New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-24

up" ON nicotine instead Of tactical fluids. They all
smoke from the time they walk, without regard TO
sex. race, color, or previous condition. Tho sim
plicy OF their attire is also worthy of note. sim
pler costume OF one better fitted TO the climate,
could not be suggested and the t' as tho tailors
saw Is perfect. There are many beggars in this city,
in every other and one in particular is peculiar
He ia n wCak-minded man Of perhaps III years
of age who wears as few clothes as he get along
with He goes about town with the vacant stare OF
an il OF and if he sees a white man "A stranger,
he (, lows him slowly about the city for hours nj
time sometimes q few yards behind, and sometimes
only a few feet. He never says anything but con
stantly follows rs faithful and as silent as your
shadow. II you enter shop, he guards the door
until you come ont when he again takes up his llno
| of march. IL he carries a stick OF cane with
him. as he frequently does, he rubs itgHoWy
under his nose from end 10 end. III he mas
no cane he scratches his nose gently with ms NAT,
while he continues to eye you After he mas loo"eu
YOU thus for mile or two, You become very nervous
and this feeling continues to grow as your walk ~
extended until finally you become so uneasy thatyou
fear Won viii 60 mad yourself unless he turns back
/ You finally stop and ash him what he wants. lou
make gestures at him. yOu ask him II he speaks
Spanish. if he speaks French, If ho speaks LnehSi'
and Won protest against being followed in that
[
word he merely looks at you hxody and
polishes his nose with his cane, OF sandpapers
| il with his hat. In your despair
Won appeal to anybody that comes along. Ten
chances to one you cannot make yourself under
stood and still your shadow gTins at you, and puts
| an extra polish on his nose. You become frantic
/ you begin to think it is conspiracy to make you
| crazy You walk on rapidly, your friend is close
behind you; YOU turn corners, you are conscious
that that cane and that nose are following yOu you
rush INTO q store You can hear the grating of that
! hat against that nose And what do you think tins
| is about Merely ths the man is helpless and
harmless idiot who follows people about until they
give him mOney-fve cents 10 cents, or quarter OF
| a doar-and then he leaves Them He never says
word but he has a droll prejudice against gold. If
you offer him gold piece, he scratches his nose and
refuses it but hewin take silver coin to any extent
The soldiers of SantO Domingo are a curious lot OF
fellows imagine Fastail's soldiers must have been
dressed like princes in comparison. Looking out
from the piazza, we see the following assortment,
part of them guarding the palace doors, and part
doing duty at the tower across the way. Here is
tall negro, very black and very thin, with white
SLOUGH hat shirt of uncertain color and material,
blue cotton paniaOons, and barefOOted; he is armed
with a musket Near him is u red-faced mulatto,
with red whskcrs and red hair, who wears a long
up to the knees baTefOoed, and armed with sword.
Another one of very small stature wears black silk
hat-prObably Is years Of age (the hat not the
mana blue coat faced with red, and Undesirable
pantaloons barefooted and armed with nldctete or
long knife. Another is in his shirt-seeves, another
has full suit of blue cotton. another is ragged in
the extreme. Nearly all in the city have cartridge
boxes and wast-bets marked with brass plates con-
tanning The letters L. S." the same worn by our
own soldiers during the war; and similar to those
now in use in our regular amy. Many arc armed
with Springfield rifles, and some with the superior
Remington breech-loaders or English Tower mus
kets All these were bought from the United States.
or received in part payment for rental Of SANTANA
Bay, except the old Tower muskets
The climate here and at SANTANA is the same. Ow-
ing TO greater exposure 10 the open sea, there is
stronger and more constant breeze. 1t is not I'M
comfortably warm and the nj ghs are cool that a
thick blanket is necessary for comfort in sleeping.
The sea-brceze begins at about in the morning,
and blows gently until about p. m. when il fresh
ems. The evenings are rather damp, and tho inhab
tanS go ont little as possible after dark. They
also remain in doors during the middle of the day,
when the heat is the greatest The mornings
delicious, and exercise may be taken beiores o'clock
with enjoyment for exercise at that time does
not enervate the body, nor produce unnatural IA
is felt here greatly, especially by newcomers.
Showers are Liable to spring up at any hour Of the
day OF night without a moments warning and they
pour down right bTiskly for o fcw minutes when the
sun again comes ont. Mr.. Wade was caught in one
of these sudden rain falls and drenched to the skim
which inspired the remark from him that there ara
two seasons here, the wet and the rainy This is
put down in the books as the dry season and the
people say the wet season begins in April and
ends in October The dry then begins in Decembef
THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION.
Now on the subject Of annexation. i have eX-
pressed the belief in the first part of this letter that
annexation is likely TO take place. The only thing
that will in my Judgment prevent the uncctainty
which surrounds two points. As to the beauty,
healthfulncss, prodUctiyeness wealth ard value Of
tie island there can be no doubt nor of tho benefit
which annexation would secure to these people.
That tie voice Of the people is almost universal in
favor of such a course there can DO question In
deed the Commissioners are so well assured OF this,
that they have discontinued investigation into that
branch of the subject in this locality 1t WILL doubt
less be resumed AT Puerto Plata and other points.
The investigation of the Commission has been full
and painstaling on this subject. They have gone
carefully to work and inquired with great caution.
Efforts have been made to ascertain those who might
secretly oppose such a course, and all Wit
nesses have been assured that confidence
would be maintained strictly, and that they might
give thciryievs with perfect freedom and safely. Yet
thus far am informed that not half dozen persons,
out Of hundreds who have been examined, have said
they were against annexation. 1t must be admitted
that there is little freedom Of speech here. If thero
is, why are people forbidden to talk of politics
Why DO such signs as this appear in the city, over
the doors Of stores aud hotels Sc pr0hJe kaJldr de
politician If this is so, why do people mysteOusy
walk away when the name Of Cabral is mentOnedl