The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-01

The HAYTIEN SABBArH.-A correspondent of
the Journal of Commerce, writing from Hayti.
gives the following account of Hayden Sunday,
which is parade day and review, attended by the
Emperor and his suite:
The various companies are dashipe bv on horse.
back, or marching to the music Of their bands.
They assemble first in the large enclosure in front
OF The palace, and afterwards march to a beautiful
plain outside of the city, where they are busy for
an hour or two. When all things are in readiness,
the Emperor and his suite come dashipp out. and
ride around the entire line, when he makes stand.
and they are all marched before him.
nut all that Is going on here by no means leaves
the city quiet. Every store and shop is open, and
the goods displayed more attractvely than on any
othsr DAY OF the week, and the streets are full Of
people gong and coming, some with mules loaded
win vegetables, wood, grass, coa ETC.; some with
pai'ahas, panfains, sugarcane, etc. on their heads
some with few chickens, some with one thing.
ana some with another. They thus crowd on.
oarterng, selling, disputing, quarreng, swearing.
singing, aughing-all in the most boisterous tone
making altogether scene of confusion, of which
you can have but slight conception. But the
great scene and centre of confusion is the market.
In. ihls IS large open square in the centre of the
,hy wnere Psrhaps two thousand persons, ,imany Of
theih from distance in the country, are assembled
anu all eager In driving their bargains and dispos
log OF their various articles. shall ATTEMPT no
description Of this scene ''
Strangely enough, as have stated in former
letter, the Catholic Church is upon slight eleva.
ton directly fronting upon one of these markets
va women, who are busy either in selling or buy-
ing, come along to the church. lay their baskets on
the steps, go IN and themselves with holy
water, kneel and count their beads for time, and
then come out and go with their trading. Thus
hui'itudes come, and those who able to stay,
ana engage IN the services for longer period seem
10 be not at all disturbed by them nor indeed to be
conscious Of their inconsistency
Az length the parade is ended, the companies ot
soldiers, preceded by their music, disperse to the
various parts OF the city, and the Emperor, attend
ed by hundred more guards GALLONS tbrouob
the principal streets of the city, around the market
and past the church, to his residence.
nus, with noise and excitement, the day passes
on. by two or three o'clock the business begins tt
suoside, and sports of various kinds begin. The
ooys ny their kites. spin their tops, and run and
laugh and shout in their various PLAYS The young
men walk ride or visit as they NAV prefer
The more wealthy, having finished late dinner,
amuse themselves with dancing or cards and thus
each, according to his taste, seeks his pleasure.
ms .he evening approaches. new and still
stranger news begin. The more common and igno.
rant part of the people assemble in large companies
IN the open air, and engage in what what is called
dance +; though it is perfectly unlike any thing
that is called dance in the United States Their
music is made by pounding with the flat of their
hands upon drum, which is made by stretching a
SKI SKIN over the head of barrel, like drum-head
This drumming they accompany with singing,
capPing Of hands, etc. The noise thus mads Is
very loud. and by sundown you hear it in all direc-
tons. There is something most remarkable in the
passion Of this people for this kind of music and
dancing. 10 an ear unaccustomed to the sound
there would seem to be as much music in the din
and confusion Of tin coopers shop; and We,
to them there is nothing more exciting At the
sound Of one of these drums in neighboring yard
| have seen the children that were passing along
the streets, begin at once to move to the sound Of
the tune, and hop and wheel and balance most
effect seems much the same upon those who are
older.