Guadeloupe, gwa-da-loop, an island of the West Indies. It consists really of two islands separated by a narrow channel. It was discovered by Columbus in 1493 and has belonged to the French since 1634. With a few adjacent islets, it has an area of 688 square miles and a population of 182,000. It is noteworthy as being one of the few French possessions in the new world. There are 11,000 children in school. The trade is chiefly with France. It amounts to about $4,000,000 a year. Sugar, coffee, cocoa, and rum are the principal exports. Slavery was abolished in 1848. The island is of volcanic and coral formation. There are still columns of smoke, and boiling springs. Earthquakes occur.