Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-19
AMONG THE ANTILLES.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazcttc)
e.. s. TRAINING SHIP JAMESTOWN,

i NJ w r<SI lNIlE''; ohiiS 49,
Martinique is one of the most picturesque
of the groups Of West India islands known
| as the Lesser Antilles. Approaching it from
the northeast the first land visible above
| the horizon is the lofty peak of Mount
Pelu. whose summit rises 800 feet above
| the level of the sea. As we sail near and
near the cloud. like blue film begins to as
sumo rougher and more rugged aspect /;
the mountain slope breaks into great ridges
of regular shape, running toward the sea,
while down the intervening ravines rush
wild torrents which fall into the ocean in
picturesque cascades varying from fifty to
200 hundred feet in height. The effect from
the ship is wonderful. This part Of the
island is known as the district Of Basse
Pointo. II is the richest and best cultivated
part Of Martinique.
After passing Point Macouba, at the north
ern extremity OF the island, the coast and
scenery is wild and savage beyond descrip-
ton. Naked ellis, 1000 feet in height, rise
sheer from the waters edge, and the noun
tain sides are broken by deep ravines aud
huge precipices, rising one above the other
to the topmost peak. Or this part Of the
coast lies Pearl Rock, the landscape of
which assumes Il less wild appearance. The
| mountain slopes become more gentle,
| ravines less rugged and precipitous,
| while here and there we'll kept planta-
| tions nestle ut tho foot of tie cliffs.
Two miles north of Pearl Rock lies the little
village of Prcchuer, on q low point of land:
Round this the beautiful bay, harbor and
City Of St. Pierre burst upon the view-a
splendid picture with a wonderful back
rro1,n3 nf mountain roQ0nifIppnco Few
cities in the world enjoy more delightful
situation. On every side there is beauty.
On one hand gentle slopes, covered with
gardens and plantations and dotted with
villas, lead UP to the lofty mountain ellis
on the other the lovely bay. with its pic
turesquc shipping and its low head lands,
with iishermen's cottages and hamlets. The
climate Of St. Pierre is equally attractive
| for eight months in the year, namely from
| October to May. The northeast trade winds
blowing from the sea give Il delightful
temperature by day, while the land breeze
at night, laden with fragrance Of orange
ard lime blossoms, cnchauts the senses and
makes sleep more luxurious than we can
imagine in our northern climate. During
this part OF the year the thermometer hard
Is ever reaches above 81 degrees Fahren-
heit, while the lowest point ever obtained
-
and August, comprising the rainy, or hurri
canoe season, the Thermometers rises to 81
degrees and seldom falls below 50 degrees.
The atmosphere during these months is
humid aud disagreeably warm and the elect
on strangers is eneryaLins and depressing.
If you would enjoy pleasant memory. of
st. Pierre, avoid it carefully during the
rainy season.
The view of st. Pierre from the harhor is
exceedingly fine and picturesque. BIilt on
sIopng land, the streets which follow the
coast line rise one above another so that the
| upper one looks down on the water from an
elevation of more thau 2n0 feet. These
streets are intersccicd at right angles 10y
long strai sht avenues running down to the
waters edge. All the streets are either
paved or macadamized. 4 peculiarity of
the city is the system of canals by which
pure streams of running water are conveyed
through all the streets, lending GOODNESS TO
the atmosphere and carrying rapidly to the
sea all drainage of the town. Nearly all the
houses are built Of stone, in the most sub.
stantial manner, the walls being generally
from eighteen to twenty-iour iuches in
thickness, the beams and sleapers being OF
the hard woods Of the island and in many
of the older houses the floors of all the
rooms are cedar, except the parlor, which
is ALWAYS laid with marble or thing In
| general. the dwellings are large and airy
but few have gardens or yards except those
of very wealthy people, whose grounds are
| often laid out in the most tasteful manner.
One of the most interesting sights in St.
Pierre is the magnificent fountain in the
centre OF The Place Bestero. 1t is Of bronze
| of the most elegant design and workman
| ~; hairbt ic ohnnt Gftoan faat Tho
principal figure is a graceful water nymph
bearing on her head kind of basket, from
the rim of which flow jets of water. Around
the central figure are four kneeing mer-
maids. each holding dolphin, each ofwhich
throws into the air q delicate column of
water. At certain seasons, generally in
| August, the fountain has exhibited the sin
gular phenomeon of spouting forth myriads
| of living fish, each from half an inch to an
inch in length, their bodies being transparent
as crystal, with the exception of the head,
which is of a dark color. When the sun
light strikes the jets of water at such times
it looks rs il millions of precious stones
were flashing through the air, splash
ing down on the slippery pavement
and being swept off into the sewers.
These little fish, called by the inhabitants
Of the island, 'literie," are plentiful in the
mountain streams from which the fountain
is fed. At the season when they begin to
make their way down toward the sea they
are scooped upin great quantities with any
thing that comes handy, a sheet, towel or
pail, and sold in the market by measure.
They are considered great deiicacy when
fried in oil.
This fountain was the gift of Alfred AZ
new, q colored man, formerly Mayor of the
/ nit1. MhQSa u I'll no