The West Indies, Before and Since Slave Emancipation
Comprising the Windward and Leeward Islands’ Military Command

A detailed description of the society and culture of Barbados and other Caribbean Islands, first published in 1854.

John Davy (Author)

9781108020732, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 September 2010

580 pages, 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 3.3 cm, 0.73 kg

John Davy (1790–1868) was an English doctor and brother of the chemist Sir Humphrey Davy. After graduating from Edinburgh University, in 1814 Davy became Inspector General of Army Hospitals, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1834. In his capacity as Inspector General, he spent 1845–1848 living in Barbados and visiting other Caribbean Islands. This volume, first published in 1854, describes the society and culture of Barbados and other islands, including Trinidad, Tobago and St Lucia. Based on Davy's notes and observations made while stationed on the island, the book describes in vivid detail the disparities in education, quality of life and behaviour between the freed slaves, indentured servants and plantation owners of Barbados and other islands. Davy's sympathetic account provides valuable first-hand descriptions of the social conditions and tensions which existed after the Emancipation Act of 1834.

Preface
1. Introductory
2. Barbados - its relative importance
3. Barbados - population of Barbados
4. Barbados - West India colonies essentially agricultural
5. St. Vincent
6. The Grenadines
7. Grenada
8. Tobago
9. St. Lucia
10. Trinidad
11. British Guiana
12. Antigua
13. Montserrat
14. St. Christopher's
15. Nevis
16. Dominica
17. West Indian towns
18. Concluding.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH]