THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI 281 



Petit G-oave stands facing an excellent bay, only a few 

 leagues to the westward of the capital. The population of 

 the commune is estimated at twenty-five thousand. Not 

 far to the southeast of it is the lake called Etang Duricie, 

 which is filled with fish and turtles, and is frequented by 

 wild ducks and other water-birds. In the town itself is a 

 considerable establishment for hulling and preparing coffee. 



Miragoane, still farther westward, was formerly a port 

 of fair importance ; but the town itself was nearly destroyed 

 and its commerce ruined by the Bazelais' attempt at revo- 

 lution in 1883-84. Its communal population is set down 

 at eighteen thousand. 



Jeremie, the birthplace of the elder Dumas, lies to the 

 west of Miragoane, on the northern coast of the western 

 peninsula of the island, and is noted for its export of cocoa. 

 It is a prosperous and thriving place, and its population is 

 estimated at thirty-five thousand. It stands or faces on a 

 bay whose waters are often so turbulent as to render land- 

 ing difficult. 



Aux Cayes, about midway on the Caribbean side of the 

 Tiburon peninsula, was formerly the most populous and 

 thriving city in the south of the republic. From Jeremie 

 it is reached by sailing first westward to Cape Dame Marie, 

 then turning south round the end of the peninsula, passing 

 Cape Tiburon, and finally proceeding east along the south- 

 ern coast. It has a commune population estimated at 

 twenty-five thousand, an important foreign commerce, and 

 a variety of domestic industries. A small stream running 

 through it, called La Ravine du Sud, sometimes inundates 

 parts of the city in the rainy seasons. The government 

 has recently entered upon measures to correct this evil and 

 to improve the harbor. 



Aquin is a smaller town lying only a few miles farther 

 east than Aux Cayes, but the population of the city and 

 commune is given as twenty thousand. From its ports 

 are shipped large quantities of dyewoods. 



Jacmel, situated on the southern coast, farther east than 



