II.
February 15th.
… ASH-WEDNESDAY. The last masquerade will appear this
afternoon, notwithstanding; for the Carnival is in Martinique a
day longer than elsewhere.
All through the country districts since the first week of
January there have been wild festivities every Sunday—dancing
on the public highways to the pattering of tamtams,—African
dancing, too, such as is never seen in St. Pierre. In the city,
however, there has been less merriment than in previous years;—
the natural gaiety of the population has been visibly affected by
the advent of a terrible and unfamiliar visitor to the island,—La
Vérette: she came by steamer from Colon.
… It was in September. Only two cases had been reported when
every neighboring British colony quarantined against Martinique.
Then other West Indian colonies did likewise. Only two cases of
small-pox. "But there may be two thousand in another month,"
answered the governors and the consuls to many indignant
protests. Among West Indian populations the malady has a
signification unknown in Europe or the United States: it means an
exterminating plague.
Two months later the little capital of Fort-de-France was swept
by the pestilence as by a wind of death. Then the evil began to
spread. It entered St. Pierre in December, about Christmas time.
Last week 173 cases were reported; and a serious epidemic is
almost certain. There were only 8500 inhabitants in Fort-de-France;
there are 28,000 in the three quarters of St. Pierre
proper, not including her suburbs; and there is no saying what
ravages the disease may make here.
