ASCENT OF THE GUADELOUPE SOUFRIERE. 323 



Guadeloupe is separated into two islands, one of 

 volcanic origin, uneven and mountainous, the other 

 low and flat, without even a hill. A narrow creek 

 divides them a shallow, salt passage, called the 

 Riviere Salee. The banks of this creek are lined 

 with mangroves ; and it is one of the hottest places in 

 the West Indies, as my shooting excursions verified. 

 Point a Pitre is situated at the southern mouth of this 



salt river. It is regularly built, with broad, straight 

 streets, with a fountain in the center of a square, a 

 fine cathedral, and many good houses. Here is, also, 

 one of the largest usines, or factories for making sugar, 

 in the world, second only to the largest known that 

 of the khedive of Egypt. 



What strikes the visitor with surprise is the new 



