252 BRITISH EMPIRE: — WEST INDIES
Currency, weights and measures throughout the islands are those of Great Britain, though in several of them various American coins are current.
The Royal Commission appointed in January to inquire into the condition of the West Indian sugar-growing colonies, presented its report in August, 1897. The general conclusions are that the sugar industry in the West Indies is in danger of great reduction, in some cases of extinction, not on account of mismanagement, but from the competition of sugar-growing countries assisted by bounties; that in several of the islands there is no other industry which could profitably take its place, and that the total or partial extinction of this industry would seriously affect the condition of the labouring classes, and so reduce the revenues of the colonies, that in many cases they would be insufficient to meet the cost of administration. Measures of relief have been adopted.
Books of Reference on the West Indies.
Tlic Jamaica Gazette. Weekly. Kingston, Jamaica.
The Official Gazette. Twice a week. Bridgeton, Barbados.
Report of the West India Royal Commission, 1897, with Apjicndices. 4 vols. London, 1S97. Correspondence relating to the Sugar Industry in the West Indies. London, 1897.
Statistical Abstract for the Colonies, &c. Annual. London.
Colonial Office List. Annual. London.
Blue Books of the respective Colonies.
Bates (H. W.), Central America, the West Indies, and South America. 2nd ed. S. London, 1882.
Bulkelcy (0. T.), The Lesser Antilles. 8. London, 1889.
Caldecot (A.), The Church in the West Indies. London, 1898.
Drayton (E.), The Grenada Handbook. London, 1898.
.Bws (C. W.), The West Indies. 4th ed. 8. London, 1897.
JPrascr (S. J.), Barbados Directory. Barbados, 1898.
Froucle (J. A.), The English in the West Indies. 8. London, 1888.
Jamaica in 1S96. A Handbook of Information. Institute of Jamaica. Kingston, 1896.
Kingsley (Charles), At Last: A Christmas in the West Indies. 2 vols. 8. London, 1871.
Musson (S. P.) and Roxburgh (T. L.), The Handbook of Jamaica. 8. London, 1896.
Oliver (Y. L.), History of Antigua— Fol. London, 1894.
Poivles (L. D.), The Land of the Pink Pearl. 8. London, 1888.
i?(?cJ«s (E.), Nouvelle Geographic Universelle. Vol. XVII. 8. London, 1888.
Rodway (J.), The West Indies and The Spanish Main. 8. London, 1896.
Schoniburgk (fiir R. H.), History of Barbados. 8. London, 1848.
Stark (J. II), Guides to the West Indies. 6 vols. London, 1898.
