Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-05-25
A LETTER FROM The TROPICS.
FAJARDo, PUERTO RECo.
:


question is one of current issue in the
States, it might be of interest to know
of it as we see it to-day.
1t is, as we know, one of the West
Indies group, lying about 800 miles east
of Jamaica and 200 miles due west OF
our new possession, Puerto Reco. The
temperature ranges between so and 80
degrees through the year, and is eX-
ceptionally healthy, due to the con-
tinuous sea breeZes, good elevation and
abundant vegetation. The natural re-
sources if fully developed could easily
sustain ten times the present popula
ton, but as 1t is, much OF the fruits
are allowed to decay or are neglected in
cultivation. The average plantation
owner prefers by far spending the beau
tiful days beside his flask OF rum, rath-
er than work among his ever-ripening
fruits. By such irregular system the
EXPORT trade has been much Eampered,
while the import by far is the greater,
which can well account partly for her
enormous debt. The domestic animals
are the same as found in the States, but
here they are running wild, due to the
vast freedom of the undisturbed will
deAness and great stretches Of unoccu-
pied land over which they are at liberty
TO roam. AS far back as we have any
records, chaos has not existed on this
island for any great length of time. She
has been under the rule of several for
eign powers. To-day she is independ-
ent, but lowering over her is the dark
cloud Of war-a rebellion which is con-
tinually agitated by few disreputable
office seekers. The population is nine
tenths pure African blood, the remain
der an intermixture of il. This the
natives are very sensitive about, dis
owning all traces of their African fore
fathers, but their mood is sufficient to
relieve all doubts. The French and
Spanish people have been mostly eX-
PEELED or slaughtered. To-day no alien
is allowed to own land in the republic.
Their worship is still Of the inherited
pagansm. Infant sacrifice generally in
secret) and eating of human flesh is
carried on far inland, but at the sea-
port towns the Catholic faith is upheld.
There is a vast lack of enlightenment in
this black republic. Public improve
ments are almost totally neglected.
Their roads consist of narrow paths
bridges or grading. no means OF educa-
tion in any form only TO do as their pa
rents before them. Their means Of
transporting their produce is by the
ever-faithful pack-horse or the woman
with large dried palm leaf or shell
poised on the head. The villages are,
as a rule, slovenly collection Of one
room huts, with habtation that is
continually shifting. The old planta-
ton buildings where once industrial en-
terprise seems to have existed, can now
tell their story only by their ruins.
Business honor is as much lacking as
is social and domestic virtue. Their
currency is very bunglesome to handle
and dirty. It's rating with American
gold is on a ratio of TO |. American
silver has a good circulation on the is
land and the natives prefer it to their
own.
While we have been in mostly all
the seaport towns on the island, will
only speak concerning the most impOr-
tant. OF them all, none seem to be OF
so much historical interest as the old
capital city Santo Domingo. 1t is prob
ably one of the oldest cities in the west
ern continent, as it was here Columbus
landed in the fifteenth century in his
great discovery of America. The place
of his Imprisonment is easily distln-
guiShed, but is all in ruins. The ca
thedral in which the natives claim to
have his remains is well preserved from
the interiors the roof and wallsare con-
cealed partly from vision by the luxu-
RANT growth of trees and shrubbery.
The old Spanish prison or den of tor
ment" shows the peculiar style Of ar
chiteCture The Spanish had TO secure
absolute safety against runaway prls-
onerS. The ruins of the old Moorish
castles deck neary every point CT ele-
walton. One can but stand and wonder
at the grandeur and wealth that one
day certainly existed. Taking the
present state III comparison, points out
the utter incapacity of the negro race
to evolve or even maintain civilization
without the example and the curb of
white population among them.
Ournex place of interest was Sanchez,
seated snugly under the hills at the
head Of SANTANA Bay. The coral reefs
and many lagoons have made 1t famous
as the place of refuge for the privateers
during the strife of the French and
Spanish for supremacy. Here we had
the best opportunity of having person
al intercourse with the natives In their
natural haunts. Upon first appearance
they were very suspicious, but were
soon induced TO believe that our mission
was of a friendly nature. Their dress
IS of poor texture and fit; the checkered
style of cloth is the layorite, and foot
wear is used only by the supposed high
class. Their dress under any ,nditlon
is never complete without their ma
chetta ia sword knife), which Is neces-
sary in cutting and trimming the fruit,
especially the cocoanut, as well as a
protection to life, for the law makes no
provisions for the safety and wei are Of
the individual in this province. OF all
their sports, cockfghting is the favorlte;
the betting is carried on in such an eX
citing and unsystematic way that their
gatherings rarely dispersewithout heavy
blood-shed to pay the penalty Of their
crime.
Puerto Plata, the present capital, is
laid out very nicely, but has no histori-
cal curioS, as three times in its exist
ence it has been totally destroyed by
earthquakes. All towns Of any conse-
ouence on the island have an American
consul, who seems To be working in the
interest of trade as well as prospective
annexation. 1t seems that this would
be great burden to any government,
but in time much wealth can be real
lied in the easiest way. AS it is, she
has an enormous international debt,
which has been accommodating for years.
AT present our government has quite
number of her farsighted prospectors
here making close Investigations, and
upon their report depends much of the
future welfare Of the Republic. The
natives seem to be ready and willing to
accept such proposition.