GEOLOGY OF THE PROVINCES OF BARAHONA AND AZUA. 197 



from Azua. A trail leads southward from Barahona along the rocky, 

 precipitous coast to Paradise and Enriquillo. Another leads from Duverge' 

 southward through Puerto Escondido to Pedernales, and another from 

 Neiba northward to San Juan. Both the north and south shores of 

 Lake Enriquillo are followed by trails that lead to the Haitian border, 

 the one on the south shore being most frequently used. From Azua 

 Province northward across the Cordilleras there are only two practicable 

 routes — one through Tubano and Constanza, the other from Las Matas to 

 Banica and thence over a rugged country on the east side of Rio Guaya- 

 jayuco to Restauracion. A much easier route from Banica north can, 

 however, be taken by crossing the river and passing across the eastern 

 tip of the Republic of Haiti. 



CLIMATE AND VEGETATION. 



The general impression gained from the accounts of travelers is that 

 much of the Provinces of Barahona and Azua consists of desert wastes 

 that are almost devoid of rainfall. This is far from true, for no part of 

 this region deserves that rating. The rainfall is so great in all parts of 

 the provinces that the ground is covered with a dense growth of mesquite, 

 guayacan, and other small trees. Tree cacti are only locally abundant. 

 In areas where the surface bears little vegetation — as for instance, in the 

 vicinity of Lake Enriquillo — its barrenness is caused by salinity of the 

 soil rather than by scant rainfall. Within 3 kilometers to the north of 

 Azua excellent gardens are grown without the aid of irrigation. 



Figures showing the rainfall for a long period are not available, but reli- 

 able observations made for several years at a number of places along and 

 near the lower Yaque Valley by the Barahona Company show at each 

 point a rainfall of more than 50 centimeters a year. The least rainfall 

 recorded was at Las Salinas, where the average during the past two years 

 was 53 centimeters. At Palo Alto the average for four years was 94 centi- 

 meters, and at Barahona it was about 106 centimeters. Most of the pre- 

 cipitation at Barahona comes within two rainy seasons, one from April to 

 the middle of June and the other from late in September nearly through 

 October. The precipitation near Azua is variable, but is about 76 centi- 

 meters at the base of the mountains and is a little less in the adjacent 

 plain. The somewhat arid appearance of much of the country seems to be 

 due to the fact that most of the rain falls in torrents during a short rainy 

 season, so rapidly that it does not soak into the ground. A fall of as much 

 as 20 centimeters within a few hours has been recorded at Palo Alto. 



The mountain slopes nearly everywhere appear to receive considerably 

 more rainfall than the adjacent plains and are accordingly clothed with a 



