| United States | $6,500,000 |
| France | 800,000 |
| United Kingdom | 630,000 |
| Germany | 530,000 |
| Others | 240,000 |
Her requirements are for flour, rice, foodstuffs, candles, oil, cotton goods, shoes, hats, and tools.
The country is retrograding and there is no inducement to capital to revive its exhausted financial condition.
The monetary system is in a hopeless tangle, and is on an inconvertible paper basis, a gourde the unit of value, fluctuating from 20 to 24 cents, U. S. Gold. There has been some talk of placing its finances on a gold basis, but this is visionary. There is one bank—Banque Nationale de la Republique d’Haiti, financed by American money, but it has been closed by the government. No one can authoritatively state with certainty as to the outcome in consequence of this condition of affairs. Credits should be closely watched. Owing to the heavy national debt and the inability of the government to administer its affairs, it is quite possible that the United States will sooner or later be forced to play the rôle it is at present doing in Santo Domingo.
There is a tax for travellers but by arrangement with some of the petty municipal authorities the full sum need not be paid. Samples are supposed to be free.
Haiti may be reached from New York via the Clyde Line (American) which disembarks its passengers in Santo Domingo. Tramp steamers or coasting vessels may there be taken to Haitian ports, or one may go directly by the Royal Dutch West India Mail line sailing twice a month from New York.
The principal cities of Haiti are:
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Port au Prince | 65,000 |
| Jeremie | 35,000 |
| Cape Haitien | 30,000 |
| Aux Cayes | 25,000 |
| Mole St. Nicholas | 12,000 |
XVII
PORTO RICO
Porto Rico was discovered by Columbus in 1493, and colonized by Ponce de Leon in 1509. Because the greater percentage of the population of the island speak Spanish and have the traits, desires and inclinations of that race, it may be briefly considered despite the fact that it has been an American possession since 1898. Within another 25 years practically all of its 1,120,000 inhabitants will be able to speak or understand English, which is now taught in all the schools, education being compulsory. A large portion of the population are negroes and mulattoes. There are also many Americans and Europeans.