Viewing page 52 of 64

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

98   Dominica 45.
they're not slow to punish him if he does anything wrong. We were sorry to leave him because we think he's a much nicer dog than they deserve. Mr. Tavernier told us one day that he had noticed an improvement in the cat since we came. The poor thing had never been petted before, - hardly knew what it was like. He's carried about by the tail and generally neglected. It was playful but never learned to play without being rough. In the long run I think the cat will stand the strain better than Jackie.

Mr. Archer seems to be a man of moods, - or something. Some days he's very cordial and tries to be helpful; other times he's rather short and of little use to anyone. Once he gets an idea into his head it's impossible to find out anything about side-issues, - he just repeats. This may be why he lost the agency of the Canadian National SS. Co. a year or two ago.

Before we left Roseau Ruth took photographs of the large banyan tree in the library grounds and the market place on Saturday morning. Our last set of pictures were very discouraging again. Perhaps we left the film in the camera too long.
[[end page]]

[[start page]]
99
From Aspinall's Pocket Guide to the West Indies:
Dominica is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, of which it is a presidency, and third in size of the British West Indies. It is 29 miles long by 16 miles wide, with area of 291 square miles, and population of 41,000. It is 85 miles southeast of Montserrat, and 30 miles from Guadeloupe and Martinique. It is of volcanic formation and very mountainous. Elevation of Morne Diablotin is given as 4,550 feet (should be 4,747), and it is said to be highest in Antilles or "culminating peak of the Caribbean Andes. In the center of the island the mountains resolve themselves into undulating country of some 20,000 acres in extent, varying from 500 to 1500 feet in height, called the Layan Flats, which is reached by the Imperial Road.
The products of Dominica include: Limes and lime products, cocoa, orange, lumber, and sulphur. It also produces most of its own coffee, sugar, and recently tobacco. Coconuts & copra also exported.
Until about 1750 the island could not be taken from the Caribs. Then the French settled, were driven out by the English in 1759. In 1778 it was again captured by the French, returning to the British in 1783. The French tried again in 1795 and 1805, but failed except to take Roseau on the second expedition.