The New York herald., 1871-03-18
ST. DOMINGO.
Keeping House in Dominica-The Town Of
Azua-A Queer Customer-A Country Seat
The Washerwomen OF the Country-0fd-
cial Banquet-Colored Callers

arrival OF our overland party at this place, and my
Impressions OF the place at that time were not at all
favorabe; for were quite fatigued from our
travel, hot and dusty, and were compelled to SUBJ
init TO certain annoying delays which we thought
might might have been avoided. Since that time,
however, General Valentino Baez, who is the Gov
ernor Of the town and brother OF the President,
has paid US such marked attention as to obterate
all our iirst feelings Of unpleasantness.
KEEPING HOUSE.
We have been furnished a house for our residence,
which is hardly yet completed belonging to Mr..
GIBBS, who Is OF the Treasurer OF the Baez gov.
ernment. The house is like nearly all the others in
the town made OF the palm slabs and matched with
the broad leaves OF the same tree. 1t has five rooms
all on the ground floor, and the noor is mixture Of
earth and cement which FERNS into a fine dust,
covering our clothes with It, very much to their de-
terioration. Mr.. Gibbs. the owner, resides next
door, and has been drunk ever since our
rival, which renders him ssgustingly familiar
and ofcious with u.s. We AT first took our meals at
the house OF large raw boned French woman, who
processes to entertain strangers but we soon dis
covered that said entertainment consisted princi-
pally OF large bills, equal in amount to those OF
first class New York hotel, and we were not dis.
posed to pay such price without the corresponding
comforts and advantages thereof, we determined to
cater for ourselves ana have consequently engaged
the services OF an cid negro whose name is Fran
cisque Africanus st. Domingo Loanzo, and who was
brought from the coast OF Africa when young. This
old man, who understands about as much English
as would enable him to get himself into trouble, is
our cook and general housemaid, and performs his
duties about as miserably as we could wen desire.
Then we have another servant furnished by the
Governor, who attends to bringing US water and o
few other duties. and who amuses himself by pack.
tnrt tnt, htc hoy 40 ha lou
his hands on.
Thus we get along beautifully; we have delegated
Of party to attend to the swearing, and get
along quite harmoniously.
CHARACTER OF THE TOWN, ETC.
The houses are, with few exceptions, constructed
in the manner have described-ef palm slabs and
matched with pain leaves, firmly secured by thongs
made Of tough vnes This kind OF roof forms the
best possible protection against the heat OF the
There are no glasses in the wndows but heavy shut
ters are fastened at night. At the caves which ex-
tend some distance over the sides Of the houses,
there is considerable space for ventilation. In
some houses the floors are panked or tiled, but In
most cases they Of well packed EARTH The cook.
Ing Is done either in the open air outnouses,
the fuel being charcoal. Hammocks are almost uni.
versally used for sleeping, bedsteads being great
rarity. few chairs and couple Of rude tables
generally complete the furniture. The streets are
laid out at right angles, are quite wide, but ex.
tremely stony and poorly cared for.
The population OF Azua is about 1900. and about
every fifth house contains shop, where offered
for sale few groceries and fruits there being but
little variety IN the stocks The inhabitants are
mostly mulattoes; there are however, number Of
blacks and a few Spaniards. The town Is situated
about three and halr miles back from the Bay Of
Ocoa, or, as the particular blight at this place is
gradual ascent from the coast the town Is really
in valley, the high range Of mountains which ex-
tend along for miles parallel to the coast forming
splendid background.
CHARACTER.
One OF the persons met and to whom had let
ter OF introduction was Don Antonio DuQuesnay.
Don Antonio Is about lftyhve years OF age but has
undoubtedly seen as much OF the world most men
OF eighty. Spare and round shoudered, with sharp
eve and sharper nose. he looks like Don Qulxote.
and does not lily resemble In character that remark
able adventurer, After knocking about the world,
trying his fortune in almost every country and cli-
mate not excepting California IN ls49-he has finally
wound up by landing IN Azua, where he is engaged
IN the Humanitarian scheme OF teaching Ine young
natives the rudments Of their language and the ee-
mentary branches Of learning. 1t singular sight
TO witness this man. who has undoubtedly possessed
an adventurous and restless disposition, settled
urchlns surrounding him, almost worshipping him
as they repeat his formulas OF wisdom, and receive,
with proper degree OF contrition. his well admins
tered castlgations, for the Don believes In proper
amount Of well applied physical demonstrations Of
authority He has about forty scholars. all told and
he states that nowhere has he seen greater ea
gerness TO learn. One little chap OF about years
wrote good hand at the Don's dictati0n, and per-
his eccentrcitieS Don Antonio Is doing good work
among the people. His charge for each pupil Is
one dollar per month, which is usually PAID In pro-
duce.
MODEL PLANTATION
On Monday afternoon, at the invitation OF General
We were supplied with excellent horses, and about
three O'Clock our cavalcade dashed out OF town
with bugler in advance and a considerable escort
accompanying us. Although the sun quite hot,
the thermometer indicating about cighty-fve de-
grees, yet splendid sea breeze prevented our feel
beautifully shaded aud IN good condition On both
sides good fences marked the boundaries Of the dif
Ss % n Ensa sS "s5s osassco sSwas
oranges and sweet potatoes. Weturned into one Of
these enclosures where some men were at WORK and
tree is delicious beverage, being REMARKABLY cool.
AlIer Qpr refreshments we again dashed forward,
ling splcndidy. Leaving the main road we went
some distance over a bride path, and soon
present town is only about 100 years old. the
original town, which was built by the spaniards In
done such cases. the Inhabitants fearing to rebuild
In the same spot, moved TO another location. The
foundation OF ancient church about all that
could see OF the ruins. II was apparently OF good
size, the walls were at least four feet thick. A
beautiful stream OF water flows near by, and the
position ID charming We passed a plantation be-
longing to General BaeZ, ana entered one occupied
by Senor Marchena. Here we beneld a scene Of
tropical luxuriance which would be difficult to sur
pass. Long avenues, smooth and well swept, passed
through vast fields of sugar cape, whose long blades
swept away on either side as far as the eve could
see. Bananas and cocoanuts and all the tropical
fruits were In profuson. Borders OF immense cac.
tus OF several varieties lined the avenues as we ap
trees filed with fruit not quite ripe stood near the
door. The house itself, although not what would
forts and luXurles required IN this delightful
climate. Immediately surrounding 1t the walks and
adorned with q great variety Of flowers In full
bloom. We were introduced to the proprietor,
Senior Marchena, who treated us with great clyty,
and took great PRIDE In showing us through his
grounds