, 1892-02-20

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at so moderate q cost that the smallest ofsums
is sufficient to enable them TO exist-Afrom
their standpoint-in the full enjoyment OF life.
Nor would it be fair to condemn this estimate
Of exist ence altogether, for who will venture
to decide which of the two is the happier-the
West Indian peasant who feeds on the tat OF
the land without the necessity OF solllng, and
either minus clothes or wearing them for
decency's sake alone careless Of the nature OF
the fabric; or the cultured high strung nature,
the product of centuries of civilization, who
Ia to labor, physically and mentally, often
for IL to IA hours out of the "a, till his consti-
tuition breaks down and be drags himself
through The remaining , ears of his life III pain
and ~sufering2The question ia one we willleave
philosophical minds to discuss we do not
intend to write Q treatise on human sutf-
ering, and 80 VIZ return to. our thene.
Tn ayr ~icultural industries Of the island
do not seem to be in % very 1ourishlng
state. Sugar and coffee used to be shipped
in large quantities; the form, r has declined,
the latter has almost entirely disappeared.
The crop of sugar manufactured amounts
only to 300 tons of musoovado, and each
year sees q decrease in the. already small
quantity. On the estates rum is distilled for
local consumption only, the red tapeism of the
AOl va A 0kOO! SbhG
Government o. the Leeward Islands Confedera.
ton having pr practically crushed out hi enter
prise. The Excise duty ia -. I'd. per gallon,
% proof, and still licence of f5 on q 80 gal
lon still and Is. per gallon extra for all over
fifty gallons.
The principal industry Of the island-and \
very promising one-is the cultivation Of
lines. They are shipped rs rips fruit put up
IN salt and water, and also in the forms of
concentrated and pure lin juice. We had
tho pleasure of riding over II portion f Bath
Estate, ths property Of Mr.. Davies, where 1853
acres are planted in lines, 80 acres IN oaoao,
aud q few acres in cane-the latter. however,
he IS abandoning a. 1t is by no means 80 re-
. muIrratlve as the other two products. Mr..
Dtvies is q highly cultured gentleman well
known and respected not only IN Dominica.
but throughout the Leewlrd Islands he is an
able journalist and the leader Of the opposition
to the unhappy system Of Crown Government
IS administered from Downing Street, and to
him the winter is indebted for unhounded
hospitality aud attention, which he here
acknowledges with many thanks.
The oranges grown in the island are easily
cultivated and are If very fine quality, being
quite equal to our celebrated st. Johns fruit.
There is a crop Of about 10000 barrels, and
the Daminicans read us a lesson IA regards
their picking aud packing, great care being "a .
en- in these respects. They are shipped to Eng
land, and in consequence OF the attention given
in packing they arrive in the home country in
excellent condition, and realise very profitable
prices. The Dominic ms show US VIII vt nm oe
accomplished in this direction, and there lSno
reason why Jamaica. With the reputation
which its oranges have acquired, should not
do a large and profitable trade with England
in the fruit.
The social condition of the people is ma3h
the same throughout thc various West In lia
Islands, and the ways and customs oil tho DOM
inioln peatants are similar to those in ths
other colonies we visited Educatio on is Offered
to them. and they avail themselves OF its adj
vantages. 1t has no effect, however, in lessen
ing the thieving propensity in the African
nature, for predial larceny is very prevalent.
A satisfactory feature is their desire to save, and
TO acquire M llholdings, on which we find them
oultivating lines, ground provisions etc. An
other cause Disqualification is the increase of
marriage among them. Here as elsewhere boys
are not apprenticed, aud do not learn i trade
thoroughly. With the result that 3 odtradeSmen
are scarce and the.available skilled labour is
most unskilleds
Rosesu 10 the chieftown, and is situated at
the entrance to Rossau Valley, with a back
ground of dark-wo0ded mountains. 1t has q
population of 5000 souls. Tie first impress.
sion one receives OF 1t is not entirely a plea