Characteristic of the Dominican and Haitian Populations in the 1870s

The following are quotes from the book “Santo Domingo Past and Present with a Glance at Haiti.” It was originally published in 1873 by Samuel Hazard, regarding his visit and inspection of the island in 1872 for the United States Government, given its intention of annexing the Dominican Republic at that time. He describes in detail many aspects of the island, the towns, nature, etc; and also, the characteristic of the people, which is rather interesting given that it was over a century ago.

There were some important migration waves to the Dominican Republic that had not fully occurred at the time but are crucial to understanding the current characteristic of the current population in some regions of the country, such as the migration of the Cocolos (when Hazard visited the country, the eastern plains were covered in forests, pasture and cattle ranches with not a single sugar plantation in sight) or the migration of the Arabs, for example. In any case, the base from which the bulk of the current Dominican population was already settled in the country by 1872 and should give an interesting perspective, given how much the country has changed since then, especially in some regions.

This is the closest thing to time travel.

GENERAL OVERVIEW
“The data furnished by authorities as to population are very meager and unsatisfactory. An estimate was recently made by the ecclesiastical court, counting by parishes, which gave a total of 207,000. There are evident signs of errors in this estimate. For instance, the capital was set down at ten thousand, while it’s obvious to the careful observer, who counts streets and houses, that there cannot be over six thousand, if so many. Comparing these figures of the ecclesiastical court with certain known facts, and with all the evidence we could gather from intelligent witnesses and personal observation, the Commission estimate that the actual population of the republic does not exceed 150,000. This does not include the many who have voluntarily expatriated themselves on account of continual disturbances nor the few who have been banished.

It seems probable that more than nine-tenths, perhaps nineteen-twentieths, are native Dominicans. The others are – first, colored emigrants from the United States; secondly, European traders who do not settle anywhere, but sojourn at commercial points. Negro blood preponderates very largely in Haiti. White blood preponderates largely in Dominican Republic, but pure whites, in the popular sense of the word, are not numerous. The majority are of a mixed race, much nearer white than black.

The great majority, especially along the coast, is neither pure black nor pure white; they are mixed in every conceivable degree. In some parts of the interior considerable numbers of the white race are to be found, and generally in the mixed race the white blood predominates. The Dominican people differ widely in this particular from the Haitians, among whom the black race is in complete ascendancy. The cultivated and educated, such as the President, members of his Cabinet, senators, judges, and local magistrates, compare well with the same classes in other countries, and the uneducated appear equal to the same class in any country with which we are acquainted. They seem to be practically destitute of prejudice of class, race, or color. In their intercourse with each other and with strangers, they are courteous in manner, respectful, and polite. In all their relations with them the Commissioner found them kind and hospitable.

The testimony shows them to be an honest and inoffensive people, among whom, in the rural districts, a person may travel alone and unarmed all over the country with treasure without danger. All of the numerous parties attached to the Commission, which traversed various parts of the country, bear the same testimony concerning the people. The judicial officers stated that high crimes, such as murder, arson, burglary, and the like, are nearly unknown among them. No pauper class exists, and beggary is almost unknown. They are temperate people, and drunken men are rarely seen. Among popular vices is that of petty gambling, which is indulged in openly and extensively, especially by the Spanish portion of the population.

They are all Roman Catholics, except the American emigrants sent out in 1824 and succeeding years, who, with their descendants, now form a number of settlements, and amount to several thousand persons. These are mostly Methodists and Baptists. They live among the Catholics in peace and harmony. No intolerance or religious persecution can be discovered among them. The people are generally poor, living in cheap and humble dwellings, which, though well adapted to their country, might appear rude and uncomfortable to those accustomed to houses made for a more rigorous climate, but, as compared with those of the laboring class in Europe, infinitely superior. In the country, almost every family possesses all the land they desire to cultivate, which is generally one small field, for an acre or two well tilled is sufficient in this fertile land to furnish a family with their food. The reason they unanimously assign for not cultivating more is, that amid constantly recurring revolutions it is very uncertain who may reap the crop. Besides, there is no market here for surplus produce.” (pg. 484-486)

PUERTO PLATA
“The population of Puerto Plata is variously estimated at from two to three thousand inhabitants, mostly ‘people of color,’ which may mean jet-black African, mulatto, or not pure white. This name, however, is never bestowed on Dominican if possible, as they are very ‘touchy’ on this subject, all being equally citizens.

Of this population, the whites and mulattoes are the storekeepers and tradesmen in the town, and the blacks and mestizos are the laborers about warehouses, ships, etc. Here in Puerto Plata there are a large number of negroes from the English islands Nassau, St Thomas, Jamaica, etc, most of them speaking English quite well; in fact, a large number of the colored people speak some little of two or three languages.

I was struck by the free, frank, and manly way in which these men look and speak, evidently showing they fell their importance as freemen – very different from the same class in Cuba.” (pg. 180-181)

SAMAN?
“The population is not over 800 or 1000 souls, the majority of whom are blacks, either emigrants themselves or descendants of those who came from the United States in Boyer’s time.” (pg. 199)

THE EASTERN PLAINS (Hig?ey, El Seibo, etc; this was before the sugar plantations were created)
“All the inhabitants are a fine class of people, free and independent, though of different shades of color; the majority being the native brown or Creole white.

All were equal; there was no distinction of color, no slavery, no tyranny…” (pg. 208-209)

SANTO DOMINGO
“Knots of men and women, mostly colored, and busy in talk, are scattered about the quay or in the small open places called ‘plazas;’ odd-looking stores, with still more odd-looking assortments of goods, are entirely open to the gaze of the passerby; while in the marketplace are noticed the same peculiarities observed at Puerto Plata, only on a more extended scale. Go where one will, however, everyone is cheerful, polite, and communicative, while the dusky ‘fair ones’ presiding over piles of strange, unknown tropical productions, are merry, while obliging even in giving information.

Such are the sights that today first greet the traveler in the city that at one time was famous for its magnificence.” (pg. 214)

VALLEYS IN THE CORDILLERA CENTRAL
“On the highest part of the neighboring mountains there is often a slight white frost, and in the valley fire is often desirable for comfort towards evening. This was formerly a famous country for wheat; and those who have succeeded in penetrating to some parts of this mysterious valley, state there are yet people residing there who are white, the women having even fair hair (blonde) and blue eyes similar to the Biscayans.” (pg. 314)

MOCA
“Moca is an active, thriving town in the great plain, about twenty-five miles to the north of La Vega. It is situated in the heart of a country noted for its productiveness over all other parts of the island, the tobacco and coffee of the locality being famed for its abundant growth and good quality; and from what I saw of this region, including Santiago, I believe, in case of immigration into the island, this section will become the chosen spot.

The population seems to consist more largely of pure white people than any place in which we had been, and the general character of the town and its people seemed, after a short acquaintance, to be of a superior nature.

The streets are well paved; there are many stores with a fair assortment of goods, and apparently doing an active business. The houses are mostly built of stone or the concrete of the country; and from the careful condition in which they are kept, the town, with its abundance of blue and white paint, presents a clean and gay appearance. Altogether I was reminded of some of the pretty and flourishing villages of Cuba.” (pg. 316)

SANTIAGO
“Santiago de los Caballeros is one of the most ancient towns in the island of Santo Domingo, and today really the most important in every respect.

The climate is undoubtedly the finest in the island, the place being noted for its salubrity, and it now possesses a population of about 8000 inhabitants, largely composed of whites, the majority of whom are as intelligent and polished as can be met with anywhere.

Being situated in the heart of the tobacco region, Santiago is a place of active business, and controls this trade, many of the merchants being simply the agents of the foreign houses established in Puerto Plata; and this influence, principally German, controls this part of the traffic of the island.” (pg. 323-325)

LINEA NOROESTE (Santiago to Montecristi)
“We found the people along this section generally quite poor, indifferent and without much aim or hope for anything, except just to live. Occasionally we could find some intelligent person that showed more signs or desires for improvement. They were all, however, exceedingly kind and communicative to us.” (pg. 338)

MAO
“Penetrating the woods we came upon a plateau, upon which was placed the straggling village of Mao, an assemblage of a dozen or so native houses, inhabited by mulatto-colored people and some Negroes.” (pg. 342)

GENERAL NATURE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
“And this has invariably been my experience of the country people of Santo Domingo. Quiet and inoffensive, devoid generally of education, unaccustomed to the ways of the world; yet they have always shown themselves hospitable to a fault, as far as their means would permit; and their natural intelligence and instincts are so good, that anyone would be quickly undeceived who took them for fools, while readily receiving a lesson from them in quiet good breeding.” (pg. 370-371)

THE REQUERO MEN
“These requeros are a special class, who devote themselves to the carrying trade between Puerto Plata and Santiago. They are a wild, rough set in their manners, and many of them said to be very wealthy; but all living a frugal, hardy life, and, without exception, honest and reliable. In Puerto Plata, merchants told me they thought nothing of calling to anyone of these men passing the door and handing him a roll of money, say, ‘Give that to so-and-so in Santiago.’ ‘Write the direction,’ would be the reply, and the exact money never failed to be properly delivered.” (pg. 383)

Continues in next post...

DOMINICAN-HAITIAN RELATIONS
Now, although no open war is declared between Dominican Republic and Haiti, yet such are the relations existing between them, that no vessel is cleared from the ports of one to those of the other. Consequently, although it is perfectly understood by the authorities where this schooner comes from and goes to, her papers specify that she sails under the English flag from Turk’s Island.

Only a few days before, however, a young American merchant, having business in Haiti, had chartered a small boat to take him up to Cape Haitian, or the ‘Cape’ as it is called, some United States dispatches being sent at the same time. When the boat arrived, however, at the Cape, the owner was taken and imprisoned for several days, being finally set free and told to return to Montecristi, with the remark, that the next time he brought American dispatches he would be hung.” (pg. 389)

CAPE HAITIAN
“The town of Cape Haitian is today, though one of the oldest towns on the island, a city of ruins.

This is the original ‘Guarico’ of the Spaniards, then Cape Fran?ois of the French, more lately Cape Henry, after Christopher, and now usually Cape Haitian, though known simply as ‘The Cape.’

Of the inhabitants, the larger portion are black – jet black; and then come the mulattoes of various degrees of color, a few native whites, and then the foreign population, by which latter class is mostly transacted the commerce of the place, which consists in exporting coffee an logwood, and the importing of provisions, dry goods, hardware, soaps, etc, a large portion of which come from the United States…” (pg. 402-405)

HIGH POPULATION DENSITY & BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE IN HAITI
“…For the first few miles I was struck with the great difference in population between Haiti and Dominican Republic. While in the latter part you rarely meet anyone in the road, here were crowds of Negroes, men and women, on foot and on horseback, all going to or from the city with produce or supplies.

The road, too, was a hard gravel-and-sand road, perfectly practicable for carts and vehicles; and three miles out we came to a solid stone bridge over a small stream, the parapets of which were in ruins, though the causeway was good. I was, ‘Who built it?’ ‘The French,’ is the reply. They don’t build bridges now-a-days.” (pg. 411)

DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HAITI
“Sorry am I to confess that I cannot conscientiously make this defense, and, in fact, I have been, like most persons who visit Haiti, utterly disappointed in its people and government. And the candid and impartial traveler, friend of the black race though he be, must feel, in visiting this island, that its people have not yet solved the problem of self-government. For though their constitution seems to be good enough, it is yet so unwisely administered by those in power, that the country has simply been, since Boyer’s time, a country of revolutions, at the history of which it will be well for us to glance, in order to properly understand the condition of its affairs today.” (pg. 422)

PORT-AU-PRINCE
“Port-au-Prince is reputed to be a very unhealthy place at times, much fever, both yellow and native, prevailing there; and if the theory of the prevalence of the mangrove-trees be true, it is easily accounted for, the shores and islands being covered with these breeders of pestilence.

Historians tell us that at one time the town possessed handsome, solid structures, including public buildings, fountains, churches, etc; but if so, they have almost entirely disappeared, or left ruined walls to mark where they might have been, for today even the homes of the Assembly are of wood of most ordinary construction, while the President’s palace itself is only mediocre as an ordinary building.

There seems to be no sanitary rules whatever, and the only cleansing of which I heard was that of city streets by the heavy rains and showers. In fact, quite in the city, and upon the open square, dead animals are taken and left to die and rot without hindrance from anyone.

Of course, the population is principally blacks, while the mulatto class constitutes the principal aristocracy, to which are added the white French creoles, as also many of the foreign merchants, and at a social gathering all these will be seen in various proportions according to circumstances.

As many of the native colored population have been educated in France, there are found a good many highly cultured men, extremely courteous and gentle in their manners; and of some of the younger men, only a few removes from white, many may be said to be quite elegant in their dress and manners. Among the creoles population one meets with extremely lively and agreeable women, many of whom are married to foreigners.

The old distinction of color, however, exists even here, I am told; for the mulattoes pride themselves on being a different people from the blacks, while the latter sneer at the former as being neither white nor black.” (pg. 451-453)

HAITIANS WERE AGAINST THE DR BEING ANNEXED TO THE USA
“I had many conversations with them, among whom there seems to exist a great difference of opinion about some things. For instance, some say annexation is the only salvation for the island; others say it would not do at all and one individual, speaking of the annexation of Santo Domingo, said, ‘The time has not come yet for it.’ ‘Why not?’ I asked. ‘Because the day that that takes place there won’t be a white man left alive in the island.’ !!!” (pg. 453-454)

THE MAJORITY OF HAITIANS
“All of the people, especially the women, were cheerful and answered with a smile our ‘Bonjour, ma chere,’ often having a reply to offer. In fact, throughout my visit to Haiti, I was satisfied that the majority of the people are quiet, docile, and peaceful, and that is only owing to their chiefs and party leaders that the men are so brutish, in many cases made so by their vagabond life as soldiers.” (pg. 456)