190 



A VISIT TO THE EMPEROR OF HAITI, 



with attention. The floor is in white marble, the furniture 

 in black hair-cloth and straw. On a richly carved table 

 appeared a beautiful bronze clock, representing the arms 

 of Haiti — namely, a palm-tree surrounded with fascines of 

 pikes and surmounted with the Phrygian cap. The walls 

 were decorated with two fine portraits, hung so as to cor- 

 respond with each other. The one represents the celebra- 

 ted French conventionist, the Abbe Gregoire, and the 

 other the reigning Emperor of Haiti. The former is the 

 work of an European artist ; the latter does honor to the 

 talent of a mulatto artist, the Baron Colbert. I should, 

 perhaps, have remarked more, if my attention had not 

 been attracted by the step of his Majesty in the neighbor- 

 ing apartment, into which we were presently ushered. 

 This apartment is hung with the portraits of all the great 

 men of Haiti, and it is in it that the grand receptions are 

 given. We immediately approached his Majesty, who was 

 dressed in a handsome green uniform, irreproachable either 

 in material or form. He wore two gold epaulettes orna- 

 mented with two silver stars ; a plaque, provisionally orna- 

 mented with crystal, decorated his breast. He had a sword 

 by his side, and carried his hat in his hand. He com- 

 menced by giving us a very cordial shake of the hand. 

 He then sat down on a fauteuil, and waited with appear- 

 ance of confusion and timidity, till M. Raybaud addressed 

 him. We had, at his invitation, sat down upon chairs. The 

 consul, after mentioning my name and profession, inform- 

 ed the Emperor that I had come to visit his empire simply 

 from motives of curiosity and amusement, and that it 

 would have been a great disappointment to me if I had 



