New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-01
A VISIT TO H1YTL NIX.
SOME UAYTIAN TRAITS.
C.ns.vend.nes Of Ibes. Y. Tribune.
NOTES OF TRAVEL.

dents, uIwayerpgly accepted and indorsed, tend
20 make them, in q majority of eases, the vehicles
OF hai-truths and faseboOds than OF facts IN
disputable and characteristic. There is no country
where greater or more numerous difficulties OBJ
stmct the researches OF the CONSCIENTIOUS tra'cier
whether he consult It's history or its official records
whether he talk with the whites the blacks, or the
mixed blOods. than threaten TO thwart him at every
step and in every department Of investigation IN the
RepubLc OF IIayti--in the very name OF which, tor
example, there is only the mlnutest ard most
shadowy particle of truth
Hence. if, in letters Of more recent date, hav
eontradicted in minor details the assertions of IN
earlier communications, it must be- attributed first
10 conflicting oral testimony received, and chief
90 the prejudice of shades (Which is sometimes
euphoniously called the hostility of races that ex-
isis between tie blacks and the mixed blo0ds OF
Hayii. II there are occasional rcpetluons, IL must
be credited to the fact that my letters were no
written in the systematic order in which they haV
been published III THE TRIBUNE.
VI hen | reached GOnavcs, / discovered, more
conspciouslv than had seen II before, the exist
ence Of deep.rooted jealousy or prejudice between
the two shades of natives, and that II would DC u-
Just 10 the country, and damaging tony own repu-
class of citizens without the most careful and pro-
ouped investigation. Instead therefore, Of contlI-
uiug nv letters, ! commenced my notes ol travel
and wrote out daily, with great care the facts ad-
yapced in Conversations and these i submitted sub
seGIenly to different persons for correction nave
thus secured, Oh many points, the results OF many
long and valuable experiences iredto present du
The Truth: and very few persons there were quahed
TO tell it ALL Some were too frlendly-mere eulo-
rists others too preiudiced-mere parrotso French
writer's: come were incompetent from their want
of insight and powers Of observations; others from
their limited and unfavorable range Of experience
and POSITION. If what j rclate-wben nave ended
INV Ietters--conyeys a false-whether friendly or
unriendl, impression OF the people, may possibly
regret the fact but must confess my inability to
colate or present the truth with greater candor or
in more IMPARTIAL spirit. Nothing could be easier
than 10 prove Havti a success, or Ia demonstrate
that il is q great and overwhelming failure; but
have too sincere a contempt for the profession OF
mere advocate to permit Inc to write partisan
plea on either side.
With this understanding, and with the hope that
whatever errors | may make my friends IN Hayu
may note and inform Inc or ID order that may SUD-
seouently when revising correct them. shall pro-
eeed with nv letters az written out from my notes,
at the Capital and Jacmel, and other places on the
coat
NV subject is-Haytian traits. Many of these !
hive already noted at considerable lcngth--some
Others will fnd hurried record here.
PATRIOTISM - REGIMENTAL PRIDE Pride Oh
RACE.
"Say this and you will say the truth" said an
English missionary" there is no such thing as pa
triOtism in Hayt."
"The soldiers" said native, " have no esprit
dc eorps-Gehrard must create that, in order TO
have an army to be proud Of
This was in the South. At Cape Hayden this
nrde Al pXttut: Tor Dgaru
tie people speak with pride of one regiment, which,
if | remember rightly, was called " the Fighting
Seventh"
Ash the blacks what God is, or the Holy Ghost,
or Christ or the angels, and they will tell You, win
great simplicity, Ills sont touteS planes Inc! are
all white folks, Nay ills notion is embalmed b
native art. In the Cathedral at Por-au-Princ
there is a singular painting: God, from The clouds
IL blessing n black and a mnlaft0, who b0th ar
dressed in reCimentals-thelr hands casped t0getne
in hypocritical fraternity. suggested to Haytla
thai their ieet should have been planted on the com
cf q white man, and then the painting would nav
been as well historical as embematical. NO, NO,
he said "that would have been out OF place.
"And il not that out of place :" asked tina
figure of God ~ :.
..Its common enough in all Catholic countries, y
he said. 81 don't see anything blaspheInous III 1t.
"Nor uupatrotic !"
"No. of course not: Why" he demanded.
~ LOOK al l--iHt Htdu VI a "Aii'' th"hi '"""N
of the Caucasian type: if we're black, would
not believe that God was Waite, nor that the devil
was any other color than white
lie laughed.
''Blapc cest diablc," be said; " that's Hay
tian proyerb."
"'ihe archangel Gabrel-a white man, with his
feet on the body and his sword appraised against the
devil, WHO'S black man-l saw rude native
painting of that kind at IXlsance,' ] rj0lned.
''Now, how do YOU ever expect Ia be respected by
others, unless YOU first make your new obnoxious
color respected in your own eyes
He said nothing.
A few DAYS after, called at the studio of young
am0tear artist.
He exhibited several portraits of the various
Haytian rulers, and one or two fancy or aiegorlcal
pieces. among which was a tolerably fair painting
of Charity She stood the protectrrss of three
little children. One of them was q negress. - /
thought" he said-no aluSion had been made Ia
tue question of pride of race thought that. as
Clanty eniolds all, would put here beside her q
representative oi IN! own people
Ii was the only instance ever witnessed OF PRIDE
al race IN liaytl.
Even the barbaric eement-thc believers in the
African misunderstanding in their religious
creed the innate superiority OF the Caucasian race.
Sometimes" sail swiss gentleman, "When
have been provoked by the Haytians in my service,
l have cursed them, aud told them that despised
them, their country, and their HaagaS."
The Wanga is the Spirit, l believe, 10 whom
idoatrous rites arr paid.
They wonld answer" All you may say that
with impuni,y flor you are a white man, and
your " anga is stronger thaa ours
They believe, he told me-, that the whites have a
secret worship somewhat similar 10 the mysteries
of the NaudOuX Order.
This belief, however, has no effect on their con-
duct; for in war and in trade they hold that Proyi-
dapc, aluays fayors th, heaviest batfalonS and the