Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-17
Our HaytIan Correspondence.
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GlPsEY CAMP,
SHORES oF L'ErANa SALE.

1851 WIOte we nave actually nYed, or as
moderns would say, "resided," on horseback.
A broad sweep of country has been explored,
and the condition Of things closely inquired
into. Our expedition is fast assuming a
solid matter-of fact aspect; such as becomes
an institution whose svowed object is seek
ing after truth in new and untried fields.
And faiIer fields nor lovlier hill-sdes were
never tired by student feet, and student
hearts never listened to diviner truths than
Hay tian woods and mountains tell.
This is the largest lake on the island. 1t
measures twenty two miles in length by
eight miles and half broad, and has
consequently, a circumference of about
tifty-three miles. II is clear and deep,
but bitterly salt, and swarms with alligators.
1t is known also as the Lake Of Haragua
and HemiqHHe, because the Cacique Henri
and his followers took refuge on a small
island in the center.
This island which is not more than five
miles in length by two and half in breadth
is inhabited by wild goats, whose gambols
have heretofore been uudisturbed. We, with
true freebooting propensities, Immediately
constructed raft of foat-wood and sleered
for the island, and our never-failing rifles
sounded clear and loud in the still air of this
great solitude.
An old grey headed Priest of Voodoo hear
ing the report, emerged from his little bam-
boo hat, among the mango trees, aud in his
dug-out, crossed the lake to see what it was
all about. His indignation was very great
when he saw our trophies of the chase lie
dead and bleeding on the rocky coast. All
his lifetime he had regarded the white goat
of the EtaDg Sale as a sacred thing, only to
be eaten at the annual festival of his religion,
amid prayer and praise and Voodoo rites, and
now TO see it captured by barbarian hands,
and for feast profane was more than he
could bear.
We, in true humility acknowledged the
errors of our ways, gave him some wine and
invited him to our camp on shore. Such is
the Outstanding effect of good wine that
his wrath subsidized, and he offered to inter-
cede for us with the offended deities for which
we were duly grateful and killed half
dozen kids for sin-otferings, to appease the
wrath OF the justly angry gods.
About FIVE miles North of this Lake, is
another; it runs in the same direction as this
but measures only twelve miles in length,
and varies in breadth from two to seven
miles. Its waters are acrid, which accounts
for its name, Etang Saumstre. 1t is called
also Laguna de Azuei, and like the Etang
Sale has its tides. Les habitaRS who, like
all child people are superstitiols, associate its
frowns of deity alternately pleased and
angry.
We dined to-day at the Etang Doux, a
charming little lake. whose sweet waters
seemed made for nymphs to battle in, or for
fairies to sip from the waxen chalices of the
water-lillies that gem its placid bosom. 1t
is known, also, as Laguna Icotea (the lake
of turtles), and though it is not more than
five miles long, by one and half broad, it
abounds in turtle fish and sea-fowl enough
to keep all the inhabitants Of that region
from starving.
In few hours after our arrival there, we
had prepared dinner fit for any epicure.
First Course-Turtle SOUP made by a
native cook, and made so well that it would
do credit to the cuiSinier of Burnet, Astor or
REVERE.
Second Course - Fish: pixies illsvills,
crabs, sardines and doradoes roasted and
fried; broiled, boiled, stewed and eaten raw
with pepper, rum and roasted manioc.
Third Course 0melet of wild-goose egg,
fried plantain and cavassa bread, an article
not unlike a cake of compressed sawdnst to
look at but light, digestible and nutritious
as corn dodger, which it somewhat re-
sembles in taste.
We had few wild geese and eight or nine
wild ducks shot for dinner, but at the dis
erosion of the company their preparation
was postponed till supper time, and we
moved on to Etang Sale, there to hold our
Carnival, for tomorrow morning early we
will commence our journey up to the craggy
peaks Of the Mountains de la Morne, where
nought but Northern pines keep sentinel
with silver stars in everlasting solitude.
1t is fitting that we should celebrate our
departure from the plains with feast, for
the genius of the plains is richness. 1t
might be said Of Hayti in the expressive
language of the ORIENT "Thy wales drop
fatness and the smoke Of thy btaves and
rams sent up goodly savor."
Besides our sea fowl, we brought with US
from Etang Doux, couple hundred fish,
quantity of eggs the ortolon and wild-goose,
a small load of water-cresses, and bag of
shell.fsh, which, together with the spoils of
the island chase, will make quite feast
All the people within hearing of the news
are invited to the barbecue. We have no
idea of the number of inhabitants, and have
stumbled on the best possible way of taking
the census. We can get up supper enough
for three hundred people, the natives fur
nishing the bread, fruit milk and td6fG.
Our cooking camp is a quarter of mile
from here, and looks very picturesque and
gipsy-like. Several little fires are kindled,
and several men, women, boys and girls,
some partially draped, Others entirely naked,
are officiating as cooks, under the general
supervision of our cuisinier, who rather
prides himself on his skill in turning to ac-
count the unorganized forces of the child
people, among whom we now sojourn.
Notwithstanding the absence Of postal ar
rangements or telegraph.wires, the news ot
our arrival and grand barbecue has spread
throughout section of many miles square,
and, though it is yet early, the natives come
pouring in, bearing on their heads willow.
baskets and wooden trays ofmangoes, ,Gitrons
oranges dates and figs, guvas, psw-paws,
plantains, pine.apples, aVocates, sapodillaS,
artichokes, bananas and other rich fruits of
the tropics, as presents to GeS EtrangerS.
Others, again, bring milk, sugar, tafia
coffee, corn and bread, which we pay for at
the highest rates. for, though they were in
tended as presents money will not come
amiss to the people, and il encourages the
production of these articles-besides il is
easy to be generous at the Governments ex'
pense.
The natives are still pouring in from
mountain, plain and valley, and are standing
around in little groups, chattering like so
many monkeys or silently, wonderingly
studying the mysteries of cooking.
The red glare of the pine knot fires flushes
the bosom Of the Etang Sale, plays on thC
dark mountain slopes, and light up the ebor
faces of the happy natives, which, with thsil
radiant smiles, grsceful, gliding forms anC
peals of merry laughter, make up tout en-
sem6ke Of wild, picturesque beauty, well wortl
a voyage half way around the world to see
The La c. Company, both Individually
and collectively, disclaim all pretentions t
philanthropy, but will venture to say tina
welhave done more toward Ohristianizing an
ciViliziDg the island than any number of mis-
sionaries that was ever sent over. We max
the people love US. Music and smiles vel
come us everywhere on our triumphal marcl
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