INHABITANTS OF SAN DOMINGO. 



409 



Bonaparte, after overthrowing the republic and restoring the ancien regime under a 

 new name, attempted to effect a similar work in Haiti. 



The blacks at first hesitated, or resisted in a half-hearted way, especially after the 

 treacherous capture of their leader, Toussaint-Louverture. But the truth gradu- 

 ally leaked out, and the existence of the decree re-establishing slavery and the slave 

 trade in the Antilles became known to all, especially after some mulattoes imported 

 from Guadeloupe were publicly sold as slaves. The black troops immediately 

 deserted and the war was resumed. As before, it assumed an atrocious character, 

 and Dessalines, the black leader, ordered the massacre of all whites, the burning 

 of the towns and plantations. 



The French on their part gave no quarter ; they even brought to the siege of 

 Leogane two hundred Cuban bloodhounds, " that were fed on negro flesh and made 



Fig-. 195. 



-Disputed Teeeitoey between Haiti and San DoiiiNGo. 



iSoale 1 : 7 00" 000 



Depths. 



Dispnted 

 Territory. 



to 1,500 

 Fathoms. 



1,500 Fathoms 

 aud upwards. 



125 MUes. 



more savage uy hunger." But the climate, on which the Haitians had calculated, 

 at last secured them the victory. A frightful outburst of yellow fever almost com- 

 pletely destroyed the invading army, carrying off 24,000 of the 35,000 that had 

 been landed, and leaving only 2,200 capable of bearing arms when the time came 

 to evacuate the island. Separation was now an accomplished fact, and on January 

 1st, 1804, independence was proclaimed at Gonaives. 



After its revolutionary period of fifteen years, Haiti, like the mother- country, 

 constituted itself an " empire ; " then followed its monarchies and constitutional 

 presidencies, and even a second empire (1849), just as in France, and then another 

 republic, which still keeps up the outward semblance of a civilised state. 



In 1843 the alliance imposed by force on the Spanish section of the island was 

 broken, and all subsequent attempts to restore the union have ended in failure. 



