328 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



islands equally mountainous. The government build- 

 ings are in the upper part of the town between two 

 rivers, behind a large stone fort. They surround 

 three sides of a square bordered by mighty palmistes, 

 and with an elegant fountain of bronze as center-piece. 

 North and east of the town tower the mountains, the 

 land commencing to rise to their summits at its very 

 outskirts ; its upper streets lead into the hills. The 

 houses are built of stone, but are not large or pre- 

 tentious. The streets are straight, parallel with the 

 shore, and at right angles with it. In the center of 

 the town is an open market-place, in which is a foun- 

 tain fed from the mountains, around which is a row 

 of tamarind trees. All the serving-women of the place 

 come to this fountain to fill their jars with the cool 

 water that perpetually drips from the bronze lips of 

 the basin. The cathedral, or more properly the 

 Basiliquc, is a good old structure of stone, dating 

 from the time of Le Pere Labat. 



As the founder of this town, and an author of note, 

 whose valuable book on the Antilles contains the most 

 comprehensive account of these islands, this worthy 

 pere deserves especial notice. Born in Paris in 1663, 

 he joined the Dominican friars in 1685, and two years 

 later was appointed professor of mathematics and 

 philosophy at Nancy. In 1693, while in Paris, he 

 saw letters from the Superior of that order in Marti- 

 nique to the Brothers in France, imploring them to 

 send out missionaries to replace those who had died 

 from contagious disease. Seizing this opportunity for 

 consecrating himself to mission work, and carrying 

 out a resolution he had a long time cherished, he 

 departed for Martinique, arriving there in January, 



