The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-03-04
The Gteil M,'hi9
ELKTON, MARCH 4. 1871.
Santa Domingo Notes.

Santa Domingo Notes.
Mr.. C. C. Fulton. of the Baltimore inner
icdn, accompanied the st. Domingo Com
mission, and is now writing letters home
to that paper. The following extracts will
interest our readers:
THE CLIMATE, &C.
This is what is call the dry season of the
year, but it is by no means dry, as | learned
to my cost on being caught in perfect
avalance of rain coming in from the Ten
nessee, which lays out about two miles
from the landing place on the river. 1t
lasted about II half hour, and when landed
the water was running out of the gates of
the city in a solid stream about ten inches
deep. These showers come up without
any premontary signs, and there are two
or three of them every day followed by
beautiful rainbowS. In 4 moment after
they cease the sun shines out bright and
beautiful.
Notwithstanding the thermometer stands
at about s. degrees, there are literally no
flies here, or at least they are SO few that
could not discover one in the store OF our
young townsman, Richard Friend, this
morning, when he was purchasing lots of
sugar from the country people, which they
bring in slowed in mating bags on the
backs of their mules Every morning they
bring him from two to three thousand
pounds.
Then another blessing is that there are
comparatively no mosquitoes here, at least
there are none at this season of the year.
We are sleeping on cots i'll the hall Of the
palace, with open windows, without nets,
and they never trouble us.
We were also expecting to find an abund-
ance of tleas here, but thus far they have
not troubled us, or at least have heard
no one complain of them.
The heat is oppressive in the sun, but
there is no difficulty of keeping cool in the
shade, and comfortable also. The evenings
arc always cool and pleasant, and there is
but little dew falling until towards morning.
The general warmth the whole year
round may be judged from the fact that,
as in all tropical regions, window glass is
scarcely known, and never required
Windows are kept wide open night and
day, and such an article as 4 blanket is
hard to be found, even in the best families
The only house in the city that have yet
seen with window glass is the palace now
occupied by the members of the press.
Young children, especially of the lower
classes, seldom wear any clothing, and can
be seen at all hours of the day running
about the streets perfectly naked. Infants
in their mothers arms are generally entirely
naked, and their mothers are very slenderly
clothed.
THE GENERAL HEALTH.
There can be no doubt that Santo
Domingo is the healthiest of all the islands
of the Caribbean Sea. The only disease
that | can hear of is an intermittent fever
similar to that prevalent in the south, and
in its lighter stages resembling our chillS
and fever What is called the vomito, or
yellow fever, is seldom known, and is not
half so frequent rs at New Orleans, and
not often fatal. The remedy here for these
fevers is a tea made of bitter orange. which
grows wild in the woods, and they also rub
the body with the juice, which is quick
and certain antedote. Our entire party of
thirty-two are in excellent health. all of us
better than when we left home. Professor
Howe left home quite sick, and has gained
so much in health and strength that he has
already invaded the interior on the bacl, of
a bull, and talks of taking an overland
journey on the same kind of an animal.
MILK AND HONEY.
This is undoubtedly a land of honey, if
not of milk. The latter article appears to
be scarce, probably from the want of dairy
men, but honey is drug in the market.
In the merchantile sections of the city
beesway is stacked in piles, and whole
cargoes of it are sometimes shipped off.
President BaeZ this morning whilst
strolling around the city informed one of
the press men that he had piece of ground
ten leagues square that literally swarmcd
with bees, and every tree had its hive
Some of these hives were in hollow trees,
and packed with honey from the ground to
the height of forty feet. In some of the
ruins here in the city bees are kept, and
the logs of hollow plantain trees, are packed
with bees and honey from end to end.
THE RUINS OF sANTo DOMINGO.
The ruins of this city are the remains of
palaces, monasteries and churches of high
order of architecture, and of the most
extensive dimensions. The palace of the
son of Columbus, which stands near to the
palace which we occupy, must have been
magnificent establishment in its day,
almost equal in size to the Prcsident house.
surrounded by walls and bastions. The
ruins of the Jesuit College, in which was
said to have been located Il branch of the
Spanish lnquisition, covers Il space of
ground not less than ten acres. The
u -,
has been converted into theatre, in which
Il ball is to be given to the Commission and
the press by the citizens, on next Tuesday
night. A stroll in any direction within its
walls indicates that it was once the abode
of regal magniticcnce, and that here the
Catholic Church of past aged must have
been the ruling power of the island
THE PEOPLE OF TIE CITY.
The members of the Government and
their families and the merchantile classes
are Of the highest order of responsibility
and intelligence. The ladies and children
are seldom seen on the street, but when
they are they will compare in richness of
dress and neatness with our own wives and
children at home. The only time at which
they can be seen is going to and from the
churches. At night the piano and guitar
can be heard i'll all sections, accompanied
by rich voices rendering Spanish airs. The
lower classes are like those of other sections
of the world, careless in their attire, and
their children are either naked or half
dressed, as the case may be. They how
ever appear honest if they are not industri-
Gus, and all keep something to sell as
mode of living in preference to work.
About one day in every week is church
holiday, and on those days no one is
allowed to work. If caught doing any
manual labor on those days they are
promptly arrested and fined.
1t is amusing to see the throngs of coun-
try people coming into the city on their
donkeys, with immense paniers, loaded
with fruit, bags of sugar or jugs of rum,
for sale. There are few carts in the
town, and two or three buggies, but all
transportation outside the city is on horse
back or on mules or bulls. They are all
fine riders, being, like the old Virginan,
almost born on horseback. Their ponies
are strong and 1.-the, with quick pacing
step that is universal. There are few
walkists here, except from necessity, and
the possession of a pony, with saddle and
bride, is regarded as an evidence of gen.
tility, making its possessor a cavalier, as
distinguished from the common herd.
Saturday is called beggars' day, from the
fact that they are not allowed to ply their
vocation on any other day of the week
This morning they can be seen everywhere,