The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-17

ST. DOMINGO.
Fror, Porto Plata to santlnso--rraveliins ON
Firns I'rsnciples-rhe Cibao Mcunsains-
Distant Wow Of Santiaso--ArrivnI at the
Cisy-iss Appearance, Business, Trude-st.
Johns Day.
SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLERos,l
81. DOMINGO, w. l., June 29, 1869.
sixteen leagues southeast of the seac0ast town
OF Porto Plata is situated this beautiful and impor
tant city OF the fertile valley OF the Vague. In
country entirely without roads and the means OF
communication few and OF the most primitive
cnaracier' II required no little diplomacy and
pa'ehce 70 secure an odd or rather surplus horse,
Tor all seemed TO be previously engaged to convey
me 10 TINS place. With the assistance OF several
friends managed to have placed at my disposal an
animal, not the most spirited, but still with
Iull complement OF sound limps and one
OF pack which had arrived the same
morning laden with cer0ons or tobacco The peon
IN charee was An intelligent fellow, and, evidently
INDUCING In SUFFICIENT amount or commiseration
In view OF my situation agreed deliver me at this
city. II was matter OF little relief to get on the
road. ! had not proceeded far on the way before
found myself surrounded by highly picturesque
and miscellaneous escort OF poems, including q few
women and boys mounted ON horses. ponies,
tiles. The poems wore the inevitable mechete OF
the country, and occasionally drawing the rusty
blade from Its ponderous and primitive scabbard,
ourshed II with considerable energy, hewing large
swaths OF foliage from the profuse vegetation on the
roadside, and ct intervals allowing 1t to descend
broadside upon the rump Of their ass or other
Quadruped with peculiarly emphatic enivening
and acceicrating effect.
The road for short distance from Porto Plata lay
over low country covered with palm and cocoanut
groves The smaller vegetation covered the soil
with dense growth Of green OF every variety Of
shade and an infinite diversity Of leaf In the midst
OF this luxuriance Of nature the bOhios or palm
matched huts Of the country people could be seen
dotted here and there without regard 10 regularity
or design After crossing this belt, which was ap-
parently not more than mile In Width struck the
base OF the first range Of the series OF high hills
which constitute the CibaO chain. These mountains
have their eastern beginning IN the vicinity OF Cape
Of SANTANA, and after disappearing IN the isthnus
which extends from the bay OF SANTANA to the Allan.
rise again, and following the line Of the northern
coast of the island entirely disappear In the vicinity
Of Monte Christi. The whole range possesses a soil
Valuable woods seas drain aa the s E,pes
on the south, after coursing through beautiful
plains, become tributary to the Yuma, which flows
VITO the ocean through the bay Of samana or to the
reaches the Atlantic through tho western limits OF
the ClDao. Although an avenue at least eighty feet
sides OF the mountain could be traced to its tower
ing SUBMITS and had the appearance Of the remains
proved this to be o delusion. At the base Of the
mountain the avenue OF green which presented at
distance such gratifying prospect Of an easy Jour
wSn deep into the sou and IL
other places wet and slippery, which proved
decidedly worse. At times the paths wound between
sions that it would be thought Impossible to sur
mount them with any animals lacking such conve-
nient accessories to climbing as full set Of dgts
The activity OF the mountain became so precip
tous at times That the perpendicular Of the body
thrown considerably out Of position and not unire-
quently found my nose almost poised midway be-
tween the horses ears while the other end rising
ID e air Kept g
angle Of ascent, While | found an abundance Of
GUS requisite p0stures mentioned In the code OF
pert and artistic hOrsemanship my motley retinue
dence and bad Spanish, with a lusty vigor which
banlshed care and exhibited wonderful pulmonary
their but one
are associated this class Of people seem to lead life
OF contentment anecertanly an existence free from
burning heats Of tropical sun, tOng over the
mountains to the sea coast and back again with
their cargoes, TIE air resounds with their songs At
times tpey consisted 0 single narts and again sort
Reaching Sc crest e S g ing rst range taking
Re s4o a0 asa So aroo a
q Porto Plata broke INTO view the tops Of the
trees and at distance Of not over two miles. Be-
yond lay the rolling, blue waves of the Atlantic,
AS the hour was growing late my escort-for 30
prefer to call It, as the entire original party with
faithfully all the distance through probably In anti
cpation Of few small pieces OF silver-maniiested
Forthwith. Soon after DARK reached '00"o"
consisting Of one bolio. EThe peon having made ar.
The moon was SHINING, and by means OF tins doubt
ful light CROPPED my way into q smaller bohio ad
poems having swung my hammock, i contrived by
means OF this absolute necessity OF ST. Domingo to
pass COMFORTABLE night, notwithstanding the sur:
was again on the way. The road during the entire
day lay over mountains and across intervening mar
the daily rains. Progress under such circumstances
was, was more matter Of patience and perseverance
asG pas Haa
were that having commenced the descent OF
the FIRST range on the south side, the
dense forests and wandered about for several
days until they struck the plain Late in the after.
Campo Diego got frst glimpse at this city. it
then lay at least ten miles distant The view was
exceedingly hne. A broad valley at least twelve
miles across stretched rom mountain to mountain
and on rise conspicuous from all directions lay
the city,
In getting out OF the mountains the road became
wide and even and had the appearance OF much
travel. Darkness overlook me, and a second night
In q bOhi0 was the result. The next morning with
an early start reached the city IN good season and
before many Of the inhabitants were up.
Next to the capital Santiago de los Caballeros Is
the principal city In st. Domingo. The surrounding
country IL both extremely fertile and beautiful The
remains Of the old spanish CITY, destroyed upon the
withdrawal OF the Spaniards when they found their
cause hopeless, show unmisakabe signs OF an inland
seat OF society and trade-p0ssessIng elegance
with afiuence, energy with enterprise. To-day
the rubbish and foundation walls are all that remain
OF this former prosperity. The modern town. though
well built, is less extensive In design and less ex-
travagant In the dimension OF its structures. The