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“...and the soaring royal palms are
conspicuous. Fort-de-France, which once had a terrible
reputation for yellow fever, is now comparatively healthy.
It is characteristically French in its appearance, and
the Martinicans wisely adhere to the national costume,
which differs from that of most of the English islands
in the many-hued fichus and very picturesque turbans.
The principal hotel overlooks the Savane, an open park in
the centre of which is a statue of the Empress Josephine
in her coronation robes from the chisel of Vital Debray.
It is surrounded by tall royal palms. The Empress
has her head turned towards Trois Ilets across the Bay
where she was bom on June 23rd, 1763. Her father
M. de la Pagerie, was a planter, and he was practically
ruined by a terrible hurricane in 1767 through which
1,600 persons perished.
Also overlooking the Savane are the Post Office and
the Bibliothèque Schoelcher. The latter, a curiously
Eastern-looking building with a dome and overhanging
roof, contains a library...”
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