About St. Lucia

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, which borders on the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia is located northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique.

Saint Lucia

Brief History 

·       The first settlers in St. Lucia were the Arawak Indians who arrived around 200 A.D. through 800 A.D. They were peaceful, farming settlers, whose culture was superseded by the warrior-like Caribs. Traveling from the South American mainland, the Caribs came north up the Orinoco River and stopped at several islands in the area, killing the peaceful Arawaks, and replacing them as they sojourned throughout the territory that eventually took their name.

·       Europeans first landed on the island in either 1492 or 1502 during Spain's early exploration of the Caribbean. In 1643 a French expedition under the direction of Jacques du Parquet, the Governor of Martinique, established the first permanent European settlement on the island. The Governor De Rousselan signed a treaty with the local Carib people in 1660. Like the English and Dutch on other islands, the French began to develop the land for the cultivation of sugar cane as a commodity crop on large plantations.

  

     Geography

·       The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is more mountainous than many other Caribbean islands, with the highest point being Mount Gimie, at 950 metres (3,120 ft) above sea level. Two other mountains, known as  the Pitons, form the island's most famous landmark. They are located between Soufri and Choiseulère on the western side of the island. Saint Lucia is also one of the few islands in the world that boasts a drive-in volcano.

·       Saint Lucia lies at latitude of 13 54’ N and a longitude of 60 50’W. One of the Windward Islands, it is located in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands and is approximately 21 miles south of Martinique and 90 miles northwest of Barbados.

·       The local climate is tropical, tropical with heavy rain fall and a mean temperature of 80° F (27° C). The climate is moderated by northeast trade winds, with a dry season from December 1 to May 31, and a wet season from June 1 to November 30.

·       It is the second largest of the Windward Island group of the West Indies. The island covers an area of 238 square miles (616 square kilometers).

·       Roughly oval in shape, the island is volcanic in origin. The volcano Qualibou in the southwest emits steam and gases and is a major tourist site.

·       Excavation similar to that of Turkish Cave excavation, (in that it is volcanic/metamorphic in nature), which might apply to the manner in which Crusoe may have developed his shelter and the cave.

Life on the Island

This portion of the novel is dedicated to Crusoe's time alone on the island. He builds three main structures: his initial shelter, his country home on the opposite side of the island, and his guns and ammo fort in the woods. He spends his time planting corn, barley, and rice. He learns to make bread. He builds furniture, weaves baskets, and makes pots. Crusoe also raises goats and tends to his little animal family of cats, dogs, and a parrot. Most importantly, though, Crusoe becomes stronger in his religious faith, eventually submitting to the authority of God. He devotes himself to much religious reflection and prayer.