OF SANTO DOMINGO. 



which owes its existence to the fact that it is at the extremit}" of the pass over the 

 mountains, between Macoris and Samana, and that there is a little harbor here for 

 coasters. From the month of the Rio Jobo there is a trail across to Macoris, which 

 ascends the river to the summit, near which is a collection of three or four houses, 

 called Blanco. From' the top of the ridge it descends another stream, emerging on 

 the plain two or three miles northwest of Macoris. 



The route from Macoris to Matanzas has nothing remarkable about it, except the 

 great number of times it crosses the Rio Magna, a very rocky stream. 



The only two streams in these mountains worth mentioning, are the Isabella 

 River and the Yasica. The former river, south of Puerto Plata, flows northwest, 

 ' through a long valley, and empties at the site of Columbus'' first colony, from which 

 it derives its name. It is too small to be of any practical value. The Yasica takes 

 its origin in the same vicinity, and flows northeast, receiving several large branches. 

 It reaches the sea about thirty miles east of Puerto Plata. The lower portion of this 

 stream is quite deep, and is much used for floating mahogany from the interior to the 

 coast. 



• The north coast has a number of good harbors. Manzanilla Bay is an excellent 

 port, but now never visited. Its proximity to the Haytian frontier renders it unsafe 

 for residence, and there is consequently no settlement there. The mouth of the Yaqui 

 is so nearly choked by drift and bushes, that there is no river-trade, and Monte Cristi 

 monopolizes all the commerce of the region. Added to this, the extensive marshes in 

 the vicinity render it extremely unhealthy. Monte Cristi is a good little harbor, well 

 shut in, and yet easy of access both by land and sea. Vessels enter easily, and are 

 well sheltered, while there are no streams or marshes landward to cut it off in that 

 direction, like Manzanilla Bay. The shore is very shelving ; mud flats run out a 

 long distance, and nearly a mile in width of the shore is subject to overflow at very 

 high tides. But a causeway and pier will rem'edy the defect, and the flats can be 

 tiu'ued to good account for the manufacture of salt. Should the Yaqui River be 

 diverted to this point, Monte Cristi cannot fail to become a place of great importance. 



Following the coast eastward, the first harbor of importance is Isabella. This 

 is an indentation in the coast, open to the north and northwest. There is an abun- 

 dance of water, and vessels resort there constantly for mahogany, satin-wood, and 

 fustic. After this follow a number of little bays, like Sufflet, Blanco, and Isleta, 

 available for small coasters, after which we arrive at Puerto Plata, a small but well 

 sheltered harbor, at present the principal outlet of the tobacco trade of the Cibao. It 

 is easy of access and egress, and will always be of importance, in consequence of a 



A. p. S. VOL. XV. ]f. 



