ABSTRACT

T H E Island of Hayti, Hispaniola, or St. Domingo, is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, about 3,500 miles from the Land’s End in England; it is about 60 miles N.W . by W. of Porto Rica; 69 S. E. of Cuba; and 135 E. N. E. of Jamaica. It lies between 17 deg. 55 min. and 20 deg. of North latitude, and between 67 deg. 35 min. and 74 deg. 15 min. West of London, Cap del Enganno, its Easternmost point, lies in latitude 18 deg. 20 min. and in longitude 68 deg. 40 min.; its Southernmost point is Petit Cap Mongon. It is surrounded by the little Islands of Samana, Gouave, Caimites, Heifer Island, Soane, Tortuga, and several others, which are mere appendages, and in general participate in its fate. Exclusively of these, its extent is estimated at 420 miles from East to

West, and 140 in breadth, in those places where it is broadest, from North to South.*

The climate of this extensive Island, though towards the shores extremely warm, has not in general been rec­ koned unwholesome; and it frequently happens that such of the inhabitants as live with temperance and regularity, reach an advanced age. Some of robust constitutions have arrived at 120 years, an age but rarely known in the tropical regions. The intenseness of its heats, is occasionally relieved by refreshing breezes, and frequent showers; and the salubrity of the air is considerably in­ creased by that happy intermixture of hills and vallies, woods and rivers, which diversify the scene. It is rec­ koned by far the finest and most pleasant of all the Antilles, being best adapted to all the conveniences of human life. On the plains, the heat, though violent, is nearly uni­ form, where no incidental causes occasion a dissimilarity; but it varies considerably in proportion to the distance from the mountains. The thermometer is sometimes at .99 deg. but in the mountains it rarely rises higher than 77 deg. and frequently not higher than 72. In these elevated regions the nights are sufficiently cool to render a blanket necessary; and occasionally, a fire in the even­ ings is particularly welcome.