also the capital of King Henri's dominions. It was beautifully laid out, and built on the plan of some of the older European cities with the rigoles or gutters in the middle of the streets. The Cape is further noted as having been the theater of a terrible earthquake in 1842, when, in an instant, it was nearly all thrown into ruins and thousands of its inhabitants perished; for a bombardment by the British in 1865, and for civil commotions and disastrous fires; but in spite of all these misfortunes, and in spite, too, of the fact, striking to the new visitor, that many of the fine buildings thrown down by the great earthquake have never yet been rebuilt, the Cape is to-day the center, so to speak, of a remarkably thriving and prosperous district, of large and increasing business interests, promising well for the future.

There, as at other ports facing the sea to the north, the trade winds come over the cool, blue waters, and the tropical heats are thus greatly modified.

In its vicinity, that is to say, within easy distances from it, are the considerable commercially contributing towns and communes of La Plaine du Nord (population, 5,000), L'Acul du Nord (population, 10,000), Milot (population, 6,000), where are still to be seen the truly imposing ruins of Christophe's palace of Sans Souci, and not far off those of his wonderful citadel, Laferrière, which from its mountain height overlooked and commanded the commune; Limonade (population, 8,000), Quarties Morin (population, 7,000), and other places of less note, all of which find outlet and supplies at the Cape and thus add to its notable prosperity in trade.

Official returns show that during the calendar year 1791 the exports made from Cape Haitien, notwithstanding the rebellion. of the slaves which broke out in August of that year, were:

In consequence of the insurrection, the exports for 1791 were about 30 per cent less than they were for each of the years 1787, 1788, and 1789, from the Cape.

The exports for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1890,

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1891, the exports

The customs duties collected at Cape Haitien during the year last above indicated yielded to the Government, on

Exports, in gold

Imports, in Haitian currency.

Total...

$463, 533.39

788, 127.07 $1,251, 660.46

(2) Port de Paix, named by Columbus Valparaiso (valley of Paradise), is only a part of a day's sail westward from Cape Haitien: It is a town of 10,000 inhabitants, and is noted as the last point evacuated by the French, in December, 1803. It is well situated, facing the famous Ile de la Tortue, and is considered healthful. It has a good harbor in front, and a fine, rich country back of it. Near it, a little to the south of east, is the important town of St. Louis du Nord, which has a population of 16,000. There are at present on foot propositions and projects looking to the construc

tion of a railway from Port de Paix southward through the valley of the Trois-Rivières, which is a considerable stream, to Gros Morne, a town of 22,000 inhabitants, there to connect by an offshoot with a road projected to run through the great plain of the Artibonite.

For the two fiscal years of 1890 and 1891, the de Paix were:

exports from Port

During the latter year, the customs duties collected there and paid over to the Government were on exports (gold) $120,470.61; imports (currency), $142,703.20; total, in gold and currency, $263,173.81.

(3) Gonaïves, which is considered more purely a Haitian town than any other on the seaboard, because its foundation and origin were less due to the French colonists, is reached from Port de Paix by part of a day's sail, going first westward to the Môle St. Nicolas, and then sailing to the east of south down the Great. Bay, which ends at Port au Prince. It has a population of 18,000, is one of the most thriving towns in the Republic, is considered healthful, though situated in the midst of a sandy, salty region, and in spite of the fact that it has more than once been devastated by revolutions and fires, it still has an important foreign commerce. It was from this port that Toussaint L'Ouverture was embarked as a captive during the nights of June 7-8, 1802, on board the French frigate La Créole, and it was here, too, that Dessalines issued the declaration of Haitian independence January 1, 1804. Within its district in the interior, are Terre Neuve (population 6,000), Gros Morne (population 22,000), and Ennery (popula

tion 6,000), the cherished residence of Toussaint, all rich and productive centers of population.

The exports from Gonaïves during the years 1890 and 1891 were as follows:

These exports yielded in duties to the Government for 1891 $351,642.54 gold, and it received for import duties collected at the same port that year $467,095.26 currency, making a total of $818,737.80 in gold and gourdes.

(4) St. Marc is situated on a horseshoe-shaped bay whose waters are very deep, and at one extremity of the Great Plain of the Artibonite, Gonaïves being at the other extremity; the river of that name, the largest in Haiti, flowing into the bay between the two cities. The plain faces along the coast for a distance of about 50 miles between them and stretches back into the interior for fully 60 miles. It is noted for its great fertility and richness in every tropical production, in which respect it has hardly a superior anywhere. There are now on hand projects, pretty well matured, for running a railway through it.

St. Marc was formerly built almost entirely of stone, but the structures of that material have gradually given place to others of wood. It is a town of commercial importance, and is in a commune whose population is estimated at 20,000. The largest place back of it and within easy reach is Verrettes (population, 12,000).