The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-25

property unless he marrieS a negreSS.
The few French, German and English
merchants and bankers, who represent
the real and commercial wealth OF the
colony, manage TO hold some property
by buying through reputable Haytien
citizens After a purchase has been ef-
fected a heavy mortgage is taken as Sc
curity. Under this system some ideal
homes have been built by foreigners
Their houses are located as far nom
the town as possible, and as remote
from the road as the extent OF the prop
erty will allow. The seclusion is in
creased by gardens of dense foliage and
. thick hedges.
Filthy Streets, Clean Houses.
Though great heaps of filth and garb-
age of every description are to be found
in the streets, most of the houses are
clean inside. Everything in the line of
refuse is Shoveled over the threshold
into the street. When it rains the re-
fuse is washed into a ditch at the side
or into a hole in the center of the thor
oughfare. Every two or three years,
/ perhaps. there is a bonfire and the re-
fuse is partially cremated. In the mean
time it smells to heaven Mar
rage is practically unknown among the
lower classes, but children are reared
II profusion.
general WorthlesSneSS, the HaytienS
maintain some excellent educational in
situations. The Lycee, with a splendid
faculty from France; the Brothers
School," the college under the direction
of the friars of St. Louis, and the SEM
mary of St Joseph de Cluny, for young
I ladies, are the principal schools. at
tended the commencement exercises OF
the last named. The exhibition OF en-
broidery, sewing, drawing and painting
was most remarkable. All the institu
tons mentioned above are Tor the
wealthy and well TO do, but the poor
are by no means neglected Free day
schools for those unable TO pay abound.
Notwithstanding their general educa-
ton, the Haytien women are not eX-
tensive readers. Periodicals seldom find
their way into their homes. Books are
few and of an undesirable character,
and there are none Of those enchanting
picture books for the youngsters which
gladden. the hearts Of the American
children.
The main reason, undoubtedly, for
the shiftlessness of the native Hayden
is TO be found in the generosity Of ma
ture, which supplies mangOes in endless
quantity They grow everywhere With
out cultivation and are the main susie
nance of the population. The negroes
prefer them to bread and meat. The
cultivated area. Of the island Is very
limited and the southern part is practl-
cally a wilderness. Coffee takes fhe
| lead among the products. There are no
oxen; mules capable of everything and
subsisting on nothing, and few native
ponies, tender eyed, dOcile little crea-
lures, being the only beasts Of draugnt
or burden.
The local conveyance for merchan-
| disc, a pair of wheels with an adjust
ment Of two bamboo poles fiber ropes
and palm leaves, is a remarkable con-
trivanCe. With loads only equaled by
those piled on to the diminutive DON
| keys of the country il rounds sharp cor
neTs. mounts huge bOul6ers, slides down
a hill on bunch of garbage or sinks
| into a cesspool with no apparent strain
or threat of ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
The Voudou Dance.
The chief dissipation of the native is
/ the voudou dance, and in this high and
\ low indulge with equal Zest. No knight
] of the Garter or grande dame in ermine
/ and Jewels ever glided through the
/ stately minuet with a keener JOY than
| tie native Haytien feels in the intox Ca
/ ton Of this barbaric ceremony, whose
! series of horrors are appalling to the
stranger and may not be described. The
! dancers craze themselves with rum, ana
/ as climax drink Steaming blood drawn
! from an animal sacrifice" This mad
| dens even more than the alcohol, end
| the scenes that follow are degrading
| and repulsive in the extreme.
/ All voudouists are fatalists, and when
| the great prophet suggests the posi-
bility Of an event they go about caus-
! ing it to happen, particularly if it IS
| something they desire. If the papa-lot
! predicts a general or national calamity
/ they proceed to burn the town; if the