Martinique

Martinique, called by the natives Madiana, is one of the Lesser Antilles, in the West India Islands. It is 43 miles long by 12 to 20 broad, and has an area of 380 sq. m., and (1895) 187,962 inhabitants, of whom only 10,000 are whites. The island was discovered by the Spaniards in 1493, colonised by the French in 1635, and except for three short intervals (1761-63, 1794-1802, 1809-14), when it was held by the British, it has been a French colony ever since. A mountain-knot in the north (4430 feet) and another in the south are connected by a low ridge, all being densely covered with trees. There are numerous short streams. The coasts are irregular and high, except on the west, where stand St Pierre (pop. 20,000), the principal commercial place, and Fort de France (15,000), the capital, which was nearly destroyed by fire in 1890. The climate is moist and hot (annual mean 79° F.), and yellow fever is a not unfrequent visitor. The soil is very productive. About one-half of the land in cultivation is occupied with sugar-cane the staple crop. Of the other half about 75 per cent. is planted with manioc, sweet potatoes, bananas, and other food plants, whilst coffee, cocoa, and tobacco are each cultivated to a small extent. There is also considerable grazing of cattle, sheep, and goats. The exports (sugar, molasses, and rum mostly) average nearly £850,000 annually; the imports (textiles, flour, fish, rice, and cotton, &c.) about £955,000. Slavery was abolished in 1848; labour is largely performed by coolies (27,000). Railways connect the principal towns. See works in French by Pardon (1877), Huc (1877), Rey (1881), Aube (1882), and Basset (1886).