Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-18
miscellaneous
From the Evening Post.
TIE CITY OF SAINT DOMINGO.

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Dadpiddtcd Fojfifcations-iS Haj6or Deserted
Dcetiings-- ChuTches--B leioU Ferer
Markct-President S1atdna-His Simplicity
TIE Tbger and Prison Of CotamJus-I1putation
tic.
Tho city Of Saint Domingo presents nothing like
the grandeur described by 'Onedo," who resided
there thirty years after its establishment. AT that
time there was no city in Spain according to his
account) that could in any way compare with it.
The river "O1ime," which runs close to the walls
of the town, was considered "a most beautiful and
wonderful port where the heaviest laden ships
could lie in safety even under the windows of the
houses, land the heaven was SO fine and commo
dious that the like was known In few places in the
world" The houses were so magnificent, (cspeci-
ally the one built by Diego Culcn,) that no place
in Spain coull cmyare with them in richness or
commodity and this beautiful city increased so
rapidly i'll wealth and good order that it attracted
thithcr all the wealthy merchants of the island,
who took up their residence in it on account of its
convenient Indications, and for the disposal of such
articles of commerce as were brought from Spain,
or were sent there from the different provinces OF
the island, which SO abOunded with many things
that the merchants were required usuriOusly by
the profits"
a different picture now presents itself. The
river "Ozima" glides along as smoothly as it did
three hundred years since, and close to the city,
where ancient Caravals were crowded at the piers
waiting their rich freights-thc splendid houses
which a monarch might have delighted to honor
are, "among the things that were" and have long
since crumblcd into dust. The ruins of the house
built by Diego Colon still remain, though nearly
covered with rubbish, to testify to the truth of the
historian, and give evidence of greater splendor
in architecture than exists in Saint Domingo in
modern times. The city is now in a most dilap;-
dated state, the evidences of lIaytien rule are still
visible in every street through which you pass, and
the inhabitants have not recovered sufficiently
from the apathy in which mthcy were kept for SO
many years to induce the to undertake the re-
pairs of their dwellings. They have contracted
many of the weakness Of their oppressors, among
which laziness Observation-Disclosures which
could once have sunk u feet of thrce-deckers"
have fallen into complete ruins, and only three
brass guns ON the sea side remain to tell that the
city has any defense the land side is better forti-
fed by two strong blstions, owing to a constant
apprehension of an invasion from the lIaytiens.
| was in st. Domingo in 1921, when President Boz
yer had possession. and at that time the town was
well defended.
What was once considered a splendid harbor is
now only considered a small though secure port for
vessels drawing ten feet water. Two or three
American briggs and schoorers were lying at the
pier taking in their logwoo1, lignumvite and ma
hogany, and eight or ten lazy negroes were taking
their time to load them, three being employed at
once in transporting a piece of wood not a load for
one able-Sodied man to carry.
Rank weeds cover the walls and give the outside
a most melancholy appearance which is scarcely
relieved by any signs of life from the inside. Three
or four dirty-looking soldiers, with equally dirty
looking muskets, oftimes without hat and always
without shoes, IA luxury they do not need their
elbows out, and one leg of their pantaloons rolled
up to their knee, often to prevent chatting some
disgusting sore on the leg-these are the only signs
of life to be seen outside the walls of this once
thckly populated city.
Houses ruined by age and neglect present tc
the eye ION an approach to the city, everything
unlike the st. Domingo of former times; but ma
4,,,a 5000. A. 1900. l---.:r $500. II III
ing ask the hand of industry to pluck from tn
soil the produce by which a nation was once en-
riched. The eye wanders for miles over land
that were once hourishing with all the tropica
productions, but in vain it looks for some evidence
of m dern industry it seems nothing but thicl
and interviewer foliage and high, rank weed
which spring luxuriantly from the prolific earth.
Old and dilapidated churches attest the povert,
of the diocese an the decline of that religion 81
much vencrated by Spaniards, though the interi
or of one or two, with their handsome affairs, arr
very creditable specimens, and compensate in
measure for the outside. The cathedral, Ia line
building of Ills, lately partially destroyed by ar
earthquake, and now repaired, is said to be thC
largest and handsomest church in the Wes
Indies. 1t is Of Gothic architecture, and will
compare favorably with many fine churches il
Italy.
. The streets of st. Domingo, in many places, are
broken up and quite impossible for carriages,
description of vehicle not much in vogue, however
as only three "valantes' are to be found in tn
city-only one or two of the principal streets ar
in passable order, and they are disgustingly filth y
The most Industrious part of the population ar
the buzzards, ('whose name is legion ;') they ar
the scavengers of the town, and, like the industr
aus Aeas, work with unwearied energy from NOR
until evening when, having almost cleared tn
streets Of animal matter, they cluster on the top
of the churches, where they look as happy as q Sc
of aldermen after n turtle feast.
The city is walled round and is about q mil
square. The number of houses are estimated &
/ 500, and are all built in tie old Spanish styl,
excepting the huts in the suburbs of the tow
which are built of reeds and thatched with tn
leaves of the palm tree. The interiors of tn
houses belonging to the lower orders are very III
cleanly dogs, pigs, chickens, ducks and childre
are often seen fighting together for supremac
over the victuals, and if outside the door, the ma
ter is often settled by one Of the numerous trib
of buzzards, who elects himself umpire and hor
away with the prize. 1t is only wonderful thi
the city is not depopulated by disease, owing
the want of cleanliness; but only in certain SET
sons are they troubled with the yellow fever, whic
/ am persuaded would never visit the city if til
crazy old walls were knocked down and the SC
breeze permitted to enter, and a few wholesom
regulations established to ensure cleanliness. Fe'
new houses have been built since the Haytier
took possession, in 1922, and those only by two
three prosperous merchants who have obtained I'll
monopoly of mahogany The people seem to desii
that they may never be troubled again by the lIa,
items, who have brought them to their preser
condition. What their present means of livin
b are it is impossible to tell. No one seems to pc
form any labor, and yet they are not badly CLOTHED
and look as if they had plenty to eat and drinl
the cares of life pass by them unheeded, and
eve the light guitar and castanets are kcepin
time together in almost every house in town.
The dwelling Of President Santana is one of tn
most humble in the city, and his mode of living a
transformations as the most Jealous democrat coul
desire. The government have built him a hous
called the palace" in which he has declined t
reside, but lie prefers the republican simplicity q
his own walls, where he lives happily with hi
Nfumily. and enjoys the benefit of the sea breeze
under his own vine and fg-tree." The style o
living of this traly good man is in keeping will
the rest of his habits-he is one Of the "nobIes