Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/960

 908 FRANCE: — GUADELOUPE AND DEPENDENCIES

AMERICA.

GUADELOUPE AND DEPENDENCIES.

Guadeloupe, situated in the Lesser Antilles, consists of two islands separated by a narrow channel, called 'Riviere Salee.' That on the west is called Guadeloupe proper or Basse-Terre, and that to the east, Grande- Terre,with a united area of 138,000 hectares (532 square miles), and a cir- cumference of 275 miles ; it has five dependencies consisting of the smaller islands, Marie Galante, LesSaintes, Desirade, St. Barthelemy, and St. Martin, the total area being 688 square miles. It is under a governor and an elected council, and is represented by a senator and two deputies. Population (1912) 212,430, of whom 3,461 were born in France and 12,306 were foreigners. Instruction (1919-20) is given in 1 lycee with 377 pupils, a secondary course for girls at Pointe-a-Pitre, with 201 pupils, and 101 public and private ele- mentary schools. The public elementary schools have 261 teachers and 14,022 pupils, and the private have 634 under 28 mistresses. The seat of govern- ment is Basse-Terre (8,184 inhabitants). Pointe-a-Pitre (22,664 inhabi- tants) has a fine harbour. Revenue and expenditure balanced at 6,942,490 francs (214,767 local) for 1918. Outstanding debt, December 31, 1917, 416,784 francs.

Chief products are sugar, coffee, vanilla (35,000 pounds in 1920), cacao, and rum. For local consumption there are grown bananas, sweet potatoes, manioc, tobacco, indian corn, and vegetables.

In 1919, the imports were 63,844,241 francs, and the exports 103,628,520 francs (sugar, 17,692 tons ; coffee, 2,251 tons ; rum, 19,599,078 litres ; cacao, 1,429 tons). Guadeloupe is in direct communication with France by means of two steam navigation companies. A new wireless station at Destrellan was opened in 1918. Within the islands traffic is carried on by means of roads. The Bank of Guadeloupe, with a capital of 3,000,000 francs, and reserve funds amounting to 843,746 francs, advances loans chiefly for agricultural purposes, even on the security of jewellery. The Roj^al Bank of Canada has also established a branch. There is likewise another bank, the Banque de Commerce, but while this is a private institution, the Banque de la Guade- loupe and the Royal Bank of Canada have a semi-official character. Silver coin has disappeared from circulation ; nickel treasury tokens (bons) of 1 franc and of 50 centimes are authorised up to a total emission of 1,000,000 francs.

British Vice-Consul at Guadeloupe. — J. E. Devaux.

GUIANA.

The colony of French Guiana, on the north-east coast of South America, is administered by a Governor, assisted by a Privy Council of 5 members. The colony has a Council-General of 1 6 members elected by French citizens resident in Guiana, and is represented in the French Parliament by one deputy. Area about 32,000 square miles, and population, 1918, 26,325. Cayenne, the chief town and only seaport, has a population of 13,527, and the other 14 communes have 12,798. These figures are exclusive of the population of the penal settlement, of the floating population of miners without any fixed abode, as also officials, troops, and native tribes. At Cayenne there are a court of first instance, a court of appeal, and justices of the peace, with jurisdiction in other localities. The military force consists of 150 European officers and men. On December 31, 1918, there were 24 primary schools with 2,003 pupils, and 4 Congregational schools with 512 pupils. The penal settlement also has 4 schools with 1 63 pupils. There is