National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-02-10
The Island OF san Domingo.


, United States authorities, our readers
may find something interesting IN re-
port made by Gen. Cleo. B, Mcclellan
: in 1851. Gen. McC., then a captain il
the United States army, was sent ont
there and, in his report TO the Secretary
of war; he says;
} The republic of Dominica claims rs
its western boundary the old line between
= the French and Spanish portions Of til,
island This commenced, on the north
Mt the mouth Of the Daiabon or Massn
ere River, about eight miles east of Port
Dauphin, and followed that stream TO il
head. Ii then, to the northward of west
followed, ns far as the Dondon aud Mar.
maladc, the crest of the mountains sep
arating the Vail Y Of the Goave from the
streams running tu the north then. run.
ming little east OF south, the summit OF
the range separating the waters Of tho
Goave from those emptying near Con
niyeS, ac., and crossed the Artbonite n,
Mirebalais there its direction was about
southeast tcrossing the Etang Sau
Mache) a. far as to the head of the Pc
dernales, and, finally, it followed that
stream to its mouth, at Pitres Cove.
The Haytians now hold possession of that
part of the valley of Goave on the right
banks Of Riyere de In Porte and the
Guavamuco, below the mouth of the
tirst-named stream. In other respects
the old boundary seems to be maintained,
and is occupied by numerous garrisons.
The island is traversed by three princi-
pal ranges of mountains, running nearly
east aud west the first is north Of the
river Vague and Yuma, and forms the
northern boundary Of the Vega Real
Several harbors are mentioned, but
none seem to equal Samana Bay, Of
which the report says The largest ships
of-the-lne can enter this bay with the
utmost ease, and find secure anchorage
within entirely out of cannon range from
vessels outside the keys, The anchora-
ges and small harbors on the northern
side of the bay, near the entrance, are
very good, and have excellent holding
ground. TIE only objection to this bay
arises from the rarenes, of land breezes.
at certain seasons of the year at least ;
so that il is difficult for large vessels to
sail out, as the channel is somewhat mar
row for them to beat through. This
difficulty can be remedied by the use Of
steam-tug, by hedging, or warping :;
whore the channel is well buoyed out,
it is probable tiat ship-of-t the-hne
could, il case of necessity, beat out.
With respect to steamers, here is no OBJ
stacle in the way OF their entering or
leaving at any time il the day or night.
Tbs peninsular of Salnana is almost an
island for at its base the land is low
and swampy, much cut mp by inlets, and
overgrown with mangrove bushes. The
approach from the main land is for a
league and half over marrow, winding
path, practicable for only one man at
II time, partly under water to the arm
pits, and i'll many places overhead III
mud and water on either side The
peninsula itself is high and broken the
hills ranging from few hundred to
1000 feet in altitude, exceedingly steep,
very irregular in direction and inter
spcrsed with narrow, sloping valleys,
the whole covered with dense growth
of underbrush, vines, and timber. 1t is
well watereI by small mountain streams.
The predominant rock is limestone,
generally porous, but often occurring of
such quality as to form a good build
ing stone in that climate, and in locali-
ties convenient for working.
The country itself is not favorably re
ported ON. The island is described as
traversed by narrow paths, and no roads
could be found Offering a way for ordi
nary travel, The village of Samana was
the principal town on the peninsula form
ed by Samana Bay. 1t had, at the time
the report was submitted |, ,72l inhabi /
ants-most of them negroes-who car
ried ON a very languid and meager com
The Samana Peninsula is represented as
remarkably healthy and little subject to
yellow fever. Bituminous coal was found
quite plentifully at several points and
of excellent quality. The mountain |
ranges are covered by Il luXuriant growth .
of valuable timber, mahogany, bulata,
acoma, menosa, palms, and pine. The .
plains between the mountain ranges are |
fertile and healthful.
The City of San Domingo had, at the .
time of the report, 6,000 people The .
town was well fortified and abundantly .
supplied with guns As TO the defenses, /
the report says: There are no bitches |
except on two fronts bordering the bay, |
and III front Of the gate on the land side. /
There are 10 land fronts these, togeth- /
er with the water fronts, being pierced /
by about $50 embrasures, which, in the .
land fronts, are confined to the bastions, .
there being no arrangements for artillery
on the curtains. In the water fronts on |
the bay there are three or four breaches ,
through which the town can be assault
ed. The castle is connected with the .
enceinte, and situated on bluff near
the bar. The gates OF the town are
three in number, two'of them on the .
river fronts The town can be very easily .
taken by assault. The bar at the mouth .
of the river has but 13 feet, and appears
to be shoaling. At the town the river
is about 400 yards wide, any craft draw
ing 13 feet can navigate Is miles from
the mouth
The reports conclude There is GER
tainly little reason, Judging from what l
saw, to call Dominica white repub-
lie" The great mass of the people are
negroes and mulattoes. A general indo-
lence and apathy appears to reign. There
are no indications of either commercial
or agricultural prosperity. Money and
the comforts of life are very scarce.
Wages are low, except when foreigners
are the employers. The mass of the peo-
pie seem perfectly contented to exc out
their existence in cave huts, trusting for
support TO their bananas and cocoanuts.
The American negroes of SANTANA, ex-
press more ambition and desire of i'm
proving their condition than the others. /
The best possible feeling appears to pre-
vail toward Americans, much better than /
toward the English and French.