Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-21
Ti,nes-Disbatch
TraUelogues
Interesting Places Throughout
the World About Which You
Read Described in Word Pic.
tures-Picturcsque hooks and
Corners Explored - =
Especial to The Times-Dispa,ch J

BASSE TEl;RE, qua DELOUPE, July
"c.-ln these days. when most Of the
world Is Il, war, there is hardly a
shore To which vpyagcr may 20 with
out hndinS evidence Of the sacrifice.
that is being made To bring Germany
to the terms o. n just peace. Even
down in the warm Caribbean, among
the Lesser Antilles. patriotic colonies
have answered The demand OF the AL
lies FOR greater man power Frances
TWO most important West Indian is
lands-tundcloupc and Martinique
carly in tho war heard the call from
Europe. and began mcdiatc!y TO send
( thor sons TO help make the mother
,,t.rtry safe for Frenchmcn. To-day
tn.y stand drained Of their best men.
Visitors To these Islands are at once
Impressed with the many war-made
cripples. az we'll as with the numcr-
Gus men in uniform who arc TO be
seen about the streets of the little
towns. Each month transport comes
from France, bringing. on furlough. the
men who have served "a year in France.
and returning to Their homes the SOL
diers who h:.Nc been incapac!tatcd for
service. ON the days when this boat
comes in. little Eassc Tcrrc. Claude
.ccpc. Is astir with excitement.
NINl:TN-SiN PER CENT
OF PEOPLE NEGROES
The soldiers are met at the docks bE
their families and friends. and given
Il very warm welcome back to thu.
native l..nd For many says the streets
are speched with groups OF soldiers
and home folks, one telling OF expert.
cnccs III France, and the other deeply
interested in every word. Most Of the
soldiers are negroes. for out OF a
population Of lGo, 600, sS per cent are
n.,n pf
tive sons already have gone 10 France
War has brought many other hard
ships 20 Guddcloupc apart from tn.
drain on its best sons. Supplies from
tho mother country have been reduced
TO low point. Prices have gone w.
food has become scarce. ana the manu-
facture of rum has been stopped by
the French government in order 10
conserve the sugar cane, the raising
Z Of which forms the chief industry Of
the island All in all this little French
island is enduring much for the cause
OF France and the allies.
sIHHOUNDiNt. SCENERY
IS VERY BEAITtF'IL
In Bassc Tcrre. however. ii is pos
sib!c to forget the great MAR when one
pa"takcs Of the attractions offered l..
the mountains that her, in the little
town. Edsse Tcrrc itself rests in the
peaceful conteutmcnt at the foot OF
hudd!cd ur mere near the edge Of tn.
watcr and denied Wind from any
wher' except the sea. But IL has
/ peculiar charms th..t go, far toward
outwc .;hin. tie disadvantage OF lis
location
The streets Of the town are inter
astiu- because of their Quaintness.
Many &c thsm having hccn laid out
los j'rt uchmcu. possess bits %! archi-
'crtur.l features mat are sucgcsiiv,
% certain thoEOushfarcS in the French
p;tAl The stores and their windows
follow designs ana decorations popu-
ar IN The country towns OF France.
During midday Basse Tcrre ceases
activities FOR TWO hours. the tcrrihc
heat makes everything unbearablc. ana
the Misc citizens leave their shops fu7
home. 10 rest in the cool comfort II
The shade. All the iasse Tcrrc resi-.
dents who afford such homes
have their residences in the mountain.
"a; the back OF the town. The Governor
.! thc Guadcloupc has one OF the show
places Of the island. 1000 feet above
he So, The American consul also
lives ~ the mountains. where there is
escape from the annoying heat OF basSe
rcrrc
Few islands in the Caribbean exceed
'iurdeloupe for natural beauty Along
the military road, which connects
. Bassc Tcrrc and Pointc pitre, nature
p =
woods shade the highway for miles
while in other spots the highway runs
along the shce. edge OF tie mountain,
permitting a long view down 10 the
sea and then along the shore for miles
MARKET pLAC;: Seem.
OF GREAT INTEREs
Probably the most absorbing hu;l
interest feature of Guadeloupe is the
market place in Basse Terre. Every
no ~
o'clock the market. occupying a large
square in tho center of the town. is
thronged with women buying their
food Tor the day. All ages, all types
and all characters are to be seen here
at this time. Their costumes. their
prices, their wareS-all combine to
make the scene one that holds en-
! treme interest for hours
II was from Martinique. sister
island Of Guadeloupe. that Josephine
the wife OF Napoleon. came In
Guadeloupe lived the sister of Jose.
! phine. She cam: here ii is recorded
| after IA quarrel with the famous Jose
| phine. In the little hamlet of Basse
| Terre she established home. later
| marrying a retired French officer. who
had come 10 Guadeloupe on a mission
! from Paris. The beauty of the young
| woman was irresistible. and the
French officer resigned his position
! and settled down in the mountains near
/ BaSsc Terre. To-day guides from
! Basse Tcrre are anxious TO show visi-
! tors the little home where Mary uhis
| was tho name of .Ioscphine'S sister,
| passed many years in the happy atmos.
B! rhere of her husband and family OF
! six children.
rointe Pitre. which commercially
| is the most important city Of Guade.
loupe, has q population of $4,000. but
| lacks the charming surroundings that
| distinguish Basse Terre.
Guadeloupe, discovered by Columbus
| in 1913. was named by the great navi-
! gator as compliment to the monks
|