276 CUBA AND PORTO RICO 



never yet been rebuilt, the Cape is to-day the center, bo to 

 speak, of a remarkably thriving and prosperous district, of 

 large and increasing business interests, promising well for 

 the future. Here, as at other ports facing the sea to the 

 north, the trade-winds come over the cool blue waters, and 

 the tropical heats are greatly modified. This city is the 

 terminus of the French line of oceanic cable leading directly 

 to New York, Cuba, and Jamaica. 



Commercially contributing towns and communes are La 

 Plaine du Nord (population 5000), L'Acul du Nord (10,000), 

 and Milot (6000). Near Milot are still to be seen the truly 

 imposing ruins of Christophe's palace of Sans Souci, and 

 not far off those of his wonderful citadel, La Ferriere, which 

 from its mountain height overlooked and commanded the 

 commune. It is of the most solid masonry, every stone of 

 which is said to have cost a human life, and covers the whole 

 peak of the mountain. Some of the walls were eighty feet in 

 height and sixteen feet in thickness. Years of labor were 

 spent to build this citadel, which was destroyed in a few 

 minutes by an earthquake. 



The northern province is noted for its fertility, abun- 

 dance of rain, numerous rivers, and the superior intelligence 

 and industry of its inhabitants. 



Port de Paix, named by Columbus Valparaiso (" Valley of 

 Paradise"), is several hours' sail westward from Cape Hai- 

 tien, about midway between that city and Mole St. Nicolas. 

 It is a town of ten thousand inhabitants, and is noted as the 

 last point evacuated by the French in December, 1803. It 

 is well situated at the mouth of Les Trois-Rivieres, facing 

 the famous lie de la Tortue, and is considered healthful. 

 It has a good harbor in front, and a fine, rich country 

 behind it. Near it, a little to the south of east, is the im- 

 portant town of St. Louis du Nord, in a commune which 

 has a population of sixteen thousand. There are at pres- 

 ent on foot propositions and projects looking to the con- 

 struction of a railway from Port de Paix southward through 

 the valley of the Trois-Rivieres, which is a considerable 



