The New York herald., 1871-02-24

the island. claims that honor-.t was the second
landing place. and the one selected by the dscoverer
Of America for the irst city, One OF the first objects
10 which strangers attention directed Is small
diapidated building, near where passengers land a
little up the river and near where vessels discharge
their cargoes This was chapel. ana is said TO
nave been the first structure OF any kind put up in
The New World IL Is very small ana partly IN ruins,
though the old walls are still standing. In those
intensely Catholic and feudal times the
nrst buildings erected by the Spanards
Gu their newly discovered territory were
chapel or church. convent and fort. Near this
Interesting relic OF the past ana on the bank of the
River Ozama, IS The ruin OF an oid palace built by
Delgo Columbus, the brother and successor OF the
discoyerer OF America, for himself and called now
III Admirentc, IN honor OF the great Admiral
Though not large II was most substantially built
ana there are sti traces on the standing walls OF
the rude elegance OF that age. the DominIcans re.
gard this building with SUCH veneratlon that they
never allow 1t 70 be used destroyed by the hand OF
man. But substantial as II was time is gradually
DONG the work OF destruction. There is no effort
made, however, 10 keep it III repair, ana weeas
bushes and vines grow up and On the walls.
WITHIN rHE FORT.
IN tower OF the fort and within the enclosure or
rather extensive barracks, al the mouth OF the
great historic interest. Here is the cell IN which
Columbus was imprisoned by order OF the spanish
government, and rom which ne was taken pri.
soner to spain. No one can go there without per-
mission rom the Governor But had no difficulty
10 obtaining this. A guard went VITA me ana un
locked the door, which is kept locked The cell is
about thirteen feet square. with very thick walls
and one deep iron grated window 10 admit light and
air. was told there was at one time large bolt
and ring in the wall, 10 which Columbus had been
chained There Is nothing In the cell, or room, at
present. The wall is pretty thicky covered by the
names and inscriptions OF visitors, or such
like places are. At the top of the tower just above
the cell OF Columbus, had ine view OF the town,
bay, ocean, river, surrounding country, and the
dark purple mountains IN the interior looming up
grandly and with surprising distinctness in this
transparent atmosphere.
TIE CATHEDRAL.
The cathedral Is one OF the Oldest buildings and
the largest church here. There Is no architectural
beauty on the exterior 1t Is simply rude. MASSIVE
structure, with plain, square columns at the angles
like the ordinary spanish churches OF four or i've
centuries ago. The arches inside supporting the
io0l which spring from plain round columns,
have some architectural beauty. There are u
lew paintings but only two or three nave any
merit, and these not a great deal. The rest are
dauos. The principal altar Is rich with silver. In
one or TWO OF lne Slie cnapelSt as well
the main noor OF the cathedral. there is some en-
causJic tile and tesselated pavemeni. The spot or
greatest interest is where the body OF Columbus is
said 70 nave been buried III rot OF tue enclosure oil
the principal altar Tue remains Of the famous
navigator were removed afterwards to Havana
There are several otner old churches st. Domingo
less imposing, not rs much ornamented, anu devoid
oil the same interest. though to stranger they are
curious relics OF the past The number and
extent OF the convent rams are surprislng-Ihose
OF san Francisco particularly. II tnese converts
were all occupied III ioriner umes-and no doubt |
they were IA large portion OF the Spaniards apart
from the army and navy, must have spent their time
IN them, either Tor devotion or something else.
THE ORIGINAL POPULATION. r
II has been said by historians There were O0o 900
OF native Caribs on the island when the Spaniards
took possession OF 1t. There are none remaining
Very many were ground 10 death, probably, oy eX-
cesslve labor under their cruel conqGerofs and
masters In putting up the massive and extensive
spoken OF. The Egyptian taskmasters
over the slaves that erected the pyramids were not
more eXactlng and cruel. What comment on tle
religion aud religious orders the Spalards drought
with them
One OF the largest convent churches is the thea
used. No European or American stars are likely 10
come here, nor even fourth rate actors.
THE PALACE.
The best building, perhaps, IN st. Domingo. Is the
quartered. 1t was the viceregal Palace OF the
spanish Captain Generals. 1t Is not so Old as some
oil the other buildings. and until q receat period
was kept In order. II has the luxury of glass win
dows, which no other building have seen has, and
There was no furniture in 1t, and those Of
the tennessee party who took quarters there
had TO provide themselves with stretcners TO
sleep on and such other things as they
needed. This palace was offered by the govern
while here; but the oner was declined, because IT
was thought sucn regal style would sound badly at
home and because the Commissioners did not wish
to accept any favor from the government
SUPERSTITION.
There is a superstition connected with the place
that has prevented. as l am informed, President
Baez and otner presidents from residing there. No
president 1t Is sad, can reside there and leave the
palace alive. The guards on duty at the palace and
others say that at certain tunes In the dark,
silent nights, all the doors ny open. and the
ghosts OF the old Spanish cavaliers armed cap
ptedS, promenade the halls in dreadful
array The newspaper correspondents who sleep
there have been watching for these formidable
who sketches everything. from yam or 1lying fish
10 church, for one OF the New York illustrated
sketch BOOK by his slde to take these panoplied
ghosts, bat up to this time none have been seen.
A FORTIFIED CITY.
ST. Domingo Is regular fortified city with
wall all round and ditch on the land side, ana has
gates Tor ngress and egress, guarded by soldiers.
character ether OF the defences the troops FIFTY
well armed Americans could take the city any time.
The population may be five thousand. 1t IS varl-
ously estimated. The statements OF the government
and people differ, and are not reliable.
POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC.
II is the same with regard 10 the population OF the
republic. This has been estimated at 10000, or
even more. Comparing ali the statements and
from the best information can obtain / think the
wn0e population Is about 10000.
STREETS AND BUILDINGS.
The streets are narrow, Ike those of all tropical
Spansh-American towns. The houses, generally,
are one story high, or two at most, the walls OF
which are thick and built Of the stone found here,
composed Of coral and newly formed quartz, and
this stone Is covered with a reddish pink or white
plaster. Fortunately these buildings stand q long
time; for no repairs, or scarcely any, are maze.
In every respect st. Domingo is like all
the towns OF Spanlsh-America, except that there
are none, perhaps In q state OF greater decay.
Half the houses appear to De little retail stores,
where thnly and dirtily clad woman, without
shoes or stockings, sits smoking cheap cigar or
native tobacco waiting long and patiently for an
accidental customer to buy o little CHARCOAL a few
bananas or oranges or some other triie A sewing
girl In the United States and she is poorly paid
would earn more money in day than most OF these
stores.
THE MARKET.
The only market place has about q half dozen
wretcned-looking stands and thirty or forty women
squatting the earth with their small around
them. The produce IN this market consists chiefly
OF yams, sweet potat0es some other vegetables, a
few kinus or cplcal fruit, unsghty looking meat
hung up on strings aud some trllng articles or ap-