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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



LOOKING DOWN INTO A SUNKEN COURT AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF 



CHRISTOPHERS CITADEL 



Although large granite mcks are to lie found throughout the structure, red firebrick of 

 varying sizes was the chief building material used. Apparently the bricks were manufactured 

 on the site of the fortifications. 



independence. Years of the labour of 

 toiling thousands were spent to prepare 

 this citadel, which the trembling: earth 

 laid in ruins irt a few minutes. 



"What energy did this black king pos- 

 sess to rear so great a monument? But 

 the reverse of the medal states that every 

 stone in that wonderful building cost a 

 human life." 



A Frenchman, Edgar La Salve, in his 

 book, "La Republique d'Haiiti," says: 



"Nowhere in France, England, or in 

 the United States have I seen anything 

 more imposing. The citadel of La Fer- 

 riere is truly a marvelous thing." 



CHRISTOPHE BEGAN LIFK AS A WAITER 



A brief sketch of the life and career 

 of I lenri Christophe i> necessary in order 

 to explain the why and wherefore of his 

 citadel and palace, and properly to ac- 

 centuate the difficulties of their construc- 



tion. His origin and early life are 

 shrouded in mystery, but it is generally 

 accepted that he was born in 1760. on the 

 island of St. Christopher. 



It is known that prior to the first gen- 

 eral uprising of the slaves against their 

 French masters. Christophe worked as a 

 waiter in Cap Franchise ( now Cape Hai- 

 tieti ). and it was in this humble capacity 

 that he is supposed to have picked up his 

 smattering of English and formed the 

 acquaintance of English naval officers. 



Tall and of a splendid physique, with 

 exceptionally bright and piercing eyes, 

 and with a reckless bravery and a terrible 

 ferocity, combined with no little duplicity 

 and cunning, he speedily achieved a con- 

 spicuous place as one of the trusted lieu- 

 tenants of Toussaint L'< Hiverture. that 

 remarkable negro strategist who rose 

 from slavery to a position of command- 

 ing importance in Haiti and who sue- 



