St. LUCIA

LUSH GREENERY, endless banana plantations, wooded mountains and fertile valleys are just some of the elements that harmonize to make St. Lucia (St. LOOsha) a "picture postcard" island. This tropical paradise, which is 27 miles (43 km) long and 14 miles (22 km) wide, contains 19,000 acres (7,689 hectares) of rain forest. Quaint fishing villages and enticing beaches provide a backdrop that complements the diverse landscape of the interior. Gros and Petit Pitons, regal twin peaks separated by a picturesque bay, are prominent landmarks.

The first settlers were the peace-loving Arawak Indians, who probably came to St. Lucia to escape the warlike Caribs. However, the Arawak presence did not endure the Caribs eventually followed and succeeded in driving them off the island by A.D. 800.

Although it has not been established whether Christopher Columbus or Juan de la Cosa discovered St. Lucia, the first European to settle on the island was pirate Francojs de Clerc. In 1550, de Clerc attacked passing Spanish ships from his base on Pigeon Island.

The English attempted to settle the island in 1605 and 1639, but the fierce Caribs thwarted their efforts on both occasions. In 1650 the French finally established the first permanent settlement; a treaty with the Caribs was signed in l660. About this time, a bitter dispute originated in which each country claimed ownership of the territory.