220,000; forts, barracks, &c. 
 £1,000,000;— total, £58,125,298 sterHng. The same authority 
 estimated the productions annually raised, including cattle, 
 esculents, &c. at £11,169,601 ; exports to the United King- 
 dom, £6,885,339— and to the other places, £381,322. It 
 will be observed, therefore, that in the following statement 
 I have undervalued the yearly creation and total amount of 
 property in Jamaica, —
 
 PROPERTY ANNUALLY CREATED — MOVABLE & IMMOVABLE. 205 
 
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 206 POST OFFICE AND PACKET ROUTINF. 
 
 General Post-office, Jamaica. The mails for all parts 
 of the island are closed at four, p. m. every Saturday, and 
 dispatched from the General Post-office the same day, at six, 
 p. M. The return mails arrive at ten, a. m. every Thursday, 
 and the letters are delivered at the General Post-office the 
 same day, at noon. An extra mail for Spanish Town leaves 
 the General Post-office, at nine, a. m. every Friday, and 
 arrives again the following day, at eight, a. m. The rates of 
 postage are from 7^(1. to 1*. or/, for single letters, according 
 to distance. 
 
 Two packets are dispatched monthly from Great Britain 
 for this island. The first sails from Falmouth on the Satur- 
 day after the first Wednesday ; touches on her passage at 
 Barbadoes, St. Vincent's, and Grenada; and after her arrival 
 at Port Royal, where she remains two days, proceeds to Car- 
 thagena, where she remains until the mail, that is dispatched 
 from Bogota on the 2oth of every month, arrives, and, after 
 her return to Port Royal, proceeds to Falmouth, touching at 
 the Crooked Islands on her way home. Three Saturdays 
 must intervene between her first arrival at, and final sailing 
 from, Port Royal, and, vmless postponed by the Governor, 
 she sails on the Tuesday following the last Saturday. The 
 second sails from Falmouth, on the Saturday after the third 
 Wednesday, and heaves to off Jacmel to land a mail for St. 
 Domingo. After arriving at Port Royal, she remains two 
 days, when she proceeds to Belize, Honduras, where she 
 remains two days ; and from thence to Zampico, where she 
 leaves for la Vera Cruz, and afterwards returns to Zampico, 
 in doing which she is occupied ten or twelve days ; and then 
 proceeds to the Havanna, where she again remains two days ; 
 and finally prosecutes her voyage from thence to Falmouth, 
 G. B. The mail for Great Britian is made up at the General 
 Post-office, on the Monday previous to the sailing of the first 
 packet, at four, p. m. The first packet is expected from 
 Great Britain about the 20th of every month, and, if she 
 arrives between Saturday and Tuesday inclusive, the mails for 
 the country are forwarded by express. The second packet
 
 THE PRESS — EDUCATION AND RELIGION. 207 
 
 may be looked for about a week after the former, in conse- 
 quence of her not having to call at the Windward Islands 
 in her route. There is no express post for the second 
 packet. 
 
 . ThePress, Education, AND Religion. I connect the three 
 foregoing subjects under one head, because they are intimately 
 blended with each other. The pi'ess is unshackled by stamp 
 duties, and on the increase ; there are six newspapers (two 
 daily and four weekly), in the island, all well conducted, and 
 displaying considerable talent ;* every class of the community 
 has its public organ, and there is, perhaps, less petty feeling 
 and faction displayed than in many journals of the Mother 
 Country. Education is rapidly progressing under the aid of 
 the local government, as well as with the assistance of private 
 individuals. In the expenditure budget of the island for 
 1831, there is nearly £ 10,000 allotted for free schools.f In 
 1821, (since which all accounts agree in admitting a very 
 great increase), the public or free schools and scholars were, 
 Schools, 23; Male Scholars, 1,125; Female, 912; Total, 
 2,037. (In 1827 the number of Scholars was 3,500.) 
 
 The efforts for the extension of religion have been great, 
 whether they have produced a beneficial eftect as yet it is 
 difficult to say ; the outlay by the colonial government for the 
 purpose is considerable, viz. nearly £'25,000 per annum, 
 (vide Expenditure). The bishop of Jamaica (whose see ex- 
 tends over the Bahamas and Honduras), has £4,000 sterling 
 per annum, and the archdeacon £2,000 ditto. There are 
 twenty-one rectors, and altogether of clergymen of the estab- 
 lished church fifty-seven. The Scots Presbyterian clergy- 
 men are in number four, the Wesleyan ditto about twenty- 
 four, the Baptist ditto sixteen, and the Moravian eight. 
 The crown livings in Jamaica were in the gift of the 
 
 * The Jamaica almanac stands much in need of reform, it is more barren 
 of general information than those of some of the smallest islands in the 
 West Indies. Those of 1832 and 1833 have in some degree improved. 
 
 t The Jamaica free school has 1,620/.; Wolmer's ditto, 1,500/.; Vera 
 ditto, 1,120/. ; and so on.
 
 208 
 
 THE CAYMAN ISLF.S. 
 
 governor, in virtue of his station as such.* The esta- 
 blished church clergy are paid partly by a stipend, partly 
 by fees; take for instance the parish of St. Ann's, as an 
 example; acres,235,260 ; slaves, 24,761 ; proprietors, 47. 6.; 
 stipend, £378; fees, average, £200, vestry allowances, 
 average, £400; church burials, £50; total, £ 1,028— with 
 thirty acres of glebe and an island curate. Some parishes 
 have a large glebe ; thus, St. EHzabeth's has three hundred 
 acres of glebe, a rfectory and sixty-eight slaves, and the income 
 is— stipend, £378; fees, £245; burials £50; total £673 
 — and'^the aid of an island curate and auxiHary. The Rev. 
 Mr. Bridges says that the average annual expenditure of 
 Jamaica of late years, for her ecclesiastical establishment, 
 has not fallen far short of £30,000, (an immense sum for so 
 small a country). He gives the rectors' stipends at £ 8,820, 
 the curates' salaries £10,550, the aggregate vestry allowances 
 £3,430, and the average sum drawn from the inhabitants for 
 surplice fees £ 5,372, independent of the annual expenditure 
 in maintaining thirty-nine churches and chapels. Pluralities 
 are not permitted, and the slave (or as he is now termed, the 
 apprentice), is entitled to demand the gratuitous services of 
 the clergy ; these facts speak volumes in favour of the long 
 calumniated colonists. 
 
 Before summing up this Chapter, it is necessary to advert 
 to a dependency of Jamaica, termed 
 
 THE CAYMAN ISLES. 
 
 Locality. The Caymans are three small isles, in Lat. 
 19.20. N. ; from thirty to forty leagues N. N. W. from Point 
 Negrill, on the westward of Jamaica, the grand Cayman being 
 the most remote. Cayman-braque and Little Cayman lie 
 within five miles of each other, and about thirty-four miles 
 N. from the Grand Cayman, which is about one mile and a 
 half long, and one mile broad, and containing about 1,000 
 acres. 
 
 History. Columbus fell in with these islands on his 
 return from Porto Bello to Hispaniola, and observing the 
 * Now in the gift of the bishop.
 
 THEIR PHYSICAL ASPECT — GOVERNMENT — TURTLES, &C. '209 
 
 coast swarming with turtle, like ridges of rocks, he called 
 them Las Tortugas. 
 
 The Caymans were never occupied by the Spaniards, but 
 became the general resort of adventurers or rovers, (chiefly 
 French), for the sake of the turtle, which rendezvoused here 
 to lay their eggs in the sand, and then returned to the gulph 
 of Mexico, Bay of Honduras, and the adjacent coast.* In 
 1655, when Jamaica was taken by England, the Caymans 
 were still uninhabited. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Grand Cayman (the only island inha- 
 bited) is so low that it cannot be seen from a ship's quarter- 
 deck more than twelve or fifteen miles off, and at some dis- 
 tance the lofty trees on it appear like a grove of masts emerg- 
 ing from the ocean. It has no harbour, but the anchorage on 
 the S. W. coast is moderately good ; on the other, or N. E. 
 side, it is fortified with a reef of rocks, between which and the 
 shore, in smooth water, the inhabitants have their craals, or 
 pens, for keeping turtle in. The soil towards the middle of 
 the island is very fertile, producing corn and vegetables in 
 plenty, while hogs and poultry find ample provender. 
 
 Inhabitants, Government, &c. The present race of in- 
 habitants, of whose numbers I have not been able to find any 
 accurate account,f are said to be descended from the English 
 Buccaneers, and, being inured to the sea, form excellent 
 
 * The instinct with which the sea turtle annuallj' visits a favourite breed- 
 ing- spot is very remarkable. The Cayman isles near Jamaica are yearly 
 frequented by innumerable shoals of these animals, who cross the ocean 
 from the Bay of Honduras, a distance of 450 miles, without the aid of chart or 
 compass, and with anaccuracy, says the eloquent historian of Jamaica (Long), 
 superior to the best efforts of human skill; it is affirmed that vessels which 
 have lost their latitude in hazy weather, have steered entirely by the noise 
 of the turtle in swimming. The shore of the Caymans is low and sandy, 
 and consequently well adapted to hatch the turtle eggs ; and the rich 
 submarine pasturage around the islands afford abundance of nourishing? 
 herbage to repair the waste which must ensue after a female lays nine 
 ■hundred cggi- 
 
 f Mr, Long states them to have reckoned in 1774, to the number of 
 106 white men, women and children. The Bishop of Jamaica in 182/ 
 estimated the inhabitants at 1,600. 
 
 VOL. II, P
 
 210 ABOLITION' OF SLAVERY IN JAMAICA. 
 
 pilots and seamen ; they have a chief or government officer of 
 their own choosing and they frame their own regulations; 
 justices of the peace are appointed from Jamaica, hut in no 
 other way are the inhabitants interfered with by the authorities 
 in the chief settlement to which they undoubtedly belong. 
 The islands are extremely healthy, and the people attain a 
 longevity, as they do also on the Mosquito shore, greater 
 than is enjoyed in Europe. 
 
 Social State and Future Prospects. The transition 
 which society is now undergoing in all our slave colonies 
 renders it impracticable to say much on this head : judging 
 from the past, and from the temper with which the slave 
 emancipation bill was passed,* a less gloomy, if not a 
 
 * The hill finally passed the Jamaica House of Assembly 12th December, 
 1833 ; the following- are its leadinfT provisions : — 
 
 From 1st August, 1834, the slaves, as^ed six and upwards, are to become 
 apprenticed labourers without any formal indentures. 
 
 The slaves are divided into three classes — Preedial labourers, employed 
 on their master's lands — Prasdial labourers, employed on other lands — 
 Non-prsedial labourers. 
 
 The apprenticeships to cease in Aug-ust, 1840, and the hours of labour 
 not to exceed forty-five hours in the week. Noii-praedial apprenticeships 
 to cease in 1838. 
 
 ISlasters to be liable for the maintenance of discharged labourers above 
 fifty, or those that are disabled. 
 
 Apprentices may purchase their discharge, without oonrent of the master, 
 by paying the appraised value. 
 
 The value to be appraised by three Justices of Peace, who are to order 
 sums advanced on the security of the negro, to be paid out of the purchase- 
 money. 
 
 No apprentice to be removed from the island, nor to another estate, if 
 the removal separates him from his wife or child. 
 
 An employer's right to an apprentice's labour may be transferred by bar- 
 gain or sale, but families not to be separated. 
 
 The employer bound to supply the apprentice with food, clothes, and 
 medicine. 
 
 Children under twelve, now born, to be indentured, and remain appren- 
 tices till twenty-one. 
 
 Special Justices to be appointed for the execution of the Act, who shall 
 take cognizance of offences committed by negroes.
 
 COLONIAL FKELING OX THE SUDJFCT OF I'.MANCIPATION". 211 
 
 more happy augury, than has been indulged in may be formed 
 for the future ; the condition of the slave population has long 
 been undergoing amelioration, and the coloured colonists have 
 been admitted to those rights, and to that position in society 
 to which their talents, wealth and conduct, might entitle them ; 
 no political or religious disabilities exist ;* the progress of 
 liberal institutions has been sufficiently gradual to allow of 
 their taking permanent root, and affording that constitutional 
 freedom which is the result of order, security of person, and 
 the safe enjoyment of property. 
 
 I look not despondingly on the prospects of Jamaica, or 
 the other West India islands or possessions ; on the con- 
 trary, I think (as indeed has been demonstrated by Mr. Ward, 
 in reference to the cultivation of sugar on the South Ame- 
 rican continent,) that the abolition of one of the direst curses 
 with which mankind was ever afflicted, will place society on a 
 surer basis, and give renewed stimulus and energy to every 
 one possessed of property ;i- and when we reflect that out of 
 
 There are long regulations as to punishment, which we cannot abridge 5 
 but it is enacted that females are not to be flogged. 
 
 ■Sunday markets are to be abolished, and praedial labourers are to have 
 Saturday free. 
 
 The Kingston Commercial Advertizer thus temperately comments on 
 the new state of things, — 
 
 * The fate of the colony is now sealed, whether it be good or evil. 
 Whether its resources will be developed, or its present means be totally 
 annihilated, the revolution of time can alone fully determine. Prudence, 
 self-preservation, and expediency, loudly proclaim the necessity of employ- 
 ing means for rendering the changes now recognized and legalized by the 
 Legislature of Jamaica conducive to the public good. A great duty lies 
 before us, which is to rightly inform the negro mind, and prepare him for 
 performing those duties to himself, his neighbour, his master, and the 
 country, so essential to the welfare of all, and to the peace and happiness 
 of society.' 
 
 * A person of colour has now all the privileges of a white. 
 
 t I am indebted to the philanthropic Dr. Adolphus, of Jamaica, for the 
 following note appended while perusing my manuscript; I agree with the 
 worthy writer in hoping he may be mistaken. 
 
 ' The new order of things may probably succeed in the smaller islands
 
 ^12 ENGLAND SHOULD DO JUSTICE TO HER COLONIES. 
 
 upwards of 4,000,000 acres in Jamaica, only 2,235,732 are 
 occupied, and with on\y fifty-six mouths to a square mile 
 (Bai'badoes has 816!) we see what ample scope there is for 
 a developement of social prosperity and happiness. Lord 
 Belmore justly observed, that the capabilities of this fine 
 island would never be brought forward until slavery was 
 abolished, — in this sentence his Lordship doubtless alluded 
 to the introduction of free white labourers, the advantages of 
 which will be found set forth under the General View of the 
 West India Colonies; there are very many articles which 
 might be largely cultivated and prepared in Jamaica, that 
 would yield a more profitable return than sugar, such for in- 
 stance as pepper, ginger, nutmeg, and various spices, — silk, 
 indigo, cotton, drugs, opium and dye stuffs ; but Jamaica, 
 and our other possessions in the West India islands, have a 
 right to demand from the mother country a reduction of the 
 present enormous duties levied on their produce particularly 
 in respect to the article sugar ; the colonists of this island, in 
 common with their brethren throughout the Western posses- 
 sions, have ever distinguished themselves by loyalty and 
 attachment to the mother country in times of difficulty and 
 distress, — let that country now exercise common justice to her 
 colonies, and they will prove, even more than they have yet 
 done, a bulwark of maritime strength for the Empire, and 
 a mine of commercial wealth for millions of the human race. 
 
 where almost the whole of the land is in cultivation ; but in Jamaica, where 
 there is such an abundance of uncultivated land, where vecjetation is so 
 rapid, and where such little labour is required, the negroes will never work 
 for the paltry wages which the poor planters can ill afford to pay them ; it 
 will be found that they will, for the most part, prefer working for them- 
 selves. I hope I may be mistaken.'
 
 213 - ^ 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 LOCALITY — GENERAL HISTORY — PHYSICAL ASPECTS — MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, 
 HARBOURS, VOLCANOES, AND TOWNS — GULF OF PARIA — NAVIGATION — 
 
 CLIMATE VEGETABLE, MINERAL, ANI> ANIMAL KINGDOMS GEOLOGY 
 
 STAPLE PRODUCE — POPULATION — COMMERCE — GOVERNMENT — FINANCE 
 VALUE OF PROPERTY, &C. 8iC. 
 
 Locality. Most favourably situate for commerce, maritime 
 strength, and political importance, at the mouths of the 
 mighty Orinoco, as if destined by nature to form a barrier 
 for restraining the impetuosity of its rapid tides and cui'rents,* 
 — the picturesque and valuable island of Trinidad extends 
 from Lat. 9.30 to 10.51 N. and Long. 60.30 to 61.20 W. 
 separated from the province of Cumana, on the S. American 
 continent, by the gulf of Paria; ninety miles long by fifty 
 broad, with an area of 2,400 square miles, or 1,536,000 acres. 
 General History. He who may be said to have dis- 
 covered a new world for the purpose of giving a stimulus to 
 the old, Christopher Columbus, was the discoverer of this 
 fertile isle, on the 31st July, 1498, during his third voyage. 
 According to some, it was named Trinidad by that wonderful 
 man, while distant thirteen leagues S.E. from it, on account 
 of the three mountain tops seen in that position. According 
 to others, it was thus named, in conformity to the piety of the 
 times, in honour of the Holy Trinity. The island was then 
 densely peopled by Caribs of a mild disposition, of much 
 industry, finely formed, and of a lighter colour than the 
 aborigines or inhabitants of the other islands. These people 
 remained unmolested until the Spaniards took possession of 
 Trinidad in 1588, when they fell a sacrifice to the cupidity 
 and religious bigotry of the Castilians, who, as in Jamaica, 
 
 * The E. mouth of the Orinoco, or Creal Serpent, is alxuit nine :niles 
 wide.
 
 2\i GENERAL HISTORY OF TRINIDAD. 
 
 drafted ofF to the mines those who escaped a more san- 
 guinary death by fire or the sword ; hut a few, indeed, were 
 saved by the apostle of the New Workl — the benign, the 
 eloquent, the heroic Las Casas.*' The occupying Spaniards 
 forced the Indians to cultivate, as servants, that which they 
 once held as masters, and negroes were brought in from Africa 
 to aid their labours. The chivalrous Sir Walter Raleigh 
 visited Trinidad in 1595, and states that the inhabitants then 
 cultivated excellent tobacco and sugar canes. The Spaniards, 
 to divert his attention, described to him the El-Dorado, where 
 the rivers were full of gold dust ; but, on Raleigh's return 
 from exploring the Orinoco, he entered into a treaty with the 
 Indians (then at mortal enmity with the Spaniards), marched 
 with them, attacked and carried by assault the capital of San 
 Josef, and put the garrison of thirty men to the sword. The 
 English Government disowned this action of hostilities ; yet 
 Spain paid little attention to her valuable possession, being 
 then fully occupied with conquests on the contiguous conti- 
 nent. The population and trade of Trinidad were subsequeutly 
 almost extinguished,}- and, in 1783, the island contained but 
 a very small number of inhabitants considering its long settle- 
 ment ;]: while its sole commerce consisted in bartering cocoa 
 and indigo for coarse cloths and agricultural implements with 
 the smugglers from St. Eustatia. The severing of the British 
 
 * Mr. Burnly, a Member of Council for Trinidad, on perusing- my 
 manuscript, has appended to it the following' note: — 'I consider the ac- 
 counts of the cruelties of the Spaniards to be very apocryphal. The Indians 
 died oflf because they endured no labour, which must have been the opinion 
 of Las Casas, who first recommended the introduction of Africans — cer- 
 tainly not for the purpose of being- worked to death.' Unfortunately for 
 the memory of the Spaniards of those days, their demoniac cruelties were 
 attested by too many eye-witnesses to admit of doubt. The Indians were 
 drafted by their tyrants from the islands to work on the main land, and 
 the ol)ject of Las Casas in recommending the introduction of Africans, was 
 to save the Indians from total dcstruclion. 
 
 t In 16/6 Trinidad was captured by tne French, but almost immediately 
 restored to Spain. 
 
 I Viz. whites \-J(\, free ndoured 2n5, slaves 310, and Indians 2,032.
 
 NEGLECTED AT FIRST BY THE SPANIARDS. 215 
 
 provinces in N. America from the mother country, and the 
 fear that the Castilian dominions in S. Amarica would follow 
 the example thus set them, induced the Council of the Indies 
 at Madrid to lend a willing ear to an enterprizing planter, 
 named Saint Laurent, who had visited Trinidad, from Gre- 
 nada, and thence proceeded home to enlighten the Spanish 
 Government as to its true interests, not merely in reference 
 to the fertility of the island, but as a commercial emporium 
 at the mouths of the Orinoco, as also in regard to the nu- 
 merous advantages of its geographical position in a political 
 point of view. The ministers entered actively into the views of 
 Saint Laurent ; many embarrassments under which Trinidad 
 laboured with respect to its commerce and agriculture were re- 
 moved ; an edict was passed, permitting all foreigtiers of the 
 Roman Catholic rehgion to estabhsh themselves in the colony, 
 and they were protected for five years from being pursued for 
 debts incurred in the places the new colonists had quitted. 
 In consequence of these measures, and owing to the indo- 
 mitable energies of Laurent, as also to the disturbed state of 
 St. Domingo, which drove numerous planters with their slaves 
 from that island, crowds of adventurers and abundance of 
 capital poured into Trinidad from Europe, from continental 
 America, and from the British and French possessions in the 
 west, bringing their industry, skill,* and perhaps ill-gotten 
 wealth (the property of numerous creditors, who could not 
 touch them for five years), for the benefit of their new home. 
 The number of inhabitants, as will be seen under the head 
 of population, rapidly increased ; and, as a mixed society, 
 
 * In 1/87 j^J. (^le la Perouse established the first su^ar plantation, and 
 in 1797 there were 159 large sugar plantations, 130 coffee farms, 60 cocoa 
 ditto, and 103 cotton ditto, besides many small plantations, the whole 
 yielding 7,800 hds. of sugar, 330,000 lbs. of coffee, 96,000 lbs. of cocoa, 
 and 224,000 lbs. of cotton ; and while in 1783 a Dutch house at St. Eustatia 
 carried on all the commerce of the colony in a vessel of 150 tons burthen, 
 in 1802 the island employed 15,000 tons of shipping for the transport of 
 its produce ; such have ever been the beneficial etFects of relieving the in- 
 dustry of raan from shackle? and impediments on free intercourse with his 
 fellows.
 
 216 BRITISH CAPTURE OF TRINIDAD. 
 
 containing the germs of so many evil passions, required - 
 vigorous control, a strong government was formed under Don 
 Josef Chacon, a naval captain, one of whose earliest measures 
 was the expulsion of the dissolute monks, the prevention of 
 the demoniacal inquisition, the granting of fertile lands 
 to new colonists, with advances from the royal treasury to 
 purchase cattle and implements of husbandry, and the pro- 
 viding freedom and safety for mercantile speculations. The 
 revolution in France, and the disturbances in her colonies, 
 added numbers and wealth to Trinidad ; the whole face of 
 the island was changed ; and, in four years, the magnificent 
 capital of Port of Spain usurped the place of a few miserable 
 fishers' palm leaved huts. Trinidad was then a sixth dependant 
 on the government of Caraccas. 
 
 On the 16th of February, 1797, Admiral Harvey, with 
 four sail of the line, appeared off Trinidad; the Spanish 
 Rear Admiral, Apodaca, who then anchored at Chagaramus 
 with three first rate ships of the line and a fine frigate; 
 instead of giving battle to Harvey — burned his ships, — re- 
 treated to Port of Spain, reciting his rosary at the head of 
 a band of priests — ' well, Admiral,' said Chacon, * all is 
 lost, you have burned your ships." — * No,' said the gallant and 
 pious Admiral, ' I have saved the image of San Jago of Com- 
 postella, the patron of my ship and myself,' exhibiting the 
 image of the saint ! General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, with 
 4,000 men, marched to Port of Spain, and, after a few dis- 
 charges of artillery, Trinidad became a British colony. 
 
 Physical Aspect. — Trinidad appears, at a distance, like 
 an immense ridge of rocks along its whole N. front : but, on 
 entering the Gulf of Paria, the mind is imbued with intense 
 emotions on beholding one of the most magnificent, variegated, 
 richly luxuriant panoramas that nature ever formed ; to the 
 E. the waves of the mighty Orinoco dispute for the empire of 
 the ocean with contending billows ; the lofty mountains of 
 Cumana rise from the bosom of the horizon in stupendous ma- 
 jesty]; and on the W. appear the cape, headlands, mountains, 
 hills, vallies and plains of Trinidad, enamelled with eternal
 
 MAGNIFICENT ASPECT OF THE 'INDIAN PARADISE.' 2V7 
 
 verdure, and presenting a coup (Tceil of which the old world 
 affords no parallel. The view from the block-house is mag- 
 nificent, the deep blue waters of the gulf with the white- 
 sailed light canoes in the distance ; to the left the splendid 
 capital of Trinidad, in front the mountains of Cumana; and, 
 on the right, the picturesque valley of Diego Martin, ex- 
 tending across the island to the Atlantic, with its carefully 
 cultivated fields and deep foliaged woods. The batteries of 
 Fort George rise in succession from the gulf shores to the 
 barracks, 1,200 feet above the level of the sea.* A range of 
 slightly elevated mountains occupy the N. coast; a group of 
 finely wooded flat or round topped hills the centre ; and a 
 chain of fertile evergreen downs the S. coast of the island. The 
 fecundity of the soil, its gigantic and magnificent vegetation, 
 (compared with which the loftiest European trees are like 
 dwarfish shrubs, and our loveliest flowers appear pale and 
 inanimate,) its beautiful rivers, enchanting slopes, forests of 
 palms, groves of citrons, and hedges of spices and perfumes, — 
 its succulent roots, delicious herbs and fruits, abundant and 
 nourishing food on the earth, in the air, and in the water; — in 
 fine its azure skies, deep blue seas, fertile glades, and elastic 
 atmosphere, have each and all combined to crown Trinidad 
 with the appellation of The Indian Paradise. 
 
 Puerto D'Esjmna, or Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad, 
 embosomed in an amphitheatre of hills, is one of the finest 
 towns in the West Indies. The numerous buildings are of 
 an imposing appearance, and constructed of massive cut 
 
 * This fort commands the pass leading to Dieg-o Martin's vallev, and iu 
 the event of war, a few judiciously disposed fortifications at the other en- 
 trances to the interior of the country would render the island impregnable. 
 The entrenchments are elevated along several ridges and round backed divi- 
 sions, with a variety of surface : some part of whichare sufficiently flat for the 
 erection of military works, and on the best of these, at the elevation of 1000 
 feet, is the Blockhouse barracks, calculated for 200men. Fort George is inac- 
 cessible from behind, and not commanded by any hill in its neighbourhood, 
 it is admirably fortified by batteries that are disposed, as it were, along th(? 
 two sides of an acute angled triangle terminating on a point at the Block- 
 house redoubt, each commands the other, according to the situation in 
 which they arc placed.
 
 218 PORT OF SPAIN. — MOUNTAINS, 
 
 stone. No houses are allowed to be erected of wood, or in- 
 dependent of a prescribed form : the streets are wide, long, 
 (shaded with trees), and laid out in parallel lines from the 
 land to the sea, intersected, but not intercepted by cross 
 streets, thus catching every breeze that blows ; and as-inmost 
 tropical countries, there is a delightful embowered public walk. 
 Among the principal buildings the Protestant church stands 
 conspicuously and beautifully situate, with a large enclosed 
 lawn in front, surrounded on two sides by the best houses of 
 the capital ; the interior of the church is superb, and at the 
 same time elegant, its sweeping roof and aisless sides being 
 variegated with the various rich woods of the island, tastefully 
 arranged ; there is also a splendid Roman Catholic church, 
 and well situate ; and an extensive market-place, with market- 
 house and shambles, all built since the burning of the town in 
 1808, of handsome cut stone. 
 
 The Port of Spain is divided into barrios or districts, each 
 under the superintendance of alcaldes or magistrates and 
 officers, who are responsible for the cleanliness of the 
 streets, for the regulating and order of the markets, and 
 for the due execution of the law in their several divisions ; 
 hence the policy and good order established in the capital is 
 admirable. The St. James' barracks for the accommodation 
 of six hundred men are substantially, and I may add, 
 beautifully erected, on a fine plain, about a mile from the 
 capital. 
 
 Mountains. The highest range of land (about 3,000 feet) 
 is to the N. near the sea ; in the centre of the isle is a less 
 elevated group of mountains, to the S. a series of lovely 
 hills and mounds appear in delightful contrast to the northern 
 shore ; and as on the contiguous coast of Cumana, the chain of 
 mountains in the N. of Trinidad runs E. and W, Las 
 Cuevas has a double summit, with a magnificent platform in 
 the centre, from which there is a view of the ocean E. and 
 W. ; four delightful vallics, watered by numerous rivulets, 
 add beauty to this charmhig landscape. 
 
 Rivers. On the W. coast the principal navigable streams 
 arc the Cayo)ii, Chaifucoias. Borrajiconcs, CGi/rrt, Giiar((carn,
 
 RIVERS, HARBOURS, AND BAYS OF TRINIDAD. 219 
 
 and Sissaria ; the first is navigable from its mouth in the 
 gulph, to its junction with the Aripo,*' (also navigable) a dis- 
 tance of six leagues ; the Guanaba, like the Arijjo, flows into 
 the Caroni, but has less water ; there are many other streams 
 on the W. coast, which being navigable for small trading 
 vessels, afford great facilities for the cultivation of land, and 
 the transport of its produce. The N. and E. coasts are well 
 furnished with rivers and rivulets of pure and crystalline 
 water; the principal on the E. coast are the Rio Grande, 
 Oropuclie, and Nariva, (called by the Creoles Mitan, from its 
 flowing through a grove of cocoa trees). This fatter has been 
 sailed up seven and a half leagues, and found navigable for a 
 two hundred and fifty ton ship, at less than a league from its 
 source. Guatavo, to windward of the island, is large, but not 
 navigable to any great extent, for more than small boats ; 
 further S. is the fine river Moruga,j; while in every direction 
 limpid brooks run murmuring over pebbly beds to the ocean, 
 through lofty forests and the most picturesque scenery. 
 
 Harbours and Bays. The gulf of Paria, formed by the 
 W. shore of Trinidad, and the opposite coast of Cumana 
 (which is thirty leagues long and fifteen ditto from N. to S.), 
 may be said to form one vast harbour, as ships may anchor 
 all over the gulf in from three to six fathom water, on gravel 
 and mud soundings. The principal ports are, first, the har- 
 bour of Port Royal, C/iagarmnus, on the N. W. peninsula 
 of the island, at the entrance of the N. mouth, three leagues 
 W. of Port of Spain, and comprehending a space of about 
 seventy square miles ; it is esteemed the best and safest port 
 
 * It lias been proposed to cut a canal between tlie Aripo and the Oro- 
 puche, which discharges itself on the E. coast of the island, where the 
 navigation is difficult and the anchorage insecure, when the winds are 
 northerly or easterly; thus a safe communication would be established 
 between the two coasts of Trinidad, and be the means of bringing into cul- 
 tivation a great quantity of fertile land. 
 
 t The rivers on the E. coast, especially that of Moruga, have abundance 
 of excellent oysters attached to the stems and branches of the Mangrove 
 bushes, as I found them on the shores of Africa, where our sailors used to 
 say it WHS the first time they ever saw xuc/i fnnt on trees.
 
 220 THE BOCAS OR ENTPvANCES TO THE 
 
 in the island, is capable of receiving the largest ships of war, 
 has from four to forty fathoms soundings of gravel and mud, 
 or ouze, with bold and steep northern shores. 
 
 Port of Spain, on the W. coast, which gives its name to the 
 capital, is the next best harbour, and has one of the most 
 extensive bays in the world ; the surrounding fortified heights 
 completely command the town, and a fine stone quay, 
 running several hundred yards into the sea, has a strong 
 battery at its extremity. All the W. coast is a series of bays 
 where vessels may anchor in safety at all times. The Ca- 
 reenage, not having more than two to four fathoms, is only 
 * fit for small vessels; and Gasper Grande is an islet within 
 the mouths, where the Spanish ships of war were wont to 
 anchor under the safeguard of a battery intended for the 
 protection of the passage. The N. and E. coasts are not 
 equally well furnished with harbours and roadsteads, which is 
 the more to be regretted, as the wind blows for three-fourths 
 of the year from the east and north. The principal ports to the 
 N. are Maqueribe and Las Cuevas, (where fort Abercrombie 
 is situate) ; to the N. E. are the ports of Rio Grande, Toco, 
 and Cumana ; on the E. is Balandra Bay, or Boat Island, 
 where safe anchorage may at all times be found for small 
 vessels; further E. are Guiascreek and Mayaro Bay; the 
 safest port on the E. coast is Guaiguaire, from its being 
 sheltered by a point of land against E. winds, and its en- 
 trance to the S. from which tlic winds are neither frequent 
 nor violent.* 
 
 ♦ The Bocds, or mouths of the N. entrances of the gulf of Paria, are 
 four — Boca Grande, or great channel ; Boon de Nav'ws, or ships' channel ; 
 Buca \uevos, or egg, or umbrella, channel (from the appearance of a re- 
 markable tree, growhig upon a rock on the lee side, much resembling an 
 umbrella) ; and the Boca de Monas, or apes' channel. In sailing for the 
 Port of Spain, vessels generally pass through one of these passages into 
 the gulf of Paria ; and, as the currents must be particularly attended to, 
 and the navigation is very intricate, the following sailing instructions are 
 subjoined from the Trinidad Almanac for 1832 : — 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR VESSELS COMING TO TRINIDAD. 
 
 To run ituwn the Korth Shore from Point Galere to the Buca.s. 
 After passing Toco Bay, haul in for the land and run down the Coast about one mile dis-
 
 GULF OF PARIA — SAILING DIRECTIONS. 221 
 
 Geology. Trinidad, as viewed from the Gulf of Paria, 
 presents an alluvial country in an active state of formation ; 
 
 tant from the shore ; you will find anchorage in regular soundings (as laid down in Captain 
 Columbine's Chart) all along the coast until you come abreast of the Bocas ; when the 
 water becomes very bold and no safe anchorage, except on the North side of the island of 
 Huevos, distance about half a mile. The soundings in and about the Bocas are also cor- 
 rectly laid down in Captain Columbine's Chart, with which every vessel should be provided. 
 Should the current be running to leeward and the wind light, you should anchor and wait a 
 favourable change, to push at once through the Bocas. By not anchoring in such cases, 
 vessels are frequently drifted to leeward altogether, or so far in the offing, that when the 
 current changes and a favourable breeze springs up, they are unable to take advantage of 
 them to get at once through the Bocas, being so far off it takes nearly the whole day to re- 
 gain their lost ground, and by the time they beat up abreast of the Bocas again, the breeze 
 dies away, the current sits out, and away they drift to leeward as before, and are frequently 
 baffled in this way, backwards and forwards for days together. To this cause is principally 
 to be attributed the frequent occurrence of vessels remaining so long outside without being 
 able to get into the Gulph of Paria. Strangers are apt to keep out too far from the land in 
 running down this coast. The currents are very irregular outside, and about the Bocas, 
 and much stronger during the wet season than at any other time of the year, particularly at 
 the full and change. The winds prevail from the Northward duringthe months of November, 
 December, January, and February; from the East in March, April, May, and June; calm 
 •and variable in July, August, September, and October, when they are generally southerly. 
 The most favourable time for entering the Bocas is about two hours after the tide begins to 
 flow, and for going out, one hour after ebb commences. 
 
 Vessels in want of water can be supplied at Toco, Point Sans Souci, Rio Grand, Petit 
 Matelot, Rio Paria, Escuvas, Maraccas Bay, Chute d'Eau, and Macaripe. 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING THE BOCAS, AND NAVIGATION OF THE GULF 
 
 OF PARIA. 
 
 BOCA GRAXDE. 
 
 The current sets very strongly from the S. E. upon the southern and eastern coast of the 
 island, and is particularly rapid in the stiait between the southern coast and the Continent, 
 through which it sets into the Gulph of Paria ; another current sets along the northern 
 coast, from the eastward in a W.by S. direction, and having a tendency to the southward 
 on the S. E. coast of Cumana or Paria. The effects of these currents is an accumulation of 
 water, which seeks an escape to the northward from the Gulph of Paria, and which must 
 naturally be increased in the rainy seasons by the influx from the surrounding lands. 
 
 As the water seeks its escape through the Bocas to the northward, it meets the westerly 
 current from the north-eastward, which so far opposes it as to cause perpetual agitation of 
 the sea. It was from this circumstance that Columbus called these passages Bocas del 
 Dragon, or Dragon's Mouth. 
 
 Shipping bound for the Port generally run down to the northward of the Island, with the 
 advantage of wind and current, for the Boca Grande, or Dragon's Mouth, passing to the 
 westward of the Isle of Chacachacareo. This passage is more than five miles broad, with a 
 depth of not less than fifty fathoms. In entering, you must be very cautious not to get too 
 far to leeward, for the current may be so strong as to render it impossible for you to gain 
 the Port. It is therefore recommended that you haul round the western side of Chacacha- 
 careo, not however within the distance of a mile, from the south-westernmost land. Having 
 passed the rock laid down on the Chart, make a long board to the S. E., and then, as the 
 wind permits, to the N. E. for the road, wherein you may anchor at pleasure, in 3, 4, oi 5 
 fathoms, in good holding ground. 
 
 The above-mentioned Rock, laid down in the Chart to the S. W. of Chacachacareo, is about 
 forty yards in circumference, and is said to have only nine feet water over it on the shoalest
 
 222 NAUTICAL INSTRIUTIONS Foil N WKiATOKS. 
 
 the primitive foundations of the land arranged in a form 
 nearly semilunar, incline as with outstretched arms to receive 
 
 part at low water. On the morning of the 25th of June, I8O9, the ship Samuel, Captain 
 SuGOREE, of London, drawing 17 feet water, struck upon it, and remained fast for several 
 hours. While this ship was agrround, two others passed, one on each side, without touching:, 
 although not 25 fathoms distant : the water beiufr very deep all round. The bearings, by 
 compass, from the Ship were, Chacachacareo, southwest Point, E. N. E. ; El Plato, or Goose 
 Island, S.W. by W. i W. -, the south-east Point of Cumana, or Paria, \V. by S. The cur- 
 rent was setting verj- strongly from the southward, with light variable winds. 
 
 BOCA DK NAVIOS. OR SHIp's PASSAGE. 
 
 The Boca de Navios, or Ships' Passage, is considered as the best channel for Ships sailing 
 outwards. It is about one mile and a half broad, and steep on each side. Here, as in the 
 Boca Grande it is proper to keep the eastern land on board. To Ships which may attempt 
 this passage from the northward, the wind wiU be favourable until within the head, but 
 flaws from the high land may then be expected. 
 
 BOCA HUEVOS. 
 
 Boca Hiievos has been considered by many the best, shortest, and most convenient pas. 
 sage for ships bound inwards ; but experience has proved the contrary. It is known to be a 
 very dangerous passage for large vessels. The high landon the Monos side causes frequent 
 sudden flaws, succeeded by almost instantaneous calms ; the current sits strong over upon 
 the windward shore, drawing you at the same time into a small Bay on the north-west end 
 of Monos, full of sunken rocks, where the Xaparima was lost. The indraft into this Bay is 
 very extraordinary and rapid : so much so, as to have caused its being named by the fisher- 
 men " The Devil's Hole." Small vessels acquainted with this place may anchor in front 
 of the Bay, in 10 to 15 fathoms water ; foul bottom ; but large class of vessels have not suf- 
 ficient room to swim clear of the rocks. Vessels attempting this channel should be careful 
 to keep the lee shore aboard, as less dangerous and more likely to carry a breeze through. 
 This passage should never be attempted with a scant wind. 
 
 BOCA MOVOS, OR APES' PASSAGE. 
 
 This Boca is next to Trinidad ; the passage is narrow and dangerous in several places, 
 particularly at the outer entrance, where there is a sunken rock extending from the South 
 side of the small Island in this channel, towards the Island of Monos, upon which are 
 breakers, yet there is ground all the way through, in which vessels may anchor in 25 to 30 
 fathoms ; the currents are here strong and irregular, and the wind generally scant, coming 
 in flaws down the vallies. This passage is recommended for vessels under 50 tons. 
 
 S/*i7> Calypso, Wednesday I3th December, 1826. 
 ' Approached the Grand Bocas at 6 o'clock, p. m. with a fair wind, but on entering at eight 
 the breeze died away, and the ship drifted back with the current. The calm continued till 
 nine next morning, when a breeze sprung up which enabled her to stand in till ten when it 
 again became calm, but the ship was carried through by the current. At 11 o'clock Captain 
 M'Arthi'r discovered on thestarboard side aCoral Rock, which on sounding proved to have 
 15 feet water over it. He then lowered the jolly boat and found the Rock to be nearly half 
 a, mile in circumference, having only nine feet water over it on the shoalest part. Captaia 
 M'Artuir with a view that measures may be taken to have a permanent mark placed over 
 the Rock, has left a buoy on the spot.* It bore E. by N. per compass from the innermost 
 point of the Bocas. 
 
 The following further directions will be found deserving of attention ; 
 and I subjoin them because I wish the History of the British Colonies to be 
 a useful work to every captain of a ship or navigator. Mr. Norrie says 
 that if the navigator — 
 
 Should enter by the Boca Grande, it will be highly requisite that he should remember and 
 
 * This buoy has since, however, been washed away.
 
 CURRENTS AND ANCHORAGES IN THE GULF. 223 
 
 into their bosoms the greater portion of the alluvies from the 
 mouths of the mighty Orinoco ; the currents, deeply charged 
 
 g-nard ag-ainst the effect of the current descrihert (p. 221 ; for otherwise he will find himself 
 driven too far to leeward, and have grreat difficulty in beating up for the port ; it will, 
 therefore, be advisable, in taking this passage, to haul immediately round the /.s/nni Cha. 
 cachacarreo, giving its S. W. part a berth of a good mile, and having passed the Diamond 
 Rock, make a long board to the S. eastward, then, should the wind permit, steer north- 
 easterly for the road. Or in entering by either of the Boen*, so soon as you have passed 
 through, and are to the southward of them, you should haul by the wind on the larboard 
 tack, both to get away from the Bocas, and to near the coast of Trinidad ; follow this track 
 while the flood tide lasts, and take the starboard tack fo soon as the ebb begins ; by which 
 means you will either fetch the anchorage, or approach very near to it. 
 
 Some persons consider it preferable, after they have entered the Gti!f, to work tack and 
 tack, especially should the larboard tack be not favourable, but it should be remembered, 
 that the currents always run strongest opposite and near to the straits ; therefore beginning 
 to tack too much within the vicinity of the Bocas, the ebb tide will endanger their being 
 forced out again, or to prevent that, they wUl be compelled to anchor; and should neither 
 of these events take place, they will meet the ebb, which wiil in all probability hinder their 
 reaching Port Spain. On the contrary, by prolonging their track well into the Gulf, even to 
 the parelle! of Mount Xaparima, if necessary, they there will find the ebb tide most advan- 
 tageous for the starboard tack, so that they may either pi oportion their course, so as to reach 
 the anchorage, or may gain it bymakinsa short tack. Whenever it happens to be a calm, or 
 the wind so light that you are unable to gain any thinj, then come to with your kedge, and 
 that will be sufficient to hold you against the strength of the tide. You should avoid usin? 
 your large anchors, if possible, because they sink so deep, you will have difficulty to pur. 
 chasing them again. 
 
 Or, having safely cleared the JBoeos, and got well within the Gul/of Porta, you will perceive 
 St. David's Tower, standing above the Town of Spain, come open to the southward of the 
 Island of Caspar Grande ; this will be visible 4 or 5 leagues ; it is built of white stone, and 
 stands in the interior of t!ie fortifications upon Ahercromhifs Heights ; in sailiiis up, as you 
 advance, with the tower E. by \. you will see the forts 6n Caspar Grande and Point Gorda, 
 which protect the careenage and the anchorage in Cliaguaramus Harbour, after which the 
 shipping off the town will become visible. In Puerto d'Espagne you may anchor to the S. 
 westward of the town, in 5 or 4 fathoms water, agreeable to the size of your vessel, and 
 moor with your bowers N. W. and S. E., having a stream cable and anchor out astern. It 
 is high water at Puerto d'Espagne at half-past four, full and change, and spring tides rise 6 
 and 7 feet. 
 
 Should a vessel happen to drive from her anchors, she will go on soft ground, and receive 
 no damage; the best place to run aground is in the N. W. part of the bay. The town has a 
 stone jetty, and is defended by batteries : a white half-moon battery forms a good mark for 
 the bay, and is visible a long way off; large ships should bring this battery to bear 
 N. N. E. 
 
 All the western coast of Trinidad is low, except the Mount Xaparima, which forms a con . 
 spicuous object, being 602 feet above the level of the sea; this appears round, and may be 
 seen in clear weather full lo leagues off. The adjacent sliores of the continent to the west- 
 ward are low, swampy, and full of rivulets ; the most considerable river is that of GaaW- 
 peche, which is navigable for the largest schooners, and by which the commerce of the 
 interior of Cumuna is principally carried on. 
 
 There are many places on the western coast of Trinidad where you may obtain fresh 
 ■water ; and from Point Icaque, or Ycacos, to Point Breu, or Pitch Point, the flood tide sets 
 to the southward and westward, and the ebb to the northward and eastward. From Point 
 Brea, to Pnerto d'Espagne it follows the diiection of the land, with very little difference, the 
 flood setting south, and the ebb north. 
 
 The best anchorages, on the northens shores of Trinidad, are in the bays of Toco, Bio
 
 221 GEOLOGY OF TRINIDAD. 
 
 with this alluvial soil, drive along the cliffy sides of the nor- 
 thern ridge and southern shores, (from which they borrow in 
 
 Grande, Piinta de Chuparas, Las Cuevas, Marncas, and to tbe leeward of Marabaral, in which 
 water may be obtained, there being a beach, wliich renders the acquisition easy. All along^ 
 the whole coast, and for the distance of three leagues outside, the stream runs north-east- 
 ward, or rather east, with the ebb tide, and S. W. with the flood, but beyond those limits its 
 general tendency is S. W. ; and the same direction prevails between Trinidad and Tobago, 
 only the ebb is less rapid than tbe flood. 
 
 Although from the parallel of the middle of Tobrign, the island of Tobago may easily be 
 distinguished in clear weather, yet you will not be able to see Point Galera at the distance 
 of more than three leagues, on account of its being so much lower than the coast to the 
 wcstwcird, and its projecting out from the main land ; but in coming from the eastward the 
 mountains at the back of the Point will be visible 11 or 12 leagues. All the eastern coast, 
 Southward from Salibia to Point Galiote, is muchlower, except near Point Manzinilla, whence 
 four mountains rise to the W. S. W., which may be seen 8 or 9 leagues oflf ; this is the be- 
 ginning of the middle ridge of hills, and here named the Barrancas of Manzinilla ; here also 
 is the entrance to the River Le Brunche, from whence the canal is intended to be made to 
 join the River Caroni. 
 
 To the southward is Guuiaro Point, which may readily be known by its stretching out 
 from the coast to seaward, and by the height 6i the tongue that forms it ; from hence there 
 are many plantations of cocoa, cotton, coflfee, and sugar ; a little northward of the Point is 
 a landing-place, and here the River Guataro, or Ortoire empties itself into tbe sea, after 
 having sent some branches to the northward, which are navigated by canoes and small 
 craft. Poi«<Go/(o<« may be seen at the distance of six or seven leagues; here the hills begin 
 to rise, and stretch along the whole southern coast, rising to 760 feet above the level of the 
 sea ; the highest of these is situated a little to the westward of the Punta de Caza Cruz ; 
 thence they continue so far as Point Herin ; and from Point Herin to Point league, or 
 Ycacos, they diminish in size, until the last point becomes a low beach. 
 
 It is observable, that on all the eastern coast there is no good watering place ; the large 
 rivers discharge themselves into the bays of Matnra and Cocas, called also Mnnzanilla and 
 Guataro, the bars of which are too shallow to allow even a canoe to pass them. There are 
 several places of temporary anchorages, as shewn on the chart, but they are none of them 
 safe, being too much exposed to the eastward. The current here sets north, but with much 
 less force during the ebb than the flood ; this is also accompanied by a heavy swell of the 
 sea, especially during a gale of wind, which renders a near approach to the shore extremely 
 dangerous. 
 
 On the southern coast you cannot obtain fresh water, except a little to the westward of the 
 Point of Casa Cruz ; here a torrent from the southern mountains precipitates itself into a 
 hole or well near the shore ; but its attainment is always attended with trouble and dif- 
 ficulty. The current along the coast is always westerly, and commonly at the rate of two 
 aud two and a half miles an hour. 
 
 To enter the Gulf of Paria by the Southern Channel, which is generally preferred during 
 the rainy season, or from July to December, the mariner should direct his course for Point 
 Galiote, which is situate in latitude 10. 9. 30. N., and will easily be recognized. Having made 
 and rounded this point, you may run along to the westward, keeping about two miles off the 
 land, where yon will find from 8 to 12 fathoms water, free from every danger, the bottom 
 being generally sand and gravel. Having arrived to the vicinity of Point Herin, you will 
 experience a change in the colour of the sea, but this is occasioned solely by the current, 
 and there is no impediment whatever; proceeding onward you will pass Point Quemada, or 
 Burnt Point ; here you may approach within half a mile of the shore without fear, for there 
 is no danger, and take whatever channel you find most convenient. 
 
 THE FIRST CHANNEL is formed by and between Point Fcflco.? and a shoal of 9 feet water, 
 wliich lies to tlie westward of the point, at the distance of about half a mile from the land ; 
 this shoal is two cables' length from east to west, and has a rocky bottom ; but the channel
 
 CHANNELS OF THE HOCAS. 225 
 
 their course), to deposit their lading at the bottom of the 
 gulf where the metropolis, at the base of its beautiful moun- 
 
 between it and the point has a depth of 8 and 10 fathoms, and Point I'cacos is so bold, that 
 at half a cables' distance from it, there is 8 and 9 fathoms water. The current here runs to 
 the S. W. with the flood, at the rate of 2i miles an hour, and with the ebb it sets N. W. with 
 the Telocity of 3 and 3^ miles an hour. 
 
 To enter bij this channel, you have only to round Point Ycacos, at less distance than a cable's 
 length, luffing: upas you double it, until you are close hauled ; steer on to the northward, 
 weathering at a proper distance the Points Corral and Gullu. This channel is not dangerous 
 by day or by night, especially with an ebb tide, the current of which will always assist you 
 in passing the shoal to leeward ; besides, you can anchor, if necessary, and never run the 
 least danger of getting on shore, while you will leave the shoal at least 3 cables' length from 
 your vessel. 
 
 THE SECOND CHANNEL is formed by the above rocky shoal, and another of gravel and 
 rocks to the N. Westward of it, and on which there are four fathoms water. This shoal lies 
 from Point Gallo W. S. W. i W. distant 3 miles, and from Point Ycacos W. N. W. ^ W. 
 distant two miles, its greatest extent being three-quarters of a mile N. W. and S. E.; this 
 passage is a mile wide, and the currents take the same direction as in the first channel. 
 
 To enter by the second channel, it will be advisable, after you have made Point Quemada, 
 and run from thence along the coast about a quarter of a mile, to steer towards the Soldado, 
 or Soldiers' Island; and keep on the same course until the whnls of Point Gallo Is open of 
 Corral Point, when you should luff up ; but not higher to the N. N. E., until you get east 
 and west with Point Corral, when you may haul close to the wind in order to near 
 Trinidad. 
 
 THE THIRD CHANNEL is formed by and between the last mentioned shoal and the 
 Soldado Island, with its reefs and shoals to the S. Eastward ; this channel is nearly two 
 miles in extent, from east to west ; two and a half cables' length from the eastern part of 
 the Snldado's reefs, you will have 7 fathoms water ; in the middle of the passage are 9 
 fathoms, and near the shoal 6 fathoms. To enter by this third channel, you should first steer 
 for the island, as directed, to the second channel, and continue that course until Point Gallo 
 bears N. by E. ^ E. ; when luff up north, until the south front of Point Ycacos comes E. S. E. 
 i E., and Point Gallo E. by N. ; then haul up to fetch the coast of the island. With the flood 
 tide, the stream sets W. by S., at the rate of 3 and 3J miles an hour, and with the ebb N. W. 
 and W. N. W. near Soldado, and in mid-channel, with the velocity of 4 and 4j miles an 
 hour. The above passages are commonly denominated the SerpenVs Mouths. 
 
 THE FOURTH, or SOLDIER'S CHANNEL, is formed by the Soldado, or Soldier's Island, 
 and the coast of Colombia or Larid of Orinoco ; this is about 4 miles in extent, and the current 
 within it, in raid-channel and near the Soldado, always runs at the rate of 4J and 5 miles an 
 hour; but the stream slackens its velocity to one mile and a half, as it approaches the 
 opposite shore, which is low, and shallows to a considerable distance. 
 
 To enter by the fovrth channel, you should steer so as pass two miles to the southward of 
 the Soldado i and when you bring that islet N.E. bear up north, and run afterwards, luffing 
 up successfully, by little and Utile, until you haul by the wind to gain the coast of Trinidad; 
 but you should be very careful, in passing to the southward of the Soldado, not to go nearer than 
 the above-mentioned distance, lest the current, which sets strongly to the N. Westward, 
 should entangle you with the rocky reefs, with which the island is encumbered. 
 
 From a consideration of what has been said, it will readily be seen, that at whatever time 
 you may enterthe Southern Bocas, or Soldier's and Serpent's Channels, even if by night, the 
 first channel is the most advantageous ; not only because it lies to the windward of all the 
 others, but because, by lufSng, especially with ebb tides, you will pass every danger ; in- 
 deed, there will be no danger whatever, if you keep an anchor ready to let go, in the event of 
 its suddenly falling quite calm ; or any other accident should happen calculated to drift the 
 vessel towards the shoals ; and by night no other Boca can be taken so readily as this, 
 because you will have to pass at less distance than a cables' length from the point; this will 
 
 VOL ir. Q
 
 226 PORT OF SPAIN — HARBOUR REGULATIONS. 
 
 tain stands. The tides, (which there rise higher by several 
 feet than in any other part of the AVest Indies,) flow muddy 
 
 render the obscurity of the night of little importance, as you will be able to discern your 
 passage, and the shore at so short a distance from you. 
 
 Should, however, circumstances occur, from calms or otherwise, to hinder you taking 
 your passage into the Gulf, then you can anchor in Herin Bay, or any where on the south 
 side of the Islnnd of Trinidad, until day-light ; but by no means should you lie off and on 
 the land, for the current, which always runs strongly in, will insensibly drift you towards 
 the Soldado, and you will find the utmost difficulty in maintaining your ground at any 
 given point. 
 
 Having passed either of the above channels, you will find yourself within the Gulf of Paria, 
 and you shape your course, so as to gain the western coast of the island, which you may 
 sail along at the distance of 2^ or 3 miles, so far as Brea Point, and from this Puerto d'Es- 
 pagne is distant 8 leagues, so that by steering N. N. E., you will soon see the town ; and in 
 case you should not be able to steer that course, you must tacic, and beat up, never standing 
 nearer to the shore than three miles, for the water along the coast becomes shallow ; but, 
 if you choose to prolong your tacks into the Bay of Naparitna, then you must tack 4 miles 
 from the coast, giving a wide berth to two shoals that are within it j the one W. i S. from 
 the mount, distant 2J miles ; the other W. S. W. ^ W. from it, distant 4 miles. 
 
 Vessels never attempt sailing out of the GK?/by the Saldado, or Southern Channel, because 
 of the current, which would render every attempt impracticable.* 
 
 REGULATIONS FOR THE HARBOUR OF PUERTO d'ESPAGNE, OR PORT OF 
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 1. No boats to go on board any vessel before the Harbour-master has visited; and no 
 boat to go on board after the vessel has been cleared by the Harbour-master, except the 
 boats of His Majesty's vessels, of the Custom-house, or such as have leave from the Har- 
 bour-master, under a penalty of one hundred dollars. 
 
 2. All vessels entering by day, must show their colours, and by night a light ; and 
 anchor where the Harbour-master shall point out ; the Master to report at the Government- 
 house immediately on landing. If intending to remain more than 48 hours, to moor from 
 the bows oneanchorto the N. Eastward ; to rigin their jib, outer jib, and main booms close, 
 and keep their boats and lighters alongside, under the penalty of one dollar per day, for 
 each day they shall remain without being so moored, with booms in ; and be accountable 
 for all damage any vessel or boat may sustain by their neglect. 
 
 .3. Masters of vessels must furnish the Harbour-master with a written account of all 
 passengers on board, and also a lurillen account of all the crew, specifying their situations : 
 and on the departure of the vessel, the Master must satisfactorily account for any altera- 
 tions, otherwise the vessel wUl be detained imtil security be given. 
 
 4. No foreigners, coloured persons, or slaves, can be landed, until written permission has 
 been obtained from the Government-hoose, nor any other passenger until reported to the 
 Harboiir-master j under the penalty of one hundred dollars. 
 
 5. No stones, sand, or dirt, to be thrown overboard in the harbour; but landed at the 
 place which the Harbour-master shall point out. No tar or pitch to be boiled On board ; 
 penalty, in each case, one hundred dollars. 
 
 6. None of the crew can be discharged here, without first obtaining leave from the Go- 
 vernor ; under penalty of one hundred dollars. Sailors deserting, must be reported to the 
 Harbour-master, and to the Chief of Police, within 24 hours after desertion, otherwise they 
 will be considered as discharged without leave. 
 
 7. Masters of vessels must give 24 hours ivritten notice to the Government Secretary, 
 
 • The Gulf of Paria is so abundant in fish, as to be capable of amply supplying the greater 
 part of the West India Islands.
 
 GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF TRINIDAD. 22T 
 
 and foul, and ebb with clear waters, which may be seen at 
 some distance from the shore ; each extent of new formation 
 being marked by muddy banks of Mangrove bushes ; in this 
 way Port of Spain — like, as Dr. Ferguson says, (of the ancient 
 Ostia, that was built upon the sea,) may become in time an 
 inland city, the metropolis of many other towns built on the 
 fertile and flourishing country.* 
 
 The island (as also Tobago) is evidently a section of the 
 opposite continent, formed either by a volcanic eruption or 
 oceanic irruption — the same strata of earth, the same rocks, 
 fossils, &c. are common to both. The nucleus of the moun- 
 tains is a very dense argillaceous schistus, becoming laminated 
 and friable when exposed to the atmosphere, and changing to 
 
 before their departure, of the port to which they are boiind ; a neglect of this will subject 
 them to 24 hours detention, after being cleared out. 
 
 8. No foreign vessel can lay off and on, without permission from the Governor; British 
 vessels can only lay off and on till 5 o'clock of the day they arrive ; provided they have no 
 passenger. Any vessel which has passengers on board, or intend to take off passengers, 
 must come to an anchor. 
 
 9. All sailors found on shore, withotit permission from their Captain, will be sent to gaol. 
 
 10. Masters of vessels who hire slaves, without a written permission from their Masters, or 
 Owners, subject themselves to all damages, and a fine of sixty dollars. 
 
 11. All sealed letters must be delivered to the Harbour-master. 
 
 12. Masters of vessels are warned not to allow any of their men to enter the town, above 
 the junction of the wharf and Marine-square, without permission from the Harbour-master, 
 under the penalty of fifty dollars for each offence. 
 
 13. All persons arriving in this colony, are to deliver their names to the Harbour-master, 
 on his ^•isit to the ship, declaring their number of servants, if free or slaves ; from that officer 
 they will, except in special cases, receive permission to land, when they must report to the 
 Government-house ; where, if English, they will show their passports, which will be in- 
 dorsed by the Secretary ; if foreigners they must obtain the Governor's license to reside in 
 this Colony. 
 
 14. All persons, British or foreigners, must apply to the Custom-house for permission to 
 land their slaves. 
 
 15. All persons importing slaves, as domestics or by bond, must lodge the Custom-house 
 certificate of their lawful importation, within twenty-one days, with the Registrar of 
 Slaves. 
 
 Seame;: . It is prohibited, even for temporary purposes, to employ, harbour, conceal, or 
 afford a residence, under any pretence, to any seaman, or person attached to any vessel, 
 unless they be furnished with a permission to remain on shore by the Harbour-master, 
 under penalty of £lOO., or suffer three months imprisonment. 
 
 * It has been observed, that the land encroaching on the sea on the 
 coast S. W. of Trinidad increases the territorial extent of the island ; and, 
 at some distant day, the Gulf of Paria will be a mere channel for the con- 
 veyance of the waters of the Orinoco and Guarapiche to the ocean.
 
 228 CONTRAST BETWEEN THE CUMANA & CARIDREAX MOUNTAINS. 
 
 micaceous sclnstus in the Inferior layers and near the beds of 
 rivers ; in the interstices of whicii latter, particularly to the 
 northward, are found great quantities of sulphureous pyrites 
 in cubic chrystals. There is no granite on the island (while 
 the Caribbean chain of mountains are principally composed 
 of that substance); but blocks of milky quartz, of different 
 sizes, are found in every valley, beneath which there is fre- 
 quently to be found a light layer of sulphate of lime ; on the 
 precipitous sides of the mountains, washed by the torrents, 
 maybe seen layers of a coarse argile, mixed with ferruginous 
 sand. Thus the absence of calcareous masses in Trinidad, 
 Tobago, and Cumana offers a strong geological contrast to 
 the Antilles, or Caribbean Mountains. Gypsum and lime- 
 stone are rare in Trinidad. One quarry of calcareous car- 
 bonate, situate at the foot of a hill near the Port of Spain, is 
 mixed with veins of silex and heterogeneous substances. 
 Considerable quantities of pulverating feldspar are found on 
 the rising ground, washed by the rains, near the Guapo 
 mouth and on its left banks. The micaceous schistus has 
 sometimes a transition into talcous schistus ; thus giving an 
 unctuous appearance to the soil. Near the coast are found 
 rocks of a bluish calcareous nature, veined with white calca- 
 reous carbonate, chrystalized, rather hard, and resting on 
 coagulated clay, with pebbles of primitive rocks. The mag- 
 netic needle indicates the presence of iron in many rocks ; 
 but volcanic convulsions have produced different effects from 
 similar eruptions in Europe : thus gypsum is found abounding 
 in sulphur and pyrites, mingled with granite. No vestiges of 
 organic bodies have been discovered ; maritime and land 
 shells (many of unknown and extinct species) are found in 
 the great alluvial plains ; and, although madrepore are drifted 
 on the coast, no coral banks exist. On the surface of the 
 soil of the vallies where rivers run, rounded pebbles are 
 observed ; but in the plains they disappear : this is particularly 
 the case on the E. and very rare on the W. coast. There 
 are several extensive vallies and plains of a deep and fertile
 
 PETREOLUM SULPHUR AND MUD VOLCANOES. 229 
 
 argillaceous vegetative earth, without a rock or even pebble 
 to be seen. 
 
 Volcanoes. There are several craters in Trinidad. S. of 
 Cape Dela Brea is a submarine volcano, which occasionally 
 boils up, and discharges a quantity of petreolum ; in the E. 
 part of the island and Bay of Mayaro is another, which, in 
 March and June, gives several detonations resembling thun- 
 der, — these are succeeded by flames and smoke, and, some 
 minutes after, pieces of bitumen, as black and brilliant as 
 jet, are thrown on shore. Near the forests of point Icacos, on 
 the summit of a hill of argillaceous clay, M. Levyasse found a 
 great number of little mounds, about two feet high, whose 
 truncated and open-coned tops exhaled a gas smelling like 
 sulphurated hydrogen ; one cone, of six feet high, on the 
 most elevated part of the hill, continually discharged whitish 
 matter, of an aluminous taste ; a sound was heard, indicating 
 a fluid in a continual state of agitation, and globules of an 
 elastic gas evaporated continually ; the scum at the top was 
 cold ; four poles, measuring sixty feet, did not touch bottom, 
 and disappeared on being let go. There is neither stone nor 
 sand within the circumference of a league of the cone ; but 
 handsome rounded pebbles were found round the hill, toge- 
 ther with small calcareous stones, encrusted with sulphur of 
 a prismatic form. Contiguous to this crater, and encompassed 
 by a marsh of mangroves, which communicate with the sea, is 
 another hillock, with a circular shallow cavity full of a boiling 
 liquid like alum ; a dull subterraneous sound was heard, the 
 earth was found to tremble under the feet of the explorers, 
 and two poles pushed into the crater disappeared in an instant ; 
 detonations like distant cannon are heard every year in the 
 month of March. It is remarkable that earthquakes, felt 
 violently in the Antilles in 1797, were not perceived at 
 Trinidad or in Cumana, and when the latter province was 
 shortly after desolated by terrible earthquakes, the shocks 
 were slightly felt in Trinidad, but not at all in the Antilles. 
 
 Mud Volcanoes. Forty miles S. of the Pitch Lake (vide 
 Mineral Kingdom), are several mud volcanoes, in a plain not
 
 230 GENERAL VIEW OF THE MUD VOLCANOES. 
 
 more than four feet above the general surface ; the largest is 
 about one hundred and fifty feet in diameter, and has boiling 
 mud constantly bubbling, but never overflowing, remaining 
 constantly within the surface of the crater. When the old 
 craters cease to act, new ones invariably appear in the vicinity ; 
 thus resembling the mud volcanoes witnessed by Humboldt. 
 Some of the mud volcanoes throw out salt water, heavily 
 loaded with argillaceous earth : — during the hottest months 
 of the dry season, cold mud is thrown to the height of thirty 
 feet, and the volcano is unapproachable to within fifty paces. 
 The following detailed description of this extraordinary phe- 
 nomenon is worthy of perusal.* 
 
 * They are situated near Point Icaque, the southern ex- 
 tremity of the island, on an alluvial tongue of land, that has 
 been appended to the primitive rocks, where, no doubt, the 
 land originally terminated. This appendage is several miles 
 in length, and points directly into one of the mouths of the 
 Orinoco, on the main land, about twelve or fifteen miles off. 
 
 * We landed nearly opposite to where we were told we 
 should find the mud volcanoes — and, after making our way 
 about five miles across the sandy isthmus, we came upon two 
 plantations, very pleasantly situated, amidst a group of re- 
 markably round little hills, each from eighty to 100 feet in 
 height. Our path, on leaving these, led us through some 
 very thick wood of tall trees, till we found ourselves again upon 
 a pretty steep regular ascent, which had nothing remarkable 
 in it except the diminishing height of the trees as we went 
 up. Only the tops of those trees, which were of the kind that 
 usually grow near lagoons and salt marshes, at last appeared 
 above the ground, as we opened a perfectly uniform round 
 bare platform of several acres, with difterent chimnics in the 
 shape of truncated cones, the highest of them not exceeding 
 three feet, some of which were throwing out, with a strong 
 bubbling noise, salt water, about as salt as that of the Gulph 
 
 * I am indebted to the scientific observation of Dr. William Fergnsson 
 for thid account, an officer whose valuable con)munications to the Army 
 Medical Departiocnt evince a very high range of talent.
 
 CONTIGUOUS COUNTRY TO THE VOLCANOES. 231 
 
 of Paria, loaded, as much as it could be to preserve its 
 fluidity, with argillaceous earth. In some of the chimneys 
 this went on slowly or not at all — in others it might he called 
 a pretty active cold ebullition. The surface of the platform 
 round the chimneys was perfectly firm — and one of our party 
 picked up a white sea shell of the turbinated kind, in the act 
 of being thrown out along with the mud. 
 
 * We afterwards procured various pyritic fragments that 
 had been picked up in a similar manner — but the inhabitants 
 of the quarter assured us that the ebullition, even during its 
 greatest activity, was quite cold. The smooth circular plat- 
 form was bounded by a perfectly regular parapet of clay, about 
 three feet in height, propped up as it were by the tops of the 
 trees, that like shrubs were shooting out of the ground im- 
 mediately behind it. This appearance was most likely to be 
 referred to the buried trees around having had time to shoot 
 out in the interval between the two last great eruptions, which 
 take place only during the hottest months of the dry seasons, 
 and then the noise is described to be like the loudest cannon ; 
 the mud being thrown up to the height of at least thirty feet 
 in the air, and the theatre of the eruption being unapproach- 
 able within fifty paces. 
 
 ' Close to the first volcano, but in a much more low and 
 sunk situation, is another of precisely the same appearance 
 and character, with only a narrow ravine between the two. 
 
 * Such an extraordinary phenomenon induced us to examine 
 the neighbouring mounts of the cleared country, close to which 
 stands the residence of Monsieur Chancelier, a French planter 
 — and we found them all (bating only the eruption) to possess 
 the same form and composition, in all respects, as those we 
 had just quitted. The platform and parapet were easily dis- 
 tinguishable, the chimnies only were gone ; but just small 
 pits were left in their places, filled with mud, from which 
 air bubbles rose, even under our own observation ; and our con- 
 ductor, the intelligent manager of the estate, told us that 
 when these rose in salt water, a fresh eruption was to be 
 apprehended. He pointed out the former site of his master's
 
 2.3j2 mineral kingdom or tkinidad. 
 
 residence, half up the mount, which had been destroyed by 
 one of these eruptions, after a period of cessation so long 
 that no record remained of the one that had preceded it ; 
 and he assured us that, during the period he had lived there, 
 (fourteen years) the largest mount now in activity had gained 
 a very considerable increase of height. 
 
 The magnificent isolated mountain of Tamanace, in the 
 centre of the great eastern marsh, unconnected with any 
 chain of hills, and at an immense distance on every side from 
 what may be called terra Jirma, may be supposed, till ex- 
 amined, to have arisen from the plain through the means of 
 some similar elaboratory in the works of nature.' 
 
 Mineral Kingdoms. The precious metals have not been 
 found in Trinidad, but the magnet discovers iron in the 
 greater part of its rocks and pebbles ; a very brilliant white 
 metal, (specific gravity ten,) more ductile and malleable than 
 silver has been found, and M. Vauqueline thought it either 
 a new metal, or composed of several others ; crystals of sul- 
 phate of copper have been found encrusted with alum among 
 flints, as also arsenic with sulphurated barytes for a matrix ; 
 schistus plumbago has been discovered, and near it a mine 
 of coal, about five miles from the sea-shore; but the most 
 remarkable mineral phenomenon is the Asphaltum , or Pitch 
 LaJie, situate on the leeward side of the island, on a small 
 peninsula, jutting into the sea about two miles, (opposite 
 the Parian Mountains on the Continent,) and elevated SO feet 
 above the level of the ocean. 
 
 The lake is bounded on the X. W. by the sea, on the S. 
 by a rocky eminence, and on the E. by the usual argillaceous 
 soil of the country ; it is nearly circular, and better than 
 half a league in length, and the same in breadth,* occu- 
 
 * The headland on which it is situate, when seen from the sea, resembles 
 a dark scoriaceous mass ; but, wheu more closely examined, it is found to 
 consist of bituminous scoriie, vitrificti sand, and earth, all femented toge- 
 ther. In some phiccs beds of cinders are found ; and a stron:>- sulphureous 
 smell pervades tlie ground to the (iislauce of eight or teu miles from the 
 lake, and is felt on approaching the shore.
 
 EXTRAORDINARY PITCH LAKE. 233 
 
 pying the highest part of the point of land which shelves 
 into the sea, from which it is separated by a margin of 
 wood ; the variety and extraordinary mobility of this phe- 
 nomenon is very remarkable, groups of beautiful shrubs and 
 flowers, tufts of wild pine apples and aloes, swarms of mag- 
 nificent butterflies and brilliant humming birds enliven a 
 scene, which would be an earthly representation of Tartarus 
 without them. AVith regard to mobility, where a small islet 
 has been seen on an evening, a gulf is found on the following 
 morning, and, on another part of the lake, a pitch islet has 
 sprung up to be in its turn adorned with the most luxuriant 
 vegetation, and then again engulphed !* 
 
 The usual consistence and appearance of the asphaltum, 
 (except in hot weather, when it is actually liquid an inch deep,) 
 is that of pit coal, but of a greyish colour, melting like sealing 
 wax; ductile by a gentle heat, and, when mixed with grease, 
 oil, or common pitch, acquiring fluidity, and well adapted for 
 pi'eserving the bottoms of ships against the destructive effects 
 of the worm termed the teredo navalis. Sometimes the As- 
 phaltum is found jet black and hard, breaking into a dull 
 conchoidal fractvu-e, but, in general, it may be readily cut, 
 when its interior appears oily and vesicular. 
 
 Deep crevices or funnels, inclining to a conic form, and 
 sometimes six feet deep, are found in various parts of the 
 asphaltinn, (pitch), filled with excellent limpid running water, 
 and often containing a great quantity of mullet and small 
 fish.-j- The bottoms of some of these canals are so liquid 
 that marked poles thrust in disappear, and have been found 
 a few days after on the sea-shore ! 
 
 Pieces, of what was once wood, are found completely 
 changed into bitumen; and the trunk of a large tree, on 
 being sawn, was entirely impregnated Vv ith petreolum ; where 
 
 * Near Cape La Brea, to the S. W. (the place where this lake is) Capt. 
 Mallet observed a gulf or vortex, which, in stormy weather, gushes out, 
 raising the water five or six feet, and covering the surface, for a consider- 
 able space with the bituminous substance. A similar gulf is said to be on 
 the E. coast, at the bay of ftlayaro. 
 
 t Alligators arc said to have been seen in liicsc extraordinary chasms.
 
 234 SINGULAR VIEW AROUND THE PITCH LAKE. 
 
 the petreolum mixes with the earth it tends greatly to 
 fertiUze it, and the finest fruits in the colony come from 
 districts bordering on this singular lake ; the pine apples, in 
 particular, being less fibrous, larger, more aromatic, and of a 
 deeper golden colour than are to be had any where else. 
 
 A very intelligent and enterprising traveller, (to whom the 
 author is indebted for many valuable observations,) Captain 
 Sir J. E. Alexander, furnishes the following graphic account 
 of his observations on this extraordinary phenomenon. 
 
 ' The western shore of the island, for about twenty miles, 
 is quite flat, and richly wooded ; and though only one or two 
 houses are perceptible from the sea, the interior is well cul- 
 tivated, and several small rivers, which empty themselves into 
 the Gulf of Paria, afford great facility for the transport of 
 sugar to ships that anchor off their embouchures. As Na- 
 parema is approached, and the singular mountain, (at the 
 foot of which San Fernandez is situated,) is plainly distin- 
 guished, the shore assumes a more smiling aspect ; here, one 
 sees a noble forest, there, a sheet of bright green, points out 
 a cane field. Cocoa nuts and palm trees are sprinkled over 
 the landscape, and now and then a well built house, close to 
 the water's edge, appears, with a verdant lawn extending 
 from it to the sea, and the ground sometimes broken into 
 sinuosities, and then slightly undulating. The beauty of 
 this part of Trinidad is very great, though, from some un- 
 drained swamps, poisonous malaria exhales. At Point La 
 Brea are seen masses of pitch, which look like black rocks 
 among the foliage. At the small hamlet of La Braye, a con- 
 siderable extent of coast is covered with pitch, which runs a 
 long way out to sea, and forms a bank under w\ater. The 
 pitch lake is situated on the side of a hill, eighty feet above 
 the level of the sea, from which it is distant three quarters of 
 a mile ; a gradual ascent leads to it, which is covered with 
 pitch in a hard state, and trees and vegetation flourish upon 
 it. The road leading to the lake runs through a wood, and, 
 on emerging from it, the spectator stands on the borders of 
 what at the first glance appears to be a lake, containing many 
 wooded islets, but which, on a second examination, proves to
 
 USES OF THE TRINIDAD PITCH OR ASPHALTUM. 235 
 
 be a sheet of asphaltum, intersected throughout by crevices 
 three or four feet deep and full of water. The pitch at the 
 sides of the lake is perfectly hard and cold, but as one walks 
 towards the middle with the shoes off in order to wade 
 through the water, the heat gradually increases, the pitch 
 becomes softer and softer, until at last it is seen boiling up 
 in a liquid state, and the soles of the feet become so heated 
 that it is necessary to dance up and down in the most ridi- 
 culous manner. The air is then strongly impregnated with 
 bitumen and sulphur, and the impression of the feet is left 
 upon the face of the pitch. During the rainy season it is 
 possible to walk over the whole lake nearly, but in the hot 
 season a great part is not to be approached. Although 
 several attempts have been made to ascertain the depth of 
 the pitch, no bottom has ever been found. The lake is 
 about a mile and half in circumference ; and not the least 
 extraordinary circumstance is, that it should contain eight or 
 ten small islands, on which trees are growing close to the 
 boiling pitch. In standing still on the lake near the centre 
 the surface gradually sinks, forming a sort of bowl as it were, 
 and when the shoulders become level ynth the lake it is high 
 time to get out. Some time ago a ship of war landed casks 
 to fill with the pitch, for the purpose of transporting it to 
 England ; the casks were rolled on the lake, and the hands 
 commenced filling, but a piratical craft appearing in the offing, 
 the frigate, with all hands, went in chase ; on returning to 
 the lake all the casks had sunk and disappeared.* There is. 
 a metallic substance thrown up by the pitch fountains, much 
 
 * I am indebted to Major-General Sir Lewis Grant, late Governor of 
 Trinidad, for the following curious fact : — ' The pitch of the lake has been 
 adopted for the improvement of the roads, particularly in the fertile district 
 of Naparima, where it was brought for the purpose from La Brea. In the 
 wet season the roads at Naparima are almost impassable in those parts 
 where there has been no application of the pitch ; but where the pitch has 
 been applied, which is the case for several miles in North Naparima, there 
 is a hard surface formed, which makes transport comparatively easy, both 
 from the support afforded and from the little friction of the hardened 
 pitch.— L. G,' [R. Montgomery Martin.]
 
 236 CLIMATE OF TRINIDAD — RAINS. 
 
 resembling copper ore. Science is at a loss to account for 
 this extraordinary phenomenon, for the lake does not seem 
 to occupy the mouth of an exhausted crater, neither is the 
 hill on which it is situated of volcanic origin, for its basis is 
 clay. The flow of pitch from the lake has been immense, the 
 whole country round, except near the Bay of Grappo, which is 
 protected by a hill, being covered with it, and it seems 
 singular that no eruption has taken place within the memory 
 of man, although the principle of motion still exists in the 
 centre of the lake. The appearance of the pitch which had 
 hardened is as if the whole surface had boiled up in large 
 bubbles, and then suddenly cooled ; but where the asphaltum 
 is still liquid, the surface is perfectly smooth. Many experi- 
 ments have been made to ascertain whether the pitch could 
 be applied to any useful purpose. Admiral Cochrane sent two 
 ship loads of it to England, but, after a variety of experiments, 
 it was found necessary, in order to render it fit for use, to mix 
 such a quantity of oil with it that the expense of oil alone ex- 
 ceeded the price of pitch in England. Another attempt was 
 made by a company, styled the Pitch Company, who sent out 
 an agent from England, but finding Admiral Cochrane had 
 failed, and feeling convinced any further attempt would be 
 useless, he let the matter drop. 
 
 Climate. The dry and rainy seasons into which the 
 tropical year is distinguished is more marked in Trinidad 
 than in the Antilles. The dry season commences with the 
 month of December, and ends with that of May, the E. N. E. 
 and N. winds then become less cool; the heat increases 
 and is at its height by the end of June, storms commence 
 and augment in frequency and violence during August and 
 September, and in October they occur almost daily, accom- 
 panied by torrents of rain ; there is seldom any fall of rain 
 during the night, but a heavy shower without wind usually 
 precedes sun-rise by half an hour during the season. Hurri- 
 canes are unknown in Trinidad or Tobago. 
 
 The hygrometer varies much in different seasons ; during 
 the rainy season it is usually between 85 and 90, — in the
 
 PURE AND WHOLESOME ATMOSPHERE. 237 
 
 spring between 36 and 38 in the day, and about 50 at niglit ; 
 on an average there falls about sixty-two inches of water during 
 the winter, and about ten inches (including the heavy dews, 
 which may be estimated at six inches) during the spring. The 
 October rains are very gentle ; in November they are less 
 frequent and more slight ; and from the end of December to 
 the beginning of June of some years, there does not fall a 
 drop of rain during the day : as the island has become 
 cleared, the quantity of rain falling has diminished. 
 
 During even the hot and stormy season the thermometer 
 rarely stands at Port of S^pain before sun-rise so high as 74 
 (and in the country occasionally as low as 68 ;*) from sun- 
 rise to sun-set 84 to 86, falling in the evening to 82 or 80 ; 
 in August and September, when the air is saturated with 
 moisture, the mercury rises sometimes to 90 — rarely above that 
 height. When during the winter there is wind with the rain 
 the mornings are less hot, as are also the evenings, when the 
 rain has been preceded by thunder during the day ; but the 
 temperature of the whole island varies with the elevation 
 above the sea and the aspect of the place, especially in spring, 
 when the thermometer descends to 60, and sometimes to 50, 
 in places of moderate elevation; on the whole it is less moist 
 than Guyana, and not so dry as Cumana, and being an island, 
 the winds are more constant, and the atmosphere therefore 
 more frequently renovated ; the vallies of Santa Anna, of 
 Maraval, Diego Martin, Aricagua, and the heights of St. 
 Joseph, to the N. W., as also the vallies on the N. coast, 
 enjoy a- mild temperature, and their inhabitants breathe 
 during nearly the whole year a fresh, pure, and very elastic 
 air, by reason of the simultaneous action of the evaporation 
 of rains, dews and winds, on the well-known eastern prin- 
 ciple, by which liquids are cooled, and even ice formed, by 
 solar evaporation or exposure to a current of air. The bene- 
 ficial and abundant dews (arising from the numerous rivers 
 of the island and surrounding ocean) cool and invigorate the 
 
 * From the coolness of the night, it is the ordinary custom to have a 
 blanket folded up at the foot of the bed to draw up when necessary, during 
 a residence in the country or in the hisfh land^.
 
 238 VEGETABLE KINGDOM OF TRINIDAD — CACOA, &C. 
 
 atmosphere, and give a vigorous luxuriance to the vegetation 
 of an isle, which, were it otherwise, would be nearly barren. 
 The following table affords a Meteorological Register of Port 
 of Spain : — 
 
 MONTHS. 
 
 THERM. 
 
 WINDS. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 January . . 
 
 81 to 72 
 
 E. E.N.E. andE.S.E. 
 
 Cloudy and rainy. 
 
 February. . 
 
 83 - 70 
 
 E. and E.N.E. 
 
 Ditto, nights dewy. 
 
 March 
 
 84 - 71 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Fine, dry and pleasant. 
 
 April .... 
 
 84 - 73 
 
 E.N.E. 
 
 Invigorating breezes. 
 
 May 
 
 81 - 74 
 
 S.E. E N.E. 
 
 Strong ditto, some thunder. 
 
 June .... 
 
 82 - 74 
 
 E.S.E. and E.N.E. 
 
 Close and rainy, ditto. 
 
 July 
 
 84 - 74 
 
 E.N.E. 
 
 Stormy, lightning, rainy. 
 
 Au crust . . 
 
 85 - 74 
 
 E.S.E. 
 
 Squally, ditto. 
 
 September 
 
 86 - 72 
 
 E.S.E. 
 
 Heavy rains, thund. & lightn. 
 
 October . . 
 
 84 - 73 
 
 E.S.E. 
 
 Strong breezes. 
 
 November 
 
 85 - 73 
 
 E. and E.N.E. 
 
 Fine, hot occasionally. 
 
 December 
 
 S2 - 71 
 
 E. and E.N.E. 
 
 Cool, sometimes chilly. 
 
 Vegetable Kingdom. The Vegetation of Trinidad is of 
 the same splendid character as that found on the main land. 
 Botanists specify on the Island aspen rush, or Cyperus haspan 
 — Commelina hexandra panax chrysophilla — Vitex Capitata, 
 Jnsticia secunda solanum h'lrtum, cestrmn latifoliuni, Alla- 
 manda cathartica, Macroeneum cocchieum, frcBlichia panicu- 
 lata, spaihodea corymhosa, rohinia ruhiginosa Itipinis villosis, 
 glycine p'lcta, Bigonia humilis, taberncsmontana iindulata, Za- 
 pogomea tomentosa, croton gossyjjifolium, tragia corniculata , 
 toutalca scandens, Sfc. ^*c. The forests contain the finest 
 wood for ship building and for ornamental purposes, amongst 
 which the red cedar, and a great variety of palms are con- 
 spicuous. The nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, have been in- 
 troduced into the island and flourish, particularly the former. 
 The cacao, or cocoa, (whence the delicious thea broma, or 
 divine beverage is made) is indigenous to the new world ; in 
 Mexico, the beans served, even in Humboldt's time, for small 
 coin, as coiuies do in India — six beans being equivalent to 
 one halfpenny English ; the introduction of this wholesome 
 and delightful beverage into the old world is due to the 
 monks, who have ever been great lovers of good things ; and
 
 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN SEASON. 239 
 
 the Castilians, whether in America or Spain, soon learned 
 to consider chocolate a necessary of life, — indeed, it was 
 seriously disputed for sometime among the churchmen of 
 Rome whether it were lawful to consume so nourishing a 
 beverage on a fast day; but the inchnations of the palate 
 naturally prevailed over scruples of conscience, and it was even 
 finally served to the Creole ladies by their slaves in the chapels 
 of Mexico during divine service. The cocoa tree somewhat 
 resembles that producing the English cherry, fifteen feet in 
 height, delighting in a new and productive soil near the margin 
 of a river, and requiring shelter from strong sunshine or vio- 
 lent winds, for which purpose the plantain trees, Musa Para- 
 disiaca, or coral bean tree, Erythrina, (which the Spaniards 
 C'dW Madre di Cacao) are planted between every second row, 
 giving a most luxuriant appearance to a plantation, the long 
 bare stems of tropical trees being strongly contrasted with 
 the rich green of the cacaos below, and here and there bril- 
 liant and burning with the golden foliage of the Bois immortel, 
 a lofty umbrageous tree, which in the flowering season is 
 covered with clusters of scarlet blossoms of exceeding bright- 
 ness, and shining like brilliant velvet in the sun-rays ; while 
 the lovely butterfly plant (so called from its perfect similitude 
 to the insect) fluttering on its almost invisible stalk, adds 
 beauty and variety to the prospect. 
 
 The cultivation of cacao is rapidly extending, and as Euro- 
 peans are quite adequate to the very trifling degree of labour 
 required for a plantation, it is to be hoped that emigration 
 from Great Britain will take place to the beautiful isle,* where 
 this nourishing product is indigenous to the soil. 
 
 The following calendar of the fruits of Trinidad for the 
 year, will demonstrate the variety of delicious food which this 
 valuable colony yields. January produces sappidilloes, po- 
 megranates, sour-sops, plantains, bananas, papas, or papaws. 
 The vegetables are — okros, capsicums of all kinds, which in- 
 
 * The annual proJucticn of cocoa in Trinidad is about 1,500,000 lbs. 
 weight. 
 
 t M. De la Barrere discovered 240 plants in Trinidad, of which he 
 could not discern any thing like them in the Antilles.
 
 240 ZOOI-OGY OF TRINIDAD. 
 
 deed are common every month in the year; cocoa nuts, 
 which are seldom used but for cakes and puddings, ground 
 down ; pigeon, or Angola peas, sweet potatoes, yams of dif- 
 ferent sorts, and tanias. February, the vegetable called 
 chicon, or christophini comesan. March, grenadilloes are 
 added to the former list. April, Java plums, mangoes, mamme 
 sapoetas, pines of several varieties, the Otaheitan gooseberry, 
 Jamaica plums, cerasees, and bread fniit. May, water-lemons, 
 and cashew apples. June is much the same in her produc- 
 tions ; pigeon peas are now nearly out of season. In July 
 the avacado pear comes in ; it is also known by the name of 
 the alhgator pear, or subaltern's butter, from its inside re- 
 sembling very yellow fresh butter, both in consistence and 
 colour. 
 
 In August the only new fruit is the yellow hog plum ; the 
 other fruits in season are the mamme sapoetas and avacado 
 pears. September produces sugar and custard apples, sea- 
 side grapes, and Portuguese yams. The fruits and vegetables 
 of October are nearly the same as September ; and the only 
 difference in November is the bread-fruit being ripe again. 
 December brings in guavas, and that most excellentproduction, 
 sorrel. This plant has a succulent stalk, and grows from three 
 to four feet high. There is a blossom, not unlike the common 
 English columbine ; there are two varieties, white and red ; 
 the blossoms when slightly fermented, produce a delightful 
 beverage, or, stewed with sugar, make tarts or jam. All the 
 orange and lemon tribe, shaddocks, and forbidden fruit, plan- 
 tains, and bananas, may be had every month in the year, but 
 they abound most from April to September. JMountain 
 cabl)age is always in season, and is a most delicious 
 vegetable. 
 
 Zoology. As in the vegetable, so in the animal kingdom, 
 there is a great resemblance between Trinidad and the Con- 
 tinent, both being equally free from large or destructive 
 animals, such as the elephant, lion, and tiger. Two species 
 of small deer {cervus Americamis) and the mangrove stag, are 
 found in Trinidad, but not in Tobago. The paca, or lapo, of 
 Trinidad, is a singular animal ; it is rather larger than a hare,
 
 MONKEYS — ICHTHYOLOGY. 241 
 
 is extremely handsome, cleanly, and easily domesticated ; from 
 birth to four or six months, the hair, naturally of a deep red, 
 is spotted with white, which spots then disappear ; it is am- 
 phibious, dives under water when hunted, and remains there 
 like the otter several minutes ; — the flesh is excellent food. 
 
 Opossums are numerous ; the females have all the membra- 
 nous pouch, like the kangaroo, for depositing the young. (It 
 is singular that New Holland and America should have the 
 marsupial animals peculiar to them.) The armadilloes, re- 
 markable for their laminated shell, are numerous, and baked 
 in their scaly coats are a good treat. A species of porcupine, 
 (the hystrix lyrehensilis of Linnaeus) ; two species of lizard, 
 termed the Guana and Dragon ; two species of ant bears ; the 
 lazy sloth ; the musk, and crab-swallowing rat ; the tiger-cat ; 
 the peccary (wild American hog) ; water-dog (didelphis Phi- 
 landar) ; and a variety of monkeys,* are found in Trinidad. 
 
 Ichthyology, &c. Among the great variety of fish on the 
 shores of Trinidad, one of the most remarkable is the squahts 
 zygcBiia, measuring twelve feet in length, and thick in pro- 
 portion, after the shape of the blue shark, and with a mouth 
 like the latter, armed with a triple row of formidable teeth ; 
 the eyes are large and terrifying, and the head has the shape 
 of a hammer. Another equally formidable fish is shaped 
 somewhat like a cod, and esteemed excellent eating in the 
 colony, although they have been found with part of a negro in 
 die maw. M. Levaysse states, that the sea cow {trichecus 
 fnenati) is often found in pairs, with their young, browzing 
 on the marine plants in the cocoa nut-groves ; their weight is 
 about 1,200 lbs. the flesh tasting hke that of the hog, eaten 
 fresh and salted, while the fat forms excellent lard. 
 
 * M. Lavaysse assures us that he has seen a tribe of monkies in Trinidad 
 who have a great aversion to water ; — if obliged to cross a narrow stream, 
 they climb a tree near the bank, and form a chain by hanging from the tails 
 of each other j the whole string of animals then swing backwards and 
 forwards until the lowest, to whom the post of honour has been assigned, 
 alights on the opposite bank, and pulls over, by the aid of the " tail," his com- 
 panions on the tree and bank ; this singular operation is carried on amidst 
 terrible howling, accompanied \vith the most friglitful cries aad grimaces, 
 VOL. II. R
 
 242 ORNITHOLOGY OF TRINIDAD. 
 
 Land tortoises of various kinds are abundant, the flesh is 
 dehcate and very nourishing ; the savannahs (marshes, in the 
 wet season) abound with a great variety of marine birds,* grey 
 partridges, water-hens, flamingoes, and white woodcocks, of 
 dehcious flavour ; wild ducks are innumerable ; one species 
 resembles the East India duck, another the European, and 
 the third is very small, with a beautiful plumage, including 
 blue, rose-coloured, yellow and white, with a brilliant gold- 
 coloured star on the forehead of about an inch in diameter ; 
 it is called Ouikihi. The brown pelican, scarlet-necked vul- 
 ture, the lancet bat, or vampyre, the frigate bird, &c. are 
 numerous : parrots and parroquets are in great variety, and 
 of exceeding beauty ; the green and gold humming-bird has 
 long been celebrated for its plumage ; and the doves and wild 
 pigeons are found of every species. Those magnificent birds 
 termed Haccos, are found at Trinidad, but not at Tobago. 
 
 Staple Produce. Previous to 1783 the whole produce of 
 Trinidad was a .very small quantity of cocoa, vanilla, indigo, 
 arnotto, cotton and maise, not more than sufficient to employ 
 a small schooner two or three times a year for its conveyance 
 to St. Eustatia. In 1787 the first sugar plantation was 
 formed, and in 1802 the cultivation and produce of some of 
 the principal articles was as follows: — 192 sugar plantations 
 yielding 15,461 hogsheads;* 128 coffee ditto, 358,660 lbs. ; 
 57 cocoa ditto, 97,000 lbs. ; 101 cotton ditto, 263,000 lbs. ; em- 
 ploying shipping annually to the amount of 15,000 tons. 
 In 1807 there were exported to England, British America, 
 and to the United States, 18,235 hogsheads of sugar, or 
 21,234,600 lbs.; 460,000 gallons of rum ; and 100,000 gallons 
 of syrup ; there were made besides in the same year,500,0001bs, 
 of coffee; 355,000 lbs. of cocoa, and 800,000 lbs. of cotton. 
 
 * The Gulf of Paria, near the Bocas, is full of small rocky islets, some 
 of which contain caves of an extraordinary size, in which are found a 
 curious bird, the Diablotin, (for description vide Dominica) which, if eaten 
 when taken from the nest, is pronounced by epicures unrivalled. 
 
 t The hogshead in 1802 weighed 1,200 lbs. ; it has since been made to 
 contain 1,400 to 1,500 lbs.
 
 STAPLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. 
 
 21^ 
 
 The annals of no country present such an extraordinary 
 increase of cultivation, and consequent production of wealth.* 
 The resources of the island are in fact very great ; the 
 mountainous portion which cannot be cultivated, forms less 
 than one thirtieth of the surface ;f by a measurement in 1 799 
 
 
 * PRODI 
 
 < 
 
 JCE OF Tf 
 
 o 
 
 IINIDAD 
 
 a 
 
 FROM ] 
 
 ?; 
 
 o 
 
 799 TO 
 
 1831. 
 
 M 
 m 
 m 
 < 
 1.3 
 
 
 i/3 
 
 lbs. 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 lbs. 
 
 o 
 « 
 
 lbs. 
 
 H 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 lbs. 
 
 gallons. 
 
 O 
 gallons. 
 
 1799 
 
 8,419,859 
 
 258,390 
 
 335,913 
 
 323,415 
 
 170,671 
 
 142,636 
 
 1800 
 
 9,895,634 
 
 284,170 
 
 449,614 
 
 317,3.95 
 
 194,488 
 
 128,507 
 
 1801 
 
 15,461,912 
 
 324,720 
 
 328,666 
 
 262,997 
 
 343,113 
 
 173,369 
 
 1802 
 
 14,164,984 
 
 138,669 
 
 278,271 
 
 190,210 
 
 350,049 
 
 143,237 
 
 1803 
 
 16,014,056 
 
 361,070 
 
 185,658 
 
 178,046 
 
 344,2.92 
 
 214,120 
 
 1804 
 
 18,595,416 
 
 503,210 
 
 304,138 
 
 164,069 
 
 371,544 
 
 355,877 
 
 180.5 
 
 29,438,276 
 
 527,690 
 
 286,379 
 
 256,792 
 
 426,469 
 
 564,558 
 
 1806 
 
 29,045,439 
 
 588,805 
 
 418,049 
 
 167,700 
 
 399,122 
 
 649,432 
 
 1808 
 
 25,950,928 
 
 668,993 
 
 387,028 
 
 139,200 
 
 940,564 
 
 606,100 
 
 1809 
 
 24,856,973 
 
 719,230 
 
 264,330 
 
 134,190 
 
 539,081 
 
 477,262 
 
 1810 
 
 21,746,775 
 
 726,173 
 
 295,443 
 
 114,980 
 
 463,870 
 
 82,163 
 
 1811 
 
 18,513,302 
 
 640,732 
 
 276,243 
 
 159,136 
 
 426,691 
 
 324,942 
 
 1812 
 
 20,971,580 
 
 1,375,539 
 
 282,460 
 
 130,390 
 
 548,014 
 
 366,070 
 
 1813 
 
 22,288,145 
 
 1,029,512 
 
 540,716 
 
 184,400 
 
 666,761 
 
 301,795 
 
 1814 
 
 21,604,038 
 
 1,158,163 
 
 382,888 
 
 148,505 
 
 487,142 
 
 262,098 
 
 1815 
 
 25,075,281 
 
 1,065,808 
 
 262,289 
 
 115,150 
 
 523,632 
 
 682,718 
 
 1816 
 
 24,122,415 
 
 1,056,662 
 
 119,974 
 
 93,710 
 
 449,067 
 
 373,873 
 
 1817 
 
 22,784,767 
 
 1,341,461 
 
 215,190 
 
 65,951 
 
 371,422 
 
 351,234 
 
 1818 
 
 23,200,326 
 
 1,232,685 
 
 224,972 
 
 109,070 
 
 439,663 
 
 415,251 
 
 1819 
 
 30,205,731 
 
 1,506,445 
 
 258,220 
 
 131,990 
 
 534,626 
 
 545,406 
 
 1820 
 
 30,714,363 
 
 1,744,465 
 
 211,555 
 
 96,545 
 
 524,316 
 
 471,001 
 
 1821 
 
 31,127,803 
 
 1,648,114 
 
 222,809 
 
 52,871 
 
 496,817 
 
 430,092 
 
 1822 
 
 35,595,932 
 
 1,809,730 
 
 205,586 
 
 64,300 
 
 555,878 
 
 488,125 
 
 1823 
 
 37,032,618 
 
 1,892,195 
 
 245,567 
 
 91,550 
 
 391,528 
 
 658,870 
 
 1824 
 
 36,855,946 
 
 2,443,388 
 
 245,592 
 
 45,750 
 
 344,074 
 
 798,814 
 
 1825 
 
 36,280,347 
 
 2,835,935 
 
 274,735 
 
 58,189 
 
 346,543 
 
 855,814 
 
 1826 
 
 43,154,456 
 
 2,640,989 
 
 275,226 
 
 58,030 
 
 417,794 
 
 995,201 
 
 1829 
 
 50,089,421 
 
 2,206,467 
 
 226,123 
 
 25,230 
 
 400,321 
 
 1,362,605 
 
 1831 
 
 39,240,960 
 
 1,479,568 
 
 999,373 
 
 6,800 
 
 390,536 
 
 974,031 
 
 t Major-General Sir Lewis Grant, whose enlightened government of 
 Trinidad is sensibly appreciated in that island, and by all friends of the 
 colonies, has favoured me with the following note: — 'I conceive that the 
 mountains of Trinidad may be cultivated to their summits : the soil is 
 good, and the growth of timber superb ; but, until the level land lie occu- 
 pied, they will not, of course, be worth cultivating, from the difficulty of
 
 244 MODE OF CULTIVATING THE CACAO NUT. 
 
 it was found that there may be formed on the territory 1,313 
 sugar, 945 cofFee, 304 cacoa,* and 158 cotton— plantations 
 of 100 squares, or 320 acres each. A general return for 
 1831, gives the number of quarreesf of land in cultivation, 
 crop, works, and stock in Trinidad as follows : — 
 
 establishing roads. The saudy savannahs are the only barren spots, and 
 they serve to pasture cattle.' Sir Lewis informs me that he has in his 
 possession specimens of Trinidad spices as fine as are to be found in any 
 part of the East. This distinguished officer is a zealous advocate for the 
 colonization of the West Indies with European settlers. 
 
 * As I hope ere long to witness the final abolition of the tax i2d. per lb.) 
 on cacoa when imported into the United Kingdom from any of our colonies, 
 because it affords a wholesome nutritive diet for the poor, I subjoin the 
 following direction for the cultivation of the plant, which, though now 
 principally confined to Trinidad, may have its growth extended to our other 
 colonies in the E. and W. hemispheres. 
 
 The cacao, or chocolate plant delights in a rich soil, if possible near the banks of a river, 
 or in a situation admitting of occasional irrigation. Seedling plants should be raised in the 
 dry and sheltered spots of a nursery ground. The seeds are sown in small raised mounds, 
 at regular intervals, two seeds being deposited in each mound, lightly covered with mould, 
 and sheltered from the scorching sun with plantain leaves or some other cool and umbrage- 
 ous canopy. If the season be dry moderate watering should be used, and if both seeds 
 germinate, the weakest plant must be destroyed. When the shrub attains fifteen or eigh- 
 teen inches in height, (which will be the case in ten or twelve weeks), its transplantation to 
 the fixed location is necessary. The plants must be arranged in straight rows, in a quincunx 
 form, with a distance between each of sixteen feet, should the soil be rich, and of not less 
 than thirteen if less fertile. Transplantation in dry weather, earth removed with the plants 
 and the tap root deep set when replaced. The cacao delights in the shade ; a vertical sun 
 destroys it, therefore it is imperatively necessary to plant between every second row either 
 the plantain tree or the coral bean tree, (erythrina). When the tree is about two years old 
 it usually put forth from five to seven branches from the top, all beyond five are cut away ; 
 in about six months more flowers commonly appear, which must be also destroyed ; — indeed, 
 it is usual to repeat this abscision annually, until the fifth year, in order that the productive 
 power of the tree may be finally perfected in g^rcater strength. A great number of flowers 
 fall without fructifying ; the fruit, while growing, is green, but as it ripens the pod changes 
 to a bluish red, approaching to purple, with pink veins ; in some varieties the fruit pod 
 becomes of a delicate yellow or lemon colour. When over ripe the pods sometimes burst, 
 and the seeds fall from their gelatinous pulp. The crop may be said to last throughout the 
 year, but the principal gatherings of the fruit are inJuncand towards the end of December. 
 Ko unripe pods must be gathered. The ripe pods are broken with a mallet or cut open, and 
 the seeds separated from the pulp with a wooden spatula ; to separate the seeds entirelj' from 
 the pulp, they are placed in a hole with some dry sand, and left until a very slight fermen- 
 tation comes on the sand, being frequently stirred and replenished to absorb the moisture 
 from the seeds; when at the end of three or four days the process is completed by spreading 
 out the cacao nuts on rush mats, or upon a platform in the sun to dry, care being taken to 
 prevent rain reaching the seeds. When quite dry and hard the nuts may be lightly packed 
 in bags or boxes, and kept in a dry or airy place for use or e.xportation. 
 
 t A quarrce contains three and one-fifth English acres.
 
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 2A(y 
 
 POPULATION OF TRINID\D FOR THIRTY YEARS. 
 
 Population. When Trinidad was first discovered by 
 Europeans it had a dense Indian community, who, on its 
 occupation by the Spaniards, were murdered or transported 
 to the Hispaniola mines, to make room for the new occupiers, 
 who seized on the hinds of those they had slain or sent into 
 a captivity worse than death. In 1783, the number of mouths 
 was only — whites, 126, coloured free, 295, slaves, 310, and 
 Indians of all ages, 2,032 ; total, 2,7G3. Owing to the cir- 
 cumstances detailed elsewhere, relative to the throwing open 
 of the island to settlers, the population thus subsequently 
 increased. 
 
 Abstract of the Annual Population Returns. 
 
 
 WHITE. 
 
 COLOURED. 
 
 INDIANS. 
 
 • 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Children 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 Children 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 ChUdren 
 
 
 ■3 
 
 
 
 QJ 
 
 
 <u 
 
 
 QJ 
 
 
 
 
 0) 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 
 "2 
 1 
 
 ■i 
 1 
 
 
 (U 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 •a 
 
 ■3 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 "3 
 
 "3 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 <u 
 
 c 
 IS 
 
 
 S 
 
 § 
 
 
 
 1797 
 1798 
 1799 
 
 994 
 
 590 
 
 301 
 
 266 2151 
 
 1196 
 
 1624 
 
 898 
 
 756 
 
 4474 
 
 301 
 
 401 
 
 190 
 
 186 
 
 1078 
 
 10009 
 
 17713 
 
 930 
 
 606 
 
 301 
 
 291 2128 
 
 128l|l601 
 
 859 
 
 853 
 
 4594 
 
 345 
 
 242 
 
 273 
 
 283 
 
 1143 
 
 
 14110 
 
 21975 
 
 1800 
 
 1010 
 
 711 
 
 327 
 
 311,2359 12411620 
 
 8O7 
 
 740 
 
 4408 
 
 344 
 
 217 
 
 211 
 
 299 
 
 1071 
 
 
 I5OI2I 22850 
 
 1801 9/8 
 
 626 
 
 292 
 
 267 2153 1347il740; 925 
 
 888 
 
 4900 
 
 291 
 
 354 
 
 297 
 
 270 
 
 1212 
 
 
 15964 
 
 24229 
 
 1802'l06l 
 
 625 
 
 275 
 
 261 2222 1504 1896; 956' 919 
 
 5275 
 
 321 
 
 311 
 
 274 
 
 260 
 
 1166 
 
 
 19709 
 
 28372 
 
 1803| 961 
 
 637 
 
 266 
 
 259 2123 1494 1751 827I 740 
 
 4812 
 
 327 
 
 320 
 
 271 
 
 236 
 
 1154 
 
 
 20138 
 
 28227 
 
 ISO-J; 12-28 
 
 662 
 
 329 
 
 3422561 17092198,1171 1024 
 
 6102 
 
 387 
 
 427 
 
 293 
 
 309 
 
 1416 
 
 
 20925 
 
 31004 
 
 1805 1164 
 
 652 
 
 301 
 
 317 2434 1606 2101 10941000 
 
 5801 
 
 488 
 
 543 
 
 372 
 
 330 
 
 1733 
 
 
 20108 
 
 30076 
 
 1806 1073 
 
 589 
 
 296 
 
 316 2274 1502 1980 1047 
 
 872 
 
 5401 
 
 397 
 
 478 
 
 383 
 
 349 
 
 1607 
 
 
 21761 
 
 3104* 
 
 1807 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1808 1130 
 
 649 
 
 359 
 
 3122470,1729 
 
 2272 
 
 1310 
 
 1167 
 
 6478 
 
 396 
 
 483 
 
 390 
 
 366 
 
 1635 
 
 
 21895 
 
 32478 
 
 1809 1212 
 
 669 
 
 360 
 
 348 2589] 1683 
 
 2212 
 
 1289 
 
 1200 
 
 6384 
 
 412 
 
 484 
 
 377 
 
 374 
 
 1647 
 
 
 21475 
 
 32095 
 
 1810 1147 
 
 654 
 
 344 
 
 342;2487 1680 
 
 2195 
 
 1240 
 
 1154 
 
 6269 
 
 404 
 
 472 
 
 404 
 
 379 
 
 1659 
 
 
 20728 
 
 31143 
 
 ISU ll6o 
 
 725 
 
 389 
 
 338)2617 1790 
 
 2380 
 
 1456 
 
 1417 
 
 7043 
 
 422 
 
 476 
 
 415 
 
 403 
 
 17 16 
 
 
 21841 
 
 33217 
 
 1812 1222 
 
 716 
 
 434 
 
 393I2765 1778 2426 149711365 
 
 7066 
 
 433 
 
 479 
 
 459 
 
 433 
 
 1804 
 
 
 
 
 1813 1250 
 
 7-i9 
 
 445 
 
 452 2896 2089 2675 1685 1653 
 
 8102 
 
 312 
 
 346 
 
 308 
 
 299 
 
 1263 
 
 
 25717 
 
 37980 
 
 1814;i272 
 
 863 
 
 523 
 
 4693127 2216 2926,1823 1749 
 
 8714 
 
 351 
 
 374 
 
 252 
 
 259 
 
 1236 
 
 
 
 
 1815(1288 
 
 869 
 
 531 
 
 53113219:2482 3103 20452023 
 
 9653 
 
 318 
 
 342 
 
 249 
 
 238 
 
 1147 
 
 
 24329 
 
 38343 
 
 1816 1333 
 
 1000 
 
 585 
 
 594 351212863 3513 2215 2064 
 
 106.1 5 
 
 267 
 
 337 
 
 315 
 
 222 
 
 1141 
 
 24 
 
 25871 
 
 41203 
 
 1817ll46l 
 
 1071 
 
 629 
 
 632|3793 3124i3902 2487 2343 
 
 11856 
 
 324 
 
 361 
 
 279 
 
 193 
 
 1157 
 
 33 
 
 23828 
 
 40667 
 
 1818 1254 
 
 881 
 
 533 
 
 553 3221 13040 37082246 2343 
 
 11337 
 
 244 
 
 264 
 
 238 
 
 193 
 
 939 
 
 28 
 
 22380 
 
 37905 
 
 I8I9I1463 
 
 I06u 
 
 584 
 
 609'3n6, 3571 4210l23S5 12319 
 
 12485 
 
 223 
 
 257 
 
 190 
 
 180 
 
 850 
 
 30 
 
 23691 
 
 40773 
 
 1820 1455 
 
 1074 
 
 600 
 
 578 3707:3999'4679 2594|2693 
 
 13965 
 
 267 
 
 254 
 
 209 
 
 180 
 
 910 
 
 28 
 
 22738 
 
 .41343 
 
 1 821 1 1345 
 
 972 
 
 534 
 
 589 3440 3728l441S'2635'2607 
 
 13388 
 
 240 
 
 268 
 
 237 
 
 211 
 
 956 
 
 23 
 
 21719 
 
 3952(5 
 
 1822,1311 
 
 942 
 
 553 
 
 535,3341 3742 4430 2669 2551 
 
 13392 
 
 218 
 
 234 
 
 222 
 
 219 
 
 893 
 
 20 
 
 23227 
 
 408/3 
 
 1823 1397 
 
 955 
 
 523 
 
 51l|3386 3857:4500 2526 2464 
 
 13347 
 
 200 
 
 259 
 
 229 
 
 184 
 
 872 
 
 16 
 
 23110 
 
 41288 
 
 1824 1328 
 
 955 
 
 514 
 
 516,3313 4024 4884i2657'2430 
 
 13995 
 
 209 
 
 219 
 
 192 
 
 163 
 
 783 
 
 12 
 
 23117 
 
 41220 
 
 1825 1302 
 
 1020 
 926 
 
 400 
 
 498|3310 4503 5066 2740 2674 
 
 14983 
 
 183 
 
 201 
 
 195 
 
 148 
 
 727 
 
 12 
 
 23230 
 
 42262 
 
 1831 
 
 i;!ey 
 
 581 
 
 223 t- 
 
 33iy 
 
 4398 
 
 5314 
 
 3335 
 
 3238 
 
 16283 
 
 202 
 
 218 
 
 187 
 
 153 
 
 762 
 
 7 
 
 21302 
 
 4i67» 
 
 * These natives of the eastern hemisphere were brought to the west for 
 the purpose of cultivating rice, and perhaps, with the idea of forming a 
 free labouring population ; unfortunately no Chinese women were induced 
 to accompany them j the men soon became discontented, and there now 
 remain but a few of them as fi.shennen.
 
 SLAVE POPULATION — INCOME AND DECREASE. 
 
 247 
 
 The Slave Population, according to a Parliamentary Re- 
 turn, was in numbers, from 1816 to 1828, as follows : — * 
 
 
 <u 
 
 •3 
 
 a 
 
 
 Increase bv 
 Birth. 
 
 Decrease by 
 Death. 
 
 Decrease by- 
 Manumis- 
 sion. 
 
 ce 
 
 1 
 
 ■3 
 
 a 
 
 fa 
 
 
 01 
 
 •3 
 
 a 
 
 ■3 
 
 6 
 
 •3 
 
 i 
 fa 
 
 1816 .. 
 1819 .. 
 1822 .. 
 1825 . . 
 1828 .. 
 
 14,133 
 13,155 
 13,052 
 17,435 
 12,591 
 
 11,411 
 10,382 
 10,336 
 11,01/ 
 11,185 
 
 25,544 
 23,537 
 23,388 
 24,452 
 
 23,7/6 
 
 739 
 757 
 
 812 
 
 710 
 
 669 
 731 
 
 824 
 
 759 
 
 1417 
 1303 
 1063 
 
 1079 
 
 1352 
 1101 
 692 
 
 767 
 
 151 
 190 
 182 
 177 
 
 235 
 277 
 259 
 241 
 
 General Return of the Population of Trinidad for the Year 
 1831 :— 
 
 * It will be observed from the foregoing, that the Indian or aboriginal 
 population are fast decreasing, and, it is to be feared, they will utterly 
 pass away, unless measures be adopted for their preservation ; what these 
 measures should be is another question ; the Indians will not amalgamate 
 with the negroes, from whom they totally differ in appearance and man- 
 ners : their stature is short, (seldom exceeding five feet six inches) of a 
 yellow colour, with dark eyes and long hair, glossy as a raven's wing; 
 the wide space between the nostrils and upper lip is very remarkable, (so 
 indicative of wisdom and firmness in the European), and although with an 
 immense breadth of frame, or rather massiveness between the shoulders, 
 their hands and feet (as among the Hindoos and Tartars) are small boned 
 and delicately shaped. In their present state apathy is certainly predomi- 
 nant; neither joy or sorrow seems to affect them — they appear to be with- 
 out curiosity or anger — the prominent traits of savage life. I cannot 
 think with Mr. Coleridge, that this extraordinary, I may say mysterious, 
 race of beings are inferior to the negroes, their countenances, when lit up 
 by the passions of the soul, pourtray the most intense mental emotions, and 
 the abject state to which the whites have reduced them, does not present a 
 fair field for comparison ; while lamenting their utter destruction in the 
 islands and on the continent, I confess my inability to divine the inscrut- 
 able dispensations of Providence.
 
 248 
 
 lv;ox PUBJO 
 
 
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 COMMERCE OF TRINIDAD — SHIPPING, &C. 
 
 249 
 
 Commerce, Imports and Exports. The trade of the 
 island may, to a great extent, be judged of by the quantity 
 of produce raised in it, as given at page 245. For twelve 
 consecutive years the quantity of the principal articles ex- 
 ported from Trinidad is thus shewn, — 
 
 Exported Produce of Trinidad from 1821 to 1832:— 
 
 & 
 ^ 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Cocoa. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 InUigo. 
 
 jHhds. 
 
 Tierces. 
 
 Bar. 
 
 Hhds. 
 
 Tier. 
 
 Pun. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 Bales. 
 
 Seroons. 
 
 Seroons 
 
 1821 20,412 
 
 576 
 
 7.999 
 
 2,730 
 
 
 12,08 
 
 1,214,093 
 
 199.555 
 
 268 
 
 
 
 1822 20,051 
 
 714 
 
 7,908 
 
 2,932 
 
 
 761 
 
 1,780,379 
 
 347,399 
 
 222 
 
 
 
 1823 23,662 
 
 510 
 
 7,038 
 
 6,245 
 
 
 566 
 
 2,424,703 
 
 299.404 
 
 460 
 
 
 
 1824 23,362 
 
 882 
 
 6,856; 7,409 
 
 
 471 
 
 2,661,628 
 
 284,637 
 
 352 
 
 
 
 1825 22,512 
 
 16,370 
 
 7,890 
 
 7.896 
 
 
 68 
 
 2,760,603 
 
 177.348 
 
 492 
 
 567 
 
 
 1826|25,541 
 
 1,358 
 
 8,075 
 
 8,672 
 
 
 353 
 
 2.951,171 
 
 321,254 
 
 107 
 
 2,811 
 
 
 1827 126,075 
 
 1,320 
 
 7,618 
 
 9,694 
 
 
 589 
 
 3,696,144 
 
 373,424 
 
 201 
 
 2,368 
 
 
 1828129,605 
 
 1,067 
 
 6,634 
 
 11,320 
 
 306 
 
 285 
 
 2,582,323 
 
 266,754 
 
 148 
 
 2,915 
 
 50 
 
 182930,629 
 
 877 
 
 5,184 
 
 10,686 
 
 596 
 
 559 
 
 2,756,603 
 
 199,015 
 
 123 
 
 1,234 
 
 10 
 
 183091,812 
 
 480 
 
 3,781 
 
 4,846 
 
 163 
 
 258 
 
 1,646,531 
 
 197.860 
 
 50 
 
 1,010 
 
 7 
 
 1831 23,756 
 
 449 
 
 5,500 
 
 8,297 
 
 94 
 
 853 
 
 1,888,852 
 
 19.994 
 
 31 
 
 250 
 
 12 
 
 1832 
 
 25,912 
 
 774 
 
 6,895 
 
 10,977 
 
 504 
 
 65 
 
 1,530,990 
 
 150,966 
 
 40 
 
 498 
 
 11 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1834 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The Imports valued in sterling money, were in 1831, from 
 Great Britain, £182,856; from British Colonies, £51,197; 
 from Foreign States, £66,514: — total, £300,567. The Ex- 
 ports were, to Great Britain, £202,057 ; to British Colonies, 
 £30,428; to Foreign States, £11,907:— total, £244,392, 
 making a grand total of maritime commerce to the amount of 
 £ 544,959. The shipping employed in the trade of the island 
 will be seen from the following official return. 
 
 Shipping of Trinidad, Inwards and Outwards : — 
 
 
 SHIPS INWARDS, FROM 
 
 SHIPS OUTWARDS, TO 
 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 states. 
 
 » 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 <«- 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 >< 
 
 !5 
 
 H 
 
 ;z; 
 
 H 
 
 ;z; 
 
 § 
 
 ^ & 
 
 ^ 
 
 A 
 
 H 
 
 Ss 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 '4, 
 
 H 
 
 1826 
 
 77 
 
 9,241 
 
 1511 10,532:214 
 
 19.399 442 210236 
 
 4212 
 
 76 
 
 16,920 
 
 167 
 
 1,039 
 
 178 
 
 17,368 429 44,327 
 
 1827 
 
 83 
 
 16,375 185! 11,845,158; 11,043 426 41585 
 
 
 87 
 
 19,823 
 
 217 
 
 15,1391124 
 
 11.380 428 46,342 
 
 1828il02:22,3&» 151 i 12,884176 11,371,429 46619 
 
 
 109 
 
 23,928 
 
 218 
 
 15,9b6 102 
 
 8,435 429 48,349 
 
 18291 991 24,333 179 17,058 206 14,324 484 55715 
 
 
 101 
 
 23,804 
 
 245 
 
 19,1711351 11,104 481]54,079 
 
 1930 
 
 59 13,865 174i 13,681 148 10,619 381 1 38165 
 
 
 71 
 
 17.755 
 
 216 
 
 17,iyi ,123; 10,235 410[45,181 
 
 -^831 
 
 88 21,611 1 189; 14,860 
 
 103] 9,136380 45787 
 
 
 73 
 
 17,807 
 
 218 
 
 16,034 
 
 7& 8,274 369:42,115 
 
 -1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 

 
 250 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 Weights and Measures. The following are the Spanish 
 Weights and Measures, and the proportion they bear to each 
 other. 
 
 Weights. 
 
 The Fanega = ] 
 — Quintal = ] 
 1 Aroba = 
 4 Arobas = 
 
 Measures 
 
 110] 
 100 
 25 
 1 
 
 lbs. English 
 
 >» 
 Quintal. 
 
 Varas. Estadale. 
 
 
 
 
 100 = 1 
 
 Solar 
 
 ■e. 
 
 
 2500 = 25 = 
 
 1 
 
 
 Suerte. 
 
 10000 = 100 = 
 
 4 
 
 = 
 
 1 Fanega. 
 
 40000 = 400 = 
 
 16 
 
 = 
 
 4 = 1 
 English Inches. 
 
 The Vara of Castille 
 Seville 
 Madrid 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 32,529 
 33,127 
 39,166 
 
 The Measures used in surveying in Trinidad is the Quarree, 
 containing 18,5261 Varas of Castile, or 3 and l-5th English 
 Acres ; consequently 100 Quarree are equal to 320 acres. 
 
 The side of a square of a Quarree or 3 and l-5th English 
 Acres, is equal to 373 8-llths English feet; 408| Spanish 
 ditto; 350 French ditto, or 136 and 1-lOth Spanish Varas. 
 
 Form of Government. The administrative functions of 
 Trinidad are entirely despotic, though nominally vested in a 
 government aided by an executive and legislative committee. 
 The executive council consists of three official members (viz. 
 the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer and Attorney 
 General), selected from the Legislative Councils ; — they have 
 no powers, and no other functions than counsellors of the 
 Governor, who may follow their advice or not, as he pleases. 
 The Legislative Council consists of twelve members, six of 
 whom are styled official, holding offices and salaries at the 
 pleasure of the Crown, viz. the Chief Justice, the Colonial 
 Secretary, Attorney General, Colonial Treasurer, Pubhc 
 Prosecutor, and Collector of Customs, and six are styled non
 
 FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN TRINIDAD. 251 
 
 official, selected from amongst the inhabitants, the whole re- 
 movable at the pleasure of the Crown. The governor 
 presides at the board, has a vote, and a casting vote in addi- 
 tion, and no measure can be introduced or proposed at the 
 board which he objects to! So that the whole power and 
 function of the board are virtually lodged in his hands, al- 
 though nominally the laws may be passed, and the taxes im- 
 posed by the legislative council. The inhabitants of Trinidad 
 are very properly endeavouring to obtain something more 
 liberal than such a mockery of freedom. 
 
 The Cabildo in its authority and functions resembles our 
 municipal corporations : — it has power to raise revenues 
 which are derived from licenses to the dealers in spirituous 
 liquors, to hucksters, &;c. and from a tax on carts, and on 
 meat and fish sold in the town of Port of Spain, thus re- 
 alizing about £12,000 per annum, with which the streets and 
 market-house are kept in repair, and the salaries of the police 
 officers paid. All other salaries are paid out of the Colonial 
 Treasury. The laws are principally Spanish, executed after the 
 Spanish form, with some modifications; the titles of Alcade, 
 Alquazil, &c. are always used instead of the corresponding 
 terms in English. 
 
 Trinidad Militia. Every freeman of the island is enrolled 
 in the militia, which is composed of artillery, cavalry and infan- 
 try, with a very numerous staff. Their appearance on the great 
 plain before St. Anne's is really superb ; the muster is about 
 4,500, and a more efficient state of discipline is kept up than 
 perhaps in any of the other islands. The Governor is of 
 course Commander-in-Chief; there are two Brigadiers-Gene- 
 ral, an Adjutant, Commissary, Paymaster, Muster-Master, 
 Proyost-Marshal, and Judge Advocate-Gewera/; with de- 
 puties to each; Physician, Surgeon, and Apothecary Ge- 
 neral, and of Field Officers, two Colonels, twenty-one Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonels, twelve Majors, and fifty-seven Captains. The 
 uniforms are various and splendid ; — the artillery is blue, with 
 red facings, and gold lace ; the royal Trinidad light dragoons 
 blue, facings buff, and lace silver; mounted chasseurs and 
 light infantry green uniform ; and the sea fencibles blue, with
 
 252 
 
 MILITIA — TAXATION AND EXPENDITURE. 
 
 white facings ; and so on through the whole of the other corps. 
 The fines for non-attendance on parade, agreeably to the 
 resolutions for the government of the militia forces of this 
 island are — 
 
 A Colonel 
 Lieutenant Colonel 
 Major, 
 Captain 
 Lieutenant, Ensign, Sur- "^ 
 geon. Adjutant, and s g 
 
 dol. 
 
 80 
 50 
 40 
 12 
 
 Sergeant-MajorandQr.- 
 
 Master Sergeant 
 Sergeant 
 Corporal 
 
 Private — first offence 
 second . 
 
 :} 
 
 dol. 
 8 
 
 6 
 5 
 4 
 6 
 
 Quarter-Master . J 
 
 and for the third renders himself liable to be brought to 
 trial by a general regimental court martial, which court is 
 empowered to pass sentence of fine and imprisonment ; not 
 however exceeding twenty dollars, and forty-eight hours con- 
 finement. And should a fourth offence occur, any private so 
 offending, is liable, on conviction before a court martial, to be 
 removed from the colony, as being inimical to the regulations 
 established for the security and good order thereof. Besides 
 the militia, these are the head quarters of a European regi- 
 ment of the line, and part of a West India regiment. 
 
 Taxation and Expenditure. It is difficult to learn the 
 actual financial state of any of our colonies ; no measure 
 would be more advantageous to the general weal and com- 
 merce of the empire than the appointment of commissioners 
 to visit the different colonies, and make explicit reports on 
 this important subject. Trinidad defrays the whole expenses 
 of its civil establishment, the extent of which is fixed by the 
 Secretary for the colonies in England, without the Go- 
 vernor or Council having the power to increase or diminioh 
 the amount of the expenditure. The following are the colo- 
 nial duties payable at the treasury: — 
 
 On Imports, per Cent. 
 On Invoice, excepting Cot- 
 ton, Linen, & Cod Fish, S\ 
 On Wines . . . . 7 
 On Spirits 4*. per gallon 
 in addition to . "o 
 
 On Exports. per Cent. 
 
 On the value of Produce 
 regulated per Tariff* 
 of the Market Price ^
 
 DUTIES LEVIED ; SALARIES, &C. 
 
 253 
 
 . £2 
 
 per 
 
 £100 
 
 ' 2\ 
 
 
 ditto. 
 
 . 31 
 
 
 ditto. 
 
 . 4f 
 
 
 ditto. 
 
 6 
 
 
 ditto. 
 
 7 
 
 
 ditto. 
 
 6 
 
 
 ditto. 
 
 Tare — Hogsheads and tierces, 14 lbs. percent.; on barrels, 
 20 lbs. each ; and on bags, 3 lbs. each. Transient Property to 
 pay 2\ per cent. Tonnage duty, 6c/. sterling per ton. 
 
 Duties on bequests by will made in Trinadad : — 
 In the ascending line 
 Collateral line of the first degree . 
 Of the second degree 
 Of the third degree 
 To illegitimate or natural children 
 To all other persons 
 Bequests from the fifth 
 And on all legacies, or inheritances paid to 
 
 persons," residents of a foreign colony or 
 
 state (except in the descending line) an 
 
 addition of . . . .2 ditto. 
 
 Besides the foregoing, there is a tax of 5 per cent, on the 
 assessed rent of houses ; and a poll tax of 8*. 8f/. sterling on 
 each slave. 
 
 The taxation raised on the principal items is £> 15,000. 
 on colonial produce exported, being levied at the rate of 
 3| per cent, ad valorem ; £ 8000. on all goods imported at 
 the same rate, except British linens, cottons, and salt fish; 
 £ 10,000. on slaves as a poll tax; and £2,500. on the annual 
 rents of houses. The civil establishment costs £10.000, and 
 the judicial £ 7,000. A recent Parliamentary return states 
 the revenue and expenditure for five years thus : — 
 
 
 1824 
 
 1825 
 
 1826 
 
 1827 
 
 1828 
 
 1629 
 
 1830 
 
 1831* 
 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 £. 
 
 Taxation 
 
 36,280 
 
 44,332 
 
 54,921 
 
 50,080 
 
 49,196 
 
 43,196 
 
 
 
 Expenditure 
 
 37,587 
 
 35,958 
 
 44,589 
 
 54,015 
 
 36,584 
 
 36,584 
 
 
 
 1832 
 £. 
 
 The amount of the principal salaries is annually — Governor, 
 £4,000. ; Chief Judge, £2,000. ; first Puisne, £1,500. ; second 
 Ditto, £1,500. ; Island Secretary, £8,00.; Register, £600.; 
 
 * Mr. Porter's Board of Trade Statistical Vol, gives the ji^ross revenue 
 of Trinidad for 1831 at 34,993/. Tlie expense of civil establishments, 
 41,801/.; and the charges incurred by the colony for garrisons, 726/. j 
 total, 42/)27/. ..
 
 254- 
 
 MONIES — VALUK OF PROPERTY, &c. 
 
 Attorney-General, £1,200. ; 
 Treasurer, £800. ; Examiner 
 of Public Accounts, £400. ; 
 Escriband to Judicial Courts, 
 £8,000. ; Commissioners of 
 Population, £500. 
 
 A very large sum is raised 
 by fees, the tables for regulat- 
 ing which occupy the greater 
 part of the colonial almanac ; 
 it would seem very desirable 
 that such a system were in a 
 great measure reformed. By 
 the 114th cap. 6. Geo. IV., all 
 custom-house fees are wisely 
 abolished, under a penalty of 
 £100. for any officer receiv- 
 ing such fee or bribe, besides 
 dismissal from office. 
 
 Monies. Accounts are kept 
 in dollars and bits, (reals are 
 sometimes denoted, particu- 
 larly in the multifarious fees of 
 the Roman Catholic church) *, 
 the difference between the 
 Colonial currency and ster- 
 ling is — 3d. cur. = l5f/. ster- 
 ling; 1*. cur.=:5|c/. sterling; 
 £1. cur.nSir. 8^/. sterling. 
 
 Value of Property. Re- 
 ferring to the general remarks 
 on the value of property, as 
 made under British Guyana, 
 I give the following table as 
 the nearest approximation to 
 truth — 
 
 
 O 
 > 
 
 o 
 2 
 
 S 
 
 I— I 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 o 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 c3 
 
 c3 
 
 c 
 a 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 > 
 
 'OiqnsAoiuuij pu« 
 .iiquaAOM 'iwadojj isjox 
 
 o 
 
 Xiisnuu 
 
 ■pajBSjQ 
 
 V Xiaadoij [bjox 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 z 
 < 
 
 ca 
 < 
 
 > 
 
 i 
 
 a. 
 
 •oonninojiQ 
 ai uioo JO uojiina 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 > 
 
 Hones, 
 
 Cattle, 
 Mules, 
 Goats, 
 
 100,0<JO 
 
 noads. 
 
 Wharfs, 
 
 Machinery, 
 
 Boats, 
 
 &c. 
 
 500,000 
 
 DwcUinif 
 Houses, 
 Stores, 
 Furniture, 
 Clothes, 
 S:c. 
 
 1,800,000 
 
 •Xjiadoij C!i'l"d 
 
 
 13 
 
 5 
 
 -painKiSuQ 
 
 puu 
 
 p3»»i>!j(noan 
 
 |.S'S| 
 
 •pajsiijina 
 
 Pi} 
 
 d 
 
 &] 
 
 a 
 
 O 
 
 .J 
 < 
 
 z 
 I 
 
 es 
 
 •saupuns 
 
 puu'aiuoDui 
 
 »sjaiiiia«jnuwj\[ 
 
 1 
 
 pas pooj ptuiov 
 
 
 •3« 'pooj aiqmaaaA 
 
 
 •uojioo 
 
 =^s«- 
 
 •aajBOO 
 
 
 •soaoo 
 
 
 -«ass«ioj^ 
 
 m 
 
 •tuna 
 
 S|3'| 
 
 
 ■jtSos 

 
 GENERAL VIEW AND FUTURE TROSPECTS. 255 
 
 General View and Future Prospects. No person can 
 peruse even the brief description now given of this lovely 
 isle, without admitting its importance and value to Great 
 Britain, not only in reference to its fertile soil, and the 
 quantity of crown land lying waste,* but also with regard to 
 its admirable position on the S. American coast, by means of 
 which an extensive depot may be formed for continental 
 commerce, as the civilization and wealth of the Transatlantic 
 republics increase. The remarks made under Jamaica, in re- 
 ference to the future prospects of that island, apply equally well 
 to Trinidad, as regards the ultimate result of the Slave Eman- 
 cipation Bill. The grand principle by which our colonies ought 
 to have been governed, after they have arrived at a certain 
 extent of population and wealth, has not yet been applied to 
 Trinidad. I am confident, however, that the inhabitants of 
 Trinidad have only to press forward their claims for a Legis- 
 lative Assembly, with somewhat of vigour and energy, and 
 their prayer will not be refused by the ministers of the 
 crown or the Parliament of the nation. If our fellow subjects 
 in Trinidad be not admitted to send a representative to sit in 
 the Imperial Assembly, they must, in common justice, be 
 permitted to manage their local affairs by a local assembly at 
 home. The colonies possessing local legislative assemblies 
 are not only no drain on the British exchequer, but a very 
 great support to it ; and although Trinidad now defrays the 
 whole of its civil and a part of its military defence, yet would 
 its inhabitants yield more readily a greater revenue if allowed 
 
 * Situation and extent of the Crown Lands, in acres, in Trinidad in 
 1827 :— 
 
 Arim a, 11,4395 Carenage and Cuesse, 6,221 ; Caroni, 30,858 ; Cudros, 
 2,135; Chaguanas, 8,010; Coura, Savanetta, &c. 22,969; Diego Martin, 
 2,427; Erin, 1,491; Guanapo, 52,317; Hicacos, 3,017; Irios, 6,474; 
 Labrea and Guapo, 6,474 ; Las Cuevas, 4,502 ; Maraval, 4,021 ; Maraccas 
 Valley, 1,328; Mayaro, 7,685; Oropuche, 3,175; Point a Pierre, 4,527 ; 
 South Naparima, 5,902 ; Santa Cruz, 406 ; Savanna Grande, 733 ; Jaca- 
 riqua and Arauca, 9,763; Joco and Cumana, 2,765; Valley of Caura, 
 2,955; laud in the intei'ior undefined in its boundaries, 881,658. Total of 
 crown lands in Trinidad, 1,080,500 acres.
 
 256 NECESSITY AND JUSTICE OF LOCAL ASSEMBLIES. 
 
 to tax themselves ; or they would be enabled to relieve them- 
 selves of injurious fiscal imposts by curtailing unnecessary 
 taxation, and by keeping a watchful eye over the expenditure 
 of the government. However, as I propose giving a general 
 view of Ancient and Modern Colonial Policy in the fifth 
 volume of this work, I reserve for that period any further 
 remarks on this important branch of my subject.
 
 S57 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 TOBAGO. 
 
 ITS LOCALITY — GENEUAL HISTORY — PHYSICAL ASPECT — GEOLOGY — CLI- 
 MATE — ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE KINGDOMS — POPULATION COMMERCE 
 
 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE — GOVERXM ENT, &C. 
 
 Locality. In 11. 16 N. lat. 60. 30 W. long, the western 
 end distant but six miles from Trinidad, and the eastern 
 twenty-four leagues from Grenada, is situate Tobago, the 
 most southerly of the Caribbee islands, about thirty-two 
 miles long, in an E. N. E. direction ; and in its greatest breadth 
 twelve miles, embracing a mountainous area of 14 square miles. 
 General History. Tobago, or Tobacco, was discovered by 
 Columbus in 1496, and thus named after the pipe used by the 
 islanders in smoking the herb now so extensively used in the 
 Old World, and then termed Kohiba.*' When first visited 
 it was found to be peopled by a race since well known under 
 the denomination of Caribs, who were at continual war with 
 another nation denominated the Arrawaaks, residing on the 
 main land.f The Tobagians sometime after left the island 
 and retired from the pursuit of the Arrawaaks to St. Mn- 
 cents,]: where, it is said, they lived in peace with the Indians 
 inhabiting that isle. In 1580, the British flag was planted on 
 the island ; in 1608, James the First claimed its sovereignty ; 
 no effectual colonization however then took place, § although 
 the isle was granted to the Earl of Pembroke in 1628 by 
 
 * The herb and pipe bore the same name at the other extremity of the 
 Carib Archipelago in St. Domingo. 
 
 t Vide chapter on British Guyana for a description of tliese people. 
 
 X It would appear from this that tha Arrawaaks, as asserted by some, 
 were a nation of Caribs, dififering in some points from those now generally 
 called by the name of Carib. 
 
 § A small British Colony is said to have settled on the island from Bar- 
 badoes, in 1 625 ; but it was subsequently abandoned. A description of 
 Tobago is said to have suggested the scenery of Crusoe's island to De Foe. 
 VOL. II. s
 
 258 HISTORY OF TOBAGO ITS EARLY 
 
 Charles the First. Some Dutch navigators visited Tobago 
 on their return voyage from the Brazils, and, struck with its 
 advantageous situation for trade with the continent, as also 
 with the beauty of its climate and the richness of its soil, a 
 company of Flushing traders formed an establishment on the 
 almost deserted isle in 1632, founding the colony with 200 
 persons, and naming it New Walcheren in honour of their 
 native home ; but, in 1634, before the Hollanders had time 
 to fortify themselves, the jealousy of the Spaniards of Tri- 
 nidad was roused, and, aided by some native Indians, the 
 Dutch that escaped the onslaught were conducted as pri- 
 soners to Trinidad, the rising walls of the fortress of New 
 Walcheren razed, the cannon and stores carried off, and the 
 plantations utterly destroyed. For nearly twenty succeeding 
 years the island remained untenanted, but occasionally fre- 
 quented by seamen from Martinique and Guadaloupe to fish 
 for turtle, or by the Indians of St. Vincent and the other 
 Antilles, who touched there on their frequent expeditions 
 against the Arrawaaks of the Orinoco. 
 
 In 1654* some merchants at Flushing, named the Lampsins, 
 obtained a charter from the government of the United Pro- 
 vinces, authorizing their occupation of Tobago for their sole 
 use, with the privilege of appointing a Governor and Ma- 
 gistrates, but giving a veto to the Dutch government at home 
 on the nomination of the former. The spirit of commerce 
 was then at its height in Holland, and Tobago, or New 
 Walcheren, soon became not merely an agricultural colony, 
 but one of the most thriving commercial emporiums in the 
 West Indies. Shortly after the Dutch occupation, a vessel 
 arrived at Tobago with colonists from Courland, James 
 the first of England having previously granted Tobago to 
 his godson the Duke of Courland. Nearly 100 families were 
 thus landed on one of the most beautiful parts of the island 
 termed Courland Bay ; in a few days the contending colonists 
 came to blows, but the belligerents at length agreed to leave 
 
 * Some sHy that the Courlanders arrived oa the north coast of Tobago iu 
 1648.
 
 SETTLEMENT BY THE DUTCH AND ENGLISH. 259 
 
 each other quiet until their respective governments at home 
 should decide to whom the island belonged. The Courlanders 
 were neglected, partly owing to the Duke being imprisoned and 
 deprived of his territories by the King of Sweden, while the 
 Lampsins strongly reinforced their friends ; the result was 
 that, in 1659, the latter forced the Courlanders to relinquish 
 Fort James, which they had built in Courland Bay. The 
 efforts of the Duke of Courland to recover Tobago, on the 
 restitution of his states, were ineffectual, notwithstanding the 
 manifesto of Charles II. in his favour, 17th of November, 1664, 
 when declaring war against Holland; — the Lampsins therefore 
 remained in peaceable possession for some years. No mention 
 was made of Tobago at the treaty of Breda ; and during 
 the interval of the first and second war between England 
 and Holland, the Governor, Hubert de Beveren, and the 
 colonists, amounting to li200, placed Forts James and Lamp- 
 sinberg in a good state of defence, while the commerce and 
 cultivation of the island rapidly increased. 
 
 Nevertheless Tobago was shortly after plundered and 
 sacked by Sir Tobias Bridges, at the head of the Barbadian 
 privateers, and subsequently the Dutch having declared war 
 against the French, the Duke D'Estrees attacked and de- 
 feated Admiral Binkes, in Scarborough Bay, and pillaged the 
 island. Four months after D'Estrees again appeared off 
 Fort Lampsins, landed his infantry, and attacked Birikes in 
 the fortress, who, after a gallant defence was, together with 
 a great part of his little garrison, blown up by the explosion 
 of a powder magazine, and on the 24th Dec. 1677, the brave 
 and industrious Hollanders were compelled to abandon a 
 colony which they had commenced under such favourable 
 auspices in 1654; such are the wretched effects of desolating 
 wars for personal aggrandizement. In 1678 the Duke of 
 Courland renewed his pretensions, and for many years 
 strenuous, but unavailing efforts were made to induce co- 
 lonists to settle in the island. In 1737 the house of Kettler, 
 sovereigns of Courland, being extinct by the death of Fer-r 
 dinand, son of James, England claimed the reversion of
 
 260 CESSION OF TOBAGO TO ENGLAND. 
 
 Tobago. In 1748, by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, it was 
 stipulated that St. Lucia should belong to France, and that 
 Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent, and Dominica should be 
 considered as neutral islands, that the subjects of all Euro- 
 pean powers should have the right to establish themselves, 
 and carry on commerce in and with those islands, but that 
 none of the contracting parties should place garrisons in 
 them.* 
 
 At the peace of 1763, Louis XV. ceded Tobago in per- 
 petuity to England, and on the 20th of May 1765 a commis- 
 sion was appointed for granting lands on the island. The 
 prosperity of the island dates from this period, large capitals 
 were invested by enterprizing British colonists, and agricul- 
 ture and commerce rapidly progressed ; but the miseries of 
 war had not yet terminated ; during our contest with North 
 America, in 1781, Tobago was captured by the Marquis de 
 Bouillie, and ceded to France by the treaty of Versailles in 
 1783. While Tobago remained in the possession of France, 
 a few French settlers established themselves in the island, and 
 on the breaking out of hostilities between England and 
 France, General Cuyler, in March 1793, at the head of 2,000 
 men, took possession of the island for Great Britain, in whose 
 possession it has ever since remained. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Tobago has been termed the ' Melon- 
 choly Isle,' because when viewed from the N. it seems to be 
 only a mass of lofty, gloomy, mountains, with black precipices, 
 descending abruptly to the sea ; on a nearer approach the 
 island exhibits a very irregular aspect ; it is principally com- 
 posed of conical hills of basaltic formation, and of ridges 
 which descend from the interior, (where they rise in a distinct 
 manner from a common base or dorsal ridge 1,800 feet high, 
 and running twenty miles out of the thirty-two that the island 
 
 * Whether Tobago vvas then inhabited or not, it is hard to say. The 
 chroniclers of the island assert, that, in 1757, the ship Stirling Castle 
 touched at Tobago ; and on Mr. Thompson, a midshipman, landing, he 
 found an old French hermit on the island, who had been living alone on it 
 for twenty-one years.
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT — HARBOURS, BAYS, &C. 261 
 
 is long), toward the sea, terminating sometimes in abrupt 
 precipices ; the ravines are deep and narrow, and end 
 generally in small alluvial plains. The N. W. part is the 
 least mountainous, terminating in the N. in abrupt precipices, 
 with the dark island of little Tobago and the dangerous rocks 
 called St. Giles's, The S. terminates in broken plains and 
 low lands, the whole aspect, like Trinidad, being calm and 
 magnificent, with occasional beautiful mounds of isolated hills, 
 so close that few levels for marsh or swamps present them- 
 selves, the delightful vales every where exhibiting the effects 
 of a rotatory and undulating motion of vast currents of water, 
 and forming with the contiguous mountains truly picturesque 
 scenery. The island is well watered by rivulets and streams, 
 arising in the interior, and passing over the low lands to the 
 coast, where they are occasionally obstructed, which how- 
 ever a little attention would prevent. 
 
 Scarborough, the principal town, is situate on tlie S. W. 
 side of Tobago along the sea shore, (at the base of Fort 
 George Hill), and extends, with little uniformity, easterly 
 towards the Fort, the distance from the latter place being 
 upwards of half a mile. On the S. and S. W. the descent to 
 the sea is gradual, and at the base of the hill approaching the 
 town are several scattered country houses. Fort George 
 Hill (the road to which is steep and towards the W.), rises 
 to the height of four hundred and twenty-two feet, of a 
 conical shape, and crowned by 'Fort King George,' the 
 chief military station in the island. On the windward side 
 are numerous excellent bays, and on the northward is 
 situate ' Man-of-War Bay,' capacious, safe, and adapted to 
 the largest ships. At Courland Bay (on the N. side, six 
 miles from Fort King George), which approaches the lee- 
 ward extremity, the hills, covered with rich forests, are 
 bolder and more abrupt than on the S. side, and conse- 
 quently the cultivation more scattered ; the ' Richmond,' a 
 large river, passes through the district. Extending from 
 Courland to Sandy Point, on the S. side are several estates 
 on the low lands in good cultivation, owing to the number of
 
 262 rxEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF TOBAGO. 
 
 rivulets watering the shore. Sandy Point district (or as it 
 may be termed Garden), forms the western extremity of the 
 island, and is the only level land of any extent in Tobago. 
 The eastern district is chiefly composed of high mountains, 
 clothed with noble trees, and but thinly cultivated. 
 
 Man of War, Courland, Sandy Point and King Bays, are 
 adapted to the largest sized ships ; Tyrrels, Bloody, Man- 
 grove, Englishman's, and Castara's Bays have good an- 
 chorage for vessels vip to 150 tons burthen; Halifax Bay 
 admits vessels of 250 tons — but a shoal at the entrance re- 
 quires a pilot. 
 
 Geology. On a complete view of the island, as compared 
 with the adjacent continent, the observer is impressed with the 
 belief that it formed, at some distant day, a bold promontory 
 of main land, from which it has been violently dissevered. 
 There is, in fact, a general physiognomical resemblance be- 
 tween Tobago and Trinidad, except that there are not seen 
 those large blocks of hyaline quartz in the former that are 
 found almost every where in the latter, on the summits of 
 mountains as well as on the plains ; the rounded pebbles found 
 in the beds of rivers are generally of quartz or freestone, some 
 of hyaline quartz, others of ampliiobolic schistus, &c. Neither 
 sulphur nor carbonate of lime have been seen. The hill 
 above Scarborough appears to be a bed of basalt and schistus 
 rock, with a loose and heavy super-stratum. The soil is a 
 rich dark mould, and resembles (particularly in the E. part) 
 that of its neighbouring isle, with the advantage of the vege- 
 tative earth being deeper on the hills of Tobago. 
 
 Climate, — though moist, by being impregnated with saline 
 particles, is not at all unhealthy, particularly if proper atten- 
 tion were paid to preventing the exits of the mountain streams. 
 The rainy season begins in June, and gradually becomes 
 heavy until September, the violence of the rains then abate, 
 showers continuing, at intervals, to the end of December or 
 beginning of January, when the season termed ' croptime' 
 begins. The island is out of the usual range of hurricanes — 
 the winds are S.E. and S. during the greater part of the year ;
 
 CLIMATE — WINDS AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS. 263 
 
 in December and January they prevail from the N. — often 
 very strong and cold. So decidedly salubrious are the high 
 lands of the interior, that Dr. Lloyd, the principal medical 
 officer, reported to Sir James M'Gregor* in 1827, that * on 
 some of the estates in the interior, no European resident had 
 been buried for upwards oi ten years'! 
 
 Tides, Winds and Sailing Directions. The currents 
 round the island are very uncertain, especially in the Trinidad 
 channel. At new and full moon the rise of the tide is four 
 feet. The N. E. trade blows all the year about the island. The 
 island being seen towards evening, the mariner cautious of ap- 
 proaching, should stand under easy sail to the southward, as 
 the current sets to the N. W. ; coming from the E. steer for the 
 S. coast, and keep well to the southward to stem the N. W. 
 current, which always sets round the lesser Tobago. On 
 entering any of the bays to leeward, ships may approach quite 
 close to St. Giles's rock. There is nothing to fear at the 
 S. W. Bay of Courland but rocks above water, except the 
 Chesterfield rock. Tobago is free from hurricanes, though 
 Grenada, the most southward of the Antilles, and only thirty 
 leagues from the continent, is as much under the influence of 
 squalls as the other Antilles. 
 
 Vegetable Kingdom. Almost every kind of plant that 
 grows on the Antilles flourishes at Tobago — and also, in 
 common with Trinidad, the greater part of those which are 
 cultivated in Guyana and Cumana. The orange, lemon, guava, 
 pomegranate, fig and grape are in perfection ; the two latter 
 yield fruit twice a year, (if pruned three weeks after the fruit 
 has been gathered) and all the culinary plants of Europe 
 arrive at perfection. The cinnamon and pimento (some say 
 also the nutmeg) trees grow wild in different parts of the 
 island — and the cotton of Tobago is of excellent quality. 
 
 * Through the kindness of Sir James, I have been enabled to render my 
 labours more beneficial to the empire by the facile access, which the head 
 of the Army IMedical Department most politely granted me, to refer to the 
 valuable topographical reports, furnished by the medical officers of the 
 army, from our difl'erent colonies.
 
 264 VEGETATION AND ZOOLOGY OF TOBAGO. 
 
 Zoology. Although the vegetation of Tobago and Trini- 
 tlad is similar, some quadrupeds and birds are found in the 
 latter which do not exist in the former, and r>ice versa ; the 
 Katraka, for instance, a very singular species of pheasant, 
 although taken from Tobago to Trinidad and let loose, has 
 not multiplied there ; while the Hoccos of Trinidad are in a 
 similar position with regard to Tobago ; and although nearly 
 all the quadrupeds of the immense region between the Ama- 
 zons river and the isthmus of Panama, are to be found at 
 Trinidad, very few of them are to be seen at Tobago ; even 
 the small deer of Guyana, so plentiful at Trinidad, do not 
 exist here. The indigenous birds are — varieties of wild 
 ducks, pigeons, blackbirds (yellow and black) white wood- 
 cocks, thrushes, herons, pouched pelicans, &c. The eagles 
 of the Orinoco, and flamingoes, frequent the coasts. Three 
 varieties of humming birds exist, and a small bird of the 
 size of a sparrow, with magnificent plumage ; the head, 
 neck and upper part of the body is of a most brilliant red — 
 the feathers of the wings and tail of a deep purple above and 
 a sky blue underneath, and the breast and belly of an azure 
 hue. A great variety of shell-fish is found on the coast, 
 which is frequented by sea-cows and turtles in abundance. 
 
 Population. Of the yearly increase or decrease of the 
 inhabitants I can find no connected details ; * the whites are 
 estimated at 450 ; the free coloured, males 477, females 686 ; 
 the following Table shews the numbers, increase and decrease, 
 of the slave population from 1819 to 1832. 
 
 * Since the text was written I have found the following statements of 
 early population ; it would appear from this that the whites have not 
 augmented of late. In 1/76 the population was 2,397 vvhite, 1,050 free 
 negroes, and 10,752 slaves; in 17^7, whites, 1,397; free coloured, 1,050; 
 slaves, 10,539 ; and the import of slaves, in a medium of four years, 1,400 ; 
 in 1805, whites, 900 j coloured people, 700; slaves, 14,883.
 
 POPULATION, COMMERCE, REVENUE, GOVERNMENT, &C. 265 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase 
 
 Decrease 
 
 Decrease by 
 
 
 
 
 
 by Birth. 
 
 by Death. 
 
 Manumission. 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 s 
 
 ■3 
 
 "3 
 
 3 
 
 
 •S 
 
 
 73 
 
 
 ales 
 mal 
 
 >- 
 
 S 
 
 p^ 
 
 IS 
 
 U< 
 
 S 
 
 r" 
 Ph 
 
 s 1 s: 
 
 1819 .. 
 
 /,633 
 
 7,837 1 15,470 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1820 .. 
 
 7,384 
 
 7.679 1 15,063 
 
 141 
 
 163 
 
 416 
 
 384 
 
 1 5 
 
 1821 .. 
 
 7,107 
 
 7,474 1 14,521 
 
 178 
 
 155- 
 
 370 
 
 306 
 
 1 2 
 
 1822 .. 
 
 6.952 
 
 7,363 1 14,315 
 
 159 
 
 158 
 
 367 
 
 303 
 
 10 12 
 
 1823 .. 
 
 6,812 
 
 7,263 ,14,074,151 
 
 167 
 
 232 
 
 211 
 
 5 16 
 
 1824 . . 
 
 6,558 
 
 7,098 13,6»6i 166 
 
 157 
 
 371 
 
 290 
 
 9 i 14 
 
 1825 . . 
 
 6,532 
 
 7,151 :13,683 154 
 
 15- 
 
 213 
 
 191 
 
 4 1 2 
 
 1826 .. 
 
 6,391 
 
 7,034 13,428 168 
 
 160 
 
 362 
 
 328 
 
 7 i 10 
 
 1827 . . 
 
 6,138 
 
 6,861 12,999 170 
 
 163 
 
 213 
 
 185 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 1828 .. 
 
 6,088 
 
 6,807 12,895 178 
 
 191 
 
 289 
 
 249 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 1829 .. 
 
 5,986 
 
 6,757 112,723 178 
 
 196 
 
 283 
 
 248 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 1830 . . 
 
 5,872 
 
 6,614 12,556 165 
 
 155 
 
 288 
 
 220 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 1831 .. 
 
 5,769 
 
 6,601 112,370,170 
 
 171 
 
 274 
 
 241 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 1832 .. 
 
 5,603 
 
 6,488 
 
 12,091 
 
 145 
 
 161 
 
 298 
 
 253 
 
 13 
 
 21 
 
 Commerce. — Exports. The principal exports are sugar, 
 molasses and rum — of which there were exported in 1831 
 — sugar, 8,453 hogsheads; molasses, 183 puncheons; rum, 
 5,171 ditto. The value of the trade of the island, and the 
 shipping employed for the same year was — 
 
 I.MPORTS. VALUE IN STERtlNG. 
 
 EXPORTS. VALUE IN STERLING. 
 
 1831 
 
 
 ^J3 S 
 
 ill 
 
 
 6 
 1 
 
 To Great 
 Britain. 
 
 To British 
 Colonies. 
 
 To 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 -3 
 
 > 
 
 je. 
 
 54,530 
 
 57.961 
 Ships I 
 
 4,780 
 iwards 
 
 117,241 
 
 144,38 4 
 
 15,686 
 Ships Ov 
 
 220 
 itwards 
 
 160,290 
 
 Tons. 
 
 7,127 
 
 6,64- 
 
 1,478 
 
 15,252 
 
 7,385 
 
 7,377 
 
 582 
 
 15,344 
 
 Revenue and Expenditure. — The gross receipts of the 
 island revenue for 1831 was £9,992, and the expenses of the 
 civil estahlishment £7,388. 
 
 Form of Government. Tobago is ruled by a Governoi-, 
 Council and House of Assembly, whose powers and authority 
 are similar to those of Jamaica, Sec.
 
 266 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 GRENADA. 
 
 ITS LOCALITY — I'llYSlCAL ASPECT — MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, AND LAKES — 
 GEOLOGY — VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL KINGDOMS — POPULATION — COM- 
 MERCE — REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE — GOVERNMENT, &.C, 
 
 Locality. Grenada, the most southerly of the Antilles, 
 iind most lovely of our West India isles, is situate between the 
 parallels of 12.20 and 11.58 N. Lat. and 61.20 and 61.35 W. 
 Long., nearly equi-distant from Tobago (60 miles) and the 
 nearest point of the continent of South America; its greatest 
 length, N. and S. about twenty-five miles, (and at either ex- 
 tremity narrowing to a point) — in its greatest breadth 12, 
 in circumference 50, miles, and containing about 80,000 acres. 
 
 General History. Christopher Columbus, during his 
 third adventurous voyage in 1498, discovered Grenada, and 
 found it fully occupied by a warlike race, (the Charibs) 
 among w horn the Spaniards never attempted to form a settle- 
 ment, and who remained for a century after in peaceable pos- 
 session of their native home. In 1650 the French Governor 
 of Martinique, Du Parquet,* collected 200 hardy adventurers, 
 for the purpose of seizing on the island, wliich, from the manly 
 character of the natives, was considered an enterprize of 
 difficulty and danger. 
 
 This expedition,! as related by Father du Tertre, exhibits 
 a monstrous mixture of fanatacisin and knavery. The com- 
 manders administered the holy sacrament, in the most solemn 
 manner, to all the soldiers on their embarkation, and again on 
 their landing — and l^u Parquet, causing a cross to be erected, 
 
 * Du Paniiiti MilkM'iiucDtly ,<okl the island to Count Cerillao for 30,000 
 ir()\vn:>. 
 
 t 1 am iiidcbtcHl to the Grcuada Aluiauac for many dctaiU relative to 
 this isle.
 
 FRENCH CONQUEST AND SETTLEMENT OF GRENADA. 
 
 2(37 
 
 compelled them to kneel down before it, and join in devout 
 prayer to Almighty God for the success of their enterprize. 
 
 The natives received and entertained the French with the 
 utmost kindness and cordiaUty, pretending to open a treaty 
 with the chiefs of the Charibs for the purchase of the 
 country. The latter gave the natives '' some knives and hat- 
 chets, and a large quantity of glass beads, besides two bottles 
 of brandy for the chief himself " and then asserted that the 
 island was fairly ceded to the French nation, by the natives 
 themselves, in lawful purchase ! 
 
 Du Parquet thus established a colony in Grenada, built a 
 fort for its protection, and left the government of the island 
 to a kinsman, named Le Compte. Within eight months after 
 this period we find a war of extermination carried on by the 
 French against the Charibs. Du Parquet sent a reinforce- 
 ment of 300 men from Martinique, with orders to extirpate 
 the natives altogether ; but Le Compte seems not to have 
 wanted any incitement to acts of barbarity ; for Du Tertre 
 admits that he had already proceeded to murder, without 
 mercy, every Charib that fell into his hands — not sparing 
 even the women and children. 
 
 The manner in which the unfortunate aborigines were 
 destroyed may be judged of by a circumstance which Father 
 Du Tertre relates of one expedition. ' Forty of the Cha- 
 raibes were massacred on the spot. About forty others, who 
 had escaped the sword, ran towards a precipice, from whence 
 they cast themselves headlong into the sea, and miserably 
 perished. A beautiful girl, of twelve or thirteen years of 
 age, who was taken alive, became the object of dispute 
 between two of our officers, each of them claiming her as his 
 prize ; a third coming up, put an end to the contest, by 
 shooting the girl through the head. The place from which 
 these barbarians threw themselves into the sea, has been 
 called ever since le Morne de Saiiteurs, (Leapers' Hill.) Our 
 people, having lost but one man in the expedition, proceeded 
 in the next place to set fire to the cottages, and root up the 
 provisions of the savages — and having destroyed or taken
 
 268 CESSION TO GREAT BRITAIN — RESISTANCE TO TAXES. 
 
 away every thing belonging to them, returned in high spirits' 
 No wonder that the whole native population was soon extir- 
 pated. 
 
 It may well be imagined that cultivation made but little 
 progress. So late as 1700 the island contained no more than 
 2oi whites and 5^5 blacks, who were employed on three 
 plantations of sugar and fifty-two of indigo. 
 
 After the peace of Utrecht, the government of France 
 began to turn its attention towards her West India posses- 
 sions. Grenada, however, for many years, partook less of 
 its care than the rest. By a smuggling intercourse with the 
 Dutch, the Grenadians changed their circumstances for the 
 better — increased their numbers— and a great part of the 
 country was settled. In 1762 Grenada and the Grenadines 
 are said to have yielded annually, in clayed and muscovado 
 sugar, a quantity equal to about 1 1 ,000 hogsheads of mus- 
 covado of fifteen cwt. each, and about 27,000 pounds of 
 indigo. 
 
 Grenada surrendered on capitulation in February, 1762, 
 and, with its dependencies, was finally ceded to Great Britain, 
 by the definitive treaty of Paris, on the 10th of February, 
 1763 — St. Lucia being restored at the same time to France. 
 The chief stipulations in favour of the inhabitants, as well by 
 the treaty as by the articles of capitulation, were these : — 
 First, That as they would become, by their surrender, sub- 
 jects of Great Britain, they should enjoy their properties and 
 privileges, and pay taxes, in like manner as the rest of His 
 Majesty's subjects of the other British Leeward Islands. 
 Secondly, With respect to religion, they were put on the 
 same footing as the inhabitants of Canada — viz. liberty was 
 given them to exercise it according to the rites of the Romish 
 Churcli, as far as the laivs of Great Britain permitted. 
 Thirdly, Such of the inhabitants of Grenada as chose to quit 
 the ii^land, should have lil)crty to do so, and eighteen months 
 allowed tliem to dispose of their effects. 
 
 A Legislative Assembly was granted by England, and 
 the Grenadians resisted the imposition of the \l per cent.
 
 FRENCH OCCUPATION AND GALLANT DEFENCE. 269 
 
 duties. The Crown, liowever, persisting in its claim, and the 
 inhabitants in opposing it, issue was joined before the judges 
 of the Court of King's Bench in England. The case was 
 elaborately argued in Westminster-hall four several times; 
 and in Michaelmas Term, 1774, Lord Chief Justice Mans- 
 field pronounced judgment against the Crown. The con- 
 sequence was, that the duty in question was abolished not 
 only in Grenada but also in Dominica, St. Vincent's and To- 
 bago. [It should have been aboHshed in all the islands.] 
 
 On the 2d of July, 1797, a French armament, consisting of 
 a fleet of twenty-five ships of the line, ten frigates and 5,000 
 troops, under the command of the Count D' Estaing, appeared 
 off the harbour and town of St. George : the whole force of 
 the island was composed of ninety men of the 48th regiment, 
 300 militia of the island, and 150 seamen from the merchant 
 ships ; and its fortifications consisted chiefly of an entrench- 
 ment, which had been hastily thrown up round the summit of 
 Hospital-hill. This entrenchment the Count D'Estaing in- 
 vested the next day, at the head of 3,000 of his best forces, 
 which he led up in three columns, and, after a desperate con- 
 flict and the loss of 300 men carried the lines. Never did so 
 small a body of men make a nobler defence against such 
 inequality of numbers, The Governor (Lord Macartney) and 
 the remains of his little garrison immediately retired into the 
 old fort at the mouth of the harbour, which, however, was 
 wholly untenable, being commanded by the Hospital-hill 
 battery, the guns of which, having been most unfortunately 
 left unspiked, were now turned against them. At day break 
 the French opened a battery of two twenty-four pounders 
 against the walls of the old fort. In this situation, the Governor 
 and inhabitants had no alternative but an unconditional sur- 
 render; and the Count d'Estaing became master of the 
 island. 
 
 Grenada and the Grenadines were restored to Great 
 Britain, with all the other captured islands in the West 
 Indies, (Tobago excepted) by the general pacification which 
 took place in 1783. In 1795 an insurrection, fermented it
 
 270 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE GOVERNORS OP GRENADA. 
 
 was said by the French Revolutionists, broke out March 
 1795, which was not finally terminated until July 1796. 
 During the continuance of the disturbance the greatest dis- 
 tress prevailed, and the most horrid murders were per- 
 petrated by the infatuated rebels ; wherever they appeared 
 devastation followed them ; and, from the direful effects of 
 their cruelty and rapine Grenada has never recovered the 
 flourishing state which it had previously enjoyed.* 
 
 Physical Aspect. The general aspect of Grenada is ex- 
 tremely lovely, but mountainous and pictvu'esque ; the interior 
 and N. W. coast consist of successive piles of conical hills or 
 
 * For the sake of reference and as historical data I give, wherever I 
 find it practicable, a list of the chief authorities in each settlement, with 
 the dates of their period of office. 
 
 A list of Governors, Lieut.-Govemors, &c. who have held the Govern- 
 ment of Grenada, since the cession of the Colony to Great Britain, in the 
 year 1763 : — 
 
 Brig'.-Gen. Robert Melville, Capt.-Gen. Commander-in-Chief in and over 
 the southern Charibbee Islands of Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent, and 
 Tobago, 1764 ; Ulysses Fitzmaurice, Sen. Lieut.-Governor of St. Vincent, 
 1768 ; Brig. -Gen. R. Melville, again, 1770 ; F. Corsar, Esq. President, 1771; 
 U. Fitzmaurice, Lieut.-Gov. of St. Vincent, again, 1771 ; Brig.-Gen. W. 
 Leybourne, Gov. S. C. Islands, 1771; F. Corsar, Esq. President again, 
 1775; W.Young, Lieut.-Gov. Tobago, 1775; Sir G. (afterwards Lord) 
 Macartney, K. B. Gov. 1776 ; Lf.-Gen. E. Matthew, Gov. 1784 ; W. Lucas, 
 Es(i. Pres. 1785; S.Williams, Es(}. Pres. 1787; J- Campbell, Esq. Pres. 
 1788; S. Williams, Esq. again Pres. 1789 to 1793; N. Home, Esq Lieut.- 
 Gov. 1793; K. M'Kenzie, Esq. Pres. 1795; S. Williams, Esq. again Pres. 
 1795; A. Houstoun, Esq. Lt.-Gov. 1796; Col. C. Green, Gov. 1/97; S. 
 Mitchell, Esq. Pres. 1798; Rev. S. Dent, Pres. 1801 ; G. V. Hobart, Esq. 
 Lt.-Gov. 1802 ; Rev. S. Dent, again Pres. 1802 ; Maj.-Gen. W. D. M'Leau 
 Clephane, Lt.-Gov 1803; Rev. S. Dent, again Pres. 1803, A. C. Adye, 
 Esq. Pres. 1804; Brig.-Gen. F. Maitland, Gov. 1805; J. Harvey, Esq. 
 Pres. 1807; A. C. Adye, Esq. again Pres. 1808 to 1809; Major-Gen. F. 
 Maitland, Gov. 1810; A. C. Adye, Esq. again Pres. 1810 to 1811; Col. 
 G. R. Ainslie, Vice-Gov. 1812; J. Harvey, Esq. Pres. 1813; Maj.-Gen. 
 Sir C. Shipley, Gov. 1813 to 1815; G. Paterson, Esq. Pres. 1815; Maj.- 
 Gen. Phineas Riall, Gov. 1816; A. Houstoun, Esq. Pres. 1817 to 1819; 
 Maj.-Gen. P. Riall, (resumed) Gov. 1821 ; G. Paterson, Esq. Pres. 1821 to 
 1823; Sir J. Campbell, K. C.B. Gov. 1826 to 1831; A. Houstoun, Esq. 
 Pres. 1829; F. Palmer, Esq. Pros. 1831.
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT OF GRENADA. 271 
 
 continuous ridges, rounded in their outline, and covered with 
 vast forest trees and brush wood; from N. to S. the island is 
 traversed by one continued though irregular range, rising in 
 some places to a very considerable elevation, often to 3,000 
 feet above the level of the sea, but everywhere accessible. 
 From this chain, but particularly from one very remarkable 
 and magnificent spot in the centre of the island, N. E. of St. 
 George's, called the Grand-Etang, numerous small rivers 
 and streamlets have their source irrigating the country in 
 every direction. One of the most prominent features in this 
 wild romantic district is Mount St. Catherine (Morne Michel) 
 which, clothed with a splendid vegetation, towers to an altitude 
 of '3,200 feet above the ocean level ! Several mountain ridges 
 extend from the great chain towards the windward or S. E. 
 side, forming rich and picturesque vallies, but nearly the 
 whole of the windward coast from the S. termination of the 
 range of mountains at Point Calivigny, about five miles from 
 St. George, till it reaches the leeward boundary, looses the 
 rugged and precipitous features and deep bold shore (as 
 seen on the leeward side), and consists of a level alluvial 
 plain with numerous coral reefs. 
 
 Rivers and Lakes. The rivers, as before observed, are 
 numerous, but not large ; the principal are those of Great 
 Bucolet, Duguisne, and x\ntoine on the windward, and St. 
 John's and Beau Sejour, on the leeward. Several hot 
 chalybeate and sulphurous springs exist, the former being 
 the most numerous ; one of these* is very remarkable for its 
 heat and strong metallic impregnation; the mercury rises to 
 86. and since the earthquake, of 1825, both the temperature 
 and impregnation have been very sensibly increased. A hot 
 spring in St. Andrew's parish emits considerable quantities 
 of carbonic acid gas, possessing analogous qualities to the 
 famous grotto del cane ; it contains iron and lime, and possesses 
 a strong petrifactive quality. Some of the warm sulphur- 
 ous springs in the hilly parishes of St. Mark and St. John's 
 are hot enough to boil an egg. Near the centre of the 
 * At Annaiulale in St. George's parish.
 
 272 MOUN'TAIN FRESH WATER LAKE — GRENADA. 
 
 island, at an elevation of 1,740 feet, amidst the mountain 
 scenery, is situate the Grand Etang, an almost perfectly 
 circular fresh water lake, two miles and a half in circum- 
 ference, and fourteen feet deep,' with a bottom composed of 
 a superstrature of soft mud, arising from decayed vegetable 
 substances, (especially Loti, which grow in great profusion 
 around the margin, over a light cold argillaceous bed). Around 
 this singular lake is a superb sylvan amphitheatre of moun- 
 tains, clothed in all the verdant grandeur of a tropical forest. 
 Another lake (Antoine) of nearly similar size, (covering sixty 
 English acres), and form, is situate on the E. coast only half 
 a mile from the sea, and but forty three feet above its level. 
 It is about fifty feet in depth, having no communication with 
 the sea, constantly increasing towards the centre, in the 
 shape of an inverted hollow cone, and increasing in size for 
 the last sixty years : from these circumstances, and the for- 
 mation of rocks, and the quantity of scoriae found near its 
 brink, there is every reason to suppose it the crater of an 
 exhausted volcano. The inhabitants state that there are 
 subterraneous communications between this lake and different 
 parts of the island, and that during the great eruption of the 
 SoufFriere in St. Vincents, in 1812, the waters of Lake 
 Antoine were not only in continual agitation and undulation, 
 but that considerable quantities of lava and sulphur were 
 thrown upon the surface of the water from beneath. On the 
 S. shore, near Point Salines, there are extensive salt ponds. 
 Division. This island is divided into six parishes or 
 districts, * the principal whereof (St. George,) , contains 
 the capital of that name, and the fortifications and military 
 posts of Richmond Hill, Fort King George, Hospital Hill, and 
 Cardigan Heights ; it is also the chief sea-port, the residence 
 of the Governor, and the station of the Courts of Judicature, 
 &c. The district is situate on the S. and W. part of the 
 
 * Sts. Patrick, Andrew, John, Mark, David and George. The three first 
 named are the least mountainou', and the most productive in sugar, cocoa 
 and coffee. St. John and Mark are mountainous ; and the two latter 
 named rather less so.
 
 PARISHES, 8cC. OF GRENADA. 273 
 
 island, embracing twenty-six square miles, and extending 
 along the King's high road, eleven miles, and twenty-eight 
 chains from the river Douce to the river Chemin. It has 
 twenty-eight sugar estates, twenty coffee settlements, and 
 eight coffee plantations. The population of the capital and 
 parish is about 10,000. St. David's lies towards the S. E., 
 and forms several points and some bays capable of receiving 
 small craft ; it extends from the river Chemin to the river 
 Crochu, nine miles and fifty chains along the King's high road, 
 and contains twelve sugar and several provision estates. St. 
 Andreivs, situate on the E. side, extends from the river 
 Crochu to the river Antoine, eleven miles and sixty-six chains 
 along the high road, it comprises the town and port of Gren- 
 ville, formerly called La Baye, and contains thirty-seven 
 sugar plantations, and eight coffee and cocoa settlements. 
 St. Patrick, situate on the N. E., containing sixteen square 
 miles, extends nine miles and forty-four chains along the 
 high road from the river Antoine to the river Duguesne. In 
 this parish is the town of St. Patrick, formerly, and now 
 known by the name of Sauteurs ; it contains twenty-six of the 
 richest sugar plantations in the island. St. Mark, the smallest 
 and least considerable in the island, is situate on the N. W, 
 extending four miles and forty-three chains along the high 
 road, from the river Duguesne to the river Maran, which 
 separates it on the S. side from the parish of St. John. St. 
 JoJms, on the W. side, extends from the river Maran, to the 
 river Douce, six miles and thirty-six chains ; Charlotte town is 
 situate in this parish, which is the next in magnitude and 
 population to the town of St. George. It contains sixteen 
 sugar estates, and eleven cocoa and coffee settlements. St. 
 George, the capital, is situate within an amphitheatre of hills,* 
 with a good harbour in front. The houses are well and taste- 
 fully built of stone or brick, with sashed windows and tiled 
 
 * Were it not for the military works on Richmond Hill, which are seen 
 at a great distance, it would be difficult to ascertain from the sea where 
 George town and harbour are placed, but on approaching the base of the 
 fortified hills an opening is discerned into a spacious and excellent harbour. 
 
 VOL. II. T
 
 274 ST. George's the capital of Grenada. 
 
 roofs, witli the streets well ventilated, and a spacious hand- 
 some square in the centre, and the shops equal to any in 
 Oxford-street. The town is divided into upper and lower,* 
 the latter, or carinage,-j- being principally occupied with stores, 
 ship-yards, and wharfs. The population consists of 4,000, 
 of whom 320 are whites and 2,000 free coloured. A recent 
 visitor says that Grenada with its azure sky, cloud capped 
 mountains, and verdant slopes, well merits to be entitled the 
 gem of the ocean. A town of white and gay looking houses, 
 occupies a rocky peninsula, projecting into a clear bay; the 
 spire of a church rises on the isthmus, and Fort George, and 
 Hospital Fort, with flag staffs, on which are displayed waving 
 signals, look down on the harbour from their commanding 
 heights. Behind a point, numerous vessels are seen, sheltered 
 from every wind. The fortifications of Richmond heights, 
 far above and beyond the town, occupy the back ground in the 
 picture. In the country, on the slopes of the hills, are orange 
 groves and palm trees, plantations and cultivated fields, 
 mound and dale, through which numerous streams are con- 
 stantly rushing to the sea. 
 
 The dependencies of Grenada are, the island of Carriacou, 
 and such of the small islands called Grenadines,]: as lay be- 
 tween it and Grenada. Carriacou constitutes a parish, con- 
 taining, according to estimate, 6,913 acres of land ; it is 
 
 * The streets leadine^ from the one to the other are extremely rujfged 
 and steep. Constitution Hill, leadin<]f to the market-place, is at an an^le 
 not fur removed from the perpendicular. 
 
 t The carinage of Grenada is one of the best that can be conceived both 
 for the convenience and securing of shipping : it is completely land-locked ; 
 there is a suflScient depth of water and good holding-ground ; it is protected 
 by the batteries on shore, and it is exempt from hurricanes. The harbour 
 is said to be capable of containing 1,000 ships, of 350 tons each, secure 
 from storms. 
 
 \ These are a cluster of isles, of more or less extent, between St. Vin- 
 cent and Grenada ; the largest are Becquia, Canuan, Urion and Carriacou : 
 the last named alone dependent on Grenada ; many are inhabited, and 
 several well cultivated, producing small quantities of sugar, rum, molasses, 
 cotton, fruits, vegetables, poultry, live stock, &c. in grent abundance.
 
 CARIACOU — GEOLOGY OF GRENADA. 275 
 
 about nineteen miles in circumference. In the town of Hills- 
 borough is a church and rectory. The island is, in general, fertile, 
 and well cultivated ; and the successful mode of the manage- 
 ment of slaves is amply manifested in their constant increase. 
 Cotton was formerly the chief article of cultivation, and about 
 1,000,0001b. was annually exported. Eight of the principal 
 estates are now cultivated in sugar ; and the average produce 
 of that article in a good season, is upwards 2,000,000 lbs. 
 The island is however greatly exposed to suffer from droughts, 
 which mars the best efforts of industry. The chief cause of 
 this calamity is supposed to be the want of wood, which has 
 gradually become exhausted, without proper means having 
 been used to renew it by planting. A society has lately been 
 established for the sole purpose of remedying this defect • 
 and it is to be hoped, that a few years will reward their exer- 
 tions, by producing more regularity in the seasons. 
 
 Geology. The geology of the island * is very complicated 
 and irregular ; the mountains, and different parts of the low 
 lands, so far as they have been examined, consist of strata, or 
 rather mingled portions of red and grey sand-stone, gray- 
 wacke — irregular alternations of hornblende, hard argil- 
 laceous schist, and a variety of gneis. In various spots (as at 
 Richmond Hill) an imperfect species of granite, or nodules of 
 the same, interbedded in a coarse loose red sand-stone are fre- 
 quently met with, and sometimes in argillaceous schist ; a very 
 coarse porphyry is also sometimes seen ; immediately behind 
 Richmond Hill, on the estate of Mount Parnassus, limestone 
 is found, and quarry was at one time was worked for agricultural 
 purposes). Basaltic rocks are met with on the N. W. coast, 
 and it is said magnesian limestone also. At Point Salines 
 (the extremity of the island) fullers-earth, of the very finest 
 quality, is procurable in abundance ; and at La Fortime, in the 
 parish of St. Patrick, numerous specimens of the natural 
 magnet; sulphur, in its native state, but not crystallized, is 
 almost every where met with. In fine, it may be said that 
 
 * Afcordiiig to Dr. Simpson in his Report to the Army Medical Board.
 
 27G SINGULAR GEOLOGICAL AI PLAR ANCKS. 
 
 the great mass of mountains consist of sandstone,* greywacke, 
 hornblende, and argillaceous schist, but the stratification is 
 so diversified, and the face of the country so rugged and 
 abrupt, as to bid defiance to any regular definition. 
 
 In one place they are horizontal, in another vertical, and 
 in almost all they are suddenly and abruptly intersected 
 by each other — appearing as if they had been separated and 
 again mingled together by some great convulsion of nature. 
 One remarkable cliiF on the river St. John, about one mile 
 and a half from St. George's, presents a curious arrangement, 
 which Dr. Simpson is inclined to ascribe to volcanic origin; 
 immediately under the soil is a stratum of pudding stone — to 
 that succeeds one of iron pyrites (exhibiting regular prisms), 
 then one of alluvial formation, and lastly one of brown sand- 
 stone ; in some of the less elevated situations, the strata are 
 extremely thin, numerous, and more regular ; in one clifF, 
 near Government House, (not more than twenty-five feet 
 high,) are seen running from S. E. to N. W., at a very obtuse 
 angle with the horizon, at least sixty distinct strata of white, 
 grey and brown sand-stone, alternating with loose sand and 
 gravel, and near the surface mixed with alluvial soil. No shells 
 are found in any of these formations ;-|- but the red sand-stone of 
 Grand Mai and CaUevigyiy, in the parish of St. George (which 
 is much used for building), is thickly studded with beautiful 
 crystals of carburet of iron ; and in the Callevigny sand-stone ve- 
 getable remains, such as the leaves and stalks of trees, are not 
 uncommon. The soil varies with the external features of the 
 country ; in the low lands, consisting of rich black mould on a 
 substratum of light-coloured clay, while in the high and 
 central situations the soil is of a dingy red or brick colour. 
 
 Climate. Locality, as may be supposed, influences mate- 
 rially the temperature and health of Grenada ; S2 F. may be 
 
 * The bed of the sea on the S. W, point of the island is composed of 
 phosphate of lime or a species of coraliiiie, but its effects are not observ- 
 able on the surface of the water. 
 
 t Neither the sandstone, nor the very imperfect species of granite found 
 effervesce with acids.
 
 riJMATE ANIMAL KINGDOM, &C. 277. 
 
 considered the medium heat throughout the year in the low 
 country ; but m the high lands the mercury, which at St. 
 George, stands at 86, will be ten degrees lower at the Grand 
 Etang at the same moment. The quantity of rain which falls 
 is very considerable, and throughout the year showers are felt : 
 hurricanes are comparatively mild and infrequent, but earth- 
 quakes, or shocks, are sometimes felt. The climate is much im- 
 proved, in common with the whole of the West Indies of late 
 years. (For yearly range of therm.ometer vide St. Vincent's). 
 Animal Kingdom. As in all the West India Islands, the 
 animals of Grenada are few and uninteresting to the naturalist. 
 It is a matter of dispute whether even the monkey be a native ; 
 black snakes are common, but almost harmless ; scorpions 
 and centipedes abound, but their bite is mild and little re- 
 garded ; the principal annoyance is from that species of ant 
 called /brw?c« omnivora ; it is recorded in the island that at a 
 former period these minute creatures threatened the destruc- 
 tion of the colony ; they were in such myriads as to form 
 bridges of each other's bodies across the largest streams, and 
 to extinguish the fires kindled in the fields for their destruc- 
 tion ; a reward of £20,000. was offered in vain by the legis- 
 lature for any plan that would ensure their destruction ; 
 his terrible (Egyptian) plague, after baffling human in- 
 vention for its suppression, was only finally destroyed by the 
 hurricane in 1780.* The Ornithology of Grenada is similar 
 
 * This extraordinary plague was termed the sui^ar ant, and described 
 by Sir Hans Sloane as tlie formica ficsca minima antennis longissimis. 
 They are of an ordinary size, a slender shape, a dark red colour, remark- 
 able for the quickness of their motions ; but are distinguished from any 
 other species, chiefly by the sharp acid taste which they yield when applied 
 to the tongue, and the strong sulphurous smell which they emit when 
 rubbed together between the palms of the hands. Their numbers have 
 often been so immense as to cover the roads for the space of several miles ; 
 and so crowded in many places that the prints of the horses' feet were 
 distinctly marked amongst them till filled by the surrounding multitudes ; 
 they were never seen to consume or carry off any vegetable sul)stance what- 
 ever, but always laid hold of any dead insect or animal substance that came 
 in their way. Every kind of cold victuals, all species of vermin, particu-
 
 278 EXTRAORDINARY ANT PLAGUE OF GRENADA. 
 
 to that of the other islands, but with rather less numerous 
 varieties of birds. 
 
 The rivers, or rivulets, are plentifully supplied with fish, — 
 such as snapper, mullet, cray-fish, eels, pike, 8cc.* 
 
 Vegetable Kingdom. The descriptions given in the 
 Guyana and Jamaica Chapters answers for Grenada, and the 
 fruits and vegetables,-)- which for their seasons will be found 
 
 larly rats, and even the sores of the negroes were exposed to their attacks. 
 But they were decidedly injurious l)y constructing' their nests among the 
 roots of the lime, lemon, orange trees and sugar canes, and so obstructing 
 their growth as to render the plants sickly and unproductive. A premium 
 of ^20,000 from tlie pul)lic treasury was offered to the discoverer of any 
 effectual method of destroying them, and the principal means employed 
 were poison and fire. By mixing arsenic and corrosive sublimate with 
 animal substances, myriads were destroyed ; and the slightest tasting of 
 the poison rendered them so outrageous as to devour one another. Lines 
 of red-hot charcoal were laid in their way, to which they crowded in such 
 numbers as to extinguish it with their bodies ; and holes full of fire were 
 dug in the cane grounds, which were soon extinguished by heaps of dead. 
 But while the nests remained undisturbed, new progenies appeared as nu- 
 merous as ever, and the only effectual check which they received was from 
 the destructive hurricane of 1780, which, by tearing up altogether, or so 
 loosening the roots where they nestled as to admit the rain, almost extir- 
 pated the whole race, and pointed out the frequent digging up and con- 
 suming by fire these stools and roots in which they take refuge, as the best 
 preventative of their future increase. 
 
 * The prices of provisions established by the magistrates, and settled by 
 the Market Act, in 1831 was — beef, prime pieces, per lb. 2s , all others, do., 
 1*. 9d. ; veal, ditto, 2*. ; goat or kid, ditto, 1*. 9d. ; turtle, ditto, 1*. 3d. . 
 hawksbill, ditto, \s. 9d. ; fish, large, ditto, \s. ; jacks, three to the lb. 9d.; 
 ditto small and sprats, 6d. ; milk, pure, per quart. Is. These are currency 
 prices (vide Monetary System). 
 
 t In 1700, more than twenty years after the sovereignty had been vested 
 in the crown of France, there were found on the whole island only sixty- 
 four horses, 569 horned cattle, three plantations of sugar, and fifty-two of 
 indigo. About fourteen years afterwards, however, an active commercial 
 intercourse was opened \vith the island of Martinique, cultivation was 
 rapidly extended, and notwithstanding the interruption which these im- 
 provements sustained by the war in 1744, Grenada was found in 1753 to 
 contain 2,298 horses or mules, 2,556 horned cattle, 3,278 sheep, 902 goats, 
 331 hogs, 83 sugar plantations, &c. ; and in 1762, when it surrendered to
 
 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE OF EACH PARISH. 
 
 279 
 
 under St, Vincents equally applicable to the island under 
 consideration. The principal vegetable staples are sugar, 
 cocoa, coffee and cotton;* and the following return shews 
 the Produce made in Grenada and the Grenadines in 1830. 
 
 Parishes and Island. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Molasses. Coffee. 
 
 Cocoa. 
 
 lbs. 
 3,179,916 
 958,2;fi 
 913,24; 
 f),214,3.->0 
 6,756,021 
 1,853,443 
 Island of Carriacou j 2,225,700 
 
 Total.. 22,100,953 
 
 Parish of St. George . . . 
 
 Mark's . . . 
 
 John 
 
 Patrick . . . 
 
 Andrew's . 
 
 David 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 122,422 
 
 34,533 
 
 29,450 
 
 278,891 
 
 303,592 
 
 114,550 
 
 9,996 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 56,382 
 
 11,784 
 
 7,880 
 
 3,997 
 
 24,955 
 
 6,368 
 
 144,313 
 
 890,434 
 
 255,679 
 
 Ihs. 
 9,839 
 5,287 
 7,852 
 500 
 1,500 
 1,144 
 
 lbs. 
 20,022 
 125,454 
 148,225 
 
 39,670 
 4,534 
 
 lbs. 
 7,139 
 
 600 
 
 90,055 
 
 26,122 I 337,903 I 97,804 
 
 I I 
 
 Population. We have already seen how the unoffending 
 native inhabitants were destroyed. In 1700 there were but 151 
 whites, 53 blacks, or mulattoes, and 525 slaves. In 1753 there 
 were 1262 whites, 1 "J 5 free negroes, and 1 1,991 slaves ; the next 
 data shews that, in 1827, the island contained 29,168 mouths, 
 namely, of free whites, 834, free blacks and coloured, 3,892 — 
 Total, 4,726 ; slaves agricultural, 21,652, slaves domestics and 
 artizans, 2,790 — Total, 24,442. The following return shews 
 
 the British arms, it is said to have yielded annually, together with its de- 
 pendencies, the Grenadines, a quantity of clay and muscavado sugar, equal 
 to 11,000 hogsheads, of fifteen cwt. each, and 27,000 lbs. of indigo. 
 
 * Dr. Hancock informs me that he found a very singular animal flower, 
 (or Zoophyte,) inhabitnig the side of tbe rocky wall that lines the carinage, 
 next to the town, about two feet below the surface of the water, and con- 
 sisting of a worm encased in a cylindric tube, fastened at the end to the 
 rock, and throwing out its rays or tentacula at the other or outward end ; 
 the rays when extended standing in a sort of funnel shape ; the flower 
 bearing an exact resemblance to the purple passi floras or granadilla (pas- 
 sion flower) ; when fully expanded, this flower is peculiarly sensitive of 
 the approach of any thing towards it, and it is next to impossible to ob- 
 tain one in that state, as it is immediately retracted, (something in the 
 manner of a snail when its horns are touched) even on the undulation of 
 the water, within its tubular shell. Whether this shell is separable from 
 the rock at the will of the inmate, has not yet been thoroughly ascertained, 
 conflicting accounts being given. It is evidently one of that genus called 
 TuBULARiA by Linnaeus, of the order Zoophyta, and which are designated 
 as composite animals rfiorcsc'mg like vegetables.
 
 280 POPULATION OF GRENADA — WHITE AND COLOURED. 
 
 the Population of Grenada and the Grenadines, December 
 31st, 1832:— 
 
 Free, White* 
 and Coloured. 
 
 Males, {Females 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females 
 
 Total 
 Males. 
 
 Aliens 
 Total and 
 
 Females. Strangers. 
 
 Town of St. George. . . . 
 
 Parish of St. do 
 
 John 
 
 Marks. . . . 
 
 Patrick . . . 
 
 Andrew.. . 
 
 David's. . . 
 
 Island of Carriacou 
 
 Total. 
 
 922 
 
 1,349 
 
 311 
 
 348 
 
 186 
 
 235 
 
 71 
 
 60 
 
 151 
 
 88 
 
 238 
 
 al- 
 
 124 
 
 ios 
 
 207 
 
 256 
 
 Ii942 
 1,086 
 
 646 
 2,042 
 2,3-7 
 
 900 
 1,607 
 
 859 
 2,067 
 
 1,068 
 720 
 
 2,239 
 
 2,430 
 049 
 
 1,753 
 
 2,210 
 
 I or 
 
 ,758 
 
 11,386 
 
 12,085 
 
 ,708 
 ,253 
 .272 
 717 
 ,193 
 ,615 
 ,024 
 ,814 
 
 2,209 
 2,415 
 1,303 
 780 
 2,327 
 2,747 
 1,054 
 2,009 
 
 96 
 65 
 28 
 
 2 
 12 
 20 
 
 9 
 
 18 
 
 13,596 14,843 
 
 The white population was, in 1829, Town of St. George, 
 177 males, 107 females ; parish of ditto, 90 males, 28 females; 
 — St. John's, 38 males, 34 females ; — St.* Mark, 25 males, 10 
 females ; St. Patrick, 84 males, 3 females ; — St. Andrew, 94 
 males, 8 females ; — St. David's, 38 males, 1 1 females ; — Ca- 
 riacou Isle, 50 males, 4 females ; — Total, 596 males, 205 
 females: — total, coloured males, 1,562; females, 2,224. 
 
 The progressive decrease of the Slave Population was, in — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase 
 
 Decrease by 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 by Birth. 
 
 
 Death. 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 >.o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 •=m 
 
 
 Males. 
 Females. 
 
 1 
 
 -a 
 
 •3 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 IS 
 
 1) 
 £ 
 
 
 Q 
 
 1817 .. 
 
 13,737 
 
 14,192 
 
 28,029 
 
 212 
 
 239 
 
 451 
 
 478 
 
 424 
 
 902 
 
 38 
 
 1818 .. 
 
 13,328 
 
 14,087 
 
 27,415 
 
 305 
 
 352 
 
 657 
 
 538 
 
 532 
 
 1,070 
 
 54 
 
 1819 .• 
 
 13,155 
 
 13,905 
 
 27,060 
 
 339 
 
 375 
 
 714 
 
 585 
 
 584 
 
 1,169 
 
 PQ 
 
 1820 .. 
 
 13,007 
 
 13,802 
 
 26,899 
 
 311 
 
 330 
 
 641 
 
 485 
 
 410 
 
 895 
 
 41 
 
 1821 ,. 
 
 12,398 
 
 13,269 
 
 25,667 
 
 352 
 
 330 
 
 682 
 
 506 
 
 422 
 
 928 
 
 63 
 
 1822 .. 
 
 12,355 
 
 13,231 
 
 25,586 
 
 371 
 
 .350 
 
 721 
 
 364 
 
 316 
 
 680 
 
 63 
 
 1823 .. 
 
 12,258 
 
 13,052 
 
 25,310 
 
 361 
 
 358 
 
 719 
 
 308 
 
 426 
 
 824 
 
 104 
 
 1824 .. 
 
 12,101 
 
 12,871 
 
 24,972 
 
 353 
 
 324 
 
 677 
 
 392 
 
 332 
 
 724 
 
 97 
 
 1825 . 
 
 12,057 
 
 12,840 
 
 24,897 
 
 337 
 
 340 
 
 677 
 
 399 
 
 360 
 
 759 
 
 122 
 
 1826 . . 
 
 11,806 
 
 12,685 
 
 24,581 
 
 320 
 
 340 
 
 660 
 
 397 
 
 307 
 
 794 
 
 91 
 
 1827 .. 
 
 11,841 
 
 12,632 
 
 24,473 
 
 369 
 
 335 
 
 704 
 
 360 
 
 300 
 
 669 
 
 79 
 
 1828 .. 
 
 11,777112,565 
 
 24,342 
 
 355 
 
 332 
 
 687 
 
 376 
 
 337 
 
 713 
 
 95 
 
 1829t .. 
 
 11,711 12,434 
 
 24,145 
 
 377 
 
 350 
 
 7.36 
 
 372 
 
 35S 
 
 730 
 
 95 
 
 1830 .. 
 
 11,572 12,306 
 
 23,878 
 
 385 
 
 349 
 
 734 
 
 503 
 
 47fi 
 
 979 
 
 71 
 
 1831 .. 
 
 11,432 
 
 li,172 
 
 23,604* 
 
 348 
 
 336 
 
 684 
 
 500 
 
 428 
 
 928 
 
 113 
 
 • The slave population was rated at thirty-five tlioiisiind in 177I>. 
 t Of Africans, malc.^, 2;22fi; females, 2,0/5.
 
 government, laws, church, schools, &c. 281 
 
 Government, Legal, Military, and Ecclesiastical. 
 The people are ruled by a Lieutenant-Governor, Council and 
 House of Assembly, whose powers are similar to those des- 
 cribed under Jamaica, &c. The Council consists of twelve 
 members, and the Assembly of twenty-six. A freehold, or 
 life estate of fifty acres in the country, and of £50. house rent 
 in the capital, qualifies for a representative. An estate often 
 acres in fee, or for life, or a rent of £10. in any of the country 
 towns ; and a rent of £20. out of any freehold, or life estate 
 in the capital, gives a vote in the election of the represen- 
 tatives. The law courts, besides those of Chancery, in which 
 the Governor presides, are the Court of Grand Session of the 
 Peace, held twice a year, in which the person first named in 
 the Commission of the Peace presides ; the Court of Common 
 Pleas, in which a professional judge, with a salary of £600. 
 presides ; the Court of Exchequer, lately fallen into disuse ; 
 the Court of Admiralty, and the Court of Error, composed of 
 the Governor and Council, for trying appeals. In all cases 
 the common statute law of England is the rule of justice, 
 unless when particular laws of the island interfere. Since its 
 restoration to Great Britain, in 1783, a Protestant clergy 
 have been established by law. Four clergymen are allotted 
 to the whole, and each is provided with an annual stipend of 
 £330. currency, £60. for house rent, and a considerable 
 portion of valuable glebe land, which had formerly been ap- 
 propriated to the support of the Romish clergy, for whose 
 benefit a part of the grant is still reserved. 
 
 There are eight places of worship, capable of containing; 
 2,870 persons ; and the expenses of the church establishment 
 to the colonists is about £1 ,.500. sterling per annum; that 
 of five public schools is £430. 
 
 Finance. Colonial taxes and duties, (payable at the Trea- 
 sury, by virtue of acts of the legislature), are levied on all 
 wines imported, (wines for the use of his Majesty's service 
 excepted), per pipe, £3. 6s. In bottles per dozen, 2s. 3cl. 
 on all brandy and gin, per gallon, I8s. ; on each and every 
 saddle liorse, or mule, £3. 6s. ; for every £100. of actual
 
 282 
 
 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF GRENADA. 
 
 rental of houses, stores, buildings, and sheds, (not used in 
 the manufacture of produce,) or of the estimated rental 
 thereof, when occupied by the proprietor, £3. ; on each and 
 every slave, 18*.; on every i'lOO. value of produce, grown or 
 manufactured in the year 1831, estimated as follow: — Mus- 
 covado sugar at 40*. per 100 lbs. ; Rimi, 2s. per gallon ; 
 Molasses, Is. 6d. do.; Cotton, Gd. per lb. ; Coffee, 1*. do.; 
 Cocoa, 4d. do. ; £3. per cent. 
 
 Harbour duty on all vessels clearing, per ton, 4t/. ; canal 
 duty on all vessels clearing, per ton, 2d. 
 
 Monetary System. Each of our W. I. settlements, it 
 will be observed, has almost a distinct currency, at least few 
 are alike, the following is the standard table for Grenada 
 currency, established (by proclamation) in 1798. 
 
 COINS. 
 
 Weight. 
 
 Value in 
 Sterling. 
 
 Value in 
 Currency, 
 
 
 dts. 
 
 grs. 
 
 £. 
 
 s. 
 
 (1. 
 
 dols. 
 
 bitts. 
 
 Joe* 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 
 8 
 
 . , 
 
 Joe 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 Pistole . . . 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 . , 
 
 4 
 
 , , 
 
 Moidore . . 
 
 6 
 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 Guinea . . . 
 
 5 
 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 5 
 
 , . 
 
 Dollar.... 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 . . 
 
 
 12 
 
 Bitt 
 
 
 • • 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 1 
 
 The British and Colonial currency, established by procla- 
 mation in May, 1797, consisted of British half-crown, 6*. Sd.\ 
 shilling, 2s. Gd. ; sixpence, 1*. 3d. ; Colonial Moneta, marked 
 IV. 2s. Gd; VIII. 1*. 3c/.; XVI. 7^d 
 
 Commerce. In 1776 the exports from the island and its de- 
 pendencies were 1 4,0 1 2, 1 571bs, of muscovado, and 9,273,6071bs. 
 of clayed sugar; 818,700 gallons of rum; 1,827,106 lbs. of 
 
 • A Joe, value £3. \2s. has a G stamped in the middle of the face side. 
 A Joe, value ^3. 6*. has a G stamped in three places near the edge of the 
 face side. When a Joe is plugged, the initials of the workman's name 
 are stamped upon the plug.
 
 MONETARY SYSTEM AND COMMERCE, 
 
 283 
 
 cofFee; 457,7191bs. of cocoa; 91,943 lbs. ofcotton; 27,638 lbs. of 
 indigo ; and some smaller articles, the whole of which at a mo- 
 derate computation was worth at the ports of shipping, 600,000/. 
 sterling. The sugar was the produce of one hundred and six 
 plantations, worked by 18,293 negroes, which gives rather 
 more than a hogshead of muscovado sugar of 16cwt. from the 
 labour of each negro ; a return, which Mr. Edwards affirms to 
 be unequalled by any other British island in the West Indies, 
 except St.Christopher's. In 1787 the exports were 175,548 cwts. 
 of sugar; 670,390 gallons of rum; 8,812 cwts. of coffee; 
 2,062,427 lbs. of cotton, and 2,810 lbs. of indigo. In 1831 
 the principal articles of export were, sugar 11,908 hgds, 
 rum, 6,634 pchs. ; molasses, 2,464 phs. ; cofFee, 6,103 bags. 
 The total value of the exports was £118,761, and oi iinports 
 £81,835.* 
 
 * Principal Exports from Grenada 
 (except Cocoa.) 
 
 Grenada Colonial Revenue and Ex- 
 penditure, from 1821 to 1831, 
 in pounds sterling. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Su^ar. 
 Hds. 
 
 Rum, 
 Pns. 
 
 Molasses 
 Pns. 
 
 Coflfee 
 Bas!S. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Gross 
 Revenue 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 
 Civil. 
 
 Military. 
 
 
 
 5,263 
 15,848 
 15,441 
 
 12,695 
 20,171 
 
 13,268 
 11,908 
 
 11,288 
 
 8,663 
 7,964 
 
 8,358 
 
 7,730 
 
 9,464 
 
 2,777 
 6,634 
 
 3,799 
 1,869 
 2,945 
 2,498 
 
 1,403 
 3,216 
 
 864 
 2,464 
 
 222 
 
 147 
 
 11 
 
 176 
 
 lbs. 
 
 17,120 
 28,320 
 
 31,504 
 6,T63 
 
 Total. 
 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 
 1831 
 
 1821 
 
 1822 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 
 11,325 
 12,302 
 10,360 
 13,059 
 12,740 
 16,658 
 12,473 
 13,810 
 12,443 
 12,268 
 12,513 
 
 10,512 
 11,592 
 
 8,722 
 8,311 
 11,455 
 15,273 
 12,466 
 11,304 
 11,302 
 11,132 
 12,630 
 
 800 
 555 
 
 720 
 
 1,704 
 
 960 
 
 659 
 
 727 
 838 
 822 
 761 
 719 
 
 11,312 
 
 12,147 
 9,442 
 10,015 
 12,415 
 15,931 
 13,193 
 12,142 
 11,954 
 12,722 
 13,340
 
 28 1 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ST. VINCENT'S. 
 
 LOCALITY — PHYSICAL ASPECT — VOLCANOES GEOLOGY — CLIMATE 
 
 VEGETABLE KINGDOM AND PRODUCE POPULATION FINANCES 
 
 COMMERCE GOVERNMENT, &.C. &C. 
 
 Locality. This most beautiful of the Caribbee Islands, 
 about eighteen and a half miles long, and eleven broad, con- 
 taining 84,286 acres, is situate in VS. 10. 15. N. Lat ; 60. 37. 57. 
 W. Long., nearly equidistant from Grenada and Barbadoes. 
 
 General History. St. Vincent's* was discovered by 
 Columbus, during liis third voyage, on the 22nd day of 
 January, 1498, but it does not appear that he took any formal 
 possession of it ; the native inhabitants, the Caribs, being very 
 numerous and warlike. In 1672, this island, with Barbadoes, 
 St. Lucia, and Dominica, was included in one government 
 by King Charles II., although no steps were taken to occupy 
 St. Vincent, unless occasional visits, both by English and 
 French, for the purpose of obtaining wood and Avater may be 
 deemed such. About 1675, a ship from Guinea, with a cargo 
 of slaves, was wrecked either on this island or on Bequia, and 
 a number of the negroes escaped into the woods ; these in- 
 termingled with the natives, and hence as it is supposed ori- 
 ginated the black Caribs. In 1719, the French sent over some 
 settlers from Martinico, afewof whom succeeded in establishing 
 themselves in the leeward part of the island. In 1723, George I. 
 granted this island and St. Lucia to the Duke of Montague, 
 who made a feeble attempt to take possession of it, but his 
 expedition failed ; and, by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 
 1748, it was declared neutral, and the ancient proprietors 
 left in unmolested possession. The French, however, conti- 
 
 * Thus called from the day of its discovery, being Sf. /'inceuCs day in 
 the Spanish calendar.
 
 EARLY HISTORY OF ST. VINCENT's. 285 
 
 nued in their settlements until 1762, when it was taken ])y 
 General Monckton and Admiral Rodney ; and in 1763, by the 
 peace of Paris, the island was ceded in perpetuity to Great 
 Britain, without ;«McA consideration for the native proprietors. 
 The lands were directed to be sold to defray the expenses of, 
 the war, and 20,538 acres produced £162,584. sterling. In 
 1772, a war with the Caribs commenced, which was termi- 
 nated by a treaty in 1773, when certain lands were allotted 
 them. In 1779 the island was taken by a small body of 
 troops-from Martinico, who were joined by the Caribs, which 
 circumstance, coupled with unfortunate political differences, 
 caused the surrender to be made without a struggle. The 
 conquerors, hoAvever, made no alteration in the government, 
 probably contemplating only a temporary possession. In 1780 
 the dreadful hurricane occurred, which destroyed the church 
 and a great proportion of the buildings in the island, besides 
 occasioning serious loss to the planters. St. Vincent was re- 
 stored to Great Britain at the general peace in 1 783 ; at 
 which time it contained sixty-one sugar estates, besides other 
 small plantations of cotton, coffee, and cocoa. In 1795 the 
 doctrines of liberty and equality, which prevailed in France, 
 were disseminated in the West India Islands, through the 
 infernal agency of Victor Hugues, whose emissaries excited 
 the Caribs, and some of the French inhabitants, into an insur- 
 rection, which continued for upwards of two years. Many san- 
 guinary contests took place, with various success, which can- 
 not be detailed within the limits of this work ; but, ultimately, 
 by the judicious measures of Sir Ralph Abercrombie and 
 General Hunter, the French were subdued, and the Caribs 
 removed to Ruattan, an island in the Bay of Honduras. The 
 devastation occasioned by the enemy cost the proprietors at 
 least, one-third of the value of their properties ; but uninter- 
 rupted tranquillity has since prevailed, and the fine tract of 
 land in Charlotte parish, called the Carib country, consisting 
 of 5,000 acres, has been put into cultivation, and greatly in- 
 creased the prosperity of the island. 
 
 In 1812 the island suffered from an eruption of the Souf-
 
 286 DESCRIPTION OF THE SOUFFRIERE. 
 
 friere volcanic mountain, which had been tranquil for nearly a 
 century (from 1718). It was about 3,000 feet high, with a crater 
 half a mile in diameter, and 500 feet in depth ; in the centre 
 was a conical hill, 200 feet in diameter, and 300 in height, the 
 lower half skirted with luxuriant vegetation, the upper with 
 pure virgin sulphur ; various evergreens and aromatic shrubs, 
 covered in exuberant fertility, the sides of the capacious crater, 
 the interior of which presented a scene of Alpine seclusion and 
 peacefulness that can scarcely be imagined. From the fissures 
 of the cone, a thin white smoke exuded, occasionally tinged with 
 a light blue flame ; at the base were two small lakes, the one 
 sulphureous and aluminous, the other pure and tasteless. At 
 noon on the 27th of April, thirty days after the destruction 
 of the Caraccas by an earthquake, and during the connno- 
 tions in the vallies of the Missisippi and. of the Ohio, a severe 
 concussion of the earth took place, and a black column of 
 smoke burst from the crater, which was followed by volumes 
 of favillae, which continued for three days. 
 
 An account written at the time says, that * on the 30th April 
 1812, the reflection of the rising sun on this majestic body of 
 curling vapours was sublime beyond imagination; it afterwards 
 assumed a more sulphureous cast, and in the course of the 
 day a feruginous and sanguine appearance, with much livelier 
 action in the ascent,* a more extensive dilation, as if almost 
 
 * A cousin of mine (Captain George Palmer Hawkins) who was sta- 
 tioned with his re^jiment at Barbadoes when this eruption took place, 
 informs me that, for four hours, the island was obscured in nearly total 
 darkness, with the dense and unceasinc^ fall of (favilhe) ash-coloured dust, 
 which covered the whole of Barbadoes (distant full sixty miles from 
 St. Vincent) to the depth of several inches, and proved a most valuable 
 fertilizing^ mould to the then almost worn out island. The noise of the 
 eruption was thought to be that of hostile fleets, and Captain Hawkins 
 was laughed at for supposing that the dust and thunder could proceed 
 from an island siwfi/ miles to leeward. When we consider the ([uantity of 
 ashes which fell at Barbadoes, and that many ships at sea had their decks 
 covered with them, we may suppose that the <iuantity thrown from the 
 soiiffncre must have been enormous, and the momentum with which it was 
 ejected tremendous. R. M. IM.
 
 TREMENDOUS ERUPTION IN 1812, 287 
 
 freed from any obstruction : in the afternoon the noise was 
 incessant, and resembled the approach of thunder still nearer 
 and nearer, with a vibration that affected the feelings and 
 hearing; terror and consternation now seized all beholders. 
 The Charibs settled at ' Morne Ronde fled precipitately 
 towards the town; the negroes became confused, forsook 
 their work, looked to the mountain, and as it shook, trembled 
 with the dread of what they could neither understand nor 
 describe; the birds fell to the ground, overpowered with 
 showers of favillge, unable to keep themselves on the wing; 
 the cattle were starving from want of food, as not a blade of 
 grass or leaf was now to be found. The sea was much dis- 
 coloured, but in no wise uncommonly agitated; and, it is 
 remarkable, that throughout the whole of this violent dis- 
 turbance of the earth, it continued quite passive, and did not 
 at any time sympathize with the agitation of the land. 
 Scarcely had the day closed, when the flames burst at lengtli 
 pyramidically from the crater through the smoke; the rolling 
 of the thunder became more awful and deafening ; electric 
 flashes quickly succeeded, attended with loud claps ; and now, 
 indeed, the hurly burly began. Shortly after 7 p. m. the 
 mighty cauldron was seen to simmer, and the ebullition of 
 lava to break out on the N. W. side. This immediately after 
 boiling over the orifice, and flowing a short way, was opposed 
 by the acclivity of a higher point of land, over which it was 
 impelled by the immense tide of liquified fire that drove it on, 
 forming the figure V in grand illumination. Sometimes, when 
 the ebullition slackened, or was insufficient to urge it over the 
 obstructing hill, it recoiled back like a refluent billow from 
 the rock, and then again rushed forward, impelled by fresh 
 supplies, and scaling every obstacle, carrying rocks and 
 woods together in its course down the slope of the mountain, 
 until it precipitated itself into some vast ravine, concealed 
 by the intervening ridges of Morne Ronde. Vast globular 
 bodies of fire were seen projecting from the fiery furnace, 
 and bursting, fell back into it, or over it, on the surrounding 
 bushes, which were instantly set in flames. About four
 
 288 AWFUL STATE OF ST. VIXCENT's. 
 
 hours from the lava's boihng over the crater, it reached the 
 sea, as we could observe from the reflection of the fire and 
 the electric flashes attending it. About half past one another 
 stream of lava was seen descending to the eastward. The 
 thundering noise of the mountain, and the vibration of sound, 
 that had been so formidable hitherto, now mingled in the 
 sullen monotonovis roar of the rolling lava, became so terrible, 
 that dismay was almost turned to despair. At this time the 
 first earthquake was felt : this was followed by showers of 
 cinders, that fell with the hissing noise of hail, during two 
 hours. This dreadful rain of stones and fire lasted upwards 
 of an hour, and was again succeeded by cinders from three 
 till six in the morning. Earthquake followed earthquake 
 almost momentarily, or rather the whole of this part of the 
 island was in a state of continued oscillation ; not agitated by 
 shocks, vertical or horizontal, but vindulated like water shaken 
 in a bowl. The break of day, if such it could be called, was 
 truly terrific. Darkness only was visible at eight o'clock, 
 and the birth of May dawned like the day of judgment : a 
 chaotic gleam enveloped the mountain, and an impenetrable 
 haze hung over the sea with black sluggish clouds of a sul- 
 phureous cast. The whole island was covered with favillae, 
 cinders, scoria?, and broken masses of volcanic matter. It 
 was not until the afternoon that the muttering noise of the 
 mountain sunk gradually into a solemn yet suspicious silence. 
 The damage done according to estimate was inconsiderable, 
 and not more than fifty souls perished. The beds of the 
 Wallibau and Rabacca rivers were completely levelled.' 
 
 St. Vincent's suffered severely from the effects of the hur- 
 ricane in 1831, but this beautiful and extraordinary island is 
 now, it is to be hoped, recovering from such disasters.* 
 
 * The follo\vini>- is a list of the Governors, Lieutenant-Governors, &c. 
 who have administered the government of St. Vincent since the cession 
 of the colony to Great Britain in 17G3. — 
 
 Brig.-Gen. R. Melville, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and 
 over the Southern Charibl)ee I.'jicnds of St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, 
 and Toha!>o, I7C^; Brij^-.-Gcu. \V. L. Leyborne, Gov. of the Southern
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT AND GEOLOGY OF ST. VIXCEXT's. 2S9 
 
 Physical Aspect and Geology. The mountains of St. 
 Vincent are bold, sharp, and abrupt in their terminations, with 
 deep intervening romantic glens,* and bound by a lofty and 
 rocky coast. The connected chain of high mountains runs 
 from N. to S., clothed with immense trees, breaking into su- 
 bordinate masses towards the sea, of a less elevated descrip- 
 tion, and intersected by deep ravines in the interior, which gra- 
 dually widen on the approach to the shore, and become vallies 
 capable of cultivation, as they are generally well supplied with 
 water; this feature is principally descriptive of the north- 
 western side of the island. On the north-east the surface 
 is more level and less broken, and there is a large tract 
 of land at the base of the SoufFriere mountain, gradually 
 declining towards the sea, which forms an extensive plain 
 of upwards of six thousand acres, and is the most pro- 
 ductive land in the colony. The soil in the vallies is a 
 rich tenacious loam, and occasionally a fine black mould; 
 on the higher regions it assumes a more sandy character, 
 and is less fertile; the lands adjoining the SoufFriere are 
 also clay at the bottom, but the surface having been 
 covered with the sand ejected by the volcano in 1812, it 
 presents the feature of a loose porous superficies. The 
 character of this island, Mr. Shepherd f thinks, is decidedly 
 volcanic, traces of strata which have undergone the action of 
 fire, are visible every where, and huge masses of rock, dis- 
 placed from their original situations, indicate the powerful 
 
 Charibbee Islands, as above, 1771; V. Morris, Esq. Gov. 1776; E. Lin- 
 coln, Esq. Gov. 1783 ; J. Seton, Esq. Gov. 1787 ; W. Bentinck, Esq. Gov. 
 1798; D. Ottley, Esq. Pres. 1799; H. W. Bentinck, Esq. Pres. 1805; Sir 
 G. Beckwith, K. B. Gov. 1806 ; R. Paul, Esq. Pres. 1807 ; Sir C. Brisbane, 
 Knight, Gov. 1812; R. Paul, Esq. Pres. 1816; Sir C. Brisbane, K. C. B. 
 Gov. 1817 J Sir W. J. Struth, Kt. Pres. 1829; Right Hon. Sir G. F. Hill, 
 Bart. Gov. 1831. 
 
 * The delicious Valley of Bucament is five miles long and one wide, 
 entirely open to the sea, with lofty mountains at the upper part and sides 
 — and throughout the vale a clear and rapid river. 
 
 f Fide Historical Account of St. Vincent's, (principally in reference to 
 the Carib war) published by Ridgway, Piccadilly. 
 
 VOL. II. U
 
 290 DIVISION INTO PARISHES. 
 
 agency which alone could have effected such a change; there 
 is not a prmiitive rock in the island, an opinion which is sup- 
 ported by branches of trees and other substances, being 
 frequently discovered in large masses of rock at considerable 
 depths, which must at one time have been in a state of 
 fusion; a remarkable instance is to be seen at the tunnel at 
 Grand Sable. 
 
 Division. The island is divided into five parishes. Saint 
 George, Charlotte, Saint Andrew, Saint David, and Saint 
 Patrick. Within the first, stands the capital, Kingstown, — 
 which is situated in 13. 8 N. Lat. Gl. 17 W. Long., near the S. 
 W. extremity of the island, about a mile along the shore cf a 
 deep and beautiful bay, protected by a battery on the S., or 
 Cane Garden Point, and by Fort Cliarlotte* on the N. W. 
 which are the chief defences of the island. The fort (distant 
 one mile from Kingstown in a direct line, and two miles by 
 the circuitousness of the road,) is situated on a rock above 
 the level of the sea, and well fortified, it contains barracks 
 for 600 men, and has thirty-four pieces of artillery of different 
 descriptions, besides several outworks, for the protection of 
 detached buildings. 
 
 The town, behind which the mountains gradually rise in a 
 semi-circle, terminating at the greatest height in Mount Saint 
 Andrew, consists of three streets, intersected by six others. 
 There are about 300 of the larger sized houses, the lower 
 stories of which are in general built with stone or brick, and 
 
 * The road to Fort Charlotte is very steep — so much so, that in looking' 
 from the mess-room windows, the sea is seen perpendicularly below, with 
 the Island of Becquia and the Grenadines in the distance ;— Old Woman's 
 Point, forming- the opposite horn of the Bay of Kingstown and Dorset- 
 shire Mill, about two miles of gradual ascent to windward from the town 
 of Kingston, which it overlooks with an imposing aspect. Tlie garrison 
 was formerly stationed here, but latterly removed to the opposite pro- 
 montorj% as a more commanding site. Berkshire Hill, on which is placed 
 Fort Charlotte, is a promontory or high projecting neck of land over- 
 hanging the sea, and nearly perpendicular on three of its sides. It com- 
 pletely commands the Town and Bay of Kingston, and can be easily 
 separated from both should it be necessary to cut oflF the intercourse.
 
 APPEARANCE OF KINGSTOWN ST. VINCENt's. 291 
 
 the upper of wood, with shingled roofs, while the close ad- 
 joining sugar plantations form (particularly when viewed from 
 the harbour,) a very beautiful prospect. The public build- 
 ings are substantial, but not elegant. The church is a large 
 heavy brick building, capable of containing 2,000 persons, 
 it has an excellently toned organ, a splendid chandelier, and 
 very handsome pulpit, and bishop's throne.* 
 
 The Court House is built of stone, and contains two rooms 
 on the upper story appropriated for the sittings of the 
 Council and Assembly, with two Committee Rooms; below 
 the Courts of Justice are held. Here also are the Public 
 Offices of the Registrar and Marshal ; this building stands 
 in front of the Market Place, and is inclosed with an iron 
 railing; behind it the Gaol, the Cage and the Treadmill are 
 placed. In the front close to the sea-side, stand the Market 
 House, and the depot for the Militia Arms, The Wesleyan 
 Missionaries have a commodious wooden Chapel, and the 
 Romanists have commenced a brick Church.f 
 
 * The expenses of this building, which v\as opened for divine service 
 in 1820, amounted to upwards of .£'47,000 currency, of which Govern- 
 ment contributed ^5,000 sterling, out of the purchase-money of the Carib 
 lands. The old building was destroyed by the hurricane in 1780. 
 
 f The famed botanic garden, about a mile from Kingston, occupies 
 thirty acres of ground, in the form of an ol)long square, the lower part 
 level, but soon becoming a gradual ascent until it terminates in a steep 
 hill, a beautiful mountain stream forming its northern boundary, near the 
 upper part of the garden, and in the centre stands the Governor's house, 
 commanding a splendid view — immediately below the capital of the island 
 — in front the deep blue sea and the Grenadine isles — in the distance a 
 magnificent vista, bounded on each side by a long and spacious avenue 
 of lofty forest trees. 
 
 The roads on the windward coast are tolerably good for thirty 
 miles, their track in general is near to the sea-side, except in cases of high 
 land, when it is necessary to pass along the indentations of the vallies. 
 On the leeward coast, for a distance of twenty-three miles, they are much 
 inferior, the hills being much higher, the circuity of the track is propor- 
 tionally increased ; the latter are little frequented, the passage by sea in 
 canoes being more easy and commodious. The highways are kept in
 
 ^2 NECESSITY OF LEAVING STANDING TREES, 
 
 , Saint George's Parish extends from Kingstown north 
 .-to the river Jambou, and contains 9,337 acres of land in 
 .sugar estates; it has seven rivers capable of turning mills; 
 the different ridges in this parish having been cleared of 
 their wood by the earlier settlers, the clouds are attracted by 
 the more lofty mountains in the interior ; and it has been 
 deemed prudent to preserve the timber on an elevated 
 situation, called the King's Hill,* from future destruction, by 
 an especial Act of the Legislature. 
 
 At three miles from Kingstown is the small town of Cal- 
 liaqua, consisting of 59 houses, and 400 inhabitants, its chief 
 attraction is the commodious harbour, and very convenient 
 beach for shipping produce. There is a singularly insulated 
 rock on the north western side, 260 feet above the level of 
 the sea, on the top of which. Fort Duvernette is constructed; 
 it is ascended by a staircase cut out of the solid stone. On 
 Dorsetshire Hill there are barracks for troops, but in such a 
 dilapidated state, as not to be habitable. Some distance 
 above Calliagua, towards the interior is the Vigie, (or look 
 ;Out) a very commanding situation. The different ridges are 
 'here concentrated into one elevation with three conical hills. 
 
 repair by the proprietors of the estates who have adjoining- portions al- 
 lotted thcui by an Act of the Legislature, on which they are required to 
 expend an estimated quantity of labour, and for wliich they are allowed 
 a certain sum from the treasury, on a certificate from the Way-wardens 
 of the parish, who are nominated by the Justices at the February Sessions 
 in each year. 
 
 * Baron Humboldt's remarks on this subject ought to be deeply im- 
 pressed on the mind of every proprietor, not only in the West Indies but in 
 every country, more especially in a tropical climate. * By felling the trees 
 -that cover the tops and sides of the mountains, men in every climate 
 prepare at once two calamities for future generations, the want of fuel 
 and the scarcity of water. \Miere forests are destroyed, as they are every 
 where in America by the European planters with an imprudent pre- 
 cipitation, the springs are entirely dried up or become less abundant, the 
 beds of the rivers, remaining dry during a part of the year, are convert.e<^l 
 into torrents whenever great rains fall on the heights.' — Pers. A'arrativt.; 
 vol. iv. p. 142.
 
 TUNNELS THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. 2D3 
 
 where the Caribs fixed their camp. Eastward is the very 
 extensive valley of INIaniaqua, which has only one singvdar 
 cleft, or opening, with almost perpendicular sides, through 
 which the river Jambou flows to the sea.* Some persons 
 have conjectured that this valley is an exhausted crater, which 
 has been thus drained of its waters ; the position is too low to 
 maintain this hypothesis, as the volcanic craters in all the 
 Islands, are situated on the most lofty mountains. 
 
 Charlotte Parish is bounded on the south by St. George's, 
 and northerly by uncultivable lands, it contains 11,819 acres 
 in cultivation, and that part of it called the Carib country, 
 which was only partially settled in 1804, is the most pro- 
 ductive in the Island. The southern part consists of a 
 portion of General Monckton's grant of 4,000 acres, which 
 he sold for £30,000. sterling, and which was subsequently 
 disposed of in lots by the speculators. This parish is so well 
 supplied with rivers, notwithstanding several were absorbed 
 at the time of the eruption of the Souftrierej that all the 
 mills are worked by water; and the estates are generally 
 larger than in the other parishes.]- 
 
 Saint Andrew's Pai'ish is the first on the leeward side ad-' 
 joining the town, it contains 4,096 acres, and the vallies being 
 narrower, the estates are small and more compact, neither is 
 it so well supplied with water, except in Buccament Valley, 
 which is one of the most extensive and fertile in the Island. 
 
 * ' Here,' says ]\h-. Shepherd, ' is a majestic cabbage tree, (Areca olera- 
 cea) which in 1814 was ascertained to be 156 high by trigonometrical mea- 
 surement. This is considerably higher than Mr. Coleridge has admitted, 
 though the existence of Ligon's 300 feet trees is by no means contended for.' 
 
 t A tunnel of 200 feet long was cut through Mount Young in 1813, 
 which greatly improved the means of communication with the newly- 
 settled country ; and a stupendous work was afterwards undertaken by 
 the owner of Grand Sable estate, in cutting another tunnel through the 
 same mountain, lower down and nearer the sea, for the convenience of 
 shipping the produce. The material to be perforated proved to be stone 
 instead of terrass, as was expected — and 360 feet in length were accord- 
 ingly blasted by drilling in the solid rock, at an expense of about <i^5,000 
 currency. '
 
 291' APPEARANCE OF THE SOUFFRIERE. 
 
 In this parish is the small town of New Edinburgh, %vhere 
 the depot for the commissariat stores is erected. 
 
 Saint Patrick is the next in order, on the western coast, 
 containing 5,426 acres, with the two small towns of Layou 
 and Barouallie : here the land becomes much more preci- 
 pitous and difficult of cultivation, and the fertility decreases. 
 
 The last is Saint David's, containing 4,198 acres, whose 
 characteristic features are the same as the preceding; in 
 Washilabo Valley, and also at the south point near to the 
 entrance of Chateaubelair Bay, are some fine specimens of 
 Basaltes ; tlie vicinity of the SoufFriere and other lofty moun- 
 tains ensures the planters in this quarter plenty of rain, and 
 the i^icilities of shipping produce, compared with the bold 
 eastern coast are very great, and reduce the expense and 
 risk of an estate considerably. A most intelligent and enter- 
 prising traveller, Captain Sir J. E. Alexander, thus gra- 
 phically describes his recent visits to the terrific SoufFriere : — 
 
 ' Conspicuous ainong' the majestic mountuins of St. Vincent is the Souf- 
 friere, occupying the N. W. point of the island. This celcbnited volcano 
 is the grandest scene in the West Indies. The lofty summit is only to be 
 seen at intervals between the rolling clouds, and the sides are furrowed 
 with streams of lava. The Crater is three miles in circumference, and 
 500 feet in depth ; it contains within it a conical hill beautifully streaked 
 Avith sulphur, and covered with shrubs and flowers. The road to the Souf- 
 friere passes through corn fields and a thicket of long grass and ferns, 
 which reach over a horse's back ; the path then can hardly be seen, and 
 seems to be on a narrow ridge, on each side of which is a precipice, that 
 to the west being most terrific. There is considerable danger here from 
 the difiiculty of keeping the path; the shrubs are so thick, the ferns so 
 tough, tli;it they can hardly be broken through, and the grass is sharp 
 and cutting; the ascent is gradual. Six large trees, half way to the 
 volcano, afford a shade under which to refresh and to admire the graceful 
 forms of the tree ferns scattered here and there. For some distance be- 
 yond the resting place the path continues intricate as before, and then the 
 crater ridge is reached. This is more thinly sprinkled with trees ; towards 
 the summit it is quite bare, and furrowed with the traces of the mountain 
 torrents and of lava, while sand and ashes are under foot. To the south 
 is a mountain which seems to overhang the traveller ; it is richly covered 
 to the top with tufted foliage, which forms a contrast to the scene on the 
 Tionh ; thcio (Ipsolnlion ^oems to liavc marked it for its own ; the destruc-
 
 HORRIBLE VIEW OF THE CRATERS. 295 
 
 tive agency of fire has annihilated the vegetation, and left nothing but a 
 bare, barren, and blackened mass of rocks. The naturalist might here 
 pitch his tent, and observe the vegetation improving as he descends the 
 mountain, abounding in lichen, mosses, grasses, shrubs and trees. There 
 is a convenient nook for leaving the horses, and then on walking forwards 
 twenty yards probably a mighty cloud of vapour may be seen ; it fills 
 the crater to the brim, gradually clears off, and then the awful majesty of 
 the scene is unfolded. Instinctively the gazer recoils from the abyss be- 
 neath his feet, and his senses are wrapt in amazement, for he sees before 
 him one of the most sublime scenes in nature ; the sides of the mighty 
 goblet are themselves mountains, here descending in a perpendicular wall 
 to the water, and there inclining at an angle of 45° : distinctly marked on 
 the sides of the cauldron is the height of the water of the lake at different 
 times, the variation of which takes place doubtless from rains and eva- 
 poration. The eastern top of the crater is about 3,500 feet above the 
 level of the sea, and there also the depth from the top to the surface of 
 the lake is 300 feet, the circumference of the cauldron at the top is about 
 three miles : a cold mist commonly rests on the surface of the green, 
 slimy, and unfathomable water at the bottom ; and so horrible is the scene, 
 that one almost expects to see the fluid rise from the surface of the dreary 
 lake. The three peaks to the north of the crater are nearly all of the 
 same height, that is 4,000 feet above the sea. On one of these Mr. Charles 
 Parker, of Liverpool, a gentleman of considerable scientific acquirements, 
 observed the tliermometer at 45 minutes past 2 p. m. on the 31st July, 
 1824, when clear, to stand at 69°; and when hazy at 70°; whilst about 
 noon in the plain, it indicated S2° of heat. From the Souflfriere, when 
 the day is clear, an extensive view may be had of that wild region the 
 Charib country, now occupied by a mere handful of red Indians. 
 
 ' In walking along the brink of the crater, it is necessary to clamber over 
 ridges, covered with slippery moss, on a loose soil, without a shrub to 
 hold by, and one false step will send the adventurer rolling down into the 
 Souflfriere. After a mile and a half is accomplished, the new crater is 
 seen : it lies to the S. E. of the other ; and, if the mist is thick and a 
 breeze blowing, as is often the case, it is necessary to crawl forward on 
 hands and knees, otherwise it is impossible to avoid a fatal accident whilst 
 looking into the lesser crater. The two craters are separated only by a 
 narrow ridge or saddle, which, though apparently impassable, a sailor 
 once succeeded in crossing. The new crater is more of an abyss than its 
 neighbour : its sides are more rugged and frightful, but it is much smaller 
 at bottom, where there is a mass of black ashes and sand, and a little 
 water of a red clayey hue ; sometimes it is quite dry. It is possible, but it 
 is a perilous enterprize, to descend to the surface of the lake in the great 
 crater. It is necessary to slip down rocks and guUeys, having only small
 
 296 DELICIOUS CLIMATE OF ST, VINCENT's. 
 
 projecting stones, roots of grass, and shrubs to hold by and stand upon. 
 The rapid descent occupies about twenty minutes, and then there is a 
 small promontor}', which juts out a few yards into the water. Here two 
 friends stripped and determined to bathe in the appalling lake, with its 
 slimy water of unfathomable depth ; they plunged into the abyss, but the 
 sensations they experienced on looking up around them were so over- 
 wlielming, and the water chilling their bones, they were not long in 
 regaining the land, having performed a feat that none ever before 
 attempted.' 
 
 Climate. This very heautiful isle stands higli in reputa- 
 tion as a healthy station ; hills and vallies, wood and water, 
 in abundance, are so disposed as to contribute to its salubrity ; 
 — the hills being of a conical shape, there are no livid surfaces 
 of uncultivated shrubs to harbour miasm, and be swept 
 down occasionally on the inhabitants below with destructive 
 effect. The vallies are not deep or filled with jungle and 
 brush wood impervious to the sun's rays, but the woods 
 being composed of large trees, and growing from the base to 
 the summit of the mountains, forms an agreeable shade, 
 cooling the breeze as it passes through them. Composed as 
 St. Vincent's is, with sloping surfaces, and gravelly subsoil, 
 there is hardly any flat ground in the island, and the per- 
 petually flowing streams from the mountains and hills, while 
 they tend to temper the air, make the general scene ever ver- 
 dant and cheerful. Hurricanes have been severely in this 
 island.* 
 
 * On the morning of the 11th August, 1831, St. Vincent was visited by 
 a severe gale of wind, or hurricane, which did very great injury to the 
 plantations on the north and west sides of the island, destroying the greater 
 part of the sugar works and other buildings in the beautiful vale of the 
 Charaib country, to windward, as well as at Chateaubelair and other 
 places in the leeward quarter. Nineteen vessels were driven on shore in 
 Kingston bay, of which the greater part were got ofFiu a few weeks, and 
 seven others were totally wrecked in different parts of the government. 
 The gale commenced in Kingstown from the north, shortly after daylight 
 and went round to the north-west ; it then shifted to the south-west, and 
 subsided about one o'clock in the afternoon ; but in other parts of the 
 island it commenced much earlier, and its violence was much greater. 
 The estimate of the losses, as taken by the Connnittces of the Legislature, 
 amounted to ^163,420.
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE— KINGSTOWN ST. VINCENT's. 297 
 
 The following complete meteorological table, though given 
 for Kingstown in St. Vincent's, will enable the European 
 reader to form a general idea of the climate of the Caribbee 
 islands : — 
 
 
 THERMOMETER.* 
 
 PLUVIAMETBR.t 
 
 HYGROMETER. 
 
 
 In King Town, 
 
 Quantity of Rain, in inches. 
 
 Mean 
 Temperature 
 
 
 Lowest. 
 
 Highest. 
 
 Monthly 
 Mean. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 In Kingstown. 
 
 8 Miles E. of 
 Town. 
 
 iu 
 Kingstown. 
 
 
 
 1831. 1832. 
 
 1831. 
 
 1832. 
 
 1831. 
 
 1832. 
 
 January. . . . 
 February. . . 
 
 March 
 
 AprU 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August. 
 
 September 
 
 October 
 
 November. . 
 December . . 
 
 7*i 
 72 
 73 
 74 
 
 78 
 
 76 
 
 78 
 
 77 
 
 77 
 78 
 
 75 
 73 
 
 84i 
 85 
 86 
 86 
 
 87 
 
 864 
 
 87 
 
 88 
 
 89 
 
 88 
 
 87 
 
 85 
 
 78:52 
 78:06 
 78:12 
 79.69 
 81:53 
 81:19 
 81:18 
 81:79 
 81:10 
 81:40 
 80:62 
 79:81 
 
 80:01 
 79:29 
 79:65 
 80:14 
 81:05 
 81:46 
 81:16 
 82:18 
 81:80 
 82:26 
 81:37 
 79:21 
 
 2:56 ' 2:96 
 
 1:17 3:96 
 
 2:97 1:42 
 
 1:16 3:39 
 
 8:58 4:53 
 
 10:70 794 
 
 10:52 9:70 
 
 11:18 ; 8:56 
 
 9:35 13.38 
 
 6:24 , 9:31 
 
 13:19 ' 8 62 
 
 9:84 4:33 
 
 2:43 
 0:31 
 1:53 
 0:67 
 6:44 
 7:47 
 8:31 
 6:55 
 11:29 
 6:80 
 8:18 
 5:25 
 
 1:98 
 1:84 
 1:16 
 3:95 
 2:76 
 8:05 
 5:91 
 7:46 
 15:14 
 8:40 
 9:68 
 2:75 
 
 
 
 70:84 
 70:75 
 70:25 
 70:22 
 69:94 
 
 68:68 
 67:14 
 67:99 
 67:93 
 69:30 
 69:25 
 70:25 
 69:66 
 69:69 
 69:39 
 69:41 
 67:89 
 
 Year.. 
 
 75:46 
 
 86:50 
 
 80:25 
 
 80:80 
 
 87:46 1 78:10 
 
 65.23 
 
 69:08 
 
 70:40 
 
 68:86t 
 
 Vegetable Kingdom. It would be mere recapitulation to 
 detail the vegetation of St. Vincent's ; the following enumera- 
 tion of the fruits, esculents, Sec. in season throughout the 
 year will demonstrate the great variety of vegetable food 
 which our West India Islands afford : — 
 
 * January. — Sappadillos, pomegranates, papaws, sour-sops, plantains, 
 okros, peppers, cocoa-nuts, pigeon or angola peas, sweet potatoes, yams, 
 Creole ditto, tanias, cotton. February. — Sappadillos, sour-sops, chicou. 
 March. — Sappadillos, sour-sops, granadillos, custard apples, guavas, 
 plantains, cerasees, Ceylon ditto, sweet potatoes, yams, yipril. — Sap- 
 
 * St. Vincent, July 30, 1824, observed the thermometer at 2h. 45m. p. m. 
 on Knole of Benmore when clear, 69°; during hazy, 70° ; about noon in the 
 plain, 82°. At 5h. 30m. p.m. in New Crater, air, 71°: at 6h. 15m. p.m. 
 in ditto, water, 68°. At3h. 30m. a.m. July 31, cloudy ; — top of hill, 65°; 
 lee of ditto, ^1° ; interior of cave, 71°. [JMr. Charles Parker, Liverpool.] 
 
 f At Langley Park, St. Vincent, 850 feet above the level of the sea, in 
 1822, there fell 120,14 inches of rain; there were 104 diy days; wet 
 ditto, 261 ; — total, 365 : floods, forty days ; thunder-storms, sixty days. 
 
 X The highest number denotes moisture ; the lowest a dry state of the 
 atmosphere. ^
 
 298 
 
 STAPLE PRODUCE FROM 1801 TO 1832. 
 
 padillos, Java plums, mangoes, mamme-sapotas, pine-apples, Otabeite 
 gooseberries, Jamaica plums, cerasees, Ceylon ditto, bread-fruit, silk 
 cotton, galba-seeds for fences. Mai/. — Sappadillos, mangoes, grana- 
 dillos, water-lemons, cashews, pine-apples, Otabeite gooseberries, Ja- 
 maica plums, Ceylon cerasees, silk cotton. June.— i\Iangoes, Java plums, 
 Jamaica ditto, cashews, Ceylon cerasees, pigeon peas, (nearly out of 
 season) cloves. July. — Mangoes, mamme-sapotas, granadillos, cashews, 
 avocado pears, cerasees. August. — Mangoes, mamme-sapotas, avacado 
 pears, hog plums. ^("p^^/Hit-y.— Sugar-apples, sea-side grapes, grana- 
 dillos, hog plums, pompions, portuguese yams, tanais. October. — Sugar- 
 apples, guavas, sea-side grapes, avacado pears, Portuguese yams, cotFee. 
 JVovember. — Granadillos, chicou, okros, peppers, bread-fruit, coffee. 
 December. — Sappadillos, sour-sops, guavas, granadillos, sweet cerasees, 
 pigeon peas, okros, peppers, sorrel, yams, cotton.' 
 
 The following shews the quantities of staple produce made 
 in St. Vincent and its dependencies from 1801 to 1831, 
 together with the number of negroes in each parish.* 
 
 • As an historical document I give the following account, shewing the 
 total number of Slaves annually employed and quantity of produce raised 
 in the island of St. flncent and its Dependencies from 1801 to 1831, 
 both inclusive. — 
 
 i 
 
 > 
 
 i 
 
 E 
 
 . 1 
 
 l\ . 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 e 
 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Cocoa. 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 3 lii ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (4 
 
 8 
 
 1 No. Hds. Pan Pun Lbs. , Lbs. 
 
 Bales. 
 
 No. Hds. Pun Pun Lb=. Lbs. 
 
 Bales. 
 
 1801 ir,342 17,699 8702 1492 
 
 
 1818 20,817 
 
 19,43696722653 8,243 11,628 
 
 560 
 
 1802 17,4S4 19,317 9012 1322 
 
 
 1819 20,748 
 
 t 2123 11,052 10,744 
 
 139,013 
 
 1803 17,441 18,371 8929 1119 
 
 
 1820 20,582 
 
 16,6318873 2231 7,947 11,769 
 
 256 
 
 1804 20,294 17,235 8804 I660 12,400 5,516 
 
 890 
 
 1821 20,362 
 
 18,331 9797 4275 10,620 13,285 
 
 403 
 
 1805 19,647 20,981 9332 2851 13,086 1,681 
 
 1,493 
 
 1822 20,380 
 
 19,596 9630 8118 7,857 14,653 
 
 661 
 
 1806 19,672 20,224 8.341 3454 8,904 2,142 
 
 1,150 
 
 182320,07717,53447737572 9,553 9,120 
 
 644 
 
 1807 20,525 19,135 8102 2902 14,650 3,745 
 
 777 
 
 1824 20,135 18,549 5321 8712 13,743 23,110 
 
 628 
 
 1808'20,977 19,073 8518 2470 27,295 8,718 
 
 1,112 
 
 1825,20,025 20,271 5674 6461 8,707 19,269 
 
 416 
 
 1809 20,755,19,186 9369 1388 30,809 11,651 
 
 997 i 1826|19,869 119,591 5656 5570 6,990 26,173 
 
 533 
 
 1810,20,620 16,127 7591 1441 12,992 3,979 
 
 847 1 1827 
 
 19,P33 118,340 6205 7090 10,103 13,201 
 
 251 
 
 1811120,602 17,059 8519 198121,978 10,575 
 
 638 ' 1828 
 
 19,863 |21,I60 6627 3973 1,873 18,434 
 
 369 
 
 1812 20,544 115,872 8740 1078 13,713 4,297 
 
 669 
 
 1829 
 
 19,603 
 
 18,676 6542 2,572 12,216 
 
 337 
 
 1813 20,428 16,106 9383 534 14,649 5,162 
 
 742 
 
 1830 
 
 
 1 4360, 1 
 
 
 1814120,888,17,377 9329 1467 6,998 9,785 
 
 616 
 
 1831 
 
 
 13,365 S973 1 1,260 i 7,861 
 
 
 1815 20,833 17,917 9I8I 1732' 9,176 9,430 
 
 448 
 
 1832 
 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 1616 20,573 19,721 898512216 10,473 12,160 
 
 621 
 
 1833 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1817 
 
 20,961 
 
 18,642 
 
 8612 
 
 1 
 
 12445 15,989 
 
 1 i 
 
 10,971 
 
 291 
 
 1834 
 
 i 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 
 f The quantity of sugar, rum and molasses manufactured in the Gre- 
 nadines are not included in the first three years of this return. The 
 figures from 1801 to 1819, I derive from the official account published at 
 St. Vincent in 1819; from 1820 to 1829 Mr. Shepherd's work is my 
 authority; 18.'^l from the St. Vincent Almanack, converted into the 
 denominations here used.
 
 SUGAR, RUM, &C. OF EACH PARISH. 
 
 299 
 
 Parishes and Islands. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Cocoa.* 
 
 Negroes on 
 
 1st January, 
 
 1831. 
 
 Charlotte Parish 
 
 St. George's do 
 
 St. Andrew's do 
 
 St. Patrick's do 
 
 St. David's do 
 
 The Grenadines 
 
 Lbs. 
 9.689,619 
 6,849,236 
 2,514,392 
 2,152,648 
 1,970,868 
 
 1,277,7^7 
 
 Gallons. 
 270,603 
 193,853 
 67,034 
 .54,551 
 45,831 
 25,19- 
 
 Gallons. 
 152,948 
 
 100,873 
 
 58,594 
 45,171 
 25,244 
 53,195 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 55,597 
 
 Lbs. 
 1,260 
 
 Lbs. 
 561 
 250 
 
 7,050 
 
 No. 
 6,837 
 5,284 
 1,558 
 1,747 
 1,612 
 2,317 
 
 Total. . 
 
 24,454,550 
 
 657,069 
 
 436,025 
 
 55,597 
 
 1,260 
 
 7,861 
 
 19,355 
 
 Population. The aborigines of the island were undoubt- 
 edly the yellow Caribs, probably emigrants from Guyana.f 
 When St. Vincent's was visited by Europeans, two distinct races 
 of men were discovered ; they were of different origins, and 
 their appearances and manners plainly corresponded with 
 those of different portions of the globe. One of these tribes 
 had evidently descended from the aborigines of the island, 
 those of the other tribe were evidently intruders, and the 
 great difficulty consists in accounting fairly and fully for their 
 introduction. It is supposed that about 1G75, a ship carry- 
 ing out negroes from that country for sale, foundered on the 
 coast of Bequia, a small island near to Saint Vincent, and 
 that the slaves who escaped from the wreck were received 
 by the inhabitants as brethren. But this was not all, the 
 proprietors of the island gave their daughters in marriage to 
 these strangers, and the race which sprang from this mixture 
 were called Black Caribs, having preserved more of the pri- 
 mitive colour of their fathers, than the lighter hue of their 
 mothers. The yellow Caribs are of a low stature, the black 
 are tall and stout, and this doubly savage race speak with a 
 degree of vehemence which seems like anger. 
 
 At length some difference arose between these two classes, 
 of which the French in Martinico resolved to avail themselves, 
 and as is usual to profit by the ruin of both parties ; but the 
 smallness of the numbers sent against the Black Caribs, and 
 
 * Arrow-root, .3,763 lb.«i. 
 
 t For a description of these people I refer to the chapter on British 
 Gnvann.
 
 300 EARLY HISTORY OF THE BLACK AND YELLOW CARIBS. 
 
 the defection of the Yellow Carihs, who refused to supply 
 such dangerous allies with any of the succours which they had 
 promised them to act against their rivals, together with the 
 impossibility of coming up with enemies who kept themselves 
 concealed in the woods, were circumstances which combined 
 to disconcert this rash and violent enterprize ; the Gallic in- 
 vaders were therefore forced to reimbark, after losing many 
 valuable lives: — but the triumph of the Black Caribs did 
 not prevent their suing for peace, they even subsequently in- 
 vited the French to come and live with them, swearing sincere 
 friendship: the proposal was accepted, and in the year 1719 
 many of the French inhabitants of Martinico removed to St. 
 Vincent's. When the French came, they brought their slaves 
 with them to clear and till the ground; the Black Caribs, 
 shocked at the idea of resembling persons who were degraded 
 by slavery, and fearing that in process of time their own co- 
 lour, which betrayed their origin, might be made a pretence 
 for enslaving them, took refuge in the thickest part of the 
 woods, and in order to create and perpetuate a visible distinc- 
 tion between their race and the slaves brought into the island, 
 and likewise in imitation of the practice of the Yellow Caribs, 
 they compressed, so as to flatten, the foreheads of all their new 
 born infants, and this was thereafter concluded as a token of 
 their independence. The next generation thus became as it 
 were, a new race, they gradually quitted the woods, erected 
 huts, and formed little communities on the coast ; by degrees 
 they claimed a portion of the territory possessed by the 
 Caribs, and having learned the use of fire-arms, which they 
 procured from the French traders, on being refused a friendly 
 participation in the landed property, established themselves 
 as a separate tribe, elected a chief, re-commenced hostilities 
 against the Yellow Caribs, and by force brought their adver- 
 saries to terms of accommodation, by which it was agreed to 
 divide ecpially the lands situated on the leeward coast. It 
 happened however, after this division, that the Black Caribs 
 experienced a most mortifying disappointment, for most of 
 the new planters from Europe, and from the French settle-
 
 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS ON ST. VINCENT's. 301 
 
 ments in the West Indies, landed and settled near the Yellow 
 Caribs, where the coast is most accessible. This decided pre- 
 ference occasioned a new war, in which the Yellow Caribs 
 were always defeated, and at length obliged to retire to the 
 windward parts of the island, some fled to the Continent, and 
 some to Tobago, the few that remained lived separately from 
 the blacks, who became the sole masters of all the lands on the 
 leeward shore, assumed the right of conquerors, and obliged 
 the European planters to re-purchase the lands, for which 
 they had already paid the Yellow Caribs,* 
 
 While these differences wei'e in progress, and while the 
 French were gradually gaining a footing in the island, George 
 the first granted it to the Duke of Montague, who in 1723, 
 sent out a small armament to take possession, but the 
 English on their arrival found the French influence under 
 the appearance of protection so predominant, and the deter- 
 mination of the natives to admit no Europeans to a perma- 
 nent settlement there so fixed, that they were glad to abandon 
 their alleged proprietorships ; and when the Duke, at a subse- 
 quent period endeavoured to establish his claim before the 
 Privy Council it was disallowed. 
 
 Notwithstanding the difficulties created by Caribs, the 
 French prevailed by means of continual reinforcements of men 
 and money, and superior skill in agriculture and commercial 
 affairs ; so that in less than twenty years, 800 whites, and 3,000 
 black slaves, were employed in the cultivation of commodities 
 for exportation, which yielded a sum equal to £63,625, 
 sterling. The expedition which was sent against Mar- 
 tinico in 1762, under General Monckton and Admiral Rod- 
 ney, subsequently captured St. Vincent's, and a war be- 
 tween the British and Caribs soon followed. The result of 
 several severe contests was (as stated under the general his- 
 tory of the island) the final subjugation of the Yellow and 
 
 * A Frenchman having^ produced to a Black Carib Chief a deed of 
 land that he had purchased of a Yellow Carib, was told he did not know 
 what the paper contained, but pointing to his own arrow, said if he did 
 not give him the sum he demanded, he would set fire to and l)urn down 
 his liouse that very night. Shepherd's ^V. Jliiceut.
 
 305 POPULATION FROM 1735 TO 1831— WHITE AND BLACK. 
 
 Black Caribs, and their deportation to the number of 5,080 
 from the island to Ruattan in Honduras Bay, after costing the 
 colonists in expenses and losses £900,000. sterling, and a 
 considerable sacrifice of European life.* 
 
 The following shews the Population of St. Vincent and its 
 Dependencies at several intervals : — 
 
 Year. 
 
 Negroes. 
 
 Carib?. 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Coloured. 
 
 Slaves.t 
 
 1735 
 
 6,000 
 
 4,000 
 
 __ 
 
 
 ^_^ 
 
 1764 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 2,104 
 
 
 
 7,414 
 
 1787 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,450 
 
 300 
 
 11,853 
 
 1805 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,600 
 
 450 
 
 16, .500 
 
 1812 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,053 
 
 1,482 
 
 24,920 
 
 1825 
 
 ->. 
 
 — 
 
 1,301 
 
 2,b24 
 
 23,780 
 
 1831 
 
 ~~ 
 
 ~"~ 
 
 ~~* 
 
 —~ 
 
 22,997 
 
 Finance. The revenue of the island is stated by Mr. 
 Shepherd at about £26,000 per annum, and raised by an annual 
 tax act, by which assessments on all the staple commodities 
 of the Island are made, and a proportionate per centage on 
 the incomes of merchants and other persons, with a poll tax 
 on unattached slaves ; Commissioners to carry the act into 
 execution, are named for each parish, and the returns are 
 directed to be given in to the Treasurer in January, from 
 
 • For a very able and interestinir account of tbe Carib war vide Mr. 
 Shepherd's History of St. Vincent before referred to. 
 
 t The progressive increase or decrease of the slave population from 
 1817 to 1831 was,— 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase 
 
 by 
 
 Decrease by 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Birth. 
 
 
 Death. 
 
 
 
 er 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 W 
 
 
 , 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 01 
 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 ■a I 
 
 a 
 
 •3 
 1 
 
 "5 
 
 (i 
 
 B 
 
 
 •3 
 
 1 
 
 •3 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 1817 .. 
 
 12,743 
 
 12,475 
 
 25.213 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 1822 ,, 
 
 12,007 
 
 12,245 
 
 21,252 
 
 1,298 
 
 1,358 
 
 2,656 
 
 2,275 
 
 1,930 
 
 4,205 
 
 1825 .. 
 
 n,6J5 
 
 12.095 
 
 23,7S0 
 
 918 
 
 934 
 
 1,852 
 
 1,157 ' 949 ! 2,206 
 
 1828 .. 
 
 11,583 
 
 12,116 
 
 23,699 
 
 939 
 
 S90 
 
 1.729 
 
 1.117 
 
 9OJ 1 2,120 
 
 1831 .. 
 
 ll,2ld 
 
 11,781 
 
 22.997 
 
 919 
 
 662 
 
 1,-81 
 
 1,230 
 
 1,036 
 
 2,2««
 
 FINANCIAL STATE OF THE COLONY. 303 
 
 whence tlie rates are calculated according to the estimated 
 expences of the island, and submitted to the Assembly. 
 The Colony derives no pecuniary assistance from Great 
 Britain ; the garrison, the proportionate expence of the naval 
 establishment, the packets, and the home salary of the 
 Governor, form the only burthen, if such it can be called, 
 sustained by the mother covuitry. 
 
 The estimated expences of the Colony, for the year 1832, 
 was, salaries to public officers, H. Ex. the Gov. 5,000/. ; Chief 
 Justice, 1,200/. Attor.Gen.500/. ; Clerk of Council, 200/. : ditto 
 of Assembly, 500/. ; Messenger and House-keeper, 200/. ; Clerk 
 to the Magistrates, 50/. ; Register of Slaves, 250/. ; Treasurer, 
 1,200/. ; Colonial Agent, £350sterhng, 840/. ; Signalmen, 851. 
 Clerk of the Market, 100/.; Overseer of Tread-mill, 150/.; 
 Chief Constable, 300/.; Extra Constable, 300/.— 10,875/. Mi- 
 litary Establishment. — Adj. South. Regt. Militia, 100/. ; ditto 
 N. Reg. 50/. ; ditto Queen's Companies, 50/. ; Armourer, 100/. ; 
 Repairing Military Roads, 210/. ; Clearing the ParadeGround. 
 150/. — 660/. Clerical Establishment. — Rector of St. George 
 and St. Andrew's Parishes, 1,060/. ; Parish Clerk to ditto, 
 100/. ; Organist to ditto, 300/.— 1,460/. Rector of Charlotte 
 Parish, 700/. ; Parish Clerk to ditto, 661. — 766/. Rector 
 Leeward Parishes, 700/.; ditto, House-rent, 100/.; Parish 
 Clerk to Leeward, 661. — 866/, Rector of the Grenadines, 700/. ; 
 Parish Clerk to ditto, SSL — 733/. Estimated expences for 
 repairing Churches, &c. — 4,825/. Annuities. — To Militia 
 Men, &c., 286/; to Manumitted Slaves, 420/. ; Arrears to 
 ditto, 706/. — 1,412/. — Public Roads. — Annual Repairs, 
 2,715/.; ditto, Vigie and Owia, 199/.; Arrears of Annual 
 Repair, 2,733/. ; allowed extra for heavy rains, 500/, — 6,147/.; 
 Repairs to Governor's residence, 3,000/. ; Accounts against 
 the Public, 3,500/.; Arrears of ditto, 1,871; Allowed for 
 contingencies, 3,000/. ; Rewards under the Slave Act, to 
 Nurses and Midwiyes, 3,000/. ; Register of Slaves, for Tri- 
 ennial Return, 1 ,000/. — 1 5,37 1 /. Total 39,290/. 
 
 The taxes, &c. to meet these estimates, were — Due by the 
 Treasurer's account, to 31st Dec. 1831, per his statement,
 
 304 ISLAND EXPENDITURE FROM 1806 TO 1830. — MONIES. 
 
 877/.; Deficiency of White Servants, 1,908/.; Duties on 
 Liquors, 1261.; Powder Officer, 418/.; Transient Traders, 
 45/. ; Custom-House, 31/. ; Outstanding Taxes, 12,904/. ; 
 Liquor Licenses, 1,266/.; Amount ofProduce, Poll and House 
 Tax, at 2 per cent, 12,826/.; 1,621 Negroes, at 5s. 405/.— 
 30,810/. 
 
 The expenditure of the Island from the Treasurer's Books, 
 was, in Currency — 
 
 £. 
 
 1806 - 16,433 
 
 1807 - 28,536 
 
 1808 - 22,504 
 1809- 16,158 
 
 1810 - 19,868 
 
 1811 - 21,253 
 
 1812 - 19,583 
 
 1813 - 24,123 
 
 1814 - 22,036 
 1815- 18,633 
 
 1816 - 24,250 
 
 1817 - 22,133 
 
 £. 
 
 1818 - 37,858 
 1819- 85,126 
 
 1820 
 1821 
 1822 
 1823 
 
 39,710 
 18,130 
 37,712 
 29,908 
 
 £, 
 
 1824 - 38,034 
 1825- 23,131- 
 
 1826 - 36,173 
 
 1827 - 32,327 
 
 1828 - 31,671 
 
 1829 - 25,361 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 u 
 
 Monetary System. Current value of the coins in cir- 
 culation within this Government. Silver coins. — Spanish 
 dollar, 10*. half dollar, 5s.; Carolus, 2*.; Pistareen, 1a-. 6d.] 
 Quarter Colonial coin, 4 dwts. 9 grs. 2*. 6d. ; English 
 shilling, 3 dwts. 16 grs. 2s. 3ld. 
 Gold coins. — Doubloon 17 dwts. 8 grs. 16 dol. £8 
 Half do. 8 — 16 - 8—4 
 
 Guinea 5 — 8 — 44 5ths 2 
 Sovereign 5 — 3| — 43 5ths 2 
 
 Cojjper coins. — English penny-piece, and stampee, 2^d. 
 each; ditto, halfpenny, l^d.] dog, 1-^/. 
 
 The gold coins in circulation are exclusively Spanish 
 and Portuguese, the Doubloon at the value of sixteen 
 dollars with the aliquot parts in proportion ; the Johannes 
 pass by weight at nine shillings the penny-weight ; for- 
 merly this coin was the most common throughout the Is- 
 lands, each Colony mutilating their own by plugs and 
 various marks, to prevent exportation ; from these prac- 
 tices the coin became so deteriorated, that in 1818 it was 
 called in at a considerable loss, and Doubloons came into 
 more general circulation. The silver coins are the dollar 
 which passes at ten shillings currency, and Colonial coins of 
 one-fourth, one-eighth and one-sixteenth : the British silver 
 occasionally forms part of the commissariat issues, from
 
 COMMERCE AND SHIPPING OF ST. VINCENT S. 
 
 305 
 
 which source nearly all the bullion of the country arises, but 
 it is speedily collected by the merchants for remittances to 
 Europe, and is therefore of little benefit as a general circu- 
 lating medium ; the English copper money, and a barbarous 
 Colonial coin, with the equally barbarous names ofStampees 
 and Black Dogs, complete the catalogue. The sterling value 
 of the dollar being four shillings and four pence, gives £ 230 H, 
 as the currency value of £100. 
 
 Commerce. In 1832 there were shipped from St. Vin- 
 cent's to Great Britain, of sugar, 12,477 hogsheads, 441 
 tierces, 197 barrels; of r?/w, 225 puncheons; of molasses, 
 2,398 puncheons. To the British American Provinces, 
 sugar, 91 hogsheads, IIG tierces, 441 barrels; rum, 2,239 
 puncheons; molasses, 1,111 puncheons. To the British 
 W. I. islands, and to other ports there, were sma)l quantities 
 of the above mentioned items, making a total of ugar, 12,647 
 hogsheads ; 567 tierces, 718 barrels ; of rum, 3,^)6 puncheons, 
 87 hogsheads, 21 barrels; of molasses, 4,206 puncheons; 
 and there were also some small shipments to Europe, in- 
 cluding 631 boxes of arrow root. 
 
 The value of the total maritime trade of the island, and 
 the amount of shipping therein employed is thus shewn : — 
 
 VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM 
 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 
 Great 
 Bri- 
 tain. 
 
 £. 
 
 57,135 
 
 96,356 
 
 West 
 Indies 
 
 25,088 
 61,952 
 
 North 
 Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 Fo- 
 reign 
 states 
 
 £. 
 
 43,282 
 41,005 
 
 Total. 
 
 A'. , £. 
 
 22,801 148,298 
 53,562 252,875 
 
 VALUE OP EXPORTS TO 
 
 263,347 
 219,302 
 
 37,564 34,597 
 31,758 28,129 
 
 2,536 
 8,021 
 
 338,045 
 287,211 
 
 SHIPPING OUTWARDS TO 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 1830| 45 
 1831] 37 
 
 1832 
 
 12,732 
 10,891 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 292' 17,735 
 348, 20,260 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 3,588 428 
 5,635 461 
 
 1830 
 1831 
 ,1832 
 
 36 10,346 
 46 13,486 
 
 SHIPPING INWARDS FROM 
 245 
 
 16,4171104 
 17,069 106 
 
 5,532 I 38S 
 7,740 446 
 
 34,055 
 36,786 
 
 32,295 
 38,295 
 
 Form of Government, Laws, Ecclesiastical Establish- 
 ments, Military, &c.* The authorities- whicK constitute 
 • I am indebted for this section (and indeed I ought to say that I have 
 VOL. II. X
 
 30G I'OKM OF GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 
 
 the Government of the Island, are, the Governor, Council, 
 and Assembly, the former is Chancellor, Ordinary and Vice 
 Admiral. His duties are regulated by instructions from His 
 Majesty, which are said to have been originally framed in the 
 time of Charles II. for the Island of Jamaica, and have been 
 adopted for the other Islands ; to these may be added His 
 Majesty's Proclamation of the 7th of October, 1763, which 
 may be called the foundation of the insular constitution, by 
 this authority the general assemblies are summoned, , and the 
 powers of enacting laws, as near as may be to the laws of 
 England, are given, the authority for erecting Courts of 
 Judicature, with the liberty of appeal, is also recognised in this 
 document, which was promulgated after the treaty of Paris.* 
 
 The Council consists of twelve Members, five or six of 
 whom are usually named in the Governor's Commission, and 
 the remainder supplied by recommendation of the Governor, 
 or by mandamus; five in number constitute a board, and 
 when the original number is reduced to seven, the Governor 
 has a power of nomination to supply the vacancies. f 
 
 The Council sit in two capacities. Privy and Legislative, 
 in the former the Governor presides, in the latter the senior 
 member, under the title of President, on whom also the tem- 
 porary Government devolves on the absence, or death of a 
 Governor. Since the appointment of a Bishop, he has been 
 sworn in ex-officio a Member in Council in all the Islands 
 composing his diocese, and where the date of his appoint- 
 ment has preceded that of a Governor, he is also Ordinary. 
 
 only been enabled b\' means of the same gentleman to make the St. Vin- 
 cent chapter complete) to the intelligence and energetic zeal of Mr. 
 .Shephard, the barrister, a resident on the island, as before adverted to. 
 
 * The Governor's salary, which he is required by his instructions to 
 apply for on his first meeting the Council and Assembly, is ^'4,000 cur- 
 rency. 
 
 f By a late rule of the Colonial Office, no Councillor can be absent 
 longer than twelve months — after that period his name is directed to be 
 struck out, but no objection appears to his re-admission, at a subsequent 
 period, as the junior member.
 
 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF ST. VINCF.XT's. SOT 
 
 The Assembly consists of nineteen members, three for 
 each of the five parishes, two for the town of Kingstown, 
 and the hke number for the Grenadines ; the quahfication of 
 Members for the Parishes and Islands, is fifty acres of land 
 in cultivation, or producing an income of £300. currency a 
 year, and for the town a house of the yearly value of £100. ; 
 the titles of the candidates to their property must appear to 
 have been registered in the office twelve months, except in 
 cases of wills, and conveyance of property executed in Great 
 Britain. Electors must have a freehold of ten acres, or a 
 house in Kingstown of twenty pounds yearly value, or of ten 
 pounds elsewhere, registered in like manner. Elections take 
 place under the authority of a writ issuing from the Governor 
 and Council, on an application from the Speaker, to the Provost 
 Marshal General, and the whole regulations, on this subject, 
 are prescribed by an Act of the Legislature, which passed in 
 1786; these three branches assimilate their proceedings as 
 near as possible to those of Great Britain; their meetings 
 are quarterly, and the Acts that are passed proclaimed by 
 the Marshal, and enrolled in the Registrar's Office. These 
 Acts may be divided into three classes, the first temporary 
 and purely colonial, which take effect immediately on their 
 publication; the second, such as have a clause annexed 
 suspending their operation until His Majesty's pleasure be 
 known; and the third, the permanent laws, which if not 
 confirmed in two years from their enactment, are to be con- 
 sidered as disallowed. In strictness the Governor is not au- 
 thorized to pass any law, repealing one which may have 
 received the royal approbation, without a suspending clause; 
 but this in the cases of the old laws, has been frequently over- 
 looked. The Attorney-General has a salary of £500. currency 
 per annum, which is in part given to him for framing the 
 bills, which may be required, but he is not obliged to 
 introduce them to either house, and a considerable difficulty 
 has frequently occurred from the want of an accredited 
 person, as the organ of Government, who might introduce
 
 308 COURTS OF JUSTICE — MILITIA, &e. 
 
 the measures proposed by the crown through the Colonial 
 Secretary to either house. At present the Governor com- 
 municates by letters with the President and Speaker, but no 
 member is intrusted with the charge of carrying any bills 
 through the different stages prescribed by the Legislature. 
 
 Courts of Justice. The supreme court for civil causes is 
 called the Court of King's Bench and Common Pleas, where 
 the Chief Justice presides ; his salary is £2,000. currency. 
 There are three other Assistant Justices, who are not pro- 
 fessional persons, and act without any salary. This Court 
 holds its sittings for the trial of causes once in every month, 
 from March to August, when executions for debt can be 
 obtained in about ten weeks, from the entering day. The 
 proceedings are regulated by a Court Act. The Court of 
 Sessions for the trial of criminal offences is held twice a 
 year. The Chief Justice is President, and the Members of 
 Council and Judges sit according to seniority. The Court of 
 Error for appeals from the King's Bench and Common Pleas, 
 is composed of the Governor and Council. The Governor 
 is also sole Chancellor, and from these two last Courts an 
 appeal lies to his Majesty in Council.* 
 
 The Militia consists of all the free inhabitants between 
 the ages of eighteen and fifty-five, and is formed into one 
 regiment of o80 men, two King's companies of l.'iO men, and 
 two Queen's companies of 125 men, and twenty -five cavalry, 
 these assemble for exercise once in every month, at the dif- 
 ferent stations in the island. The legislature has endea- 
 voured to keep up an effective force of white persons by 
 requiring the planters to keep one white person for every 
 fifty slaves, under a penalty of f50. for each deficiency. 
 
 The Garrison of British regulars for the protection of the 
 Island, since the peace has been reduced to one wing of a 
 regiment, with a few artillery men, during the war two regi- 
 
 * In consequence of the reports of the Commissioners of legal enquiry, 
 it may be fully expected that the whole judicial system of the West Indies 
 will be greatly modified and improved — for the defects of the present 
 must be obvious to the most superficial observer.
 
 REGISTRATION QF REAL PROPERTY. 309 
 
 ments were the complement, which the Government undertook 
 to furnish, in consideration of the assistance which was given 
 by the Colony at different periods, towards building the forts 
 and barracks, and of maintaining the roads thereto at the 
 public expense of the colony. 
 
 The Police is excellent, especially in the town of Kings- 
 town ; it is regulated by three Town Wardens who are an- 
 nually appointed, and a Chief Constable, with very extensive 
 powers ; the tread-mill affords an efficient mode of punish- 
 ment, heretofore unknown in St. Vincent's. 
 
 The Registration of real Property is requisite, and 
 the deeds of conveyance must be acknowledged either per- 
 sonally, or by attorney, before the Registrar. The Provost 
 Marshal General executes an office corresponding to that 
 of Sheriff, and inquests are regularly held by the Coroner in 
 all necessary cases. 
 
 The commerce of the Island is regulated by the officers of 
 His Majesty's Customs ; a Collector, Comptroller, and three 
 Waiters constitute the establishment ; the regulations of 
 trade having been much simplified, and amended of late 
 years, by the repeal of several hundred Acts, and consoli- 
 dating their provisions under six or eight distinct heads. 
 The fees on shipping are now abolished, and the salaries of 
 the officers are defrayed from the dutiable articles imported 
 from foreign ports. 
 
 Ecclesiastical. The Church in Kingstown having been 
 destroyed in the hurricane of 1780, the present structure was 
 finished in 1820, and an Act was passed for the building of 
 Churches in the different parishes, each of which is supplied 
 with a minister. 
 
 The salary of the Rector of Saint George and Saint An- 
 drew, including a compensation for a house and glebe, is 
 £1,060 per annum; the other salaries are £700 currency, 
 and the Legislature having resolved on the expenditure of 
 £ 5,000 sterling on ecclesiastical improvements, and the Go- 
 vernment having directed a sum arising from the sale of 
 Crown Lands to be appropriated to similar purposes, it may
 
 310 
 
 IHE WKST INDFA lUSlIOPS. 
 
 be confidently as.siuned, that in a few years, there will be 
 sufficient buildings of every description erected.* 
 
 By the Act Gth Geo. IV. c. 88, amended by the 7th Geo. 
 IV. c. 4. His Majesty has graciously erected the West 
 India Islands into two Sees, the salaries of the Bishops pay- 
 able out of the 4| per cent, duties are £4,000 sterhng each, 
 with a provision for a retiring pension of £1,000 after a 
 service of ten years ; and the sum of £4,300 is at the disposal 
 of the Bishop of Barbadoes, for the maintenance of Mi- 
 nisters, Catechists, and Scoolmasters in the Diocese, with a 
 limitation that no Minister's salary is to exceed £300 ster- 
 ling. This is the first instance of such a provision in the 
 West Indies (except in the case of the Judges in the Prize 
 Courts) and cannot be too highly commended, f 
 ' These episcopal appointments have already been of great 
 utility, the inferior clergy have been regulated, and a system 
 adopted of conveying general instruction to the negroes by 
 means of catechists and schoolmasters. | The residence of 
 the Bishop is in Bai'badoes, from whence he makes occa- 
 sional visitations to the different Islands in his Diocese, and 
 it is pleasing to add, that all authorities agree in representing 
 the present Bishop as singularly active, and energetic in the 
 
 * There are at the disposal of the Crown in St. Vincent, of land 
 saleable and fit for immediate culture about 2,500 acres in the N.E. quarter ; 
 at the N. end about 500 ; at the N.W. 600 ; and in the interior of the 
 parishes of St. George, St. Patrick, St. Andrew, and St. David, 500; — 
 in all 4,100, and as much more remotely situate and dithcult of access. 
 
 t Mr. Shepherd rightly observes, that, if the Government desire to Imj 
 .well and faithfully served by persons adeijuatcly qualified to execute the 
 trusts reposed in them, they must secure them a remuneration for their 
 advancing years ; in most instances the colonial salaries barely afford a 
 decent maintenance, and many persons have been obliged to continue in 
 "office, from necessity, long after they have been enervated by disease, or 
 disqualified from age. Such a system also tends to check any disposition 
 towards the undue ac(iuircment of the emoluments of oflace, it will be 
 • found most beneficial to both parties, and will confer lasting honour on 
 the provident humanity of His INlajesty. 
 
 X The number of places of worship are eleven, capable of containing 
 2,500 persons, and usually attended by 1,8/0 ; the total expense is jf 3,000.
 
 EDUCATION AND FUTURE STATE OF ST. VINCENt's. 311 
 
 performance of his spiritual duties towards the more helpless 
 classes of his fellow-creatures. 
 
 Education. The want of education has been a sore evil 
 in the Colonies, but a decided improvement has taken place, 
 under the auspices of the Bishop, and it is to be hoped 
 that in a few years the parochial schools will manifest their 
 utility.* There is a laudable institution by a few coloured 
 persons in Kingstown, for the education of the coloured poor, 
 which with very limited means, has been productive of great 
 advantages, and deserves more patronage and support, than 
 it has hitherto received from the white population. The Le- 
 gislature has removed the disabilities attendant on colour, 
 and stricken the fetters from the slave, but I agree with the 
 ingenious author I have before cited, that these concessions will 
 be of no actual benefit to that race, unless they become qua- 
 lified by education and morals, to assume their advanced 
 station in society, and to perform the duties required of 
 them, and this will depend on freedom from commercial res- 
 trictions at home as well as on their own exertions to obtain 
 property by their industry, and respect by their integrity .f 
 
 * State of public education in 1830 : males, 135 ; females, 74; — total, 
 209. 
 
 t The dependencies within this Government are the islands of Bequia, 
 3,700 acres, with a very fine harbour, called Admiralty Bay ; Union, 
 2,150 acres; Mustique, 1,203 acres ; and Canouan, 1,777 acres. There 
 are also the lesser islands of Balliceaux and Battawia, Myera, Petit St. 
 Vincent, Islet a Quatre, Isle of Wash, Church Island, Petit Nevis, Three 
 Ramiers, Pillories, Savan, Petit Bermuda, Petit Canouan, Barbaroux Is- 
 land, or Petit Curacoa, Two TafBa Quays, Two Baleines, Two Catholics, 
 Prune Island, Four Tobago Quays, Umbrella Quay and Petit Martinique. 
 The cultivation in all these islands is very mucli reduced, from the woods 
 having been cut down, and the consequent decrease of rain; the seas 
 abound with fish ; many whales make their appearance in February and 
 March, and the air is remarkably fine and salubrious.
 
 312 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BARBADOES. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY — PIIVSICAL ASPECT — CLIMATE — POPULATION 
 
 PRODUCTIONS — COMMERCE — EDUCATION — PROPERTY — GOVERNMENT, 
 &C. 
 
 Locality. This ancient British colony is situated at the S. E. 
 extremity of the great American archipelago, in Lat. 1 3.5. N. 
 
 * For the sake of the general navi- 
 gator, I give the course and distance 
 from Bridge Town, Barbadoes, to St. 
 Pierre, ftlartinique ; and thence to the 
 principal Ports in the Northern direc 
 tion, down to St. Thomas, with the dis- 
 tance added to each course, for turning 
 in and out of the ports. 
 
 PRIXCIPAL PORTS. 
 
 Bridgre Town to St. Pierre . . 
 St. Pierre to Roseau, Domi- 
 nica 
 
 Roseau to Basseterre, Gua- 
 
 daloupe 
 
 Basseterre to Montserrat . . . 
 West Point of Montserrat to 
 
 St. John's, Antigua 
 
 St. Jolui's to Cliarlestown, 
 
 Nevis 
 
 Charlestown to Basseterre, 
 
 St. Kitts 
 
 Basseterre to St. Eustatius. . 
 St. Eustatius to Gustavia, 
 
 St. Bartholomew 
 
 Gustavia to St. Martin's .... 
 St. Martin's to West End of 
 
 AnguUla 
 
 Anguilla to S. W. Point of 
 
 Virgin (Jorda 
 
 Virgin Gorda to Tortola. . 
 
 Tortola to St. John's 
 
 Tortola to Port 
 
 St. John's to St. Thomas, 
 
 general course 
 
 Whole Distance 
 
 N.W. 
 
 N. by W. 3 W. 
 
 N. iW. 
 N. W. by N. 
 
 N. E. 
 
 W. i S. 
 
 N. N. W. J W. 
 N.W. 
 
 N. N. E. 
 N.W. b W. 3 W 
 
 N. by W. 
 
 W. by N. 
 
 W. iS. 
 
 S.W. by S. 
 
 W. i N. 
 
 W.byN. 
 
 Distance in smooth water, 
 under tlie lee of the islands, 
 in the above given direc- 
 tions 
 
 Course and distance from 
 Bridgetown, Barbadoes, to Ca- 
 renage, St. Lucia ; and thence 
 to all the principal Ports in the 
 Southern direction to Port of 
 Spain, Trinidad, with the dis- 
 tance added to each course, for 
 turning in and out of ports. 
 
 PRINCIPAL PORTS. 
 
 Course. 
 
 
 Bridge Town to Ca- 
 renage, St. Lucia 
 
 Carenage to Kings- 
 town, St. Vincent 
 
 Kingstown to St. 
 George's, Grenada 
 
 St. George's to Scar- 
 borough, Tobago.. 
 
 Scarborough to the 
 Bocas, Trinidad 
 
 The Bocas to Port of 
 Spain 
 
 Whole Distance. 
 
 Distance under the 
 lee of the islands, 
 in the above given 
 direction, the winds 
 Northerly 
 
 Ditto, winds being 
 Southerly ... . 
 
 N.W. i W. 
 S.byW.S.W. 
 S. S.W. i W. 
 
 S. E. iE. 
 
 W. S. W. 
 
 107 
 
 50 
 
 /8 
 97 
 63 
 20 
 
 '435 
 
 195
 
 GENERAL HISTORY OF BARBADOES. 313 
 
 Long. 59.41. W.* extending about twenty-two miles in length 
 and fourteen in breadth, with a surface of 106,470 acres. 
 
 General History. The early discovery of Barbadoes is 
 involved in obsciu'ity ; the island remained unknown and un- 
 noticed for a century after the discoveries of Columbus, and 
 the first indication of its existence in the charts of European 
 navigators, was A. D. 1600. It is said to have been first 
 visited by the Portuguese, who, finding it uninhabited, and 
 rude in appearance, named the isle Los Barbados, or as some 
 say in reference to the number of fig trees which from their 
 spreading branches Avere likened to luxurious beards. The 
 original discoverers left some swine and plants on the isle 
 and abandoned it. In 1605, an English ship, the Olive, re- 
 turning from Guinea, accidentally touched at Barbadoes, 
 landed a part of her crew at the spot, where the Hole Toivn 
 was afterwards built, erected a cross, took possession of the 
 island, and inscribed on several trees, 'James, King of Eng- 
 land, and of this island.' Finding no refreshments the crew 
 was reimbarked, and the adventurers proceeded to St. 
 Christopher's, where an English colony had recently been 
 formed. The island was then neglected for nearly twenty 
 years, when some Dutch men of-war having visited it, 
 reported favourably of its adaptation for cultivation. These 
 particulars having reached Sir Wm. Courteen, an enter- 
 prizing London merchant, he endeavoured to effect a settle- 
 ment on Barbadoes. The beauty and fertility of the island 
 became also much talked of in England in consequence of 
 a ship of Sir Wm. Courteen's having put in there, in stress 
 of weather, and the mariners, on returning home, expatiated 
 on the advantages of the place. The spirit of colonization 
 was at this time exceedingly active in England, (I wish 
 sincerely it could now be revived), and the Earl of Marl- 
 borough (afterwards Lord High Treasurer), obtained from 
 James I, a patent for the island to him and his heirs for 
 ever. Sir Wm. Courteen having obtained the sanction of the 
 noble patentee, fitted out two large ships with men, arms, 
 ammunition, and every thing suited to the establishment of a
 
 314 BRITISH COLONIZATION OF BARBADOES. 
 
 new colony. One vessel only arrived at Barbadoes, and a 
 town was commenced in February 1625, at the spot where 
 the Olive had touched twenty years before, and named 
 Jmues's {hy some called Hole) town. In 1627, James Hay, Earl 
 of Carlisle, stimulated by the representations of Thos. Warner 
 who had been engaged in forming a settlement at St. Chris- 
 topher's applied to and obtained from Charles I. (who had 
 then newly ascended the throne), a grant of all the Caribbee 
 islands, to be formed into a palatinate or proprietary govern- 
 ment, under the name of Cariola. The Earl of Marlborough 
 of course strenuously opposed this enormous grant, as affecting 
 his prior right to Barbadoes, and litigation commenced 
 between the two noblemen, which was compromised on Lord 
 Carlisle agreeing to settle on the Earl of Marlborough and 
 his heirs for ever, an annuity of £300 in lieu of his claim. 
 The Earl of Carlisle's patent passed the great seal the 2nd of 
 June 1627, and the preamble of this singular charter runs as 
 follows : — 
 
 ' Whereas our well-beloved cousin and cotinsellor, James Lord Hay, 
 Baron of Sauley, Viscount Doncaster, and Earl of Carlisle, endeavouring, 
 with a laudable and pious design, of propagating the Christian Religion, 
 and also of the enlargement of the territories of our dominions, hath 
 humbly petitioned us for a certain region of islands in our dominions after- 
 named, lying towards the north part of the world, as yet void, and inha- 
 bited by savages, who have no knowledge of the divine power, commonly 
 called the Caribbee Islands, containing the islands of St. Christopher, 
 Grenada, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Barl>adoes, Martinique, Dominica, 
 Marigalantc, Deseada, Todasantos, (iuadaloupe, Antigua, IMontserrat, 
 Rcdondo, Barbuda, Nevis, Eustatia, Saint Bartholomew, Saint Martin, 
 An""uilla, Sombrera, and Ancgada, and many other islands, found at his 
 ffrcat cost and charges, and now brought to that pass to be inhabited by 
 a large and copious colony of English, with certain privileges and jurisdic- 
 tions belonging to the said government and state of a colony and region 
 to him, his heirs, and assigns, to be granted.' 
 
 By the succeeding clauses, his Majesty did, by the same grant, for hiua, 
 his heirs and successors, make, create and constitute the said Earl of Car- 
 lisle, his heirs and assigns, absolute proprietor and lord of the said region ; 
 reserving still the allegiance due to his Majesty, his heirs and successors. 
 It was then added, ' And because we have made and appointed the said 
 James Earl of Carlisle true lord of all the aforesaid province, as he to
 
 KING Charles's grant to the earl of Carlisle. 316 
 
 whom tlie right belongeth, know ye, that we have authorized and ap- 
 pointed the said James Earl of Carlisle, and his heirs, of whose fidelity, 
 prudence, justice, and wisdom, we have great confidence, for the good 
 and happy government of the said province, or the private utility of every 
 man, to make, erect, and set forth ; and under his or their signets to pub- 
 lish such laws as he, the said Earl of Carlisle, or his heirs, loith the consent, 
 assent and approbation, of the free inhabitants of the said province, or the 
 greater part of them thereunto to be called, and in such form, and when and 
 as often as he or tliey, in his or their discretion, shall think fit and best. 
 And these laws must all men, for the time being, that do live within the 
 limits of the said province observe ; whether they be bound to sea, 
 or from thence returning to England, or any other of our dominions, or 
 any other place appointed, upon such impositions, penalties, imprison- 
 ments, or restraint ; and if it behoveth, and the (]uality of the offence rc- 
 quireth, either upon the body or death itself, to be executed by the said 
 James Earl of Carlisle, and his heirs; or by his or their deputy, judges, 
 magistrates, officers, and ministers, according to the tenor and true mean- 
 ing of these presents, in what case soever : and with such power as to him, 
 the said James Earl of Carlisle, or his heirs, shall deem best. And to 
 dispose of all offences or riots whatsoever, either by sea or land, whether 
 before judgment received, or after remitted, freed, pardoned or forgiven. 
 And to do and perform all and every thing or things ; which, to the ful- 
 filling of justice, courts, or manner of proceeding, in their tribunals may 
 or doth belong or appertain, although express mention of them in these 
 presents be not made ; yet we have granted full power, by virtue of these 
 presents, them to be made ; which laws so absolutely proclaimed, and by 
 strength of right supported, as they are granted, we will enjoin, charge 
 and command, all and every subject and liege people of us, our heirs and 
 successors, as far as them they do concern, inviolably to keep and ob- 
 serve xmder the pains therein expressed ; so as, notwithstanding, the 
 aforesaid laics be agreeable, and not repugnant unto reason ; nor against, 
 hut as convenient and agreeable as marj he to the laws, statutes, customs and 
 rights, of our kingdom of England.' 
 
 ' And because in the government of so great a province oftentimes sud- 
 den occasions do fall out, to which it shall be needful to apply a remedy 
 before the free inhabitants of the said province can be called; and for 
 that it shall not always be needful, in such cases, that all the people be 
 called together ; we will and ordain, and by these presents, for us, our 
 heirs and successors, have granted to the said James Earl of Carlisle, and 
 his heirs, that he by himself, or his magistrates and officers, in that case 
 lawfully preferred, may make decrees and ordinances both fit and profit- 
 able, from time to time, that they may be esteemed, kept and observed, 
 within the said province, as well for keeping the peace as for the 
 better government of the people there living, so that they may be publicly
 
 316 THE BARBADOES PATENT REVOKED BY THE KING. 
 
 known to all whom they do concern. Which ordinances we will, within 
 the said provinces, inviolably to be kept, upon pain in them expressed ; so 
 that these laws be agreeable to reason, and not repugnant nor against it, 
 but, as far as may be, agreeable to the laws and statutes of our kingdom 
 of England ; and so that those laws extend not to the hurt or discommodity 
 of any person or persons, either to the binding, constraining, burthening, or 
 taking away, either their liberty, goods, or chattels.' 
 
 ' We also of our princely grace, for us, our heirs and successors, will 
 straightly charge, make and ordain, that the said province be of our alle- 
 giance; and that all and every subject and liege people of us, our heirs 
 and successors, brought or to be brought, and their children, whether then 
 born, or afterwards to be born, become natives and subjects of us, our 
 heirs and successors, and be as free as they who were born in England ; and 
 so their inheritance within our kingdom of England or other of our 
 dominions, to seek, receive, take hold, buy and possess, and use and 
 enjoy them as their own ; and to give, sell, alien and bequeath them 
 at their pleasure ; and also freely, quietly, and peaceably, to have and possess 
 all the liber ties, franchises, and privileges of this kingdom and them to enjoy 
 as liege people of England, whether born or to be born, without impedi- 
 ment, molestation, vexation, injui-y or trouble of us, our heirs and suc- 
 cessors ; any act or statute to the contrary notwithstanding.' 
 
 Charles soon forgot that he had ever made this grant to 
 Lord Carhsle, and in February 1628, being much pressed by 
 the Earl of Pembroke, the unfortunate monarch made over 
 Barbadoes to his Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Pembroke, 
 in trust for Sir Wm. Courteen, who, really for his zealous 
 energy, deserved to have had the island bestowed on him in 
 the first instance. Scarcely had this grant been made when 
 the Earl of Carlisle returned from a foreign embassy, and to 
 appease his lordships resentment at the breach of faith 
 evinced towards him, the irresolute monarch revoked the 
 charter or patent, granted to the Earl of Pembroke, and 
 restored the proprietory rights to his favourite, Carlisle. 
 The proceedings just mentioned had the good effect of sti- 
 mulating the Earl to improve the territory bestowed on him, 
 he contracted with a company of London merchants for a 
 grant of 10,000 acres of land, on condition of receiving from 
 each settler forty pounds of cotton annually, and the privilege 
 of nominating a governor, or chief. Wolferstone, a native of 
 Bermuda, was commissioned by the Earl of Carlisle as gover-
 
 LORD Carlisle's first settlements in barbadoes. 317 
 
 nor, with the power of Governor-Commander-in-Chief and 
 Captain, to do justice, decide controversies, keep his Majesty's 
 peace, and punish offenders, according to the laws of England 
 and the nature of their crimes. Sixty-four settlers (each en- 
 titled on landing to 100 acres of land) arrived in Carlisle Bay 
 25th July, 1628, commenced the erection of wooden houses, 
 threw a bridge across the river which intersected the ground, 
 and laid the foundation for Bridgetown, the present capital. 
 The Earl of Pembroke's men, who were settled on the lee- 
 ward of the island, refused to obey the windward, or Carlisle 
 Bay Settlers. Arms were ultimately had recourse to, the 
 windward men trivnnphed, and while the latter were asserting 
 their right of jurisdiction in Barbadoes, the Earl of Carlisle 
 had a new royal patent, made out in England, confirming in 
 the most explicit and unequivocal manner the former grant. 
 Sir William Tufton was appointed Governor-Commander-in- 
 Chief, in February, 1629. A military force was sent out to 
 keep the leeward men quiet. A council of twelve settlers, 
 appointed to assist the Governor in holding a Courts General 
 Sessions of the Peace, laws were enacted suitable to an infant 
 settlement, and the cultivated or occupied parts of the isle di- 
 vided into six parishes, viz. Christ Church, St. Michael, St. 
 James, St. Thomas, St. Peter, and St. Lucy. 
 
 It would be uninteresting to the general reader, and 
 foreign to the object of my work, to enter into a detailed 
 view of the early history of Barbadoes. As in all new colonies, 
 the inhabitants met with no inconsiderable difficulties, — local 
 feuds were added to domestic privations ; but the civil war 
 which raged in England contributed to people and enrich 
 the island, as it had done other places, and, on^the downfal 
 of Charles, many respectable families attached to the royal 
 cause found shelter and comfort in Barbadoes. The autho- 
 rity of the Earl of Carlisle in the West Indies may be said to 
 have declined with the regal power at home, and the colony, 
 left to its own government and resources, and under the 
 auspices of commercial freedom, rapidly acquired independence 
 and opulence.
 
 318 FIRST gexehal legislative assembly. 
 
 In 1645 the island, under the prudent rule of Mr. Bell-, 
 was divided into four parishes, (George's, Philip's, John's, 
 and Andrew's, were added to the before-mentioned) a church 
 built in each, and an officiating minister appointed. A gene- 
 ral assembly was instituted, composed of two deputies elected 
 in each parish from the majority of freeholders. The island 
 was divided into four circuits, in each of which a court of law 
 was constituted — defensive fortifications erected around the 
 isle — the militia constituted a formidable force of 10,000 in- 
 fantry and 1000 cavalry — the total population of the island 
 had increased to 150,000 persons, of all colours and sexes, 
 and the value of property was quadrupled in seven years. 
 This prosperity was not owing to sugar culture, for Ligon 
 who visited the island in 1647, says, that the plantation of the 
 cane had only then recently begun ; but it would appear that 
 Barbadoes carried on an unrestricted foreign intercouse with 
 Holland and other countries. The number of slaves in the 
 island at this period is not on record, yet here, as elsewhere, 
 the evils of the system were early felt, for in 1649 a formi- 
 dable insurrection took place at Barbadoes, and a general day 
 was appointed for the massacre of all the white inhabitants. 
 The plot was discovered by a negro, in gratitude to his 
 master, the day before its contemplated execution, and 
 twenty-eight of the leading negroes were gibbeted, according 
 to the custom of the times. 
 
 In 1650, Lord Carhsle, (the son of the first patentee), 
 hearing much of the wealth of the island, which he considered 
 patrimonial property, and desirous of reaping some advantages 
 from the same, executed a lease to Francis Lord Willoughby, 
 of Parham, an active royalist officer, conveying to his lordship 
 all his right and title to the colony for twenty-one years, upon 
 condition that the profits arising from the proprietary right 
 should be mutually shared between them. Charles II., (then 
 in exile), desirous of securing the A\'est Indies for his crown, 
 appointed Lord Willoughby Governor and Lieutenant-Ge- 
 neral of Barbadoes and of all the Caribbee islands ; and the 
 legislature of Barbadoes, on his lordship's arrival, passed an
 
 CROMWELL REDUCES THE BARBADIANS. 319 
 
 Act, acknowledging his Majesty's right to the sovereignty of 
 the island, and that of the Earl of Carlisle, derived from his 
 Majesty, and transferred to Lord Willoughby. Barbadoes, 
 always distinguished for its loyalty, exerted itself on this oc- 
 casion, and equipped several ships of war, which compelled 
 the neighbouring islands to submit to the authority of the 
 crown, as emanating from the chief W, I. Government at 
 Barbadoes. Cromwell, it may be supposed, did not quietly 
 permit this refuge to his royal opponent, and a formidable 
 squadron, under the command of Sir George Ayscue, con- 
 taining a large body of troops, was despatched for the pur- 
 pose of reducing the refractory colonists in obedience to the 
 Commonwealth, and with the view of crippling the power of 
 Holland, with which Barbadoes and the other W. I. posses- 
 sions carried on a lucrative traffic. The far-famed navigation 
 laws were passed, by which the ships of any foreign nation 
 were prohibited from trading with any of the English planta- 
 tions, without a license from the Council of State. 
 
 The Barbadians for some time gallantly defended them- 
 selves against the tyranny of Cromwell, and it was not until 
 the Parliamentary forces had laid waste a large portion of 
 the island, the defection of Col. Modiford, and that many had 
 been slain on both sides, that the island was subdued by the 
 Cromwellian power. Sir George Ayscue was appointed Go- 
 vernor after the reduction in 165^, and proceeded to subdue 
 the other islands that had maintained their allegiance to the 
 royal authority. On the restoration of Charles II.,* Lord Wil- 
 loughby, who had been banished for life from the island, ap- 
 pointed Col. Humphry Walround, a faithful old royalist, 
 superseding CoL Modiford, who proceeded to Jamaica, to be 
 Deputy-Governor and President of the Council of Barbadoes. 
 
 Lord Willoughby, in 1662, as lessee of the Earl of Car- 
 lisle, renewed his claims on the island. Lord Kinnaird, the 
 kinsman and heir of the Earl of Carlisle, brought forward 
 demands on the settlers amounting to £60,000, and the heirs 
 
 * Charles II. conferred the dignity of Knighthood on thirteen gentlemen 
 of Barbadoes, in testimonv of their attachment to the roval cause, - >
 
 320 CONCLUSION OF THE PROPRIETARY GOVERNMENT. 
 
 of the Earl of Marlborough, who were entitled to a perpetual 
 annuity from the same quarter, claimed a large sum for ar- 
 rears. To satisfy these claims, now urgently made, a large 
 number of the Barbadians, (by Mr. Kendal) agreed to lay a 
 duty of 4| per cent, on all native commodities, the growth 
 and produce of Barbadoes, when exported from the island. 
 This impost was estimated at £10,000 a-year. Many Barba- 
 dians protested against the perpetual rent-charge of 10 per 
 cent, on their plantations ; but, after being submitted to the 
 decision of the Privy Council, it was finally agreed, that the 
 4f per cent, fund should be applied towards providing a suf- 
 ficient compensation to the Earl of Kinnaird, for surrendering 
 his right to the Carlisle charter — to provide for discharging 
 the Earl of Marlborough's annuity — one moiety of the surplus 
 to be paid to Lord Willoughby for the remainder of his 
 lease, the other moiety to the creditors of Lord Carlisle, until 
 the expiration of Lord Willoughby's contract, when, after a 
 salary of £ 1 ,200 a-year for the future Governor of Barbadoes, 
 the creditors of the Earl of Carlisle were to receive the en- 
 tire balance, until their demands were liquidated. Under 
 these conditions (agreed to by all parties) the proprietary 
 Government was dissolved, and the sovereignty of Barbadoes 
 annexed to the British crown. Some of the inhabitants of 
 Barbadoes long protested against the imposition of the 4| 
 per cent, duties, but the rigorous and prudent administration 
 of Lord Willoughby brought internal peace to the island, 
 while his lordship extended the power of Britain in the 
 western hemisphere*. Col. Christopher Codrington became 
 Deputy-Governor in 1668, and his administration was dis- 
 tinguished by vigilance and circumspection. In 1669, the 
 windward and leeward isles were formed into distinct go- 
 vernments, Guadaloupe being the line of demarcation, and 
 the commerce of the leeward isles was given to Sir W. Sta- 
 pleton, while Lord Willoughby retained that of Barbadoes 
 and the windward islands, which he kept until 1673. 
 
 * Lord Willoughby was lost in a hurricane, near Guadaloupe, while 
 employed in reducing several islands to subjection.
 
 THE PRESENT KTNg's VISIT TO BARBADOES. 321 
 
 To detail the local affairs of the island would occupy 
 several volumes, I must therefore pass rapidly to a conclusion ; 
 in 1722 on the appointment of Governor Worsley, a salary of 
 ^6000. sterling per annum was fixed on his Excellency, and 
 provided for by a capitation tax of 2*. 6cL on each slave — and 
 by a tax on lawyers, patentees, and public officers, &c. — a 
 burthen which the colonists soon found themselves unable 
 to defray. The administration of Lord Howe (commencing 
 in 1735) seems to have been generally applauded; under his 
 generous auspices a free press was established in Barbadoes, 
 and he died at his government in 1735, beloved by all who 
 knew him. In 1780 Barbadoes was ravaged by a teri-ific hurri- 
 cane, which lasted for forty-eight hours, and devastated the 
 island -, such was the violence of the wind that a twelve pound 
 carronnade was blown from the pier head to the wharf, a 
 distance of 140 yards. Of eleven churches and two chapels, 
 only three were left standing ; and not more than thirty houses 
 of the extensive capital of Bridge-town ; the Mole-head, which 
 cost the colonists £20,000. was destroyed, and the castle, 
 battery, forts, town-hall, prison and cells demolished ; the loss 
 of lives amounted to 3000. and of property to £1,018,928. 
 
 Public sympathy was excited at home. Parliament granted 
 a sum of money for the relief of the sufferers, and the citi- 
 zens of Dublin munificently subscribed £20,000.* 
 
 On the 24th of November, 1787, His Royal Highness 
 Prince William Henry (our present Gracious Sovereign) vi- 
 sited Barbadoes in command of the Pegasus frigate, and was 
 received with the most ardent demonstrations of affection and 
 loyalty ; all ranks vied in their enthusiastic desire to receive 
 the son of their beloved Sovereign with dutiful respect, and 
 on His Royal Highness's departure from the Colony, the 
 House of Assembly voted the Prince a sword of the value of 
 three hundred guineas. 
 
 The events which have since occurred do not require much 
 detail — the Colonial Almanac affording complete chronological 
 
 * It should be recorded that the house of Latouche and Sons contri- 
 buted the princely sum of ^1,000 for the relief of the Barbadians, 
 VOL. II, Y
 
 322 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF GOVERNORS OF BARBADOES. 
 
 data; hurricanes, earthquakes, slave insurrections, make up 
 the principal features of the latter years history of Barbadoes ; 
 sufficient has been stated to give a correct view of our acqui- 
 sition of the island, and its singular primary proprietary go- 
 vernment. As historical data, the following list of the rulers 
 of Barbadoes is appended, — 
 
 1625, W. Deane. Gr. ; 1628, C. Wolferstone, do. ; 1629, 
 J. Powell, do. ; 1629, R. Wheatly, do. ; 1629, Sir W. Tufton, 
 do. ; 1630, H. Hawley, do. ; 1633, R. Peers, D. Gr. ; 1636, 
 Hawley, D. Gr. ; 1638, W. Hawley, D. Gr ; 1639, H. Hawley, 
 Gr.; 1640, Sir H. Hunks, do.; 1641, P. Bell, do.; 1650, 
 F. Lord Willoughby, do. ; 1651, Sir G. Ayscue, do. ; 1652, 
 D. Searle, D. Gr. ; 1660, T. Modiford, Gr.; 1660, H.Walrond, 
 Pr. ; 1663, Francis Lord Willoughby, Gr. ; 1666, H. Wil- 
 loughby, H. Hawley, Samuel Barwick, Joint Grs. ; 1667, 
 William Lord Willoughby, Gr. ; 1668, C. Coddrington. D. 
 Gr. ; 1670, W. Lord Willoughby, Gr. ; 1670, C. Coddring- 
 ton, D. Gr. ; 1672, W. Lord Willoughby, Gr. ; 1673, Sir P. 
 Colleton, Bt., D. Gr. ; 1674, Sir J. Atkins, Gr. ; 1680, Sir 
 R. Button, do. ; 1683, Sir J. Witham, D. Gr. ; 1684, Sir R. 
 Button, Gr. ; 1685, E. Steed, B. Gr. ; 1690, J. Kendall, Gr. ; 
 1694, F. Russell, do. ; 1696, F. Bond, Pr. ; 1698, R. Grey, 
 Gr.; 1702, J. Farmer, Pr. ; 1703, Sir B. Granville, Gr. ; 
 1706, W. Sharpe, Pr. ; 1707, M. Crowe, Gr. ; 1710, G. Lil- 
 lington, Pr. ; 1711, R. Lowther, Gr. ; 1714, W. Sharpe, Pr. ; 
 1715, R. Lowther, Gr. ; 1720, J. Frere, Pr. ; 1720, S. Cox, 
 do. ; 1722, H. Worsley, Gr. ; 1731, S. Barwick, Pr. ; 1733, 
 J. Botin, do. ; 1733, Scroop Lord Viscount Howe, Gr. ; 1735, 
 J. Botin, Pr. ; 1739, Hon. R. Byng, Gr. ; 1710, J. Botin, Pr. ; 
 1742, Sir T. Robinson, Gr.; 1747, Hon. Henry Grenville, do. ; 
 1753, R. Weeks, Pr. ; 1756, C. Pinfold, Gr. ; 176f3, S. Rous, 
 Pr.; 1768, W. Spry, Gr.; 1772, S. Rous, Pr. ; 1773, Hon. E. 
 Hay, Gr. ; 1779, J. Botin, Pr. ; 1780, J. Cunningham, Gr. ; 
 1783, J. Botin, Pr, ; 1784, B. Parry, Gr. ; 1790, H.Frere, Pr. ; 
 1791, B. Parry, Gr. ; 1793, W. Bishop, Pr. ; 1794, G. P. 
 Ricketts, Gr. ; 1800, W. Bishop, Pr.; 1801, Francis Hum- 
 berstone. Lord Seaforth, Gr. ; 1803, J. Ince, Pr. ; 1804, 
 F. H. Lord Seaforth, Gr. ; 1806, J. Spooner, Pr. ; 1810, Sir
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT AND CLIMATE. S23 
 
 G. Beckwith, K. B. Gr. ; 1814, J. Spooner, Pr. ; 1815, Sir J. 
 Leith, K.B. Gr. ; 1816, J. Spooner, Pr.; 1816, Sir J. Leith, 
 Gr. ; 1817, J. F. Alleyne, Pr. ; 1817, Stapleton Lord Comber- 
 mere, G. C. B., Gr. ; 1817, J.F. Alleyne, Pr. ; 1817, S. Lord 
 Combermere, Gr. ; 1820, J. B. Skeete, Pr. ; 1821, S. Hinds, 
 do. ; 1821, Sir H. Warde, K. C. B. Gr. ; 1825, J. B. Skeete, 
 Pr. ; 1826, Sir H. AVarde,'Gr. ; 1827, J. B. Skeete, Pr. ; 1829, 
 Sir J. Lyon, K. C. B., Gr. ; 1829, J. B. Skeete, Pr. ; 1829, 
 Sir J. Lyon, Gr. ; 1832, Sir Lionel Smith, K. C. B. do. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Barbadoes, although generally level, 
 except in the N. E. quarter, called Scotland (which is about 
 1,100 feet above the sea) * has a very beautiful appearance, 
 owing to its extensive cultivation, and sloping fields or ter- 
 races. The base of the island is calcareous rock, formed of 
 madrepores, and other marine concretions, and is probably of 
 volcanic origin, like the gi'eater number of the surrounding 
 isles. Bridge-town the Capital extends along the shores 
 of the beautiful Bay of Carlisle for nearly two miles in length 
 and half a mile broad, with about 20,000 houses. The hand- 
 some and spacious bari'acks of St. Ann's, with their fine parade, 
 are at the southern extremity of the town. The square, with 
 Nelson's statue, is well laid out, and many of the houses are 
 handsome. The Government-house, called Pilgrim, is about 
 half a mile from Bridge-town. The fort of St. Anne, though 
 small, is capable of making a good defence ; it contains several 
 excellent magazines stored with ammunition, and an armoury, 
 with many thousand stand of arms in perfect order. The 
 soil varies much ; in some districts it is sandy and light, in 
 others a rich black earth, and in several places spongy. Here 
 and there is found a red clay of considerable depth, and the 
 Ught whitish earth broken into a grey mould, or hardened 
 into lumps resemble chalk, but actually consist of indurated 
 argillae, bleached by exposure to the weather. 
 
 Climate, Vegetation, &c. — Owing to the flatness of the 
 island, leaving it open to the sea-breeze, and its extensive culti- 
 
 * In some deep vallies there are the remains of the primitive forests 
 which formerly covered the whole island.
 
 324 
 
 EARLY POPULATION OF BARBADOES. 
 
 vation, Barbadoes is peculiarly healthy ; and the details given 
 of the range of the thermometer, &;c., under St. Vincent's will, 
 with some modifications, answer for Barbadoes ; a shnilar 
 remark will apply to vegetation. One peculiarity is deserving 
 of notice, four distinct crops of sugar-cane, maize, tobacco, and 
 sweet potatoes, may be seen in the same field, and in alternate 
 drills. 
 
 Population. The inhabitants of this colony rapidly in- 
 creased from its first settlement. In 1674 their numbers were 
 calculated at 50,000 whites, and 100,000 coloured or negroes, 
 thus giving 500 mouths to every sqviare mile, while China, 
 with its 350,000,000, has not more than 288 to the square 
 mile.* 
 
 The population at different periods of the last century 
 was, so far as we have returns, 
 
 Years. Whites. Blacks. 
 
 1724 18,295 ■- 
 
 1753 — 69,870 
 
 1786 16,167 62,953 
 
 The slave population from 1817 to 1832, was — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase by 
 
 Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 Manumis- 
 sion. 
 
 
 
 U) 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 c> 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 S 
 
 •a 
 i 
 
 H 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 "3 
 S 
 
 "3 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 1 
 
 £ 
 
 & 
 
 s 
 
 £ 
 
 I 
 
 s 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 1817 
 
 35,354 
 
 42,139 
 
 77,493 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1820 
 
 36,733 
 
 41,612 
 
 78,315 
 
 3,654 
 
 3,758 
 
 7,412 
 
 3,317 
 
 3,286 
 
 6,603 
 
 250 
 
 182.3 
 
 36,159 
 
 42,657 
 
 78,816 
 
 4,178 
 
 4,058 
 
 8,236 
 
 3,487 
 
 3,228 
 
 6,715 
 
 297 
 
 1826 
 
 36,995 
 
 43,556 
 
 80,551 
 
 4,788 
 
 4,814 
 
 9,602 
 
 3,109 
 
 3,304 
 
 6,713 
 
 322 
 
 1829 
 
 37,691 
 
 44,211 
 
 81,902 
 
 4,748 
 
 4,502 
 
 9,250 
 
 3,494 
 
 3,320 
 
 (i,S14 
 
 670 
 
 1832 
 
 37,762 
 
 43,738 
 
 81,500 
 
 
 
 9,975 
 
 
 
 8,587 
 
 1,089 
 
 * 111 \G7G, Barbadoes, on 100,000 acres, contained 70,000 whites and 
 80,000 blacks — total 160,000 souls. This great population was effected 
 by granting out land, in lots of ten acres each, to poor settlers, and white 
 servants who had fulfilled the term of their iiuleiitures. Some, perhaps 
 many, of these lots were subsequently sold when the island became too 
 populous for the extension of sugar plantations ; and the late occupiers, 
 with the purchase money, proceeded to settle in other islands, whore land 
 was cheap and plentiful.
 
 PARISH DIVISIONS INHABITANTS AND COMMERCE. 
 
 325 
 
 The total population and the division into parishes is thus 
 stated : — 
 
 
 Area in 
 
 
 Free 
 
 
 
 PARISH. 
 
 Sq. Miles 
 
 Whites.* 
 
 Coloured. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Total. 
 
 St. Michael - - - 
 
 15 
 
 4,965 
 
 3,045 
 
 17,990 
 
 26,000 
 
 St Philip - - - 
 
 23 
 
 1,207 
 
 307 
 
 9,840 
 
 11,354 
 
 St. Lucy - - - - 
 
 13 
 
 900 
 
 75 
 
 5,345 
 
 6,320 
 
 St. George - - - 
 
 16 
 
 927 
 
 175 
 
 7,381 
 
 8,483 
 
 St. Andrew - - - 
 
 13 
 
 600 
 
 300 
 
 3,650 
 
 4,550 
 
 St. Joseph - - - 
 
 y* 
 
 890 
 
 90 
 
 4,251 
 
 5,231 
 
 St. John - - - - 
 
 12 
 
 908 
 
 172 
 
 5,487 
 
 6,567 
 
 St. Peter - - - - 
 
 13 
 
 . 
 
 1,500 
 
 6,617 
 
 8,117 
 
 St. Thomas - - - 
 
 13 
 
 - 
 
 750 
 
 6,000 
 
 6,750 
 
 Christ Church - - 
 
 224 
 
 1,700 
 
 120 
 
 10,000 
 
 11,820 
 
 St. James - - - 
 
 12 
 
 700 
 
 50 
 
 4,300 
 
 5,050 
 
 Total - - 
 
 162 
 
 
 
 
 
 Commerce. Tlie trade of Barbadoes has fluctuated very 
 much at various periods owing to hurricanes and bad seasons, 
 as well as to the equally injurious fiscal restrictions of manj 
 its early exports were — 
 
 5' 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 
 i 
 
 Rum. 
 
 
 Ginger. 
 
 Aloes. 
 
 Cotton. 
 
 >< 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hds. Trs. 
 
 Bar. 
 
 Hds. 
 
 Hds. Trs 
 
 Bar. 
 
 Bags. 
 
 Hds. 
 
 Gds. 
 
 Bags. 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 17S6 
 
 8,659 82 
 
 3,419 
 
 114 
 
 5,199 39 
 
 693 
 
 8,070 
 
 1 
 
 409 
 
 8,664 
 
 
 1/90 
 
 9,998 123 
 
 2,935 
 
 
 
 2,331 
 
 261 
 
 4,565 
 
 
 
 475 
 
 
 1,287,088 
 
 1791 
 
 11,333 60 
 
 2,3-16 
 
 30 
 
 3,008 
 
 411 
 
 3,735 
 
 
 
 770 
 
 
 1,163,157 
 
 1/92 
 
 17,0/3 125 
 
 2,69s 
 
 188 
 
 5,064 
 
 512 
 
 3,046 
 
 
 
 515 
 
 
 974,178 
 
 In 1828 the colonial produce exported from Barbadoes 
 was — Muscovado sugar, 26,790 hogsheads, 2,662 tierces, 
 835 barrels ; Cotton, 1,747 bales ; Molasses, 2,208 puncheons ; 
 Rum, 371 puncheons; Aloes 738 packages. 
 
 * Among the inhabitants of this island, there is a numerous class be- 
 tween the great planters and the people of colour, termed Barbadians ; 
 a circumstance which forms a striking difference between Barbadoes and 
 the other colonies. Many of them are descended from the original 
 settlers, and have no precise knowledge when their ancestors first arrived. 
 They accordingly regard this island as their nation and only abode, and 
 do not, like the planters or the negroes, look back to the scenes of infancy 
 a:s their better home.
 
 326 BARBADOEs' EXPORTS FROM lS2ti to 1830 — REVENUE. 
 
 The value in money of the trade of the island in 1830, 
 ■was — 
 
 Imports from 
 
 Exports to 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total 
 Value. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total 
 Value. 
 
 ^203,417 
 
 93,834 
 
 71.869 
 
 36g,120 
 
 62J,734 
 
 136,842 
 
 1 
 
 15,118 
 
 -76,694 
 
 Principal Articles of Export from Barbadoes, from 18^ 
 to 1830, were :— 
 
 1822 
 1823 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 576 packages. 
 16,557 lbs. 
 
 1824 ;32,32- 
 
 1825 
 1826 
 
 135,763 .. 
 162,484 .. 
 
 hds. 
 12,822 
 26,525 
 21,639 
 18,565 
 20,329 
 
 Rum. 
 
 4 pun 
 236 cases 
 3,747 gall. 
 
 22,352 . . 
 
 llSpun. 
 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 
 Aloes. 
 
 Sugar. Rum. 
 
 I hds. 
 9,5966 lbs. 1 17,593 I 12 punch. 
 No Returns. 
 738 pack. I 25,371 I 
 
 Revenue. The income is raised as in the other islands. 
 The following was the Barbadoes' gross Revenue and Expen- 
 diture, in £ sterling from 1821 to 1830:— 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Civil. 
 
 Military.* 
 
 Totsl. 
 
 Civil. 
 
 MilitATy. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1821 
 1822 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 
 13.127 
 17,421 
 2P,431 
 20,125 
 21,223 
 
 16,679 
 13,795 
 23,511 
 12,009 
 22,878 
 
 2,592 
 2,697 
 2,499 
 1,654 
 1,747 
 
 19.271 
 16,492 
 26,010 
 13,663 
 24,625 
 
 1826 
 1827 
 182S 
 1829 
 1830 
 
 21,022 
 20,352 
 20,157 
 19,290 
 16,349 
 
 27,140 
 20,242 
 18,122 
 18,339 
 16,399 
 
 2,500 
 1,723 
 
 1,677 
 
 1,604 
 
 1,666 
 
 29,640 
 21,965 
 19,799 
 19.943 
 18,565 
 
 Schools, Education, &c. There is a church and chapel 
 in each of the eleven parishes of the island, capable of con- 
 taining 8,000 persons in all.f Besides the central school for 
 iCO white boys, founded by Lord Combermere,]: there are 
 many others of more recent establishment for both sexes and 
 for all colours. 
 
 * By Mill tart/ Expenditure, I vvisli it to be understood, throughout this 
 work (unless otherwise expressed), the charges incurred by the colonists 
 for British military forces or garrisons. 
 
 f The expence of the clerical establishment is ^4,050 per annum. 
 
 X The central school is a large and convenient building, nearly oppo- 
 site the King's house, and u'ithin two minutes walk of the cathedral. Mr.
 
 EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, &C. 327 
 
 The situation of Codrington College, according to a recent 
 visitor, is one of the most delightful that can possibly be 
 conceived ; surrounded by hills on every side, possessing the 
 superior advantages of the sea breeze, an unbounded view of 
 the Atlantic, and refreshed by a clear stream of water, col- 
 lected in front into a small lake. The students receive their 
 board and education for £35 per annum, and are examined 
 and ordained by the bishop if intended for the church. 
 
 Form of Government. The government of the island is 
 constituted in a manner similar to that already described 
 under Jamaica ; namely, a Governor, a Legislative Council, 
 and a Representative Assembly. The Governor's legislative 
 authority is entirely negative, he can only recommend subjects 
 for consideration to the Assembly, and his concurrence is re- 
 quired before any bill can become law, such concurrence, 
 however, not being valid beyond three years, unless sanctioned 
 by the royal confirmation. In his executive capacity the Go- 
 vernor is entitled to nominate, and of course remove the 
 
 Coleridge says, it is impossible to speak in too high terms of this excellent 
 institution, which reflects upon LordCombermere, who promoted, and the 
 Legislature, which liberally seconded the undertaking, the utmost credit. 
 At present, about 160 white children are educated here, precisely upon the 
 plan of the national schools in England ; all of them are fed during the 
 day, and the major part are well clothed. The beneficial effects of this 
 charity are already confessed on all hands ; principles of sobi'iety and 
 devotion are instilled into their minds, and habits of regularity and 
 peaceful subordination are enforced. From this class of boys the master 
 tradesmen, mechanics, overseers, and even managers, are now supplied ; 
 and when it is considered how much the comfort of the slaves must 
 depend upon these persons, their education will be found to be, as it 
 really is, a direct measure of general amelioration. A girls' school 
 has also been founded, under the auspices of the Bishop; they are 
 both favourite institutions, and the chief people in the colony spare 
 neither pains nor expence in strengthening or maintaining them. There 
 is also a large school for coloured children, with coloured managers, 
 established under the Bishop's superintendence; and several more have 
 been opened by the Bishop, at the Government expence, every colour are 
 admitted— the only conditions being cleanliness and constant attendance. 
 Instruction is gratuitous.
 
 328 POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR MILITIA OF BARBADOES. 
 
 officers of militia; the right, however, is seldom exercised 
 beyond the choice of Colonels, who nominate their Lieute- 
 nant-Colonels, Majors, and Captains, who in turn appoint 
 their subalterns. The Governor, with the consent of the 
 Council, has power to dissolve the General Assembly, and to 
 issue writs for a new election ; with the concurrence of five 
 members he may suspend any member of Council, unless it 
 be an extraordinary occasion requiring secrecy, when his 
 power is absolute, subject to explanation at home. If there 
 be less than seven Members of Council resident in the island, 
 the Governor may fill up the number (to twelve,) jjro tempore^ 
 for the dispatch of business. As Chancellor, his Excellency 
 has the custody of the great seal, and presides in the Courts 
 of Error and Equity, in which courts the Judges being- 
 Council, he only sits primus inter pares, his vote or opinion 
 being of no greater consequence than that of any other 
 member. As Ordinary he takes probate of all testamentary 
 writings ; in case of litigation establishes or annuls the will; and 
 in default of executors appointed by the testator. His Excel- 
 lency issues letters of administration according to the rules of 
 law. As Vice-Admiral he issues his warrant to the Judfje of 
 the Vice-Admiralty Court to grant commissions to privateers, 
 &c. The militia force is strong and well appointed ; there 
 are six regiments of several battalions each, together with a 
 corps of life guards, and a numerous and brilliant staff.* The 
 Governor of Barbadoes has a controlling authority over the 
 British windward islands and possessions, each of which has 
 its Lieutenant-Governor. I do not think the arrangement a 
 good one, the rather so when St. Vincent's (for example,) 
 possesses its own Legislative Assembly ; economy of a Go- 
 vernor's salary seems to have been the only object sought 
 and attained ; but, though frugality is extremely desirable, 
 there are considerations of far greater importance than mere 
 pecuniary advantages. 
 
 * In IGCn, Barbadoes had an effective military force of 20,000 infantry 
 and HjOOO cavalry composed of the colonists.
 
 329 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ST. LUCIA. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY — ASPECT — CLIMATE — POPULATION — COMMERCE — 
 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES — REVENUE — MONIES — GOVERNMENT, &C. 
 
 Locality. This wildly beautiful island is in lat. 13.50 N., 
 long. 60.58 W., about thirty-two miles in length, from N. 
 to S., and twelve broad, contains 37,500 acres of land, was — 
 
 History — discovered on St. Lucia's Day, and first settled 
 on by the English about 1635, since which period it has 
 undergone various changes, being sometimes declared neu- 
 tral, (as by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle,) next in the pos- 
 session of the French, then captured or transferred to the 
 British, and vice versa. By the treaty of Paris in 1763, 
 St. Lucia was allotted to France ; and Dominica, St. Vincent, 
 Grenada, and Tobago to England ; during the American 
 war, in 1779, it was taken by the British, but restored to the 
 French by the peace of 1783; it was conquered at the com- 
 mencement of the French revolutionary war in 1794, evacuated 
 in 1795, and retaken in 1796; by the treaty of Amiens it 
 was restored to France in 1801, and recaptured by us in 
 1803. The detail of the hard fought battles for the acquisi- 
 tion of this isle would be out of place, it may suffice to state 
 that the fortune of war, in 1 803, has finally left it an English 
 colony, with a French population, manners, language, and, I 
 may add, feelings. 
 
 Physical Aspect. The first approach to this island, 
 (which is divided longitudinally by a ridge of lofty hills,) from 
 the S. is very remarkable. An accurate observer and de- 
 lightful writer thinks it offers one of the most striking com- 
 binations of various kinds of scenery ever witnessed. 
 
 ' Two rocks, which the gods call Pitons, and men Sugar- 
 loaves, rise perpendicularly out of the sea, and shoot to a 
 great height in parallel cones, which taper away towards the
 
 330 BEAUTIFUL ASPECT OF ST. LUCIA. 
 
 summit like the famous spires of Coventry. These moun- 
 tains,* which are feathered from the clouds to the waves with 
 evergreen foliage, stand like pillars of Hercules on either 
 side of the entrance into a small but deep and beautiful bay. 
 A pretty little village or plantation appears at the bottom of 
 the cove ; the sandy beach stretches like a line of silver 
 round the blue water, and the cane fields form a broad belt 
 of vivid gi'een in the back-ground. Behind this, the moun- 
 tains, which run N. and S. throughout the island, rise in the 
 most fantastic shapes, here cloven into steep-down chasms, 
 there darting into arrowy points, and every where shrouded 
 or swathed, as it were, in wood, which the hand of man will 
 probably never lay low. The clouds, which within the 
 tropics are infallibly attracted by any woody eminences, con- 
 tribute greatly to the wildness of the scene ; sometimes they 
 are so dense as to bury the mountains in darkness ; at other 
 times they float transparently like a silken veil; frequently 
 the flaws from the gulleys perforate the vapors and make 
 windows in the smoky mass, and then again the Avind and 
 the sun will cause the whole to be drawn upwards majestically 
 like the curtain of a gorgeous theatre.' 
 
 While sailing along the shore the variety of scenery is 
 exquisitely beautiful ; the back ground continues mountainous, 
 but every three or four miles appear the most lovely little 
 coves and bays, fringed with the luxuriant cane-fields, and 
 enlivened by the neatly laid-out mansions of the planters ; 
 while the flotillas of fishing and passage, or drogher boats, 
 with their long light masts and latteen sails, add life and ani- 
 mation to the scene. On the west coast there is an excellent 
 harbour, called the Little Careenage, with three careening 
 places, one for large ships, and the others for frigates. It is 
 accessible only to one vessel at a time, (the entrance defended 
 
 * The Author oi Six Months in the West Indies (Henry Nelson Coleridge, 
 Esq.), calls them 'rocks;' they are rather mountains, round and high, 
 and appear to have been volcanoes. In one deep valley there are several 
 ponds, where the water hursts up with great violence, and retains some 
 of its heat cvcu at the distance of 6,000 toises from its source.
 
 CASTRIES SPLENDID PROSPECT. 331 
 
 by several batteries) but capable of holding thirty ships of the 
 line. 
 
 The plains throughout the island are well watered, and 
 the mountains clothed with the finest timber. 
 
 Castries, the only town in the isle, is situate at the bottom 
 of a long and winding bay of the same name. The fort is 
 situate on the summit of Mornefortune, which is about two 
 miles of exceeding steep road, or path, from Castries. Mr. 
 Coleridge thinks the road perilous ; it is in a zig-zag of acute 
 angles, and is thus described by that delightful traveller ; — 
 
 ' As it rains nine months out of the twelve in St. Lucia, 
 there are deep bricked trenches or channels traversing the 
 path at each turn for the double purpose of carrying off the 
 water and of checking a redundant population. But when I 
 got to the top — oh never will that moment be forgotten by 
 me ! — I remember staring without breath or motion as if I had 
 been really enchanted. I never saw heaven so close before. 
 The sky did not seem that solid ceiling with gold nails 
 stuck in it which it does in England, but a soft transparency 
 of showery azure, far within which, but unobscured by its 
 intervention, the great stars- were swimming and breathing 
 and looking down like gods of Assyria. Not only Venus and 
 Sirius and the glorious Cross of our Faith in the south, and 
 
 Charlemagne amongst tlie starris seaven 
 low in the north, shone like segments of the moon; but hosts 
 of other luminaries of lesser magnitude flung each its parti- 
 cular shaft of splendor on the tranquil and shadowy sea. 
 As I gazed, the air burst into atoms of green fire before my 
 face, and in an instant they were gone ; I turned round, and 
 saw all the woods upon the mountains illuminated with ten 
 thousands of flaming torches moving in every direction, now 
 rising, now falling, vanishing here, re-appearing there, con- 
 verging to a globe, and dispersing in spangles. No man can 
 conceive from dry description alone the magical beauty of 
 these glorious creatures.'* 
 
 * ' There are two sorts, the small fly, Avhich flits in and out iu the air.
 
 S32 PIGEON ISLAND — FIRE FLFES. 
 
 Pigeon Island is six miles distant from the harbour of St, 
 Lucia, and, in a military point of view, is of great importance to 
 the colonies, being within a short distance of Martinique, and 
 commanding a view of every ship that may enter or depart 
 from that island ; — it is moreover valuable for a very fine 
 and extensive anchorage between it and the N. part of St. 
 Lucia. The isle is about half a mile in length N. and S. and a 
 quarter broad, the side towards the sea (W.) is a perpen- 
 dicular cliff, from the ridge or crest of which there is a 
 gradual descent to the opposite shore, and level ground 
 enough to erect a barrack for 500 men. A barrack and hos- 
 pital has been constructed on this healthy spot, and it is one 
 of the most salubrious that can be expected in a tropical 
 clime. St. Lucia is divided into Basseterre, the low or 
 leeward territory, and Capisterre, the high or windward 
 territory. The former is well cultivated and most populous ; 
 "but the climate is unwholesome from the abundance of stag- 
 nant waters and morasses. The latter division is also un- 
 wholesome, but it becomes of course less so as the woods are 
 cleared away. Indeed the health of all tropical countries 
 will be found to be in proportion to their cultivation. 
 
 Population. In 1777 the island contained whites, 2,397; 
 free coloured, 1,050; slaves, 10,752; total, 14,199. 
 
 The population of each parish, according to the latest re- 
 turns before me, was, 1st district, Castries, 4,420; Gros 
 Islet, 1,4431; Anse la Raye, 1,03G: 2nd district, Soufriere, 
 4,1 IG; Choiseul, 1,375; Laborie, 1,718; Srd district, Vieux 
 Fort, 1,399; Miconel, 1,164; Deunerie, G50; Dauphin, G66; 
 total, 17,975. 
 
 the body of which I have never examined ; and a kind of beetle, whicli 
 keeps more to the woods, and is somewhat more stationary, like our 
 glow-worm. This last has two broad eyes on the back of its head, which, 
 when the phosphorescent enerjfy is not exerted, are of a dull parchment 
 hue ; but, upon the animal's being touched, shoot forth two streams of 
 green light as intense as the purest gas. But the chief source of splen- 
 dour is a cleft in the belly, through which the whole interior of the beetle 
 appears like a red-hot furnace' 
 
 I
 
 TOPULATION OF ST. LUCIA — PRODUCE, &C. 333 
 
 The slave population from 1816 to 1831 was — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 Manumis- 
 sion. 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 ^ 
 
 S 
 
 ■3 
 
 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 ■3 
 
 ^ 
 
 Total. 
 
 as 
 
 <u 
 
 "3 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 i5 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 1816 
 
 7,394 
 
 8,891 
 
 16,285 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1819 
 
 6,811 
 
 8,228 
 
 15,039 
 
 385 
 
 344 
 
 729 
 
 1,087 
 
 906 
 
 1,993 
 
 51 
 
 1822 
 
 6,297 
 
 7,497 
 
 13,79-t 
 
 478 
 
 446 
 
 924 
 
 691 
 
 643 
 
 1,334 
 
 69 
 
 1825 
 
 6,325 
 
 7,392 
 
 13,717 
 
 591 
 
 616 
 
 1,207 
 
 556 
 
 483 
 
 1,039 
 
 184 
 
 1828 
 
 6,280 
 
 7,381 
 
 13,661 
 
 587 
 
 606 
 
 1,193 
 
 586 
 
 416 
 
 1,002 
 
 219 
 
 1831 
 
 6,119 
 
 7,229 
 
 13,318 
 
 581 
 
 549 
 
 1,130 
 
 573 
 
 475 
 
 1,048 
 
 366 1 
 
 The Board of Trade returns for 1831 state the inhabitants 
 at — uhites and free coloured*, males, 1,G90; females, 1,838: 
 slaves, males, 5,242; females, 6,129 — total, males, 6,932; 
 females, 7,967. The births for the year, 451 ; deaths, 430; 
 and marriages, 19. There are 4,190 persons engaged in 
 agriculture ; in manufactures, 670 ; in commerce, 86. 
 
 Produce and Agriculture. The number of stock in the 
 island is, horses 578; horned cattle, 2,239; sheep, 1,741; 
 and goats, 594. 
 
 The quantity of agricultural produce in 1831 was, sugar, 
 5,561,815 hogsheads; coffee, 149,571 hogsheads; cocoa, 
 33,515 hogsheads; rum, 90,687 gallons; molasses, 221,700 
 gallonsf. The number of acres of land under each crop 
 was — in sugar canes, 4752; coffee, 696; cocoa, 316; pro- 
 visions, 4,049; pasture, 4,685 — total, 11,321; leaving uncul- 
 tivated — acres, 26,134. 
 
 * Another account estimates the whites at 570 males, and 500 females ; 
 free coloured, 1,745 males and 2,238 females. 
 
 f The difBculty in obtaining correct statistics of any of our possessions 
 is very great, particularly in reference to many of the W. I. islands. The 
 return given in the text for St. Lucia is derived from the Board of Trade 
 statements; but the bond population for 1831 quoted, varies from the 
 slave table given from the House of Commons library. So also the fol- 
 lowing, from private authority, differs in regard to agriculture. The 
 stock in St. Lucia is estimated at horses, 708 ; horned cattle, 3,022 ; sheep, 
 1,884 ; goats, 769. The produce of sugar, 7,683,800 lbs. ; molasses, 
 120,000 gallons; rum, 28,000 gallons ; coffee, 50,000 lbs.; and cocoa, 
 30,000 lbs.
 
 334 COMMERCE OF ST. LUCIA WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 Commerce. In 1810, the official notice of the exports was 
 £4^,830, and of imports £193,743. The total value of the 
 exports for 1831 was £64,878, and of imports £83,003, em- 
 ploying a total shipping inwards, tons, 20,382 ; outwards, tons, 
 20,839. The greater portion of the trade is with great Britain, 
 but a large part of it is still carried on witli France. 
 
 The principal articles of export, from 1822 to 1831, were, 
 
 1822* 
 
 1823 
 
 1828 
 
 1829 
 
 1830 
 
 1831 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 7,"45 hds. 
 6,061,702 lbs. 
 7,248 hds. 
 6,836 .. 
 1,188 .. 
 5,776 .. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 .357 tierces. 501 puncheons. 
 362,129 lbs. 31,950 gallons. 
 
 269 tierces. | 304 puncheons. 
 No Return. 
 
 do. I 274 
 
 694 tierces. 
 
 Weights and Measures. The WeigJds in use are the 
 French pound and quintal ; the pound = 2 marc (Paris) ; the 
 marc ■=: 8 oz. ; the oz. r= 8 gros, the gros =r 72 grains ; the 
 quintal =100 French lbs. ; the French lbs = 17 oz. 9 dr. 
 EngUsh ; quintal of 100 French lbs. — 109 Enghsh. 
 
 The Measures are (land or square measure) ; the carre, 
 containing 3 acres, 78 perches, 28 feet square (Paris mea- 
 sure) or 10,000 square paces; the acre= 100 square perches, or 
 2,644 paces, 1 1 feet ; the perch = 26 paces, 5 feet, 72 inches 
 square, or 9 square toises ; the square toise rr ^Q square feet, 
 or 2 paces, 11 feet, 72 inches square; the square pace 
 = 12 square feet, and 30 square inches ; the square foot 
 r: 144 square inches; the square inch =: 144 square lines, 
 (long measure); the toise = 6 feet French; the foot = 12 
 inches; the inch = 12 lines; the French foot = 12f inches 
 British ; (cloth measure) the aune or ell = 3 feet 8 inches ; 
 and it is subdivided into one-half, one-third, one-fourth, and 
 one-eighth; the ell= 1 yard 104^ inches. (Wine measure) 
 gallon = 2 pots ; 1 pot = 2 pints (Paris measure), 1 pint = 
 2 chopines ; 1 chopine = 2 raquils ; 1 raquil = 2 muces. 
 (Dry measure) the barrel = 44 quarts, or 55 pots ; the half 
 barrel =27 pots; the quarter ditto = 13| pots; the half 
 quarter ditto 6| pots. 
 
 Finance. The revenue of the colony is derived from cus- 
 
 * These are the only years in the Colonial Office documents.
 
 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE — MONIES — GOVERNMENT, &C. 335 
 
 torn duties, a capitation tax, licences, fines, stamp duties, &c. 
 The only consecutive years of revenue and expenditure be- 
 fore me are * — 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 1817 
 1818 
 1819 
 1820 
 1821 
 
 £ 8,305 
 
 9,553 
 
 11,471 
 
 10,300 
 
 9,886 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 11,188 
 
 10,694 
 
 14,391 
 
 7,336 
 
 8,091 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 1822 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 
 £ 9,448 
 
 10,713 
 
 6,825 
 
 10,986 
 
 12,978 
 
 8,031 
 
 6,687 
 
 8,530 
 
 11,345 
 
 13,096 
 
 Surplus revenue, ,£1,075. 
 
 In 1831, the revenue was £9,452, and the expenditure 
 £10,143. 
 
 Monies. Accounts are kept in pounds, shillings and pence ; 
 but the value of the circulating medium is thus stated : — 
 12 denier s r= 1 sol ; 2 sols and 6 denier s = 1 dog ; 6 dogs, 
 or 15 sols = 1 bit ; 8 dogs, or 20 sols 1 livre; 9 livres = 1 
 current dollar; 10 livres =: 1 round dollar; 20 livres = one 
 pound currency. There is no paper money in circulation. 
 
 Government. The inhabitants have their affairs admi- 
 nistered by a Governor and Council, with French laws, where 
 they are not adverse to the British ; I hope soon to see St. 
 Lucia, as well as every other English colony, with its own 
 legislative assembly. 
 
 * Another return gives as follows 
 penditure in pounds sterling . — 
 
 -St. Lucia gross Revenue and Ex- 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 1820 
 
 ^10,300 
 
 7,336 
 
 1826 
 
 ^10,435 
 
 12,664 
 
 1821 
 
 9,886 
 
 8,091 
 
 1827 
 
 No Return. 
 
 1822 
 
 9,448 
 
 8,031 
 
 1828 
 
 11,941 
 
 10,923 
 
 1823 
 
 9,629 
 
 6,042 
 
 1829 
 
 12,647 
 
 12,063 
 
 1824 
 
 11,188 
 
 8,166 
 
 1830 
 
 12,531 
 
 12,044 
 
 1825 
 
 10,770 
 
 12,147 
 
 1831 
 
 9,542 
 
 10,143 
 
 The inhabitants of St. Lucia have recently complained of their heavy 
 taxation, and well they may when ^^10,000 per annum is wrung from so 
 few colonists.
 
 336 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DOMINICA. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY ASPECT GEOLOGY — CLIMATE — POPULATION 
 
 RESOURCES COMMERCE FINANCE — GOVERNMENT, &C. &C. 
 
 Locality. The island of Dominica is situated in 15.25 
 N., 61.15 W., about twenty-nine miles in length, and sixteen 
 in breadth, and containing 275 square miles, or 186,436 
 acres. 
 
 History. The discovery of this island was made by Co- 
 lumbus,* on Sunday, the 3rd Nov. 1493, and so named by the 
 great navigator; its rightof occupancy was claimed by the three 
 kingdoms, of England, France, and Spain ; but the right of 
 possession remained undecided, and Dominica was considered 
 a neutral island by the three crowns, till the year 1759, 
 when, by conquest, it fell under the dominion of Great 
 Britain ; and was afterwards ceded to England by the treaty 
 of Paris, February, 1763. On the cession of the island to 
 the English, commissioners were appointed under the great 
 seal, and sent out there with authority to sell and dispose 
 of the lands by public sale, to English subjects in allotments 
 * of not more than 100 acres of such land as was cleared; 
 and not exceeding 300 acres of woods to any persons who 
 shovdd be the best bidder for the same.' These allotments 
 were disposed of for the benefit of the crown, and were con- 
 firmed to the purchaser by grants, under the Great Seal of 
 England, with conditions in each grant, ' that every pur- 
 chaser should pay down 20 per cent, of the whole purchase 
 money, together with sixpence sterling per acre, for the 
 expence of surveying the land; and that the remainder of 
 the purchase money should be secured by bonds, to be paid 
 by equal instalments, in the space of five years, next after the 
 
 * It was the first land seen on his second voj'age, after having been 
 twenty days at sea from the Canaries.
 
 SALE AND DISPOSAL OF DOMINICA LANDS. 387 
 
 tlate of the grants. That each purchaser should keep on the 
 lands, SO by him purchased, one white man, or two white 
 women for every 100 acres of land, as it became cleared, for 
 the purpose of cultivating the same. Or, in default thereof, 
 or non-payment of the purchase money, the lands were to be 
 forfeited to His Majesty, his heirs, and successors.' The 
 Commissioners were also empowered to execute leases to the 
 French inhabitants, of such lands as were found in their pos- 
 session on the surrender of the island ; which lands were 
 again leased to those inhabitants, who were desirous of keeping 
 them in possession, on consideration of their taking the oaths 
 of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty. 
 
 These leases were executed for a term not less than seven, 
 some fourteen, and others for forty years absolute, renewable 
 at the time limited for the expiration of the same. With 
 conditions in every lease, ' That the possessor, his heirs, or 
 assigns, should pay to his Majesty, his heirs, or successors, 
 the sum of two shillings sterling per annum, for every acre of 
 land of which the lease should consist. And that they should 
 not sell or dispose of their lands without the consent and ap- 
 probation of the Governor, or Commander in chief of that 
 island for the time being.' The Commissioners were likewise 
 empowered to make grants, under the Great Seal, of lots to 
 poor settlers, to such English subjects as should be deemed 
 fit objects of his Majesty's bounty, in allotments of not more 
 than thirty acres of land to any one person. With authority 
 also, to the said Commissioners, to reserve and keep such 
 lands, in the most convenient parts of the island as they 
 should think proper, for fortifications, and the use of His 
 Majesty's army and navy; together with a boundary of fifty 
 feet from the sea shore, round the whole island ; and reserv- 
 ing all mines of gold and silver, which might thereafter be 
 discovered there, for the use of his Majesty, his heirs, and 
 successors. 
 
 By these measures 96,344 acres (half the inland,) were 
 disposed of in lots of from fifty to 100 acres, which produced 
 £312,090 sterling. The prosperity of the island rapidly in- 
 
 VOL. II. z
 
 338 PHYSICAL ASPECT OF DOMINICA — MOUNTAINS. 
 
 creased under a system of free trade ; but the happiness of 
 the inhabitants was interrupted on the capture of the island, 
 by a large French force, from ]Martinique, under the Marquis 
 de Bouille, in 1778, after a gallant resistance on the part of the 
 British colonists, by which they secured for themselves highly 
 honourable terms ; the subsequent advantages of which were 
 however frustrated by the tyranny of the new French Governor, 
 the Marquis Duchilleau, whose memory is deservedly held in 
 the deepest scorn. After five years' brutal treatment by the 
 French, our colonists were rejoiced on the restoration of the 
 island to England at the peace of 1783. During the war of 
 1805, a devastating descent was made on the Island of 
 Dominica by a formidable French squadron ; and although 
 Roseau, the capital, was burned, the colony was preserved to 
 Great Britain by the skill of Sir George Prevost, and the 
 gallant behaviour of the colonists. The island has ever since 
 remained under the dominion of Great Britain. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Dominica is one of the volcanic isles 
 of the West, with lofty rugged mountains*, and fertile inter- 
 vening valleys, watered by about thirty fine rivers and num- 
 berless rivulets, springs, and waterfalls, which descend with 
 great impetuosity from the hills, and, under the umbrageous 
 canopy of lofty and magnificent forests, form the most romantic 
 cascadesf. Roseau, the capital, is situate in the parish of 
 St. George, (about seven leagues from Prince Rupert's Bay), 
 on a point of land on the S. W. side of the island, which 
 
 * Their height has been thus noted : — Morne Diablotin, or Terre Firme, 
 5,314 feet above the sea; Laroche, 4,150; Coulisboune, 3,379 ; Outer 
 Cabrite, 542 ; Inner ditto, 430 ; Morne Crabier, 485 ; Morne Bruce, 465 ; 
 Daniole, 329. The heights of the forts and batteries are, Scots' Head, 
 231 feet ; Melville's, 147 ; Magazine Bat. 320 ; Hospital ditto, 440 ; 
 Fort Young, 440 ; Fort Shirley, 153 ; Barracks at Douglas Bay, 126 ; 
 Grand Savannah, 170; Layon, 160. 
 
 t About six miles from Roseau, almost in the centre of the island, and 
 on the top of a very high mountain, surrounded by other more lofty hills, 
 is a large lake of fresh water, covering a space of several acres, and in 
 some places unfathomable ; it spreads into three distinct branches, and 
 has a very extraordinary appearance.
 
 ROSEAU, SPLENDID PROSPECT. 339 
 
 point forms two bays — Woodbridges to the N. and Charlotte- 
 ville to the S. * The landscape behind the town is beautifully 
 grand ; indeed the whole prospect from the edge of Morne 
 Bruce, a lofty table-rock occupied by the garrison, is one of 
 the very finest in the West Indies. The valley runs up for 
 many miles in a gently inclined plane between mountains of 
 irregular heights and shapes, most of which are clothed up 
 to their cloudy canopies with rich parterres of green coffee, 
 which perfumes the whole atmosphere, even to some distance 
 over the sea ; the river rolls a deep and roaring stream down 
 the middle of the vale, and is joined at the outlet of each 
 side ravine by a mountain torrent, whilst at the top, where 
 the rocks converge into an acute angle, a cascade falls from 
 the apex, in a long sheet of silvery foam. Beneath, the town 
 presents a very different appearance from what it does at sea ; 
 the streets are long and spacious, regularly paved, and inter- 
 secting each other at right angles ; there is one large square, 
 or promenade ground*, and the shingled roofsf of the houses, 
 tinged with the intense blue of the heaven above them, seem 
 like the newest slates, and remind one of that clear and dis- 
 tinct look which the good towns of France have when viewed 
 from an eminence. ;|; 
 
 The roadstead of Roseau (it can scarcely be called a har- 
 bour) is very capacious and safe, except in the hurricane 
 months, (from the end of August to October), when the sea, 
 from the southward, tumbles into the bay in a terrific man- 
 ner, sometimes rising to an alarming height. § The fortifi- 
 cations of Roseau, namely. Young's Fort, Melville's Battery, 
 Bruce's Hill, and Fort Demoulin, are very strong and com- 
 manding positions. Prince Rupert's Bay, on the N. W. of 
 
 * Roseau has never recovered the effects of a conflagration ordered or 
 caused by the Marquis Duchilleau, in 1/81. 
 
 f Shingles are thin planks or slips of pine imported from North 
 America, and used universally throughout the West Indies in lieu of slates. 
 
 + Six Months in the West Indies. 
 
 § On the last day of September, 1780, the sea suddenly rose to the 
 height of 21 feet perpendicular above its usual level, destroying several 
 houses in front of the beach and wrecking many vessels.
 
 340 GEOLOGY OF DOMINICA — VOLCANIC. 
 
 the island in St. John's parish, is three miles broad, one and 
 a half deep, and safe and commodious enough for the whole 
 British navy at all seasons : it is surrounded by two high 
 mountains, called the Cabrittes, the inner of which is about 
 500, and the other 600 feet in perpendicular height, both out 
 of the reach of any other elevated land. Fort Shirley lies 
 between the two Cabrittes, with a rich plain of 100 acres in 
 extent at its base, and in the event of war the fortifications 
 on these heights might be rendered as strong as Gibraltar. 
 The grand Savanna, nine miles from Prince Rupert's Bay, 
 and twelve from Roseau, is a fine fertile elevated plain, 
 upwards of a mile in extent, and at a good distance from the 
 neighbouring mountains, whose terraces jut out from their 
 breasts ; around whose declivities flourish the richest ver- 
 dure, while murmuring cascades of babbling brooks, burst 
 through the luxuriant vegetation, or roll along the hilly ave- 
 nues, surrounded by magnificent piles of rocks, sometimes 
 black and bare, sometimes green, with countless traceries of 
 lovely creepers, interspersed with ferns and palms. 
 
 Geology. Dominica, as before observed, is volcanic : the 
 soil in some places is a light brown coloured mould, that ap- 
 pears to have been washed down from the mountains, mixed 
 with decayed vegetable matter. In the level country, towards 
 the sea coast, and in many districts of the interior, it is a 
 fine, deep, black, mould, peculiarly adapted to tlie culti- 
 vation of the sugar cane, coflTee, cocoa, and all other articles 
 of tropical produce. The under stratum is a yellow, or brick 
 clay, in some parts ; in others, it is a stift' terrace, and fre- 
 quently very stoney. Large quantities of excellent freestone 
 have been quarried in the Savanna, and at one time it formed 
 an article of export to Guadaloupe and elsewhere. 
 
 Several of the mountains of this island are continually 
 burning with sulphur, of which they emit vast quantities*. 
 From these mountains issue various springs of mineral waters, 
 (whose virtues are extolled for the cure of many disorders) 
 which in some places are hot enough to cook an egg in 
 • Attwood's Dominica.
 
 SULPHUREOUS EXHALATIONS — CLIMATE. 
 
 341 
 
 less time than boiling water. The sulphureous exhalations 
 from these springs are very strong, often too intensely pene- 
 trating for continued respiration, while the soil, or sulphur 
 and sand, around them in the Souffrieres, is too hot for the 
 feet, and scarcely firm enough to tread upon. Owing to the 
 dense vegetation of the island, and the general apathy of 
 W. I. planters for any thing but sugar and coffee, we know 
 nothing further of the geology of Dominica. It is stated 
 that gold and silver mines exist, and that the latter metal was 
 at one time to be found in abundance. 
 
 The Climate maybe said to resemble that of England very 
 much, with the exception of its greater moisture. The fol- 
 lowing thermometrical register is for Roseau, the capital 
 (Lat. 15. 18. N. ; Long. 61. 22. W.) but in the interior, and 
 on the mountains the heat is much reduced, and indeed so 
 cold as to render woollens indispensable for body clothing, 
 and bed coverng. 
 
 Meteorological Register for Eleven Months at Roseau. 
 
 
 THERM. 
 
 WINDS. 
 
 
 MONTHS. 
 
 ^ V. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 January . . 
 
 1 
 
 8376 70 
 
 E.N.E. and N. 
 
 Cloudy atmosphere. 
 
 February. . 
 
 8174 69 
 
 E.N.E. and S.E. 
 
 Cool — showery. 
 
 March .... 
 
 84 77 71 
 
 N.E to S.E. 
 
 Fair, sometimes cloudy. 
 
 April .... 
 
 85 n 70 
 
 E.N.E and S.E. and by S. 
 
 Ditto, moderate breeze. 
 
 May 
 
 86 79 74 
 
 N.E. to S.E. and E. 
 
 Calm and clear. 
 
 June .... 
 
 88 81 75 
 
 S.E. and E. to N.E. 
 
 Dilto, and sultry and rainy. 
 
 July 
 
 S8 71 75 
 
 ditto. 
 
 Ditto, and cold nights. 
 
 August . . 
 
 88 80 74 
 
 S.E. and N.E. 
 
 Ditto, Ditto, thundr. storm.s. 
 
 September 
 
 87,80 74 
 
 S. and S.E. 
 
 Generally fair, rain. 
 
 October . . 
 
 8() 80 75 
 
 N.E. to S.E. 
 
 Cloudy and fair do. 
 
 November 
 
 85 76 69 
 
 ditto. 
 
 Fine, dry atmosphere. 
 
 The wet season commonly sets in about the end of August, 
 and continues till about the beginning of January, but with 
 frequent intervals of fine weather. The severity of the rainy 
 season is usually in the months of September and October, 
 when very heavy continual rain falls for days together ; some-
 
 3i2 HEAVY RAINS — ANIMALS OF DO>!INlCA. 
 
 times for two or three Aveeks. Tlie island indeed is seldom 
 without rain in some part or the other ; and often during a 
 promising day, the traveller meets with such sudden and 
 heavy showers, that almost in an instant wet him to the skin, 
 in spite of either umbrella or great coat. When the rains are 
 violent and of long continuance they do great mischief in the 
 island among the plantations, carrying away large tracts of 
 land, with coffee, plantain trees, sugar canes, and ground pro- 
 visions, which are all hurried into the sea. To the towns also 
 they do great damage, causing the rivers to overflow their 
 banks, or breaking out in fresh places, sweeping off houses, 
 or whatever else stands in the way of these destructive torrents. 
 
 Thunder and lightning is seldom so severe in Dominica as 
 in many other parts of the West Indies ; neither are earth- 
 quakes so frequent or so destructive. It has been asserted 
 that soon after the English first took possession of the island, 
 it was split in several places by one of those awful convul- 
 sions of nature; and in particular, a large chasm was made in 
 a mountain called Demoulins, so deep, that, although it was 
 several times attempted, it never could be fathomed ; the traces 
 of this remarkable circumstance have, however, long since 
 disappeared. 
 
 Animals, &c. The only native quadruped is the coney ; 
 about the size of a rabbit, with the head, ears, eyes, nose, 
 mouth, and teeth exactly like those of a rat, but with a body, 
 legs, and hoofs like those of a hog, and a very short tail 
 covered with bristly hair ; it springs on its hind legs like a 
 rabbit; running with great speed when pvu'sued, and making 
 a noise like a guinea-pig. European domesticated animals 
 and poultry all thrive, and there are numerous wild hogs and 
 goats in the island. Snakes, lizards and guanas* abound; 
 frogs, or toads, of an enormous size (crapaux) are very nu- 
 merous, and much esteemed as an article of food ; the flesh, 
 when fricaseed, being preferred by the English as well as 
 
 * For a ilcsfiiijtioii of tliis large lizard (from two to three feet long,) 
 vi<le Guyana. ?.ir. Attuood sajs they can be caught by whistling which 
 lulls them asleep, when a slip knot fastened at the end of a long stick is 
 :>uddenly jerked over the head and drawn tight.
 
 FRICASEED FROGS PREFERRED TO CHICKENS. 343 
 
 French to chickens, and when made into soup recommended 
 for the sick, especially in consumptive cases. 
 
 The forests abound with wild pigeons, mountain-ring-neck 
 doves, and ground doves, diahlotins, and a variety of melodious 
 and other small birds ; among which the mountain whistler, 
 the thrush, and wren ; with the singing, whistling and chirp- 
 ing of which the woods resound in a most delightful manner. 
 The diablotin, thus called from its ugly appearance, is nearly 
 the size of a duck, and web-footed, with a big rovmd head 
 and crooked bill like a hawk, and large full eyes, like an owl : 
 the head, part of the neck, and chief featliers of the wing and 
 tail are black, while the other parts of its body are covered 
 with a fine milk white down ; the whole appearance being very 
 singular. The diablotin feeds on fish, flying in great flocks 
 to the sea- side at night time, with hideous screams like the 
 owl, which it resembles in its dislike to day-light. The nests 
 are made in holes in the mountains, and the flesh is considered 
 a delicacy, particularly when salted. 
 
 Land crabs of three varieties (white, black, and red) are 
 most plentiful ; the black and red crabs are considered ex- 
 cellent eating ; when in season the females are full of a rich 
 glutinous substance called the eggs, which is perfectly deli- 
 cious ; epicurean planters have crab-pens (after tlie manner 
 of fowl-coops) for fattening these luxuries; the white crab is 
 said to be poisonous, from its feeding on the leaves and blos- 
 soms of the mahavit tree. The grogo worm (vide Guyana) 
 is another Dominica delicacy. The entomological field is full 
 of variety for the naturalist, among which the sawyer and 
 blacksmith flies are very curious — as also the free-mason and 
 vegetable flies ; the latter it is said buries itself in the ground, 
 where it dies, and from its body (which may be found perfect 
 at the root as when alive) springs up a small plant, resemb- 
 ling the coffee-tree, with small leaves. [Attwood's Dominica.] 
 The rivers and rivulets are plentifully stocked with ex- 
 cellent fish,* the principal of which are mullets, crocroes, 
 
 * The frey, or fry, or spuwn of the fish which cover the rivers of Do- 
 minica tuice or thrice every year, is esteemed one of the greatest 
 delicacies.
 
 844 VEGETATION OF DOMINICA — FORESTS. 
 
 pike, eels, suck, and cray-fish ; — the shores of the island 
 abound in excellent sea-fish. 
 
 Vegetation. Dominica is one of the best watered of the 
 Caribbee islands, and, with its rich soil, may be naturally 
 expected to have a luxuriant vegetation. Under the head of 
 Guyana, a brief description of the forest trees has been given 
 for the W. I. possessions generally, though it was originally 
 drawn up for Dominica: it will be sufficient therefore, to 
 to state, that the woods afford a vast supply of excellent 
 timber, consisting of locus-wood, bully-tree, mastic, cin- 
 namon, rose-wood, yellow-sanders, bastard-mahogany, iron 
 wood, several species of cedar, and various other sorts useful 
 for building houses, vessels, and canoes, — for furniture, for 
 dyeing, and other necessary purposes. The trees are of un- 
 common height, and by far exceed in loftiness the tallest 
 timber in England ; their tops seem to touch the very clouds, 
 which appear as if skimming swiftly over the upper branches. 
 Many are of enormous girth, and the seeds of different trees, 
 being scattered by the wind, fall into the heart of the same 
 plant, and thus become incorporated with the tree on which 
 they are seen growing. Among other valuable trees in the 
 woods of Dominica is the gum tree. The circumference of 
 the body of this tree is generally very great, and its timber 
 is, on that account, made into canoes, by digging or burning 
 out the inside, and shaping the log into form. The gum 
 falls from the body and branches of the tree in great 
 quantities, in substance like white wax : — it was found very 
 serviceable to the planters of that island during the time 
 it was in possession of the French ; the gum being used 
 instead of oil, (which could not then be had,) to burn in 
 lamps in boiling-houses when making sugar. The Romish 
 priests of Dominica use it likewise in their censors at 
 funerals, and other ceremonies of their church, on account of 
 its delightful aromatic smell M'hen burning ; it is supposed 
 to contain virtues which might be valuable in medicines, were 
 they better known.* 
 
 The timber also of this tree, as well as that of several 
 
 * Attwood's Dominica.
 
 GIGANTIC FERNS — POPULATION. 
 
 J45 
 
 others in the woods, make good shingles for covering houses 
 and staves for sugar and coffee casks. Several fine sloops 
 and schooners have likewise been built here, and esteemed 
 for their strength and durability. Cabbage-trees are in great 
 plenty, and serviceable, as their trunks sawed, or split, 
 make good laths, or rails, for cattle-pens, being very durable ; 
 the branches and leaves are used for thatching of houses ; 
 and the cabbage part of them is excellent eating ; when 
 boiled it tastes much like the bottom part of an artichoke ; 
 it makes also a good pickle. 
 
 The size of the ferns (whole forests of which are found in 
 the dips and recesses of the hills,) is very remarkable, some of 
 them rise to the height of twenty-five feet, with the branches 
 as finely pennated, and their colour as vivid and fresh, as the 
 dwarfish and lowly but lovely English fern. 
 
 Population. At Dominica, as elsewhere, European co- 
 lonists have destroyed the natives. In the year 1792, Do- 
 minica contained 938 caribs, and 349 French occupied the 
 part of the coast which had been abandoned by the natives, 
 and which they cultivated by the aid of twenty-three free 
 mulattos, and 338 slaves. At the peace of 1763, the island 
 contained 600 v/hites, and 2,000 blacks; and, in 1788, the 
 population consisted of 1,236 whites;* 445 free negroes; 
 and 14,967 slaves.— Total, 16,648. 
 
 The population, as given in the Board of Trade returns 
 for 1831, whites and free-coloured, males, 1,120; females, 
 2,538; slaves, males, 6,859; females, 7,373. — Total males, 
 8,979; females, 9,991.— Grand total, 18,970. 
 
 The slave population has thus decreased : — 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 i 
 
 Total. 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 Manu- 
 mission. 
 
 
 Males. 1 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I8I7 
 1820 
 1823 
 1826 
 1831 
 
 8,624 
 
 7,919 
 
 7,482 
 7,362 
 
 9,335 
 8,635 
 8,232 
 8,030 
 
 17,959 
 16,554 
 15,714 
 15,392 
 
 1 
 
 729 704 
 691 673 
 659 650 
 
 1433 
 1364 
 1309 
 
 915 
 
 818 
 
 766 
 
 833 
 709 
 727 
 
 1,748 
 1.527 
 1,493 
 
 113 
 103 
 206 
 
 OoMMERCE. It may be expected, from the foregoing state- 
 * At present ihere are about 840 whites.
 
 346 COMMERCE OF DOMINICA REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. 
 
 ment, that the trade of the settlement has undergone great 
 changes. During the year ending 5th of January, 1788, its 
 exports were, — 
 
 Sugar 1,302 cwt.; Rum 63,392 gal.; Molasses 16,803 gal. 
 Cocoa 1,194 cwt.; Coffee 18,149 cwt. ; Indigo 11,250 lbs.; 
 Cotton 970,816 lbs.; Cotton 161 cwt,; Hides, dye woods, &c. 
 £11,912 10*. 9(/. 
 
 In 1831 the total value of the exports was £118,761 ster- 
 ling, and the imports £81,835. — [For a detail of the impor- 
 tations of sugar, coffee, &c. into Great Britain, vide Ap- 
 pendix and General View of the West Indies.] The shipping 
 entering inwards for the same year was 214, and 1 1,709 tons ; 
 outwards 213, and 11,256 tons. The principal articles of 
 export from 1826 to 1830 were, — 
 
 I 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Cofifee. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molass. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sugar. 1 Coflfee. 
 
 1 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molass. 
 
 1826 
 
 1827 
 1828 
 
 hds. 
 31/8 
 2957 
 3888 
 
 cwts. 
 
 13,350 
 l,193,359lbS. 
 2,546,635 .. 
 
 pun. 
 326 
 331 
 548 
 
 pun. 
 
 740 
 
 833 
 
 1,136 
 
 1829 
 ! 1830 
 1 1831 
 
 hds. ' cwts. 
 
 3805 1,096,223 lbs. 
 4071 1,311,473 .. 
 
 pun. 
 659 
 
 873 
 
 pun. 
 
 786 
 
 254 
 
 Finance. The revenue is raised generally as in the other 
 West India colonies. Its amount for 1831 was but £6,300, 
 while the expenditure was £28,765,* the difference being 
 made up by Parliamentary grant. The island is quite ade- 
 quate to every proper civil expense ; — any extra military 
 strength should, in part, be defrayed by the mother country 
 for the benefit of all the possessions. 
 
 Dominica gross Revenue and Expenditure in pounds ster- 
 ling.f— 
 
 1821 
 1822 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 
 Revenue, Colonial 
 and British. 
 
 Col. Rev. 
 
 6211 
 
 4841 
 5689 
 5932 
 8810 
 8222 
 
 Parliamentary 
 Grant. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 Civ. 
 
 586: 
 6686 
 4922 
 4206 
 7/05 
 7999 
 
 636 
 544 
 557 
 752 
 
 778 
 792 
 
 6498 
 7230 
 5479 
 4958 
 8483 
 8791 
 
 1827 
 182S 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 
 Revenue, Colonial 
 and British. 
 
 Col. Rev. 
 
 6102 
 1386 
 
 7530 
 6327 
 6300 
 
 Parlia- 
 mentary 
 Grant. 
 
 23,899 
 21,982 
 
 23,762 
 22,614 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 Civ. 
 
 4488 
 8400 
 
 7421 
 7926 
 
 1,214 
 20,663 
 20,42/ 
 22,672 
 20,839 
 
 5,702 
 29,063 
 29,325 
 30,093 
 28,765 
 
 Of this sum .£20,839 was for garrisons, 
 t It will be observed that this island has its revenue assisted from the 
 British Treasury as a military station of importance.
 
 GOVERNMENT — MILITIA — EDUCATION — CROWN LANDS. 347 
 
 Government, &c. There is a Lieutenant-Governor, a 
 Council of Twelve, and a Representative Legislative As- 
 sembly of nineteen Members to administer the affairs of the 
 colonists ; and there are courts of Grand Session, of Common 
 Pleas, of Complaint and of Petty Sessions. 
 
 The militia is an excellent body of men, little inferior to 
 regular troops, and under the same regulations as in the 
 other islands. 
 
 There is a public free-school, with 140 male and forty fe- 
 male scholars, at an annual expense of £130 — and education 
 is making considerable progress. Fourteen places of worship 
 exist in the colony, at an expense of £340 ; and if we take 
 the small number of prisoners for 1831 (ten males and one 
 female) as a criterion, the morals of the population are fa- 
 vourable. On the whole, Dominica, from its admirable situa- 
 tion, strong fortifications, fine climate and fertile soil, is a 
 very valuable colony. 
 
 A part of the crown lands admirably adapted for cultivation 
 consists of a large run of woodland, known by the name of the 
 Lazon Flats, extending across the island to Paguon or Commis- 
 sioners' Bay, and comprising a surface of 20,000 acres, 
 covered with the most valuable and durable timber, nearly on 
 the same level, and watered by a great number of small 
 streams, forming the Mahout and Lazon rivers on the W. side, 
 and the Quanary and Pagoua rivers on the E. of the island. 
 This land is stated by the intelligent Surveyor-General of the 
 island, Mr. Finlay, to be admirably adapted to the cultivation 
 of cocoa, coffee and all kinds of provisions ; large pastures 
 might easily be formed for cattle ; its elevation above the 
 level of the sea is from 800 to 1 ,000 feet ; the general tem- 
 perature G8 to 75 Farenheit ; and there are no local impedi- 
 ments but a want of funds, or it may be said of population, 
 to demonstrate the advantages which would arise from Euro- 
 peans colonizing this delightful West Lidia island.
 
 348 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ISIONTSERRAT. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY — PHYSICAL ASPECT — GEOLOGY — PRODUCTIONS — 
 POPULATION COMMERCK GOVERNMENT, &C. 
 
 Locality. This romantic isle * in 16. 47. N. Lat., 62. VS. 
 25. W. Long., 22 S. W. of Antigua, the same distance N. W. 
 of Guadaloupe, and S. E. of Nevis ; being about twelve 
 miles long, seven and a half broad, and thirty-four in circum- 
 ference, and containing forty-seven square miles, or about 
 30,000 acres. 
 
 History. 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. 
 
 * I cannot abstain from paying a tribute to genius, and at the same 
 time to the beauty of the West India isles, as evinced in the following' 
 truly poetic apostrophe of JMr. Coleridge, which though some may think 
 out of place in a work of this sort, I am fur from agreeing with them. I 
 would delight to witness the blending of the muses' labours with those of 
 the statists, that the elegance of the former might lighten the (to some) 
 cheerless and uninviting array of figures of the latter ; and wherefore 
 shoidd I desire it otherwise? are not the heaviest toils and most arduous 
 enterprises of man soothed and cheered by the presence and encouraging 
 smiles of woman ? Does not the soft and lovely moss deck the sterile 
 mountain's brow? thus should it be with statistics and poesy: — 
 
 Beautiful islands ! where the green Yet oft I see in noonday dream 
 
 Which Nature wears was never seen Your glorious stars with lunar beam; 
 
 'Neath zone of Europe ;— where the hue And oft before my sight arise 
 
 Of sea and heaven is such a blue, Your sky-like seas, your sea like skies. 
 
 As England dreams not; where the night Your green banana's giant leaves, 
 
 Is all irradiate with the light Your golden canes in arrowy sheaves. 
 
 Of stars like moons, which, hung on high. Your palms which never die, but stand 
 
 Breathe and quiver in the sky. Immortal sea marks on the strand,— 
 
 Each its silver haze divine Their feathery tufts like plumage rare, 
 
 Flinging iu a radiant line, Their stems so high, so strange and fair ! 
 
 O'er gorgeous flower and mighty tree Yea ! while the breeze of England now 
 
 On the soft and shadowy sea ! Flings rose-scents on my aching brow, 
 
 Beautiful islands ! brief the time i tliink a moment I inhale 
 
 1 dwelt beneath your awful clime ; Again the breatlj of tropic gale.
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT — PERPENDICULAR MOUNTAINS. 349 
 
 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. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Like many other islands in its vicinity, 
 Montserrat most probably owes its origin to a volcanic erup- 
 tion ; like them it runs from S, E. to N. W., is equally moun- 
 tainous, 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 undu- 
 lations until they reach the mountain base. 
 
 On the S. there is no approach for vessels of any descrip- 
 tion 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 1,500 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 2,500 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 1,000 
 feet above the sea in a dell, formed by the approximation of
 
 850 PICTURESQUE APPEARANCE OF MONTSERRAT. 
 
 three conical hills — the scenery around which is grand and 
 beautiful.* No marshes exist, but a small lake is situate on 
 
 * The road from Plymouth (the capital of JMontserrat,) to the Souffriere 
 lies at first along the margin of the sea, winding inwards by a gentle ac- 
 clivity towards the mountains, and is thus beautifully described by Mr. 
 Coleridge, whose language I quote, that it may not be thought I am pre- 
 judiced in favour of the West Indies — 
 
 * The path was like one of my native Devonshire lakes : no primroses 
 or violets were there, indeed, but the snowy amaryllis (pancratia Carib- 
 bea), drooped her long and delicate petals like a love-sick girl ; the 
 thrice gorgeous hibiscus was unveiling his crown and feathers of scarlet, 
 and the light limes and darker orange trees, which formed a verdant 
 hedge on either side, were exhaling their perfumed incense to Him who 
 made them so beautiful and so good. A thin grey cloud obscured the 
 sun, whilst an Atlantic breeze blew gently and freshly upon my face and 
 open neck. The air was as cool as on a May morning in England, but 
 so inexpressibly soft, so rare and subtle to the senses, that I may think 
 the ether which angels breathe cannot be purer stuff than this. After 
 this I nearly broke my neck in a dry guUey which was about as good a 
 bridle-path as the steps to the top of St. Paul's. The gully ended in one 
 of those green Savannas which nature has ofttimes so mysteriously cleared 
 in the midst of the impenetrable virgin woods of tropical regions. No 
 jdifFerence of soil or situation can be the cause ; you may lean your back 
 against the frontier tree of a forest which no axe or torch have ever 
 invaded, and stretch your l)ody on the meadow turf where scarcely a 
 weed can be seen. There is no man to fell these trees or divert their 
 growth ; there is uo hedge or wall or trench to impede their march ; but 
 God said to the Forest as he said to the Sea, ' Thus far shalt thou go, and 
 no farther.' The view was beautiful ; behind me the woody mountain 
 rose into the clouds, before me it descended into a long grassy slope to 
 the edge of the sea ; on my left hand to the south, the broad and irregular 
 eminences of Guadaloupe presented the appearance of a continent; to 
 the north Redonda shone like an emerald in the midst of the blue waves, 
 and beyond it stood the great pyramid of Nevis, cut off from sight at one 
 third from its summit by an ever-resting canopy of clouds. The wind 
 was so fresh, the air so cool, the morning-dew so healthy and spangling, 
 that I might have forgotten, but for the deep beauty that was around me, 
 that I Avas still within the tropics. I seemed to have left all languor and 
 listlessness below, and really felt the strength, the spirits, and the elasti- 
 city of youthful life in England. 
 
 ' We began to descend a circuitous and over-arched path to the vale of
 
 GEOLOGY — CLIMATE OF THE W. I. MONTPELLIER. 351 
 
 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 substan- 
 tial and comfortable appearance. 
 
 Geology. 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 cla?/ of various hues 
 and colours. The conical hills abound with carbonate of 
 lime, ironpyrites, 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. 
 
 Climate. The Montpellier of the W. is the term given to 
 this Indian isle, which has long been celebrated for the 
 
 Soufrifere. The whole of the bottom of the (dell) valley is broken into 
 vast and irregular masses of clay and lime-stone, which are scattered 
 about in the utmost confusion, and render it a laborious task to scramble 
 and leap from one to another. The surface of the ground is hot every- 
 where, and so much so near the streams of water which ran between the 
 fragments that I could not keep my foot half a minute upon it. The 
 water at its source boils up violently, and very gradually cools as it finds 
 its way in a thousand meanders to the sea. A thick vapor slowly rises 
 upwards till it meets the wind, which cuts it off at a straight line and 
 drives it down to the coast. The sides of the mounds of clay are entirely 
 crusted with pure alum, formed by the constant action of the sulphuric 
 acid of the water and the exhalations. In the midst of all this there is a 
 green and luxuriant vegetation of bushes and creepers ; some of the 
 flowers v>ere marvellously beautiful, and seemed to me to be peculiar to 
 the spot. The mountains, which rampart round this solitary glen, are of 
 a skeyey height ; they appear indeed higher than they really are, for their 
 lancet peaks are never seen except dimly and at intervals through the 
 vast and moving masses of clouds, which are first driven from the east 
 against the other side of the sierra, then are pressed upwards, and at last 
 come rolling and tuml)ling over the summits into the vale below. The 
 wood which clothes every inch of Chance's Mountain is soft, level, and 
 uniform, feathering him with a grass-like plumage as an Indian warrior, 
 whilst every branch and every leaf bends devotedly forwards to the setting 
 sun under the unceasing breath of the Trade-wind.'
 
 352 
 
 POPULATION OF MONTSERRAT — IRISH BROGUE. 
 
 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 eleva- 
 tion 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. 
 
 Population. 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 1,000 white 
 families, with a militia of 360 effective Europeans. In 1791 
 there were about 1,300 whites, and 10,000 negroes.* 
 
 The white population is now (exclusive of King's troops 
 and their families,) males, 175, females, 213 ; free-coloured, 
 males, 234, females, 320. 
 
 Another return gives the white and free-coloured at males, 
 467, females, 677 ; slaves, males, 2,859, females, 3,350 — total 
 males, 3,326, females, 4,027 — Grand total, 7,353. The 
 increase and decrease of the slave population, since 1817, 
 was — 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 Total. 
 
 Increase by Birth, 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 Manu- 
 mission. 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1817 
 
 3,047 
 
 3,563 
 
 6,610 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1K21 
 
 3,0;i2 
 
 3,473 
 
 6,505 
 
 329 
 
 281 
 
 610 
 
 318 
 
 279 
 
 697 
 
 40 
 
 18241 2.878 
 
 3,400 
 
 6,278 
 
 313 
 
 289 
 
 602 
 
 327 
 
 286 
 
 613 
 
 32 
 
 1827 2,867 
 
 3,395 
 
 6,262 
 
 314 
 
 328 
 
 642 
 
 265 
 
 261 
 
 529 
 
 44 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Montserrat had Irish colonists for its early settlers, and the negroes 
 to this day have the Connaught brogue curiously and ludicrously en- 
 grafted on the African jargon. It is said that a Connaught man, on ar- 
 riving at Montserrat, was, to his astonishment, hailed in vernacular Irish 
 by a negro from one of the first boats that came alongside — ' Thunder 
 and turf,' exclaimed Pat, 'how long have you been here?' — 'Three 
 months,' answered Quashy, ' Three months ! and so black already ! ! 
 Hanum ajoid' says Pat, thinking Quashy a ci-devant countryman, ' I'll 
 not stay among ye;' and in a few hours the Connaught man was on his 
 return, with a white skin, to the emerald isle.
 
 PRODUCTIONS, COMMERCE, &C. OF MONTSERRAT. 353 
 
 There are six public or free schools, with 298 males, and 
 390 female scholars, and five places of worship, capable of 
 holding 1,000 persons.* 
 
 Productions, Commerce, &c. The details enumerating 
 staple products as given under the other islands answer for 
 Montserrat, the sugar and rum of which are much esteemed.f 
 The exports of sugar in 1830, was 1,408 hogsheads; and 
 of rum 982 puncheons ; the value of the exports £29,729 ; 
 and of the imports, £17,781, shipping inwards, 5,824 tons, 
 outwards, 6,576.j: 
 
 Government. The executive is embodied in the Govern- 
 ment of Antigua, but the islanders enjoy their separate 
 Council and House of Assembly, the former consisting of six 
 members and the latter of eight, i. e. two from each of the 
 four districts into which the island is divided. The gross 
 annual revenue of the isle is about £2,500. 
 
 * Since the foregoing pages went to press I have found, among my par- 
 liamentary docmnents, the following census of Montserrat in 1828 — 
 
 Males. Females. Total, 
 
 Whites, 139 176 315 
 
 Free coloured, 337 481 818 
 
 Slaves, 2,923 3,324 6,247 
 
 Total 3,399 3,981 7,380 
 
 of the population 4,600 were engaged in agriculture, 30 in manufactures, 
 and 40 in commerce. In 1830 the births were 233, and the deaths 33. 
 
 f Indigo was formerly raised in great quantities. 
 
 X This little island, in common with Barbadoes, Antigua, Nevis, St. 
 Kitts, and Tortola, is suffering under the grievous exaction of the four and 
 a half per cent, duties, which have amounted since their first establishment 
 to the enormous sum of .^6,851,640. sterling ! 
 
 VOL. II. A A
 
 354 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 ANTIGUA. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY — ASPECT — GEOLOGY — CLIMATE — VEGETATION 
 
 ICHTHYOLOGY — POPULATION — COMMERCE — REVENUE — GOVERNMENT, 
 &C. 
 
 Locality. This fertile island is situate in lat. 17.3 N. 
 long. 62.7 W. 40 miles N. of Guadaloupe, 25 N. E. of 
 Montserrat, 30 S. of Barbuda, extending in parallel lines 
 from Friar's Head in the E. to Peyrson's Point in the W., 15| 
 miles ; containing from Shirley's Heights in the S. to Boon's 
 Point in the N. 11| miles, being about 20 miles long, about 
 54 in circumference, and containing 108 square miles, equi- 
 valent to 69,277 acres. 
 
 History. Antigua was discovered by Christopher Colum- 
 bus, on his second voyage, in 1493, and named by him, from 
 a church in Seville, Santa Maria de la Antigua. Next to 
 Barbadoes and St. Christopher's it is the oldest British co- 
 lony in the leeward isles, having been settled by Sir Thomas 
 Warner* with a few English fomilies in 1632. In 1666 a 
 French armament from Martinique and Guadaloupe, assisted 
 by some Caribs, got temporary possession of the island, and 
 plundered the planters unmercifully. By the treaty of Breda 
 the island was in 1688 finally settled under the British do- 
 minion,f and by means of free trade, and beneath the auspices 
 of the Codrington family, rapidly prospered. 
 
 * Antigua was granted to Lord Willougliby, of Parham, by Charles II. 
 in 1663. 
 
 f Want of space has unavoidably compelled me to omit the notice of 
 local events in each colony ; an occurrence, however, which took place 
 in Antigua, deserves being chronicled, not less for its daring and san- 
 guinary nature than because it has no parallel in our Colonial annals. 
 Colonel Daniel Parke (a man whose character has been alternately con- 
 demned and praised,) succeeded, in 1706, to the Government of Antigua,
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT OF ANTIGUA. 355 
 
 Physical Aspect. Antigua is nearly of an oval shape, 
 with an extremely irregular coast, indented with numerous 
 bays, and almost surrounded by islets, rocks, and shoals, 
 which render the approach to it very dangerous on every 
 side except to the S. W. More than one-half of the island 
 on the N. E. is low, in some places rather marshy, and inter- 
 spersed with gentle acclivities and swelling eminences, which, 
 if less denuded of trees, would present the beautiful hill and 
 dale scenery of England. Towards the S. and S. W. the 
 elevation of the land gradually increases, forming round 
 backed hills of a moderate height, generally running E. and 
 W. intersected by cultivated vallies, and partially^cloathed 
 with small trees and brushwood. The greatest elevation 
 (computed at 1210 feet) is on the Sheckerley range of moun- 
 tains, called Boggles Hill, about six miles to the W. of 
 Monks Hill. The highest district may be said to take its 
 rise from Falmouth, and to continue with various elevations 
 to Five Island Harbour. The height to the N. E. and S. W. 
 is not considerable, but on the latter part the hills are occa- 
 sionally bold and precipitous, forming numerous ravines and 
 vallies, their summits being extemely irregular, sometimes 
 round, — at other times conical, and occasionally tabular; 
 the rest of the island may, as a general feature, be said to 
 consist of broad slopes, and repeatedly occurring undula- 
 tions. 
 
 No island in the W. Indies can boast of so many excellent 
 bays and harbours, but they are all, except those of St. 
 John, English Harbour, and Falmouth, (which require pilots) 
 
 vacant by the death of Sir Christopher Codrington. During four j'cars 
 of Colonel Parke's administration, party spirit and Colonial feuds rose to 
 the greatest height ; the House of Assembly refused to be dissolved by 
 the Governor ; the Colonists finally rose, en masse, in arms against Parke, 
 who, with the aid of the Queen's troops, gallantly defended himself for 
 some time, until many of the soldiers were killed, and the Governor 
 and several of the officers wounded ; the unfortunate Parke was then 
 dragged into the streets, his cloaths torn from him, and his back broken 
 with the musket stocks, in which condition he soon expired.
 
 S56 VIEW ON ENTERING ANTIGUa's CAPITAL. 
 
 difficult of access.* St. John's, the capital,f is irregularly laid 
 out, pretty large, and built on the N. W. side of the island, 
 at the head of a large but not deep harbour, the N. side of 
 
 * The other bays and harbours are St. Freeman's (at the entrance of 
 English harbour.) Rendezvous Bay, Morris Bay, Five Island Harbour, 
 Lydesenfis Bay, Parharn, Nonsuch, and Willoughby harl)ours, and Indian 
 Creek, contig')ious to Freeman's Bay. 
 
 t Mr. Coleridge thu.s beautifully describes his feelings on entering the 
 harbour of the capital of Antigua — 
 
 ' This is, without exception, the prettiest little harbour I ever saw. 
 The extreme neatness of the docks, the busy village which has grown up 
 in their vicinity, the range of hills of various shapes and colours, which 
 encircle the inland sides, and the rocky Ridge which frowns over the 
 mouth, with its Union, and cannons, and ramparts, presents such a com- 
 bination of tropical beauty, and English style and si)irit, as I never saw 
 elsewhere in the West Indies. 
 
 ' I was very pleasantly surprised with the look of the country. An- 
 tigua is so generally spoken of as a dry and adust place, where the earth 
 refuses to yield water for the use of man, that I received more than ordi- 
 nary pleasure in gazing on the gentle wooded hills and green meadow 
 vales which decorate the interior of the island. Antigua on a larger 
 scale is formed like Anguilla, that is, without any central eminences, but 
 for the most part ramparted around by very magnificent cliffs, which 
 slope inwards in gradual declivities. From some of these rocks, espe- 
 cially near the parsonage of St. Philip's parish, one of the finest pano- 
 ramic views in the world may be obtained. The whole island, which is 
 of a rough circular figure, lies in sight ; the grand fortifications on the 
 Ridge and Monk's Hill silently menace the subject fields ,• St. John's 
 rises distinctly with its church on the north-western horizon, whilst the 
 woods which cover the sides and crest the summit of Figtree Hill just 
 break the continuity of sea in the south-west. The heart of the island is 
 verdant, with an abundant pasturage or grassy down, and the numerous 
 houses of the planters, embosomed in trees, have more of the appearance 
 of country mansions in England than almost any other in the West 
 Indies. The shores are indented in every direction with creeks and bays 
 and coves, some of them running into the centre of the plantations like 
 canals, some swelling into estuaries, and others forming spacious har- 
 bours. Beyond these, an infinite variety of islands and islets stud the 
 bosom of the blue sea, and stand out like so many advanced posts of 
 defence against the invading waves. 1 hey are of all shapes and sizes, 
 and are given up to the rearing of provisions and the maintenance of a
 
 ST. John's harbour — military station. Sol 
 
 which is partly fbi'med by an elevated rock, called Rat Island,* 
 about midway up the harbour, and connected with the main 
 land by a causeway, which is submerged at high water. 
 From St. John's to the extreme N. and N. E. of the island 
 the land is generally very low, interspersed with numerous 
 ponds and marshy hollows ; but, with these exceptions, the 
 surface of the whole is sufficiently varied to prevent the ac- 
 cumulation and stagnation of water on its surface. Monks- 
 hill (a military station) gradually rises from the bottom of 
 Falmouth Bay, and, as it ascends, becomes precipitous till 
 surmounted by Great George Fort,f at the height of 625 feet, 
 commanding to the N. and N. E. an extensive view of a 
 
 great number of cattle. From the same hill, when the western sky is 
 clear, Guadaloupe, Montserrat, Nevis, and St. Kitt's may all be distin- 
 guished by the naked eye. 
 
 ' The tortuous descent of Figtree Hill, though not so rich and im- 
 posing as the mountains and vallies of Trinidad, is yet a landscape so 
 exquisitely beautiful that no painter or poet, who had once seen it, 
 could ever forget the sight. A prodigious number of forest trees grow 
 on the tops and declivities of the clitFs, and luxuriant festoons and knots 
 and nets of evergreen creepers connect them all together in one great 
 tracery of leaves and l)ranches. The wild pine sparkled on the large 
 limbs of the wayside trees ; the dagger-like Spanish needle (bidens 
 pilosa), the quilled piraploe (cactus tuna), and the maypole aloe (agave 
 Americana), shooting upwards to twenty feet with its yellow flowering 
 crown on high, formed an impenetrable mass of vegetation around the 
 road, and seemed fixed on purpose there to defend the matchless purple- 
 wreaths or lilac jessamines, which softened the dark foliage amongst 
 which they hung-, from being plucked by the hand of the admiring 
 traveller. Meanwhile a vigorous song of birds arose, and made the 
 silent defile ring with the clear morning sound of European warblers, 
 in the midst of which, and ever and anon, some unseen single creature 
 uttered a long-drawn quivering note, which struck upon my ear with the 
 richness and the melancholy of a human voice. Many persons have re- 
 marked the extraordinary tones of this bird, but I could not learn anv 
 name for it. It is the love-lorn nightingale of a silent tropic noon.' 
 
 * On this isle a regiment was stationed during the war, but the build- 
 ings are now solely used as a Colonial hospital. 
 
 f Great George Fort at Monk's Hill extends over about ten acres of 
 ground. It was constructed by the colony, at a very great expense, as a
 
 358 GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ANTIGUA. 
 
 highly cultivated country, overlooking the bay below the pe- 
 ninsula of Middle Ground, English Harbour, and the Ridge, 
 whilst in the distant horizon are to be seen Guadaloupe, 
 Montserrat, and in clear weather Nevis and St. Christopher's. 
 English Harbour is a very complete dock-yard, on a small 
 scale, surrounded by hills, on one of which at the N. E. 
 the naval hospital is situate. With the exception of a few 
 scanty rivulets amongst the hills, the whole island is desti- 
 tute of running water, and the wells, heretofore dry, have 
 proved brackish ; ponds, and tanks are, therefore, the main- 
 stay of the planters. The plan of boring for water should be 
 adopted. 
 
 Geology. The soil of the high lands is of a red clay, ar- 
 gillaceous, with a substratum of marl ; in the low lands it is 
 a rich dark mould, on a substratum of clay. The most su- 
 perficial strata occupy the N. and E. parts, and are of a cal- 
 careous formation, and the outline of the district is in round 
 hills and knolls, similar to those found in the chalk districts 
 of England. Through the stratum of marl which appears on 
 the surface run layers and irregular masses of limestone, con- 
 taining a variety of fossil shells, nodules of calcareous spar, 
 cellular and chrystalized quartz, chalcedony, agate, and coral- 
 lines, both in a calcareous and silicious state. A calcareous 
 sandstone is also found in this marl formation, composed of 
 
 place of refuge for the wives and children of the inhabitants, in the event 
 either of insurrection or foreign invasion : permission being given to 
 them, under certain restrictions, to build houses for the reception of 
 their families. These houses have fallen in ruins. The fortress is still 
 supported by the Colony, and, from its commanding situation, has very 
 properly been selected as a signal station, displaying to most parts of 
 the island information of the arrival of mails from England, which is first 
 communicated by signal from Rat Island, in the harbour of St. John. 
 
 From this elevated point, on one side, an extensive country of planta- 
 tions, stretching to the extreme verge of the opposite shores of the island, 
 forms a most singular and pleasing contrast with the scene which the 
 diflferent eminences, and the fortifications and harbours already noticed, 
 present on the other. The town, or rather village of Falmouth, lies im- 
 mediately under the brow of this hill to the southward.
 
 VARIETY OF FORMATION. CLIMATE. 359 
 
 silicious particles, carbonate of lime, and a little oxyde of 
 iron. A breccia also frequently appears, consisting of an ag- 
 glutination of fragments of different coloured porphyries. 
 No bones of the larger animals have been found in this for- 
 mation. The coarse chert, or flint, is seen in irregular 
 masses on the surface, breaking into sharp angular blocks, 
 and containing a great quantity of petrified wood and casts 
 of shells. Petrified wood is also found on the surface of the 
 conglomerate and marl formations, often so delicate and 
 beautiful, that the colour of the wood and the distinctive form 
 of its fibre are perfectly preserved. Agate, cornelian, and 
 chalcedony, are frequently seen intermingled in the same spe- 
 cimen. Nitrate of potass, like a hoar frost, covers the flat 
 oozy shore which bounds the bay of Falmouth on the N. and E. 
 On a general view, the geological form.ation of the island may 
 be said to consist of marl, conglomerate chert and trap.* 
 Marl forms the greater part, and extends over the whole 
 N. and N. E. part ; trap, the S. W. ; conglomerate, an inter- 
 vening section, extending inland from St. John's Harbour, 
 and chert, embracing a section with the latter segment. The 
 fossils and petrified woods found in Antigua, when polished, 
 are exquisitely beautiful. 
 
 Climate. Owing to the elevation of the land, and the 
 absence of dense and lofty woods, visible in Jamaica, Do- 
 minica, &c., the climate of Antigua is dry, and the rainy 
 season so uncertain, that sometimes a great part of the hur- 
 
 * Dr. Nugent divides the island into four distinct classifications. The 
 range of mountains, or rather highlands, in the S. W. quarter, consisting 
 of unstratified conglomerate, composed of masses of trap, breccia, 
 wack^, porphyry, greenstone, &c. which are embedded in a clay matrix 
 with brownish decomposing chlorite baldagd. Parallel with this range 
 inland, a ditFerent formation appears, consisting of a claystone conglo- 
 merate, containing silicified wood, coralline chert, agate, amygdaloid, 
 porphyr)' slate, bloodstone, &c. in a matrix of an intense green colour. 
 The N. and E. districts have a calcareous formation subordinate to the 
 lowest beds, of which, and nearly in the centre of the island, are extensive 
 irregular masses of coarse chert, containing a prodigious quantity of 
 casts of shells.
 
 560 ANNUAL METEOROLOGICAL RETURNS OF ANTIGUA. 
 
 ricane season pass away without rain. The dry season ge- 
 nerally commences in January, continuing to April or May, 
 and from June to the end of the year the rains are usually 
 abundant. Hurricanes seldom occur,* and when they do are 
 less devastating than in some of the other islands ; slight 
 shocks of earthquakes are not unfrequent, but latterly they 
 have seldom occasioned any damage.-j- Owing to the great 
 dryness of the climate, the temperature is less subject to the 
 variations observed in the other islands; heavy dews are not 
 often experienced, and the thermometer seldom ranges more 
 than 4" in the 24 hours. On the ridges, or hills, the tempe- 
 rature is considerably modified by the sea breezes, or trade 
 winds, which occasionally shift a few points to the N. and 
 South. 
 
 The following table shews the medium and fall of rain for 
 1826, (the latest year in my possession). 
 
 January 
 February 
 March . , 
 
 April 
 
 May . . . . 
 June 
 
 Medium 
 
 
 Temp. 
 
 Rain. 
 
 78.1 
 
 2.99 
 
 77.2 
 
 2.44 
 
 76-9 
 
 1.19 
 
 78.2 
 
 1.26 
 
 80.7 
 
 5.11 
 
 80.8 
 
 4.19 
 
 1 
 
 July 
 
 August . . . 
 September 
 October . . . 
 November 
 December . 
 
 Medium 
 Temp. 
 
 81.8 
 82.1 
 82.4 
 81.4 
 
 78.4 
 78.3 
 
 Rain. 
 
 1. 8 
 1.69 
 5. 7 
 2.36 
 4. 5 
 2.98 
 
 Shewing an annual medium of temperature of 79.68, and a 
 total annual fall of rain of 35.58. 
 
 Vegetable Kingdom. Antigua is most bountifully sup- 
 plied with a variety of edible vegetables and fruit ; the yam, 
 sweet potatoe, cassave, cabbage, turnips, carrots, radishes, 
 eddoes, squash pumpkin, cucumber, plantain, ochro (spin- 
 nage), &c. are among the former; and among the latter are 
 the orange, mango, guana, shaddock, sweet lemon, pine 
 apple, sapadillo, pomegranate, grenadilla, plum, grape, al- 
 
 • The most severe hurricanes were those of 1681, I/O/, 1740, 1772, 
 1780, and 1792. 
 
 t A dreadful carth<iuakc occurred in 1689, and committed great 
 destruction in Antigua. 
 
 i
 
 VEGETABLE KINGDOM VARIETIES OF FISH. 361 
 
 mond, alligator, (and other) pears, melon, citron, banana, 
 cashew, dildoe, redcaps, soursop, bread, and jackfruits, &c. 
 
 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, faeniculum dulce, glycirrhizza glabra, guaicum 
 officinale, several species of menthae, rosmarinus officinalis, 
 quassia excelsa, and ricinus communis ; guinea grass is exten- 
 sively cultivated. 
 
 The coast, bays, and harbours, are plentifully supplied 
 with excellent fish ; among the most numerous are the herring, 
 mackarel, baracouta, (of great size) ; glouper (sometimes fifty 
 pounds); toad (poisonous) ; mauget, hedgehog, hogfish (poi- 
 sonous) ; jew-fish (large and dear) ; snapper, flatfork, squerrel, 
 chubb, snitt, flounder, mullet, parrot (coloured like the bird), 
 eel (like a serpent) ; silver, luck, and ink (shedding ink when 
 caught) fishes— abacore (a large size) ; shark (plentiful) ; 
 doctor (has a lance in the tail) ; sprat (two varieties, one poi- 
 sonous) ; king,* fry, whitening (poisonous) ; wattee, hind, 
 comaree, convalby, old wife, queen mullet, cobbler, ten 
 pounder, garr, bolalwe, reay, shew, and crawfish cat (a 
 curious fish with five prongs, which if left on the skin 
 sucks blood) — in fine — 
 
 ' Each creek and bay, 
 
 With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals 
 
 Of fish, that with their fins and shining scales 
 
 Glide under the green wave ; - _ . 
 part single, or with mate 
 
 Graze the sea-weed, their pasture, and through groves 
 
 Of coral stray; or sporting, with quick glance 
 
 Show to the sun their wav'd coats dropp'd with gold.' 
 Population. According to the Abbe Raynal, the white 
 inhabitants of Antigua, in 1741, amounted to 3,538, and the 
 
 * The king fish taken young is termed coramour, and, wlien 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 
 the trunk lobsters, cockles, &c. are excellent.
 
 362 
 
 POPULATION OF ANTIGUA PARISHES. 
 
 negroes to 27,416. In 1774 the whites were 1,590, and the 
 negoes 37,808. Colquhoun computed the whites in 1815 at 
 3,200, the free people of colour, 1,200, and the slaves at 
 36,000. In 1821 the male slaves were, 14,531 ; females, 
 16,533— Total, 31,064. The number of white men hable to 
 serve in the mihtia, from 14 to 59 years old, 877; of white 
 females and children, 840 ; of white males, under 14 years, 
 235 ; number of coloured and black men, liable to militia 
 service, between 14 and 59 years, were 881 ; of coloured and 
 black females, including children, 2,346 ; ditto males, under 
 14 years, 622. Discharged and pensioned soldiers, 9 ; of 
 African apprentices, 278 ; of white men, exempt from militia 
 duty over 60 years old, 46. Grand total, 6,162. 
 
 Census of Antigua, taken in 1821 ; similar numbers are given 
 
 for 1828. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 COLOURED 
 
 3 a 
 
 
 
 
 tVHITES 
 
 
 
 
 
 Area in 
 
 
 
 
 FREE POPULATION. 
 
 
 PARISH. 
 
 Miles. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females 
 
 Total. 
 
 Oft< 
 
 St. John 
 
 28 
 
 644 
 
 563 
 
 1,207 
 
 1,210 
 
 1,623 
 
 2,833 
 
 12,284 
 
 St. Philip - 
 
 17 
 
 116 
 
 46 
 
 162 
 
 62 
 
 99 
 
 161 
 
 4,323 
 
 St. George - 
 
 10 
 
 56 
 
 35 
 
 91 
 
 24 
 
 44 
 
 68 
 
 3,580 
 
 St. Mary - 
 
 22 
 
 81 
 
 43 
 
 124 
 
 65 
 
 94 
 
 159 
 
 4,432 
 
 St. Peter - 
 
 lU 
 
 100 
 
 37 
 
 137 
 
 53 
 
 65 
 
 118 
 
 4,66(J 
 
 St. Paul - - 
 
 18i 
 
 142 
 
 117 
 
 259 
 
 292 
 
 435 
 
 727 
 
 4,051 
 
 Total - 
 
 107 
 
 1,13!) 
 
 841 
 
 1,980 
 
 1,706 
 
 2,370 
 
 4,066 
 
 
 The slave population on series of years has been 
 
 
 
 <u 
 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 Manu- 
 mission . 
 
 
 o 
 
 "3 
 S 
 
 •3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 ►h 
 
 H 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1817 15,053 
 
 17,216 
 
 32,269 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1S21 14,454 
 
 16,531 
 
 30,985 
 
 1,103 
 
 1,146 
 
 2,239 
 
 1,497 
 
 1,388 
 
 2,885 
 
 208 
 
 18-24 1 4, -225 
 
 16,089 
 
 30,314 
 
 1 ,2(i2 
 
 1,230 
 
 2,492 
 
 1,318 
 
 1.216 
 
 2,534 
 
 218 
 
 182/ 14,066 
 
 15,773 
 
 29,839 
 
 1,109 
 
 1,194 
 
 2,303 
 
 1,146 
 
 1,131 
 
 2,227 
 
 228 
 
 1831 
 
 13,992 
 
 16,545 
 
 29,537 
 
 
 
 2,589 
 
 
 
 2,677 
 
 314 
 
 Produce, Commerce, Revenue, &c. The variation of 
 seasons, as regards drought or rain, causes great fluctuation
 
 COMMERCE — REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. 
 
 363 
 
 in the production of sugar, &c. in Antigua, and consequently 
 in the commerce of the island.* The exports of the island in 
 1787, were 284,526 cwt. of sugar; 716,546 gallons of rum; 
 5,910 gallons of molasses ; 160,510 lbs. of cotton ; value of 
 dyeing woods, £4, 14b; miscellaneous, £48,006; — total value, 
 X'592,596. 
 
 The principal Exports from 1822 to 1831 were: — 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 
 hds. 
 
 punch. 
 
 punch. 
 
 
 hds. 
 
 punch. 
 
 punch. 
 
 1822 
 
 6,603 
 
 2707 
 
 680 
 
 1827 
 
 5,965 
 
 9^9 
 
 2990 
 
 1823 
 
 10,301 
 
 2518 
 
 5,304 
 
 1828 
 
 14,150 
 
 2126 
 
 7976 
 
 1824 
 
 16,877 
 
 27O8 
 
 7,350 
 
 1829 
 
 12,849 
 
 3024 
 
 6338 
 
 1825 
 
 13,534 
 
 2591 
 
 7,358 
 
 1830 
 
 12,025 
 
 2943 
 
 4259 
 
 1826 
 
 17,085 
 
 2966 
 
 8,747 
 
 1831 
 
 13,148 
 
 2489 
 
 7912 
 
 The Antigua gross Revenue and Expenditure in pounds 
 sterling from 1821 to 1831 was, — 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Reven. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Civil. Military 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Civil. 
 
 Military. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1821 
 
 12.382 
 
 11,551 
 
 1224 
 
 12,795 
 
 1827 
 
 
 no return. 
 
 
 1822 
 
 7,634 
 
 9,565 
 
 1054 
 
 10,619 
 
 1828 
 
 19,429 
 
 18.6S9 
 
 1839 
 
 20,528 
 
 1823 
 
 9,099 
 
 11,395 
 
 1287 
 
 12,6S2 
 
 1829 
 
 14,391 
 
 14,507 
 
 1618 
 
 16,125 
 
 1824 
 
 12,702 
 
 11,154 
 
 2099 
 
 13,253 
 
 1830 
 
 14,357 
 
 12,031 
 
 1538 
 
 13,569 
 
 1825 
 
 14,591 
 
 10,782 
 
 2724 
 
 13,506 
 
 1831 
 
 16,00; 
 
 13,010 
 
 2697 
 
 15,708 
 
 1826 
 
 16,024 
 
 12,093 
 
 2557 
 
 14,650 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The crown lands in Antigua and Montserrat are 458 acres, 
 in the parish of St. Paul Falmouth, and the immediate vicinity 
 of His Majesty's dock-yard, Enghsh Harbour, employed as, 
 and under, batteries, garrison buildings and ordnance quarters 
 and stores: 171 acres E. N. and W. of English harbour and 
 
 * The sugar cane was introduced into Antigua liy Colonel Codrington, 
 who settled in the island from Barbadoes in 16/4, and employed his 
 knowledge in the cultivation of the cane with such success, that others, 
 animated by his example, and assisted by his advice, engaged in the same 
 pursuits. At first, indeed, the produce was black, harsh, and coarse, and 
 on this account it was rejected in England; and when it was sold in 
 Holland and the Hanse towns, it did not bring so high a price as that of 
 the other colonies : but at length the planters triumphed over these ob- 
 stacles, and brought sugar to the market equal in value and (juality to 
 *hat of any of the islands.
 
 S6i FORM OF GOVERNMENT ANTIGUA SCHOOLS, &C. 
 
 contiguous, as a naval yard department, and ten acres as a 
 naval hospital, very near the latter. In Montserrat there are 
 two acres, under a few small batteries on the sea-coast. 
 
 Form of Government. Antigua is legislated for by a 
 Governor, Legislative Council and House of Assembly, the 
 latter consisting of a Speaker and twenty-five members, re- 
 presenting the capital town (St. John's) and twelve divisions, 
 or six parishes, into which the island is divided. The 
 Governor of Antigua is also Governor and Commander-in- 
 Chief over Montserrat, Barbuda,* St. Christopher, Nevis, 
 Anguilla, the Virgin Islands and Dominica ; he, however, 
 generally remains stationary at Antigua. The Governor is 
 chancellor of each island by virtue of his office, but com- 
 monly holds the court in Antigua. In hearing causes from 
 the other islands he acts alone — but in cases which arise in 
 Antigua he is assisted by a council, and by an act of the 
 Assembly of this island, the president and a certain number 
 of the council may determine chancery causes during the 
 absence of the Governor. The other courts of this island 
 are a Court of King's Bench, a Court of Common Pleas and 
 a Court of Exchequer. 
 
 The militia consists of a brigade of artillery, a squadron of 
 light dragoons and a windward and leeward regiment of 
 infantry. 
 
 There are nineteen public or free schools in the island, 
 providing for 1,216 scholars ; the number of places of worship 
 are twenty-two, capable of containing 3,618 persons — and the 
 expense of maintaining the church establishment is £5,560 
 per annum. A gentleman totally unconnected with the church 
 
 * Barbuda. — This island the proi)erty of the Codrins^ton family, is 
 situated thirty-six miles N. of Antijj^ua, about twenty 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 from St. Kitt's 
 under Sir Thomas Warner, whom the Caril)s at first compelled to 
 retreat, but the English finally returned and quickly began cultivatior. 
 The chief trade of the colonists consist in raising cattle, swine, poultry, 
 liorses, and mules, for sale in the neighbouring islands. There is a good 
 roadstead but the coast is dangerous.
 
 CLERGY BILL FOR TOTAL ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. 365 
 
 has recently described the state of religious instruction in 
 Antigua, which may be taken as a specimen of most of the other 
 islands. 
 
 There is a very general countenance of religious instructors and instruction in most of 
 the islands ; and in Antigua particularly. 
 
 Schools and Churches. — There are Sunday and infant day schools, carried on by the 
 Church of England, the Moravians, and the Methodists. The majority of the clergy are 
 intent on the great duties of their calling : of the missionaries too much can scarcely be said. 
 A too rigid adherence to high church principles has done much injury to the establishment, 
 and exhibited the inadequacy of tlie episcopal system to the religious requirements of the 
 slave population. The abandonment of the West Indies by the Chiuch Missionary Society 
 has been of essential disservice ; still there is much doing by exemplary and devoted men 
 in the establishment, by going about on the estates, and preaching in the negro houses in 
 a truly missionary spirit. The appointment of assistants or helpers (called by the negroes 
 " Godfathers,") to exercise a certain surveillance over their flocks on the plantation has 
 tended very much to give eflfect to their ministrations. By these and other means the cha- 
 racter of the negroes has been much improved, and their outward attention of religion 
 greatly increased ; add to this, the refusal of all the ministers and missionaries to bury 
 any whose names are not inserted as members in their books, produces an anxiety, on 
 this if on no other account, to be enrolled among the professors of religion. 
 
 Fkes to the Clerov. — The vestry assembles, when the acting churchwarden lays before 
 them an estimate of the ways and means for the year. The number of acres and of slaves 
 in the parish show the amount of the tax on each. This amount, with all items, is settled 
 by the majority ; the churchwarden delivers the accounts and collects the money. One of 
 the principal disbursements is the minister's salary ; about £200 sterling, is provided by an 
 act of the island, and it is customary for the vestry to make a voluntary addition to it, gene- 
 rally from ^'60 to .^'100 per ann. This, with a parsonage house, and sometimes a horse, is 
 sufl5cient to make a clergyman comfortable ; and the minister is under the necessity of 
 avoiding conduct which would be offensive to his parishioners, while a portion of his in- 
 come depends on the good wiU of his flock. The salary of the clerk is also on a liberal 
 scale, being from £"5 to ^120 per ann. ; he acts as vestry clerk in keeping the accounts 
 and collecting the taxes. The surplice fees are liberal ; three guineas is a common fee to a 
 clergyman, and not unfrequently one guinea and a half, to the clerk, as a wedding fee. 
 This, with j6"3. 13s. 6</. to the governor for a licence ( fewwhite people being married by 
 banns), makes matrimony an expensive business.' 
 
 I cannot pass to the next British island (in a geographical 
 position) without noticing an act that reflects much honour 
 on the colonists of Antigua, who have ever been distinguished 
 for their desire to mitigate the horrors of slavery* and to 
 inculcate morality and religion among their dependents. An 
 
 * The legislature of Antigua was the first which prescribed the ex- 
 ample of an amelioration of the criminal law with regard to negro slaves, 
 by affording the accused party the benefit of trial by jury, and allowing, 
 in the case of capital convictions, /b«r days to elapse between the time of 
 sentence and the execution. This Colonial Assembly has, in other in- 
 stances, displayed a proper sense of its own dignity. The \V. I. islands, 
 belonging to Great Britain, have no coin of their own ; what is in circu-
 
 366 rOUR AND A HALF PER CENT. DUTIES. 
 
 act passed the Island Assembly 13th February, 1834, and 
 was ratified by the council two days after, decreeing the 
 emancipation of every slave in the island on the 1st of August, 
 1834, unqualified from all the provisions of the act of the 
 British Parliament with reference to apprenticeship. The 
 bill provides for locating, in their present domiciles, all the 
 slaves residing upon sugar plantations for the space of one 
 year, and also for settlement in the parishes in which their 
 present residences are situated, for the same period. In case 
 of insubordination or improper conduct, two magistrates to 
 have the power of removing them. Food and clothing, as 
 now provided by existing laws, to be supplied to the old, 
 infirm and young for one year, at the proprietor's expense, 
 and reasonable wages allowed to all the able and competent 
 labourers. The laws of the island relative to the slaves to be 
 abrogated, and the statute law of England to take their place. 
 
 In the words of this most righteous Act — * From and after 
 the \st of August, 1834, slavery shall be and is hereby utterly 
 and for ever abolished and declared unlaufid within this 
 colony and its dependencies ! ' 
 
 I trust this prompt measure of the Antiguans will be met 
 in a corresponding spirit at home, and that the destructive 
 four and a half per cent, duties levied on all their produce ex- 
 ported (and which his present Majesty has so nobly resigned,) 
 will be immediately abolished — the local act for its abrogation 
 being very properly combined by the colonial legislature in 
 the slavery emancipation act. 
 
 lation being all foreign. In the beginning of the last century the 
 mother country thought it necessary to settle the value of it, but as the 
 arrangement she made was considered to be contrary to the interests of 
 the colonists, they fixed it at a higher value. But notwithstanding this the 
 lawyers agreed, that if the event should take place, they would never 
 grant their assistance to any one who should refuse to accept the coin at 
 the price fixed by the Assembly.
 
 S67 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ST. CHRISTOPHER'S OR ST. KITT'S, NEVIS, ANGUILLA, 
 TORTOLA, &c. 
 
 LOCALITY — PHYSICAL ASPECT — MOUNTAINS — RIVERS GEOLOOY 
 
 CLIMATE — POPULATION. 
 
 Locality. In 17.18 N. lat., 62.40 W. long., seventy-two 
 miles in circumference, and containing sixty-eight square 
 miles, is situate St. Kitts or St. Christopher,* called by the 
 Caribs Licmuiga, or the fertile isle — and in shape somewhat 
 Hke Italy — as an outstretched leg. 
 
 History. This singular-looking but beautiful spot was 
 discovered by Columbus in 1493, and, as stated by some, 
 received its name from the great navigator himself, by reason 
 of his being so pleased with its fertile appearance; others 
 say its name is derived from a part of Mount Misery bearing 
 a resemblance to the statues common at that period on church 
 porches of St. Christopher carrying our Saviour on his should- 
 ers. The island was then densely peopled by Caribs, who 
 remained for some time after its discovery in possession of 
 their native home, subject to the occasional visits of the 
 Spaniards for water, with whom they are stated to have been 
 on terms of friendship-]- — a very doubtful fact, unless the 
 Spaniards did not require the land or persons of the Caribs. 
 
 In 1623 Warner (afterwards Sir Thomas) settled on the 
 island, with his son and fourteen Londoners, and found three 
 Frenchmen residing in tranquillity with the natives. Warner 
 
 * This island is not only honoured by being named after Columbus, 
 but it is said to have given birth to Christophe, first a slave, afterwards a 
 waiter in a hotel, and on board a privateer, and finally Emperor of Haiti. 
 According, however, to one account, this remarkable man was born in the 
 island of Grenada in 1/69, and was a slave at St. Domingo so late as 
 1791. 
 
 f So stated by the intelligent and eloquent author of the West India 
 Sketch book.
 
 368 EARLY HISTORY OF ST. CHRISTOPHEr's. 
 
 returned to England for more recruits, and on his return in 
 1625, landed the same day with M. D'Enambue, who had 
 arrived from France with a party of colonists. The Caribs 
 took alarm — made war on the European invaders — were dis- 
 comfited with the loss of 2,000 in killed and wounded, leaving 
 100 foes dead from their poisoned arrows. The English and 
 French agreed to divide the island between them, and 
 articles of partition were signed loth of May, 1627. The 
 island was divided into upper and lower portions — the former 
 and most extensive called Capisterre, belonging to the 
 French, and the lower called Basseterre, alone inhabited by 
 the English. 
 
 Don Frederick de Toledo, a Spaniard, proceeding to 
 Havannah with fifteen frigates and twenty-four ships of bur- 
 then, attacked the colonists in 1629, burned and plundered 
 in every direction, and carried off 600 Englishmen as pri- 
 soners ; but the flow of emigration was so great to the West 
 Indies at this period, that in the following year the number 
 of English settlers amounted to 6,000. Jealousies, bicker- 
 ings, and at length hostilities began between the English 
 and French settlers, which were stopped by the latter com- 
 pelling the former to return within their line of demarcation ; 
 but although it was agreed that if France and England went 
 to war, the colonists of St. Christopher should remain neutral, 
 the resolution was broken on the commencement of hostilities 
 in Europe, and a terrible battle, which lasted several days, 
 ended in favour of the French colonists, who assumed the 
 mastery of the whole island, and gallantly defended their 
 acquisition in the following year against a large English 
 force, (sent to recover possession) in the contest for which 
 Lord Belamont and Colonel Lauvreu were slain, all their 
 officers wounded, eight colours lost, 700 British troops killed 
 and drowned, and many taken prisoners. At the peace of 
 Breda the English colonists were restored to their portion of 
 the island — and for twenty years the French and English 
 lived in peace; but in 1689 the former entered tl)e territory 
 of the latter, put to death all who opposed, and by the aid of
 
 PHYSICAL ASPECT — MOUNT MISERY, 3G9 
 
 fii'e and sword, forced the English to fly from the colony. In 
 the following year General Codrington and Sir F. Thornhill, 
 with a larjie force from Barbadoes, drove the French from 
 St. Christopher's, and for several years the English, in turn, 
 remained masters of the v/hole island ; but by the treaty of 
 Ryswick restitution was made to the French of the part they 
 had formerly possessed — this they retained until 1702, when 
 the island was captured by the English ; and by the treaty of 
 Utrecht in 1713, entirely ceded to the British crown. Most 
 of the French removed to St. Domingo, and the sale of the 
 crown lands produced a large sum for Government, of which 
 ^l-OjOOO was voted as a marriage portion for the daughter of 
 George II. St. Kitt's rapidly increased in prosperity, not- 
 withstanding the effects of a terrific hurricane in 1722, which 
 destroyed £500,000 worth of property. In 1782 the Marquis 
 De Bouille, with 8,000 troops, and svipported by the Count 
 De Grasse with twenty-nine sail of the line, captured the 
 island ere Sir S. Hood, with twenty-two sail of the line, could 
 effect any thing for its relief. The Treaty of Peace, signed 
 at Versailles in the following year, restored St. Christopher's 
 to Great Britain, in whose possession it has since remained.* 
 
 Physical Aspect. St. Kitts present to the eye an ir- 
 regular oblong figure, through the centre of which runs a 
 regular series of mountains from N. to S., in the midst of 
 which stands Mount Misery, 3,711 feet in perpouUctilar 
 height, and, although evidently a volcanic production, clothed 
 with the finest wood and pasture, almost to the very summit. 
 From the foot of Mount Misery and the adjoining hills the 
 country has a uniform sloping direction, stretching from a 
 centre to a circumference, bounded by the coast, every inch 
 of which is in a high state of cultivation. There is no plain 
 in the island deserving the name of a swamp, and the great 
 declination of the land towards the sea carries off any super- 
 
 * In 1805, a large French force landed at Basseterre without opposition, 
 levied ^€18,000 as contribution, and sailed away with six merchant ships 
 which they found at anchor in the bay, and burned as soon as they got 
 out to sea. 
 
 VOL. 11. B B
 
 370 LOVELY VALE OF BASSETERRE, ST. KITT«. 
 
 abundant moisture. On the W. side Brimstone Hill rises 
 gradually from the sea to a height of 750 feet ; its E. pros- 
 pect for two thirds of its altitude has a somewhat conical 
 appearance, and then suddenly projects into two peaks, the 
 N. one being called Fort George ; the S., Fort Charlotte or 
 Monkey Hill. At the foot and between these prominences is a 
 plain of quadrangular shape, compassing about an acre of 
 land, having on its E. skirts the barracks (denominated 
 Bedlam), for 220 men.* Monkey Hill is the S. termination 
 of a range of great mountains, which increase in height 
 towards the N., and thicken together in enormous masses in 
 the centre of the island. The apex of this rude pyramid is 
 the awful crag of Mount Misery, which is bare, black, and 
 generally visible whilst the under parts of the mountain are 
 enveloped in clouds. It may, indeed, be termed a tremend- 
 ous precipice of 3,000 feet, shooting slantingly forward over 
 the mouth of a volcanic chasm, like a vast aerial peninsula, 
 The vale of Basseterre is exquisitely beautiful when viewed 
 from the hills of Mary Cayone, it has been said that there 
 is ' no place on earth which can surpass the richness and 
 cultivated beauty of this lovely scene. Nothing can be 
 better disposed for completing the effect than the plan- 
 tations are ; the tall and moving windmills, the houses of 
 the proprietors, the works and palm-thatched cottages of 
 the negroes embosomed in plantain groves, present the ap- 
 pearance, as indeed they are the substance, of so many 
 country villages in England. On one side is Basseterre with 
 the ships, on the other the ocean to windward, the moun- 
 tains behind, in front the broken peninsular termination of 
 the island to the S., the salt lakes gleaming between the 
 opening of the rocks, and Nevis towering majestically over all.' 
 Rivers. There are four rivers in the isle, two at Oldroad, 
 in the parish of St. Thomas, middle island, another at the 
 small village of St. Mary's (Cayone), and the fourth (Pelhans), 
 at Palmetto point, Trinity parish. In rainy weather few 
 
 * The fortifications are very strongf, and there is a tank within the ram- 
 parts capable of containing 90,000 gallons of water.
 
 RIVERS— GEOLOGY AND CLIMATE. 371 
 
 plantations are without their running streams. In the low- 
 lands springs are plentiful, but some of their waters unfit for 
 drinking, owing to strong saline impregnations. The water 
 in common use (as is the case in most of our West India pos- 
 sessions), is rain water, collected from the houses, preserved 
 in large tanks, and of excellent quality. 
 
 Geology. This isle is unquestionably of igneous origin; 
 immense layers of volcanic ashes are found in every parish, 
 and the soil is chiefly of a dark grey loam, extremely porous. 
 At Sandy Point, (St. Ann's parish), there are alternate layers 
 of this loam and ashes, to the depth of 75 feet, on a substra- 
 tum of gravel. This compost is considered the best in the 
 West Indies for the cultivation of sugar. Clay is found in 
 considerable quantities in the high or mountain land, while 
 the low lands are entirely deficient of it. Among the moun- 
 tains in the centre of the island there is one which contains 
 mines of sulphur, and there is another not far distant from 
 Fort Charles, in which there is said to be a mine of silver. 
 In the N. E. there are very fine salt ponds, which produce 
 most excellent salt; one of these is more than 100 acres in 
 extent, surrounded with several lesser ponds. The structure 
 of Brimstone Hill consists of granite, limestone, primary rock, 
 schistus, volcanic ashes and madrepores, with a very small 
 proportion of alluvial deposits on a few spots. 
 
 Climate. From the smallness of the isle, and its elevation 
 above the sea, St. Kitts is extremely dry and healthy ; the 
 mean temperature on the coast is 80, but the mornings and 
 evenings of the hottest days are agreeably cool. The coldest 
 month is February — the warmest August. The winds for 
 the greater part of the year are from the N. E. and S. E. ; 
 and although the isle is, from its position, within the range of 
 the hurricanes, yet by these storms the air is tempered and 
 purified, and health is the natural result. The rains that fall 
 are more frequent than heavy, and the bracing qualities of 
 the atmosphere are pourtrayed in the ruddy complexions of 
 the inhabitants and the vigorous strength of body which they 
 possess.
 
 S72 FRUITS — THE SHADDOCK — GRENADELLA, &C. 
 
 Vegetation is similar to that of the neighbouring isles 
 already described. Among its numerous fruits, the citrus 
 aurantium, or China orange-tree (as also the Seville) grows 
 in great luxuriance ; it rises from twelve to twenty feet 
 in height, distinguished by the beautiful deep green of its 
 foliage ; stem upright and ramifying in every direction, form- 
 ing a regular and beautiful head. The fruit is excellent, and 
 may be improved by grafting on the Seville orange stock, 
 but the best is to be obtained by grafting on the pomegranate. 
 The flowers are highly odoriferous, and yield their flavour to 
 rectified spirits by infusion, and to both spirit and water by 
 distillation. The citrus acrus, or lime tree, as also the 
 citrus or sweet lime, resembles the orange. From the 
 latter the perfume called burgamot is obtained, which is, 
 in fact, the essential oil that resides in the rind of the 
 fruit, and easily extracted by expression or distillation. 
 There are varieties also of the lemon, citrus Union; but the 
 most elegant of this genus is citrus tuberosa, or citron tree, 
 the fruit of which imparts to spirits an agreeable flavour. 
 The shaddock and forbidden fruit are of the citrus tribe. 
 The shaddock is supposed to have been transplanted from 
 Guinea, in Africa, by a Captain Shaddock, whose name it 
 still bears throughout the West Indies. The fruit has all 
 the appearance of belonging to the orange species, and is 
 divided in the same manner, by a thin skin, into several quar- 
 ters, but it is as large as a melon, and of a most agreeable 
 and refreshing flavour, between sweet and acid. The outer 
 coat or skin is extremely thick, of a bitterish taste and a pale 
 yellow, or citron colour, very like, in appearance, to the skin 
 of a lemon. There are two species of the shaddock ; the pulp 
 or inside of one is white — that of the other a beautiful pale 
 red : the last is considered the most wholesome. This fruit a 
 European may indulge in with safety — and it is almost the 
 only one in this climate, excepting the orange, that will not 
 injure him on his first arrival. The forbidden fruit is a 
 species of the shaddock, only smaller and more delicate, 
 while the outer skin is less coarse. Its juice and the flavour
 
 POPULATION — DISTRICTS — AREA, &C. 
 
 to 
 
 of the inside are quite delicious in a West Indian climate. 
 The grenadella is another excellent fruit, contained in a soft 
 husk, which is produced by a large passion flower ; the husk 
 is filled with a sweet and most agreeable liquid ; and the 
 manner of eating it is to cut off one of the ends, and mix up 
 in it Madeira wine and sugar, stirring it all up together ; this 
 renders it safe and wholesome for the stomach. It is of the 
 size of a small melon. The laurus jyersea, oravocato, vulgarly 
 called alligator pear, comes to fine perfection here; it is a pulpy 
 fruit, resembling in appearance a large-sized swan's-egg ; the 
 pulp, or vegetable marrow as it is called, is enclosed in a 
 light green papyraceous skin, and contains a large irregu- 
 larly-formed seed, that is immediately surrounded by brownish 
 membraneous coverings. 
 
 Population. The number of inhabitants, (as has been 
 shewn under History,) was at one period, particularly as 
 regards whites, very numerous ; but war and distress have 
 reduced their strength. In 1804 the island contained 8,000 
 whites, and 20,000 blacks. 
 
 The following shews the name, area in square miles, and 
 population, (as late as can be obtained by me, viz. 1826,) of 
 each parish in the island — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Population. 
 
 
 Legisr 
 
 
 District. 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 lative 
 
 Parish. 
 
 
 
 
 Mem- 
 
 
 
 02 
 
 White. 
 
 Coloured. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 bers. 
 
 St. George . 
 
 Basseterre . . 
 
 10 
 
 864 
 
 11/2 
 
 3738 
 
 4 
 
 St. Peter . 
 
 Ditto 
 
 7 
 
 108 
 
 25 
 
 2782 
 
 2 
 
 St. Mary 
 
 Cay on 
 
 6i 
 
 65 
 
 29 
 
 2222 
 
 3 
 
 Christcliurch 
 
 Nicola-town 
 
 li 
 
 41 
 
 54 
 
 2063 
 
 2 
 
 St. John 
 
 Cassisterre 
 
 \0k 
 
 75 
 
 152 
 
 1511 
 
 2 
 
 St. Paul . . 
 
 Ditto 
 
 5 
 
 68 
 
 35 
 
 1588 
 
 3 
 
 St. Anne 
 
 Sandy Point 
 
 5 
 
 167 
 
 247 
 
 1997 
 
 2 
 
 St. Thomas . 
 
 Middle-island . 
 
 10 
 
 179 
 
 276 
 
 2441 
 
 2 
 
 Trinity 
 
 Palmetto Point 
 Total . 
 
 72 
 681 
 
 43 
 
 6 
 
 1543 
 
 3 
 
 
 1610 
 
 ]yy6 
 
 19885 
 
 23
 
 374 
 
 COMMERCE AND REVENUE OF ST. KITTS. 
 
 Slave Population of St. Kitt's, from 1819 to 1831— 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 B 
 
 ID 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 
 
 ifl-i 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O'S 
 
 >* 
 
 
 
 
 Males. Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1^ 
 
 1817 
 
 9635 
 
 10,483 
 
 20,l6S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1922 
 
 9505 
 
 10,312 
 
 19,817 
 
 1132 
 
 1187 
 
 2319 
 
 1424 
 
 1415 
 
 2839 
 
 217 
 
 1825 
 
 9324 
 
 10,192 
 
 19,516 
 
 901 
 
 765 
 
 1666 
 
 892 
 
 799 
 
 1691 
 
 265 
 
 1828 
 
 9198 
 
 10,112 
 
 19,310 
 
 858 
 
 848 
 
 1706 
 
 845 
 
 758 
 
 1603 
 
 243 
 
 1831 
 
 9141 
 
 9,944 
 
 19,085 
 
 827 
 
 801 
 
 1628 
 
 801 
 
 729 
 
 1515 
 
 243 
 
 Commerce, Revenue, &c. Sugar is now the principal 
 product of St. Kitts,* and the amount of the crop varies of 
 course with the seasons. There was of sugar produced in 
 1830, 8,700 hogsheads ; rum, 2,429 puncheons; Molasses, 
 1,236 puncheons. 
 
 The aggregate quantity of produce, cleared out from the 
 Port of Basseterre, from 11th of October, 1829, to 10th of 
 October, 1830, was. Sugar, 8,658 hogsheads; 506 tierces; 
 1,073 barrels — rum, 2,429 puncheons; 8 barrels; 125^ hogs- 
 heads — Molasses, 1,236 puncheons — Lime juice, 1 puncheon 
 — Shrub, 1 pipe — Arrow Root, 49^ boxes, 1 puncheon — 
 Ginger, 9 barrels — Tamarinds, 10 kegs, 4 barrels — Pickles, 
 62 jars — Preserves, 30 cases, 6 jars — Cocoa nuts, 1 barrel. 
 
 The value of imports in 1831 was £59,518; and the ex- 
 ports £149,559, employing a tonnage inwards of 29,152, and 
 outwards of 27,881. 
 
 The produce cleared from Basseterre, the year ending 
 10th October, 1832, was, sugar, 5,267 hogsheads ; 335 tierces ; 
 4,824 barrels — rum, 1,014 puncheons, 22 hogsheads — Mo- 
 lasses, 3,384 puncheons — Arrow root, 84 boxes, 6J barrels — 
 salt, 2,080 barrels. 
 
 * Great attention is bein^ paid to agriculture ; an association for the 
 promotion of which was established in June, and for the discussion of all 
 subjects relating thereto. The meetings are held quarterly, when ploughing 
 inatclies take place, and prizes are distributed for shew of cattle, &c. &c.
 
 EXPORTS, REVENUE, AND EXPENDITURE. 
 
 375 
 
 Principal Exports from St. Christophers : — 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sa^r. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molasses. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 Molaisses. 
 
 
 hds. 
 
 punch. 
 
 punch. 
 
 
 hds. 
 
 punch. 
 
 punch. 
 
 1822 
 
 6,991 
 
 509 
 
 160 
 
 1827 
 
 7,514 
 
 1,271 
 
 2,186 
 
 1823 
 
 6,006 
 
 421 
 
 1,314 
 
 1828 
 
 
 No return. 
 
 1824 
 
 9,197 
 
 1,502 
 
 3,2S6 
 
 1829 
 
 8,801 
 
 2,359 1 1,763 
 
 1825 
 
 6,670 
 
 1,031 
 
 2,893 
 
 1830 
 
 8,781 
 
 2,882 1 1,250 
 
 1826 
 
 8,987 
 
 1,735 
 
 2,369 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 The revenue of the island is derived from custom duties, 
 Hcenses, &c. as in our other possessions. 
 
 The gross revenue and expenditure in £ sterling for 1823. 
 
 > 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expendi- 
 ture. 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expendi- 
 ture. 
 
 a 
 
 >• 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expendi- 
 ture. 
 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 
 7,158 
 12,031 
 9,072 
 
 7,158 
 9,420 
 6,179 
 
 1826 
 
 1827 
 1828 
 
 5,413 
 3,846 
 4,957 
 
 5,626 
 5,333 
 5,873 
 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 
 8,746 
 
 6,937 
 
 6,897 
 4,933 
 
 Monies. The coins of the island are principally English, 
 with some Spanish; and there is also a colonial coin sent 
 from England, consisting of the following pieces. 
 
 Pieces •? dollar Currency 2*. of/. Sterling 1*. 1 J d'. 
 ^ — — 1*. lid. — 6id. 
 
 -^ — — 6\d. — 3ld. 
 
 The copper coin used, (besides the English penny,) is the 
 dog, which passes for three farthings sterling, 72 making the 
 Spanish dollar ; the bitt is a nominal coin, value 4i sterling. 
 This description of the coin of St. Kitt's will serve generally 
 for the Virgin Isles, and indeed for the whole of the W. I. 
 isles, as regards the same denomination, unless where other- 
 wise specified. 
 
 Government. There is a Lieutenant-Governor, Council, 
 and House of Assembly at St. Kitt's, (with a deputy from 
 Anguilla). Education* and religion are generously encou- 
 raged, and the Colonists have ever manifested a great deal of 
 public spirit. 
 
 * The number of public, or free schools, is six, with 2,002 scholars. 
 There is also an institution for the support and education of poor and desti- 
 tute children, which was established by private subscription in 1803, and is
 
 376 NEVIS — LOCALITY— PHYSICAL ASPECT, &C. 
 
 NEVIS. 
 
 Locality, &c. This beautiful little island, (one of the 
 leeward Caribbees,)* is reparated from St. Kitt's by a strait, 
 almost two miles broad, and full of shoals, in lat. 17.14 N. 
 long-. 63.3 W. It was first colonized by a few Englishmen 
 in 1628, under Sir Thomas Warner. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Nevis is a single mountain, about 
 four miles in length, three in breadth, eight leagues in cir- 
 cumference, with an area of twenty square miles, springing 
 by an easy ascent, as it were, out of the sea, and evidently 
 of volcanic origin.f At the base of the mountain is a border 
 of level land, extremely fertile and well planted. The ap- 
 pearance 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 com- 
 
 now provided for out of the public Treasury of the island. The present 
 
 state of the school is— 
 
 Boys. Girls. 
 PennaneMt hoarders - - 8 4 12 
 
 Day Ditto - - 13 9 22 
 
 Day scholars - - 19 22 41 
 
 Total - 75 
 Excellent private subscription rooms were formed in 181/, and re- 
 ceived a Charter of Incorporation in 1827. The principal object of the 
 Society the <i;radual formation of a permanent library, as a useful addition 
 to the existing public establishments of this island. Regular and early 
 supplies of the best modern productions, reviews and periodical works, 
 are received in quick succession. The number of subscribers is limited 
 to 60. The number of places of worship are 15, capable of containing 
 2j980 persons : the annual expense of the establishment is ^2,286. 
 
 * It is termed by Smith, in his amusing natural history of Nevis, " the 
 Mother of the English Caribbee Isles." 
 
 t The summit has the appearance of a crater. At a short distance from 
 Clarke's Hill there arc several hot springs, containing neutral salts in so- 
 lution. Their heat varies fiom 100 to 108 V.
 
 AN EVERGREEN CONE. POPULATION. 
 
 377 
 
 plete 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 
 towai'ds the Narrows of St. Kitt's, and is broken to wind- 
 ward into one or two irregular hills.* 
 
 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 upstairs 
 for the Council. The public offices are all placed at one end 
 of the hall, and the chairs for the members, the table 
 railing, and the whole furniture remarkably neat. f 
 
 The island is divided into five parishes, and it has three 
 tolerable roadsteads. 
 
 Population. The white inhabitants are estimated at 500 ; 
 and the slave population from 1817 to 1831 is thus shewn: — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 <n 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 g c ca 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 n-Pr"^ 
 
 t- 
 
 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 1817 
 
 4685 
 
 4917 
 
 9602 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1822 
 
 4583 
 
 4678 
 
 9261 
 
 547 
 
 517 
 
 1064 
 
 685 
 
 537 
 
 1222 
 
 42 
 
 1825 
 
 4591 
 
 4695 
 
 9286 
 
 349 
 
 316 
 
 665 
 
 358 
 
 335 
 
 693 
 
 38 
 
 1828 
 
 4574 
 
 4685 
 
 9259 
 
 323 
 
 315 
 
 638 
 
 328 
 
 301 
 
 629 
 
 61 
 
 1831 
 
 4526 
 
 4616 
 
 9142 
 
 334 
 
 309 
 
 643 
 
 343 
 
 336 
 
 679 
 
 66 
 
 The chief production of the island is sugar, the cultivation 
 of which gives such richness to the scenery, J particularly 
 
 * 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. 
 
 t Six Months in the West Indies. 
 
 X Mr. Beckford of Jamaica describes a field of ripe canes, as one of the 
 most beautiful productions that the pen or pencil can possibly describe. 
 It in common arises from three to eight feet in height j a difference in
 
 378 ANGUILLA LOCALITY — HISTORY, &C. 
 
 when contrasted with the mountain forests. The quantity 
 cleared at Nevis, for the year ending 5th December, 1829, was 
 3,895 hogsheads ; 226 tierces ; 732 barrels. The Govern- 
 ment is quietly and respectably conducted by its Council and 
 Assembly, under certain subordinate restrictions to St. 
 Christopher's. 
 
 ANGUILLA. 
 
 Locality. Anguilla, or Snake Island, (so called from its 
 tortuous or eel-like form), is situated between 18 N. lat. and 
 G4 W. long,, 45 miles to the N. W. of St. Kitts, and separated 
 from St. Martin's by a narrow channel. The island is in 
 length about 30 miles, and in breadth scarcely more than 
 three miles. 
 
 History, In 1650 it was discovered and colonized by the 
 English, in whose possession it has ever since remained, sub- 
 ject, however, to transient incursions from the French and 
 from pirates, and to a brutal attack and pillage from the 
 marauders under Victor Hugues, in 1796; in every instance, 
 however, the islanders have displayed a noble spirit of inde- 
 pendence and bravery.* 
 
 j^rowth that very strongly marks the ditFerence of soil or the varieties of 
 culture. It is, when ripe, of a bright and golden yellow ; and where 
 obvious to the sun is in many parts very beautifully streaked with red ; the 
 top is of a darkish green, but the more dry it becomes, from either an 
 excess of ripeness, or a continuance of drought, of a russet yellow, with 
 long and narro\v leaves depending, from the centre of which shoots up an 
 arrow-like and silver wand, from two to six feet in height, and from the 
 summit of which grows a plume of white feathers, which are delicately 
 fringed with a lilac dye.' 
 
 * In 1/45, the Colonists, although then only ajjout 100 strong, repulsed a 
 body of 1,000 French who came to attack them, and obliged them to retire 
 with the loss of 150 men. In 1/96, the latter retaliated in a manner 
 worthy of the atrocities of the Revolution. Two ships of war were sent with 
 400 pit!<ed troops, by Victor Hugues, of " red-hot memory," with direc- 
 tions to burn every settlement, and exterminate the whole of theinhabitants 
 (British^ in the island. 'J'hcsc emissaries set about their work in good 
 earnest, and committed ihc most barbarous atrocities on the defenceless inha-
 
 PASTORAL FEATURES— POPULATION, &C. 379 
 
 Physical Aspect, Climate, Government, &c. Anguilla 
 is flat, without mountains or rivers, and with a deep chalky 
 soil. It presents a very singular appearance for a West Indian 
 island. A little wall of cliff of some forty feet in height ge- 
 nerally rises from the beach, and, when you have mounted 
 this, the whole country lies before you, gently sloping in- 
 wards in a concave form, and sliding away, as it were, to the 
 south, where the land is only just above the level of the sea. 
 The Flat island and St. Martin's terminate the view in this 
 direction. Nine-tenths of the country are entirely unculti- 
 vated ; in some parts a few coppices, but more commonly a 
 pretty species of myrtle, called by the negroes, maiden-berry, 
 seems to cover the whole soil; the roads are level grassy 
 tracks, over which it is most delightful to ride, and the 
 houses and huts of the inhabitants are scattered about in so 
 picturesque a manner, as to bear a great resemblance to 
 many scenes in Kent and Devonshire. Indeed there are 
 scarcely any of the usual features of West Indian landscape 
 visible ; neither of those prominent ones, the lively windmill 
 or the columnar palm, are to be seen, and there is a rus- 
 ticity, a pastoral character on the face of the land, its roads, 
 and its vegetation, which is the exact antipode of large plan- 
 tations of sugar. In the centre of the Island is a salt-lake, 
 yielding annually 3,000,000 bushels, a great part of which 
 w-as wont to be exported to America. The soil yields freely 
 sugar, cotton, maize, and provisions, and many cattle are 
 reared. The climate is extremely healthy, and the people 
 (amounting, in 1819, to, whites, 3G0; coloured 320; and 
 slaves 2451) strong and active. The Colonists have a chief, 
 or head magistrate, who is confirmed in his office by the Go- 
 vernment of Antigua, and a Deputy is sent to the St. Kitt's 
 Assembly. 
 
 bitants, but were happily interrupted by the arrival of Captain Barton, in 
 the Lapwing man-of-war, who brought the French ships to action, sinking 
 the one and taking the other.
 
 J80 THE VIRGIN ISLES— LOCALITY, HISTORY, &C. 
 
 TORTOLA AND THE VIRGIN ISLES. 
 
 Locality. The Virgin Islands, (so named by Columbus, 
 on discovery in 1493, in honour of the 11,000 virgins in the 
 Romish ritual) are a cluster of lofty (except Anegada) islets 
 and rocks, to the number of 50, to the N. W. of the Leeward 
 Islands, extending about 24 leagues from E. to W. and 
 about IG from N. to S. Tortola, the capital, is situate in 
 18.20 N. lat. and 6L39 W. long. 
 
 History. The Virgin Islands are divided between the 
 British, Danes, and Spaniards ; the E. division belong to the 
 former. The names are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, (or Pennis- 
 ton, and sometimes corrupted into /Spanish Toivn), Josvan 
 Dykes, Guana Isle, Beef and Thatch Islands, Anegada, Ni- 
 char. Prickly Pear, Camanas, Ginger, Cooper's, Salt Island, 
 St. Peter's Island, and several others of little or no value.* 
 
 The first possessors of the British Virgin Islands were a 
 party of Dutch buccaneers, who fixed themselves at Tortola 
 about the year 1648, and built a fort for their protection. In 
 1666 they were expelled by a stronger party of the same pro- 
 fession, who took possession in the name of England ; and the 
 English monarch, (Charles II.) availing himself of this circum- 
 stance, shortly thereafter annexed it to the Leeward Island 
 Government, in, a commission granted to Sir William Sta- 
 pleton. 
 
 Physical Aspect of Tortola. A succession of precipi- 
 tous and rugged mountains run E. and W. from one ex- 
 tremity of the island to the other. The shores are indented 
 with bays, harbours, and creeks, and, together with the ad- 
 jacent quays, afford shelter and anchorage for a great extent 
 of shipping. The interior contains large tracts of waste 
 land and pasturage, with zigzag paths skirting the mountain 
 sides, and rendering the interior difficult of access, and of 
 course of cultivation : the soil, however, is thin and impove- 
 
 * The Western division belonging to the Danes are St. Thomas, John's, 
 James, Rlontalvan, Savannahor, Green Island, Brass Isles, Hauseatei, &c.
 
 TORTOLA — ArPEARANCE — rOPULAtlON, &C. 
 
 381 
 
 rished, offering little encouragement for sugar cane planta- 
 tions. 
 
 Capital. The chief town, Tortola, is situate on the S. 
 side of tlie island, close to the water's edge, In the western 
 bight of a magnificent harbour or basin, and forming one 
 long street, curving at the base of a projecting point of land. 
 In front of the town and harbour is a chain of small islands, 
 extending far to the southward, and forming the passage 
 called Sir Francis Drake's Channel. The harbour of Tor- 
 tola, extending thus in length 15 miles and in breadth 3|, 
 perfectly land-locked, has been seen in war time affording 
 shelter to 400 vessels waiting for convoy. 
 
 The Population is, of whites and free coloured males, 787, 
 females, 986. The slave inhabitants were, from 1818 to 1828, 
 
 1^ 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decrease by Death. 
 
 S c" rf 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 S 
 
 1818 
 1822 
 1825 
 1828 
 
 3231 
 29/5 
 2505 
 2510 
 
 3668 
 34S5 
 2931 
 2889 
 
 6899 
 6460 
 5436 
 5399 
 
 266 
 237 
 238 
 
 239 
 
 231 
 221 
 
 505 
 
 46s 
 
 459 
 
 3/1 
 
 168 
 157 
 
 347 
 137 
 
 125 
 
 718 
 305 
 282 
 
 86 
 83 
 90 
 
 There are four free schools in Tortola, with 151 males and 
 260 female scholars, and five places of worship. 
 
 Up to 1773 the government of these islands was entrusted 
 to a Deputy- Governor, with a Council, who exercised in a 
 summary manner both the legislative and executive authority ; 
 but, in the latter year, a local legislature, similar to that of 
 the other islands, was conferred on them, with courts of jus- 
 tice, in consideration of the inhabitants voluntarily (!) of- 
 fering to pay an annual impost of 41 per cent, to the crown 
 upon all the natural productions of the islands. They are 
 now vmder the Government of St. Kitts, but possessing in 
 Tortola a Council and Assembly of their own. The princi- 
 pal articles of export in 1828 was, sugar, 959 hogsheads; 
 rum, 4 puncheons ; molasses, 20 ditto ; cotton, 980 bales ; 
 employing a shipping inwards of 3,632 tons, and outwards of 
 3,184 tons.
 
 382 ANEGADA — VIRGIN GORDA, &C. 
 
 In war time these islands afford a valuable retreat for 
 shipping. On this account I give the following detail of the 
 geographical position of the chief British Virgin settlements : 
 
 * Anegada, or Drowned Island, is the N. easternmost island, of a 
 sen)i-circular form, extending nearly N. W. by W. and S.E. by E. ; its 
 length being about twelve miles, and breadth two and a quarter miles ; 
 surrounded by a reef, which also stretches off from the S. E. end full four 
 leagues, and from its winding form is called the Horse-sboe; this reef has 
 from two to six feet over it, and is extremely dangerous ; no marks can be 
 given to enable the mariner to steer clear of these dangers ; the island of 
 Anegada being so low, that the sea frequently will break almost all over it. 
 Anegada now produces some cotton, and has about 200 inhabitants ; the 
 goats, sheep and cattle are good, and near the southern point fresh water 
 may be obtained. The course from Saba to the eastern part of Virgin 
 Gorda is N.W. i W., and the distance 26 leagues. 
 
 Virgin Gorda. — The Island of Virgin Gorda, or Spanish Town Island, 
 is nearly eight miles long, and of irregular shape, being exceedingly nar- 
 row at both ends, but somewhat broader and higher near the middle; it 
 lies almost in a N. E. and S. W, direction, bending a little circularly toward 
 the northward, and contains 51,900 square acres of land; and is divided 
 into eight districts, possessing 345 plantations. Its exports are sugar, rum, 
 tobacco, indigo, peas, and some cotton, but the latter article seems not to 
 be congenial to the soil, which is dry and sandy; the land is mostly level, 
 and in rainy weather is watered by several small rivulets, but these in 
 summer frequently dry up and disappear; the inhabitants are supported 
 chiefly by potatoes and fish. The island has three harbours, that on the 
 north-east side is called North Sound. Mr. Lockwood says, this is a se- 
 cure port of great capacity, and its entrance is not difficult to discover. 
 It is protected by several islands, between which the passages are narrow, 
 and encumbered with rocks, so that no stranger should attempt them with- 
 out the assistance of a pilot ; but when within the Sound, you lie in great 
 security. The west Bay, on the N.W. side of this island, is more open, 
 and umch frequented, but some rocks under water are situated about the 
 middle of the bay, and must be avoided; the anchorage is to the southward 
 of these rocks ; here you will have eight and ten fathoms, sand and ouze, 
 and lie nearly midway between some islands called the Dogs and Virgin 
 Gorda ; the ground holding well. A better place for anchoring is to the 
 southward, in Thomas's Bay ; here you will ride safe in six, seven, or eight 
 fathoms, directly before the town ; but there is a reef in the middle of the 
 bay, which runs north and south, and many ragged rocks at the bottom, 
 which greatly chafe the cables. The best mark to know Virgin Gorda is 
 the hill, situated near the middle of the island, of moderate height, and
 
 Peter's and norman's islands. SSS 
 
 standing- alone; this in clear weather will be seen seven leagues off. The 
 ground is so clear under the lee of Virgin Gorda, that 300 sail may anchor 
 in the space between the Dogs and the valley. Three miles to the west- 
 ward of St. Thomas's Bay is Scrub Island, and a little to the S. Westward 
 of that is Beef Island ; these form passages into Sir Francis Drake's Bay : 
 you may sail in on either side of the Dogs, or between the Dogs and Scrub 
 and Beef Islands; this latter is the widest passage, but there is a shoal of 
 twelve feet water lying mid-channel, about one mile to the north-eastward 
 of the eastern end of Scrub Island ; this you must be careful to avoid, 
 going on either side of it, which you will easily do, by borrowing near to 
 the islands each way. 
 
 To the S. Westward of Virgin Gorda are a remarkable cluster of ragged 
 Rocks, the apparent effect of some volcanic convulsion of nature ; these 
 are named Old Jerusalem or the Fallen City, the Round Rock, and Ginger 
 Island. Between the two latter is the common passage into the Great Bay, 
 called also Sir Francis Drake's Channel, and King's Channel ; but to the 
 northward of the Round Rock, is a danger under water, with only 11 feet 
 over it. Between Round Rock and Ginger Island the channel is clear, and 
 has 1 8 fathoms water in it, both sides being steep too ; further west are 
 Cooper's and Salt Island ; the passage between Ginger and Cooper's 
 Island is good, and sometimes used ; in it are 11, 18, and 19 fathoms. On 
 your larboard side is the Carvel Rock above water ; but the channel be- 
 tween Cooper's and Salt Island channel has a dangerotcs rock in it, and 
 therefore seldom frequented. 
 
 Peter's Island is a narrow, crooked island, of irregular form ; one-third 
 of a mile off its N. East point is a remarkable rocky islet, called the Dead 
 Chest ; the channel between Peter's Island and the Dead Chest is very 
 clear and good, and consequently much adopted ; but that between the 
 Dead Chest and Salt Island is not so safe, on account of a sunken rock, 
 called the South Rost, over which are only 12 feet water ; this bears from 
 the Dead Chest N. E. by N. distant about half a mile, and may be passed 
 on either side. 
 
 Normand's Island lies about a mile to the south-westward of the S. W. 
 end of Peter's Island ; its length W. S. W. is two miles, and its breadth 
 no where one mile ; its shores are irregular and much indented Avitli 
 coves ; on its western side is Man of War Bay, where vessels may ride in 
 from thirteen to three fathoms, the bottom clear from all danger. To 
 the northward of Norman's Island is the Pelican, or Witch, and near that 
 are four small perpendicular rocks, called the Indians. In passing be- 
 tween Peter and Norman's Islands, you should run in nearer to the 
 latter, for at the S. W. point of the former is a rocky kay, called the 
 Carrot, and a sandy shoal, stretching out a considerable way into the 
 channel; S.W. by S. from the S. W. end of Normand's Island, distant
 
 SBi AREA, PRODUCTIONS, &C. OF EACH ISLAND. 
 
 nearly half a mile, lies a sunken rock, called Santa Monica, with only 1 1 
 feet water over it, and midvVay between Normand's and St. John's Islands 
 is Flanagan Island, off the southern part of whicli is a rocky reef. There 
 are navigable channels on each side of Flanagan Island, only taking care to 
 give a good berth to tlie Santa Monica Rock, in the eastern channel, and 
 to St. John's Island in the western channel, for some sunken dangers lie 
 on that side. These are the islands from the S. Western part of Virgin 
 Gorda to St. John's, which enclose Sir Francis Drake's Channel on the 
 south-eastern side, while St. John's, Tortola, Beef, and Scrub Islands, form 
 its W. and N. W. boundary. 
 
 According to a voluminous statistical table in the posses- 
 sion of James Colquhoun, Esq. the agent for St. Vincent's and 
 several other islands, to whose urbanity and philanthropy I 
 am indebted for many of the facts contained in this volume ; 
 the area of the several Virgin isles in acres were— Anegada 
 31,200; Tortola 13,300; Spanish Town 9,500; Jos Van 
 Dykes 3,200; Peter's Island 1890 ; Beef Island 1560; Guana 
 Island 1,120; and forty other isles, with areas varying 900 
 down to five acres each, comprising in the whole 58,649 
 acres ; of which there Vv'cre in 1823 under sugar canes 3,000 
 acres; cotton grounds 1,000; provisions 2,000 ; pasture land 
 33,. 500 ; forest or brushwood land 11,440; and of barren 
 land but 7,257 acres. The quantity of stock on the island is 
 given at horses 240 ; mules and asses 529 ; horned cattle 
 2,597; sheep 11,442; goats 3,225; pigs 1,825; poultry 44,050 ; 
 and offish caught within the year 15,837,371 lbs. ; and yield- 
 ing altogether an annual production of property to the extent 
 of £100,000. sterling; and with a total aggregate of move- 
 able and immovable property of nearly one million sterling. 
 
 If encouragement were given to the growth of agricultural 
 produce by the remission of duties in England, there are 
 many spots on the Virgin Isles where industrious Britons 
 M'ould find a livelihood, instead of perishing of want at home.
 
 385 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE BAHAMAS. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY — ASPECT — GEOLOGY — CLIMATE — POPULATION- 
 PRODUCTIONS — FINANCES— GOVERNMENT, WASTE LANDS, &C. 
 
 Locality. This singular group of isles, reefs, and quays, 
 termed the Lucayos,* or Bahamas, extend in a crescent-Uke 
 form; from the Matanilla Reef in 27.50 N. lat. and 79.5 W. 
 long. ; to Turks Island in 21.23 N. lat. and 71.5 W. long., a 
 distance of about 600 miles, not including various sand banks 
 and coral reefs, stretching to a great extent eastward. 
 
 History. One of the Bahama isles, St. Salvador,-}- is cele- 
 brated as being the first land discovered by the immortal na- 
 vigator on the 12th of October, 1492, when he made this 
 advanced post of a new world. The Bahamas were then 
 densely peopled by the mild and happy Indian race, who 
 were soon shipped off to work in the mines of Peru and 
 Mexico, when the Spaniards began their search for gold. 
 In 1629 New Providence was colonized by English, (the na- 
 tives were then totally extinct) who remained there till 1611, 
 when the Spaniards drove them from the islands, murdered 
 the Governor, and committed many acts of savage cruelty. 
 In 1666 the English again colonized in the Bahamas, and 
 New Providence remained in their hands till 1703, when the 
 French and Spaniards again expelled them, and destroyed 
 their plantations. The Bahamas now became a rendezvous 
 for pirates, whose proceedings, so hurtful to commerce, were 
 only finally suppressed by Capt. Woodes Rogers, of the 
 British navy, who was established as Governor, and soon re- 
 duced the outlaws to obedience. After this some of the other 
 islands became inhabited, and remained quietly in our pos- 
 
 * This word probably owes its origin to the Spanish words los cayos, 
 (Angliee, the keys.) 
 t Guanahani, now called Cat Island. 
 VOL. II. C C
 
 386 HISTORY OF THE BAHAMAS PHYSICAL ASPECT. 
 
 session until the American war, when, in 1776, Commodore 
 Hopkins, with a squadron from Philadelphia, attacked and 
 plundered the settlement, and carried off the Governor. In 
 1781 the Spaniards took possession of the isles, but they 
 were restored to the British crown by treaty in 1783, having, 
 however, been previously captured for England by the enter- 
 prising Col. Devaux, of South Carolina. The Bahamas have 
 ever since remained in our possession, and the historian is not 
 called on to narrate any further event of importance to Great 
 Britain as connected with them. 
 
 Physical Aspect. Amidst a group of several hundred 
 islets none are elevated ; they are evidently the work of 
 that extraordinary being — the coral insect,* who, with all 
 his apparent insignificance, has created many beautiful and 
 habitable spots for the dwelling and cvdture of man. Some 
 of the Bahamas are inhabited, others present to the eye a 
 few plantations, the remainder are tenantless, though doubt- 
 less suited for culture, if there were an abundant population 
 desirous of obtaining food. Generally speaking, the Baha- 
 mas are low and flat, indeed little elevated, even in their 
 highest points, above the level of the sea, nevertheless, their 
 verdant appearances render them extremely prepossessing. 
 It will be suflicient to particularize a few of the principal of 
 our possessions in the group. 
 
 New Providence, from its harbour and relative situation 
 with respect to the Florida Channel, is considered the most 
 important of the Bahamas, and on it is situate Nassau, the 
 seat of Government for the isles, and the head-quarters of 
 the naval and military establishments. The island is about 
 21 miles in length from E. to W. and 7 in breadth from N. 
 to S. mostly flat, and covered with brushwood and extensive 
 lagoons ; a range of hilly rocks runs along part of the island, 
 at a very short distance from the sea, in a direction E. and W. 
 On this ridge many of the buildings of Nassau are constructed, 
 including the Government House, and at its extremity to the 
 
 * The ocean close to the isles is of an unfathomable depth ; reefs of 
 rocks, or rather walls of coral, bound the islands after the manner ob- 
 servable in the South sea isles.
 
 LOCALITY OF THE BAHAMA ISLES. 387 
 
 W. are the barracks and Fort Charlotte. Another ridge, 
 called the Blue Hills, runs in a direction nearly parallel with 
 the former, and at about 2| miles distance. Hog Island is 
 little more than a reef of rocks, which forms part of the N. 
 harbour of New Providence. Rose Island, to the N. and 
 E. of New Providence, is about 9 miles long and k broad. It 
 affords protection to ' Cochrane's Anchorage.' Harbour 
 Island is 5 miles long and 2 broad, lat. 25.29 N. long. 76.34 
 W. very healthy, and a favourite resort for convalescents. 
 Turks' Island, lat. -2 1.32 N. long. 71.05 W. principal mart 
 for salt making, peculiarly healthy, and a point of military im- 
 portance in regard to St. Domingo. North and South 
 BiMiNis. These isles are about seven miles long, in Lat. 
 25.40 N. Long. 79.18 W. healthy, well wooded and watered, 
 capacious anchorage, and in the event of a war highly im- 
 portant for the protection of the trade of the gulf of Florida, 
 to the E, of which they are situate. The anchorage on the 
 gulf side can admit any class of shipping. 
 
 An idea of the number and extent of the isles'* will be con- 
 veyed by the following statement of the lands in the Bahamas, 
 from an official return dated in 1827. 
 
 * Those not mentioned above are in chief— 
 
 Andros long (22 leagues) and irregular, to the W. of New Providence, 8 leagues. Be- 
 tween them a tongue of ocean water runs in S. E. as far as Lat. 23° 21', called the Gulf of 
 Providence: access difficult from reefs. Off its S. E. end are the Espirito Santo Isles. The 
 Berry Islands, an irregular group. Several small harbours formed by them, where re- 
 freshments may he had. The S. E. of these islands are denominated the Frozen Kays, and 
 the N.the Stirrup Kays. Off the northernmost of the latter there is anchorage on the bank, 
 in Lat. 25° 49^. The Gre.vt and Little Isaacs. — W. 3 N., 18 miles from Little Stirrup Kay, 
 is the easternmost of three small kays, called th« Little Isaacs, and five miles fuithcr, is the 
 westernmost kay of the same name : these are from 50 to 6i) or 70 feet in length ; the middle 
 kay is not so large. These kays are situated on the western end of the Gingerbread Ground, 
 which extends five leagues E. by S. from the westernmost rock, or Little Isaac, is about five 
 miles wide near the east end, and has some dangerous sharp rocks upon it, with only seven 
 to nine feet water. The Naraxjos, or two Oraxoe Kays, lie four miles within the edge of 
 the bank, in lat. 24» 55', and long. 79" '' . Elkuthera extends E. 9 leagues, S. E. 4 ditto, 
 and S. i E. 12 leagues. Guajjahani, or Cat Isl.vnd N. W. 8i leagues, E. 4 S. from Powel's 
 Point, in Eleuthera; it thence extends south eastward, 15 leagues, having a breadth of three 
 to seven miles. Eleven miles S. E. from Cat Island is Conception Island, of abont seven 
 miles in length N. E. and S. W., and three miles in breadth. Yima, or Lovo Island, 17 
 leagues in length from S. E. to N. W. S. by W., \1\ leagues from the S. point of Long 
 Island, is Cayo Verde or Green Kay. From Cayo Verde the edge of tlie bank forms a great 
 and deep bay to the N. W., in the S. W. part of which is Cayo de Sal, at the distance of 1 
 leagues from the former. Egg Island is small, in Lat 25. 31. 
 There are many smaller kays and rocks too numerous to mention.
 
 388 
 
 AREA OF EACH BAHAMA ISLE, AND CROWN LANDS. 
 
 New Providence, Hog Island, Rose Isle 
 
 and Keys - - - - - 
 
 Andros Islands, Sheep, Grass and Green 
 
 Keys _.-.-- 
 Berry Islands, Biminis and Chain of 
 
 Keys -___-- 
 Graml Bahama and its Keys 
 Great and Little Abaco, and Chain of 
 
 Keys _.-_-- 
 Harbour Island - - - - - 
 Eleuthera, Royal and Egg Islands, and 
 
 Keys - 
 
 St. Salvador and Leeward Little Isle 
 Watling's and Windward Little Isles 
 Great and Little Exuma . - - 
 Rum Key ------ 
 
 Ragged Island and Keys . - - 
 Long Island - - _ - - 
 
 Crooked and Acklin's Islands and Long 
 
 Keys ------ 
 
 Atwood Keys - - - - - 
 
 Mayaguana and French Keys 
 Great and Little Heneague - - . 
 The Ca'cos Islands _ - _ - 
 Turk's Island - - - . - 
 Keysal and Anguilla, &c. 
 
 Total acres - 
 
 Acres 
 Granted. 
 
 Acres 
 Vacant. 
 
 33,281 
 
 25,380 
 
 2,116 
 6,019 
 
 24,715 
 
 43,922 
 50,868 
 18,015 
 32,876 
 15,434 
 
 67,260 
 
 31,509 
 
 6,210 
 37,881 
 
 408,486 
 
 31,000 
 
 475,000 
 
 18,000 
 282,000 
 
 296,000 
 1,000 
 
 227,000 
 
 190,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 58,000 
 
 5,000 
 
 3,000 
 
 86,000 
 
 130,000 
 
 18,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 351,000 
 
 171,000 
 
 9,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 Total. 
 Area. 
 
 64,281 
 
 500.380 
 
 20,116 
 288,019 
 
 320,715 
 1,000 
 
 270,922 
 
 240,922 
 
 28,015 
 
 90,876 
 
 20,434 
 
 3,000 
 
 163,260 
 
 161,509 
 
 18,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 367,210 
 
 208,881 
 
 9,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 2,434,000 
 
 2,842,000 
 
 Remaining in possession of the Crown, acres 2,434,000 
 in the Bahama Isles. 
 
 Geology. The Bahamas are formed of calcareous rocks, 
 which are composed of corals, shells, Madrepores, and 
 various marine deposits, hardened into solid masses in the 
 revolutions of ages. The deposits appear to have been 
 thrown up in regular strata at various periods, and their 
 upper surface deeply honey-combed, bears evident marks of 
 having been long covered by the waters of the ocean. No 
 primitive formation has been formed, and the bases of the 
 islands are evidently coral reefs, originating with the Mol- 
 luscae, which, unpossessed of locomotive powers, have organic 
 functions destined for the secretion of the lime required for 
 their calcareous coverings. Marl is formed on many of the 
 out islands, and here and there strata of argillaceous earth
 
 GEOLOGY AND FINE CLIMATE OF THE BAHAMAS. 389 
 
 may be met with. Meteoric stones have been discovered rudely 
 sculptured with human features, by the Aborigines, but 
 whether found on the island or brought thither it is impossi- 
 ble to say, and at Turks' Island a great number of cal- 
 careous balls have been found, all bearing an indentation as 
 though they had been suspended to a pedicle : — their origin 
 or nature is equally unknown. In confirmation of the idea that 
 these islands have been raised from the bottom of the ocean 
 on pillars of coral after the manner of the E. and southern 
 hemisphere, it may be stated many of their salt water lakes 
 and ponds communicate with the ocean, as shewn by their sea 
 fish, many of them are so deep as not to allow soundings, and 
 the water in them rises and falls with the tides on the coast. 
 
 Climate. Situated at the mouth of the gulf of Florida, 
 placed by geographical position without the tropics, removed 
 from the excessive heat of a vertical sun, and the intense 
 cold of a northern winter, the Bahamas enjoy a climate mild, 
 equable and delightful; to the islands within the torrid zone 
 they are nearly akin, in the little variety of season, the 
 natural productions of the earth and the manners and customs 
 of the people, but the decided difference in the mean 
 annual temperature, and the more robust and healthy ap- 
 pearance of all classes of the community, gives to the 
 Bahamas all the appearances of a country situate in a more 
 temperate latitude. The summer and winter, (hot and cold), 
 the wet and dry seasons are well marked ; the cold season 
 lasts from November to May, during which period the sky is 
 remarkably clear and serene, the mercury at noon F. oc- 
 casionally below 60 seldom beyond 70 or 75, while a re- 
 freshing N. breeze tempers the mid-day heat, and the mornings 
 and evenings are cool and invigorating. From May to Nov. 
 the heat increases and decreasesas the sun advances and retires 
 from its great northern declination. The thermometer ranges 
 from 75 to 85 F. rarely higher; a fine breeze frequently 
 blows from the E. with cooling showers of rain, before the 
 summer solstice and towards the autumnal equinox. The 
 mornings have then a peculiar freshness, and the evenings a
 
 J90 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE POPULATION. 
 
 softness and beauty unknown to colder countries. From the 
 flatness of the isles the full benefit of the sea breezes is felt 
 throughout every part of each island. The health of the 
 climate will be indicated by the fact that out of a population 
 of 1,148 at Harbour island, no funeral took place from the 
 5th of June to the 12th of November, while with the same 
 population 20 or 30 would have expired in any part of 
 Europe ; and at Nassau the proportion of deaths to the po- 
 pulation was, in 1826, only 1 in 45, which is less than the 
 mortality of England. 
 
 The following is a Meteorological Table for Nassau, New 
 Providence : — 
 
 
 THERMOM. 
 
 WIND. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Max. 
 
 Med. 
 
 Min. 
 
 
 
 January - - 
 
 80 
 
 69 
 
 58 
 
 S. N.E. N.E. N. 
 
 Strong' breezes and cloudv. 
 
 February 
 
 78 
 
 73 
 
 68 
 
 N.E. S.E. N.E. 
 
 IModerate and variable. 
 
 March - - 
 
 84 
 
 76 
 
 68 
 
 N.E. S.E. N.E. N. 
 
 Clear and squally. 
 
 April - - - 
 
 84 
 
 78 
 
 73 
 
 E. N.E. S.E. N.W. 
 
 Ditto, little rain. 
 
 May - - - 
 
 87 
 
 79 
 
 74 
 
 Variable. 
 
 Moderate showers. 
 
 June - - - 
 
 89 
 
 83 
 
 77 
 
 Ditto. 
 
 Clear and drv. 
 
 July - - - 
 
 92 
 
 S7 
 
 83 
 
 S.E. E. S. N.E. 
 
 Mild and clear. 
 
 August - - 
 
 94 
 
 88 
 
 84 
 
 N.E. E. N.W. S. 
 
 Squalls, with rain. 
 
 September - 
 
 93 
 
 S7 
 
 83 
 
 N E. N. N.W. S. 
 
 Clear, showery, and hazy. 
 
 October - - 
 
 86 
 
 80 
 
 74 
 
 E. N E. N.W. 
 
 IVIild, rain, and squally. 
 
 November - 
 
 84 
 
 74 
 
 68 
 
 S. S.W. W. N.W. 
 
 Moderate and squally. 
 
 December - 
 
 82 
 
 70 
 
 68 
 
 S.S.W. N.W. 
 
 Variable, mild, clear. 
 
 Population. Of the early population we know nothing 
 certain ; the slaves are thus detailed before Parliament : — 
 
 i 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Increase by Birth. 
 
 Decr( 
 Males. 
 
 ;ase by Death. 
 
 ii"^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 1822 
 1825 
 1828 
 1831 
 
 5529 
 46/0 
 4608 
 
 47/7 
 
 5279 
 
 4594 
 4660 
 4928 
 
 10,808 
 9,284 
 9.268 
 
 9,705 
 
 417 
 437 
 
 392 
 
 426 
 
 S09 
 863 
 1100 
 
 266 
 244 
 
 162 
 171 
 
 428 
 
 415 
 433 
 
 84 
 118 
 19»
 
 WHITE, FREE COLOURED AND SLAVES IN THE BAHAMAS. 391 
 
 According to a census in 1826, the population was : — 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Coloured, Free. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Total. 
 
 King's 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 including 
 Families. 
 
 2297 
 
 2291 
 
 897 
 
 1362 
 
 4592 
 
 4594 
 
 7786 
 
 8247 
 
 380 
 
 The aggregate of the population from 1822 to 1831 was — 
 
 
 White and 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 Wliite and 
 
 
 
 
 Free Col. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Total. 1 
 
 I 
 
 
 Free Col. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 <u 
 
 
 <u 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s 
 
 •3 
 
 •3 
 
 a 
 
 _a) 
 
 "a 
 
 a 
 
 ■a 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 
 ■a 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 •3 
 a 
 
 
 •3 
 
 >• 
 
 S 
 
 ph 
 
 § 
 
 h 
 
 s 
 
 & 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 u< 
 
 S 
 
 s, 
 
 1822 
 
 2,702 
 
 3,220 
 
 5,251 
 
 5,019 
 
 7,953 
 
 8,239 
 
 1827 3,164 
 
 3,626 
 
 4,690 
 
 4,724 
 
 7,854 
 
 8,350 
 
 lSi3 
 
 2,712 
 
 3,246 
 
 5,151 
 
 5,019 
 
 7,963 
 
 8,265 
 
 1828 3,214 
 
 3,731 
 
 4,691 
 
 4,606 
 
 7,903 
 
 8,337 
 
 1824 3,149 
 
 3,610 
 
 5,251 
 
 5,019 
 
 8,400 
 
 8,629 
 
 1829 3,368 
 
 3,863 
 
 4,692 
 
 4,606 
 
 8,060 
 
 8,469 
 
 182.5! 3,149 
 
 3,610 
 
 4,592 
 
 4,594 
 
 7,761 
 
 8,204 
 
 1830 3,368 
 
 3,863 
 
 4,692 
 
 4,606 
 
 8,060 
 
 8,469 
 
 1826 
 
 3,194 
 
 3,653 
 
 4,592 
 
 4,594 
 
 7,786 
 
 8,247 
 
 1831 
 
 3,668 
 
 3,863 
 
 4,727 
 
 4,830 
 
 8,095 
 
 8,693 
 
 Produce and Commerce. European and tropical vege- 
 tables and fruits thrive and are abundant ; beef, mutton and 
 poultry, good and plentiful ; the shores abound with fish, and 
 there is turtle enough among the Bahamas to supply all 
 Europe ; almost every island has pretty good water ; am- 
 bergris is occasionally found ; cotton was formerly an abun- 
 dant article of exportation, and there is scarcely a spot in any 
 of the islands that is not covered with a luxuriant vegetation. 
 
 Ship timber, of a most excellent quality, is abundant on many 
 of the Bahama islands; logwood, brazilletto, fustic, green 
 ebony, and satin wood, are produced in considerable quan- 
 tities, for building or planking vessels ; the cedar, horseflesh, 
 madeira, mastic, and other durable woods, in great plenty, 
 and there is an inexhaustible supply of very superior fire- 
 wood; sponges of good quality abound on the island shores, 
 and the water from the wells at New Providence has the de- 
 sirable quality of keeping good at sea for any length of time. 
 
 The agricultaral stock in the Bahamas in 1831 consisted 
 of 1,165 horses, asses, and mules ; 3,250 horned cattle, 5,975 
 sheep and goats ; and 3755 swine. The quantity of produce 
 raised was 30,350 bushels of Indian corn (at 4,s. 4^d. market 
 price per bushel); 74,250 lbs of potatoes and yams (at 6s, per
 
 892 
 
 VARIED PRODUCE AND COMMERCE EMIGRATION. 
 
 cwt.) ; 3225 bushels of peas and beans (at 5s. lOd, per bushel) ; 
 38,465 dozen of pine apples (at 2s. per dozen) ; 22 tons of 
 cotton (at 5d. per pound) ; 30,500 melons and pumpkins (at 3s. 
 per doz.); 31,300 lbs. of ocre (at 2d. per lb.) ; and 19 tons of 
 cassada, or cassavaj (vide Bi'itish Guyana for a description), at 
 10*. per cwt. 
 
 The principal articles of export in 1831 were, cotton 69 
 bales ; bark 70,320 lbs. ; brazi^ictto 255 tons ; fustic, 308 
 tons. The value of the imports in 1831 was £91,561. ; and 
 of the exports £74,B58. ; employing a shipping inwards of 
 48,765 tons, and outwards of 54,264 tons. When we observe 
 that there are nearly two millions and a half of acres of land 
 in these isles unoccupied, and admit that half are fit for the 
 support of human life, I cannot see any reason, any justice, or 
 state policy, in leaving thousands to starve at home when we 
 should be offering every encouragement to the unemployed 
 to accept of and till the waste colonial lands. 
 
 Finance, &c. The revenue of the settlement is raised 
 after the manner adopted in the other West India settle- 
 ments. 
 
 The gross Revenue and Expenditure in £ sterling, from 
 1821 to 1831, is stated in official documents to have been: — 
 
 Years, 
 
 REVENUE. 
 
 EXPENDITURE. 
 
 
 Colonial. 
 
 Parliamentary 
 Grant. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Civil. 
 
 Military. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1821 
 
 8,419 
 
 3,147 
 
 11,566 
 
 14,642 
 
 206 
 
 14,848 
 
 1822 
 
 16,297 
 
 3,343 
 
 19,(i40 
 
 17,316 
 
 223 
 
 17,539 
 
 1823 
 
 17,836 
 
 3,413 
 
 21,249 
 
 No return. 
 
 14,834 
 
 1824 
 
 10,699 
 
 3,413 
 
 14,112 
 
 — 
 
 16,686 
 
 1825 
 
 11,355 
 
 4,782 
 
 19,137 
 
 — 
 
 17,367 
 
 1826 
 
 13,1/5 
 
 3,!<97 
 
 17,172 
 
 — 
 
 18,329 
 
 1827 
 
 11,853 
 
 4,880 
 
 16,513 
 
 25,810 
 
 790 
 
 26,600 
 
 1828 
 
 15.210 
 
 3,252 
 
 18,462 
 
 17,395 
 
 31,279 
 
 48,674 
 
 1829 
 
 17,092 
 
 3,252 
 
 20,344 
 
 24,343 
 
 28,839 
 
 63,182 
 
 1830 
 
 14,691 
 
 3,252 
 
 17,943 
 
 19,266 
 
 28,831 
 
 48,117 
 
 1831 
 
 19,147 
 
 3,262 
 
 22,399 
 
 20,413 
 
 25,920 
 
 46,333 
 
 The number of free or public schools is seven, with 227 
 male, and 231 female scholars. There are 41 places of wor- 
 ship, maintained at the expense of about £2,000 per annum.
 
 FORM OF GOVERNMENT CAPITAL, &C. BAHAMAS. 393 
 
 Government. As in the other West India possessions 
 the Government of the Bahamas is modelled after that of 
 England, viz. a House of Assembly, or Commons, consisting 
 of between twenty and thirty members, returned from the 
 several islands, a Council of twelve members, approved by the 
 crown, and a Governor, who is Commander-in-chief of the 
 militia, and has the power of summoning and dissolving the 
 legislative body, and of putting a negative on its proceedings. 
 The Electors are free white persons, of twenty-one years 
 of age, who have resided twelve months within the Govern- 
 ment, for six months of which they must have been house- 
 holders, or freeholders, or in default of that have paid duties 
 to the amount of £50. To become a representative the 
 person must have 200 acres of cultivated land, or property to 
 the value of £2,000 currency. 
 
 There are several Courts at Law, such as the Supreme 
 Court, which holds its sessions in terms of three weeks, with 
 the powers of the common law at Westminster, and its 
 practice modelled on that of the King's Bench, the Courts of 
 Chancery, Error, Vice-Admiralty, &c. 
 
 Nassau in New Providence, as before observed, is the seat 
 of Government and the centre of commerce ; it possesses a 
 fine harbour, nearly land locked, and on the S. side of which 
 the capital extends over a rather steep acclivity to the summit 
 of a ridge, the W. of which is crowned by a fortress of consi- 
 derable strength, where the garrison is kept. The island is 
 divided into parishes, each of which has its church, clergy, 
 and school, liberally provided for. The streets are regularly 
 laid out, the public buildings good ; and there is an air of 
 liveliness and cleanliness which immediately attracts the eye 
 of a stranger. 
 
 In conclusion — I should be rejoiced to see Government 
 granting the unoccupied lands in the Bahamas in fee simple, 
 and in perpetuity to any responsible individual who might 
 either settle thereon himself, or locate others who possess 
 industry without the means to render it available, either for 
 their own advantage or for the welfare of the state.
 
 394 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE BERMUDAS, OR SOxMER ISLES. 
 
 LOCALITY — HISTORY — PHYSICAL ASPECT — GEOLOGY — CLIMATE — POPULA- 
 TION — PRODUCTIONS, GOVERNMENT, &C. 
 
 Locality. The Bermudas, or Somer Isles, exceeding 300 
 in number, lie in the Atlantic Ocean, in lat. 32.20 N., long. 
 64.50 W. about 600 miles E. of South Carolina, the nearest 
 point of North America, and containing about 14,000 acres of 
 land. 
 
 History. They were discovered in 1522 by J. Bermudez, 
 a Spaniard, who found them uninhabited.* Sir George 
 Somers was wrecked upon them in 1609, and made his way 
 to Virginia in a vessel constructed of cedar, which did not 
 contain an ounce of iron, excepting one bolt in the keel. They 
 were settled shortly after from Virginia and England, but 
 disputes for some time prevailed respecting the rights of the 
 Virginia Company. They have ever since remained in the 
 uninterrupted possession of England, and at one time at- 
 tracted great attention from their salubrity and picturesque 
 scenery. 
 
 Physical Aspect, ^\^len viewed from a ship at sea, the 
 Bermudas appear to have but a trifling elevation com- 
 pared with the bold and lofty aspect of many of our West 
 India Islands ; indeed the surface is very irregular, seldom 
 presenting any lofty elevations, the highest land not exceed- 
 ing 200 feet. The principal islands (St. George's, Ireland, 
 St. David, Somerset, Paget, Longbird and Smith's) together 
 with the minor islands, lie in such a manner as to form several 
 bays, some of which are capacious and deep enough to afford 
 harbour for the whole British navy, but difficult of ingress and 
 egress ; St. Georges's, the main island, Somerset and Ireland, 
 
 * May, an Englishman, is said to have been wrecked there at an earlier 
 period, and with his companions built a vessel, in which he returned to 
 England.
 
 PECULIAR PHYSICAL ASPECT OF THE BERMUDAS. 395 
 
 form a chain, with very httle interruption, for about thirty 
 miles long, seldom exceeding in breadth two miles, (re- 
 sembling a shepherd's crook) running nearly E. and W., 
 St. George's being the E. and Somerset and Ireland the W. ; 
 it appears, in fact, as if an extensive island had disappeared 
 in some convulsion of nature, leaving above water only a long 
 narrow ridge, without either mountains or vallies, rivers, 
 forests or plains. Groves of cedars are here and there 
 detached on little plateaus of rising ground ; and the nu- 
 merous basins (some sixteen miles in circumference) formed 
 by the islands give very much the appearance of lake scenery. 
 The N. shore is defended by the heavy sea from any ap- 
 proach to the island on that side (except through the chan- 
 nel) and by innumerable sunken rocks, which form a shoal, with 
 little interruption, for the whole length of the islands, and 
 stretching in a N. E. direction for nearly ten miles, leave but 
 a narrow and intricate passage for shipping, which is close to 
 the shore, and defended by several strong batteries. The 
 S. coast is bold, and guarded by sunken rocks in a manner 
 similar to the north shore. 
 
 The island of St. George, the military station of the colony, 
 and formerly the seat of Government, is about 3 miles long, 
 and at no part exceeding half a mile broad ; it lies at the 
 entrance of the only passage for ships of burthen. The town 
 of St. George is situate on the S. side of the E. extremity of 
 the island, in a sort of amphitheatre, low built, and with 
 narrow streets. 
 
 Geology. A stone called " Bermuda rock," and peculiar 
 to the place, forms, with few exceptions, the basis of the 
 islands and minor rocks ; it is extremely porous — so much so 
 as to be unfit for filtering stones ; at first sight it closely 
 resembles loose sandstone, but on minute inspection will be 
 found to consist of a congeries of comminuted shells ce- 
 mented together, and occasionally including larger and tole- 
 rably perfect portions of shells ; the layers of this stone are 
 stratified, and the dip varies very much in the direction it 
 
 * Vide introduction, for Plato's account of ' Atalantis.'
 
 396 
 
 GEOLOGY AND CLIMATE OF THE BERMUDAS. 
 
 takes and the angle it forms with the horizon ; the stone is 
 easily wrought with axes and saws, is naturally friable, but 
 becomes harder when exposed to the atmosphere, and 
 changing from a whitish to a bluish grey colour ; it is used in 
 the principal buildings — for when covered with cement or 
 lime it is impervious to the rain or damp, and was therefore 
 at one time an article of extensive export to the United States 
 of America. 
 
 The soil is of a reddish brown colour, and in some places, 
 as at Ireland isle, bearing strong marks of oxyde of iron. 
 Round the coast there are some districts with a strong tena- 
 cious blue clay — in others a micaceous, kneadable brick earth ; 
 and again, an argillaceous soil, with luxuriant pasturage. 
 There is no other point in the geology worth noticing. 
 
 Climate. The climate is favourable to European health, 
 and may be said to be a perpetual summer. The meteoro- 
 logical register for the year is — 
 
 
 THERMOM. 
 
 
 
 
 
 WINDS. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 - 
 
 Max. 
 
 Med. 
 
 Min. 
 
 
 January - 
 
 64 
 
 66 
 
 63 
 
 N.W. 
 
 Cold, frequent rain. 
 
 February - 
 
 60 
 
 63 
 
 59 
 
 N.E 
 
 Ditto. 
 
 March - - 
 
 62 
 
 63 
 
 61 
 
 N.W. by W. 
 
 IVIore temperate, gentle breezes. 
 
 April - - 
 
 76 
 
 1^ 
 
 75 
 
 S.E. 
 
 Warm, and showers. 
 
 May - - 
 
 78 
 
 80 
 
 11 
 
 S.S.E. 
 
 Sultry, ditto, thunder. 
 
 June - - 
 
 83 
 
 86 
 
 84 
 
 kS.W. 
 
 Hot, light breezes. 
 
 July - - 
 August - - 
 
 11 
 
 79 
 
 11 
 
 E. 
 
 Ditto, thunder storms. 
 
 11 
 
 79 
 
 79 
 
 S.E. 
 
 Sultry, heavy showers. 
 
 September - 
 
 11 
 
 79 
 
 78 
 
 S.W. by W. 
 
 Hot, frequent ditto. 
 
 October - 
 
 78 
 
 79 
 
 75 
 
 N.E. 
 
 Stormy, heavy rains. 
 
 November - 
 
 69 
 
 71 
 
 69 
 
 N.W. 
 
 Cold, with heavy rain. 
 
 December - 
 
 61 
 
 65 
 
 61 
 
 N.E. 
 
 Ditto, thunder and lightning. 
 
 Water is supplied to the inhabitants all the year round from 
 tanks, in which it is collected during rain. 
 
 Vegetation, &c. The cedar grows to a great height in 
 many places, and would seem in several parts to spring from 
 the bare rock ; it is used for ship-building ; the palmetto is 
 much cultivated for the making of straw hats, but arrow-root
 
 VEGETABLE KINGDOM AND POPULATION. 
 
 397 
 
 seems to be the staple of the island, and machinery has re- 
 cently been imported for its preparation ; coffee, cotton, 
 indigo, tobacco, &;c. are grown as good as in the West India 
 islands, as do also all the fine fruits and vegetables of the 
 tropics. There are no wild animals, the feathered tribe is 
 confined to a few varieties, but the sea around teems with 
 fish, and the whale is pursued with great animation, and 
 killed for the sake of his oil and bone. 
 
 Population. The latest returns before me of the number 
 of inhabitants are the census of 1822, 1828, and 1831. 
 
 
 White and Free 
 Coloured. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Total 
 Males. 
 
 Total 
 
 Years. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Females. 
 
 1822 
 1828 
 1831 
 
 2,209 
 1,872 
 2,135 
 
 3,161 
 2,771 
 5,193 
 
 2,620 
 1,825 
 1,825 
 
 2,622 
 2,002 
 2,090 
 
 4,899 
 3,697 
 3,960 
 
 5,783 
 4,773 
 6,282 
 
 At one of the late censuses there were in each parish, 
 
 
 1 
 
 < 
 
 Whites. 
 
 Free Blacks. Slaves. | Total. 
 
 •a 
 
 PARISH. 
 
 01 
 
 .2 
 "3 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 •3 
 B 
 
 ■3 
 
 ■3 
 E 
 
 fa 
 
 ■3 
 
 i 
 
 "3 
 
 fa 
 
 u > 
 
 11 
 
 
 s 
 
 St. George . . 
 
 Hamilton 
 
 Smiths 
 
 Devonshire .. 
 Pembroke .... 
 
 Pagets 
 
 Warwick .... 
 Southampton 
 Sandys 
 
 1,580 
 1,651 
 1,281 
 1,281 
 1,281 
 1,281 
 1,281 
 1,281 
 1,507 
 
 204 
 139 
 64 
 100 
 348 
 164 
 209 
 141 
 195 
 
 26- 
 194 
 130 
 198 
 491 
 263 
 311 
 198 
 289 
 
 90 
 
 31 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 68 
 24 
 25 
 18 
 28 
 
 110 
 45 
 
 7 
 
 42 
 103 
 33 
 31 
 25 
 34 
 
 220 
 164 
 106 
 113 
 310 
 221 
 158 
 183 
 350 
 
 210 
 188 
 120 
 124 
 336 
 245 
 198 
 256 
 325 
 
 514 
 324 
 
 177 
 
 230 
 726 
 409 
 392 
 342 
 573 
 
 687 
 427 
 257 
 364 
 930 
 541 
 540 
 470 
 648 
 
 1,525 
 1,620 
 1,265 
 1,246 
 1,226 
 1,216 
 1,256 
 1,200 
 1,408 
 
 Total.. 
 
 12,424 
 
 1,564 
 
 2,341 
 
 308 
 
 430 
 
 1,825 
 
 2,002 
 
 3,687 
 
 4,764 
 
 12,662 
 
 The parliamentary return whence the foregoing is derived, 
 gives minute statistics for each parish, the aggregate of which 
 is (for 1826), births, 299; marriages, 34; deaths, 219. 
 Persons employed in agriculture, 689 ; manufactures, 71 ; 
 commerce, 591. Number of scholars, males, 274 ; females, 
 233. Acres of land in onions, 50; arrow-root, 51 ; potatoes, 
 197; barley and oats, 57; garden vegetables, 106: — total
 
 398 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS — GOVERNMENT FINANCES, &C. 
 
 acres, 461 ; the produce of which was, onions, 328,830 lbs. at 
 6*. 8f/. per 100 lbs. ; arrow-root, 18,174 lbs. atl*. 8^/. per lb. ; 
 potatoes, 10,404 bushels, at 4*. 4f/. per bushel ; barley, 435 
 bushels, at ditto ; garden vegetables, G5,8001bs. at \\d. per lb.; 
 Number of horses, 2o0 ; horned cattle, 1,538; sheep, 228; 
 and goats, 199. The colonial revenue is about £ 10,000 per 
 annum,* of which £ 6,000 is derived from custom duties. 
 The value of the trade inwards in 1831 was £79,953; out- 
 wards, £27,428, and the shipping inward, tons, 15,500.f 
 
 The colonists have their own Legislative Assembly and 
 council; the men are distinguished for their industry, the 
 women for their beauty, and both sexes are celebrated for 
 their morals and hospitality. Although the Bermudas are 
 not, properly speaking, West India settlement, they are, 
 or I should now say have been, always included among the 
 western slave colonies, I have, therefore, given this brief 
 sketch of these singular isles of the Atlantic, the origin of 
 which I am unable to account for, unless I consider them the 
 remains of the vast continent Atalantis, which, tradition in- 
 forms us, sunk beneath the ocean. 
 
 * Bermudas Gross Revenue and Expenditure in pounds sterling :— 
 
 
 REVENUE. 
 
 
 
 Colonial. 
 
 Parliamentary 
 Grant. 
 
 Total. 
 
 EXPENDITTRE. 
 
 182S 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 
 .0,789 
 10,.S97 
 13,902 
 
 9,484 
 
 4,000 
 4,000 
 4,000 
 4,000 
 
 13,789 
 14,397 
 17,802 
 13,484 
 
 27,813 
 15,834 
 15,452 
 1G,200 
 
 t la 1825 there was of sugar exported 406,347 lbs.; of nun, 1 13,636 gal. 
 of molasses, 7,744 lbs. ; and of coffee, 9,400. This amount of staple W. I. 
 produce has of late years diminished.
 
 399 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 HONDURAS. 
 
 LOCALITY — EARLY HISTORY — PHYSICAL ASPECT — GEOLOGY — CLIMATE — 
 RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS — NATURAL PRODUCTIONS — COMMERCE— GO- 
 VERNMENT — FINANCES STATE OF SOCIETY, &C. &C. 
 
 Locality. The British settlement of Honduras, in the Pro- 
 vince of Yucutan, is situate in the southern part of the North 
 American continent, between the parallels of 17 and 19 
 N. lat. and 88 to 90 W. long., on a peninsula extending from 
 the W. side of the Bay of Honduras (that either gives or takes 
 its name from the settlement) to the sea, northwardly forming 
 the Bay of Campeachy on the W. and the Bay of Honduras* 
 on the E. side of the peninsular, the coast here extending 
 about 270 miles — but the inland boundaries are ill-defined. 
 According to Henderson, the line which includes the set- 
 tlement commences at the mouth of the Rio-Grande, or 
 Hondo, whose course it follows and afterwards runs parallel 
 with for thirty miles — then, turning S., passes through the 
 New River Lake, in a straight line, to the river Balize, up 
 which it ascends for a considerable distance — and then asfain 
 proceeds S. till it reaches the head of the Sibun, whose 
 windings it pursues to the sea-coast j- — the whole settlement 
 embracing an area of 62,750 square miles. 
 
 History. The Honduras coast was discovered by Co- 
 lumbus in 1502 — its period of early settlement is very vague. 
 At first it was occasionally resorted to by mahogany and 
 
 * The Spanish term Hondura, signifying- depth, was thus given to the 
 coast by its discoverers from the great depth of water along the shore. 
 
 f The Mosquito shore — the Indians of which are in alliance with, and, 
 in some respects, subject to, the Crown of Great Britain — extends from 
 Cape Gracios a Dios, southerly, to Punta Gorda and St. Juan's river; 
 N. W. and Westerly, to Remain river ; and S. E. beyond Boco del Toro to 
 Coclee or Coli, near the river Chagre and Porto Bello.
 
 400 EARLY HISTORY OF THE HONDURAS. 
 
 Other wood-cutters, whose chief place of residence was then 
 a small island called St. George's Key, about nine miles to 
 the N. E. of the town of Balize, the present capital of the 
 settlement. The first regular establishment of British log- 
 wood cutters was made at Cape Cartoche by some Jamaica 
 adventurers, whose numbers increased so that, in a short 
 time, they occupied as far S. as the river Balize, in the Bay 
 of Honduras, and as far W. as the island of Triste and the 
 Laguna de los Terminos, adjacent to Campeachy. The ter- 
 ritorial jealousy of the Spaniards was soon roused, and the 
 Governor of Campeachy fitted out several expeditions against 
 the logwood-cutters, in which he not only failed but, on two 
 occasions, in 1659, and 1678, the cutters actually took pos- 
 session of the town of Campeachy, without a single cannon, 
 and aided only by the seamen engaged in the trade. 
 
 By a treaty concluded with Spain in 1670, by by Sir W. 
 Godolphin, the seventh article generally, though not spe- 
 cifically, embraced the territorial right of British occupancy 
 at Honduras — and in consequence the English population 
 fast augmented, the number of whites (no negroes were 
 introduced) being then 1700. The jealousy of the Spanish 
 monarch at the success of the English led to a renewed dis- 
 cussion of the territorial right of our settlers, which the 
 imbecile ministers of the pusillanimous Charles II. so far 
 admitted as to direct the Governor of Jamaica (Sir Thomas 
 Lynch,) in 1671, to inquire into the same, and had it not been 
 for the spirited and patriotic conduct of Sir Thomas Lynch, 
 the conduct of Spain would have been sanctioned by the 
 court of St. James'. The Spaniards at all events deter- 
 mined to drive the woodmen from the Campeachy shore, 
 and, by 1680, they succeeded in confining the English to 
 the limits now occupied. 
 
 From this period the establishments on the other side of 
 Cape Cartoche were entirely abandoned by the settlers. In 
 1718 the Spaniards sent a large force to try to dispossess the 
 English from the Belize river, as they had done from the 
 opposite coast, but the bold front of the log wood cutters de-
 
 Spaniards' jealousy of the settlement. 401 
 
 terred the Castilians, -svho contented themselves with erecting 
 a fortification in the N. W. branch, of which they held pos- 
 session for a few years, and finally abandoned it. The log- 
 wood cutters were left for thirty-six years in peace, until the 
 attack on Truxillo by the English in 1742, which led to the 
 long projected expedition of 1754, to exterminate the latter 
 from Honduras. By the treaty of peace in 1763, the 
 Spaniards were compelled to give a formal permission of 
 occupancy to the British colonists, though they subsequently 
 endeavoured to annul it. 
 
 The Spaniards made another attack on the settlements in 
 1779, destroyed a great deal of property, and marchcvd off 
 many of the English settlers of both sexes, blindfolded and 
 in irons to Merida, the capital of Yucutan, and thence 
 shipped them to the Havannah, where they were kept in cap- 
 tivity until 1782; but, in 1784, a commission from the crown 
 of Spain was authorized ' to make a formal delivery to the 
 British nation of the lands allotted for the cutting of logwood,' 
 &c. It is necessary to state this explicitly, because many 
 persons are not only ignorant whether Honduras is an island, 
 or part of the continent, but very many, who are aware of 
 the position of the settlements, think the British have merely 
 a right to logwood and mahogany cutting in the Bay of Hon- 
 duras, and that it is not a territorial occupancy of the British 
 crown, which, in fact it is, as much as Jamaica or any other 
 settlement. The last Spanish attack on the settlements was 
 during the war in 1798, and consisted of an expedition of 
 3,000 men, under the command of Field Marshal O'Neil, who 
 was gallantly repvdsed by the ' Bay Men,' (as the Honduras 
 settlers are termed), for which they received the thanks of 
 His Majesty.* 
 
 Physical Aspect. The sea coast of our territory at the 
 Bay of Honduras! is low, and the shore studded with low 
 
 * This act of conquest is a perfectly good title of occupancy. 
 
 t The bay reaches from Cape Catoche, in 21.31, the N. point of the 
 peninsula of Yucutan, to Cape Honduras, in 16 S. Lat. and 86 W. Long. 
 From thence the coast, comprehending Cape Gracias a Dios, and extend- 
 ing between 500 tind 600 miles to the mouth of the Rio de San Juan as it 
 
 VOL. II. D D
 
 402 APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN OF BALIZE. 
 
 and verdant isles (keys) ; from the land the coast gradually 
 rises into a bold and lofty country, interspei'sed with rivers 
 and lagoons, and covered with the noblest forests. 
 
 The town of Balize,* the capital of the Honduras settle- 
 ment, is divided into two parts by the river Balize, wliicli 
 empties itself by two mouths in a tortuous manner into the 
 sea, at the western side of the Honduras Bay, where, as 
 before observed, the shore is extremely flat, with numerous 
 keys or small islands, dispersed along the coast, and densely 
 covered with trees or shrubs, so exactly resembhng each 
 other as to puzzle the most experienced sailor, and rendering 
 navigation exceedingly difficult.f That part of Bahze which 
 
 flows from the Nicaragua lake, is known by the name of the Moscjuito 
 shore ; within these limits lie the settlements which have been considered 
 the dependencies of Jamaica 
 
 * Called by the Spaniards, ralize ; corrupted from the original, Wallis, 
 the noted English buccaneer. 
 
 f For the same reason given under the Trinidad chapter, I append, 
 from the Honduras Almanac, the following directions for making the 
 coast of Honduras and the harbour of Balize ; together with a description 
 of the bay light-house. 
 
 The Island of Bonacca should be made early in the day, so that you may run down to the 
 middle or west end of Ruatan by the evening, and from thence take your departure for 
 the Southern Four Keyx, at 6, 7, or 8 o'clock, according to the breeze. 
 
 If you take your departure from the middle of Riiafan steer W. N. W. | W. making that 
 coarse good. To avoid (iloi-er's Reef keep to leeward, and on no account whatever run 
 more than 45 miles from Ruatan before day- light ; if you run more than that distance you 
 are in danger of running your vessel on the Reef. At day light, if you do not see the Kcy.i, 
 make sail, and you will soon lift them. The principal Key is called Half Moon Key. On the 
 Key there is a light-house, elevated about 50 feet from the surface of the sea; its lat. is 
 17.12 N. and long. 87.28 W. A fixed light is exhibited from sun-set to sun rise each night. 
 It was lit on the 1st December, I82I. This highly useful building is situated on the eastern 
 point of the island, and resembles a pyramid. The whole is neaUy shingled and painted 
 white. These keys ought to be made as eaily in the day as possible, in order to ensure an 
 anchorage in harboiu- before night. It frequently happens that vessels, after leaving 
 Ruatan, are becalmed during the night, and, in consequence, they will not make Half Moaa 
 Key before the afternoon. In this case it is advisable to brace sharp upon a wind, and bc-tt 
 to windward all night, tacking every two hours ; for it must be noticed that the current sets 
 strongly dovm on the Southern Four Keys Reef, and several vessels have been lost on this 
 Reef owing to their laying-to ; and by keeping the light in sight till morning it will be suf- 
 ficient to prevent accident by maintaining your position till you get a pilot, or till yon have 
 the day before you. Should it happen that pilots cannot be had, all possible sail must be 
 made, keeping a watch at the mast-head, and you will soon discern Hat K'^y, with only low 
 trees upon it. After rounding the elbow of the Reef, steer W.. and you will very soon lift 
 the island of Itirneff. At the south end of tliis island is Key Bokel, with si^veral cocoa-nut 
 trees upon it, and where pilots formerly resided. You may round this key by your lead, and 
 if it be later than three o'clock, p. .m. you must anchor there for the night. The anchorage
 
 SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR HONDURAS COAST. 403 
 
 is situate on theS. or right bank of the river, along the eastern 
 edge of a point of hind is completely insulated by a canal, 
 
 is about one mile and a half fronn the Key, that is, brin^ the Key to bear about E. by S. ; b\it 
 your lead and your eye is the best jiUst for this anchorage . You anchor on a fine white sand - 
 bank. The first sounding you will get is about ten fathoms; run in three or four fathoms, 
 clewing' up your sails as fast as possible, and giving the vessel at least 40 fathoms of cable, 
 for the sand is so very hard, that with a short scope you will certainly drift off the bank, and 
 then you have no bottom. If this should be the case, you must heave up immediately, and 
 make sail again to get on the bank. In the morning get under weigh at day -light, and steer 
 N. W. by N. for Rnglixh Key, distance 14 miles, English Key is situated on the south side 
 of the channel ; it is low, round, and sandy, with a few thatched houses and two shingled 
 ones on it, and entirely shaded with trees. Here also stands a, signal-house and flag-staff, 
 Hpon which you will perceive the British ensign flying, which is always hoisted when a 
 vessel heaves in sight ; but should any signal or other device be hoisted at such flagstaff 
 you will take no notice of the same ; it is intended as a communication to the town of 
 Belize. On the oppo-ite side of the channel, that is, on the N. side, there is another small 
 key of the same size, called Guff's Key, about half a mile to the eastward of which is a little 
 sand patch, nearly even with the water, called by the pilots the Sand Bore. This is the place 
 you must anchor at, for it is impossible for a stranger to proceed any further without a 
 pilot, as the channel becomes so very intricate, and the various keys have such a similarity 
 in their appearance, that a description of them would be useless to the commander of a 
 vessel. When you have made out English and Goffs Keys, run for them, but mind and 
 keep nearer to Goff's than English as there is a dangerous reef off the latter. The pilots' 
 mark for anchorage here, is to bring three little keys, situated to the northward of Goff^s 
 Key, called Curlew, Sergeant's, and Panchut Kets, a little open to the eastward of Goff's 
 Key. There are no trees on Curlew but bush, such as bay, cedar, and lillywood grass. Ser- 
 geant's Key has a rugged appearance, and is easily distinguished by its several cocoa-nut 
 trees, on which there are two shingled houses ; and Panchgut Key is small and round, with 
 two trees in the centre. From this anchorage your ship can be seen from the Goveriiment 
 House of Balixe, and in a few hours it is possible to have a pilot from the town. 
 
 The Light House of Honduras, situate on Half Moon Key, or Isle, is about 43 miles E. 
 by S. southerly from Belize. Like all the islands with which the Bay of Honduras is 
 studded, its appearance at a distance is flat, but, on a nearer approach, it is found to be 
 more elevated than the keys in the neighbourhood. On this Bay stands the lighthouse. In 
 1821 this highly useful building was erected on the north east point, the most elevated on 
 the island, which is a rocky promontory, nearly 30 feet above the low water mark ; and 
 from its base, which is 22 feet square to the lanthorn, it rises about 50 feet. It is in lat. 
 17.12 N. and long. 87.28 W. It is built in a pyramidal form to within nine or ten feet of 
 the top. Tliere is a fixed reflected light from sun-set to sun-rise, for which the public of 
 Honduras allow the contractor the sum of ^6'400 currency per annum. By day the light- 
 house, being painted white, serves as an excellent beacon. In days of yore this delightful 
 spot was much resorted to, and at several periods was the residence of the buccaneers 
 when they infested these seas.* 
 
 This key is now the chief residence of the branch pilots. They are a set of men remark- 
 able for their abstemious liabits, activity, and humanity on all occasions ; and there hardly 
 can be remembered an instance of their deviation from duty. 
 
 * There are many traditions of treasures having been buried here by them when closely 
 
 pursiied by the Spaniards, which have induced some individuals to search in the hope of a 
 
 discovery ; but as yet every trial has proved unsuccessful, notwithstanding a superstition 
 
 which accredits the nocturnal visit of a spectre, who, though in guise of a mutilated 
 
 mortal, yet, in an unearthly horridn«ss, appears to guard them at the ho\ir described by 
 
 Burns, as 
 
 ' Of night's black arch the keystane.' 
 
 It is to be feared that every attempt to recover the supposed wealth wiU be, as hereto- 
 fore, unavailing.
 
 404 PLEASING APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
 on its western side which runs across from a small arm of the 
 sea and bounds the town on its S. side. 
 
 The number of houses are nearly 500, many of them con- 
 venient, well built, spacious, and even elegant ; they are 
 chiefly constructed of wood, and raised 10 feet from the 
 ground. The streets are regular, running parallel N. and S. 
 and intersected by others, the main one running in a N. E. 
 direction (to a bridge crossing the river and facing the chief 
 quays and wharfs)* from the government house, which is 
 situate on the S. E. point or angle of the island, on the right 
 bank of the river, and bounded on the S. and E. by the sea. 
 The church is situated behind the government house on the 
 E. side of the main street, and the whole town is shaded by 
 groves and avenues of the cocoa-nut and tamarind trees. To 
 the N. of Balize is an extensive morass, three miles in cir- 
 cumference, now being drained. Fort George is situate 
 about half a mile from the river on a small islet ; it is low, 
 600 feet long and 200 broad, principally formed of the ballast 
 from the shipping, every vessel being obHged to deposit a 
 portion of ballast proportioned to its tonnage. The aspect of 
 the interior is worthy of notice. The falls in different parts 
 of the river are extremely grand, and the scenery along the 
 banks really sublime ; as a specimen the river and lagoon of 
 Manatee, situated ten leagues S. of Balize may be selected. 
 At about a mile from the mouth of the river, is a magnificent 
 
 * The bridge which connects the northern to the southern town was 
 built in 1818 ; its span is 220 feet, the width 20. It is constructed 
 entirely of timber, and rests on coppered piles of wood, which are found 
 in abundance in this country, remarkable for their durability ; indeed, 
 the slowness with which they yield to decomposition, may almost entitle 
 them to the appellative imperishable. Government gave .i£?l,000 sterling 
 towards the expence of erecting it. Tlie entire is well compacted, and 
 secured by balustrades on either side. The appearance of this building 
 from the Balize roads is very pleasing ; the thick forests of evergreen, 
 with which the banks of the river are dotted, form a rich back scene, and 
 the many objects of various characters representing commerce and re- 
 creation, dispersed on either side, form a picture of no inconsiderable 
 interest.
 
 MAGNIFICENT AND CURIOUS SCENERY AT HONDURAS. 405 
 
 sheet of water, usually denominated the Lagoon, which ex- 
 tends in a northerly direction for several leagues. The sur- 
 rounding scenery is very romantic, embracing immense moun- 
 tains, which descend in many places to its margin, and inter- 
 sected by vallies opening into woody ranges of vast extent, 
 possessed almost solely by wild herds of various animals, such 
 as the tiger, antelope, armadillo, quash, opossiun, racoon, 
 and several species of deer ; among the last named, the velvet 
 deer is much esteemed for its soft and delicate flavour. The 
 sportsman also finds ample amusement among the feathered 
 tribe, as quails, plover, pigeons, pheasants, and wild turkeys, 
 are abundant in these regions of silence. Among these vast 
 ridges, where no stream flows to cool the parched earth, na- 
 ture, ever bountiful to all her creatures, has placed large 
 marshy spots, or shallow ponds, the banks of which are fre- 
 quented by the wild duck and almost every species of aquatic 
 bird. These ponds contain vast quantities of fish during the 
 greatest part of the year ; but at the season of drought their 
 situation may be easily discovered by the traveller at a great 
 distance, from the quantity of sea-fowl which hover over them 
 to prey upon the putrid fish that have been destroyed by the 
 evaporation of the waters. At this season the alligator* also 
 travels to these marshes to partake of the fish thus yearly 
 provided. It is very singular that many of those ponds, scat- 
 tered through the flat country, which have no apparent com- 
 munication with each other, should annually abound with the 
 same species of fish. The lake, or lagoon of Manatee, is 
 supplied in the wet season by innumerable rivulets ; but, 
 during the dry months, by three streams only, viz. Corn 
 
 * This extraordinary animal leaves his usual residence, and goes inland 
 to partake of the lish yearly provided as above detailed. He wanders 
 these trackless wilds, from one pond to another, in search of fish, and 
 not unfrequently has been seen many miles in the interior. Notwith- 
 standing the strength of this terrific animal, such is the awe of man with 
 which the most powerful creatures are filled, that he seems timid, from the 
 extreme caution with which he pursues his course, and, by the motionless 
 posture in which he lies, he shows his desire to remain unnoticed if he 
 hears the least noise.
 
 ■i06 THE BALIZE AND USUMASINTA RIVERS. 
 
 Creek, Plantation Creek, and the Main River, which empty 
 themselves into it. Although they are called creeks, they 
 extend so far into the interior that their sources are unknown 
 to the British settlers. The banks of the river are pictu- 
 resque, and divested of that sameness which marks most of 
 the rivers on this coast.* 
 
 Eight to ten miles from the lakes the rapids begin, and the 
 high rocky banks of the river wear a delightful appearance — ■ 
 a little further on (it is thus vaguely stated by the Honduras 
 almanack,) there is an extensive cataract about a quarter of 
 a mile in length, and of considerable acclivity.f A cluster of 
 beautiful caves, through which the river winds its way, and 
 beneath which the traveller must pass, is next arrived at. 
 These magnificent natural excavations of the mountains are 
 semicircular at the entrance, and about five yards in dia- 
 
 * About a mile from the lake is an establishment of disbanded soldiers, 
 from the black regiments, that were broken up on the late peace. Tliey 
 have cleared a considerable spot of ground, and constitute the only regular 
 settlement that could be formed by these Africans. 
 
 t Colonel Galindo has furnished an interesting paper to the Royal 
 Geographical Society on the Usumnsinta, which takes its rise not far from 
 the source of the Balize. on the opposite side of the chain of mountains 
 that bounds the Honduras territory. He describes it as remarkable 
 among the rivers of this part of Ameiica, not only for the length of its 
 course, the advantages of its navigation, the fertility of its banks, and the 
 superiority of the climate of the district through which it flows, but also 
 for the almost total ignorance in which even the inhabitants of the sur- 
 rounding country remain with respect to its relative position, its course 
 and branches. Part of the rich but wild territory of the IMayas is watered 
 by the Usumasinta, which, in its course from E. to W. receives the im- 
 portant navigable river of Chicsoi ; after which its course to the sea 
 inclines to the N. W., its principal mouth being the port of Fictorio, in 
 the (nilf of Mexico, to the W. of the lake of Laguna de Terminos. The 
 river Tal)asco, which, near the sea, joins the Usumasinta, is much fre- 
 (juented by vessels from the United States of North America, which sail 
 up to San Juan Bautista, the capital of the state of T ebasco. The banks 
 of the Usumasinta, after passing the chain of mountains which separates 
 the Maya territories from the Mexican states, are studded with villages of 
 logwood cHttcrs. The ruins of l*alen(|ue, an ancient and magnificent city 
 in the Mava countrv, well deserve further investigation.
 
 IMMENSE CHAIN OF HONDURAS MOUNTAINS. 407 
 
 meter. Within the cave the arch rises to the height of 100 
 feet, and leads to another low arch, which, being passed, a 
 second cavern of large size opens, beyond which is a third, 
 with a circular orifice through which the river enters. 
 During the floods the mouths of the caverns are filled with 
 water, Avhich boils up with prodigious fury, and thus de- 
 tains travellers many days before they can pass through the 
 caves or tunnels. In the rainy season, as the water increases 
 on the upper, or inland sides of the mountains, the river 
 forces its passage through the interstices and openings in its 
 sides with tremendous noise, forming an indescribably grand 
 cascade of from forty to fifty feet high issuing from an hundred 
 orifices.* 
 
 The immense chain of mountains which form the inland 
 frontier of the British territory, has only one pass — that 
 leading to Peten, which is merely a pathway through rocky 
 dells, and might be defended by a few men. The mountains 
 are covered with impenetrable forests and brushwood, and 
 contain abundance of the finest mahogany. 
 
 The face of the country is technically divided into the Pine 
 and Cahoun ridges from the respective locations of these 
 trees ; the pine trees extend over immense tracts of country, 
 presenting to the eye the resemblance of an interminable open 
 park, clothed with verdure, and exhibiting an appearance of 
 taste and design, rather than accident. The Cahoun ridge 
 is covered with gigantic trees, such as the wild cotton, and 
 other vast trees, and the fertility of the soil occasions much 
 brushwood. 
 
 Geology. The first geological feature requisite for the 
 knowledge of man, is the ca])ability of the soil to grow food. 
 In this respect Honduras is not behind hand in fertility to 
 any spot in the Old or New World. The soil of the Cahoun 
 ridge consists of a deep loam produced by decomposed ve- 
 getable matter, and capable of growing every European, as 
 
 * There are also magnificent caves in the river Lihun, eight or ten days' 
 journey from Balize, and &ome interesting creeks or caverns exist in the 
 creeks or arms of tiie old river.
 
 408 GEOLOGICAL FEATURES MINERALS CLIMATE 
 
 well as tropical aliment. The Pine ridge land has a sub- 
 stratum of loose reddish sand, and its indigenous products 
 exhibit those varieties of the vegetable kingdom, whose assi- 
 milative powers are strong and perennial. Extensive natural 
 prairies, or pastures spread over this soil. An inexhaustibly 
 rich alluvial soil exists on the margin of the numerous creeks 
 and rivers wliich stud the country. 
 
 Veins of hne marble, and mountains of alabaster, are known 
 to exist ; valuable chrystals have been found within 180 miles 
 of Balize ; and fine pieces of transparent feltspar lie along 
 the banks in many places, which are used in ornamental 
 stucco work. Gold has at various periods been found in the 
 Roaring Creek, (a branch of the Balize river,) but no trouble 
 has been taken to ascertain from whence it proceeded. Quanti- 
 ties of lava and volcanic substances have been found in different 
 situations. Labouring Creek, about 100 miles inland, on the 
 Balize, is remarkable for the petrifying proporties which it 
 possesses ; its waters have a powerful cathartic effect on 
 strangers, and a healing property when applied externally to 
 an ulcer. 
 
 Climate. The climate about Balize is generally moist; 
 in July, the dryest and hottest month of the year, the average 
 maximum heat is 83 F. the medium 82, and the minimum 80, 
 but though the absolute heat appears so great during the 
 hot months, yet it is so tempered by the sea breezes, which 
 almost constantly prevail from the N. E., S. E. or E. that the 
 air feels pleasant and often cool, but, on the wind shifting to 
 the N. or W., the atmosphere becomes sultry and often op- 
 pressive.* During the wet seasons, which lasts five months, 
 the mercury sinks to 60. The variation in the temperature is 
 very great, sometimes 15 between G a, m. and 2 p. m. and at 
 night 20 or 25 less than in the day. 
 
 * Although I have given in every possible instance a thermometrical 
 register for each British Colony, I wish the observations which I made 
 in the 1st volume, under the * Climate of Bengal,' to be borne in mind.
 
 AND POPULATION, &C. OF HONDURAS. 
 Thermoraetrical Register at Balize, Honduras :— 
 
 409 
 
 
 THERMOM. 
 
 WINDS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Max. 
 
 Med. 
 
 Min. 
 
 
 
 January - 
 
 77 
 
 75 
 
 72 
 
 W. N. and N.W. 
 
 Generally dry, fine weather, 
 some rain. 
 
 February - 
 
 78 
 
 78 
 
 75 
 
 W. E. and N.E. 
 
 Ditto, with pleasant breezes 
 and showers. 
 
 March - - 
 
 79 
 
 78 
 
 74 
 
 E. N.E. and VV. 
 
 Ditto, ditto. 
 
 April - - 
 
 82 
 
 80 
 
 78 
 
 E. and N E. 
 
 Ditto, sea breeze regular. 
 
 May , - 
 
 83 
 
 81 
 
 79 
 
 E. N.E. and VV. 
 
 At times dry, then heavy 
 showers, lightning and 
 thunder. 
 
 June - - 
 
 84 
 
 82 
 
 80 
 
 E.N.N.E.andS.E. 
 
 Air moist, cloudy, heavy 
 rain. 
 
 July - - 
 
 83 
 
 82 
 
 80 
 
 E. N.E. and S.E. Ditto, thunder and light- 
 ning. 
 
 August 
 
 83 
 
 82 
 
 79 
 
 E, N.E. and W. Ditto, ditto. 
 
 September 
 
 83 
 
 82 
 
 79 
 
 E. W. and N.E. 
 
 Fine occasionally. 
 
 October - 
 
 83 
 
 81 
 
 78 
 
 E. N E. and W. 
 
 Fine, with some heavy show- 
 
 November 
 
 80 
 
 79 
 
 74 
 
 E. N E. and W. 
 
 ers. 
 Dry and pleasant. 
 
 December 
 
 78 
 
 75 
 
 71 
 
 N. N.E. and W. 
 
 Ditto, ditto, slight showers. 
 
 It is asserted* by those who know the chmate best that 
 Honduras is more favourable to European constitutions than 
 any other chmate under the tropics ; those who have not 
 trifled with it by intemperance and irregularities enjoy the 
 best health, as demonstrated by the many instances of lon- 
 gevity, European and native, that exist. f 
 
 Population. According to a census in 1823 the popula- 
 tion was, whites, 217; slaves, 2,468; free people of colour, 
 809; free blacks, 613; pensioners from discharged West 
 India regiment, 819; detachment of second West India regi- 
 ment, 231; ditto of Royal Artillery, 22; total, 5,179. The 
 proportions of males and females adults and children, were — - 
 
 * By the Honduras Almanac. 
 
 f Every inducement ought to be held out I)y Government for settlers 
 to locate themselves on the waste lands of the Honduras territory, where 
 about 60,000 square miles lie untilled.
 
 410 
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF THE POPULATION. 
 
 
 Male 
 
 Female 
 
 Male 
 
 Female 
 
 
 
 AUulls. 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children. 
 
 CliiUlieii. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Whites - - - - 
 
 13fi 
 
 51 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 217 
 
 O)loured _ _ - 
 
 192 
 
 243 
 
 183 
 
 191 
 
 809 
 
 Free Black _ . - 
 
 217 
 
 222 
 
 93 
 
 81 
 
 (J 13 
 
 Slaves - - - - 
 
 1^40 
 
 628 
 
 214 
 
 18fi 
 
 24fi8 
 
 Pensioners _ - - 
 
 (i50 
 
 54 
 
 50 
 
 65 
 
 819 
 
 2(1 West India Retciinent - 
 
 200 
 
 14 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 231 
 
 Royal Artillery 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 22 
 
 In 1826 there were, whites — 267 males; 65 females. Co- 
 loured and free — 1,629 males; 826 females. Slaves — 1,606 
 males ; 3,502 females. Grand total— 3,502 males ; 4,393 fe- 
 males. King's troops — 379 men ; females, 30 ; children, 47. 
 
 The aggregate Population of Honduras from 1823 to 1830 
 was — * 
 
 
 White 
 
 and Free 
 
 
 
 
 
 Col 
 
 oured. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 1S23 
 
 842 
 
 798 
 
 1(554 
 
 814 
 
 2496 
 
 1612 
 
 1S26 
 
 lS:,'(i 
 
 891 
 
 HiOfi 
 
 804 
 
 3502 
 
 1695 
 
 182;) 
 
 15!KJ 
 
 920 
 
 1329 
 
 798 
 
 2925 
 
 1718 
 
 1830 
 
 937 
 
 919 
 
 1347 
 
 (580 
 
 2284 
 
 1599 
 
 Various classes of society at Honduras.-j- The blacks 
 of Honduras are not derived from tlie aborigines of the 
 country, but have been in their own persons or those of their 
 forefathers imported from Africa, eitlier direct or tlirough the 
 
 * I have here given three different rcfurn.s of thepo|mlation, all derived 
 from different sources ; tlie discrepancy shews the necessity of causina^ 
 more attention to the statistics of our colonies. 
 
 f I am indebted to the Honduras Almanac for this statement, and 
 I cannot help regretting that the latter numhers of this admirable 
 jjeriodical arc so deficient owing to tiie withdrawal of the gruit of the 
 mainstrates ; -no moi.ev can Ite better laid out by the colonial legislatures 
 than in improving thoii respective almanacs.
 
 VARIOUS GRADES OV SOCIETY AT HONDURAS. 411 
 
 West India Islands. Though there are many free blacks, 
 yet for the most part they are either the children of slaves, 
 or have been slaves themselves ; and few of them are to 
 be found entirely exempt from those low propensities which 
 are exhibited in a state of barbarism. Some few, how- 
 ever, display some striking features of consistent character. 
 There are some who possess an utter aversion to spiri- 
 tuous liquors, and can by no means be prevailed upon to 
 taste a beverage in which they know any thing of the sort 
 to be a component part ; but by far the greater proportion 
 are so strongly addicted to the use of liquors that it is very 
 common to see them exposed to the scorching sun, or the 
 midnight dew in utter insensibility. Some have been ac- 
 customed from infancy to indulge in this vice ; whilst others 
 in rejecting it, act not so much from a correct principle as 
 from national usage, or original intercourse with Mahometan 
 connexions. As they have come to this and other neigh- 
 bouring regions from various places, so they maintain the 
 custom of the countries whence they come ; and hence their 
 habits in a great measure continue. In order to preserve 
 themselves distinct, and to uphold their customs,* each nation 
 selects one from their body, to whom they give the title of 
 
 * The African nesiroes of Honduras, as is the custom in Jamaica and 
 the other islands, hold, at Christmas, a saturnalia, which continues with- 
 out interruption for the space of a fortnight. During this time, there is 
 an entire relaxation from all their toils ; negroes of all conditions join in 
 sets, and pei'ambulate the streets from morn till night, with colours flying 
 and music playing, to which they l<eep time in graceful movements, 
 waving their flags and umbrellas to the measured beat of the drum. Wakes 
 and (•■umhtj are recreations of vivacity among the people ; the former 
 present a tolerable resemblance to the Irish wakes, where the house of 
 mourning and the house of feasting are identified as one and the same — 
 and the latter are interesting merely from the circumstance of their being 
 importations from the coast of Africa. Large parties meet at night, at 
 some appointed negro yard, where they commence dancing to the beat of 
 the drum and the music of their own voices. It is really curious to ob- 
 serve the ceremony of these pastimes ; and there can be nothing more 
 calculated to impress a stranger with surprise tlian tlic dilU'rcnt formation 
 of their drums and the variety of their dances.
 
 412 THE COLOURED AND MOSQUITO POPULATION 
 
 king, who exercises a certain degree of lordship over his 
 subjects, and receives in return the most marked attention 
 and respect. Their affection for their country is very con- 
 spicuous ; a black man will share his last plantain with another 
 native of his own land, and seldom distinguishes or addresses 
 him by any other appellative than countryman. They possess 
 upon the whole but little intelligence ; their dulness of com- 
 prehension, and the difficulty of picturing on the minds of 
 others the ideas present in their own, are at once remarkable 
 and distressing. This remark would apply to several Euro- 
 peans of the present age, and to very many of the past gene- 
 ration, as well as to the Honduras blacks, and, indeed, the 
 writer of the Honduras Almanac when descanting on the state 
 of society there, subsequently negatives to a great degree this 
 assertion by admitting that there are many who exhibit an 
 originality of talent, and a vigour of mental action in a degree 
 little inferior to their European brethren. 
 
 The coloured population has arisen from the intercourse 
 of Europeans with Africans or Indians. They, therefore, 
 partake more or less of the qualities of black and white, 
 directly as to their distance from either. 
 
 The Mosquito shore men sojourning in great numbers in 
 the colony, have long greasy black hair, and countenances 
 remarkable for vacuity of intelligence, but with a muscular 
 formation of body that might serve as a model for a sculptors' 
 Hercules ; they walk at a slow and lazy pace, in a state of 
 perfect nudity, devour their food voraciously, and lie down 
 to sleep until absolute hunger causes them to seek a fresh 
 supply. A canoe,* a paddle, and a harpoon, constitute the 
 Mosquito man's whole wealth ; with these he can supply the 
 
 * The canoe used by the natives here as most subservient to their pur- 
 poses, is called a dorey. The bottom being round, it has a very slight 
 hold of the water, and not unfrequently swamps or capsizes ; in which 
 emergency the dexterity of the native in holding on, righting the craft, 
 bailing out the water, and resuming his seat, is truly siu^prising ; she 
 seldom draws more than a few inches when light. Sometimes the dorey 
 is raised upon a keel ; it is then called a crean, a craft of handsome 
 model, which answers well in these waters. The rig most used is the
 
 THE INDIANS OF HONDURAS— THElR MANNERS, &C. 413 
 
 cravings of nature, and beyond these he requires no more. 
 They acknowledge the existence of a good and bad spirit ; 
 the latter of whom they propitiate in order to deprecate his 
 malevolence, while they neglect the former on the plea that 
 his goodness is so great as to leave them nothing to appre- 
 hend from his wrath. It is customary, as with other savage 
 nations, at their funerals of the dead, to inter the paddle and 
 harpoon in the grave of the deceased, that he may be enabled 
 to work a canoe, and procure sustenance in another state of 
 existence. 
 
 The Indians, who are the real aborigines of the South 
 American continent, a timid inoffensive race, seem to be 
 guided as much by instinct as reason, — travelling inde- 
 pendent of either track or guide, through wood and bush, 
 impervious to others, and performing their journeys with a 
 rapidity and correctness of direction that sets other modes 
 and marks perfectly at defiance. A small bag of maize slung 
 over the shoulder, from which they take a handful by a 
 rivulet or well, is all the refreshment they need ; and thus, in 
 a state of nature, they wander with Parthian movements, over 
 wilds unknown to other men, and through forests where one 
 would fancy their uncultivated state alone procures for them 
 the sympathy of wild beasts. Their greatest luxury is com- 
 posed of the rind of limes, rubbed with corn, and allowed to 
 ferment, which they term Pesso ; which, with a little honey 
 added, forms a beverage of which they are particularly fond, 
 
 schooner, and the main-sail is that on which most dependence is placed. 
 There is a craft peculiar to this colony, called the i)itpan, which is, like 
 the dorey, round at the bottom, but rather more flattened, and without a 
 keel. It is excavated from a solid tree, and is very often 40 or 50 feet 
 long, and from 3 feet to 4 feet 6 inches wide. It is shaped at the ends 
 something like a butcher's tray, and the bottom neatly rounded upwards ; 
 this enables the paddlers to run a long way on the beach or shore, and, in 
 some measure, supersedes the necessity of a plank to aid embarkation. 
 The pitpan is usually fitted up in a handsome style, with awnings and 
 curtains of oil cloth on rollers, which enclose seats and space for provi- 
 sion, and is the only mode of conveyance to the mahogany works ; indeed, 
 one more pleasant and better adapted to the purpose need not be desired.
 
 414 STATE OF 550CIETV — MORALS, &C. AT HONDURAS. 
 
 They are, almost without exception, addicted to drunkenness 
 to an excessive degree, but appear to be entirely free from 
 vindictive or malicious propensities. 
 
 State of Society, Morals, &c. Previous to the erection 
 of Jamaica into a bishoprick, the church of England was 
 made the dominant religion of British Honduras, and the 
 facilities afforded for religious instruction by the establish- 
 ment are by no means contemptible. The school attached to 
 the church establishment is well endowed, and has already 
 exhibited some of the benefits expected to arise from insti- 
 tutions of the kind, in the situations filled by several of its 
 pupils. It is conducted on the Madras system, and the 
 average daily attendance of children is above 100. The 
 attendance on the services of the church is upon the whole 
 also good, and marked throughout by the strictest order and 
 decorum. There are also two other mission schools, the 
 Wesleyan and the Baptist, which are daily becoming more 
 useful, and no doubt in time will effect the object for which 
 they were established. The difficulty of attaining this de- 
 sirable end is considerably increased by the greater part of 
 the population being engaged at the mahogany works, and 
 spread over a surface of country containing between 50,000 
 and 60,000 square miles, for at least ten months in the year ; 
 feome of those who are not so employed are distributed 
 among the keys or islands, at a distance from the shore ; 
 the business of others lies upon the waters, in continual 
 traffic Avith the main ; and to these causes may be added, the 
 immoral lives of many Europeans, to whom the poor untutored 
 semibarbarian naturally looks up with reverence and con- 
 fidence. When there are such obstacles to be surmounted as 
 those presented by local peculiarities, united with the de- 
 trimental influence of vicious example, reformation is an 
 Hercvdean task. Nevertheless, the more atrocious grades of 
 delinquency are happily but seldom witnessed ; sometimes 
 the jail will not afford even a single prisoner for the public 
 works ; and there are some who do not think it necessary to 
 secure their doors at night. The occurrency of petty larceny,
 
 RARITY OF CRIME — THE MECHANIC ARTS. 41a 
 
 however, is very frequent, as are also those of other crimes 
 and misdemeanours, which arise from intemperance. A few 
 years back there were very few married couples in Balize, 
 and the sacred institution of marriage was not only neglected 
 but despised ; concubinage, if not promiscuous intercourse, 
 &c. were among the besetting sins of the land, and virtue 
 and decency were but little known and less thought of; 
 but now a brighter prospect has opened ; marriages are 
 decidedly on the increase ; the advantages of families being 
 united under one common surname, the dignity which the 
 matrimonial tie confers on relationship, and the charities 
 of life beautified with the sanction of a divine ordinance are 
 now more highly esteemed and duly appreciated. The 
 legislature has taken advantage of this change of sentiment ; 
 and for the encouragement of public morals, have added 
 great fticilities to the marriages of slaves by recent laws and 
 regulations. Though there are still a great number of people 
 who can neither read nor write, yet there are also many, in 
 the classes to which these acquirements were formerly un- 
 known, who have made considerable proficiency. To the 
 production of this change, the Honduras Free School has 
 certainly in a very great degree contributed ; and this institu- 
 tion has the honour of leading the way in the beneficial work 
 of education. 
 
 The Mechanic Arts, as yet, have made but little progress 
 in comparison with what might have been done. The guar- 
 dians of youth seem to cherish hopes of greater gain from the 
 trade of a carpenter than any other; and hence the great 
 majority of boys are put to that trade ; the evil consequences 
 of this system are so apparent that shoals of industry might 
 be set on foot with pattering prospects of success. As an 
 individual rises in the scale of society, it is natural to sup- 
 pose that his station calls upon him for a certain degree of 
 exertion. The black, from physical causes, seldom rises ; 
 but the coloured, approaching nearer to the white, has more 
 elevated ideas of himself, in proportion to his remove from 
 his sable ancestor. But with all this encouragement, the
 
 41 G FOOD, VEGETATION, &C. IN HONDURAS. 
 
 degree of activity which might reasonably be expected, is 
 seldom evinced. Whether this be attributable to the vacil- 
 lating effects of climate, or otherwise, remains to be decided. 
 The writer in the Honduras almanac asserts that the inven- 
 tive faculties of the native artists seem to be only proportioned 
 to the supply of native wants, without even the recommenda- 
 tion of embellishments or design. He is equally indifferent 
 about forming contracts, and completing his stipulated work; 
 and a peculiar inactivity of mind as well as corporal movement, 
 is perceptible even in his manner of working. This has been 
 the reason why architectural designs have not, till lately, 
 been extended to domestic comforts. Some years back this 
 settlement exhibited nothing better than stoccadoed huts, the 
 most primitive shelter imaginable, roofed with a thatch of 
 leaves coarsely and clumsily compacted ; now, however, it 
 presents many large and commodious houses, more particu- 
 larly in Balize. 
 
 Food, Vegetation, &c. To detail the great variety 
 of fruit spontaneously produced in Honduras, would far 
 exceed my limits. Oranges, (which are uniformly of excellent 
 quality,) shaddocks, lime, mangoes, melons, pine apples, 
 water melons, avocato pears, cashew, cocoa-nuts, and many 
 others too numerous to mention, are very abundant during 
 their respective seasons. They all grow in the neighbour- 
 hood of the town, but are also brought in large quantities 
 from higher plantations. The country abounds with game of 
 every variety, whether fish, flesh, or fowl. The Spaniards, 
 who frequent Balize from Bacalar in open crafts, carry on an 
 extensive trade in poultry, eggs, corn, &c., and, except in 
 very rough weather, the supply of salt water fish is abundant 
 and excellent.* 
 
 * Tlie common "reen turtle, so called from the colour of the fat, wlieu 
 the animal is in a healthy state, is a staple commodity in the market. The 
 turtle is often five feet loni^, and from 200 lbs. to 250 lbs. in weight. It 
 feeds on a sea grass, which is very abundant in tliese parts. It is generally 
 taken in nets, and not unfrequently by the harpoon. Sometimes it is 
 watched from the beach to its haunts, whore it is secured by being turned
 
 ACCOUNT OF MAHOGANY AND LOGWOOD. 417 
 
 To give a history of the celebrated mahogany tree* or of 
 logwood, (the present staples of Honduras,) would be su- 
 pererogatory, but there is a valuable timber which covers the 
 country for many thousand acres, and which would prove a 
 valuable article in England, if the timber duties on colonial 
 wood were removed ; I allude to the pinus occidentalis, which 
 grows to sixty feet high, with irregular branches and serrated 
 edged leaves, and which, owing to the quantity of tar and tur- 
 pentine which the best sort contains, will sink in water when 
 felled. 
 
 The pinewood is of course highly inflammable, a property 
 which, to the poor, renders it very valuable; a torch of this 
 wood, one end inserted in the earth, and the other ignited, 
 emits a clear and powerful light, round which may frequently 
 be seen groups of negroes assembled, (their daily task corn- 
 over, and when on its back tlie creature is unable to rise. It is seldom 
 seen on land. The movements of the turtle are slow, except at the time 
 when they deposit their eggs, which they do at several times after intervals 
 of 14 days. The female lays about 900. The eggs are found in abundance 
 on the low sandy beaches of the keys, towards the Spanish main, between 
 the ports of Omoa and Truxillo. 
 
 * The mode of procuring it is to despatch a skilful negro to climb the 
 highest tree on lofty places, for the purpose of discovering mahogany in 
 the woods, which is generally solitary, and visible at a great distance from 
 the yellow hue of its foliage. A gang of from ten to fifty men is then 
 sent out to erect a scaffold round each tree that is selected, and to cut it 
 down about twelve feet from the ground. When felled the logs are with 
 much labour dragged to the banks of the streams, and being formed into 
 crafts, sometimes of 200 united, are floated as many miles to places where 
 the rivers are crossed by strong cables, and then the owners separate their 
 respective shares. It is said that the boughs and limbs afford the finest 
 wood, but in Britain mahogany is more valued on account of size ; and 
 none is allowed to be exported to the United States of America exceeding 
 20 inches in diameter. The logwood, on the other hand aflfects low 
 swampy grounds, growing contiguous to fresh water creeks and lakes, on 
 the edges of which, the roots, the most valuable part of the wood, extend. 
 It is sought in the dry season, and the wood cutters having built a hut in 
 the \icinity of a number of the trees on the same spot, collect the logs in 
 heaps, and afterwards float up a small canoe in the wet season, when the 
 ground is laid under water to carry them off. 
 
 VOL. II. E F.
 
 4«18 THE INFLAMMABLE PINE AND CAIIOUN TREES. 
 
 pleted,) and occupied in the formation of articles required for 
 their own use, or intended for that of others. Owing to its 
 durabihty it is, of course, much used by builders. It not only 
 resists the action of the atmosphere, but it is also proof 
 against the chemical influence of the earth even in the dampest 
 situations. It is not uncommon to see posts extracted from 
 the ground in which they have been fixed for years, in as high 
 a state of preservation as when they were first put down; and 
 the only difference they exhibit is increased solidity and 
 hardness, and a strong bituminous smell. 
 
 The cahoun (locally pronounced cohoon) tree is chiefly 
 valuable for the elegant vegetable oil it yields ; which when 
 unadulterated is almost colourless, being paler than the cold 
 drawn castor oil. It is entirely free from any empyreumatic 
 or foetid taste, possessing a slight and rather agreeable flavour. 
 It emits a beautiful palish flame without smoke or smell, a 
 property which renders it as a lamp oil, not equalled by any 
 other known, and therefore much in demand in genteel so- 
 ciety. Its affinity for oxygen is so remarkably strong, that 
 steel smeared with it very soon rusts. Indeed its caloric is 
 so easily abstracted, that at the temperature of 60, F. it con- 
 denses into a white waxlike substance, but when heat is ap- 
 plied it immediately expands and resumes its original appear- 
 ance. There are several little known woods, of beautiful vein 
 and close texture, which might be turned to a profitable 
 account, such as the iron-wood, claywood, rosewood, palma- 
 letta, dark and beautifully figured, Santa Maria, which pos- 
 sesses the properties of the Indian teake, caoutchouc, or 
 Indian rubber, sapodilla, and innumerable others. 
 
 Many other valuable products of the territory would be 
 developed with an increased population, and by the removal in 
 England of the restrictions which check and hamper our 
 colonial prosperity. 
 
 Government, Finance, Commerce, &c. The Government 
 of Honduras is peculiar and worthy of example in young colo- 
 nies. The Superintendant, as he is termed, is nominated by the 
 Crown to watch over the interests of the settlers, to secure
 
 PECULIAR GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS MILITIA. 419 
 
 them from any improper intrusion of foreigners, and to regu- 
 late all affairs which more particularly affect the dignity of 
 the crown.* The grand authority of the colony is a mixed 
 legislative and executive power, termed the Magistrates of 
 Honduras, by whom enactments are made ; which, on re- 
 ceiving the assent of the King's representative, become laws 
 to be enforced by the executive power. The magistrates in 
 whom the power is thus vested, are in number seven, elected 
 annually by the inhabitants, thus — A poll is opened on the 
 order of the bench to the Provost-Marshal-General, and 
 remains so twenty-one days; at the expiration of which a 
 scrutiny takes place, and the Provost-Marshal-General returns 
 those duly elected, who are sworn into office on being ap- 
 proved of by the Superintendant. They are the Counsellors 
 of His Majesty's Superintendant, the Gviardians of the Public 
 Peace, the Judges of all the Lower Courts ; they form the 
 Court of Ordinary, they are the Guardians of Orphans, and 
 can delegate their power in the management of the property, 
 to such persons whom they consider worthy of their trust. 
 They are the protectors of all properties of intestate, or 
 insane persons, or of those incapable of managing their own 
 affairs. They settle all salvage on wrecked vessels, stores, 
 and merchandize. They manage the public funds, and 
 control the Treasvirer; and no money can be paid without 
 the sanction of four, who sign all orders for the issue ; 
 and previous to retiring from office they examine all his 
 accounts, and sign them, if approved. No emolument arises 
 to them — services are entirely gratuitous. Trial by jury, the 
 bulwark of British freedom, is established ; and from the de- 
 cisions of the Court an appeal lies direct to the King in 
 Council, which, however, is rarely made. 
 
 The militia of Honduras is a very fine body of men, about 
 1,000 strong, and consists of a brigade of Royal Artillery, 
 and a regiment of the line ; there is also a local maritime 
 force, termed the Prince Regent's Royal Honduras Flotilla. 
 The Superintendant of the settlement is of course Commander 
 
 * Until 1/83, Honduras was solely governed by magistrates elected l)y 
 tlie people. Since tlien u Superintendant has been added.
 
 490 
 
 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 24 YEARS. 
 
 in Chief of the MiUtia, with a fair proportion of Aides-de-Camp, 
 and Staff. 
 
 Finances. Revenue and Expenditure of Honduras from 
 1807 to 1830. 
 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure, i 
 
 1819 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 Expenditure. 
 
 1807 
 
 £ 7,566 
 
 £ 8,291 
 
 .ۥ15,967 
 
 £ 16,896 
 
 1S08 
 
 6,005 
 
 5,170 
 
 1820 
 
 17.249 
 
 17,266 
 
 1H09 
 
 6,829 
 
 6,066 
 
 1821 
 
 12,306 
 
 12,027 
 
 1810 
 
 9,5-23 
 
 9,604 I 
 
 1822 
 
 14,831 
 
 14,296 
 
 1811 
 
 8,643 
 
 8,981 
 
 1823 
 
 19,294 
 
 20,112 
 
 1812 
 
 6,590 
 
 6,312 
 
 1824 
 
 14,125 
 
 14,163 
 
 1813 
 
 5.438 
 
 5,548 
 
 1825 
 
 17,594 
 
 17,634 
 
 1814 
 
 5,474 
 
 5,629 
 
 1826 
 
 13,256 
 
 13,755 
 
 1815 
 
 12,944 
 
 12,527 
 
 1827 
 
 17,415 
 
 17,562 
 
 1816 
 
 10,672 
 
 9,276 
 
 1828 
 
 10,653 
 
 10,760 
 
 1817 
 
 8,168 
 
 8,838 
 
 1829 
 
 11,744 
 
 11,759 
 
 1818 
 
 16,501 
 
 18,193 
 
 1830 
 
 15,673 
 
 15,806 
 
 Total. . 
 
 104,353 
 
 104,435 
 
 Total.. 
 
 180,107 
 
 182,036 
 
 The revenue of the colony it will he perceived has con- 
 siderably increased, and it affords another example to the 
 anti-colonial writers that there is no drain (even in the un- 
 statesmanUke mode of viewing the subject) on the home ex- 
 chequer. All duties and taxes arc levied under the autho- 
 rity of Acts passed in the Legislative Meeting. The income 
 is derived from customs and shipping dues, poll-tax on horses 
 and cattle, domestic licenses, and tax on foreign goods and 
 foreign traders. The custom duties are light, and amount 
 on spirits, wines, and cordials, to 2s. per gallon. 
 
 The following detail of expenditure of this settlement for 
 the year 182G, from its internal revenue, will convey an idea 
 to the British public of the disbursements of the Balize trea- 
 sury: 
 
 His Majesty's Superintendant, £1,000;* Public Treasurer 
 and Collector, £1,000; Colonial Agents, £869; Chaplain to 
 the Settlement, £420 ; Endowment to the Free School, £167; 
 Public School Master, Public School Mistress, Contractor for 
 the Light-House, £400; Pensions to Paupers £135; Physi- 
 cian to the Hospital, £150; Housekeeper to ditto, £60; 
 Keeper of the Militia Clothing, £184; Adjutant to the 
 Militia, £49; Overseer of Working Party, Pay of Men in the 
 
 * All these items are Honduras currency.
 
 CURRENCY — COMMERCE EXPORT ARTICLES. 
 
 421 
 
 Government Schooner, £75; Church Clerk, £70; Sexton, £30 
 — Total of fixed annual charges, £4,742. 
 
 Contingent expenses incurred upon the administration of 
 justice and maintenance of the Jail Establishment, £1,811 ; 
 for the Military Post at Tyger Rim, up the river Balize, 
 £185; Militia Establishment, Saint John's Church, £6,740; 
 Public works and improvements in the town of Balize, £4,102; 
 Mission to Guatemala, Peten, and Bacalar, £414; extraor- 
 dinary and miscellaneous expenses not enumerated under any 
 particular head, £2,498— Total expended in 1826, £13,755. 
 
 Value in English money of the Spanish coins in circulation. 
 
 Gold.— Doubloon, £5. Gs. 8c/.; half ditto, £2. 13*. 4(/. ; 
 quarter ditto, £1. Qs. 8d. ; one-eighth ditto, 13*. 4d. ; one- 
 sixteenth, 6s. 8d. currency. 
 
 Silver. — Dollar, 6*. 8d. ; half ditto, os. 4f/. ; quarter ditto, 
 1*. 8f/. ,• one-eighth, lOf/. ; one-sixteenth, 5c/. currency. 
 
 Commerce. — The trade of Honduras is as yet but in its in- 
 fancy, although exceeding half a million sterling annually. The 
 value of the imports in 1830 was £234,379, and of the ex- 
 ports £316,151 ; employing a shipping inwards, of tons, 
 13,918, and outwards, tons, 16,351, independent of a large 
 coasting trade, carried on by vessels of various burthen be- 
 longing to the merchants at Balize.* 
 
 The principal Articles of Export from 1824 to 1830, were — f 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mahogany. 
 
 Cedar. 
 
 Indigo. 
 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 1824 
 
 5,573,819 
 
 2,493 
 
 199,867 
 
 1825 
 
 5,083,170 
 
 21,000 
 
 211,447 
 
 1826 
 
 6,385,589 
 
 30,171 - 
 
 358,552 
 
 1827 
 
 6,904,998 
 
 19,781 
 
 81,767 
 
 1828 
 
 5,466,806 
 
 .... 
 
 1,610 leeroons. 
 
 1829 
 
 4,631,391 
 
 912 
 
 1,474 .. 
 
 1830 
 
 4,556,986 
 
 
 
 2,660 
 
 * The aggregate burthen of the colonial shipping amounted, in 1830, 
 to 1,551 tons, employing 285 seamen, and it has since increased. 
 
 t The documents whence this table (and many others in this Volume) 
 are derived, have been drawn up by the Colonial Office, but never before 
 printed : the export of logwood is not given.
 
 422 MAHOGANY, LOGWOOD, &C. — DUTIES AND REVENUES. 
 
 The Mahogany, Logwood, and Nicaragua imported, re-exported and 
 consumed in the United Kingdom, with the taxation thereon, &c. 
 
 1820 
 1821 
 1822 
 1823 
 182J 
 1825 
 182(i 
 1827 
 1828 
 182C 
 183(1 
 1831 
 1831 
 1835 
 
 MAHOGANY. 
 
 tons. 
 
 16005 
 
 13035 
 
 1811S 
 
 12334 
 
 16116 
 
 15705 
 
 1/953 
 
 19964 
 
 199 
 
 19335 
 
 15993 
 
 11542 
 
 ton. 
 
 862 
 1381 
 
 464 
 
 403 
 
 200 
 
 3: 
 
 45t! 
 106f 
 126.1 
 
 341 
 1171 
 
 46s 
 
 0-2 
 
 tons. 
 
 14007 
 
 14531 
 
 15599 
 
 15232 
 
 16029 
 
 1445 
 
 12979 
 
 19935 
 
 IS038 
 
 16546 
 
 15478 
 
 12175 
 
 Rates of Duty per Ton. 
 
 Bermuda, ! 
 Bahamas, I 
 
 Honduras 
 direct. 
 
 £. s. 
 3 16 
 
 5^ 
 
 ■£. s. d. £, s. d. 
 11 17 6 11 17 6 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 £. 
 
 76016 
 
 72262 
 
 72763 
 
 85423 
 
 • 190779 
 
 . 190140 
 
 51954 
 
 . '68730J 
 
 . 74470 
 
 657851 
 59970 
 47932 
 
 LOGWOOD. 
 
 tons. 
 
 5292; 
 
 88O9 
 17236 
 15429 
 19105 
 22016 
 10246 
 1088/ 
 14046 
 13893 
 16782 
 14853 
 
 ton 
 
 555: 
 
 ■1749 
 
 5469 
 
 8734 
 
 596; 
 
 6848 
 
 5894 
 
 717 
 
 639 
 
 6227 
 
 5938 
 
 6011 
 
 Rate of 
 
 per T. 
 
 Duty 
 
 33 o! 
 
 tons.' s. 
 
 4347 9 
 
 5078 . . 
 
 9000 . . 
 
 8764 .. 
 
 11034 .. 
 
 12384 3 
 
 6807 .. 
 
 7162 .. 
 
 9297 .. 
 
 8852 . . 
 
 10100 .. 
 
 10405 .. 
 
 o a 
 fa j3 
 
 NICA- 
 RAGUA 
 WOOD.* 
 
 9 2 
 
 ton. 
 
 947 
 
 26; 
 
 1646 
 
 1994 
 
 355is 
 
 6|4353 
 
 . iSiSCI 
 
 . 3060 
 
 . |114C 
 
 83i: 
 
 108i 
 
 1277 
 
 ton. 
 306 
 54 
 351 
 591 
 868 
 474 
 718 
 1129 
 1028 
 765 
 367 
 200 
 
 General View. I cannot conclude this Chapter without 
 expressing my regret, that such an important settlement as 
 Honcku'as should have been so long neglected at home. It 
 is valuable not only in a political but in a commercial aspect ; 
 inasmuch as it opens to our trade new regions and countries, 
 while its rich and fertile lands await only the skilful handicraft 
 of the British emigrant to pour forth the abundance of life. 
 The eloquent annalist of Jamaica, writing within the last two 
 or three years, says, ' it is but within the last few months that 
 the town of Peten, situated 230 miles west of Balize, at the 
 head of its magnificent river, has been exposed to specula- 
 tion, or even to our acquaintance. A road is now open, and 
 a lively intercourse with the British merchants has arisen 
 there. Fleets of Indian pit-pans repair almost weekly to Ba- 
 lize, and return loaded with articles of British manufacture. 
 Peten, formerly the capital of the Itzaec Indians, was one of 
 the last conquests of the Spaniards in the year 1679. It 
 stands on an island in the centre of the extensive fresh-water 
 
 * The duty on Nicaragua wood imported from all parts was, in 1820, 
 £ 1. 65. 2d. per ton, and in 1825, 15*. per ton.
 
 IMPORTANCE OF THE COLONY OF THE HONDURAS. 423 
 
 lake Itza, in lat. 16 N., long. 91.16 W. Within 50 miles of 
 it the enterprising spirit of the British settler has already ex- 
 tended the search for mahogany ; and what may not be ex- 
 pected from a people so industrious, so judicious, and so 
 T)erseverinff. The Itza is 26 leagues in circumference, and 
 its pure waters, to the depth of 30 fathoms, produce the most 
 excellent fish. The islands of Sepet, Galves, Lojjes, Bixit, 
 and Coju, lie scattered over its surface, and afford a delicious 
 retreat to 10,000 inhabitants, who form part of the new re- 
 public of central America, within the spiritual jurisdiction of 
 the Mexican diocese of Yucatan. The fertile soil yields two 
 harvests in the year, producing maize, chiappa pepper, bal- 
 sam, vanilla, cotton, indigo, cocoa, cochineal, brazil wood, 
 and the most exquisite fruits, in wasteful abundance. Several 
 navigable rivers flowing thence are lost in the great Pacific, 
 and suggest an easy communication with the British limits. 
 Within ten leagues of the shores of the Itza lake commences 
 the ridge of the Alabaster mountains, on whose surface glitter 
 in vast profusion the green, the brown, and the variegated 
 jaspers, while the forests are filled with wild and monstrous 
 beasts, the Equus Bisulcus, or Chinese horse, and with tigers 
 and lions, of a degenerated breed. Roads diverge in all direc- 
 tions from this favoured spot, and afford an easy communication 
 with a free channel for British merchandize to San Antonio, 
 to Chichanha, San Benito, Tabasco, and even Campeachy; 
 while throughout the whole country the most most stupend- 
 ous timbers are abundant. The most valuable drugs, balsams, 
 and aromatic plants, grow wild ; and the achiote, amber, co- 
 pal, dragon's blood, mastic, and almacigo, are everywhere to 
 be gathered.' 
 
 Such is the splendid country which England deserves to 
 lose, for she knoweth not its worth. May I hope, however, 
 that my labours in endeavouring to develope the treasures, (by 
 treasures I mean, not gold and silver, but food, raiment, and 
 the necessaries and conveniencies, and even elegancies of 
 life), spread abroad by Nature, for the welfare of millions, 
 will not be without some good result.
 
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 425 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 GENERAL WEST INDIA COMMERCE; 
 
 PKIXCIPALLY IN REFERENCE TO 
 
 SUGAR, COFFEE, COCOA, RUM, MOLASSES, &c. 
 
 IMPOLICY OF ENORMOUS TAXATION IN ENGLAND ON WEST INDIA PRO- 
 DUCE — NECESSITY OF GIVING RELIEF TO THE PLANTERS BY PER- 
 MITTING THEM TO CARRY ON A DIRECT TRADE WITH FOREIGN COUN- 
 TRIES, AND ADVANTAGES TO ALL PARTIES OF FREEING OUR COLONIAL 
 COMMERCE FROM LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS AND FISCAL IMPOSI- 
 TIONS. 
 
 Of the importance of the West India Colonies to Great 
 Britain, I trust it is not necessary to speak ; they are in fact 
 tropical gardens for the growth of various articles which our 
 temperate clime will not produce;* rendered more valuable 
 by their contiguity to England, and by their geographical 
 position as regards the vast and improving continent of Ame- 
 rica, and its numerous rising and prosperous republics.f I do 
 not advert to the lands in the W. I. islands being owned by 
 Englishmen, because the same occurs with most of our other 
 colonies. Nor do I desire to lay much stress on the calcula- 
 tion of the balance of trade in favour of England,]: or of 
 
 * Quantities of principal articles imported into the United Kingdom in 
 1830, from the British West India Islands. Cloves, 10,000 lbs. ; cochineal, 
 11 1,000 lbs.; cocoa-nuts, 711,923 lbs. ; coffee, 27,460,421 lbs. ; dye and 
 hard woods, 2,000 tons ; logwood, 10,000 tons ; mahogany, 12,000 tons ; 
 ginger, 6,000 cwts. ; molasses, 250,000 cwts. ; castor oil, 1 0,000 lbs. ; 
 pepper, 20,000 lbs.; pimento, 3,500,000 lbs.; sarsaparilla, 50,000 lbs ; rum, 
 6,500,000 gall. ; sugar, 4,000,000 cwt. ; tobacco manufactured, 3,000 lbs. ; 
 cotton wool, 4,000,000 lbs. 
 
 f At present even a large proportion of the manufactures (^^700,000 
 worth) shipped from England for Jamaica, are re-exported from the latter 
 place to the Spanish Main. 
 
 X Since the establishment of the British West India colonies the exports
 
 426 NECESSITY OF DOING JUSTICE TO THE WEST INDIES. 
 
 capital or wealth, drawn from the W. Indies to the mother 
 country, because that also has a general reference to all 
 colonies, and, if carried to excess, is injurious to the latter, 
 and therefore ultimately detrimental to the former. But I 
 claim for the W. Indies, (or British plantations as they are 
 sometimes termed,) that, in common with all our colonies, 
 commercial justice may be accorded them ; it may have suited 
 the temper and taste of byegone times to have established 
 particular monopolies, and split the nation into sections ; such 
 measures will no longer answer — we must cease legislating 
 for party interests — we must look to general not individual 
 weal as the best means of promoting human happiness. Re- 
 serving, however, an exposition of sound colonial policy for 
 my last volume, I proceed with my historical details, and first 
 with reference to the trade in — 
 
 SUGAR. 
 
 That a nutritive so delightful as sugar should have long 
 remained unknown in its concrete form to our ancestors, is 
 another proof of the comparative modern date of civilization 
 in Europe — I say of Kurope — because the process of extract- 
 ing and crystallizing the juice of the cane has been practised 
 from time immemorial in the East, particularly in China, 
 where, however, dormant or stationary, the human mind may 
 now be, it is certain that at one period it had all the inventive 
 faculties in full play. According to chemical analysis sugar is 
 a vegetable oxyde, composed of oxygen, carbon, and hydro- 
 gen; 100 parts containing (according to Ure) of oxygen, 
 50.33; carbon, 43.38 ; hydrogen, 6.29. It may however be 
 described as comprising, in the most concentrated vegetable 
 form, the principle or nutriment of life, azote, a fact which 
 admits of natural demonstration, for not only do the inhabitants 
 
 from them to Great Britain amounted to ^430,000,000. sterling ; and 
 the value of merchandize exported from Great Britain to the West Indies, 
 ^230,000,000 :— balance in favour of Great Britain, ^'200,000,000:— 
 annual value of imports from West Indies, J:'8,000,000 : ditto of exports 
 to i?4,000,000 :— expended anuallt/ in England, ^'4,000,000.
 
 IMPORTANCE AND USEFULNESS OF SUGAR — AS FOOD, &:c. 427 
 
 of every part of the globe delight in sugar, when obtain 
 able, but all animated beings; the beasts of the field — the 
 fowls of the air, insects, reptiles, and even fish have an 
 exquisite enjoyment in the consumption of sweets, and a 
 distaste to the contrary ; in fact sugar is the alimentary 
 ingredient of every vegetable substance encumbered with 
 a greater or less proportion of bulky innutritions matter. 
 A small quantity of sugar will sustain life, and enable the 
 animal frame to undergo corporeal (I may add mental, 
 from personal experience,) fatigue better than any other 
 substance ; often have I travelled with the Arab over the 
 burning desert, or with the wild Afric through his ro- 
 mantic country, and when wearied with fatigue and a noontide 
 sun, we have sat ourselves beneath an umbrageous canopy, 
 and I have shared with my companion his travelling pro- 
 vender, a few small balls of sugar mixed with spices, and 
 hardened into a paste with flour. Invariably have I found 
 two or three of these balls, and a draught of water, the best 
 possible restorative and even a stimulus to renewed exertion. 
 During crop time in the West Indies the negroes, although 
 then hard worked, become fat, healthy and cheerful, and the 
 horses, mules, cattle, &c. on the estate partaking of the refuse 
 of the sugar-house, renew their plumpness and strength. In 
 Cochin-China, not only are the horses, buffaloes, elephants, 
 &c. all fattened with sugar, but the body guard of the King 
 are allowed a sum of money daily with which they must buy 
 sugar-canes, and eat a certain quantity thereof in order to 
 preserve their good looks and embonpoint ; there are about 
 500 of these household troops, and their handsome appear- 
 ance does honour to their food and to their royal master. 
 Indeed, in Cochin-China, rice and sugar is the ordinary 
 breakfast of people of all ages and stations ; and the people not 
 only preserve all their fruits in sugar, but even the greater 
 part of their leguminous vegetables, gourds, cucumbers, ra- 
 dishes, artichokes, the grain of the lotus, and the thick 
 fleshy leaves of the aloes. I have eaten in India, after a six
 
 428 SUGAR, A HEALTH RESTORING NUTRIMENT. 
 
 months' voyage, mutton killed in Leadenhall market, pre- 
 served in a cask of sugar, and as fresh as the day it was 
 placed on the shamhles. [In the curing of meat I believe a 
 portion of sugar is mixed with salt and saltpetre.} The Kan- 
 dyans of Ceylon preserve their venison in earthern pots of 
 honey, and after being thvis kept two or three years its fla- 
 vour would delight Epicurus himself. 
 
 In tropical climes the fresh juice of the cane is the most 
 efiicient remedy for various diseases, while its healing virtues 
 are felt when applied to ulcers and sores. Sir John Pringle 
 says, the plague was never known to visit any country where 
 sugar composes a material part of the diet of the inhabitants. 
 Drs. Rush, Cullen, and other eminent physicians are of 
 opinion that the frequency of malignant fevers of all kinds is 
 lessened by the use of sugar ; in disorders of the breast it 
 forms an excellent demulcient, as also in weaknesses and acrid 
 defluxions in other parts of the body. The celebrated 
 Dr. Franklin found great relief from the sickening pain of 
 the stone by drinking half-a-pint of syrup of coarse brown 
 sugar before bed-time, which he declared gave as much, 
 if not more relief, than a dose of opium. That dreadful 
 malady, once so prevalent on shipboard, scurvy — has been 
 completely and instantaneously stopped by putting the afflicted 
 on a sugar diet. The diseases arising from worms, to which 
 children are subject, are prevented by the use of sugar, the 
 love of which seems implanted by nature in them ; as to the 
 unfounded assertion of its injuring the teeth, let those who 
 make it visit the sugar plantations and look at the negroes 
 and their children, whose teeth are daily employed in the 
 mastication of sugar, and they will be convinced of the ab- 
 surdity of the statement. I might add many other facts 
 relative to this delightful nutriment. I conclude, however, 
 with observing, that I have tamed the most savage and 
 vicious horses with sugar, and have seen the most ferocious 
 animals domesticated by means of feeding them with an 
 article which our baneful fiscal restrictions and erroneous
 
 PROGRESSIVE TAXATION ON SUGAR IN ENGLAND. 429 
 
 commercial policy has checked the use of in England, where 
 millions pine, sicken, and perish for want of nutriment.* 
 
 The extended consumption of sugar in England began 
 with its cultivation in the British W. I. islands. In 1466 its 
 use was confined to medicines and feasts, and was thus con- 
 tinued until 1580, when sugar was exported from Brazil to 
 Portugal, and thence to this country. In 1641 sugar canes 
 were transplanted from Brazil to Barbadoes, and thence to 
 our other Western possessions; and, in 1643, the English 
 settlers in St. Christopher's made very good sugar, vn 
 example which was soon followed in the other islands. Th6 
 moment, however, that its consumption extended in England 
 that moment the Government stepped in with the tax-ga- 
 therer to mar the efforts of human industry, and to check human 
 happiness. The progressive increasing rate of taxation 
 was as follows:— In 1661 at Is. 6d. per cwt., in 1669 at 3s., 
 in 1703 at 3*. M., in 1747 at 4*. lOc/., in 1759 at 6s. 4f/., in 
 1779 at 6s. 8d., in 1781 at 11*. 8d., in 1782 at 12*. 3d., in 
 1787 at 12*. 4d., and in 1791 at 15*. The natural result 
 of this impolitic taxation was to check consvimption ; in 1787 
 but 77,355 tons of sugar were retained for home use, while 
 ten years previously the consumption had been 81,000 tons ; — 
 in 1790 the consumption decreased to 76,811 tons; in 1791 
 it fell to 70,160 tons, in 1792 to 68,000 tons. The financier 
 of the day, however, would not take warning, and in 1797 the 
 duty on British plantation was raised to 17*. 6^/. per cwt., and 
 5s. 2d. per cwt, was levied on East-India sugar, in addition 
 to a previous ad valorem duty of i.*37. 16*. 3d. per cent. : the 
 result was a further reduction of consumption, which in 1797 
 
 * It is impossible (says Mr. M'Queen, of GIas<>-o\v, in his lucid evidence 
 before Parliament, 8th February 1832), for English vea\ers earning onlv 
 from 3s. 6d. to 5,?. a week (o consume siigur or any thing else. For the 
 fullest confirmation on this point, and evidence of the deterioration which 
 revenue and commerce experience from the impoverishment of the woi-king 
 classes, see a very important brochure by John Maxwell, Esq. Jun. the 
 Member for Lanarkshire, whose eflforts have been so strenuously, so ably, 
 and so disinterestedly devoted to ameliorating the miseries of his fellow 
 creatures, particularly those of the meritorious hand-loom weavers.
 
 430 TAXATION ON WEST AND EAST INDIA SUGAR, AND 
 
 ?imounted to only 63,000 tons, being a reduction of nearly 
 20,000 tons in the course of a few years owing to taxation. 
 
 In order, however, to forge rivets for the chains of other 
 nations money must be had, and accordingly the tax went on 
 almost yearly augmenting, until 1805 it was £1 7s. per cwt. 
 on West-India sugar, and £1 9s. 8d. on East-India, in ad- 
 dition to £1 7s. per cent, ad valorem ! The consumption, it 
 is true, slightly increased notwithstanding the rapid augmen- 
 tation of the tax, owing to extended production keeping 
 down the price, in consequence of the increased consumption 
 of tea and coffee, and by reason of the Bank restriction act 
 augmenting the supply of money. The progressive and dis- 
 criminating rates of duty levied on the two sugars in the 
 English markets, up to 1833, will be best seen by the fol- 
 lowing table : — 
 
 Rates of Duty on West and East India Sugars in England. 
 
 PERIODS. 
 
 West India Sugar, 
 per Cwt. 
 
 East India Sugar, 
 per Cwt. 
 
 In 1803 
 
 
 
 £. 
 
 s. 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 7 
 
 10 
 7 
 
 10 
 7 
 4 
 
 (I. 
 
 
 t 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £. s. 
 1 6 
 1 9 
 1 9 
 1 11 
 1 10 
 1 13 
 
 1 18 
 
 2 
 1 17 
 1 12 
 
 d. 
 4 
 
 — 1804 
 
 1 
 
 From 1805 to 1809 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 In 1810 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 From 1811 to 1812 
 
 
 
 1813 to 1815 
 
 
 
 1816 to 1817 
 
 
 
 1818 
 
 
 
 1819 to 1830 
 
 
 
 1831 to 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Average 
 
 Duty 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 1 12 
 
 8 
 
 In addition, there was an ad 
 sugar, which from 1787 to 1797 
 1798 to 1802 was £42 IGs. 3d. 
 from £1 7*. to £1 ditto. 
 
 The result of this mischievous 
 seen ; the importations of the E, 
 and the total consumption of the 
 a series of years will be found 
 nished. 
 
 valorem duty on East India 
 
 Avas £37 I6s. 3d. per cent. ; 
 
 ditto; 1803 to 1813 varied 
 
 policy may be readily fore- 
 
 . I. sugars of course fell off, 
 
 country on the aggregate of 
 
 to have considerably dimi-
 
 ITS NATURAL RESULT, DECREASED CONSUMPTION. 431 
 
 From 1804 to 1813, 29,898,516 cwts. ; 1814 to 1823, 
 27,078,857— Decrease 2,819,659. cwts. 
 
 Thus, with an augmented population — in time of peace — a 
 great reduction in the cost of production, freight, &c., there 
 was in ten years a diminution in the consumption of sugar to 
 the extent of upwards of 300,000,000 lbs. weight ! 
 
 Even in Great Britain alone (independent of Ireland) the 
 result has been most disastrous to the commerce of the coun- 
 try and the health of the people : the consumption was, per 
 head, in 1801, 440 oz. ; 1811, 429 oz. ; 1821, 333 oz. ; 1831, 
 393 oz. — Decrease on the two latter periods 143 oz. Had it 
 not been for the reduction of the duty in 1830, the decrease 
 would have been much more than it now stands at. 
 
 The consumption of sugar in the United Kingdom for 
 the year 1810 was 3,769,565 cwts.; 1832, 3,655,000 cwts. 
 — Decrease, 114,565.* 
 
 The consumption of the distilleries is included, it is true, 
 in the year 1810, and we cannot accurately ascertain the 
 amount ; but admitting the distilleries to have consumed a 
 large quantity, we find that in 1808 (not a year including 
 distillery sugars) the consumption of Great Britain was 
 2,842,813 cwts., while so late as 1825 it was no more than 
 2,655,959. Nor has the revenue derived by the state been 
 more fortunate than the commerce of the country. For 
 16 years the duty derived from the sugar in Great Britain 
 was— from 1807 to 1814, £27,723,224; 1815 to 1822, 
 £26,648,473— Decrease, £1,074,751 . 
 
 That this diminished consumption (whether positively or 
 relatively as regards the increase of population and wealth) 
 was not owing to a lessened supply or cultivation in tropical 
 countries is thus evident : 
 
 * To make this decreased consumption more evident, it should be remem- 
 bered that the population of the United Kingdom, in 1810, was about 
 16,000,000 mouths, and in 1832 fully 25,000,000 ; thus in 1810 the con- 
 sumption of sugar was 421 oz. per head, and in 1832 only 261 oz. ! i. e. a 
 falling off of 160 oz. of sugar per head per annum.
 
 4S2 PAST AND PRESENT STATE OF SUGAR TRADE. 
 
 Sugar produced in different Countries in 1814 and in 1830. 
 
 SUGAR COUNTRIES. 
 
 1814. 
 
 1830. 
 
 Increase. 
 
 British West India Islands 
 
 Mauritius .■• •••• 
 
 Tons. 
 190,000 
 6,000 
 20,000 
 60,000 
 35,000 
 50,000 
 30,000 
 10,000 
 none 
 
 Tons. 
 185,000 
 30,000 
 25,000 
 95,000 
 30,000 
 90,000 
 70,000 
 38,000 
 6,000 
 
 569,000 
 
 Tons, 
 none 
 24,000 
 
 British East India Possessions 
 
 French Colonies 
 
 5,000 
 35,000 
 
 Dutch and Danish Colonies 
 
 Cuba 
 
 Brazils 
 
 none 
 40,000 
 40,000 
 
 
 28.000 
 
 Beet-root Suo'ar 
 
 6,000 
 
 
 
 Total Comparisons .... Tons 
 
 401,000 
 
 178,000 
 
 Here we observe an increased supply of 3,560,000 cwt.* 
 while the production of our W. I. islands has woefully de- 
 creased, even of late years, as will be thus seen : — 
 
 Importation of Sugar into Great Britain. 
 
 WHENCE IMPORTED. 
 
 1828. 
 
 1829. 
 
 1830. 
 
 1831. 
 
 Increase on 
 
 two Latter 
 
 Years. 
 
 British Plantation, "1 
 
 West Indies J 
 
 Mauritius 
 
 Bengal 
 
 Siam, Java, &c 
 
 Tons. 
 
 203,403 
 
 18,570 
 6,635 
 1,175 
 1,900 
 4,940 
 
 25,254 
 
 Tons. 
 
 195,230 
 
 14,580 
 8,700 
 1,600 
 5,300 
 4,680 
 
 19,403 
 
 Tons. 
 
 184,222 
 
 24,266 
 
 10,680 
 
 4,000 
 
 6,060 
 
 4,760 
 
 12,191 
 
 Tons. 
 190,790 
 
 25,100 
 7,^^70 
 3,870 
 6,610 
 
 20,960 
 
 16,306 
 
 Tons, 
 none 
 
 16,238 
 3,215 
 5.095 
 6,470 
 
 16,100 
 
 none 
 
 Cuba 
 
 Brazil 
 
 West India Molasses, "\ 
 (bastards) J 
 
 Total and Comparisons 
 
 261,877 
 
 249,493 
 
 246,179 
 
 271,506 
 
 46,118 
 
 * The total quantity of sugar imported into the European ports in 1830 
 and 1831, was 871,721 tons. The consumption of America in 1830 was 
 estimated at 70,000 tons. In New Orleans the exports of sugar in 1827-8 
 were 60,000 casks; in 1830-1 they had increased to 90,000 casks. The 
 exportation of sugar from Java in 1825 was 960 tons, in 1829 it amounted 
 to 3,330 tons. The produce of sugar in Cuba was in 1829, 72,000 tons ; 
 and in 1830, 92,000 tons. The Brazils in 1830 exported 70,000 tons of 
 sugar. Martinique and Guadaloupe produced of sugar in 1827,62,800
 
 ENOR^[O^.S TAXATION ON WEST INDIA SUriAR. 4o3 
 
 I do not attribute this reduced importation to worn out 
 West India soils. The planters find that improved husbandry, 
 and the alternation of crops, are as conducive to fertility and 
 renovation of the earth in the new world as in the old, but I 
 attribute it to the enormous, and unjust, and impolitic taxa- 
 tion levied on sugar imported into England, and which the 
 planters, notwithstanding the reduced price, have been una- 
 ble to compete with. 
 
 Proportion of Taxation on the Price of West India Sugar for Tliirty 
 
 Years. 
 
 i;92 to 1796, averaging price 55s. id., duty or tax, lis. per Cwt., i. e. 274 per Cent. 
 1/97.. 1798, 67s. 3d I7s.6d 26 
 
 1799.. 1800 64S. 2id., 18s. 2d 28 
 
 1801 .. 1892, 62s. 7d., 2tJs 38 
 
 1803.. 1823 465. 4d 27s 58^ 
 
 1824.. 1B26 33S. 5d 27s. 80j 
 
 Dec. 1829 23S. 3jd 27S 110 
 
 Herein we witness the bane of our colonial policy. We 
 have not only imposed enormous duties on the produce of 
 our transmarine possessions, but, with the idea of keeping up a 
 mercantile marine, we have, while almost shutting the W. Indies 
 out from the home market, forbade their selling their surplus 
 in those of Continental Europe or America ; nay, not only from 
 aeUing, but even from buying food and the necessaries of 
 life, where the Colonists could readily obtain them in ex- 
 change for their sugar, rum, &c. What miserable policy ! 
 What short-sighted statesmanship ! Better were it for the 
 planters of Jamaica, &c. to cut the painter that holds them 
 to a country which, like the dog in the manger, will neither 
 consume what is within its reach, nor allov/ others to obtain 
 that which is refused or neglected. At present the consump- 
 tion of sugar irrthe United Kingdom (vide 1st vol. History of 
 the Colonies, p. 219) is not more than 5 oz. a-week for each 
 individual — a quantity which the youngest child would con- 
 sume. How many millions of our starving countrymen 
 
 tons; in 1830, 70,000 ton. Bourbon Isle in the same years, 7,200 tons, 
 and 18,000 tons. These statements show whvA abundance of sugar there 
 is in the vvorld, 
 
 VOL. II. F F
 
 4S4f ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS EMBARKED IN SUGAR PLANTATIONS. 
 
 scarcely ever taste sugar, though were it within their means 
 (which it would be but for our destructive system of finance 
 and impolitic restrictions on commerce) they would use, at 
 the very least, three times the amount now imported. 
 
 We have been engaged in upholding a false system. When 
 the British W. I. Colonies were first established they had a 
 free trade to all parts of the world, and the result was the 
 most rapid strides in prosperity ever known. Our exclusive 
 system checked that prosperity — our taxation within the 
 present century completed its ruin. Upwards of £100,000,000 
 sterling have been invested in the British sugar plantations 
 in the W. Indies — loans of relief have been issued from the 
 British Exchequer to a vast amount — and £20,000,000 sterling 
 have lately been added to purchase slave emancipation ; — All 
 this money, and what is of far more worth, all the gallant 
 blood spilt in defence of those possessions, will have been 
 expended in vain by a perseverance in the present system. 
 We must lower the duty on W. I. sugar from 24s. to \2s. 
 and proportionally reduce the duties on E. I. sugars. We 
 must allow the W. I. islands a free trade with North Ame- 
 rica and with Continental Europe on their own terms* — the 
 Colonists must, in fact, be permitted to buy food at the 
 cheapest rate where they can sell sugar at the dearest price. 
 If this be not done the destruction of all the property em- 
 barked in the W. I. islands is inevitable, and those Colonies 
 will remain like a drag chain round our necks, instead of 
 being, as they would under the system recommended, a 
 source of happiness and prosperity to the parent state. 
 
 * The following are the Free (so called I suppose on the principle 
 lucus a non lucendo). Ports among the British colonies in the western 
 HEMISPHERE. * No goods shall be imported into, nor shall any goods, 
 except the produce of the fisheries in British ships, be exported from any 
 of the British Possessions in America by sea, from or to any place other 
 than the United Kingdom, or some other of such possessions, except into 
 or from the several ports in such possession, called ' Free Ports,' enu- 
 merated or described in the table following ; (that is to say) — 
 
 Jamaica, Kingston, Savannah Le Alar, Montego Bay, Santa Lucia, 
 Antonia, Saint Ann, Tahroun Maria, Morant Bav, Annotto Bav, Black
 
 SUGAR IMPORTATIONS AT THE PRI>JCIPAL PORTS. 
 
 4S5 
 
 The diminishing production of sugar imported from the 
 several W. I. islands is shewn in the table fticing this chap- 
 ter. The annual importation at the principal ports of Great 
 Britain of Plantation sugar from 1823 to 1833 was* — 
 
 London 
 
 Liverpool ., 
 Bristol, &c. 
 Clyde 
 
 Total .. 
 
 131000 
 49000 
 26000 
 31500 
 
 237500 
 
 14500(1 
 45000 
 2790C 
 30400 
 
 248300 
 
 155800 
 48000 
 32000 
 30200 
 
 266000 
 
 1830 1829 
 
 159000 162300 
 42000 43700 
 30000 34000 
 29000 32400 
 
 260000 272400 
 
 176000 
 45500 
 35600 
 31000 
 
 288100 
 
 1827 
 
 148000 
 37500 
 25200 
 27800 
 
 238500 
 
 1826 
 
 168700 
 41800 
 31700 
 26600 
 
 268800 
 
 146100 
 39500 
 28300 
 25000 
 
 239800 
 
 163200 
 46300 
 31000 
 25500 
 
 266000 
 
 159000 
 46350 
 31800 
 26300 
 
 263450 
 
 For the years ending in January 1834 and 1833, of sugar 
 there were total importations — in 1834, 4,732,749 cwts. ; in 
 1833, 4,876,748 ;— of which the West India Colonies furnished 
 in 1834, 3,648,026 cwts.; in 1833, 3,78i,244. Total consump- 
 tion in 1834, 4,075,762 cwts. ; in 1833, 4,^30,474 cwts.; of 
 which the West Indies furnished, in 1834, 3,469,612 cwts. ; 
 in 1833, 3,824,263 cwts. The gross revenue was in 1834, 
 £4,934,098.; in 1833, £5,354,437; of which the West India 
 sugars paid in 1834, £4,167,268 ; in 1833, £4,595,377, 
 
 Before passing from this branch of my subject, I cannot 
 help adverting to another grievous imposition under which 
 
 River, Rio Biieno, Port Morant. Grenada, Saint George. Dominica, 
 Roseau. Antigua, Saint John's. Trinidad, San Josef. Tobago, Scar- 
 borough. Tortola, Road Harbour. New Providence, Nassau. Croohed 
 Islands Pitt's Town. Saint Vincenfs, Kingston. Bermuda, Port Saint 
 George and Port Hamilton. Bahamas, any Port where there is u 
 Custom House. Barhadoes, Bridgetown. New Brunswick, St. John's, 
 St Andrew's. Nova Scotia, Halifax, Picton. Canada, Quebec. N^eW' 
 foundland. Saint John's. Demerara, George Town. Berbice, New 
 Amsterdam. Saint Lucia, C?L%ixi&s. Saint Kitts, Bas&eterre, A>y«V, Charles 
 Tovvn. Montserrat, Plymouth. Cape Breton, Sydney. Prince Edward'^ 
 Island, Charlotte Town. Anguilla, Anguilla. And if any goods shall be 
 imported into any port or place in any of the said possessions contrary 
 hereto, such good shall be forfeited.' 
 
 * I have compiled this important comparative statement from various 
 numbers of Myer's Liverpool Price Current.
 
 4-36 MOLASSES AND HX'M, DUTIES THEREON. 
 
 the Colonists labour, by being virtually forbidden to refine* 
 their own sugar on the spot where it is made, (the duty on 
 importation into England being £8 8*. per cwt.) for the sake 
 of benefitting a comparatively small body of refiners in 
 England. If such a measure were now to be proposed for 
 the first time, would it not most deservedly be scouted by 
 the good sense of the country ? Why, then should evil be 
 persisted in. Instead of the West Indians petitioning for the 
 prevention of foreign sugar being admitted into the home 
 market for refining, let them strenuously petition to refine 
 their own article on the spot v.here it is grown and manufac- 
 tured. 
 
 Molasses. The remarks made in the foregoing pages have 
 equal reference to molasses, or treacle, the annual impor- 
 tations of which now average upwards of 300,000 cwt. 
 [vide page 424,] the duty on which, from British possessions, 
 is 9*. per cwt., producing a net revenue of not more than 
 £150,000 per annum; it would be desirable to reduce this 
 duty to 5*. per cwt., and to permit the use of molasses in 
 breweries, distilleries, &c. 
 
 Rum. The West Indians have pressed much for a reduc- 
 tion of duty on this article ; on this point I do not agree with 
 them : rum is not a necessary of life — it is quite cheap enough 
 for any good purpose, perhaps too cheap for a bad use ; never- 
 theless, though I would not augment the duty on its impor- 
 tation, I would not assuredly reduce it ; to give the planters 
 relief, they should be permitted to send their surplus to 
 foreign markets. To dispose of it, in fact, freed from our 
 baneful monopolizing restrictions. The following table shews 
 the quantity of — 
 
 t In the report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on 
 W. I. Aflfairs in 1832, the committee justly state that they ' are at a loss 
 to trace to any sound principle the prohibition of refining suijar in the 
 West Indies ; they cannot justify the prohibition of manufacture in any 
 part of the King's dominions, but least of all the manufacture of their otrn 
 produce by the cultivators ; and they recommend, without hesitation, that 
 this restriction be removed.'
 
 RUM IMPORTED FROM THE BRITISH WEST INDIES. 437 
 
 
 
 
 
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 438" COFFEE— INTKODUCTlOxN INTO ENGLAND — AND TAXATION. 
 
 Ruin Imported at the principal ports of Great Britain from 1823 to 1833. 
 
 In Puncheons. 
 
 1833 1832 
 
 1831 
 
 1830 
 
 1829 
 
 1828 
 
 1827 
 
 1826 
 
 1825 
 
 1824 
 
 1823 
 
 London .... 
 Liverpool .. 
 Bristol, &c. 
 Clyde 
 
 31000 27000 
 
 10400 9100 
 
 2000 2000 
 
 1600 2400 
 
 46400 
 
 16000 
 
 4300 
 
 3400 
 
 39800 
 12000 
 3600 
 2900 
 
 41700 
 
 11650 
 
 3800 
 
 4300 
 
 39000 
 
 10700 
 
 3000 
 
 2750 
 
 3500(1 
 8301 
 3000 
 3200 
 
 29500 
 7550 
 3700 
 3000 
 
 24600 
 5500 
 2000 
 2800 
 
 25400 
 9600 
 3100 
 3600 
 
 28100 
 10100 
 4700 
 4100 
 
 
 4500o' 40500 
 
 70100 
 
 58300 
 
 61450 
 
 55450 
 
 49500 
 
 43750 
 
 34900 
 
 41700 
 
 47000 
 
 (.'OlFEE. 
 The berry which furnishes this dehghtful refreshing be- 
 verage, was first pubhcly introduced into England in the 
 middle of the ITtli century, and soon after fell under the 
 taxing claws of the Government ; for, in 1660, a duty of 4'd. 
 per gallon was laid on all coffee made or sold; this duty was 
 subsequently changed to a rated tax per lb. From 1689 to 
 1732, the tax was varied from 1*. to 2s. per lb. ; it was then 
 lowered to 1*. 6cL per lb. at which rate it remained for several 
 years, producing 10,000/. revenue; the latter, however, as 
 well as the consumption, fell off, from the high rate of 
 taxation ; and in 1793, the revenue from coffee was only 
 £2,869. In 1784, the duty was reduced in Great Britain* 
 
 • The almost virtual exclusion of East India Coffee from the English 
 market, and the high rate of taxation levied on the West India coffee is 
 thus shewn for a series of years :• 
 
 From 1789 to 1794 
 
 — 1795 to 17% 
 
 — 1797 to 1798 
 
 — 1799 to 1802 
 
 — 1803 to 1807 
 ■ -- 1808 to 1813 
 
 — 1814 to 1818 
 
 — 1819 to 1824 
 
 — 1825 to 1832 
 
 Average rate of duty for 44 years 1 Oi 1 114 
 
 In addition to the iaa' (I hate the word dutif), thus levied on E. I. coffee, 
 there was an ad valorem duty, varying from two and a half to four per 
 cent, during the period between 1799 and 1813. 
 
 W. I. ( 
 
 Coffee, 
 
 pel 
 
 lb. 
 
 *. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 73 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 E. I. Coffee, 
 per lb. 
 
 *. d. 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 \\h 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 9
 
 EFFECT OF HIGH TAXATION ON COFFEE. 439 
 
 from 2s. 3cl. to 6d. per lb. excise, and 4df. per lb. customs, on 
 British plantation coftee, while the duty levied on East India 
 was 2s. lOd. per lb. excise, and 4^(1. per lb. customs. (What 
 a shameful prohibition against East India coffee !) The con- 
 sumption of coftee rose, on this reduction, annually, until, in 
 1791, it amounted in Great Britain to 1,047,276 lbs. the re- 
 venue on which augmented to £57,659. The Government of 
 that day, not content with this increasing prosperity, raised 
 the duty, in 1795, on British plantation, from 6d. to 1*. Id. 
 per lb, and on East India from 1*. 8d. to 2*. 2d. in addition 
 to the 4f/. per lb. customs' duty levied on each sort ; the 
 entire duty, therefore, was, on British plantation, 1*. 5d. and 
 on East India 2s. 6d. per lb. 
 
 The result of this fiscal exaction may be easily imagined; 
 the consumption of coftee in Great Britain fell off' from 
 1,054,588 lbs. in 1795, to 396,953 lbs. in 1796; and for eight 
 succeeding years the consumption of coffee never rose beyond 
 that of 1795! 
 
 In 1803, the excise duty on East India coftee was lowered 
 from 2s. 2d. to 1*. 6d. and accordingly, in 1804, the consump- 
 tion rose to upwards of 1,000,000 lbs. about equal to what it 
 had been in 1791. From 1804 to 1808 the customs' duty 
 was raised, and the consumption decreased so, that, in 1808, 
 the quantity of coftee used did not exceed that of 1791. 
 Juster views were now, however, adopted; for, in 1809, the 
 excise duty was lowered from 1*. Id. to 3d. per lb. and the 
 customs' duty from (kl. 7-8th to 4o?. per lb. on British Plan- 
 tation, while on East India the excise was lowered from ls.6d. 
 to 6d, and the customs from 64^. and £3 7s. lid. per cent. 
 ad valorem to 4d. per lb. In consequence of these beneficial 
 reductions, let it be remembered, the consumption of coffee 
 thus extraordinarily increased in one year — 
 
 Consumption.— 1808, lbs. 1,069,691; 1809, lbs. 9,251,837.! 
 
 The revenue also increased ; but the West India interest, 
 jealous of the prospects of the East Indies sharing in the 
 home-market supply, caused, in the very subsequent year, an 
 additional duty of £3 6s. 8d. per cent, ad valorem to be levied
 
 4i0 FROGUESSIVi: TAXATION ON WEST INDIA COFFEE.' 
 
 on Jiast India coftee ; the i-esiilt was that the consumption 
 fell olF, in 1810, to 5,308,0% lbs. and for fifteen years, i. e., 
 until 18!^4, the consumption was not so great as in 1809! 
 1810, G,092,800 lbs. ; 1811, 7,571,200 lbs.; \8V2, 8,205,600 
 lbs. ; 1813,* 6,048,000 lbs. ; 1814, 5,868,800 lbs. ; 1815, 
 6,832,000 lbs,; 1816, 7,436,800 lbs.; 1817, 8,108,800 lbs.; 
 1818, 1,308,737 lbs. ; 1819,t 7,790,783 lbs. ; 1820, 7,103,409 
 lbs.; 1821, 7,593,001 lbs.; 1822, 7,669,351 lbs. ; 1823,845,920 
 lbs. ; 1824, 8,262,943 lbs. 
 
 On the reduction of the duty in 1825, from 1*. to (id. on 
 the W. India, and from 1*. 6(1, to 9(1. on E. India coffee, the 
 consumption thus rose in one year, 1 824, 7,993,040 lbs. ; 
 1825, 10,766,112 lbs.; and went on rising thus— 1826, 
 12,724, 139 lbs.; 1827, 14,974,378 lbs.; 1828, 16,522,423 lbs.; 
 1829, 18,476,180 lbs. ; 1830, 20,728,000 lbs. ; 1832, 22,952,000 
 lbs. 
 
 The present consumption, though large as compared with 
 the past, is small in reference to the population, and in com- 
 parison with other countries ;| for instance — Coffee consumed 
 in Great Britain, 14 oz. per head ; ditto, in the United States, 
 58, ditto. — Difference, 44. 
 
 This extraordinary increase in America over Great Britain 
 is owing to reduced taxation. In Camberleng's able Report 
 to Congress, 8th February, 1830, we find the duty on coffee 
 had been then lowered to five cents, or 2id. per lb. and it has 
 since been further reduced to 2 cents, or \d. per lb. The 
 
 ♦ Tax raised to /i'/- 
 
 f Tax raised to \s. per lb. ; hence the falling off. 
 
 ^ The consumption of coffee in Great Britain is about 10,000 tons; 
 France, 20,000 tons ; in the Netherlands, 40,000 tons ; Spain and Por- 
 tugal, 10,000 tons ; Germany and the Baltic, 32,000 tons ; I'nited States, 
 15,000 tons : — total consumption, tons, 127,000. Of this large (juantity 
 the British West Indies does not produce more than 30,000,00{) lbs., or 
 13,392 tons ; while the islctiul of .Java alone yields 20,000 tons ; Cuba about 
 ] 5,000; St. Domingo nearly 16,000 tons ; the Dutch West India colonies, 
 5,000 tons ; the French ditto and Bourbon, 8,000 tons ; and the Brazils 
 and Spanish Main, fully 32,000 tons. Our E. I. colonics arc capable of 
 yielding excellent coffee to a|i indefinite amount.
 
 COFFEE CONSUMED IN THE UNITED STATES. 441 
 
 result of this wise policy will be thus seen : the consumption of 
 coffee in the United states was on the average of three years 
 in annual amount as follows : — 
 
 COFFEE CONSUMED IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Consumption, 
 lbs. 
 
 Popula'ion. 
 
 Consumption 
 
 per head. 
 
 oz. 
 
 1/90 
 
 3,836,891 
 
 4,627,025 
 
 13 
 
 1798 
 
 7,351,665 
 
 6,000,000 
 
 19 
 
 1812 
 
 10,107,380 
 
 8,430,267 
 
 19 
 
 1818 
 
 19,199,443 
 
 11,000,000 
 
 19 
 
 1825 
 
 22,357,721 
 
 12,246,943 
 
 21 
 
 1826 
 
 26,449,356 
 
 12,325,012 
 
 22 
 
 1827 
 
 31,895,217 
 
 12,461,821 
 
 40 
 
 1828 
 
 37,258,879 
 
 13,124,937 
 
 45 
 
 1831 
 
 44,000,000 
 
 14,866,601 
 
 47 
 
 1832 
 
 56,000,000 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 59 
 
 Let the advocates of taxation on colonial produce ponder on 
 the foregoing table, and reflect on the evils which ensue from 
 raising money on the necessities of the people, to descend 
 only, as they affirm, ' in refreshing showers on the country !' 
 
 When the government tax on coffee in America was re- 
 duced 52|(/. per lb. consumption rapidly increased ; when it was 
 yet further lowered to a \ci. per lb. it bounded forward yet 
 faster; and now it is expected that only |<:/. per lb. will be 
 levied by government : — but happy (at least once happy) 
 England has Gc/. levied on her West India coffee, 9d. on her 
 East India coffee, and l.y. Sd. per lb. on foreign coffee. Nor 
 is this all — again we have unequal taxation staring us in the 
 face, the poor man pays a tax to the state on the worst West 
 India coffee which he consumes of 124 to 224 per cent. ; the 
 rick man drinks the finest Jamaica, and pays only a tax to 
 govermiient of 71 per cent, not half the sum which the poor 
 man is taxed/ Is this equity ? 
 
 But let it not be said that it is easier to complain than to 
 suggest a x'emedy. It has been shown in the article ' sugar ;' 
 how the poor man may be benefited, and the state revenue at 
 the same time augmented — that is, by affording encourage- 
 ment to a greater supply, and thus lessening the price dc-
 
 442 PROPOSED FISCAL CHANGE ON COFFEE. 
 
 manded by the seller, which result would inevitably follow 
 from competition. Ceylon is as valuable a colony to England 
 as Jamaica, and yet its coffee is charged with duty in the 
 home market to the extent of 260 per cent, ; while the finest 
 Jamaica coifee is only assessed from 70 to 80 per cent. One 
 pays ninepence per pound to government, after a voyage 
 of six months — the other sixpence, after a voyage of six weeks 
 — Is this justice? 
 
 If the government tax on coflPee were reduced and equa- 
 lized, the consumption would readily be increased from 
 22,000,000 to 40,000,000 lbs. or indeed at the moderate esti- 
 mate of 2 lbs. of coffee a year for each individual (which is 
 less than the American consumption by 2 lbs.) to 50,000,000 
 lbs. weight ; the revenue to the government at the following 
 proposed rates of duty would then be : — 
 
 JFest India coffee 
 
 Govermneut tax of 3d. per lb. would produce 
 East India colonial coffee .... 
 Government tax of 3d. per lb. would produce 
 Brazil and other foreign coffee 
 Government tax of 6rf. per lb. would produce 
 
 Consumption and revenue . . . lbs. 50,000,000 ^750,000* 
 
 Here we see that on the moderate calculation of 2 lbs. 
 of coffee per annum for each individual (the consumption 
 in America being nearly 4 lbs.) the colonial and general 
 commerce of the nation would be materially increased, the 
 revenue augmented, and above all, the comforts of the people 
 extended ; while there woidd be less necessity for Parlia- 
 mentary Committees to enquire into drunkenness, for the 
 morals, and consequently health, of the working classes, would 
 be materially improved by the substitution of a wholesome 
 and vivifying stimulant for the pernicious and demoralizing 
 use of gin and other ardent spirits. The following return 
 shews the quantity of — 
 
 * I am justified in proposing this fiscal change by reason of the in- 
 
 Consumption. 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 lbs. 30,000,000 
 
 
 . 
 
 .£3/3,000 
 
 10,000,000 
 
 
 . 
 
 125,000 
 
 10,000,000 
 
 
 
 250,000
 
 COFFEE IMPORTED FROM EACH WEST INDIA POSSESSION. 443 
 
 Coffee (lbs.) imported into the United Kingdom from the British West 
 India Possessions. 
 
 1821 
 1822 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 182; 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 1833 
 1834 
 1835 
 
 Jamaica. 
 
 Demerara. 
 
 16,720,368 
 18,837,616 
 19,009,648 
 24,86-2,656 
 
 18,097,968: 
 
 17,801,223 
 21,881,991 
 21,800,027 
 18,690,654 
 19,753,-15 
 15,456,764 
 19,405,933 
 
 4,473,404 
 7,394,128 
 6,064,464 
 5,368,160 
 3,074,736 
 4,371,222 
 3,549,091 
 3,822,194 
 4,068,118 
 3,447,426 
 1,938,386 
 1,200,791 
 
 Berbice. Dominica. 
 
 2,081,968 
 2,801,456 
 2,076,144 
 1,965,488 
 2,032,913 
 805,951 
 2,186,185 
 
 1,793,67 
 
 2,482,898 
 2,816,909 
 1,585,402 
 2,291,497 
 
 1,711,248 
 1,156,096 
 1,919,232 
 2,0/6,144 
 1,359,244 
 1,385,002 
 1,111,686 
 1,769,093 
 
 942,144 
 1,016,641 
 
 613,360 
 1,350,401 
 
 Tri- 
 nidad. 
 
 160,844 
 268,028 
 330,736 
 113,456 
 138,208 
 187,300 
 118,489 
 54,437 
 
 73,667 
 
 54,502 
 
 1,768 
 
 91,532 
 
 St. 
 Lucia. 
 
 208,432 
 172,704 
 375,424 
 202,608 
 152,544 
 114,384 
 138,377 
 138,102 
 303,499 
 113,517 
 83,007 
 84,512 
 
 Baha- 
 mas. 
 
 557,984 
 
 243,488 
 89,152 
 
 158,704 
 73,816 
 
 359,594 
 4,082 
 
 147,818 
 45,806 
 
 227,069 
 82,537 
 31,036 
 
 Other 
 
 B. W. I 
 
 Cols. 
 
 60,952 
 
 56,448 
 73,584 
 
 212,567 
 48,832 
 31,123 
 21,904 
 74,616 
 
 259,614 
 
 172,762 
 15,734 
 
 218,220 
 
 Total. 
 
 25,975,200 
 30,929,964 
 29,938,384 
 34,959,783 
 24,978,261 
 25,165,799 
 29,011,805 
 29,599,964 
 6,866,400 
 27,602,541 
 
 20,076,956 
 24,673,922 
 
 The quantity of coffee imported from the British West 
 India colonies was, for the year ending January 1833, 
 lbs. 24,642,857; in 1834, lbs! 18,852,423. The quantity 
 entered for liome consumption from the British West India 
 colonies was in 1833, lbs. 20,974,933, for 1834, lbs. 20,957,379. 
 The revenue on which for those years was £, 524,921 ; 
 & 523,959. The grand total quantity of coffee entered for 
 home consumption from all countries was in 1833, lbs. 
 22,965,532 ; in 1834, lbs. 22,760,523 ; the gross revenue on 
 which was, in 1833, £ 599,030; in 1834, £591,625. 
 
 The relative importation for a series of years into the prin- 
 cipal ports of Great Britain, — • 
 
 creased consumption, which has invariably followed reduction of duty as 
 before shewn ; but that the reader may have, at one view, the effect of 
 diminished taxation on an article that enters into the consumption of the 
 bulk of the people, I give the following table of coffee consumed and tax 
 thereon, shewing the effect of reduced duty : — 
 
 
 
 Years 
 
 w.i. 
 
 Consumption for that 
 
 Yearly 
 
 
 
 inclusive. 
 
 Tax. 
 
 Period. 
 
 Average. 
 
 
 
 s. d. 
 
 Tons. lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 From 1/91 to 
 
 1794 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 1,555 or 3,483,100 
 
 870,775 
 
 .. 1795.. 
 
 1799 
 
 6 
 
 1 5 
 
 1,229.. 2,741,700 
 
 548,340 
 
 . . 1800 . . 
 
 1804 
 
 5 
 
 1 6 
 
 1,814.. 4,063,300 
 
 812,460 
 
 .. 1805.. 
 
 1807 
 
 3 
 
 2 2 
 
 1,489.. 3,337,200 
 
 1,112,400 
 
 . . 1808 . . 
 
 1812 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 16,020 . . 35,884,800 
 
 7,176,960 
 
 .. 1813.. 
 
 1818 
 
 6 
 
 7i 
 
 19,019 ..42,603,137 
 
 7,100,523 
 
 .. 1819.. 
 
 1824 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 20,887 . . 46,874,407 
 
 7,812,402 
 
 .. 1825.. 
 
 1830 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 43,691 .. 98,183,481 
 
 16,363,916 
 
 .. 1831 . 
 
 1834 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 22,000,000
 
 444 
 
 coco OR CACAO CONSUMPTION IN ENGLAND. 
 
 CQ 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 ,9 
 
 H 
 
 u 
 O 
 
 e 
 
 o 
 
 
 ; C C! o O 
 
 •^5 iiDO o o o 
 
 ^3 'O M cT CT 
 
 «« o o o o 
 
 ; o o 
 
 J O O 
 
 .i<! CO O CT o 
 
 w « c o o o 
 
 J* ffl -T 0!0 O 
 
 ; O O o O 
 ^ Cfl Ol ^1 o 
 
 ^ /lo o o o 
 
 s^' 
 
 S o o « to 
 
 «« O <?1 (N CO 
 
 eS<c<o 
 
 ^ O O lO IN 
 
 Jj n CO ~ 
 
 g Jj O (M « CO 
 
 • O © O Cs 
 
 » o o oi »o 
 
 •is <0 CO ID 0_ 
 
 ■a ■ « 
 
 coco, OR CACAO. 
 
 The nutritious and whole- 
 some beverage prepared from 
 the nuts of the cacao tree 
 (vide Trinidad chapter) has 
 only of late begun to attract 
 much attention in England, 
 where its consumption is far 
 below what it is entitled to be, 
 the average annual consump- 
 tion per head for each indivi- 
 dual being not much more than 
 Jive drachms iveight ! The 
 reason of this small demand 
 has been owing to excessive as 
 well as unequal taxation : in 
 1831, Trinidad and Grenada 
 cocoa were worth in bond in 
 the London market from 24*. 
 to 65*. per cwt. while the tax 
 was lyQs. being nearly 100 per 
 cent, on the finer qualities, 
 and no less 230 per cent, upon 
 those cocoas which were con- 
 sumed by the poor ! 
 
 The tax on cocoas having 
 of late been reduced, the 
 consumption as usual has in- 
 creased, thus: — 
 
 COCOA ENTERED FOR HOME 
 CONSUMPTION. 
 
 Years. Bgs. & Brls. Years. Bgs. & Brls. 
 
 1828 2,700 1830 3,320 
 
 1829 2,980 1831 5,600 
 
 Total 6,680 Total 8,920 
 
 In 1826 the quantity of co- 
 coa delivered for consump-
 
 POLICY OF ENTIRELY nEDUCING THE TAX. 
 
 445 
 
 tion in the United Kingdom was only 150 tons, in 1830 it rose 
 to 200 tons, in 18S2 it was as high as 500 tons, and in 1833 
 there were 566 tons retained for home consumption, the in- 
 crease arising principally from the reduced duty on the article. 
 The latest returns made up at the Custom House are as 
 follow:— Imported, 1833, 2,951,019 lbs.; 1833,4,607,801 lbs. 
 Home consumption, 1833, 1,150,193 lbs, ; 1834, 1,268,217 lbs. 
 Cocoa Imported at London and Liverpool from 1825 to 1833, 
 
 Imported into 
 London. 
 
 1833 
 
 1832 
 
 1831 
 
 1830 
 
 1829 
 
 1826 
 
 1825 
 
 From Trinidad 
 Brazil, &c. 
 Otlier parts 
 
 CIes 
 
 20 
 
 130 
 
 Brls & 
 Bags 
 
 7900 
 17500 
 
 2150 
 
 Clss 
 200 
 
 Brls& 
 
 Bags 
 
 II/O 
 
 17200 
 
 930 
 
 Cks 
 60 
 
 Brls&' 
 Bags : Cks 
 
 4850 1 30 
 13600| .. 
 23001 10 
 
 Brls& 
 Bags 
 
 2000 
 
 6600 
 1460 
 
 Cks 
 
 4 
 23 
 
 38:. 
 
 Brls& 
 Bags 
 
 1725 
 12000 
 
 1630 
 
 Cks 
 37 
 
 363 
 
 Brls& 
 
 Bags 
 
 545 
 
 4105 
 
 1720 
 
 Cks 
 
 240 
 390 
 
 Brls& 
 
 Bags 
 
 2400 
 
 28/0 
 
 1710 
 
 Total .. 
 
 150 
 
 27550 
 
 200 
 
 19300 
 
 50 
 
 20750 
 
 40 
 
 10060 
 
 412 
 
 15325 
 
 400 
 
 6370 
 
 630 
 
 6980 
 
 Imported into 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Liverpool. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trinidad 
 
 3750 
 
 
 670 
 
 
 1145 
 
 15 
 
 820 
 
 
 272 
 
 520 
 
 3 
 
 1277 
 
 Brazil, &c ' . . 
 
 200 
 
 
 100 
 
 
 65 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 122 
 
 4180 
 
 
 4797 
 
 Otlier parts 
 
 Total .. 
 
 4 
 
 250 
 
 20 
 
 80 
 
 2 
 
 168 
 
 20 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 .. .. 1 — 
 
 120 
 
 44 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 4200 
 
 20 
 
 850 
 
 2 
 
 1378 
 
 50 
 
 820 
 
 e 
 
 .394 — 
 
 4820 
 
 47 
 
 6087 
 
 We can not grow coco or cacao nuts in Great Britain — we 
 can in our colonies ; — and the revenue now received is trifling ; 
 it would be well, therefore, to abolish the duty on that grown in 
 and imported from our colonies altogether, the Exchequer would 
 lose nothing by such a step, for the consumption of sugar 
 would be increased, — the colonial planter, the merchant, the 
 shipowner, and impoverished artizan, would materially gain. 
 Let us hope that state policy, if no higher feeling should 
 prompt, will cause the total abolition of the tax on cocoa. It 
 is the imperative duty of the statesman, as well as the moralist, 
 to watch over the social habits of the people, and prevent by 
 every possible means the habit of indulging in spirituous 
 liquors, to which mankind are in general so much addicted. 
 The temptation to this horrid vice of inebriety is wofully 
 increased by fiscal duties on such articles as cocoa, coffee, 
 tea, &c., and every man who desires to see his fellow creatures 
 sober, industrious, and virtuous, (for these three are natural 
 sequences) will aid me in endeavouring to get the taxes on 
 the necessaries of life lightened and aboUshed, &c.
 
 44f) 
 
 FALL OF PRK'F.S OX WEST INDIA PRODUCE. 
 
 Prices in England (exclusive of duty) of West India and Spanish Main 
 
 Produce. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Fall 
 
 Uise 
 
 
 1826 
 
 1S27 
 
 1828 
 
 1829 
 
 1S30 
 
 IS31 18.32 
 
 1S33 
 
 from 
 
 1S2B 
 
 from 
 1826 
 
 
 £. 1. d. 
 
 e». rf. 
 
 £ ). rf. 
 
 € ». d. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ J. rf. 
 
 £ «. rf. 
 
 e. J. rf. 
 
 pr. ct 
 
 pr ct. 
 
 Annatto, Flag . lb 
 
 2 4 
 
 023 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 111 
 
 007 
 
 6 
 
 78 
 
 
 Brazilletto . . ton 
 
 iO 3 4 
 
 7 3 4 
 
 6 3 4 
 
 6 3 4 
 
 6 17 
 
 6 170 
 
 6 17 
 
 13 170 
 
 
 23 
 
 Cocliincnl, Black . 11> 
 
 1 UO 
 
 18 
 
 13 6 
 
 12 
 
 11 5 
 
 9 
 
 8 4 
 
 80 
 
 57 
 
 
 Cocoa, West India . — 
 
 3 
 
 2 16 
 
 2 00 
 
 2 
 
 1 13 
 
 
 1 15 
 
 
 41 
 
 
 (ireiiadii, fiir,- red ~~ 
 
 4 6 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 3 30 
 
 3 00 
 
 3 06 
 
 2 6 
 
 3 14 d 
 
 13 
 
 
 Coffee, cwt.— 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ord. Dom. and St. I.ucia 
 
 3 2 
 
 2 12 
 
 2 70 
 
 I 19 
 
 1 170 
 
 1 18 
 
 4 1 
 
 3 10 
 
 — 
 
 12 
 
 Hood and fine middling 
 Jamaica ord. 
 
 4 1.5 U 
 
 4 S 
 
 3 18 
 
 
 
 2 18 
 
 4 11 
 
 4 2 
 
 13 
 
 
 2 la 
 
 2 9 
 
 1 17 
 
 i 16 6 
 
 'l 13 
 
 1 16 
 
 4 2 
 
 3 80 
 
 
 13 
 
 Good, fine, and middling 
 
 4 ISO 
 
 4 14 0, 
 
 4 B 
 
 2 18 
 
 3 17 
 
 
 4 18 
 
 4 13 0„ 
 
 5 
 
 
 Cotton, common, \V. I. lb. 
 
 9A 
 
 t) si 
 
 007 
 
 7 
 
 6i 
 
 i\ 
 
 61 
 1 3' 
 
 7i 
 
 18 
 
 
 Arrow Hoot . — 
 
 1 11 
 
 1 11 
 
 2 5 
 
 23 
 
 1 9 
 
 11 I 3 
 
 1 3 
 
 34 
 
 
 Cassia Fistula . cwt. 
 
 
 
 6 6 S 
 
 5 6 8 
 
 5 6 8 
 
 2 II 8 
 
 1 16 8 
 
 1 1 8 
 
 83 
 
 
 Fustic . . . ton 
 
 10 17 
 
 9" 4*6 
 
 10 15 6 
 
 10 5 6 
 
 8 15 6 
 
 9 4 6 
 
 7 16 6 
 
 9 6 
 
 17 
 
 
 Sarsaparilla, Honduras . lb. 
 
 1 6 
 
 1 9 
 
 30 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 3 
 
 1 9 
 
 2 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 11 
 
 Vera Cruz . . — 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 09 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 08 
 
 66 
 
 
 Tamarinds . . cwt. 
 
 3' 1 4 
 
 S'l 4 
 
 2 11 4 
 
 4 1 4 
 
 4 1 4 
 
 3 19 4 
 
 4 1 4 
 
 3 16 4 
 
 
 24 
 
 Ginger, cwt.— 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jamaica, fine scraped 
 
 14 8 6 
 
 7 8 6 
 
 7 86 
 
 9 8 6 
 
 7 13 6 
 
 9 8 6 
 
 9 8 6 
 
 14 2 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 6 18 6 
 
 2 11 6 1 2 2 6, 
 
 1 10 6 
 
 1 8 6 
 
 I 18 6 
 
 2 3 6., 
 
 3 13 6, 
 6? 
 
 47 
 
 
 Hides, Salted . . lb. 
 
 0/' 
 13 0* 
 
 45; 45 
 
 053 
 
 53 
 6 B* 
 
 6 
 
 O.iS 
 
 13 
 
 
 Indigo, Caracco Flores — 
 Copper and low ord. — 
 
 11 6 
 
 11 II 
 
 9 6 
 
 II 6 6 
 
 6 6 
 
 6 
 
 53 
 
 
 6 9 
 
 49 
 
 3 9 
 
 4 
 
 2 6 
 
 2 4 
 
 20 
 
 22 
 
 67 
 
 
 Lignum vitie . . ton. 
 
 14 8 8 
 
 9 10 
 
 9 III 
 
 6 10 
 
 :■, 10 
 
 5 5 
 
 5 16 
 
 6 
 
 5S 
 
 
 Logwood, Jamaica, picked — 
 
 7 5 
 
 700 
 
 6 11) 
 
 700 
 
 6 5 
 
 6 HI 
 
 » 5 
 
 6 3 
 
 15 
 
 
 Molasses . . . - 
 
 1 20 
 
 1 1 
 
 IS 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 1 1 
 
 4 
 
 
 Nicaragua Wood, ton. — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Large and Solid 
 
 25 S 
 
 21 5 
 
 15 5 
 
 13 5 
 
 13 5 
 
 14 5 
 
 15 15 
 
 18 
 
 28 
 
 
 Small 
 
 17 5 
 
 12 5 
 
 9 5 
 
 7 5 
 
 8 5 
 
 7 15 
 
 12 5 
 
 14 15 
 
 14 
 
 
 Pimento 
 
 9,^ 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 8i 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5J 
 
 46 
 
 
 Rum, per gallon (per Svkes's 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hydrometer— 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jamaica 12 to 141 
 Ditto 15 to IS f 
 
 2 10 
 
 3 1 
 
 3 5 
 
 34 
 
 23 
 
 2 2 
 
 20 
 
 2 3 
 
 20 
 
 
 Ditto 28 to ;;o . 
 
 3 6 
 
 3 10 
 
 4 6 
 
 4 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 2 4 
 
 2 10 
 
 19 
 
 
 Strongest Jamaica cwt. 
 
 3 8 
 
 4 3 
 
 4 9 
 
 4 6 
 
 3 8 
 
 3 1 
 
 3 2 
 
 2 4 
 
 9 
 
 
 Demerara . — 
 
 3 
 
 03 8 
 
 3 9, 
 
 40 
 
 3 
 
 26 
 
 2 1 
 
 02 9 
 
 8 
 
 
 Tobacco, St. Domingo Leaf — 
 
 2 6 
 
 10 
 
 007? 
 
 074 
 
 6i 
 
 8^ 
 
 osi 
 
 1 
 
 60 
 
 
 Sugar, B. P. Muscovado- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jamaica, fine . - 
 
 2 8 
 
 2 5 
 
 2 3 
 
 2 4 
 
 2 00 
 
 1 15 
 
 1 12 
 
 1 15 
 
 27 
 
 
 Good Brown , — 
 
 1 19 
 
 1 12 
 
 1 15 
 
 1 10 
 
 1 4 
 
 1 4 
 
 1 3 
 
 1 8 6 
 
 26 
 
 
 Havannah, fine white — 
 
 2 10 
 
 2 5 
 
 2 9 
 
 2 10 
 
 2 9 
 
 1 18 
 
 1 13 
 
 1 15 
 
 :«( 
 
 
 i>itto yellow ^ 
 
 1 16 
 
 1 16 
 
 1 17 
 
 I IS 
 
 I 9 
 
 1 5 
 
 1 60 
 
 1 60 
 
 27 
 
 
 It will be observed from the foregoing, that the prices 
 of W. I. produce have fallen rapidly of late years : the re- 
 duction will go on vintil a large quantity of land be thrown 
 out of cultivation, when general poverty will ensue. Then 
 will arise a servile war between the negroes and the owners 
 of the soil, — the former will lay their sufferings at the door of 
 the latter, and vice versa ; mutual recrimination follows, and 
 and the result may easily be foreseeen — each British West 
 India possesion will become a St. Domingo or a desert — but 
 not without a great sacrifice of life,* and the almost incalcu- 
 
 * The past system in the West Indies has necessitated the keepinq" up 
 of an immense military force, even in peace time : at this moment there 
 are from 8,500 to 9,000 regular troops in the different British possessions, 
 Jamaica alone is head quarters for six regiments, Guyana for two, Tri- 
 nidad one European and one West India (a black regiment), Barbadoes 
 one, St. Vincent's one, Grenada one, St. Lucia one, Bahamas (the second 
 West India regiment, blacks), Antigua one, and one at Bermuda. To 
 
 r
 
 PROMPT MEASURES NECESSARY TO SAVE THE WEST INDIES. 447 
 
 lable wealth expended in bringing those islands to their pre- 
 sent state of refinement will be irrecoverably lost. Is this a 
 state of things for a British Statesman or a Philanthropist to 
 contemplate calmly even the possibility of? 
 
 I fear the grant of £20,000,000 has produced a state of 
 apathy highly injurious to the W. I. interests ; several in- 
 fluential persons think that by that act enough has been done 
 to preserve the W. Indies,* while the mortgagees are supine 
 as to the future in rejoicing over their present gain. 
 
 Although a firm believer in the wise ordinations of Provi- 
 dence, I do not think we are justified in leaving every thing 
 to apparent chance or destiny ; we are bound to act accord- 
 ing to the best of our judgments, and commit the result to 
 superior wisdom ; therefore do I contend we ought to take 
 immediate steps for the future benefit of the W. I. posses- 
 sions ; the duty on their sugar and molasses, coffee, and to- 
 bacco, when imported into England must be reduced, and on 
 all articles which have not produced each a £1,000. per an. 
 to the Exchequer during the the last ten years, or which 
 have not been previously imported, the duty should be totally 
 
 admit of reliefs, at least 9,000 men more are required ; and taking 
 casualties into consideration, we may calculate that the W. I. colo- 
 nies employ 20,000 men out of the whole British army, or require 
 that number of men to be kept up. Under the system of free trade, 
 which I propose the necessity for the mother country to maintain, this 
 force would cease, or if it were deemed advisable to retain troops in the 
 islands, the West Indies (as the East Indies now do), would be obliged 
 and indeed be enabled to defray the whole expenses of the same. 
 
 * The 41 per cent, duties which are levied on the produce of Barbadoes, 
 Antigua, St. Kitts, Montserrat, Tortola, &c. ought, long ago, to have 
 been repealed ; that their imposition, up to this moment, is not owing to 
 His Gracious Majesty is evident from the following passage in the 
 Royal Speech, in 1830. ' I place, without reserve, at your disposal my 
 interests in the Hereditary Revenues, and in those funds which may be 
 derived from any droits of the Crown or Admiralty, from the West India 
 duties, or from any casual revenues either in my foreign possessions, or in 
 the United Kingdom.' — Speech of f-niliain IF. to his first Parliament, 
 Nov. 2, 1830.
 
 448 ARTICLES OS Wlliril TIIK DITY SIIOULD BE ABOLISHED. 
 
 abolished, or at least (after the wise example of Cromwell) 
 not levied for the next ten years.* 
 
 The following are among the articles which should he ad- 
 mitted into England, duty free, from the British W. Indies : 
 cocoa, or chocolate, cotton, vinegar, dates, oil of pimento, 
 blossoms of pimento, leather, logwood, brazilletto, starch, 
 tamarinds, balsams, baskets, plantains, dried or preserved, 
 hides, lime juice, ebony, lignum vitae, nicaragua wood, ma- 
 hogany, preserved ginger, lancewood spars, pickled peppers, 
 succades, preserved fruits and pickles of every kind ; honey, 
 wax, arrow root, tapioca, cocoa nuts and castor oils.f turmeric 
 and various dyes. (Liqueurs at the same rate as spirits, and 
 Segars and snuff as tobacco ;) oranges, lemons, limes and 
 citrons, cordage, hemp, pepper extracts, palmetto thatch for 
 hats, Guinea and Indian corn, rice, various drugs, such as 
 senna, aloes, jalap, barks, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Our next step should be permission for the colonists to 
 open a trade on their own terms, fettered by no restrictions 
 with Continental Europe or America, for the disposal of that 
 surplus produce which we do not require, and that they may 
 obtain at the lowest cost the necessaries of life ; (that this 
 would not injure our North American Colonies I will de- 
 monstrate in my next volume.) 
 
 The Parliamentary Select Committee of 18,32 report that^ 
 ' In its competition with foreign countries, the colonial pro- 
 duce of Great Britain is also subjected to disadvantages, oc- 
 casioned by the commercial and maritime policy of the mother 
 country. Partial attempts, counteracted in a degree by cir- 
 cumstances, have been made of late years to relieve the colo- 
 
 * For a tariff of articles, with the discriminating' duties levied on West 
 India, Eiist India, and foroinn articles, see first vohinie of the History of 
 the Britisli Colonies, Pag:e221. 
 
 t An acre of the worst ground, viz. the sides of _afullies, &c. if planted 
 with the castor oil nut tree {r'lcinus), yields nuts capable of giving 1,000 
 gallons of oil, which, at 3.? per gallon, would return dl\bQ per acre, with 
 little or no trouble in the cultivation.
 
 PARLIAMENTARY ADVOCACY OF FREE WEST INDIA TRADE. 449 
 
 nies from the effects of restrictive laws. They have been per- 
 mitted to carry on a direct intercourse with those countries of 
 Europe and America, which by complying with the terms pre- 
 scribed, have entitled themselves to such intercourse; but the 
 importation of goods from these foreign countries has been 
 clogged by discriminating duties, and there has been in fact 
 scarcely any intercourse with those countries. In respect of 
 the United States of America, the most important either for 
 export or import, the intercourse has been from time to time 
 suspended, renewed and modified ; and has finally been per- 
 mitted under a system of protection for the North American 
 colonies, which, together with the uncertainty produced by 
 frequent changes, renders it as yet doubtful, whether, during 
 the existence of that protection, any benefit will be derived 
 by the West India Colonies from its renewal. And in regard 
 to some very material articles of supply, a strict monopoly is 
 still maintained in favour of the mother country, or of her 
 North American possessions.' The direct effect of these com- 
 mercial restrictions has been computed by the W. I. mer- 
 chants at the annual charge of no less than £1,392,353. ster- 
 ling; thus abstracting from the pocket of the planter in 
 the article of sugar alone 5s. on every cwt. of sugar he 
 makes. But grievous as this imposition is, the indirect effect 
 of the commercial monopoly against the W. I merchant and 
 planter is far more ruinous, for it has been one of the main 
 causes of destruction to the colonies — it has been the inward 
 canker, undermining the very existence of West India agricul- 
 ture, trade, and property. 
 
 Thirdly, the emigration of Europeans or whites to the 
 West Indies should be encouraged by every possible means ; 
 the millions of acres of fertile territory in Crown lands now 
 lying waste, should be granted at a nominal quit rent to any 
 person of industry and character for the purpose of coloniza- 
 tion ; and I refer to the description of each possession in the 
 foregoing pages for proof of the capability of the soil and 
 delightfulness of the climate as regards European settlement. 
 The beneficial effects of an extensive location of whites in the 
 
 VOL. 11. G G
 
 150 DIVISION OF THE NEGROES INTO CLASSES. 
 
 West Indies would not only be felt in commercial undertak- 
 ings but also in the example which would be set to stimulate 
 the negro and coloured race * to greater mental activity and 
 bodily energy than under the present change they might be 
 disposed to adopt.f 
 
 * The negro population of the West Indies are of different nations in 
 Africa ; some termed Congo, others Obbe, Coromantee, Papaw, Mandingo, 
 Chamba, &c. all varying in disposition, intellect, and habits ; while their 
 Creole descendants possess in common the mingled disposition of their 
 ancestors, but in general are more acute and quicker of apprehension than 
 the pure African. The coloured inhabitants have several denominations, 
 thus — mulattoes are sprung from white and black parents, samboes from 
 black and mulattoes, quadroons from white and ditto, mestces from white 
 and quadroons. Below the latter, the distinction of colour is hardly per- 
 ceptible. Between the castes an endless variety of nondescript shades 
 exist, descending from deep jet to olive. 
 
 t The following sound views on this subject are thus set forth in the 
 Antigua Herald, Barhadoes Mercury, and Liverpool Standard, by various 
 correspondents : — 
 
 ' Let IIS imagine the probable efl'ectof tlic iiitrudiiction often white families of our civilized 
 peasantry, consisting, say of five persons each — into a community of 300 blacks. Let us 
 suppose that such only be sent as have habits of morality and Industry previously formed, and 
 that comfortable cottages are prepared for them, moberate labour furnished to them, and 
 remuneration in return — equal to the supply not only of the necessaries and comforts, but 
 luxuries of life— let us look at, say thirty of these fifty persons, attending to their agricultural 
 labour with alacrity during the hours devoted to work — and returning to their white washed 
 cottages and happy families in the evening; there and in their own immediate circle enjoying 
 themselves, as the labourers of Euglaud do, when the toils of the day have ceased. Man, all 
 over the world, is an imitative animal. The cleanly cottages — the small but neat gardens 
 before the doors of the whites, would first attract notice; then, the decent clothing, the moral 
 conduct of Eiiglii-h families as compared with negroes, would in time command attention. 
 
 ' Tlien the uiiweaiitd industry, the thought of providing for the future support of themselves 
 and families, which their habits would exhibit, would be observed; and, in the courseof time, 
 is it unreasonable to hope, imitated? The desire to be equal to them would be created, and 
 the gratification of this desire could only be accomplished by industry. The negroes on this 
 estate were obliged to work in the field like themselves, and that exactly the same means 
 would be open to them to reach the same end at the expiration of their apprenticeship. 
 
 ' The machinery of life would thus be daily placed before their eyes, in the operations of 
 whicli, by and by, they are to lake their part. This chiefly (but not only) is the education which 
 1 would give them. 
 
 ' There are upwards of 300,000 negroes in Jamaica alone. Let me ask the philanthropist (o 
 picture to himself the great moral eflcct likely to be produced in tliecourse of a very few years 
 on such a number of our fellow- creatures by the plan which I propose. I now come to show, 
 secondly, ' the benefits to the emigrants.' 
 
 'There is not a berry of coffee or pimento shipped from the island, the labour attending 
 which cannot be dune by white European men, women, and children. The labour to be per- 
 formed is like the gathering of goose-ben ies, (sans tpines,) then the coffee has to be pulped, 
 dried upon the Intibiiincs, put into bags^, and i^ carried to the backs of mules and asses. In
 
 CAPABILITY OF RECEIVING A LARGE TOPULATION. 451 
 
 Two other measures deserve attention — 1st. the Monetary 
 System in the West Indies — and 2nd. the principles on which 
 
 short, I fearlessly assert that one-third of the labour performed by the 300,000 negroes in 
 Jamaica, can he done better by the white Europeans, and without injury to their healtli. 
 
 From an emineut medical practitioner, and an extensive proprietor, Kinjistou, Jamaica: — 
 
 ' Yon would be conferring a great benefit both upon us and ynnr poor fellow-countrymen 
 were you to send out to us a number of them as free labourers. I would instantly place some 
 hundreds of them in the mountains beyond the line of fever, where there would be abundance 
 of occupation and better pay than they receive in their own country. Their food would be 
 yams, (like and equal to any potatoes,) plantains, cocoa, salt tish ; their own hogs and 
 poultiy, and sometimes fresh and salted beef and pork; houses, gardeus, and clothing, 
 besides a sum in money, weekly,' &c. &c. 
 
 The following is from a German planter, resident in St. David's, Jamaica. 
 
 ' Wishing now, as well as yourself, to forward the welfare of and secure the property in the 
 island, I am ready to take twenty free labourers, males and females with their children, but 
 excluding old people, under the following conditions: — For the first year 1 could pay to each 
 ahle person ^'8 Jamaica currency, maiuiaining ihem for nine months in the following articles, 
 viz. twelve yards of duck, six yards of pennistone, a coarse hat, one pair of shoes, one iron pot 
 sutlicient for two people, and one frying pan, giving them for food a weekly allowance of 50 lb. 
 of yams or cocoa, or 70 full grown plantains, 6 lb. salted fish, and coffee, and half a pound of 
 sugar, and one quart of rum. To enable them to maintain themselves after the first nine 
 mouths, I agree to assign them on their arrival two acres of virgin land for each labourer for 
 cultivation. It requires no remark thai I would provide for them good commodious habitations, 
 and on finding them faithful and industrious, improve their wages; — Infant children I would 
 maintain until their parents were able to do it themselves, aud to those that could be in any 
 way useful to the property I would give clothing. Medicines and medical attendance I could 
 keep for these etnigrants the first year only, leaving it to them to procure these things 
 afterwards. 
 
 ' But, doubtless, the industrious emigrant would look forward to something beyond being a mere 
 labourer, if not for himself for his children. And where, let me ask, is there a better field for 
 industry and perseverance? Almost every description of climate that is to be found in Europe 
 is to be met with in Jamaica. In short, the cold, dismal, cloudy, wet days of this country are 
 there unknown, and a healthier race does not exist than the inhabitants of the mountains. 
 
 ' Hundreds of thousands of acres of rich and fertile lands in the parishes of St. James, St. 
 David's, St. George, &c. &c. remain still in a state of nature, and to this hour uucultivated ; 
 valuable copper and other mines unexplored, and whole forests of rich aud rare timbers, imcnt, 
 in consequence of the want of roads, and difficulty of conveying it to the sea coast. Let 
 then, the tide of emigration flow thither :— let British enterpiise, British industry, British ca- 
 pital, find a safe home there, and then, and then only, can the ' resources of that fine island 
 be developed.' 
 
 According to some letters which I have seen, Suffolk husbandmen with their ploughs and 
 cattle have been already located on several West India estates, and the result has been happiness 
 to themselves and advantage to their employers. 
 
 ' Lauded property, writes a gentleman from Jamaica, would be of little value in England witL- 
 out labourers to till the soil ; the same observation applies to Jamaica, the owners of the soil 
 there are apprehensive that the blacks will not work, aud they want from this country whites 
 that will, in order to make their freeholds valuable. 
 
 ' It is chiefly with respect to the low lands that this apprehension exists. It is not, I hope, 
 presumptuous, to suppose that the Almighty has created, in his all-wise providence, not only 
 different climates inthe world, but human beings to inhabit and work in them, without injury to 
 themselves respectively. I would not place a black man to work in the open air in Russia, or 
 even in England, during the depth of winter, nor would I a white man to dig cane holes in the 
 low lands of Jamaica ; but I would, by my plan, endeavour to supersede the necessity of any 
 black laboureis in the mountains, aud by having 50 to 60,000 whites theie, bring down say
 
 452 ADVANTAGES OF WHITE EMIGRATION TO THE WEST INDIES. 
 
 the £20,000,000 Compensation Fund is to be disbursed ; — as 
 rec^ards the first, tlie reader will have perceived the various 
 
 100,000 l)lacks to the low lands. This would beiieet the planters withont injury to the negroes; 
 to the former it would give a greater quantity of labourers, consequently a greater competition 
 in the market, and a greater certainty of getting off his crops ; to the latter, it would make the 
 necessity of working greater, cmsequently, less fear of their relapsing into barbarism. 
 
 • With respect to tho benefit to the mother country from white emigration to the West Indies. 
 
 • You cannot beuetii any of England's colonies without the largest portion of such benefit 
 flowing back to England. 
 
 ' Let us then suppose the industry of fifty or one hundred thousaud persons transferred from 
 England, in which their utmost exertions, early and late, can scarcely furnish the mere neces- 
 saries of life, to one where two thirds the toil will biing three-fold the return. 
 
 ' How will this additional retnrn be spent ? It will reach England every fraction of it ; all 
 their wants are English ; and an additional impetus will be given to English mannfactnres and 
 to Biitlsh shipping. Let us suppose that emigrants, or emigrants' children make a foitune— 
 where will it be spent? — In England, to be sure.' 
 
 ' Very exaggerated views are entertained in this country relative to the difflculty and danger 
 of agricultural labour in tropical climates. There are several of the West India islands in 
 which, Willi ordinary care and prudence, illness is very rare among the white Inhabitants — 
 where the heat, on an average of six working hours in ihe day, is but little greater than it is 
 during the months of July in England, and where there are immense tracts of fertile land 
 uncultivated. (\'ide Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad, Dominica, &c.) 
 
 ' In the Islands of St. Vincent's and Grenada there are many estates which cannot continne 
 the extent of sugur-cane laud formerly in cultivation without additional labourers, and the 
 proprietors would he very glad to select such from :>mong industrious, sober and respectable 
 Englishtncn. 
 
 ' The suiiar-cane cultivation, however, is not the only employment in which European la. 
 bourers might be engaged with advantage to themselves and the proprietors. 
 
 ' There is in the Islands before mentioned, a great extent of fertile land, capable of pro- 
 ducing the finest vegetables, arrow root, indi^'o, coffee, cocoa, &c., which might be brought into 
 productive cultivation. Indeed there is probably no part of ihe world where skilful and indus- 
 trious persons might find more useful and profitable employment than in these Islands, which 
 produce every thing that can be found in a tropical cliuiate, and where many of the productions 
 of a temperate one could, by care and c;iliiva'iou, be much improved. By encouraging the 
 growth of various articles of consumpiion, which, from want of skill and labour, are now ne- 
 cessarily procured from abroad at high prices, these colonies would be rendered more inde- 
 pendant of foreign support. 
 
 ' It is considered that, in addition to the advantages both to the proprietors of estates and 
 the Engli-h labouiers by this plan of emigration, the Islands would be benefited by having 
 their local militia strengthened, and a greater security offered them against local revolt or 
 foreign enemy. 
 
 ' The example of the industrious habits of the emigrants would infuse a new spirit and 
 feeling throughout the lab.mrin^ cla^s of negroes; agricultural labour would no longer be 
 considered (as it now is in the West Indies) a degrading employment ; the system of work- 
 ing for wages would be more generally understood ; the external observance of tliose ties which 
 ought to govern moral and social life would be rendered more probable ; and such a change 
 would be effected In the habits and dispositions of the negroes, as would qualify them to derive 
 the full advantage de.-igued for them by emancipation. 
 
 ' The obstacle which has hitherto proved the most formidable to the empluyment of European 
 labourers in the West Indies is intcmperancf. — From this cause far more fatal consequences 
 are to be apprehended than from the climate ; and the individuals who intend making proposals 
 to the English peasantiy to emiurate, will require that all they employ should be bound by a 
 heavy penalty not to taste ardent spirits. 
 
 ' Ihe wages which estates would pay to laboiireis of this description, may be stated generally
 
 PROJECTED INDIA BANK — CAPITAL X* 1,000,000. 453 
 
 currencies, in the difterent islands, and may naturally infer the 
 impediment thus offered to commercial intercourse. This is 
 a great evil — but a still greater evil is the state of the ex- 
 changes between England and the West Indies, which has 
 caused the constant transmission of any metallic currency, 
 that may be poured into the colonies, to the Mother Country, 
 thus affecting the body politic in a manner similar to that 
 which a daily or weekly abstraction of blood from the body 
 corporate would have. To remedy these great evils, it is 
 proposed (and I hope Government will give it every aid), to 
 form a West India Bank, with a capital of £1,000,000 Ster- 
 ling, the head-quarters of which shall be in England, and the 
 branches thereof divided among the colonies ; such a measure 
 would equalize or regulate the exchanges, would promote 
 commercial intercourse, between each island, and facilitate the 
 operations of the planter, by affording him that accommo- 
 dation which the country bankers of England give to the 
 farmers and merchants. By drawing bills on England at 
 2 or 2| per cent., the irresistible temptation to the transmis- 
 sion of the colonial currency to England, would be prevented ; 
 and by giving an expansible circulating medium as the repre- 
 sentative of value to the colonists, their wellbeing would be 
 materially promoted. Coupled with this banking system should 
 be the calling in of all the debased colonial small coin, and the 
 substitution of a sterling currency of shillings, sixpences, 
 and threepences, all in silver, the negroes will not, if possible, 
 touch copper coin. I have no doubt that this measure would 
 prove of infinite value to the W. I. colonies and parent state. 
 With reference to the 2nd. question, on which the public 
 mind is much agitated : — The principles on which the sum of 
 
 at the rate of ^€"8 steiiiiig per man, £6 per woman, and £4 per boy alice ten years "f age, an- 
 nnally, with a house and provision grounds rent tree, as well as a day per week, exclnsive of 
 Sunday for cultivating their grounds. This would enable them to raise sufficient food for their 
 support, and somewhat to sell besides. A labouring family, consisting of faiher, nmtlier, and 
 three children, (two above ten years of age,) might earn as wages £'22 sterling per annum, 
 have their house and provision grounds rent free, live on the produce ot the latter, and sell the 
 surplus provisions, which, if they were industrious, would jield them about ^20 sterliiii in 
 addition.' I earnestly hope inslaut steps will be taken to carry the project of emigration iiilu 
 full effect ; it Is uow being partially adopted in St. Kittt with complete success.
 
 454 PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF £ 20,000,000. COMPENSATION. 
 
 £20,000,000 allocated by the Legislature for the reimburse- 
 ment of loss owing to the emancipation of slaves, may I be- 
 lieve, be considered settled as regards the questions of ad 
 valorem or per capita; it seems to be now acknowledged 
 that the sworn or arbitrated value of a slave, according to his 
 current market price, is the fairest principle for awarding com- 
 pensation. In order to determine the amount of compensation, 
 accurate and complete returns from every plantation in the 
 slave colonies are to be sent in by the 1st August, or within 
 three months from that date. These returns are to be trans- 
 mitted to England, and as soon as they have all arrived, the 
 process of awarding the compensation-monies will commence, 
 unless where counter claims may be sent in from mortgagees, 
 &c. Although the mortgagees have an undoubted claim on 
 the property, I think measures should be taken to secure a 
 portion of the compensation-money to the planter, and not 
 allow the creditor to grasp all, thus leaving the former in no 
 condition to proceed with the culture of the estate ; if the 
 mortgagee were secured the interest of his money for five or 
 seven years, binding him down at the same time not to fore- 
 close the deed, the planter would have time to raise his head 
 above water, and struggle through past difficulties ; or if this 
 be not acceeded to, the mortgagee should have the option of 
 entering into a fair compromise for his claims, say, one half or 
 two-thirds of his dues being paid down in order to give up 
 any farther lien on the planter. If some step of this kind be 
 not taken, the half of the planters will be utterly ruined, and 
 land, which under the present system has little value accord- 
 ing to its geographical extent, will lose the chance it now has 
 of possessing intrinsic worth jjer se. By the planter having 
 his land unincumbered, and some ready money in his pocket, 
 he will be enabled to commence the Metayer System^, as now 
 
 * The introduction of the Metayer System of the East Indies (see First 
 Volume), into the British West India colonies ought to be adopted as soon 
 as possible ; by this means industrious, well-disposed, and intelligent co- 
 loured people will stimulate their less active bretheren, and set a good 
 example.
 
 NECESSITY OF ABOLISHING COLONIAL MONOPOLIES, 455 
 
 practised in British India, and in Italy, with advantage to 
 himself, to the numerous small farmers or planters which will 
 be created, and with benefit to the parent state. I urge these 
 points strenuously, because the British nation having munifi- 
 cently granted £20,000,000 compensation, have a right to see 
 it beneficially distributed, and not squandered for the sole 
 use of Jews and money brokers. 
 
 The planters have already made great pecuniary sacrifices 
 for the moral and religious instruction of their dark brethren, 
 to enable them to continue their praiseworthy efforts, the 
 measures I have pointed out should be adopted without 
 delay ; it is no longer consistent with justice or sound 
 policy to continue to the West Indies a monopoly of the 
 supply of the home market ; other tropical colonies demand 
 our attention, and have a right to insist on equitable treat- 
 ment from the mother country ; besides, we cripple our 
 own power — and resources and commerce by the present 
 exclusive protection to West India sugar, coffee, and rum, 
 — we impoverish a dense population at home, and (as the 
 experience of the past proves) confer no benefit on the colo- 
 nial agriculturists. Let me implore all who value the hap- 
 piness of their fellow subjects in every clime to aid in abo- 
 / lishing the wretched policy of pitting one intei-est against 
 another — the West Indian against the East Indian ; the Cana- 
 dian against the Australian ; the European against the Afri- 
 can ; — it is indeed imperatively necessary that such miserable 
 legislation should cease ; — England derives no advantage fi*om 
 it, on the contrary, she materially suffers in her revenue — in 
 her internal and maritime commerce — as well as by depriving 
 herself of free outlets to every part of the globe for her un- 
 employed population and surplus manufactures. I advocate 
 nothing Utopian ; in the preparation of this Work I have been 
 necessitated to look into the early history of the colonies and the 
 mother country — and I invariably found that it was owing to 
 commercial freedom that the British West India Islands became 
 peopled, cultivated, and enriched ;* whenever restrictions were 
 * See Appendix for a view of the advantages resulting to the Danish
 
 456 RESULT OF DENYING COMMERCIAL FREEDOM TO THE W. T. 
 
 placed on their trade with America, Holland, France, &c. they 
 immediately began to declinein prosperity, and by a singular co- 
 incidence the mischiefs inflicted by the cupidity of man were 
 frequently followed by the terrific visitations of the elements. 
 What with the curse of slavery, the blighting effects of hur- 
 ricanes, and the far more destructive influence of commercial 
 jealousy the wonder is how the West India colonies have 
 maintained themselves during the last thirty years ; nothing but 
 the unconquerable energy of Britons could have surmounted 
 the ruinous prospects and destruction of property which has 
 been annually going on, and which will progress in an 
 accelerated ratio unless the islands be permitted to renew 
 their commercial intercourse with Europe and America, 
 totally unfettered by any legal restrictions from the mother 
 country. Give, I repeat, the British West Indies that unli- 
 mited mercantile freedom, for which their geographical posi- 
 tion, fertile soil, and fine harbours so eminently qualify them, 
 and neither the mother country, nor the colonies, have any 
 thing to fear for the future ; — Deny it them much longer and 
 it were far better that the surrounding ocean overwhelmed 
 and sunk them in its fathomless abyss, rather than that they 
 should continue to drag on an anxious and paralyzed exist- 
 ence fraught with misery and ruin to all engaged in those once 
 prosperous but still highly important and beautilul Isles of 
 the West. 
 
 island of St. Thomas, by making it a Free Port, and the necessity of 
 making Tortola and Dominica (at least) also free ports ; not with the 
 present mockery of privileges, clogged and rendered in fact inutile by 
 all the forms and ceremonies of Official Authorities, Custom Houses, &e. 
 our, so called West India free ports, have been a subject of merriment for 
 the Americans, of ridicule for the French, satisfaction for the Danes, and 
 of wonder to all the European powers. Let our free ports in the West 
 Indies be in reality as free as the air that blows around them, and white 
 settlers, with small capitals, will be attracted, who will soon find the 
 channels of a beneficial intercourse with continental Europe and America, 
 and with the valuable islands of Porto Rico, St. Domingo, and Cuba.
 
 4-5 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND \'OLUME 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HISTORY OF THE BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 [OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.] 
 
 A. 
 
 Total Amount of the Trade between the United Kincdom and the 
 Hritish West India Colonies since 1814. 
 
 OFFICIAL VALUE. 
 
 exports to the BRITISH VV. INDIES. 
 
 Imports 
 
 from the 
 
 British W. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 British and Foreisfnand 
 IrishProduce Colonial 
 
 and Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 Merchan- 
 dize. 
 
 TOTAL 
 
 of 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 Declared 
 ! Value of Bri- 
 jtish and Irish 
 
 Produce 
 and Manufac- 
 jtures Export- 
 ed to the Bri- 
 tish W.Indies. 
 
 SCf \ ^^ ^ ^ '^ 
 
 1814 9,022,309 \ 6,282,226 339,912 6,622,138 7,019,938 
 
 181.5 8,903,260 j 6,742,451 453,630 7,196,081 i 7,218,057 
 
 1816 7,847,895 ' 4,584,509 268,719 4,8.53,228 1 4,537,056 
 
 1817 8,326,926 , 6,632,708 382,883 7,015,591 1 5,890,199 
 
 1818 8,608,790 > 5,717,216 | 272,491 i 5,989,707 | 6,021,627 
 
 1819 8,188,539 ! 4,395,215 297,199 i 4,692,414 i 4,841,253 
 
 1820 8,353,706 4,246,783 314,567 4,561,350 1 4,197,761 
 
 1821 8,367,477 4,940,609 370,738 5,311,347 4,320,581 
 
 1822 8,019,765 4,127,052 243,126 i 4,370,178 3,439,818 
 
 1823 8,425,276 ' 4,621^589 285,247 4,906,836 3,676,780 
 
 1824 9,065,546 4,843'556 324,375 5,167,931 3,827,489 
 
 1825 7,932,829 4,702,249 295,021 4,997,270 3,866,834 
 
 1826 8,420,454 3,792,453 255,241 4,047,694 3,199,265 
 
 1827 8,380,833 I 4,685,789 331,586 5,017,375 3,683,222 
 
 1828 9,496,950 J 4,134,744 326,298 4,461,042 3,289,704 
 
 1829 9,087,923 5,162,197 359,059 5,.521,256 3,612,085 
 
 1830 8,599,100 3,749,799 290,878 4,040,677 2,838,448 
 1831* 
 18321 
 I833I 
 
 * I leave several blank years to be filled in accordinsjas returns are made 
 up by government, for future reference to a standard work like the 
 ' History of the British Colonies,' there will be thus more facility in noting 
 down from year to year the data as they appear before Parliament.
 
 458 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 An Account of the Imports, E.xports, and Home Consumption of Sugar, 
 inclusive, with the Annual Averaoce Prices and Rates of Duty for 
 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 British 
 Plantation. 
 
 Mauritius. 
 
 East India. 
 
 Foreign 
 Plantation. 
 
 Total of 
 Imports. 
 
 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 
 1814 
 
 3,581,516 
 
 
 49,849 
 
 581,421 
 
 4,212,786 
 
 
 1815 
 
 3,642,807 
 
 
 125,639 
 
 365,889 
 
 4,134,335 
 
 
 1816 
 
 3,560,317 
 
 Considered 
 
 127,052 
 
 192,780 
 
 3,880,149 
 
 
 1817 
 
 3,679,352 
 
 as East India J 
 
 "Sugar in these" 
 
 Years. 
 
 125,893 
 
 105,916 
 
 3,911,161 
 
 
 1818 
 
 3,7/5,379 
 
 162,395 
 
 138,032 
 
 4,075,806 
 
 
 1819 
 
 3,907.151 
 
 205,527 
 
 85,837 
 
 4,198,515 
 
 
 1820 
 
 3,769,458 
 
 277,228 
 
 162,990 
 
 4,209,676 
 
 
 1821 
 
 3,906,967 
 
 
 269,162 
 
 197,037 
 
 4,373,166 
 
 
 1822 
 
 3,435,061 
 
 
 226,371 
 
 112,954 
 
 3,774,386 
 
 
 1823 
 
 3,773,528 
 
 
 219,580 
 
 208,593 
 
 4,201,706 
 
 
 1824 
 
 3,935,052 
 
 , 
 
 271,848 
 
 205,750 
 
 4,412,650 
 
 
 1825 
 
 3,501,281 
 
 93,723 
 
 150,347 
 
 162,784 
 
 3,908,135 
 
 
 1826 
 
 4,002,426 
 
 186,782 
 
 164,822 
 
 65,065 
 
 4,419,095 
 
 
 1827 
 
 3,550,918 
 
 204,344 
 
 175,846 
 
 178,910 
 
 4,110,018 
 
 
 1828 
 
 4,313,430 
 
 361,325 
 
 156,266 
 
 136,999 
 
 4,968,020 
 
 
 1829 
 
 4,152,815 
 
 297,958 
 
 206,052 
 
 199.568 
 
 4,856,393 
 
 
 1830 
 
 3,913,268 
 
 485,710 
 
 293,769 
 
 223,257 
 
 4,916,004 
 
 
 1831 
 
 4,103,746 
 
 517,553 
 
 237,416 
 
 507,547 
 
 5,366,262 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 REVENUE COLLECTED UPON SUGAR. 
 
 
 
 GROSS RECEIPT OF DUTIES. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 P.VY.MF.N'T.^ 
 Gross Uece 
 
 3Ut of 
 
 pt. 
 
 Net 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 Foreign Planlation, (in- 
 
 
 Drawback and 
 
 Bounty 
 
 Produce 
 
 
 
 British 
 Planta- 
 tion. 
 
 Mauri . East 
 tius. ' India. 
 
 fliiding: tiugar of Marti- 
 
 liii|MC and l.iiadalijupe, 
 
 admilled for Home Con- 
 
 suTiiption, under At;t 
 
 Total of 
 
 Gross 
 Receipt. 
 
 alloued on F.xp 
 
 to Foreign Par 
 
 Hepavmcnts en 
 
 Klitrics, 81 
 
 irtiition 
 5, and 
 Over 
 
 of 
 Duties. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5:1 Geo. .3. c. 62.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £. 
 
 ^. 
 
 £. 
 
 Jt. 
 
 je. 
 
 £. 
 
 
 ^'. 
 
 
 1814 
 
 4,577,956 
 
 S 
 
 ■ 24,299 
 
 353,229 
 
 4,955,434 
 
 1,187,960 
 
 
 3,767,524 
 
 
 1815 
 
 4,740,781 
 
 a 
 
 73,999 
 
 65,579 
 
 4,830,359 
 
 1,426,026 
 
 
 3,454,333 
 
 
 1816 
 
 4,921,034 
 
 1 
 « 
 
 64,913 
 
 79,349 
 
 5,065,296 
 
 1,453,103 
 
 
 3,612,193 ; 
 
 
 1817 
 
 5,966,545 
 
 "5 '^ 
 
 50,612 
 
 8,034 
 
 6,025,191 
 
 1,591,265 
 
 
 4,433,926 1 
 
 
 1818 
 
 4,313,581 
 
 '- J ■ 
 
 50,114 
 
 2,118 
 
 4,365,813 
 
 1,614,706 
 
 
 2,751,107 
 
 
 1819 
 
 4,984,878 
 
 
 ,'192,014 
 
 924 
 
 5,177,816 
 
 1,181,273 
 
 
 3,996,543 
 
 
 1820 
 
 5,288,926 
 
 
 1 156,968 
 
 1,011 
 
 5,446,905 
 
 1,521,518 
 
 
 3,925,387 
 
 
 1821 
 
 5,352,130 
 
 5 
 
 222,438 
 
 1,075 
 
 5,575,643 
 
 1,386,685 
 
 
 4,188,958 
 
 
 1822 
 
 4,611,730 
 
 % 
 
 j 254,335 
 
 1,117 
 
 4,867,182 
 
 806,733 
 
 
 4,060,444 
 
 
 1823 
 
 5,135,409 
 
 o 
 
 190,783 
 
 750 
 
 5,326,942 
 
 919,532 
 
 
 4,407,410 
 
 
 1824 
 
 5,207,132 
 
 ^ 
 
 282,537 
 
 210 
 
 5,489,879 
 
 847,975 
 
 
 4,641,904 
 
 
 1825 
 
 4,651,525 
 
 106,205:198,322 
 
 99 
 
 4,956,151 
 
 779,496 
 
 
 4,176,655 
 
 
 1826 
 
 5,273,648 
 
 150,356 265,037 
 
 85 
 
 5,689,126 
 
 738,128 
 
 
 4,950,998 
 
 
 182715,059,208 
 
 ->30,005 172,406 
 
 30,251 
 
 1,491,870 
 
 841,678 
 
 
 4,650,193 
 
 
 1828 5,415,715 
 
 !26,448, 1 80,055 
 
 2,658 
 
 5,924,876 
 
 922,579 
 
 
 5,002,297 
 
 
 1829 5,340,258 
 
 524,752 1223,002 
 
 8.745 
 
 5,896,757 
 
 1,000,515 
 
 
 4,896,243 
 
 
 1830 5,226,966 
 
 )58,207 230,185 
 
 47,961 
 
 6,063,322 
 
 1,295,980 
 
 
 4,767,342 
 
 
 1831 4,936,592 
 
 )47,855 189,609 
 
 104,358 
 
 5,778,414 
 
 1,127,824 
 
 
 4,650,590 [ 
 
 
 1832 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 459 
 
 and of tlie Revenue collected thereon, in each Year from 1814 to 1S31 
 the same period; stated for the United Kingdom. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 
 
 Consumption. 
 
 
 BRITISH 
 
 Refined Sugar, 
 
 Total 
 Export 
 
 
 RAW SUGAR. 
 
 Quantity retained 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fo- 
 reign 
 Planta- 
 tion. 
 
 
 (reduced to its of Sugar, 
 
 for Actual Consumption 
 
 British 
 Planta- 
 tion. 
 
 Mau- 
 ritius. 
 
 East 
 India, i 
 
 Total 
 of Raw 
 Sugar. 
 
 equivalent Raw 
 Quantity of and 
 Raw Sugar.) Refined. 
 
 in the 
 United Kingdom. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 f 2,324,051 
 
 430,817 
 
 1 
 
 41,083 A 
 
 59,990 
 
 931,890 
 
 897,347 
 
 1,829,237 
 
 < including Sugar used 
 l_ in Distilleries. 
 
 385,761 
 
 .2 
 
 67,665 ; 
 
 11,378 
 
 764,804 
 
 994,025 
 
 1,758,829 
 
 2,211,299 
 
 234,996 
 
 - 1 
 
 101,581 
 
 90,190 
 
 526,767 
 
 953,314 
 
 1,480,081 
 
 2,529,931 
 
 142,571 
 
 
 95,218 
 
 32,937 370,726 
 
 1,141,724 
 
 1,512,450 
 
 3,298,941 
 
 98,512 
 
 109,952 
 
 08,687 317,151 
 
 1,157,082 
 
 1,474,233 
 
 1,726,896 
 
 58,913 
 
 s| 
 
 87,587 
 
 02,710 249,210 
 
 847,798 
 
 1,097,008 
 
 2,820,900 
 
 77,057 
 
 
 185,068 
 
 38,298 '400,423 
 
 1,098,616 
 
 1,499,039 
 
 2,901,864 
 
 9,851 
 
 l~ 
 
 144,332 
 
 86,314 
 
 340,497 
 
 1,022,731 
 
 1,363,228 
 
 3,056,882 
 
 10,657 
 
 -3 
 
 98,277 
 
 37,707 
 
 246,641 
 
 561,206 
 
 807,847 
 
 2,989,057 
 
 11,231 
 
 S 
 
 104,796 
 
 76,717 
 
 292,744 
 
 677.593 
 
 970,337 
 
 3,228,991 
 
 8,836 
 
 J5 
 
 146,358 
 
 213,980 369,174 
 
 640,054 
 
 1,009,228 
 
 3,367,424 
 
 11,529 
 
 21,593 
 
 36,625 
 
 73,075 242,822 
 
 549,782 
 
 792,604 
 
 3,079,848 
 
 102,297 
 
 45,534 
 
 46,669 
 
 05,801 300,301 
 
 586,172 
 
 886,4/3 
 
 3,.'i73,990 
 
 40,931 
 
 46,480 
 
 64,079 
 
 03,965 255,455 
 
 695,402 
 
 950,857 
 
 3,340,927 
 
 50,586 
 
 117,985 
 
 42,546 
 
 160,329; 371,446 
 
 776,624 
 
 1,148,070 
 
 3,601,419 
 
 16,467 
 
 52,321 
 
 56,174 
 
 172,950 
 
 297,912 
 
 808,435 
 
 1,106,34/ 
 
 3,539,821 
 
 13,355 
 
 48,383 
 
 83,413 
 
 166,310 
 
 311,461 
 
 1,032,886 
 
 1,344,347 
 
 3,722,044 
 
 10,800 
 
 11,1/4 
 
 111,102 
 
 287,644 
 
 420,720 
 
 989,120 
 
 1,409,840 
 
 3,787,391 
 
 a-s. 
 
 RATES OF DUTY. 
 
 
 nual avera 
 
 ces of Briti 
 
 Muscovado 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 British 
 
 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Plantation, 
 
 
 
 Plantation, 
 
 
 (Brown or 
 
 Mauritius. 
 
 East India. 
 
 (Brown or 
 
 
 a 'C 
 
 Muscovado.) 
 
 
 
 Muscovado.) 
 
 
 perCwt. 
 
 per Cwt. 
 
 
 per Cwt. 
 
 per Cwt. 
 
 
 
 gg. s. d. 
 
 f 
 
 To 10 April, jEI. 13. 
 
 •^ £. s. d. 
 
 N. D. Foreign Su- 
 trar was, durini; the 
 
 73s. id. 
 
 1 10 — 
 
 ( Charged as 1 ifo'^f.' "cfi^itio. 
 
 l E. I. Sugar. ] 5 May to 5 Sept. .£1.11. 
 Lj From 5 Sept. jEI. IS). 
 
 I 3 3 — 
 
 undcr-mentioucd pe- 
 riods, admitted to 
 eutry for the purpose 
 of being refined, on 
 
 6ls. lOrf. 
 
 1 10 — 
 
 
 rToSMay, ^1.10. 
 \ From 5 Slay, £1.17. 
 
 } 3 3 — 
 
 payment of the fol- 
 
 
 
 lowing Rates of 
 
 48s. yd. 
 
 /To 5 Sept. £1.10. 1 
 \ From 5 Sept. £1.7. / 
 
 1 7 — 
 
 
 { 
 
 To 5 May, £1.19. 
 5 May to 5 Sept. £2. 
 From 5 Sept. .i'1.17. 
 1 17 — 
 
 ■1 TooSept. fS..'!. 
 /From 5 Sept. £3. 
 
 Duty: 
 
 From 1 June, \»2;, 
 
 ids. 8a. 
 
 
 £1.9. per cwt. 
 From -28 July, 18iS, 
 
 toSJuly, ISaO: 
 If not of greater va- 
 lue than the ave- 
 
 50s. 
 
 1 10 — 
 
 
 
 3 3 — 
 
 
 fToSMav, jei.lO. t 
 
 
 To 5 Mav, ^£2. 
 
 1 To 3 May, ^3 3. 
 
 41s. id. 
 
 i 5 May to Sep. jgl.S. > 
 (From 5 Sept. £1. 7- ) 
 
 
 S May to .5 Sept. £1.18. 
 From 5 Sept. £1.17. 
 
 ^.5Mayto.5Sep.£3.1. 
 J From 5 Sept. £ii. 
 
 rage price of Sugar 
 ofthe British Plan- 
 tations in America. 
 
 36s. 2d. 
 
 1 7 — 
 1 7 — 
 
 1 7 — 
 1 7 — 
 
 
 1 17 — 
 1 17 — 
 1 17 — 
 1 17 — 
 
 3 — — 
 
 £\.l. per cwt. 
 
 33s. 2d. 
 
 
 And further in re- 
 
 31s. 
 
 
 spect of every shil- 
 ling by which it 
 might e.^ceed such 
 
 32s. \\d. 
 
 
 31s. 6<f. 
 
 1 7 — 
 
 
 1 17 — 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 average price, 9rf. 
 From 5 July, 1S30, to 
 
 
 
 To 5 July charged as 
 
 38s. 6d. 
 
 1 7 — ^ IE I. Suj^ar ; ^nm 5 
 
 > 1 17 — 
 
 3 -^ — 
 
 5 July, 1831 : 
 
 
 
 |.Tuly chartfcd as Su- 
 
 1 
 
 
 If not nf greater va- 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 Igarof tlieBrit.Plant.l^ 
 
 
 lue than the ave- 
 
 30s. 7d. 
 
 1 7- { 
 
 i Charged as Sugar of l i 17 
 
 the British Planut. 1 J ' 
 
 3 3 - 
 
 rage price of Sugar 
 ofthe British Plan- 
 
 35s. Qd. 
 
 1 7 - 
 
 
 1 17 - 
 
 3 3 — 
 
 tations in America, 
 
 
 £1.4. per cwt. 
 
 31s. Sd. 
 
 1 7 — 
 
 
 1 17 — 
 
 3 3 — 
 
 And further in re- 
 spect of every shil- 
 ling by which it 
 might exceed such 
 average price, 6rf. 
 
 28s. ~d. 
 
 1 7 — 
 
 
 1 17 — 
 
 3 3 — 
 
 24s. llrf. 
 
 r To 5 July, ^1 . -. -1 
 I From do. .^1. 4. J 
 
 
 { 
 
 To5 July, d?i.i7. '\ „ , 
 
 
 From do. ^€'1.12. 
 
 J 
 
 23s. 6i. 
 
 1 4 — 
 
 
 1 12 — 
 
 3 3 — 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 460 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 
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 APPENDIX E. 
 
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 APPENDIX F. 
 
 463 
 
 SPICES. 
 
 An Account of the Quantities of the undermentioned Spices Imported 
 into and Exported from the United Kingdom, and Cleared for Con- 
 sumption, together with the Rates of Duty, and the Net Amount of 
 Revenue in each Year, commencing 5th January, since 1820. 
 
 
 NUTMEGS. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 Rates of Duty. 
 
 Net 
 
 
 Imported. 
 
 Exported. 
 
 Cleared for 
 Consumption. 
 
 British Pos- 
 sessions. 
 
 Foreign 
 Possessions. 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Per lb. 
 
 Per lb. 
 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs 
 
 lbs. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 1820 
 
 91,192 
 
 114,277 
 
 90,771 
 
 2 6 
 
 3 6 
 
 11,212 
 
 1821 
 
 35,086 
 
 111,793 
 
 94,589 
 
 
 
 11,721 
 
 1822 
 
 45,568 
 
 55,863 
 
 112,096 
 
 
 
 14,000 
 
 1823 
 
 14,958 
 
 99,071 
 
 117,768 
 
 
 
 14,723 
 
 1824 
 
 83,438 
 
 101,185 
 
 129,702 
 
 
 
 16,177 
 
 1825 
 
 183,470 
 
 35,588 
 
 99,214 
 
 
 
 12,406 
 
 1826 
 
 338,702 
 
 79,579 
 
 101,117 
 
 
 
 12,624 
 
 1827 
 
 74,854 
 
 35,389 
 
 125,529 
 
 
 
 15,707 
 
 1828 
 
 58,685 
 
 32,518 
 
 140,002 
 
 
 
 17,514 
 
 1829 
 
 38,868 
 
 47,913 
 
 113,273 
 
 
 
 14,114 
 
 1830 
 
 247,912 
 
 163,045 
 
 121,260 
 
 
 
 15,158 
 
 1831 
 
 210,363 
 
 88,352 
 
 152,369 
 
 
 
 19,025 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 IMENTO.* 
 
 
 
 1820 
 
 1,226,235 
 
 1,169,951 
 
 250,630 
 
 10 
 
 1 3 
 
 10,341 
 
 1821 
 
 2,636,666 
 
 2,808,453 
 
 250,689 
 
 
 
 10,453 
 
 1822 
 
 1,605,590 
 
 1,340,141 
 
 294,395 
 
 
 
 12,273 
 
 1823 
 
 2,394,793 
 
 1,743,887 
 
 293,223 
 
 
 
 12,218 
 
 1824 
 
 2,499,250 
 
 2,135,666 
 
 298,412 
 
 
 
 12,418 
 
 1825 
 
 1,594,080 
 
 1,354,086 
 
 303,055 
 
 5 
 
 
 7,502 
 
 1826 
 
 1,564,469 
 
 1,428,739 
 
 330,473 
 
 
 
 6,884 
 
 1827 
 
 2,235,350 
 
 2,005,252 
 
 319,667 
 
 
 
 6,619 
 
 1828 
 
 2,269,545 
 
 1,677,922 
 
 310,182 
 
 
 
 6,459 
 
 1829 
 
 3,599,268 
 
 2,732,493 
 
 339,013 
 
 
 
 7,064 
 
 1830 
 
 3,528,104 
 
 2,262,951 
 
 348,525 
 
 
 
 7,249 
 
 1831 
 
 1,810,616 
 
 1,815,537 
 
 304,400 
 
 
 
 6,375 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * The duty on this staple of Jamaica produce ought to be entirely re- 
 mitted, — it produces little to the revenue, while freedom from impost 
 would in this, as in all other instances, be a great stimulus to industry and 
 
 commerce.
 
 464 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 
 CASSIA LIGNEA. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 Rates of Duty. 
 
 Net 
 
 
 Imported. 
 
 Exported. 
 
 Cleared for British 
 Consumption. Possessions. 
 
 Foreign 
 Possessions. 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 
 
 Per lb. 
 
 Per lb. 
 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 *. d 
 
 *. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 1820 
 
 175,477 
 
 212,566 
 
 32,064 
 
 2 6 
 
 2 6 
 
 4,008 
 
 1821 
 
 308,960 
 
 338,910 
 
 31,721 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 3,964 
 
 1822 
 
 272,868 
 
 375,722 
 
 33,581 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 4,195 
 
 1823 
 
 277,066 
 
 260,568 
 
 32,622 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 4,062 
 
 1824 
 
 639,188 
 
 559,651 
 
 42,797 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 5,056 
 
 J 825 
 
 628,991 
 
 278,063 
 
 49,046 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3,116 
 
 '182fi 
 
 533,948 
 
 347,784 
 
 43,182 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 2,159 
 
 1827 
 
 415,702 
 
 427,695 
 
 42,984 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 2,123 
 
 1828 
 
 549,535 
 
 356,320 
 
 55,787 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 2,769 
 
 1829 
 
 817.968 
 
 795,242 
 
 62,252 
 
 6 
 
 — 
 
 2,101 
 
 1830 
 
 837,589 
 
 797,642 
 
 65,705 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,624 
 
 1831 
 
 398,420 
 
 718,772 
 
 61,162 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,526 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 CLOVES. 
 
 
 
 1820 
 
 8,428 
 
 143,776 
 
 36,554 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3,657 
 
 1821 
 
 32,517 
 
 21,014 
 
 32,933 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 3,285 
 
 1822 
 
 106,946 
 
 42,381 
 
 49,765 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 5,027 
 
 1823 
 
 200,141 
 
 77.131 
 
 57,780 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 5,748 
 
 1824 
 
 387,412 
 
 186,191 
 
 60,323 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 6,035 
 
 1825 
 
 92,153 
 
 8,586 
 
 45,261 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 4,543 
 
 1826 
 
 280,350 
 
 75,247 
 
 52,701 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 5,279 
 
 1827 
 
 253,009 
 
 27,812 
 
 85,990 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 8,602 
 
 1828 
 
 484,368 
 
 152,687 
 
 61,216 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 6,149 
 
 1829 
 
 36,071 
 
 57,904 
 
 48,638 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 4,876 
 
 1830 
 
 158,006 
 
 39,576 
 
 60,111 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 6,061 
 
 1831 
 
 128,223 
 
 81,912 
 
 83,885 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 8,374 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 CINNAMON. 
 
 
 
 1820 
 
 334,113 
 
 306,702 
 
 10,618 
 
 2 6 
 
 3 6 
 
 1,331 
 
 1821 
 
 417,635 
 
 298,538 
 
 12,002 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,504 
 
 1822 
 
 121,630 
 
 304,441 
 
 14,507 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,817 
 
 1823 
 
 900,799 
 
 418,356 
 
 14,225 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 1,767 
 
 1824 
 
 381,056 
 
 584,924 
 
 13,767 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,724 
 
 1825 
 
 425,643 
 
 400,425 
 
 14,098 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 1,766 
 
 1826 
 
 156,485 
 
 344,404 
 
 14,155 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,783 
 
 1827 
 
 1,267,444 
 
 359,692 
 
 14,351 
 
 ___ 
 
 — 
 
 1,808 
 
 1828 
 
 337,483 
 
 354,536 
 
 15,696 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1,774 
 
 1829 
 
 544,225 
 
 386,108 
 
 29,720 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1,342 
 
 1830 
 
 464,175 
 
 535,223 
 
 nil. 
 
 ._ 
 
 — 
 
 709 
 
 1831 
 
 225,869 
 
 504,643 
 
 23,172 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 584 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 465 
 
 
 GLXGER. 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 Rates of Duty. 
 
 \ 
 
 Net 
 
 
 Imported. 
 
 Exported. Cleared for 
 
 British Pos- 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 
 
 Consumption. 
 
 1 
 
 sessions. 
 
 Possessions. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Per Cwt. 
 
 Per Cwt. 
 
 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ 
 
 1820 
 
 24,848 
 
 15,281 
 
 4,869 
 
 1 3 
 
 2 13 
 
 5,544 
 
 1821 
 
 15,253 
 
 15,036 ; 4,172 
 
 
 
 4,635 
 
 1822 
 
 5,111 
 
 3,028 
 
 5,930 
 
 
 
 6,829 
 
 1823 
 
 5,809 
 
 1&7 
 
 6,079 
 
 
 
 6,982 
 
 1824 
 
 5,128 
 
 344 
 
 7,002 
 
 
 
 8,074 
 
 1825 
 
 10,875 
 
 300 
 
 9,516 
 
 11 6 
 
 
 6,310 
 
 1826 
 
 20,417 
 
 2,815 
 
 13,405 
 
 
 
 7,626 
 
 1827 
 
 12,253 
 
 6,504 
 
 12,383 
 
 
 
 7,121 
 
 1828 
 
 14,600 
 
 6,930 
 
 7,374 
 
 
 
 4,335 
 
 1829 
 
 11.007 
 
 11,209 
 
 5,947 
 
 
 
 3,403 
 
 1830 
 
 5,491 
 
 4,575 
 
 6,284 
 
 
 
 3,560 
 
 1831 
 
 5,315 
 
 6,092 
 
 4,816 
 
 
 
 2,800 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 MACE. 
 
 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 Per lb. 
 
 Per lb. 
 
 
 1820 
 
 7,266 
 
 48,857 
 
 12,193 
 
 s. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 2,174 
 
 1821 
 
 13,893 
 
 41,722 
 
 11,572 
 
 3 6 
 
 4 6 
 
 1,805 
 
 1822 
 
 16,837 
 
 37,458 
 
 13,498 
 
 
 
 2,361 
 
 1823 
 
 4,773 
 
 35,201 
 
 13,319 
 
 
 
 2,485 
 
 1824 
 
 28,739 
 
 32,871 
 
 16,879 
 
 
 
 2,967 
 
 1825 
 
 72,364 
 
 16,065 
 
 14,852 
 
 
 
 2,602 
 
 1826 
 
 118,975 
 
 51,079 
 
 15,600 
 
 
 
 2,720 
 
 1827 
 
 23,133 
 
 31,738 
 
 16,760 
 
 
 
 2,963 
 
 1828 
 
 42,134 
 
 37,783 
 
 16,094 
 
 
 
 2,829 
 
 1829 
 
 6,841 
 
 20,106 
 
 14,254 
 
 
 
 2,549 
 
 1830 
 
 15,789 
 
 14,596 
 
 12,600 
 
 
 
 2,205 
 
 1831 
 1832 
 1833 
 
 41,287 
 
 63,795 
 
 18,894 
 
 
 
 3,266 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PEPPER. 
 
 
 
 1820 
 
 789,300 
 
 3,985,353 
 
 1,404,021 
 
 2 6 
 
 2 6 
 
 174,063 
 
 1821 
 
 852,038 
 
 1,630,968 
 
 1,256,532 
 
 
 
 156,206 
 
 1822 
 
 7,244,778 
 
 4,451,396 
 
 1,446,400 
 
 
 
 179,586 
 
 1823 
 
 6,137,993 
 
 .5,241,141 
 
 1,368,983 
 
 
 
 170,627 
 
 1824 
 
 8,818,697 
 
 2,926,857 
 
 1,447,030 
 
 
 
 180,816 
 
 1825 
 
 5,438,428 
 
 3,330,958 
 
 850,087 
 
 
 
 106,222 
 
 1826 
 
 14,091,799 
 
 5,329,525 
 
 2,529,027 
 
 1 
 
 \s.2dAs.M 
 
 126,517 
 
 1827 
 
 9,083,605 
 
 4,092,386 
 
 1,949,931 
 
 
 
 97,496 
 
 1828 
 
 4,987,630 
 
 4,226,031 
 
 1,927,718 
 
 
 
 96,468 
 
 1829 
 
 2,015,184 
 
 2,962,063 
 
 1,933,641 
 
 
 
 96,726 
 
 1830 
 
 2,816,598 
 
 1,488,238 
 
 2,009,154 
 
 
 
 100,492 
 
 1831 
 1832 
 1833 
 
 6,273,480 
 
 6,844,616 
 
 2,050,082 
 
 
 
 102,639 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 VOL. II, 
 
 H H
 
 im 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 An Account of the Imports, Exports, and Home Consumption of Rum, and oftlie 
 Revenue collected thereon in each Vear, from 1814 to 1831 inclusive, with the 
 Rates of Duty for the same period ; stated for the United Kingdom. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Quantity 'Quantity 
 
 Quantity entered 
 for Home 
 
 Net Pro- 
 duce of 
 
 Rates of Duty, 
 British Plantation 
 
 
 Imported Exported 
 
 Consumption. 
 
 Duties. 
 
 Rum. 
 
 
 
 Imp. Gal. jimp. Gal. 
 
 Imp. Proof Gal. 
 
 £ 
 
 Per Imperial 
 
 Gallon, 
 s. d. 
 
 1814 
 
 7240537 
 
 3271206 
 
 3703835 
 
 2513578 
 
 
 13 10 
 
 1815 
 
 5736372 
 
 297.5538 
 
 3365785 
 
 2240472 
 
 
 — 
 
 1816 
 
 3258598 
 
 2325935 
 
 2428950 
 
 1636386 
 
 
 — 
 
 1817 
 
 5332737} 2640062 
 
 2408311 
 
 1619425 
 
 
 — 
 
 1818 
 
 4580420 2633891 
 
 2631583 
 
 1775714 
 
 
 — 
 
 1819 
 
 5341494 1994974 
 
 2564883 
 
 1730446 
 
 
 13 lU 
 
 1820 
 
 5878415 31085.53 
 
 2489120 
 
 1684425 
 
 
 — 
 
 1821 
 
 5945738 26296.0 
 
 23iJ4315 
 
 1576377 
 
 
 — 
 
 1822 
 
 3544929 
 
 1.542133 
 
 2246839 
 
 1516645 
 
 
 — 
 
 1823 
 
 4069473 
 
 1550192 
 
 2349660 
 
 l.',90666 
 
 
 — 
 
 1824 
 
 4015554 
 
 1630919 
 
 2551646 
 
 1600827 
 
 
 12 7* 
 
 182.5 
 
 3286181 
 
 1241793 
 
 2095687 
 
 1278313 
 
 . 
 
 — 
 
 1826 
 
 4010755 
 
 1187725 
 
 4305316 
 
 1817108 
 
 
 8 6 
 
 1827 
 
 4828954 
 
 1380517 
 
 3288606 
 
 1386726 
 
 
 — 
 
 1828 
 
 5297013 
 
 1598674 
 
 3277653 
 
 1382024 
 
 
 — 
 
 1829 
 
 5708558 
 
 1424512 
 
 3375866 
 
 1434782 
 
 
 — 
 
 1830 
 
 5569739 
 
 1344447 
 
 3658958 
 
 1600331 
 
 /to 15 June 8 6 
 \from 15 June 9 
 
 1831 
 
 6474769 
 
 2012405 
 
 3624597 
 
 1629881 
 
 
 9 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 An Account of the Imports, Exports, and Home Consumption of Molasses, and of 
 the Revenue co.lected thereon, in each Year from 1814 to 1831 inclusive, with 
 the Rates of Duty for the same period ; stated for the United Kingdom. 
 
 
 Quantity 
 Imported 
 
 Quantity 
 Exported 
 
 Quantity entered 
 
 Net Pro- 
 
 Rates of Duty, 
 
 Years. 
 
 for Home 
 Consumption. 
 
 duce of 
 Duties. 
 
 (British Plantation 
 Molasses.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Per cwt. 
 
 
 cwts. 
 
 cwts. 
 
 cwts. 
 
 ra 
 
 s. 
 
 d 
 
 1814 
 
 141227 
 
 24692 
 
 58829 
 
 21279 
 
 7 
 
 6i 
 
 1815 
 
 119381 
 
 34674 
 
 66407 
 
 24740 
 
 7 
 
 el 
 
 1816 
 
 1647 
 
 37876 
 
 50247 
 
 18465 
 
 7 
 
 6i 
 
 1817 
 
 7921 
 
 5599 
 
 19464 
 
 7328 
 
 7 
 
 6i 
 
 1818 
 
 31832 
 
 389 
 
 32618 
 
 12248 
 
 7 
 
 6i 
 
 1819 
 
 54919 
 
 2234 
 
 51187 
 
 21106 
 
 10 
 
 (from 5 July.) 
 
 1820 
 
 39990 
 
 6314 
 
 27895 
 
 13908 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1821 
 
 58185 
 
 1795 
 
 57527 ■ 
 
 28549 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1822 
 
 76298 
 
 749 
 
 78461 
 
 3927S 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1823 
 
 189968 
 
 868 
 
 161351 
 
 80622 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1824 
 
 239088 
 
 1750 
 
 239540 
 
 119739 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1825 
 
 355592 
 
 883 
 
 332453 
 
 166254 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1826 
 
 290504 
 
 5488 
 
 279748 
 
 139958 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1827 
 
 392444 
 
 928 
 
 412665 
 
 206331 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1828 
 
 510708 
 
 441 
 
 381761 
 
 190852 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1829 
 
 394432 
 
 2312 
 
 386143 
 
 193072 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1830 
 
 250648 
 
 4824 
 
 337587 
 
 159683 
 
 9 
 
 (from 5 July.) 
 
 1831 
 
 332875 
 
 655 
 
 348631 
 
 156883 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 18.32 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 APPENDIX G. 
 
 ^61 
 
 AN ACCOUNT of the Declared Value of the follouin«r Articles of 
 British and Irish Produce and Manufacture, Exported from the 
 United Kingdom to the British West Indies, in each Year, from 1814 to 
 1830, inclusive ; viz. Cottons, Linens, Woollens, Hardwares, Machinery 
 and Manufactures of Metal, Grain, Provisions, Fish, &c. ; Clothing and 
 Lumber.* 
 
 
 Declared Value of the undermentioned Articles, Exported from 
 
 
 the United Kingdom to the British West Indies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hardwares, 
 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 oi 
 
 
 E 
 
 Macliinery 
 
 
 
 Lumber; 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 2 
 
 z 
 
 tl 
 
 and 
 
 
 
 viz. 
 
 
 u 
 
 O 
 
 a 
 
 ^ 
 
 Manufac- 
 
 Grain, 
 
 Clothing 
 
 Hoops, 
 
 Total 
 
 ^ 
 
 H 
 
 2 
 
 O 
 
 tured Me- 
 
 Provis- 
 
 of all 
 
 Staves 
 
 of ilie 
 
 
 o 
 
 - 
 
 O 
 
 tals in 
 
 ions, 
 
 Sons 
 
 and 
 
 specified 
 
 
 
 
 
 Geueral. 
 
 Fisli,&c. 
 
 made up. 
 
 Headings. 
 
 Articles. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £■ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1814 
 
 2228970 
 
 929707 
 
 301966 
 
 511014 
 
 1153864 
 
 472737 
 
 184162 
 
 5782410 
 
 1815 
 
 2609232 
 
 968586 
 
 307712 
 
 6142S9 
 
 826007 
 
 486134 
 
 95788 
 
 5907748 
 
 1816 
 
 1206457 
 
 575517 
 
 177533 
 
 507333 
 
 6336841355106 
 
 70314 
 
 3525944 
 
 1817 
 
 2147042 
 
 598272 
 
 27S014 
 
 528763 770104! 396881 
 
 67295 
 
 4786371 
 
 1818 
 
 1899165 
 
 596964 
 
 284450 
 
 592778 
 
 867894 496610 
 
 76784 
 
 4814645 
 
 1819 
 
 1086945 
 
 523/35 
 
 250461 
 
 582620 
 
 775912 422861 
 
 81508 
 
 3724042 
 
 1820 
 
 1078931 
 
 562924 
 
 1 72598 
 
 414975 
 
 598567 376041 
 
 77838 
 
 3281874 
 
 1821 
 
 1320063 
 
 576897 
 
 177471 
 
 357818 
 
 564962 355392 
 
 69950 
 
 3422553 
 
 1822 
 
 872596 
 
 559392 
 
 177673 
 
 308713 
 
 444464 334814 
 
 48801 
 
 2746453 
 
 1823 
 
 1036674 
 
 552163 
 
 157022 
 
 316367 
 
 446555 370166 
 
 62906 
 
 2941853 
 
 1824 
 
 1108386 
 
 552427 
 
 151572 
 
 324797 i 497174 344149 
 
 61946 
 
 3040451 
 
 1125 
 
 1209350 
 
 527714 
 
 139122 
 
 348998 501296 348110 
 
 60542 
 
 3135132 
 
 1826 
 
 781412 
 
 401198 
 
 105515 
 
 363077 447401 319254 
 
 64775 
 
 2482632 
 
 1827 
 
 942846 
 
 479152 
 
 137001 
 
 340740 
 
 47382« 340676 
 
 692/6 
 
 2783519 
 
 1828 
 
 730850 
 
 412734 
 
 126262 
 
 395238 
 
 417808 330726 
 
 77180 
 
 2490798 
 
 1829 
 
 1050475 
 
 385303 
 
 119792 
 
 444139 ! 445057 327063 
 
 60479 
 
 2832308 
 
 1830 
 
 646466 
 
 325623 
 
 99888 
 
 361450 
 
 394610 279662 
 
 58727 
 
 2166426 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * This table shows how much our erroneous commercial policy has 
 diminished the power of our colonies to purchase British manufactures ; 
 by our past system we have not enriched ourselves, while we have made 
 others poor indeed.
 
 468 
 
 APPENDIX H. 
 
 AVERAGE PRICES OF SUGARS. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Average 
 Price. 
 
 Weight of 
 Cask. 
 
 Duty. 
 
 Gross. 
 
 Charges includ- 
 ing Duty. 
 
 1791 67 
 179^ 69 
 1793 70 
 1794! 54 
 1795177 
 1796;77 
 1797[8l 
 • 1798 86 
 179975 
 1800 74 
 1801 
 1802 
 1803 
 1804 
 1805 
 1806 
 I8O7 
 1808 
 1809 
 1810 
 
 64 
 54 
 67 
 80 
 76 
 68 
 
 76 
 77 
 1811J67 
 I8I277 
 
 1813 92 
 
 1814 99 
 
 1815 99 
 
 1816 81 
 
 1817 81 
 
 1818 84 
 1819|70 
 182o'67 
 1821,61 
 1822159 
 182361 
 1824 1 59 
 182568 
 1826 . 
 1827 
 1828 . 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 1833 
 1834 
 
 d. 
 4 
 4 
 4 
 O 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cwt. 
 13 
 
 53 
 
 12i 
 
 13 
 
 141 
 
 S. 
 
 12 
 
 d. £. 
 4 43 
 
 .. j45 
 .. 45 
 15 035 
 50 
 50 
 
 17 
 19 
 20 
 
 24 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 27 
 
 43 
 52 
 49 
 
 68 
 58 
 8 
 60 
 50 
 
 47 
 44 
 43 
 43 
 
 s. 
 
 15 
 1 
 
 14 
 2 
 2 
 1 
 
 652 19 
 
 4I55 18 
 
 048 15 
 
 48 2 
 
 41 12 
 
 35 7 
 
 11 
 2 
 8 
 43 14 
 
 47 3 
 
 49 12 
 45 5 
 
 50 10 
 60 19 
 70 12 
 
 15 
 5 
 5 
 I 
 
 2 
 9 
 8 
 6 
 16 
 
 41 17 
 49 5 
 
 27 037 17 
 
 d.£ 
 4|l3 
 4|l3 
 4I15 
 0!l7 
 1(17 
 0|l7 
 6[19 
 021 
 0:21 
 0'21 
 022 
 5I22 
 022 
 026 
 0,26 
 027 
 
 3 25 
 6 25 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 7 
 
 28 
 26 
 29 
 30 
 29 
 27 
 25 
 -27 
 26 
 25 
 25 
 25 
 25 
 25 
 25 
 
 26 
 
 s, d 
 
 10 10 
 
 10 10 
 
 16 4 
 
 11 
 
 17 
 
 17 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 15 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 15 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 £. 
 
 30 
 31 
 29 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 32 
 32 
 33 
 34 
 26 
 26 
 
 10 10 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 17 
 23 
 31 
 
 39 
 38 
 
 16 
 
 23 
 
 s. 
 
 4 
 10 
 IS 
 
 17 11 
 
 4 
 3 
 3 
 17 
 19 
 6 
 
 19 10 
 
 13 5 
 
 21 9 
 25 15 
 
 22 8 
 16 8 
 
 21 13 
 24 6 
 
 2 
 13 
 
 8 
 16 
 17 
 
 30 10 
 
 15 
 17 
 15 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 3 9J23 19 
 
 8 1 1 122 1 
 15 I0il9 2 
 
 6,32 15 
 4 '33 
 
 717 11 
 61I8 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 11 14 
 
 d. 
 6 
 6 
 O 
 
 7 
 6 
 
 8 
 6 
 6 
 O 
 5 
 
 6 
 6 
 
 
 6 
 6 
 1 
 2 
 4 
 
 11 
 3 
 2 
 O 
 7 
 1 
 o 
 4 
 1 
 9 
 4 
 
 5
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 469 
 
 Return of the Shipping-, Foreign and British, employed in the Trade with 
 the British West India Islands, from 1820 to 1830, both inclusive, dis- 
 tinguishing each Year. 
 
 
 UNITED KINGDOM. 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ships, 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 1820 
 
 857 
 
 240,510 
 
 831 
 
 233,486 
 
 1821 
 
 884 
 
 245,321 
 
 891 
 
 246,180 
 
 1822 
 
 839 
 
 232,426 
 
 743 
 
 208,099 
 
 1823 
 
 861 
 
 233,790 
 
 842 
 
 232,717 
 
 1824 
 
 899 
 
 244,971 
 
 848 
 
 233,097 
 
 1825 
 
 872 
 
 232,357 
 
 801 
 
 219,431 
 
 1826 
 
 891 
 
 243,448 
 
 907 
 
 251,852 
 
 1827 
 
 872 
 
 243,721 
 
 906 
 
 248,598 
 
 1828 
 
 1,013 
 
 272,800 
 
 1,022 
 
 270,495 
 
 1829 
 
 958 
 
 263,338 
 
 918 
 
 252,992 
 
 1830 
 
 911 
 
 253,872 
 
 868 
 
 240,664 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Note to page 468. 
 
 Rates of Tares allowed on West India Sugar imported into Great 
 Britain. 
 
 From Jamaica, Grenada, Tobago, St. Vincent, and St. Kitt's. 
 
 Cwt. qrs. lbs. 
 
 Hogsheads, from 8 to 12 cwt. - - - 1 7 
 
 From 12 to 15 - - - 1 1 12 
 
 From 15 to 17 - - - 1 2- 
 
 From 17 and upwards - - - 1 2 14 
 
 From Dominica, Antigua, Nevis, Montsenat, and Trinidad. 
 
 Hogsheads, from 8 to 12 cwt. 
 From 12 to 15 
 From 15 to 17 
 From 17 and upwards
 
 470 
 
 APPENDIX K. 
 Jamaica.* — Ships Inwards. 
 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreififn 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No- 
 
 Tons No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. No- 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 1822 
 
 271 
 
 79,925 179 
 
 24,007 
 
 33 
 
 4,583 354 
 
 24,233 
 
 837 
 
 132,748 
 
 8,678 
 
 1823 
 
 322 
 
 97,597 136 
 
 16,.349 266 
 
 30,867 277 
 
 18,375 
 
 1,001 
 
 163,188 
 
 10,087 
 
 1824 
 
 258 
 
 79,219 143 
 
 16,183 263 
 
 36,785 248 
 
 17,385 
 
 912 
 
 149,572 
 
 9,050 
 
 1825 
 
 274 
 
 84,740 105 
 
 12,557 
 
 179 
 
 24,866 218 
 
 15,874 
 
 776 
 
 138,037 
 
 8,404 
 
 1826 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1827 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1828 
 
 300 
 
 93,087 145 
 
 23,043 
 
 
 248 
 
 21,056 
 
 693 
 
 137,186 
 
 8.177 
 
 1829 
 
 240 
 
 75,541 166 
 
 22,974 
 
 
 269 
 
 25,687 
 
 674 
 
 124,202 
 
 7.948 
 
 1830 
 
 263 
 
 68,700 172 
 
 25,491 
 
 
 280 
 
 25,530 
 
 715 
 
 120,721 
 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1834 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Outwards 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 So. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 1822 
 
 310 
 
 96,193 
 
 161 
 
 22,241 33 
 
 3,986 373' 
 
 29,190 
 
 875 
 
 161,610 
 
 9,408 
 
 1823 
 
 274 
 
 86,825 
 
 131 
 
 15,0.38 219 25,548'309 
 
 23,942 
 
 933 
 
 151,363 
 
 9,369 
 
 1824 
 
 .301 
 
 92,779 
 
 141 
 
 15,062'260 35,636 238 
 
 17,646 
 
 940 
 
 161,111 
 
 9,563 
 
 1825 
 
 253 78,588 
 
 117 
 
 13,260 162 22,182 
 
 232 
 
 17,614 
 
 764 
 
 131,644 
 
 7,899 
 
 1826 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1827 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1828 
 
 277 86,532 
 
 138 
 
 19,959 
 
 
 
 286 
 
 28,610 
 
 700 
 
 136,101 
 
 8.010 
 
 1829 
 
 287!87,729 
 
 146 
 
 18,205 
 
 
 
 256 
 
 24,464 
 
 688 
 
 130,388 
 
 6,993 
 
 1830 
 
 29087,480 
 
 154 
 
 21,766 
 
 
 
 256 
 
 21,501 
 
 699 
 
 130,747 
 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1834 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Our statistical returns from Jamaica, as observed under the head of 
 population in the Jamaica chapter, are extremely deficient. I give the 
 above mutilated table, as I do many others in this work, in order to pro- 
 mote greater attention to the subject in future; it is only by means of 
 accurate and full returns that legislation can be wisely performed, more 
 especially in reference to commerce, where so much depends on just 
 analytical comparisons. .,
 
 Al'PENEIX L. 
 
 471 
 
 Abstract of the latest Returns received from each of His Majesty's Slave 
 Colonies of the Slave Population, distinguishing the Sexes. 
 
 
 Males. 
 
 Fe- 
 males. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Date to which 
 
 the Returns 
 
 have been 
 
 made up. 
 
 When received 
 
 in the 
 
 Rcijistry 
 
 Office. 
 
 Jamaica ... 
 
 158254 
 
 164167 
 
 322421 
 
 28 June, 1829 
 
 18 Dec. 1830. 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 37691 
 
 44211 
 
 81902 
 
 For 1829. 
 
 18 Mar. 1830. 
 
 Demerara 
 
 37141 
 
 32326 
 
 69467 
 
 31 May, 1829. 
 
 Ditto 1830. 
 
 Berbice - - - 
 
 11284 
 
 10035 
 
 21319 
 
 1 Jan. 1828. 
 
 15 Dec. 1828. 
 
 Antigua - - - 
 
 14066 
 
 15773 
 
 29839 
 
 For 1828. 
 
 13 April, 1829. 
 
 Montserrat 
 
 2867 
 
 3395 
 
 6262 
 
 Ditto 1828. 
 
 8 June, 1829. 
 
 Bahamas 
 
 4608 
 
 4660 
 
 9268 
 
 1 Jan. 1828. 
 
 8 Nov. 1830. 
 
 Dominica 
 
 7362 
 
 8030 
 
 15392 
 
 For 1826. 
 
 15 Dec. 1828. 
 
 Grenada ... 
 
 11711 
 
 12434 
 
 24145 
 
 31 Dec. 1829. 
 
 i8 Feb. 1831. 
 
 St. Christopher 
 
 9198 
 
 10112 
 
 19310 
 
 I Jan. 1828, 
 
 23 Sept. 1829. 
 
 Nevis ... 
 
 4574 
 
 4685 
 
 9259 
 
 For 1828. 
 
 21 Nov. 1828. 
 
 Virgin Islands - 
 
 2510 
 
 2889 
 
 5399 
 
 Ditto 1828. 
 
 21 July, 1830. 
 
 St. Lucia 
 
 6280 
 
 7381 
 
 13661 
 
 Ditto 1828. 
 
 10 Dec. 1829. 
 
 St. Vincent - 
 
 11583 
 
 12006 
 
 23589 
 
 31 Dec. 1827. 
 
 6 June, 1829. 
 
 Tobago - - . 
 
 5872 
 
 6684 
 
 12556 
 
 1 Jan. 1830. 
 
 11 Dec. 1830. 
 
 Trinidad 
 
 13141 
 
 10865 
 
 24006 
 
 31 Jan. 1828. 
 
 Ditto 1830. 
 
 Total West Indies - 
 
 338142 
 
 349653 
 
 687795 
 
 
 Bermuda 
 
 2208 
 
 2400 
 
 4608 
 
 For 1827. 
 
 24 Nov. 1827. 
 
 Mauritius 
 
 47657 29117 
 
 76774 Ditto 1826. 
 
 18 Feb. 1829. 
 
 Cape of Good Hope 
 
 21210 14299 
 
 35509 
 
 Ditto 1825. 
 
 I Oct. 1825. 
 
 Total - 
 
 409217 
 
 395469 
 
 804686 

 
 472 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND - 
 IMPORTS.— In Value sterling. 
 
 
 From 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Great 
 
 West 
 
 North 1 
 
 Else- 
 
 United Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 States. States. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 1 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 544210 
 
 43963 
 
 48877 
 
 10284 
 
 2162l' 24224 
 
 693180 
 
 1823 
 
 608815 
 
 56051 
 
 109020 
 
 23714 
 
 166741 36318 
 
 998659 
 
 1824 
 
 389426 
 
 39225 
 
 73242 
 
 I7I68 
 
 203710 65372 
 
 788143 
 
 1825 
 
 353246 
 
 81950 
 
 89787 
 
 5542 
 
 143181 
 
 54846 
 
 728552 
 
 1826 
 
 381127 
 
 197075 
 
 84443 
 
 6804 
 
 313327 
 
 16453 
 
 999231 
 
 1827 
 
 219971 
 
 30528 
 
 69332 
 
 2675 
 
 5643 
 
 4S717 
 
 376866 
 
 1830 
 
 203417 
 
 
 
 
 
 71869 
 
 369120 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 EXPORTS.— In Value sterling 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 To 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Y ear. 
 
 Great 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 States. States. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1 
 
 £ 1 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 447544 
 
 184914 
 
 1454 
 
 
 1372 12847 
 
 648131 
 
 1823 
 
 655480 348325 
 
 9516 
 
 . . 
 
 24446 26477 
 
 1064244 
 
 1824 
 
 649832137377 
 
 5710 
 
 
 16891! 36114 
 
 845924 
 
 1825 
 
 670109|144517 
 
 10379 
 
 . . 
 
 1829 
 
 32618 
 
 859452 
 
 1826 
 
 846646,423199 
 
 8802 
 
 . . 
 
 11545 
 
 17696 
 
 13078b9 
 
 1827 
 
 422798 
 
 120951 
 
 2260 
 
 56342 
 
 
 11016 
 
 557423 
 
 1830 
 
 624734 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1832 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 These official returns from eachW. I. possession are given by the author, 
 at considerable expense, in order to leave nothing to make this volume the 
 most complete and ample work that has ever appeared on the British West 
 India Colonies. The years left blank are for the purpose of being filled
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 47f 
 
 EXPORTS OF BARBADOES. 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 No. 
 
 70 
 
 95 
 89 
 91 
 79 
 90 
 77 
 
 Tons 
 
 18000 
 
 23932 
 
 22338 
 
 24072 
 
 19542 
 
 22021 
 
 19406 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 No. 
 209 
 283 
 197 
 217 
 288 
 236 
 289 
 
 Tons 
 
 17279 
 
 20108 
 
 12547 
 
 13034 
 
 19694 
 
 18878 
 
 23532 
 
 United States. 'Foreign States 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 14 
 
 1000 
 
 48 
 
 113 
 
 12629 
 
 54 
 
 117 
 
 14963 
 
 57 
 
 88 
 
 11016 
 
 61 
 
 120 
 
 15713 
 
 39 
 
 8 
 
 949 
 
 125' 
 
 Tons. 
 4000 
 3573 
 3541 
 5046 
 2724 
 8023 
 No. 170. Tons 10,994. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 341 
 
 40279 
 
 545 
 
 60242 
 
 460 
 
 53299 
 
 457 
 
 52168 
 
 526 
 
 57673 
 
 475 
 
 50776 
 
 536 
 
 53932 
 
 Men. 
 2849 
 4084 
 3476 
 3818 
 3916 
 3797 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 No. Tons 
 38 11620 
 
 74 
 61 
 74 
 60 
 46 
 74 
 
 19420 
 15594 
 19025 
 15699 
 13042 
 19580 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 No 
 248 
 267 
 247 
 262 
 357 
 312 
 367 
 
 Tons 
 24602 
 22356 
 20085 
 21963 
 29260 
 26768 
 30S23 
 
 United States. 
 
 Foreij^n States 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 1 
 No. 
 
 13 
 
 2200 
 
 32 
 
 66 
 
 7191 
 
 37 
 
 87 
 
 10936 
 
 61 
 
 68 
 
 8661 
 
 48 
 
 91 
 
 12754 
 
 26 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 82 
 
 Tons. 
 2500 
 2484 
 4181 
 3.534 
 2019 
 5842 
 No. 103. Tons 6,742 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 331 
 
 40922 
 
 444 
 
 51451 
 
 456 
 
 50907 
 
 452 
 
 53] 63 
 
 534 
 
 59752 
 
 440 
 
 45652 
 
 544 
 
 56345 
 
 Men. 
 
 2849 
 3380 
 3501 
 3676 
 3900 
 976 
 
 up from time to time, as returns arrive from abroad. The most careles* 
 observer cannot but be convinced of the vahic of ouii' colonies, wheu 
 he sees the extensive trade which is carried on by the very smallest of 
 theuj.
 
 474 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterlinjr. 
 
 
 From 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 lear. 
 
 Great 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United 'Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 States. States. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 43500 
 
 2400 
 
 49322 
 
 . . 
 
 19733 
 
 65009 
 
 179964 
 
 1823 
 
 50000 
 
 17568 
 
 20009 
 
 1143 
 
 51584 
 
 11897 
 
 1.52201 
 
 1824 
 
 50000 
 
 25779 
 
 21241 
 
 . . 
 
 71530 
 
 8134 
 
 176784 
 
 1825 
 
 
 20173' 21702 
 
 11530 
 
 81916 
 
 3819 
 
 139140 
 
 1826 
 
 Returns not received 
 
 
 
 
 
 1827 
 
 NotAscer- 28865 
 
 , , 
 
 
 46936 
 
 75801 
 
 1828 
 
 tained. ai£^-^i 
 
 41671 
 
 , ^ 
 
 . , 
 
 58789 
 
 10046O 
 
 1829 
 
 
 8104 
 
 17485 
 
 . . 
 
 , . 
 
 62131 
 
 87720 
 
 1830 
 
 
 10895 
 
 12569 
 
 1000 
 
 1116 
 
 36737 
 
 62317 
 
 EXPORTS.- Value sterling. 
 
 
 To 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 \ear. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Great 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 154403 
 
 7000 
 
 16398 
 
 648 
 
 2039 
 
 11824 
 
 191664 
 
 1823 
 
 2159.50 13697 
 
 7313 
 
 1234 
 
 18787 
 
 4993 
 
 261388 
 
 1824 
 
 304423 19754 
 
 7248 
 
 3552 
 
 28336 
 
 4435 
 
 365430 
 
 1825 
 
 37073021241 
 
 11443 
 
 
 52216 
 
 2895 
 
 462077 
 
 1826 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1827 
 
 108464,27537 
 
 
 
 
 I6I73 
 
 152174 
 
 1828 
 
 467124 
 
 38397 
 
 
 
 
 25772 
 
 530293 
 
 1829 
 
 278202 
 
 28678 
 
 18548 
 
 933 
 
 
 22405 
 
 348766 
 
 1830 
 
 197859 
 
 17981 
 
 14491 
 
 
 9S3 
 
 8774 
 
 220088
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 475 
 
 EXPORTS OF ANTIGUA. 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 No. 
 29 
 40 
 47 
 50 
 42 
 25- 
 69 
 50 
 37 
 
 Tons. No. 
 
 6907119 
 
 9272 142 
 10787117 
 11190116 
 12043 162 
 
 5410 124 
 13661 172 
 11309 157 
 
 8381jl48 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 7117 
 
 19 
 
 7400 
 
 70 
 
 7448 
 
 82 
 
 6423 
 
 81 
 
 9790 
 
 
 6832 
 
 
 10534 
 
 
 11101 
 
 
 9919 
 
 
 Tons. 
 2064 
 6988 
 9252 
 9615 
 
 Foreii 
 
 ^nStates 
 
 
 Total 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 172 
 
 7853 
 
 339 
 
 23941 
 
 1908 
 
 40 
 
 1321 
 
 292 
 
 249S1 
 
 1777 
 
 44 
 
 1705 
 
 290 
 
 21192 
 
 1889 
 
 21 
 
 1077 
 
 268 
 
 28305 
 
 1824 
 
 144 
 
 11656 
 
 348 
 
 33494 
 
 2507 
 
 281 
 
 9426 
 
 434 
 
 21668 
 
 , . 
 
 276 
 
 10116 
 
 517 
 
 34311 
 
 , , 
 
 281 
 
 10804 
 
 488 
 
 33214 
 
 2937 
 
 164 
 
 6878 
 
 349 
 
 25208 
 
 2050 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 22 
 35 
 48 
 43 
 48 
 20 
 50 
 47 
 45 
 
 Tons. 
 
 5413 
 
 7878 
 11096 
 
 9520 
 11230 
 
 4753 
 10349 
 
 9968 
 10576 
 
 No. 
 
 137 
 
 140 
 
 12] 
 
 113 
 
 240 
 
 131 
 
 181 
 
 195 
 
 157 
 
 Tons. 
 
 10527 
 8515 
 8031 
 6985 
 
 11748 
 7644 
 9657 
 
 11918 
 9085 
 
 No. 
 14 
 68 
 82 
 71 
 
 1 
 
 Tons 
 1359 
 6738 
 9032 
 9353 
 
 256 
 
 No- 
 1.53 
 
 37 
 
 34 
 
 17 
 
 91 
 
 271 
 
 235 
 
 259 
 
 156 
 
 Tons. 
 7288 
 1257 
 1510 
 798 
 9713 
 9592 
 9080 
 11176 
 6373 
 
 No. 
 326 
 280 
 285 
 244 
 379 
 422 
 466 
 501 
 361 
 
 Tons. 
 24587 
 24388 
 29669 
 25656 
 32691 
 21989 
 29086 
 33062 
 26290 
 
 Men. 
 1883 
 1668 
 1780 
 1575 
 2614 
 
 
 2786 
 2084
 
 476 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 
 IMPORTS—Value sterliusr. 
 
 
 From 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 1 
 
 Year. 
 
 West North 
 Indies. America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £. 
 
 1822 
 
 7000 
 
 3000 
 
 4500 
 
 
 716 
 
 3000 
 
 18215 
 
 1827 
 
 345 
 
 3385 
 
 995 
 
 
 
 2795 
 
 7520 
 
 1830 
 
 4998 
 
 9361 
 
 1185 
 
 
 
 2237 
 
 17781 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 United Foreign 
 
 States. States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1822 
 1827 
 1830 
 
 £ 
 36000 
 
 'zgooo 
 
 23835 
 
 £ 
 
 400 
 10/5 
 1650 
 
 £ 
 
 1200 
 
 742 
 2565 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 4000 
 2950 
 1679 
 
 £ 
 4120O 
 34667 
 29729
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 477 
 
 EXPORTS OF MONTSERRAT. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 5 
 
 1254 
 
 27 
 
 972 
 
 1 
 
 60 
 
 14 
 
 531 
 
 46 
 
 2807 
 
 239 
 
 7 
 
 1773 
 
 56 
 
 2223 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 1135 
 
 84 
 
 5131 
 
 438 
 
 6 
 
 13'24 
 
 49 
 
 1921 
 
 
 
 39 
 
 1237 
 
 94 
 
 4482 
 
 447 
 
 4 
 
 85<2 
 
 78 
 
 3865 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 1107 
 
 110 
 
 5824 
 
 579 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 5 
 
 1162 
 
 22 
 
 1381 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 707 
 
 47 
 
 3250 
 
 274 
 
 6 
 
 1465 
 
 38 
 
 1680 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 1174 
 
 70 
 
 4319 
 
 377 
 
 6 
 
 1210 
 
 27 
 
 1161 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 875 
 
 56 
 
 3246 
 
 283 
 
 5 
 
 1237 
 
 81 
 
 4060 
 
 
 
 33 
 
 1279 
 
 119 
 
 6576 
 
 648
 
 478 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 
 
 
 IINIPORTS AND 
 
 - 
 
 ■ 
 
 " " 
 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 Year. 
 
 From 
 Great 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United Foreign] 
 
 Total 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America 
 
 where. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 70500 
 
 11700 
 
 1900 
 
 58300 
 
 4700 
 
 25400 
 
 172500 
 
 1823 
 
 172666 
 
 7388 
 
 1022 
 
 376 25 
 
 31698 
 
 39522 
 
 251975 
 
 1824 
 
 204166 
 
 25676 
 
 1897 
 
 32615 
 
 25421 
 
 46958 
 
 339142 
 
 1825 
 
 202416 
 
 20374 
 
 3272 
 
 30335 
 
 21529 
 
 24952 
 
 302878 
 
 1826 
 
 204166 
 
 20120 
 
 2123 
 
 28583 
 
 47779 
 
 49301 
 
 352074 
 
 1827 
 
 120400 
 
 15638 
 
 16142 
 
 27587 
 
 12631 
 
 34986 
 
 231384 
 
 1828 
 
 132915 
 
 18898 
 
 5050 
 
 97962 
 
 . 
 
 86875 
 
 338700 
 
 1829 
 
 36774 
 
 1 9236 
 
 3713 
 
 10531 
 
 42 
 
 26851 
 
 97150 
 
 1830 
 
 69480 
 23539 
 
 17144 
 
 3047 
 
 22674 
 
 1709 
 
 23797 
 
 137853 
 
 1831 
 
 
 29853 
 
 
 38169 
 
 91561 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling-. 
 
 
 To 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 40100 
 
 18700 
 
 4700 
 
 
 13300 120800 
 
 2 17 600 
 
 1823 
 
 26524 
 
 19977 
 
 2522 
 
 
 38494130141 
 
 317659 
 
 1824 
 
 32083 
 
 , 6919 
 
 5541 
 
 510 
 
 27183245169 
 
 317407 
 
 1825 
 
 30333 
 
 9960 
 
 4772 
 
 
 25387 
 
 163393 
 
 233845 
 
 1826 
 
 23333 
 
 5718 
 
 1597 
 
 
 14193 
 
 88778 
 
 145305 
 
 1827 
 
 28328 
 
 4319 
 
 1 8636 
 
 
 2166 
 
 75944 
 
 129393 
 
 1828 
 
 24803 
 
 ' 21329 
 
 7720 
 
 
 18383 
 
 51111 
 
 122472 
 
 1829 
 
 21222 
 
 1 15153 
 
 3222 
 
 
 22222 
 
 151.57 
 
 76977 
 
 1830 
 
 15488 
 12155 
 
 8859 
 
 2419 
 
 1375 
 
 13249 
 
 8768 
 
 50158 
 
 1831 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 0046 
 
 52 
 
 157 
 
 74658
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 479 
 
 EXPORTS OF BAHAMAS. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States- 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 10 
 
 1616 
 
 29 
 
 1929 
 
 7 
 
 440 
 
 76 
 
 3062 
 
 122 
 
 7047 
 
 705 
 
 1^ 
 
 2365 
 
 2;) 
 
 2558 
 
 308 
 
 41935 
 
 75 
 
 4044 
 
 424 
 
 50902 
 
 2133 
 
 11 
 
 2253 
 
 55 
 
 5460 
 
 193 
 
 19351 
 
 45 
 
 2428 
 
 304 
 
 29492 
 
 1715 
 
 14 
 
 2474 
 
 84 
 
 9986 
 
 69 
 
 5445 
 
 169 
 
 16351 
 
 335 
 
 34256 
 
 1657 
 
 8 
 
 1750 
 
 20 
 
 1186 
 
 57 
 
 2354 
 
 56 
 
 3071 
 
 141 
 
 8369 
 
 839 
 
 7 
 
 1647 
 
 38 
 
 2484 
 
 16 
 
 1001 
 
 73 
 
 3303 
 
 134 
 
 8435 
 
 713 
 
 8 
 
 1704 
 
 94 
 
 8554 
 
 227 
 
 34457 
 
 100 
 
 7674 
 
 429 
 
 52389 
 
 2516 
 
 10 
 
 18G9 
 
 110 
 
 7799 
 
 23 
 
 3491 
 
 307 
 
 34787 
 
 450 
 
 47946 
 
 2645 
 
 10 
 
 2075 
 2033 
 
 107 
 174 
 
 7948 
 17827 
 
 SO 
 
 3150 
 
 161 
 
 11429 
 
 308 
 466 
 
 24.507 
 48765 
 
 1879 
 
 11 
 
 No 
 
 .281 
 
 Tons, 
 
 28905 
 
 
 
 
 
 EXPORTS 
 
 . — Ships 
 
 Outwards. 
 
 
 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 14 
 
 2299 
 
 51 
 
 4176 
 
 262 
 
 92660 
 
 95 
 
 5130 
 
 422 
 
 104265 
 
 2235 
 
 13 
 
 2470 
 
 38 
 
 3009 
 
 301 
 
 41677 
 
 85 
 
 3800 
 
 437 
 
 50956 
 
 2131 
 
 10 
 
 1898 
 
 62 
 
 5899 
 
 221 
 
 23361 
 
 61 
 
 2779 
 
 354 
 
 34941 
 
 1965 
 
 9 
 
 1816 
 
 52 
 
 3360 
 
 213 
 
 25932 
 
 59 
 
 2901 
 
 399 
 
 38559 
 
 1872 
 
 10 
 
 1940 
 
 52 
 
 3534 
 
 183 
 
 21498 
 
 65 
 
 3632 
 
 310 
 
 30604 
 
 1875 
 
 8 
 
 1740 
 
 37 
 
 3023 
 
 19 
 
 949 
 
 63 
 
 3640 
 
 127 
 
 9352 
 
 765 
 
 11 
 
 20S2 
 
 108 
 
 8821 
 
 234 
 
 35275 
 
 91 
 
 .5951 
 
 444 
 
 52129 
 
 2531 
 
 8 
 
 1629 
 
 113 
 
 8630 
 
 246 
 
 33042 
 
 88 
 
 5677 
 
 455 
 
 48978 
 
 2830 
 
 8 
 
 1765 
 2054 
 
 105 
 
 92 
 
 7742 
 7178 
 
 95 
 
 10513 
 
 85 
 
 4681 
 
 293 
 499 
 
 24701 
 54264 
 
 1799 
 
 12 
 
 No 
 
 .395. ' 
 
 Pons, 
 
 45032 

 
 480 
 
 APPENDIX ]\r. 
 
 IMPORTS AND - 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 From 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United 
 
 Foreiffn 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 18'2'2 
 
 352080 
 
 29736 
 
 28676 
 
 18687 
 
 11714 
 
 14676 
 
 455576 
 
 is-zs 
 
 406719 
 
 16174 
 
 95046 
 
 17293 
 
 44415 
 
 1382 
 
 580929 
 
 1824 
 
 468646 
 
 13381 
 
 98834 
 
 . ^ 
 
 62283 
 
 20490 
 
 663634 
 
 1826 
 
 431155 
 
 21662 
 
 36516 
 
 
 44964 
 
 16448 
 
 550747 
 
 1827 
 
 533819 
 
 24361 
 
 136683 
 
 . . 
 
 
 48599 
 
 743462 
 
 1828 
 
 505504 
 
 22781 
 
 147222 
 
 674 
 
 
 33624 
 
 709805 
 
 1829 
 
 586998 
 
 245riO 
 
 139150 
 
 3179 
 
 
 50521 
 
 804408 
 
 1830 
 
 542107 
 436527 
 
 2162S 
 
 125168 
 
 •• 
 
 541 
 
 45084 
 
 734528 
 
 1831 
 
 
 35613 
 
 
 55( 
 
 J94 
 
 527831 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value slerlinir. 
 
 
 1 
 I 
 
 To - 
 
 Great 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 1185267 
 
 12210 
 
 40414 
 
 3993 
 
 171351 
 
 1413235 
 
 1823 
 
 1234482 
 
 7094 
 
 34202 
 
 .. I 15387 
 
 91676 
 
 1382841 
 
 1824 
 
 1243563 
 
 11912 
 
 41472 
 
 30286 
 
 87585 
 
 1414818 
 
 1826 
 
 1026732 
 
 34769 
 
 28013 
 
 •• 1 17596 
 
 98257 
 
 1205369 
 
 1827 
 
 1684850 
 
 50673 
 
 48107 
 
 • • 
 
 111991 
 
 1895621 
 
 1828 
 
 1544533 
 
 42693 
 
 38723 
 
 1682 110712 
 
 3097 
 
 1641440 
 
 1829 
 
 1649318 
 
 41812 
 
 43255 
 
 6281 .. 
 
 143399 
 
 1884065 
 
 1830 
 
 1707605 
 1411539! 
 
 51317 
 
 69667 
 
 101027 . . 
 
 6088 
 
 1835704 
 
 1831 
 
 
 90416 
 
 
 53 
 
 987 
 
 1.536142
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 481 
 
 EXPORTS OF DEMERARA. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 , , 
 
 Returns not received 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 155 
 
 44254 
 
 146 
 
 14081 
 
 46 
 
 6748 
 
 23 
 
 3493 
 
 370 
 
 68576 
 
 3946 
 
 128 
 
 37037 
 
 141 
 
 15017 
 
 68 
 
 10272 
 
 28 
 
 3236 
 
 365 
 
 65562 
 
 3650 
 
 145 
 
 42442 
 
 176 
 
 16280 
 
 58 
 
 8973 
 
 33 
 
 3044 
 
 412 
 
 70739 
 
 4078 
 
 177 
 
 49964 
 
 250 
 
 28540 
 
 
 
 90 
 
 7941 
 
 517 
 
 86445 
 
 ^ 
 
 179 
 
 51318 
 
 288 
 
 27037 
 
 
 
 70 
 
 6722 
 
 537 
 
 85077 
 
 5157 
 
 184 
 
 53356 
 
 299 
 
 30266 
 
 1 
 
 245 
 
 105 
 
 8938 
 
 589 
 
 92805 
 
 5540 
 
 169 
 
 50438 
 54080 
 
 319 
 
 323 
 
 31632 
 27498 
 
 •• 
 
 •• 
 
 79 
 
 7170 
 
 567 
 601 
 
 89240 
 89760 
 
 5230 
 
 190 
 
 Nc 
 
 ). 88. T 
 
 ons 8 
 
 182. 
 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 167 
 
 45844 
 
 144 
 
 12639 
 
 39 
 
 5406 
 
 18 
 
 3476 
 
 368 
 
 67365 
 
 3667 
 
 155 
 
 43148 
 
 168 
 
 14338 
 
 50 
 
 7549 
 
 22 
 
 2972 
 
 395 
 
 68007 
 
 3952 
 
 145 
 
 41701 
 
 201 
 
 16789 
 
 42 
 
 6498 
 
 17 
 
 2537 
 
 405 
 
 67525 
 
 3708 
 
 196 
 
 55917 
 
 321 
 
 25925 
 
 
 . . 
 
 25 
 
 4446 
 
 542 
 
 86288 
 
 5065 
 
 196 
 
 55249 
 
 331 
 
 26504 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 3572 
 
 541 
 
 85325 
 
 5094 
 
 212 
 
 57870 
 
 355 
 
 30388 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 4932 
 
 593 
 
 93190 
 
 5525 
 
 192 
 
 64858 
 52412 
 
 379 
 336 
 
 35872 
 27950 
 
 1 
 
 96 
 
 23 3697 
 
 595 
 563 
 
 94523 
 85967 
 
 5600 
 
 188 
 
 N 
 
 0. 39. T 
 
 ons 5 
 
 605. 
 
 
 VOL II. 
 
 I I
 
 482 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 IMPORTS, 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 Great 
 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 IS'22 
 
 54213 
 
 15390 
 
 12906 
 
 1515 
 
 2862 
 
 5712 
 
 9259S 
 
 1823 
 
 66773 
 
 9013 
 
 13813 
 
 121 
 
 1205 
 
 4837 
 
 95762 
 
 1824 
 
 61292 
 
 8642 
 
 10531 
 
 . . 
 
 10514 
 
 2618 
 
 93597 
 
 1826 
 
 84000 
 
 18500 
 
 9000 
 
 . . 
 
 5300 
 
 650 
 
 117650 
 
 1827 
 
 58285 
 
 34542 
 
 15377 
 
 
 , . 
 
 5665 
 
 113869 
 
 1828 
 
 71500 
 
 27000 
 
 25000 
 
 45 
 
 , . 
 
 8000 
 
 131545 
 
 1829 
 
 77500 
 110450 
 
 26202 
 
 17707 
 
 2517 
 
 '• 
 
 7852 
 
 131778 
 
 1831 
 
 
 40811 
 
 
 9916 
 
 161177 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 
 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 Stated. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 
 Total,, 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 West 
 Indies, 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 257919 
 
 19110 
 
 4950 
 
 5932 
 
 931 
 
 82189 
 
 289031 
 
 1823 
 
 185910 
 
 33375 
 
 5439 
 
 
 385 
 
 49112 
 
 274221 
 
 1824 
 
 180256 
 
 15678 
 
 4037 
 
 
 5447 
 
 35552 
 
 240970 
 
 1826 
 
 152600 
 
 36700 
 
 9000 
 
 
 3000 
 
 26000 
 
 227300 
 
 1827 
 
 222428 
 
 31457 
 
 9771 
 
 
 34489 
 
 298145 
 
 1828 
 
 239350 
 
 41800 
 
 15427 
 
 
 23220 
 
 319797 
 
 1829 
 
 184736 
 235242 
 
 53875 
 
 14137 
 
 
 30120 
 
 282868 
 
 1831 
 
 
 65080 
 
 
 23 
 
 515 
 
 S23837
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 483 
 
 EXPORTS OF BERBICE. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreion 
 
 - 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 25 
 
 5300 
 
 162 
 
 8636 
 
 3 
 
 371 
 
 14 
 
 1684 
 
 204 
 
 15991 
 
 1089 
 
 31 
 
 6532 
 
 144 
 
 7381 
 
 2 
 
 220 
 
 3 
 
 1128 
 
 181 
 
 15261 
 
 1008 
 
 29 
 
 6816 
 
 133 
 
 6192 
 
 13 
 
 1972 
 
 6 
 
 1222 
 
 181 
 
 16204 
 
 1123 
 
 25 
 
 6303 
 
 158 
 
 7426 
 
 6 
 
 1114 
 
 1 
 
 270 
 
 190 
 
 15113 
 
 1057 
 
 33 
 
 8170 
 
 168 
 
 9475 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 1272 
 
 218 
 
 18917 
 
 1145 
 
 28 
 
 7105 
 
 189 
 
 11438 
 
 . . 
 
 
 12 
 
 1190 
 
 229 
 
 19733 
 
 1366 
 
 26 
 
 6863 
 8927 
 
 179 
 194 
 
 10894 
 10665 
 
 •• 
 
 16 
 
 1404 
 
 221 
 242 
 
 19161 
 21208 
 
 1338 
 
 34 
 
 N( 
 
 ). U. T 
 
 ons 1 
 
 616. 
 
 
 EXPORTS,— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 - 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Meir. 
 
 31 
 
 6691 
 
 168 
 
 9075 
 
 3 
 
 421 
 
 17, 1806 
 
 219 
 
 17993 
 
 1191 
 
 26 
 
 5363 
 
 83 
 
 4448 
 
 1 
 
 113 
 
 15 1457 
 
 125 
 
 11381 
 
 770 
 
 31 
 
 7139 
 
 150 
 
 6931 
 
 8 
 
 1582 
 
 4 1122 
 
 193 
 
 16774 
 
 1196 
 
 20 
 
 5156 
 
 182 
 
 10553 
 
 4 
 
 645 
 
 4 1004 
 
 58 
 
 17358 
 
 1245 
 
 31 
 
 7543 
 
 149 
 
 8595 
 
 • • • • 
 
 » • • . 
 
 3 758 
 
 183 
 
 16896 
 
 1124 
 
 27 
 
 6996 
 
 216 
 
 13279 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • • • • 
 
 7i 985 
 
 250 
 
 21260 
 
 1489 
 
 25 
 
 6230 
 7737 
 
 206 
 210 
 
 12168 
 11304 
 
 
 
 .... 
 
 8 1032 
 
 239 
 246 
 
 19430 
 20128 
 
 1375 
 
 30 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^. 6. T 
 
 ons 1087- 

 
 4^ 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 
 From 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 
 34300 
 32175 
 30198 
 16316 
 
 56118 
 
 £ 
 20900 
 
 8987 
 33863 
 20346 
 
 £ 
 
 8192 
 9354 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 11100 
 32152 
 12927 
 12953 
 
 1831 
 
 
 16563 
 
 
 2154 
 
 Total. 
 
 £ 
 
 66300 
 81506 
 86343 
 49615 
 
 81835 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 
 £ 
 109400 
 141075 
 115481 
 135572 
 
 104545 
 
 £ 
 5800 
 3994 
 2149 
 8375 
 
 • • 
 
 7848 
 6392 
 
 • • 
 
 £ 
 
 • • 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 600 
 1604 
 
 931 
 2015 
 
 £ 
 115800 
 154522 
 118561 
 145962 
 
 1831 
 
 
 10364 
 
 
 38 
 
 52 
 
 118761
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 485 
 
 EXPORTS OF DOMINICA. 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 9 
 
 2153 
 
 60 
 
 3197 
 
 
 .. 1 79 
 
 3588 
 
 148 
 
 8938 
 
 
 12 
 
 3116 
 
 73 
 
 3794 
 
 
 .. 107 
 
 4548 
 
 192 
 
 11458 
 
 1169 
 
 9 
 
 1988 
 
 80 
 
 4398 
 
 , , 
 
 .. 126 
 
 5214 
 
 215 
 
 11600 
 
 1275 
 
 7 
 
 1632 
 3367 
 
 86 
 81 
 
 4448 
 4175 
 
 •• 
 
 .. 131 
 
 5111 
 
 224 
 214 
 
 11191 
 11709 
 
 •• 
 
 14 
 
 No. 
 
 119. 
 
 Tons 
 
 4167. 
 
 • • 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 11 
 
 2658 
 
 84 
 
 4472 
 
 
 . , 
 
 49 
 
 1493 
 
 144 
 
 8623 
 
 , , 
 
 16 
 
 3892 
 
 89 
 
 4825 
 
 
 
 81 
 
 2774 
 
 186 
 
 11491 
 
 1125 
 
 14 
 
 3529 
 
 102 
 
 5229 
 
 
 
 89 
 
 2415 
 
 205 
 
 11203 
 
 1231 
 
 15 
 
 3599 
 3316 
 
 110 
 110 
 
 5578 
 5187 
 
 •• 
 
 •. 
 
 106 
 
 3250 
 
 231 
 213 
 
 12427 
 11256 
 
 • • 
 
 14 
 
 No 
 
 89. 
 
 Tons 
 
 2753. 
 
 • •
 
 486 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 
 LMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1823 
 
 3404 
 
 232/0 
 
 39302 
 
 
 29369 
 
 9261 
 
 104608 
 
 1824 
 
 766 
 
 39175 
 
 37893 
 
 
 27741 
 
 11021 
 
 116596 
 
 1825 
 
 11682 
 
 46951 
 
 26834 
 
 
 55737 
 
 2481 
 
 143685 
 
 1826 
 
 6387 
 
 3963 
 
 18355 
 
 
 39412 
 
 4090 
 
 107874 
 
 1827 
 
 7920 
 
 ifc*54943 
 
 
 , , 
 
 20252 
 
 83116 
 
 1828 
 
 7522 
 
 18934 
 
 37166 
 
 
 
 22240 
 
 85863 
 
 1829 
 
 16088 
 
 26133 
 
 92341 
 
 
 
 29748 
 
 164313 
 
 1830 
 
 3076 
 8511 
 
 53342 
 
 •• 
 
 
 •• 
 
 16232 
 
 72652 
 
 1831 
 
 
 56668 
 
 
 13 
 
 791 
 
 79000 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 ' £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 182a 
 
 380914 
 
 11698 
 
 30527 
 
 
 26080 
 
 6092 
 
 455312 
 
 1824 
 
 302715 
 
 7094 
 
 27050 
 
 
 15234 
 
 7220 
 
 359313 
 
 1825. 
 
 266418 
 
 23715 
 
 25090 
 
 
 19008 
 
 3805 
 
 3371 16 
 
 1826 
 
 238908 
 
 229751 21864 
 
 
 17846 
 
 2648 
 
 349-241 
 
 1827 
 
 289744 
 
 50869 
 
 
 , , 
 
 7292 
 
 34 7 906 
 
 1828 
 
 504930 
 
 12713 
 
 31506 
 
 
 
 8537 
 
 557689 
 
 1829 
 
 310393 
 
 15S02 
 
 25575 
 
 
 ^ , 
 
 7656 
 
 359427 
 
 1830 
 
 214420 
 182410 
 
 45143 
 
 • 
 
 
 •• 
 
 3700 
 
 263264 
 
 1831 
 
 
 31291 
 
 
 46 
 
 49 
 
 218350
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 48T 
 
 EXPORTS OF GRENADA. 
 
 LAIPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 44 
 
 13750 
 
 79 
 
 6935 
 
 43 
 
 5219 
 
 21 
 
 1214 
 
 187 
 
 27136 
 
 1609 
 
 28 
 
 S346 
 
 83 
 
 7043 
 
 37 
 
 4273 
 
 14 
 
 954 
 
 162 
 
 20616 
 
 1263 
 
 40 
 
 11812 
 
 82 
 
 5826 
 
 40 
 
 4572 
 
 8 
 
 522 
 
 J 70 
 
 22732 
 
 1443 
 
 30 
 
 9033 
 
 132 
 
 8555 
 
 37 
 
 5227 
 
 31 
 
 1133 
 
 230 
 
 23948 
 
 1717 
 
 38 
 
 11538 
 
 11525 
 
 16338 
 
 1796 
 
 11473 
 
 154 
 166 
 186 
 211 
 
 218 
 
 10214 
 11367 
 13240 
 13893 
 
 13556 
 
 
 
 95 
 
 77 
 
 100 
 
 73 
 
 5760 
 4426 
 6203 
 3868 
 
 287 
 286 
 342 
 310 
 
 308 
 
 27509 
 27318 
 35781 
 25557 
 
 28883 
 
 
 43 
 
 
 
 2085 
 
 56 
 
 
 
 2623 
 
 26 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 
 40 
 
 No. 
 
 50. T 
 
 ons 3 
 
 854. 
 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 No. 
 41 
 37 
 37 
 39 
 33 
 48 
 48 
 
 35 
 
 Tons. 
 12457 
 11469 
 10798 
 11237 
 10514 
 13985 
 14120 
 11707 
 
 10116 
 
 British 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 No. 
 
 76 
 
 55 
 
 70 
 
 129 
 
 186 
 
 178 
 
 233 
 
 235 
 
 Tons. 
 
 6766 
 
 5225 
 
 5372 
 
 7957 
 
 12154 
 
 10383 
 
 15409 
 
 15313 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 41 
 31 
 31 
 28 
 
 Tons. 
 4663 
 3350 
 3313 
 3511 
 
 Foreign 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 27 
 18 
 13 
 15 
 63 
 
 Tons. 
 
 1529 
 
 1095 
 659 
 609 
 
 3438 
 
 62 3700 
 
 77 5885 
 57 13624 
 
 229 1 13286 iNo. 46. Tons 4,003. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 185 
 
 25415 
 
 141 
 
 21139 
 
 J5l 
 
 20142 
 
 211 
 
 23314 
 
 282 
 
 26096 
 
 288 
 
 28068 
 
 358 
 
 35414 
 
 332 
 
 30671 
 
 310 
 
 27435 
 
 Men. 
 1561 
 1250 
 1293 
 2178 
 
 2189 
 2634
 
 488 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND - 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 From 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 
 £ 
 
 235335 
 244131 
 303882 
 271209 
 185929 
 209199 
 193692 
 
 £ 
 8486 
 18806 
 54648 
 21610 
 16708 
 28154 
 4015 
 
 £ 
 
 97 
 
 628 
 1894 
 2311 
 
 . 
 
 G 
 
 £ 
 
 19100 
 
 24877 
 28892 
 
 10180 
 
 £ 
 
 65 
 1917 
 25303 
 20053 
 33999 
 4800 
 26492 
 
 £ 
 262988 
 289871 
 412727 
 313502 
 233756 
 
 234379 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 
 £ 
 
 218.^)22 
 232052 
 283076 
 374394 
 219798 
 219662 
 195192 
 
 £ 
 
 4212 
 3280 
 4724 
 8439 
 10897 
 7800 
 3589 
 
 £ 
 75 
 2150 
 
 £ 
 29578 
 
 £ 
 50068 
 
 58883 
 32826 
 
 16184 
 
 £ 
 
 22 
 
 819 
 
 164 
 
 9148 
 
 70650 
 
 27820 
 
 102186 
 
 £ 
 272826 
 295111 
 350370 
 394132 
 301255 
 255282 
 316151
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 489 
 
 EXPORTS OF HONDURAS. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Total 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Ton 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 50 
 
 12721 
 
 6 
 
 519 
 
 20 
 
 2514 
 
 1 
 
 33 
 
 77 
 
 15787 
 
 866 
 
 27 
 
 7005 
 
 14 
 
 1641 
 
 20 
 
 2123 
 
 14 
 
 2744 
 
 75 
 
 13513 
 
 806 
 
 49 
 
 12084 
 
 14 
 
 1908 
 
 30 
 
 3977 
 
 6 
 
 863 
 
 99 
 
 18832 
 
 1065 
 
 60 
 
 16400 
 
 9 
 
 1195 
 
 . . 
 
 , . 
 
 23 
 
 1436 
 
 92 
 
 19041 
 
 1095 
 
 4S 
 
 11282 
 
 7 
 
 849 
 
 . . 
 
 . 
 
 29 
 
 2256 
 
 79 
 
 14387 
 
 872 
 
 37 
 
 9588 
 
 16 
 
 4357 
 
 
 . . 
 
 6 
 
 801 
 
 59 
 
 14746 
 
 860 
 
 39 
 
 10035 
 
 8 
 
 497 
 
 18 
 
 2036 
 
 12 
 
 1350 
 
 77 
 
 13918 
 
 814 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons, 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 55 
 
 14032 
 
 7 
 
 576 
 
 23 
 
 2665 
 
 1 
 
 33 
 
 86 
 
 17306 
 
 974 
 
 49 
 
 12813 
 
 6 
 
 387 
 
 22 
 
 2682 
 
 5 
 
 245 
 
 82 
 
 16127 
 
 907 
 
 50 
 
 12585 
 
 11 
 
 888 
 
 34 
 
 4464 
 
 3 
 
 442 
 
 98 
 
 18379 
 
 1002 
 
 58 
 
 15530 
 
 6 
 
 633 
 
 , , 
 
 , . 
 
 19 
 
 1502 
 
 83 
 
 17665 
 
 1023 
 
 44 
 
 12225 
 
 6 
 
 361 
 
 
 . . 
 
 25 
 
 2452 
 
 75 
 
 14038 
 
 868 
 
 41 
 
 10803 
 
 6 
 
 522 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 1275 
 
 55 
 
 12700 
 
 689 
 
 43 
 
 11053 
 
 5 
 
 305 
 
 7 
 
 1194 
 
 27 
 
 3799 
 
 82 
 
 16351 
 
 798
 
 •190 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 
 IMPORTS— Value sterling. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 
 United 
 
 Stales. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1824 
 
 
 .5382 
 
 3647 
 
 . . 
 
 10304 
 
 8728 
 
 2806 1 
 
 1825 
 
 66984 
 
 3706 
 
 1443 
 
 , , 
 
 21700 
 
 3604 
 
 94737 
 
 1828 
 
 2602 
 
 30071 
 
 7490 
 
 . . 
 
 
 40395 
 
 80559 
 
 1829 
 
 1901 
 
 17329 
 
 4876 
 
 
 
 35412 
 
 59520 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 TTnifoH 'Crv ../>;. vr. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 States. 
 
 XUIClgli 
 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1824 
 1825 
 1828 
 1829 
 
 £ 
 142623 
 102642 
 112108 
 127568 
 
 £ 
 
 3473 
 
 3238 
 
 8323 
 
 11108 
 
 £ 
 2291 
 1228 
 2674 
 7262 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 9375 
 5850 
 
 £ 
 4162 
 4748 
 5173 
 3621 
 
 £ 
 161924 
 117706 
 128278 
 149560
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 491 
 
 - EXPORTS OF ST. CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 IIVIPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 . Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. Men. 
 
 27 
 
 5979 
 
 9 
 
 708 
 
 15 
 
 1766 
 
 62 
 
 2083 
 
 113 
 
 10536 761 
 
 20 
 
 5739 
 
 95 
 
 2380 
 
 20 
 
 2503 
 
 60 
 
 1421 
 
 195 
 
 12043^1173 
 
 27 
 
 6882 
 
 245 
 
 9934 
 
 
 
 320 
 
 ^831 |592 
 
 26647j2835 
 
 28 
 
 7400 
 
 211 
 
 1079S 
 
 
 
 317 
 
 10954 
 
 556 
 
 291522810 
 
 1 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men> 
 
 24 
 
 6702 
 
 16 
 
 914 
 
 21 
 
 2562 
 
 59 
 
 1750 
 
 120 
 
 11928 
 
 866 
 
 17 
 
 4368 
 
 101 
 
 4711 
 
 20 
 
 2374 
 
 48 
 
 1176 
 
 186 
 
 12629 
 
 1057 
 
 24 
 
 6213 
 
 293 
 
 11067 
 
 . . 
 
 
 279 
 
 8741 
 
 596 
 
 26021 
 
 2918 
 
 26 
 
 6590 
 
 234 
 
 12108 
 
 
 • • 
 
 262 
 
 8983 
 
 522 
 
 27681 
 
 2833
 
 492 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 From 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1824 
 1825 
 
 £ 
 17585 
 
 £ 
 818 
 240 
 
 £ 
 
 1122 
 
 625 
 
 £ 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • t • • 
 
 £ 
 9747 
 17034 
 
 £ 
 3731 
 4185 
 
 £ 
 
 15419 
 50650 
 
 EXPORTS.- Value sterling. 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1824 
 1825 
 
 39815 
 62645 
 
 6025 
 12789 
 
 £ 
 683 
 2074 
 
 £ 
 
 4986 
 7996 
 
 £ 
 2190 
 
 2788 
 
 £ 
 53699 
 88293
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 493 
 
 EXPORTS OF NEVIS. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 9 
 
 2274 
 
 11 
 
 448 
 
 17 
 
 1862 
 
 20 
 
 950 
 
 57 
 
 5524 
 
 362 
 
 
 1382 
 
 81 
 
 3937 
 
 21 
 
 2511 
 
 21 
 
 1044 
 
 131 
 
 8874 
 
 784 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 9 
 
 1939 
 
 31 
 
 905 
 
 17 
 
 1671 
 
 19 
 
 836 
 
 76 
 
 5351 
 
 433 
 
 9 
 
 2392 
 
 82 
 
 3038 
 
 19 
 
 2135 
 
 19 
 
 845 
 
 129 
 
 8410 
 
 767
 
 404 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND - 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterlinsr. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 182'2 
 
 5,917 
 
 3279 
 
 , , 
 
 , , 
 
 2796 
 
 4548 
 
 13745 
 
 1823 
 
 5,917 
 
 3279 
 
 
 
 2796 
 
 4548 
 
 13745 
 
 18'24 
 
 4,000 
 
 8754 
 
 . . 
 
 . . 
 
 780 
 
 1794 
 
 15328 
 
 1825 
 
 1/200 
 
 44 
 
 
 
 1032 
 
 2806 
 
 5080 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value stcrlinff. 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreij^n 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 45358 
 
 4520 
 
 • • • • 
 
 . . • • 
 
 420 
 
 884 
 
 51182 
 
 1823 
 
 4.5358 
 
 4520 
 
 , , , , 
 
 .... 
 
 420 
 
 884 
 
 5 1 1 82 
 
 1824 
 
 1S137 
 
 405 
 
 . • • • 
 
 .... 
 
 353 
 
 543 
 
 19438 
 
 1825 
 
 101S5 
 
 616 
 
 .... 
 
 
 
 81 
 
 899 
 
 20781
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 495 
 
 EXPORTS OF TORTOLA. 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 Britisli 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons . 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 6 
 
 1265 
 
 21 
 
 559 
 
 2 
 
 290 
 
 58 
 
 879 
 
 87 
 
 2993 
 
 745 
 
 6 
 
 1265 
 
 21 
 
 559 
 
 2 
 
 290 
 
 58 
 
 879 
 
 87 
 
 2993 
 
 745 
 
 6 
 
 1521 
 
 12 
 
 882 
 
 2 
 
 205 
 
 35 
 
 1047 
 
 55 
 
 4655 
 
 334 
 
 3 
 
 688 
 
 22 
 
 619 
 
 3 
 
 427 
 
 57 
 
 952 
 
 85 
 
 2666 
 
 418 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 5 
 
 1096 
 
 5 
 
 164 
 
 1 
 
 105 
 
 14 
 
 245 
 
 25 
 
 1610 
 
 132 
 
 5 
 
 1096 
 
 5 
 
 164 
 
 1 
 
 105 
 
 14 
 
 245 
 
 25 
 
 1610 
 
 132 
 
 6 
 
 1521 
 
 18 
 
 1324 
 
 2 
 
 205 
 
 33 
 
 1059 
 
 59 
 
 4109 
 
 363 
 
 4 
 
 943 
 
 13 
 
 284 
 
 2 
 
 329 
 
 62 
 
 nil 
 
 81 
 
 2667 
 
 315
 
 496 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 liNIPORTS AND - 
 IMPORTS.— In Value sterlinff . 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 47491 
 
 10377 
 
 10417 
 
 7512 
 
 6765 
 
 4393 
 
 86957 
 
 1823 
 
 51339 
 
 15985 
 
 6932 
 
 4708 
 
 14271 
 
 2175 
 
 95414 
 
 1828 
 
 43472 
 
 26507 
 
 13604 
 
 
 
 14222 
 
 97807 
 
 1829 
 
 57187 
 
 33261 
 
 10397 
 
 • • 
 
 • • 
 
 15864 
 
 116710 
 
 1830 
 
 68803 
 13853 
 
 22284 
 
 3979 
 
 •• 
 
 •• 
 
 36642 
 
 212516 
 
 1831 
 
 
 34109 
 
 
 16916 
 
 64878 
 
 EXPORTS.— In Value sterling 
 
 
 
 British Colon 
 
 les. 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 91616 
 
 20844 
 
 , , , , 
 
 
 164S 
 
 .... 
 
 114104 
 
 1823 
 
 66081 
 
 6530 
 
 5510 
 
 
 7831 
 
 210 
 
 86164 
 
 1828 
 
 111238 
 
 6317 
 
 9240 
 
 
 .... 
 
 3532 
 
 130329 
 
 1829 
 
 100918 
 
 9211 
 
 5933 
 
 
 . • . • 
 
 2882 
 
 118946 
 
 1830 
 
 104231 
 51867 
 
 10077 
 
 6647 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 5653 
 
 126610 
 
 1831 
 
 1( 
 
 >646 
 
 14^ 
 
 190 
 
 83003
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 497 
 
 EXPORTS OF ST. LUCIA. 
 
 LAIPORTS.— Sliips Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 i 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreij^n 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 II 
 
 28931 ro 
 
 5654 
 
 6 
 
 733 
 
 23 
 
 nil 
 
 110 
 
 10391 
 
 831 
 
 11 
 
 2039 55 
 
 3622 
 
 25 
 
 2843 
 
 • • . • 
 
 .... 
 
 91 
 
 8504 
 
 638 
 
 21 
 
 4657 120 
 
 6328 
 
 . . . . 
 
 .... 
 
 251 
 
 6764 
 
 392 
 
 17749 
 
 2434 
 
 24 
 
 .5364 142 
 
 7325 
 
 • • . • 
 
 .... 
 
 259 
 
 8255 
 
 425 
 
 20944 
 
 2639 
 
 24 
 
 5364 132 
 
 3972 165 
 
 i 
 
 5365 
 6187 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 262 
 
 7829 
 
 418 
 466 
 
 20558 
 20382 
 
 2634 
 
 18 
 
 No 
 
 283, T 
 
 ons, 1 
 
 0,233. 
 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. Tons. 
 
 No. Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 18 4226 
 
 573802 
 
 5 
 
 635 
 
 34 
 
 1862 
 
 114 
 
 10.525 
 
 844 
 
 16 3264 
 
 673961 
 
 30 
 
 3199 
 
 7 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 
 10748 
 
 854 
 
 24 4G57 
 
 107 5988 
 
 
 .... 
 
 237 
 
 6441 
 
 368 
 
 ;7086 
 
 2339 
 
 22 
 
 52G8 
 4528 
 
 117 7052 
 188:7973 
 
 1 "" 
 
 — 
 
 290 
 
 8845 
 
 429 
 467 
 
 21165 
 20839 
 
 2207 
 
 20 
 
 No 
 
 . 259, T 
 
 ons, { 
 
 3,338. 
 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 K K
 
 tv9 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 Year, 
 
 From 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign Total. 
 states. 
 
 1824 
 18"-2r 
 1898 
 1899 
 1830 
 
 99600 
 101100 
 89235 
 87137 
 84513 
 57135 
 
 18400 
 1 6000 
 38158 
 17476 
 31161 
 25088 
 
 £ 
 34800 
 29000 
 37758 
 45430 
 41706 
 43282 
 
 500 
 
 2500 
 31900 
 
 £ £ 
 
 10000 i.^ssoo 
 
 lliool 189600 
 
 22612 187764 
 
 28092: 178135 
 
 27922 185303 
 
 22801 148307 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 To 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 410800 
 
 8200 
 
 22O0O 
 
 • • • • 
 
 1100 12900 
 
 455000 
 
 1824 
 
 372500 
 
 14600 
 
 J 6200 
 
 1200 
 
 14000 5600 
 
 424100 
 
 1827 
 
 426829 
 
 2S474 
 
 19529 
 
 . . • . 
 
 6804 
 
 481637 
 
 1828| 733506 
 
 20171 
 
 13S889 
 
 • • • • 
 
 5369 
 
 897935 
 
 1829, 4:^3964 
 
 23901 
 
 22389 
 
 « • . • 
 
 1323 
 
 481579 
 
 1830 
 
 263347 
 
 37564 
 
 34597 
 
 
 
 .... 
 
 2536 
 
 338045
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 499 
 
 EXPORTS OF ST. VINCENT. 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons, 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons . 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 38 
 
 8644 
 
 107 
 
 10086 
 
 6 
 
 794 
 
 49 
 
 2270 
 
 200 
 
 21794 
 
 1440 
 
 56 
 
 15066 
 
 88 
 
 7266 
 
 42 
 
 4923 
 
 43 
 
 4923 
 
 229 
 
 29220 
 
 1890 
 
 61 
 
 16070 
 
 150 
 
 12852 
 
 . . 
 
 , , 
 
 114 
 
 5528 
 
 325 
 
 34450 
 
 — 
 
 .59 
 
 15711 
 
 149 167141 
 
 
 
 160 
 
 8531 
 
 368 
 
 40956 
 
 2492 
 
 59 
 
 16.520 
 
 210 150571 
 
 
 
 125 
 
 6104 
 
 394 
 
 37681 
 
 2872 
 
 36 
 
 10346 
 
 245 
 
 16427 
 
 
 
 104 
 
 5532 
 
 385 
 
 32295 
 
 2775 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons, 
 
 Men. 
 
 51 
 
 13565 
 
 97 
 
 6597 
 
 5 
 
 597 
 
 68 
 
 3678 
 
 221 
 
 24413 
 
 1807 
 
 49 
 
 12450 
 
 92 
 
 6505 
 
 42 
 
 4993 
 
 49 
 
 2756 
 
 232 
 
 26644 
 
 1794 
 
 54 
 
 14238 
 
 163 
 
 12291 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 116 
 
 5605 
 
 333 
 
 32134 
 
 .... 
 
 58 
 
 16906 
 
 207 
 
 13037 
 
 • • • • 
 
 .... 
 
 144 
 
 6243 
 
 409 
 
 36186 
 
 2980 
 
 51 
 
 14081 
 
 255 
 
 16726 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 114 
 
 6821 
 
 420 
 
 37628 
 
 2982 
 
 45 
 
 12732 
 
 292 
 
 17735 
 
 .. . . 
 
 .... 
 
 91 
 
 3588 
 
 328 
 
 34055 
 
 2763
 
 5oa 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 From 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 Indies. 
 
 North 
 America. 
 
 Else- 
 where. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £. 
 
 1822 
 
 170603 
 
 11530 
 
 32173 
 
 4344 
 
 8836 
 
 18605 
 
 246092 
 
 1823 
 
 277322 
 
 12860 
 
 241.53 
 
 .5715 
 
 26564 
 
 4480 
 
 351095 
 
 1824 
 
 203312 
 
 9559 
 
 19868 
 
 11852 
 
 33145 
 
 8012 
 
 285750 
 
 1826 
 
 297293 
 
 3661,403 
 
 .... 
 
 
 101467 
 
 460163 
 
 1827 
 
 287178 
 
 24955 
 
 36584 
 
 525 
 
 
 79607 
 
 428849 
 
 1828 
 
 326285 
 
 11895 
 
 36906 
 
 .... 
 
 
 72023 
 
 447109 
 
 1829 
 
 316106 
 
 13587 
 
 38289 
 
 .... 
 
 
 66848 
 
 434830 
 
 1830 
 
 152818 
 182856 
 
 13099 
 
 29620 
 
 1110 
 
 
 53908 
 
 250555 
 
 1831 
 
 
 51197 
 
 
 65514 
 
 300567 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 
 British Colon 
 
 es. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 Great 
 
 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 Britain. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 238095 
 
 4012 
 
 23941 
 
 28660 
 
 2994 
 
 1852 
 
 299558 
 
 1823 
 
 265881 
 
 3319 
 
 15326 
 
 57551 
 
 17425 
 
 3461 
 
 362965 
 
 1824 
 
 261437 
 
 4325' 18965 
 
 60167 
 
 19639 
 
 623 
 
 365197 
 
 1826 
 
 327332 
 
 ^36194 
 
 . . 
 
 ^•89788 
 
 453314 
 
 1827 
 
 352912 
 
 10764 
 
 30099 
 
 43762 
 
 , , 
 
 11276 
 
 448813 
 
 1828 
 
 416521 
 
 11057 
 
 20279 
 
 4694 
 
 
 26319 
 
 478870 
 
 1829 
 
 401965 
 
 9548 
 
 23064 
 
 4245 
 
 , ^ 
 
 12774 
 
 451628 
 
 1830 
 
 167657 
 202057 
 
 9178 
 
 14769 
 
 •• 
 
 •• 
 
 7478 
 
 199082 
 
 1831 
 
 
 ^30628 
 
 
 IH 
 
 )07 
 
 244392
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 '^m. 
 
 EXPORTS OF TRINIDAD. 
 
 IMPORTS— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Tntal 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 40 
 
 9421 175 
 
 13614 
 
 12 
 
 1788 
 
 50 
 
 3308 
 
 277 
 
 28131 
 
 2238 
 
 74 
 
 16375 172 
 
 10577 
 
 51 
 
 6583 
 
 45 
 
 2446 
 
 275 
 
 359S1 
 
 2909 
 
 Returns not received. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7'7 
 
 18305 
 
 151 
 
 10532 
 
 • • 
 
 
 214 
 
 19399 
 
 442 
 
 210236 
 
 4212 
 
 83 
 
 18697 
 
 185 
 
 11845 
 
 
 
 158 
 
 11043 
 
 426 
 
 41585 
 
 — 
 
 102 
 
 22364 
 
 151 
 
 12884 
 
 
 
 176 
 
 11371 
 
 429 
 
 46619 
 
 — 
 
 99 
 
 24333 
 
 179 
 
 1705S 
 
 
 
 206 
 
 14324 
 
 484 
 
 55715 
 
 — 
 
 59 
 
 13865 
 21611 
 
 174 
 
 189 
 
 13681 
 14860 
 
 
 
 148 
 
 10619 
 
 381 
 380 
 
 38165 
 
 48787 
 
 — 
 
 88 
 
 No 
 
 103. 
 
 Tons, 
 
 9136 
 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 58 
 
 12812 
 
 169 
 
 12184 
 
 9 
 
 1354 
 
 43 
 
 2296 
 
 279 
 
 28646 
 
 2448 
 
 68 
 
 15958 
 
 174 
 
 10694 
 
 50 
 
 6613 
 
 43 
 
 2430 
 
 335 
 
 35695 
 
 2836 
 
 Returns not received. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 76 
 
 16920 
 
 167 
 
 1039 
 
 
 
 178 
 
 17368 
 
 421 
 
 44327 
 
 — 
 
 87 
 
 19823 
 
 217 
 
 15139 
 
 
 
 124 
 
 11380 
 
 428 
 
 46342 
 
 — 
 
 109 
 
 23928 
 
 218 
 
 15986 
 
 
 
 102 
 
 8435 
 
 429 
 
 48349 
 
 — 
 
 101 
 
 23804 
 
 245 
 
 19171 
 
 
 
 135 
 
 11104 
 
 481 
 
 54079 
 
 — 
 
 71 
 
 17755 
 
 216 
 
 17191 
 
 
 
 123 
 
 10235 
 
 410 
 
 45181 
 
 — —
 
 502 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 IMPORTS AND 
 IMPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 25000 
 
 13000 
 
 31500 
 
 • 1 • • 
 
 850 
 
 5000 
 
 75350 
 
 1823 
 
 40686 
 
 10644 
 
 5337 
 
 • • • • 
 
 5745 
 
 11007 
 
 73419 
 
 1824 
 
 40642 
 
 9593 
 
 7936 
 
 • • • • 
 
 12771 
 
 1936 
 
 72878 
 
 1825 
 
 41224 
 
 9029 
 
 9706 
 
 , , , , 
 
 12471 
 
 2374 
 
 74804 
 
 1826 
 
 42136 
 
 12055 
 
 1190G 
 
 . • . • 
 
 14472 
 
 2174 
 
 81293 
 
 1827 
 
 50563 
 
 32014 
 
 42426 
 
 1196 
 
 .... 
 
 6108 
 
 132307 
 
 1828 
 
 52871 
 
 16391 
 
 20678 
 
 , . . , 
 
 .... 
 
 9991 
 
 99932 
 
 1829 
 
 62479 
 
 16574 
 
 15881 
 
 . • . • 
 
 .... 
 
 13256 
 
 108192 
 
 1830 
 
 40963 
 54.530 
 
 123.52 
 
 11969 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 11827 
 
 77114 
 
 1831 
 
 
 57961 
 
 
 47 
 
 ■^50 
 
 117241 
 
 EXPORTS.— Value sterling. 
 
 
 
 British Colonies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 
 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 West 
 
 North 
 
 Else- 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 Indies. 
 
 America. 
 
 where. 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 £ 
 
 1822 
 
 131500 
 
 3150 
 
 3200 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 1100 
 
 138950 
 
 1823 
 
 147160 
 
 3870 
 
 6630 
 
 360 
 
 6717 
 
 1542 
 
 166279 
 
 1821 
 
 172539 
 
 5595 
 
 3137 
 
 
 10155 
 
 1784 
 
 193210 
 
 1825 
 
 192342 
 
 2073 
 
 14750 
 
 
 3401 
 
 1574 
 
 214140 
 
 1826 
 
 1.53061 
 
 2225 
 
 4976 
 
 
 4396 
 
 .... 
 
 164633 
 
 1827 
 
 114183 
 
 6117 
 
 2300 
 
 
 .... 
 
 2537 
 
 125137 
 
 1828 
 
 198375 
 
 4040 
 
 7265 
 
 
 . . < . 
 
 620 
 
 210301 
 
 1829 
 
 138574 
 
 6878 
 
 4991 
 
 
 .... 
 
 1908 
 
 152352 
 
 1830 
 
 100661 
 144384 
 
 6318 
 
 3043 
 
 
 
 
 767 
 
 1 10790 
 
 1831 
 
 
 15686 
 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 160290
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 &&$ 
 
 EXPORTS OF TOBAGO. 
 
 V 
 
 IMPORTS.— Ships Inwards. 
 
 Great 
 
 British 
 
 United 
 
 Foreign 
 
 Total. 
 
 Britain. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 States. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 21 
 
 5300 
 
 48 
 
 3594 
 
 1 
 
 107 
 
 10 
 
 559 
 
 80 
 
 9560 
 
 658 
 
 29 
 
 7067 
 
 37 
 
 2549 
 
 11 
 
 1289 
 
 7 
 
 175 
 
 84 
 
 11080 
 
 778 
 
 22 
 
 6027 
 
 37 
 
 2603 
 
 19 
 
 2407 
 
 4 
 
 331 
 
 82 
 
 11368 
 
 854 
 
 SO 
 
 8141 
 
 27 
 
 2376 
 
 12 
 
 1067 
 
 8 
 
 478 
 
 77 
 
 12062 
 
 652 
 
 25 
 
 6525 
 
 56 
 
 4186 
 
 10 
 
 1166 
 
 8 
 
 526 
 
 99 
 
 12403 
 
 894 
 
 27 
 
 6461 
 
 79 
 
 5657 
 
 . . 
 
 . . 
 
 16 
 
 833 
 
 122 
 
 12951 
 
 1037 
 
 29 
 
 6818 
 
 81 
 
 5565 
 
 . . 
 
 
 20 
 
 1379 
 
 130 
 
 13762 
 
 1035 
 
 37 
 
 9002 
 
 94 
 
 6589 
 
 
 . . 
 
 20 
 
 1588 
 
 151 
 
 17179 
 
 1307 
 
 23 
 
 5892 
 7127 
 
 97 
 108 
 
 6228 
 6647 
 
 
 •• 
 
 26 
 
 1825 
 
 146 
 156 
 
 13945 
 15252 
 
 1072 
 
 28 
 
 Nc 
 
 . 20. T 
 
 onsj 
 
 1478 
 
 
 EXPORTS.— Ships Outwards. 
 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 British 
 Colonies. 
 
 United 
 States. 
 
 Foreign 
 States. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 6265 
 
 No. 
 51 
 
 Tons. 
 4391 
 
 No. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 13 
 
 Tons. 
 696 
 
 No. 
 91 
 
 Tons. 
 113.52 
 
 Men. 
 
 27 
 
 763 
 
 30 
 
 6943 
 
 22 
 
 1876 
 
 10 
 
 1075 
 
 8 
 
 434 
 
 70 
 
 10328 
 
 631 
 
 23 
 
 6323 
 
 27 
 
 2651 
 
 13 
 
 1586 
 
 19 
 
 2073 
 
 82 
 
 12933 
 
 786 
 
 22 
 
 6410 
 
 15 
 
 1383 
 
 11 
 
 1090 
 
 3 
 
 181 
 
 51 
 
 9064 
 
 492 
 
 27 
 
 6456 
 
 56 
 
 3714 
 
 6 
 
 548 
 
 o 
 
 68 
 
 91 
 
 10786 
 
 851 
 
 18 
 
 4849 
 
 77 
 
 6266 
 
 11 
 
 499 
 
 21 
 
 1521 
 
 127 
 
 13135 
 
 1016 
 
 32 
 
 7758 
 
 85 
 
 5994 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 1171 
 
 132 
 
 14923 
 
 1127 
 
 25 
 
 6528 
 
 105 
 
 8711 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 1037 
 
 145 
 
 16276 
 
 1260 
 
 26 
 
 6917 
 
 121 
 
 8590 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 717 
 
 158 
 
 16224 
 
 1414
 
 504 
 
 APPENDIX X. 
 
 The following returns of Exports from Demerara, Berbice, 
 Tobago, and Trinidad, I received from the Board of Trade 
 too late to insert in the proper chapters treating of the pos- 
 sessions referred to. I give them as historical documents 
 for future comparison. 
 
 DEMERARA— PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORT. 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 SUGAR. 
 
 RUM. 
 
 MOLASSES. 
 
 COFFEE. 
 
 
 Hon^sheads. 
 
 Puncheons. 
 
 Hogsheads. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 1822 
 
 47,453 
 
 22,030 
 
 10,334 
 
 10,494,769 
 
 1823 
 
 55,453 
 
 17,741 
 
 19,803 
 
 8,085,729 
 
 1824 
 
 47,542 
 
 13,477 
 
 24,637 
 
 7,761,135 
 
 1825 
 
 
 
 
 
 1826 
 
 44,457 
 
 19,365 
 
 16,365 
 
 5,890,446 
 
 1827 
 
 58,360 
 
 19,431 
 
 25,814 
 
 4,782,253 
 
 1828 
 
 59,652 
 
 13,592 
 
 31,822 
 
 3,809,875 
 
 1829 
 
 59,589 
 
 22,517 
 
 21,237 
 
 4,684,991 
 
 1830 
 
 58,111 
 
 27,847 
 
 19,585 
 
 5,025,256 
 
 1831 
 
 52,844 
 
 18,164 
 
 21,807 
 
 1,227,705 
 
 BERBICE— PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORT. 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 SUGAR. 
 
 MOLASSES. 
 
 RUM. 
 
 COFFEE. 
 
 
 Hogsheads. 
 
 Casks. 
 
 Puncheons. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 1822 
 
 4,416 
 
 581 
 
 600 
 
 4,098 
 
 1823 
 
 5,081 
 
 1,143 
 
 1,050 
 
 2,602 
 
 1824 
 
 6,138 
 
 2,540 
 
 913 
 
 2,005 
 
 1825 
 
 
 
 
 
 1826 
 
 1,356 
 
 1,827 
 
 1,664 
 
 1,230 
 
 1827 
 
 6,424 
 
 429 
 
 1,912 
 
 4,785 
 
 1828 
 
 6,198 
 
 1,024 
 
 2,563 
 
 1,989 
 
 1829 
 
 5,258 
 
 248 
 
 2,738 
 
 2,239 
 
 1830 
 
 
 
 
 
 1831 
 
 10,850 
 
 279 
 
 2,117 
 
 2,241
 
 APPENDIX X. 
 
 505 
 
 TRINID.\D— PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORT. 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 SUGAR. 
 
 COFFEE. 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 1822 
 
 29,366,667 
 
 346,588 
 
 1823 
 
 31,815,551 
 
 394,730 
 
 1824 
 
 31,498,773 
 
 267,678 
 
 1825 
 
 
 
 1826 
 
 36,532,238 
 
 285,933 
 
 1827 
 
 
 
 1828 
 
 49,531,539 
 
 277,627 
 
 1829 
 
 43,135,662 
 
 190,332 
 
 1830 
 
 28,072,596 
 
 136,900 
 
 1831 
 
 33,593,969 
 
 894,289 
 
 RUM. 
 
 MOLASSES. 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 89,965 
 
 316,574 
 
 35,351 
 
 634,252 
 
 47,922 
 
 788,742 
 
 41,331 
 
 917,979 
 
 
 1,218,463 
 
 44,915 
 
 1,218,463 
 
 70,927 
 
 1,150,943 
 
 27,500 
 
 534,280 
 
 19,521 
 
 1,943,952 
 
 TOBAGO— PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORT. 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 SUGAR. 
 
 1 
 
 MOLASSES. 
 
 RUM. 
 
 
 
 Hogsheads. 
 
 Puncheons. 
 
 Puncheons. 
 
 
 1822 
 
 7,509 
 
 442 
 
 5,111 
 
 
 1823 
 
 8,760 
 
 850 
 
 4,667 
 
 
 1824 
 
 8,681 
 
 401 
 
 5,053 
 
 
 1825 
 
 8,110 
 
 757 
 
 5,484 
 
 
 1826 
 
 8,760 
 
 300 
 
 5,477 
 
 
 1827 
 
 5,419 
 
 138 
 
 4^,136 
 
 
 1828 
 
 8,685 
 
 812 
 
 5,450 
 
 
 1829 
 
 7,570 
 
 183 
 
 4,154 
 
 
 1830 
 
 6,687 
 
 48 
 
 4,220 
 
 
 1831 
 
 8,453 
 
 138 
 
 5,171 

 
 506 
 
 APPENDIX O. 
 
 ADVANTAGES OF MAKING THE BRITISH WEST INDIA ISLANDS FREE 
 PORTS, PARTICULARLY TORTOLA, ILLUSTRATED BY THE 
 EXAMPLE OF THE DANISH ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS. 
 
 Nothing in the system of restrictive policy has been more 
 palpably injurious to national or colonial prosperity than the 
 refusal to place Tortola on the same footing as St. Thomas 
 in regard to free port privileges ; and, what is equally sin- 
 gular, the English packet calls at the foreign island of St. 
 Thomas instead of Tortola, although Tortola is preferable 
 in geographical position, in the convenience of the harbour 
 as a healthy residence, and in every respect which could 
 entitle it to a claim to a fair and honourable commercial com- 
 petition. Both are nearly unproductive as sugar colonies ; 
 in order to prevent the little sugar grown in Tortola from 
 being increased in quantity by foreign sugar being sniuggled 
 in and becoming naturalized as British plantation, and paying 
 the British duty only, an Act of Parliament was passed in 1802, 
 and renewed in 1806, but which expired in three years, limiting 
 the annual export of Tortola sugar to the average export 
 thereof during the preceding seven years, thus protecting 
 the other colonies from injury, from an unlimited import of 
 foreign sugar becoming nominally British, and benefiting 
 accordingly as to duty in the home market. But all the 
 other restrictions, as to imports from foreign countries into 
 this colony, were continued, and the measure was almost va- 
 lueless as an experiment of an unrestricted free port to 
 compete with her neighbour St. Thomas. 
 
 It is evident, then, that all restrictions as to imports and 
 exports must be done away at Tortola, saving the limitation 
 as to the quantity of British plantation sugar to be exported.
 
 APPENDIX O. 507 
 
 A duty of one-quarter, or even half per cent., ad valorem, may 
 be raised on imports, to })ay the charges of government. At 
 present, to use the language of a public functionary there, 
 whose practical knowledge and intelligence are unquestion- 
 able, ' a more distressed and deserted island I never saw. 
 As to trade there is none. The shipment of sugar is a mere 
 bagatelle. Yet such a spot for rivalling St. Thomas is not 
 possessed by the Government. The trade is now very large 
 to that island. Vessels from the windward islands would 
 save by it two days' sail, at least, by not going so far to lee- 
 ward to bear up again.' 
 
 The trade, in value to St. Thomas, is stated at 2,000,000 
 sterling : the profit on this trade may be estimated at ten 
 per cent, nett, or £j200,000. Now, why should not Great 
 Britain at least share in this profit ? It may be asked, what 
 would you have ? — what do you mean by an unrestricted free 
 port ? This ; that the people of all countries should be at 
 liberty to settle there — to purchase land — to build houses — 
 to be entitled to all the privileges of natural born British 
 subjects — and to be, during good conduct, equally protected 
 in person and property, with permission to import and export 
 in vessels of any country the produce and manufacture of 
 every country. Let us consider the objections. Other 
 British colonies might ask for similar privileges, and could 
 not be refused if the experiment succeeded and if it en- 
 riched the colonists. And why should they be refused 'J^ 
 But, unless the other islands could move themselves to the 
 site of Tortola, they could not benefit by the trade she would 
 have with the two Americas, in addition to that with Asia 
 and Europe. Tortola is geographically placed for the 
 purposes of commerce between the old world and the new, 
 and may be made the link to unite them in trading inter- 
 course and in the bonds of friendship, just as St. Thomas 
 does now% which is the great pawnbroker's shop of the 
 tropics, where goods are deposited for sale, and money lent 
 on them to enable the trader to go and fetch a fresh cargo. 
 The present British free ports are so fettered by regula-
 
 508 APPENDIX 6. 
 
 tions, that they are mere nominal free ports, called ironi- 
 cally by the Americans, regal republics. 
 
 There should therefore be no jealousy on the part of the 
 British Islands, nor should the experiment be denied on this 
 ground to an almost barren island ; but, if it he practicable in 
 the productive agricultural colonies, Avhy not give them the 
 same privilege — the shipping interest may possibly from mis- 
 conception object, but they wnll not be injured by foreign ships 
 trading to Tortola, where not above two or three British ships 
 go now; these would still go to bring the mortgaged sugar home ; 
 — nay, the ship owners would be benefited, for many British 
 ships would trade to Tortola instead of the many foreign ones 
 which now go to St. Thomas from the British connection in a 
 British island ; and if the British ships did not supersede the 
 foreign ships they would not be in a worse position than now. 
 In short, it is sharing with a foreign island and competing with 
 foreigners, and not with British capital, except as far as Bri- 
 tish capital has been attracted to St. Thomas's, from the cul- 
 pable negligence or perverseness of Great Britain by St. 
 Thomas having been permitted to supersede her next door 
 neighbour, Tortola. There is in Tortola a large free African 
 population let loose on the island and wanting employment ; 
 there is a British apprentice population, occupied in raising 
 sugar at a larger cost than elsewhere, and who have not ade- 
 quate employment,. Will you give these people employment 
 by trying an experiment, which may benefit that community 
 and can injure no other, and may be of great service to the 
 manufactures, commerce, and navigation of Great Britain. 
 Tortola has some claim too on the benevolence, I may say 
 justice, of the British Government. As the price of a 
 British Constitution she paid in 1774 the four and a half 
 per cent, duty to the crown, amounting in 1820 to £105,000. 
 sterling, no part of which has ever been applied to island 
 purposes. She erected at her own expense fortifications 
 to preserve the colony to the Crown amounting to £22,000. 
 She experienced a tremendous hurricane in 1819, nearly 
 fifteen years ago, from which she has never recovered :
 
 APPENDIX O. 509 
 
 her losses, ascertained on oath, having been upwards of 
 £150,000. sterling; and will it be credited in these liberal 
 days, when one hundred thousand pounds were given 
 two years ago by Parliament to Barbadoes, and St. Lucia, 
 and St. Vincent, under precisely similar circumstances, 
 and a loan of half a million sterling for ten years, that 
 Tortola was in 1820 refused a Government loan of £10,000. 
 sterling for any period ; the Colony has necessarily con- 
 tinued in the same state of misery ever since — their slaves 
 not allowed to be moved to more fertile colonies, have be- 
 come of little value, and these very misfortunes become a new 
 source of loss in the reduced rates to be paid to them for 
 slave compensation out of the twenty millions. 
 
 There have not for many years been any troops in Tortola. 
 In 1832 they were threatened with insurrection among the 
 negroes, the commander of a Danish ship of war, Captain 
 Bodenhoff, of the St. Jan, landed his marines, laid off the 
 town, and thus at that time preserved the island to the Crown 
 of Great Britain, at least the remaining property there, to its 
 subjects. 
 
 It has been stated that from the great resort of vessels of 
 all nations and flags to St. Thomas's, that the slave trade 
 dealers find in the large magazines or stores of St. Thomas 
 facilities in fitting out slave vessels, and that many are so 
 fitted out it is presumed without the knowledge of the autho- 
 rities, but arising from the island being so convenient in all 
 respects. If this charge is as true as it is believed to be, it is 
 an additional reason for sharing the trade between Tortola 
 and St. Thomas. Lieut.-Coh Moody, Royal Engineers, 
 thus explains the nature of the free port of St. Thomas. 
 
 ' Let us suppose a vessel from the Spanish main to arrive at 
 St. Thomas, a Danish unlimited free port. If the vessel has 
 a cargo of produce, the value thereof is declared to the chief 
 officer of the customs, who also novf is chief military and 
 naval officer in the colony ; as it is a very small one, the 
 King's duties are ascertained, and the fees to all the officers 
 in like manner determined on a per centage. There is no
 
 510 APPENDIX O. 
 
 trouble about paying so much to the collector, so much to 
 the comptroller, then to the searcher and M'aiter ; again to 
 the clerk, and finally to the naval officer, as in the English 
 Custom House, when fees are paid. When the captain 
 thinks he has done, then comes payment for permits, certi- 
 ficates, bonds, &c. of which the poor captain cannot see the 
 necessity. In St. Thomas all kinds of fees are moderate, and 
 paid at once to one person, who accounts to the King for the 
 amount, and the King divides the amount according to frac- 
 tional shares, keeping one-third for the Crown. The vessel 
 being now entered, and the Spaniard having sold his cargo, 
 if he did not bring up dollars with him, as is generally the 
 case, he visits the different merchants' warehouses, often with 
 the crew laden with dollars, in bags, at his heels. In one 
 warehouse he buys British goods, in another American, and 
 East Indian, in a third French, and a fourth German goods, 
 &c. or he may find in one store (as the warehouse and shops 
 are called), all the articles he wants collected together. The 
 Spaniard having made his bargains, an important arrange- 
 ment takes place, which induces him to perfer the unlimited 
 free port to a free port like those of the English colonies. 
 According to the part of South America to which he is going, 
 does he assort his packages, and suit their size to the load of 
 a man, a mule, or a canoe, according to circumstances. Each 
 package must contain a variety of articles, many of which he 
 could not get at the English islands, but at a great price. In 
 some packages may be seen a piece of nankeen from China, 
 silk handkerchiefs from Madras, a piece of linen from Ger- 
 many, ribbons and gloves from France, muslin and chintz 
 from England, &c. These packages are almost infinitely 
 varied and faithfully invoiced, so as to suit all classes of 
 customers. Their new forms and smaller bulk also enable 
 the Spaniard to land and unload his cargo at unfrequented 
 bays, after he has evaded or bribed the Guarda Costas, and 
 in like manner he disposes of his goods, avoiding the pay- 
 ment of the national duties to the King of Spain or the Co- 
 lombia Republic. This kind of trade, it will be perceived,
 
 APPENDIX O. 511 
 
 can only be carried on where foreign vessels of diftei'ent 
 nations are permitted to make a depot, as no one nation could 
 furnish all the articles without an increase of expense, which 
 would defeat the object, and hence our English free ports 
 have failed. This sort of trade, when the Spaniard visits 
 the free port, is that most profitable to the European mer- 
 chant, and it will now be seen that, from the superior value 
 of those assorted packages to the customers of the Spaniard, 
 it is more advantageous for him to pay the duties and fees at 
 St. Thomas, rather than purchase packages less saleable at 
 an English island, though he would have neither duties nor 
 fees to pay. The repetition of this idea so often demands 
 an apology, but it is upon it that the whole question turns 
 respecting free ports in the West Indies. It will also be seen 
 that for some time to come in a thinly settled country, this 
 clandestine trade will flourish, as the Spaniard, whose case 
 we have supposed, will continue to be able to undersell even 
 the merchant who may import his goods direct from Europe 
 to the Spanish main. The latter must pay warehouse room, 
 and enormous duties on foreign commerce, and heavy fees to 
 corrupt men in the new government. All these expenses 
 must be put on his goods, and which the contraband trader 
 avoids. Mr. Sarqui, one of the first foreign merchants at St. 
 Thomas, and who has had the greatest experience in that 
 trade, told me, that encouraged by a fair and moderate tariff 
 of duties, especially promulgated by the Colombian Republic, 
 he sent down two vessels to La Guayra, laden with goods, 
 proper for the market, and the vessels entered at the Custom 
 House in a legal manner. As soon as his>and some other 
 vessels had begun taking in their loading, the tariff of duties 
 was altered by the government to a scale extravagantly high, 
 so that he and other merchants had generally suffered con- 
 siderable pecuniary losses whenever they depended on the 
 government of South America. Such proceedings on the 
 part of the executive are considered by merchants to justify 
 smuggling, in which manner, for many years past, trade has 
 almost universally been earned on. These considerations.
 
 51^ APPENDIX O. 
 
 Avith some others which I have not time to detail with all the 
 circumstances necessary to give them due political weight, 
 induce me to believe that for some time to come the markets 
 of South America will continue to be supplied from unlimited 
 free ports, notwithstanding the formation of Republican forms 
 of government, in a country where individuals are not found 
 with capitals to trade on their own accounts, and where the 
 executive either wants the necessary strength or the necessary 
 integrity to induce prudent men to invest much capital 
 amongst them. This trade is now chiefly engrossed by the 
 Danish Island of St. Thomas, but I think it possible, without 
 any sacrifice for Great Britain still to enable Tortola to 
 partake of it.' In illustration of the foregoing I give an 
 Extract from a Letter from the Speaker of the Assembly of 
 Tortola, dated 1st July, 1830. 
 
 * Tortola feels, the existing restrictions more sensibly than 
 any other island, and it produces only about three and a half 
 cwt. of sugar to one negro, and which is almost the only 
 production, cotton being nearly abandoned from the low prices 
 in England, and rum not worth the making, as it obtains in St. 
 Thomas only about 20 cents, or 10c?. sterling per gallon, and 
 the puncheon is given to the purchaser, which at the above 
 price is 25 per cent, of the whole ; the freight down is 10 per 
 cent., and the commissions, storage, &c. there, is five per 
 cent., leaving little more than one half to the seller. 
 
 About 1,400 hogsheads of sugar have been made per 
 annum on an average of the last seven years, but not near so 
 much will be produced this year, as the rains have fallen in- 
 cessantly. From the above we conclude that the whole pro- 
 duce of the island cannot weigh for one moment with the 
 mother country a mere drop in the ocean. And now let us 
 consider the advantages to be derived from a different system : 
 and 1st. as to salubrity, Tortola is admitted on all hands to be 
 full as healthy as any other island in the West Indies, — a cir- 
 cumstance of very considerable importance to European set- 
 tlers. The harbour is large, and capable of containing any 
 number of ships of any burthen, as the road-stead may with
 
 APPENDIX O. 513 
 
 propriety be classed with it, it being entirely land-locked 
 around, and excellent anchorage throughout, and deep water 
 through all the passages ; indeed, ships and vessels of all de- 
 scriptions choose to come inside to take advantage of the 
 smooth water. 
 
 The rising land around the harbour offers the most beau- 
 tiful sites for building upon, and the flat on which Road 
 Town principally stands, is most convenient for wharfs, land- 
 ing-places, &c., the water being deep close up to the shore. 
 There are two strong fire-proof stores built, and others would 
 very soon be in progress. 
 
 Would Great Britain concede to us such a boon, under the 
 protection of the British flag and British laws, it is not too 
 much to say that every class of merchants, now ti'ading to, 
 or residing at St. Thomas, would immediately take advantage 
 of it, as there is no single convenience connected with St. 
 Thomas, which Tortola either does not now or could enjoy 
 two fold ; in point of healthiness, no comparison can be 
 drawn. At a small expense it might be rendered almost im- 
 pregnable to attack in time of war, as there is a reef which 
 runs out, on which a water battery might be constructed, to 
 command both the harbour and road-stead, and be covered 
 by the forts now built on the hills around and over the town. 
 The constant presence of vessels of war would not be neces- 
 sary, either for the protection of the commerce or revenue, as 
 nothing could either enter or depart without permission. 
 
 The duties to be levied ought not perhaps to be too high, 
 as it would be principally an entrepot for the division of car- 
 goes for the main. St. Thomas demands a nominal duty of 
 5 per cent, ad valorem, on all cargoes entered, but a twentieth 
 part is seldom given in, and no surveillance follows ; notwith- 
 standing which the Governor-General of St. Croix, the Com- 
 mandant of St. Thomas, and other officers receive immense 
 salaries out of the colonial chest of St. Thomas, whilst the 
 contents of that in St. Croix, is remitted to Copenhagen. 
 There is also an impost under the name of weigh money, of 
 the nature of which I am not informed. 
 
 VOL. II, L L
 
 514 APPENDIX O. 
 
 A petition was sent from here some time ago to y\. 
 that the packets from England might wait here instead of at 
 St. Thomas, when it was asserted that it would be inconvenient 
 for the packet to wait at Tortola, in consequence of the mail- 
 boat from La Guayra not being able to beat so far to wind- 
 ward without detaining the packet. The fact however proves 
 the contrary, as the boat from the main, after leaving her 
 bags with the packet, and stopping on her own account 
 twenty-four, or perhaps forty-eight hours, arrives at or passes 
 by Tortola on her passage to windward, very frequently some 
 days before the arrival of the boat from Barbadoes following 
 the packet, and as in this case she would not have to call at 
 St. Thomas, she might at least be here two days earlier. 
 Surely this will not be considered too much for a British Is- 
 land to ask of the Parent State. 
 
 The next most convenient island, as to geographical po- 
 sition for an unlimited free port, is Dominica, situated be- 
 tween the French islands of Martinique and Guadaloupe ; it 
 would command a large trade with them and other countries. 
 The succession of hurricanes, which since the last war have 
 desolated this island, has reduced the colonists to the lowest 
 ebb of despondency. Nothing but a thriving trade can re- 
 store the prosperity of this once flourishing colony, which 
 has received no assistance from the governor to repair the 
 mischief arising from these fatal visitations. 
 
 APPENDIX P. 
 
 The following is an estimate of the sum of £16, 167 required to he voted 
 by Parliament, to defray the charges of the salaries of Governors, Lieut .- 
 Governors, and others in H. M.'s West India Colonies, from 1st of April, 
 1834, to 31st of March, 1835 :— 
 
 Governor-in-Chief o£ Antigua, St. Christophers, Dominica, and their de- 
 pendencies, ^''3,000; Lieut. -Governor of St. Christophers, ditto of Domi- 
 nica, each ^"1,300 ; Governor-in-C/iie/of Barbadoes, St. Vincents, Grenada, 
 and Tobago, A^4,000 ; Lieut -Governor of Grenada, ^950 ; Lieut.-Governor 
 of Tobago, ^'1,300; Lieut.-Governor of the Bahamas, <j^l,200; Secreta- 
 ries to the Govern ors-in-Chief of Barbadoes and Antigua, ,£300 per annum 
 each; Chief Justice of Tortola, ^'178; ditto of Anguilla, ^200; Lieut.- 
 Governor of Grenada,* ^273; ditto of Dominica,* j^366; clerks and 
 stationery to the Governors-in-Chief, ^200; total, ^16,167. 
 
 * To be abolished as vacancies occur.
 
 51. 
 
 APPENDIX Q. 
 
 WEST INDIA POST-OFFICE CHARGES AND ARRANGE- 
 MENTS. 
 
 RATES OF PASSAGE IN THE W. I. PACKETS. 
 
 Cabin. Steerage. 
 
 From Falmouth to Madeira ^"28 £\b 
 
 From ditto to Bermuda via Halifax 45 25 
 
 To or from Halifax and Bermuda 12 7 
 
 From Bermuda to Falmouth via Halifax 40 22 
 
 From Falmouth to Barbadoes, St. Vincent, Grenada, 
 
 St. Lucia, Martinique, or St. Doming-o 4.3 22 
 
 From ditto to Dominica or Guadaloupe 44 23 
 
 From ditto to Antig-ua or Montserrat 46 25 
 
 From ditto to Nevis or St. Kitt's 47 26 
 
 From ditto to Tortola, St. Thomas, or Jamaica .... 48 27 
 
 From ditto to Carthagena or Honduras 55 30 
 
 From ditto to Vera Cruz or Tarapico 60 32 
 
 From St. Thomas to Falmouth 50 28 
 
 From Jamaica or Havanna to Falmouth 60 32 
 
 From Carthagena to Falmouth 66 35 
 
 From Vera Cruz to Falmouth 70 38 
 
 Female servants to pay two-thirds of the Cabin passage-money. Men 
 servants as steerage passengers. 
 
 N.B. Ail former rates to be cancelled. 
 
 Peace Establishment, \7tk August, 1832. 
 
 Leeward Islands. — 12 weeks; sail Saturday after 3rd Wednesday 
 every month. Route : to Barbadoes, St. Lucia, Martinique, Domi- 
 nique, Guadaloupe, Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitt's, Tortola, 
 St. Thomas, and Falmouth. 
 
 Mexico, Jamaica, and Hayti, — 18 weeks ; sail Saturday after 3rd 
 Wednesday every month. Route : to St. Domingo, Jamaica, Belize, 
 Vera Cruz, Tampico, Vera Cruz, Havannah, and Falmouth. 
 
 Jamaica and Carthagena. — 16 weeks ; sail Saturday after 1st Wednes- 
 day every month. Route : to Barbadoes, St^ Vincent, Grenada, Ja- 
 maica, Carthagena, Jamaica, Crooked Island and Falmouth. 
 Post Office Regulations. — Of the two monthly packets, which 
 
 arrive at Barbadoes from Europe, the first called the ' Jamaica packet,' 
 
 after landing her mails for Barl)adoes, &c. proceeds (in the event of her
 
 516 APPENDIX Q. 
 
 arriving before 12 o'clock,) the same day, witli the English and Barba- 
 does mails to St. Vincent and Grenada, and from thence direct to Ja- 
 maica ; but should she arrive after twelve o'clock, she remains at Barba- 
 does until the following evening. 
 
 The day after the arrival of this packet, the mail-boats invariably sail, 
 and in the following order, viz : — 
 
 No. 1. Demerara direct : after landing her mails there, she proceeds, 
 the next tide, to Berbice, where she remains three days. She returns to 
 Demerara, and from thence to Barbadoes. This boat may be expected to 
 return in about fifteen days from the day she left Barbadoes. 
 
 No. 2. St. Lucia, touching at the whole of the islands northward to St. 
 Thomas's. She remains at each of the same islands six hours, on her 
 return to Barbadoes. In 21 days she may be looked for at Barbadoes. 
 
 No. 3. Tobago, Trinidad, fxrenada, and St. Vincent, remaining 24 
 hours at each island, and returns direct to Barbadoes. Fifteen days is 
 the iisual time in which this route is performed. 
 
 No. 4. La Guayra; remains there one week, and from thence proceeds 
 to St. Thomas's, where she remains six hours. This boat returns direct 
 to Barbadoes, and is considered due in 28 days from the time of her leav- 
 ing Barbadoes. 
 
 The second monthly packet, usually termed the ' Island Packet,' sails 
 the next afternoon, should she arrive before sunset ; but if she arrive 
 after sunset, she does not sail until the second afternoon. She proceeds 
 to St. Lucia, and touches at all the islands northward to St. Thomas's, 
 where she awaits the arrival of the eight-day boat, with the English mails. 
 The mail-boats sail the same day with this packet, viz : 
 
 No. 1. St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad, at each of which islands 
 she remains only sufficient time to land the mails, and then proceeds to 
 the other. On reaching Trinidad, she returns immediately to St. Vincent, 
 and there takes off the mails for Europe, which are ready for her arrival, 
 and conveys them to Grenada, where they remain until the Tobago and 
 Trinidad mails reach that island, when the whole are forwarded to St. 
 Kitt's by the same vessel. This service is usually performed in 21 days. 
 
 No. 2. Tobago, remaining there three clear days, to receive return 
 mail for Europe ; and then proceeding to Trinidad for the mails of that 
 island, when she takes I)othto Grenada to join the mail-boat at that island 
 from St. Vincent, and calls at the latter, on her return to Barbadoes. 
 Fifteen days is the time usually occupied in completing this service. 
 
 No. 3. Eight-day boat sails the day after a week of the sailing of the 
 packet ; that is, if the packet sail on a Tuesday, Wednesday week is the 
 day for the boat. She touches at St. Lucia, and the whole of the islands 
 northward to St. Thomas's, where she remains twelve hours; and on her 
 return to Barbadoes, she remains six hours at each of the same islands.
 
 APPENDIX Q. 517 
 
 She is considered due at Barbadoes about the fourth week of her de- 
 parture. 
 
 No. 4 Demerara direct; after landing her mails there, she proceeds, 
 tlie next tide, to Berbice, where she remains three days. She returns to 
 Demerara, and from thence to Barbadoes. In fifteen days she may be 
 expected to return. 
 
 N. B. The mails are closed at the Post Office at 3 o'clock p. m. on the 
 days of sailing. 
 
 The two monthly mails are made up at the Post Office, St. Martin's-le- 
 Grand, London, on the first and third Wednesdays in each month, and 
 the regular times for the sailing of the packets from Falmouth, are the 
 Saturdays next following the first and third Wednesdays in each month. 
 Each packet is considered to be due at Barbadoes five weeks after the 
 regular time of her sailing from Falmouth. 
 
 RATES OF PASSAGE IN THE W. I. MAIL-BOATS. 
 
 Dollars, 
 
 From Antigua to Barbadoes .... . , , .... .... 32 
 
 to Dominica .... .... .... . 24 
 
 to St. Kitt's, Montserrat, or Nevis .... .... 16 
 
 From Barbadoes to Antigua .... .... 32 
 
 — to Demerara, Dominica, Grenada, or St. Vincent 24 
 
 to St. Kitt's, Nevis, Montserrat, or Surinam .... 40 
 
 to Tobago 16 
 
 to Trinidad 32 
 
 From Demerara to Barbadoes .... .... .... .... 24 
 
 From Dominica to Barbadoes .... 24 
 
 to Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, or Montserrat ... 24 
 
 From Grenada to Antigua, St. Kitts, &c. . . 32 
 
 to Barbadoes .... .... .... .... 24 
 
 — to St. Vincent .... .... .... 16 
 
 From St. Kitts, Nevis, &c. to Antigua .... .... 16 
 
 . to Barbadoes .... 40 
 
 . to Dominica .... .... 24 
 
 From St. Vincent to Antigua, St. Kitts, &c 32 
 
 . -^_— _ to Barbadoes 24 
 
 ■ to Grenada .... .... .... 16 
 
 From Tobago to Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, or Montserrat .... 32 
 
 . to Barbadoes 24 
 
 . to Grenada, St. Vincent, or Trinidad 16 
 
 Servants to pay half price. A reasonable Freight also for all baggage 
 
 above a bed and trunk. Passage-money paid before the baggage is de- 
 live red.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Anguilla, locality and area, 378, history, aspect, government, &c. 37^- 
 Army employed in West Indies, 446. mortality of in Jamaica, 180. 
 Antigua, locality, area, &c. 354. discovery and history, &c: ib. physi- 
 cal aspect of, 355. St. John's Harbour, &c. 356. geological fea- 
 tures, 358. climate, meteorological register, &c. 359. vegetable 
 kingdon, 360. fish, great variety of, 361. population, white and 
 coloured, 362. commerce, revenue and expenditure, 363. form of 
 government schools, &c. 364. state of religious instruction, 365. 
 total abolition of slavery, 1st August, 366. 
 
 Barbadoes, geography, area, &c. 312. course and distance to other 
 ports, ib. discovery, colonization, and history of proprietary go- 
 vernment, 313 to 320. terrific hurricane in, 321. present king's 
 visit to, ib. government chronological list of, 322. physical aspect 
 of, 323. climate and vegetation, 324. population and commerce, 
 325. revenue and expenditure, schools, &c. 326. form of govern- 
 ment, &c. 327. power of the executive, 328. 
 
 Barbuda, description of, 364. 
 
 Baryma, river, latitude and longitude of, 1. territory, area, &c. ib. 
 
 Berbice, river, description of, 13. 
 
 Birds, West Indies, description of, 94. 
 
 Bahamas, locality, area and history, 385. phj'sical aspect of, 386. 
 names and position of each isle, 387. acres of land in each granted 
 and warranted, 388. geology and climate, 389. population, white 
 and coloured, 390. commerce and produce, 391. finances, revenue 
 and expenditure, 392. government, laws, and prospects, 393. 
 
 Bermudas, locality, area, and history, 394. physical aspect and geo- 
 logy, 395. climate and vegetation, 396. population and divisions, 
 397. produce, finances, and government, 398. 
 
 Cassada-root, description of, 78. 
 
 Codringtun College, Barbadoes, account of, 527- 
 
 Coffee, imported from each West India possession, 443. imported into 
 the principal British ports, 444. destructive effects of high taxa- 
 tion on, 439. projected fiscal regulation on, 442. advantages of 
 lowering duties, 440. consumption in the United States, 441. 
 
 Coffee-plant, account of, 182. 
 
 Cacao-nut, description of, 244. consumption of, 444. 
 
 Commerce, value of in each W. island. Appendix M. 
 
 CrontwelVs wise colonial regulations, 147. 
 
 Compensation-money, 5220,000,000; how it should be disbursed, 424. 
 
 Columbus, his discovery of West India Islands, Intr. iii. shipwreck on 
 Jamaica, 137. 
 
 Currency, {vide each island,) projected improved plan of, 4.')3.
 
 INDEX. 519 
 
 Demerara and Essequibo, area of, ] . 
 
 Demerara River, description of, Vl. 
 
 Dominica, locality and area 336. history of and land division, 337. 
 physical aspect and mountains, 338. splendid prospect at, 339. 
 geology, curious features of, 340. clinaate and meteorological re- 
 gister, 341. animals, account of, 34'2. birds, fish, and reptiles, 343. 
 vegetation, description of, 344. population, white and coloured, 
 345. commerce, revenue and expenditure, 346. government, waste 
 crown lands, &c. 347- 
 
 Destruction of property in West Indies, 446. 
 
 Earthquake at Port Royal, 155. Plato's account of Atlantis, Intr. ii. 
 Essequibo River and its tributaries, description of, 7. 
 Entomology of the West Indies. 108. 
 
 Fruit trees, Guyana, description of, 82. 
 
 Fire-fy, account of, 332. 
 
 Frogs eaten in the W. Indies preferred to chickens, 343. 
 
 Geology, {vide each island ) 
 
 General view of West India Colonies, 425. 
 
 Governors, salary of, from 1834 to 1835, Appendix P. 
 
 Grenada, geography, area of, &c. 266. discovery, colonization and 
 conquest, 267 to 269. governors and lieutenant-governors, &c. 
 since 1763, 270. physical aspect and mountains, 271. rivers and 
 lakes, 272. island division into parishes, 273. Grenadines, depen- 
 dencies of, 8ic. 274. geology, very complicated, 275. climate, rain, 
 &c. 276. animal kingdom, food, price, 277- ant-plaguc extraor- 
 dinary, 278. agricultural produce in parishes, 279. population, 
 white, coloured, and bound, 280. government, civil, military, and 
 ecclesiastical, 281. finance and monetary system, 282. commerce 
 and principal exports, 283. 
 
 Guyana, British, area and boundaries, 1. Spanish, Portuguese, and 
 French ditto, 2. British, early and general history, 3 to 5. physical 
 aspect and coast line, 6 to 7- rivers, Essequibo, Demerara, Ber- 
 bice, &c. 8 to 15. climate, seasons, and effects on population, 16 
 to 22. geology of minerals, &c. 23 to 28. population, white, 
 Creole, and African, 29 to 33. Indians, viz: Arrawaaks, Accawai, 
 Caribisce, Warrows, Macoosies, &c. 34 to 54. language of, dia- 
 lects, &c. 55 to 57. religion, education, and the press, 57 to 61. 
 produce, agriculture of, 62 to 63. vegetable kingdom, timber 
 trees, &c. 64 to 86. animal kingdom, insects, birds, reptiles, &c, 
 87 to 112. icthyology, varieties of, 113 to 11 7. commerce, exter- 
 nal of, weights, &c. 118 to 120. government of, peculiar forms, 
 laws, &c. 121 to 127. divisions of and military defence, 128 to 
 to 129. finance, revenue and expenditure details, 130 to 132. 
 monetary system, and value of property, 133 to 135. general view 
 and future prospects of, 136.
 
 520 INDEX. 
 
 Honduras, locality and area, 399. discovery and history, 400 to -^01. 
 physical aspect and sailing directions for the coast, 402 to 405. 
 rivers and lakes, 406. mountains and geology. 407- climate and 
 meteorological table, 408. population, white and coloured, 409. 
 description of various classes of society, 410 to 414. state of the 
 mechanic arts, 415. vegetation, food, &c. 416. mahogany and 
 logwood, 417. primitive form of government, 4 18. finance, re- 
 venue and expenditure, 420. commerce, imports and exports, 421. 
 importance of the colony toGreatBritain, in a commercial view, 422. 
 
 Jamaica, locality, geography, area of, &c. 137. discovery, conquest, 
 and history of, 138 to 162. governors and lieutenant-governors 
 since 1660, 163. physical aspect, chief towns, &c, 164 to 165. 
 mountains, height and appearance, 166. rivers, harbours, and 
 springs, 167. division into districts, parishes, and villages, 168. 
 military stations, aspect of, &c. 169 to 171. post roads, and dis- 
 tances, &c. 172. geology, soils, and mineralogy, 173 to 175. cli- 
 mate, thermometer, Avinds, rains, &c. 176 to 180. vegetable 
 productions, cultivated and natural, 181 to 195. animals, birds, 
 reptiles, and fish, 186. population, white, free, coloured, and 
 slaves, 1 87 to 190. form of government, council, assembly, judges, 
 &c. 191 to 196. military strength, militia &c. 197. finance, in- 
 come and expenditure, &c. 198 to 200. monetary system, currency, 
 bills, &c. 201. commerce, shipping, imports and exports, 202 to 
 204. property annually created, moveable, &c. 205, general post 
 office of, 206. The press, education and religion, 207 to 208. de- 
 pendencies of. Cayman isles, 209. present state and future pro- 
 spects, 210 to 212. 
 
 Lizards and Serpents, description cf, 102. 
 
 Lunar influence, effects of, on man, animals, and vegetables, 19. 
 
 Macrebah, full description of, 11. 
 
 Mahogany tree, descrii)tion of, 417. find importation of, 422. 
 
 Morgan, the buccaneer, history of, 149. 
 
 Monkeys in Trinidad, 241. 
 
 Muncery-poison, description of, 4*. 
 
 Moneys, (vide each possession.) 
 
 Monetary System of W. I. improved plan for, 453. 
 
 Montserrat, locality and area, 348. history and physical aspect, 349. 
 
 beautiful English-like landscape, 350. geological features, 351. 
 
 population and early settlers, 352. productions, commerce, and 
 
 government, 353. 
 Molasses, importation of, 424. advantages of reducing duty on, 436. 
 Mosquito-shore and inhabitants, 412. 
 
 Nevis, locality, area, kc. 376. history and physical aspect, ib. popu- 
 lation, white and coloured, 3/7.
 
 I N D p: X. 521 
 
 Piworry, singular intoxicating drink, 44. 
 
 Pomeroon river, Lat. and Long, of, 1. 
 
 Population, (tjjr/e each island, table facing Intr. and general map.) 
 
 Property embarked in sugar cultivation, 434. value of, in Guyana, 
 Jamaica, Trinidad, &c. (vide each possession and table facing In- 
 troduction.) 
 
 Prices of W. I. produce fur nine years, 446, 
 
 Rum, importation of from each W. I. colony for a series of years, 437- 
 ditto into the principal ports, 438. duties on, effect of, 436. aggre- 
 gate importation of, Appendix F. 
 
 St. Domingo, history of slavery in, abolition, Intr. xix. 
 
 St. Kitt's, or St. Christopher's, locality and area, 367- discovery and 
 history of, 368. physical aspect peculiar, 369. Mount Misery, sin- 
 gular appearance, 370. geology, rivers, and climate, 371. vegeta- 
 tion, variety of fruits, &c., 372. population and districts, &c. 373. 
 commerce, imports, and exports, 374. Government revenue and 
 expenditure, schools, &c., 375. 
 
 St. Lucia, locality, area, and history of, 3'29. physical aspect, 330. 
 , magnificent appearance at, 331. Pigeon Island, near, 332. popula- 
 tion and produce of, 333. commerce, weights, and measures, 334. 
 revenue, and expenditure and Government, &c. 335. 
 
 Shipping, inwards and outwards from each possession, App. M. 
 
 Spirit of the present age, Intr. xxii. 
 
 Slave population of each possession, male and female, Appen. L. 471. 
 
 Slavery, rise and progress of in W. I. Intr. vii. efforts for abolition 
 of in England, proceedings in parliament, progressive amelioration 
 and glorious termination of, Intr. ix. to xxii. 
 
 Statistics, value and utility of. 
 
 St. Vincent's, geography, area of, &c. 284. discovery, colonization, 
 and conquest, 285. account of Souffriere eruption, 286 to 288. 
 chronological list of governors, 288. magnificent physical aspect, 
 289, description of parishes, Kingston, &c. 290 to 294. souffriere, 
 or volcano, awful appearance, 295. climate, meteorological regis- 
 ter, 296. vegetable kingdom, fruits, &c. 297- agricultural produce 
 for thirty years, 298. population, Caribs, history of, 299 to 300. 
 ditto white, free coloured, and slaves, 302. finance, revenue, and 
 expenditure, 303. monetary system, 304. commerce and shipping, 
 305. government and council, 306. legislative assembly, 307. law 
 courts, military, and police, 308. ecclesiastical establishments and 
 education, 309 to 310. dependencies of Bequia, &c. 311. 
 
 Sugar ant-plague, description of, 277. 
 
 Souffriere, St. Vincents, account of, 294 to 296. 
 
 Souffriere, Montserrat, 350. 
 
 Sugar cane, account of, 181. 
 
 Sun-Jlower plant, utility of, 185.
 
 522 INDEX. 
 
 Sugar, (iitninished consumption of in Great Britain, 431. impolitic 
 and enormous taxation on, 433. quantity imported from each W. 1. 
 possession, 424. production of in various countries, 432. value of 
 as a nutriment and medicine, 429. necessity of reducing duty on, 
 430. official return of importation, consumption, and revenue, &c. 
 Appendix B. 
 
 Tobago, locality, length, breadth, and area, 257. discovery, coloni- 
 zation, and conquest, 258 to 269. physical aspect of, bays, &c. 
 261. geological features and climate, 262. tides, winds, and sailing 
 directions, 263. vegetable and animal kingdoms, 264. population, 
 white, free coloured, and slaves, 265. commerce, imports and ex- 
 ports, finance. Government, &c. ib. 
 
 Trade, imports and exports, (ride each W. I. possession and App.) 
 
 Tortola, physical aspect of, 380. population, commerce, &c. 381, {vide 
 also Virgin Islands), advantages of making a free port, App. O, 
 
 Turtle, instinct of in navigating the sea, 209. 
 
 Trinidad, geography, area of, &c. 213. discovery, history, coloniza- 
 tion, and conquest, 214 to 216. picturesque aspect of, capital, &c. 
 217. mountains and ruins, 218 to 219. bays, harbours, and sailing 
 directions, 220 to 226. geology, and varied features of, 227 to 228. 
 volcanoes, craters, and earthquakes, 229. mud volcanoes, peculiar 
 view of, 230 to 231. mineral kingdom, 232. pitch lake, extraordi- 
 nary appearance, 233 to 236. climate, thermometer, winds, rain, 
 &c. 237 to 238. vegetable kingdom, luxuriance of, 239 to 240. 
 Zoology, Ichthyology, &c. 241 to 242. staple products for thirty 
 years, 243. cacao, or coco, mode of growing, &c. 244. lands in 
 cultivation, crops, stock, &c. 245. population of every class for 
 thirty-two years, 246. ditto slaves, males and females, 247. total 
 population by districts, 248. imports and exports, shipping, &c. 
 249. weights and measures, Spanish, 250. form of Government, 
 military defence, &c. 251 to 2.52. taxation and expenditure sala- 
 ries, 253. monies and value of property, 254. waste or crown 
 lands, 255. general view and prospects, 256. 
 
 Falue of West Indies generally, table facing Introduction, and 425. 
 
 Virgin Islands, locality, area, &c. 380. history and names, ib. popu- 
 lation and government, 381. geography and sailing directions, 
 382 to 383. produce and property in each, 384. 
 
 Pf'est India Bank proposed, 453. 
 
 West Indies, complete tabular view of, table facing Introduction. 
 
 West India monopoly, abolition of, 426, 448, 449. 
 
 Zoophyte, flower of Grenada, 279. 
 
 Zoology of West Indies, (vide Guyana chapter, p. 87.)
 
 PROSPECTUS. 
 HISTORY OF THE BRITISH COLONIES. 
 
 IN FIVE VOLUMES. 
 
 With numerous Maps and authorized Official Documents (hitherto unpub- 
 lished or unprinted). Statistical Charts, &c., handsomely bound in 
 morocco cloth. Price 1/. 1*. per volume, and 
 
 DEDICATED, BY SPECIAL COMMAND, TO THE KING. 
 
 Vol, I. — Asia. — Bengal, Agra, Madras, Bombay, Ceylon, Penang, Ma- 
 lacca, Sincapore, &c. (A complete View of the Chinese Empire.) 
 
 Vol. II. — West Indies. — British Guyana, comprising Demerara, Esse- 
 quibo, and Berbice ; Jamaica, Barbadoes, Trinidad, St. Vincent's, Gre- 
 nada, Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitt's, Montserrat, Tobago, 
 The Virgin Isles, Bahamas, Bermudas, Honduras, &c. 
 
 Vol. III. — North America. — Canada, Lower and Upper, Nova Scotia, 
 New Brunswick, Cape Breton, Prince Edward's Island, Newfoundland, 
 Hudson's-bay Settlements, &c. 
 
 Vol. IV — Africa, Australia, &c. — Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, 
 Seychelles, New South Wales, Van Dieman's Land, Swan River, Falkland 
 Islands, Sierra Leone, Gambia, St. Helena, Ascension, &c. 
 
 Vol. V. — Europe. — Gibraltar, Malta, Gozo, Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, 
 Cerigo, &c., Heligoland, Jersey, Guernsey, Man, &c. 
 
 CRITICAL NOTICES OF THE LEADING JOURNALS ON THE Ist. VOL. 
 
 (ASIA.) 
 
 ' Mr. Martin possesses eminent qualifications for the task he has undertaken, — he has not 
 merely a taste but a passion for statistics ; a sheet of figures is to him as delightful as a 
 landscape of Claade's to a virtuoso, and he forms tables with as much facility as if Bab- 
 bage's calculating engine formed part of his mental machinery. Connected for many years 
 with the colonies, he has acquired a thorough knowledge of colonial and commercial policy 
 — an economist of no mean order, he has arranged and digested that knowledge so as to 
 afford information and guidance for the future. Above aU, imbued with the purest prin- 
 ciples of philanthropy, his aim, in all his publications, has been to point out the best means 
 for increasing the amount of human happiness. — AtheruBum. 
 
 ' A work of extraordinary industry and great utility. Mr. Martin exhibits a very rare 
 talent for grasping extensive subjects, for seizing with rapidity upon their distinguishing 
 features, and for collecting evidences and illustrations to strengthen and illuminate his 
 work.' — Atlas. 
 
 ' This is a work of great research, well and ably written, clear and lucid in its arrange- 
 ment, and correct in the statements which it embodies. To a great extent, too, it may be 
 considered a desideratum, filling up as it does a blank in the literature of the country. It 
 contains a vast fund of information, and if extended in the same spirit and style to the other 
 Colonies, the whole series will form an admirable library work of reference.' — Globe. 
 
 ' An elaborate work, full of tables of every description calculated to illustrate the wealth, 
 produce, military resources, and trade of these extensive and important possessions, and 
 systematically and lucidly arranged so as to give at once a complete view of our colonies ; 
 whoever wants to get information on our Asiatic possessions will make Mr. Martin's work 
 their Manual.* — Courier. 
 
 'One of the most important works that has of late years issued from the press.' — Naval 
 and Military Gazette.
 
 PROSPECTUS. 
 
 •Mr. Montgomery Martin's valuable History of the British Colonies contains a fund of 
 useful information, well illustrated by copious tables.' — Morning Herald. 
 
 'The Christian, the merchant, and the statesman is enabled, by Mr. Martin's work, to 
 appreciate the vast magnitude and incalculable importance of the splendid — the inagrnificent 
 possessions of Britain in Asia, to vi'hom England has been hitherto rather an indifferent 
 step-mother ; we hope the truly eloquent appeal of Mr. Martin will not be made in vain.' — 
 Monthly Magazine. 
 
 ' A most interesting and valuable work, highly honourable to Mr. Martin's industry and 
 correctness. The history, statistics, climate, commerce, internal and external relations of 
 our eastern colonies, are discussed with animation, order, and perspicuity, which must be 
 studied to be appreciated ; the mercantile relations of China and India e.xhibit stupendous 
 research ; it is the labour of a life, and should be suitably remunerated,' — United Service 
 Gazette. 
 
 ' An able and laborious woik.' — Literary Gazette. 
 
 ' Mr. Montgomery Martin has produced a history as creditable to himself, as it will un- 
 doubtedly prove advantageous to the commerce of the country and the prosperity of the 
 people. That his labours may be crowned with success, must be the wish of all who seek 
 the prosperity of their country. The History of the British Colonies is indeed well worthy 
 the patronage of the monarch to whom it is dedicated. It embraces not only the history of 
 the magnificent possessions of England in the East, but also every feature, topographical, 
 commercial, and statistical, derived from official, and hitherto unpublished, documents, 
 furnished to the author by the East India House. This work should be in the hands of 
 every merchant and member of Parliament, of every philanthropist, whose heeirt vibrates 
 for the welfare of 100,000,000 British subjects.'— Sw/i. 
 
 ' It is highly honourable to his Majesty as the ' sovereign of the greatest colonial empire 
 in the world,' that he should have accorded to Mr. Martin his gracious permission to in- 
 scribe to him the first history of that empire ; and we cordially congratulate the author on 
 this distinguishing mark of royal favour. The History of the British Colonies teems vrith 
 information, the most diversified and valuable information in every page, written with a 
 noble, generous, patriotic, proud, and lofty spirit.' — Court Journal. 
 
 ' The first volume of this splendid production of talent, as varied as it is replete with un- 
 wearied industry, treats of the British possessions in Asia, comprising the history, com- 
 merce, finance, productions, monetary system, state of religion and of the press, with a 
 mass of statistical, geographical, scientific, and other details upon our Hindustani territories 
 and dependent possessions, accompanied with valuable notices of their intercommercial 
 relations with the Chinese empire. It is, in fact, a work of very high merit, and embodying 
 a fund of information indispensable alike to the statesman, the legislator, the mercheint, 
 manufacturer, and trader in every class, as well as the general reader. We do not think 
 that for many years past, a work of more utility and instruction has issued from the fertile 
 press.' — Guardian and Public Ledger. 
 
 ' Few would have had the assurance to undertake, and still fewer have been able to ex- 
 hibit the diligence and talent necessary for the due execution of this arduous work, which 
 amply merits the attention of the public, whether it be considered morally or politically.' 
 — Morning Advertiser. 
 
 ' The vast Colonial appendages to the Empire of Britain — -wings spreading over all the 
 divions of the habitable earth — have yet never found a writer of powers equal to the task 
 of arraying all their wonders, in so comprehensive and splendid an order of arrangement, 
 as appears in the volume now under our notice. Mr. Montgomery Martin, a gentleman of 
 very extensive travel as an officer in the Naval Service of his country, has come well pre- 
 pared with materials for the task of describing the natural history, commercial importance, 
 and political value of all our colonial dominions in the old and new worlds. We express 
 our sincere desire that a work of such vast research, clear arrangement, and extensive 
 commercial utility may meet with that extended patronage whih alone can reward the 
 labovtr and talent which abound in the present volume of the Colonial History of the 
 Empire.' — Sunday Herald. 
 
 We wonder such a work has not appeared long before the year 18.^4 — considering that 
 the mother counti-y possesses Colonies in every part of the globe, but it is a matter of con- 
 gratulation that now it has been undertaken, the task has devolved upon a man fully com- 
 petent to accomplish it. A more varied history (it is one demanding deep research, patient 
 toil, unwearied industry, and vigorous intellect) could not be produced ; Mr. Martin, having 
 passed one third of his life travelling in the Colonies, has spent his time industriously and 
 well, he has indefatigably persevered in collecting important information, and has filled up 
 a blank sheet in the pages of our history, the absence of which has long been felt ; every 
 class who live by commerce, agriculture, and manufactures will do well to study this im- 
 portant national work, where new sources for the employment of industry are pointed out 
 in a clear, ample, and satisfactory manner, and a mass of facts collected which will interest 
 every one.' — Sunday Times. 
 
 'Mr. Martin's first volume will make a text hook for after, as it is an ornament to the 
 present time. In fact, it is a complete digest of all that is necessary to be known on a 
 subject of such paramount interest. A standard work upon the vast interests that are so 
 essential to the very existence of the empire, has long been wanting. The ' History of the 
 British Colonics' bids fair to assume the vacant niche in the literature of the country.'— 
 Metropolitan Mag.
 
 PROSPLCTUS. 
 
 ' An undertaking of immense grasp and great importance ; the present volume includes 
 erery thiit^ relating to our Eastern Possessions, collected from a variety of sources, most 
 of tliem official.' — xisialic Journal. 
 
 ' Ithas often been a source of wonder to us that no one could be found of sufficient talent 
 and research to furnish an historical, statistical, and geographical description of the most 
 interesting portions of our empire ; It has been left to Mr. Martin to accomplish this 
 magnum upus, and he has executed it with such knowledge, industry, and judicious 
 arrangement, as deserves our highest praise and warmest tlianks. The present volume 
 contains a brief, yet clear account of our possessions in Asia : brief (though filling a large 
 8vo. volume) in comparison with their immense interest and importance, and clear, from 
 its accuracy and distinct classification of the subject. This truly national work commences 
 with an account of the acquisition of our Asiatic territories, and an interesting examinatioa 
 of our subsidiary policy ; it then proceeds with the physical aspect and natural productions ; 
 a lucid exposition of Indian government and patronage ; the financial and monetary 
 system ; commerce and staples of India ; religion, the press, education, and slavery, and 
 an appendix of statistical and commercial tables of the utmost value. The style is easy, 
 and at times eloquent, and the whole work has the great and rare merit of being free from 
 any party feeling or prejudice. We recommend Mr. Martin to that patronage to which his 
 talent and industry so eminently entitle him.' — BilVs Weekly Messenger. 
 
 'Avery elaborate work which must have required much time and great care in prepar- 
 ing it for the press.' — Genl/enidn's Mug. 
 
 'The contents of this interesting and valuable work are extremely and most agreeably 
 diversified, the reader finds in its pages every thing he could wish to know respecting the 
 statistics, topography, natural history, manners, customs. &c. &c. &c., of the vast regions 
 treated of.' — Liverpool Mercuri/. 
 
 ' The intelligent author of this very valuable and important work, has spent the best 
 years of his life in visiting the colonial possessions of Great Britain in every part of the 
 world, in collecting materials, and a statistical account of our Colonial Empire; the most 
 varied, magnificent, and extensive empire on the face of the earth. It is a history which 
 ought to be in every public library, for besides the commercial information collected 
 from documents in the possession of the Government and East India Company, and from 
 official dispatches, and the most Authentic sources, it contains other matter which cannot 
 fail to interest and even amuse the general reader.' — Liverpool Standard. 
 
 ' A ponderous work upon a gigantic subject ; it is a page of history that has long been 
 required to be filled up, and we are glad that the work has been undertaken by one, w^ho is 
 in every way so competent to undertake it by his long acquaintance witii the subject on 
 ■which he writes ; if the succeeding volumes should be equal to this, it will be one of the 
 most valuable and complete works ever published ; as it sets before us in all its depart- 
 ments, physical, statistical, political, and ecclesiastical, tlie history of those countries, 
 ■ which, being the ofi'spring of our own, are undoubtedly entitled to the highest place. The 
 statements must have cost Mr. Martin immense labour and research.' — Liverpool Courier. 
 
 ' A work which would seem too herculean for individual achievement : we can say, how- 
 ever, after a very careful perusal, that its author has eminently succeeded.' — Liverpool 
 Journal. 
 
 ' The plan, as exemplified before us, comprehends every feature of interest to which the 
 curiosity of mankind can be directed in a given country, and our literature is enriched with 
 one of the most valuable contributions that it has ever received. — Liverpool Albion. 
 
 Mr. Martin not only surveys, but he explains ; he not only gives you measurement, but he 
 is a meteorologist, a mineralogist, and a financier ; ho omits nothing that can possibly be 
 brought to bear on the subject of his work, which in point of value, has perhaps never been 
 exceeded. The varieties of nations among 100,000,000 British subjects, on 1,000,000 square 
 miles of English dominion, the form of government of the presidencies; the exact state of 
 their several civil and military establishments ; their debt and expenditure ; the value of 
 money in the different provinces ; the general policy; the manners, and customs, and cli- 
 mates of these swarms of nations, all meet with attention, and on each point where it is 
 practicable, we have a statistical table, defining, with precision, all matters that can be re- 
 duced to such certainty. The volume is adorned with tliree excellent Maps.' — New Monthly 
 Mag. April. 
 
 ' We have been delighted as well as instructed by this volume, and have risen from the 
 perusal of a great work with pleasure and no mean idea of the talent, perseverance, and 
 knowledge of the author. We have had no National Colonial History — this branch of our 
 literature was utterly barren. We could study the causes and effects of the lise and fall 
 of other nations and their offspring, and yet remain ignorant of the progress of our own 
 transmaiine possessions : and this not from a want of material, but because the necessary 
 papers could only be found by men, who, like Mr. Martin, added to a perseverance in pur- 
 suit of knowledge, a facility of obtaining documents, and taste and expression to impart his 
 ideas. Tlie infoimation collected by our author, alter having passed one-third of his life in 
 visiting the colonies, and from having vast facilities since his return in the use of Govern- 
 ment papers, is admirably condensed, and the cream of official papers laid before the public 
 in a plain, clear, and manly style : the veriest trifler of readers must have his attention 
 fixed by even a cursory glance at this highly important work.'..-i>i«6;irt University Mag. 
 June 1831.
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I.— ASIA. 
 
 Chapter I. — Rise and progress of the British power iu Asia ; Conquest 
 and formation of the Territories under the Presidencies of Bengal, 
 Agra, Madras, and Bombay; an account of the stipendiary' Princes ; 
 of the subsidized and protected States, and of the tributary or feuda- 
 tory Chiefs, and a full examination of our subsidiary policy. 
 
 Chapter II. — Physical aspect, area, climate, natural productions, and 
 population of each province of the Bengal, Agra, Madras, and Bombay 
 Presidencies : Population, number of Houses, Villages, &c. in each 
 district ; Varieties of nations, among 100,000,000 British subjects, for- 
 mation of national character, &c. 
 
 Chapter III. — Exposition of the English and Indian Governments of 
 Bengal, Agra, Madras, and Bombay ; Patronage of ditto ; Civil, Judi- 
 cial, Police, Military, Marine, Medical, and Ecclesiastical Establish- 
 ments, &c. 
 
 Chapter IV. — ^The financial and monetary system of British India ; 
 different systems of Land Revenue, and aggregate taxation ; Expendi- 
 ture and Debt of the three Presidencies, with the Surplus or Deficit 
 Revenue of each since 1814 ; Monetary system of India, Bank of 
 Bengal, &c. 
 
 Chapter V. — Commerce, Maritime and Internal of Bengal, Madras, and 
 Bombay ; Trade with Great Britain, Continental Europe and America, 
 China, Eastern Islands, &c. ; Staples of India, and suggestions for 
 their improvement ^d developement ; injustice of England towards 
 India. 
 
 Chapter VI. — The Press; (European and Native) State of Education, 
 and Colleges in each Presidency ; Religion of the Hindoos, Parsees, 
 Mahomedans, and Christians, &c. ; Slavery ; Crime in India and in 
 England compared ; Social aspect of British India, past and present. 
 
 Chapter VII. — Ceylon, its area, physical aspect. Climate and Natural 
 Productions ; early History ; European Conquest and British Settle- 
 ment ; Government, Population, Male and Female, White, Free, 
 Black, and Slaves, in each district ; Classification ; Boodhist Religion ;
 
 PROSPECTUS. 
 
 Civil Government ; Judicial Establishments ; Military force. Revenue 
 and Expenditure for twenty-two years ; Government and Missionary 
 Schools ; Internal and Maritime Commerce ; Social and Political 
 Aspect, in a Military and Nautical view, and advantages to Great 
 Britain, &c. 
 
 Chapter VIII. — Steam Navigation with India; Proposed plan of Post 
 Office Steam Packets, via Madeira, St. Helena, Cape of Good Hope, 
 Isle of France, Ceylon, &c. ; advantages and disadvantages of the Red 
 Sea and Cape of Good Hope route balanced ; computation of the 
 expense of twelve Steam Packets, &c. 
 
 Chapter IX. — Pcnang, Malacca, Singapore, and China, their area, phy- 
 sical aspect. Climate, Population, Government, Revenue, Expenditure, 
 Natural Productions, Commerce with ditFerent Countries, Monetary 
 system. Weights, INIeasures, and Numbers, Trading Regulations, Port 
 Dues, &c. ; Imports and Exports to and from England, and general 
 advantages. 
 
 Chapter X. — British Possessions in Asia in a Christian, Political and 
 Commercial point of view, and Future Prospects of the Empire. 
 
 Appendix. — Tables of Population, Houses, Villages, Stock, &c. in Bri- 
 tish India ; Military Returns from the Anglo-Indian Army ; Expenses 
 of Haileybury and Addiscombe Colleges since their establishment ; 
 Analysis of the whole of the Indian Coins and moneys circulating in 
 the East ; External Commerce of Bengal ; declining state of the In- 
 dian trade with England ; Importation and Exportation of Bullion at 
 each Presidency ; ditto at Bengal to and from different countries ; 
 money expended in educating the Natives at each Presidency since 
 1814 ; Costs of Suits at Law in the different Courts of British India ; 
 Duty oa East and West India Sugars in England, for fifty years, &c. 
 
 LONDON : 
 PRINTED BY W. NICOL, 51, PALL MALL.
 
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