THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI 285 



In features the black Haitians vary greatly, owing to the 

 variations between the African tribes from which they are 

 descended. Some of the men arc tall, with line open 

 countenances, while others are low in mien and physique. 

 Reclus has noted that if the complexions are mostly very 

 dark, the new environment has remodeled the feature-, 

 which have become largely assimilate* I to the European 

 type; African features, such as those of the Wolofs and 

 Serers. are seldom met. Though they have not developed 

 a homogeneous type, as have the natives of Jamaica, Bar- 

 bados, and Martinique, even St. John admits that as a rule 

 they are far advanced above the African type. There are 

 still many negroes in Haiti who were born in Africa, prin- 

 cipally the last cargoes of slaves captured by English 

 cruisers and turned loose among their brethren. 



The numerically preponderating and dominant blacks 

 are of many degrees of advancement, ranging from prime- 

 val Africans, almost unacquainted with the Caucasian race 

 or habits, who inhabit the back districts, especially of the 

 southern peninsula, to men and women who have been 

 highly educated in Paris. Among these are some of pol- 

 ished maimers and cultivated minds ; but even these, when 

 they attain power, are inclined to prove themselves vision- 

 ary and less capable in the administration of public affairs 

 than white men. 



It is the general impression that the female sex greatly 

 preponderates among the Haitian negroes. Some estimate 

 the proportion as high as two to one; others say there are 

 three women to one man. St. John estimates that the 

 women constitute three fifths of the population. There is 

 no migration to account for the disproportion of sexes, 

 the movement of population having been toward, instead 

 of away from, the island. In colonial times the males 



outnumbered the females, but the numerous wars are sup- 

 posed to have largely exterminated the former. 



The Language of Haiti is French, which is spoken and 

 written in its purity by the educated. Indeed, it is a say- 



