HAITI 



2662 



HAITI 



state of Wisconsin. It lies almost in the mid- 

 dle of the chain of the West Indies, between 

 Porto Rico and Cuba, from which it is sep- 

 arated by the Windward Passage, fifty miles 

 in breadth. Haiti Island is politically divided 

 into two republics, Haiti on the west and 

 Santo Domingo on the east. The surface is 

 mountainous, with fourteen distinct ranges, 

 attaining their greatest elevation in Loma 

 Tina, a peak 10,300 feet high. The island is 

 drained by forty-seven small rivers, few of 

 which are navigable except by canoes and small 

 boats. The Juna, flowing into Samana Bay 

 on the east, is navigable for some distance 

 inland and has considerable commercial im- 

 portance. 



Climate. The rainfall is excessive, but on 

 the whole the climate is healthful. The rainy 

 season lasts from May to October. The an- 

 nual average temperature is about 90 F., and 

 the thermometer seldom registers below 75 

 on the low-lying portions of the island. Hur- 

 ricanes are frequent, but not so violent as in 

 some others of the West Indies. 



Republic of Haiti. The republics of Haiti 

 and Santo Domingo, although close neighbors, 

 are divided by feelings of bitter animosity. 

 Haiti occupies only one-third of the island, 

 and its people resent the nearness of the Do- 

 minicans, as the people to the east are called. 

 The Republic of Haiti occupies the position of 

 being the earliest state to be constitutionally 



ISLAND 



OF 



HAITI 



50 60 TO 80 



T L A N T I C C E A 



THE ISLAND AND THE TWO REPUBLICS 



Resources. The soil is extremely fertile, and 

 Haiti excels in the variety and richness of its 

 vegetable products. Cotton, cocoa, tobacco, 

 rice, arrowroot, manioc, coffee, sugar canes and 

 many varieties of tropical fruits and flowers 

 grow in great abundance. All vegetables found 

 in temperate climates are also successfully cul- 

 tivated. The extensive forests contain valu- 

 able woods, such as mahogany, satinwood, rose- 

 wood, cedar and logwood. On the mountains 

 oaks and pines are found. The mineral wealth 

 is great, but is as yet almost undeveloped. 

 Iron, silver, tin and platinum are found, and 

 will provide good fields for future investment. 

 The surrounding waters abound in fish, and 

 wild hogs in great numbers roam the forests 

 and marshes. These hogs are hunted and fur- 

 nish an important food supply. 



governed by negroes. The experiment, if it 

 can be called such, has been fairly successful, 

 but corruption has done much to prevent any 

 great achievements, and revolutions have been 

 almost of annual occurrence. The constitu- 

 tion, language, laws and traditions of Haiti 

 are of French origin. The military element 

 predominates, and the army has long ruled 

 the country. There is not enough local cap- 

 ital to develop the resources, a condition due 

 to fear of investment under an unstable gov- 

 ernment. Most of the natives who are not 

 given to military pride are inclined to laziness 

 and superstition. The mystic rites of voodoo 

 still exercise their weird influence over all 

 classes of the community, although the Ro- 

 man Catholic has been the nominal state re- 

 ligion since 1869, and the priests have fought 



