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“...GENERAL INFORMATION 9
each slave owner was compelled to employ a certain
number of white servants to serve in the militia, and
these men helped to swell it, while Oliver Cromwell
sent out many Irish prisoners, notably to Nevis and
Montserrat; and Barbados received an influx of
Royalists during the Commonwealth. Many English
gentlemen, Royalist officers and divines, were sent out
to the island and sold as slaves, and it is on record that
a number changed hands at a price of 1,500 lb. of sugar
per man! Later some hundreds of the followers of
Monmouth, tried at the Bloody Assize, were sent to
Barbados by Judge Jeffries in 1685, after the Battle of
Sedgemoor. Their descendants, known as “ mean
whites ” and “ red legs,” are still found there.
At the close of the American Revolution many loyalists
emigrated from America tq the West Indies with their
slaves. Jamaica and the Bahamas were particularly
favoured, and it is estimated that the latter islands
gained from 6,000 to 7,000 new inhabitants between...”
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“...and was boarded three times :
And the sun went down, and the stars came out far over the
summer sea.
But never a moment ceased the fight of the one and the fifty-
three.
Ship after ship, the whole night long, their high-built galleons
c&m6|
Ship after ship, the whole night long, with her battle-thunder
and flame.
Here it was that Sir Richard, shot through the head
and body, having been carried by the stately Spanish
men to their flagship, said :
I have fought for Queen and Faith like a valiant man and
true . . .
With a joyful spirit I Sir Richard Grenville die 1
The Azores consist of three distinct groups of islands,
which are connected by wireless telegraphy. To the
south-east are St. Michael’s and Sta. Maria; in the
centre, Fayal, Pico, Sao Jorge, Terceira, and Graciosa,
and to the north-west, Flores and Corvo. The most
important trade centre is Ponta Delgada (the sharp
point), capital of St. Michael’s, the principal island.
This town, which for size ranks third amongst the
cities of Portugal...”
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“...Hole, another interesting cave .over .which the road
passes, and proceeding farther one comes to the famous
Walsingham Caves, which well repay a visit. It was
at Walsingham that Ireland’s poet, Tom Moore, resided
for a few months when he was Registrar of the Vice-
Admiralty Court. A facsimile of his house was erected
at Wembley to accommodate the Bermuda exhibits at
the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 and 1925. Tom
Moore did not remain long in the islands, but delegated
his duties to another man. The poet’s calabash tree
is also pointed out to visitors. ■ Near the house are the
Leamington Caves, and a little farther on the Crystal
Caves, perhaps the finest in the island. In the same
neighbourhood there are also the scarcely less famous
Fern Caves, the Blue Hole, and Castle Grotto, all of
which should be inspected.
The South Road eventually joins the North in the
neighbourhood of the Causeway. Until 1871 com-
munication with the island of St. George’s could only
be effected by ferry from...”
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“...miles; 1 hoür by motor-car,
from Bridgetown) stands at a short distance from thé
edge of a cliff 824 feet high, commanding an extensive
view of the coral-fringed Windward Coast. In the
churchyard is pointed out the tomb of Ferdinando
Paleologus, descendant of the last Christian Emperor of
that name, who was driven from Constantinople by the
Turks. Ferdinando was the son of Theodoro Paleologus
(who was buried at Llandulph in Cornwall) by his wife,
Mary Balls, and he was successively vestry-man, sides-
man, churchwarden, and trustee of St. John’s Church in
the seventeenth century. The tradition of the death
and burial of a Greek prince was for many years current
in Barbados; and when the Church of St. John was.
destroyed by the hurricane of 1831, the coffin of Fer-
dinando Paleologus was discovered in the vault of Sir
Peter Colleton under the organ loft. The remains were
reinterred in a vault belonging to one JoSiah Heath, in
1906, and a memorial stone was erected by public
subscription to...”
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“...black and white marble steps, and is surmounted by
battlements. The walls are immensely thick, and well
calculated to withstand hurricanes. In 1831 the out-
side of the house was being repaired when it was struck
by the terrific cyclone of August nth, and though the
scaffolding was carried off by the force of the wind and
deposited in the mill-yard of the Three Houses Estate,
three miles away, the building was uninjured. The
chief features of the interior are the handsome plaster-
work ceilings. A man named Warren was brought out
to do the work in the days of slavery as a militiaman,
when the planters were bound by law to leaven their
holding of blacks with a certain number of white men....”
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“...TRINIDAD
English Miles
County Boundaries
Ward
Railway"
Roads
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la Ian dra Bay
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mimm
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V: /; ■
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rlotteville
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Plymouth
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Sanity
*****
Vo,nWa? Wtt4jwtem5f///|- ' ^
Radv»^
TOBAGO
°° on same scale
San Fernando
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La Br
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4_______jv---------trinity',
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Sifton, Praed & Co. Ltd.. S? James's St. London S. IV.
■...”
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“...Scarborough (population 773), the capital of
Tobago, formerly called Port Loins, is situated at the
south of the island, about eight miles irom the south-
west point. The only other town is Plymouth, ready
a village (population 763), on the north side, live miles
from Scarborough. The principal villages are Roxburgh
in the Windward district and Moriah in the northern.
Around the coast there are many excellent bays, most of
which are well sheltered and afford sale anchorage with
deep soundings. Indeed, Man-o -War Bay, a very
spacious harbour, is said to be capable of affording
shelter to the whole of the British fleet!
INDUSTRIES. The soil of Tobago is fertile, although thin
on the cleared hills in the southern portion, and capa-ble of
producing a great variety of tropical products The principal
crop was formerly sugar, but this was almost abandoned owing
to the competition of bounty-fed beet sugar. New European
settlers were attracted who planted cacao, coco-nuts, rubber,
etc. and large areas were...”
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“...provide
for the well-being of the birds. The island is about a
mile long and has a total area of about 400 or 500 acres.
It is clothed with dense tropical vegetation from the
water side to the summit of its hills, which rise to a
height of 490 feet above the sea level. It was once the
home of an old hermit named Mitchell, who was marooned
upon it. The descendants of the fowls which he kept
are still to be found in the island in a wild state.
The scenery on the north side of Tobago is very
imposing. Man-o’-War Bay, on the shore of which is the
village of Charlotteville, nestling at the foot of the hills,
should be visited. A minor inlet bears the suggestive
name of Pirate’s Bay. From Charlotteville a bridle
track runs west to Castara, which is linked by driving
roads to Plymouth and Scarborough.
Writing of Tobago in 1683, Captain John Poyntz said :
Thou art here presented with The Present Prospect of the
Island of Tobago, about forty Leagues distant from Barbadoes ;
but far excelling that Island...”
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“...GRENADA
153
called Grand Carenage, adjoining Harvey Vale Bay, is
famed for its oysters which grow on the roots of man,
grove trees. Grenada’s other dependencies are Diamond
Island, or “ Kick-em-Jenny,” as it is popularly called ;
Islet Ronde, Les Tantes, Isle de Caille, and Levera,
Green, Bird, Conference, Marquis, Bacolet, Adam, Cali-
viny, Hog and Glover islands; while round Carriacou
there are Petit Martinique—so called because the French
found snakes there similar to those in its larger name-
sake—Petit Tobago and Saline, Frigate, Large, Mabouya,
Sandy and Jack Adam islands. " Kick-em-Jenny ” in
particular is generally pointed out to visitors owing to
its peculiar name, which is probably a corruption of “ Cay
qui gêne,” the cay or island which bothers one ; for the
sea is often very rough in the neighbourhood.
INDUSTRIES. Grenada is entirely dependent for its pros-
perity on agriculture. Sugar was once its staple, but the
production of that commodity is now insufficient to meet local...”
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“...founded the colony. The settlers, who were at
first well received, soon quarrelled with the Caribs ; but with the
aid of reinforcements from Martinique, the Indians were
exterminated. On the northern coast the Mome des Sauteurs
is still shown, where many of the Caribs leapt into the sea
in order to escape from their enemies. Du Parquet, now
in full possession of the island, did not find it profitable, and so
in 1656 he sold it to Count de Cerillac for about £1,890. The
latter appointed as Governor a man " of brutal manner/* who
oppressed the colonists to such an extent that he was tried and
condemned to be hanged. By pleading that he was of noble
origin he managed, however, to get the sentence altered to one
of beheading, but no skilful executioner being available, he was
at last shot at the summit of the hill on the Grand Etang road.
De Cerillac sold the island in 1664 to the French West India
Company, and on the dissolution of that organisation at the
end of the year 1674 it passed to the French...”
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“...praying. Not a word was exchanged among us , we all
knew an attack from that quarter must fad of success, which
would not only prolong our misery, but endanger our lives.
The door was opened ; two men appeared with hammers to
take the prisoners out of stocks. Those who were not in con-
finement were ordered to go out . ■ . He (Fédon) began the
bloody massacre in presence of his wife and daughters who
remained there, unfeeling spectators of his horrid barbarity.
He eave the word Feu himself to every man as soon as he came
out ? and, of fifty-one prisoners, only Parson M Mahon, Mr. Kerr,
and myself were saved.
At Charlotte Town, or Gouyave (population 1,927) on
the leeward coast, about twelve miles to the north of
St. George’s by road (i| hours by motor-boat or one
hour by motor-car—see page 155), a flourishing system
of peasant proprietorship can be seen in o^ration.
Attempts have been made in the other islands to settle
the people on the land, but nowhere have they proved
on successful us in...”
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“...which form prominent landmarks on the leeward
coast.
Some writers have stated that the Gros Piton
resembles the main peak of the Canigou, near Arles in the
Pyrenees; but unlike the St. Lucia peaks, that moun-
tain is quite destitute of verdure and rises to a far greater
height. The Gros Piton is certainly not unlike the Pic
du Midi. It is said to be 2,619 feet high, and the Petit
Piton 2,461 feet. The Gros Piton is comparatively easy
to climb, but untU 1878, the smaller Piton was uncon-
quered by man. In that year a M. Lompré succeeded
in ascending it, and it was ascended again in 1885 by
Mr. Charles de Brettes, who two years later conducted
the then Chief Justice, Dr. John W. Carrington, and a
party to the summit. The start was made from the
western extremity, which was reached by clambering
over the rocks. The party began the ascent at 6.22
a.m. and at 7-J5 reached the Grande Ravine, a deep
gorge running into the mountain. Thence the fine of
ascent lay more along the side of the mountain...”
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“...ANTIGUA
203
1815, as the result of a carriage accident which the
sculptor has graphically portrayed in basso rilievo.
In the background is the animal, apparently of the cart-horse
breed, scampering away with the broken shafts and traces
hanging around him ; in the foreground, is the figure of a man,
kneeling and supporting in his arms a female, whose listless
posture portrays the dire event. The face of the female
is well executed, the features expressing acute suffering, while
they tell the hand of death is upon them ; but the figure is
execrable in its proportions, the hand and arm being quite as
large as the leg and foot of the man, if not larger.—Antigua and
the Antiguans.
Of the elaborate monument erected to the memory of
Ralph Payne, Lord Lavington, Governor of the Leeward
Islands from 1771 to 1774 and from 1779 to 1807, when
lie died in Government House, only a few fragments
remain. Lord Lavington, who was born in St. Kitts
ind sat in five parliaments in England, was buried at
tiis...”
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“...206 POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
On the summit of Monks Hill, overlooking Falmouth, 1
stands the remains of Great George Fort, which covered 1
ten acres and mounted, according to Luffman, “ forty- I
eight pounders, said to be the identical guns taken out of I
the Fourdriaunt1 man-of-war, taken some years since I
in these seas.” It was erected as a place of refuge for I
women and children in case of siege. The works were I
begun in 1689, and completed in 1705. The military I
cemetery, which like others in the West Indies is badly I
cared for, is of interest. The fort is used as a signal I
station.
Ships now very rarely visit English Harbour ; and the I
dockyard, with its group of yellow, two-storied barracks I
and stores with red roofs, though trim and tidy, is I
deserted. For many years even the mail steamers have I
forsaken the harbour for St. John’s. The two-storied I
building with an cpen gallery and double flight of steps I
was th.e Officers’ Quarters. Alongside them are the I
seamen’s...”
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“...ST. CHRISTOPHER
223
pieces of heavy cannon and twenty-four large mortars
was concentrated on a spot of ground not exceeding 200
Shards in diameter. Small wonder that the garrison,
which displayed the greatest fortitude and patience, and
lost only one man through desertion, was compelled to
bapitulate, which it did on February 13th. It was
accorded honours of war in the fullest sense, and every
condition proposed, whether in favour of the garrison or
the island of St. Kitts, was agreed to. The men of the
tst Battalion of the Royal Scots and the flank companies
Df the 15th Regiment (now the East Riding, Yorkshire
Regiment) were sent to England pending their exchange,
and the Marquis de Bouillé with his wonted magnanimity
Absolved by a particular article, as “an avowed
acknowledgment of their gallantry,” Governor Shirley
and Brigadier-General Fraser from the condition of being
considered prisoners of war. Governor Shirley was
allowed to return to Antigua, and General Fraser to
continue in...”
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“...Carribee
Ieland & Cover® of y*
Island of St Christ*
who departed this
LIFE ON IO OF
March 1648.
8
e
1
1
1
First Read then weepe when thou art hereby taught
That Warner lyes interr’d here, one that bought
With losse of Noble bloud the Illustrious Name
Of A Comander Greate in Acts of Fame.
Traynd from his youth in Armes his Courage bold
Attempted braue Exploites, and Vncontrold
By fortunes fiercest frownes hee still gaue forth
Large Narratiues of Military worth
Written with his swords poynt but what is man
In the midst of his glory and who can
Secure this Life A moment since that hee
Both by Sea and Land so long kept free
At mortal stroakes at length did yeeld
Grace to Conqueringe Death the field
1
.1
Fine Coronat.
[The words and letters in italics, which are missing on the<
tombstone, are from a copy of the inscription made in 1785 ini
the Davy MSS.]
St. Thomas is the parish church of Old Road.
Every visitor to St. Kitts should endeavour to see the;
sister island of Nevis, which can be reached by...”
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“...the Leprosie, and that one of the same
persons now, or lately dwelt at Woolwich neere the River of
Thames, by whom the truth may be knowne, if any man desire
to be further satisfied therein. As for my own experience,
although it was not much, yet the effects that I found it work
both in my selfe, and other of my company in two dayes space,
doe cause me to conceive the best of it. For at my coming
thither, I was grievously vexed with an extreme cough, which
I much feared would tume me to great harme, but bathing in
the Bath, and drinking the water, I was speedily cured ; and
ever since that time I have found the state of my body (I give
God thankes for it) farre exceeding what it was before, in strength
and health.
In 1672, Richard Blome wrote of the springs as
being “ much frequented for the curing of the several
distempers of the Body of Man.” The Rev. Mr. Smith,
in his “ Natural History of Nevis,” 1745, tells how it
cured a negro boy of leprosy. “ Indeed, all distempered
People, both Whites...”
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“...Jolly John.”
Permission can readily be obtained to visit lime and
cacao estates, and many profitable days can be spent by
the more enterprising visitors in exploring the virgin
forests which still cover a great part of this beautiful
island.
THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
St. Ursula’s Archipelago
It is related of a certain Cabinet Minister that when
asked in the House of Commons, if he could state where
the Virgin Islands were situated he replied that he could
only say they were a long way from the Isle of Man !
This was substantially correct.
Geographically the Virgin Islands consist of a group of
islands and islets which lies in latitude 180 27' N. and
longitude 64° 39' W., about 60 miles to the eastward of
Porto Rico. The British Islands in this group include
Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost van Dyke, Peter’s...”
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“...to neither of which it belongs at
14 was on this
*2 ih t ^obert Jeffrey, an armourer’s mate of the
nffiSlr! Rec'Ut*WaS marooned by his commanding
officer. Captain the Hon. Warwick Lake, as a punishment
for misdemeanours in December, 1807. After eight
£:.dun^ whlch he managed to sustain life on a few
lunpets and rainwater, he was picked up by an American
ship and taken to Marblehead, Mass., where heTecured
work as a smith Meanwhile the Commanderen Chfef
had caused Sombrero to be searched for the man but it
was not until 1810 that he was discovered inThe UffitVd
States and brought to England in H.M.S. Thistle which
was sent out specially to bring him home. Jeffrey
received /fion™ “ ™.Sed jn the House of Commons;
ment ifcmPen®atlon from the British Govem-
CaPtam Lake was court martialled and dis-
mLondon S6TCeK Jeffrey afterwards exhibited himself
m London. Sombrero was once leased to a conmanv
phosphates Of lime, but the lease ex^
pu-ed in 1893. On August 10th, 1904, an Order in
SS Jaa daSte...”
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“...—Waller’s " Voyage in the West Indies,
1820.’’
Describing the amenities of these islands in The West
India Committee Circular in 1921, Mr. John Levo wrote :
One can imagine no better holiday for a fisherman than cruising
in a motor-boat among the islands, with a tent for shore of
nights, with food and conversation enriched from the day’s
catch. It is a common occurrence here, bank-fishing off Peter
Island, for the angler to catch his king-fish and then lose it
again in the jaws of a shark. One man with a rod, and another
with a gun, would make an effective combination, and give an
additional zest to the sport. Good health, a perfect climate,
a moderate and sure return for small capital and congenial
work—all are to be experienced in a land so beautiful that to...”
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