Virginia and N. Carolina. This canal is intended to open an inland navigation from the head of Chesapeak bay, including all the rivers in Virginia, to Georgetown in S. Carolina; and when the short canal from Elk river to Christiana creck is opened, the communication will extend to Philadelphia and the other ports connected with Delaware river. Such an extensive inland communication must be beneficial in time of peace, and in time of war will be essentially serviceable.] DIVIDIBAN, an arm of the river Apure, one of the three large streams in which this river divides itself to enter by as many mouths into the Orinoco. It is that arm which is most to the n. DIVIDDIE, a county of the province and colony of Virginia.

[DIXON'S Sound, on the n. w. coast of N. America, is the passage into the sound between the mainland and Washington's or Queen Charlotte's islands, from the n. w. This seems to be what is called in America BARREL's Sound, which see.]

DOA, a small settlement of the corregimiento of Pasca in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada; annexed to the curacy of Fusagasugá.

DOAS, a barbarous nation of Indians, of the province of Tocaima, in the same kingdom as the former settlement. These barbarians are bounded by the Sumapaes and Cundayes, and were formerly subject to the Sutagãos.

[DOBB'S Ferry, on Hudson river, is 26 miles above New York city.]

[DOBB's County, in Newbern district, N. Carolina, has been divided into two counties, viz. Glasgow and Lenoir, since the census of 1790, and the name no longer exists. It contained 6893 inhabitants, of whom 1915 were slaves.]

DOCE, or DULCE, a river of the province and captainship of Espíritu Santo in Brazil, which rises near the village of Catasaltas, runs n. n. e. and turning afterwards e. enters the sea between the point of its name and the island of Reposo. In its mid-course it forms a waterfal down a craggy

rock.

DOCE, another river, of the province and captainship of Puerto Seguro in the same kingdom. It rises in the mountains near the town of Mariana, runs s. and turning e. enters the sea near the capital.

DocE, another, of the province and captainship of Itamaraca in the same kingdom, which rises near the coast, runs e. and enters the sea, as do the former, between the rivers Tapado and Pao Amarillo.

DocE, a point of land or cape of the province and captainship of Espíritu Santo, forming the mouth of the river. Lat. 19° 35' s. Long. 40° 18' .

[DOG-RIBBED Indians, inhabit round lake Edlande, in the n. w. part of N. America; they are often at war with the Arathapescow Indians. Both these tribes are among the most savage of the human race; they trade with the Hudson bay company's settlements. Edlande lake lies n. of the Arathapescow sea or lake, and near the arctic circle.]

DOGS Island, in Dutch Hondenesland, and so called by William Showten, who discovered it in the S. sea. It is small, low, unfertile, and desert; he gave it this name from finding upon it only two dogs, and a wild herb resembling in taste garden cresses; it has no other water than the rain, and some brackish marshes discovered in its centre; it is said in the high tides to be inundated. Some are persuaded that this is the same island that was discovered by Jacob le Maire in 1616, when he gave it the name of Tiburones. It is in lat. 15° 13' s. and long. 138° 20' w.

DOGUA, a river of the province and government of Chocó, in the district of Novita. It rises in the province of Popayán, and shaping its course like a bow, enters the S. sea, in front of the island of Realejo.

DOLORES, NUEVO PUEBLO DE LOS, a new settlement in the alcaldía mayor of San Miguel el Grande, of the province and bishopric of Mechoacán in Nueva España; founded in 1717 by a congregation of this title then residing in the town of San Felipe. It contains 200 families of Spaniards, Mustees, and Mulattoes.

DOLORES, another settlement, of the missions that were held by the regulars of the society of Jesuits in the province of Nayarith, of the kingdom of Nueva Galicia. Twelve leagues to the e. of the settlement of La Mesa.

DOLORES, another, of the province and government of Sierra Gorda, in the bay of Mexico; founded by the count of that title, D. Joseph Escandon, colonel of the militia of Queretaro, in 1750.

DOLORES, another, with the addition of Del Sur, (of the South), of the missions that were held by the regulars of the society of Jesuits in California.

DOLORES, another, of the same district, called Del N. (of the N.) to distinguish it from the former.

DOLORES, another, of the province and go

vernment of Sonora in Nueva España; situate on the shore of the river of this name, between the settlements of Remedios and Cucurpe.

DOMA, a river of the province and government of San Juan de los Llanos in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada. It rises in the country of the Guahivos Indians, between the rivers Meta and Vichada; it runs e. many leagues, and enters the Orinoco, above the settlement of Santa Teresa de Maipures.

DOMINGO, ST. or HISPANIOLA, a large island of the N. sea, one of the two largest of the Antilles, being 170 leagues in length, 30 in width at its middle part, and 360 in circumference. It was discovered by Admiral Don Christopher Columbus in his first voyage, in 1492; it had at that time, amongst the Indians, the name of Hayti; and a capital having been built, which was called St. Domingo, all that part of the island near which it was founded was called by the same title, which was afterwards taken by the whole of the island, instead of that of Isabella, which had been given it in honour of Isabel queen of Spain. It is situate in the midst of the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, and separated from the latter merely by a channel; it extends from 17° 37′ to 20° lat. and from 67° 35' to 74° 15' long. Some geographers assert it to be 400 leagues in circumference; the climate is very hot, but the effect is much moderated by the winds and frequent heavy falls of rain, which render it so damp that most things become putrescent in a very short time; but though unsalutary for Europeans, they, when they accustom themselves to it, not only enjoy good health, but longevity, many of them reaching the age of 80 years, and some even to the advanced period of 100. This island, which, after that of Cuba, is the largest of any in America, is also the most fertile and delightful; is covered with extensive forests of exquisite sorts of wood: of these are the caobas, fustetes, oaks, hacanas, guayacanes, candelones, capaes, laurels, cedars, oranges, thorns, cavimas, savines, marias, pines, ceibas, mameyes, copeyes, higuillos, jobos, almacigos, higueros, ebony-trees, granadillos, cateis, nazarenos, guaconejos, and cuernos de buey, and a great number of palms and other trees which produce fine and delicious fruits, such as ananas, bananas, grapes, citrons, lemons, limes, dates, apricots, and others in an infinite variety, and superior to any of the same sort found in the other islands. It also abounds in many kinds of birds, curious for their plumage and note; and the infinite number of cattle found in the meadows, or, as they are

here called, the savanas, is incredible; the hides of these cattle have ever been one of the principal articles of the commerce of this island, and were exported to Europe alone, in the year 1587, to the number of 35,444; horses, mules, and asses are not less numerous. It likewise produces an infinite quantity of sugar, indigo, tobacco, cotton, ginger, coffee, tea, amber, &c. with various kinds of medicinal drugs and dyes. The whole of this island is watered and fertilized by many rivers, the principal of which are Ozama, Haina, Nigua, Villegas, Nissao, Ocóa, and Yane; in short, there can scarcely be found a country so well irrigated; these rivers are productive of a great quantity of tortoises and other fish. It has manymines of gold, silver, copper, crystal, and tale, which in former times produced great riches, especially those of Cibóo among the most excellent, and from one of which a large piece of gold, weighing 3600 castellanos, was extracted, but lost in the fleet that was so unfortunately wrecked. In 1645, a mine of quicksilver was also discovered. The Spaniards, on establishing themselves here, found the Indians so numerous that the bishop of Chiapa, Fr. Bartolomé de las Casas, related, (if his account be not exaggerated), that they amounted to upwards of 3,000,000, who being assisted in their labours by the Negro slaves in working at the mines and cultivating the fruits of the earth, helped to enrich, in the early period, not only those persons who established themselves here, but many other Europeans, to whom the emperor had granted certain possessions. The population after a time decreased, by reason of the influence of the small-pox and measles, which laid waste the settlements in 1666, and which period is still remembered here by the appellation of la tragedia de los seisis, (the tragedy of the sixes); this decrease of population had, of course, an effect upon a commerce which was otherwise greatly favoured by a multitude of convenient and safe ports found on the coasts throughout the island. The French being driven by the Spaniards from the island of St. Christopher, and being aided by many pirates and adventurers of various nations, who were known by the name of Flibustiers, established themselves here, and were continually persecuted and harassed by the legitimate masters and conquerors, until the king of France, acknowledging them as vassals, nominated a governor, and obtained for them in the peace of Riswick, in 1697, that the king of Spain, Charles II. should cede to them that part of the island in which they had established themselves, and which was in fact the

best and most fertile of the whole. It extended 400 miles in length, and 140 in width, being for the most part mountainous, yet fertile and full of beautiful woods and mines of gold, silver, copper, and iron: these mines are not worked at the present day, the French having rather devoted themselves to agriculture, and the high cultivation of wheat, maize, and other seeds. This part of the island is likewise fertilized by various rivers, some of which are navigable; the principal of its productions is sugar, 60,000 load of which, of 500 lbs. each, are made annually; indigo is produced in a somewhat less proportion, as also cotton, cacao, ginger, and coffee, these being in the same ratio as those produced in the parts in possession of the Spaniards. In 1726, in the French division there were 100,000 Negro slaves, and 30,000 white colonists; its greatest commerce at that time was in tobacco, with which from 60 to 100 vessels were laden annually. The king of France ceded a part of this territory to a commercial company, their charter having been revoked in 1720, and Ferdinand VI. king of Spain, granted the privilege of trading in this island to a company of Catalonians, with the title of Nuestra Señora de Monserrat, who there made a very lucrative traflic; but the French having been found gradually to encroach upon the Spanish territory, it was thought fit to draw a line of demarcation to determine the limits of their possessions; and this accordingly ran from cape Frances to the point Beata, and different detachments of infantry and cavalry were appointed by the President Don Joseph Solano to guard against any future invasions. We must omit much that might be added to this article, as we wish to confine it with in the proportionate limits of a dictionary; and we therefore refer our readers to those who have written upon the subject, such as the Chronicler Antonio de Herrera, Gonzalo Fernandes de Oviedo, the Father Pedro Xavier de Charlevoix, the French Dominican missionaries, Du Tetre and Labat, and lately the Licenciate Don Antonio Sanchez Valverde, who undertakes to show the value and importance of the part of the island called Hispaniola. The capital of the last mentioned division bears the name of St. Domingo, and that part in the possession of the French, the name of Cape François or Frances. [INDEX TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SPECTING ST. DOMINGO.

RE

1. General history.-2. Physical state.-3. Ancient divisional line.-4. Spanish jurisdictions. 5. Population of Spanish division.-6. Territorial extent of do.-7. Commerce and productions

of do.-8: Statistical accounts of the French division.-9. Chief towns.-10. Summary account of the revolution of the blacks.-For account of natives, see CUBA.

1. General history. — St. Domingo, when first discovered, formed five kingdoms, each governed by sovereigns called Caciques. The names of these kingdoms were Maqua Marien, Higuay, Maguana, and Xaraguay. The Spaniards had possession of the whole of the island for 120 years. At last, about the year 1630, a handful of English, French, and other Europeans, came and forced them to fight in its defence, and after repeated wars for 50 years, they were forced to divide the island with the French. These latter, being the only survivors of the first free-booters or buccaniers, or having insensibly acquired an ascendancy among them, had, so early as 1640, formed this assembly of individuals, born under the domination of almost all the powers of Europe, into a French colony, under the direction of the general government, first established at St. Christopher's, and afterwards at Martinico. The Spanish part is by far the most extensive and the most fertile; that of the French the best cultivated. The whole island was ceded to the French republic in the treaty of 1795, but was evacuated by the French troops, and surrendered to the English, under the command of Major-general Hugh Lyle Carmichael, by a convention signed 7th July 1809.

2. Physical state.-The following particulars relating to this famous island are founded on the best authority, and many circumstances require a separate view of the two artificial divisions of the island, viz. the French and Spanish territories before they were united under one head. They are both alike in possessing the various productions common to the W. Indies. The European cattle are so multiplied here that they run wild in the woods; few of these are in the French part, in comparison with the Spanish.

The two great chains of mountains, which extend from e. to w. and their numerous spurs, give the island an aspect, at a distance, not so favourable as it deserves. They are, however, the cause of the fertility of the island. They give source to innumerable rivers, repel the violence of the winds, vary the temperature of the air, and multiply the resources of human industry. They abound with excellent timber, and mines of iron, lead, copper, silver, gold, some precious stones, and even mercury. With respect to the vegetable class in this island, it would be difficult, even in a work de-]

[voted to the subject, to express or paint all their majesty. Here are the mountains of Cibao, Selle, and Hotte, reckoned 1000 fathoms above the level of the sea. In the plains, in the Spanish part, the heat is nearly uniform, but varies in proportion to their distance from the mountains. In the plains the thermometer is sometimes at 99°. In the mountains it rarely rises above 72° or 77°. There the nights are cool enough to render a blanket not unwelcome; and there are mountains where even a fire is a very agreeable companion in some evenings. The contrast of violent heats and heavy rains renders St. Domingo humid; hence the tarnished appearance of almost all metals, however brilliant the polish they may originally have had. This is particularly observable on the sea-shore, which is more unhealthy than the interior parts of the island. The s. part of the island is pretty much subject to hurricanes, called here southern gales, because they are not attended with such dreadful consequences as the hurricanes in the Windward islands.

The roads are nothing but paths passable only on foot and on horseback; and eight leagues a day is very great work, in which space the traveller often does not meet with a single habitation, and must consequently carry with him every necessary for nourishment and lodging. Such is the low state of commerce in the Spanish part, that Don Antonio de Valverde, a native Creole, goes so far as to assert, in his account of the territory, that the commerce in cattle, with the French part, is its only support. The whole island is in general well watered by rivers and brooks without number, but certain spaces are deprived of this advantage. From the formation of the island, their courses are but short, and few of them navigable to any distance. It is generally impossible to conceive, from the tranquil aspect that these rivers usually wear, what they become when they overflow their banks. A river that but now hardly covered the pebbles on its bed, or wet the foot of the traveller, is changed by one tempestuous shower into a flood, menacing all that it approaches; and should its banks give way, it spreads its watery devastation over the plains. Many of these are infested with alligators. The only lakes or ponds worth notice are those of Henriquelle and Salt pond; the former is a great curiosity. See HEN

RIQUELLE.

The chief of the islands which surround St. Domingo, part of which belonged to the Spanish part, are Altavele, Saone, Beate, St. Catherine, on the s. side from w. to e.; Mone and Monique, on the s. c.; Caymite and Gonave, on the w. be

tween the two peninsulas, and La Tortue, on the n. side, towards the w. end of the island, and that of Avache on the s. side of the s. peninsula. 3. Ancient divisional line.-The ancient divi-sion line which separated the French from the Spanish part of the island extended from the river Des Anses à Pitre or Pedernales on the s. side, to that of Massacre on the n. side, at the head of the bay of Mancenille, which, together with the large bay which sets up from the w. between cape St. Nicholas and cape Dame Marie, s. w. of the former, and 43 leagues apart, moulds this division of the island into such a figure as can be best comprehended by a view of the map; suffice it to say, that it contains 2,500,000 acres of land, of an extremely fertile soil, presenting an agreeable variety of hills, valleys, woods, and streams.

4. Spanish jurisdictions.-The cantons or jurisdictions, beginning at the westernmost point of the Spanish frontiers, on the s. coast or narrows, are, Baharuco, possessed by the brigands or fugitive Spanish and French Negroes, who inhabit the mountain of Baharuco, Neyve, Azua, Bani or Vani, the city of St. Domingo, and territory dependent thereon, St. Laurent des Mines, Samana, Cotuy, La Vega, St. Yago, Daxabon, St. Ra phael, Hinche, Banique, and St. John of Maguana.

5. Population of Spanish division.-The popu lation of the Spanish part is composed of whites, freed people, and slaves. There are also a few Creoles resembling the Indians, having long, straight, and black hair, who pretend to be descendants of the ancient natives. They are, however, thought to be descended from a mixture of the aborigines and the Spaniards. There were, however, in 1744, several Indians at Banique, who proved their descent from the subjects of the unfortunate Cacique Henri; although historical authority affirms that the whole race was exterminated.

The freed people are few in number, if compared with the whites, but considerable in proportion to the number of the slaves. The people of colour are excluded from almost all employments, civil as well as military, as long as the colour of the skin betrays its origin; but the political constitution of the country admits of no distinction between the civil rights of a white inhabitant and those of a free person. Indeed the major part of the Spanish colonists are of a mixed race: this an African feature, and sometimes more than one, often betrays; but its frequency has silenced a prejudice that would otherwise be a troublesome remembrancer. People of colour are admitted to]