OF SAM TO DOMINGO. 



81 



bonnde'd by high hills on each side, and occasionally encroached on by a small spur. 

 This valley seems to be nearly level, and its appearance at a distance certainly war- 

 rants the glowing pictures painted by all who know it. It is said to be extremely 

 fertile. It seems that the dry character of the Azua and Monte Cristi regions does 

 not extend to it, and the " Guinea grass" with which it is clothed perennially is said 

 to completely hide the animals grazing among it. During the " old Spanish time," 

 before the revolt of the colonies, this is said to have been the richest region on the 

 Island. ' 



Myriads of cattle roamed on the plain where now not an animal is to be seen. The 

 Government is now gradually resuming its occupation of and jurisdiction over the 

 valley, and even as I write, news arrives that San Juan has been made a permanent 

 military post. The significance of this step will be apparent when we consider that 

 the place has been abandoned since 1868, or only occupied for a day or two at a time 

 by " raiding " parties. South of this region, separated by a range of high hills, is 

 another valley which rans uninterrupted from Azua to Port au Prince. This is said 

 to be narrow, and except at its western end, not so fertile as the other. In it are sev- 

 eral lakes ; two of them of considerable size, neither connected with each other nor 

 with the sea. Still south of these lakes, is another range of hills, the Sierra Baburuco, 

 which form a sort of wall cutting off the southern peninsula from the adjacent re- 

 gions. Mr. Pennell describes this peninsida as a flat region, densely wooded and 

 well watered. Mr. Luis Durocher, a very intelligent and well educated gentleman, 

 and one unusually well acquainted with most matters connected with his country, 

 informed me that this tract is sparsely inhabited by a people most probably the 

 descendants of fugitive slaves. He describes them as apparently pure negroes, 

 savage, nearly or quite naked, not living permanently in any one place, and speaking 

 a language peculiar to themselves, — an almost unintelligible patois of French. It is 

 said that the peninsula is full of mahogany, and other valuable woods, almost untouched 

 as yet by the axe. 



The south side of the Island is watered by many more rivers than the north side ; 

 but they are smaller and comparatively unimportant. They may be divided into two 

 classes : those that take their origin in the central chain of mountains, and those 

 that flow from the spurs and subordinate ridges. To the first class, belong the 

 Macoris, Ozama, Jaina, ISTizao, Ocoa, and Southern Yaqui, sometimes called the 

 I^eyba. 



The first tAVO of these are the only ones worthy of special note, since they are 

 navigable for a few miles from their mouths. The others are not navigable even for 

 A. r. S. — VOL. XV. u. 



