Dominica

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) the largest and extreme British S. island in the Leeward group of the Lesser Antilles; midway between the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe ; area, 291 square miles; pop. about 37,000, mostly negro. The Caribs have become so intermixed with the negroes that the pure Carib, the "Franc Caribs," will soon be non-existent. They are very peaceable and retiring, and live on fish, and vegetables and fruits which they cultivate. Dominica is of volcanic origin, with many hot and sulphurous springs. The temperature is cool and even chilly in the mountains, but sultry on the coast. Rain falls nearly every month, and the annual rainfall is 83 inches. Nearly one-half of the surface consists of wooded mountains and deep ravines, and at one point the surface attains an elevation of 6,234 feet. The rugged, broken, and precipitous of character Dominica is very disadvantageous to the settler, and has confined assistant of the United States Geo- agriculture to a narrow strip along the coast. The principal product is sugar, but fruit, cocoa , and timber also are exported, and the fisheries are valuable. The capital of the port on the W. coast, with a population island is Roseau, a of about 5,000. Dominica is a member of the Leeward Islands colony, and sends representatives to the general legislative council; but it has its own president, treasury, and local legislature. The majority of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics; religious equality now prevails. Dominica was discovered by Columbus, on his second (whence its name Dominica-i. e., "the voyage, on Sunday Lord's Day"), Nov. 3, 1493. It was a source of strife to French and English till 1648, when it was formally declared by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle a neubut in 1759 it was captured tral island; nd; by England, and in 1763 ceded by France, who, however, held it again in 1778-1783, and in 1802-1814, when it was finally restored to England. DOMINICAN. (1) One order called in some places Prædicantes of a religious or Preaching Friars, and in France Jacobins, from their first convent in Paris being in the Rue St. Jacobin. They took their ordinary name from their founder, Dominic de Guzman (afterward canonized under the name of St. Dominic). The new order was approved of in 1215 by Pope Innocent III., and confirmed in 1216 by a bull of Pope Honorius III., under the rule of St. Augustine , a rule to which they have adhered, though they subsequently adopted a white habit resembling that of the C of their original black dress. They were Carthusians, in place under a vow of absolute poverty. In England they were called Black Friars, and in 1276 the Corporation of London gave them two streets near the Thames, where they erected a large convent, whence that part is still called Blackfriars. The Dominicans always took a principal part in the Inquisition. The Dominicans were the chief supporters of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. (2) One of an order of nuns by St. Dominic under the same rules as founded the friars, but devoted to industry. (3) One of an order of knights by St. Dominic, for the purpose of putfounded ting down heresy by force of arms. Tertiaries of St. Dominic friars, nuns, and knights mentioned . To the above, St. - Dominic added, in 1221, the Tertiaries -persons who, without forsaking secular life or even the tie, connected themselves with the order marriage by undertaking certain obligations, such as to dress plainly, to live soberly, to carry no weapon of offense, and to perform stated devotions. Similar orders existed in connection with the Franciscans and the Præmonstratensians. The members were entitled to be buried in the habit of the order. DOMINION OF CANADA. See CAN- ADA.