MARTINIQUE. THE SLEEVE. 1881. TRIANON CAMP. Correspondence f - Lot 558

MARTINIQUE. THE SLEEVE. 1881. TRIANON CAMP. Correspondence from Emile Coqueres Soldat of the 35th Company of the 1st MARINE Infantry Regiment, to his family. He left CHERBOURG (Manche) for the Trianon Camp located near Montagne Pelée (Martinique). About 23 letters in-8° spread over the years 1880 and 1881. (some defects). He tells about his trip, the life of the Camp, the discovery of Martinique and Martiniquais and the troubles of the country. "Cherbourg, I am currently at the Fort des Flamants, it is about 300 to 400 metres out to sea.... We sleep in the batteries of the gun in rooms... it is not too cold there we are 50 in all... (He prefers to go to Martinique than to Senegal.) Those who come from Martinique say they do not die more soldiers there than here.... The crossing lasts 15 days.... Put on the address "Au Camp de Trianon par St Pierre Martinique". Our Camp is an old savannah belonging to a Frenchman who lends it for nothing... The Camp started six months ago. It evokes the troubles of St. Peter. "that blacks are too cowardly and soldiers too bold to compete together." The Sending of 100 men to St. Peter's; "When there is a celebration here, it is the custom of blacks to fight, but when they see a gun or a shot if necessary, they put a thousand of them to flight. We were prepared in advance and in 3 detachments (I was in the third)..." "As fruits in Martinique, I know orange, lemon, pineapple (strawberry taste), it grows like artichokes, mango (carrot and honey taste) as big as a pork kidney and even forms the avocado... banana..... Cocoa is used to make chocolate... As animals there are only rats and mice in large quantities... As birds there are only whistlers... the snakes of Martinique are yellow, orange, black and grey. It is the latter that we see here... at night the snake has the cry of the hen that has its young. In Martinique there are an infinite number of climates. There are 6 Companies, about 500 men, In my Company they are all soldier