New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-26

NEWS EROM THE TENNESSEE.
san Domingo sf the Island-
Its N16nes, Eruisn, Viewers, Fish, etc.
SAN DoMINGO CITY, February, IL.
EDIToH REPUBLEAN:
| That there is an abundance Of gold in this
island, it is only necessary to mention the
fact, given by Barney in his history Of the
Ameraan Buccaneers, that BObadilla, who
was commander here when this city was
built, drew from tie mines in few months
so great quantsy Of gold that one feet
which he sent home carried freight more
than sufficient to. reimburse Spain all the
expenses which had been incurred in the
discovery and conquest And yet all know
that the Spaniaras are poor miners, only
skinrsins the surface Charlevoix, whom
Irving quotes so frequently in his Life Of
Columbus. many times repeats his state
ments OF the abundance Of gold in this
island, and that the river Vague rolls over
grains OF the pnrest gofd-that the inhabi-
tants will not gather it because they dislike
to go into the, water. A more recent writer,
William Walton, Secretary Of the English
expedition which captured San Domingo
from the French, and long IA resident of the
island. i'll his work says: "There can be
little doubt that the best mines are yet un-
explored, as the Indians set no value on
gold. and the most likely spots have not yet
been troI. unless by the huntsman, or the
fugitive negro" Eight leagues from this
city are the gold mines called Bue"0 Ven
tura (or good luck) minutely mentioned by
the Spanish, English and French authors.
A pure nugget Of 200 ounces weight was
found there by Garay and Diaz, or rather
by an Indian woman who gave it to them.
Cotuy, further north, in the centre of the
island was always headquarters of gold
miners On ridge called Maymon is a
copper mine, and two leagues beyond it an
other called La Esmeralda where abun-
dance Of precious and fashionable emeralds
are dug. To the south, says Walton, are
the gold mines Of Guaba, Rubo and Baor
uco. where many have clandestinciy en-
riched themselves without using single
tool. Silver mines are innumcrable at Gar
abaeoa, on the road to La Eega-anOther
twelve leagues from Santiago Several
others near Puerto Plata and in lanci to
the west. and lasiea near the Vague. Also
on IIaina river. near this city and in La
Cruz. at Saint Miguels. and near Higuey,
in the east. Only seven leagues from this
city is good iron mine, while a better one
is near Cotuy, whose ore could easily
descend the Yuma to Samana bay Quick
silver mines are also in the greatest abun-
dance while loadstOne, jasper, agates. an
t;mony, mineral copperas, red ochre. anne
thyst and similar valuables are equally
abundant.
VALUABLE WOODS.
san Domingo is worth more for its forests
of valuable timber than for its mlnes rich
as they are. Her slopes are prolific in every
wood that trade can require. or ornament
call for This will be seen in mentioning
merely TIE following score of species which
are there found in abundance, Viz; The box.
Brazil wood capa. cedar, ebony. tllstic,
gum, iron-wood, .agua. laurel. Hgnum
yi!T. mahogany, manchineel, OAK, palmetto.
pine. sandboX tree, satin wood. sriba. or
cotton tree. soe and walnut These are all
extremely valuable and many of them rare
woods. The box is very hard and smooth,
much used by wood engravers. and in the
manufacture OF musical instruments. combs,
knife handles. etc. Brazil wood is used for
dying red. The capa is a ve1y hard wood,
lmperrious to worms, and excellent for
sh"athirs vessels. White ami red cedars
are here. also lance wood fjoiS de tonce,
used for billiard cues Two kinds
OF ebony are in great abundance
here-green and black-the latter most
highly priced. 1t is a hard heavy and val
liable wood, of fine polish, The fustic,
I%I1 ~
Overs. greatly used in dying yellow, is
largely imported into the United States and
Europe tor that purpose. with several other
yellow dive woods whose names are uu-
known. The iron-wood. or qu,ebra hacha
break-axcJ. has the peculiarity of pctrifv-
ing when stuck in the damp ground. The
iignum vita. or guiacrm, all know, it being
of great trade. The mahoganyis is still better
known. one OF the most beautiful OF woods
and so common here it is used for .jOists
flooring construction of vessels. etc. There
are canoes OF it here. logs followed out
which would hold one hundred men. 1t
has long been the staple export OF the island
The manchineel tree affords a wood of a
beautiful appearance for furniture. shaded
like marble. with green and yellow veins.
To describe the many species of the palm
tree here would require the botanic skill
and scientific classification of ii LinnHus
They are the greatest ornament of the
woods. and serve many of the useful pur
poses of man. Among them are the mount
ain cabbage, the large cocoa-nut, etc. OF
the laulels and pines. and lovely yellow
and white satin woods. so beautiful for in
laying furniture. there is not space to speak.
FLOWERS.
1t would be appropriate here to speak of
the kingdom OF Flora, that boasts its va
rlcty and sweets, but to particularize them
would Gil an endless catalogue. Suffice it
to say. the great aloe. or century plant
abounds and there are many prOdigiOus
plants of the cactus tribe. Pink. purple
red. and yellow conyolvuluses, the Towering
convolvulus of a thousand kinds are seen
creeping about in all directions, and tho
splendid Pride of Barbados" is common.
The indigenous jaseminc, white and yellow;
the passion flower of several tints; lilies and
Il variety of flowers with which none but
DR., Parry is acquainted adOrn the wild
scenery of the woods. 81 wasting their sweet
ness on the desert air Yet how comfort
ing and delightful to us from icy New York
snowy New England and the sloshy West
We at least are thankful for them, for as
Mary Hewitt says
God might have made the earth bring forth
Enough for great and small,
The oak tree aud the cedar tree.
Without flower at all.
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, ETC.
OF these more substantial, and in this eli
mate most essential things. it might have
been remarked, when speaking Of trees,