The New York herald., 1874-08-11
SANTANA BAY.

An American's Visit to the Territory
His Experiences During n Two Months
Comminglement with the People
How They Live, Move and Have Their
Being.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
happened, when away from home. to come
across the HERALD OF the Sd OF March, 1873,
giving glowing account Of the Samana Bay Com
pany and alleging that the emigrant would have
plantations gold and everlasting wealth. have
been down there during the months OF May and
June, this year. On my arrival l counted about
ten Americans, and when left only four, none Of
them having any interest in the company.
SANTA BARBARA.
The town is miserable, dirty hole, the meanest
place In the United states being paradise in CON-
parison. 1t contains about 600 people OF all ages,
the most wretched, miserable, idle set OF half.
breeds could look on. They live on sugar cane,
bananas and cOcoanuts. content to have these
without work. The young children run about the
streets, rather sidewalks, naked. The stores are
no ornament to the place; they are lew but they
charge fabulous prices IN gold and silver, and If 1t
were not for the vessels OF war tnat 20 there TO
protect this squalid hole, containing four Ameri.
can citizens. they would be without trade, gold or
OF being called a place; many more important
OF vessels OF war that don't get II. The reasons
Tor this leave the public to Judge.
THE SANTANA BAY COMPANY.
This company commenced operations by build
this climate, would call inaccessible. 1t Is half
inlsned. ana that part Ii already rotten by rain
and sun. A little further down the mountain q
billiard room, or rather barn, is half finished,
also gone to decay. Still further down comes the
Governors house professor Howe's), q small
wooden shanty, containing three very small rooms,
with a kitchen attached, and to get up to this
house IN Jnis hot climate IS task that
none would seek Tor pleasure. visited them all.
and at every step the lizards, OF all colors would
bounce out Of the grass as well as IN the houses.
The company sold All It's old furniture. in the shape
OF desks and chairs, early In June, and the only
thing they now possess Is u small steam launch,
gore 70 ecay as @ we m IL 40 no tbs sta ths
Samana Bay Company, with all It's vaunted prop
erty, is absolutely def6nct and forgotten there 1t
has LETT nothing behind IL upon which to build q
monument, or q scrap OF ground IL could call Its
THE VEGETATION
OF the country Is great that IT is so covered with
fungus shrubs and trees that even when eared
they can't find labor to keep them down. 1t is no
place for white men. During the time was there
1t was hot and stormed every aiternoon-thundef,
lightning and RAIN IN torrents. You see some
small patches along the shore under cultivation,
growing bananas and sugar cane ana all over you
meet cocoanut trees The largest piece Of land
under cultivation Ia the netRnborhood OF santa
Barbara which visited is owned by Nine. Dish
mil, cOl0red who emQrated with her lamy from
Rhiadelphia some thirty years ago. They have IN
creased In family and prospeicd in their way,
having In the family three di1erent places, all ad
joining, with houses, or, rather huts, on each
They are very worthy people but, with an tns
clear lands they have, you would not find at nome
q white man to have 1t as q git ana nve there.
THE INTERNAL AND SHORE TRADE.
They have no roads, and nearly eyerythint
comes to market BY boats Keeping close to tn,
beach; no roads 200 yards from the place. Wnal
comes into market without boats comes II
baskets carried on head and slung over donkeys
NO hotels; merely q restaurant Tor eatng-ant
very poor at that kept by Frencbman, and ne !
very anxious TO get away from the place.