Brigham (T.), Guatemala. The Land of the Quetzal. London, 1887. Gonzalez (Dario), Geografia de Centro-Américaan. Salvador, 1877. Keane (A. H.), Central and South America. In Stanford's Compendium. New Issue. London, 1901. Lafirière (J.) De Paris à Guatemala, Notes de voyage au centre de l'Amérique. . Paris, 1877 Lemale (G.), Guia geográfica de los centros de poblacion de la república de Guatemala. Guatemala, 1882. Marr (Wilhelm), Reise nach Central-America. 2 vols. 8. Hamburg, 1863. for 1898. London, 1899. Appendix Sapper (K.), Das nordliche Mittel-Amerika. Reisen und Studien, 1888-95. Brunswick, 1897.-Ueber Gebirgsbau und Boden des Nördlichen Mittelamerika. Ergänzungshaft, Petermann's Mitteil. Gotha, 1899.-Mittelamerikanische Reisen und Studien aus den Jahren 1888 bis 1900. Braunschweig, 1902. Seler (Caecilie), Auf alten Wegen in Mexico und Guatemala, 1895-97. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer Reise durch Mexico und Guatemala. 1901. Berlin, 1900.Part I. Berlin, Squier (E. G.), The States of Central America. 8. London, 1868. 1886. HAITI. (RÉPUBLIQUE D'HAÏTI.) Constitution and Government. THE Republic of Haiti, formerly a French colony, was proclaimed independent January 1, 1804, and is now governed under a Constitution of October 9, 1889. The legislative power is vested in a Chamber of the Communes of 95 members (1 for each Commune) chosen for 3 years by direct popular vote, and in a Senate of 39 members chosen for 6 years (renewed to the extent of onethird every 2 years) by the Chamber of the Communes from a list made out partly by the President and partly by the electors. The President is elected for 7 years by the two Chambers in joint session. Members of both houses are paid, representatives and senators by the month (150 dollars) during session. President of the Republic.-General Nord. The administration of the Republic is carried on, under the President, by four heads of departments. The President receives a salary of 4,8007. Area and Population. The area of the Republic, which embraces the western portion of the island of Haiti-the larger but less populated eastern division forming the Republic of Santo Domingo-is estimated at 10,204 English square miles. The inhabitants, nine-tenths of whom are negroes and the rest mulattoes, with about 200 Europeans, were estimated to number 960,000 in 1887; an ecclesiastical enumeration in 1903 put the number at 1,347,140. Capital : Port-au-Prince, with 70,000 inhabitants, situated on a large bay, and possessed of an excellent harbour. Cape Haiti has a population of about 29,000; Les Cayes about 25,000; Gonaives, 18,000; Port de Paix, 10,000. The language of the country is French, though most of the people speak a debased dialect known as Creole French. Religion and Instruction. The religion is nominally Roman Catholicism. Public elementary edu cation is free, the country being divided into 14 inspectors' districts. The sum allotted for public instruction amounts to nearly 1,000,000 dollars annually, but the educational system is still very imperfect, especially in rural districts. There are 400 national schools, besides private schools, and 5 public lycées. Finance. The revenue of Haiti is derived almost exclusively from customs, paid in American gold on exports and in currency gourdes on imports. The largest portion of the expenditure is for debt charges. For 5 years the revenue is given as follows: The revenue for 1903-04 was estimated at 4,409,318 dollars paper, and 2,917,435 dollars gold; the expenditure at 4,422,216 dollars paper, and 2,918,490 dollars gold. On December 31, 1903, the public debt stood as follows: External debt:- Loan of 1875 at 5 per cent. U. S. dollars Loan of 1896 at 6 per cent., 50,000,000 francs = 8,851,875 There was, besides, in 1903, a floating debt of 5,506,802 paper gourdes or 367,1207., the total public debt being thus equivalent to 6,026,4037. Defence. The army, under a 'law of reorganization' passed by the National Assembly in 1878, consists, nominally, of 6,828 men, chiefly infantry. There is a special 'Guard of the Government,' numbering 650 men, commanded by 10 generals, who also act as aides-de-camp to the President of the Republic. The Republic possesses a flotilla of six small vessels, which may be ranked as third-class cruisers. The Crête-à-Pierrot was built in England in 1895; she is 210 feet long and 30 feet broad, and has a displacement of 940 tons and 15.5 knots speed. Her armament consists of 1 6'3-in. De Bange gun, 1 4.7-in. ditto, 4 4-in ditto, and 6 light guns. A dispatch gun-boat, the Capois-la-Mort, with her sister the Alexandre Pétion (since lost) was launched at Havre in 1893. The Toussaint L'Ouverture dates from 1886, and the Dessalines (1,200 tons) from 1883. Other vessels are the sloops 1804 and St. Michael, and the gun-vessel 22nd of December (900 tons). Commerce and Communications. The industries of Haiti are mainly agricultural, and the most important product is coffee of excellent quality, but the export duty is so considerable as to prevent the development of its cultivation. Cocoa is grown extensively and cotton is exported in increasing quantities. The cultivation of tobacco is extending, and a cigar and cigarette factory is successful. Sugar is grown, and there are 3 sugar-making establishments, but no refineries. Rum and other spirits are distilled but not exported. Logwood is an important product, and other valuable woods are now exported. A considerable cattle trade was arising, but has been checked by the imposition of heavy export duties. Soap, candles, and matches are made. Haiti possesses considerable mineral resources quite undeveloped. Gold, silver, copper, iron, antimony, tin, sulphur, coal, kaolin, nickel, gypsum, limestone and porphyry are found but are little worked. Some effort has been made to work copper mines in the last few years, and concessions have been granted for mining coal and iron. Statistics of trade are very defective. For the years 1900 to 1903 (ending September 30) the values of imports and exports are not stated, but the quantities of the principal exports were: Other articles exported are various timbers, honey, orange-skins, wax, tobacco. The chief imports are cottons, sacks, machinery, and iron-work. The export duty on coffee is 3 dollars gold per 100 lbs. ; on cocoa, 2·20 dollars gold per 100 lbs.; on logwood, 1·50 dollar gold per 1,000 lbs. 9 Of the imports about 72 per cent. in value come from the United States, per cent. from France, 9 per cent. from Great Britain and Colonies, and 4 per cent. from Germany. There is no report of the exact value of the commercial intercourse of the Republic with the United Kingdom in the Annual Statement' published by the Board of Trade, which gives Haiti and Santo Domingo together. But as the population of the latter State is only about one-fourth of that of Haiti, an estimate may be made of the exports and imports of each during the last five years from the statement given in the following table : The chief imports into the United Kingdom in 1903 were logwood, valued at 43,3137.; mahogany and other woods, 2,6751. The staple article of British produce exported to Haiti and Santo Domingo consists of cotton manufactures valued at 229,4347. ; linens, 5,782. ; iron, wrought and unwrought, 11,2447. The commerce between the United States and Haiti (according to United States statistics) in 5 years, ending June 30, was as follows: The United States imports from Haiti in 1903 comprised logwood 482,128 dollars; coffee, 282,582 dollars; cocoa, 138,568 dollars. The exports to Haiti comprised provisions, 745,529 dollars; cottons, 561,542 dollars; breadstuffs, 344,598 dollars. At Port-au-Prince, Aux Cayes, and Jacmel in 1902 there entered and cleared 832 vessels of 1,089,983 tons. Several lines of steamers (German, French, and Dutch) connect the ports of Haiti with New York and Hamburg and other European ports. The Hamburg-America Line has now the largest share in the shipping. There is a railway from Cape Haiti to Grande Rivière (15 miles). A railway has been constructed from Port-au-Prince to Lake Assuéi (28 miles), this railway being intended ultimately to connect the capitals of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. A line is projected to run through St. Marc, Gonaives, and Port de Paix to Cape Haiti. Port-au-Prince has 5 miles of tramway. There are 31 post offices. Haiti joined the Postal Union in 1880. Money, Weights, and Measures. The National Bank of Haiti, with a capital of 10,000,000 francs, undertakes to render services to the Government in respect of loans and other matters. It has its headquarters in Paris, and 6 offices in Haiti. The Gourde, or dollar, nominal value, 4s. The coin represents 5 francs, but its value is subject to fluctuation. The silver coin consists of 50-, 20-, and 10 centime pieces, and the bronze coin of 3-, 2-, and 1-centime pieces. The money in circulation (1903) consists of 3,420,000 dollars in paper money, 2,500,000 dollars in silver, 225,000 dollars in copper, and 1,000,000 dollars in American gold. The bank notes in circulation are issued by the Haitian Government under the control of the Banque Nationale d'Haïti. In 1903 the premium on gold was about 158 per cent. The weights and measures in use are those of France. Diplomatic and Consular Representatives. 1. OF HAITI IN GREAT BRITAIN. Minister Resident.-Dr. Viard, appointed 1904. There are consular agents at Belfast, Cardiff, Cork, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton, Grimsby, Dundee, Glasgow. 2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN HAITI. Consul-General.-A. G. Vansittart. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Haiti 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Foreign Office Reports, Annual Series. London. Haiti. Bulletin No. 62 of the Bureau of the American Republics. Washington, 1892. Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States. 2 vols. Annual, Washington. Commercial Relations of the United States for 1901. Washington. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Ardouin (Beaubrun), Etudes sur l'histoire de Haïti. 10 vols. Paris, 1853-61. Bonneau (Alex.), Haïti, ses progrés, son avenir. 8. Paris. 1862. Fortunat (Dantés), Nouvelle géographie de l'ile de Haiti. Port-au-Prince, 1888. Handelmann (J.), Geschichte von Haiti. 8. Kiel, 1856. Hazard (Samuel), Santo Domingo, Past and Present; with a glance at Haiti. London, 1873, Janrier (L. J.). Les Constitutions d'Haiti (1801-1885). Paris, 1886. La République d'Haiti, i840-82. Paris, 1883. Justin (J.), Etude sur les Institutions Haitiennes. Paris, 1894. Madiou (N.), Histoire de Haiti. 3 vols. 8. Port-au-Prince, 1847. Nau (K.). Histoire des Caziques de Haiti. 8. Port-au-Prince, 1855. Pritchard (Hesketh), Where Black Rules White. London, 1900. St. John (Sir Spenser). Haiti, or the Black Republic. 2nd. ed. London, 1889. 2 vols. Leipzig, 1893. |