NEVIS, one of the Leeward Islands, in the West Indies, is situated in N. Lat. 17. 10., W. Long. 62. 42. It has an area of about 20 square miles; and consists of a single conical mountain, rising to the height of 2500 feet above the sea, and surrounded by a tract of flat, fertile, and well-cultivated land. Nevis is well watered by streams and rivulets. It was formerly thickly wooded, and even now timber is plentiful on the island, especially on the higher parts of the mountain. The surface, from the shore to a considerable height, is occupied by sugar plantations; and though the soil of the higher districts is less fertile, the climate is not so warm, and many European vegetables are successfully cultivated. The island has no harbours, but there are three roadsteads, the best of which is that of Charlestown, the capital, which stands on the shore of a large bay. Nevis contained in 1850, 380 horses, 2110 horned cattle, 1605 sheep, and 351 mules. Sugar, molasses, and rum are the chief articles of produce; and these, along with live stock, furnish the principal exports of the island. The value of the exports in 1854 was L.32,794, and of imports in the same year L.20,933. Beef, pork, meal, flour, and cotton and linen stuffs are the principal articles imported. The number of vessels that entered in 1854 was 86, and their tonnage 4921; of those that cleared 85, and their tonnage 4518. The government is in the hands of a president, who is subject to the governor-in-chief of Antigua; and there is a council of seven, and a representative assembly of nine members. For ecclesiastical purposes, the island is divided into five parishes; and there is a Wesleyan mission, which has been in operation here since 1789. There were in 1854 fourteen schools, attended by 1707 scholars; but though the state of education is thus far satisfactory, the instruction is of a somewhat superficial and unpractical character. No government aid is given to the schools. There is an hospital on the island for the poor and infirm, which receives an annual grant of L.150. The revenue in 1854 amounted to L.3875, and the expenditure to L.4123.
This island was discovered by Columbus, and named by him after the mountain Nieves in Spain, to which it bore some resemblance. It was first settled by the British in 1628 from the neighbouring island of St Kitt's, and soon rose to a high pitch of prosperity and importance; but in the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century it suffered severely from the ravages of an epidemic, the hostilities of the French, and the devastation of a hurricane. Nevis afterwards gradually regained its prosperity; but since the emancipation of the slaves it has been gradually declining; the proprietors, from their aversion to
that measure, having endeavoured to preserve as much as possible of the old system, which had ceased to be applicable or beneficial in the present state of society, instead of adopting a system suitable to the changed state of affairs. The absence of any law respecting the relations of master and servant produces mutual distrust; and the acquisition of wealth by the Negroes is still discouraged by their employers. The white population does not exceed 60 adult males; while the whole population is estimated at more than 10,000.