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                                THE

                              HISTORY

                              OF THE

                        ISLAND OF DOMINICA.

                            CONTAINING

              A DESCRIPTION OF ITS SITUATION, EXTENT,
                    CLIMATE, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS,
                   NATURAL PRODUCTIONS, &c. &c.

                           TOGETHER WITH

         AN ACCOUNT OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT, TRADE, LAWS,
         CUSTOMS, AND MANNERS OF THE DIFFERENT INHABITANTS
                   OF THAT ISLAND. ITS CONQUEST
                  BY THE FRENCH, AND RESTORATION
                     TO THE BRITISH DOMINIONS.


                         By THOMAS ATWOOD.


                              LONDON:

      PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, NO. 72, ST. PAUL’S CHURCHYARD.

                            M DCC XCI.




INTRODUCTION.


It is greatly to be lamented, that although the island of Dominica
is so very capable of being rendered one of the chief, if not the
best, the English have in the West Indies; yet, from a want of
knowledge of its importance, or inattention, it is at this time
almost as much unsettled, as when it was ceded to Great Britain,
near thirty years ago.

This is the more remarkable, from the great consequence the
possession of it is to the English, in case of a rupture with
France, it being the key of the British dominions in that part
of the world, and from its situation between the two principal
settlements of the French, Martinique and Guadeloupe, it is the
only place in the West Indies, by which there is a possibility for
Great Britain to maintain the sovereignty of those seas.

It has moreover many conveniences for the service of both an army
and fleet, which few other West India islands can boast; and was
it to be well settled with British subjects, would be of material
assistance to our other possessions, by furnishing them with many
articles of which they very often are greatly in need.

For the purpose of bringing forth to view these capabilities of
Dominica, the following history of that island is submitted to the
candid perusal of a generous public by the author; whose chief
inducement for writing it, was his hope, that it might be some
small means of service to a country, in which he has spent several
years of his life, and the prosperity of which, it is his ardent
wish to see speedily promoted.

The history of distant settlements belonging to Great Britain, it
is presumed, cannot fail of being acceptable to every Englishman
who wishes well to his country; and however deficient this essay of
his may be, in point of erudition, correctness, or correspondent
circumstances, yet, from its being the first on the subject, the
author hopes it may meet with a favourable reception.

It falls not within the compass of this work to enter into details
of acts of the legislature, the conduct of governors, or of
individuals of that island; these he leaves for a more extensive
work, or for abler pens to record; and if what is here submitted
to public perusal serve in the least to promote the welfare of
the present and future inhabitants of Dominica, and thereby the
interests of the British nation at large, the purpose of the author
by this publication will be fully answered.

  London, May 1791.




CONTENTS.


CHAP. I.

  _Description of the island, its situation, extent, climate,
  and other subjects; together with an account of
  the conquest of it, its cession to Great Britain, and the disposal
  of the lands by the crown._                                 Page 1


CHAP. II.

  _Description of the soil, mountains, and woods; of valuable timber,
  and other trees; also of the birds of the woods peculiar
  to the island._                                                 17


CHAP. III.

  _Of the rivers and lakes in the island, river and fresh water
  fish, also of sea fish, land crabs, and a description of the native
  quadruped, and other animals._                                  35


CHAP. IV.

  _Of the most remarkable reptiles and insects of the island, their
  venomous and other qualities, with remarks._                    51


CHAP. V.

  _An account of the different articles of West India produce raised
  in the island; the number of sugar and coffee plantations
  therein, with remarks._                                         72


CHAP. VI.

  _Names and descriptions of particular West India fruits which
  grow in the island; also of European