a genus of plants of the clas pentandra; and in the natural system arranged under the 30th order, Conortae. See Botany Index.

St Vincent, one of the windward Caribbee islands, which received its name from being discovered on the 22d of January, the feast of that Saint. It is inhabited by a race of people, of whom Dr Robertson gives this account: "There is a great distinction in character between the Caribbees and the inhabitants of the larger islands. The former appear manifestly to be a separate race. Their language is totally different from that of their neighbours in the large islands. They themselves have a tradition that their ancestors came originally from some part of the continent, and having conquered and exterminated the ancient inhabitants, took possession of their lands and of their women. Hence they call themselves Banaree, which signifies a man come from beyond sea. Accordingly, the Caribbees still use two distinct languages, one peculiar to the men, and the other to the women. The language of the men has nothing common with that spoken in the large islands. The dialect of the women considerably resembles it. This strongly confirms the tradition which I have mentioned. The Caribbees themselves imagine that they were a colony from the Galibis, a powerful nation of Guiana in South America. But as their fierce manners approach nearer to those of the people in the northern continent, than to those of the natives of South America, and as their language has likewise some affinity to that spoken in Florida, their origin should be deduced rather from the former than from the latter. In their wars they still preserve their ancient practice of destroying all the males, and preserving the women either for servitude or for breeding."

It remained a long time after it was discovered inhabited by these people, and by another race improperly styled Black Caribs, who are in reality negroes descended, as is generally believed, from some who escaped out of a Guinea ship wrecked upon the coast, and gradually augmented by such as from time to time fled thither from Barbadoes. These nations were often at war; but when their quarrels were composed, they had a strength sufficient to prevent strangers from settling by force. The French, about half a century ago, at the request of the Caribs, made a descent from Martinico, and attacked the negroes, but were repulsed with loss; and found it their interest to conciliate a friendship with both nations by means of presents, and furnishing them with arms and ammunition.

St Vincent was long a neutral island; but, at the peace of 1763, the French agreed that the right to it should be vested in the English; who, in the sequel, at the instance of some rapacious planters, engaged in an unjust war against the Caribbees, who inhabited the windward St Vincent, windward side of the island, and who were obliged to content to a peace, by which they ceded a very large tract of valuable land to the crown. The consequence of this was, that in the next war, in 1779, they greatly contributed to the reduction of this island by the French, who, however, restored it by the peace of 1783. Since that time it has continued in the possession of Great Britain. During the French revolutionary war, the Caribs revolted; and, assisted by the French, spread devastation over the whole island; but by the exertions of the governor and the British forces in the West Indies, the revolt was quelled.

St Vincent is in length about 24 miles, and about 18 in breadth. The climate is very warm. The country is in generally hilly, in some places mountainous; but interspersed with a variety of pleasant valleys, and some luxuriant plains, the soil being everywhere very fertile, and the high grounds are at least in general easy of ascent. Few islands are so well watered with rivers and springs. The inhabitants raise all kinds of ground provisions in plenty. The rivers supply them with variety of fish. W. Long, 61° N. Lat. 13°.