The New York herald., 1871-03-17

rous fine ports, with lai ge commerce a vast pro-
the Antilles and is so situated as 10 Command all
the passages OF commerce 10 and from the Gulf OF
Mexico, the Caribbean Sea- The entire group OF the
West Indies. as well as Central ana south AMERICA
How different with ST. Domingo. a wilderness and q
wreck Iar away from our shores and Wing on the
Outer OF the Antilles, with miserable colOred
population little removed from barbarism
The viciLisy Of fAzua-L0olSing for Petrol eum.-
The Schooner Posnona-ro Caideras Bay
The Tennessee Arrives-Address and Reply
oI Mr.. Wade-An Alarm-End Of nm Out
law Party.
AzUA, st. Domingo, Feb. 25, 1871.
AROUND AzUA
While our overland party have been waiting here
for the Tennessee to arrive from -. Domingo city
we have not been entirely Idle. We have visited
number OF places IN this nelghborhood and have
made many inquiries relative TO its resources.
Two OF our party the other day visited some mine
raj springs about eighteen miles distant, and were
delighted with their excursion. IRON the side of
mountain and within a space Of 100 hundred yards,
are several springs, quite hot the temperature
being about 161 degrees, and strongly impregnated
with sulphur; In close proximity Is warm chay-
beate spring and several colder ones. There Is quite
volume OF water Issuing from them, and they are
In their natural state, without any improvements.
Few OF the people here OF their existence.
Some water was secured In bottles. to be analysed
to the westward we were shown mountain OF con-
siderable magnitude which, we are assured contains
an unlimited amount Of rock salt-lndeed the story
Is that 1t is mountain OF salt. We have been
bic to visit 1t account Of the very unsettled con-
dtion Of the country.
PETROLEUM EXCURSION.
On Sunday morning last we secured horses, pro-
visions ana guido and started for visit to a pc
troleum district distant few miles from Azua.
For short distance we followed q main road which
was In pretty good condition; but soon leaving this
we struck into narrow wood path winding around
through the dense chaparral, swaying our bodies
and bending our heads to avoid the low branches,
most OF which provided with sharp thorns.
The morning was well advanced when we started
ana the sun was quite hot. but we have become
somewhat accustomed to the heat and do not mind
IL as we did at first.
Soon we came to beautiful spring, carefully pro-
tected from animals by an enclosure OF woven
branches The water was not very cold, but was
good, and its appearance had a refreshing eject
upon Near this spring we found several large
mango trees where we left our pack mule and SER
want with directions to prepare our repast by the
time we should return from the oil wells short
distance further Oh we came TO the petroleum, and
found that considerable labor had been expended
here In order make OF the OIL derrick still
standing and machinery was lying about In diapi.
dated condition. Two wells mad been bored, and
considerable supply OF oil obtained large quantities
OF which were visible. Mr.. Arthur Folsom. for
merly the American Consul to Cape Hayten, had in
vested about $4,000 In the endeavor to make Of
the OIL ana had secured hundred barrels or good
oil, eight OF which were sent to Boston, and an
analysis had shown 1t to be OF the heaviest quality
OF lubrlcating oil known. AZ, however, the duties
were so high as to preclude It's importation the
eigh, barrels were empned into Boston harbor and
the remainder OF the hundred barrels which were
taken to the beach were allowed to waste. The
speculation thus resulted disastrousy to Mr. Folsom,
but nevertheless the fact remains that the oil is In
considerable quantity and Is OF excellent quality
for lubricating purposes In the Immediate neigh
borhood OF the wells there is considerable sulphur
and we picked up many small pieces from the earth.
After examining the place pretty thoroughly, and
botaing some OF the oil, we returned to the mango
trees and enjoyed hearty mell, which had been
prepared in the meantime. Then singing our ham.
mocks in the boughs OF the beautiful trees we en-
joyed a glorious siesta in the cool shade and
turned to town more ana more impressed with the
resources Of this wonderful island.
THE POMONA.
is schooner OF about 500 tons, which has been
trading between TINS place and Boston for a number
OF years past: although in the employ Of Mann tS
Co., OF Boston, she Is compelled to sail under Eng.
a
built IN English possessions tile act OF Congress
preventing any change in her register. Captain
Moyneux feels indignant at the necessity.
and never raises the British flag when It
can be avoided. The Pomona has been lying
here for nearly two weeks, and We have received
considerable information from the captain relative
to the trade OF the town AMI he character OF the
people His cargo north Is principally dye woods,
sugars, molasses, honey, wax and hides. lie speaks
In the highest terms OF the Willingness OF the people
to LABOR, and Of their docle aud friendly disposl-
tion, and although when the question OF annexation
was first mentioned he was opposed to It, yet he is
strongly In favor OF 1t. He says tnat St. Do
mingo Is the richest OF the West India Islands sur.
passing even Cuba In It's fertility and natural re-
sources. Ocoa bay he declares TO be gOOd harbor,
which little expense would render safe and com
modious.. We have enjoyed his hospitality Oh board
ms vessel number oil times, aud nave found him to
be wnole-learted sailor.
TRIP I'd CALDEBAs BAY.
On Wednesday morning, about three O'clock the
mate OF the Pomona, with two men and myself,
started in their longboat for trip TO Calderas bay,
or rather to The mouth OF the Ocoa river which IS
about twelve miles distant from this place. Our
little boat, which about sixteen feet long had a
leg OF mutton sail, and contained i've casks for
water to obtain which was the main object OF the
expedition. We had pleasanG sail across the bay,
and reached low sandy beach, near the mouth Of
the river, aoout sunrise. Wnle the men were get
the !, country some distance, and soon found
The SOIL was remarkably fertile, and came across
frequent fresh water iag0ons filed with lsh, which
could see dartng about in tile clear depths. Thou
sands OF small BIRDS were feeding on species OF
wild plum and o number or wIia hogs scamperea
OF at my approach. 1 saw great many holes IN
the ground, from three to six inches in diameter,
but Could not discover whether they the bur-
rows OF some animal OF the large crab hlch fre-
quents this coast. There was but little undergrOwth
except the centipede cactus which infests every
available spot and whose long sptnes penetrate the
1esh with painful persistence. The Oc0a river Tor
some distance above its mouth divides into several
channels. which, however, lose their deta-lke ma
turc before reaching tue sea. and, joining again,
now out through O narrow cut with considerable
velocity The water was quite clear as is also the
sea In that region, and enabled to see the coral
formation at the bottom through least i've fth0ms
Of water. At the mouth or the river Is formed quite
long bar, Oh which were lodged several huge palm
logs, which prevented the entrance OF our boat.
Along the coast in the immediate vicinity the
breakers were quite high and enjoyed delicious
bath In them.