GRENADINES  , a

chain of islets in the Windward Islands, West Indies . They stretch for 6o m. between St Vincent and Grenada, following a N.E. to S.W. direction, and consist of some 600 islets and rocks . Some are a few square miles in extent, others are merely rocky cones projecting from the deep . For purposes of administration they are divided between St Vincent and Grenada . Bequia, the chief island in the St Vincent group, is long and narrow, with an area 6 sq. m . Owing to a lack of water it is only slightly cultivated, but game is plentiful . Admiralty Bay, on the W. side, is a safe and commodious harbour . Carriacou, belonging to Grenada, is the largest of the group, being 7 M. long, 2 M. wide and 13 sq. m. in extent . A ridge of hills, rising to an altitude of 700 ft., traverses the centre from N.E. to S.W.; here admirable building stone is found . There are two good harbours on the west coast, Hillsborough Bay on which stands Hillsborough, the chief town, and Tyrell Bay, farther south . The island is thickly populated, the negro peasantry occupying small lots and working on the metayer system . Excellent oysters are found along the coast, and cotton and cattle are the chief exports .

Pop. of the. group, mostly on Carriacou (19o1) 6497 .