CHAPTER XXIII 



THE ISLAND OF SANTO DOMINGO 1 



Difficulties of nomenclature. Geographical features of the island. Irreg- 

 ularity of outline. Mountains and valleys. The Alps of the Antilles. 

 Classification of the ranges. Rivers and lakes. Climate. Geology. 

 Fauna. 



SANTO DOMINGO, although second in size, is perhaps 

 the most impoverished and backward of the Great 

 Antilles. Its area is about two thirds that of Cuba and 

 more than three times that of Porto Rico and Jamaica 

 combined. The island by nature is the geographic center 

 of the Great Antilles. Situated midway between Porto 

 Rico and Cuba in the island chain, it is the most central 

 and highest of the system, from which the others in either 

 direction may be considered as radiating peninsulas. It 

 excels them all in altitude, diversity of configuration, pic- 



1 Both "Haiti" and "Santo Domingo" are used as general terms to desig- 

 nate this island, occupied by the republics of "Haiti "and "San Domingo." 

 It is not necessary to enter into an historic discussion concerning this nomen- 

 clature, further than to say that we shall use the Spanish term "Santo 

 Domingo " in speaking of the island as a whole, " San Domingo " for the 

 republic of that name, and " Haiti " for the territory embraced within the 

 Haitian republic. It is a matter of regret that the old name " Hispaniola " has 

 become obsolete. 



In these pages I have also intentionally avoided terming the inhabitants of 

 this island Dominicans, even though the San Domingoans may in these later 

 days so call themselves. The only true Dominicans are the inhabitants of 

 Dominica, one of the larger islands of the Lesser Antilles. 



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