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A descriptive-acoount of a Stamp-collector's researches in the Black Republic, including a complete guide to the collection of Haytian Stamps, by FRED. J. MELVILLE, President of the Junior London Philatelic Society. INTRODUCTION HAYTI is a country that cannot fail to be a distinct attraction for all who are privileged to know its wonderful history, its present system of government, its scenic grandeur, or the richness of its soil as yet undeveloped and uncultivated. It was from that most familiar portion of the British possessions in the West Indies-Jamaica-that we encroachment upon their authority set sail for the island of Hayti, which to be the scene of our philatelic labours. Hayti is the largest but one of the islands of the West Indies, its area being approximately 28,000 square miles. A better idea of its extent may be gained from comparison with the size of Scotland, which has an area of 30,000 square miles. The tropical summer was just beginning as our steamer rounded Cape Tiburon, and we coasted along at a distance of more than a mile from the shore past Dame Marie and in to the calm expanse of the Bay of Gonaires.  Once in the beautiful triangular bay it was only a matters of an hour’s
sailing that brought us to its apex, where we landed at the capital of Port
au Prince. Here we succeeded in making our headquarters at the home of a
surly looking mulatto in the Rue de la Paix. The street had been improperly
named however, for, judging from our knowledge of it, there was an average
two squabbles a day between the various races of the inhabitants.In Hayti the negro predominates. It is true there are mulattos, and a fair number of whites, but both of these classes are kept strictly under the control of the black original natives of the island, It seemed very strange to be under the government of only half-civilised negroes. It is perhaps hardly necessary to state that the Haytian government will not permit the slightest encroachment upon their authority by the white inhabitants. No white was man is permitted to hold office under the government, neither may he vote. Although Roman Catholicism is supposed to be the religion of the country, the grossest heathenism obtains chiefly. Snakes are the object of worship of most of the coloured inhabitants, and this vandoux worship is believed to be encouraged (or was recently) by the government. In our first few hours we-that is to say my fellow-collector, S. Saie and myself, W. Mark-thought little about our stamps, the curiosities of the strange land being all engrossing. We had, it is true, many difficulties in endeavouring to comprehend the broken French spoken by those natives with whom we came in contact, but this we soon got used to. The first acquaintaince we made in Port au Prince was Pierre Dominigue, a stalwart rather handsome looking negro, who seeing that we were strangers, volunteered to show us the President’s palace. The President was enjoying his siesta at the time, so we did not see him. Pierre at our request then took us to the Post Office, where we were ushered with much pomp and ceremony into the presence of Monsieur le General des Postes. By-the-way everyone in Hayti seems to be styled "general." The President himself is a General, and under him there are Generals of Departments, next Generals of Arondissements and Communes, then Generals of sub-divisions, Generals of Posts; indeed it is a case of Generals here, Generals there, Generals everywhere. Monsieur le General des Postes, smiling from out the blackness of his negro visage, desired to know what he could do for us. This is perhaps an opportune occasion for stating clearly our objects in visiting the Black Republic. I, Walter Mark, of Edinburgh, N.B., am an enthusiast in the study and collection of Haytian stamps. My purpose in visiting this island was to search for all possible information concerning all the postal emissions of Hayti, and also to gather as many varieties of these stamps as possible from old inhabitants and from business firms, and every other probable source in the country. My companion, S. Saie, was on a similar errand, but his forte was the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern portion of the island. We made the pilgrimage together, so that he was with me during my residence in Hayti, and I was with him when he went on to the neighbouring republic. I told the postmaster my object, and he declared himself willing to do all in his power to help me. I proceeded therefore to draw from him all the information I could respecting the first issue of the stamps of his native country, and this I will endeavour to relate in as lucid a manner as possible. |
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