Martinique
Martinique is unique in being the only Caribbean island except for the Grenadines to be named after an alcholoic beverage. The four white worms, rendered with the accuracy we have come to expect of Microsoft Paint, are an ancient symbol dating back to the early seventeenth century, when the island was a quarantine point for diseased mariners. Representing, clockwise from top left, typhus, scurvy, cholera and the pox, they are rampant on a background of light blue (signifying putrefaction) and quartered by a white cross. In days gone by, a scurvy sailor would be marked by his crewmates with a cross of guano on his face.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 27th, 2004 at 5:35 PM and filed under Collins Gem book of flags, Old stuff. Trackbacks are closed.
NB (whispering) also Curacao
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 12:03 am | PermalinkYes - and Jamaican rum.
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 12:05 am | PermalinkBugger off. Can’t you see I have work to do?
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 12:05 am | PermalinkCuba Libra (sp?)
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:00 am | PermalinkNot forgetting the Cognac atol, SSE of Bailey’s Cove on the volcanic island of Grand Marnier.
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:02 am | Permalinkthe Pomagne Keys
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:03 am | Permalink… are visible on a fine day from Archer’s Point.
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:03 am | PermalinkWhat if they had worms?
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:03 am | Permalinkpog - all sailors had worms, but rarely so badly formed as the four worms of the flag of Martinique.
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:04 am | PermalinkThey do look a bit like intestines with eyes. But then, that’s quite appropriate, really …..
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Posted on 28-Jul-04 at 1:04 am | PermalinkGives a whole new meaning to getting shit-faced.
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Posted on 29-Jul-04 at 10:00 am | Permalink