294 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 
being about fifty miles in length, and containing, it 
is estimated, about three hundred and eighty square 
miles. The surface is very uneven, the interior being 
one grand region of hills and mountains. The high- 
est of these is Mount Pelée, over four thousand feet 
in height, north-west of the principal town, St. Pierre. 
Though a volcano which has emitted smoke and 
ashes within thirty years, there are now no signs of 
an eruption. Late in July I was hunting in these 
mountains, making my headquarters at Morne Rouge, 
a little village occupying a central plateau near the 
volcano. From there I made excursions to Morne 
Calebasse, Morne Balisier, Mount Pelée, and Champ 
Flore. There are many mineral springs in the moun- 
tains, two of which —one reached from St. Pierre, 
and the other from Fort de France — are famous re- 
sorts for the inhabitants. 
Morne Rouge is a holy city; to it every year the 
people of the coast, high and low, make pilgrim- 
ages on foot. The church here is beautifully deco- 
rated, the interior containing valuable paintings and 
frescoings. The Virgin is magnificently arrayed and 
enriched by the spoils of the faithful and credulous. 
All about are shrines and crosses and sacred mounts 
of Calvary; and near the town is a most charm- 
ing grotto, containing an image of the Virgin, over- 
hung by tree-ferns, hollowed from a rock dripping 
with water, with a clear pool and fountain at its 
base. 
Sunday is a féte day, and the busiest of the week. 
Then the young ladies from the convent and the 
brothers from the monastery attend church in a body. 
Every one is dressed in the best he can afford. A ven- 
