The West India Islands [pp. 455-500]

THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS.
EXPORTS OF GUAIANA IN TEN YEARS.
ARS SUGAR. RUM. MOLASSES. COEE. COTTO.
YEARS. hhds. punch. hhds. lbs. bales.
1834... 55.277 19.517 33.413 2.532.000 3.376
1835... 67.248 27.147 27.160 3.278.930 2.319
1836... 71.280 24.626 38.088 4.801.350 3.196
1837... 62.520 17.602 31.429 4.066.950 2.510
1838... 54.535 18.431 25.506 4.186.790 1.083
1839... 38.444 16.071 12.134 2.003.250 1.364
1840... 40.656 21.199 15.999 3.357.300 231
1841. 34.199 11.118 16.1.79 1.088.670 170
1842... 36.211 11.631 17.894 2.177.120 40
1843.... 35.938 8.296 24.957 1.428.100 24
1844... 38.999 11.706 21.677 1.490.737 0
Bahama.-This group consists of several hundred islands, extending south-east six hundred miles between Florida and Hlayti. They
are of coral formation, scantily covered with soil, and mostly uninhabited. New Providence, from its harbor, is the most important. It is
the seat of Government, and differs little, in general appearance, from
the other islands. Nassau is the capital. The whole area of the
islands is stated at 5.424 miles. Population in 1837, 19.943; twothirds being black. The inhabitants are residents or wreckers. The
latter are very numerous, and are daring navigators, who find constant
employ from the dangerous keys, shoals and breakers by which they
are surrounded. Number employed in agriculture, 3.590. Articles
of product-corn, potatoes, yams, peas, beans, pine apples, cotton, ochre,
cassada, pumpkins, arrow root, oranges, limes, lemons. Dye woods are
largely exported, and vast quantities of salt. Exports, in 1834, ~92.802; imports, ~142.021. The Bahamas were settled by the British
in 1629. They were driven out by the Spaniards, who in turn were
expelled. The French and Spaniards, combined, took possession in
1703. From that period till the cession to Britain in 1783, the islands
were a famous rendezvous for pirates.
Burmuda.-This is a group of three hundred and fifty small islands
on the Atlantic, east of South Carolina. The population is 8.000, of
whom half are black. Hamilton is the capital. The exports are arrow root, potatoes, onions, palmetto and straw hats. They have one
hundred vessels engaged in the West India carrying trade. About
:one thousand barrels of oil are taken annually on the coasts.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY, 1847.
Imports. Exports.
"From Great Britain.......................... ~52 079 2.943
"' North America........................ 3.199 207
?nation," was educated, we believe, in England, and crowned May, 1845. The
British government keep up a resident agency in the country.
Honduras and Mosquito, together, are three hundred and ninety-nine miles long
and one hundred and fifty wide; area, 48.500 square miles. An able historical and
descriptive sketch has been written by Mr. Roberts. On a review of the whole, it
isobserved by McGreggor, "it is evident that the Mosquito Territory is a most
important region of America." British subjects have settled in vatious parts. Mr.
Walker, the resident agent, employs much of his time in endeavoring to improve
the morale and condition of the creoles. An ensign and standard for the nation,
were sent out to them from England. It would be well for the United States,
whose policy is non-interference by Europeans on the American continent, to
hare a vigilant eye to the movements on the Mosquito Coast.
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