SAINT THOMAS, one of the most westerly of the group of Virgin islands, is in lat. 18' 20' n., long. 65' w.; area (Almarutelt de Gotha, 1879), 33 sq.m.; pop. about 114,000. It belongs to Denmark.
The interior of the island is mountainous, and not very fertile. Since the eman cipation of slaves in 1847, the cultivation of sugar has been entirely abandoned. Cotton is planted, but only in small quantity. The climate is hot, dry, and unhealthy; yellow fever is endemic, and preys much npom Europeans, the natives being seldom affected by it.
The principal town, Charlotte Amalie, is situated on the side of the mountain, and descends nearly to the margin of the harbor. The houses, which appear from the harbor tier above tier, and have a beautiful and picturesque effect, are built of a bright cream colored limestone, surrounded with balconies, verandas, and jalousies, fancifully painted, and the roof covered with galvanized iron or shingles (the latter gayly colored %i hen brightened up with the rays of a tropical sun), and presenting at night, when lighted up with lamps, a very striking effect. The town itself is laid out with rather narrow streets, but there are sonic good stores and hotels in the place. The governor's house,
to the e. of the town, is a large and imposing building; and an ancient ruin, "Blue Beard's castle," crowns an elevation. The harbor is land-locked on three sides; the entrance to it, fortified on both sides, is rather narrow. The harbor is spacious, and has deep water, is much occupied with shipping of many nations, and has been much improved since 1364 by dredging. The Royal Steam-packet company have made it a central station for their large steamers, from whence the intercolonial steamers diverge on their different routes through the adjoining seas. About 750 British vessels of all kinds, exclusive of ships of war and mail-packets, enter the harbor annually. The average annual .value of the imports, exclusive of coal, is about £1;000,000.
In Oct., 1867, a fearful hurricane took place. In Jan., 1868, Denmark agreed to a treaty for the sale of St. Thomas and St. John to the United States; but as the United States legislature declined to ratify it, the treaty never took effect.