DOMINICA, or DOMIN IQUE, dom-e-nek', West Indies, an island in the northern half of the Caribbean chain of the Lesser Antilles. (See AwrimEs). It is the largest of the British Carribbees, being 29 miles long, 16 miles broad, and having an area of 291 square miles; it has also the highest summit of this volcanic island chain, the Morne Diablotin (5,314 feet), several thermal springs, and an old crater-lake about 2,800 feet above sea-level which formerly was flooded by boiling water from springs bubbling up from the bottom, and every five minutes upheaving in a foaming geyser.° The area of this lake was diminished by land slides which occurred in 1880, but it is still of great depth. The rainfall of the island is very abundant. The summer temperature is about 80° F.; that of winter, spring, and autumn about 70° F. An interesting part of the population is a group of Caribs (q.v.), about 400, though these aborigines are now largely mixed with the blacks. There are about 100 apparently pure Caribs. They inhabit the mountains of the in terior, and make their livelihood by weaving a peculiar basket which is universally used in the island for carrying baggage.° The blacks re ferred to, descendants of African slaves of the period when Dominica belonged to France, are by far the most numerous element; they, as well as most of the white inhabitants, speak a French patois, and °still look upon the British owners as foreigners.* With the exception of the Indians, the people live near the coasts. In the luxuriance and beauty of its vegetation, Dominica excels the other neighboring islands. Its soil is a rich brown mold, in which all trop ical products grow readily. Of its 186,240 acres, two-thirds are crown lands, but the gov ernment has utterly failed to promote agricul ture, which is now nearly ruined. Exports are cattle, cocoa, lime-juice, rum, molasses, coffee, fruit and sugar. The revenues do not equal ex
penditures, and taxes are increasing. In 1915-16 the revenues amounted to $253,180, and the ex penditures to $284,975. Imports in 1915-16 were valued at $956,325 and the exports at $1,092,330. There are 432 miles of telephone line in oper ation. Dominica is a presidency, belonging to the British Leeward Island administrative group, which includes also Saint Christopher, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Redonda, and the British Virgin islands, the seat of the Leeward government being at Saint John, An tigua. The local government is conducted by a commissioner, or president, an executive council of seven members, and a legislative council of 12 nominated members. These officials exercise their authority at the small town of Roseau, which is situated on the western side of the island, and has wide and regularly paved, but deserted, streets, a botanical garden, a public library, and French (Catholic) and English churches. The name of the island (from Span ish Domingo, Sunday) is due to the circum stance that Columbus discovered it on the first day of the week, 3 Nov. 1493. The warlike Caribs retained control of it during two cen turies, but little by little French settlers gained a foothold, and in the 18th century its posses sion was regarded as essential to the mainte nance of French prestige in the West Indies, owing to its situation between the important de pendencies of that country, Martinique and Guadeloupe. For that very reason the English insisted upon its surrender, in the final balanc ing of international accounts after the imperial wars, early in the last century. Many laborers have migrated to North and South America in search of employment. Pop. 36,645.