NO. 6 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I92O 



45 



In old French times Fond Parisien was considered one of the most 

 beautiful spots in Haiti, but a flood has covered the greater part of 

 this once fertile district with stones and gravel, transforming it into 

 a desert. The large areas of black mucky swamp land to l)e found 



Fig. 57. — " Strangler plant" (a species of CUisia) on a 

 large leguminous tree near Petionville. 



here are utilized in sweet potato farming, while some cotton is grown 

 in the drier parts. 



La Mission is a day's journey to the south from Fond Parisien. 

 The most striking features of this region are the open pine forests 



4 



