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, «he 
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 
Basilique, is a good old structure of stone, dating 
from the time of Le Pére 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 
pére 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, 
