The National tribune., 1899-05-11
BRITISH WEST INDIES
American Energy and Capital
Necessary for Development.

In the Issue OF last week was de-
scription of the Island of Jamaica, the
most important of the British posses
sionS in the West Indies. which holdings.
as stated, Legislators and business men OF
the islands would like to have England
exchange for the Philippine archipelago.
While Jamaica is the largest and most
important commercially, the other islands
of the British West Indies are very de-
siEable, and with the influx of American
energy and capital would develop Won
derfulIy.
BAHAMA GROUP.
The Bahama group OF islands, which
stretches through n total distance OF $50
miles north of Cuba, includes nearly 200
islands and over 5000 rocks. The entire
group, with its innumerable channels and
passages, embraces an area OF 5000
square miles.
, In aspect the Bahamas are more like
the land of our Floridian coast and keys
| than the other West Indian islands.
Geologists consider them windblown piles
of shell and coral sand, much OF whose
| former surface is now under shallow water.
| There are several groups of these islands.
! The Great Bahama Bank is the largest.
From the sea the Bahamas appear as
low stretches OF land, with here and there
n village With the exception OF Andres,
they are destitute of running water. The
fora are tropical, but quite different from
those OF the Antilles, being similar to
those Of the Florida coast. Stunted tin
Der covers some Of the islands.
The Bahamas have been under the
British flag since 1913. They were OriSi-
naliy the resort of pirates, who first
settled upon the Island OF New Providence.
Here is located the Capital, Nassau, and
the seat Of Government. The soil is not
rich, but is suitable for the cultivation of
small fruits, vegetables, pincapples,
oranges and cocoanuts. Except in the
Caicos and Turk groups, where salt is
found in considerable quantities, most OF
the Inhabitants earn a livelihood from the
products of the sea, such as sponges,
shells and pearls. Last year the total
exports reached S900, 900. The imports
were somewhat less, and five-sixths OF
the total came from the United States.
Only 81 of the Bahamas are inhabited,
the total population reaching about so, COO.
Most of the inhabitants are negroes. The
principal islands are New Providence,
Abaco, lIarbor Island Eleuthera, Ragged
Island, Rum Kew, Long Island, Long Key,
Great Bahama, Cat Island, Turk s, Acklin
and CaicoS. Nassau, the Capital, has a
population of 10000, and is popular as a
Winter resort for American tourists.
OTHER POSSESSIONS.
England's possessions in the chain OF
islands which constitute the Lesser An
TILES form picturesque group. The
principal islands are St. Lucia, st. Vim
cent, st. Christopher, the Grenadines,
Grenada, barbados and Trinidad. All
have the same rugged aspect of the
Caribbees and the same lofty hills glowing
with verdure.
st. Lucia is the most beautiful of the
group, but agriculturaliy and commerce.
ally shows the same depression every
where visible in the English islands. The
suga. industry has Ecen almost climi
mated. Only a small part of the land is
in cultivation. The 40, 900 Inhabitants.
principally negroes, speak French, and
many seek employment in the neighbor-
ing islands under French rule, which are
more prosperous. Castries is the principal
town, built in the niist of surrounding
hills. England is now constructing a
formidable naval station at this place,
which is the PRINCIPAL cOaiing station of
the British Navy in the West Indies.
St. tincent is II miles long and 10
mics wide. and has q population of 50, 900.
1t has more extensive valleys than IL
majority Of t G Lesser Antilles but culmi-
mates in a vast volcanic crater, which
was last in eruption in 1872. when thou
sans of people lost their lives. Kings
town, the Capital has Il population OF
so 0. In this island, also, the sugar
Industry has decayed. The Grenadines
are "a series of islets, extending for about
90 miles. They are very picturesque, and