Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-28
7in7es-DisbatCh
T31uvelogues
Interesting Places Throughout,
the World About Which You
Read Described in Word Pic
turcs-Picturesque Nooks and
Corners Explored - =
Especial ito The Timcs.pispa,chl

ROSEAU. DOMINICA. July 27.-Do-
min!ca is the third largest OF the Brit
ish West Indian possessions being
twcnty-nine miles long by sixteen miles
wide. 1t has u total area %: 2?l square
miles. and population OF $4,000. The
: island lies half way between the
French Possessions of ,iuadcloupe and
Martinique. being about twenty five
miles from either. AT one time DO
lninica was a French possession. which
accounts for the fac; that to-day the
natives understand French and spea X
patois that is the prevailing tonguc
among the inhabitants of tho two
. French islands.
II is interesting to note that when
Columbus discovered Dominica III 1923.
he called il Sabbath Island. this name
being selected because he first sighted
the land on sunday. November 8 DO
minica has been in the possession of
beth the French and the British 1t
was British until lI4S. when. because
Of the seemingly unconpucrahle Cards.
the English decided 10 permit the in
hahitantS 10 remain in possession OF
The land and withdrew. The French
were attracted by the island. and then
settled on it. but the English soon
wagcd war and regaincd il. The
French and English again fought for
possession OF Dominica IN l17S. l7>2
and 1905. and the English finally won
and came into undisputed possession.
LESS THAN PER CENT
or POPt LNTION WHITE:
Roseau. a town OF 5000 people. is
the capital of Dominica and the CEN
ter OF the islands business Less than
= per cent of the population is white.
Tie little town has a picturesque loca-
ton at the foot of the mountains and
at the mouth OF the Roscau River
which comes down through the valley
bearing it's name. The Roseau Valley
l. one Of the pretticst sights in all
The West Indies, having scenery that
equals the finest in any country of the
world. This valley extends from the
town of Roscau back beyond I.audat. a
little village seven miles from the sea-
port town.
The little capital town of Dominica
has certain luaintncss that distin-
cuisines it from other population cen
tiers OF the West Indies. The streets
are narrow. with few exceptions, and
the buildings that line them are any
thing but substantial They lack "A
definite plan OF architecture and are
for the most part ugly Yet both
the streets and the buildings demand
attention. Perhaps this is SO because
they remind one of Il town which has
been built at the orders OF a notion
picture director who Is making ready
I" film large photoplay. For it is
, true that they very closely resemble a
prop" town of the cinema. both in
general appearances and in the material
OF which they are built. Down the
center OF several OF these streets run
open cutters. whitehall times. are filed
TO orcrflowing by the excess waters
/ that rush into the town from the noun
tains during the rainy season
The Dominican negro Is an interest
ing type. much different from the ma =
tivcS OF the other british West Indian
possessions. He has been influenced
III his dress and in his customs 10y the
french natives of the Guadcloupc and
Martinique. The women have aGoptcu
the dress OF the Martiniuuc native.
wearing fun and wide flowing one
piece dresses Of large and highly
colored patterns. For their hcaddress
they nave large cloth. much rescm-
ming a handanna haudk crchict which
is tied cbout the hair into n large l;no;
that either rests on the center O! The
head or Kits in rakish manner of
'itr ear.
Hoseau possesses very few motor
cars, because there are but ten or
I!iccn miles OF road on which an auto
nobil" can he driven, and even thcs,
roads are OF such nature that tn F..
cars life $ very short one must ride.
horse in order 10 sec the beauties
Of the island. but any disromiorts or
inconvenience attaching. 10 the trims
about The island are bUt a sinai. Zee
for the privilege OF seeing the wonders
of Dominica.
PLATEAU or MOENE
BRUCE OFFER. GOOD VIEW
Back OF tn" little town Of Ros.ur.
Mornc frucc. an elevated plateau. Of
fers a very nnc view From a point
/ come 500 feet above the sea one looks
down upon the botanic garden lust ;,t
the foot OF the MOruc
The Dominica Botanic Garden JUST
u, low The MOrne. is tn. most brau,if,I