THE LEEWARD ISLANDS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 10, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 15.

THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

THESE are a number of small islands of the West Indies, east and southeast of Porto Rico. They are tropical, often fertile, and some of them mountainous with picturesque scenery. All are subject to fierce heat and storms. During a portion of the year destructive hurricanes, or cyclones, are common, and earthquakes are not infrequent. Sugar is a standard crop; but cotton, tobacco, dyestuffs, rare woods, and tropical fruits are exported. Brother A. J. Haysmer, who is laboring on these islands, writes of them:—

“During the past two years these islands have been visited by several destructive hurricanes, followed by floods, droughts, and earthquakes. Then followed a fall in the price of sugar and other crops; and these calamities have left the islands in a deplorable condition. For instance, the island of Monserrat in one year had 500 earthquakes, a flood, and a hurricane, and now there is a drought. All the churches and nearly all the houses in the island were blown down.

“The island that I am now visiting [St. Christopher] is wholly sugar producing. All the land is

the property of estate-owners, and the rest of the inhabitants are dependent on them. The people, with tears in their eyes, tell me that they can not get sufficient food to sustain their weak bodies. By working hard they realize from thirty-six to forty-eight cents a week, and with this small sum they have to provide food and shelter for themselves and families. This state of things is driving our self-supporting workers from the field; and the great question is, How are we to reach this poor but reading people with the truth for this time? I am convinced that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is the best medium we have to enlighten this people; but we have no means to pay for the clubs of the paper, and we can not expect the people to pay for it, when themselves and families are destitute of food and clothing.”