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“...GENERAL INFORMATION
19
Silver is the currency in the British West Indies, but
British and American gold is negotiable. Public
accounts are kept in sterling, and banking and private
accounts in dollars and cents. (For comparative table
see Appendix III.)
The notes of the British banks operating in the West
Indies are largely used, and those issued in one island
can usually be cashed in others at face value. It is,
however, best to change them in the island of issue.
In the American, French and Dutch islands the
currencies are those of the countries to which they
belong.
In Cuba there is no special currency. American and
Spanish coinage being used. In Haiti the unit is the
Gourde ; but both in that Republic and in the neigh-
bouring one of Santo Domingo American gold circulates
freely. In Colombia the unit is the Peso, in Venezuela
the Bolivar, and in Panama the Balboa, but in each of
those countries American gold is accepted.
BANKS. The principal English, Canadian...”
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“...THE SPANISH MAIN
397
name of Tierra Firme. Meanwhile, Vasco Nufiez de Balboa, had
in 1513, discovered the Pacific, an event which proved the
beginning of a period of immense prosperity for the country.
Gold and silver were transported across the Isthmus of Panama,
and the Spanish galleons gathered in the harbours of Porto Bello
and Cartagena, whence they carried the treasure of the New
World to Cadiz. For years Spain monopolised the trade in
spite of the constant raids by the buccaneers and pirates.
In 1564 the country was formed into a Spanish Presidency
called New Granada, and in 1718 it was raised to the position
of a Viceroyalty, only to be reduced to a Presidency again in
the following year. The Viceroyalty was revived in 1740 and
extended to include Venezuela, a Spanish settlement at the
eastern end of the Main which was making rapid growth. The
attacks against the supremacy of Spain now became more
frequent. In 1572 Sir Francis Drake, who had been furnished...”
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“... succeeded in command by Vasco
Nuflez de Balboa, who had accompanied Bastidas on his voyage
1 Original canal 25 feet deep.
EB...”
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“...4iS POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
in 1501. In 1513 Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and I
discovered the Pacific Ocean. He was succeeded by Pedro I
Arias de Avila, who, in 1514, amalgamated the several colonies I
under the name of Tierra Firme, and five years later founded 1
Panama City. When the wealth of the newly discovered I
countries of the Pacific began to be developed,, the route I
across the Isthmus became immensely important, and much I
treasure was transported over the Gold Road, as it was called, 1
on mules.
Panama was included in the Viceroyalty of New Granada, I
which was established in 1728, and in 1819 it became part of I
the independent nation of Gran Colombia, and in 1831 of that I
of New Granada. In 1842 the provinces of Panama and Veragua I
seceded and formed themselves into the State of Panama, but I
they rejoined later. In 1857 Panama again withdrew, but soon I
returned to the Granadine Confederation, which in 1861 became ]
the Republic of...”
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“...THE PANAMA CANAL 427
filled the pit rapidly, and at 3 o’clock, one hour, and twenty-five
minutes after the water first began to flow over, the level in the
inside channel was that of the outside channel, while the gap
had been widened to 400 feet or more.
From Paraiso the railway runs practically parallel
with the canal to the terminals at Panama and Balboa.
The following table of distances in nautical miles
from the nearest Canal terminal to ports of consequence
may be useful for purpose of reference :
MILES
Boston, Mass. . 2,157
New York . . 1,974
Havana, Cuba . 1,003
New Orleans . . 1,403
Kingston, Jamaica . 551
St. Thomas . . 1,029
MILES
Liverpool . . 4,548
Yokohama, Japan . 7,682
Hong Kong . . 9,i95
Wellington, New Zea-
land . . . 6,505
Sydney, Australia . 7,674
, Between New York and San Francisco the distance
of 13.135 nautical miles by way of the Strait of Magollan
has been reduced to 5,262 miles by the Canal, a re-
duction of three-fiths. From New...”
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“...432 POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
lasted for four weeks, but before it was extinguished the
pirates decamped.
The tower of the old Cathedral is still standing, and
scrambling among the ruins one can appreciate from the
substantial nature of their fabric that old Panama was '
once a city of consequence. By the seashore on which
egrets now sun themselves is a small posada where light
refreshments can be obtained.
If time permits, a visit should be paid to the wharves
at Balboa, the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, j
behind Ancon Hill, two miles to the west of Panama.
Formerly known as La Boca, the place was renamed in i
honour of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the discoverer of I
the Pacific. It is now an important fuelling station, I
and has dry docks, repair shops, etc., for vessels using j
the Canal.
Balboa is perfectly laid out, with broad driveways,
and many open spaces, the most notable of which is the j
Prado. The houses are built of reinforced concrete, j
The...”
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“...450 POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
Route : London to Kingston (Jamaica), returning to London
via Plymouth and Rotterdam.
Fares. Port. ist Class. Sailing.
Jamaica (Kingston) . . ^30 Fortnightly
Duration of Voyage : London to Kingston-—15 days.
Size of Vessels : 8,000 tons.
(5) THE PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY. Liver-
pool : Goree, Water Street (Bank 9150). London : Royal
Mail House, Leadenhall Street, E.C.3 (Royal 9120). New
York : Sanderson & Sons, Inc., 26, Broadway.
Route : Liverpool via La Rochelle, Santander, Coruna, and
Vigo to Hamilton (Bermuda), Havana (Cuba), Kingston (Ja-
maica) [occasionally], Cristobal, and Balboa en route to Pacific
ports, returning by same route to Plymouth [occasionally] and
Liverpool.
Fares. Ports. 1st Class. 2nd Class. Sailings.
Bermuda (Hamilton) £4° £25 Monthly
Cristobal £55 £35 Fortnightly
Cuba (Havana) ' £5° £34 • »»
Jamaica (Kingston) £50 £34 Occasionally
Duration of Voyage : Liverpool to Havana—17 days.
Size of Vessels...”
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“... : Cadiz to Port of Spain—10 days.
Size of Vessels : 12,000 tons.
(22) THE PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY [see
(5)1-
Route : Santander, Corufia and Vigo to Havana (Cuba),
Kingston (Jamaica) [occasionally], Cristobal and Balboa, en
route to Pacific ports.
(23) COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE, LTD.
(see (8)],
Route : Santander to Havana (Cuba).
Fares. Port. 1st Class. 2nd Class. Sailings.
Cuba (Havana) . . £44 £34 Monthly
Duration of Ocean Voyage ; Santander to Havana—12 days.
Size of Vessels : 11,000 to 12,000 tons.
From Canada
(24) CANADIAN NATIONAL STEAMSHIPS. Canada : 384,
St. James Street, West, Montreal. London : 17-19, Cockspur
Street, S.W. 1 (Regent 2150)....”
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“...458 POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
(31) THE FURNESS BERMUDA LINE (West Indies Dept.)
[see (30)].
Route : New York to St. Thomas, Frederiksted (St. Croix),
Bridgetown (Barbados), and Port of Spain (Trinidad) and back
calling at the same ports.
Fares. Ports. rsf Class. Sailings.
Barbados (Bridgetown) . . $100 Alternate
Trinidad (Port of Spain) . $100 weekly
St. Croix (Frederiksted) . $90 and
St. Thomas . : . . $90 fortnightly
Duration ol Ocean Voyage : New York to St. Thomas—5 days.
Size ol Vessels : 5,500-7,70° tons.
(32) GRACE LINE. London 147, : Leadenhall Street, E.C.
New York : 10, Hanover Square.
Route : New York to Cristobal and Balboa en route to Colom-
bia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile.
Fares. Ports. tst Class. Sailings.
Cristobal .... $145 Weekly
Balboa .... $150 „
Duration ol Voyage : New York to Cristobal—5 and 6 days.
Size of Vessels : 8,000 tons.
(33) THE MUNSON STEAMSHIP LINE. New York: 67,
Wall Street (Bowling Green 3300). Glasgow : Clark & Service...”
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“...STEAMSHIP COMMUNICATIONS
459
(85) THE NEW YORK & PORTO RICO STEAMSHIP COM-
PANY. New York : Foot of Wall Street (John 4600).
Routes : I.—New York to San Juan (Porto Rico).
XI.—New York to Azua, Barahona, La Romana, Macoris,
Monte Cristi, Puerto Plata, Samana and Sanchez (Santo
Domingo) and Turks Islands.
III.—New York to Santo Domingo City direct.
Sailings.
Weekly
Every 3 weeks
Fares. Ports. 1 st Class.
Porto Rico (San Juan) . $70
Santo Domingo (Ports of) $85
Santo Domingo City . f85 to $ 100
Grand Turk (Turks Is-
lands) . . . $85 to 1100
Santo Domingo City
(Direct Service) . $95 Weekly
Duration of Voyage : New York to Porto Rico—4 to 5 days.
New York to Santo Domingo City (direct)—5 days.
Size ol Vessels : 11,000 tons.
(36) PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY. \See (5).]
Route : New York, Havana (Cuba), and Cristobal, and
Balboa (Panama Canal Zone).
Fares. Ports. isf Class. Sailings.
Canal Zone (Balboa and Cris-
tobal) .... $145 Monthly
Cuba (Havana...”
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“...AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES 465
ISTHMIAN AIRWAYS, Inc. Cristobal and Balboa (Panama
Canal Zone).
Regular sight-seeing and commercial services are maintained
by this company between Cristobal and Balboa. They afford
admirable opportunities for inspecting the Panama Canal.
THE COMPAGNIE GÉNERALE AEROPOSTALE. Caracas.
Venezuela.
• Conducts a service between Ciudad Bolivar, La Guaira and
Maracaibo (Venezeula).
CARIBBEAN AIRWAYS, Ltd. Kingston, Jamaica.
Holds a contract from the Jamaica Government for the
carriage of outward mails to Cuba and the United States.
Negotiations are proceeding for the establishment of air-
transport services in and to British West Indies by
ATLANTIC AIRWAYS, Ltd. London : Avenue Chambers,
Southampton Row, W.C.
HH...”
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“..., 276, 277, 278,
285
Bahamas, The, 50-70
Accommodation in, 62
and Turks Islands, 294
Area and situation, 59
Books on, 14
Climate, 61
Communications, 62
Constitution, 62
Development Board, 62, 70
History, 61
Industries, 60
“ Out Islands," 59, 70
Sea Gardens, 69
Sports, 63
Baie de Fort, 304
Baijer, Otto, 203
Bailey’s Bay, 53
Baily, E. H., sculptor, 260
Bains Jaunes, 301
Baker, Captain, 440
Balaclava, Jamaica, 255, 256,
284
Balandra Bay, 116, 136
Balata, 370, 442-3
Balata, la Montagne, 306, 309;
Balboa, 427, 432
Balboa, Vasco Nufiez de, dis- ■
coverer of the Pacific, 397,',
417-8. 432
Baleine Falls, St. Vincent, 196 :
Balliceaux, 182
Bamboo for paper-making, 135 j
Bananas, 22, 167, 253, 284,
389, 394. 4°5. 410. 440-1.
Bande de 1’Est, 136
Banking arrangements, 19
Banks, Sir Joseph, 187
Bannister, Major-General, 278 i
Barabara, the, 176
Barama River, 370
Barbados, 71-109
Accommodation in, 74
Area and situation, 71
Books on, 14
" Charter ’’ of, 74...”
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