Evening star., 1940-06-16
Guiana Is Frances
Biggest Possession
In New World
St. Pierre and MiqueIon
And Islands in Indies
Also Under TricoIor

ALSO OnOeF ITICOiOI
Premier Reyraud's reference to
the possibility of France continu-
ing the war, if necessary, from her
American possessions, involves the
following French colonial outposts
in the New World, says a bulletin
from the National Geographic So
ciety:
French Guiana, on the north coast
OF South America, smaller, less pop
ulous and less developed than Meth
erlands' Surinam and British
Guiana to the west, French Guiana
has an area slightly larger than
that Of Maine. 1t lies between
Brazil, on the east, and Surinam
formerly Dutch Guiana) on the
west. The Tumuc- -Humac Noun
tains bound the territory on the
south. Like the regions on either
sloe, French Guiana rises gradually
southwark from strip of alluvial
plain and an area of swamp savan-
mas" to heavily forested areas and
mountains in the center and south
River valleys deeply trench the
country. Settlement is centered in
the wet, hot coastal strip, which,
since 1880, has constituted the
province of Guyane. The popula-
ton estimate of about $4,000 ex-
cludes the Indians and Negroes of
the forest. The coastal population
is mixed European; the Language
colorful patois derived from sew
eral tongues. Of the coast lies the
famous penal colony of Devils
Island.
The colonys resources are mostly
undeveloped. On the coast. many
people are engaged in farming.
Cayenne, on coastal island is
the capital and chief city.
Two Large Islands.
The French West Indies Islands
IN the Caribbean) consist of two
large islands, Guadeloupe and Mar
Unique, and several smaller ones
chief among these being Desirable,
Marie Galante, ST. Bartholomew
and the northern part of ST Mar
tin. The southern part belongs
to the Netherlands All are in the
Lesser Antilles, southeast of Puerto
Rico
Martinique. the southernmoSt
French island, is mountainous
mass of volcanic origin. Mont Pelee
t4.200) feet. in the north, staged
q violent eruption in 1902, which
destroyed St. Pierre, at that time
the largest city, killed 10000 people
and did enormous damage. Fertile
valleys and deep-forested gorges
are cut into the steep mountains.
Rainfall is heavy and rivers nu-
merous. The island heights are cool
and invigorating, in contrast to the
hot, unhealthful lowlands,
Sugar cane is the most important
crop and sugar refineries prepare
the finished product Rum, COCO,
coffee. tobacco, vanilla. pineapples
and bananas are leading exports.
Most of the 235Ooo people are Ne
groeS Fort-de- e-France population
about 100000 is the capital and COM
mercial metropolis. Josephine, Ma
poleon's empress, was a native of
Martinique.
sugar dominates lTaQe.
Guadeloupe, lying between Domi-
MICA and Antigua, consists of two
distinct islands separated by a mar
row strait. The eastern island is
low-lying Grande Terre; Basse
Terre, on the west, is larger and
mountainous Highest peak on the
island is volcanic Grande Soufriere
yr+l,t
destructive eruptions in 1897 and
1843. The leading port and trade
center is Pointe-a-Pitre (popula-
ton, 100000 on Grande Terre. Total
population Of the island is about
100000, mostly Negroes and mixed
bloods.
Sugar and its by-products domi-
nate the export trade, but cacao.
bay and other tropical plants and
fruits are grown in quantities.
Guadeloupe IS the administrative
center for the surrounding neck
lace of smaller French West In
dian islands. Both Guadeloupe and
Martinique were discovered by Co.
lumbus.
Long Fishing Centers.
st, Pierre and Miquelon, two ad-
tacent islets off the south coast of
Newfoundland, were settled by the
French in about 1860, passed back
and forth between the French and
the British for a century and a half,
and were finally restored to the
French in 1914, with the stipulation
that they were not to be fortified.
They are barren and rocky and
are frequently shrouded in fog, par
ticularly in summer Always an
important base for the Grand Banks
fisheries, the islands have suffered
diminishing prosperity as the fish
ing industry has declined Mique-
Ion, the western and larger, is
double island united by a narrow
shingle bank 5 miles long. St.
Pierre, the capital of the colony, is
on the island of the same name.
1t has a harbor and contains most
of the $500 people inhabiting the
two islands
During the prohibition era in the
United States large amounts of
liquors were consigned to st. Pierre
and Miquelon and "bootlegged"
along the American coast.