Though located on an elevation between the
city and the crater, it was by great good fortune saved.
The Governor of Martinique, Mr. Mouttet, whose precautions to prevent
the people fleeing from the city aided to make the work of death
complete, was himself among the victims of the burning mountain. With
him in this fate was Colonel Dain, commander of the troops who formed a
cordon round the doomed city.
CHAPTER XXIX.
St. Vincent Island and Mont Soufriere in 1812.
Among all the islands of the Caribbees St. Vincent is unique in natural
wonders and beauties. Situated about ninety-five miles west of Barbados,
it has a length of eighteen and a width of eleven miles, the whole mass
being largely composed of a single peak which rises from the ocean's
bed. From north to south volcanic hills traverse its length, their
ridges intersected by fertile and beautiful valleys.
A ridge of mountains crosses the island, dividing it into eastern and
western parts. Kingstown, the capital, a town of 8,000 inhabitants, is
on the southward side and extends along the shores of a beautiful
bay, with mountains gradually rising behind it in the form of a vast
amphitheatre. Three streets, broad and lined with good houses, run
parallel to the water-front. There are many other intersecting highways,
some of which lead back to the foothills, from which good roads ascend
the mountains.
The majority of the houses have red tile roofing and a goodly number of
them are of stone, one story high, with thick walls after the Spanish
style--the same types of houses that were in St.
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