In 1887, Lafcadio Hearn sailed from New York to Martinique. He planned to stay for a few months but remained there for two years. Hearn viewed French-ruled Martinique as a fusion of European, African, and Asian influences. He provides a picture of a Caribbean colony where slavery had just ended, and race was an essential matter of identity. In addition, he beautifully describes the island's landscape, flora and fauna, architecture, and rural villages.