The History of the Island of Dominica: Containing a Description of Its Situation, Extent, Climate, Mountains, Rivers, Natural Productions, &c. &c.Atwood, Thomas
History
The History of the Island of Dominica: Containing a Description of Its Situation, Extent, Climate, Mountains, Rivers, Natural Productions, &c. &c.
Atwood, Thomas
Black people -- Dominica; Dominica -- Description and travel; Dominica -- History; Natural history -- Dominica; Slavery -- Dominica
This last is in the parish of Saint John, on the north-west part of
the island, distant about seven leagues from the town of Roseau.
The bay is three miles across, and one and a half deep, that is to
say, from the extremity of each point, to the shore of the land
laid out for a town. In this bay the whole of the British navy may
safely ride at anchor all seasons of the year, and be well supplied
with necessaries not be found at English harbours in Antigua, or
any other part of the English West Indies, the rendezvous of the
British fleet. It is surrounded by two high mountains, called the
Cabrittes; the inner of which is about five hundred, and the outer
six hundred feet perpendicular; both of them are out of the reach
of other heights.
At the bottom of these mountains, between the inner one and the
main land, is a large piece of swampy ground, upwards of one
hundred acres in extent; which, if well drained, would pasture many
cattle, sheep, and other stock, for the use of the garrison; and
the stock, feeding under the muzzles of the guns, would be secure
from being pillaged, or destroyed by the enemy.
Soon after the arrival of Colonel Andrew Fraser, his Majesty’s
chief Engineer for that island, the Legislature of Dominica,
wishing to testify their readiness to co-operate with government,
in the important work of fortifying Prince Rupert’s Bay, well
knowing that it would be the only effectual means of preserving the
sovereignty of the country to Great Britain, they passed an act,
granting to his Majesty the labour of one hundred negros, for three
years, to be paid for by the colony.
The work was accordingly began, by cutting down the trees on the
Cabrittes, tracing roads to the tops of them, and draining the
swamps; from which, in a few months, fifteen inches of water was
carried off, and it was found that they could be effectually
drained; whereby the healthiness of fort Shirley, which lays
between the two Cabrittes, was established. But on the rumour of a
fresh war, expected between England and France in 1787, the negros
so granted by the colony were withdrawn from Prince Rupert’s Bay by
Governor Orde, who employed them on the fortifications of Roseau,
particularly on Demoullen’s Hill, the works of which were then
first began. However, the fortifying the Cabrittes has since been
re-commenced; and when completed, there is no doubt but that they
will be nearly as formidable as the rock of Gibraltar.
At the distance of about twelve miles from Roseau, and nine miles
from Prince Rupert’s Bay, is the grand Savanna, which also might
be well fortified, and rendered of great service, for the defence
of the island. The Savanna is a fine extensive plain, upwards of a
mile in extent; is on a tolerable height above the sea-shore, and
at a great distance from the mountains above it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account