334 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 
particular allowed it to deteriorate from its pristine 
vigor of a century ago. Coffee-trees of many years’ 
growth grew by the side of young plants set out to 
replace the aged and enfeebled ones. The plantation 
is divided into small squares a few hundred feet in 
length, by long.rows of quick-growing trees called 
pois douce, pomme rose, and oleander. This is to 
protect the tender coffee-plants from the wind, and 
from the hurricanes which sometimes ravage these 
islands. These long rows of high trees give the cof- 
fee estates a striated appearance at a distance. The 
coffee-tree is allowed to grow to a height of but six 
or eight feet, as this insures more perfect berries and 
renders the gathering easier. The younger: plants 
are further protected and shaded by plantains and 
bananas, which attain a great height in a twelve- 
month. 
Coffee was early introduced into the West Indies. 
It is said that, of three plants entrusted to the captain 
of the first vessel bringing it, two died, and that the 
remaining one was only kept alive by water withheld 
from a famishing crew. The first coffee was grown 
in Martinique; hence, though that island does not 
raise enough for its own consumption at the present 
time, all coffee exported from Guadeloupe is known 
as “Martinique coffee.” Its cultivation is easy and 
pleasant, although somewhat expensive and difficult 
during the first years of its growth. Being generally 
situated on the mountains, the coffee plantations are 
considered as the most healthy and desirable places 
of residence in the West Indies. At the height of two 
thousand feet, in the mountains of Guadeloupe, the 
temperature varies from fifty-five degrees, Fahrenheit, 
