CHAPTER XXV 



THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI 



It- mountainous character. Extensive coast-line. Its constitution and 

 organization. Education and religion. Commerce and revenue. 

 Communication. Cities (Cape Haitien, Port de Paix, Gonaives, St. 

 Marc. Port-au-Prince, Aux Cayes). The people. Supremacy of the 

 blacks. Race antipathies. Personal appearance and domestic rela- 

 tions of the Haitians. Superstitions. The struggle for liberty. The 

 blacks not to blame for the condition of the republic. Island products 

 and commerce. 



rilllE republic of Haiti, which occupies the western 

 X third of Santo Domingo, is quite a different country 

 from San Domingo, in its natural, political, and sociologie 

 features. While the latter country is decadent in its agri- 

 cultural, commercial, and governmental conditions, Haiti 

 has the merit of being thoroughly alive, and, while not 

 presenting an altogether pleasing picture, is a country 

 worthy of serious study and capable of development. Its 

 area is L0,204 English square miles. 



As has been said by others, the configuration of the 

 country appears a confused agglomeration of mountains, 

 hills, and valleys, most irregular in form precipices, deep 



hollows, vales apparently without an outlet, bu1 with 



water occasionally glistening far below, and cottages scat- 

 tered here and there, with groves of fruit-trees and ba- 

 nanas clustering round the rude dwellings. Gradually, 

 however, the eye. growing accustomed to the scene, sepa- 

 rates the mountains into distinct ranges, the hills into at- 



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