2676 FRANCE (Guadeloupe) - A saleswoman in Pointe-à-Pitre in 1905/1912

Pointe-à-Pitre was founded in the mid-17th century soon after the settlement of Guadeloupe by the French, but it was eclipsed in importance until the late 18th century by the town of Basse-Terre. In 1906 a road bridge across the Salée River replaced the existing ferry, and, favoured by its central position and harbour facilities, Pointe-à-Pitre became the chief commercial town. Even today, a visit to the town markets, colorful and lively, has a special charm.

0265 FRANCE (Guadeloupe) - Des robes créole in Guadeloupe

"In this island was such thickness of forest that it was wonderful, and such a variety of trees, unknown to anyone, that it was terrible, some with fruit, some with flowers, so that everything was green", wrote in 1493 the physician Diego Álvarez Chanca (who accompanied Columbus on the second expedition) about the island that they called Santa María la Galante (today Marie-Galante), in honor of his most important caravel. "There were wild fruits of different sorts, which some not very wise men tried, and, on merely tasting them, touching them with their tongues, their faces swelled and they had such great burning and pain that they seemed to rage (or to have hydrophobia). They were cured with cold things."