HAYTI, HISPANIOLA, OR SAN DOMINGO.

SECOND only to Cuba, this is the most important island of the West Indian group; its geographical and relative position, its commercial capacities, and peculiar political career, give an interest to its affairs. This island lies immediately east of Cuba, having the windward passage intervening, and west of Porto Rico, from which it is separated by the Mona Passage. It is situated between the parallels of 17° 40′ and 19° 58′ N. latitude, and between 68° 24' and 74° 35′ W. longitude. Its shape is somewhat triangular, the apex directed eastwardly, but it has several extensive peninsulas and promontories which render it very irregular in form. The extreme length is about 400 miles, and its breadth from north to south varies from 40 to 160 miles. The small islands of Tortuga on the north, Gonaives on the west, and several others of little importance, are dependencies of Hayti. The superficial area is, according to M. Lindenau, (Humboldt, Politic Essay,) 2,450 square marine leagues, or nearly 29,400 English square miles.

The principal physical features of Hayti, (as its name implies,) are its mountainous regions; but in the eastern section of the island extensive plains abound; the elevated chain of the Cibao mountains stretches from Cape St. Nicholas in a south-eastern direction to Cape Espada, and many branches extending east and west intersect the country. The highest peaks of these ranges are about 8,600 feet above the level of the ocean. A chain in the north-east called Monte Christi commences at the bay of the same name, and ends at the Bay of Samana. The extensive plains in the east are occupied by immense herds of swine, horses and horned cattle; eastward of the city of San Domingo, Los Llanos stretch out to the extent of 80 miles in length, and from 20 to 25 in breadth. The fertility of these regions is unsurpassed, and the soil is capable, with little trouble or cultivation, of producing more sugar and other valuable commodities than all the British islands together; the inhabitants, however, are not industrious, and the whole country is still but a beautiful wilderness. North of this, enclosed between two mountain ranges, is the fertile plain of Vega Real, little inferior in extent to the Llanos. In the west of the island are the large plains of Artibonite, and the Cul de Sac, the last of which was formerly one vast sugar plantation, but since the overthrow of the colonial powers it has laid a waste savannah. The country is well watered. The river Yuna flows through the valley of Vega Real for upwards of 70 miles, and falls into the Bay of Samana. This river is navigable for 13 leagues from its mouth. The Yaqui, the Ozama, the Neybe and Artibonite are also large streams, and capable of navigation some distance inland. Several lakes of considerable size are also found on the south side, both of salt and fresh water; the largest of these is about 50 miles in circumference. The great Bays of Samana and Gonaives are important features in Haytian geography, and afford to the commercial world many secure harbors and ports, from which an extensive trade is carried on with the countries of Europe and North America.

Little is known of the geological structure of the island; a limestone containing vestiges of marine shells is the prevalent formation. The mines produce gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, rock-salt, &c. Those of Cibao, in the early part of the 16th century, were very productive; but the extermination of the Indian tribes, and the natural indolence of the colonists, caused

an early suspension of the works. The state of the mining district, however, is improving. The principal copper mine yields an ore containing a large proportion of gold, and the sands of many of the rivers are mixed plentifully with gold grains, which are collected in small quantities by the poorer inhabitants.

Of the animals found by the first European settlers, the Agoute is the only one of the quadrupeds remaining. Parrots, and various species of birds of beautiful plumage, and waterfowl, are very plentiful; the alligator, cayman, turtles, &c., abound in the larger rivers, and several kinds of serpents are met with, and the testaceous and crustaceous animals form a plentiful means of support to the inhabitants of the coast.

The climate is tropical, and subject to all the various influences of location. The low lands of the coast are peculiarly unhealthy, while the more elevated regions are as bland and balmy as eternal spring. There is here, however, no sudden and violent changes of temperature, which, though high in the plains and savannas, is much moderated by the periodical recurrence of sea and land breezes. In the higher districts it is not unfrequent that a fire is found necessary. The rainy season occurs in May and June. Hurricanes and earthquakes are of frequent occurrence, and have done much damage to the island at various times. To Europeans the climate of the coast is very unfavorable-the yellow fever and dysentery are destructive agents, and during foreign invasion have been the best allies of the Haytians, and far more terrible than all the artillery of warfare. Mackenzie in his Notes on Haiti, vol. ii, says, that "the yellow fever would effectually secure the island in case of attack, if the policy of abandoning the coasts and destroying the towns were acted on."

The general remarks already submitted apply to the whole island. In pursuing the account it will now be necessary to recur to some historical detail respecting the rise, progress, &c., of the Spanish and French colonies, which divided the island, and the subsequent and consequent events resulting in the formation of two republics, as the separate communities now exist.

This island is memorable for having been the seat of the first European settlement and of the first independent negro government in America. It was discovered by Columbus in 1492, and settled immediately after under the guidance of his brother Diego. The avarice of the first adventurers led them to the commission of enormities towards the natives, which have left a dark blot on the Spanish name; at the present time not one aboriginal inhabitant exists from among 1,000,000 who inhabited the island at the time of its discovery. The thirst for gold and the reported wealth of the island, attracted the young and old to the scene of rapine, and while thousands were dying away, they were replaced by others willing to venture life for gold. The French Buccaneers, about the middle of the 17th century, made a footing on the west end of the island, and soon increased their colony by new acquisitions, and that part of the island was ceded to France by the treaty of Ryswick. Nothing interfered with the peace of the colonies till the breaking out of the French Revolution in 1789, when the blacks and mulattoes rose against the white population and succeeded in driving them out, or destroying them. After various conflicts, a military republic was formed under the title of the Republic of Hayti Hitherto the Spanish section had remained quiet, but in 1821 claimed to be independent, and in 1822 was compelled by the president of Hayti to annex itself to that republic. The whole island thus became a consolidated governPresident Soulouque was proclaimed Emperor of Hayti, 26th Aug., 1849, under the title of Faustin I.

ment, and so remained until the death of Boyer, when the political connection was dissolved and the Spanish portion again formed itself into the independent "Republic of Dominica," and has been able to sustain itself ever since against the forces of Hayti.

The Dominicans hold the old Spanish portion, and are generally composed of Spaniards, creoles and some blacks. In a report made to the United States Government agent in 1815, some important historical, and statistical points are laid down, which give some idea of the importance of this division of Hispaniola. "The Dominican territory comprehends twothirds of the island, extending from Lasabon on Massacre River in the north to the River Pedernales in the south, both falling into the sea, the latter to the windward (west) of Beata Island. The country is fertile in the productions of the West Indies, and in copper, gold, iron and coal. The pearl fisheries are carried on in the great bays. The principal ports and places are St. Domingo, Puerta de Plata, Azua, Samana, and Monte Christi.

"A constant trade is kept up with the islands of St. Thomas and Curaçoa, the United States, France, England and Germany, whither is transported a large amount of mahogany and tobacco. A sufficiency of sugar is made to supply the population and an equal amount is exported.

"The principal articles of export are mahogany, lignumvita, logwood, tobacco in leaf and cigars; cattle, hides, yellow and white wax, gum guiacum, honey and lumber.

"The defensive means of the republic are sufficiently ample for all immediate use. The cities are well fortified, and the frontiers protected from invasion of the blacks of Hayti. The public arsenals are well supplied with the materials of war, and they have an army of 18,000 men, of which one half is always on duty. The navy is small, consisting of only one brig and three schooners of war, all built at Caracas.

"The population is over 200,000, half of which are whites, who hold the general administration, and two thirds of the other half are mulattoes, a great portion of whom are landed proprietors, or old mechanics, and the remaining are negroes, mostly free born. Slavery has been forever abolished in the republic. Education has been very much neglected, but must now revive, as government has undertaken to supply schools in each parish at the public expense, besides which, numerous private schools for the upper classes are established in the convents, and also in the larger cities."

The government is very similar in form to that of the United States, and from appearances hitherto it seems to answer all healthful purposes. It consists of a President, Senate, and House of Representatives; and a Judiciary, with the usual powers conceded to the several departments.

The government of the Republic of Hayti is theoretically pure, but in practice it is a military dictatorship. The presidents have been mere soldiers, and held power by force of arms. Under such auspices all the prosperity the country enjoyed under France was lost, and the population is now in a state of disorganization and impending ruin. The exports are diminished, and are of comparatively little value; but still with ordinary exertion, with such soil and climate as the Haytians possess, prosperity may yet attend them. The population numbers about 700,000.

There is no late statistical information relative to these governments-in fact none since their separation. The commerce belonging to this island, ascertained from the returns of 1836, shows the following results: 369 ships, of 50,580 tons burden, with cargoes worth £474,782, or $2,278,954 entered;

and 395 ships of the burden of 52,485 tons, with cargoes valued at £921,336, or $4,442,412, cleared out; thus leaving a balance in favor of the island of £446,554, or $2,163,456. No goods are suffered to remain on board vessels coming to the Haytian ports, but are warehoused on payment of one per cent. per annum. The following goods are entered free of duty: arms, ammunition, agricultural implements, horses, cattle, coin and schoolbooks. The importation of mahogany, dye-woods and other articles produced on the island, is prohibited, as is the export of arms, coin, old or new iron or copper, horses, asses, and timber for ship-building. These regulations, however, are modified in the Dominican dominions.

SAN DOMINGO, the capital city of Dominica, and principal seaport within the Dominican territory, is situated at the mouth of the Ozama River, which forms its harbor. Latitude 18° 28′ 50′′ north, longitude 69° 59′ 37′′ west. This city was the first permanent settlement in America. It is surrounded by old ramparts, strengthened by bastions and outposts. Its interior is regularly laid out; the streets, which intersect each other at right angles, are spacious, but not all paved. The houses are in the Spanish style, and many of them fine, substantial buildings. Beside the cathedral, a gothic structure, built in 1540, and reported to have formerly contained the remains of Columbus, there are nine other churches, two convents, two hospitals, some large barracks, old and new national palaces, and many other public buildings, &c. The harbor is both capacious and secure; it has from 10 to 12 feet of water, but owing to a bar at the mouth of the Ozama, large ships are obliged to anchor in the outside road-stead, exposed to the south winds. St. Domingo has a considerable trade with the interior, and its external commerce is respectable. Population, 15,000.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, now PORT-REPUBLICAN, is the capital of Hayti, and situated in the innermost recesses of the Bay of Gonaives, on the southwest coast. It is built of wood, and has but an inferior aspect, its streets being unpaved and ill-regulated. It carries on an extensive trade with the United States and Jamaica. Population, 20,000.

The other principal towns are CAPE HAYTIEN, formerly the capital of Christophe's kingdom; AUX-CAYES, one of the most flourishing on the isl and; JEREMIE, a place of considerable trade; GONAIVES, a small town, with a good harbor, &c., &c.

The annexed transcript of a letter, published in the Turk's Island Gazette, (1848,) will give a full, and, probably, just account, of the condition of the Dominican Republic, and the vicissitudes it has undergone since its establishment, and much information important to the merchant :

We are now in the fourth year of Dominican independence, and the third session of its legislature has drawn to a close.

If any argument can possibly prove the incompatibility of a union between the Spanish and Franco-African race; if evidence were wanting to establish the marked and distinct national characteristics of the two people, the acts of the last session of the Dominican Congress must set those questions at rest for ever.

The Dominicans shook off the Haytien yoke because it was a violent usurpation, which strove to convert a virtuous and happy community into stupid barbarians, an usurpation which deprived them of all natural and political rights, as men, to seek their own prosperity and happiness; and the temperate, decided and judicious manner in which they have conducted this revolution, marked by no excesses, nor in which the authority of the laws, even for a moment, was sus

pended, eminently proves how fit they are to appreciate the privileges they have acquired.

Among the many interesting acts of the late session, I may cite the municipal law, which has been amplified, with many important additions and principles of government, already required by these Dominican communities, together with which the municipal revenues have been considerably augmented, in order to meet the extended range of the prerogatives of these useful institutions.

Amendments have likewise been introduced into the law for the improved civil government of the provinces.

Congress has also passed an act for the incorporation of a company, to form a macadamized road between Santiago and Porto Plata, which by the surveys already made, will reduce the present distance to nearly one-third.

The executive has been clothed with the most ample power for the promotion of immigration; funds have been placed at his disposal for the purpose of assisting the indigent, and authority to grant concessions of all public lands, in parcels of fifty acres, in full right and property, free of any charge whatever, to each immigrant, who is, moreover, exonerated from all military service.

That highly-impolitic vestige of Haytien legislation, that incubus upon the prosperity and advancement of any country, the imposition of patents on licenses for pursuing any kind of industry, has been quite exploded.

Licenses are now only required for merchants, shop-keepers, distilleries, and billiard-tables. All other trades and professions, of whatever nature, are free for natives as well as foreigners.

The retail trade is also open to foreigners, and all other vocations which require a license.

The foreign consignee-patent is rated at only eighty Spanish dollars—£16. The custom-house laws have been completely remodelled, affording the utmost facilities and despatch to trade.

The import and export of gold and silver, with all other metals, and every species of mineral production, are declared free.

Vessels arriving with immigrants, and all vessels touching at any of the ports without trading, pay no port charges.

Foreign vessels can load without restriction at any place within the territory of the Dominican Republic, and in certain cases can engage in the coasting

trade.

The only articles which pay an export duty, are wax, mahogany, dye-woods, live-stock, hides, and tobacco, which duty will shortly be taken off in toto. import duties now average twelve per cent.

The

But the grand and boldest measure of the session has been the reform of the currency, which has now become the law of the land.

The Dominicans, at the period when they shook off the Haytien yoke, were without a shilling in their treasury, and were suffering at the same time from a depreciated Haytien paper, current at only one-third its nominal value. They had to support an active war, build and repair extensive fortifications, equip and man a considerable naval force, supply the arsenals with warlike stores, and establish a constitutional government. All this was accomplished without difficulty by the patriotism of the citizens. New issues of paper, however, were indispensable, which, exceeding the sum required for the circulating medium of the country, caused a corresponding fluctuation and depreciation in its value. As no country can possibly improve with a fluctuating monetary system, the Dominican Congress decided at once on taking up the paper now in circulation at its intrinsic value in gold when issued, for which stock will be given, bearing five per cent. interest, redeemable in ten years, and further decreed the total reform and establishment of a new circulating medium, in sterling silver, and paper redeemable in silver on demand, at par with all other civilized nations; for the execution of which there is a considerable sum now in the treasury vaults, and any deficiency can be readily supplied by disposing of a part of the national property, for which due provision has been made.

Thus has this young republic braved all its adverse circumstances without incurring a shilling of debt, and now tenders to the world a land flowing with milk