Santo Domingo: a Country With a Future

Chapter Ii. Historical Sketch--Colonial Vicissitudes--1533 to 1801

Decline of the colony--English attacks on Santo Domingo City--Settlement of Tortuga by freebooters--French settlements in western Santo Domingo--Border wars--Cession of western coast to France--Return of prosperity--Effect of French Revolution--Negro uprising in French Santo Domingo--Rise of Toussaint l'Ouverture--Cession of Spanish Santo Domingo to France--Evacuation by Spain.

Chapter Iii. Historical Sketch--Changes of Government--1801 to 1844

Rule of Toussaint l'Ouverture--Exodus of whites--Capture of Santo Domingo by French--War with negroes--Government of Ferrand--Incursion of Dessalines--Insurrection of Sanchez Ramirez--Reestablishment of Spanish rule--Proclamation of Colombian State of Spanish Haiti--Conquest by Haiti--Haitian rule--Duarte's conspiracy--Declaration of Independence.

Chapter Iv. Historical Sketch--First Republic and Spanish

Annexation--1844 TO 1865.

Constitution of the government--Santana's first administration--Wars with the Haitians--Administration of Jimenez--Victory of Las Carreras--Baez' first administration--Santana's second administration--Repulse of Soulouque--Baez' second administration--Period of the two governments--Santana's third administration--Annexation negotiations--Annexation to Spain--War of the Restoration.

Chapter V. Historical Sketch--Second Republic-Revolutions and

Dictatorships--1863 TO 1904.

Restoration of the Republic--Military presidents--Cabral's administration--Baez' fourth administration--Annexation negotiations with the United States--Civil wars--Heureaux's rule--Administrations of Jimenez, Vasquez and Woss y Gil--Election of Morales.

Chapter Vi. Historical Sketch--American Influence-1904 to Date (1918)

Financial difficulties--Fiscal convention with the United States--Caceres' administration--Provisional presidents--Civil disturbances--Jimenez' second administration--American intervention.

Chapter Vii. Area and Boundaries

Area of Republics of Haiti and Santo Domingo--Boundary disputes--Harbors on north coast--Character of shore--Samana Bay--Character of east and south coast--Harbors of Macoris and Santo Domingo--Ocoa Bay--Islands--Haitian frontier.

Chapter Viii. Topography and Climate

Mountains--Valleys and plains--Rivers--Lakes--Temperature and Rainfall--Hurricanes--Health conditions.

Chapter IX. Geology and Minerals

Rock formation--Mineral deposits--Gold-Copper--Iron--Coal--Silver--Salt--Building stone--Petroleum--Mineral springs--Earthquakes.

Chapter X. Flora and Fauna

Agricultural conditions--Land titles and measures--Wet and arid regions--Exports--Sugar--Cacao--Tobacco--Coffee--Tropical fruits--Forest products--Insects--Reptiles--Fishery--Birds--Cattle raising.

Chapter Xi. the People

Population--Distribution--Race--Descendants of American negroes--Language--Physical traits--Mental traits--Amusements--Dances, theatres, clubs, carnivals--Gaming--Morality--Homes.

Chapter Xii. Religion

Catholic religion--Concordat--Ownership of church buildings--Clergy--Religious sentiment--Shrines--Religious customs and holidays--Religious toleration--Protestant sects.

Chapter Xiii. Education and Literature

Education in Spanish times--Work of Hostos--School organization--Professional institute--Primary and secondary education--Literacy--Libraries--Newspapers--Literature--Fine arts.

Chapter Xiv. Means of Transportation and Communication

Railroads-Samana--Santiago Railroad--Central Dominican Railway--Roads--Mode of traveling--Inns--Principal highways--Steamer lines--Postal facilities--Telegraph and telephone lines.

Chapter Xv. Commerce

Exports and imports--Foreign trade--Trade with the United States--Ports of entry--Wharf concessions--Domestic trade--Business houses--Banks--Manufactures.

Chapter Xvi. Cities and Towns

General condition of municipalities--Santo Domingo City; ruins, churches, streets, popular legends--Other towns of Santo Domingo Province--San Pedro de Macoris--Seibo--Samana and Sanchez--Pacificador Province--Conceptión de la Vega--Moca--Santiago de los Caballeros--Puerto Plata--Monte Cristi--Azua--Barahona.

Chapter Xvii. the Remains of Columbus

Burial of Columbus--Disappearance of epitaph--Removal of remains in 1795--Discovery of remains in 1877--Resting-place of Discoverer of America.

Chapter Xviii. Government

Form of government--Constitutions--Presidents--Election--Powers--Executive Secretaries--Land and sea forces--Congress--Local subdivisions--Provincial governors--Communal governments.

Chapter Xix. Politics and Revolutions

Political parties--Elections--Relation between politics and revolutions--Conduct of revolutions--Casualties--Number of revolutions--Effect of revolutions.

Chapter Xx. Law and Justice

Audiencia of Santo Domingo--Legal system--Judicial organization-Observance of law--Prisons--Character of offenses.

CHAPTER XXI. The dominican debt and the fiscal treaty with the United States.

Financial situation in 1905--Causes of debt--Amount of debt--Bonded debt--Liquidated debt--Floating debt--Declared claims--Undeclared claims--Surrender of Puerto Plata custom-house--Fiscal convention of 1905--Modus vivendi--Negotiations for adjustment of debt--New bond issue--Fiscal treaty of 1907--Adjustment with creditors--19l2 loan--Present financial situation.

Chapter Xxii. Finances

Financial system--National revenues--Customs tariff--National budget--Legal tender--Municipal income--Municipal budgets.

CHAPTER XXIII. The Future of Santo Domingo

Attraction by the United States--Political future of Santo Domingo-Economic future of Santo Domingo.

APPENDIX A. Chiefs of State of Santo Domingo, 1492-1918

APPENDIX B. Old Weights and Measures in Use in Santo Domingo

Appendix C. American-Dominican Fiscal Convention of 1907

INDEX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Columbus Monument on Cathedral Plaza, Santo Domingo City.

Map of Santo Domingo

Historic Gateway "La Puerta del Conde," where the independence of the Dominican Republic was declared: View from within the city View from without, during a revolution

The Strongest Presidents of Santo Domingo: President Pedro Santana President Buenaventura Baez President Ulises Heureaux President Ramon Caceres

Four Prominent Dominicans: President Juan Isidro Jimenez President Horacio Vasquez Minister of Finance Federico Velazquez Archbishop Adolfo A. Nouel

One of the Many Beautiful Spots on the Shores of Samana Bay

Partaking of Cocoanut-water

Street in Bani

Street in Puerto Plata

A Roadside Store

Building a House with the Products of the Palm-tree

Room in "Casino de la Juventud," Santo Domingo City

A Holiday Gathering, Santo Domingo City

Ruins of San Francisco Church, Santo Domingo City

A "Calvario" in the Road

Road Scene: A Mudhole

Wharf and Harbor of San Pedro de Macoris

Entrance to Cathedral of Santo Domingo

"House of Columbus," Ruins of Diego Columbus' Palace

The "Tower of Homage," the oldest fortification erected by white men in America: View from mouth of Ozama River View from within fort

Puerto Plata Scene: Milkmen

Puerto Plata Scene: The Ox as a Riding Animal

Sanctuary of Santo Domingo Cathedral

Diagram of Sanctuary of Cathedral

Lead Box found in 1877 with Remains of Columbus

Inscription on Lid of Lead Box

Obverse Side of Silver Plate

Reverse Side of Silver Plate

The Bane of Santo Domingo: Intrenchment at Puerta del Conde during a revolution

Independence Plaza, Santo Domingo City

Cathedral Plaza, Santo Domingo City

SANTO DOMINGO

CHAPTER I. Historical Sketch.--Days of the Conquest.--1492 to 1533

HISTORICAL SKETCH.--DAYS OF THE CONQUEST.--1492 to 1533

Aborigines.--Discovery.--Founding of Isabela.--Disaffection of the colonists.--Indian wars.--Oppression of the Indians.--Founding of Santo Domingo City.--Roldan's insurrection.--Humiliation of Columbus,--Ovando's administration.--Extermination of the natives.--Administrations of Diego Columbus.--Treaty with Indian survivors.

When Columbus, in December, 1492, sailed along the northern coast of the island of Haiti or Santo Domingo, he was more enchanted with what he saw than he had been with any of his previous discoveries. Giant mountains, covered with verdant forests, seemed to rise precipitately from the blue waters and lift their heads to the very clouds. Beautiful rivers watered fertile valleys, luscious fruits hung from the trees, fragrant flowers carpeted the ground, and the air was filled with the songs of birds of gay plumage. There were scenes of nature's magnificence such as are found only in the tropics. Columbus, as he gazed upon them in admiration, little thought that this beautiful island was to witness his greatest sorrows, that it was to be his final resting place, and that it was in later generations to become the theater of long years of war and carnage.

At the time of its discovery the island of Santo Domingo was thickly inhabited. The native Indians were Arawaks belonging to the same race as those who occupied the other larger West India Islands. Unlike the fierce Caribs who inhabited some of the smaller Antilles, the Arawaks were of a gentle and meek disposition. They were inclined to idleness and sensuality. Columbus lauded their kindliness and generosity; the possession of these traits, however, did not prevent them from fighting bravely when exasperated.

Living in the stone age, they knew none of the useful metals, but gold ornaments were used for adornment. Older men and married women wore short aprons of cotton or feathers; all other persons went entirely nude. Their favorite amusements were ball games and savage dances with weird, monotonous music; their religion was the worship of a great spirit and of subordinate deities represented by idols, called "zemis," carved of wood and stone in grotesque form, and of which some are still occasionally found in caverns or tombs. They dwelt in rude palm-thatched huts, the principal article of furniture being the hammock. Simple agriculture, hunting and fishing provided their means of livelihood.

The natives called the island Haiti, signifying "high ground," but the western portion was also called Babeque or Bohio, meaning "land of gold" and the eastern part Quisqueya, meaning "mother of the earth." The name Quisqueya is the one by which Dominican poets now refer to their country. The inhabitants lived in communities ruled by local caciques, and the country was divided into five principal regions, each under an absolute chief cacique, as follows:

Magua, signifying "watered plain," the northeastern part of the island and comprising most of what is to-day known as the Cibao--that part of the Dominican Republic lying north of the central mountain-range. The chief was Guarionex.

Marien, or Mariel, comprised the northwestern portion of the island and was ruled by Guacanagari.

Jaragua comprised the southwestern part, its chief being Bohechio, the oldest of the caciques.

Maguana extended from the center of the island to the south coast near Azua and was ruled by the proud Caonabo.

Higuey, or Higuayagua, the most bellicose portion of the country, comprised the entire southeast and was ruled by Cayacoa.

Columbus happened upon the island on his first voyage. After discovering Guanahani on October 12, 1492, and vainly searching for Japan among the Bahama Islands, he discovered Cuba and while skirting along the north shore of what he supposed to be the mainland heard of an island said to be rich in gold, lying to the east. Taking an easterly course, he was abandoned by the Pinta, one of his caravels, whose captain, disregarding the admiral's signals, sailed away to seek his fortune alone. Continuing with his remaining caravels, the Santa Maria and the Niña, Columbus reached Cape Maisi, the easternmost point of Cuba, where he sighted a high mountainous land lying in a southeasterly direction. On the following day, December 6, 1492, he reached this land, which he called la Española, because it reminded him of Andalusia. In English histories the name is modified to Hispaniola. The port Columbus called San Nicolas, as he had entered it on St. Nicholas day, and it is now known as Mole St. Nicolas.

Columbus then sailed along the north coast of the island and entered the pretty little port known to-day as Port-à-l'Ecu. Here, on December 12, he solemnly took possession of the country in the name of his sovereigns, erecting a wooden cross on a high hill on the western side of the bay. He then visited Tortuga Island, to the north, giving it this name on account of its shape and the great number of turtles in the water near its coast. After stopping in a harbor which he called Puerto de Paz, Port of Peace, because of the harmony which prevailed at the meetings with the natives, Columbus continued in an easterly direction, but adverse winds compelled him to put into the bay of Santo Tomas, to-day bay of l'Acul, where the cordial intercourse with the natives was renewed. Here he received an embassy from the chief of the district, Guacanagari, inviting him to visit the cacique's residence, further along the coast, and bringing him as presents a wampum belt artistically worked and a wooden mask with eyes, tongue and nose of gold.

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