Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-03
Letters from Dominica - No. l.
lFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT


On the sth inst. we left New York in the
steamer Tybee, Capt. Delaney, for our home in
the tropics, Santo Domingo. We LETT dear
friends on the pier waving their good byes
when we were too far off to hear their voices.
We fired our parting salute, with the Dominican
flag floating forward, and the dear stars and
stripes from the stern of the ship. We steamed
down into the lower bay, and there thick fog
enveloped us and yelled all objects from our
view, forcing us TO drop the anchors and
remain there till midday of the 9th inst. Then
the mist cleared away, we weighed anchor, and
sped swiftly on our way to "the land where it is
always afternoon"
The first day out was pleasant to those who
were not obliged to render unto Neptune his
dues. Unfortunately l was of the number
to whom he was most cruel and unrelenting.
After the first day out we encountered contrary
winds and foul weather nearly all theLway,
making the voyage unusually long and disa-
greeable. When it was not raining we
sat on deck and watched for monsters
of the deep. In the southern seas we
saw schools of small flying fish, often
looking like small white birds. Once saw num-
Der of these winged fish pursued by large green
fish about two feet in length; this enemy sprang
from the water and went two or three yards be-
fore he dropped into it again. When tired of
watching the sea, the passengers would play
games, talk and listen to the captains yarns
and jokes, which seemed to be inexhaustble.
l now recall one of his bOR-nl0tS which was ut.
tered in a solemn and oracuar manner. of a
lady cannot sail a ship she should always be
able to command smack"
We passed the Turks island light late in the
evening, and the next morning all the passen-
gers were on deck eagerly watching for the first
glimpse of land. The engineer pointed it out
first; we all looked in the direction which he
indicated, but with the utmost straining of our
eyes, and with the most earnest wish to see it,
we could distinguish nothing but faint cloud
rising from the sea. 1t was more than an hour be.
fore this cloud assumed to our eyes a
6rIner and more positive outline. Then
it gradually grew deeper in color and
stronger in form, till we could distinguish
long range ofhigh mountains. We approached
nearer the coast and then we could see that
these mountains were covered with verdure
from their spray-washed base to their
very SUBMITS. AS we came still near
er we found these coast mountains wonder
fully beautiful. At times we could distinguish
a smooth sandy beach, at other times a high
rocky wall rose from the sea, against which the
waves would dash and roar, and then be tossed
high into the air in clouds of white feathery
spray. The view OF the sea with the beautiful
mountains rising high above it recalled to my
mind the Mediterranean and the Apprentices.
About noon we reached Puerta Plata on the
northern coast of this island. Several ships
were lying in the harbor, among them was the
United States man-of-war Yantic; Dominican
man-of-war, small schooner, looking very
harmless; and two or three other small crafts
The town of Puerta Plata is nestled at the
foot of high hills, which are covered with lux
uriant growth of palmetto and cocoa trees; d-
rectly in front Of the town is the blue sea. At
one side, upon a bit of high land which juts
into the bay, stands the fort, an old structure
which is nearly in ruins. If edifces possessed
souls like old women, l should say that the fort
at Puerta Plata was Fort Columbus in New
York harbor, wthered and time-stained, and
fallen into decrepid and helpless old age 1t
looks as if any slight shock would toppe it
over. From the highest tower of the old fort
the Dominican flag gaily hoated. The national
flag is red and blue, quartered by white cross
thus their colors are the same as ours. Three
years ago Puerta Plata was burned by the
Spaniards 1t has since been rebuilt, but the
houses and shops are all cheap frame edlfces,
Of a very rough construction, but they are large
and airy. The houses are generally painted
white with red roofs. From the harbor the
town has scattered and rather confused APP
pearance, but its background of green hills
gives it picturesque air in spite of the lack of
that element in the town itself.
Before any of us had a chance to land, numer-
GUS small boats, containing dignitaries of vari-
GUS degrees, put off for the Tybee The captain
of the port came, rowed by four ebon youths;
he was dressed in white, and the bright Domin-
lean flag waved from his boat. The bright col
ors and animated figures formed very pleasing
picture. Numerous young officers from the
Yantic came over for their letters and packages,
and for while the dining hall of our steamer
presented very animated scene. How hot and
our thick dark northern clothes
appeared by the side of the white coats and pants
and straw hats of the men, and the cambria or
calico gowns of the women! Of course we went
ashore! We engaged a small boat rowed by two
Dominican boys. The water near the beach is
TOO shallow even for small boats to approach
very near. A dock is being built which extends
three hundred feet into the stream; as we neared
this dock our ebon youths sprang into the |
water, which was high above their knees, and
pulled the boat to the steps. ! demurred |
greatly at being requested to land in this |
most ordinary manner, especially as there were |
half dozen bulls harnessed TO rough vehicles |
right alongside our boat. They had been driven |
out into the water to take passengers and par
GELS from the little boats. However, was over
ruled that time; but determined in my own
mind that would not submit to returning in
that tame manner, but would charter a bull
team. A long rope is drawn through the nose
Of the bull, and serves to guide the animal;
shorter rores are attached to this and 90 around
the horns, forming simple kind of halter. We |
wandered about the town, through its narrow,
dirty streets, amused and interested by every. |
tning we saw. | saw several children of differ |
cut ages playing at the doors or in the streets,
huoei lhey looked like bronze cupids, |
WIN the exception that if they were males they
~T,e mas, and if females they wore bright
I rn 'urOahs pound about their curly heads.
mus nat or turbau wae 60
plete outfit The little rascals ,Voro .uaaa4,
imbed and symmetrically formed and seo,ooa =.
joyous and care-free as the little satvrs &c 49,
golden days of Arcadia. Some children xhoso |
parents we're evidently somewhat preiudiced
in favor of raiment wore little shirts, but tba,
was considered really more than was absolutely
necessary.
1t seemed to me that every family in the town
kept store, and their chief articles of merchan.
disc were bottles containing various fluids, and
cheap crockery ware; bat upon looking closer
into the shops 1 discovered various sorts of
dry-goods, groceries, carpet-bags, etc. The
town is still numbered with the ruins of its