Montserrat

Montserrat, one of the Lesser Antilles, belonging to Britain, lies 27 miles SW. of Antigua. It is about 11 miles in length, 7 in breadth, and has an area of 32 sq. m. Pop. (1881) 10,083; (1891) 11,762, of whom 1500 were at Plymouth, the chief town. The surface is very mountainous (3000 feet), and heavily timbered. Sugar and limes and lime-juice are the principal products. The island, governed by a president and a legislative council, is the healthiest in the West Indies. The imports average nearly £25,000, and the exports £21,100. The island was discovered in 1493, and colonised by the British in 1632. It has remained in their hands ever since, except for two short intervals (1664-68 and 1782-84), when it was in the possession of France.