The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-08

population small, and sparse as it Is, generally de-
voted to intelligent and thrifty agricultural labor,
the result would necessarily be considerable. But
such Is far from being the case. In the same
manner did gold mining in the early Spanish
times, SO does mahogany cutting now engage
the attention and absorb the little industry
of most of the inhabitants of large part of the
country And though, this labor and traffic is, d.
rectly indirectly, of the principal sources OF
the national revenue, it may still be truly charac-
terised as the bane and curse of the country, as
were the gold mines IN the early periods OF its
colonial history Wholly Withdrawing, or what
is nearly as prejudIcial, constantly divertlng the
attention and labor OF the rural population from
anything like regular or systematic cultivation
Ola soil unsurpassed IN the amount and variety
of its capabilities, this application of It's labor
keeps the country poor, and statIonary-unless,
deed, the tendency be in fact downward-in its
poverty, while comparatively only very few in
dlviduals, indeed, are enriched by the results of
the national labor, as at present directed. Hence
1t is, though there doubtless other causes COM
biDing with this, that agriculture is almost wholly
neglected, and that this garden Of the West In
dies IS probably in less advanced state, IN regard
toagriculture, than it was at the moment when
Columbus first landed on the island. Undoubted-
ly, IT supports a smaller population now than
1t did then, and, in regard to the physical
condition, at least of the people generally,
at the two respective epochs, l very much
question whether a candid comparison would
not lead to a decision. in favor of the former,
tor It is difficult to conceive how any human being
could, In any such country be satisfied with more
scanty supply OF the resources of human exIgency,
and OF the comforts OF life, than is the great body
OF the rural population here. Contented to live IN
contracted cabin, constructed of the rudest ma
erlas, IN the rudest manner put together, Ooress,
unfinished, IN many cases with any household
utentils whatever, except those furnished by the
lavish hand OF nature, IN state almost ready for
uses Statistic with hog In spread on the ground,
with, perhaps, coarse blanket for covering, as
his sole couch of repose; the climate permitting
him. though not without the sacrifice of comfort,
and frequently OF health, to dispense with all cloth
ing that decency does not absolutely require HIM
to wear (and nowhere in the West Indies have
| found the mass of the common people, of either
sex, to entertain any very fastidlous notions on
THIS subject; (whlle the earth yields spontaneously,
or with but little OF the rudest kind of cultivation,
the products that serve to satisfy the absolute de-
mands of nature-the rustic Creole feels little IN
ducement to labor, and is wholly unable to COM
prehend the utility, or practical philosophy, of in
dustry and toll.
Such has been the general condition and state oil
things here, as far back as the period of the uni
versal emancipation, which was proclaimed in this
part OF the island by Boyer, when, at the head OF
his army, he crossed the frontier and entered the
gates OF this city, in the year 1922 The plantations
of sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, &C. as an inevitable
consequence of that measure, soon went to waste,
and at this day the luxurlant young forest growth,
with the occasional runs Of old Improvements,
alo.. e obscurely mark their former locality.
AS to the present methods of agriculture, there
is not this side of the island, at least within the
limits of this republic, any implement of husband
~ answering to our plough; nor, do believe, that
there is on the other. Nor ID Its place generally
or spade. Usually, the ground IS preparedlby SIM
ply cutting off the bushes or trees, and then burning
1t over. The seed or cane stalk is then placed IN
a hole or trench made for Its reception, and here
all labor ends till that required for gathering in
the product. The kralns of May and early June,
the period of planting, in some measure prepare
the ground for this inefficient kind of cultivation.
OF the method OF tobaccocu!ture, on the north side
do not speak, not having had an opportunity Of
observing it. In scarcely any other country In the
world would this meagre and Inc efficient kind of
cultivation produce any result but in this prolific
soil and genial climate it is otherwise, to a degree
that shows what might be effected under an intel
ligent and thorough system of husbandry. The
srga cane produced In some districts, even under
the ntsystem is unsurpassed, size and quail
liy combined, by the product of any of the West
Indies. The supply raised here is exhausted by,
though it is far from supplying the full extent OF,
the home demand, in the form of sugar, syrup, and
an inferior kind OF rum.
AS. particular picture drawn In detail will
usually convey more vivid and correct general
idea than the most elaborate generaities, l WILL
while on this subject of the agricultural condition
and capabilities OF this country, sketch one from
personal experience and observation combined.
The occasions OF private business called the writer
from the city into the country, where; in a'rude
cabin, the half part of whose entire space conceded
for the purpose, he swung his hammock, and, with
the exception Of a weekly visit to the city of
day or two.each, slept dlved, or rather "staid"
some two months, embracing the latter part of the
last spring and the beginning 81 the present sum-
mer. Around this, of course, foorless dwelling,
which was situated just above the immediate bank
and mangrove swamps of the turbld and sluggish
Ozama, there was very small clearing, which
Indicated some degree of former cultivation
while few eed-choked vegetables of the e-
erminoas kind, and-discernable only by the
practiced eye-an occasional sweet potato vine
creeping steatbily and laborously along beneath
the oyetshadowlng weeds and bushes-marked
the kind and extent of the present culture. This
spot--as isolated and solitary nearly, as though 1t
were the only human abode on the islands, yet
within few miles of this capital, and within the
occasional hearing of the deep reverberatron of
the heavy breakers that eternallY lash the rock
nbbed shore beneath the city walls This spot,
and the now woOd.c covered grounds around, once
produced, or now do in half wild state, almost
every conceivable production. Here once waved
luxuriant fields OF the sugar cane here were
coffee plantations now traceable by the wild
growth OF that tree while, around are scattered
the cabbage-tTee, which furnishes abundantly,
IN the upper extremity OF ITS trunk, a nutrlcious
escuent that gives the name to this useful variety
Of the palm the various varieties of the orange
tree, the lime, algator-pear, sapOtee, sour-sop,
mango, guava, yenne Cor similar) pepper, &c.
to say, nothing Of yams and other escnlenis,
cost and trouble of little culture only. the cotton
Plant, now found wild hard by--as also pantains
bananas, and upland rice, as the two former are
indeed, found on almost every other cleared patch
in this vicinity. Such is specimen of the capa-
biliues OF the soil of much of the Dominican ter
ritory and yet the writer was wholly dependent,
for most Of his necessary supplies for daily con-
sumption, on the market OF this city--to which,
in, they had been mpoi ted from New York!
The approaches to this SPOT from the city, and
from the distant and widely separated cabins of
a similar kind, are by brldle or foot paths--the |
only roads EeIe--whlch are at times extremely
intricate, and, 10 one habitus ted to such roads as
Broadway and the other thoroughfares of the great
metropolis, al first rather perpexiHg; while, again,
they pursue a more direct course along the track
Of the broad roads or avenues Of former times,
now ehoked up by rank undergrowth-thelr an
Client outlines being alone traceablc by the late
raj rows of large and thickly set trees that were
planted along their borders. of the plantations