New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-08-24

TuREs lsLANDs.-Ths group of Turks Islands
IN the West indies from which We derive our
nesS varieties Of coarse salt, constitutes, with
the adjacent groaps Of Caicos Islands, little
English colony Of tour thousand Inhabitants,
governed, under the supervision OF the Governor
oil Jamaica, oy Legislative Council, half of the
members OF which are appointed by the Crown
and half are chosen by the inh ahitants cor
respondent Of the New York Post, writing from
the island Of Grand Turk, gives an interesting
description Of the present condition Of the colony
He states that it is the only British colony in
any part Of the world which not oniy pays its
way but yields sape revenue to the mother eoun-
try. While all Tie other West India POSSESSIONS
Of the Crown nave, since the abolition Of slavery,
steadily declined, these barren fields of sand
have gradually advanced in prosperity.
During the year 1854, the receipts of the gov
ernment amounted to nearly seven thousand
pounds, which was nine hundred pounds more
than the whole amount of expenses; and this
out of q population of four thousand, one-third
Of who are the lazy, unproductive negroes of
the Gaicos. Tde export Of salt for 1854 consid-
erably exceeded million bushels. The amount
might be enlarged to a very great extent if the
waste lands Of the islands were turned to advan-
tsge. The scarcity of labor hashitherto proved
a serious drawback TO the prosperity of the
islands. Sogreat is this deficiency shat she Pres
ident of the islands recommended that the
Government should adopt the compulsory sys-
TEN to make the thriftiess people of the Csieos
work. da r.
for the defense of the colony there is sta
toned ct the barracks on Grand Turks Island q
body of about forty African soldiers, who have
Seen either imported by the British Government
nom Africa reserved from slavery. Hardly
any Of them speak the English language, and
thus the object of the government in forbidding
them to have any communication with the citi-
zens, from whom they might catch some revoiu-
tionary sympathies, is easily accomplished, In
order still further to seclude them, their wives
are permitted TO share their dwellings in the
barracks They are generally stout, erect men,
about five feet ten in height, and, wearing the
red regimentals Of the British service, they
make very passable looking troops
These soldiers are not the only imported Afri-
cans upon the Grand Turk Island. There are
some three hundred others who have been taken
from slavers wrecked upon the coast, and who
now form very respectable portion of the la
boring population When they first came they
were not so tractable; but laid o plot to burn
down the town, which lucsily was frustrated
before it was pnt into execution. So great was
the white inhabitants alarm at the revelation,
that the black soldiers were called out to sup
press the uprising This, instead of di heart
ening, only re inspired the banded insurgents,
who now expected that they would be Joined by
their armed fellow eountrymen. Accordingly,
as the troops marched toward them, they raised
shout Of welcome, which was speedily changed
as they saw some forty Innskets deliberately
pointed at them. Instantly falling on their
knees, they threw up their hands in silence, as
if imploring for msEcy land quietly surrendered.