Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-07-05
MARTINIQUE.
- INTERESTING ISLAND IN TIE
WlNDWARD GROUP.
,,,p,crERlsucs OF THE SCENERY
-, This. ....DrLE-H0aE RULE NOT
-trsE sFUL--A DEADLY
SERPENT.


SERPENT.
.uartiafquo- discovered by Columbus
ri. sar,a8 voyage ANA dcst settled by
| he FRENCH + 1885"
rs-.zte. sa= ajda,t discover very much
nf. a+-. -.lt.., & leearl.sst new land that
,..f=#B being orlg email island,
Inn re zH5-. which has never yet be
,,.s u ..E value except to raise few
...fe5rs -q, and lalefY lighthouse,
pot Bs 90 warmed up 70 he work, and
L. b55 read voyage, steering more
L,,th4a.f. re left nothing unseen in this
,asttAt world lie wHs an ohservant
..efgidaa and could always be trusted to
Zoo, saa.e III his watch on deck.
These N udvHrd islands, however, were
easily dizcoyerable; they nearly all pierce
/. no clouds snd threaten the heavens; and
|,oside. their brave heights there are no
x4w England fogs here and but very
l,tIe thie < or misty weather OF any kind.
|rbe YER highest lands are generally
hidden .u tie clouds, but the lower lands
-,es4aF upward from sea-level per-
|,sndiaua- half mile1 may generally be
san IN d..ylight ten leagues away, and
one.third OF that distance in common
darkness.
Martinique is perhaps the prettest Of
,ts lot The highest Iand-a sleeping
yocsf, nearly 5000 feet above the sea
and - aooded. There is no naked
,ocs ~ the island-eyery part IS dressed
eab,r IA " lid tropical brush aud forest,
o. Tough cultivation by mankind, in
81 shades oi green, brown or yellow,
z. lower mountains aud lands OF halt
II greater height arr cultivated to their
very tops. The higher mountains are
ca, uuaily pumping the clouds, and the
sister that flows down to the SEA is Won
.s.!al. il grandeur exceeds deseript ion
.sa the quantity is beyond all possible
s.ralstion. Through countless ages il
Is. ploRed tue hllside- INTO deep and
s,eutiua Rargfs ana ra4Hae-, dividing
TIE cultivatable lands into patches. knobs
nd tahlinE shelves, producing scenery
that is as wonderful and attractive rs any
n the world.
In sailing aronn5 the north end Of the
stand, whlch Is TIE nebrss. coast to the
highest mountain, tae5e are number Of
BEAUTIFUL cascades to be seen, where the
xster seems u come directly out otthe
high bluff, as though through enormous
Underground pipes, aud then falls clear
1io the SEA With a drop u some hundred
iset. Some % these sparkling white
others may be ten feet across, with the
tppearnce Of being round, though in the
sature OF such things they are doubtless
core or less fiat like any q. her waterfall.
such grand arteries and veins OF pure
Tiier covering the island Is blessing
Tat the people may not, and probably do
lot, fully appreciate. The towns might
Z kept very clean and wholesome, but
that is not entirely the case. There is
nme mex Of engineering skill IN forming
,ath an advantageous partnership with
nature rs TO flush the towns " ith the best
nsults. And then the people do not AL
lnsether Ike cleanliness, and have but
little knoEledg e or belief regarding any
simple or prudent sanitary laws or
.pstoms
There Is one excellent II 1g about this
sco.us'on of water, outside OF its bene-
rs 10 mankind dumb creature
nows any suffering from thirst. The
|por town dog may well know what hun
.sr Is, but a few minutes trot will always
'nug him to clear, cool, running
sfesm.
THE DEADLY FER DEFIANCE.
with so many interesting wonders in
ature and with SO much scenery lying
sosely about, Martinique might indeed
& an Ideal land TO the lover OF that sort
athing, or to one W no is fond OF strange
foods aud adventure; but with ali its
BARNS and seductive ailurements, it has
iitden thorns that discreet person will
ons!der before spreading himself over
be country or up the mountains.
This island is the home OF the fer de-
sace. one OF the most deadly and perhaps
&c most dangerous snake in the world.
ie drove off the first white settlers, and
as maintained semi-ruiership over the
Hand to this day. He is the first, the
Feat and the everlasting terror OF the
atives. He is absolutely king of the
lountains, is constant tenant OF the
'ne fields. He Is met on the highway
aywhere and may be found everywhere
ieepting upon the paved streets OF the
WINS.
The snake is OF various colors (or else
ianges his color, like the tropical lizard)
I'd is most often found to be of the color
his surroundings; this fact, and the
ct that he makes no noise, is ever ready
: battle, and quicker than the sight of
ankind, makes him indeed formidable
emy. He is of all sizes up to six feet
ng and as thick as mans arm, but
om two to four feet is the average
lgth. When he strikes a vein in man
nd, it is death; but when vein is not
uched the life OF the victim may or
~ not be saved; immediate amputation
wounded limb saves more lives than