The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-07
THE WEST INDIES.


sions of the American Continent, and extend
mo from the coast of Florida, in North Ame-
rica to that of Venezuela, in South America
Adopting classification indicated by nature
yeographers have divided these islands into three
Sronps.-First. the Lucayos or Bahamas; second,
the greater Antilles; and third, the lesser An
tles. With the exception of the more
portherly of the Lucayos, the West India Islands
are all within the tropics. The Baha-la group
consists of several hundred islands, most of
which are of very insignificant size-mere keys,
in fact destitute of vegetation, and uninhabited.
This group lies on the southeast coast of Flo
rida. The greater Antilles are the four large
Islands of Cuba, Hayti, or Saint Domingo, Ja-
maica and Porto Rico; and the lesser Antilles
comprise all the small islands extending from
Porto Rico to the Gulf of Paria those lying
south of a given point in the direction whence
the trade winds blow being known as the Wind
ward Islands, and those to the north OF that
point rs the Leeward Islands. There Is some
thing very striking in the geographical position
of the greater and lesser Antilles. Commencing
with Cuba situated at the entrance OF the Gulf
of Mexico, and terminating with Trinidad, off
the southeastern coast of Venezuela, these
islands describe an irregular curve completely
inclosng, so to speak, the sparkling Caribbean
Sea- whose waves perpetually dance in the glow
ing rays of tropical sum- and whose bosom is
rarely swept by storms Jamaica, however, forms
an exception. Lying Just within the curve, this
island is sheltered on the north by Cuba and on
the east by Hayti, while to the south and west
her towering mountains look down grandly on
the bright and beautiful sea that washes her
coasts. In point of scenery and fertility these
islands, taken collectively, are not surpassed by
any other part OF the world.
AREA, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS ETC.
The total area of the West Indies is computed
at 96 030 miles, being nearly equal to that of
Great Britain and Belgium taken together. Of
this area the greater Antilles number 81, 1873
miles, and the lesser Antilles and Bahamas
II, 1877 miles. Spain owns the largest part of the
West Indies, her possessions there-Cuba and
Porto Rico-embracing 81, 143 square miles, The
Dominican and Haytien republics divide be-
tween them 1850 miles. England bears sway
over IL, 633 miles, France holds 1013 miles; Hol-
land, 369 miles; Denmark, l27 miles, and Sweden,
rs miles. The largest of the islands is Cuba,
which is about 800 miles long, with n breadth
varying from 25 miles in its narrowest part, to
130 at its widest. Next comes Hayti or st. Do
mingO being about 400 miles in length and from
40 miles wide near its eastern extremity to 135
miles at its centre The third in the list in point
of size is Jamaica, which is 100 miles long, with
an average breadth of 40 miles. Porto Rico
follows, its breadth being about 100 miles, with
an almost uniform breadth-the shape of the
island being that of a parallelOgram-Of about
80 miles. Trinidad, splendid island full of
natural wealth, is 80 miles long, and has an
average breadth of about 33 miles. The rest of
the islands are small, numbers of them being
nothing better than keys, or sand banks, and
Others varying in length from 10 to 25 miles, and
in breadth from to 10 miles
All the large islands, and many of the small
ones, are extremely mountainous, the mountains
in some places rising to a height of several thou
sand feet above the level of the sea. They form,
generally, continuous chain, running through
the centre of the islands, i'll the direction of the
east and west, and are, most of them, wooded to
their very SUBMITS. The lower ranges of hills,
branching off from the main range, are also
thickly wooded. Most of the islands are abun-
anfl aroh1 10 i'm
from the sides of mountain and hill in every direc
tion; but there are few large rivers, and of these
not more than four or five are navigable for any
considerable distance from their mouths, except
by small, fat-bOttomed boats. Jamaica boasts
the loftest and grandest mountains, its cee-
brated Blue Mountain peak lifting its head,
almost continually enveloped in tleecy clouds,
more than 5000 feet above the level of the sea;
Hayti the finest rivers among which are the
Vague, the Yuma, and the Artibonite, all splendid
streams and Cuba the most fertile plains. The
coasts on the south side of the islands are gene
rally low and swampy, and on the north side
rocky and bold; but everywhere they present
numerous indentations, affording many snug
havens, and several capacious and secure har-
bOrs, some of which are not surpassed by any of
the finest harbors in other parts of the world,
there being four or five in which the combined
navies of Europe might ride in safety.
PRODUCTIONS AND RESOURCES.
In no part of the world is there greater va
riety of valuable vegetable productions than is to
be found in the West Indies. First in the list of
those possessing acommercia Importance stands
the sugar-cane, for the cultivation of which fully
nine-tenths of all the low-lying lands admira-
rably adapted Next comes coffee, the plant
fourishing in all the hilly and mountainous dis
tricts, and yielding large crops annually of the
valuable berry. Pmento or allspice-indige-
nous to the Island of Jamaica alone-may be
had in abundance simply for the trouble of ga
thering, the tree growing wild in most parts of
the country. Ginger, too, of the finest quality
is produced in abundance at very trifling out
lay of labor, as is also arrow-root of the very
best description. Tobacco, which was found by
Columbus in use among the aborgnes is sue
cessfully cultivated in most of the islands. Cot
ton grows spontaneously and is a perennial
plant the tree bearing abundantly, even in poor
soils, and the staple of the article being gene
rally both fine and strong. The indigo plant
is a common weed in the plains, and the cocoa
tree fourishes in the uplands. Then there are
the cabinet woods, and dye-woods so highly
priced both in this country and Europe-the
brilliant fustic, the ruddy logwood the rich
grained mahogany, the fragrant cedar the deli
cate rosewood, the gorgeous yecca and others
too numerous for mention here. As TO the
fruits and vegetables, it would require a small
volume to describe their variety and their ey-
cellence Some of the former are well known
in this country, such as the pineapple. the
orange the shaddock, and the banana, but the
finest varieties of the pineapple are never ey-
ported, being too delicate to keep beyond three
or four days, and the flavor OF the imported
orange is never equal to that of the freshly
gathered fruit. There are others, however of
the rarest excellence, which can be enjoyed only
in the place where they are grown, their perish
able nature not admitting of their being trans
ported to any distance. Such are the luscious
neesberry the juicy mango; the aromatic guava
the peach-like chere-moyd; the unrpe cocoa,
nut with its limpid milk" and delicate iely
like pulp; and the tlavorOus granndillo, whose
&c hat pf tbn fttl1x