New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-22

mart connecting the peninsula with tho mainland
"a low and swampy. II is reported that there are
Init two feet Of water the bar at the mouth OF the
Yuma. which is gradually filling up with sand. Prof.
Blake found DO coal, but immense seams of Ignite,
which may be defined to he impure COAL it belongs
peoogically to later formation. and contains less
carbon and more water and volatile products than
coal. Ignite is not good for ocean steamers, but
can be protably Iked in manufactures and for river
steamboats, and locomotives have been constructed
to burn it.
Prof Newcomb reported as follows, and rs it is
subject of extreme Importance, | give the report
almost entire
A marshy place easily drained nj the west Of the
village receiving the waters of q mountain stream,
would of necessity produce "a considerable amount OF
malaria In the interior found two cases of inter
mittent fever of mild type among the natives The
vegetation extends from the coast to the SUBMITS OF
the mountains, and presents the luXuriance common
TO tropical regions possessing q well-watered and
fertile soil The Imperial Palm of Humboldt the
Cabbage Palm of the natives) has a remarkable de-
velopment many of the trees reaching hight of 40
feet, OF more. Numerous clumps of bamboo, so feet
high, were seen, also the cocoa-palm mango, and
occasional orange and lime trees, extensive planta-
tons of cocoa with many of the trees heavily laden
with the fruit from which the chocolate ofcOmmcrco
is prepared and a few calabash trees laden with It's
ponder0us fruit as large as an ordinary pumpkin.
Two OF three patches of upland rice seemed to
flourish i'll its unnatural position; fields OF sweet
potatoes vans, and arTowroOt were frequently met
with Upon entering numbers of the cottages found
the inhabitants contented with their miserable
habitatiOns but complaining of the uncertainty OF
retaining any personal property pillage, tho result
of civil war; was Of frequent Evidences
of some degree of refinement of feeling were Ire
quently in the cultivation Of flowers around their
cottages All were strongly in favor Of annexation to
the United States as furnishing them security from
foreign and domestic aggTessions Al that were Wis
tied were descendants Of American omigrants ana
convcrsed freely in English. do not hesitate to
pronounce them superior in intelligence to the same
classes in South and Central America. or 10 the
Mexican RancherOs.' Prof NewcOmb only speaks
Of the acclnated natives, and SAYS that foreigners
must become acclimnted before they can perform
outdoor labor without danger.
Among the last excursions the Commissioners made
WAS to the plantation Of Mrs. Dichmain, about two
miles from SANTANA. II bright, lovely day,
with a mild sea-breeze temprrlng the hot sum- warm,
but infinitely agreeable and exliafating than
the close, sultry. Summer days at Long Branch, or
other seaside resorts The curved shore of the little
bay where we landed was fringed with cocOa-palms,
Laden with the temptnglo0kina ripe fruit. 1t was
but the work of a moment for native to climb
tree and throw down number of smooth, shiny,
green nuts. The negro took his mGchcte-a long
knife worn ut the side in wooden scabbard, and
used to peel an orange clear iungleand cut oil
the end OF one of the nuts which was quite soft
and white and filed with delicOusly cool swcetish
liquid which aftcrward hardcns. and thickons into
milk. As we saw it,, it was almost cooreSs and very
refreshing The nuts we're lined with delicate pulp
which could be eaten with spoon. After TINS 10
mantle repast we set ont for tho plantation, which
was at the head Of delicious little valley running
inland from the sea. 4 dUleful squraking noise
attracted orr attention, and soon found that it
proceeded from primitive sugar-min, consisting OF
three wooden rollers in frame sunnOunted by a
palm thatch. The mill turned by two bulls, and
thatch and all revOlycd like old-fashioncd wind
mill Near by was a binding wherc the juice was
boiled and made into coarse brown sugar.
Mrs Dichmain gave rs cordial reception, and
liked YER, freely on all subjects She has been ~
wears IN Santo Domingo, wa, married when she was2O
wears DID, and has had ID children and 30 grandchil-
dren Her farm consists Of 100 acres which produce
bananas pincapples, sugar, coffee, and chocolate.
The dwcllmg.hou il slight wooden structure 30
feet Ivy S matched with palnI-hark. Her old house
was burned BY the Spanialds in 1854. She was most
decidedly IN favor of aunrNalOn. longing intensely
for quiet and order.
q
waited l1r the cr,tl to take us on board of the
Tcnrr.s.r. Il was q gloriously beautiful day, and
the air was filled with a halmy fragrance unknown
in colder cimes. One Of the Commissioners seated
himself ON q rough log Of mahogany, and another
balanced himself Oh a dug-Jut followed from the
trunk OF the sabcr tree. We IN the cool shade
of a palm grove, while around were orange and
lime trees The air was full of golden butterflies and
humming- birds. Green lizards basked in the sun
light on the smooth bark Of the palms The surf
bea, unsteady mt feet, and wa talked ~ tho
times when Columns in his clumsy carayalS had
anchored in that very bay, aud waS less hospitality
received By the natives.
At TIE CAPITAL,
S,vTo DomNGU CRY. Feb. We left SANTANA
early Monday morning the 3Dth, and steamed slowly
along the bold headlandS with wind and against
us and Tuesday afternoon came IN sight of Santo
Domingo, the Oldest city in America and one rem
dered tho most interesting IN ITS early history by the
fact that il was founded under Columbuss advice,
by his brother Diego. We strained our eyes as
we neared the town to the tower where
the great navigator confined In chains
by the unworthy people to whom he had given
new world. va east anchor in thu Toadstead
where we were tossed by heavy and made
trcmely uncomfortable. SantO Domingo can never
be a place of commercial Importance, for it has no
harbOr for vessels drawing over 10 feet They are
compelled to remain outside AT anchor, cheered by
the pithy remark Of the West Indian pilot E" In
of storm or strong south wind, DO prepared to slip
your cable and put to sea- for your anchor will not
hold or if it holds the cable will part, and you will
drift on the rocks Such vessels as in C0umbus's
day were monsters in size can cross the bar at the
mouth of the 0zaina River, and find quiet anchor
age inside.
In order to save time the Commission decided to
move on shore and 90 10 housekeeping. President
BaeZ i'll the name of tho Government, very politely
rendered to tho Commissioners the uso OF a public
huidlng chilled for euphOny the Palace but they felt