86 Years. IMPORTS, EXPORTS, AND SHIPPING OF ANTIGUA. Great Britain. West Val. No. Tons. Val. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Men. 7853 179964 339 23941 1908 1777 1705 176784 290 21192 1869 9617 3819 21 1077 139140 268 28305 1824 144 11656 348 33494 2507 29 5410 28865 124 6832 46936 281 9426 75801 434 21668 69 13661 41671 172 10534 58789 276 10116 100460 517 34311 1829* 8104 17485 157 11101 62131281 10804 87720 488 33214 2937 1116 36737 164 6878 62317 349 25178 2050 6692 10160 80 2608! 94782 385 32409 2330 5937 11076 112 2312 73716 358 279921 2055 6271 5616 77 1730 69945 301 24839! 1813 3395 398 33654 2370 From Elsewhere, 1823, 11434.; 1825, 115307.; 1830, 10007.; 1834, 21897.; 1836, 3071. XIII. Antigua is most bountifully supplied with | eel (like a serpent); silver, luck, and ink (shedding a variety of edible vegetables and fruit. The yam, ink when caught) fishes; abacore (a large size); shark sweet potatoe, cassave, cabbage, turnips, carrots, ra- (plentiful); doctor (has a lance in the tail); sprat dishes, eddoes, squash pumpkin, cucumber, plantain, (two varieties, one poisonous); king, fry, whitening ochro (spinnage), &c. are among the former; and (poisonous); wattee, hind, comaree, convalby, old among the latter are the orange, mango, guana, shad-wife, queen mullet, cobbler, ten pounder, garr, bolalwe, dock, sweet lemon, pine apple, sapadillo, pomegranate, grenadilla, plum, grape, almond, alligator (and other) pears, melon, citron, banana, cashew, dildoe, redcaps, soursop, bread, and jackfruits, &c. Sugar is the staple of the island; but other proAmong the ductions are now being attended to. medicinal plants, spices, and trees, are a species of absinthium, aloe perfoliata, amomum zinziber, anisum vulgare, dolichas pruriens, datura stramonium, fæniculum dulce, glycirrhizza glabra, guaicum officinale, several species of menthæ, rosmarinus officinalis, quassia excelsa, and ricinus communis. Guinea grass is extensively cultivated. The coast, bays, and harbours are plentifully supplied with excellent fish. Among the most numerous are the herring, mackarel, baracouta (of great size); glouper (sometimes 50 pounds); toad (poisonous); mauget, hedgehog, hog-fish (poisonous); jew-fish (large and dear); snapper, flatfork, squerrel, chubb, snitt, flounder, mullet, parrot (coloured like the bird), reay, shew, and crawfish cat (a curious fish with five prongs, which, if left on the skin, sucks blood). The king fish taken young is termed coramour, and, when kept in a fish pond, or crawl for some time, is esteemed a great delicacy, as is also the mud fish (resembling tench), commonly found in the water-courses. The mangrove oysters are considered a tantalizing dainty, and trunk lobsters, cockles, &c. are excellent. BARBUDA. This island, the property of the Codrington family, is situated 36 miles N. of Antigua, about 20 miles broad, with 1,500 inhabitants; the interior is level, the soil fertile, and the air of great purity. It was first settled by a party of colonists from St. Kitt's under Sir Thomas Warner, whom the Caribs at first compelled to retreat; but the English finally returned, and quickly began cultivation. The chief trade of the colonists consist in raising cattle, swine, poultry, horses, and mules, for sale in the neighbouring islands. There is a good roadstead; but the coast is dangerous. 87 CHAPTER X.-NEVIS. SECTION I. This delightful little island, one of the leeward Caribbees, is separated from St. Kitt's by a strait, almost two miles broad and full of shoals, in latitude 17° 14' N. longitude 63° 3' W. It was first colonized by a few Englishmen, in 1628, under Sir Thomas Warner and it is termed by Smith, in his amusing natural history of Nevis, "the mother of the English Caribbee Isles." II. Nevis is a single mountain, about four miles in length, three in breadth, eight leagues in circumference, with an area of 20 square miles, springing by an easy ascent, as it were, out of the sea, and evidently of volcanic origin. The summit has the appearance of a crater. At a short distance from Clarke's hill there are several hot springs, containing neutral salts in solution. Their heat varies from 100 to 108 Farenheit. At the base of the mountain is a border of level land, extremely fertile and well planted. The appearance of Nevis is perhaps the most captivating of any island in the West Indies. From the S. and W. it seems to be nothing but a single cone rising with the most graceful curve out of the sea, and piercing a fleecy mass of clouds which sleep for ever round its summit. It is green as heart can conceive, perfectly cultivated, and enlivened with many old planters' houses of a superior style, and churches peeping out in the most picturesque situations imaginable. A complete forest of evergreen trees grows like a ruff or collar round the neck of the high land, where cultivation ceases. On the N. and the E. the cone is not so perfect; it falls off in one direction in a long slope, which terminates in a plain towards the Narrows of St. Kitt's, and is broken to windward into one or two irregular hills. Columbus is said to have given the present name to this island, from the mountain of Nieves in Spain. Edwards supposes that a white smoke issued in that age from a volcano now extinct, but perhaps the vapours which rest on the summit may more probably have suggested the notion of snow. Charlestown, the seat of government, is a larger, smarter, and more populous place than the capital of Montserrat. It lies along the shore of a wide curving bay, and the mountain begins to rise immediately behind it in a long and verdant acclivity. The court house is a handsome building, with a square in front; it contains a hall on the ground floor for the assembly and the courts of law, and another room up stairs for the council. The island is divided into five parishes, and it has three tolerable roadsteads. Nevis at one time had a very large white population. In 1673, there were 1,411 men able to bear arms, and 1,739 negroes. In 1707, 1,104 whites, 3,676 negroes. In 1720, 2,358 whites, 5,689 negroes. In 1730, 1,296 whites, 5,646 negroes. In 1788, 1,514 whites, 140 free coloured, 8,420 slaves. The white population is now estimated at 500. Population of Nevis in 1836. [B. B.] Parish. No census has been taken for many years, but the present is the population as near as can be calculated. Nearly all persons residing in the country are em Populatn. Births. Marriags. Deaths ployed in the manufacture of sugar and rum, and in preparing the lands for the cane and provisions. [B.B.] A statement of the Number of Slaves for whom Compensation has been claimed, and of the Number of Claims preferred for such compensation, and of the Amount of Compensations awarded in each of the classes of Prædial-attached, Prædial-unattached, and Non-Prædial. [Parliamentary Return to the House of Lords, March, 1838.] IV. Churches, Livings, &c. [B. B. 1834.] Population of each parish, about 1,275. Value of each liv. ing, 18,000 lbs. of sugar, or 1261. sterling. St. Paul's, Charles Town-One parsonage house, one and a quarter acres of glebe; church situated conveniently in the town, will contain 600 persons; about 450 generally attend. No chapel. Two dissenting places of worship. St. Thomas.-No parsonage house, but 1,500 lbs. of sugar allowed as an equivalent, equal to 137. 108.; about eight acres of glebe; church situated in a central part of the parish, will contain 140 persons; about 100 generally attend. One chapel, erected on the property of T. P. Huggins, Esq.; service just now discontinued. St. James.-No parsonage house, but same allowance as St. Thomas; about eight acres of glebe; church situated in a central part of the parish, will contain 170 persons; in general fully attended. One chapel, erected on the property of T. J. Coull, Esq.; 40 persons generally attend. One dissenting place of worship. St. George.-Church situated in the centre of the parish, will contain 250 persons; about 120 generally attend. Two dissenting places of worship. St. John.-Church situated in the centre of the parish, will contain 200 persons; about 100 generally attend. [No return at the Colonial Office for 1836.] The domestic affairs of Nevis are managed by a Lieut.-Governor, an Executive Council of 12, a Legislative Council of 11, and a House of Assembly of 15 members. The laws and regulations of the island do not require especial notice. Years. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Deaths. Comparative Yearly Statement of the Expenditure of Nevis.—1830, 23447.; 1831, 25677.; 1832, 1854l.; 1833, 48871.; 1834, no return sent in; 1835, 42381.; 1836, the return for this year cannot be filled up, the Treasurer's books having been burnt in the late fire. Val. No. Tons. Val. Val. No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Men. 1924 1825 1831 17585 662 9 2854 1832 321 1833 1934 1835 1836 1824 1825 1831 39815 9 1939 2274 818 1122 1382 240 625 6163 4927 2308 4928 118 5 1293 2290 5782 95 3645 2036 34 1220 316 10 2645 9902 5747 98 4206 9358 13 1964 2384 31 850 603 9 2152 9667 5770 145 5258 8581 19 2790 2518 39 980 360 6 1372 9672 2097 158 4857 3093 6 698 5661 75 1560 From Elsewhere, value, 1831, 160.; 1834, 1597.; 1835, 7271. EXPORTS AND SHIPPING OF NEVIS. 6025 683 311 905 4986 17 12789 2074 82 3038 7996 19 24631 3741 239 11446 1401 12284 3910 805 10072 4184 210 7887 6921 11289 6519 110 4369 6244 12, 12122 3942 161 6281 2533 10 1435 17990 5465 180 5322 2294 6 To Elsewhere, value, 1834, 8417.; 1835, 3581. The principal exports from Nevis, since 1830, were, 1831, Sugar, 3,313 hds.; Rum, 76,566 gall.; Molasses, 82,257 gall. 1832, Sugar, 2,452 hds.; Rum, 42,692 gall.; Molasses, 96,348 gall. 1833, Sugar, 2,826 hds.; Rum, 31,584 gall.; Molasses, 17,864 gall. 1834, Sugar, 4,194 hds.; Rum, 52,248 gall.; Molasses, 175,476 gall. 1835, Sugar, 2,297 hds.; Rum, 35,700 gall.; Molasses, 90,048 gall. IX. The coin in circulation is estimated at 10,000.; the denominations are, 1 dog (copper)=14d. currency, or d. sterling; 1 bit (silver) = 7 dogs.; 1 dollar, = 72 dogs, = 98. currency, or 4s. 6d. sterling. There is no paper money. 2001. currency = 100l. sterling. X. Average Prices of Produce and Merchandize in 1836 [B. B.]-Horned cattle, 101. each; horses, 301.; sheep, 17.; goats, 17.; swine, 17.; milk, 9d. per quart when it can be procured; fresh butter, 2s. 6d. per lb.; salt butter, 2s. 3d.; cheese, 1s. 6d.; wheaten bread, 44d.; beef, 9d.; mutton, 9d.; pork, 74d.; rice, 44d.; coffee, 1s. 6d.; tea, 9d.; sugar, ls.; salt, 14d.; wine, 21. per dozen; brandy, 11s. 3d. per gallon; beer, 12s. per dozen; tobacco, 9d. per lb. Wages for Labour.- Domestic, 1. 2s. 6d. per month; prædial, ls. per day; trades, 28. The chief production of the island is sugar, the cultivation of which adds much to the richness of the scenery when contrasted with the mountain forests. There are five steam-engines, 40 wind, and 45 cattle mills for the manufacture of sugar, rum, molasses, &c. CHAPTER XI.-MONTSERRAT. SECTION I-Montserrat in 16.47. N. lat., 62.13.25. | W. long., 22 S. W. of Antigua, the same distance N.W. of Guadaloupe, and S. E. of Nevis, is about 12 miles long, 74 broad, and 34 in circumference, contaming 47 square miles, or about 30,000 acres. Il-The isle was discovered and named by the salors of Columbus, Montserrat, a name expressive in the Spanish language of its broken and mountainous appearance. In 1632 it was first settled on by Sir Thomas Warner, under the protection of the British Government; about 1664, in the beginning of the reign of Charles II. it was taken by the French, but restored to the English at the peace of Breda, and has continued ever since under our flag. III.-Like many other islands in its vicinity, Montserrat most probably owes its origin to a volcanic N 90 MONTSERRAT.-GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY AND SOIL, CLIMATE, POPULATION. eruption; like them it runs from S. E. to N. W., is side of the mountains, about two miles from Plymouth, Plymouth, the capital, is small, but extremely well IV. The same geological features mark Montserrat as are to be found in the neighbouring isles; many of the rocks might be termed vast masses of clay of various hues and colours. The conical hills abound with carbonate of lime, iron pyrites, and aluminous earth. The superstrative soil is in general dry, light, thin, gravelly, and thickly covered with blocks of clay and sandstone, except in the vallies where the loamy earth is deposited by rains. V. The Montpellier of the W. is the term given to this Indian isle, which has long been celebrated for the peculiar elasticity of its atmosphere, the majestic grandeur of its picturesque and lofty mountains and bewitching scenery. The temperature of course varies according to locality. On the windward and leeward sides, and according to the elevation above the sea, the air is generally cool and dry; the seasons are similar to those of the neighbouring isles; it is subject to hurThe mountains in many places are totally inaccessi- ricanes, but their visitation are not severe or frequent. VI. This island, like many of our W. I. possesble in consequence of their declivities forming steep precipices of clay-stone, and being separated from each sions, was at one time more densely peopled by Euother by immense perpendicular chasms, several hun-ropean colonists than it is at present. In 1648 there dred feet deep. These gullies, and the mountains, are richly clothed to the very summit with lofty woods, and all the variety of beautiful shrubs and plants peculiar to a tropical mountain region. On the S. W. side of the chain is a small souffriere, situate 1000 feet above the sea in a dell, formed by the approximation of three conical hills; the scenery around which is grand and beautiful. No marshes exist, but a small lake is situate on the top of a high hill on the west were 1000 white families, with a militia of 360 effective Europeans. In 1673, there were 1,175 men able to bear arms, and 523 negroes; in 1707, whites, 1,545, negroes, 3,570; in 1720, W. 1,688, N.3,772; in 1724, W. 1,000, Militia, 500, N. 4,400; in 1730, W. 1,545, N. 5,616; in 1733, N. 6,176; in 1787, W. 1,300, Free coloured, 260, slaves, 10,000; in 1791, there were about 1300 W., and 10,000 N.; in 1805, W. 1,000, free coloured, 250, slaves, 9,500. The increase and decrease of the Slave Population, since 1817, was Increase by Birth. Decrease by Death. 6610 3473 313 314 Total 3399 Of the population 4600 were engaged in agriculture, Return of the Population in 1834. [B. B.]-The What the present number of the population may be is uncertain, and especially of the apprenticed labourers; because many of them have emigrated to Demerara, and a few to Trinidad. It is asserted by those who are best acquainted with the fact, that great mortality has prevailed among the children on plantations since the year 1834. The return below, of births and deaths, is not to be taken as complete, because some of the negro children die before they are baptized, and others of the negroes who live at a distance from the clergyman, bury their dead without any application to him. Another hindrance to the completion of this information, is, that of there not being any minister appointed for the new parish church of St. George. The correct number of persons employed in agriculture, will not be ascertained until after the year 1840; because they are now the prædial unattached, who are sometimes employed in agriculture, and at other times at different occupations. In the united parishes of St. Anthony and St. Patrick,-Births, 222; Marriages, 28; Deaths, 36. In Total. Males. Females. Total. Decrease by Manu mission. |