New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-24
DUTCH WEST INDIES.
I The N. Y Tribune

Through which our little vessel proved herself all
and even more than we expected, the Anegada
pas,sge. formed by the Islands OF Anegada W.
g;n CorSa and st. Croix on the lee, and Sombrino,
arcu;ll. and St. Martins to windward," opened
a. a, the way from our great Atlantic to the less
e.,ep,iye but not less beautiful, Mar de antilles.
Although in sight Of Anguils and st. Martins still
a distant view Of these islands did not present 80
lovely an appearance as that OF Saba and 81 Eu'
status, upon near approach. Being on voyage
combining pleasure and business, and IN our own
vessel. at the suggestion Of our gentienanV
,kipper. and prompted by the seconding OF our
nun desires a, our eyes rested on the far Valleys
.,d .oud. ,ierciue hills of s.. Eustatius we could
80. raf,s;u from stopping at so lovely an isiand,
Hsdected as il il, by sunny glade and emeralo
80. The fruits Of tropc and temperature OIL
higher latitude p..ho 90 va Americans
,uoronerIy write titles in lat. IL % north, and
635 east and presents from the north every ap-
ne.ranee of q steep cOne-like rock, rising proudly
from the uneasy bosom Of the ocean which sur
rounds it; but, upon a closer view, ITS Inquire IL
changed and two (nsteas OF one) mountains are
presepted between which 10 an extensive, fertile,
middle land. These mountains whose forms are
sopical rise 10 an eminence of-(by an observation
feet aud the more southward one, 1926 feet above
fLe level Of the sea. That TO the north does not
pre,ert any extraordinary feature, but on near
spproach. the southern and higher peak shows
eerrsted hollow truncated apex; tins excavation
Icing the crater Of an extinct volcano "hch, PROD
ABLY. was the embryo from which the present isi'
and was formed, OF which, however, more pres
emily. e.. .oohor.ae
are the white fort from which the flag of the
Netherlands will float bearing T.. N. r., there
being simply a road, and not any har6or; ana
This il the only anchorage at the Island (to thc
leeward Of course, rs there never are any
nlaces Of safe anchorage to wiDdward at roads
There trades blow.) The anchorage is in ten
M twelve fathOms scarce half mile from
.bore off the town in ground composed OF coarse
brown sand aud decayed lava bottom. This bot
tom. with some coral and stones, IL also found In
fifteen or twenty fathoms in the ofing, the water
extremely clear and your own anchor perfectly
visible in twenty fathOms. The landing is rather
hold strand without any heavy swell unless the
wind blows on shore. l should advise vessels to
lie at single anchor if in less than ten fathOms du-
ring March, June and early July. Ny iniorma.
tion being from reliable source aud from actual
observation, speak confidently
The town stands on the south and eastern side
Of the island and is composed OF two portions,
known as The "Bay" and 1.-THE Town." or, as
should term it, the lower and upper towns. The
. bay" is composed of few stores and shops,
and a plenitude of quaint ruins OF Od-fashoned
antiquated, moss-grOwn, ivy-clambered, Hover
decked Dutch dwellings, Interpreted through
east and west Of the lower town, the effects
of a comedy day; but of the ruin can gain very
little iuformaton-prObsbly it was caused by
the deyastatiOns Of a volcanic eruption aided by
hurricanes To questions as TO the cause OF 80
much desoation, the answer, even by the intelli-
gent 10: 81 do not know exactly; only people
" do not like to live there; 80 these houses are
- going to decay and ruin. 1t may have been .
"conyulsion of Nature; God only knows; we do
"not ~ The upper town, which is approached by
n rather steep pared road, and not by steps cat IN
The rock as it has been previously represented, is
some seventy feet above the former towns level,
and laid out in irregular streets, lined on both
sides by queer Dutch houses of one story each, as
agenera rule; those in the lower town facing on
only one street, and of two stOries-tbe upper ex-
tending over and forming the piazza above the first
and balcony for the second story. The upper
town has PersPot or terrace extending fro" ito
eastern extremity to the Qualifications on the
west behind which terrace and IN front OF the
town winds the principal street. There are two
churches, q Weileyan and Dutch Reformed; al
no place of meeting for Catholics, while some OF
The most respectable inhabitants of the Island be-
long 10 the Church of England. The Reformed
Dutch Church, a rectangular building plain and
white, forms prominent feature IN the town,
upon approach from the east or south
The Island belongs TO the Netherlands, and is
nroyided with Governors young man lately in
Office. who is a gentleman. The Governors resi-
aence IL plain building, undistinguishable among
the rest, save by its situation on slight hillock
of course il 10 in the upper town.
The hospitality Of its inhabitants is unrivaled-
every stranger being crowded and pressed on
eyery hand by gentlemen Offering the small hos
"pitality of our little island" and in every house
the sounds of cOntentment and ease burst out in
happy song and gladstone laughter. A general
eontentment seems to reign, from the master on
his slender pony, to the slave with the water
bucket on her erect and curly head.
This Island first settled, believe, by the Dutch,
was once taken by the English and totally de-
spoiled-prOperty to the value of eight millions
OF pounds ster ing having been taken away by the
besieQers. At that time the inhabitants numbered
at least 5000; now all may he included in
the total of 900, Of which probably 300
are planters, and, with a few exceptions, the
remainder slaves Formerly great number
ofcocoanut trees and great abundance Of lines
and oranges fourshed here but since lS42 a
DESTROYING blight Gan insect) has desolated spots
once redOlent Of perfume from orange walks
and cocoon groves Bananas, melons, yarns,
potatoes, pine apples, coffee tamariDds, sugar
cane, are in abundance; fowls, milk and beet, can
be obtained. Ameng the flowers l can mention
the rose in an endless variety, where cultivated
the aponica, the bell. flower, and many others,
the famed and somewhat tabled oentury-plant,
not "to be forgotten" as "the gentleman in Al
"bany," on a certain occasion, remarked Of it.
must not forget the volcano, OF our yisit to
this the great curiosity Of st. Eustatius. Accom-
panied by some Of the gentlemanly planters, (of
whose hospitality We, who partoOk, can best
af aurl ny haua fh..a af Iha