The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-03
Interesting r.ci:cr from Izaytt.

Mr.. &. &. Fulton. the editor Of the Balti-
more 4mcrican. wri.es as follows from
Puerto Prince
THE MARKET SCENE.
or all the scenes in and about tho city,
nothing is So amusing aud attractive TO
strangers aS the market square. There are
three market squares in the city, but the
centre market Is the principal ono. the
other two being attended only on saturday
evening. From davbrcak till noon the CEN
ire market presents scene OF animated
nature, beng IN intcrmlNlurc OF men. wo-
men, children. and donkeys. every woman
present having at least one of these indus
trious little animals. All the marketing is
brought on the backs O. donkeys, and the
vendors are taken home on the backs Of the
same animals. II ono Of them hrays all
the balance respond, and the women halloo
aud Scold st them. occaSonlng confusion
worse confounGvd than any have ever be-
fore witnessed. Then At almost every step
YOU encounter coui,lc of women quarrel
ling in Creole French. with geSticulationS
and contortions of body that are truly ludi-
crouS. They differ but little in the usual
hillingS@ate style and manner OF their more
civilized contemporaries. except, perhaps,
that they never come 10 blows, the nearest
approach to il being the shaking OF their
fists in each others faces.
HAYTlES sHlSrLAsTERs.
The display Of provisions for sale Is very
light, ana probably each separate display
might be purchased al not over two or
more than tive dollars in silver. provided
they would take silver. But the fact is You
might rs we'll so to market with pebble
stones It, with silver coin. The market
people know nothing of the value of coin,
and will sell for nothing but uaytien shin
p!a>tcrS, which are called gourdS. each
@uurd originally representing one dollar in
specie. Ii has now degenerated so as to
represent the three hundred aid eighty
sixth part of Il dollar; that is to say. the
brokers will give you for one silver dollar
three hundred and eighty-S!X gourdS. The
country people when they sell IN orange
get four gourds Tor it instead Of one,
c"ut, and Imagine they are getting wealthy
and are Doubtless boarding it under the
suppo>tion that it will some day be wort
what lis face calls for. 1t has been much
more deprecated than it now is. however,
having within Il few months been rs high OF
rs loW rs six hundred for one. Only think
of payny SJO0 for breakfast. s., 900 tor /;
straw hat. Ii YOU should get 4 dollar
changed tor paper. YOU have to buy Il ba>
kct To curry it il, II the pockets OF an ordi.
nary suit Of clothing would not contain one.
half OF Il. In appearance 1t l. ragged
greasy. and offensive, and resembles as nea1
- possible our old continental notes. II
the stores they throw il into -four barrels
III Il twin" it Into small parcels; and ii you
ask for change. Il cOtlCc-bag is often pultcG
forth - the receptacle oil the cash ot the
establishment.
she SILVER and gold coin in circulation is
principally American, with some Spanish
and Frcnca. y great deal was LETT here 10y
QUE party, who take with them museum
of iiayticn curio>itcS.
MARKET SAILS.
The market stalls cUu>is; .: little pile.
about five feet square Ui cobhle stones, Oh
which y spread Il lnl;. and un the mat arc
laid lie articles OF produce offered for sale
pn lar.e stone. in close vontcuity, sits
he yuIillcT. with Il large Daudana hanGkc..
chic. On her head, the ends starchcd and
tibatin~ behind. Others have immense
lmmed straw bats on top Of the inevitable
bardana. Their clothing is generally Of the
finest quality Of English linen and lawns,
and in some cases they keep il very clearly.
iiic trail i universal. and, whether il
p1-S.s through mud az water, is never
raised, ii evidently being contrary Ia cti-
,ticti" 10 du 81.
TIRE CITY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
The city Of Puerto Prince is located AT
the head of the broad bay, two peninSuIa>
extending out into the sea, each 100 miles
in lcn"th. Near the end of the western
cap" j. the port of Cape Hayden. and near
the other Jaclucl--b0th having considerable
commercial standing. These two rcnl,l-
Slllas arc thickiy settled, and the mountains
are cultivated 10 the very summit, mostly
with colltc, the cultivation oI sugar beng
nearly abandoned. The deep green Of the
mountains and the tall trees on their very
SUBMITS indicate the extreme richness of
The soil At night the glimmering OF lights
over the mountain sides and the burning OF
brush present Il fine panoramic view from
our deck. In the centre Of the bay, be-
tween these two wings, Is the island OF
Gnnaives. apparently about twenty miles
wild" and thirty long. The soil Of it is
good, but it is neither inhabited nor cul-
tiyated, and aS far As could observe not q
tree was visible.
The location of the city is very fine, rising
gradually from the waters cd&c, and cX-
tending back about twu-thIrds Of Il mile to
Fort Nicholas, which commands the city
and the harbor. The streets run at right
angles. ana down each OF them streams Of
crystal water run from the numerous
springs in the mountains. There Is also Il
reservoir back on the bills which supplies
the city with excellent water, and two or
three large fountains, built by the French /;
one Of them, in the centre Of The principal
market square, threw up quite Il heavy
stream. With all these requirements for
cleanliness and health, it is Il: the same time
probably the dirtie>t city in the world, the
smells being rs numerous us those for which
Cologne is distinguished.
The houses are mostly Of frame, with
Single or slate roofs, most of them two
stories high. The streets are unpaytd, OK.
cept the cutters, and the filth and garbage
OF centuries are piled up and scattered
around in most Disgusting protusion. The
forming Il shade, bat they are 0. such IL
regular heights that promenadcrs are com
PEELED to take the streets, and pick their
way rs best they may.
THE PEOPLE OF HAYTI.
We see people from all parts of the Re-
public daily in the streets, and although
intensely black, they have not much OF the
African features and very little Of the air
and carriage OF the American negro. lhey
regard themselves as the superior race, and
they certainly look like trccmen. They are
TAI! and athletic, and The women are smooth
faced, goud-teutured, and rotund IN form,
perfect specimens OF health. The larDor
Is lined with >ail-boats morning and even
ing, hundreds OF them coming III and going
out with The sea and land breeze, crowded
with men and women. A great many OF
these boats are about the size Of our East
pungeys, and are handled with
considerable skill by their shippers, con-
sldering that their decks are usually crowd
ed with people, mostly women. Then
come 10 the city daily on donkeys
with loads Of produce, each bringing small
bags OF coffee, a"d everything that can be
turned into muncy, returning i'll the even