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French Govcninieiit in the ]]'cst /iidics 485 During the decade which followed, Martinique suffered much from the sugar crisis of 1884. The millenium which had been ex- pected to result from political freedom, failed to make its appear- ance. Much of the old charm of Creole life in its patriarchal stage had passed away and the colored population found that independ- ence and political rights brought struggles and responsibility as well as power. Pessimism as to the future of the island became general. " C'est un pays perdu," was the prevailing sentiment. Despairing of the situation, many whites withdrew from the island. As the official reports make no distinction between the white, col- ored, and black population but embrace them all under the term Creoles, we must go to private accounts for indications of changes in the relative positions of the various populations. Governor Aube in 1882 estimated the white population at eight thousand. By 1888, according to Mr. Lafcadio Hearn,' the number had fallen to five thousand and the emigration of the whites was still going on. The character of political life and action during this period will appear from a survey of the legislation. In December, 1884, the council-general suppressed the importation of contract labor, which had existed since 1853 and which had caused considerable friction between council and governor. The coolie population had reached its highest figure, 14,299, in 1882. By 1889 it fell to 8712, while at present there are only 4,665 Indian laborers left in Martinique. ^ In 1883 the attempt was made to introduce the policy of division of large estates. Landed estates that had been forfeited to the col- ony or had been acquired by other m-eans were cut up into hectare holdings and granted out to the poor peasant population.^ The laicization of the common school system, begun in 1881, was con- tinued ; by 1890 nine thousand pupils attended the public schools ; this number rose to 1 2,000 within the following ten years. On the other hand public works and internal improvements received but little attention. The far-famed botanical garden at St. Pierre was allowed to relapse into a tropical wilderness. The appropriation for works in connection with the dry dock was reduced to 11,000 francs, while on the other hand 53,000 francs were spent in salaries in the dock administration.^ Attempts at railway construction were abandoned, and the telegraph line which connected St. Pierre with Fort-de- France was not extended, nor was there any efficient improvement of the highways in the island. ^Two Years in the French West Indies, New York, 1890. ^ Annuaire de la Martinique, 1900, p. 634. ' Les Colonies (the leading journal of Martinique), July II and October 6, 1900. • de la Martinique, 1900, p. 349.