GRENADA, gre-rffeda. A British island and colony, in the Windward group of the West Indies, situated northwest of Trinidad (Map: West Indies, R 8). Area, 133 square miles. The island is of volcanic origin, and contains several extinct craters and hot mineral and sulphur springs. in the centre rises a moun tain ridge, with peaks about 3000 feet high, and outlying spurs interspersed with beautiful and fertile valleys. The picturesque coast is indented by fine bays and harbors. The island is well watered by numerous small streams, and the annual precipitation is excessive, sometimes amounting to 200 inches. One of the natural features of the island is the Grand Etang, a round lake two miles in circuit, 1800 feet above the sea; sanatoriums are established on its shores. Agriculture constitutes the chief occupa tion, and the area under cultivation exceeds 20,000 acres, mostly under cacao. The cultiva tion of sugar-cane was formerly the chief indus try, but since the emancipation of the slaves and the division of the land into small holdings sugar has been almost completely replaced by cacao and spices. The annual commerce exceeds
$2,500,000. The administration of the island is vested in a Governor and a legislative council of thirteen members, six officially nominated by the Governor and seven unofficially nominated by the Crown. Carriacou, the chief island of the Gren adines (q.v.), is an administrative dependency of Grenada. The capital, Saint George, the head quarters of the Government of the Windward Islands, situated on a strongly fortified bay on the southwest coast, has a fine harbor, capable of accommodating the largest vessels, and is an imperial coaling station. Population of island, in 1901, 63,438, mostly colored. Gre nada was discovered by Columbus in 1498, and was settled by the French in 1650-51. The commercial development of the island dates from 1714, when the French West India Company took up its exploitation. In 1762 Grenada was captured by the British, from whom it was re taken by the French in 1779, but restored in 1783. Consult The Grenada Handbook (London, 1898) ; also the authorities referred to under BRITISH WEST INDIES.